Moriarty's plot focuses on a girl Evelyn and her abandoned, unemployed mother, Tina, struggling through life in rural, blue-collar America, experiences love, loss, and ultimately, renewal. Complications pile up at their Kerrville, Kansas doorstep. The car breaks down, Tina becomes unemployed due to an unexpected pregnancy and morning sickness (a nasty side effect of an illicit affair), and the phrases “free lunch” and “welfare queen” hang in Evelyn's mind along with her struggles with class rival, the popular Traci Carmichael.
The novel, despite its collection of financial dilemmas, the premature birth of Sam (and his mental handicaps), depression, death, strife and emotional pain, retains an optimism. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1980's-1999 Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Age group of kid(s) in story: - high school Parents/lack of parents problem? Loving/sexing? - bun/oven Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 () United States Yes The US: - Midwest Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |