Chapter #8 Name: Angel Collazo
Chapter Title: Reminder
Chapter Image/Illustration:
Brief Summary: Maya points out many differences between the black and white communities. She notices how much money they spend and many luxuries that they own compared to the black community, which own very little and did not waste on “wants” but only “needs”. The Depression slowly starts to show its effects on the “Black area”, which led to the exchanging of many products. On Christmas, Maya and Bailey received gifts from their father and mother. Until that time, Maya had long forgotten about their parents and believed them to be dead. One other Christmas they received gifts from their parents once again and Maya and Bailey had been crying. Momma then told them to stop being so ungrateful. After a talk, Maya and Bailey wonder if their parents will one day come to get them.
Theme: Generosity;Reminders and truth; Need for parental figures; Displacement
Setting: Stamps
Characterization (insights into a character’s personality) in the chapter:
In this chapter Maya shows her inner feelings involving her parents. She often feels sorrow when she thinks about her mother and starts to cry. In Christmas she received gifts from their parents and wonders why they had been sent away. This shows Maya’s need for her parents and a loving relationship. She feels very displaced.
Figurative Language (Examples of Simile, Metaphor, or Symbolism):
-“…it seeped into the Black area slowly, like a thief with misgivings”
-“…lived separately in a heaven called California…”
-“The day was cold and the air as clear as water.”
Other Important Details (conflicts, examples of irony, anything else you think is important from this chapter)
Conflict: In this chapter, Maya feels displaced and very sad. She had been reminded of her mother and father’s existence. She almost used to believe both of them were dead until she received gifts from them. It makes Maya wonder why Bailey and herself were sent away, if they had done something wrong that could have made their parents mad enough to do that. The thought worries both of them.