In the novel The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer, there is a sense of hope being the only thing that keeps all the main characters going. In the beginning, the family is separated from each other when the nationwide blackout hits New York: the mom is at a hospital in Queens, the dad in Puerto Rico, the oldest brother Carlos serving the Marines in California, and the remaining characters, Alex (whose is 18), and his sisters Brianna (16) and Julie (12) to stay at home and look after themselves. For days, Alex, Brianna and Julie don't get any word from their mother or father. Their mother could be at the hospital still looking after patients and the blackout wouldn't let her call, or she could have died along with many others in a subway accident. Their father also could have died in a tsunami that hit some of Puerto Rico, or just had a flight delayed and the blackout wouldn't let him call. (They are sure Carlos is safe though because he sent a postcard and called.) However, they receive a call and everyone is sure that it is their father, but Pfeffer doesn't make it certain that he even called.
"'The phone rang when you were gone. I think it was Papi but I can't be sure...I'm sure it was Papi's voice...he said something about Puerto Rico', said Briana". (p14)
Though at first Brianna says she isn't sure, she speaks in a way that implies certainty that it was her father calling, but it could have been someone else trying to tell the family something about Papi, if something happened to him.All they can do however is hope that their family is okay, but they all know it would take a miracle.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Book Review for The Dead and the Gone
Posted by JesseV at 11:55 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Hi Jesse,
It sounds like an interesting book. I think you could improve your post by specifying the question that you were answering. That would make it alot more clear and easier to understand.
I like how you introduced the characters at the beginning, that made it much easier to follow.
I like your blog post, it is full of information on your book but just like Alex said, maybe you could try and fit in what question you are answering rather than leaving it up to the reader to find out. If not say flat out what the question is, then at least hint it. But overall, I enjoyed your post.
Hey, so I like how you got into detail about your book and it actually made me want to read it. However, your question had to do with a sense of hope I'm guessing. But I realize that you mainly refer to it at the very last sentences, next time maybe you can add more about hope using more quotes. Everything else seems awesome!
Post a Comment