Returnable Girl (pages 195-229)

Returnable Girl by Patricia Lowell


Summary:

Cat wants revenge for the harassment Paige has put her through. Ronnie started to feel guilty because she never attempted to stop Paige from bothering her. Cat came up with a plan and she wants Ronnie’s help. She decides to help to pay her back and be there for her. Afterschool, Ronnie brought Paige to Cat’s house, but Paige did not know it was her house. She was brought to the basement, and Ronnie left her in there, shut the door and lights. Since it was dark, Paige could not see anything and all of sudden, Cat’s voice started speaking out, and talking about the tough times, she had to go through because of her. When Cat turns on the lights, Cat is holding a gun to Paige’s head. Right when Cat triggered the gun, Paige screamed and Ronnie came in. Ronnie tells Cat to stop and Paige runs out in fear. Cat told Ronnie there was not a bullet in there, but she triggered the gun. Few minutes later, the police showed up and arrested Cat.

Ronnie had been thinking about whether she wanted to move to Alaska to live with her family or stay with Alison. A few days later, she tells Alison she does not want to move, and she wants to stay with her. Alison is happy and they signed the adoption papers in court a few weeks later. As a present, Alison gave Ronnie a plane ticket to Alaska to see her family. When she arrived to Alaska, she was nervous about seeing her mother, because she knows she won’t be able to live with her again. When she visits her, she is happy to see that her mother is in rehab and still trying to get her act together. When they talked, Ronnie’s mother asked Ronnie to stay, but she chose not to because staying with Alison is better. She then visited her brothers at their new home. A happy married couple adopted them both. They almost didn’t even recognize each other. They played around for an hour or so, and their adoption couple told Ronnie she can visit every summer and stay. They’re all excited to hear, and now, Ronnie is happy that her birth mother is in rehab, her brothers are safe with a new family, and she’s happy with Alison. 

Quote:

“It was nice to go to court for something happy for a change” (Lowell 212). 

Reaction:

The court allowed Ronnie to stay with Alison. I'm happy that Ronnie chose to live with Alison instead of her birth mother, because Alison actually cares for her. Ronnie's birth mother was too dangerous to live with, because she was an alcoholic and every boyfriend she gets does drugs. Even though she can't live with her brothers, she's able to see them every summer. As for Cat, she's in boarding school, so she isn't touched by Bob at home or harassed at school by Paige and the popular girls. Paige and Ronnie are still friends, but not as close. Ronnie is now trying to be a normal girl at school.

Returnable Girl (pages 144-194)

 Returnable Girl by Patricia Lowell


Summary:

It has been a month since Ronnie discovered her mom wrote her a letter asking her to move to Alaska with her. She also found out that Alison hid the letter from her. Ronnie told Alison she does not want her to file the adoption anymore and she chooses to move with birth mother. Later on, Ronnie called Cat if she can sleepover. Even though she spends most of her time with Paige and the popular girls, Cat is the only one that understands her. She told Cat about her decision about moving to Alaska. Cat is happy for her, but she was going to hiss her also, even though she treats her horribly. A week later, it’s Ronnie’s birthday. She received a package from her mother, a birthday gift, a small pink heart sweater with kittens. Her mother also told her she has a new boyfriend Big Doug. He used to do cocaine and is in recovery now. Ronnie did not think it is a good idea and suggested she should wait. Her mother lost her temper and they both hung up on the phone, mad at each other. Ronnie was upset that her mother chooses the wrong men to be with and soon to live with her. She was not concerned about her mother that much, it is mostly her little brothers. Ronnie’s court date is in five weeks. It is the biggest decision she had to make and she is having second thoughts. She wants to see her brothers but she thinks it is better for her to stay with Alison. There was a dance at school. Ronnie and the popular girls attend together. At the end of the night, everyone saw Cat grinding on Tyler, who is Paige’s boyfriend. Paige became mad, and thought of revenge. In school the next day, Cat was harassed throughout the whole day. Ronnie did nothing. A few days passed by and Ronnie realized Cat has been absent for two weeks. Teachers gave Ronnie homework assignments to drop off at Cats. When she arrived at her house, Ronnie wanted to know why she stopped going to school. Moreover, it was because of the harassment. 

Quote:

“I called Cat to see if she wanted to sleepover because even if Paige found out, Cat is the only one who understands me” (Lowell 149).

Reaction:

I understand Ronnie wants to popular and fit in with the popular girls, but even though she does not stand up for Cat when she harass in front of her, I think she should at least tell them to stop. Cat was nothing but nice to her, and its obvious Paige is the mean girl. Ronnie should show some respect and loyalty to Cat, because she was always a friend to her to begin with. 

Returnable Girl (pages 94-144)

Returnable Girl by Patrica Lowell

Summary:

Ronnie and Cat are at Cat's house hanging out and talking. It has been awhile since they had been together and had girl time. Cat tells Ronnie that her mother's boyfriend had been looking into her bedroom as she changes.  One time, he touched her butt when she walked by him, but h claims there were crumbs on his jeans. When they go upstairs into Cat's bedroom, Ronnie thinks they are going to watch a movie, but instead, Cat puts on a porn video. Ronnie is freaked out and leaves. A few days later, Ronnie and the popular girls Paige, Britnee and Sakri go ice-skating and the popular boys are there as well. Paige wants to talk to them so bad, but Cat is there too. The girls wonder why she is there and why the boys are actually talking to her. A few weeks later, it is St. Patrick's Day, and Ronnie and Alison go out for dinner. She tells Alison to file the adoption plan; she likes it with Alison and wants to stay. Ronnie's real mom found out that Alison wanted to adopt her by the adoption office. They are supposed to talk on the phone once a month, but it has been three months since Ronnie's mom had answered. When they talk, Ronnie's mom asks her if she received a letter from her asking if she wanted to come live with her. Ronnie knew nothing about the letter and when she goes up, she questions Alison about it. Alison brought out the letter and Ronnie is outraged that she hid the letter from her and read it. When she reads the letter, Ronnie rethinks about her decision to stay with Alison. She had been waiting for her mother to take her to Alaska to be with her family again.

Quote:

"Then she asked about a letter she had sent me about coming to live with her in Alaska. She's ready for m to come live with her? I can't believe it" (Lowell 135).

Reaction:
I think Ronnie's mom finally asked her to come to Alaska to live with her when she found out that Alison was planning to adopt her. She is just confusing Ronnie in a harder situation and she is basically telling her to choose a side. I think Alison hid the letter from her because she really started to love her. Ronnie's in the middle ground and she does not know who to choose. There is her real mom that is in trouble with drugs and alcohol abuse but has two other sons. Then there is Alison, who had helped and care for her.

Returnable Girl (pages 47-93)

(Posted on  Sunday, November 28, 2010)

Returnable Girl by Pamela Lowell

Summary:

Ronnie became closer friends with the popular girls Paige, Britnee and Sarika. When they went shopping, Paige wanted a new bra and underwear from Victoria Secrets. She tried on the bra, thought it was perfect and bought it. She realized she did not have enough money for underwear, so she stole it. Next, it was Britnee and Sarika’s turn. When it came to Ronnie, she hesitated because she had been caught many times in her past. She was desperate to be one of the popular girls so she stole as well. Later on the night, Ronnie went over to Cat’s house for a sleepover because she had missed hanging out with her. There, they watched television, took survey in magazines, talked and drank alcohol. Ronnie drank enough to become drunk and began rambling on and on about non-sense. She accidently slipped out that she stole at the mall and she was the one who put the necklace in Cat’s locker. Though Cat had to go through consequences, she was not bad at Ronnie. She knew that Ronnie wanted to be popular, desperately. On Sunday, Ronnie’s foster mom Alison and she went out for lunch. Alison wanted to know Ronnie better, they talked about Ronnie’s past, and how she felt when she had to move from foster home to foster home. What hurts her the most is not living with her mother but her two other brothers get to. Alison bought Ronnie a dog-named Lucky, because she knew she always wanted one. If she did not have anyone to talk to, she would be able to talk to Lucky. The next day at school, Cat told Ronnie she wanted to sit with her and the popular girls at lunch. Ronnie did not think it was a good idea, but Cat said she owed her from putting the necklace in her locker. When Paige agreed to have Cat at the lunch table, the girls were nice at first; then they started to make fun of her and her size. Cat ran off crying, and Ronnie did not follow. On Christmas, Alison and Ronnie exchanged gifts. Ronnie bought Alison a book about being a foster parent. Alison bought Ronnie many gifts and told her she wanted to adopt her. Ronnie was shocked because of her past but somewhat happy. They hugged each other for a long time, tightly, with a few tears.

Quote:

“I would lie under my pink bedspread every night before falling asleep, wondering what awful thing I had done to make them leave me behind” (Lowell 56).

Reaction:

Ronnie feels extremely hurt that her mother moved to Alaska, taking her two other sons and drunken boyfriend. Why couldn’t she take Ronnie? She could have helped by babysitting her brothers. My reaction to this quote is that it is very deep. I feel sorry for Ronnie because she had nine different foster homes in two years. What she wants most than anything is living with her family. I personally do not know how she can put an act in front of everyone pretending to be happy when she is hurt internally.

Returnable Girl (pages 1-46)

(Posted on Friday, November 19, 2010)

Returnable Girl by Pamela Lowell

Summary:
Veronica Hartman, also as known as Ronnie, has been returned nine times between the ages of eleven and thirteen. Right now, she is living with her foster mom, Alison Hauser who is also a therapist. Ronnie’s real mom moved to Alaska with her two other sons and her boyfriend Kenny. Ronnie was left behind, and she is waiting for her mom to get a good amount of money so she can be with her again. In September, Ronnie starts going to Liberty Middle School and is in the eighth grade. She only has one friend, named Cat and she is known as a loser because she is weird and fat. There are three popular girls, who are Paige, Sarika and Britnee. Ronnie desperately wants to be friends with them and become one of the popular girls. One day, Paige, who belongs in a rich family, received a real Tiffany necklace for her birthday. She brings it to school, showing it off and everyone is fascinated by it. She had a line for other girls to see it and hold it. Ronnie and Cat lined up wanting to see it. Cat was before Ronnie, so when it was Cat’s turn, Paige turned her down. Moreover, since Ronnie hangs with Cat, she was turned down as well. Next period was gym class. Ronnie told her gym teacher she had cramps and wanted to go to the nurse. She stopped by the lockers, looked through Paige’s things and found the necklace. She wore it and looked in the mirror, but someone was coming in so she had to put it away immediately. She placed it in Cat’s shoes. When Paige looked through her things, she realized her necklace was missing and automatically knew someone stole it. The teacher came in, and suspected it was Ronnie because she left the class. She did not want to get in trouble, so she told the teacher it was Cat. Midge, who is in charge of putting foster children into families found a new place for Ronnie. Ronnie thinks it is near where Paige lives, a nice and rich neighborhood so she said she‘d go. When she arrived at the family’s house, she realized it was Lancaster. Lancaster was her previous home, where she was in trouble for stealing. Luckily, Alison agreed to take Ronnie back when she did not want to move.

Quote:

“It’s Midge. She says she’s found a permanent foster family who wants to . . . meet you” (Lowell 27).

Reaction:

Ronnie has heard that line many times. She is tired of moving from foster home to foster home. For once, she is excited about moving because she thinks this home will be near Paige, in a rich neighborhood. Once she realizes its back in Lancaster, all her old memories come back and refuses to get out of the car. I feel bad for Ronnie, because she had to move family to family nine times in two years. It is already bad enough that her mom left her to Alaska, but took her two brothers. When I read this quote, I thought Ronnie would be devastated because she and Alison were starting to get along great.