In this section we are introduced to the narrator, Miranda, a latch-key kid in New York City. Sal, Miranda's best friend also plays a large role in this section, until he is punched in the stomach by another boy. Another predominant character in this section is Miranda's mom who is currently training to be on a local TV show called 20,000 dollar pyramid. But amidst all the characters we do me, we are never really given any clues as to who Miranda is writing to during this time...
So my first question is, who do you think Miranda is writing to and why?
Another oddity about this section is the way Sal disowns Miranda after he gets in the fight, which leads me to ask, why do you think Sal does not want to be friends with Miranda any longer?
While the characters play a large role in the section, so does the game show that Miranda's mom is training for, so I'm curious, do you think this will continue to be present and play a large role in the future sections? Why or why not.
There are many other things in the section to be discussed as well, so feel free to add those ideas.
I think that Miranda is writing to someone who was a part of Miranda's future, and can see her present day. We know this story deals with time turning, and it seems like the person she writes to could be from her future. Another prediction I can make would be her father. Miranda briefly mentions her dad on page 28, and how she doesn't miss him because she never had him.
ReplyDeleteSal may not want to be friends with Miranda because he thinks she is the reason he got hit. In sixth grade, it is hard to be friends with someone of the opposite sex, and not have it joked around that you are dating. I think this is an oddity, and I am curious to find out more about the punch.
I think the game will continue to be a large role in future sections. The mom still has to go to the game and play, so they will continue practicing. Richard and Miranda have a secret plan for what to do with the money if the mom wins. I think they are secretly planning to use the money for a wedding. What do you think they will do with the money?
I am really liking this book so far, and I can't wait to see where these things take us in Miranda's journey.
I totally agree with you Ashley, I think too that Richard and Miranda are planning a wedding for him and her mom.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about the punch a little today, and I'm leaning towards thinking that maybe the boy likes Miranda, and that was his way of telling Sal to back off? Even though Sal and Miranda aren't dating, he could have seen Sal as a threat. Also, maybe Miranda is writing to the boy who punched Sal...maybe in the future he plays a large role in her life?
I think this book is great at leaving the readers wanting to read more and questioning things.
So I disagree about the plan to use the game show money for a wedding. Now that it's been mentioned I guess it does seem like a plausible idea, but it's not what jumped into my head. I thought that they planned to use the money to somehow allow Miranda's mom to quit her job. My reasoning behind this is how Miranda mentions her mom always steals stuff from work on the days she hates it the most.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley Tipton that perhaps Miranda is writing to the boy who punched Sal. He seems very mysterious, especially after the dialogue between them when Miranda asked what time it was.
I think Sal does not want to be friends with Miranda any longer because he does not want to put her in danger of getting hurt. Maybe he did something that he knows caused the punch,and he wants to make sure Miranda does not end up getting hurt too just because of her friendship with him.
I do think the game will continue to play a large role in the story, because it was "proof" left to Miranda by this mystery person. Also, a lot of Miranda's current free time seems to be taken up by preparations for the game. It will be interesting to see how she deals with her lack of a friend once the distraction of the game is over.
The thought of using the money to plan a wedding never crossed my mind. It could be likely but I don't think we have enough information yet to know for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe first person I thought Miranda was writing to was her father. Like Ashley Witten said he is briefly mentioned and I think could become an important character in the book. However, I also like the idea that Miranda is writing to the boy who punched Sal. Maybe, just maybe she is writing to the laughing man.
I like where others are going with Sal not wanting be to friends with Miranda anymore. I think it is likely that he had something to do with the punch and doesn't want to get Miranda involved. I also agree with what Ashley Witten said and how it is difficult for boys and girls to be friends at age thirteen.
I think the game will continue to be a large part of the plot of the book. I'm curious to see if her mom wins and what they will do with the money if she does win. I think the game is an aspect of the book that keeps the plot moving.
I too think that this Miranda is writing this to someone that she meets in the future. The boy who punches Sal does seem very mysterious, and I am very curious about his role in the novel. Perhaps he is the one that she is writing to? Perhaps it is someone that we haven’t met in the story. I’m not quite sure, but I am very eager to find out!
ReplyDeleteIt is always very interesting to read the insights from others... The idea of planning a wedding with the money did not even cross my mind. I was thinking the typical things that people do or buy, go on a vacation, go shopping, buy a car, etc. I do not think that Miranda’s mother would consider quitting her job though, even if she won on the game show. A person can go through $20,000 pretty quickly, and she would still need to survive after the money from the game-show is gone.
When I think back to middle school, I was teased when I was best friends with a boy. As a girl, it didn’t bother me very much. However, it bothered my guy friend greatly. Although he can laugh about it now, he used to get tortured by his friends and even his family (5 brothers and father) for maintaining such a good friendship with a girl. I didn’t understand how we could talk on instant-messenger every evening, but he was too embarrassed to talk to me at school period. I think that Sal has reached this stage where he is being teased for his friendship with Miranda. Although Miranda only saw the boy on the street punch Sal, Sal could be teased by others when Miranda is not around him.
The role of the game show must be important because it is brought up many times in the first section of the book. Mom, Miranda, and Richard are focused on helping Mother to prepare for this and lots of time and energy are invested in this endeavor. I am curious to see how this plan unfolds when Miranda’s mother plays the “real” game.