CHP 4summary

At the beginning of this chapter, the reader sees a small child who is so afraid of the world outside, it is decided she should not start school until she is older. At the end of the chapter, the reader sees a young girl who has taken charge of her infant brother and lost interest in a toy that was once very important to her. There is a touch of the theme of the book here, a child coming of age. Katie has ceased being the infant and instead has become the big sister to a new infant.

Again we see a little of the troubling racism that is such a strong part of the time period in which this novel is set. Though it does not seem to affect Katie very much now, the reader must wonder if this is a symbol for the turbulence that will soon befall Katie.