Post 1

1. "Blister" by Susan Shreve (first 4 chapters  to page 53)
2. The main idea of the selection so far is about the main character Alyssa Reed and her struggle with her family issues.
3. Two major details are that Alyssa's mom had a baby that was born dead. Another major detail is that her father decides to move out after Alyssa's mom Mary goes through a depression and isn't back to her normal self.
4. A minor detail is that Alyssa moves to their family farm to an apartment to the city with her family because her dad decided it would be best. Another minor detail is that Alyssa changes her name to "Blister" because of her father's betrayal.
5. I chose this book to read because I've had if forever and I've never had time to read it. I figured that it would be a good book so I decided to read it.
6. Alyssa's mother Mary Reed goes to the hospital in the beginning of the book because she is going into labor. Her husband Jack Reed is taking her to the hospital in the middle of the night. Daisy G is Alyssa's grandmother. Daisy G was at the house with Alyssa when they got a phone call. It was Jack, and he was calling saying the the baby was named Lila Rose. It was not good news he was saying because the baby had been born dead because the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. The reason the parents took the loss harder than normal was because their marriage was starting to have troubles. Daisy G said that Alyssa's parents hoped that the new baby would bring them closer and save their marriage. Jack Reed would stay out later than the bowling alley that he owned was open. While Mary Reed stayed home sleeping and becoming more and more depressed over the loss of her child. Her mom Daisy G stayed home cooking meals for them and taking care of the family. Finally one day Alyssa was on the phone with a friend and her mom was downstairs and had a mental breakdown. Mary was put into the hospital for two week, and not allowed to see or talk to anyone. Alyssa's father Jack decided to buy an apartment in the city closer to his work and the hospital. They moved in and Alyssa had to go to a new school. When one night her father didnt come home until after midnight and she stayed up and waited for him. Her father said that he could no longer handle it and decided that it was best for the family if he moved out into another apartment. Alyssa was furious and hurt by what he had said because she was forced to leave the house she love along with all of her friends. It was her father's idea to move in the first place. She was a different girl now, full of hurt and betrayal. At her new school she wanted a new life. Her name was no longer Alyssa Reed but, she changed it to Blister. She met some new girls at her school, and decided that she might try out for cheerleading. She wanted to make a new name and life for herself so that she could fit in again and not be an outcast.
7. My opinion of the book so far is that it has alot of drama. The book is about a girl's struggle with her life. The book is good because I think that alot of people go through things like this and they might be able to relate to this same situation. I think that not everyone know what this could be like. I personally don't, but someone that was going through the same situation as Blister could relate to it. It has the father leaving the family in the book and sometimes that happens. Someone who was going through a situation could relate to this book and it might be able to help them. They would be able to realize that it's okay for things to happen and it's not their fault and they can move on. I would reccomend this book to someone who might be going through a tough time, or a similar situation as Blister is going through. So far, the book would help the person to relate and try to begin to move on.