Caterpillar Summer

“Mom sighed, still holding Cat’s hand. ‘I depend on you, but I know you can handle it. You’re the glue holding the three of us together.’”

Mom is highly dependent on Cat to care for Chicken, given his disability. As the novel unfolds, Cat does indeed bear a great deal of responsibility—both caring for Chicken’s daily needs and making certain that he is safe.

“‘At the chicken place, that lady asked if you were our mom,’ said Chicken. He turned a page, not looking up. Mom glanced at Chicken in the rearview mirror. ‘Yes, she did.’ ‘I know why it happened,’ said Chicken. ‘It’s because our skin is different colors.’ ‘Yes, baby, that’s right. But we’re all part of the same family.’ It was the same line Mom had said since Cat could remember.”

That Cat and Chicken are biracial is not directly stated in the novel but revealed indirectly via incidents like this. That other people are taken aback by the difference in the race of Cat and Chicken and their mother hints that the children may experience subtle racism at times. Mom consistently teaches them that their racial differences do not diminish their familiar ties.

“[Cat] glanced again at Chicken, who held Lily’s hand like it was the most normal thing in the world. Cat wanted to flop down and cry, like Chicken had at the airport. The difference was, Chicken knew someone would carry him and Cat didn’t. She always picked herself up. She would have to figure out how to do that here.”

Cat’s resentment toward Chicken becomes increasingly apparent as the novel unfolds. Though she loves Chicken, at times Cat is upset by the way in which her care is taken for granted. Further, unlike Chicken, she must be self-reliant. This autonomy is important, but at times Cat wishes she had support that is lacking from her life.