White Oleander

Astrid is taken to Van Nuys to an ugly turquoise house with a plain chain link fence. Marvel Turlock opens the door with a toddler and a small boy in tow. She comments on Astrid’s cane, calling her lame. Astrid finishes ninth grade at the local junior high. Astrid is expected to babysit, clean, and wash and dye Marvel’s hair. Astrid dislikes the work but appreciates being part of a fairly normal home. She receives a letter from Ingrid, reminding her that her new home is good enough and that she should “never hope to find people who will understand her” (127) but rather accept being lonely and learn to understand herself. Astrid begins to consider suicide, but thoughts of her mother prevent her from acting. Instead, she decides to play a game where she sees how many times she can stab the space between her fingers without hitting them.

Astrid finds a book called The Art of Survival. She compares herself to a sailor lost at sea, knowing she must prepare for every possibility, hold out hope, and remain calm: “I had to prepare, hold hope between my palms like the flame of the last match in a long Arctic night” (130).