Chapter+40

=**Chapter 40: The Pine Forest** =


 * Summary of the Chapter:**
 * Carl's hope for his mother returning for him is killed as he finds out his mother was killed in a bus crash.
 * Carl is in shock after finding out about his mother's death, but he does not claim that the woman that is displayed in the photograph is his mother. But Joy knows anyway.
 * Carl finally tells Joy that he knows about the accident, about how he knows his grandfather killed her son.
 * Joy helps Carl deal with the pain that he is feeling, and compares his loss to her loss.
 * Carl is confused and angry at his mother, as he is unsure if his mother loved Harley and himself and doesn't know if she was coming back for them or not.

" They drove northward again. Carl saw nothing of the city streets, saw only the picture of his mother placed before this eyes," pg 277 " 'Bus Crash' he'd said. Simple words that ended a life. Extinguished hope." pg 277 " My name is Carl Matt. My grandfather killed this woman's son. Ten years old he was. Knocked him over with a car on the beach. What do you think of that!" pg 281
 * The major plot** of this chapter is Carl's grief after finding out about his mother's death, and also Carl finally telling Joy his knowledge of the accident.

Carl: We learn the full extent of Carl's grief, and how deep it really is. We also learn that Carl is afraid to open up to people, because he's scared of getting hurt like he has in the past. " 'I don't know,' he groaned. "There's something broken inside of me. Every time I try to open up it hurts and I have to stop." pg 278 Joy: We learn about her experience dealing with the death of her son Graham, and how difficult it was for her. " 'Carl,' she cried, her fingers still tangled in stands of hair. 'It's alright to be angry with the dead. I know. Someone very close to me died, years ago.' pg 280 Skip: We learn that Skip is no longer angry at Carl because of what happened with his Grandfather. " The angers gone now, Carl. Even for Skip." pg 282
 * The character developments:**

The main theme developments are
 * The theme developments:**
 * The Past: Carl confesses to Joy that he knows about the accident. "I hoped you'd never know,' Joy said at last. 'How did you find out? "Beryl told me. I've known for weeks" pg 281.
 * Friendship: Joy and Carl become closer as they share their experiences. Joy offers to take care of Carl. " That settles it though. You'll come to live with us,' she said. pg 279
 * Hope: Hope for the future is extremely important, just like having confidence that you will be okay. Carl's hope is of course gone once he learns of the death of his mother. But, Joy gives him hope for the future by offering to take care of him. (Same quote as above, pg 279)
 * Grief and Loss: Carl has lost family members before, and he had to deal with this; his Mother, Sarah and Aunt Beryl. But, in this chapter, he isnt the only one who is grieving as Joy reveals her pain after losing her son Graham. "Instead he cried. 'I know about your son. The real story. My grandfather killed him.' " pg 231.


 * Homework Task: Answer the following questions about this Chapter.**


 * 1) Carl denies that the woman in the picture at the Missing Persons Bureau is his mother. What is his reason for doing this?
 * 2) How did Carl describe how he was feeling on the drive home?
 * 3) Why did Carl decline Joy's offer of living with her?
 * 4) What did Carl compare himself to when explaining to Joy why he doesn't get close to people? How did he compare himself to it?
 * 5) Why do you think Joy didn't want Carl to know it was her son who was killed in the accident?

Completed By: Lucy Lynch 8ENE