Dave(The child):

-Direct Characterization: Bruised, Gross

-Indirect characterization: Dirty, Kind, Scared

Main Character #1

Main Character #2

Mother:

-Direct Characterization: In the beginning: Sweet and Pretty. Throughout the rest of the book: No interest in her appearance and gains weight

-Indirect Characterization: Beginning: Loving and Caring. Throughout the rest of the book: Mean and Abusive

Setting

In the book on page 17 it states "We lived in a modest two bedroom house in what was considered a "good" neighborhood in Daly City, CA" This makes me think of stereo typical house and family and sets a easy mood.

Exposition

In the beginning of the book you meed Dave who lives with his mother, two brothers and father. Dave has a good life but it gets worse.

Rising Action

The family is like a normal family, they take trips spend lots of time together watching T.V. and playing board games. Mother starts to change she drinks heavily and punishes Dave for doing things he didn't do.

Rising Action

"Mother" first makes him do all chores and sit in the corner and watch his brother play. She gets more rough on him and starts to slowly beat him and tell him things like he's worthless. The days get worse and worse for him. There are days where she doesn't feed him at all so he steals food from school. She soon found out and would make him gag himself until he puked then would later make him eat the vomit.

Climax

Later on in the story the "Mother" doesn't think that Dave is doing good with his chores or has enough punishment. "Mother" takes a kitchen knife and stabs Dave in the stomach and he passes out. When he wakes up "Mother" is cleaning him up but then tells him to go and clean more.

Falling Action

She still starves him and he continues to steal food from school and starts to get caught and when his mother finds out she beats him more and worse. He starts to get bullied and made fun of at school so he gets transferred but it just continues and so do the beatings at home.

Resolution

The nurse in his new school starts to notice the bruises and starts taking care of him, and giving him food so that he doesn't starve. He starts to tell her things. He tells her about what "Mother" is really doing to him. He finally starts to trust someone in his life. 

Figurative Language

Onomatopoeia-

Ex: "Smack" (pg 3) and "Hiss" (pg 9)

In the story this helps with imagery and can help you imagine it better.