Authors: Rosalind Noonan
Take Another Look (30 page)
Epilogue
T
he detention center wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be. She had a tiny room of her own that she kept neat and tidy, and it was a relief not to have to deal with anyone else's dirty, balled-up clothes. Someone else did all the cooking and laundry, and she was allowed books and TV time and anything she wanted to buy from a little menu in the center's store. They had chocolate bars and ramen noodles and her favorite cereal. She'd purchased shampoo that made her hair smell like lavender from the garden. A fat drawing pad and colored pencils kept her busy for hours, drawing flowers and stars and boats and clouds. She was becoming a pretty good artist.
he detention center wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be. She had a tiny room of her own that she kept neat and tidy, and it was a relief not to have to deal with anyone else's dirty, balled-up clothes. Someone else did all the cooking and laundry, and she was allowed books and TV time and anything she wanted to buy from a little menu in the center's store. They had chocolate bars and ramen noodles and her favorite cereal. She'd purchased shampoo that made her hair smell like lavender from the garden. A fat drawing pad and colored pencils kept her busy for hours, drawing flowers and stars and boats and clouds. She was becoming a pretty good artist.
Her first week in detention she had purchased writing paper and stamps so that she could pour her heart out in letters to Mama-dish. Her dear mother. How she missed her! Sometimes she imagined the two of them skiing down the mountain together, cutting loops around each other in a giant chain of love. And the cold, lonely nights here made her long for Mom's warm bed. Isabel had written nearly a dozen letters to let Mom know just how much she missed her. So far, she had not received an answer, but she knew that Mom would write back eventually. Someday, Mom would realize that her little girl was here, waiting patiently to love and be loved.
Until then, Isabel had decided to write to someone else.
Mom had mentioned his name once, while she was having one of those heavy talks with Luke and thought no one else in the house could hear.
Frank Dixon.
Isabel had held his name close to her heart, knowing that someday, in some way, she would find him. It hadn't seemed so important while she had Mom, but once she had arrived here at the detention center, she thought it was about time to reach out to Dad.
It wasn't difficult to find him through the Internet. The picture had taken her breath away.
I have his eyes.
Just seeing him had given her a strong sense of belonging.
There was information about his recent trials, and even the name of the prison where he was living. The United States Penitentiary in Victorville, California. She had clicked on the visiting policies on the prison Web site and imagined herself waiting for him to come to the window. The aura of joy on his face when he saw her for the first time. A big smile. A hand pressed to the bulletproof glass.
Of course, they wouldn't be able to meet while they were both incarcerated. But someday, some way . . .
She smoothed her fingertips over the writing paper and pressed pen to paper.
Dear Daddy,
You're going to be surprised to receive this letter from your girl Isabel. That's right, you have a beautiful daughter who shares your dark hair and blue eyes. I can't wait to meet you! I am tied up right now, but I hope to visit you sometime in the future.
I am fifteen years old, and my birthday is in December. A Sagittariusâalways shooting for the stars. I'm confident and optimistic about life and love, even with all the mean things people have done to me.
So are you shocked? I'll let the good news settle in and write you another letter next week. Until then, I just want you to know that you have a daughter who loves you with all her heart. You and I will make a great team; I can feel it already. After all, family is everything.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
Rosalind Noonan
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
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The suggested questions are included to enhance
your group's discussion of Rosalind Noonan's
Take Another Look.
your group's discussion of Rosalind Noonan's
Take Another Look.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
When Jane Ryan could not imagine herself managing to raise twins on her own, she gave one baby up for adoption. Do twins have a special bond that makes them closer than other siblings? Is it harmful or helpful to separate twins as infants? Do you think parents should encourage twins to have a special bond?
When Jane Ryan could not imagine herself managing to raise twins on her own, she gave one baby up for adoption. Do twins have a special bond that makes them closer than other siblings? Is it harmful or helpful to separate twins as infants? Do you think parents should encourage twins to have a special bond?
2.
Could Jane have handled her escape from Frank Dixon differently? Do you think she would have gotten adequate support from the local police department and district attorney's office?
Could Jane have handled her escape from Frank Dixon differently? Do you think she would have gotten adequate support from the local police department and district attorney's office?
3.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, one third of the women killed in the United States are murdered by a domestic partner. Do you think restraining orders curtail domestic violence?
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, one third of the women killed in the United States are murdered by a domestic partner. Do you think restraining orders curtail domestic violence?
4.
Colic has been defined as an extended period of uncontrollable crying (three hours in a row for three days or more) in an otherwise healthy baby. Does American society give mothers like Jane tools to deal with colic? Have technological advances assisted women with mothering or would women be better served by relying on basic mothering instincts?
Colic has been defined as an extended period of uncontrollable crying (three hours in a row for three days or more) in an otherwise healthy baby. Does American society give mothers like Jane tools to deal with colic? Have technological advances assisted women with mothering or would women be better served by relying on basic mothering instincts?
5.
In the discussion of nature versus nurture, which do you think plays the most important role in a child's upbringing ? Is there a type of home environment that might have steered Isabel to become a compassionate, well-rounded human being? In what ways do our genetics predict our destiny?
In the discussion of nature versus nurture, which do you think plays the most important role in a child's upbringing ? Is there a type of home environment that might have steered Isabel to become a compassionate, well-rounded human being? In what ways do our genetics predict our destiny?
6.
The author refers to songs by Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, and Sarah McLachlan to help set the scene for the summer of 1997. Do you find popular references like this to be an asset to a story or a distraction?
The author refers to songs by Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, and Sarah McLachlan to help set the scene for the summer of 1997. Do you find popular references like this to be an asset to a story or a distraction?
7.
What parenting lessons does Jane learn through the course of the story?
What parenting lessons does Jane learn through the course of the story?
8.
The author opens the novel with Eudora Welty's words: “People are mostly layers of violence and tenderness wrapped like bulbs, and it is difficult to say what makes them onions or hyacinths.” How does this apply to the characters of Jane, Harper, and Isabel in
Take Another Look
?
The author opens the novel with Eudora Welty's words: “People are mostly layers of violence and tenderness wrapped like bulbs, and it is difficult to say what makes them onions or hyacinths.” How does this apply to the characters of Jane, Harper, and Isabel in
Take Another Look
?
9.
At the end of the novel, Jane realizes that “People were magnificently flawed, imperfect.” How does this reflect her emotional journey in the novel?
At the end of the novel, Jane realizes that “People were magnificently flawed, imperfect.” How does this reflect her emotional journey in the novel?
10.
If you were casting the roles in
Take Another Look
for a movie, what actors would you choose for Jane, Harper/ Isabel, and Luke? If you were writing the script, would you play up the suspense angles of the story or the psychological conflicts?
If you were casting the roles in
Take Another Look
for a movie, what actors would you choose for Jane, Harper/ Isabel, and Luke? If you were writing the script, would you play up the suspense angles of the story or the psychological conflicts?
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
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Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
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Copyright © 2015 by Rosalind Noonan
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
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eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-326-0
eISBN-10: 1-61773-326-1
First Kensington Electronic Edition: May 2015
eISBN-10: 1-61773-326-1
First Kensington Electronic Edition: May 2015
ISBN: 978-1-6177-3325-3
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