Summary
Erica is going to do something “drastic” if Artie does not kiss her already. Artie is completely different and remarkable onstage. Katherine does not want to go to the after party at Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth’s mother answers the door, and makes it clear that Michael was there before. At the party, Artie is the center of positive attention. Artie tells Katherine he wants to be a professional actor. Katherine doesn’t see anything special between Michael and Elizabeth, but becomes angry at Michael when she sees him kiss Elizabeth on the cheek. Elizabeth is nice to Katherine though. Michael and Katherine do not speak together on the way home. Michael helps Katherine realize she was jealous. They laugh it off. They promise to be honest with each other from now on. Michael wants to have sex, but Katherine explains that she is not mentally ready. Katherine experiences inner conflict when she is lying in bed trying to fall asleep that night. Part of her wants sex, while the other part is afraid.
Michael invites Katherine to go skiing in Vermont with his sister and her husband. Sharon (Michael’s sister) talks to her Mom. Katherine’s Mom is fine with her going, but her Dad is reluctant to let her go. He says he is afraid of her breaking a leg. Erica says it is because fathers don’t like to think of their little girls having sex. Artie and Erica are honest with each other, and he tells her that he doesn’t know if he’s queer or not. Katherine’s mom buys her a ski jacket. Katherine’s Dad tells her that he is worried about her having sex with Michael and getting emotionally hurt by him.
When they arrive in Vermont, Katherine and Michael play with in the snow. Katherine told Michael earlier that she had her period. Michael and Katherine kiss, naked. Michael wants to go further. Michael tells Katherine that he loves her, and that he’s never said that to anyone before. Katherine reveals to the reader that she could have said it back, but didn’t.
Things That Make Me Go “Hmm”
Artie Lewin, in Katherine’s opinion and in my opinion as a reader, seems to have two different sides to him. On stage he is more confident or “more sure of himself” as Katherine says. Things make sense in the next chapter, when Artie reveals that he is unsure of his sexuality.
At the party, Artie’s father takes movies of the teenagers. This is another context clue as to when the book takes place.
The book makes me realize that some things never change. For example, in chapter seven, Katherine’s mother tells her she can go to Vermont. Then, Katherine tells her that she is the best mother ever. Her mother replies “Remember that the next time we disagree.” This made me laugh, because my Mom and I have gone through the same type of conversation a number of times. For some reason, I felt like things would have been “different” in the past. Instead, I see many similarities between people in 1970 and people in 2010. I had this preconceived notion that teenagers in the seventies were much unlike teenagers today. Instances when Michael and Katherine do the dishes and goof around with each other illustrate this, as well as when they have a snow fight with each other. These scenes remind me much of something that would occur today between a boyfriend and girlfriend.
Sharon is an anthropologist. I didn't know what an anthropologist was! “Anthropologists examine, analyze, report on, and compare different cultures and how they grow, develop, and interact.”
When Katherine tells Michael that she has her period a week early, I get the sense that she is lying. She may have done so, because she was nervous to be alone with Michael that day in Vermont.
Michael tells Katherine that he loves her. She could have said it back, “But can you really love someone you’ve seen just nineteen times in your life?” Her quote made me pause to think.
Michael tells Katherine that he loves her. She could have said it back, “But can you really love someone you’ve seen just nineteen times in your life?” Her quote made me pause to think.
Assigned Focus-Summaries and Study Guides
(I was not able to find a summary or study guide that was free for this book.)
I would miss a lot if I didn’t read the actual story! Obviously, a lot of detail is left out in summaries. Summaries, in my opinion, are cut and dry. They lack a lot of emotion. For example, I left out a lot of the interaction and feelings between Michael and Katherine in my summaries. When reading the actual book, I can get a picture in my mind of the characters and the scenes. With a summary, I can’t visualize the story. This is a direct result of the lack of detail. In addition, the story has more impact in your mind when you read the actual book. You can better understand what occurred. I find that from reading just summaries, the book does not have lasting power. I think that it is harder to remember the plot of the story as well. In addition, you can’t form your own opinion when just reading summaries. When you read a summary, the work is not by Judy Blume. It is by whoever wrote the review. Therefore, there is some opinion embedded into the summary from whoever wrote the summary. Subsequently, you miss out on a lot of beautiful, diverse writing styles. I also get a satisfaction from reading a physical book; I like flipping the pages and the sense of accomplishment when my book marker moves from front to back.
Study guides are a good supplement to reading the actual book. I also like to look at them when I am having difficulty identifying themes or symbols. (I did so with Lord of the Flies and The Scarlet Letter). I also like to gain someone else’s insight and opinions, especially because I am not in a class setting with other students. It should be said that study guides and summaries of a book will never replace the actual book. I think it’s a good idea to read the book, and then use study guides for ideas and interpretations.
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