Chapter 16-25 Notes

Chapter 16:
In this chapter, Cadence told us a story she wrote. It was about three princesses competed for the inherit of the king. They proved how much they loved the king. However, the youngest princess got the inherit, she was not happy.

Chapter 17:
Cadence mailed her friends gifts, but neither of them replied her. She also gave the photo of her grandma away.

Chapter 18:
After the accident, Cadence lost some of her memory, and she always forgot things. She asked her mother about the accident everyday, because she could not remember it.

Chapter 19:
Cadence's father wanted to take her to Australia and New Zealand, but Cadence didn't want to go. She wanted to stay with her mom and friends in the Beechwood Island. In the meanwhile, Cadence's granddad came, and he changed a lot.

Chapter 20:
Cadence told us another story. In this story, the king sent his three daughters to beg the evil dragon's mercy, but the dragon just simply ate them all. After grandpa's leaves, Cadence's mother called her father, and told him Cadence would not go to Australia. Instead, Cadence was going to Beechwood for four weeks.

Chapter 21:
Cadence started packing her things. When she thought of Gat, she still felt hurt.

Chapter 22:
Taft called, and he asked whether Cadence was a drug addict. Cadence liked Taft, and she promised that she would take Taft to snorkel and swim.

Chapter 23:
Cadence and her mother arrived in the Island finally, and Cadence found there was a huge change happened to the island.

Chapter 24
Cadence met the littles. The littles lived with Grandad, and liars lived in Cuddledown alone except Cadence. Cadence found grandad had some mental problems, he always called her Mirren.

Chapter 25
The liars had a conversation. They talked about colleges, and Cadence told them she could not go to college this year. Liars felt Cadence was pitiful, but Cadence told them not to be sorry for her.

Questions

Who is gat?
Where does penny and cadence live on island?
Who is the eldest grandchild?
What's the name of Gat's girlfriend in New York ?
What is the name of the island where Sinclairs spend summer?

Think about what do Sinclairs think of Gat.
Analyze what is the relationship with gat and Cadence?
Why do you think four young children lie?

Sinclair----unhappy old-money family

In the book, We Were Liars, the story takes place in Massachusetts America, specifically a private island; it is about a distinguished family, Sinclairs. This family spends every summer in their own private island, and the story starts when the main character, Cadence is eight years old. Cadence and her cousins have a good time in the first few years, until an accident takes place suddenly.

Sinclairs are all white, blonde, athletic and beautiful, however, they are not actually as perfect as they seem like. Sinclair is an old-money family, but they are almost running out of their money. Harris and Tipper are Cadence’s grandparents, and they hold the money. They are deceitful; they also teach their children to smile all the time, even though they are in a bad mood. When Carrie brings Ed to the island, even if they do not like Ed, they still smile to him and praise him. Also, Carrie and Penny have failed marriage. When Cadence’s father leaves, Cadence is sad and upset, but her mother said to “get hold of myself. Be normal, now, she said. Right now, she said. “ (E. Lockhart, We Were Liars, Kindle Locations 182-183). People in this family actually live in other’s eyes. They fear that other people know they are not happy, so they smile all the time. They hide their true emotion, and they wear masks everyday.

Children are more honest and happy than the adults in the Sinclair family. Cadence has six cousins: Johnny, Will, Mirren, Taft and twins. When Cadence is eight, Gat starts coming to the island and playing with them. Since then, Johnny, Mirren, Gat and Cadence are called liars. Gat is not like Sinclairs at all. Gat has dark skin, and he does not have blonde hair. Gat is a quiet boy; he is not as active as Johnny. He likes reading books alone in the hammock. Although Gat is just a kid, but he is clever. He understands that he is not a Sinclair, and he cannot borrow the boat by himself. Though he is close to Sinclair kids, there is still a line between them. He comes to Cadence, because he likes Cadence. The “liars” are so naive so far; they just play together. Johnny is a naughty, bounce boy, and he hates girls. He kicked his cousins, instead saying hi. “ Back then he would hang our Barbies by the necks or shoot us with guns made of Lego.” (E. Lockhart, We Were Liars, Kindle Locations 209-210) In addition, Johnny is the first grandson, so the grandparents hardly refuse his requests. This makes Johnny spoiled. Oppositely, Mirren is a sweet, curious but wet girl. Cadence is a sensitive and clever girl, but she is not happy. Through the words, Cadence always uses a sarcastic tone; she actually hates her family and the way they live. Her father’s departure hurts Cadence, but she does not say that, like all the Sinclairs do. Cadence is also a clever girl; she understands her situation all the time. When her father leaves, she follows her mother’s orders, because she does not want to lose her mother. When other kids live in the appearance happily, Cadence knows the real situation the family is in. Like what she said:“Suffer migraines. Do not suffer fools.” (E. Lockhart, We Were Liars, Kindle Location 164) Though these kids have different personalities, skin color or background, they are still close friends.

In conclusion, Sinclair is an old-money family, but people are not happy. They hide too many secrets, and they actually live for other people’s eyes. The first five chapters are just beginning. Readers have not known about the accident Cadence suffers, the secrets Sinclairs hide, the lies they tell yet. 

Notes

In this two chapters, Lorenzo went to the hospital where his grandma lived to find some medicines for Olivia. Lorenzo started changing in these two chapters, he wanted to help and save his sister. When he got the pills, he woke his grandma, and she thought Lorenzo came to visit her. Lorenzo then told her a story about the robot which cleaned their swimming pools. The robot's name was K19, which had an electronic brain. It was designed for assassinating Saddam, however, the postman made a mistake. The robot was sent to a family in California. Because K19 is a weapon, it killed thousands of people who lived in California. The government sent armies to kill K19; K19 then jumped into the sea. It seemed like a sad ending, so Lorenzo made up a new ending. K19 lived in the sea with turtles, and it had its own babies. After telling the story, someone saw Lorenzo, so he had to run away. On the way to the cellar, he destroyed Silver Monkey's soup and stole his beer. When he got to the cellar, he saw his sister was lying on the bed. He thought she was dead, but she was not. She just took some sleeping pills and slept.

reaction

When I finished reading chapter 10, I thought this is a good ending. They danced and sang to celebrate the last night. Olivia promised that she would never take drugs, and Lorenzo promised they would meet again. I started imagining the picture of their second meeting. I really hope I didn't keep reading, I should've end in chapter 10! I know I should've go to bed immediately! His sister died because of overdose! She broke her promise, and they met after she dead. This ending made me sad and angry. I feel sad for Olivia, because Roman did not be with her when she was dying, and she was alone again at last. I was mad, because how could the author make up this ending! After reading this book, I only learned one thing: never take drugs, because once you take, it is hard to live without it. 

Revised Haiku Poems

Moonlight

Moonlight is so sweet, 

It lay on my bed tonight , 

say good night to me. 

Go outside

You need to listen,

ha, birds are singing outside, 

but you are working. 

Umbrella 

My heart is raining,

Please give me an umbrella, 

Now it is sunny. 

Three thinking questions

1. What do Lorenzo's parents think about Olivia?
2. Why Olivia has nowhere to go?
3. Why Olivia doesn't ask Lorenzo's parents for help?