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.