Introduction
Sara Zarr wrote the novel Story of a Girl in 2007. The piece has received awards, including the National Books Award, the American Library Association Best Novel, the ALA Quick Pick, the New York Teen Age Public Library Book, and the Utah Book Award. Arguably, these awards indicate that it is one of the best books for teenagers to read and understand the consequences of their choices and the importance of forgiveness.
Summary
The setting of the book commences in Deanna’s home until the time she joins college. When Deanna is thirteen years old, her father, Ray, discovers that she is having an affair with Tommy, their neighbor. Since this time, Ray and Mrs. Lambert, Deanna’s mother, develop a conflict with her, which is a sign of family violence. On her last day as a sophomore, senior students taunt Deanna regarding her previous relationship with Tommy until Jason, her coursemate, comes to her rescue. At this point, Deanna develops a love interest in Jason, kissing him despite knowing that Jason is dating her best friend, Lee. Deanna forgives Tommy, decides to ask her parents for forgiveness, and requests her brother, Darren, to invite Stacy to forgive him for marrying her while young, which is another indication of family violence.
Analysis
Ecological Models (Microsystem Theories)
Ecological models by Bronfenbrenner are one of the theories that can explain the violence that Deanna goes through in her underage life. The microsystem tenets can be used to describe Deanna’s experience. The microsystem is the relationship between developing individuals and their immediate settings. In the book, Deanna is presented as an underage girl that finds herself having a sexual relationship with Tommy. At the beginning of the novel, the audience comprehends that Deanna is thirteen years old, and towards the end, she continues having sexual affairs with Tommy. The surrounding environment might have influenced Deanna because her older brother Darren has a teen girlfriend, Stacy, who later realizes that she is young to have a child and quits (Zarr, 2007). The maltreatment and violence on the girl develop due to her immoral behavior of having sex while young, hence making her parents bitter. It is worth noting that the microsystem theories are vivid, considering the stress that Deanna undergoes.
Risk Characteristics
Arguably, negligence is the characteristic that puts the abuser at risk. Deanna’s parents are prone to judgment before a court of law because of abandoning their underage daughter. Deanna’s parents do not converse with her because they see her sexual behaviors as an embarrassment (Zarr, 2007). The girl is underage, and she can make many mistakes. Before a court of law, Ray and Mrs. Lambert can be prosecuted and convicted because of neglecting Deanna and not giving her the required advice as a young and blossoming child. Moreover, poor communication put Deanna’s parents at risk of losing their family, since Darren equally evacuates to another apartment. Tommy is another abuser whose behavior of having sex with an underage girl can put her at risk of being jailed. Contrary, Deanna develops sexual interests and kisses Jason, despite knowing that he is dating Lee, one of her closest friends, and sleeping with Tommy (Zarr, 2007). Deanna is presented as abused, and her trait of having sexual affairs puts her at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and even pregnancy.
Strengths
One of the strengths the abusers have is that they are supportive of their daughter financially. Notably, the novel Story of a Girl highlights that Deanna is on her last day as a sophomore (Zarr, 2007). Understandably, the author develops a picture in the reader’s mind that regardless of Deanna disagreeing with her parents, they still support her education since they pay school fees. Ray and Mrs. Lambert are trying to ensure that their daughter’s future is bright by supporting her financially. Besides, Deanna, although being abused, has many strengths, including the courage to ask for forgiveness. Deanna asks her father’s forgiveness, stating that the distance between her and her parents hurts her (Zarr, 2007). Ray forgives his daughter and helps her purchase a car a few days before the opening of schools. Moreover, she forgives Tommy and intends to apologize to Lee for kissing her boyfriend (Zarr, 2007).
Impact
The short-term impact of the violence on Deanna includes social, cognitive, and emotional effects. Darren declines Deanna’s suggestion to contribute money and live with her (Zarr, 2007). The girl also allows Tommy into her life for the second time because of desperation (Zarr, 2007). She is lonely because she feels her family’s absence and dates Tommy to get someone who can keep her. Deanna is distressed because neither her family nor society wants to associate with her. She is mocked when fellow students discover her past life with Tommy (Zarr, 2007). Moreover, loneliness is another short-term impact of the absence of his wife, Stacy. The woman regrets getting married to Darren at an earlier age.
Furthermore, the long-term consequence of violence is the low self-esteem that young girl faces. Notably, because students back at school know everything regarding Deanna and Tommy’s past life, she might find it difficult to interact freely with her fellow students. Stress is another long-term effect on both Darren and Stacy. The present trends of running away project how Stacy will have conflicts with Darren, quarrel, and subsequently fight. Stacy is not happy in the current relationship.
Environment
The environment contributed to family violence, considering that most behaviors are learned. As mentioned above, Darren, Deanna’s elder brother, dates a teen who decides to abandon both her husband and April, their daughter (Zarr, 2007). Seemingly, early marriage is a ‘norm’ in Deanna’s surrounding society. Arguably, she might have been influenced by this notion of early matrimonial, hence deciding to equally fall in love at a tender age, leading to family violence.
The environment also imparts knowledge to Deanna concerning the importance of collaboration, harmony, and family. Darren reconciles with his wife, Stacy, and they move to a place of their own (Zarr, 2007). Critically, it is at this point that Deanna realizes that she equally needs to reconcile with her father and lead an everyday life where she feels parental love and care. In other words, Stacy’s return to Darren’s life motivated Deanna to seek forgiveness from her father equally.
Critique
Flaws
When learning about family violence, the book’s weakness is that it applauds early sexual engagement, whereby individuals hope that they will reconcile with their parents afterward. Moreover, the book encourages sexual relationships, considering that despite Deanna’s parents knowing that Tommy is ruining their daughter’s life, they take no legal steps against the perpetrator. Overall, the book teaches teens that they can do anything inappropriate and finally make reconciliations.
Strengths
One of the book’s strengths is that it urges for forgiveness from those that one has wronged. Deanna asks for understanding from those she had treated wrong, including her father, who later contributes money to buy her first car (Zarr, 2007). Equally, the novel challenges teens to be hardworking in everything that they do, emulating Deanna’s example, whereby she decides to work at Picasso to get money to contribute equally and stay with Darren (Zarr, 2007).
Overall Evaluation
The book is educative as it teaches the young generation that it does not matter how many times one falls. What determines people’s success is discovering oneself and what they want in life, hence achieving it. For instance, Deanna comprehends that she wants peace with her parents and decides to talk one-on-one with her father, asking for forgiveness. Therefore, the book is educative as it imparts knowledge to the audience regarding the importance of reconciliation.
Personal Response
Impact
The book educated me on the prudence of making peace and harmony with my family members and the entire society. It taught me that I should have a kind heart ready to forget once people ask for forgiveness, as Ray does. I have learned that reconciliation is a sign of maturity, and I need to embrace it. The novel is also an excellent piece that teaches me, as a teen, that they need to be hardworking and productive in society.
Learning
One old belief that was challenged while reading the book is that teens cannot make proper decisions. Despite Deanna going astray, she composes herself and decides to approach her father to ask for forgiveness (Zarr, 2007). Moreover, she decides to meet Lee and ask for compassion over what they did with Jason apart from forgiving Tommy. Thus, these discoveries challenge the old belief that teens cannot make the right decisions by themselves.
Recommendation
The novel’s problem commences when Deanna starts having a sexual relationship with Tommy at the age of thirteen years. No parent wants their children to be misused at an early age. Thus, parents need to embrace guidance and counseling for their children at a young age to avoid this problem. Holistically, through counseling, adolescents will know that engaging in erotic affairs is dangerous, hence enhancing abstinence.
Reference
Zarr, S. (2007). Story of a Girl. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.