Dear Edward, Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of Dear Edward.

Did you enjoy reading this section? How do you feel about Edward as the story is progressing? It's interesting to read about Edward on the plane because he seems so different from the serious boy that we know from after the crash. It's also interesting to read the plane chapters because it's easy to see that Edward and Jordan were so close. Do you feel connected to anyone else on the plane? Do you want to know more about any passenger in particular? 

At the beginning of this section, Edward gets the all clear from the doctor, and suddenly, everyone around him is treating him differently. People aren't as careful with him and have higher expectations for him. It seemed like that transition was hard for him because even though his outsides were healing and were normal, his insides were still so full of grief. He had a freak out in gym class--it's so surprising the things in normal life that are so triggering to him. 

The other big change at the beginning of this section is that Shay says that Edward can't sleep in her room anymore. That change sends Edward into a complete spiral. It was really scary when he ended up falling asleep on the sidewalk. I just wish he could be comfortable in his aunt and uncle's house. It would make things a lot easier for him. 

At school, he is weight lifting. Do you think that is helping him? It's hard to find anything that interests him. Being in the garage and reading the things from the people on the plane seems to interest him. What did you think of the letters that everyone was sending him? Do you think it was fair of them to ask all of those things of Edward? Those letters just show how hard it is to grieve. The people were just looking for anything that would make them feel some closure about the crash. Don't you wish that Edward would talk about these letters with some sort of adult so they could help him process everything? 

Lacey is a really sad character throughout the book. She obviously loves Edward and is doing her best to care for him. But, she is so sad about babies and the life she thought she would have but didn't. I just felt so sad for her every time she showed up in the book. What did you think of Lacey? What did you think of John? John is harder to read. But, it's obvious that he cares about Edward a lot, too. They just seem to sad as a pair. 

At the end of this section, Edward reads one of his letters and gets a check for $7,300,000. What do you think he's going to do with that money? He doesn't need to have that money, so I can't imagine that he won't use it for something else. And, then, he reads that his brother had a girlfriend, and he wants to go see the girl. Do you think he will do that in the next section? What do you think that will be like for him to meet someone who was so important to his brother? 

What do you think will happen in the next section? How do you think the story will end for Edward? We obviously know how the plane chapters will end, but what do you think his real life will be like? Are you excited to keep reading? 

Before you go, check out this interview that Ann Napolitano did on Today. And, check out the video below to see three books that Ann Napolitano recommends. Have you read any of the books that she recommended? 

Thanks for following along this week! I hope you are really enjoying the book. Make sure to leave a comment to let me know how you felt about this section!