Pushing the Limits Read-Along

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! I'm participating in the Pushing the Limits Read-along, hosted by Candace's Book Blog. Basically, we read a set number of pages each week and then answer questions. We put our links for where we answered the questions in the linky and get entered for prizes. It's really fun and you get to read an awesome book if anyone wants to join! It's not too late! Just go to Candace's Book Blog to check it out!
Week 1 (this week through 8/7) we read pages 1-84. Questions are below:

1. The story starts out with Echo’s thoughts on how she wants to answer her therapist’s questions (snarky and caustically truthful) which are quickly juxtaposed to how she does (milque-toasty and banal).Who do you think she hides the truth for more, her parents or herself?

A: I'd say her parents. She says how she really feels in her own head (the truth) but doesn't have the nerve to openly defy her father, so she pretends to be daddy's little girl, even though she's really more rebellious than that.

2. We see Mrs. Collins, the school therapist, interact with both Echo and Noah in the first few chapters. From those interactions, what do you think of her? Is she a prototypical caricature of state care? Or do you think she’s there to make an honest difference in the lives of those she’s there to help?

A: I actually think a little of both. For the most part, I think she really cares about the kids and wants to help them. We see this in how she goes the extra mile, getting better visitation for Noah with his brothers, and in how she speaks directly to both of them, on their level. In Echo's case, she specifically asks her how she's feeling, rather than let her father speak for her. With Noah, she listens to and takes into account what he says, as well as not taking any crap from him.That said, because of the authority/teenager roles in these relationships, it's nearly impossible for Mrs. Collins not to come off as condescending in the kids' eyes. In that way, she is just caricature of the system that's let them down time and again. I'm excited to see if she can restore their faith in the system or not

.3. Noah has two friends, Beth and Isaiah, who have his back no matter what--through thick and thin--and he has theirs. Consequently, his life is a little easier because he has two people who know about his situation. Echo only has one close friend, and Lila will barely speak to her in school.Do you think Echo would have had an easier time coping and moving on if she had friends like Noah does?

A: Possibly. I think it would really depend on the friend. Of course all things are easier to deal with if you have awesome friends, but Echo's problem has specifically to do with her not wanting her friends at school to know certain things about her. Noah, on the other hand, has problems that deal with family and authority, rather than friends. These are things he can connect with his friends over, where Echo doesn't really (in her mind) have that luxury. Due to the different kinds of problems they each face, it may not be easier for Echo, even if her friends were more supportive.

4 . Echo fixates on a colorful ribbon that sits on the school counselor's desk during their one-on-one sessions.  Do you think this is a case of "Oh, look at the pretty ribbon. Let me zone out while staring at it" , or could it have a deeper significance?

A: Definitely has deeper significance. If it was just a pretty ribbon Mrs. Collins was showing off, Echo wouldn't be so drawn to it.

5 .) Noah and the jacket... Already when Noah and Echo meet for the first time, Noah got angry when Echo forgot her Jacket (pg 34). Then on Echo’s Birthday party Noah gave Echo his jacket when he saw that she forgot hers (pg 54). There is a significance behind his anger when Echo has no coat and it tells already so much about Noah!a) Why do you think is Noah so focused on Echo and her Jacket and what does that tell you about Noah's character?

A: Noah is someone who worries about people and is used to taking care of them. Most teenage boys wouldn't notice, let alone worry, that someone didn't have a jacket. Yet, because he is trying to get custody of his brothers, this kind of parental-worry mindset is dominating his thoughts. I think it also shows a kind of possessiveness. I don't mean a negative kind, though. Anyone that means anything to him, he sees as his in some way; as a part of HIS life, so he feels the need to take care of him. Even if he never developed feelings for Echo, this is kind of a your-my-tutor-so-I'm-loyal-to-you-and-feel-the-need-to-take-care-of-you kind of thing. In fact, at one point I think he said something to the effect of, if you get sick from not having a jacket, how will you tutor me? This tells a lot about his mindset.

b) Show us your favorite jacket! Either with you having it on or alone!

A: We're supposed to do at least five questions, but I'm too lazy tonight to do pictures, so instead I'll do 5 and 6 but only the first parts! Sorry! :D

6. Echo wears gloves all the time to hide her scars. Not only for her sake, but obviously also for the others. When Noah sees Echo’s scars for the first time he’s shocked.a) Do you think this was the moment he began to see Echo in a different light?

A: Yes, I think this is where he stopped seeing her as the snotty rich kid and started realizing that she had problems, just like him, and maybe they were kindred spirits after all

.b) Show us your favorite pair of gloves!

A: Forfeiting this answer too! 

Now head over to The Page Turners for next weeks questions! And to Bewitched Bookworms for this weeks giveaway! 

Happy Monday! :D

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