How much more isolated can you get than being the only kid without a mom? When Corinna's friends talk about whose mother is going to pick them up after school in If Only, she thinks about what would happen if her dad died in a car accident. When they have mother-daughter tea parties, they pass out invitations behind her back. And when they complain about how their moms won't let them do stuff, she feels jealous that they have moms at all.
Corinna became a social alien when Sophie got cancer. Now that her mom's gone, Corinna's just trying to get through the school day without anyone noticing she has t
Questions About Isolation
- Would Corinna have felt less isolated if she'd lost her dad instead of her mom?
- Why don't Corinna and Clare introduce their surviving parents? After all, Corinna's dad needs a support system, too.
- What could Corinna's friends do to make her feel less alone? What does she most need them to say?
Chew on This
Not knowing what to say to someone who's grieving can make you feel isolated, too. Corinna's friends miss her, and they share her desire for things to return to normal.
Some isolation is necessary during mourning—you need time alone to sort out your thoughts and deal with your emotions.