In Defining Dulcie, the story was based around the destination. Most of Dulcie’s trip was focused on how long it would be before she arrived, or what she would do once she did arrive, not the actual journey there. Although parts of the trip were mentioned, the majority of the story takes place at Dulcie’s father’s death, her mom chooses to move across the United States, from Newbury, CT to San Leandro, CA, to escape the memories of her now-dead husband. Dulcie doesn’t want to move, but is forced to come. After a few weeks in California, Dulcie steals their truck and drives all the way back to Newbury by herself, occasionally sending postcards to her mother in California and to her grandfather in Connecticut. I would not want to make a similar trip because although it would be very interesting and educational, I would become bored and tired of driving so far. Even though an actual trip takes place, an internal journey also occurs. As Dulcie drives back home she contemplates her father’s death, and by the end of the book Dulcie becomes mentally and emotionally stronger. She learns how to come to terms with her father’s death. My favorite part of the book is on pages 163-164, when Dulcie is lying on her back on the top of a hill, and is imagining invisible strings connecting herself to all the different parts of her life. She says, “All these things were connected to me, and for one brief moment I was at the center of things – my town, my story, my self.” I loved this part of the book, because it is the part where Dulcie has found herself and is content with the world…at least for the moment. I think it would be a wonderful feeling to be totally happy with everything around you. I would recommend this book because it is deep, talking about her father’s death and a friend’s abusive mother, but it is also funny (at one point during her trip she stops in Kansas to see a farm of actual fainting goats). I enjoyed this bood and I believe others will also.
Recommended by Ellie, grade 9
