Upon reading pages 135-289 what stood out the most was the character Mona. In this section we find that Mona is not only racist, but that she is extremely snobby and a jealous you know what! Mona acts big and tough and basically bullies girls that she doesn’t like and who she’s jealous of (i.e. Samantha). However, what I found hilarious was when Mona goes with Birdie, Jim, and Sandy to NYC where she is instantly taken from her “comfort” zone. While Jim and Sandy admire the Impressionist paintings, Birdie and Mona ask to wait outside. While outside, Birdie discovers break-dancers and joins them while Mona immediately becomes uncomfortable looking like an outsider–”I clapped my hands, laughing at their expertise, and began to move to the music. Mona stood stiffly by my side, her hands shoved in her pockets…I was surprised at Mona’s transformation. She was so clearly uncomfortable, I almost felt sorry for her…” (Senna 261). While reading this I felt happy because Mona desperately needed a taste of her own medicine. However, Mona really gets it when Birdie finally decides to stand up for herself .
On the way back to New Hampshire they get lost and instead of asking for directions, Jim makes a “wrong turn.” They pull into a “sketchy” neighborhood and a kid decides to throw a rock at the car window. Jim decides to play hero and gets out and yells at the kid for “almost breaking” the windshield. When this happens Mona completely becomes horrified–”Mona had gone pale. She looked as if she were going to cry. ‘Mrs. Goldman,’ she called to my mother, ‘what’s he gonna do’….” (Senna 263). Birdie punches Mona (whooooo hoooo) and says “Shut the f*** up…What do you know.” Here we finally see Birdie fighting back instead of taking the insults. Mona becomes “other” and really deserves what she gets! After the incident Mona says “Oh my God. Oh my f***king God. I shouldn’t have come. Dennis told me not to come” (Senna 264) This was HI-Larioussss! This seems to mark the first time where Birdie finally fights back and when Birdie begins to find her own identity.
LOL at Mona!
Go Birdieeee! 
Birdie needs to drop Mona like a bad habit!
I love this post Shaakira! Despite hating her, I think Mona is a really important character because she seems to get Birdie to figure out who she truly is and who she identifies with. Even though Birdie is acting the part of a Jewish girl in New Hampshire, she seems to have figured out in her heart that she belongs and identifies with the black culture she grew up in. You quickly brought up Samantha; I’m hoping that she becomes a bigger part of the book. I like Samantha and I think her and Birdie could raise hell together and be best buds.
Comment by fischerr546 — November 22, 2009 @ 7:11 am |
Another thought about Mona: remember when they were asking Birdie if she was “really Jewish???” Because that annoyed me the most. The fact that they were willing to drop Birdie after months and months of friendship over whether or not she was Jewish? SO DUMB! But yeah, I was so glad that Mona got punched as well, I kind of wished she had been angry at school the next day and had a huge blow up fight with Birdie over it, leading Birdie to Samantha…. Too bad. =(
Comment by samsayshi2004 — November 22, 2009 @ 12:48 pm |
Another thought about Mona: remember when they were asking Birdie if she was “really Jewish???” Because that annoyed me the most. The fact that they were willing to drop Birdie after months and months of friendship over whether or not she was Jewish? SO DUMB! But yeah, I was so glad that Mona got punched as well, I kind of wished she had been angry at school the next day and had a huge blow up fight with Birdie over it, leading Birdie to Samantha…. Too bad. =(
Comment by samsayshi2004 — November 22, 2009 @ 12:48 pm |