Orphan Girl

This book kept me spellbound until probably the last eighth of the book when I couldn't quite believe in the main character's motivation. I still recommend the book highly.

Just briefly, it is the story of a little girl who had been abandoned when she was three weeks old. She was a feisty thing who became very disillusioned by social services. With good reason. I personally wanted to wring the social worker's neck. 

This little girl went through about thirty-three foster homes, one where they ate in front of her and starved her, can you believe?

When she was ten, there was a wonderful wonderful woman who wanted to adopt her. Others before had wanted to adopt her -- Victoria was her name. And yet, every time, she was returned to social services.

You have to understand that Victoria was a handful. She didn't believe in the false kindness she had often met with etc. But this new adoptive mother was going to keep Victoria forever, no matter what.

Elizabeth was the name of this adoptive mother. She was so special, and I want to give you an example, an example which makes me love her forever.

When Victoria went to school, it was unhappy for her, particularly when the other girls made fun of her and called her Orphan Girl.

When Victoria finally was able to tell Elizabeth, right away, without a moment's hesitation, Elizabeth said: "You're not going to go back to that school. I'm going to home-school you."

And so Elizabeth did. She did so beautifully. Elizabeth never taught subjects. For example, Victoria learned measurements through following recipes, and Victoria excelled in arithmetic and baking. Elizabeth was a creative and original teacher and made learning a delight. This what I really wanted to tell you about.

Elizabeth would have kept Victoria forever but social services didn't take into account that, for the first time in her life, Victoria was happy there.

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I also have decided to add a feature to each blog entry. It's an Indian Ocean report:

Today, the ocean from my window at this moment -- you understand the ocean can change in the blink of an eye -- the ocean is a much darker gray than yesterday. And today the line demarking sky and ocean is very distinct. What makes it so, I don't know.

Do you know, Jack?