Reading for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Fall, 2011

Book Club Rules....

We will read Chapters 1 - 15 for the next meeting, and then the balance of the book will be completed by the following class meeting.

We will post our thoughts at the end of the 5th chapter, the 10th chapter, and the 15th chapter by the next class meeting.

We will post our thoughts at the end of the 20th chapter, the 25th chapter, the 30th chapter, and finally we will post our thoughts at the end of the book.

Happy Reading!

Chapters 1-5

I was excited to be able to read this book! We have friends whom we see each summer at the beach who have a 20 year old autistic son, and I was interested in this particular book because I felt like it might give me some insights about his life. I went home after class and purchased the book on my Kindle, and, I have to confess, I could hardly put it down – I read the entire book over the next few days!

This book had me hooked from the beginning. It seemed that Marcelo was having an EEG exam, and that he did not mind it; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it, as he listened to the music! Who enjoys an EEG? I was intrigued by the way he made a mental note to use the word “sweet” when he liked something. Marcelo is clearly an intelligent boy, but it was also clear that he had to work at understanding how to relate to other people. He had to learn how to “read” expressions and emphasizing the right word in a sentence was a skill that he had to develop. Marcelo is systematic, very logical, and knowledgeable about factual information. He does not see himself as disabled; he tells us that the data the doctor is gathering in the EEG study helps them work with other people who, as he puts it, “truly need help.”

His mother and father, it seemed, had different points of view about their son. His mom, Aurora, seems to understand Marcelo, and seems to accept his differences. She understands when, for example, he doesn’t answer her question on the drive home from the stables – she knows that he will answer her when he is ready, and she is not offended or angry by his lack of response. When she talks with Marcelo about his father’s wishes, she uses logical statements to share her opinion, and, rather than demanding, she makes suggestions to Marcelo. His father, on the other hand, appeared to believe that Marcelo did not have a difference, that he didn’t belong in the special school which he had attended, and that all he needed was a normal environment. A lawyer, Arturo also approached Marcelo with logic, but it didn’t seem to have the same compassion and understanding of Aurora’s approach had.

Both parents had Marcelo’s well-being at the heart of their desire for him to work at the law offices for the summer. They knew it would take him out of his comfort zone, and they believed that learning to deal with situations in the “real world” would strengthen his coping skills and help him learn to get along outside of the protected environment in his special school. I could see both sides of this issue, and my heart ached for all three of the characters at this point. I could understand Marcelo’s fear of the unknown, and the lure of the job which he did well and enjoyed. I understood his father’s wish to help Marcelo learn to deal with the realities of the world – he would not be able to be in a protected environment all of his life, after all, and the summer job would be a first step toward Marcelo’s functioning in a normal environment. I also understood Aurora’s feelings of being torn between what her husband wanted for Marcelo, what she knew would benefit him in the long run, and what her beloved son, Marcelo, wanted so badly.

Chapters 1-5
I am very excited that I am able to read this book! It’s interesting right from the start. I like how it really goes into depth about exactly how Marcelo thinks and what his thought process is. It’s interesting and informative to see how differently he has to process and think about certain information, like sarcasm and facial expressions.
It was also interesting to read about his parents’ different approaches to Marcelo. His mother seemed to be in favor of letting him attend Patterson, the school where he felt most comfortable, and letting him make his own choices. His father, on the the other hand, appears at first to be forcing him to leave the school he loves and go to a public high school in the “real world.” I found myself upset at this at first, but after reading his father’s side of the story and his views, I saw that he had a valid point. Yes, Marcelo was comfortable in his old school, but he can’t live in that protective bubble forever. His father was just trying to think ahead to later on in his life, maybe even to a time when he or his mom wouldn’t be around to help him. He wants to make sure Marcelo has the skills necessary to survive in the “real world.” He just wants what is best for him.
I was not surprised when Marcelo agreed to give up his much anticipated summer job training ponies at Patterson for working at the law firm if it meant he could have a chance at going to Patterson for his senior year. However, it was a bit sad when his father and him were on the train going to work and he was telling Marcelo all the things he shouldn’t do while he was at the law firm. While I realize he was just trying to give Marcelo tips on how to fit in and be successful there, it sounded like he was saying “you can’t be yourself and you have to change who you are to be successful,” which is a saddening message. There was also a point where his father said the kids at Patterson were “not normal,” and that Marcelo “didn’t belong there.” These statements rubbed me the wrong way just a little because it gave off the impression that he looked down at Patterson and might have problems with accepting that Marcelo is a little different and wants him to be “normal” like other kids instead of just being himself.

Still loving the book! I can’t put it down! I believe that Marcelo’s father was right; he is learning a lot about the real world by working at the law firm. For example, he will need to learn how to deal with people like Wendell; people who want to take advantage of him because they think they’re smarter or better than him. So far I like Jasmine’s character. Despite the fact that she was a little on the chilly side when he first started, she takes her time explaining things to him, and has shown at times that she is a little protective of him even, as if she knows people there will try and take advantage of him and she wants to prevent it. For example, when she told Marcelo that if anyone wanted him to do any work for them, they had to ask her first, so that she could make sure he wasn’t being taken advantage of. I felt saddened at the end of chapter ten when Marcelo overhears the conversation between his father and the other lawyer at the gym because he can tell that something isn’t right and it is confusing for him to think that his father could do something that he knows is wrong. i am glad Marcelo has someone like Jasmine at the law firm to rely on and trust but I am nervous for him and his situations with Wendell and even his father.

Chapters 10-15
In these chapters, the reason why Wendell has decided to befriend Marcelo has become clear. He want’s to use him to get Jasmine alone on his boat. Luckily, Marcelo is able to tell that Wendell does not have good intentions and he does not want to help him. However, sadly, he is afraid to lose Wendell as a “friend.” It’s sad that he doesn’t know enough about what a friend is and should be that he thinks Wendell is one to him.
The mystery of the girl in the picture is also introduced in these chapters. Marcelo is doing a task for Wendell and finds a picture of a girl who looks like she was injured. He is drawn to the picture for some reason and needs to find out more about her. I am nervous for him about what kind of information he might find out about his father or his father’s law firm. However, he is almost immediately informed by his father that Wendell requested him to work for him full time, and Marcello is very upset by that. His father seems to think it’s a wonderful idea, and keeps insisting that Marcelo try to be friends with Wendell and be more like him. It concerns me that his father can’t even tell what kind of person Wendell is and that he is encouraging his son to interact with that type of person. I got the impression that Arturo was a smart individual at the beginning of the book, but how can he be if he can’t see through Wendell’s disguise?

Chapters 1-5

I was immediately interested in reading this book because I am fascinated by autism. It is a unique and wide-ranging condition with which I have had limited experience.

Marcelo comes across as both a simple and complex character. He has reflective, internal thoughts and conversations. To me, this depicts many years of practice with techniques that help him to process and cope with situations and others. I wonder if we will learn more about his childhood. He seems to tolerate being studied but is quite pleased when he finally describes his “internal music” in terms Dr. Malone understands. I’m surprised he does so well having an MRI. I’ve had several due to migraines and just thinking about being in the “tunnel” makes me nervous. Paterson, a therapeutic farm, serves as his refuge where he helps “disabled kids.” It is interesting he doesn’t view himself as having anything in common with these kids. Marcelo is very perceptive when it comes to his mom talking to Harry and picks up on the fact that his “Father” has a different idea of how he should be spending his time. His dad, Arturo, seems to struggle with the reality of Marcelo’s autism and even reminds him he is not disabled. It seems to me he desperately wants his son to be something he’s not, fit into his corporate world, and embrace what he calls the “real world.” Despite issues with his dad’s vision for his life, his mom Aurora makes a good point when she describes all that Arturo has allowed Marcelo to do, (even though he didn’t agree) including live in a tree house. I think between his mom’s story of why she became a nurse and Yolanda’s sisterly advice/pep-talk over the phone, Marcelo wanted to believe his time in the law firm mail room would not be that bad. However on the train ride there, it becomes apparent his dad is trying to convince himself and others that Marcelo is normal and can in fact fit into the “real world.”

I thought Chapter 6 was a particularly interesting chapter because of the way Marcelo described himself and his “cognitive disorder,” as his father put it. It was clear that Marcelo did not see himself as disabled, but rather, as different. He said “I view myself as different in the way I think, talk, and act, but not as someone who is abnormal or ill.” He went on to describe the main characteristics of Asberger’s Syndrome, which are deficiencies in communications and social interaction. He said that people with AS usually have some kind of what he called a “pervasive interest.” As they had mentioned in earlier chapters, Marcelo had to learn to interpret body language and some of the slang phrases that he encountered in the office; however it did not seem to bother him. He said that he had learned to let people go on talking, and that the meanings of those phrases became clear as they went on. This fascinated me. As I read I thought of how many things we say that would not make literal sense, and how difficult it would make things for students with AS, or even ELL students. I did think that the job in the mailroom might be a good one for Marcelo because it is so organized and systematic. With a map to help him learn where people are, and the strict routine maintained by the mailroom, it looked like, perhaps, the best kind of job for him.

I also thought it was interesting that Marcelo did not seem bothered that his father had said he had a “cognitive disorder.” His logical approach to understanding what his father had actually meant was fascinating. To a person with what we would call “normal” emotions, that comment could be heartbreaking. Marcelo simply decided that his father had used the term to define something that was really difficult to define, but that his actions did not imply that the thought Marcelo was out of touch with reality. He didn’t even take offense when Wendell called him “Gump!”

His detachment helped him work through difficult situations without getting upset with himself, even when it appeared that Jasmine was setting him up to fail at an important task.

It was fascinating to listen to Marcelo talk with Wendell about relationships with females. The logical and systematic approach he took to the question of female beauty – even requesting examples – was the approach I had begun to expect from him; however, it was kind of sad that he didn’t quite understand the emotions (or hormones, in Wendell’s case!) which were involved. Although that detachment did not actually cause a problem, it did make me feel that Marcelo had more of a deficiency than he realized.

In these chapters it struck me how observant Marcelo was. He noticed things about people, their reactions to things and to situations that others didn’t seem to notice, whether because they were too busy, too distracted, or too self-absorbed. He, for example, noticed the way the clerk at the courthouse paid attention to Jasmine, and as a result, Marcelo knew that all of the papers that they needed to file would be stamped with an appropriate time, even if they got there late. It seemed that, although he made note of all of these things, though, he did not know exactly how they fit together with the emotions people felt, nor was he able to understand all of the motivation behind the actions of others. It did seem like Marcelo was developing some form of relationship with Jasmine in these chapters, though. He was becoming comfortable enough with her to open up about his thoughts and to ask her questions, and she obviously liked him because she even took Marcelo to her home. I kind of thought that she liked him because she didn’t feel threatened by him, that she perceived him as “harmless,” in a sense. She could be friendly with him without the physical overtones. I liked the fact that Marcelo and Jasmine were becoming friends. It seemed like, without anyone who understood him at the law office, he must have felt kind of lost.

Marcelo’s conversations with Wendell were clearly causing him to think of people in ways he had never thought of them before. His sister had warned him about Wendell, but it seemed that he had forgotten, or perhaps he did not understand what she meant when she warned him. Wendell was using Marcelo for purposes which Marcelo did not truly understand, but he sensed that Wendell’s motivation was not good. Prior to that point I felt like Marcelo saw things as “black or white,” as good or bad. Now it appeared to me that he was not as sure about things – he wanted to be Wendell’s friend, but he did not seem to trust him. He liked Jasmine and did not seem to be sure that Wendell wanted good things for her. This is the first time that I recognized confusion in Marcelo’s thoughts.

Chapters 6-10

Marcelo took a leap right into the “real world” when he began working with Jasmine in the mailroom. Although she seemed almost unfriendly or a bit cold at first, I think they are going to get along really well. Marcelo quickly learns that working at his dad’s law firm is going to be nothing like Paterson. When Jasmine takes Marcelo on the morning mail run, it is interesting how she kind of takes him under her wing, offers advice, but also asks the blunt question, “What’s wrong with you anyway?” Marcelo is taken back when he learns his dad mentioned him having a cognitive disorder. I like that instead of saying he’s obsessed, he prefers “special interest in God.” It sounds about right on target when he describes himself as not being as Asperger’s as other with the same diagnoses. Although I don’t think he completely understood being called Forrest Gump was rather rude. It will be interesting to see how Marcelo’s relationship with Wendell unfolds. It was an uncomfortable but learning experience for Marcelo to complete his first independent task of binding the reports. But I think he handled it pretty well and I’m thinking he might just surprise everyone (himself and his dad too) and be successful in the so called “real world.”

Chapters 11-15

My how the plot thickens quickly in this book! Jasmine and Marcelo seem to form the beginnings of a strong bond and become closer as they share thoughts and discuss the meaning beauty. Marcelo struggles as he attempts to make sense of what Wendell’s true intentions with Jasmine are really all about. He is extremely logical and knowledgeable when it comes to scripture and the teachings of the Bible. However trying to understand the feelings of others or why he does not connect with his own in similar ways takes a lot more effort for Marcelo. Through the guidance of Rabbi Heschel, Marcelo utilizes his scripture knowledge to help him make sense of sex. He is baffled by questions about love and the role evil plays in something that is intended to be good. Speaking of evil… I’m pretty sure Wendell is and I would fully agree with Jasmine’s feelings that he is just “creepy.” It’s really disgusting how low Wendell stoops to try and get what he wants. His jealousy of Marcelo’s relationship with Jasmine and Arturo’s professional accomplishments is quite apparent. It is sad how he considers himself to be above all of them and feels justified to use Marcelo to help him “get” Jasmine. I was really proud of how well Marcelo handled himself at his lunch with Wendell. He might not be able to identify with his feelings for Jasmine but does in fact have them and saying “no” to Wendell’s request validates he cares for her and knows what is right. He might just have more of a grasp of what is evil than he thinks. Marcello and Jasmine become closer, sharing their love of music and the story of the loss of her brother. Both Wendell and Arturo have their own interests in mind when they agree that Marcelo should work solely with the “Jerk Junior.” Who knows what mess this will land Marcelo in or how Arturo will feel once he realizes Wendell is not the positive influence he intended for his son.

Chapters 16-20

Marcelo began to feel confusion in the last chapter for a couple of reasons. First, Wendell wanted Marcelo to “set up” a situation in which he could force Jasmine to have sex with him, and Marcelo was not comfortable with that. The second, and equally significant reason for his confusion, is that he found a haunting picture of a young girl with a scarred face in the bottom of the “Trash” box to be thrown away. Marcelo seemed to have an instinctive understanding that she was injured by the windshield manufactured by his father’s client, and that she had suffered an injustice. He wondered if he was overreacting because of his condition, as he called it; however, whatever the reason, Marcelo was unsettled by his discovery. I thought it was interesting that his dog was so in tune with Marcelo’s feelings and that he could comfort Marcelo. I wondered as I read this if animals and autistic children typically feel such a bond, and what would create those bonds? Could it be the unconditional love and acceptance an animal exhibits?

Marcelo’s inner conflict increased when he was told that Wendell wanted him to work for him the rest of the summer. He knew that this request had to do with Wendell’s desire for Jasmine, and that he still wanted Marcelo to set Jasmine up with him. Marcelo, who usually said what was on his mind, seemed so conflicted about this that he deflected Jasmine’s questions, instead, focusing her attention on the photograph of the young girl. As they talk about what had happened to the girl’s face, Marcelo pointed out that his father’s client was, in fact, at fault – and he admitted that he wanted to fight against the people who hurt her, but he realized that might include his dad. He was afraid his dad might not let him help the girl if he asked about the photograph. It appeared to me that, in keeping with his “black/white” view of the world, he had previously felt that his father was a totally good and honest man. Now, for the first time, he is beginning to realize that Arturo is possibly not the entirely good man he had believed him to be. Then, when Robert Steely was fired for being “too soft,” he gets the feeling again that he does not really know “who his father is.”

I was interested in the lengths to which Marcelo went to find out about the girl. He went way out of his way to learn about what had happened with her, and so did Jasmine. Her assistance was instrumental in Marcelo’s finding out which lawyer had sent the picture, and in helping him meet that lawyer. Marcelo’s relationship with Jasmine had really blossomed during his time at the law firm – I think that kind of friendship seemed new to him, but working together to investigate what had happened with the girl seemed to cement their friendship, even as his relationship with Wendell crumbles...and as his inner conflict about what he should do about the picture increases.

I could not wait to find out what happened next!

Chapters 21-24

Although it was our plan to post after the 25th chapter, as I read, it seemed that posting after the 24th chapter would be the more natural break, so I decided to include the 25th chapter in the next post.

Throughout this section of the book, Marcelo’s bond with Jasmine grew stronger. His father, in a way, seemed sort of jealous of their developing friendship – he was, at the very least, concerned about it. He thinks that Wendell is a more suitable companion for his son. Marcelo’s confusion, meantime, is growing, and he even told Jasmine that he had never felt confusion before. Now he is in a quandary, wondering at the contradictions in his dad’s character. Arturo is his father, so should his loyalty lie with his father, even if his father had done something wrong? Now Jasmine has discovered that his father’s client really knew that their windshields were defective, but they continued to manufacture them – and that his father knew about it. What does this discovery imply for Marcelo? Possibly the loss of Jasmine’s job – possibly the loss of his father’s client...and then, maybe they wouldn’t be able to afford for Marcelo to attend Patterson – and his confusion grew more pronounced.

I think it was a sign of the connected nature of their friendship that Jasmine realized that events and discoveries were happening too fast for Marcelo to really take in. She asked him to go with her to her home in Vermont so that he could get away and think through all of the issues involved in the situation with Ixtel. It was also “telling” that his father objected to his going with her – and that his mother overruled his father and allowed him to go, despite his father’s objections.

I was interested in Marcelo’s meeting with Jasmine’s father, Amos. To most people, I think Amos would have been kind of a daunting person, someone that would have been sort of intimidating. Marcelo does not seem to react to Amos’ comments or lifestyle like a “normal” person might have reacted; instead, he just takes it all in stride, perhaps because he is used to people who are different. Most people, too, would have had strong reactions to his conversation with Jonah, but not Marcelo! Marcelo was able to handle that “heart to heart” conversation quite well, quite honestly. The conversation really takes a turn when Jonah asks Marcelo if he is attracted to Jasmine. Marcelo was not sure exactly what it meant to be attracted to someone, it seemed, but the questions Jonah asked him introduced a new note into Marcelo’s relationship with Jasmine. When they went camping, later on that weekend, Marcelo seemed to feel a little bit self-conscious as they talked under the stars that night – this was the first time that I remember him feeling self-conscious with her. Despite those feelings, though, he seemed happy to be with her, telling us that “I stay up listening to her fall asleep, feeling how it is not to be alone.”

Chapters 16-20

In these chapters, the mystery of the girl in the picture continues and Marcello’s obsession with finding out who she is and what happened to her grows. He somehow senses that she was hurt by the windshields made by the company his father’s firm is representing. He struggles with deciding on what is the right thing to do. Should he pursue the situation even though it may lead to bad results for his father? Or should be leave it alone? At one point, he says to Jasmine “My father always does what is right.” However, deep down inside he already guesses that maybe this time he didn’t. He eventually meets Jerry Garcia who knows the girl in the picture and her story and finds out that his father does know about the girl, who’s name is Ixtel, and that he did not do what Marcello believes to be the right thing, which confuses him. Even though he hasn’t always agreed with his father, he has always thought of him as a good person who makes the right choices in his “black and white” view of the world. Now that view of his father is changing and he has to decide what he is going to do.

I was surprised at the lengths to which both Marcello and Jasmine went to find out more about the girl in the picture. Jasmine put her job on the line to find out more information simply because Marcello asked for her help. As this happened, I could see Marcello start to recognize Jasmine as a true friend and start to see Wendell for what he really was. What he previously thought was a friendship with Wendell was just Wendell using Marcello to get to Jasmine and I was glad to see that Marcello was able to see that.

Chapters 21-25

In these chapters, Jasmine finds the missing files for Marcelo that prove that the manufacturer of the windshields knew that they were faulty and still continued to make them. Marcelo is confused, which is a feeling he has never felt before, since everything is usually very black and white for him. So, Jasmine insists that he come with her to visit her father in Vermont and think about things before he makes any kind of decision.

It was here that I really began to think something was weird about the way Marcelo’s father was acting toward Marcelo’s friendship with Jasmine. His strong reaction to Marcelo going on a trip with Jasmine sent up some red flags for me. It went further than Arturo just wanting Marcelo to be closer to Wendell. He obviously did not want him to be close with Jasmine at all, which made me question his motives. For a person that Marcelo believed to be so honorable in the beginning, he is turning out to be quite the opposite as the book progresses.

Marcelo also starts to feel some of those feelings of attraction during the trip to Vermont. He says he feels butterflies in his stomach, he is nervous about sleeping next to Jasmine and what that might mean. He feels a special sort of connection with her that he is not quite sure that he understands fully yet, so, of course, he asks a lot of questions.

Then in the final chapter, Wendell gives Marcelo “the gift of truth” and he finds out what happened between his father and Jasmine. I’m not sure who to be more upset with, Marcelo’s father or Wendell for giving Marcelo the letter simply to derive pleasure out of seeing him read it. I wonder if this will have any effect on his decision to use the information in the folder to help Ixtel and effectively hurt his father and his firm.

Chapters 25-30

As I began the 25th chapter, as I realized what Wendell was doing to Marcelo, I felt so angry about Wendell’s actions. It was unbelievable to me that Arturo wanted Wendell and Marcelo to be friends – how could he not see what kind of person Wendell was? Marcelo did not have the resources or the knowledge to help him deal with a person such as Wendell, and it seemed sort of like Arturo betrayed his son by pushing Marcelo into working with Wendell. Then, on the other hand, Arturo betrayed his family, too, by the liason with Jasmine, and Marcelo was not equipped to deal with that betrayal, either. I guess he couldn’t have forseen the relationship that developed between Jasmine and Marcelo, but still, what he did was wrong for his family.

I felt really bad for Marcelo; his father, one of the people on whom he depended to be fair and to be kind of an anchor for him, was really taken down off of the pedestal. Not only had he refused to help Ixtel, the girl in the picture, even though he knew that his client was guilty – Arturo had also betrayed Marcelo and the family with this episode with Jasmine. He couldn’t tell his mother – thankfully he had the Rabbi to talk with him. She was a wise woman. When Marcelo started to renounce his “special interest” in religion, she reminded him that the Bible came alive for him, that it taught him lessons about how to live. I think that Marcelo felt a great deal of conflict inside because he believed that God was guiding him to help Ixtel, but that in helping her, he would probably hurt his family. Rabbi Heschel reminded Marcelo “That’s what faith is, isn’t it? Following the music when we don’t hear it.” I think that their discussion is what helped Marcelo make the decision to take the memo to Ixtel’s lawyer, Jerry Garcia.

I thought that it was amazing that Marcelo was not offended when Wendell called him a “misguided retard,” an idiot, and an imbecile – he thought it was funny that, as mad as Wendell was, now he was treating Marcelo like a normal person! But I was reminded, again, of Wendell’s mean nature when he told Marcelo that he didn’t think Marcelo would suffer like the rest of them would if the situation with their client and Ixtel couldn’t be successfully resolved, so he threatened to take the letter about Jasmine and Arturo to Marcelo’s mom.

Arturo was terribly upset with Marcelo, too. He had followed the letter of the law, and had stayed within the legal limits; however, what he did was not right from Marcelo’s perspective. I felt proud of Marcelo when he told his father that he knew what would happen before he talked with Jerry Garcia, and that he would do it again, even knowing that it meant he couldn’t go back to Paterson in the fall.

Oddly enough, I think Arturo’s goal for Marcelo was actually realized through the summer, although not in the same way he had intended for the goal to be met. Marcelo had developed a relationship with Jasmine, had thought his way through the right and wrong of a situation and acted upon his beliefs. He had learned that people are not entirely good or entirely bad. He had begun to learn to deal with people with whom he had little in common – but, maybe more importantly, he had learned to be confident that he could do what needed to be done. I think he learned to appreciate his mother’s strength and gentleness in a way he hadn’t before. Through all of the new things he faced during the summer, Marcelo decided that his own goal for himself was “doing what I can to lessen the hurt in the world.” And, after all, what goal is more worthy than that?

Chapters 26-31

In the final chapters of the book, Marcelo decides what to do about the situation with his father’s firm and the girl in the picture. He discusses his confusion with the Rabbi, and that discussion helps him make that final decision. I felt very bad for Marcelo because his father, who was supposed to be this very honorable person that Marcelo could look up to even if he didn’t always agree with him, turned out to be the exact opposite. Not only was he knowingly representing a client who was producing windshields that they knew were defective, as well as being involved in an incident with Jasmine, but to me the worst was trying to push Marcelo toward being friends with Wendell and being “more like” Wendell. Anyone could see that Wendell was not a kind person if they really took the time to look, so why would Arturo want Marcelo to be like him? Or why wouldn’t he spend more time getting to know the real Wendell before he allowed him any influence over his son? The best and most ironic part is, even though he ended up doing damage to his father’s firm, Marcelo actually achieved what his father wanted him to during his time there. He wanted Marcelo to live in the “real world,” so he would be prepared to be out there and not so protected like he was at Patterson; and that’s just what he did. He dealt with people who tried to use him, he dealt with confusing “gray area” situations and developed solid important relationships with people. So if Arturo really stood back and looked at the situation objectively, he would see that he should be very proud of his son, instead of upset that he may have hurt the firm by doing what he thought was the right thing.

Chapter 31

I felt like the final chapter in the book really tied up the loose ends well. Marcelo’s dad’s letter was kind of an apology, but it seemed incomplete to me – kind of distant, sort of like the relationship they had. I was glad that Jasmine and Marcelo talked and that she explained her side of the story. Marcelo’s detached analysis of the situation, I think, is a symptom of his Asberger’s, but I can see that it was helpful in this situation, because it allowed him to listen to what she had to say and think it through rather than react instantly and emotionally.

It felt “right” when Jasmine told Marcelo that she had learned something from him that summer, that she couldn’t hide...and Marcelo also understood that he couldn’t hide. He had learned that he needed to function in the real world, and that even with his disability, he can do things to “lessen the hurt in the world,” as he put it in Chapter 30. I liked the musical connections, the analogy of finding the right note in the overall piece of music. The wrong note sounds discordant, but, as Jasmine put it, “The right note sounds right.”

I have really enjoyed this book. I think the issues Marcelo, his parents, and Jasmine faced are issues many people have faced in reality, and it was easy to relate to the situations in the book. I believe it is important for us to realize that everyone has something to offer, in spite of the differences in our lives and our own personalities. We need to be open to others and what they have to offer, and to what we can share ourselves.

Chapters 16-20

The pace of the story really picked up in these chapters. Marcelo decided to commit to finding out the identity of the girl from the picture he found in Wendell’s office. This was not an easy decision for Marcelo. He seemed to really struggle with what he should do and questioned himself as to why he felt compelled to find out more about this mystery girl. He works through many of his thoughts and feelings with Jasmine and even recruits her to help him in his mission. As he is working in Robert Steely’s office, one of the lawyers who is about to be laid off, I think he has the first of several realizations about his father. He is able to lie to Juliet more than once, something very out of character for Marcelo. With Jasmine’s help he was able to track down where the picture was taken and find Jerry Garcia, the lawyer who took and sent the picture to Arturo. Marcelo’s conversations with both Jerry Garcia and Robert Steely were eye opening. He learns the identity of the girl, Ixtel, finds out about the loss of her mother and father, and why her face is scared. He is also told of the protection that his father and his firm provide Vidromek, the windshield company responsible for Ixtel’s injuries. It seems as if he is beginning to formulate a plan for addressing Ixtel’s case. Thanks to Robert Steely’s hint of the missing box from the files there might be a chance Marcelo could actually get Ixtel the help she needs and deserves. I’m looking forward to finding out what will happen and if Marcelo will be successful in his mission!

Chapters 21-25

Jasmine was able to find the missing “thirty-sixth box” for Marcelo but is still unsure of what he will he do with the information inside. He is already starting to give a bit of the cold shoulder to his father in the office too. In addition, he is beginning to notice “feelings” for what seems to be the first time. I can only imagine how confusing this all is for Marcelo as he contemplates the effects of using the information will have on his father, his law firm, Jasmine, and even himself. Jasmine’s plan is for Marcelo to come home with her to Vermont for an opportunity to get away and think before making his decision. Their trip together is quite an adventure. Her father, Amos, lives alone on their family farm, is quite a character, and also has dementia. Marcelo has a “heart-to-heart” with one of Jasmine’s childhood friends and is confronted for the first time with his possible feelings for her. When he and Jasmine go camping, he experiences “butterflies” for the first time at the thought of sleeping beside her. They have a very honest and matter-of-fact conversation about his feelings and even love. Their connection is deep and strong. Sadly, Wendell tries to wreck everything when he gives Marcelo a note that Jasmine had written to his father, Arturo. Apparently and unfortunately, Jasmine and Arturo slept together at the last company Christmas party. This news would be too much for anyone to handle, much less Marcelo, who is just beginning to realize and process his feelings. I think he is starting to grasp the fact that the “real world” is full of harsh realities.

Chapters 26-30

Aurora, Marcelo’s mom, noticed a change in her son. He had suddenly lost interest in his “special interest” of the Bible and religion. She took him to see Rabbi Hesch, even though she had to push him to do so, unlike ever before. The Rabbi could tell something was bothering Marcelo as well. They had another honest discussion which ultimately helped Marcelo make his decision. Rabbi Hesch reminded him that God, “will know how to use whatever hurt results for His own ends.” Marcelo goes to see Jerry Garcia again. Jerry only wants to know the date of the Vidromek memo in order to not legally implicate Marcelo. However, Wendell points out that Marcelo has “screwed” everyone in the whole firm, including his father. Marcelo was able to lie again, this time to Wendell, and convince him that he was the one who left the memo in the file for Marcelo to find. Great quick thinking on his part. Marcelo talks to his father and they discuss the harsh realities of the “real world.” Arturo tells him that he did not follow the “rules” they had agreed on and that he would be attending Oak Ridge High not Patterson as Marcelo had hoped. Marcelo then shares the “gift of truth” with his father, so he would know his son is aware of his indiscretion. Marcelo visits Ixtel with Jerry Garcia. I think this helps him to realize even further that he did in fact make the right choice. Aurora continues to worry about Marcelo as he has completely changed his mind set about attending Oak Ridge High. In turn, Marcelo sees his mom in a whole new light, realizing how lonely she might feel.

Chapter 31

Arturo gave Marcelo a letter to explain what really happened with Jasmine at the Christmas party. Not that anything would really help resolve the issue but it did seem that his father was somewhat affected by Marcelo knowing. Jasmine feels that something is off with Marcelo and he tells her he knows what happened between her and his father. Jasmine is crushed but reveals that it was only a kiss. Thank goodness it was just a kiss but it was still so very wrong. Marcelo tells Jasmine about going to see Ixtel and of his long-term plans to move to Vermont. It is a glimpse into the future that includes Jasmine and Marcelo together and enjoying the imperfections of the “real world.”
This story is a powerful, heart-warming, and sad at times account of a young mans journey as he discovers the truth about the “real world” but more importantly his place in that world.