Title: Telling Christina Goodbye



Author: Lurlene McDaniel



Publication Date: 2002



Page Count:



Type: fiction



Started On: 10/30/07



Finished On: 11/3/07



Grade: A











1. Why did I decide to read this book?



- I decided to read this book because my friend read it and thought I would like it. She really liked it and said I should give it a try. I looked at it and it looked like something I would read. I like books that deal with kids my age and this book is a true story about kids my age. So after reading the back cover, I realized I would like it and decided to read it.

2. Plot Summary.

-Their are two couples that are really good friends. They are seniors in high school and they thought their year would be great. The two girls are really good friends and always look out for each other. The one couple always gets in fights, but claim they love each other and the other couple is always nice to each other. The two couples go to a basketball game where Tucker and Christina get in a fight. They hurriedly get in the car with the other two, Thrisha and Cody, along the way they hit ice and wreck. The wreck left two severely injured, one in a coma, and one dead. Now everyone has to face all the new challenges coming after the wreck and how to deal with them.



3. What is the setting and why is it important?

- This story take place in Mooresville, Indiana. It is during basketball season at first. Then the story continues throughout the rest of the school year and into the summer through the beginning of the next school year. Taking place in basketball season was very important because on their way home form the game when they wrecked. When they wrecked they slid on ice and basketball season is in the winter so that was also an important factor. The fact that it happened throughout the school year was also significant because it shows how hard it was for the people to get through the rest of the school year.



4. Who are the main characters and what roles do they play in the novel?

• Christina- Tucker's girlfriend and Thrisha's best friend. She was the girl killed in the wreck.
• Tucker- Christina's boyfriend that was driving the car. He now has to deal with killing his girlfriend and hurting his friends.
• Thrisha- Christina's best friend that was severely injured in the wreck. She has a very hard time dealing with the aftermath of the wreck.
• Cody- Thrisha's boyfriend that is left in a coma after the wreck. He can't really remember anything that has happened.
• Abby- A friend from school that has helped Thrisha through her loss.
• The parents of the kids- They helped the kids get through it the best they can.

5. What was the main conflict?

- The main conflict was the wreck. The conflict is both how it happened and how they dealt with it afterwards. When Cody got out of his coma he didn't remember anything, not even his girlfriend Thrisha. So, she has to deal with the death of her best friend and trying to get her boyfriend to remember and love her again. While all this is going on she has Tucker, who she never like that much because of the way he treated Christinia, who is trying to stick with her because they are the only two that are going throughout the same thing. Tucker has always had conflicts. He had little feuds with Christina when she was alive, now he fights with himself for the wreck. He now has to deal with how everyone looks at him, especially Christina's parents who blame him up until the end when they realize it was an accident.

6. What is the climax?

- The climax of the story is also the wreck. The wreck changed everything up until that point. The story goes from being happy and normal to very sad and as far from normal as you can get. From the point of the wreck on all the people involved lead totally different lives. It also changes everyones outlook on life.

7. What is the significance of the title and why is it appropriate?

- The title is very appropriate for this book. It explains everything after the wreck. Everyone has to tell Chrisinia goodbye sooner then they thought. Thrisha has a hard time letting go. She has to get through a whole year of "firsts" without her. So, I think the title is perfect because the situation that the characters in this book have to go through.

8. Opinion.

- I really liked this book.Even though it was really sad and I pretty much cried throughout the whole story, I loved reading it. I really liked to read books about kids my own age and this was one of them. It also made me realize that something like this could happen to anyone. I honestly couldn't put the book down. I really liked it.

Journals 11/5/07-11/16/07

11/5/07- You won the lottery what do you do first?
- The first thing I would do is be really excited and probably jump and down over and over. Then I would Keep some of it and have lots of fun. Then next I would put some of it away. I would also help some other people if they need it.

11/6/07- Lottery winner...which of your friends/family gets a chunk?
- I would give my parents some because they have given me a lot. My grandma would get whatever she wants because she has helped me a lot and has given me a lot just like my parents. I would help anyone in my family if they need it because they are my family and they have always been their for me. My friends would also get money if they really need it.

11/7/07- Lottery winner... will you still go to school/ get a job?
- Yea I probably would. I would still need to get and education to get a job. I still need a job because if I ever run out of money then I always have a back up. I would be really board if I didn't go to school anyways.

11/8/07- Lottery winner...would you give to charity and which one.
- Yes, I would give to charity. I probably wouldn't give it to one particular charity. I couldn't decide which one to give to. I know that I would give to the cancer societies, money for the poor and homeless, and to people that have lost a lot in natural disaster such as the Katrina victims.

11/9/07- Is it fair to other clubs and organizations that the bulk of Keyser High School fundraising goes towards the sports complex.
- I can't complain to much about the sports complex because I play sports and I am glad we are getting a complex and it is going to be really nice. I don't really think that we should forget about other clubs though because it is not fair to them because they deserve it just as much as anyone else. Another thing is that it just seems as though the football team gets more than anyone else because they do get a lot. It doesn't really bother me though.

11/13/07-Are the current speed limits reasonable or should they be raised or lowered?
- It really doesn't matter to me. I think they are alright. I mean they don't bother me. The speed of the speed limits isn't really a topic that I complain about or really even worry about.

11/14/07- What is at the top of your Christmas list?
- Well, I really don't want anything in particular. I like when people surprise me, so when they ask me what I want for Christmas I normally just say that I don't care. I really don't want any certain thing that bad.

11/15/07- Have you been naughty or nice this year?
-I have been nice. I always try to be nice. I was never naughty this year seeing that I am a good girl. I may have been a little mean but I always try to apologize and be nice. So, I have defiantly been nice this year.

11/16/07- What is the most essential menu item in Thanksgiving dinner?
- The most essential menu item would have to be the turkey. I mean what is Thanksgiving without one. I love mashed potatoes and gravy so if that wasn't their I would be sad. My grandma also always makes meatballs for Thanksgiving and if she didn't it just wouldn't be the same.

Journals-10/29/07-11/2/07

10/29/07- Which CW character is your favorite?
- My favorite Chocolate War character is Jerry. I like Jerry because he stickes up for what he wants. He goes through everything that happens no matter how bad and contnues to stick to what he believes.

10/30/07- If you could go back in time and change one event from your past, which one would it be and why?
- Their isn't a specific event that I would really want to change. Of course their are little stupid things that I have done over the years that I would like to change, but their are too many to count. I pretty much like how my life is going and I don't really want to change.

10/31/07- Promote a new teacher to new principle.
- If any teacher should become the new principle it should be Mrs. Woy. I think she would be a good principle because she nows how things should go and would do all she could to make them better. She is a very nice teacher and everyone would respect and like her.

11/1/07- Are you to ole to trick- or- treat?
- No i don't think I am to old. My dad thinks I am to old though. So since he thinks I am to old and he makes the rules I guess I am to old.

11/2/07- Whats your dream vechiale? Explain.
- I don't really care. I don't really no the difference between cars. I really just want a car that will run and dosen't look like it will fall apart at any second.