White Oleander Discussion Questions

Why do you think Astrid always found herself in the position of caregiver to Starr's children, Marvel's children, and Claire when she was so deeply in need of care herself?

And also..

Why would Astrid choose Rena as her new foster mother versus Bill and Ann Greenway? Was she in some way trying to punish herself? Why did she feel she deserved Rena?

s***. you should have asked me the second question

Astrid chose Rena versus bill and ann because bill and ann seemed really too perfect. She thought she belonged better with Rena. ..

yeah.

thats the best i can do.


I thought i could do better but i cant

and Astrid was a caregiver to starrs children because starr was an alcoholic and couldnt deal with them herself

AND

I think she cared for these people because she wasnt used to being cared about because her mom was so wrapped up in herself and being independent that she didnt realize astrid was just a dependent child.

Love your avatar shayknee!

I Loved this book, although I read it years ago. Astrid was used to being everyone's caretaker, even her mother's. That was a natural role for her to assume. The irony was that her mother always told her she didn't need anyone. . just herself. And yet she was capable of giving to others what her mom never gave her.

I think she picked Rena because she was exactly as she appeared to be, in it for the money, in it for the free labor, and most of all because she didn't represent another possible disappointment. She was what she was and Astrid immediately detected that. She was nearly grown by that time and just needed to bide her time in the most predictable way.

"Astrid's final home is with Russian immigrant Rena Grushenka. She intentionally chooses Rena over better prospective foster parents because she is devastated by Claire's death, and does not want to become part of a nuclear family. Astrid is afraid it would be too easy to forget the pain she has gone through. At Rena's, she lives with two other teenage girls named Niki and a pregnant girl named Yvonne."

I haven't read the book but the movie was good, bit different and interesting.

Astrid was the caregiver in the other families because all the other parents were incapable of raising their own children, they just didn't care. And Claire was like a child herself,it was obvious reason that Astrid there was just as Ingrid said as a suicide watcher.

I think Astrid chose Rena because as unspokenwords said that she was distraught over what happened to Claire and didn't want to get close to another family and then have something bad happen to them .

I think Astrid wanted to be needed, so she shouldered responsibility very quickly. She new her mother didn't really need her, didn't really want her, so she made up for that void by making herself needed. As for going with Rena instead of the nurturing parents...I think she was tired of being a child, and knew that Rena would let her become and woman, and leave her alone in a way.