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Exploring Identity and Grief in Walk Two Moons

Apr 9, 2025

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Overview

  • Winner of the Newbery Medal
  • Story of a young girl named Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle
  • Explores themes of family, identity, and grief

Characters

Sal (Salamanca Tree Hiddle)

  • 13-year-old protagonist
  • Recently moved from Bybanks, Kentucky, to Euclid, Ohio
  • Coping with the absence of her mother

Gram and Gramps

  • Sal's grandparents
  • Quirky and loving
  • Accompany Sal on a road trip to Lewiston, Idaho

Phoebe Winterbottom

  • Sal's friend in Euclid
  • Imaginative and dramatic
  • Believes her mother has been kidnapped

Sal's Father

  • Sal's caring and good-hearted father
  • Dealing with his wife's absence

Margaret Cadaver

  • Neighbor with red hair
  • Connection to Sal’s father

Mrs. Winterbottom

  • Phoebe’s mother
  • Mysteriously disappears

Ben

  • A boy from Sal's school
  • Has a developing friendship with Sal

Plot Summary

Sal's Move to Ohio

  • Sal moves from Kentucky to Ohio with her father
  • Meets Margaret Cadaver and Phoebe Winterbottom

Road Trip with Gram and Gramps

  • Sal narrates her story during a road trip to Idaho
  • The trip is intended to coincide with her mother's birthday

Phoebe's Story

  • Parallel story of Phoebe, whose mother disappears
  • Phoebe suspects foul play and involves Sal in her investigations

Themes and Symbolism

  • Identity & Heritage: Sal's Native American background
  • Grief & Loss: Coping with her mother's absence
  • Adventure & Discovery: Road trip serves as a metaphor for personal growth

Sal's Mother

  • Sal’s mother went to Idaho but never returned
  • Sal learns about her mother's last days from Margaret

Climax

  • Sal visits the site of her mother's fatal accident
  • Discovery of a bus crash and details surrounding her mother's death

Resolution

  • Sal comes to terms with her mother's death
  • Concludes the journey with a deeper understanding of family and herself

Important Locations

  • Bybanks, Kentucky: Sal's childhood home
  • Lewiston, Idaho: Sal's mother’s final destination
  • Euclid, Ohio: Sal's new home

Key Messages

  • "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."
    • A recurring theme emphasizing empathy and understanding

Conclusion

  • Sal finds peace with her mother's memory
  • Returns to Bybanks with her father and Gramps
  • Continues to explore her identity and heritage

Study Tips

  • Pay attention to the dual narrative: Sal’s journey and Phoebe’s story
  • Understand the symbolism of locations and events
  • Reflect on how Sal’s perceptions change throughout the story
  • Consider the role of family and friendship in coping with loss