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