When it comes to families, sometimes the grass is greener on the other side. Violet envies Finch's freedom, while he's jealous of her closeness with her mom and dad.
Violet's parents are caring, but they seem repressed and tight-lipped about their daughter's death. Finch's dad is the opposite; he lets his feelings be known—sometimes with his fists. Finch's mom is wrapped up in her own problems to the point of neglect.
Still, there are certain similarities between the two families. One is secrets. Finch and Violet each keep things from their parents, even though it's for different reasons. The other thing they have in common is love. Violet's love for her parents and her dead sister is a huge part of her life. It drives her moods and her actions. Finch, too, loves his family, except for his dad…which seems reasonable, 'cause his dad is the worst.
Questions About Family
- In what ways does Finch show his family how much he loves them?
- Do you think the author paints Finch's family as villains? Why or why not?
- Which two family members (in either family—Violet's or Finch's) seem to have the closest relationship? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
Finch hid his illness from his family. They couldn't support him properly because they didn't know he needed help.
Finch's family members didn't offer the support he needed. Instead, they enabled his behavior.