A great deal of Gemma's isolation in The Fallen Star comes from the fact that she feels abandoned by the people around her. Her parents supposedly died when she was just an infant, and Gemma's been raised by her "grandparents" Marco and Sophia, who aren't exactly the best guardians in the world. Even though they're usually around, Marco and Sophia are emotionally distant and uncaring around Gemma. She feels like no one in her life cares about what's going on with her or what she's feeling. It's a pretty lonely way to live.
Questions About Abandonment
- Do you think that Gemma resents her mother for disappearing? Why or why not? Prove your answer with passages from the text.
- Why are Sophia and Marco so mean to Gemma all the time? Do they truly see her as just a job? Is it possible they're acting out of love toward her? Dig into the book for support.
- Why won't Aislin ever leave Laylen behind? Is it just about her feelings for him? Is it just about how Aislin rolls in the loyalty department?
- Why does Alex insist on being right next to Gemma all the time? Be specific, and give evidence from the text, please.
Chew on This
Even though Sophia and Marco raise Gemma from the time that she's a little kid, she has no emotional connection to them because they have all but abandoned her emotionally.
Gemma's mother disappears when she's four, but Gemma doesn't resent her for the abandonment. Instead Gemma feels a lot of love for her mother because she's the only person who's ever showed her compassion and affection.