Character Analysis

Delia, Wes and Bert's aunt and guardian, is the motherly, frazzled, pregnant Yoda of this book. And yes, we know that's a pretty weird image, but Delia's a pretty weird lady. She's always dispensing wisdom—this is, when she's not freaking out about some new catering disaster.

Which leads us to the important question: did Yoda ever do any catering?

Oh wait, no. Wrong question. The real questions is how Delia affects our leading lady. In Shmoop's opinion, Delia's willingness to hire Macy is what ends up changing Macy's life for the better. And it isn't just the job itself, but Delia who helps her finally face her grief.

As Delia tells her about the death of her own sister:

"Some people […] can just move on, you know, mourn and cry and be done with it. But for me…I don't know. I didn't want to fix it, to forget. […] I'm just finding ways, every day, of working around it. Respecting and remembering and getting on at the same time." (5.117)

Delia's approach to death—and life and family and chaos—give Macy another way of looking at things. And a new perspective never hurt anyone, that's for sure.