Walk Two Moons
By Sharon Creech
Summary
Salamanca Tree Hiddle is on a journey with her grandparents to find her mother. Sal has recently paused her farm girl life in Bybanks, Kentucky and pressed play again, in the city of Euclid, Ohio. Sal shares stories about Phoebe Winterbottom, a new friend of Sals. Sal finds that she and phoebe are a lot alike, and Sal uses phoebes stories to recognize and understand herself better.
Thesis
Throughout the novel, the author foreshadows and gives numerous clues to the unexpected ending of three of the characters.
Mike is Mrs. Winterbottom's son
The author gives us numerous clues about who Mike Bickle is. While Phoebe and Sal are breaking into mrs. Cadavers house, they are surprised to hear mrs. partridge. They were deeply into conversation when mrs. partridge says something Phoebe thought she would never hear before. "Oh Phoebe, I think I met your brother." (pg.193) This passage shows another clue toward how mike might possibly be the son of Mrs. Winterbottom.
Phoebe and Sal are hanging out at phoebes house when someone knocks on the door. It was a young man with curly hair and bright pink cheeks. "I want to see Mrs. Winterbottom. Is she here or what?" (pg.43) This passage is another hint towards mikes identity, because in this point of the story, Mike wants something to do with Mrs. Winterbottom for some unknown reason.
Sal's mom died in a bus accident
Sal's mom will always be a gentle, beautiful memory but, from the beginning something just wasn't right about her mom. Sal, gram, and gramps were getting ready to embark on their journey, while Sal was explaining the real reasons there going on this trip. Gram and gramps wanted to see momma, who was resting peacefully in Lewiston, Idaho. (pg.5) Resting peacefully is a sign of clues towards Sal's mothers death, because when you normally use the phrase resting peacefully it means happily gone. Phoebe and Sal are again, going on and on about mrs. Cadaver. When it comes up that if Mrs. Cadaver were to chop up Sals dad, and what would you do then, did Sal realize... "Would you go live with your mother?" (pg.102) This is a clue to finding who would I go live with? Its impossible to live with my mom Sal states in the story, but why is it impossible she is just in Idaho right....
Gram's death
Gram is wacky, unpredictable and a little high maintenance, throughout the story she becomes weaker, frail and more feeble, through foreshadowing. Sal, and her grandparents have reached Old Faithful, all that gram has had her heart set on. Grams hadn't gone to sleep though all night long... "I didn't feel like sleeping. I can sleep later." (pg.222) Grams didn't want to go to sleep, because she was afraid that if she closed her eyes she wouldn't ever wake up again showing a clue towards her death. When they watch the old faithful, they were so amazed how beautiful it was. Gram was the happiest lady on earth and gramps was so happy to see gram happy. When it started to slow down, gram was crying. "Oh nothing. I'm so happy I got to see Old Faithful." (pg.225) Gram was so happy because she knew that this was going to be her last time seeing something so amazing, like the Old Faithful.
Conclusion
Throughout the story Sharon Creech, leaves many traces or clues, about Mikes identity, Sal's mom dying in a bus accident, and gram's death. Even the tragic, and unfortunate events and clues lead to the transpiring and revealing of the story.
Walk Two Moons Movie Trailer