2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Josie figures out where Trinity’s diary is hidden and it reveals everything about the woman, including her encounter as a teen with who they believe is now the Bone Artist. Your thoughts about what you found most surprising or illuminating about Trinity? And, the fact that Josie was the girl who came to Trinity’s rescue and had such a profound effect on her? Does it make more sense now that Trinity said the best day in her life was when she found Josie?

Josie had to dig really deep to make the connections that finally produced the diary. What struck me about Trinity was how she managed to persevere and turn out to be a great person. If my kid was having those kinds of problems we would have moved far away. Josie was a real badass when she stuck up for Trinity.

I did not really understand why Trinity was bullied. The fact that Josie was the girl who helped Trinity blew me away.

Good points, both of you. I've learned over the years that anyone can be bullied. Like Anita, I would have moved if it were my kids. I loved that Josie was the person to defend Trinity.

I had a friend whose daughter was in with a bad crowd. Her husband sold his business; they sold a really fabulous house and relocated out of the state. I was so sad they had to do that, but the kids come first.

I had a neighbor that always bullied me on the school bus and then at school. He was the mean boy. took my stocking hat off and flung it in a tree. pushed me down. it got so bad my mother had to talk to his mother. they lived close by. found out he came from a very dysfunctional family. father killed himself later on. when we were older and I was walking home from the train he was on also I finally had the nerve to ask him. He said he liked me. Funny you just never know.

Susan wrote: "I had a neighbor that always bullied me on the school bus and then at school. He was the mean boy. took my stocking hat off and flung it in a tree. pushed me down. it got so bad my mother had to ta..."

Wow Susan. He must have very low self-esteem if he thought being a bully would make you like him.

You’re not gonna believe this but when I was four years old and living in Georgia, there was a boy at the playground who hit me everyday. Back in my day, kids didn’t need supervision and we were on a military base. My Mom kept telling me to stick up for myself. I loved to play so staying away from the playground wasn’t an option. One day, my mother said if I came crying to her again, she’d spank me (they did that back in my day). I feared a spanking more than him so when he went after me, I took his little toy gun and bopped him in the head. Unfortunately, it bled. I came home, didn’t say anything. He and his parents showed up that evening. My Dad apologized for me using a “weapon” but also stuck up for me, saying he’d been terrorizing me for days. We never heard from them again. Mom chastened me but Dad whispered, “good girl.” I was only four but remember this clearly. From that day forward, I never took mess from anybody, only using words.

Bullies prey upon those they feel are weaker. And, most suffer from some insecurity of their own or are modeling behavior. Once I showed up as strong and assertive, I never had another problem and we moved every year until my junior year in high school (except the three years in Italy). New kids always get picked on. I never was.

Can you imagine how Trinity will change now knowing that the girl who stood up for her and she projected to be Vanessa was actually Josie?!? The fact that she never put it together after meeting Josie made this moment so very special. Yet another life changing bond.

Jonetta wrote: "You’re not gonna believe this but when I was four years old."

I believe it. My parents were the same with my siblings more than me though because I had polio, I was protected a little more. Once I started school, though I heard the same thing. "Learn to stick up for yourself. When you are older, people will see your brace and think you are an easy target.

Jonetta wrote: "Can you imagine how Trinity will change now knowing that the girl who stood up for her and she projected to be Vanessa was actually Josie?!? The fact that she never put it together after meeting Jo..."

I agree. It is going to make a big difference in the relationship between these two.