"The Visibles" Reading Response

         The book “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard tells the story of a girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 90’s. Summer Davis is in high school at the beginning of book, but the story follows her life as she grows up and becomes an adult. Summer’s main problem at the beginning of the story was that her mother left her father, brother, and her without any notice or reason. As Summer struggles to deal with this, other issues begin coming up with her family. Her dad slowly becomes depressed, her grandmother dies, causing her to visit unknown and disliked relatives, and her brother becomes aloof and lonesome. Throughout the book, Summer faces many challenges regarding relationships with her family members. She learns to deal with these struggles while also maintain her own life. “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard teaches us that although our relationships with family can be difficult, they teach us and help us to grow as people.

            

         The first example of Summer struggling with family problems comes up at the very beginning of the story when she is grappling with the fact that her mother left and wants to get divorced from her father. Summer cannot accept this fact, until her dad invites over her childhood friend, Claire, to talk with her. Claire was also having problems with her parents, and with Claire’s help, Summer begins to get over her mother’s absence. Claire is learning of Summer’s stubbornness and says to her “’God, Summer. I’m so sorry. But we can talk about this together. About…the stuff that’s happening to both of us. We need each other.’” Claire saying these things to Summer helps Summer grow from the experience of losing her mother rather than remain hurt and sad because of it. Her friendship with Claire brings Summer to become a better and more accepting person.

            

            Another way Summer grows as a result of family issues is when Summer’s grandmother dies, and Summer is forced to see relatives she’s never met. She visits her dad’s old home and town and sees her great aunt, cousins, and uncle. While Summer is there, she learns of secrets her father kept from her when she was little, about her mother and his past girlfriends.  These lies hurt Summer a lot. “”He has been keeping something from me,’ I finally said. ‘Other secrets. He keeps secrets from everyone.’” Summer is so upset by these things, that she doesn’t keep anything from her family members. Later in the story, she tells her whole family them about a scholarship she got in Ireland, rather than going to Ireland and leaving without telling them, which she was considering doing because she was angry. Summer remembered her father’s secret keeping and decided to tell everyone, which brought them closer together.

            

        “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard tells the story of one girl’s life from teenager to adulthood. Throughout the story, Summer continuously runs into problems involving her family. These problems sometimes lead to good, things, however, and end up making Summer a better person and shaping her life. “The Visibles” shows readers that although having family can be tough, it ultimately will change you as a persona and have a good impact on your life.