The metaphor used to compare her family with a cactus I thought was very powerful use of the literary device. “We were sort of like cactus. We ate irregularly and when we did we gorged ourselves.” I believe this was put into the memoir because it serves as a reminder that cactus are designed to survive on so little and so did Jeannette thought her childhood. It also enforces the idea that they take what they can in order to survive in any means.

A theme that is in this book would be nonconformity. This theme is most present within Rex Walls because he is responsible for the “exciting” lifestyle the family lives. Rex could is a round character because his personality seems to fluctuate over time. His character is more complex as he goes through phases of his personality. I chose Rex because of the tactics he uses to make it seem like he is the hero and he is the “saviour” for the family.