Why does each member of the Winterbottom family react differently to Mrs. Winterbottom's departure?

Each member of the Winterbottom family reacts differently to Mrs. Winterbottom's departure because of their different personalities. Mr. Winterbottom tries to think things through coolly and tries not to show how he really feels on the outside. However he does break apart a few times, like when Phoebe says that her mother loves her, and he started crying. Prudence likes to not think about bad things, and is more worried about getting her work done. She tells Phoebe that her mother is not kidnapped and was more focused on making dinner than worrying about where her mother went of. Both Prudence and Mr. Winterbottom were more mature and logical about Mrs. Winterbottom's disappearance than Phoebe. She thought that the lunatic had kidnapped her, or that Mrs. Cadaver had chopped her up. Phoebe looks at everything from a more ludicrous point-of-view. She seems the most outwardly worried and wants to take action. She is emotionally effected by her mother's disappearance in ways that Prudence and Mr. Winterbottom seems to not be in. Either way, Mrs. Winterbottom's departure left an empty hole in their family.

Why does the reading of excerpts from journals cause such a stir in class? Do you think that Mr. Birkway should have done this? Explain.

The reading of excerpts in the journals cause such a stir in class because Mr. Birkway is reading the students' private thoughts about their own personal matters. He shouldn't read out everyone's own thoughts out for everybody else to hear and listen. I don't really think Mr. Birkway should have read those journals. It hurt other peoples' feelings even though he changed the names of the people discussed in them. He read out loud most peoples' personal feelings about many things and embarrassed (in Sal's case definitely) many people immensely. He, himself was hurt when he read out loud Phoebe's feelings about Mrs. Cadaver, his twin sister.

Why does Phoebe's father tell her that her imagination is running away with her? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Phoebe's father tells her that her imagination is running away with her because she considers unrealistic concepts like her mother being kidnapped or chopped up, even when it was obvious she wasn't. Her mother would never be allowed by her kidnapper/murderer to write notes make dinner for them. I also agree with Mr. Winterbottom. Phoebe is definitely going through a hard time but its better if she tries to look at things more logically, it would be better for everyone, even if it might be her way of missing her mother of worrying about her.

Why does Phoebe conclude that the young man at the door is a lunatic?

Phoebe thinks that the stranger at the door is a lunatic because she likes to dramatize everything. Or, its part of her character. Her life is so prissy, and prim, and respectable that she probably tends to get bored and wants some excitement. She seems to find a story behind everything, though they often end up being a bit exaggerated and slightly unpleasant for the most part. Like the story of Mrs. Cadaver killing Mr. Cadaver, her story of the stranger being the lunatic seems irrational and far-fetched. The stranger just came and asked where Mrs. Winterbottom was, there was nothing peculiar about that, but Phoebe goes on to say that the poor man had gone mad. Its an absurd theory, but it seems that its in her character to be so startled and make such rash decisions. Her own mother seemed to be slightly similar too, telling Phoebe and Sal to call the police on the slightest of odd noises. Of course Phoebe might just see everyone that way-either uncannily perfect or a murderer or a lunatic.

Why do you think Sal is so observant of everything Mrs. Winterbottom does?

I think that Sal is so observant of everything Mrs. Winterbottom does is because she might think that the way Phoebe sometimes treats Mrs. Winterbottom was the way Sal treated her mom near the end (before her mom left). It seems to Sal that Phoebe and Prudence take everything their mother does for them for granted and never offer her any help. Nor do any of them notice that she is obviously crying and even attempt to offer any form of sympathy. Sal however, felt everything her mother felt, and is possibly surprised that Phoebe and Prudence don't feel any form of sadness at their mother's obvious distress. It might just be the way the Winterbottom family is built, but Sal's thoughts about the way they seem to behave to their mother doesn't seem to delighted.

Compare the Finney family to the Winterbottom family. Which family do you think is happier? Explain.

I think the Finney family is comparatively happier than the Winterbottom family. They seem to enjoy their day and look on the bright side, other than the playful bickering among Mary Lou and her brothers and cousin. They seem to help each other and take the time to laugh and think and enjoy their presence. The Winterbottom family however, are stiff and prissy. I am under the impression that Prudence and Phoebe are a bit spoiled. Their father seems too serious and their mother seems stressed about something. And yet, though it seems that Phoebe wants her family to be like Mary Lou's, she doesn't seem to make any effort to try accomplish this.

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