Do you think Patrice's observations about the Moons are accurate? Are her interactions with Ginny appropriate?

Patrice makes some pointed observations about the Moons, especially Maura. Do you think her observations are accurate? Are her interactions with Ginny appropriate?

Patrice was my least favorite character in the book. She let Ginny down in a way that was so fundamental. Her passive handling of the Moon's choice to send Ginny away angered me. I felt that Ginny had no real advocate except herself and she was willing to give up her rights to protect Krystal. No one was looking out for Ginny. Brian was trying, but was too sick to get the job done. He was the most redeemable character outside of Ginny herself though.

For most of the book, Patrice seemed to be the voice of reason. I did not always agree with her observations but she seemed to understand and connect with Ginny in a very real way. Ginny also trusted that Patrice would tell her the whole truth - which no other adult in her life was brave enough to do. I also liked that Patrice approached Maura and her relationship with Ginny as flawed but redeemable. Ultimately, it seemed that Patrice wanted what was best for Ginny but could only affect Ginny's life from her limited role.

Initially I was in agreement and accepting of Patrice, but as the novel and plot progressed, I became almost as frustrated with her as I did with Maura. I did not see her as being as in touch with the situation as I felt she ought to be - did she, for example, have anything to do with selecting these people for Ginny's permanent forever family? Was she not concerned about the age difference between Ginny and a newborn - I just thought she was given more credit and control than perhaps she deserved or was warranted. She seemed genuinely interested in the family, but perhaps her ideas were given too much credence?

Patrice was a flawed therapist, in my opinion. Ginny needed more than she was getting from Patrice in order to grow emotionally. I felt that Patrice infantilized her and enabled her to remain locked in the mindset of a nine year old.

I do not feel Patrice was a very competent therapist. She dismissed too many of Ginny's conversations too quickly. I think a good therapist would have spent more time trying to understand Ginny.

Given that therapists are not mind readers, Patrice was as accurate as she could be given the information she had. Her interactions with Ginny were appropriate and necessary as her goal was to keep Ginny with the Moon family instead of going to an institution. Was Patrice perfect, no of course not. Who is?

Patrice was able to communicate with Ginny better than anyone else and she never lied to her. She always had Ginny's best interests in mind and I feel that her goal for Ginny was stability in her relationship with Brian and Maura. I feel that Patrice understood everyone's point of view, with some exceptions, and tried to facilitate mutual understanding in the family.

I did feel Patrice was fairly accurate in her observations, but what really stood out to me was that Patrice's main concern was to advocate for Ginny. She knew Ginny's best chance at a good life lie with the Moons. A group home, or her dysfunctional birth parents, or bouncing from home to home would never equal what the love of two professionals, one trained in medicine and one in education, could offer. I think Patrice was effective in diffusing situations and trying to keep the adoptive family together.

I think Patrice handled Ginny well. She was truthful with her and tried to instruct her so that she could interact with the family. I thought she didn't do enough, though, to get Maura to understand Ginny. I thought she should be working with the parents also. It also seemed that she kept accepting the fact that Ginny wasn't fitting in and she didn't pay enough attention to the problem of the Baby Doll. That kept coming up with Ginny and she just kept dismissing it instead of investigating more. I think sending Ginny to an institution showed that she really wasn't that committed to Ginny.

Patrice did well considering Ginny was a "tough cookie" and a smart one also. I liked that Patrice always had some good things for Ginny to eat when she was in session, giving Ginny some comfort and some relaxation for such a tense child, who was facing great difficulties. Patrice had a good interaction with Ginny, but really could not grasp Ginny's anxiety because Ginny was so good at hiding her feelings. That Ginny eventually allowed some important "feelings" to emerge was significant as to how good a therapist Patrice was, in my opinion.

I think Patrice and everyone else let Ginny down. I found this book very hard to read becausr of all the let down.