Do you think Wavy's Aunt Brenda's response was appropriate?

Do you think Wavy's Aunt Brenda's response was appropriate?

I disliked Aunt Brenda intensely. She knew how bad the environment was for Wavy. It seems that she turned her frustration with the break-up of her own marriage and the lack of the supposedly-perfect (on the surface) suburban life into cruelty.

No. Aunt Brenda was always too emotional and over the top in her response. She was always led by her initial emotional response and did not seem to have a discussion with her husband, but rather was just emotional and then followed his lead. Until she went to the other extreme in her pursuit of justice and her marriage dissolved. I believe it must have been very hard for her to see her sister live this horrid life and inflict it on her children. However, Brenda was not in a healthy enough situation to make rational decisions. She reacted to her own emotions and shut out the reality of those around her. She tried to fit everyone in to her version of the world and did not truly listen to other's perspectives. She seemed more concerned with behaving in a manner that others would view as "right" rather than discussing what was right with the individuals involved.

Until the murder of her sister, she was minimally involved in her niece and nephew's lives. Knowing in some ways what their lives must have been like, she did not fight for them when they needed her the most. Her sister would have had no earthly idea if Brenda had shown up now and then to check on them. It didn't occur to her to ask the police to ever check on them. Did she send birthday cards? How many holidays did she include them in? As far as I am concerned, she abandoned her sister's children too. They were "book club material", the more scandalous the better. Maybe she felt guilty after the fact and overcompensated. She rushed in to "save" the day after Wavy had found a family that worked for her and loved her. Brenda took that away. Brenda was worried about what looked good to the rest of the world.

It was over the top, but given her lack of contact with Wavy and her shock over her sister's death, I can see why she did overreact in the beginning. The part that was wrong was how she made Wavy her crusade. Her guilt over turning her back on her sister and Wavy made her zealous. She never consulted Wavy or cared how she felt. She kept vital information from her and turned her brother over without considering what his life would be like. She was intensely unlikeable, but I imagine the author wanted to have someone in the book react as so many would seeing the situation from the outside, again reinforcing that context is everything.

I don't think Brenda handled anything well. To put Wavy back into the environment she had with her mother was unthinkable. Brenda wasn't strong and didn't stand up for Wavy's benefit. I also feel that if she had, her relationship with her husband may have survived.

No, Aunt Brenda convinced herself that she wasn't her sister's child's keeper. I don't think she really knew how to handle Wavy--too complex, too difficult to handle, too different, too challenging.

Initially, maybe yes, but Brenda's biggest problem was that she didn't listen. She reacted on the fly. and was unwilling to listen to any version of the story that was not the one that initially lodged in her brain. This cut of all access and influence she might have had with Wavy and Donal -- and after her sister died, kept her form getting to the truth of what happened. Luckily for her, Wavy gave her a third chance.

Aunt Brenda's response was an appropriate one for her when one considers her life style, her attitude and her demeanor toward her sister's children.

Aunt Brenda was presented sympathetically at first, but as the book progressed, she became more and more unlikable. Maybe guilt made her butt in as much as she did. But what bothered me the most was her keeping important information from Wavy.

Brenda was the most frustrating character!

I can understand why she initially reacted to seeing Wavy and Kellen together that one night; but not everything she did before or after. She'd left those kids in an awful situation for years... and then she hid information and more from Wavy later. I have to think guilt and shame are her two motivating factors.

Aunt Brenda came off as judgmental and cruel Ron the beginning but she didn't want to be involved. She responded in a predictable way but her interactions should have at least made her question what was going on. She should have spoken to Kellen, the sheriff, the others around. If she had scratched the surface she would have learned more about the kids and the circumstances. That said she saw a sexual crime that she couldn't see in any other way and it became her obsession. I felt sorry for her but she was so righteous you had to hate her for her response.

NO! Her reactions were not appropiate throughout the book. She did try to do the right thing by taking care of her sister'children, but she never took the extra step required for children in their situation. She needed to listen more and find out what was truly going on in Wavy's house.

I was so disappointed in Brenda! She could have done so much to help Wavy. But I think she was frustrated by Wavy's peculiar behavior and didn't really know how to help her. In the beginning, when Wavy and Donal were unexpectedly dropped off at her doorstep, it seemed she tried to welcome them. But Wavy didn't act as Brenda expected, and Brenda's family life suffered, especially with her husband. Others have mentioned that Brenda didn't listen, but since Wavy didn't speak to her, or to very few people ever, Brenda would have had a hard time really understanding what was going on. Actually, would any adult really understand the relationship between Kellen and Wavy? The age difference was such a huge obstacle that people couldn't get past. And the fact there are laws against it made it hard to accept. I think Brenda really thought she was acting in Wavy's best interest, but I also think she once Wavy became of legal age, Brenda should have been forthcoming about the parole hearings. Brenda probably always saw Wavy as a child who was taken advantage of, even as the years past.