What did you think of Eve's efforts to ensure Clementine remain in her same school?

As a teacher I have experienced parental subterfuge firsthand, and in my case it meant a classroom of 35 or so, with near by classrooms of 13 - 15. I had such mixed feelings re the school situation, and was relieved when Eve and Clem learned the other school wasn't the end of the world.

I agree that some parents place too much emphasis on having an address in a "good" district. Most schools are fine if there is enough parental support, a proactive administration, and caring teachers.

Children are far more adaptive than parents realize. Both of my children moved from a school in a wealthy area to a small rural district 40 years ago. They did well. As a retired teacher also, I have seen many students move from one school to another with no major problems.

I can understand why Eve wanted to keep Clem in the same school, the child has gone through so much with the loss of her Dad and home.

I understood why she did it. As a military brat who moved a lot, I know how hard it can be to be the perpetual new girl. With everything that Clem had lost, school was the only thing that was left. It made perfect sense to me that Eve would work so hard to keep her there so she would have an anchor from her past. It was the only thing that remained. I was pleased that she moved to a new school in the end as her old school didn't seem like the best place for her anymore. But it was better that she understand that herself instead of having that choice made for her.

With everything that had happened in the Clem's life, her mom was hoping for some stability for her by keeping her in the same school. She wanted to avoid one more big change for her. Little did she know how harmful it would be for her to stay in her original school. I can understand her original wish to give her daughter some stability in the midst of all of the changes in her young life.

I certainly think Eve was making what she thought was the best decision at the time- to keep Clems life as much the same as she could. I'm sure I would have done the same thing. It was great to see that changing schools only expanded Clementine's perspective on life and making friends.

I do understand why she did it. Clem had already had so much to deal with, a change in school seemed to much for her to undergo. The problem was that her attendance was predicated on a lie. It was a hard decision for her mom to make. In the end, the new school seemed best for Clem anyway

Eve's desire to keep Clem in the same school was certainly understandable, especially since it meant keeping Clem and Legs together. But be careful what you wish for! The other mothers were infuriating in their insularity and vindictiveness and the other kids, especially Miranda were cruel and just plain mean. I think getting out of that environment was a blessing in disguise.

I think that was important. As a mother she wanted her child to have some regularity in her life. Changes are hard, life is hard!

I think that was important. As a mother she wanted her child to have some regularity in her life. Changes are hard, life is hard!

I imagine Eve expected her friends to remain her friends and was trying to stay in the same milieu. Do you find the behavior of the mothers realistic? I do not. I have never lived in NJ and I think the author made an effort to tell us these people relied on appearances a lot. Building huge houses on small lots is a clear example. I was in a situation where our group of maybe 20 friends - comfortable but not wealthy like Eve - rallied around the female friend who had a similar situation with her husband. He did not die but was publicly humiliated and lost everything. I don't think she lost a single friend. She continued to be a part of every group, was welcomed at all events and private parties, was never shunned. SHE didn't do anything wrong. We all helped her financially and helped her kids. I think Eve kept Clem in the school because she had no clue her so-called friends were shallow and hateful.

She didn't wasn't to disturb her daughter's life any more than it was. I also was not surprised by the attitude of the parents having just finished a story where a wife and young child faced angry parents from similar problems. I guess author's like to write about selfish reactions of women to each other.

I can understand Eve wanting Clem to be able to stay near her best friend and remain in the same school. But given the way the other mothers treated her, did she honestly think this would not in some way have a negative effect on her child? I live in a state that allows open enrollment, so you don't have to live in the district where you send your child to school. You just have to do the paperwork to get your child into the school you want them to go. That would have made things somewhat simpler for Eve.

I think Eve thought she was making things easier for Clem by keeping her at her school with all her friends. Though it might have been hard for her to leave, I think it would have made things easier for her in the long run.

It seems Eve believed these women were her friends. She probably though it would be easier for Clem and also herself. She must have thought these mothers who had known her and her child for years would be kind to the child and protective. I think she was surprised at how truly shallow and hateful these women were.

I completely understand why Eve tried so hard to keep Clementine in the same school. As a mother you want the best for your child and would go through anything to keep from disrupting their life and give them the best education possible.

Children are very adaptable. They handle change better than adults.

As a parent, my first thought would have been that moving Clementine to a new school would have been an unnecessary trauma.I am not quite sure why Eve had to choose a one bedroom apartment over a restaurant since she sold a house that was filled with the best of everything. Rosalind House "looks a hell of a lot like her old house" when Clem first sees it. Unfortunately Eve does not realize the shallowness of her so called friends at the school in the better neighborhood nor does she recognize a sense of entitlement in her own character at this point in her life. The teacher and principal at the better school seem to care about Clem, but there are always the Mirandas in any classroom. As a retired teacher I know that the schools in the best neighborhoods do not always produce the best students or environments.

I also think there was a message about being honest with kids and not trying to make things look rosy and untroubled on the surface. The mean moms were honest with their kids. They told their kids the brutal truth and perpetuated their own hateful mores, as they wanted to do. They knew they were raising shallow and hateful people. Eve was not honest with Clem and left Clem open to learning the truth in damaging ways. Eve could have gently explained that Dad had gotten off track in business and behaved badly - in business. And she could have said Dad couldn't live with himself. Less painful than hearing it from the little wretches at school.

I would have done the same. Her daughter's world was upside down and Eve wanted to give her stability in her school with close friends. Eve also wanted to give clementine the good education this school had a history of providing.

I agree with some others that I understand in many ways her decision. With all they have been through it was best to keep her there for awhile. I am also glad that in the end she let her try her new school since she needed to move on.

It is understandable why Eve tried to keep Clem in the same school. But she did not think it through. Did she not realize the reactions of the other kids (extensions of their parent's reactions)? She seemed to be living in a make-believe world during that period of time. Grief and guilt robbed her of common sense. She knew others thought of her as a pariah...she should have known the reaction to Clem would be similar. It's too bad Clem wasn't able to go to a new school in the beginning. But, it's a story and that's how the author wrote it.

Ideally, towns should have a reciprocity arrangement to allow the child to stay where he/she is when a family moves after the start of the school year. However, regarding this book and the story line, Eve was doing what she thought best, and keeping Clementine in the same school was appropriate.

I can certainly understand her why she did it initially. As a mom I would probably have done the same to keep as much normalcy as I could in my child's life. However, as her treatment from the other moms continued to be so awful she should have known it would have in some way extended to the children. I would have entered into protective mom mode and put her in a safer place. At least she could have gone to look at the new school before she made her decision.

Good point. It makes me realize how helter skelter Eve was in her efforts to keep Clem in the same school and keep herself afloat. She took a shady job, decided to lie about her address, ran blindly to and fro without much thought. Your point makes me realize she was in panic mode and was NOT thinking and planning. Of course, anyone would have gone to look at the other school. Eve was blind-sided by her husband's crimes and suicide. She never slowed down enough to plan sensibly. I feel more empathy and less judgment, realizing this. Thanks for a good point!

I also can understand why Eve put so much effort into keeping Clem in her same school but in the long run it doesn't work. She would have to continually lie to keep Clem with her friend Legs. And where was Legs' mother? Was she a real friend to Eve? It would be better to tell Clem the truth and put her in the local school so she could make friends with people who live close to her, friends she can easily play with when not in school. Having a friend in another school district makes it hard for children to see each other because they have to rely on their parents to drive them there.