Cap writes to Rosa that "When hard things come along someone always has to be the strong one, the one who takes charge..." Do you agree with this statement? Do you feel Rosa is capable of filling this role?

Cap writes to Rosa that "When hard things come along someone always has to be the strong one, the one who takes charge and is responsible for making things better." Do you agree with this statement? Do you feel Rosa is capable of filling this role? Why or why not?

I definitely agree with this sentiment. Most emergencies will bring out the panic in some and the calm fortitude in others. I think Rosa performed this role for her family from the time her mother met such a tragic end in book 1. It's sad to see such large responsibility thrust on such small shoulders and I hope we see Rosa again in future books.

I always feel sorry when children have to take on an adult role at a young age. Sometimes it is thrust upon them and other times they just assume it for themselves. I think Rosa took it on but in response to her promise to her mother. She does seem capable of assuming the role but her childhood was robbed from her. I don't think her mother would have wanted that.

I do feel often there is one person who takes charge and command in a grave situation and organizes the effort to solve the problem. However, I feel Cap was discouraging Rosa from trying to fill that role. As I read the letter from Cap to Rosa on pg 33-34 I felt he was absolving her of the responsibility to be “ the strong one” and in fact encouraging her to rely on the adults in her new family to help carry the burdens. He pointedly tells her ...” you do not have to be strong all the time.It is important to know that there are people who love you who are willingly and even eager to be strong for you.” He also encourages her to let her feelings out and not feel that she can’t give in to such feelings. It is beyond tragic when children are put in positions of such consequence and angst and even more despicable when adults put them there.

I think I read Cap's words to Rosa as gerrieb, above, did. He was advising her not to take on the role of an adult but to rely on those older and wiser above her to help out. Ultimately, in most difficult situations someone does take charge, and it is regrettable when that role has to be born by a child. Rosa is the oldest child and this is a role the first child often claims. In this situation, Rosa committed herself to doing so to her mother. While she is trying hard to look after her siblings and is a very caring and committed older sister, I think her family is working to keep her from bearing too much of the responsibility.

I do think everyone reacts differently to situations. But I think Cap was trying to tell Rosa that it was ok for her to be strong for her siblings, and at the same time let others be strong for her.

I think he was telling her that life is hard, and she has to learn to be strong for herself and those she loves. Being in charge would be a byproduct of that advice if Rosa actually is a strong enough person and personality to do so.

In a hard and difficult situation, hopefully more than one person will step forward to take on a shared responsibility, but it seldom turns out that way. One person, strong or otherwise, is usually left to handle and take charge of a bad time. People in general, run from responsibility. To make a child take on the role of an adult is to forever rob their childhood forever. Down the road this always has severe repercussions. Rosa was able to cope with that which was thrust on her and showed her strength with her non complaining acceptance. Still, I felt very sad for her and the child forced to adulthood too soon.

I do agree with this. Rosa has had to be strong for a long time and sometimes it is difficult for a child to let down that weight even when there are adults to support her.

There are different responses to what Cap meant. I am not sure which is correct. I do know, from experiences, in our family that there is always someone that must take charge because no one else will. Rosa had to take over. It would, however, be nice if the one taking charge had someone she or he could lean on once in a while.

nancyh: Amen!

I do agree and believe Rosa is capable of filling this role, though she is young to take this on. Would hope that she learns to trust and share that responsibility with others so it is not so much pressure on her.

Bless Rosa's heart, she has had too much to carry on her young shoulders. She will be strong with her siblings, but she will need the strong adults to lean on until she grows up. She is already showing characteristics of becoming "the strong one", but she is too young now. With the Savard women in her life, there are many to lean on.