Form and Content
Walk Two Moons is a story within a story. Salamanca Tree Hiddle entertains her unique and charming grandparents on a trip from Ohio to Idaho with the story of Phoebe Winterbottom. Sal’s story about her experiences with Phoebe is intermingled with her first-person narrative of the trip’s events. Sharon Creech presents a deeply moving story told in a simple, straightforward fashion liberally sprinkled with picturesque phrases.
Sal’s mother left their farm in Bybanks, Kentucky, in April; a short time later, they learned that she is never returning. Unable to bear the memories that the farm evoked, Sal’s father moves them to a small house in Euclid, Ohio, where he sells farm machinery and, to Sal’s resentment, spends much of his spare time with his friend Margaret Cadaver. Phoebe Winterbottom, Margaret’s next-door neighbor, soon becomes Sal’s friend and confidante. Later that year, Sal’s grandparents arrive to take her by car from Euclid to Lewiston, Idaho, where her mother is “resting peacefully.” As they begin the trip, Gram Hiddle asks Sal to entertain them with a story, so Sal spins the “extensively strange story” of Phoebe Winterbottom.
Phoebe’s very ordered life with her highly respectable family begins to change the day that a strange young man appears on their doorstep. He asks to see her mother, who has gone shopping. Phoebe, who has been warned about strangers, is convinced that he is a lunatic, and, when her mother disappears sometime later, Phoebe decides that she has been kidnapped by him. Phoebe’s father points out that her mother has left notes for each family member and that the freezer is filled with neatly labeled meals, but Phoebe persists in her belief. Meanwhile, Sal finds herself attracted to Ben, the cousin of another friend, Mary Lou Finney. Ben is staying with Mary Lou’s family, and his mother, too, is missing. Sal and Phoebe trace the “lunatic” to a nearby university, where they see Phoebe’s mother kiss him gently on the cheek. Sal flees and tracks down Ben, who has traveled on the same bus to the university town, at a hospital. Here, she meets his mother, a psychiatric patient. When Phoebe arrives home, she discovers that her mother is returning the next day and is bringing someone with her. That someone turns out to be the “lunatic,” her illegitimate son.
Sal’s story about Phoebe progresses slowly as she and her grandparents drive across the country. Sal is anxious to arrive in Lewiston by her mother’s birthday, but, a hundred miles east, Gram Hiddle has a stroke and is hospitalized. Gramps gives Sal money and the car keys, and Sal drives carefully, as Gramps had taught her, to Lewiston Hill. It is there that her mother’s bus left the road, killing her. A kind sheriff helps Sal find her mother’s grave, and finally Sal can accept that her mother is dead.
Setting
The novel Walk Two Moons explores themes of loss and grief, spanning from childhood to adolescence and from one home to another. The physical setting of the story is a road trip from Ohio to Idaho. Sal embarks on this journey with her grandparents, making stops at notable locations like the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Yellowstone National Park, and Coeur d'Alene. The trip's purpose is to retrace the steps of Sal's mother during her final travels. Sal's grandparents understand that she needs to experience her mother's last days through this journey. Sal feels a mix of emotions: she knows she must go and wants to go, yet she fears the finality that the trip will bring.
Throughout the journey, Sal recounts her adventures with her new friend, Phoebe, along with stories about her school and other friends. Phoebe's story unfolds in Euclid, Ohio, where Sal and her father have moved. For Sal's dad, the move represents a necessary break as he adjusts to life without his wife. Although Sal doesn't grasp the need for the relocation, the reality of life without her mother becomes clearer through the trip. This journey symbolizes the path Sal must take to accept her loss. Sal's mother had embarked on a journey of self-discovery, and Phoebe's mother's disappearance similarly serves as a quest for self-identity.
Trees play a significant role in the setting. Sal's mother, of Native American heritage, passed down her love for nature and the land to Sal. Named after an Indian tribe and trees, Sal cherishes the special trees on their farm in Bybanks. She holds dear memories of her mother and the trees. Sugar's gravesite is surrounded by trees and singing birds, creating a serene final resting place. This setting is a crucial part of Sal's journey to accept her mother's death.
The themes of death, loss, and grief are intricately woven with the concept of a journey. As Walk Two Moons concludes, Sal, her father, and Gramps have come full circle with their return to the farm in Bybanks, Kentucky.
Expert Q&A
What are the settings in Walk Two Moons?
In "Walk Two Moons," the primary settings include Euclid, Ohio, where Sal lived with her father and experienced the events involving her friend Phoebe; the road trip from Euclid to Lewiston, Idaho, with her grandparents, which serves as a narrative frame; and Bybanks, Kentucky, Sal's original home, representing her past and emotional core. These settings intertwine to explore themes of family, loss, and self-discovery.
Why are Sal and her father moving from Bybanks, Kentucky, to Euclid, Ohio?
Sal and her father move from Bybanks, Kentucky, to Euclid, Ohio, because Sal's mother has left and isn't returning, making their home too sad for her father. He seeks a new environment to adjust to their changed lives. Additionally, he wants to be near Margaret Cadaver, their new neighbor, due to a connection revealed later. Despite making new friends, Sal wishes to return to her childhood home and be near her grandparents.
Why did Sal's mother choose Lewiston, Idaho as her destination when leaving Kentucky?
Sal's mother chooses Lewiston, Idaho as her destination because she has a cousin there and seeks connection with someone who knew her before she became a wife and mother. She struggles with the loss of her baby and the inability to have more children. Her husband understands her need to leave, but Sal feels inadequate, questioning why she wasn't enough for her parents. Her mother wanted to experience more of the joy that Sal brought her.
Why does Sal start in Ohio in Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech?
Sal starts in Ohio because her father moved them there from Bybanks, Kentucky, after her mother's death. He chose Euclid, Ohio, to be near Margaret Cadaver, the only survivor of the bus crash that killed Sal's mother. Sal initially resents the move and Margaret, longing for her previous rural life. Over time, she learns Margaret's connection to her mother and overcomes her resentment, understanding Margaret's role in her mother's final moments.
The impact of the setting on the novel and its characters in Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The setting in Walk Two Moons significantly impacts the novel and its characters by shaping their journeys and emotional landscapes. Salamanca's cross-country trip mirrors her internal quest for understanding and closure regarding her mother's disappearance, while the rural and small-town environments reflect her connection to nature and her heritage.
Literary Qualities
The author skillfully combines humor and sensitivity to narrate a young girl's quest for life without her mother, resulting in a touching story. Although the subject matter is serious, the events surrounding it are conveyed in a humorous and mysterious manner. Creech's exceptional talent for writing dialogue, along with the story's pacing, captivates readers until the book's conclusion. Salamanca Tree Hiddle's journey is intricately woven with the lives of other characters. These "stories within stories" offer students a chance to speculate and predict how all the narratives will eventually converge, and indeed they do.
The author never explicitly informs the reader that Sal's mother has passed away, even though Sal is aware of it. Upon reflecting on the novel, it becomes evident that Sal's mother is not merely absent but has passed on. This subtle revelation may frustrate some readers. However, this frustration is overshadowed by the realistic situations that Sal and her friends encounter as they navigate adolescence. The bond that develops between Sal and her grandparents during their journey is heartwarming. Readers will be charmed by Gram and Gramps' quirky behaviors and Sal's typical teenage reactions to them. Despite feeling "locked up" with her grandparents for six days, Sal's affection for her eccentric grandparents is clear.
Sal is portrayed as a strong, independent, and determined character, even though she describes herself as "ornery and stubborn." She is reluctant to undertake the trip but recognizes its necessity. Readers can sense the urgency of the journey as Sal listens to the night's quiet rush, rush, rush and the wind's hurry, hurry, hurry. The author sets a deadline of Sugar's birthday for Sal to reach her mother, adding to the sense of urgency and suspense as Phoebe Winterbottom's story unfolds.
Creech incorporates her fascination with Native American culture into the novel, particularly through the messages left on the Winterbottoms' front porch. This influence is also apparent in the wind speaking to Sal and the significance of nature, especially trees. Even the title, Walk Two Moons, emphasizes the importance of understanding others by putting oneself in their shoes and refraining from judgment. This theme is developed as Sal "walks" in her mother's, Phoebe's, her dad's, and Ben's shoes. Through this process, Sal begins to understand her own "shoes" that she must walk in.
For Further Reference
Creech, Sharon. "Newbery Medal Acceptance." Boston, MA: Horn Book, (July/August, 1995). This article includes the author's acceptance speech and related materials.
Essay in Seventh Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. Edited by Sally Holmes Holtze. New York: Wilson, 1996. This follow-up edition to the sixth volume features over two hundred profiles of authors, illustrators, and a translator of children's books who gained prominence after the release of the Sixth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators.
Krementz, Jill. How It Feels When a Parent Dies. New York: Knopf, 1981. Eighteen young people, aged 7-16, share their experiences, fears, and grief after losing a parent.
Rylant, Cynthia. Missing May. New York: Orchard Books, 1992. After the death of Summer's beloved aunt, she and her uncle leave their West Virginia trailer. Their journey helps them find the strength to continue living after their loss.
Something About the Author, Vol. 94. Detroit: Gale Research, 1971. These volumes provide information and photographs of contemporary authors and illustrators of children's books.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.