Snapshots of My Early Life - Diane Bartholomew Summary and Analysis

In "Snapshots of My Early Life," Diane Bartholomew uses humor to make her rough life bearable. Her wry observations allow the reader to laugh when they want to cry. There are seventeen short chapters (or snapshots), beginning with Suppertime and ending with Dad's Dead.

Suppertime sets up Diane's childhood. Her father beats her often, and her mother, grandmother, and sister do not come to her rescue. Diane turns into a defiant child who bounces back and forth between stand offs with her father and yearning for his love and attention.

The family moves to Pennsylvania, and Diane has a rough time fitting in at her new school. Her observations of school are hilarious and heartbreaking. Diane turns into a "bad" kid at school to gain more attention...