Sense of Self and Self-Esteem

Throughout the book, events in Patricia's life are shaped by her sense of self and self-esteem; learning to build her self-esteem is an important part of her journey not only out of poverty but out of illegal activities. As a child, Patricia suffered a great deal of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse which negatively impacted her sense of self and self-esteem. Her only model for relationships was her mother who was abusive and neglectful to her children, doing nothing to give them a sense of self-worth and undermining what little self-esteem they had. In addition to the abuse Patricia endured, she had no one to tell her she was loved, worthy, valued, intelligent, or capable. Miss Troup who Patricia met in the third grade was the first person to tell Patricia that she was capable and that she believed in her. However, Miss Troup's...