Book 1: The Garden, Chapters 16-20 Summary

In Chapter 16, Three Sisters, Kathleen starts spending time with Mercedes and Frances, reading to them and playing games. The little girls are enthralled with Kathleen and listen to everything she tells them about famous musicians and singers. Kathleen declares that she will not get married and have children, for it will ruin her career.

In Chapter 17, Women of Canada Say, "Go," James regularly writes to the family to let them know he is okay, yet Materia continually waits for his death notice. Mrs. Luvovitz's sons, Abe and Rudy, are both killed in battle. Materia tries to absolve her guilt over wishing James dead by confessing to the priest, and even considers suicide. However, she thinks about her children and the fact that suicide is an unforgivable sin. She refrains from taking that ultimate act.

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