Essays 1 and 2 Summary and Analysis

Essay 1: High Tide in Tucson

When Barbara Kingsolver vacationed in the Bahamas two years before, she had smuggled a hermit crab back with her. The morning after she came home, she allowed her young daughter to open the box of shells she had collected on the islands. Her daughter shrieked with delight to see that one of the "shells" was moving around the room. Of course, the crab was a little confused. The last daylight it had seen was of the beautiful Caribbean. It seemed to get its bearings in a relatively short time and began to explore its new quarters—its dexterity and strength allowing it to climb under the top of the coffee table.

Buster, his new name, was given a terrarium and happily fed on the day's scraps. New seashells were placed in his home...