Everything is about children.

Even the horrific stuff nobody wants to think or talk about. Is my Jusctice Studies (JS) class we are going over the types of abuse and neglect that happens to children. The book White Oleander, by Janet Fitch, shows us the horrible things that Astrid Magnussen was put through. At this point I want to say don't continue to read is you have not read the book but would like to. SPOILER ALERT.

Ok so now that I have done that, lets get back to the story.

Astrid lived with her mother Ingrid who was a free spirit and moved around a lot. Ingrid never felt love for a man after she was divorced from her husband when Astrid was an infant. She fell for a man who had practically stocked her, and then dumped her for someone younger. Ingrid mixed a cooked version of White Oleander, and other poisonous plants, with medication that allows other things to be easily absorbed through the skin. She broke into his house and painted all his doorknobs.

Ingrid was caught and sentenced to prison for life. What was to happen to poor Astrid? she was put into the welfare system, but instead of her mother having her parental rights terminated so that Astrid could be adopted, which is what the current laws say is to happen, but doesn't always, she was shipped to her first foster home.

Starr and live-boyfriend Ray took in Astrid along with another foster boy, and Starr's biological son and daughter. Ray only had seven fingers, and Astrid knew she was pretty. After being physically neglected by her mother for most of her life time, Astrid had low self-esteem, and did not know how to control herself. Ray took advantage of the 12 year old girl who threw herself at him. They had sex many times before Starr started to catch on. Starr, not wanting to lose Ray because of her jealousy, only threatened and warned Astrid to stop what she was doing with Ray. A normal person would have called social services and report sexual abuse on a minor. Ray and Astrid stopped for a time. Starr started drinking again, and stopped going to church and AA. One night after Ray and Astrid had another session together, Starr got out her shot gun and shot Astrid twice, once in the hip, once in the shoulder. The only person to stay behind and keep Astrid alive was Starr's son Davey, whose life was now ruined because of Astrid.

Astrid did not tell the police who had shot her, but they figured it out. Astrid was released from the hospital to another foster family, this time in a suburban neighborhood. Marvel and Ed had two children and used Astrid, even as a cripple, as a personal slave and babysitter. Marvel had Astrid dye her hair, and watch the children and make lunch. She never gave Astrid any positive feedback for the work she did. She never even bought her nice things, for the holidays it was only two presents from the dollar store. The next door neighbor, Olivia, was a prostitute. She had nice, wealthy men come over and they gave her tons of money so that she could have anything she wanted. The men were older and younger. She befriended Astrid, and they would talk only when Astrid could sneak away. She was a role model for her. The one day she left for a vacation for a month with one of the men. Astrid was fragile and broke because she was abandoned by someone she thought cared for her. Astrid made up with Olivia Christmas night, and fell asleep at the house. The next morning Marvel caught Astrid leaving Olivia's house and called the police, who did nothing about Olivia. Once school started, Astrid was taken out during the day and placed into a new foster house. Her mothers letters were following her from house to house, reminding Astrid how she missed her mother, and wanted her back.

Amelia Ramos looked like a well to do woman, which is what she was because she was scamming the welfare system. She took in girls and the money the state gave her, but only fed the girls dinner, and only after they had done chores and not upset her. The fridge was locked during the day and the girls had no money for food. Astrid ate out of the trash at school, and was teased and ostracize for that. She complained to her caseworker, but she did not listen because Amelia had a beautiful house and of course she would feed the girls all the time. The new case worker listened to Astrids complaints, and got Astrid out of the house, and sacrificed the other girls who continue living there.

She was placed in a children's center, now at the age of 14. She met Paul, an artist like herself. He was soon placed in a foster house, but they promised to write to each other, and keep in touch. Astrid left the center to go to a foster/adoption house. If the couple wanted to they could adopt Astrid, which had never crossed her mind before. Claire was the only one to greet Astrid when she came in, because her husband, Ron, was working out of town like he usually did. Astrid fell in love with Claire and the house and the way Claire treated her, like a true daughter. Astrid was placed in school and tested, and was found to be advance for her years. She took honors classes, and came home after school to sit and eat with Claire. One day Ron came home and everything changed. Astrid hated the way Claire paid attention to Ron and felt threatened by his presence. But soon Ron left and they were left alone again. Astrid started to accumulate clothes and art supplies that Claire bought her. Every time Ron came home, tensions would be high between the couple. Claire started to think Ron was cheating in her. Astrid was still writing and receiving letters form her mother. Ingrid was starting to feel threatened by the love Astrid was feeling towards Claire. She started writing to Claire herself. They conversed until Claire believed they were friends, but Astrid new better. Her mom was vindictive when she wanted to be. She was pulling Claire into a trap. Astrid and Claire, against Astrids wishes, went to visit Ingrid in prison. Ingrid was becoming famous behind bars, she was a poet who had been falsely imprisoned. Astrid could tell instantly that her mother would do something to hurt Claire, but could not do anything to stop it. When they were alone, Ingrid confirmed Claire's beliefs that Ron was cheating on her. She poisoned her fragile mind. When Ron came home after his trips, Claire would become a little crazy, stealing his belongings and hiding them. Christmas came, and a big fight ensued about his leaving on Christmas to work. Claire was drinking, had fallen into the dark side. She would ask Astrid about suicide, tell her family history, and lie there drinking. By new years Ron had come back, and then the last fight took place. Ron threatened to leave, and packed his things. He left and Astrid was hiding in her room. Claire came to Astrid for support after he left, but Astrid did not want to to see her. She later went to Claire's room and after getting Claire to unlock the door, laid in bed with her. Astrid awoke and left the sleeping Claire to have breakfast. She came back a while later to see how Claire was doing. She lay stiff and unwaking in the same spot Astrid remembered from last night. She had been drinking during the fight, heavily. On the other side of the bed lay a spilt bottle of sleeping pills, which shouldn't be mixed with alcohol. Astrid threw things, begged Claire to wake up and broke windows and mirrors. She dressed Claire in a nicer outfit, and laid next to her for a few hours. She finally paged Ron with the emergency code, and he came home. He asked why she did not take care and look after Claire better. She asked him the same question. He told Astrid she could stay, but Astrid new she needed to move on, she couldn't "lay down for the father" again, as her mother put it. She was placed back at the childrens center, and had appointments to meet with prospective people to take her in. After what her mother had done to Claire, Astrid could not go and live with another great family. She turned down the couple that would have supported her, put her through college, expand her art career, instead she chose Rena, the Russian lady with attitude.

Rena had other teenage girls in her house, who did not like Astrid at first, but she grew on them. One was pregnant, the other a singer in a band. They took other peoples trash and sold it in yard sales. Spent their money on rent, drugs, and alcohol. Astrid was the one who was in the hospital room helping her roommate give birth to her second child who would be placed up for adoption. Astrid was almost out. The only thing she had going for her was the idea of Paul and attaining her high school diploma.
This is not the end of the story Please stay tuned.