Essay Questions

How does Veronica describe her relationship with her family?

Veronica introduces her family, recounting memories and old secrets of her time at home. She tells us that she has a large family with eight siblings, and also informs us that the family has been struck by tragedy time and time again. Very recently, her brother Liam had committed suicide by drowning. She also tells her that she doesn't have a great relationship with her mother and that the family often struggled to get along. It is implied that her mother could not cope with looking after so many children, which put a strain on their relationships.

What happened to Veronica when she was younger?

At the beginning of the text, Veronica alludes to something terrible that happened while she was living at her grandmother's house as a child. She doesn't elaborate on this much to begin with, but later she explains what happened, while also telling us she isn't certain whether or not her memories are true.

Veronica remembers that as a child she was sent to live with her grandmother, due to her own mother's inability to cope with having so many children. She was sent to this new home alongside her brother Liam and her sister Kitty. She remembers a terrible moment in which she witnessed her brother Liam being sexually abused by her Grandmother's partner, and blames this incident for her brother's suicide.