This is the rough copy of the character analysis we made up together in class.  Your job is to make a good copy, making whatever changes you like.  You may want to add or remove information, or include more examples.  (People who make some changes will obviously receive a higher grade than those who do not.)

    Remember that your good copy counts as 25% on your Willow and Twig assignment.  The good copy is due on Tuesday or Wednesday.
 

     The character of Willow changes a lot from the beginning to the end of Willow and Twig by Jean Little.

     At the beginning, Willow is very scared, anxious and fearful because she and her little brother, Twig, have been abandoned by their drug-addicted mother, Angel.  Twig is very hard to handle, and can’t hear or speak very well.  Willow is the only person who cares enough about Twig to look after him.  She is constantly worried that someone will take Twig away from her, so she is very distrustful of all adults, especially police officers and social workers.  Her overwhelming fear is that she will be separated from Twig.

     Their lives begin to change when they discover that they have a grandmother, a great-uncle and a great-aunt in Ontario.  Willow has less responsibility because Gram starts to take over caring for Twig, but willow feels jealous and left out, not relieved.  She is worried at first when Twig goes to school and gets hearing aids, but he makes a friend right away.  As he becomes less frustrated about not being able to hear or talk well, he begins to behave more normally.
 Willow makes a new friend, goes to school and goes to church.  She also adopts Crocus, the cat.  All of these things help to give her a higher self-esteem and more self-confidence.  She learns to trust some people.

     Willow still has some big worries.  She is worries that Gram will take over Twig completely.  She is worries that Aunt Con will make them leave.  Most of all, she is worried that Angel will come back and take them away again.

     At the end of the book, Angel calls Stonecrop and speaks to Willow.  Willow learns that Angel has given Gram legal custody of the two children.  Finally, Willow is able to feel completely safe.
 
    By the end of the book, Willow has changed a lot.  She is still suspicious, anxious and fearful, but she feels more secure because she knows they will be staying permanently at Stonecrop.  Will Willow ever completely adjust to a more normal life?  What do you think?