91 pages • 3 hours read
Caitlin Alifirenka, Liz Welch, Martin GandaA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Summary
“Caitlin: September 1997”-“Martin: November 1997”
“Caitlin: January 1998”-“Caitlin: May 1998”
“Martin: June 1998”-“Martin: October 1998”
“Caitlin: December 1998”-“Martin: April 1999”
“Caitlin: May 1999”-“Caitlin: June 1999”
“Martin: June 1999”-“Caitlin: December 1999”
“Martin: January 2000”-“Caitlin: February 2000”
“Martin: February 2000”-“Caitlin: September 2000”
“Martin: November 2000”-“Caitlin: December 2000”
“Martin: January 2001”-“Martin: April 2001”
“Caitlin: April 2001”-“Martin: July 2001”
“Caitlin: September 2001”-“Martin: June 2002”
“Caitlin: August 2002”-“Martin: September 2002”
“Caitlin: October 2002”-“Martin: December 2002”
“Caitlin: January 2003”-“Martin: April 2003”
“Caitlin: April 2003”-“Caitlin: July 2003”
“Martin–July 2003”-“Martin–August 14, 2003”
“Caitlin: August 15, 2003”-“Caitlin: October 2015”
Key Figures
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Despite Caitlin’s earnestness, her early efforts to relate to Martin reveal her privilege and lack of knowledge of his economic circumstances. She sends photographs to Martin and constantly requests photographs from him in return, despite his financial inability to reciprocate. However, when Caitlin eventually learns the reality of Martin’s circumstances, she takes it upon herself to become more aware of those less fortunate in the world. She starts to notice the poverty that exists in her own town and reflects on the ways in which she has shamed those with less privilege than her. She also experiences shame when she recalls a former classmate, Amanda, whose poverty she used to make fun of with other popular girls in school. After reflecting on Martin’s struggles and the poverty that surrounds her, she makes the promise to “never to be mean to Amanda, or anyone else like her, ever again” (185).
Through Martin’s influence, she begins to form new priorities in her life. While she was initially concerned with social popularity and dating, her exposure to Martin’s hard work and passion inspires her to pursue her career in nursing and make the world a better place. When Caitlin’s high school boyfriend starts to criticize her for being too concerned with her education and says that she used to be more fun, she responds that “that Caitlin has grown up” (333).