Mainstream ideals of parenting are ignored by Rex and Rosemary Walls, a desensitized, adult Jeanette examines her past and provides many examples of this. As the Walls move through the desert, Jeanette uses imagery to place the reader in her situation. Later that night, Dad stopped the car out in the middle of the desert and we slept under the stars.” (pg. 18) This use of imagery suggests Jeanette’s perspective of her parents’ refusal to be socially adequate, that the beauty in the world can always be appreciated, even in her chaotic lifestyle. Using imagery in this part of the book allows it to have a slower pace, and as a result, the full impact of this seemingly unimportant event can be comprehended. At this point in her life, Jeanette knows
