Shells By Cynthia Rylant

“Shells” by Cynthia Rylant is a realistic fiction short story about a fourteen-year-old boy who learns to live with his aunt after his parents deaths. In the beginning, Michael’s parents died. His Aunt Esther decided he could live with her. Esther was the only one who offered to take him in. Michael's other relatives didn’t want to deal with a fourteen-year-old- boy. Soon, Michael and Esther start to get in fights. The two were always bumping heads. Esther always talked to her friends how she didn’t understand Michael. In the middle, Esther started to build a relationship with Michael. Sluggo the hermit crab started to bring the two closer together. In the end, Esther realized they both have Sluggo in common. Esther realized that Sluggo was lonely and so was Michael. So for …show more content…
In paragraph 60, they both went shopping for twenty more hermit crabs because Esther thought Sluggo was lonely. Then she realized Michael was also lonely. So then after the two got done with shopping, they sat on the bed and watched all Sluggo’s new friends. While they were sitting on the bed, Esther gently put her arm around his shoulders. Esther hasn’t embraced anyone in years. When Esther put her arm around Michael, he didn’t fight her. “Esther who hadn’t embraced anyone in years, gently put her arm around his shoulders.” “I am so sorry, Michael. Oh, you must hate me.” Michael sensed a familiar smell. His mother’s talc. “No, Aunt Esther.” He shook his head solemnly. “I don’t hate you.” This is proof that they both do not hate each other and get along now.
Esther changed throughout the story, like many people today. In the beginning they always fought. In the middle Esther started to try and understand and feel how Michael felt. In the end, Esther finally embraced love to Michael. Esther learned that it was important to help Michael. She learned that it is okay to make a change in