Jami Henley
Mrs. Toner
ELA1 Period
April 18, 2012
Clover Notes
Chapter 1- In the beginning of this chapter we learn that the main character,
Clover, also the narrator of the story is getting ready for her father’s funeral. Clover
has a new stepmother, Sara Kate, who dresses her in all white. Clover herself has not
shown any emotion yet and doesn’t understand why everyone else is showing their
sadness.
CharactersClover (main character)- narrator of the story
Miss Katie (Clover’s neighbor)- stays behind at home just in case the
departed soul comes back
Gaten (Clover’s dad)- married Sara Kate, died in car accident
Aunt Everleen (Clover’s aunt)- mother figure toward Clover, doesn’t seem
too fond of Sara Kate
Sara Kate (Clover’s new stepmother)- none of the family has taken interest
in her
Jim Ed (Clover’s uncle)- Everleen’s husband who tends to always calm her
down
Daniel- (Clover’s cousin) Everleen’s son
Quotes“They dressed me in white for my daddy’s funeral. White from my head to my
toes.” “I know deep down in my heart you’re suppose to wear black for a
funeral. I guess the reason my stepmother is not totally dressed in black is
because she just plain doesn’t know any better.” (pg. 1)
“They asked Miss Katie to stay at the house. Folks in Round Hill, South
Carolina, never go to someone’s funeral and not leave somebody in their
home. They say the poor departed soul just might have to come bacl for
something or another, and you wouldn’t want to lock them out.” (pg. 2)
Chapter 2- In this chapter we learn more about Clover’s feelings for Sara Kate.
Clover said she wanted a surprise, a purple bicycle to be exact, but instead she met
her new stepmother and doesn’t count her as a surprise at all. We also learn a little
more about Gaten and Sara Kate’s relationship before he passed. Clover finds a
letter written by Sara Kate to Gaten, stating it’s a decision Gaten has to make.
CharactersGrandpa- (Clover’s grandfather) she was very close to him, he died before
her father died
Mr. Saye Willie Adams- Clover referred to him when she told Sara Kate
about the Creek. He said he wouldn’t eat fish at the Creek even if he was on
his death bed
QuotesMy grandpa always said, “Never kill a dove because unaware you might kill a
messenger.” (pg. 33)
Chapter 3- This chapter started off with a flashback at a family gathering, where
most of the family met and saw Sara Kate for the first time. It doesn’t seem like she’s
to their liking. The women of the family start to talk about Sara Kate in a bad way.
Later on we meet Gaten’s ex-girlfriend who seemed to still have lost feelings for him.
CharactersGideon- (Clover’s cousin)
Ruby Helen- (Clover’s aunt) wants to take Clover with her to Maryland, after
Gaten’s death
Annie Ruth- a cousin at the family gathering
Aunt Maude- (Clover’s aunt) had a stroke which affected her mind and she
always thought Gaten was coming back
California- (Clover’s cousin) she has been in some sort of asylum
Miss Merlee Kenyon- (Gaten’s ex-girlfriend) who seemed to still have
feelings for him. She despises Gaten and Sara Kate’s relationship.
Miss Eula Mae- old woman at the family gathering, sits in a wheelchair
Cousin Amphia- at family events she loses her teeth and women try to find
them
Cousin Lucille- another cousin who says Gaten and Sara Kate are in love
Lottie Jean- was supposed to give up dancing but can’t hold it back
Quotes“He can’t find fault with the way she seems to care about Gaten. Nobody can.
Not over the way she looks at him…” (pg. 43)
“I mean I literally bumped into her…” (pg. 45)
Major Plot Elements- Clover gives one of the main reasons why Merlee and Gaten
are no longer together. Miss Kenyon said she didn’t spend the best years of her life
getting a master’s degree in music to take care of someone else’s child.
Chapter 4- In this chapter, Clover begins her new life with Sara Kate. We learn
more about the peach stand that her family owns, and tension involving Everleen
and Sara Kate grows deeper. The chapter ends with Clover and Sara Kate having
dinner. Clover doesn’t like Sara Kate’s cooking one bit.
Characters-
Quotes“I like the man’s picture on the Cream of Wheat box. He looks just like my
grandpa. I guess my grandpa is still roaming around looking for that mansion
in the sky they said he was going to go. If he finds it I’m sure he’ll get a room
for me. That is, if there is any truth to that. I’m not so sure about that thing.”
(pg. 54-55)
“Now remember, Clover, we never repeat the things we talk about here at the
peach shed. This is family talk.” (pg. 59)
Major Plot Elements- Everleen takes in offense to Sara Kate about the peach shed.
She says, “If that woman don’t act like she owns this place, I’m not setting here.”
Everleen wants Sara Kate to start taking more responsibilities since she is now a
member of the family.
Chapter 5- In this chapter, Clover is beginning to notice more about Sara Kate. Sara
Kate is starting to show more emotion than she did at Gaten’s funeral. Sara Kate and
Clover are also becoming closer. Clover reflects back on her life with Gaten and an
intense conversation between Gaten and Jim Ed about Sara Kate and Clover.
CharactersMary Martha- a heavy set woman who comes to buy peaches, has a talk with
Everleen about Gaten marrying Sara Kate
Rooster Jones- drives pass the peach shed
Chase Porter- a friend to all of Round Hill, comes pass the peach shed after
Jim Ed and the others were just talking about him
Quotes“If you want to get tied up with someone its your business….(pg. 89)
Chapter 6- In this chapter, Clover gets into detail about the house she and Sara
Kate lives in. She starts to explain how it looks, but how she truly feels about it. Sara
Kate also has an interesting conversation with her mother about Clover.
CharactersSara Kate’s mother- she gives Sara Kate some harsh advice in this chapter
Quotes“It becomes real that there is something about our house that is not all that
happy. It kind of reminds me of a thick morning fog. It’s there, you can see it,
yet you can’t put your finger on it. Like the fog, a strange, uneasy feeling has
filled the house, and settled down upon us. “ (pg. 99)
“Well if you remember Sara Kate from the very beginning, I warned you to
take a long hard look at the price you may have to pay for what you call love.
If loves happens to carry problems, then find someone without them.
Problems take away love.” (pg. 103)
“I hope Sara Kate is not sad she got tied up with Gaten and ended up with
me… (pg. 104)
Chapter 7- Chase Porter was starting to develop a crush on Sara Kate in this
chapter, but made a negative comment. Clover took offense towards this comment.
Later on, Sara Kate ignored him because of it.
CharactersMary Ellen (Chase’s cousin)
Quotes“You see, she thinks she’s pretty uppity-crusty now…. (pg. 108)
“Shame had played, my daddy would have said… (pg. 109)
“At least after this Chase things, I’ve learned a thing or two more about Sara
Kate. She’s not all that good and sweet all the time. She’s got her mean
streaks too.” (pg. 110)
Major Plot Events- Chase makes a comment about his cousin, Mary Ellen, and
refers to her as working as hard as a “nigger woman.” This makes Sara Kate ignore
his calls from that moment on.
Chapter 8- In this chapter Sara Kate and Clover are growing even closer than they
were before. Sara Kate tells Clover about her drawings and Clover asks her for her
help to start her own. Also, in this chapter, Miss Kenyon shares some displeasing
words with Sara Kate.
CharactersSkip Howe- one of Clover’s classmates
Quotes“You want to know how I feel about what most of your kind write? I think, if
it’s in your mind to write, it’s in your head to say. She is stepping on Sara
Kate’s toes. Her face is as red as a beet.” (pg. 117)
“No matter how hard I try, I cannot get this book thing out my head… (pg.
117)
Major Plot Events- Miss Kenyon said something about Sara Kate writing a book
about the things she’s seen. Clover started to think about this more and used a story
about one of her classmates, Skip Howe’s, to explain.
Vocab- pinto
Chapter 9- Clover notices that her and Sara Kate are starting to act alike. Clover
also feels as though a part of her is starting to change when it comes to Sara Kate.
Aunt Everleen seems to be warming up to her as well.
Quotes“They say when two people live together, they start to look alike…” (page
130)
“Sometimes a new broom sweeps too clean….” (pg. 131)
“Oh Aunt Everleen, if you stop cooking darkness will cover the earth. Our
world will look just like this….” (pg. 134)
Vocab- piddling, chap, tourniquet
Chapter 10- In this chapter, Clover begins to speak up more for Sara Kate. Aunt
Everleen is now noticing that there is a closer bond between Clover and Sara Kate.
Also, Sara Kate takes Gaten’s flowers from his grave to draw.
CharactersMiss Annie Grace- sold her peach crop to Chase Porter
Quotes“I’m beginning to see I have to speak out for Sara Kate…” (pg. 139)
Chapter 11- In this chapter Sara Kate asks Everleen for her help when it comes to
Clover and how she’s been acting lately. This makes Everleen and Sara Kate become
even closer. Also, Clover notices things about herself ever since the funeral.
Quotes“Clover is too troubled for a ten-year old girl….” (pg. 144)
“But you know, I do have sense enough to speak of how my father was…” (pg.
145)
“What you trying to say in a nice fancy way is, the child ain’t got right good
sense…” (pg. 147)
Major Plot Events- Sara Kate has a talk with Aunt Everleen about everything she’s
been noticing about Clover, which includes her injured leg.
Chapter 12- In this chapter Sara Kate and Clover get into a dispute and she takes
her to Everleen’s house to deal with the situation her way. Everleen and Kate are
now getting along based off of Clover’s behavior. We learn more about Miss Katie
and how she enjoys entering sweepstakes and contests. Sara Kate and Clover are
getting closer and Sara Kate asks her to show her a blessing.
CharactersNoah- (Everleen’s uncle) who shot his sister. Ever since the shooting he has
been haunted with the stains of blood on his porch
Noah’s sister- the person Noah shot and is now haunted by
Quotes“Clover, I’ve been working really hard all morning…” (pg. 154)
“One thing for sure, I am not afraid of someone who is too kind-hearted to
even kill a little gnat.” (pg. 155)
Chapter 13- In chapter thirteen of Clover Chase Porter comes over Clover and
Sara Kate’s home and invites them to family barbecue. Sara Kate forgives his
previous actions of using vulgar language and happily accepts. We see once again
that Chase Porter still has feelings for Sara Kate and asks her to marry him. She
declines saying “loving clover is all I think I can handle”.
CharactersChase porter’s nieces- two young girls around clover’s age who brag about
going to summer camp
Quotes“Sara Kate’s eyes are coming closer together…” (pg. 172)
“My poor daddy. He always had a hard time with my hair…” (pg. 173)
Chapter 14- In the final chapter, we see that Clover and Sara Kate are now close
than they’ve ever been and have a very good relationship. Sara Kate stops by the
peach stand and helps Jim Ed when he has a life threatening experience. Everleen
then learns to appreciate Sara Kate more. Clover feels that everything is back to
normal in a way for her. Her family has finally come together as one.
Quotes“Gaten’s hammock is still stretched between two of the trees…” (pg. 183)
Major Plot Events- Sara Kate saves Jim Ed from all those yellow jacket stings.
Clover say her brave act will be remembered for a long time.