Coming of Age

In many cases, this is the typical coming of age story. Martha is an intelligent girl but death has not personally touched her life until the summer Olive dies. Even then, Martha is able to keep some distance because she and Olive are little more than acquaintances. But as Martha learns about Olive's life and her hopes and dreams, she comes to realize that the two girls have a great deal in common. With that knowledge comes the understanding that Martha, like Olive, is mortal and could die. This realization prompts an emerging maturity that might otherwise have been delayed. As Martha moves into this understanding, she also comes to realize that her grandmother is also mortal. Martha knows that any of her visits with her grandmother could be the last. With this realization, she decides that she's going to spend Christmas with Godbee as well...