Name and explain five lessons that jeanette walls learns about life in general, and herself in particular.

She learns to forgive. Jeanette could have built up much resentment through her life, especially to her parents.

“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”

Jeanette learns to relish and laugh at the comedy, often tragic comedy, in order to cope with life in general.

“Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy. You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more.”

Jeanette takes nothing for granted. Chaos could come to life at any time:

“I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.”

Although her father cruelly threw her into the water when she was young, this is an apt metaphor to life.

“If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim”

Having nothing but books taught Jeanette the power of the written word. This would go on to shape her destiny,

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”