She warns her to stay away from Ray, but Astrid ignores her. Ingrid and Astrid are overwhelmed with joy to be reunited, and Ingrid seems deeply interested in Astrid for the first time. She is taking control over her position at the prison, and the other inmates seem intimidated by her. Because Astrid is only 13, this is statutory rape.Īt this time, Ingrid seems happy and hopeful. Astrid, young and naïve, welcomes the attention, and the pair eventually have sex. Starr’s boyfriend, Ray, tells Astrid how beautiful she is. Starr buys Astrid new (but cheap) clothes, and Astrid bonds with the boys there. The first time Astrid visits her mother in prison, she seems vacant, like a zombie.Īstrid moves from a group home to a “permanent” home with Starr, a pseudo-Christian who lives in a trailer park with her two biological children ( Carolee and Davey) and her two foster sons. When Ingrid threatens his life, he is scared off, but Ingrid soon finds a way to poison and kill him. Barry retaliates and tries to break into Ingrid’s house. Ingrid begins stalking Barry, breaking into his house (with Astrid in tow), trying to poison him with oleanders, and whispering cryptic threats. Instead, Barry moves on to another woman. Astrid hopes that Barry will become her new dad. When Ingrid meets Barry, she breaks her rules about staying disconnected from her lovers. Ingrid sometimes talks to Astrid about herself and their Norse heritage or imparts nuggets of wisdom. Astrid depends on her mother and admires her deeply, but Ingrid is aloof and often with various superficial lovers. White Oleander begins in Hollywood, California, and sees protagonist Astrid and her mother, Ingrid, living together during the Santa Ana winds, which dry the air so that the only flowers that sprout are the oleanders. This guide utilizes the 2000 Back Bay trade paperback edition of the novel.

White oleander by janet fitch