When Alex is a senior, the dragons begin to return. She finds herself always in the role of Beatrice's mother, and she begins to struggle with the idea that Beatrice will become a dragon and will also leave. Alex is devoted to Beatrice though their lives are difficult. He provides financial support but nothing else. Alex's father George moves Alex and Beatrice to an apartment of their own. They will continue this way until Bertha dies of cancer when Alex is just beginning high school. She decrees that no one will ever again mention Marla and that Beatrice is now her daughter and Alex's sister. She discovers that Marla is among the women who dragoned that day. She obeys her teachers, keeping her eyes on her paper despite the sound of sirens and the smell of smoke. Despite the massive impact, the government censures information on the subject. Many of them devour cheating husbands on the spot. On April 25, 1955, more than a half million American women become dragons. Then, he spends time doing research in secret, much of it with the help of librarian Helen Gyzinska. Henry Gantz devotes a lot of time to the subject until the government shuts him down.

There have been cases of women becoming dragons throughout history. Though her husband is a drunken disgrace, Bertha welcomes her sister back. One day, Bertha says Marla is not welcome unless she begins living a “normal life.” Marla marries and has a child named Beatrice. While Bertha has a college degree in mathematics, Marla works as an auto mechanic. As Bertha recovers, she grows impatient with Marla. He soon spends even more time away from home. George, Alex's father, is often away on business. Marla remains a fixture in the home as Marla recovers. Bertha's sister Marla has been caring for Alex during Bertha's illness. Soon afterward, her mother Bertha returns home from the hospital after being treated for cancer. She quickly learns she is not supposed to talk about the experience.

AZW file.Īlex Green is 4 years old when she sees her first dragon in the yard of the woman next door.

The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Barnhill, Kelly.

When women were dragons book