The narrator, Eli, shares her life story, starting with her idyllic childhood with her mother and younger sister, Rose. However, their lives take a drastic turn when their mother is fired and arrested for stealing money. Eli, 14, and Rose, 9, are put into foster care, where they experience various living situations, some abusive and neglectful.
Eventually, they are placed with Kate and Adam, a loving couple who treat them with kindness and care. Eli is initially hesitant but eventually warms up to them. However, she struggles with her own feelings of abandonment and anger towards her biological mother.
As Eli navigates her new life, she faces challenges, including her mother's continued bad behavior and her own feelings of inadequacy. However, with Kate and Adam's love and support, Eli begins to heal and find a sense of belonging.
In a surprising turn of events, Kate and Adam offer to adopt both Eli and Rose, which Eli initially rejects, thinking she's too old to be adopted. However, after realizing her mother's true nature, Eli accepts their offer, and the adoption becomes official.
The story concludes with Eli reflecting on her journey, acknowledging the imperfections of her new family but ultimately feeling grateful for their love and acceptance. She also accepts a scholarship offer to a prestigious school, marking a new chapter in her life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Elizabeth (also known as Eli), has more than ten siblings.
2. Eli's mother and little sister, Rose, were her world.
3. Eli's mother was busy with work and came up with new business ideas, but often wasted money on failed projects.
4. Eli's mother stole money from her office and was fired.
5. Eli and Rose were put in a foster home when Eli was 14 years old.
6. They were placed in a couple of foster homes, but one family, Kate and Adam, were particularly kind to them.
7. Kate was an old friend of Eli's mother and an interior designer, while Adam was a pediatrician.
8. Juliana, Kate and Adam's daughter, was a couple of years younger than Eli and older than Rose.
9. Eli started doing part-time jobs to make money and take care of Rose.
10. Eli was extremely intelligent, both academically and street-smart.
11. Eli was promoted to assistant manager at the cafeteria where she worked.
12. Eli's mother was arrested again for stealing money from the cafeteria.
13. Eli's boss fired her for bringing her mother to work.
14. Kate and Adam offered to adopt both Eli and Rose.
15. Eli initially thought she would take care of herself and let Kate and Adam adopt only Rose.
16. However, Kate and Adam assured Eli that they loved her too and wanted to adopt both sisters.
17. After the adoption was finalized, Eli felt grateful for her new family.
18. Eli accepted an offer to attend a school on the other side of town, which would allow her to skip a grade and potentially attend a top university with a full scholarship.