Reflections: The attack by the pyromaniacs, in a way, made it easier for her to begin her journey up North without having to take the action herself of leaving her family behind.

And Earthseed helped her let go of her past and what she had lost by embracing or rather focusing on change. It made her see the bigger picutre.

Key moments (which all test Lauren's adaptability and real world application of her discovered philosophy, Earthseed):

• Neighborhood attack --> Lauren's rebirth (phoenix rising from the ashes)

• Two other survivors, Harry Balter and Zahra Moss --> All three of them share similar goals which removes all barriers of differences they have. Challenges them to trust eachother in order to survive

Real-Life parallel

POVERTY had made the streets cleaner. In contrast to today's overconsumption.

Historical reference: Lauren's plan to travel towards the northern states or Canada is a reenactment of the escape done by the fugitive slaves in the years before the American Civil War.

However, the Earthseed group kept going knowing the scavengers were on their way behind them to the town of Salinas. (p.239)

New encounter:

• Justin Rohr, an orphan child, a new addition to their group.

Questionings: Maybe it'll only get better now as they go up north.

Real life parallel

Inflation --> Lost purchasing power --> Lauren mentions she "could have spent days just wandering around the aisles, staring at the stuff I couldn't afford." (p.173) This is the reality of many people today (window shopping).

Important step in Earthseed's journey

Confession : Lauren finds herself needing to confess her hyperempathy, which in turn becomes a step toward building a more trusting dynamic between the three which is an essential part of establishing an Earthseed philosophy between them.

Indeed, this confession leads to Lauren allowing Harry to read a verse from her notebook, beginning to ease them into Earthseed. By slowly becoming acquainted with this concept, they are also able to work better as a group, held together by a common belief system (or truth system?). This is crucial part of their journey --> being on the same page if they want to survive and not being divided by different ideologies.

Lauren, Harry and Zahra get to know their new allies, Travis, Natividad and Dominic. Travis challenges Lauren on Earthseed. This is a very important moment because every time someone shows interest in the philosophy, it strengthens as they discuss it. It also gives Lauren the opportunity to express more about Earthseed, allowing it to take shape in the minds of her group members just as it did in hers.

Safe haven (real-life parallel) : This is the a very rare moment in the book that could take the reader by surprise. It feels as though they have traveled back in time—back to our time—to visit a normal beach where people are simply relaxing, "perhaps the sea and the cool breeze lulled them"(p.205). Lauren mentions it was the "best times I've had since we left home" (p.206) while washing herself, her some of her possessions and having fun in the waves. It is equally a bonding moment for the three.

However, this moment of peace is short-lived when dogs arrive on the sand quickly reminding us of the violence that exists in the world of the novel. (dogs aren't the animals they once were)

Deeper analysis (EXTRA): They went into the water to wash off all impurities. This act could be seen as a Christian baptism. Rebirth into a new truth, Earthseed.

New encounters :

• Taylor Bankole: 57 year old man who attracts Lauren's eye. (p.229)

• Allie and Jill Gilchrist: Lauren and the others got the two sisters out from under a beam, "a whole section of wall and ceiling plus some chimney". (p.231)

Rescuing these women made them targets, which Lauren knew, since it made them appear weaker. Lauren had to kill again.

Allie and Jill got acquainted with Earthseed.

(chapter 21)

This space is a reminder of hope that in their world, not everything has been shattered. It gives some sense of motivation and push for the group that there is more out there than just dangerous areas. It also provides them a very much needed break from the constant threats in the outside world and they somewhat were able to live a normal life during the time at the reservoir. This also gave them a time to talk between each other for example between Lauren and Bankole. During which they strengthen their bond. So this area not only let them relax physically but helped bring the group even closer together because they were finally able to talk peacefully.

real life parallel : (Page 328) They remembered the family and friends they lost by speaking about their memories with their loved ones who passed away, quoted Bible passages, Earthseed verses, bits of songs and poems. Which exactly what Christians do during funerals. The only thing separating from their way of remembering and the christian way is that they added Earthseed verses. This can also show us how Earthseed has really become a core element of their community so much to using it to commemorate the dead.

source: https://www.funeralpartners.co.uk/help-advice/arranging-a-funeral/types-of-funerals/christian-funeral/#:~:text=The%20service%20is%20usually%20carried,a%20tribute%20to%20the%20deceased.

Historical reference:

(p.223) Its a road that leads them towards freedom, a reference to the fugitive slaves, but it is also a road that once served the Spanish missions, whose purpose was religious conversion and instruction in the Catholic faith. This road, therefore, has a history of a religious significance. However, its purpose has now changed, just as God is Change, and it serves as guide for Lauren and her group, leading them toward freedom and the creation of their Earthseed community.

"We'll follow a smaller, no doubt emptier road inland to the little town of San Juan Bautista, then along State Route 156."

They're another duo of ex-slaves.

Historical reference

It's as if they've become the "crew of a modern underground railroad" (p.292). Lauren taking on the role of Harriet Tubman. In fact, just like Tubman who leads enslaved persons from the oppression through the Underground Railroad, Lauren guides her Earthseed community away from the chaos in hopes for a better future closer to the northern states.

An even deeper connection could be made between the two as leaders, tracing back to when they were just beginning their initiatives for a journey like theirs. In fact, Harriet Tubman developed survival skills by growing up working in the fields (ex.: using therapeutic herbs), knowing that they would be useful to her when she would have to resort to her only remaining option, to run away. This is exactly what Lauren did by preparing her survival pack early in the story and reading many survival books (given the fact that she hadn't grown up in a field)

These initiatives and thoughts they had from a very young age both led them to become the "conductors" they were in their time.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/harriet-tubman

During another dawn gun battle: two new individuals take refuge in Lauren's and her group's camp.

Character development: Lauren's acceptance of the two into their group is something that she would have never done two weeks ago as Harry recalls it. Her instincts, in a way, of analyzing people get sharper as she says "But these two...I think they might be worth something - and I don't think they're dangerous." (p.285)

Historical reference: The situation of Emery and Tori is similar to the one of Black farmers trapped in an economic system known as sharecropping farming during the Reconstruction (After the American Civil War) which primarily benefited the landowners who kept the farmers in a cycle of dependency and debt. "Lacking capital and land of their own, former slaves were forced to work for large landowners." (Digitalhistory.uh.edu) NOTE: "former slaves" because technically, slavery was abolished during the Reconstruction era. Sharecropping was an ambitious project but turned out to be just another way of tying laborers to the land maintaining their economic dependency on landowners.

This is just like what Emery described about her situation although here, they were indeed debt slaves : "Then the farm was sold to a big agribusiness conglomerate, and the workers fell into new hands." (p.287)

Fortunately, Emery and Tori managed to escape and find refuge in the Earthseed group.

_{https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3100#:~:text=During%20Reconstruction%2C%20former%20slaves%2D%2D,to%20work%20for%20large%20landowners.}

Clear lake was an area in which they could take a break from the fire and chaos that was following them. It also had a store where they bought a few things that they needed.