My Life with the Walter Boys

Protagonist Jackie Howard states that despite her love of Shakespearean literature, she does not understand Romeo and Juliet’s decision to end their lives for someone they barely knew. She argues that despite their obvious passion for one another, Romeo and Juliet did not or think through their decisions, and as such, suffered the consequences. Jackie concludes that when you do not plan ahead, things get “messy,” (2). After the past three months, a complicated love life was the last thing she was interested in.

Jackie Howard has recently lost her entire family in a car accident. In the wake of this tragedy, she is moving to Colorado to finish out the school year and live with her mother’s childhood friend, Katherine Walter, and her family. On the plane, Katherine admits that she feels some trepidation about bringing Jackie home to her family and reveals that she has 12 children. Trying not to panic, Jackie asks Katherine to tell her about the children so that she can prepare.

As Katherine runs through her list of children and pertinent information about them, Jackie realizes that all 12 Walter children are boys.