Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

The protagonist of the novel, 12-year-old Rosie is a stubborn young girl struggling with her tumultuous feelings. Many of these feelings revolve around her best friend, Bailey. Rosie has long felt that she is responsible for helping Bailey and that part of their friendship hinges on their similarities, which she strives to maximize. Her efforts to always be Bailey’s protector and guide result in several debacles, including a terrible first day of school and a disastrous attempt at turning a stray dog into a guide dog. Rosie’s frustrations later manifest in jealousy and grave failures to communicate, leading to her ripping one of Bailey’s Braille books and neglecting Bailey’s feelings when he doesn’t want her to pretend to be a blind woman in one of their made-up plays. Rosie’s character arc is very much intertwined with the themes of The Importance of Forgiveness and The Value of Empathy, both of which she must learn.

Rosie comes to understand her mistakes and Bailey’s feelings thanks to The Power of Storytelling. Through her grandmother’s stories, Rosie comes to appreciate Bailey’s struggles from his perspective. The symbol of