Growing Up in a Little Book

In chapter three of Julia Alvarez's In the Time of Butterflies, we learn what life looks like Maria Teresa's eyes.  She begins each journal entry by addressing her diary with the phrase "dear little book", and the first few entries are representative of her innocence, as they detail her relatively surface level, child-like observations of the world around her.  However, as time passes, Maria Teresa becomes absorbed in more complex issues, such uncovering the truth about the president, Trujillo.  Though she only has her little book for a few months, Maria Teresa does certainly reap the benefits of journaling as a way that "deepens one's soul (pg. 30)".  Her young age combined with a deepening understanding of the world she lives in is reminiscent of the children in Valeria Luiselli's Tell Me How it Ends, who are forced to grow up earlier than they should have had they been fortunate enough to live a childhood free of conflict and trauma.  While Maria Teresa's upbringing was much more sheltered than the children who must cross the United States/Mexico border alone, she still discovers a truth that will alter her life.  To make matters more difficult, she loses her method of coping when she is forced to bury her journal.  Along with those who made the border crossing journey, Maria Teresa feels as if she has nobody to turn to and must internalize the mental conflict and other confusing emotions.  Considering this as a theme for the texts we have gone over this far, it is likely that Dede experienced something similar in her isolation after her sister's death, especially considering she was in the public eye.  This likely created or exacerbated mental issues that Dede already exhibited prior to the incident.  In her state at the beginning of the novel, Dede seems to live her life in grief as she mentions that it is necessary to deal with the "big things-- in snippets, pinches, little sips of sadness (pg. 5)".

With this in mind, ponder the following questions:
          Does Dede's manner of dealing with guilt close her off further from her family's 
          history and put her in a worse position than if she faced the memory of them more head 
          on?
          Furthermore, do you think it is possible for her to have a healthy mental state after her 
          sisters' death, being that she is in such a public position?  If so, how?