The Struggle of Being a Teenager

In this section of the novel Julia, has a crisis of faith and her depression and anxiety both reach a climax that drives her to attempt suicide. This is the result of a number of different events that challenge the way Julia views the world and shatters any peace and order she gained in her life.  The first part of this is having sex with Connor and her interactions with Connor as a whole. Her physical encounter with Connor leaves Julia feeling very conflicted about the way she thinks about him and herself as well as sex as an activity. She sums it up while speaking to Dr. Cooke, Julia states "I don't see what the big deal is, and yet I feel guilty. I have these two competing feelings, you know?"(235). I think that this encapsulates the way that Julia thinks about life in general, that she is conflicted and drawn between various worlds that she never fits in to. One is the life that Olga seemingly left behind, one of the astute daughter who was dedicated to her family and her religion. The other is the dream life that Julia has for herself, of independence and wealth and most importantly the power to choose who she is and what she does. These two ideas struggle and conflict with one another and are the main source of conflict in Julia's life, she does not feel at home in either world. Again while speaking to Dr. Cooke, Julia summarizes these feelings well "I never belong anywhere. My parents don't understand anything about me. And my sister is gone."(236). This quote highlights the mindset of Julia for the book so far, one of confusion and anger at a lack of feeling of home and belonging. These are telltale signs of the mental struggle that Julia faces in her lack of connection with herself and her dream and her family and reality. This fundamental lack of connection is what drove Julia to attempt suicide and wind up in the hospital after slitting her wrists.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3139460/

1.In what ways does Ama drive her daughter further away from her with her unyielding desire for her to be the "perfect" daughter and in what ways does Julia exacerbate the situation with her rage and lack of communication skills?

2.Do you think the suicide attempt will be a catalyst for further emotional growth and connection between Ama and Julia, or do you think it will create an even more awkward situation that neither understands how to work past?