Summary: We find out that somebody stole almost everything in their house in Phoenix. The stuff that wasn't stolen, they tried to bring back, but the car broke down so they had to abandon all of their stuff. The family buys a very old house. They plan to build the glass castle on the land. Jeannette and Brian start digging a hole for the foundation. The family is so broke that they put their garbage in the hole. Jeannette wants to fit in so she starts painting her house so that it will look better than it does. It gets really cold outside and the paint freezes. The paint is ruined and the house is only half done. A boy named Ernie always makes fun of Jeannette and her family. One night Ernie and his "gang" come to their house, but Jeannette and Brian are ready for them. They make an invention that drops rocks on them. The boys get hurt and don`t come back.

Main characters: In this chapter the main characters are Jeannette, Rex, Rose, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

Character development: As Jeannette gets older she starts to see that her family is very different from the rest. Jeannette tries to fit in. She paints her house a different color so her and her family look like they aren`t as different as they are.

Setting: The family lives in Welch. Jeanette is 10 so it takes place in the past. The time of year isn`t given.

Quote: "Life`s too short to worry about what other people think." Rose tells Jeannette this when Jeannette suggests fixing up the house. Jeannette just wants her house to look like everybody else's, but her parents don`t care what other people think of them. I think this is important because as Jeannette gets older she realizes that her family is very different. She starts to care what other people think of her and her family.

Vocabulary: Dismal: Causing gloom or dejection.
Erosion: The process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.