All She's Got Is Carroty Kate

      
   Ivy is a book with the obvious issues, that crawl on the surface, and deeper issues that you must dig out.
Some of the obvious ones are: The state of poverty Ivy and her guardians are in, the lack of education, the "skinners" that kidnap Ivy, and the fact the Ivy is an orphan.
    Well Ivy, although only 5 years old, was kidnapped. There was no screaming, crying, or whining. Should there have been? Carroty Kate, the quick, witty skinner tricked Ivy into going with her. So, far Ivy doesn't see any harm. Because Ivy is an orphan, nobody will come after her, considering her guardians think of her as a burden. And why should Ivy care? She doesn't love them. She doesn't love most of them, that is.
   The exception is Orlando.
   "Orly," as Ivy would call him is what tipped me off of Ivy's loneliness and want for comfort. It never is stated that Ivy is lonely, or even recognizes it. It never shows that Ivy wants someone to love her. But when you know that there is a emptiness when it comes to loving parents, you can see that she want's love.
The small portion of affection she receives from Orlando is something she relishes.
    Maybe she doesn't realize how much she wants it, but she does.
   Another thing that made me aware of Ivy's want is how eager she was to go with Carroty Kate. Because we have access to Carroty Kate's mind, it's obvious to the reader that Carroty Kate is a thief, and not someone to trust. But to oblivious Ivy, the fact that Kate also has red hair is a bond. It doesn't take a minute for Ivy to start trusting Carroty Kate. When Kate offers the starving Ivy a piece of Orange, Ivy pounces.
    What Ivy calls a skinner id the definition of Carroty Kate. She preys off small children for her own gain. She even sometimes steals clothing from children right of their bodies! She then would sell the clothing.
       The fact that even after Ivy realizes what Carroty Kate was, and she still stayed with her shows that Ivy needs love and to be cared for.
     She yearns for the brief comfort and warmth she recieved before she knew what Carroty Kate was.