another brother
At the beginning Gilbert says there was an older brother who got away and it shows his picture then never mentions him again, not even after Momma dies. Is he in the book?
shareYes, there was an older sister too. They both send money each month as a way of "buying their freedom," so to speak. They send money and the family leaves them alone.
I wish they would have worked that into the movie to explain how they're supporting themselves, since Gilbert's grocery job and probable SSI checks from Albert's death couldn't support 5 people very well.
I think the older sister does show up at some point in the book, but I can't remember why. I haven't read it in 15 years or so.