One theme of this story is coming of age, which is revealed through Kevin’s experiences at school and home. In the story, Kevin feels caught between his interactions with his father at home and his teacher at school. Waldo, Kevin’s teacher, humiliates Kevin because his father helped him complete his homework, which is incorrect. Consider the character interaction at the end of the story between Kevin and his father:
“How did it go today?” his father asked.
“All right.” They kept silent until they reached the corner of their own street.
“What about the Latin?”
Kevin faltered, feeling a babyish desire to cry.
“How was it?”
“OK. Fine.”
“Good. I was a bit worried about it. It was done in a bit of a rush. Son, your Da’s a genius.” He smacked him with the paper again. Kevin laughed and slipped his hand into the warmth of his father’s overcoat pocket, deep to the elbow.
Kevin has the “babyish desire to cry,” but he doesn’t let his father know about the problems at school. His restraint shows that through this experience Kevin has matured, and he is protecting his father from feeling the humiliation from his school experience.
When it comes to poetry, I have found that the reading approach can really help you understand complicated phrases or metaphors. When listening to a poem, the narrator can help paint the picture the author was originally trying to create. However, when you can feel the paper, follow the words, use your own voice to profess each line- you can understand the subliminal meaning in many ways rather than one. One way is never the only way, otherwise, poetry wouldn't exist. Poetry isn't always understood, which is why it can mean many different things to many different people.
I've got some great ones.
Classics:
- Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
- A catcher in the Rye - J.D Salinger
- The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
- To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Good books
- Jodi Picoult books (if you are a girl XD)
- Divergent trilogy - Veronica Roth
- John Green books
- The Hunger Games trilogy - Suzanne Collins
- The Maze Runner Trilogy - James Dashner
.. Just to name a few.
