A) growth stage because you need to look for the main reason of the story
The correct answer to the question that is being presented above would be Oliver Johnson. Oliver Johnson was the person that wrote a letter about Ms. Harriet Tubman that was featured in the preface of his work.
Your answer is gentle souls are often disguised by rough exteriors. The others do not cover the overall theme of the book. Yes some rich and poor kids do not get along, but that is not an overall lesson. Also how often did they walk home alone. The story does not revolve around that. Last, Cherry was not a main character, she was not a main part of the plot. So your answer is once again the first one, it goes with the overall plot of the story.