Ordinary People explores the realistic struggles families' face every day while glossing each page with a distinctive style and inspiring life lessons. ... Each member looks for a lesson they can learn from in the loss of Buck, but it is not until they realize that sometimes death leaves a person with no reasoning as to why it happened, that they can truly mourn for the loss ("Ordinary People" 273). ... In Judith Guest's novel, as stated by Authors and Artists for Young Adults (104), the tragic flaw was the family's inability to cope with uncontrollable events. Calvin ...

• Word Count: 2059
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

The title of the book had very little significance to do with the plot structure of the novel. ... Theme The theme of the novel was facing up to your past and getting over your old hang-ups in life. ... The life lesson lends to the action because without his psychological problems that were caused by his father he would have never had to deal with the bomb shelter, his brother, or his fear of the lake. ... The theme is about small town life and coping with the family issues that go on there. ... It stood for Paul's unresolved past with his father and it was also what stopped him from mov...

• Word Count: 1542
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Rebellion has nothing to do with politics, power, or violence. Rebellion has something to do with changing your consciousness, your silence, your being." ... Asher Lev expresses himself and his perception of life through his paintings. ... In the 1970's, racial discrimination was commonplace and the quality of life was generally low. ... He tries to teach this ultimate moral lesson to them to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical of the situations or people around them. ...

• Word Count: 1707
• Approx Pages: 7