Language and Literature 8B

May. 15. 17

Curie Chiou

The author Vera Brosgol applied many quotes throughout the book in order to show the issue about fitting in and the importance of identity. Words of wisdom about being yourself and revealing your true identity made the readers know to not make judgements about others. For example: “Impressing a bunch of snooty teenagers is a pretty lame life goal to have” (Brosgol, pg 151). This quote shows the issue about fitting in at school. In the context, a character called Dima is seeking for the main character, Anya’s help to fit in at school. In fact, they all come from Russia, and they both got bullied because of their nationality and the accent of speaking English. Anya luckily got her way through and made an American friend. However, they are not super close overall. By using this quote, Anya comforted Dima and also showed the issue about students’ struggles about not fitting in at school. Often time, the reason of bully is not what we can have control of (for ex. nationality). As a result, instead of trying to ingratiate them, we should find our true self with a spot we can truly fit in with no pressure. Another quote stated that: “Everyone else’s life seem so much easier… but that’s all you know! What you want! You don’t know what’s going on inside anyone else’s head.” (Brosgol, pg 209). This quote shows the importance about finding identity and where you belong. When looking at celebrities, we often see the glory side of their lives, and delude to have a life just like them. However, often time we neglected the struggles they have experienced and strive they have made in order to reach their current achievements and status. A a result, before understanding the situation in the litigant’s perspective, do not make judgements of them easily. You also have a life to live for. Instead, spend the time of being envious about others life on making every moment of yours count. You don’t have control in someone else and you’re not controlled by anyone else either. No one could make decisions for you, so make your one and only life journey meaningful and unforgettable.

        The illustrator Vera Brosgol also drew powerful illustrations in the book to convey meanings beyond literal. By showing changes in the character’s appearance, the illustrator made the readers understood some things that are not told in the book. For example, in page 136, Emily untied her hair, began smoking with a face expressing annoyance, whereas she used to tie her hair up, help Anya out with passion and patience, and always hang a smile on her smiley face. The changes in Emily’s appearance not only shows that she’s not usual as before anymore, it also implies the readers about her imitation of how Anya’s like in the perspective of an outsider: long messy hair, smoking, and always looking annoyed. After Anya found out what kind of person her crush actually is, she refuses to be close to him anymore, whereas Emily kept encouraging Anya to not miss the chance and be couples with Sean (Anya’s crush). What happened in the party deeply hit Anya hard, so she began to focus on other things rather than paying attention to Sean. At this point, conflict had occurred between them and Emily changed to into a scary-looking ghost. Overall, even though Emily played a villain role at the end of the story, she helped the author to promote the theme about identity very much. Due to the revealing of Emily’s actual personality at the end of the story, Anya found her identity by realizing how terrifying Emily is, eventually understood the heartfelt emotions that has been long hidden in her heart.