Genre
Coming-of-age Novel
Setting and Context
The novel is set in Greater Boston and written in the context of social life.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Unhappy, subdued, dispiriting, expectant
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Naomi Feinstein
Major Conflict
The major conflict is the harsh realization that Naomi cannot talk to her parents about her depression because they suffer from the same problem.
Climax
The climax is when Naomi meets Teddy, a friend with who she can share her problems. Additionally, Teddy loves her, and she feels secure.
Foreshadowing
Naomi’s social life foreshadows her identity in future years.
Understatement
The friendship between Naomi and Teddy is underrated at first sight because it later develops into romance. Despite being a kid, Teddy feels that he has sexual feelings towards Naomi.
Allusions
The story alludes to the social challenges that people go through in life.
Imagery
The author describes a letter sent to a father by his daughter, describing Amelia's photo. The description of Amelia's picture is vital in boosting the readers' ability to visualize the incidents taking place in the narrative.
Paradox
The paradox in the entire text is the cruelty of life. For instance, when Naomi meets Teddy, she believes that her prayers are answered. However, Teddy leaves and goes away; Naomi now thinks that her life is doomed.
Parallelism
Naomi's personal experiences parallel her parents' background. For instance, Naomi's father is an orphan, and her mother suffers from depression.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The 'Greater Boston' refers to why Naomi should have been happy despite having a difficult social life.
Personification
N/A
