Finding Identity In Pacy's Search

Improved Essays
One of my favorite themes and moments of this story was Pacy's quest to finding herself. As an adult, this idea of discovery your identity is a never ending journey. People and situations in life help you become who you truly are and I believe the author uses Pacy's search not only to create structure within the book, but also to relate it to real life events. Pacy and her sisters discuss what they want to be when they grow up (pg 12-13). Pacy realizes that she must pick something she is talented at and so begins her year search to "figure things out."

As the story progress, the author puts Pacy in situations that reflect this idea of finding herself. Pacy and Melody create a project for the science fair, she is very proud of their pea plant project and considers this as her "talent" (pg 62). She is discouraged after the judge told her their results were inconclusive, but instead of giving up it gives Pacy the motivation to discover something else she enjoys.
…show more content…
At this camp Pacy faced with position that will help her realize who she is as an individual. The young girls make fun of her and call her a Twinkie (101), which hurts Pacy and sends her into an identity crisis. Her mother reassures her that her blended race is what makes her interesting and she can be neither or both.

The falling action of the story happens when Pacy gets 4th place in the national book competition and wins $400. "I found myself," she exclaims (pg 120) "I am going to make books when I grow up." The art of finding something you love to do and you are rewarded by it is one of the life lessons into finding

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    All of the characters in the book are very unique and different in their own ways, Phillips gives each character and strong, powerful personality, either good or bad they leave a mark on you. Tangy Mae, the main character is a strong, courageous and incredibly smart, young girl who has to take on many responsibilities. It is very easy to relate to her mindset, a 13 year old who just wants to get away from the troubles that the world is throwing at her. Most, if not all the characters can remind the reader of themselves or someone they know, while reading the book, the characters all leave the readers with a lasting effect. Whether it’s something small or something big, the characters are imbedded in your…

    • 1389 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The importance of friendship Have you ever wondered what the theme of a book is. In When Zachary Beaver Came to Town one of the main themes the Kimberly Willis Holt was looking for was friendship and how much it helps you in life. In the story Toby Wilson and Cal McKnight get into fight here and there but somehow they always pull together and are still friends at the end. Zachary Beaver claims to be the fattest boy in the world, but when he comes to Antler Texas, Paulie Rankin leaves him for a couple weeks. Cal, Toby, and Kate help get Zachary get baptised, slowly towards the end he becomes friends with Cal, Toby, and Kate.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    To me, this book strongly conveys the loss of innocence throughout the boys on the deserted island. They began their journey as sweet, kind, innocent school boys just looking for somewhere safe to go. As the book continues, they become cruel and have no innocence. My chosen theme is the loss of innocence.…

    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    However, the narrator tries to rid herself of imagination by becoming friends with the popular kids. Throughout the story, the reader can detect how the narrator does not become fully mature and how it impacts and affects those around her. Childhood is meant to be pleasant and creative, but becomes detrimental as people grow and change…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the story Marigolds, by Eugenia Collier, the reader discovers the theme is to be innocent is to be a child and in order for one to mature, they must become compassionate. Out of the five clues to theme, the most relevant ones to this text are the conflict and solution, what the main character learns, and the stories symbolism. In the story Marigolds, there is an extremely important overarching theme that is still very relevant today. Conflict and solution are a huge clue as to what the theme of the story is. Lizabeth, the main character, doesn't know whether or not she should listen to the child or women in her and becomes confused in who she really is.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Trouble Follows, by Monica McKayhan, Indigo has everything she wants: a spot on the dance team, a hot boyfriend by the name of Marcus, and her best friend Jade is moving back to Atlanta. Jade is suddenly getting too cozy with her History teacher. Instead of playing basketball, Marcus is sitting in a courthouse, forced to prove his innocence for something he didn’t do. Indigo is feeling the pressure - from the dance team, her friends, and family. It’s time to show everyone and herself that she is not weak.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Title: “Taming The Star Runner” The title makes me wonder what kind of horse The Star Runner was. It sparks my interest and makes me also wonder how he tamed the Star Runner. The title fits well with the book because in the book the main character was untamable like the Star Runner. I was excited to read another S.E. Hinton book.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Part A In the book Why Do I Love These People? by Po Bronson, he tells the story of nineteen families that each faced different challenges which they were able to overcome. The introduction explains how much time it took for Bronson to complete the book and the reasoning behind why the book was written. Originally he knew that he wanted the families’ stories to teach his readers a lesson, so he spent years completing the book making sure the stories he chose were unforgettable.…

    • 1917 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves” ~ May Lamberton Becker. Growing up is ia full of hard, uncomfortable decisions and moments, we all have to grow up and change. “A&P” by John Updike; “Gryphon” by Charles Baxter; and “Doe Season” by David Kaplan are all coming-of-age stories where each main character learns about themselves and life in general and taken together tell us that life is all about the choices we make, and the effects of those choices. In “A&P”, Sammy is a 19-year -old, opinionated young man who decides to take a stand against his manager and defend Queenie. He is motivated by his curiosity her mien invokes in him, and because he feels apathetic about his position.…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book that I selected is called “The Opposite of Geek” by Ria Voros. This novel was originally published in 2013 and it is a fiction novel. The opposite of geek is about a girl going through the process of growing up as a young adult. This novel contains haiku, high school, and heartache. SETTING…

    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the novel, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer, multiple lead characters go through an event or change in their life which leads to a loss of innocence. Through physical & mental beatings, sex, rape and teen pregnancy characters develop a hardened and altered character to the one previously know. Characters grow up before our eyes as they move from a sheltered and known life to situations that are both foreign and dangerous. Characters discover the side of the world that is cold, unforgiving and after deeper investigation, a side that has now become their reality. Although stories like Drinking Coffee Elsewhere (which describes the character's transition and experiences at Yale), Brownies (brownie troop of girls learn about ableism…

    • 1348 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism. Thoroughly complete each section of this. The more information you input, the better. Title: Emma Biographical information about the author:…

    • 1900 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In David Thomas’s book, Remember Why You Play he explains and provides evidence to show that football is more than just a game and teaches every important life lessons. Football carries many valuable lessons in it that many people don’t see. Coach Hogan and his team were put against the odds and tried their very best top overcome it. Reading material that is on current high school reading lists should have the criteria of a problem that gets in the way of things, what it means to be an adult, and being able to keep the reader engaged. Thomas’s Remember Why You Play accomplishes these purposes by overcoming challenges, teaching moral values, and entertains the reader throughout the content.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book Cinderella Ate My Daughter written by Peggy Orenstein is about her hopes, fears, and questions about raising a girl. The book was published in 2011 by Harper Collins Publishers. The book goes through all the questions mothers have about raising their daughters to be happy, healthy, well-rounded adults that can accomplish anything they want. The purpose of the book is to bring into view all the hardships girls go through going up.…

    • 954 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Breathe” by Sarah Crossan Abhinav Vasu – Book Review ★★★☆☆ US - $17.99 ISBN: 978-0-06-211869-1 The beginning of this book is quite interesting. But it got boring very fast. As with every dystopian novel, it follows the exact same plot. A totalitarian government.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays