Summary Of All These Things I Have Done Gabrielle Zevin

All These Things I’ve Done Literary Analysis Essay In a world where “laws change so quickly you could be committing a crime and not even know it” (Zevin p1), a world where caffeine and chocolate are illegal, Anya Balanchine faces her responsibilities as a famous crime boss’s daughter. When Anya and her siblings were adopted by their sick and bedridden grandmother, it is up to Anya to look after her and her sibling’s well being. The author of All These Things I’ve Done, Gabrielle Zevin, conveys the major theme of doing what you want with your life vs doing what is expected of you. In the year 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, lakes and rivers have been drained, and cities are bankrupt and filled with crime. “People will always find a way to get what they want, and there will always be criminals willing to provide it,” (Zevin p37). Anya Balanchine’s parents were murdered, and her family is known for its notorious crime in the chocolate business. When dealing with relationships and heartbreak, Anya is falsely accused of committing a crime simply because of her family’s …show more content…
However as the story progresses, Anya begins to find herself and makes personal choices that affect herself and those surrounding her. In the text it states, “ ”You’re the one running the show aren’t you?” Simon Green asked…”Yes...I couldn’t afford to take such a risk..” “(Zevin page 126). This illustrates that Anya is afraid to change, because she is expected to keep everything in her life organized and set in stone to insure the safety and happiness of her family. Then later in the text it says, “ I shouldn’t have done that...May God forgive me for this and all these things I’ve done,”(Zevin page 354). “I can’t...the possibility of going to Teen Crime Scene Summer…”(Zevin page