Genre
Young Adult
Setting and Context
It takes place in the state of Alabama, United States.
Narrator and Point of View
It is narrated in the first-person point of view. Moon Blake serves as the narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is introspective. The mood is adventurous, hopeful, somber, and contemplative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the story is Moon Blake. The antagonists are law enforcement officers, social workers, and other children at the boys' home.
Major Conflict
Moon struggles to find his place and identity in the modern world after being raised in the wilderness by his survivalist father. This conflict arises when Moon's father passes away forcing him to confront the unfamiliar and hostile society. One of the main conflicts is the clash between Moon's self-sufficiency and the expectations and rules of the modern world. Additionally, Moon encounters conflict with authority figures, such as law enforcement officers and social workers.
Climax
The climax occurs when Moon Blake and his friends, Kit and Hal, plan a daring escape from the boys' home where they are residing.
Foreshadowing
Throughout the novel, Moon faces challenges and conflicts with other boys at the home. These interactions foreshadow the alliance he forms with Kit and Hal who become his companions during their escape.
Understatement
“You can’t be tired…Kit’s not tired”
Moon understates Hal's tiredness by comparing it to Kit’s.
Allusions
The various locations, landscapes, and elements of Alabama are mentioned throughout the novel. Places such as the Talladega National Forest, the Black Warrior River, and the town of Gainesville allude to the real-world geography and characteristics of Alabama.
Imagery
"We went down the other side of the hill and circled around the bottom where Kit and I had gathered the cattail roots earlier. The walking was easy as we strolled beneath giant pine trees that cast so much shade the forest floor lay free of brush. The skies were blue and the day was growing warmer."
This imagery paints a vivid picture of the natural surroundings as Moon, Hal, and Kit make their way through the forest.
Paradox
On one hand, Moon desires to be free and live on his terms as he did in the wilderness. On the other hand, he yearns for a sense of belonging and acceptance within society.
Parallelism
Moon reflects on the lessons and teachings he received from his father. Moon's journey parallels that of his father in many ways. Both of them sought to live off the land and maintain their independence.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
"The jays complain and dart about the treetops below." The verb "complain" is used to personify the jays.
