Using black dialect makes the book more authentic and real.Using black dialect gives readers a better feel of conversation within the book. Examples of black dialect come from Benjie "Don't nobody wanna be no Chile cause, for some reason, it just hold you back in a lotta ways.." pg 9

Considered a "problem novel" because of the obvious problem of drug addiction in children in the book. Pg 58, a newspaper flyer headed "DRUGS AVAILABLE IN LOCAL SCHOOLS" shows that this a problem, has been a problem, but is never addressed until something bad happens to children, like what happened to Benjie (rehab)

Using multiple narrators allows for readers to jump from mind to mind and gather information on how each character thinks, even on the small characters like the Principal, we were able to gather from his section that he was ready to retire and get out of the problem schools (pls 54-57)

Critics would consider this book a problem novel because of the children becoming aware of their sexuality. Children are not generally allowed to think of things like sexuality, so when a book for young adults is about discovering themselves, it is risky. A character like Dante is risky in a young adults book because he is very sure of himself, pgs 254-256 when Ari and him experimented kissing, he knew it worked for him

Being Mexican American is a big factor in this book, causes Dante to feel lost in his identity, he says several times that he's not "a real Mexican" for Ari the problem with his Mexican American identity is that he doeesnt want to be "too" Mexican, or the stereotypical Mexican. Ari and Dante contrast each other in these ways because Dante is too little and Ari is too much. Both struggle with being gay because of their Mexican heritage, is it unmasculine and Mexican men are masculine,

Having this point of view from Ari is a main factor as to why readers know so much about him, even his dreams. Readers know how his mind works and we are able to analyze him more as a character because we do know everything he is thinking, and his character does not really hold back in his thoughts, very clear and rash with his thinking.

In the beginning of the story, Ged was very focused on learning his magic and impressing others with his magic. He wanted to gain this status of the greatest. He put himself almost to the death to challenge Jasper on pages 65-75. He grows in the end, not willing to challenge just to prove himself to someone who doesn't matter because he knew of his power by the end of the book.

The concept of the shadow in the book is an on-going fear. The shadow is not to be released until the end of the book, when Ged meets his shadow and becomes a new man. "naming the shadow of his death with his own name, had made himself whole: a man: who, knowing his whole true self, cannot be used or possessed by any power other than himself" pg 214. This shows that the shadow and Ged are even powerful together than they were apart.

The use of free verse creates a story in a different way for readers. We see Xiomara grow throughout the story, without feeling like we are reading a novel. The poems standing alone are very well thought out poems, and when put all together create a story with characters development and plot. Example of character development through the poems: The Poem Unhide-able on page 5, Xiomara is not comfortable in her body or talking about how it makes her feel. She tries to stay hidden, not being able to say anything about the way people treat her. Int the end, Poem titled Celebrate with me on page 354: Xiomara is free and able to communicate with the people around her. She does not feel hidden anymore under her body, she has learned how to use her voice to speak for herself instead of letting people make assumptions off of the way she looks.

Each poem is spaced on the page in a different way. Readers can tell when Xiomara is going through something rough and when she overcomes the way she is feeling. By the spacing and placements of the stanzas, we could call them, it gives readers a sense of how she is feeling. Example: Poem "The Day" Xiomara is meeitng Aman for the first time, her stanzas are short. Readers can tell she is nervous about being there with him. Although her stanzas are choppy, readers can tell there is not a negative vibe filling her atmosphere.

It is hard to remember that Nimoa and Blackheart are "the bad guys" we usually don't see bad guys portrayed as friendly, I believe the two make a sweet team. They play almost the classic role we know as bad guys, until we see that the people they are facing are actually the bad guys. This goes against usual superhero stories, where there is a happy ending for the good guys. It is nontraditional in the fact that readers see an insight of the bad guy's side.