Are kids just the mini-me versions of the adults they will become, or is something substantial lost—or gained—in the transition to adulthood? And how does that process work, anyhow? Postcards from No Man's Land shows a young adult's perspective on the world then (thanks, Geertrui) and now (thanks, Jacob). But it also asks us to think about how youth might just be the hardest age of all.
Sure, adults might think of it as a carefree time, but it's pretty lonely and confusing. Your body is changing; your emotions are haywire; and you're not sure who you want to be yet. Youth isn't all it's cracked up to be, and definitely not for Jacob.
Questions About Youth
- Why is youth the loneliest age of all? Do you think Jacob—and Anne Frank—are right? How can they know when they haven't been old yet?
- According to the novel, what happens in the process of growing up? What factors determine what kind of adult a child becomes?
- Is identity fixed in childhood, or can it change over time? Has Geertrui changed from the time that her memoir describes? Has Jacob changed since he was younger?
Chew on This
Even though Jacob might think youth is lonelier than old age, he's only saying this because he's in that stage right now, so everything seems difficult to him. Once he gets to old age, he'll be singing a different tune.
In Postcards from No Man's Land, Jacob thinks that youth is the loneliest age of all because everything is changing.