Shmoop is a safe place, so you can be honest with us—doesn't your family drive you crazy sometimes? Alex feels the same way in The Wild Children. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that he felt the same way, because his whole life changes in an instant when his family is arrested by the Soviet secret police. As Alex struggles to fend for himself in a hostile world, he comes to realize that family isn't always about blood—it's about friendship, too. In other words, we're saying that you can learn a lot more about family from X-Men than Leave it to Beaver.
Questions About Family
- In what ways does the Baker's Band function like a family?
- Did Alex have a good relationship with his family? Why or why not?
- How does Peter's family life affect his view of morality?
- Was Alex's father a good dad? Explain.
Chew on This
Although Alex will presumably never see his family again, he manages to form a new bond with the kids of the Baker's band that fulfills a similar function.
Although they weren't related by blood, Jacob and Peter had a father-son relationship that continues to shape the person that Peter is.