Make no mistake—The Wild Children is no Disney movie. There are no fairy godmothers to help young Alex find his way. There are no magic spells that protect the good people from getting hurt, and there certainly aren't any amazing musical numbers (but that's another story for another day_. The point is that this book depicts some pretty rough stuff, stuff that most of us would rather not think about. However, by watching Alex and his friends endure these hardships, we get a first-hand lesson in how to keep fighting even when the chips are down. So read on.
Questions About Suffering
- Compare and contrast the book's depictions of physical and emotional suffering. How are they different? How are they similar?
- In what ways does suffering affect the way that the Baker's Band operates?
- Is the government responsible for all of Alex's suffering? Why or why not?
- How does Alex learn to handle suffering in a better way? Explain.
Chew on This
Although no one wants to suffer, it's ultimately the experience of suffering that forces Alex to grow up and take charge of his own life. No pain, no gain, yo.
The fact that Peter and his bros have endured so much hardship over the course of their lives is the reason behind their tight-knit community.