The Year Without Michael Essay, Research Paper

1. The title is The Year Without Michael.

2.The author issusan Beth Pfeffer.

3. The themes in the novel are facing challenges with courage, struggling with what’s right and wrong, self-discovery, and breaking apart and becoming whole again.

4.Jody Chapman- The oldest child in the Chapman family, she to become a cheerleader her junior year. Turning 16, she struggles with her family problems by being, considerate,, faithful, helpful, and hopeful for them. She’s also clever, emotional, and_ friendly. “The last thing I wanted was for you to worry.

Kay Chapman- The 12 year old spoiled brat who’s conceited, selfish, and a cry baby. Sometimes, she helps with good intentions, but, most of the times, she aggravates around her harsh words and thoughts. “I don’t care if she never comes back. Dad can disappear too for all I care…. I hate all. of you. You’re all crazy and I hate you all leave me alone and die.

Linda Chapman- The mother of Jody, Kay, and Michael, she can be abusive, hard, and harsh when she’s upset. It’s very difficult for her to care about her family since her only son disappeared, however, she wishes and wants to continue her life, even without Michael. ” I’ve prayed too, and everybody / know had prayed, and God hasn’t heard any of our prayers and I give UP- It

Tom ChapMn- The father of the Chapman kids, Jody knew her father was still sane because he still cares about the family. However, Tom and Linda had arguements that made the kids thought they were going to get a divorce. He also accepts the truth and reality of situations.

we’re going to go into family therapy and see if we can find the love I know we all used to have for each other. Maybe it’ll just prove to be another disaster, but we have to try. ”

Maris- Jody’s bestfriend. She has a mother she can’t look up to,so she often goes to Jody’s and feels she has a family there. She does her best to help and support Jody, mentally and emotionally. However, she sees a lot of guys who are wild and older than her. “We’ve been —— best friends practically all our lives, Jody. We’ve been through everything together. ”

Lauren- Jody’s other f riend. She’s very considerate & kind to her friends. She always looks out for Jody with her physical and emotional being. ‘7 don’t like your attitude. It isn’t healthy. Jocly, Michael’s been gone for ainvst three months. It’s about time you got on with your life.

Angie Chapman- Jody’s grandmother. She cooks delicious meals and lives in Florida, away from her son, Tom. She always blames the Chapman problems on Tom’s wife and defends Tom

all the time, but she cares about her grandchildren a lot. “Don’t you think I’m worried too? We feel so help less down here. We offered to come up when Michael first disappeared…”–

John Grainger-The private detective Jody’s grandparents hired. A retired police officer, he offered little hope to the Chapmans of finding Michael, dead or alive. Still, he used all

resources he has to find him, alive or dead. ” I’ll do my best. I promise you that, Kay

5. The author reveals the central character’s personality by allowing us to enter into Jody’s mind and know her thoughts, perspectives, and observations on her problems, situations, and people. The author uses first person narration in this story.

6. The setting contributes to the novel’s characters’ actions. Jody thought maybe Michael ran away to Los Angeles or New York because they’re big cities where ordinary people can go unnoticed. That idea could have been Michael’s intention. Also, the neighborhood where Jody – lives can also be a factor in the novel. People knew Michael and searched every place he

could’ve disappeared to. The time of the novel also helps because the detective said he could’ve been abducted for kiddie porn, which wasn’t a problem before until now.

7. The major conflicts in the novel are between Jody’s mom and Kay, Jody’s parents (external) and Jody’s emotions with Michael’s disappearance impact on her life (internal). A few minor conflicts are between Jody and her friends. These are resolved when Tom decides the family should go into therapy to stay together and Jody’s friends know that she’s going through a rough time with Michael missing. As for Jody’s conflict, she learned to continue life without ever expecting Michael to come back.

8. The minor character I chose from the novel is Reverend Bruce Richards. I as a kind and knowledgeable, ” Well, you can’t spend the night at Port Authority-. You can stay in my office,” & “It’s not a question of trying too much or too little. It’s trying the right things that counts.” I chose the minister because he made an impact on Jody’s perspective on her situation. While Jody did what he asked, which was pray, be patient, and look up to God, Jody also shared with him a phrase that calmed her down. He exchanged a phrase with something Jody will never forget. “‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”‘ Reverend Bruce Richards purpose in the novel was to help deeply with Jody’s character in understanding her life’s problems ever since Michael disappeared and offer her some hope in her future.

9. I would recommend this novel to a friend because it deals about problems that are happening in the world-today. Maybe not the exact way it happens in the novel’, but the message: near the end and Jody’s trials with Michael’s disappearance are worth reading about.