Between the Lines

In the story Between the Lines, adolescents can learn multiple lessons, which include the essence of friendship (Nijkamp, 47). Judging from the story, Delilah becomes a bookworm owing to the fact that the outside world has pushed her to the edge. This was after accidentally injuring a popular girl in the school who was known as Ally McAndrew’s. It is for that reason that Delilah is isolated and named a loner, thus she has to come up with ways of dealing with her loneliness. On the other hand, Delilah is also wondering about his father who left the family, thus she uses books as a means of dealing with loneliness.

This is an example of a lesson which young adolescents can learn from the story. The human is mind accustomed to believe what one focuses, thus in order to be happy, one should think about things which bring happens. Children can therefore use books as a means of shifting their minds from family issues, and any other external factors which may affect their wellbeing. In so doing, they may be able to not only forget about the past, but to also improve their performance in class work.

On the contrary, children also learn the meaning of friendship and its importance. For instance, as Delilah reads through the story, she becomes connected to Oliver who is a fictional character. Due to their connection, Oliver begins to talk, and shares with Delilah the problems he faces (Nijkamp, 47). Delilah tries to figure out ways of helping him so that they can support each other in struggles of being fatherless, but she cannot, since Oliver is trapped in a book. Delilah symbolizes a true friend, one that would be there in times of need. In as much as Delilah knew Oliver was trapped in a book, she looked for ways of saving her friend but she could not. Thus children tend to learn the importance of true friendship. Finally, the popular culture consequently uses books as a means of opening children’s minds, thus enabling them to think critical and to also develop ideas which may be of significance to them in the future.  For instance through changing the way they play, as well as the way they read (Guins & Omayra, 424).

Reference

Nijkamp, Marieke. Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens. , 2018. Internet resource.

Guins, Raiford, and Omayra Z. Cruz. Popular Culture: A Reader. London: SAGE Publications, 2010. Print.