Firegirl

In these opening chapters, first-person protagonist Tom Benson foreshadows the controversy that new student Jessica Feeney causes in his middle-school classroom. Readers do not meet Jessica in this section, but instead, we learn primarily about Tom’s character: His self-concept and his dreams and fantasies. This section establishes the starting point from which Tom’s character will grow.

Tom begins his narrative from a point in the future, retrospectively downplaying Jessica Feeney’s impact on his classroom. He states that Jessica was not with them for long and suggests that the commotion was largely personal and possibly imagined, saying it “was mostly in my head” (1). Jessica Feeney is only one of the concerns in Tom’s middle-school life. Tom later, however, thinks it odd that there was ever a time when he did not know Jessica, suggesting that Jessica will make a large impact on his life. Mrs. Tracy’s disquieting comment about Jessica builds suspense for the reader and for Tom’s class.

Tom does not have a robust self-esteem. He knows he was in the “dumb group” for most of his sixth-grade language arts session because of his difficulty reading. Tom comments that letters seemed to switch position while he tried to read, which indicates he may have a reading disability, like dyslexia. Tom is conscious of being overweight and unpopular. He even acknowledges that his fantastical superpowers are small and pitiful, though they get the job done. Tom accepts as a matter of course that “perfect” Courtney would not include him in her circle of friends because he sees himself as socially inferior.

Tom is conscious of divisive social “levels” and the possibility of moving between them. He moved up a reading level, which put him closer to Courtney. He contemplates nominating Courtney for class president, realizing the act would “move [him] to another whole level” (27) and make him noticed, something Tom both desires and fears. He believes that nominating Courtney for class president could bring his imaginative scenarios to real life, but he is torn between exposing his feelings and keeping them to himself. Tom’s inability to speak up becomes a major obstacle in his character growth, and this obstacle will be partially resolved as part of the novel’s plot.

We see Tom’s quiet demeanor again when his mother asserts that he does not “get out there” (13). Her comment implies that Tom chooses his introversion. Tom is favorably resigned to the fact that he is largely unnoticed by other kids and adults. He even embraces this anonymity because it is conducive to his superhero fantasies. Tom keeps his imaginations private, believing that this way they may someday come true. Tom’s detachment from others and everyday life protects his imaginary self-image and his dreams.

Tom has a vivid, creative imagination. His Courtney rescue-fantasies are detailed and cinematographic, showing Tom’s admitted influence from action-adventure films and comics. He embellishes them with a mental soundtrack and uses onomatopoeia as he describes the “Pop!” of exploding ceiling tiles. In his imagination, Tom is confident, urbane, and heroic. Reality is less satisfying. Tom’s real-life comparisons are often clumsy, showing his lack of confidence. Describing Courtney’s hair, Tom compares it to “a splash of something,” or “a wall of dark water or something” (13). This indicates both his age and his difficulties with language.

Tom reveals a strong sensory awareness: He notices and describes scents that affect him emotionally, like Courtney’s shampoo and the daily smells of the school. Tom is also attuned to others’ emotions. He observes his classmates’ foibles and empathizes with their weaknesses, like Darlene’s pimples and Rich’s too-small pants. Still, it’s notable that he doesn’t look past Darlene’s acne and instead idolizes Courtney’s perfect skin. His interest in outward appearance, both his own and the appearances of others, will tie into the novel’s theme of “Seeing the Whole Person” as the plot progresses.

Other than Jeff, Tom has few friends, and even his friendship with Jeff is limited. Tom admits that while he and Jeff hang out a lot, they “never really said much to each other” (5). Tom likes that Jeff knows “most stuff” about him, including his fat red Cobra obsession (23), but the two do not talk about personal issues or feelings.

We also learn that Jeff has anger issues, and Tom notices that Jeff fights more with his mom since Jeff’s father left the family. While the character isn’t portrayed as very likeable right away, these details suggest that Jeff has a difficult home life and allow the reader to empathize with him early the novel. Later, Jeff’s uglier traits will come to light, complicating the character and the reader’s understanding of him. This section reveals the first hints that Jeff is a carouser and that his values are in opposition to Tom’s. While Tom isn’t able to voice his feelings most of the time, he will come to see how different he and Jeff really are.