Paperboy

Bibliography

Vawter, Vince. Paperboy. 

New York, Yearling Newberry, 2013. ISBN 978-0-307-93151-1

Plot Summary

Victor Vollmer is an 11-year-old boy who takes over his friend’s paper route in Memphis, Tennessee. Victor is a young boy trying to overcome his speech impediment. Victor meets many individuals on his paper route and develops friendships with some of them. The book is written in a first-person narrative as Victor details his struggles with stuttering and shares his experiences in the south of North America in 1959. 

Critical Analysis

The first paragraph of this story instantly grabs the reader's attention. Victor is the hero of the story and the reader wants him to succeed as they empathize with his struggle with stuttering. Readers can look at Victor and think about their own struggles with insecurity. This is a realistically set story because in 1959 boys used to deliver newspapers door to door; Told paperboys.  In addition, Read details segregation, which occurred in real life in 1959. The details of segregation do not overwhelm the story so it's easy to read without getting too much into the horrors of segregation. 

The theme of the story is overcoming challenges. Overcoming challenges during that time. Can be relevant even in today's world. African-Americans had to overcome challenges of racism and separation back in 1959. Victor had to overcome his struggle with stuttering and also his fears of encountering some characters in the book. The author does a good job of depicting Victor and his struggle to speak. This is what connects the character to the reader. Furthermore, he does not use commas and draws out letters to emphasize when Victor is stuttering. The author uses his own personal experiences with stuttering and uses other speech patterns and vocabulary of the time period to stress the dialect and grammar of African Americans.  I recommend this historical fiction book because it can help readers empathize with those who have speech limitations or other disabilities.  

Awards & Review Excerpts

2014 Newberry Honor Book

Booklist:  “The well-crafted characters, the hot Southern summer, and the coming-of-age events are reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “[A] tense, memorable story.”

The Washington Post: “[A] compelling first-person narrative.”

Connections

Another book that comes to mind is To Kill A Mockingbird which can be used to discuss segregation in the south.  Students can research the segregation laws that were discussed in the book. Students can also research the speech disorders and how they affect those that have them.