The search for one's identity—the "Who is the real me?" syndrome—is such a well thumbed theme that it takes a good deal of novelty to make it seem fresh. In "Millie's Boy," Robert Newton Peck has thrown such a set of problems at his hero that simply to survive them is a feat of no mean proportions; the question of who he is becomes secondary, and the result is an adventure story rather than a genealogical one. This is probably just as well, because the final answer is too logical to be exciting….
The love interest is provided by Fern's niece, Amy Hallow. She has a scene with Tit, during which he tries to find a feather that got down the back of her nightgown during a pillow fight, which may rank as one of the funnier semierotic scenes in juvenile fiction. Nothing happens, but you get the feeling that neither of the characters knew what might happen….
This is a free excerpt of 157 words. There are 294 words (approx.
1 page at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our Peck, Robert Newton 1928–: Critical Essay by Nathaniel Benchley Access Pass.
