War

Throughout the story the notion of war is referenced and discussed. At first the War is a friendly competition, at least to Jessie. Both brother and sister view what has happened to them only in as much as it affects them. At the onset neither child realizes what their actions is doing to the other, and rationalizes that the other person must deserve to be treated badly. This rapid escalation and justification of bad actions propels the theme of war throughout the novel. It asks the reader to pause and ask the big question: When is war justifiable?

Though it is not evident to Evan and Jessie, the reader may consider what some alternative actions might have been. What would have happened if Jessie or Evan had told Mrs. Treski about their lemonade war? What would have happened if Evan had told his mother how upset...