Grief

When the novel begins, Andrew talks about his brother, Pete. Pete was only seventeen when he enlisted in the military and went to war. On the day the war ended, Andrew and his family got a telegram informing them that Pete died of influenza in Europe. This news changed Andrew's family. George became more concerned with rules and morality, Mr. Soaring became quieter, less apt to laugh, and Mrs. Soaring began doing charity works rather than spending time playing cards with her friends.

Andrew remembers Pete fondly as a spectacular basketball player. As a way of making his brother proud, Andrew has decided that he wants to be an even better basketball player than his brother. Hence, Andrew has spent the last five years practicing basketball daily, making him one of the best free throw shooters in town.

Grief is an important theme of this book because it...