Character

        The main character of the novel was a boy/man named Petey. Petey is actually a person (not really by the name of Petey) that lived through what the character had lived through. Petey was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disorder that causes the muscles to not work and movements either none or all jerky, and was thought to be an 'idiot' or feebleminded. Keep in mind, this was in 1920 so they didn't really know what was going on. Petey grew up in a mental institution and had to live in his wheelchair. Since his muscles did not work, his tongue could not move so he could only speak without it or pretty much not at all. "'Petey is mentally sharp, but his mind is locked inside a defective body (p.154).'" Through his life, some people found out that he was in fact not an 'idiot', and became his friends. He lived through World War II not really aware that it was even happening. Petey is an amazing character with a lot of personality and he is always very optimistic about life and pushing forward. Also on p.154, it stated, "'He has incredible appreciation for life even though life hasn't always been good to him.'"