Pages 1-97 Reflection

In the first 97 pages of A Northern Light, readers are introduced to the protagonist, Mattie Gokey, as well as her friends, family, and coworkers. She is a sixteen year old girl who absolutely loves reading, writing, and just new words in general. Usually, the first section of any novel is a bit on the slower side. However, this book already has me wanting to read on.

     One tool the author uses to keep readers engaged is imagery. It never fails! Not only does the author, Jennifer Donnelly, have a way with words, but she likely portrayed a bit of herself in Mattie. Mattie loves literature and above all vocabulary. She challenges herself to learn a new word every single day. One of her new words is "fractious." She savors each syllable as if it were a fine meal. She repeats it several times to herself and thinks, "A new word. Bright with possibilities. A flawless pearl to turn over and over in my hand, then put it away for safekeeping" (15). The use of a metaphor to compare Mattie's new vocabulary word to a pearl really emphasizes how much she values the English language. The author does an excellent job painting a picture that reveals Mattie's appreciation for literacy. However, Donnelly's delicate and deliberate choice of words is not the only aspect that's reeling me into the story.  

     I always relish the opportunity to hear someone advocating a new perspective. This story has already shared several examples of this, leading me to believe that there may be a theme developing about the importance and power of different perspectives. Now, Mattie's family is not financially wealthy by any standards. At the same time, there are families, like their neighbors, the Hubbards, who have it even worse than them. The Gokeys have been struggling for food, eating "cornmeal mush" for the majority of their meals. Mattie says, "Everyone was sick of cornmeal mush… Jenny Hubbard didn’t mind it, though. She waited patiently, her eyes large and solemn, as I sprinkled maple sugar on Lou's leavings and passed the bowl to her" (12-13). If someone were to read only the second part of that quote (about Jenny) they would think she were waiting for a gourmet meal. It really opens your eyes as a reader to the fact that there are people that would love to have the leftovers of meals that we end up throwing out. To the Gokeys, this cornmeal mush is about as appetizing as its name portrays it. To Jenny Hubbard, it is a rare treat, and with maple sugar nonetheless! Though these different perspectives exist in every era, the other example I found relates to a major difference in time period. I'm sure we've all heard from our grandparents about how they could get a day's worth of candy for a nickel as kids or as teens pay five dollars for enough gas to last a week. So what is forty-five cents by today's standards? You probably have more than forty-five cents buried in the couch cushions at home. Yet to Mattie and all the other hard-working farm folks forty-five cents was just about enough for a ten pound bag of cornmeal. To put that in perspective, one pound of cornmeal costs almost two dollars today. Point being, forty-five cents was not pocket change to these people. When Mattie spots some ornate composition books, Mr. Eckler, the shop owner, says "Them notebooks? Them are expensive, Mattie… Got to get forty-five cents apiece" (71). After being hit with that number, Mattie reflects and realizes "Forty-five cents is a good deal of money" (71). She does break down and buy the notebook in the end. But this example sends a clear and powerful message. In a mere 97 pages, A Northern Light has already shown readers that, not only can perspective be radically altered by financial situation, but it is also directly connected to the ideas and standards of the times.