Paperboy by Vince Vawter

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vawter, Vince. Paperboy. New York: Delacorte Press, 2013.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

The story is of a young boy struggling with stuttering while having to converse with people on his paper route.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The voice of the book is a highly intelligent boy who struggles with speaking because of stuttering. The book is being written and told by the boy. He explains in the very beginning that he chooses not to use certain grammar symbols. The format of the novel is very unique because the boy does not like to use commas or quotation marks. Once the reader has become accustomed to the style and structure his words, you immediately become engrossed in the historical fiction as it unfolds like a memoir. The story is set in the late 1950's in segregated Memphis, Tennessee. The boy is called Little Man by Mam, the woman who is hired to care for him and clean the house. In the eyes of Little Man, there is no one more important than Mam. The boy struggles to even say his own name so the reader is left in the dark on what to call him, besides what Mam has lovingly nicknamed him. Little Man does not have an understanding for many rules of society during the time and loves Mam with no consideration of skin color. While helping his friend Rat, Little Man meets many interesting characters on his borrowed paper route. Each person is the catalyst for change before the month is over. The book acts like an explanation for the man that this boy will one day become. It was an amazing read that truly paints every corner of the boys life.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

2014 Newbery Honor Book

ABC New Voices Pick

Amazon Spotlight Pick of the Month

From Booklist: "The well-crafted characters, the hot Southern summer, and the coming-of-age events are reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. But this has added dimension in the way it brilliantly gets readers inside the head of a boy who stutters."

From Publisher's Weekly: "[A] tense, memorable story."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Carefully crafted language, authenticity of setting and quirky characters that ring fully true all combine to make this a worthwhile read... An engaging and heartfelt presentation that never white watches the difficult time and situation as Little Man comes of age."

From School Library Journal: "Vawter portrays a protagonist so true to a disability that one cannot help but empathize with the difficult world of a stutterer. Yet, Victor's story has much broader appeal as the boy begins to mature and redefine his relationship with his parents, think about his aspirations for the future, and explore his budding spirituality."

Jane Fraser from the Stuttering Foundation of America: "Paperboy offers a penetrating look at both the mystery and the daily frustrations of stuttering. People of all ages will appreciate this positive and universal story as I did, but it will be particularly meaningful to anyone who has ever struggled with stuttering."


5. CONNECTIONS

Lesson Plans:
Bookrags offers a very comprehensive plans for teachers to modify for many grade levels. Find it here: Paperboy Lesson Plans

The author, Vince Vawter, gives a guide for teachers on his website. Find it here for FREE: Educator's Guide