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Themes in Summer of the Eagles
Many thanks,
Anne, for hosting me on your lovely blog today.
Although I wrote
Summer of the Eagles as an adventure
and slight fantasy novel for the 10 to 14 age group, the story does contain a
few themes that might resonate with young teens. I’m a great fan of some
escapism in all fiction, for whatever age, but it’s good age at which to
explore the wider issues that might affect some young people.
Bereavement and Thoughts about Death and Afterlife
13 year old
Stephanie (Stevie) is suddenly orphaned, with no one to care for her apart from
an aging Gran. Although feeling bewilderment, grief, fear, and even anger, she
is unable to cry for her loss at first. She retreats into herself, refusing
contact with her friends. She becomes moody and stroppy, and difficult for Gran
to deal with.
Before Stevie
woke up in hospital, she was in a beautiful dream-type garden with her parents.
The image of their coffins at the funeral sometimes haunts her and she prefers
to think of them in that happy garden together - or in heaven if it exists. She
hopes they might all eventually be together again one day. By not telling to
anyone about her feelings, Stevie is keeping everything inside her and cannot
deal with her fears.
Body Image and Sporting Dreams
The accident
that killed her parents leaves Stevie lame and unable to continue with her
hopes and dreams about running for Scotland one day. Although hardly scarred
outwardly, her long hair has been cut short and she begins to put on weight
from the sudden lack of exercise and eating too many biscuits and so on. Stevie
loses the motivation to do anything to help herself and is deeply sad and
depressed. The doctor told her to exercise her leg, but she doesn’t believe she
can. When she eventually begins to walk more and even cycle on the island, it
helps in every way.
Using a Fantasy Element and Imagination
When Stevie
eventually begins strengthening her leg by walking into the hills, she meets
Karig, a strange boy with unusually piercing amber eyes. He seems to have some
connection with the eagles and Stevie begins to trust him as someone in whom
she can confide. This character was inspired by all the references to eagles in
the Bible, myth and legend. Stevie feels a connection with Karig that makes her
feel protected and understood. He is the only person she can talk to about her
feelings and pain.
Bird Protection
One of the
themes in Summer of the Eagles is the problem of bird and egg poachers. Two men
are on the island to harm the birds/eagles and Stevie finds herself in danger
from them. She also gets involved in the bird sanctuary where her aunt helps
out. There she learns about how they protect and look after injured birds
around the island. This is also an allegory for how Stevie begins to heal. Stevie
begins to care about the orphaned birds she meets and eventually accepts some
of the other people who care for all the birds.
These are a few
of the general themes affecting Stevie in her new life of the Scottish island,
but at the same time the story’s setting gives it an almost other-worldly feel
as Stevie begins to heal and make new friends.
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That's an impressive number of themes woven into one tween novel! And the Scottish fantasy context makes it all especially appealing.
You can visit Ros Gemmell on her blog.
