Victor is afraid of a lot of things in Paperboy—public speaking, Ara T, asking his father about the birth certificate, to name a few—but despite all these fears, he faces the uncertainties in his life like a champ. Even though he's terrified of collecting money on the paper route (because it means he'll have to talk to people), he turns down Mam's offer of help and decides to do it himself. And even though Ara T is a terrifyingly violent man, Victor goes with Mam to confront him. He's not going to let someone that he loves walk into the lion's den all by herself.
Questions About Courage
- Why is it so scary for Victor to go collect money on his paper route? Yes, his stutter is part of it, but go deeper, please…
- Is Mam afraid of Ara T? Why or why not? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
- How do Victor and Mam stand up to Ara T at the end of the book? What inspires each of them?
Chew on This
Even though Victor is afraid of going to collect money on his paper route, he decides to do it alone because it's the only way that he can overcome his stutter—or at least get to the point where he isn't so self-conscious anymore.
Mam has always stayed away from Ara T, but when he picks on Victor, she refuses to let him hurt another person she loves.