The View from Saturday Theme of Courage

It takes courage to give a pink-wrapped puzzle heart to some strange kid you barely know—but Ethan does it anyway. That might be the most extreme example of courage in The View from Saturday, but it's not the only one. All of these kids are brave. They stand up to bullies, they stand up to eighth graders, and they even stand up to adults wearing "onyx cuff links" (2.3). It's great to know a bunch of acronyms, the book says, but it's even braver to insist that you're right. (Even when you're wrong.)

1. What acts in The View from Saturday are brave? Why are they courageous, and what fears do the actors have to overcome?
2. What are the different kinds of courage that the characters show? Does each character show a different kind of bravery?
3. Which fears does Mrs. Olinski overcome in order to return to the classroom? In order to recover from her accident?

In Konigsburg's view, Mrs. Olinski is the bravest character in the book.

The View from Saturday shows that being unselfish and kind requires a great deal of courage.