Steepleton might seem like a perfect little town at first glance, but as we learn in The Body of Christopher Creed, underneath the pristine surface lies a burbling mess of fear, gossip, dependence, and closed-mindedness. And this means that unless you're one of the rich kids with respected parents, it ain't easy growing up in this town. Most everyone's a gossip, it seems, whether in high school or fully grown, and with so many opinions circulating, it's hard to carve out a little space to breathe and just be who you are, for Torey, Chris, and many more.
Questions About Society and Class
- In Steepleton, who belongs to the accepted majority? What are the criteria for acceptance?
- Some outcasts are obvious, like the boons, but what about Ali? Does she make herself an outcast or do others outcast her?
- Why does Torey think he will be outcast for changing? Doesn't he still have all the acceptable qualities? What changes him?
- Does this impact society around him?
- Who else becomes an outcast in this society? Why does that happen to them?
Chew on This
It is essential that this story take place in a small town, because in larger communities there are more outcasts, and as such, more people for outcasts to befriend.
Torey isn't an outcast because he chooses to let go of his popular friends, which is entirely different than not being able to gain acceptance from them in the first place.