Literary Devices in The Wild Children
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
The Wild Children takes place in the Soviet Union in the 1920s, just years after the country went through a revolution that installed the communist government into power. It's not exactly a smooth...
Narrator Point of View
We spend the bulk of The Wild Children firmly planted inside Alex's brain. Although the book jumps outside that cozy space a few times throughout the novel, the story is defined by Alex's perspecti...
Genre
The Wild Children is a killer piece of historical fiction that uses Alex's coming-of-age story to paint a picture of 1920s Russia.First, the novel is a textbook example of historical fiction. Altho...
Tone
Given that The Wild Children's narrator stays firmly planted inside Alex's brain for the bulk of the novel, the book's tone mirrors Alex's emotions about his experiences.As it turns out, Alex is sc...
Writing Style
Felice Holman uses a simple, straightforward writing style to ensure that we fully understand Alex's story, while simultaneously using descriptive imagery to paint a broader picture of Soviet socie...
What's Up With the Title?
Well, this one's pretty straightforward: After his family is kidnapped in the middle of the night by the Soviet government, young Alex joins a gang of homeless, wild children.But these kids aren't...
What's Up With the Ending?
Despite overwhelming odds, as the book ends, Alex has not only survived the mean streets of the Soviet Union, he's also managed to escape to Finland with his closest friends. Now that's what you ca...
Tough-o-Meter
(2) Sea LevelThe Wild Children is as easy as pie. Author Felice Holman utilizes a straightforward writing style to deliver Alex's story in a way that's easy to understand and even easier to enjoy....
Plot Analysis
Night TerrorsAlex wakes up one morning to a startling discovery: His entire family has been arrested by the Soviet secret police in the middle of the night. With no one else to turn to, Alex goes t...
Trivia
Although Felice Hoffman is primarily known as a novelist, she has released three books of poetry over her career, and to much critical acclaim at that.(Source.) Have you ever heard of Laika, the fi...
Steaminess Rating
Have no fear—this book is cleaner than your mouth after a trip to a dentist (and hopefully your dental visit is just as painless as reading this book). There are a few scenes that depict violence...
Allusions
Dante Alighieri, The Inferno (10.6)Vladimir Lenin (3.29; referenced throughout)Leon Trotsky (6.25)Tsar Nicholas II (6.29)Ivan the Terrible (6.30)