Paul Zindel's teenage novel "My Darling, My Hamburger" has made a strong impression through its use of characters and ideas.

The target for this novel is a teenage audience, it contains many issues that a teenager could deal with or come in contact with in their daily lives. These issues include the relationship between parents and their children, teenage relationships, love, sex, communication, loyalty and trust.

The composer uses characters to communicate his ideas. Paul Zindel has created two main female characters, Liz and Maggie who come from contrasting parents. He creates two contrasting scenarios for these characters to show how different parenting techniques have shaped these teenagers.

Liz comes from a split family, where she does not know her father and lives with Mr. Palladino (step father) and her mother. The relationship between Liz and her step father is one where neither of them respects or trusts...