In The Bronze King, Charnas covers a variety of personal, family, and social issues, ranging from conflicts at school, divorce, and aging grandparents to pollution and gender roles. While the range is ample, these concerns are deftly interwoven, especially through the characterization of Valentine Marsh.

Through her depiction of Valentine's fantastic battle with the kraken, Charnas presents problems of pollution, vandalism, and housing developments.

Through her realistic setting, Charnas explores Valentine's differing relationships with mother, grandmother, and classmates. Valentine's anger is at times vehement, yet offensive language is minimal and what may initially seem to be her callousness toward others can soon be recognized as her defensive reaction against loneliness. Charnas does not shy away from problems facing adolescents today. Even teen-age drug use is examined: Valentine assures her mother that she "doesn't do drugs," and Joel's admission that he does smoke marijuana, seems a reflection...