The Importance of Having Many Experiences

Throughout this story of his own coming of age, Santat emphasizes the importance of going out in the world and gaining experiences beyond your hometown to support your growth as a person. Santat begins the novel without having had many varied life experiences. He has taken some trips with his parents, but those were always disappointing because the family never explored much on their trips. They merely went places, and Santat had to pose for pictures by himself before they would then leave without doing much more. In addition, Santat’s mother has lupus and is sometimes sick and hospitalized. This limits the amount they can do as a family, and he has to help his mother frequently. His world is small as he is about to graduate from junior high.

Santat does not see anything wrong with his limited experiences...