Loneliness

The psychological cost of being lonely is demonstrated through the character of Aviva in order to show how damaging it can be to a young girl. After her father’s death, Aviva begins having trouble in school because she can no longer concentrate for large chunks of time. While her teachers are sympathetic, her peers find her outbursts and inability to focus “annoying” and they shun her because of this. Her teachers are sympathetic because they understand what Aviva has gone through, and Morah Miller makes sure to let Aviva have plenty of breaks where she gets to walk around the school before returning to class, which helps her: “I feel pretty windswept too, and I must look it because Morah Miller looks dubiously at me as I shove the door open and fly back into my seat. It’s easier to sit for the rest...