Coming of Age

King’s novel Billy Summers is a coming-of-age story for both Billy and Alice. Both of these characters face traumatic events that make them mature in a hurry. Both learn that violence is not necessarily the ideal way to deal with what is wrong in the world. Billy and Alice also find some healing through writing.

Billy and Alice are both forced to grow up quickly through traumatic situations. When Billy was only eleven, he watched his sister be killed by his mother’s boyfriend. Billy believed he was at fault for what happened because his mother had always directed him “Take care of your sister” (61) when she left. Similarly, Alice came to Red Bluff to have some independence from her mother. She is tricked and taken advantage of by a man who makes her believe that he likes her. Alice blames herself for...