Times are a Changing

When readers first meet Jason Taylor, he is a small and fragile little boy. He gets pushed around by his sister, he is an outsider at school, and he witnesses fights between his parents. As the book starts to go along, Jason tries to find his voice whether it be by writing poetry, going down a bridle path, or tying a string to mans door. Eventually Jason's hard work and bravery pay off by him getting a chance to join the most exclusive gang in town. Although Jason is able to join, he makes morally correct decision to do the right thing, even though it would have grave consequences. This makes Jason become the punching bag of the school, but it also marks the point in time where Jason starts to find himself. As the text starts to reach the end of the book, Jason goes through a couple of experiences that really bring out who he is. In the end of the book, Jason finds out that he is a strong young boy who should not let other people push him around just because of the decisions he has made. To really pound this into his head, Jason's sister Julia asks if he is going to continue to write poetry. She asks because she knows that that is where Jason really shines, that poetry is where his true voice is.