A. Character Analysis
The protagonist of the novel is Ellie Engleman, a senior at a prestigious private high school in Manhattan. Ellie is described as a smart, ambitious, and driven individual who is determined to get into an Ivy League college. She is also shown to be a loyal friend and a caring daughter. For instance, when her friend Madison is caught plagiarizing, Ellie risks her own academic reputation to help her. Ellie is a dynamic character who undergoes an important inner change as she realizes that her obsession with grades and college admissions has been taking a toll on her mental health. As Ellie says, "I didn't realize how much stress I was under until it was too late" (Fredericks 173).
On the other hand, the main antagonist of the novel is Brandon Littman, a fellow senior and Ellie's academic rival. Brandon is described as arrogant, manipulative, and competitive. He is willing to go to any lengths to get ahead, even if it means cheating or sabotaging others. Brandon is a static character who does not undergo any significant inner change throughout the novel. As Ellie says, "Brandon has always been this way, but I never realized how
…show more content…
Conflict
The novel depicts two types of conflict: person v. self and person v. person. Ellie struggles with her own internal conflicts as she grapples with the pressure to excel academically while maintaining her mental health. She also faces external conflicts with Brandon, who constantly tries to one-up her and bring her down. As Ellie says, "I feel like I'm constantly at war with myself, trying to balance everything while Brandon tries to tear me down" (Fredericks 116).
The setting of the novel, a competitive private high school in Manhattan, exacerbates the conflicts between the characters. The pressure to succeed and the cut-throat atmosphere of the school make it difficult for Ellie and Brandon to coexist peacefully. As Ellie says, "This school is a pressure cooker, and it's only getting worse" (Fredericks