Theme
The bond between Joey and Charlie, despite their age difference and different backgrounds, serves as the heart of the novel.
What is Friendship
The main protagonist, a young boy who idolizes Charlie and seeks a father figure in him.
Who is Joey
Joey writes letters to his hero, which sets up their unlikely friendship.
Who is Charlie
Kids beat up Joey for being what religion
What is Jewish
This is the primary reason Steve Kluger writes the book to explore themes of friendship and growing up.
What is the coming-of age experience
Joey navigates many challenges, from his relationship with his father to his aspirations, as he matures throughout the story.
What is Coming of Age
A character who befriends Joey and serves as a mentor throughout the novel
Who is Charlie
The sport that Joey knows Charlie from
What is Baseball
The branch of military that Charlie joins
What is the Marines
The author uses humor and nostalgia in this way to make the serious themes of war and loss more...
What is to provide comic relief
Joey struggles with his father’s absence, emotional coldness, and high expectations, which creates a complex relationship that is central to his personal development.
What is Father-Son Relationships
Joey’s emotionally distant father who struggles with understanding and connecting with his son
Who is David Margolis
The one grade Joey gets an F in
What is Obedience
The place that Joey moves to
What is Brooklyn
Through the character of Joey, the author encourages this emotion from the reader to get an appreciation for the unconventional forms of family.
What is to evoke empathy and challenge traditional notions of family
Charlie carries emotional scars from his past and must learn to reconcile his guilt and his desire to heal, especially through his connection with Joey.
What is Redemption and Healing
Joey’s mother, who cares for him deeply but is often caught up in her own struggles.
Who is Mrs. Margolis
The event that Charlie does for joey by filling in as his dad
What is a Bar Mitzvah
The place where Craig and his family has to move after the WWII attacks.
What is California
In Last Days of Summer, the author uses letters and diary entries to do this..
What is to show different perspectives and make the story feel more real and close to the reader
The historical backdrop of this war profoundly influences the characters.
What is World War II
Joey’s best friend, who provides a supportive friendship
Who is Craig
The name Joey gives his son when he grows up.
What is Charles
In The Last Days of Summer, this type of conflict arises when Charlie deals with societal expectations versus his own desires to break free.
What is man vs. society
The Author uses the backdrop of World War II in this way....
what is showing the impacts of war on everyday life and personal growth