Change by Ruby Allen-Keeling. A Novel Analysis Example

Change, skilfully written by Ruby Allen-Keeling is an enlightening book written to help guide young adults with their moral dilemmas – advising them to always help others. This effective hero's journey has relatable concepts, supplemented with wonderfully inspiring images, and structure suitable for this specific age group. In addition to this, there is an original main protagonist with archetypal anti-hero archetype, Mr Iren, who guides adolescents’ with this message. Although there are some poor word choices degrading the novel’s quality minimally, the comprehensive figurative and descriptive language certainly makes up for this slight down fall. Overall, this graphic novel will undoubtedly be appealing to all young adults.

This novel begins with a high-flying rich CEO trying to purchase another sweatshop for his business, and on his journey discovering that making his products for a cheap price was abusing the workers. Subsequently, his moral’s change, which results in him carrying out everything he can to help the workers receive safe working conditions. Furthermore, a powerful image used on page 6 clearly shows the horrible environment of the slum – were the workers are living in. This is juxtaposed with, a just as powerful image on page 10 showing the productive, clean environment that the slum has transformed into with the help of Mr Iren.

Extremely effective language features were used throughout the novel, including comprehensive sentence types and structure. In addition to this, sophisticated vocabulary all painted a dynamic picture of the plot, setting and style in the novel. Alliteration used, such as - ‘married to his money’ powerfully display’s the main protagonist, Mr Iren relationship to his wealth. As well as figurative and descriptive language such as ‘nitty-gritty-dirty deals’, and ‘terrible gnawing feeling’ and, ‘overpowering factory, pumping out smoke and toxic fumes’ bring the vivid setting and his emotions to life. Throughout this, the protagonist Iren shows the reader his emotional and moral journey of learning to help others, and not only just himself throughout. Allen-Keeling precisely, and succinctly expresses the message to help others before yourself in this motivating novel.

Change, a wonderfully enlightening story written by Ruby Allen-Keeling clearly shows the main protagonist, Mr Iren’s moral journey learning to help others and not only, just himself. Although there are some poor word choices degrading the novel’s quality minimally, the comprehensive figurative and descriptive language certainly makes up for this slight down fall. We at Youthful Imagination magazine believe there is certainly no change needed at all to this inspiring graphic novel.