The Strong Beliefs of Aerin from McKinleys Hero and the Crown and Elle

The Strong Beliefs of Aerin from McKinleys Hero and the Crown and Ellen from Gibbons Ellen Foster    In the 1970s, rock artist David Bowie wrote a withdraw song entitled Changes that included these lines And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds/Are immune to your consultations/Theyre quite aware of what theyre going through. These lyrics hint at the numerous weighty issues young teenagers must resolve while going through the changes that pass on lead to a development of adult object lesson codes. As any young adult will testify, an undefined moral atmosphere can result in difficulty making decisions (to cheat on a test or not to cheat on a test?), a problem that can become even more pronounced with the assenting of pressure from peers, media, family, and religion.   However, some teens have experiences that result in the shaping of a strong will and as a consequence can easily manikin ethical convictions with nary a doubt. Two teens f rom this years English Festival book selections fall into the latter category. Both Aerin from Robin McKinleys The Hero and the Crown and Ellen from Kaye Gibbons Ellen Foster indicate strong moral beliefs formed during their early teen years. Some of the values and beliefs Aerin and Ellen share are independence, self-sufficiency, and a mistrust for authority. Each girls unique experiences help signifier these beliefs, and both girls manife... ...o piqued that she develops her own plan to prove she is not just the silly girl everyone thinks she is She will become a dragon-killer. Aerins mistrust of the ability of authority figures to say her capacities correctly will lead her to continually exceed expectations.   Aerin and Ellen have each formed strong moral and ethical beliefs at a young age, beliefs that will likely remain with them throughout their lives. They have come through the changes in their turbulent adolescent years with flying colors, building a firm moral found ation. To borrow another line from the famed Bowie song, Aerin and Ellen are ready to turn and face the strange future that lies ahead and the changes it will bring.