60 pages • 2 hours read
David LubarSleeping Freshmen Never Lie
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Change
Lubar uses change as a motif throughout the novel, supporting the theme of Coming of Age: Shaping One’s Identity as an Individual. Scott Hudson’s life from the start of the novel is in flux; he is starting a new school and has no idea what to expect. The changes he encounters in school drive his own transformation; by the end of the novel, he has created his own identity as a talented writer and a champion against bullies. Because the changes in school are so pervasive, they have implications in all aspects of Scott’s life.
Scott anticipates that everyone will be older and bigger in high school, but the changes are more systemic. He is enrolled in Honors and College Prep classes, which creates a distance between him and his childhood friends. The distance deepens when Patrick moves away, Mitch gets a girlfriend, and Kyle joins wrestling, but those changes lead Scott to new friendships with Wesley Cobble and Lee. Julia Baskins has transformed into a beautiful young woman over the summer, and his feelings toward her correspondingly change as well. His infatuation then creates more change; he joins the school newspaper to be close to her and discovers he is a talented writer. By the novel’s end, Scott no longer allows his fear of bullies to run his life. His new friendship with Wesley and his empathy toward Mouth informs his decision to stand up to the bullies in school, and he takes a stand against the biggest bully of all, Vernon Dross, at the last dance of the year. The changes in his friendships and interests support the theme of Coming of Age: Shaping One’s Identity as an Individual; without change, Scott would have no opportunity to grow as an individual.
The Novels of William Goldman
William Goldman’s novels serve as symbols for Scott’s romantic interests in the book. In The Princess Bride, Buttercup is a commoner who falls in love with the farm boy. They are separated for years, but when the princess is abducted by her evil fiancé, Prince Humperdinck, Westley rescues her with the help of his three sidekicks. Scott sees an analogy with the novel in his own relationship with Julia Baskins; they have been separated since kindergarten, and she is dating the evil bully, Vernon Dross. Scott is determined to win her away from him and undergoes trials in his quest. Julia also loves The Princess Bride, which only adds to Scott’s perception of her as perfect.
On the other hand, Lee carries Goldman’s lesser-known novel, The Silent Gondoliers. Like the protagonist, Lee is different from her contemporaries. Luigi is a terrible singer, unlike the other gondoliers, but it doesn’t stop him from being a gondolier in a city where all the other boatmen sing beautifully. By the tale’s end, Luigi proves his valor and changes the narrative; none of the gondoliers will sing again. Lee, too, is a non-conformist, and unlike The Princess Bride, her hero is not beautiful or beloved; he stays true to himself, pursues his dreams, and doesn’t rely on anyone to rescue him.
Cars
Vehicles symbolize a character’s status and provide insight into their personalities. Because cars symbolize independence, characters without cars are dependents. For instance, Scott isn’t old enough to have a car, so he relies on the school bus and his parents to get around. The students who ride on the bus have no agency; subjected to the bus driver’s insults and constant bullying from the older kids, they are at the whim of people who don’t always have their best interests at heart. Getting a ride with parents is better than the bus, but he is still not independent; for example, Sheldon Murmbower rides with his mother after the bullying on the bus proves too much for him, but while he has some say over where he is going, he isn’t truly independent. Bobby also relies upon others for transportation; he wrecked his car, which forces him to move home, signaling that he is unsuccessful in the real world. Wesley’s Mustang is a muscle car, signifying that Wesley is fast and tough but also that he is an adult with full agency over his life’s direction. Dad’s purchase of the Corvette signifies that he isn’t quite ready to give up his youthful dreams of owning a car repair shop, but his decision to buy the car can also be rebellion against the additional responsibilities of a new baby.
