Each Tiny Spark

Accepting all parts of a person’s identity leads to the theme of confronting unflattering truths. People are imperfect, and so are their sparks, so a person might not like all of their traits. Confronting unflattering truths also applies to a person’s environment. Communities comprise people––like people, they tend to have flaws. The way to improve communities and people is to address the adverse elements. Thus, confronting unflattering truths leads to embracing activism and change. People and communities can change for the better, and people shouldn’t fear change. Fear only creates more unflattering components. As Gus learns from It, “Pennywise fed on fears. When kids stopped being afraid, he couldn’t harm them anymore” (122).

In the story, most of the kids aren’t afraid to confront unflattering truths. Though Toni isn’t ready to talk about what happened as a Marine, Emilia isn’t scared to try and talk to him about it and learn why he has trouble expressing himself—she’s ready to hear unflattering truths. Emilia faces the unflattering truth that she made a mistake by pressuring Gus to attend Clarissa’s party. She tells him, “I know I don’t know everything. But I want to keep learning. To do better. That’s gotta count for something” (263). In the final chapter, Toni faces the unflattering truth that his behavior isn’t “fair to [Emilia] and Abuela and Mami” (315).

Through the tourism guides, Emilia and the other students confront unflattering truths about redistricting, their community, and its treatment of immigrants. Clarissa views the activism and impending changes as corrosive, and many adults oppose redistricting. At church, Emilia overhears two women voice disapproval. Emilia says, “The two women give me a look like they didn’t expect anyone to crack their code” (230). The women claim they’re “completely supportive of that community” (231), but their diction belies the unflattering truth that they harbor bigoted notions about the Park View students.

Revealing and tackling unflattering truths is a part of life—it’s how people and communities grow. Emilia says, “You can’t expect your car to drive normally with a damaged axle” (303). The car relates to people and their environment, symbolizing how they can improve themselves and their communities. People and communities can function much better if they tend to their “damaged axle” or inspect and work on their unflattering truths.