First Half of Pet Reflection

Lucy Marous

The aspect of the first section of this text that stood out to me the most was the focus on the library and physical books as the best way to gain knowledge. In a future where monsters existed and have been defeated, it would be easy for Emezi to create a whole new world where technology has advanced beyond reading, but instead they choose to maintain that aspect of our world.

This idea is established from the very beginning of the novel with Jam’s education. The story immediately impresses upon the reader that books, especially religious texts were kept away from children because of the hidden knowledge they contain: “They mentioned religious books, but with reluctance, not wanting to influence the children. Religion had caused so many problems before the revolution, people were hesitant to talk about it now” (4). Jam is also told in this moment that if she has questions about the angels and monsters, she cannot ask them to the people around her, the only way they can be answered is through a book. By limiting the knowledge to these physical books, Emezi creates a world where the object is still valued and held in high regard. At the same time, these books are painted in a negative light as something that is no longer accessible because of the information they contain. This further emphasizes just how important these texts are that there is a need to hide them from people.

At the end of the section, reading’s power is still present. Although she is nervous, Jam knows that she can always turn to books for answers. When talking to Redemption on the phone and realizing she can ask him for help, the library is where Jam’s mind goes first: “Jam was still scared, but the library would have some answers, it always did. It would help them know what was unknown” (102). In a world where so much is hidden, Jam having a place where she can go to learn more about her world is priceless. The continual emphasis on the importance of the library and the knowledge gained from reading by Emezi is amazing to see and it is powerful to see a future where value is still given to physical books.

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