Green Days by the River Points

Green Days by the River notes
The book is narrated from the perspective of a 15 year old boy, Shell.
Adolescence: Peer pressure and relationships (both platonic and romantic) play a part in Shell’s young immature life. Shell is making the transition from childhood to adulthood and is struggling to understand the emotions that he is experiencing.
Because Michael Anthony narrates from a child’s perspective, he has a more immature outlook on things and it reflects in the way he writes parts of the book.
Education – Poverty also plays a part in Shell’s lack of education. He has to drop out of school in order to help support his mother and himself.
The Cashew Tree mirrors or parallels the lives of the children. When the tree is in fruit, everything is good with them but when the tree is bare things seem to be sad/depressing or disruptive.
Anthony does not tell the audience exactly what is going on, but makes the readers think.
Shell and his father are very close, but he partially blames his father for being so ill and weak.
Since Shell’s father is ill Shell is subconsciously looking for a father figure, and is therefore drawn to Mr.Gidharee and gradually drawn even more to Rosalie
Anthony does not label some characters as good or bad but leaves that to the readers to decide based on some of their actions. For example at the end of the story the reader cannot really determine if Mr.Gidharee’s actions were good or bad.
It is clear that Shell admired Mr.Gidharee because he eventually started to imitate the way he dressed. Also Mr.Gidharee saw Shell as the type of person that would be a good husband for Rosalie the one who could take over from him regarding his farming.