Youth Lens: Summary

rebellious teen is expanded upon more profoundly through the Youth Lens, the possession of power in this father/daughter relationship is an interesting aspect that needs to be further explored.
After much internal debate, the reader may be perplexed by who in fact has the power in this relationship between Diondra and her father. At first, it is very apparent that Diondra’s father holds the power. Diondra hides her talent from her classmates and openly embraces her father’s desires by attempting to play basketball (Grimes p. 26). Then the reader sees a shift in power. Diondra continues to draw and embrace her artistic abilities. She eventually gathers information about art schools in hopes to utilize her talents and turn them into a possible career path (Grimes p. 152). Even after Diondra’s father has a breakdown when he sees her art school brochures, Diondra holds steady about her passions. Surprisingly though, Diondra still is eager for her father’s approval about her future. She says, “I hope Mom’s right, though. I hope he does come around,” (Grimes p. 153). She also uses her talents to win her father’s approval by drawing his hero, Michael Jordan, instead of painting a self-portrait (Grimes p. 26, 152). While she
Gabi faces constant scrutiny from her mother and she still openly expresses her love for her and craves her support. It would appear that Gabi’s mother would hold the power in the relationship at the beginning of the novel, but as the novel progresses the reader begins to see a shift. Gabi loves her mother and wants to gain her support in her decision to move out, she remains adamant to leave regardless of her support. She says, “…she raised a semi-decent daughter that she could trust. And that I was moving out and that I would love her support, but either way I had to go,” (p. 279). While it may seem at the