Before You Know Kindness Themes

Drama surrounds the average teenager’s life. Peer pressure sweeps teenagers into a black hole, and family judgement has made teens’ lives miserable. Charlotte knows this all too well, and desperately tries to find herself over the summer at the family cabin. Everything goes wrong before it goes right. Before you know kindness is a novel written by Chris Bahjalian showing the struggles of the modern age teenager, and the stories that happen behind closed door. Through descriptive and intense character development, conflict, and a melancholy plot, Before you know kindness is a book people will be begging to read.
One of the main reasons people will love this novel is the intense conflict between Charlotte and her family members. This summer the trip is different. Charlotte recently turned thirteen years old. Charlotte wishes to be seventeen and is destined to prove her maturity level, even to her grandmother. Charlotte brings a very revealing two piece suit to the country club’s swimming

pool, and causes unapprovingly looks from her grandmother. Charlotte also puts on bright red lipstick, and her mother wipes it off quickly. Charlotte’s sharp tongue starts a fight with her family, and at the end, she is in tears
Charlotte also does not get along with her father because of his job as an animal right’s activist. The young teenager always wants to hang out with her friends at the zoo, and taste a Big Mac, but her father says no repeatedly. This causes Charlotte to sneak out one night on the summer trip to hang out with her friends. Her mother, on the other hand, never pays any attention to Charlotte, and continues infidelity with many co-workers. Charlotte, notices this behavior, and tells her cousin Willow about her plan to run away. The strict and scrupulous house hold makes one sneaky and attention seeking teenager.
The thick plot and mysterious atmosphere will make the reader keep turning the pages. This summer, Willow and Charlotte’s parents are coming up to the family cabin. Willow’s parents, have been distant from Charlotte’s parents. This causes tension in the house and for Willow and Charlotte to feel forgotten and upset. When the family comes up, they all have their own plans and go off on their own time. Charlotte’s parents go off fishing while Willow’s parents go off hiking. That night, Charlotte and Willow decide to go out and have fun for themselves. In the middle of the night, they head out to the dock and meet up with friends and partiers. Their friends offer Charlotte a joint, and Willow takes some of it as well.
As well as getting high, the two girls get drunk, and barley get home safely. Around that time, Charlotte’s parents are coming home, and the two girls think the adults are a herd of deer. Frightened and anxious Charlotte goes into her uncle’s truck and pulls out a rifle. Charlotte aims and shoots her father in the right arm. Spencer, Charlotte’s father, falls down, and the family rushes outside. Willow and Charlotte take this time to run and join the rest of the family while Spencer is going into the ambulance. Spencer’s right arm is completely paralyzed, and on the way to the hospital, he accuses Willow’s father of shooting him.
Ninth graders that read this book might say that it is difficult to read.

Like many great novels, Before you know kindness starts out slow. The amount of pages, and the amount of complex words could cause a ninth grader to give up. Ninth graders could also put the book back, and look for a much easier book. The print of the book could also deceive the reader from how fast they turn once you get into the book, and how thrilling the ending is.
The conclusion to before you know kindness is an interesting one. Spencer threatens to sue Willow’s father, and Charlotte knows she has to confess. Once she does the family grows together and is stronger than ever. Willow is punished, but she and her parents go on a hiking trip together. Spencer takes this time to spread the world about drugs and the safety of guns, especially with teens. Charlotte’s mother stops her wrong doings and starts to pay more attention and praise Charlotte. The last few chapters will have the reader in tears of

joy.
In all, this novel will be one of the reader’s favorites. With a thrilling plot, and deep connection to characters, it will be hard to put down. High schooler’s will love this book, and Ninth graders especially. People love this book because of the family ties. Ninth graders are also used to some sort of family judgment, and we all feel lost at some point. After we feel lost and scared, we all feel better after the storm passes. This just shows that sometimes you have to know sadness before you know kindness.