The Arm Of The Starfish Theme

The Arm of the Starfish, by Madeleine L’Engle, is a captivating mystery novel full of action. This story is set in numerous places including Lisbon, Madrid, and the O’Keefe family home on the island of Gaea. The novel features contemporary advancements, so it is seemingly set within a modern era. I did not gain any historical information through the fictitious events of the novel. The Arm of the Starfish has 243 pages. I chose to read The Arm of the Starfish because the mysterious title compelled me.
The theme of The Arm of the Starfish is that it can be challenging to make decisions. In the novel, Adam Eddington finds himself caught in a power struggle between groups who both attempt to recruit him to their side. Eventually Adam must make an important decision and determine which side he supports. The Arm of the Starfish is a novel about Adam Eddington who travels to Lisbon for his marine biology internship with Dr. O’Keefe. On the way to Lisbon, he is alerted that Dr. O’Keefe is untrustworthy by Carolyn Cutter, but after meeting some of O’Keefe’s colleagues he determines that Carolyn may be dishonest. Adam works with O’Keefe on his top-secret experiment featuring limb regeneration, and learns that if the results of the experiment reach the wrong hands it could be catastrophic. Eventually Adam must secretly deliver the papers to the

Ambassador, while the other side attempts to steal them.
A really interesting character is Poly O’Keefe.

I would describe her as kind-hearted because she is able to see the good in others and trust them unconditionally. In the novel her father, Dr. O’Keefe, explains to Adam that, “Poly’s greatest talent is for loving.” and that “She loves in an extraordinary way for a twelve-year-old, a simple, pure outpouring, with no looking for anything in return.” This quote illustrates Poly’s loving nature. She can make friends with practically anyone, and it almost seems as if she is unable to dislike others. Poly O’Keefe even has a friend named Macrina who is a dolphin that she

rescued.
I would have done something different from the character Adam. This character is told by his employer, Dr. O’Keefe, not to open his hotel room door, yet he does. Not me! I would have kept the door closed and followed O’Keefe’s orders. When Adam opens the door he is taken to meet Typhon Cutter who tries to persuade him to defy O’Keefe. This makes Adam exceptionally confused, which does not benefit him. In the end he decides to work against Mr. Cutter, yet he would have been able to determine that Typhon was deceitful more quickly if he did not open the door.
One part of this book is very suspenseful. In this part Adam is trying to escape from Typhon Cutter’s allies who are stationed all around Lisbon. He needs to reach Canon Tallis, one of O’Keefe’s men, and deliver crucial information regarding Dr. O’Keefe’s study of regeneration. Typhon’s allies are attempting to prevent these actions and procure the documents from Adam. In the end, Adam is betrayed by Carolyn Cutter, yet he is still able to communicate the data to Cannon Tallis.
I learned something about people in this book. I learned that even people you have faith in can deceive you. In The Arm of the Starfish Adam Eddington became dependent on Carolyn Cutter only to realize that she was double-crossing him. She acted as though she were loyal to Dr. O’Keefe in order to receive pivotal information from Adam. Ultimately, Carolyn’s betrayal cost Adam the life of his friend, and partner, Joshua Archer.