Setting
The specific town or state of Clay Waller's plantation is never disclosed. Sarny, a young female slave, has neither received an education nor the freedom to travel, leaving her unaware of geography. However, she possesses extensive experience within the confining boundaries of the plantation. This small world is limited to the fields where crops are cultivated, the communal shack where slaves dine, and the Waller family's residence. It is a world harshly divided by race: the white Waller family lives in comfort and rules with an iron fist, while the black families endure primitive living conditions and constant oppression.
The novel's atmosphere is dark in both literal and metaphorical senses. Literally, the world of Nightjohn is shrouded in darkness because much of the action takes place at night when slaves are unsupervised, allowing for the clandestine teaching of reading and writing. Figuratively, the darkness represents the Wallers' oppressive rule. Even during daylight, slaves are unable to escape the grim realities of hard labor, whipping, and the threat of being sold at auction.
Literary Qualities
The depth of Paulsen's characterization is rooted in the unique way he portrays Sarny's thoughts and speech. Her viewpoint is authentically adolescent—sometimes childlike, sometimes mature—posing a significant stylistic challenge. Paulsen crafts a believable and engaging vernacular language for her. This language features the strong rhythms and distinctive grammar of Black English. Despite Sarny's nonstandard syntax and spelling, her meaning is always clear. Her vocabulary is rich with variety, imagery, and metaphors (e.g., Nightjohn touches Mammy's forehead "like he be kissing her with his fingers"). Sarny's style convincingly shows that, although she lacks formal education, she is highly intelligent. Beneath her quiet demeanor lies a sharp intellect that perceives the essence of situations and, more importantly, of people.
Nightjohn spans about 16,000 words, approximately three-quarters the length of a typical Paulsen novel. It can be read easily and enjoyably in a single sitting. The narrative progresses rapidly and steadily towards a climax. The tone is informal, candid, and intense. Single-word sentences and single-sentence paragraphs propel the reader swiftly from one chapter to the next. Therefore, Nightjohn achieves Edgar Allan Poe's ideal of a fictional narrative that creates a single, unified impression by keeping the reader fully engaged from start to finish. For most readers, that impression is likely to be one of admiration for the slaves' heroism amidst the horrors of slavery.
For Further Reference
Brown, Muriel W. and Rita Schoch Foudray. "Gary Paulsen." In Newbery and Caldecott Medalists and Honor Book Winners. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1992: 324-326. This entry includes a bibliography, a list of awards, and mentions background reading material about Paulsen up to 1991.
Coil, Marianne. Interview. Standing Room Only. National Public Radio. WFYI, Indianapolis. April 7, 1994. Coil's interview highlights Paulsen's recent novel, Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod and his passion for the race, along with some recent personal details about the author.
Commire, Anne, ed. "Gary Paulsen." In Something About the Author. Vol. 54. Detroit: Gale Research, 1989: 76-82. Most personal details about Paulsen in this entry come from an interview Marguerite Feitlowitz conducted for another Gale reference series, Authors and Artists for Young Adults. The entry also includes information on Paulsen's career and a list of his works up to 1987.
Devereaux, Elizabeth. "Gary Paulsen." Publisher's Weekly. (March 28, 1994): 70. Devereaux's interview with Paulsen provides insights into his career turnaround in 1983, his productivity since 1985, and his latest projects. The article also covers other commonly known background information about Paulsen.
"Gary Paulsen." In Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 2. Agnes Garrett and Helga P. McCure, eds. Detroit: Gale Research, 1989: 165-173. This reference article lists Paulsen's works up to 1988 and draws biographical details from three sources: Marguerite Feitlowitz's interview for this Gale series, Maryann N. Weidt's August 1986 article in Voice of Youth Advocates, "Gary Paulsen: A Sentry for Peace," and Franz Serdahely's January 1980 article in Writer's Digest, "Prolific Paulsen."
"Gary Paulsen." In Children's Literature Review. Vol. 19. Gerard Senick and Sharon R. Gunton, eds. Detroit: Gale Research, 1990: 167-178. Starting with a summary of Paulsen's work up to 1985, the author-commentary section of this essay comes from Maryann N. Weidt's August 1986 article in Voice of Youth Advocates, "Gary Paulsen: A Sentry for Peace." Readers will also find reviews of various Paulsen works for children up to 1988.
McCormick, E. "Author Dedicates Latest Book to High School Librarian." American Libraries (May 1988): 338. McCormick's article explores the relationship between Paulsen and Mike Printz, the West High School librarian in Topeka, Kansas, to whom Paulsen dedicated The Island.
Review. English Journal (January 1994): 79. The reviewer finds the book misleadingly "packaged" for younger readers but praises it as "compelling, emotional, and authentic."
Rogers, Susan L. Review. School Library Journal (March 1993): 223. Rogers describes the "stunning impact" of the novel and advocates for it to be required reading and discussion material.
Serdahely, Franz. "Prolific Paulsen." Writer's Digest (January 1980): 20-21. This article, though somewhat dated, includes valuable information on Paulsen's early years as an author, his writing habits, and his advice for aspiring writers.
Trumpet Video Visits Gary Paulsen. Directed by Diane Kolyer. Trumpet Club, 1993. 24 minutes. The purpose of this video is to introduce children to the author and spark their interest in his books. Paulsen briefly comments on Canyons, The Cookcamp, Hatchet, The Monument, The River, and The Winter Room, but the true value of the video lies in the insights it provides into Paulsen's writing methods.
Weidt, Maryann N. "The Fortunes of Poverty." Writer's Digest (January 1992): 8. In this concise motivational piece aimed at writers facing difficulties, Weidt draws from Paulsen's memories of the challenging periods in his writing journey.
