Form and Content
The first-person narration of A Place Apart is provided by Victoria Finch, a sensitive and somewhat vulnerable thirteen-year-old. After her father’s sudden death, Victoria and her mother must move to New Oxford. The dreariness of the new house, the need to adjust socially, and the death of her father make Victoria’s outlook bleak and confused. As a freshman, she becomes best friends with Elizabeth Marx. Soon after, she meets Hugh Todd, a junior from a rich family whose mysterious aura fascinates Victoria: “I never thought as much about another human being as I thought about him.” Hugh takes an interest in some scenes that Victoria has written about her father’s death and decides that she should expand them into a full-length work, which he will direct as next year’s senior play—the first senior play to be a student’s work. Victoria is fascinated and frightened by this prospect, but she realizes that she cannot say no to Hugh. One day, Hugh draws Victoria into a game of throwing stones and shouting; although Victoria realizes how easily she can be controlled by Hugh, her infatuation with him continues.
During the summer, Hugh goes away and Victoria becomes closer to Elizabeth, although she thinks of Hugh constantly. Victoria knows that she cannot speak of Hugh to her friend because Elizabeth does not like or trust him. Victoria’s mother begins a relationship with a new man, which makes Victoria think of her father more than ever. With a week and a half left until school begins, Victoria turns her attention to her play again and feels intense excitement at Hugh’s return.
In school, Hugh conducts a meeting of the Drama Club, complete with a new student, Tom Kyle. Victoria feels betrayed as Hugh, Tom, and another student suggest major changes to her play. After another of Hugh’s games, Victoria finds herself alone in a cemetery. Among the gravestones, she is able to put her problems into perspective, and she realizes that she will have to stand up to Hugh. Victoria’s determination, however, is not as strong as she would like. She is unable to complete her play but equally unable to forget about it. Deep down, she still hopes that she and Hugh can be close again, but she sees that Tom Kyle is Hugh’s new friend. In addition, Elizabeth now has a boyfriend, Frank Wilson, and Victoria is further isolated. Victoria finally tells Hugh that he cannot use her play. She then tells Mr. Tate, the faculty producer of the senior play, and is shocked to learn that Hugh had never cleared her play for production as he had told her.
The novel moves toward its conclusion with a car ride that Elizabeth, Frank, Tom, and Victoria take on Mt. Crystal. On the way down the icy roads, Tom becomes so frightened that he wets himself. In town, Hugh sees Tom, witnesses his humiliation, and abandons him. Victoria now realizes why Hugh had an interest in Tom and herself: Both have timid natures easily manipulated by Hugh. A few days later, word spreads that Tom has been in a severe accident on Mt. Crystal, and Victoria understands that Tom tried to conquer his humiliation by driving up the mountain. Although Victoria is skeptical, Frank claims that Hugh drove Tom to such desperate behavior, and the entire school views Hugh with suspicion and contempt. In Boston, Victoria visits Tom in the hospital, but she tells no one. Shortly after, Hugh leaves school. As the novel ends, Victoria walks past the hill where she first met Hugh, contemplating what has happened in the past year,...
(This entire section contains 621 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
hoping for some new experience, and looking back “just once.”
Setting
A Place Apart unfolds in the quaint yet fading community of New Bedford, where the heart of the town—its once-bustling downtown—is withering as enterprises have migrated to a glitzy mall perched at the village's edge. The narrative gracefully sweeps from the autumnal hues of Thanksgiving to the vibrant renewal of May, spanning a year and a half.
In the wake of her father's passing, Victoria and her mother embark on a new chapter in New Bedford, hoping to rebuild their lives. They transition from a spacious, welcoming home to a snug, rather unsightly abode that feels claustrophobically crammed with their belongings. Victoria must bid farewell to her dearest friend and confront the daunting task of forging a fresh start in this unfamiliar place.
Literary Qualities
Through an intimate narrative lens, Victoria's tumultuous quest for identity and belonging unfolds. Fox artfully employs flashbacks, whisking her audience back to sunlit moments when Tory and her mother shared unclouded joy. Her skillful use of metaphor paints striking images that linger in the reader's imagination.
For Further Reference
Commire, Anne, ed. Something About the Author, Volume 60. Detroit: Gale Research, 1990. This volume unfolds a vivid biographical portrait of Fox, enriched with a recent photograph, an exhaustive catalog of her literary works, a roster of accolades, and insightful notes on several of her notable novels.
De Montreville, Doris and Elizabeth D. Crawford. Junior Authors & Illustrators, Volume 4. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1978. Features a concise biographical sketch accompanied by a photograph of the author, offering a glimpse into her literary journey.
Munroe, Mary Hovas, and Judith Rogers Banja, editors. The Birthday Book: Birthdates, Birthplaces and Biographical Sources for American Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1991. This resource provides a treasure trove of information, listing birthdates, birthplaces, and biographical sources for authors and illustrators, organized by last name, month of the year, and geographical locale.
Nelson, Harold. "The Slave Dancer." In Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Volume 3. Edited by Kirk H. Beetz. Washington, DC: Beacham Publishing, 1990. Nelson describes "The Slave Dancer" as a novel that seamlessly weaves ideas and history into the fabric of a masterfully told adventure tale.
Norton, Donna E. Through the Eyes of a Child, 3rd ed. New York: Merrill, 1991. This edition delves into the accomplishments of authors, illustrators, and their works, with Norton offering a wealth of references and richly descriptive paragraphs on several titles penned by Fox.
Indexes and Reviews
Tarbert, Gary C. and Barbara Beach, eds. Children's Book Review Index. Detroit: Gale, 1985. This extensive index aggregates more than 200,000 reviews of approximately 55,000 titles, including twenty-two reviews of A Place Apart and references to critiques of ten other works by Fox.
