A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Bantam Books, New York: 1960.
ISBN: 0-553-23224-X


Plot Summary:
A Separate Peace is narrated by Gene Forrester who is looking back at his life at the Devon prep school 15 years ago. He tells the story of his relationship with the charismatic Phineas (Finny) set against the backdrop of World War II. The two boys become great friends, though it is almost a love-hate relationship for Gene. Finny excels at all sports, while Gene has to work hard for everything he earns. Finny loves to ditch class and meals, and Gene starts to think Finny is deliberately causing him to fail because Gene is better academically.

On the school grounds is a large tree hanging close to a river. The boys challenge themselves to jump from the tree into the river, and it becomes a sort of right of passage, since it is usually only done by the the older students. The last time Gene and Finny go to jump from the tree, Gene has climbed up behind Finny, and in a moment of impulse, shakes the branch Finny is standing on, causing him to fall off and break his leg in many places.

Finny leaves school, and Gene eventually confesses to him that he shook the branch, but Finny won't believe him. Once Finny returns to school, the boys hold a sort of inquiry into what happened. This upsets Finny, who falls down the stairs, breaking his leg again. At the infirmary, Finny accepts that Gene caused his fall, but refuses to believe it was done out of hate. Later, when the doctor is trying to reset Finny's leg, some marrow gets into his bloodstream and Finny dies.

Critical Evaluation:

A Separate Peace is a haunting novel. The conflicts between Gene and himself, Gene and Phineas, the boys at school and the men at war all interweave so seamlessly. When the peace of the school is interrupted by war, it is interesting to see the reactions from the students. Some want to enlist right away, others want to keep on with their lives and deny the war is even happening. The subplot of Leper, one of the weaker of the boys, being the first to run off and enlist is equally fascinating. He forces the war into the consciousness of the boys.

The reader could analyze Gene and Finny's complex relationship for days. When Finny dies, is Gene almost relieved? More likely, he doesn't cry because he is now dead inside as well.

Reader’s Annotation:

Gene Forrester is waging a war within, while the realities of World War II threaten to break the peace of his boarding school.

Information about the Author:

John Knowles attended the Phillips Exeter Academy during World War II. A Separate Peace was his first novel, and it is likely that some of the incidents in the novel happened at his school. He won the Rosenthal Award of the National Institution of Arts and Letters, and the William Faulkner Foundation Award.

Genre: historical fiction

Curriculum Ties: 9th grade English, American history (WWII)

Booktalking Ideas:

I would focus on the relationship between Gene and Finny and their competitiveness. I would then talk about the war and how this brought to light the differences in their view of the world.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

This book would be appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Challenge Issues:

I don't believe there is a lot to challenge in this book. The theme of war and young people going off to war might disturb some people. In that case, I would give the challenger a copy of the library's selection policy and a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:

I chose this book because the U.S. is in another war, and many teens are deciding what to do after high school and might find this book relevant. I also love the complex relationship between the two main characters and feel many teens could relate to this as well.