A Corner of the Universe
Encyclopedia
A Corner of the Universe is a young adult's novel by Ann M. Martin, published in 2002. It won a Newbery Honor in 2003.
with its eccentric adult boarders, painting alongside her artist father, and reading, especially taking out books from her local library. Then 21-year-old Uncle Adam, whom Hattie never knew existed, comes to stay with his parents, who are Hattie's grandparents (Nana and Papa), because his 'school' (probably a psychiatric institution) has closed down. It soon becomes apparent that he has mental problems. He is a rapidly babbling, Lucille Ball
-quoting, calendar-savant, and, most importantly, an emotionally immature child in a man's body. Although Adam's exact mental illness is never told, some doctors he'd visited during childhood thought he could be suffering from schizophrenia
or autism
. Hattie's strong sense of empathy eventually lead to the two becoming friends. However, Adam eventually begins to visibly suffer from the effects of being mentally ill. For example, Hattie and her friend, Leila, take Adam up on a Ferris wheel
at the town's carnival
. Unfortunately, the wheel gets stuck and Adam panics, screaming and attempting to climb out of the cart. Later in the story, Adam hangs himself because he finds the girl he loves, Angel Valentine, in bed with her boyfriend. Angel was a boarder at the Owens' boarding house
and left the boarding house shortly after Adam's suicide
. Adam was left confused and heartbroken. Hattie provides a respectful, meaningful speech at Adam's funeral that serves as the closing to the book. The speech challenges the listen to show respect towards everyone and to live life with the unbridled passion that Adam exhibited at times.
Plot
The summer during the 1960s is a season that the novel's narrator and protagonist, 11-almost-12-year-old Hattie Owen, expects to be as comfortably uneventful as all the others in her small town of tranquil Millerton (Hattie had never been on a vacation before). She's looking forward to helping her mother run their boarding houseBoarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
with its eccentric adult boarders, painting alongside her artist father, and reading, especially taking out books from her local library. Then 21-year-old Uncle Adam, whom Hattie never knew existed, comes to stay with his parents, who are Hattie's grandparents (Nana and Papa), because his 'school' (probably a psychiatric institution) has closed down. It soon becomes apparent that he has mental problems. He is a rapidly babbling, Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
-quoting, calendar-savant, and, most importantly, an emotionally immature child in a man's body. Although Adam's exact mental illness is never told, some doctors he'd visited during childhood thought he could be suffering from schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
or autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. Hattie's strong sense of empathy eventually lead to the two becoming friends. However, Adam eventually begins to visibly suffer from the effects of being mentally ill. For example, Hattie and her friend, Leila, take Adam up on a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
at the town's carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
. Unfortunately, the wheel gets stuck and Adam panics, screaming and attempting to climb out of the cart. Later in the story, Adam hangs himself because he finds the girl he loves, Angel Valentine, in bed with her boyfriend. Angel was a boarder at the Owens' boarding house
and left the boarding house shortly after Adam's suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Adam was left confused and heartbroken. Hattie provides a respectful, meaningful speech at Adam's funeral that serves as the closing to the book. The speech challenges the listen to show respect towards everyone and to live life with the unbridled passion that Adam exhibited at times.