'The Eighteenth Emergency' - Look closely at the words used by Byars by analysing the words used in the quotes.

At the beginning of the novel Mouse is presented as being really scared and weak because Marv is after him. The text 'Some boys are going to kill me' shows that he is scared and exaggerating. Also 'He started thinking again about Marv Hammerman' is showing he is always thinking about him, which shows he is worried. 'He came up in his mind the way monsters do in horror movies, big and powerful with the same cold, unreal eyes.' This shows you what Mouse thinks Marv looks like, big and a person who doesn't care how scruffy he is, despite his power to frighten people. Monsters in horror movies tend to be strong, scary characters. 'Cold, unreal eyes' suggests that Marv Hammerman has no feelings which is not normal and suggests he is animal-like.

In the middle of the exciting story, Byars describes encounters between Marv Hammerman and Mouse in a way that we are made to feel sorry for Mouse even though it is his fault, also it creates tension. The sentence 'Mouse thought his own face might have been made of thin rubber, it was changing expression so rapidly' shows he doesn't know what to do, and is just standing, waiting for Hammerman to hit him. Also, Byars is holding back information in the sentence as she is not telling us whether his expressions are of hatred or worrying. 'Hammermans nostrils widened a little, and Mouse wondered if Hammerman could smell fear the way animals could.' The words 'nostrils widened' and 'smell fear' suggests Mouse is relating Marv Hammerman to a savage beast, ready to pounce.

Later in the novel Mouse is presented as a changed boy because he retaliated a little which stops Marv Hammerman from hitting him again. This suggests that Mouse had found courage. The phrase, 'Mouse seemed bigger' shows us that he is more noticeable by people and people saw him as more popular because he had more confidence. The fact he went looking for Marv Hammerman shows he found some inner confidence. 'Five blows from Hammerman' shows he is stronger than he thought. He only came away from the fight with a swollen lip and a bloody jacket, which also proves that Marv Hammerman is not as threatening as he appears on the outside.

Mouse is shown to change from being weak and minute in the world to becoming bold and courageous. Mouse did not want to be seen and tried to hide at first, but changed following his stand against Marv Hammerman. Mouse became known as Benji by his friends. He was no longer as timid as a mouse. He was an equal to his friends.

James Leckenby