Woven into this highly personal narrative about a boy's journey from silent sidekick to hero are themes that translate to public education: the challenges of finding the right school or instructional method to meet a student's individual needs; the impact of social stigmas on
expectations and performance, particularly for «discarded students» in
low - income neighborhoods, and the need for a culture of high
expectations to counter those negative
societal assumptions; the importance of tireless, focused, caring teachers who do whatever it takes to help students succeed; and the ability for all children — regardless of learning challenges or race or income level — to learn.