Attack Of The Black Rectangles

“I’m white […] But just because I’m white doesn’t mean I can’t talk about what white people do wrong […] we don’t talk about how 73 percent of the signers of the Declaration of Independence owned slaves.”

Mac explains why it is important to him to talk about disturbing or challenging things in history when he recalls asking a question about the Founding Fathers on a field trip. He thinks everyone should know the truth even if it hurts because otherwise, people will make the same mistakes, foreshadowing the truths to come.

“Grace is a good thing to have. It’s like jam. It sweetens things.”

Mac provides a simile for grace as he thinks of how his mother and grandad give grace in moments of conflict. Their styles of conflict resolution make an impact on Mac’s own communication as he resists the censorship efforts at his school.

“I’ve been called unlikeable. I blame my parents […] Both of them encourage me to say what’s on my mind.”

Through Mac’s sense of self-awareness, he realizes that many people in his town do not appreciate him questioning authority and speaking his mind. By sourcing his parents as the reason for why he shares his thoughts, Mac illustrates how he has support for challenging norms.

“I can’t think of a more horrible thing, really. And the longer time goes on, the less we talk about it. But we can’t pretend it didn’t happen—because when you pretend a thing didn’t happen, that means it can happen again.”

Mac is horrified when he sees the censorship in his copy of The Devil’s Arithmetic and provides insight into his worries about the censorship practice. He is aware of the consequences of failing to speak up or speak out about the harmful violation of intellectual freedom that he has encountered.

“They’re afraid of the ideas, Mac. You know, same as the watchdogs for candy and girls’ knees. Some people just think everyone should think like them. Or be like them.”

Mac’s mother highlights The Importance of Intellectual Freedom and how it comes to be threatened by people who are afraid of any idea that challenges their own worldview. Mac’s mother supports his confrontation of the censorship and demonstrates how Mac has grown up in a fairly liberal and open-minded household; the closed-minded line of thinking is foreign to him.

“The Holocaust was so bad, it’s hard to really understand it. The scene, without the black rectangle, with all the words in the right place, feels real now. It’s the truth. That’s the point. Jane Yolen wanted us to read the truth—every single word of it.”

Mac explains the power and impact that fiction allows a reader to feel and highlights the difference between the censored story and the story Yolen wrote. Mac furthers the novel’s theme of Adults Lying to Kids through the censorship practice, as he recognizes Yolen’s telling of the truth of the Holocaust and the censorship established by the black markings.

“Dad doesn’t think he’s from earth. He doesn’t understand feelings of sentimentality or how a blue mug can mean more than a blue mug.”

Mac’s reflection of his father illustrates the resentment he feels toward Mike and how Mike’s actions add to his frustrations. Referring to his grandmother’s blue mug and the literal and figurative damage Mike inflicted by smashing it, Mac lists his father’s lack of empathy as a major character flaw.

“‘But I wanted to study love, you see. Then I met your mother.’ ‘And you loved her?’ ‘She loved me,’ he says. ‘I can’t love like humans love.’ That stings. ‘Oh.’ ‘Not romantic love, anyway. But I can love you. I do love you. It’s the most enthralling feeling I’ve ever felt. Like I won the biggest prize.’ I feel warm anger rising in my chest. I’m a person, not a prize.”

Mac’s father provides his version of why he is no longer in a relationship with his mother, using his alien citizenship as his reasoning. Mac’s entertainment of the story mostly shields him from the hurtful truth, but he learns more of his father’s lack of empathy in this interaction.

“She’ll get over it. Earth women have to cry awhile before they get better. That’s all.”

Mike’s dismissive attitude toward Mac’s mother angers Mac and serves as a moment for supporting the novel’s theme of Giving Others Grace. Mac’s father is unbothered by his statement, and Mac has learned that by giving grace, he is able to cope with his father’s hurtful statements.

“‘Don’t you understand?’ Marci continues. ‘You can’t think that feminism is just about girls. It’s about you guys, too! The reason this book is censored is because people expect you to be immature and stupid. All boys. Sixth grade boys. Too stupid to read about six million people who were murdered and not giggle at one word about a body part.’”

Marci’s perspective provides new insight for Mac and Denis, causing them to be more concerned about the censorship and leading Mac to protest the black rectangles in The Devil’s Arithmetic. Marci is a catalyst for the novel’s events through her adherence to her values, providing an example that Mac follows to effect change in their community.

“You gotta learn about love somehow, kid.”

After Mac tells his grandad that he has a crush on Marci, grandad takes him to buy some records of punk rock and love songs, emphasizing the counterculture as a method of growing in emotional maturity. The moment adds comedy to the narrative, as Grandad’s tone communicates his own lack of knowledge about romance as well.

“‘Your boyfriend is looking for you,’ he says, and points to Denis, who is walking toward me past the playground equipment that feels too small for most of us now. ‘Grow up for once,’ I say. ‘Sure, sure, gay rights or whatever,’ Aaron says, then runs off with his football.”

Aaron’s character emphasizes the bigotry with which anti-LBGTQ+ bias, racism, and sexism are perpetrated. While he serves as a kind of antagonist in the beginning of the narrative, Aaron’s character development diverges from his harmful attitude later, emphasizing the change Mac inspires in others.

“Hoa Do is considered ‘too Asian,’ so a lot of us just adopt English names to get through easier, you know?”

Hoa announces her desire to be addressed by her birth name, illustrating the impact a story can have on its reader. Hoa sees the main character’s name change reflected in her own experience and becomes inspired to claim her cultural roots.

“Each thing that makes me mad, I put it in a dull-colored folder and file it in a gray filing cabinet.”

Mac describes compartmentalizing and avoiding his feelings as a metaphorical filing system that numbs his experiences. He extends his metaphor of feeling like an “office guy” in this image, highlighting the unhealthy coping mechanism further.

“On Sunday we go canoeing. We never go canoeing. This is what families do when something big and weird happens.”

Mac introduces Chapter 24 with levity and humor after his dad steals some of their belongings and leaves. Mac’s acknowledgment of the canoeing trip also provides irony, as he generalizes it as the activity that all families do after a change in dynamics.

“You were always the kind of kid who gave people a chance.”

Grandad’s concern about Mac not seeming like himself highlights the very reason he isn’t himself in a moment of irony. Mac feels as though people are untrustworthy because of his practice of giving people chances, a habit that has left him emotionally spent and burnt out.

“I aim to bring you into the light, Mac Delaney. Shame is no way to live. And you have nothing to be ashamed about.”

Grandad empowers Mac to name his feelings instead of compartmentalizing them, contributing to his most significant moment of character growth in the narrative. Instead of filing his feelings away in the dark like an “office guy,” Grandad demonstrates how shedding light on his emotions will help Mac to move past them in a healthy way.

“And then, suddenly, Aaron says, ‘I think it was a really great detail she wrote in there about the girls covering their breasts because anyone would in that situation, you know?’”

Aaron’s confrontation of the censorship by naming the very scene that has been marked out in black marker supports the novel’s theme of Speaking Truth to Power. His use of the censored word “breasts” and Ms. Sett’s reaction invalidate the justification for censoring the word, as she still removes him from the classroom after demonstrating his maturity.

“‘These are for you,’ he says. ‘I’ve been making this string for the past month. I made sure to get crystals that match your personality and your needs. Had to special order that Botswana agate.’”

Grandad illustrates his thoughtfulness and concern for Mac by creating his own meditation string so Mac can cope with his stress. Grandad’s gift emphasizes Giving Grace to Others as he attempts to encourage and comfort Mac because he knows Mac has been struggling with his emotions.

“I know my dad is my dad, but Grandad is my father. It’s possible to choose. No one can change my mind about that.”

This realization is a turning point in Mac’s character development, as it marks a significant change in his outlook on life. He no longer feels shame about his father’s absence, but rather strength, confidence, and peace from his grandad’s presence and support.

“I’ve had my books burned and shredded and pulled out of kids’ hands. Nothing shocks me anymore. But I’m here to say that children need to learn the truth. The whole picture of it, not just the part adults think they’re capable of understanding. Our job is to help them understand, not black out the topic.”

Jane Yolen’s perspective on the censorship issue forces the school board to consider how authors feel about their words being blacked out and the intent of their message marred. Her support of Mac and his friends and advocation for the truth hold great meaning for Mac, who has struggled with Adults Lying to Kids.

“Hoa opens another book. ‘This is page thirteen of Newberry-winning The Higher Power of Lucky,’ she says. ‘BLACK RECTANGLE!’ Aaron yells.”

Hoa and Aaron show the disruption that occurs for readers when they encounter blacked-out passages and how it takes them out of the story and denies them access to the full meaning. Their actions provide a literal demonstration of the censorship and support the novel’s message of Speaking Truth to Power.

“Until we started our protests, people thought they had to follow rules no matter how weird the rules were.”

Mac realizes the changes they’ve effected in their community through their protests by Speaking Truth to Power. They’ve impacted the town through their actions, which has become more civic minded due to the protests that have unfolded.