Game Changer

Throughout the novel, Ash refers to how the choices people make lead them to experience things differently and assume different responsibilities. At the beginning, he emphasizes a perception of choice as divergent paths: “There are choices we make, choices that are made for us, and things we ignore long enough until all choices have fallen away” (4). Ash is initially unsure what choices led him to shift into another universe. Although he thinks he chose to play football that morning, he realizes that his free will is influenced by social and parental pressure too, such as his father’s thwarted ambition to become a professional football player. Reflecting on the role of legacy in one’s life choices, Ash comments, “Sometimes it’s like that when you’re a kid. You eat up whatever your parents put on your life’s plate” (6). Katie is another character whose choices are limited, as Ash perceives them, as Katie seems to have chosen cheerleading because it was expected of her. Katie is also dating Layton because she feels obligated to fulfill a particular role:

You know how some people see a stereotype, and just become it? The path is there, it’s wide, and it’s well trod.