Inventing Elliot

“Getting noticed in the right way” (33)—and its inverse, not being “noticed in the wrong way” (15)—is a motif that runs throughout the book. Being noticed for the right or wrong reason becomes Elliot’s preoccupation, and he must constantly reassure himself that he is being noticed in a positive way, like excelling on the swim team, without sticking out too much. Elliot develops this coping strategy after experiencing bullying at his old school, believing that he was bullied for who he was and turning the blame inwards, rather than outwards towards those actually doing the bullying. Elliot has a theory—“Getting noticed in the right way involved making yourself stand out just enough to fit in” (33)—and he reinvents himself based on this theory, cultivating a personality with the aim of being noticed, just enough. Elliot feels he is successful because the Guardians accept him as one of their own, but this situation puts Elliot in emotional turmoil. In the end, Elliot realizes that being noticed for who you really are is what matters, and not whether you are noticed in a “right” or a “wrong” way.