J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

Because many of the characters of J.D. and the Great Barber Battle take pride and pleasure in their own innate skills, they collectively demonstrate the importance of celebrating individual talents and maintaining a strong sense of self-esteem. For J.D., he begins the book expressing his pride in his art skills, and he finds new pride when he realizes that he is also talented at creating unique and stylish haircuts. When Henry Jr. threatens to close down J.D.’s barbershop, J.D. is angry because he knows that his rival is unfairly trying to suppress his talent for the trade. He proudly asserts that cutting hair makes him “feel special” and declares, “No one else at school could do what I did” (74). J.D.’s pride in his own skill helps him to feel like an important member of his school community, and he believes that he is doing something to help the people around him. When he sees his friends’ own self-esteem bolstered as they sport their new, stylish haircuts, J.D. feels confident that his new ambition is positive, and this thought gives him the encouragement he needs to fight for his right to pursue his ambition to keep cutting hair.