The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

The author’s use of parallel storylines explores the relationship between the past and the present and how an individual cannot separate the two. The narrative mirrors Sam’s past with his present as Daniela’s injuries remind him of his own abuse at the hands of David, and just as Sam’s mother feared exposing his abuser, the adults in Daniela’s life struggle to make the right choice for fear of David’s wrath.

The parallel storylines also juxtapose the past with the present, dramatizing how the characters have (or have not) changed since childhood. In his distress, Sam reaches out to his closest friend for guidance, and the reader meets adult Ernie. Having experienced immense success in his life, Ernie reappears in the narrative as a strong, confident adult. Though both men are troubled by the reemergence of their nemesis, it is heartening to see the two friends have remained close over the years and still depend on one another. However, they have taken divergent paths in some ways. Ernie is content and settled into a marriage and family life, while Sam struggles in committing to a partnership.

Back in the 1960s, with the monstrous threat of David removed, Sam and Ernie can attend school in peace. However, while Sam has been fighting a bully, Ernie has been dealing with a different type of adversary. In addition to being the only Black student in the school, Ernie faces dyslexia, a condition that, while common, was relatively unknown in the 1960s. The neurocognitive disorder can cause learning difficulties and be very frustrating for students, parents, and teachers, and while Sam’s efforts to bolster Ernie’s reading confidence are noble, students with dyslexia often need professional help and accommodations in the classroom to complete academic work. Nevertheless, because the 1980s storyline shows Ernie’s remarkable career success, the reader can rest relatively easy knowing that his character pulls through and even excels at work that is more kinesthetic.