The School Story

Positive thinking and perseverance are shown to be important tools in advancing one’s aspirations and maintaining one’s confidence. Zoe most embodies this theme in the way she motivates and encourages Natalie while relentlessly pursuing her goals.

Throughout the novel, at every obstacle, Natalie loses hope and wants to give up on pursuing publication of The Cheater. Natalie lets her own self-doubt control her, forcing Zoe to refresh Natalie’s confidence. When Natalie first tries to back out of the plan after coming up with her pen name Cassandra Day, Zoe gives Cassandra Day a pep talk, telling her “Don’t you believe one thing that deadbeat Natalie tells you. You are a great writer […] And we are going to get this first [book] published” (33). Zoe’s positive thinking helps Natalie push forward despite her insecurities about her writing and the plan as a whole.

Later, Zoe demonstrates positive thinking about her own abilities when convincing Natalie not to back out again after Zoe decides to be Natalie’s agent. Zoe pleads with Natalie to “[j]ust let me give it a try. It’ll be fun, and I know I can do this…I know I can” (59). Zoe’s faith in herself convinces Natalie to accept Zoe as her literary agent, which ultimately turns out to be a successful move.