Rule Of The Bone #5

Rule of the Bone is considered a coming of age novel because it shows the main character Chappie having to make mature decisions for the well being of his life. He is already on his own at such a young age and he has really no one to guide him in the right direction. He has to do it himself.

"Just one. Because I wanted to kill him. I have never wanted anything in my life as much as I wanted to kill my stepfather at that moment."

Chappie finally wanted to stand up for himself because he was tired of letting his stepdad Ken take advantage of him. He didn't actually kill him but he's starting to show that he's not gonna take anything from him anymore.

"That's right, choose which one of us you want. Mom, choose one or the other. Ken or me. Let's get serious."

Chappie is telling his mom to make a decision between him and Ken. He knows that there's the possibility that his mom could pick Ken and he will feel abandoned and unloved by his own mother. He is willing to take that risk because he knows he is ready to live on his own if he has to. This shows a lot of maturity to give his mom an ultimatum.

A coming of age time for me was when I decided to play football. I thought I was just gonna be a soccer player in high school and I would never play. I would've felt like a coward if I chose not to play because I knew there was a chance i could be good. When I decided to play I felt very confident in myself.

Another coming of age time for me was when my friends were trying to peer pressure me into doing certain drugs and I chose not to. I could've easily done them because it didn't take any skill to take them or anything but I knew what it would do to me and I decided not to. I felt very good after because I saw how my friends were acting after they took them and they were very annoying and I was happy to not be like that.


"I love my mom, I really do, despite everything."

Even though Chappie's mom abandoned him and left him out in the cold so many times, he still loves her which takes a lot of maturity to say after it seems like his mom doesn't even care about him.