Themes in iBoy

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

 iBoy or Tom? The choice of identity 

About iBoy

iBoy is  a novel written by Kevin Brooks in 2010. It was filmed in and around East-Central London, in particular the Middlesex Street Estate. It has been called  science fiction since the plot revolves around an imaginary situation involving technology.

But iBoy is also a form of Young Adult fiction since the plot is centered around the main character, Tom Harvey, discovering his identity, a typical YA theme.

00:34

According to the film, do teenagers read more than they did previously in history?

1. yes
2. no
3. maybe
4. on the internet

01:34

When was the term 'teenager' used first to define a group a people?

02:20

What group of women got together in 1906 to promote reading among young people?

1. The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen
2. The Outstanding League of Women
3. The League of Extraordinary Librarians
4. Librarians for Strong Young Readers

03:50

What made the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling different from other YA books ?

00:35

What 3 book series have increased popularity of YA books?

01:40

When was the first YA novel 'Seventeenth Summer' published?

02:55

Which YA book was the first not to focus on the typical 'boy meets girl - fall in love - fight -make up' plot line?

1. Are you there God? It's me, Margret.
2. The Outsiders
3. The Big Friendly Giant
4. Catcher in the Rye

05:15

What does YA help us understand?

1. That teenagers are people too.
2. That teenagers have complex worlds.
3. That teenagers have strong fantasies.
4. That teenagers always have problems

Character development

In iBoy, there are many challenges to develop Tom's character. YA novels, like almost all works of fiction, are focused on character development. The person we meet at the beginning changes in some way by the end of the book. The things that change the character are described by the events, people, or situations in the story. These all force the character to make choices and take action.

01:47

Why are the main character's actions so important

02:31

What do Tom's actions tell you about him in the way he goes after the gang members who hurt Lucy?

03:28

What changes about how Tom is at the beginning and at the end?

Home/Environment

Knowing about Tom's home in the London Council Tower Flats is very important to understand Tom Harvey's personality at the beginning of the book, and  his choices and actions later.

Not only has Tom lost his mother and never lived with his father, the home he shares with his Gram is in a poor, crime-ridden neighbourhood. In these Tower Blocks, the most powerful people were members of Gangs. 

00:00

What did NOT influence him to get out of the gang?

1. The police beating him
2. His mother worrying
3. His little brother's future
4. Alex's intervention group

02:14

What was the reason that the El Salvador immigrant children made their own gang?

09:54

How did he change his life when he moved to Colorado?

04:34

Why did he want to become a member of MS-13?

Absolute Power

In iBoy, Tom suddenly and unexpectedly gets all kinds of powers, mental and physical.

These powers allow him to take revenge on the people who hurt Lucy. But he doesn't stop there. He goes after all types of crime and violence, and the police name him a 'vigilante'. 

Actually, Tom is in a position to take over complete control of the area. The question is, how far will he go?

01:12

What does the "power paradox" mean?

02:22

Do only people in high positions use power badly?

1. Yes, mid- and lower level positions do not abuse their power
2. No, mid- and lower level positions also are abusive of power

03:25

What 2 things do people in positions of high power believe?

04:13

How can society solve the problem of people abusing power?

Morals/Character

In the book iBoy, Tom faces various situations in which he has to choose between doing something right or wrong. He very often thinks about whether or not he is becoming an evil person. 

Many terrible things have happened to him and those he loves. He is in an area where it is easy to go down the wrong path. With the power that he has, it is difficult to know which choices to make. 

02:32

Which of these items has Tom not experienced?

1. Tragedy - loss
2. Poverty
3. Addiction
4. Moral Superiority

04:13

Which character in the book has gotten a lot of money and power but is very bad?

04:40

What does a person need to have to stay good even when all these things happen?

Strong  Character is the Key

Given all of the difficulties Tom has had, and the sudden absolute power he achieves, one thing helps him to remain a good person rather than turning into somebody evil like the gang members. That one thing is his strong, moral character: he has virtues (honesty, humility, courage, kindness, etc) and these determine his choices.

Which of the following are NOT important for Tom in his character development?

1. Power/powerlessness
2. Character/morals
3. Fame/Money
4. Home/environment

iPhone Implant

Of course the big game-changer for Tom is when his iPhone becomes integrated in his brain and he gains super powers. He can access any information, anywhere, anytime. He can use the  electricity and focus it in physical and non-physical power.

Getting false teeth, wearing glasses, getting a heart implant or a new knee or leg is normal. But will we be able to integrate machinery in the brain and improve it like Tom?

00:20

What does Elon Musk his new invention is like?

01:08

How does the movement of an arm start in the brain?

1. As a synapse
2. As a neuro-transmitter
3. As an electrical spark
4. As long spindly cords

02:25

How big are the wires inserted into your brain accessing the chip?

03:59

What information does the chip not have access to?

1. Real - time movements
2. Your cell phone
3. The location of active neurons
4. The things the pig smells

05:19

What memory application is not mentioned?

1. Uploading memory into a robot
2. Using your memories for a movie
3. Replaying your memories like a recording
4. Putting your memories in a new body

02:25

How long does the operation and recovery period last?

The Power of Love 

But perhaps maybe the strongest influence Tom feels in making the choices that he makes is love.

At the beginning of the book, he has a secret crush on Lucy, and throughout the book he does everything he can to make her life easier. For a while he pretends to be somebody else, but in the end he wins her heart by just being himself.