77 pages • 2 hours read
April HenryGirl, Stolen
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Themes
Turning a Disadvantage into an Advantage
The novel emphasizes the many ways that Cheyenne turns her disability into advantages. This is partially because those around her underestimate her. Mostly, however, it is because her blindness forces her to develop her other senses, which gives her a heightened awareness of her surroundings. Cheyenne reflects that “there were a few advantages to being blind […] she knew how to use all her other senses in a way that most sighted people never did” because sighted people “let that part of their brain go numb with disuse, so the sensations didn’t register” (23). Cheyenne now “sees” things that sighted individuals do not, emphasizing the importance of alternative perceptions and perspectives over literal sight.
This skill gives Cheyenne power, and throughout the novel she uncovers critical information through smell, sound, and touch. What’s more, she is quick-witted enough to keep many of those discoveries a secret. For example, she uses the fact of her blindness to argue to the kidnappers that they can release her because she will be unable to identify them. Ironically, however, her heightened senses are the reason why she gathers so much information about them. Consequently, she sees through Roy’s disguise (his modified voice) in the most climactic scene because she knows his particular smell.
Furthermore, the novel suggests that Cheyenne’s blindness has given her an advantage in forcing her to see differently and experience the world from an altered perspective. That ability connects to her capacity for sympathy and empathy, which is key to establishing a relationship with Griffin. Despite his bad actions, Cheyenne can perceive the good in him (and in Duke), and this is part of what saves her. They build trust through their “limitations,” as Griffin describes it, and the kindness and emotional support that Cheyenne extends to Griffin catalysts the transformation in his character, enabling him to defy his father.
Seeing Things from a Different Perspective
Cheyenne’s capacity to see things differently is critical to her escape and character development. She uses her powers of visualization to orient herself, adding visual details through senses other than sight. She also inspires Griffin to broaden his perspective; when she conveys the experience of blindness to Griffin, this gives him a glimpse of the world through her point of view, engendering empathy between them.
While Griffin enters the narrative as an antagonistic force, Cheyenne can perceive the goodness within him; her experiences allow her to sympathize with Griffin, and his role shifts from antagonistic to deuteragonist. Their interactions also reveal Griffin’s sense of kindness and morality. Meeting Cheyenne and seeing through her eyes forces him to confront his behavior, and this internal reckoning changes how Griffin sees his environment. This is demonstrated in Chapter 10, when Griffin notes, “The kitchen looked the way it always did, but imagining what Cheyenne would think if she could see it made Griffin look at it differently” (55).
The narrative’s structure, which features chapters alternatively written in Cheyenne and Griffin’s viewpoints, reinforces the idea of seeing better by seeing differently. The shifting narration allows readers to see the story from multiple perspectives, providing them with a level of clarity and understanding that surpasses that of either Cheyenne or Griffin. This humanizes both characters, which is especially important in Griffin’s case. The inclusion of his point of view lends his character depth and a moral ambiguity that complicates his first impression. Exposure Griffin’s perspective, which brings awareness of his complex and multifaceted personality, ensures readers cannot view him as a one-dimensional antagonist like his father, and consequently encourages readers to root for him to succeed.
Change Inspired by Kindness and Adversity
The novel is hopeful about Griffin’s ability to change, demonstrating that rehabilitation is possible through kindness. This is apparent through Griffin and Cheyenne’s growing relationship, which is an undeniably positive influence on Griffin. It is also reflected in the parallel between Griffin and the guard dog, Duke. Cheyenne curries Duke’s favor by enticing him with treats and affection. Her efforts successfully establish trust between girl and dog, and Duke’s presence helps facilitate Cheyenne’s escape. Although Duke runs away in the woods, Cheyenne is determined to rescue him, and demands her family find him. In the end, the Wilder family provides Duke a loving home that offers kindness and structure through obedience training.
Duke and Griffin experience similar arcs. They come from the same circumstances, and much like Duke, Griffin is changed by meeting Cheyenne. Trust builds between them, and Griffin ultimately aids in Cheyenne’s escape. At the story’s end, Griffin finds himself in a better environment, living with his aunt in a new city—reflecting Duke’s new place with the Wilders. This parallel suggests that Griffin will also experience further positive change. This is emphasized by Griffin’s comment, “I kind of feel like Duke. They all watch me out of the corner of their eye” (212). Rather than suspicion, this watchfulness suggests the care and concern of a proper support system, seeding hope for Griffin’s future.
The novel also stresses the importance of learning through adversity and provides numerous examples of how traumatic experiences become occasions for development. The most obvious case is Cheyenne’s triumph over her physical disability, as she learns new strategies and skills to navigate the world—strategies that later help enable her escape. While Cheyenne is not thankful for the ordeals of losing her sight or being kidnapped, she does acknowledge that these trials have taught her resilience and proven her strength. Both situations taught her more about her capabilities. When she tells Griffin, “Things never would have turned out the way they did […] But maybe that’s okay” (213), this indicates acceptance of what has occurred and suggests that the future holds happiness for both Cheyenne and Griffin.
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