~Jimmy McLaughlin, Class of 2025

Facing Your Fears

“Never trust your fears, they don’t know your strength.”

~Athena Singh

The Tunnel by Dorris Lessing is a compelling novel following the journey of a young boy as he navigates through making friends and growing older while he gains independence. Jerry comes from a very wealthy family, and he has always gone to the beach with his mom. One day, he sees a group of boys playing on another beach, and he decides to join them, despite the fact that he’s a foreigner. 

Jerry is an English boy, and because these boys are French, he has a hard time fitting in. When the boys are diving into the water, they come up on the far side of a rock, through an underwater tunnel. When Jerry doesn’t do it, they pity him, and he begins his journey to go through the tunnel.

This story is told from the perspective of a narrator who mainly follows Jerry, as he is the main protagonist. One of the great things about Lessing’s writing style is the emotion. It’s an older story, so the writing is a little bit more complex, but she does a great job of conveying the longing Jerry has for normalcy. I was always interested in the story, not for the action, but in the hopes of Jerry succeeding. I think this book is intended for young adults and adults. It is a great fiction story, and I think it fits its demographic very well.

The Tunnel made me think about my own experiences. Even though Jerry is younger than me, that constant need for approval and to fit in is a huge part of every kid’s experience. I’ve felt similar things, and Lessing made it easy for me to connect with the book. I think it aligns pretty well with what I think, because I agree with the themes of the story. I have always thought that most kids have had trouble making friends, or feel lonely, or need approval. It didn’t bring up my personal worldview, and I thought it reminded me a lot of The Outsiders. Pony Boy experienced a lot of the same things as Jerry, like trying to fit in.

This book is a must read for everyone. It’s relatable for so many people and throughout it all, you’re rooting for Jerry. If you like emotional books that make you think, this is a must read.