Tyler Miller struggles through high school just like millions of other teen boys, but when his problems combine and then escalate following his summer of community service, Tyler hits bottom. His physical development unleashes aggression. His infatuation with the queen bee results in accusations. His reputation leads to unfair detention, and his power struggles with his father result in violence. Ultimately, Tyler must find the strength to take control, or continue in the dysfunctional patterns that have threatened to become his life.
Aggression and Delinquency in America
The correlation between aggressive parenting and aggressive children is strong and well-documented. Aggressive parents create aggressive children who then become aggressive adults. Thus the cycle continues. Adolescent males are particularly prone to overtly aggressive behaviors, with over 41 percent reporting participation in a physical fight at school according to national data from the Center for Disease Control in 2004. In recent years, however, adolescent girls have narrowed that gap. In fact, male aggression dropped overall in the years between 1980 and 2001, while female aggression increased by 66 percent for simple assaults and 24 percent for aggravated assaults.
Aggression and Delinquency in Twisted
In Anderson’s Twisted, Tyler Miller is bullied by an overbearing father. Although his father prides himself on not hitting his children like his own father did, Tyler takes daily “blows” nonetheless. His father is distant, demanding, and verbally abusive. He has explosive outbursts that have the entire family walking on eggshells. He bullies Tyler constantly and even sets him up as a victim in his encounters with peers.
After his initial rebellion, Tyler’s own aggression grows along with his muscles. Throughout the book, Tyler’s aggressive fantasies build until they are no longer just fantasies and he is forced to question his own place in the cycle.
About the Author
Author of two National Book Award finalists, Speak and Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson is well-known for exploring difficult topics in her novels such as the ones explored in Twisted. In 2009, she received the coveted Margaret A. Edwards Award given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her contributions to young adult literature. Residing in New York state, she is a wife and mother as well as a writer.
References:
Greven, Philip. “Aggression and Delinquency”. (Accessed August 10, 2011.)
Department of Public Health Cornell University. “Sex differences in overt aggression and delinquency among urban minority middle school students”. (Accessed August 10, 2011).
Jennifer Groepl - Living the good life in beautiful Cape Coral, Florida, Jennifer Groepl is currently working on her YA fiction projects. An intrinsically ...
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