Literary sidekicks like Dr. Watson and Robin the Boy Wonder have not been the singular subject of a significant critical study-until now. Using young adult literature (YA) to study the sidekick reveals new and exciting ways to understand these kinds of characters and this kind of literature. YA has embraced the sidekick, recognizing the way the character reflects the importance of growth and finding one's place in the world. The nature of many YA texts allows sidekicks to grow beyond literary or historical origins. This includes letting sidekicks "evolve" over the course of multiple texts, using parallel novels to add complexity to a sidekick's characterization, and telling a story from the sidekick's perspective, paradoxically making the sidekick the hero. A singularly focused and prolonged study helps to establish sidekick scholarship as a burgeoning field in and of itself.

Book Information
ISBN 9781498586795
Author Stephen M. Zimmerly
Format Hardback
Page Count 164
Imprint Lexington Books
Publisher Lexington Books
Weight(grams) 426g