44 pages • 1 hour read
Mary Downing HahnTime for Andrew: A Ghost Story
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1994A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Marbles
The marbles in this novel connect Drew and Andrew both literally and symbolically. They are the primary point of contact between the boys, supernaturally connecting their timeline and reflecting who has control over the situation. When Drew finds the marbles and removes them, he conjures Andrew and establishes the wormhole of sorts between their two times. When Andrew sets up the gentleman’s agreement whereby Drew can’t return until he beats Andrew at a game of ringer, Andrew wins control over Drew.
The marble game itself mimics the inner turmoil Drew feels as his identity competes with Andrew’s. Each boy shoots marbles into a center area, colliding with the existing marbles, knocking some of them out of the ring. As Drew absorbs and rejects various elements of Andrews identity as he lives during his time, he experiences a kind of instability to his own identity, reshuffling who he is like the marbles reshuffle in a game of ringer.
Drew must slowly develop his marble abilities, building his physical skill, strategic thinking, and composure under pressure. All of these skills parallel his emotional journey as he must grow more confident and self-possessed in order to face Edward and stand up for himself. Yet even when one is good at marbles, there is an element of chaos and chance that infuses every game. Though Drew can step up and take control of his fate, he cannot control everything.
At the end of the novel, Andrew returns the marbles to Drew for the last time. This moment signifies Andrew relinquishing control in his old age, now fully sure of himself and relaxed in his personality and experiences, and of Drew gaining full control over his life and sense of self.
Frank Merriwell
Frank Merriwell is a character in the stories Hannah loves to read. Drew notices how Frank Merriwell represents a dated view of morality, masculinity, and general storytelling. Merriwell is perfectly noble and perfectly stoic, and the stories have little nuance or complexity. Hannah notes how Merriwell symbolizes the perfect kind of man, which helps Drew understand the different social conventions in 1910. Frank also helps Drew understand Hannah a little bit better and the kind of upstanding gentleman who would genuinely impress her. Drew is strongly motivated by a desire to impress and do right by Hannah, whom he deeply admires and respects.
Later in the story, Drew understands the value of Frank Merriwell as a role model. When he stands on the trestle watching Edward nearly drown, thinking of Frank Merriwell helps inspire him to jump in the water and help. Drew is able to merge many of the identity elements he has absorbed over the course of his adventure in order to do the right thing. He has absorbed some of Andrew’s bravery and boldness. He has internalized Frank Merriwell’s nobility and moral conscience. Additionally, he has stayed true to his own sense of empathy and awareness of the suffering of others.
The Trestle
The trestle represents the transitional point between adolescence and adulthood. Edward sees the trestle as evidence of bravery in the face of extreme and pointless danger. He tries to make the trestle sound as scary as possible, reminding Drew that another kid died jumping off and describing the gruesome aftermath of discovering the body. Edward wants to use the trestle as a way to either embarrass Drew or put him in harm’s way.
Theo also sees the trestle as a sign of bravery. Drew is primarily motivated to take up the challenge because he does not want to disappoint Theo. In embodying the role of older brother, Drew feels that he needs to exhibit bravery and strength to inspire Theo and remain a role model for him.
Drew does not fully understand or accept that doing this dangerous jump would prove that he is mature. However, his experience there ends up doing just that. Rather than jump just to appease Edward or impress Theo, he ends up jumping to save Edward and model true bravery for Theo. Even though Edward does not credit him or accept his help, he knows he did the right thing. Combining all of these identities allows Drew to create his own understanding of what maturity looks like that feels truer to the person he has become.
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By Mary Downing Hahn
