What makes this book so important?

[Josh]

I feel that this book really shows how we aren't far from our animal roots. Most people would say that it shows how we are the true monsters, but the book makes it seem like the characters were just driven to insanity.

[Emily]

I think the book can be considered so important because it shows how our society could easily fall apart when all fails. The order falls apart, rules and laws are not followed, and groups form-- a society divided.

The book also focuses on moral beliefs, good vs. evil, and aggression. When all else falls apart will we stick to our morals? or will we fall apart and conform to something else, something worse? Are humans inherently good or evil... or both? Does power bring forth this evil side in some? Is aggression evolutionary and why does it occur at different levels in different people?

I feel like these are all questions I developed AND answered in the past month while reading the novel and it is so important because it makes us think and develop hard-hitting deep questions.

[Jon]

I agree with all of you. Demonizing the "other" is one of the most dangerous and destructive of human tendencies, responsible for most of our woes. Keeping this in mind is crucial for all times and places, but especially these days, and that's what makes the book so important.

[Anna]

I think it's because of how close this book is to actually society - how it IS actually society. We need to be warned of what our world is. We can, may, have, and will continue to fall apart. It is terrifying that we are this fragile.
And Simon. He was important. :(

[LydiaA]

Lots of people think that this story is meant to portray how humans are basically evil. If that was the authors goal then he could have done a better job portraying it. The characters are in an extreme situation and it makes them turn to extreme measures. This doesn't really say that they are innately bad. It just says that they are children in bad circumstances.