50 pages • 1 hour read
J. L. EsplinA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Some people may see the act of stockpiling food and supplies in case of emergency as extreme or paranoid. They may look on those who do so as doomsday preppers and associate them with cults who believe in an impending apocalypse. However, 96 Miles presents emergency preparedness as a common-sense practice. The Lockwoods aren’t paranoid; they’re resourceful. Their extensive food and water supplies stem from Jim Lockwood’s value of self-reliance. The family’s off-the-grid, desert location demands extra preparation since grocery stores, water sources, and hospitals are not nearby.
Mr. Lockwood teaches his boys self-reliance not only in relation to survival prep, but for everyday tasks. He wants Stew and John to be able to act when needed, and they both have household responsibilities to complete independently. Mr. Lockwood also teaches his boys to value friendship and community, and to share with others. The family has a close friendship with the Brightons, as well as neighbors such as the Yardleys, who feed John and Stew while their father is away and give them a place to stay. The boys share their food and water with the Yardleys during the early days of the power outage, demonstrating their value of caring for others. Although these two values—self-reliance and community—seem at first to be opposites, Esplin shows that they are intertwined. She demonstrates that independence does not exclude the need for relationships and connection.
The background information we learn about Cleverly’s grandparents also exemplifies this theme. They too are prepared for an emergency, readily share their supplies with neighbors. Before long, Cleverly’s grandfather skips meals so that he can continue to share food with others. Cleverly points out her grandparent’s reasoning—that the purpose of being self-reliant is to give freely to others in times of need. Esplin shows that self-reliance is a means of caring for other people.
At ages thirteen, eleven, and nine, the novel’s protagonists are young; however, Esplin shows that children can do difficult things. Although facing the power outage without their dad is not ideal, John and Stew prove themselves capable of carrying on without their father. In fact, they lend help to their neighbors, the Yardleys, showing that not only are the self-sufficient; they are also capable of lending support to others. John and Stew are equipped to handle this situation because of the values their father instilled in them and the preparations he has helped them to make.
Mr. Lockwood taught his boys to be self-reliant. He’s equipped them with skills like building a fire and has entrusted them with responsibility. Because they have been raised this way, they are not paralyzed when it comes to making decisions and taking action. For example, when Clayton Presley comes to their door, John sends Stewart to fetch their father’s gun. He wants to be prepared, and doesn’t plan to be defenseless should Clayton decide to try and harm them. Through John and Stew, Esplin suggests that when raised to be independent and capable, kids can do more than adults often give them credit for.
Cleverly and Will also serve as examples of kids who act in times of need. Although Esplin does not provide information about their upbringing, the siblings prove helpful and capable on the trek along the desert highway. As the eldest, Cleverly takes responsibility for her brother, pulling him along at first and hushing him when he asks for water. Cleverly also has the ability to think clearly when things get intense. Her questions and planning lead to several good decisions such as going with John to the reservoir, stealing the truck, and sending John ahead to Brighton Ranch.
Cleverly demonstrates that young people can think intelligently and make informed, logical decisions, even in moments of crisis. Will, although somewhat of a hindrance to the group at first, becomes an asset. All he needs is a little responsibility, which propels him to help, keep up, and refrain from complaining. Through Will, Esplin shows that entrusting kids with tasks is a great way to bolster their confidence, and that overprotecting them can actually hold them back.
Esplin shows that youth is not an excuse to make bad choices, and that being an adult does not mean that a person will do the right thing. Some of the adult characters—Clayton Presley, Spike, and Nate Brighton—choose self-preservation over caring for others. Their survival of the fittest mentality makes them to do things they likely never would have dreamed of doing, like robbing children at gunpoint, training a gun at a family friend, and stealing from dehydrated kids on the roadside. These men allow fear to control their actions, rather than their moral compass.
In contrast, the kids in the novel look out for one another and help each other. Even though they are scared, they don’t let fear keep them from doing what’s right. John and Stew allow Cleverly and Will to accompany them, even though it cuts their allotment of food and water in half. John recognizes that when the ordeal is over, he will have to live with himself and his actions. He has foresight that the adults lack, and even though he is willing to break some laws to keep his brother alive—like steal a car—his character remains intact.
Esplin demonstrates that kids can do hard things. Age is not a requirement for surviving tough situations or making the right decisions, and kids don’t have to wait to grow up before taking on responsibility and learning to care for themselves.
When people live in comfort, it isn’t hard to do the right thing, such as obey basic laws and extend human kindness. However, when disaster strikes, one’s true nature is revealed. Esplin creates characters who respond to the power outage in contrasting ways. She suggests that the decisions one makes in times of hardship indicate one’s true character.
Nate Brighton, Clayton Presley, and Spike are examples of people who adopt a self-preservation mindset during a crisis. They see the power outage as a situation where the fittest will survive and are willing to do whatever it takes to protect themselves and the people closest to them. Esplin shows that their actions stem from fear and desperation rather than logical, clear thinking. The novel’s villains show that fear can drive a person to prioritize survival over maintaining moral values.
In contrast, John, Stew, Cleverly, Will, and Jess maintain their moral standards despite fear and personal danger. During the power outage they have compassion for others; although they want to protect themselves and their family, they recognize that the cost of harming others is too high. An emergency is not an excuse to ignore one’s moral code. For example, John and Stew allow Will and Cleverly to join them on their journey to Brighton Ranch. John and Stew already have an extremely low water supply for the two of them; sharing their water among four people will make it impossible for them to survive. Even though it puts them in danger of dying, John and Stew allow Will and Cleverly to come.
By contrasting how characters behave during the blackout, Esplin shows that one’s nature is not illustrated by how one acts when life is easy, but by how one faces challenges. Intense situations can bring out either the best or the worst in people. In spite of fear and danger, individuals should put compassion first.