82 pages • 2 hours read
Kristin LevineThe Lions Of Little Rock
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Symbols & Motifs
Magic Squares
Magic squares are mathematical puzzles that feature in many of Marlee’s interactions with Liz. She describes the first moment she picks up Liz’s math notebook:
On the back was a square with lots of little squares in it. In some of the squares were numbers. I knew what it was—it was a magic square […] The simplest was a three-by-three square, with the numbers 1 to 9 arranged so that every row, column and diagonal added up to 15 (27).
Because of Marlee’s fascination with math, the discovery of this puzzle on the back of Liz’s notebook creates an instant bond. Marlee has just refused to be Liz’s history project partner, but seeing the magic squares changes her mind and launches their friendship. Liz uses one of her own mother’s magic square books as a reward for Marlee if she will speak before the whole class to present their project. When Liz fails to show up and Marlee presents the project alone, she sends a note to Liz saying that Liz owes her a magic book.
Even after Liz has left their school, Marlee maintains contact by insisting on receiving the promised magic book. Since their friendship is now dangerous because of the racists in Little Rock, Liz and Marlee revert to speaking in code using magic squares. Liz writes her phone number as part of a magic square puzzle so that Marlee can call her at home. After the bombing, when Liz’s phone number has been disconnected and she is forbidden to see Marlee again, she writes her new number in a magic square puzzle. This will allow them to maintain their friendship over the phone indefinitely.
Practical Math
Marlee’s fascination with math goes well beyond her interest in magic squares. She sees math as a stabilizing principle if her world threatens to spin out of control. Initially, whenever she is forced to speak to anybody, she counts prime numbers in her head. This keeps her panic in check so that she can form words. Marlee comes to view math not as a theoretical concept but as a practical way of managing the major stressors in her life.
Although math works well as a coping mechanism for Marlee, she runs into trouble when she tries to apply practical math to Liz’s dilemma of speaking out too often. Although Marlee teaches Liz the prime number counting technique and a few others, these methods don’t help Liz. She is motivated by words, not numbers. When Marlee realizes that not everyone is as enamored of math as she is, she suggests journaling as a way to keep Liz’s temper in check. This also teaches Marlee that numbers can’t solve every problem.
At the end of the book, Marlee has a conversation with her math teacher in which she tries to apply math to the problem of prejudice in Little Rock. Although the community has made some progress, it still has a long way to go before racial equality will be achieved. Marlee is frustrated that people can’t be solved like an equation. Her teacher understands Marlee’s mindset. He uses the analogy of algebra rather than simple numbers to get through to her by saying that life is complicated, and there are many variables. He suggests that she approach life like an algebra equation: “But usually, if we take things step by step, we can figure things out. You just have to remember to factor the equation, break it down into smaller parts” (270). By appealing to Marlee’s liking for practical math, her teacher actually helps her solve the thorny problem of Red.
Zoo Lions
The Little Rock Zoo is only a few blocks from the Nisbett home. Shortly after the family moves to the area, they are all alarmed by the sound of lions roaring to one another during the night. The lions easily express whatever they are feeling, unlike practically everyone else in the community.
The residents of color are afraid to speak up for fear they might invite lynching and bombing. The white residents who favor integration are afraid to speak up for fear of social disapproval, the financial impact on their businesses, or threatening letters and phone calls. On a personal level, Marlee fears to say anything on any subject because of her own self-censorship.
Despite her fear, Marlee envies the lions. While the rest of her family is unnerved by the roaring, Marlee falls asleep to the sound as if it were a lullaby. She says, “But sometimes, at night, when I hear the lions roaring […] I wish I could be like them, that I could just yell out whatever I was thinking or feeling and not care one whit who heard” (20).
The lions represent uninhibited verbal expression. When Marlee and Liz first become friends, they agree to work on their project at the zoo. Marlee becomes comfortable speaking to the animals before she ever is able to speak in front of people. The park by the lion cage is the favorite rendezvous point for the two girls. It’s the one place in town where they can talk freely about their lives. When Marlee and Liz are forbidden to see one another again, they meet for one last time by the lion cage to say everything left unsaid between them. At the end of the novel, when Marlee conquers her fear of the high dive, she hears her friends at the pool cheering her on as well as a mental echo of the zoo lions roaring their approval at her courage.
