Orphans and Siblings

Hi hotshots!


When I was slightly smaller and shorter and clumsier, there were a lot of books available to me featuring orphans as their protagonist. The orphans were always the ones who had daring adventures, often accompanied by a smaller, irritating sibling. Orphans were it. I sometimes wonder if there was a craze when I was little concerning orphans the way there was a craze for vampires quite recently. Maybe my age group just liked the idea of being unattached and free to wander. No ties. I went through a brief phase where I fantasised about being an orphan. Just for the adventures I would most certainly have. It's strange, how books can influence us like that.

Then now it's all only-children without siblings who rule the board of main character. What is that about? I rarely read a book where there is a brother, a sister mentioned. The most famous exception to this that I can think of is The Hunger Games, but- no spoilers.

At any rate I kind of understand it. When you're smaller you want the feeling that you have this family, you're part of them, and you are free without restrictions. Love and no having to go to bed early. When you're a teenager, you want to be the special one.

Or maybe I'm drawing random conclusions.