Making His Mark

"Making His Mark" by Horatio Alger Jr., is a story about a young boy named Gerald Lane, whose life takes a difficult turn after his dad passes away and his stepbrother, Abel, comes to live with them. The book looks at what it was like to live in different social classes during this time, and it shows how Gerald tries to be strong and become independent while dealing with his new stepmother's control. At the beginning of the book, we see Gerald talking to his stepmother, Mrs. Lane, about his father's inheritance, and he doesn't like what he hears. Gerald feels like he's been left out, especially when he finds out that his stepmother wants him to quit school and work at a store. The arrival of Abel, who is Mrs. Lane's son from another marriage, makes things even harder for Gerald, and these events really influence Gerald as he sets out to find his own value and future.