Boys of the Central: A High-School Story

"Boys of the Central: A High-School Story" by I. T. Thurston is a coming-of-age story set in a late 19th-century high school. The story zooms in on the lives of boys in section D, and especially follows the experiences of Freeman, a boy targeted by bullies, and Stanley Clark, a young man with strong morals. The story explores difficult themes like bullying and courage, and the shifting friend groups are always tested. The opening scene introduces the difficult algebra class, where Freeman is struggling and even threatened by the bully Crawford. The unfolding friendships and rivalries show the common struggles to fit in and the contrast between boys who stand up for what's right and those who don't. The school's social scene shows the importance of friendships.