1. Theme Theme is the BIG IDEA of a novel A message the author is sending
The author doesn’t come right out and say what the theme is
Your job as the reader is to find out what the author is saying
The theme of a fable is the moral it teaches (The Boy Who Cried Wolf)
The theme of a novel is the author’s view of life and how people behave

2. Theme
The author uses the setting, characters, problem and solution to reveal the theme
Hints at the theme
A character that does or says something meaningful
A character behaves morally or ethically right
How characters deal with conflict

3. Theme
What about Number the Stars?
Friendship
Bravery