Epigraphs are like little appetizers to the great entrée of a story. They illuminate important aspects of the story, and they get us headed in the right direction.
To Dr. King's dream,
Which can only come true
If the very young know and understand. (Dedication)
Theodore Taylor begins his novel with a dedication to Martin Luther King, Jr., a major figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. The dedication suggests that the book will address race relationships and issues of equality, dramatizing in fiction, King's vision for a just and equal society. You can learn more about Dr. King's "dream" from his famous and awesome "I Have a Dream" speech.
For more, see our section on "Themes: Race."