the great day

my niece, who is a famous 2nd grade novelist, just sent me her latest memoir. it’s called the great day and its virtuosic twist at the end is an m. night shyamalan movie waiting to happen.

the great day (2010)

the date is may 25. one day i was having a horrible, bad yucky day! it was may 24. i was walking in the grass.  i sprained my ankle. “ouch!” i screamed.

i put a wet paper towel over it. it felt better.

so i went outside. it was dark. i bumped my head

i had to go inside. i had to go to bed. it was a great day! everything went great. the end.

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analysis: the plot twist works so well because the author tells you in the opening page how the day was “horrible, bad and yucky” BUT THEN the reader discovers in the last paragraph that it was actually “a great day” and that “everything went great” (the wet paper towel and the drawing of gallagher are red herrings). finally, it all hits home with the title “the great day” and the reader realises that the greatness of the day WAS KNOWN FROM THE OUTSET!!!!!