There are two joint forces that make up a person identity as a human being. One is the shaping and molding of there person as an individual from the womb, that being heredity. Heredity is all the characteristics transmitted from parents to children before birth- may give you your father's eyes or your mother's nose (Engle and Snellgrove 65). Then there is the environment, which also helps in our upbringing throughout childhood. Each person has their own characteristics and many of these traits and/or habits are formed by everything around us. Environment- all the surrounding forces that affect your life- may determine such characteristics as in interest in music or sports (Engle and Snellgrove 65).
             The main character in The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman, by Bruce Robinson is Thomas Penman. This book takes place over a period of 3 years of Thomas's life from age thirteen to fifteen. Thomas is a young boy growing up in a middle size town located somewhere in New England. Two things, heredity and environment affect Thomas's character.
             Thomas has a very unique and special bond with his grandfather. Him and his grandfather have a natural bond that is lacking with all of his other family members; such as his mother, father, sister and grandmother. This bond is a natural bond that is formed due to nothing but similar gene makeup.
             The rest of Thomas's character, and character maturation is his direct conflicts with the society surrounding him. Due to his family's lack of love (with the exception of his grandfather) he is forced to grow and find love elsewhere. Thomas spends the first part of his day at school where he does nothing but day dream about his future and also
             dreaming about being very popular, having numerous friends, and being able to date the love of his life, Gwen.
             After school Thomas goes over to his friend Maurice's house where they hang out. Due to their teen ages ...