Spare Parts

by

Joshua Davis

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Spare Parts makes teaching easy.

Allan Cameron Character Analysis

Another teacher at Carl Hayden who helps Fredi with the robotics club. Allan grew up in the 50s as a mischievous kid before serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. After he returns, he decides to become a teacher in the very new field of computer science. He learns how to encourage kids by pushing them away from the low expectations that everyone has of them and that they have of themselves. When Fredi asks him to help him the robotics club, Allan readily accepts and helps Cristian with the robot’s programming, and also with the group morale in general. After the competition, Allan helps lead the robotics club to future successes. He and his wife Debbie also help Oscar after he deports himself, bringing him furniture, appliances, and anything else he might need to start a new life in Mexico before he is able to return. Even after retiring, Allan still volunteers his time with the robotics team.

Allan Cameron Quotes in Spare Parts

The Spare Parts quotes below are all either spoken by Allan Cameron or refer to Allan Cameron. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Underdogs and Overcoming Odds Theme Icon
).
Two Quotes

The whole point was to give the guys a chance to accomplish something beyond what they thought possible. But if they showed up at the event and failed utterly, it would only reinforce the impression that they didn't belong in the contest in the first place. That could leave a kid such as Lorenzo with a permanent sense of inferiority.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Page Number: 91
Explanation and Analysis:

For Lorenzo, the robotics team was like a new family. In some respects, Fredi and Allan were surrogate parents, constantly advising him and pushing him to do better. […] A team spirit had developed. Lorenzo wasn't the only one sitting in the front row of his classes.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Three Quotes

It reminded them that they were doing something they had never done before. In Phoenix, they were called illegal aliens and pegged as criminals. They were alternately viewed as American, Mexican, or neither. Now, for a moment, they were simply teenagers at a robotics competition by the ocean.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Related Symbols: Stinky the Robot
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:
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Allan Cameron Quotes in Spare Parts

The Spare Parts quotes below are all either spoken by Allan Cameron or refer to Allan Cameron. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Underdogs and Overcoming Odds Theme Icon
).
Two Quotes

The whole point was to give the guys a chance to accomplish something beyond what they thought possible. But if they showed up at the event and failed utterly, it would only reinforce the impression that they didn't belong in the contest in the first place. That could leave a kid such as Lorenzo with a permanent sense of inferiority.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Page Number: 91
Explanation and Analysis:

For Lorenzo, the robotics team was like a new family. In some respects, Fredi and Allan were surrogate parents, constantly advising him and pushing him to do better. […] A team spirit had developed. Lorenzo wasn't the only one sitting in the front row of his classes.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Three Quotes

It reminded them that they were doing something they had never done before. In Phoenix, they were called illegal aliens and pegged as criminals. They were alternately viewed as American, Mexican, or neither. Now, for a moment, they were simply teenagers at a robotics competition by the ocean.

Related Characters: Oscar Vazquez, Cristian Arcega, Lorenzo Santillan, Luis Aranda, Fredi Lajvardi, Allan Cameron
Related Symbols: Stinky the Robot
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis: