Barry and Pearson interrogate the assumed differences between children and adults and explore the nature of growing up by placing younger and older characters in opposition to one another. The young protagonists, Peter and Molly, must defeat the ruthless adults Black Stache and Slank, who specifically resent the youth of their adversaries, frequently referring to Peter as “the boy” and Molly as “the girl,” language which emphasizes their status as children. The omniscient narrative voice underscores the opposition of age and youth: For instance, during the bargaining for the trunk scene in Chapter 68, the narration refers to “Slank and Peter—the man and the boy” (385). The dramatic stakes of the conflict over the starstuff parallels emotional tensions related to the expectation that adults should have more power than children.

While Molly’s insecurities stem from her awareness of her youth and inexperience, Peter’s fears are rarely rooted in his sense of himself as a young person. Instead, Peter worries failing his friends and missing out on opportunities for a better life—considerations which confer a degree of emotional maturity to the compassionate Peter. However, Peter does express age-based concerns once confronted with the significance of protecting the starstuff from the Others.