In the novel The Lives of the Saints by Nino Ricci, the character of Vittorio loses his innocence when he is forced to experience adult things at a very young age. Vittorio was bullied at school by other students after news about his mother spread. At his age, Vittorio shouldn't have to hear mean or mean comments about his mother. From a young age, children should not be exposed to the evil of the world, as parents tend to protect them from any danger. When he is bullied, he realizes that the world is full of cruelty. He said, “I was simply rejected and I couldn't understand the insults they whispered to each other in class while they smiled at me from their desks” (Ricci, 107). Vittorio also loses some of his innocence when he notices that his mother is ignored by the rest of the villagers. He tries to understand why they are ignoring him and it gives him some coming of age experiences that he shouldn't have to have until he is much older. Vittorio also overhears his mother's conversation with her friend Giuseppina, who tells him: "I warn you Cristi, you will bring a curse on everyone around you... you think that people are fools, that they don't see your way of proceeding,” (Ricci, 54 years old). When Vittorio overhears these conversations, he is forced to deal with adult matters, such as lifting the curse, even though his mother refused to do so. Finally, the reader realizes that Vittorio is no longer an innocent child of six, when he learns that his mother is committing adultery, after declaring: "I was flooded with relief to see that all his features were humans... that this was not the case. snake-headed child against whom Alfredo Girasole had warned me” (Ricci, 237). From this quote, it is certain to the reader that Vittorio knew that his mother had committed adultery. As it is a sensitive subject for some...... middle of paper ......f her sister Cheryl whenever she stayed at our house. In this case, she needs to act like an adult and do everything her parents should do but don't. April taking care of her sister disrupts her growth and development because she has to act older than her years. Additionally, April discovers a rumor that she was allowing her adoptive siblings to engage in sexual acts with her. She is forced to understand why they are picking on her, and at such a young age, children should not be bullied or have to deal with such issues. These events take her from being a naive child to one who must defend herself, whereas at her age, her parents should be defending her. From completing adult tasks at age six to caring for her younger sister Cheryl and standing up for herself, April Raintree's growth and development is disrupted due to a loss of innocence..