Harper Lee captured this transformation perfectly in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, which involves a longer period of time than in the movie (the movie is also good but different). She captures this transformation because she captures Scout's perspective. Throughout the book, Scout--though impressively observant--only understands what she is able to understand in that moment.
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| My version of David |
The best characters about youth will have even an already sympathetic and thoughtful child grow in understanding--as opposed to being endowed with understanding. Zilpha Keatley Snyder presents such a moment in The Headless Cupid. David, the protagonist, is a kindly, gentle, thoughtful boy. He is not quite as mystic or dreamy as his younger brother--circumstances have forced David to take practical care of others--but he does have the capacity to give others the benefit of the doubt--
--which means he doesn't always understand them. It takes him several experiences to realize that his stepsister is motivated by anger, not (merely) a love of drama and personal unease.
The growth is incorporated organically into the plot. David doesn't become wise. He is a good kid who becomes wiser.
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