In “The Secret Lion”, Alberto Alvaro Rios defines the theme as the loss of innocence in a young boy. The narrator brings to life a boy who must leave behind his youthful perceptions about girls, the arroyo, and his green haven. All preconceptions are destroyed and every glimpse of bliss is taken away. Through this the boy gains perspective and begins to see the world with a new awareness. Rios roots the theme of the loss of innocence through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy who displays maturity, autonomy, and disillusionment. Initially, Rios illustrates a boy perplexed by a newfound maturity. As he begins to mature from childhood to adolescence, he is faced with unfamiliar feelings towards the opposite sex. An example of this is evident when Rios explains that the boy can no longer talk to girls; at least “not like we did before” (Rios 453). As his emotions have gained a new depth and maturity, the boy realizes that the nature of his friendships has changed. Innocence is further lost as the girls who were former friends “were not the same girls we knew” (453). The boy has matured from his youthful, casual interactions and now sees girls in a new light. Another example of his maturity manifests itself sexually as he reflects on the girls "and all the things we wanted to do with them" (454). Although he is unsure how to act on his thoughts, his innocence is nevertheless tainted by his desire for mature relationships with young girls. Maturity and sexual maturity unleash a storm of emotions that prove both exhilarating and confusing for the young boy. Subsequently, Rios expresses the boy's autonomy through a series of obstacles and rebellions. We first see a young traveler stating... middle of paper... obvious as every naive notion is crushed during every disappointing lesson learned. The boy's growing maturity, autonomy and painful disillusionment are used by Rios to impart the theme of the loss of innocence. He finds that his carefree moments have been taken away by nature, by his mother or simply by the fact that he is growing up. His experiences are equivalent to those of the lion's roar, wonderful and unforgettable, just like the trials that people are subjected to when they begin to mature and lose their innocence. Ultimately, the boy becomes a mature, self-sufficient individual who discovers a new way to enjoy life and all its complexities. Works Cited Rios, Alberto Alvaro. “The secret lion”. Portable Literature: Read, React, Write Custom Edition for Tarrant County College Northeast. 7th ed. Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell, eds. Xxxxxxx:xxxxxxxxx, 2009. 453-457.