If the characater in your book has problems, can you see how those problems are about having or not having money, struggling with others for power, or being cheated or helped by society's rules?
Book: Black and White
Author: Paul Volponi
Marcus' and Eddie's (black and white) Problems
Money
Quote: "We were just going to pull enough stickups to get the money for dues." (page 6)
My note: Money plays a big factor in Marcus' and Eddie' lives, so when they find they don't have enough of it they turn to criminalism.
Elaboration: Marcus and Eddie really wanted to go on all the senior trips and participate in the senior activities. They didn't want to be left out of all the fun that the resst of the seniors were having. So they decided to rob people with guns and steal their way to $150. This makes me feel bad for them because having little money affects their lives with them starting to be criminals. All of this later punishes them because they get caught and one of them goes to jail.
Power
Quote: "Everybody on the basketball team was buying a pair... There was no way we were getting caught behind the times like that."(page 5)
My note: Marcus and Eddie were struggling for power and fame by not having the new basketball shoes.
Elaboration: Marcus and Eddie are very famous throughout their school. So when everyone else was wearing the new basketball shoes, they needed to buy them too. I understand this because there is a lot of peer pressure and struggle for power in teenagers lives. But after this they were left broke and started robbing people for money. This upsets me because I know that when a lot of kids are poor they would do anything for money, like rob others. So even though they bought the shoes and were still popular, they shouldn't have started robbing others for money later when they were lleft with nothing.
Society's Rules
Quote: "Kids who are different colors don't get to be that tight in my neighborhood. But we got past all that racial crap, until we were almost like real blood brothers." (page 2)
My note: This really shows how the society rules in Marcus' and Eddie's neighborhood are that blacks and whites don't get along, but Marcus and Eddie broke that rule.
Elaboration: Marcus and Eddie have become best friends even though they are different races. This makes me feel very greatful for them that they see it is wrong to discriminate against eachother and become really great pals. But this can also affect their future if they get into trouble robbing people. Later on this does happen, and the rules suddenly come back. Marcus, who is black, goes to jail, while Eddie doesn't. This makes me think that even though they were such good friends, in the end the rules will kick in, and of course, discriminate against one of them, punishing them very badly.
Connections: I noticed that all of these parts in the text connect to eachother. The two friends, who are against society's rules, want power and money, so they start robbing people. Later on all of these things, money, power, and society's rules come together to their problem of getting caught robbing people. They disobeyed the rules and were friends. Later they wanted power and fame, whichcaused them to buy shoes, which left them broke. They needed money so they started robbing people which got them caught and punished. This connects to the real world because many teens also decide to do things, such as rob others, in order to get money. It is very sad but true.
Interpretations: The text was written to show how some teenagers lives really do look like. To me I feel like this text is supposed to warn you to not do such things such as becoming a criminal even at your hardest times. This text really shows the possibillities of your life and the author probably doesn't want you to screw up just like Marcus and Eddie did. So the book is a warning to the readers and shows what you shouldn't do, even if you're desperate for things such as money.
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