Reader Response #1 pages 129-139

Sentence Starter:

I was surprised how their grandma treated them throughout the section.

She told them not to call her grandma but instead call her Erma. She sounds like the strict kind of
grandparent who doesnt let anyone get away with anything. I was super surprised when
Jeanette pinched her nose because the food was bitter and smelled nasty but when Erma seen
her do that she smacked Jeanettes hand away. It also surprised me that they never met her
before. And also how Jeanette thought it was all a joke because they were nothing like her dad.
Which makes me think that was the reason he didn’t want to go to Welch in the first place. I feel
like he liked living freely and in city’s were it wasn’t so run down. He was trying to keep his family
away from his parents and brother I feel like. It also makes me curious about their new schools
principle. I want to know what language he was talking in and how Jeanettes mother understood
it.

Reader Response #2 pages 140-154

Connection: Text to World:

This section had a lot of the N word in it. I’m not sure when this was written, if it was written in
the times where African Americans were slaves or what. But, that is still a huge world issue. Not a
lot of people like African Americans still. This section shows that because Erma hates them. She
said she never wants to see or be seen by an African American but, Jeanette is trying to be
friends with one. So it makes me think that this is the time where slavery is over and so is hatred
for some people. Even Jeanettes uncle said the N word when he asked her if she wanted a ride
but didn’t want to take her to that place. I love how Jeanette has an open mindset about literally
everyone. She wants to be friends with an African American who also bullied her with a bunch of
other girls. This shows that Jeanette has a big heart.

Reader Response #3 pages 155-167

Connection: Text to Self:

In this section I related to how Jeanette played football with the guys. I used to do this all the
time with my family when we went to Pymatuning Valley Resort and camped there. There was a
huge open yard where everyone would just gather around and either play or watch. I miss times
like that because when everyone on the campground comes together like that, friends are made
so easily. The only difference from my story and Jeanettes story is that the guys that played
football with me, always let me join in even though I was super young. I took all those times for
granted and never realized how much I would miss being apart of that. I wasn’t much of a
football player but all the guys there loved how adorable I was because I was around five years
old. It was really fun doing that and I miss it so much.

Reader Response #4 pages 168-179

Significant Quote:

“‘Are you chewing something’ he asked. ‘My teeth hurt,’ Mom said, but she was getting all shifty-
eyed, glancing around the room and avoiding our stares. ‘It’s my bad gums. I’m working my jaw
to increase the circulation.’ Brian yanked the covers back. Lying on the mattress next to mom
was one of those huge family-sized Hershey chocolate bars, the shiny silver wrapper pulled back
and torn away. She’d already eaten half of it.” (Walls 174). I picked this quote because it shows
selfishness. I would think, in hard times, that the mother wouldn’t be selfish and take things for
herself. I felt like all mothers now, always put their kids before themselves. Especially if the family
is going through hard times and the children are starving. I mean, if I was the mom I definitely
wouldn’t be selfish like that. I would most definitely share my food with my starving children. This
isn’t the first time that the mom has been selfish. Her being that way explains a whole lot. The
way she explains how they should forgive her just like they forgive their dad for drinking is just
childish in my opinion. Her being selfish over food. And their dad getting drunk, are two
completely different things. If I was one of those children I dont think I would forgive her. There
isn’t much food going around and the fact that their own mother would betray them and do
something like that, to me is insane.

Reader Response #5 pages 180-192

Significant Quote:

“‘Mom, Uncle Stanley is behaving inappropriately,’ I said. ‘Oh, you’re probably imagining it,’ She
said. ‘He groped me! And he’s wanking off!’ Mom cocked her head and looked concerned. ‘Poor
Stanley,’ She said. ‘He’s so lonely.’” (Walls 184). This quote is significant because it deals with a
big issue in this world. A lot of people go through being sexually assaulted. But the way their
parents act about it is insane to me. You would think that the mom would freak out and get her
children out of that house. But she doesnt, she just thinks her daughter is imagining it and then
shows concern for Uncle Stanley. I honestly don’t get the parents. First Brian was touched by
Erma, as far as I know I am still confused on that, and now Jeanette is being touched by Uncle
Stanley. For her mom to say all that and is concerned for Stanleys love life more than her own
daughters safety is ridiculous. Maybe sexual assault wasn’t as big in that time like it is now and
her mother didn’t need to have a reaction. But, her own blood family doing that to her, I would
have taken my children out of that house so fast and never came back.

Reader Response #6 pages 183-202

Sentence Starter:

I can’t believe in the middle of this section, how Jeanettes mom got back to working as a teacher
but couldn’t budget her own money. That is a lot of money for one month of working and I
honestly believe that she is spending it all on herself instead of her family. I truly do not like their
mother because she seems immature and does not even seem ready to have a family. She never
even tried having her kids budget the money for her, and I think that they would have done a
much better job than what she has done. She blames losing all of her money because she has
her children to take care of and her alcoholic husband. But, it seems that she hasn’t done much
to help her children out considering they are still digging through the trash trying to find food to
eat.