Daelyn+M


 * //__ Chapter 2 "Harlem" __//** was basically about Walter's everyday childhood. From reading this passage you can tell that Walter is a misbehaved child. For an example, in the text it says Walter asked for a nickel twice and his "Mother" Florence replied the second time he asked, "Later Walter now go play". Walter threatened to break his sister Gerry's watch. Florence didn't believe him so she continued to clean, but little did she know that Walter is going to break the watch. So Walter tries and breaks the watch with his shoe, it doesn't work. Then he tried to break it with his "Father" Herbert's shoe, that didn't work out. So Walter decides to hit the watch with both his shoes and it finally cracks. Walter soon then took the watch proudly to his mama. Florence whipped Walter with a belt that was called, "the strap". After she was done, Walter believed that she could have prevented the watch from breaking if she believed him when he threatened to break the watch. When the beating was over Walter had welts covering his hands and legs. Another thing that happened in this chapter I learned that Walter was sent from babysitter to babysitter because he would misbehave and needed to be watched more carefully. One time Walter's mom even took some time off of work to watch over Walter herself. Also, when Walter's Aunt Nancy babysat him Walter would follow what the other kids did and would hit the Jewish kids because he knew they wouldn't hit back when their mothers was around.

**//__Chapter 3 "Let's hear it for the First Grade!"__//** was about Walter entering the 1st Grade. One important thing that happened in this chapter is that Walter's personality as a child was: sneaky, care free, and violent. Walter was sneaky because even though his mother told him he couldn't read comic books, he would take the ones his neighbor (3 years older) would put outside his door for the super to pick up, to take to the basement. When Walter took the comic backs he would hide them underneath his bed and unlike his neighbor Walter would keep his comic books. Walter is care free because when he got in trouble at school and goes to the principal's office he doesn't get worried, or angry. Walter is violent because when someone makes fun of his speech problem his first instinct it to tell them to stop or punch them in the face. Another important thing that happened in this chapter is that Walter is treated now as a big boy and doesn't need a babysitter after school. Walter also gets his own house key and he gets this "grown-up feeling" when putting in the key to lock or unlock the door.

**//__ Chapter 4 "Arithmetic Summer" __//** is about Walter's summer and the 4th grade. Walter's brother in-law, Frank Law his sister's Viola husband, volunteers to tutors him in Arithmetic two hours every day (Walter got lowest on his marks in this area). Another thing that happened in this chapter is that Walters reputation made his fourth grade teacher already on edge with him so he did not have any chances if he misbehaved at all, Walter would be sorry. For an example, in the text Walter had a fight with a kid in his class called "Bunny". Walter pushed him into the closest and out of fear bunny punched I’m in the face. The second time Bunny punched Walter he knocked him out on the floor. The next day Walter was blamed and Mrs. Parker (Walters 4th grade teacher) went on and on how Walter is a bully. Walter felt embarrassed and didn't want his classmates looking at him while Mrs. Parker made nasty remark about him so he picked up his book. Walter ended up throwing the book when Mrs. Parker yelled to put it down and hitting it in her shoulder. Walter was then informed that she wanted his mother there that afternoon and will have a police officer take him straight to reform school. Also, Walter's cramping turned out to be his appendix and had his appendix taken out. Walter was ordered by the doctor not to do any physical activity. Walter went outside and rode his bike, and then when he spotted his father he rushed upstairs with the bike. Then when Walter was upstairs and his clothes all off in his bed his father had entered and asked if he was alright. Walter replied yes, Herbert (Walter's father) touched Walter's forehead and it was damp he then noticed that he was bleeding. Walter was rushed to the hospital and was having internal bleeding as well as on the outside.

One thing that happened in this chapter **//__"Bad Boy"__//** is that Walter was not aware of a race problem. For an example in the text it says, “The schools I went to were integrated and the church always had whites involved in some capacity. Like many black youngsters rose in northern cities, I was not aware of a race "problem" other than what I heard from older black people and an occasional news story." Another thing that happened in this chapter is that this year in school was Walter's best year yet, but he still misbehaved and hit other children. For an example when the class laughed at Walter when he would give an answer orally, he would punch, slap, or throw his book at the person that started laughing fist. Also Walter's grades were better because he paid more attention in class than usual like, he would be eager to answer a question so much that he would call out.

**//__ This chapter "Mr. Irwin Lasher” __//** is about Walter setting himself straight. For an example Walter realizes that he wants to be a ball player. Walter chooses that because in that time blacks were entertainers, churchgoers or athletes and Walter chose he wanted to be an athlete. Another thing that happened in this chapter is that Walter can be a very well behaved child and the total opposite. For an example, Walter was behaving and getting excellent grades throughout the year. This is probably because his teacher Mr. Irwin Lasher cared about Walter and cared that he did his absolute best to succeed and behave. In the text it states, Mama was sitting on the park bench across from our house when I came down the street with Mr. Lasher firmly holding my hand.......We need more smart Negro Boys," he said. "We don't need tough Negro boys." Mr. Lasher did two important things that year. The first was that he took me out of class one day per week and put me in speech therapy for the entire day. The second thing he did was convince me that my good reading ability and good test scores made me special." Those are some examples that Walter's teacher cared and pushed Walter to do his best. Another example of Walter being the total opposite is when he scraped his knees from holding onto the back of a cab and then saying it was from his mother beating him.

Discussion Questions **//__Chapter 7__//**

Discussion Questions **//__Chapter 8__//**

**//__ Neighborhood Observation Chapter 9 __//** My neighborhood is occasionally quiet. A train happens every hour, surprisingly everything is still. It's cool outside, I can tell because the trees sway violently side to side. While the clouds swing by faster than ever, and a leaf, always a leaf, goes with the wind. When you’re still and things close to you are silent you hear everything. Kids going in and out their front door and parents always saying STOP! Either stay in or go out. But it never comes out that way; they still come and go as they please. Then continue to race up and down the street with their friends, showing off and being their cocky selves. Parents decide to sometimes sit outside and watch their children, or chatter away with a friend. Then when their child does something they think is amazingly cool, but the mom/dad didn't see pretends that they did and share the moment together with just a smile. After a while things start to settle down and then for a moment, just a moment everything feels so still but rushed at the same time. Sometimes you can even smell food from the diner next to my house, and you just inhale then exhale automatically. 2 groups of teenagers walk by, talking loudly and that's when the peace ends. Reflection You should always keep an open mind no matter how long or short you've been somewhere, because things can always surprise you.

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**//__ 5 interesting things Chapter 10 __//**

-Walter runs errands for people in his neighborhood to get money to help out his family. -Walter's father Pap moves in with them because it is cheaper and if he didn't Herbert would have to send him money daily. -Mama was mad that Pap was staying in Walter's room and that he had no indoor plumbing where he lived so he had what he called a slap bucket and would do his business in it. -Walter wants a friend that he can be himself with and read and write poems together, even if it happens to be a girl. -Walter found out the High school he is going to Stuyvesant High School is an all by school. -The hours Walter goes to school for is from 12:00-5:30. -Mama made Mac and cheese and Pap said he never ate cheese; it was for poor white trash

Chapter 11 "The Garment Center"

In this chapter Walter is surrounded by his peers saying what college they wanted to attend and what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. Walter was lost and didn’t know where he was going in life. Walter says, “I was fifteen, starting my junior year at Stuyvesant, and I was lost. I didn’t where I was going or where I should have been going. The other boys in the school began the term talking about college.” I don’t think Walter should be stressed out over this so much because he is still only 15 and could attend college when he gets the money. That’s another reason why I think Walter gave up on going to college because his family couldn’t afford sweats or sneakers for Walter to join the track team, he was nowhere near attending college. Walter got a job and was told at Friedsam that he would be packing garments for shipments, and if it worked out, he would be taught the ticketing machine to put the prices and sizes on garments. Walter’s boss noticed Walter was big and strong and told him he could start on the hand truck, so Walter was now pushing the packages of clothes through the garment center. Even though Walter was trying to help out momma as best he could she was still struggling. To deal with the stress mama played the lottery, got drunk and would smoke. Walter gave momma some money for food and necessities, but she used them on winning the lottery. Walter’s father knew that Walter was trying to save up for a type writer and found out what mama was using the money for and bought Walter a typewriter. Walter hated the typewriter and wouldn’t touch it for a while, but then he soon started writing I hate this typewriter and put them on his walls. When Walter started skipping school he would write a note and forge his mother’s signature.

**//__Chapter 12 "God and Dylan Thomas" __//** In this chapter Walter talks to the guidance counselor. She asks him what he does with his self all day but Walter doesn't respond aloud instead he is saying these things in his thoughts. For an example she asks, "What do you do with yourself all day?" But Walter says in his mind he would sometimes go to the movies. Then the counselor asks again, "What do you do with yourself all day?" Another thing that happens in this chapter is that Walter starts playing basketball again because he heard about basketball scholarships. Then Walter starts getting back into it, and notices his weaknesses and strengths.



Chapter 13 "Marks on Paper" In this chapter school was becoming a disaster for Walter. For an example Walter says, "School was becoming a disaster. Simple formulas in chemistry eluded me. Math problems that I should have handled easily became mysteries. We were given quizzes early in the year, and I fumbled them all badly." Walter was also having troubles with his religious beliefs. Walter says, "I was having problems with my own religious beliefs....." Walter was put under the supervision of a city agency.

**//__ Chapter 14 "The Stranger" __//**** i ** s an interesting chapter. In the text it says, "....thoughts of suicide flickered through my mind." that interesting to me because you wouldn't think someone as smart as Walter would be so ashamed of the life he was living right now to think of killing himself. One reason why I think Chapter 14 is an interesting chapter is because we learn more about Frank and his history. One thing we learned about Frank is that he was beaten up a lot by neighborhood kids who taunted him because he was black. Frank's mother wouldn't and couldn't do anything about the situation so Frank tried to stay indoors as much as possible. Another thing we learned about Frank is that he murdered 3 people to death and ended up locked away in Creedmoor, New York City mental institution, from the time he was thirteen. Frank's mom was able to get him out at the age 16, but there was another incident. Frank and his mom were at a party and he passed, out but this time there was one dead victim, and Frank was sent away again for 3 more years until his mother got him out again. Another thing that happened in the chapter is that Walter was thinking about going to Frank's house because then he could bring a girl around if he got lucky. Also Walter went on what he thought was drug dealing trip with Frank and when they were done bought some chips and ate them.

**//__ Chapter 15 "Dr. Holiday" __//** is mostly about Walter still not attending school every day, and going to see Dr. .Holiday. One thing that happened in the chapter is that in the text it states, “The pace of my writing increased. When I was spending lots of time in Central Park instead of going to school, I would read three or four books a week." It also says in the text that, "....I filled my time by writing furiously. I could not do the assigned homework" So that says that Walter is getting excited about writing and reading more again but too much that he is not getting his homework done. Another thing that happens in the text is that Walter goes to see Dr. Holiday. When she asks him if he ever had sex with a girl? Walter replies " ...I had." Walter also says in the text that," I knew the answer I was supposed to give. I was black and sixteen. If I had heard from other kids my age was true, they were all having sex." From reading that I think Walter feels that because everyone "says" they are having sex doesn't mean they are doing and, and he shouldn't feel pressured because he felt that was a stereotype for his race. That because he is black when someone asks him he is having sex he should have to say yes.

**//__ Chapter 16 "Being Black" __//** is mostly about Walter thinking about what being black really is, and what it means to him. For an example, in the text it says, "Even if the importance of defining myself had somehow eluded me, there were people around me who would not let me forget the importance of announcing to the world or who I was or intended to be." What I think that means is that people like teachers, or any elder of Walter wanted him to be more open and present himself. But by presenting himself obviously he would say he was black and that made him apart and different from everyone else and was left out. For an example in the text it says, "....Eric was invited to parties that I couldn’t attend, because I was black...” So that shows that Walter was left out on things, not only because he wasn't white but because he was black. Another thing that happened in this chapter is that Walter says (these are his thoughts); "My answer to the question of race was to reject my identity as a black and take another identity. I could not identify myself as white, or as any other race. I could identify myself as an intellectual, and this is what I did, telling myself over and over what white teachers so often told me, that race didn't matter if you were bright. So I think Walter feels as though if he was not smart and black race would have an even bigger impact on him, or as he is now smart and black his life would still race issues but not as much because he was smart. Also I think that Walter feels if he wasn't black nor white then no one can say because you are black....or because your are white...... he didn't want any advantages or disadvantages just to have the same chances as everyone.

**//__ Chapter 17 "1954" __//** in this chapter Fred comes to Walter's house and sees all his books in his room. Surprisingly Walter isn't ashamed or embarrassed about it, he seems quite proud. For an example, in the text it says, "I showed Frank my room, and he was impressed on how many books I had. My small book case was jammed with books, and there were books in piles all over the small room." Another thing that happens in this chapter is that Walter is so broken down and feels that he failed his life. For an example, Walter states, "I told her that I thought that dying in a battle was not a bad thing." So I believe Walter feels like dying sometimes and it won't be that bad because his life isn't all that good. Walter also says, "I left, walking slowly uptown crying. It was so far from what I wanted for my life."

This chapter I found interesting and unbelievable. One reason why is because Walter joins the army. In the text it says, "...asked me if I really wanted to be in the army. I said yes..." Another reason why is because I find out Walter is a vegetarian. For an example Walter says, "...I had become a vegetarian."
 * __// Chapter 18 "Sweet Sixteen" //__**

**//__ Chapter 19 __//****__ "The Typist" __** is mostly about how Walter became the writer he is today. In the text Walter becomes released of the army and is free to live his life. But before Walter became the writer he is today he was involved with other work too. For an example Walter worked in a factory in Morristown, New Jersey where his parents moved, in a Wall Street mailroom, the post office, and then the latest job before becoming who he is today, he worked as an interoffice messenger. When Walter was sitting on the curb eating his lunch at work doing a construction job in Manhattan knew that this is not what he wanted to do with his life and then remembered his high school writing teacher's advice: "Whatever you do don't stop writing". So that is when Walter decided to start writing again. Walter would write and send in his writing to different magazines and newspapers hoping they would take it, but many denied and only few got accepted. Walter didn't give up and entered a contest for a children's book and he won. So now Walter is a children's book writer and loves his job, "I had returned to that period of innocence in my life, that period of exploration of the human condition. And I loved it."