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In Look Both Ways there are multiple short stories based on friendship and hardships middle schoolers have to face. The author, Jason Reynolds writes mainly about the lives of Blacks kids because thats all he knew growing up in an all Black community.The difficulties in life don't define your identity.

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In Look Both Ways Many of these kids aren't super rich, live in the best area or are dealing with issues at home. One of the short story's we read was "The Low Cuts Strike Again" the low cuts are described as trouble maker's who steal and fight others. They actually are kids whose parents can't supply them with money because all the money goes towards chemo treatments.Jason Reynolds writes "But the Low Cuts don't just take to be taking.They don't steal for fun. Actually, they don't even like doing it. But they do it because they have to. At least they feel like they have to. Before they named themselves the Low Cuts, they were apart of another set they had no choice but to be down with. The free lunchers" (Reynolds pg. 20). The kids having to eat free lunch everyday doesn't mean they steal to get back at their parents for the lack of money but actually to help their parents which is the kids rising above the situation they were put in. In "5 Things Easier" Simeon and Kenzi have older brothers who had gotten into some trouble, this difficulty is something many kids face where their older siblings get into trouble and others reflect you for their actions. The boys are best friends which shows that the difficulty's you face don't define you because Simeon and Kenzi could resent each other for their brothers actions. Jason Reynolds writes " To tell him how he wished he didn't have to walk home from school. How he wished his brother, Mason, could pick him up in a car just like the car Simeon's brother, Chucky, had stolen almost two years ago. The one Mason took the hit for, went down for"( Reynolds pg.115).The boys overcame this hardship which had happened to both of their family's, overcoming this type of issue is an incredible thing to do. Most people hate each other because they talk to a boy they like, these two love each other like their brothers, even with a difficulty like this that happened. This is the true definition of love you as my brother.

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In "The Low Cuts Strike Again" all of the low cuts are described as troubled kids who fight and steal from others. Throughout the story we find out the Low Cuts steal coins to help make money for their parents who all have or are struggling with cancer. The kids who are described as troubled are really just kids who care about their parents. Jason Reynolds writes "oh, it was... you know. It was chemo. I'm ok." But she sounded exhausted and rubbed her stomach. "A little queasy." I figured you would be. So, we got you a bunch of ice cream" ( Reynolds pg.40). The kids spent all day getting coins and money, then ice cream for Bits mother who has her cancer back again. Just because the kids aren't super rich and their parents have cancer, which can be a hardship for the whole family doesn't mean they get in trouble because of it but they steal to help out their family's in a time of difficulties.

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In "Five Things Easier" Simeon and Kenzi live an area that others do not like or think is the safest, so the boys make up this idea that their neighborhood is a beach board walk, this is an example of imagery. Jason Reynolds writes " The way Kenzi and Simeon thought about it, Chestnut Street is a paradise. Light poles like palm trees, bus stop benches like hammocks, and corner stores like island bungalows" (Reynolds pg.106). The boys take a situation that they cannot change like the area they live in, and make it enjoyable and fun for them. The boys point of view is different than others because they choose to make it that way, and not listen to others comments about where they grew up.

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In todays world lot's of middle and high schooler's have to face many hardships. In Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, he writes about some of those hardships that many teens have to face today. In "Water Booger Bears", Jasmines parent's are going through a divorce which I had faced at 10 years old. This hardship changed my life and for a while it was really difficult to accept. In my life the divorce was hard enough as it was, but Jasmine also was in the hospital at the same time which for her was a way bigger hardship to have to face as just a middle schooler.