https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1 en-us 2023-03-27 14:57:34 UTC 2023-03-28 15:16:35 UTC hello@padlet.com beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2533271398 The theme of "Never Fall Down" is Determination brings forth success. This can be seen throughout the book as Arn deals with finding a place in his world. An example of this is when Arn is in the orphanage, “Volleyball now is my life. All day, every day, I study this game. Then at night when everyone else in bed, I sneak out and practice the jumping, the hitting, the move call spike. I do all these move at night when no one can see until I get good, very good” (McCormick 167). This quote is showing the determination Arn has towards getting good at volleyball. His thought process during this is if he is good at volleyball, people will like him, he will be safe, and he will become successful enough to get away from all the chaos. This quote helps to restate the theme of determination can bring forth success. ]]> 2023-03-27 15:09:12 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2533271398 beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535175579 “So we play and play and play, same songs, faster, faster all the time faster” (McCormick 67).

“All night is very quiet. Only maybe some cricket. Then you hear it. Bird screeching very loud. Next you feel it. Earth shivering. Because tanks are coming. Bird is the first warning. Bird knows to fly away from this fight coming” (McCormick 119).

“I make a holy moment and say good-bye. To my family. To my friend. To Mek. To Runty. To all of them I say good-bye and say also, ‘Wait for me. I will come back for you’” (McCormick 183).

McCormick really likes to use short, broken sentences to represent how Arn would've thought and talked throughout this story. Arn was a young boy who never was fully taught how to speak in full, proper sentences. She also likes to use longer sentences when describing something important, or when Arn is expressing his feelings, which really allows us to see inside his head. ]]> 2023-03-28 14:48:29 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535175579 beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535198666 Arn was forced out of his loving home and into a world of hurt. He went from being this carefree young boy who always looked after his family. To a young boy being tortured with working all day with very little time for rest, and very little food. He went from this sweet boy to someone who was trying their best to survive, whether that be in the actual war happening, or the Kahmer Rouge who watched his every move. However, once the Vietnamese start to attack the Kahmer Rouge, Arn is sent out to help in the fight as shown, “I Stand up, see myself cover in blood-- so dark, almost black. Like ink. I think maybe I should wash it, get rid of it. But I think maybe it can protect me, this boy’s blood on my body, so I paint myself with it -- wipe it on my face, my throat, my arms. I take his gun also and strap it across my chest, two guns on me now” (McCormick 123). He has had to harden himself in order to survive in the new world he has found himself. He is no longer able to be a kid, instead he must act like an adult to keep himself and his friends safe. From the beginning to the end of the book, Arn has had his whole personality change, whether it's from trying to survive, or the trauma he's had to endure, he is now a completely different person. ]]> 2023-03-28 15:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535198666 beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535206134 In "Never Fall Down" we are watching a young boy named Arn try to survive after being thrown through countless trials following the Cambodian communist revolution. We watch as Arn suffers through the rice camps, where he eventually becomes famous based on his music, singing, and dancing. As he got more and more famous, he had more freedom within these camps, allowing him easier access to food and safety. Then, eventually we witness him joining in the war between the Vietnamese and the Kahmer Rouge, the people in charge of the communist revolution. We witness Arn evolve into a hardened young man instead of his carefree nature you see briefly in the beginning of this book. ]]> 2023-03-28 15:07:30 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535206134 beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535214598 2023-03-28 15:12:40 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535214598 beckemeg000 https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535214872 Never Fall Down was a very interesting book and although it is short, I am extremely glad that I read it. This book has an interesting composition style as the other used broken sentences to represent how Arn's thoughts and speech were underdeveloped at the time as he was unable to get a proper education. The book overall was very interesting and had an amazing story and message. After seeing how Arn is now running an organization to help children who suffer from wars just like him, it made the story even more interesting. Overall, I really recommend this book to anyone who wants a somber story with a really nice message. ]]> 2023-03-28 15:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/beckemeg000/7593d7sljkpbh0f1/wish/2535214872