Look Both Ways Padlet Project by Danielle Juntunen

Introduction

daniellejuntunen — 2024-10-16 18:00:20 UTC

Friendship is an important thing to have in life. The book Look Both Ways is a collection of stories about middle schoolers. The book was written by Jason Reynolds, a best-selling author. He has inspired so many kids to love reading and care for the books they read. He wrote this book and it shows great examples of friendship. Friendship is found in everyday life because Look Both Ways is about everyday life and it exemplifies friendship throughout its story.

Theme Exploration

daniellejuntunen — 2024-10-20 18:15:08 UTC

The book Look Both Ways exemplifies the theme of friendship throughout its chapters. Jasmine shows friendship in "Water Booger Bears", "The floor of his locker was littered with empty snack bags that Jasmine had slid through the door vent between classes over the last two days. The litter of love." (Reynolds, 3). TJ and Jasmine show their friendship through "friendship flags" and people may see it as trash when it's a sign of care. Jasmine has put "friendship flags" in TJ's locker and TJ put "friendship flags" by Jasmine's hospital bed. Jasmine and TJ aren't the only people in Look Both Ways to show friendship. In "The Low Cuts Strike Again", Bit shows friendship toward John John, "That was the last John John Trey spoke before Bit's fist fist went in his mouth so fast fast it knocked him out out in the middle of the crosswalk." (Reynolds, 24). Bit shows friendship by sticking up for his friends when people make fun of them. He stuck up John John and Francy when they were getting bullied. While Bit shows friendship by sticking up for his friends, Simeon and Kenzi show it a little differently. Simeon shows friendship in "Five Things Easier", "Simeon looked at Kenzi, knowing what he had wished for." (Reynolds, 114). Simeon is such a good friend that he knows what Kenzi is thinking of. He also understands when Kenzi is sad thinking about his brother. While the book shows ideas for the theme of friendship, it also shows that the characters care about each other.

Literary Devices and Structure

daniellejuntunen — 2024-10-20 18:15:26 UTC

There are metaphors relating to the friendship between the friends in the book Look Both Ways. Reynolds describes Jasmine's pain in "Water Booger Bears", "A little pain sometimes, but nothing too bad until this year when she went into full-on crisis and her body became a blaze." (9). Reynolds describes her pain and how it felt as if her body was on fire, on the inside and out. TJ does help her through her pain by showing up and putting a smile on her face. TJ helps Jasmine through her pain and the Low Cuts are eager to get started on their plan. Reynolds writes about the school bell in "The Low Cuts Strike Again", "The sound of the bell ringing, signaling the end of the day, might as well have been a starter pistol or an air horn." (22). The Low Cuts were eager to get out of school so they could start their plan. They might as well have run as fast as they could to their lockers and then to their meeting bench. While the Low Cuts are yearning to get out of class, Kenzi would rather wait. In the chapter "Five Things Easier", it is described how the halls are after school from Kenzi's point of view, "he'd never make it to his locker with the hundreds of other kids traffic-jamming and bumper-car'ing around," (Reynolds, 99). Kenzi would have cuts and bruises if he had to walk through the halls. However, Kenzi doesn't have to walk through the halls because Simeon carries him on his back so he doesn't get hurt. Reynolds shows friendship throughout his book in different ways.

Character Analysis

daniellejuntunen — 2024-10-20 18:15:53 UTC

The characters in the chapters of Look Both Ways show a sense of care towards their friends. In the story, "Water Booger Bears", Reynolds tells about how Jasmine feels in the hospital, "Her parents' coldness thawed by the one and only TJ," (9). Jasmine felt as if her parents were draining her mentally and TJ made her feel so happy. TJ made her feel warm and calm. Jasmine and TJ care mostly about each other as friends, but the Low Cuts also care about each other's parents. The Low Cuts, in "The Low Cuts Strike Again", care about their friends' parents, "And she smiled, her shiny eyes jumping from face to face, bald head to bald head, friend to friend." (Reynolds, 40). They show that they care about their friends' parents by stealing the coins, trading them for candy, selling the candy, and buying ice cream so their parents can feel some form of relief from the queasiness of chemo. They show that they truly care about the well-being of their friends and their friends' parents. The Low Cuts aren't the only friends to show care in Look Both Ways. Simeon shows that he cares for Kenzi in "Five Things Easier", "Simeon said, holding the Moon Pie out for Kenzi." (Reynolds, 113). He shows that he cares by buying a dessert for Kenzi without a reason too other than that he is his friend. Simeon cares about him enough to brighten Kenzi's day by just a little bit. Caring for each other shares a big role in these stories and Reynolds shows this form of friendship also through metaphors.

Personal Reflection and Conclusion

daniellejuntunen — 2024-10-20 18:16:04 UTC

Friendship is found in everyday life because Look Both Ways illustrates this in various relationships. The book shows us that anything can happen, good or bad, so we must make the best of our lives. One of the ways we can make the most of our lives is by making true friends. Look Both Ways shows us that friendship can come from anywhere, for example: work, school, sports, or neighborhoods. The book also exemplifies that small acts of kindness can mean so much to somebody. In my life, I thought I would never become friends with anybody in my homeroom, but I was wrong. I've met people who cared enough to try and become friends with me, and they are some of the best people I know. I've also gotten through high school so far because of my friends. They cheer me up even when I don't want to be and don't leave even though I can become distant at times. Every one should find people who will care enough to stick with you through the good and the bad.