https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh All American Boys: Written by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Published September 29, 2015. Padlet made by Nikhil Negi en-us 2023-05-08 17:09:03 UTC 2023-05-12 05:54:07 UTC hello@padlet.com nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2582435773 The call is when the main protagonist’s journey starts. Something happens or signals them to start on a quest to accomplish a goal.

The call in All American Boys is when Rashad is blamed for stealing and beaten by police officer Paul Galluzzo. This signifies the start of Rashad and Quinn’s realization of racism in their community, as well as their journey to mark a change.

A quote that shows this is, “That really, really got me going, because I was being blamed for something I didn’t do, not just by that stupid store clerk and that asshole cop, but also by my father.” (50)
It shows his introduction to the problem of racism: the false-blame and unnecessarily harsh punishment which can lead to further misunderstandings.]]> 2023-05-08 17:27:56 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2582435773 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2584146867 The allies is when the protagonist must gather support through others to face the problem made from their call. 

The allies in All American Boys is when, for Rashad, he talks with his mom, dad, Clarissa, and his school friends about the events at the store and what they will do about this. For Quinn, this is when he talks with Jill and other kids at his school about the beating and what they will do about it to identify what side of the argument he is going to pick. This additionally determines the allies he gains (or loses). At the moment he is unsure, but at least has Jill to talk to.

An example of this is shown when the author states, "We finished the last few fries and had to get back to school. But before we got up, I reached across the table and put my hand on Jill's, "I know this sounds weird, but I kind of feel like you are the only person I can talk to about this right now." She turned her hand beneath mine and squeezed back, "I know. Me too."' (130) 
This shows how Quinn's only ally as of right now is Jill, as he does not have anyone else he feels comfortable sharing or siding with.]]> 2023-05-09 17:07:01 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2584146867 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585611898 The preparation is when the protagonist and their allies must prepare physically or mentally to combat their calling. 

The preparation in All American Boys is when Rashad learns about everything that is happening outside and in the past because of racism, he tries to heal from his injuries, and he tries to figure out what he is going to do once he gets out of the hospital. For Quinn, this is when he first realizes the prominence of the issue of racism that is present and must start deciding a side to pick. As of right now, he is still trying to figure things out and is unsure, but sides more with Guzzo and Paul, with Jill helping him along the way.

An example that shows this is when the author states, "Honestly, I just wanted to take it easy for the rest of the day. I didn't want to hear Spoony preach about how hard it is to be black, or my father preach about how young people lack pride and integrity, making us easy targets. I didn't even want to think about the preacher preaching about how God is in control of it all, or my mother, my sweet, sweet mother caught in the middle of it all." (101) 
This quote represents how, at the time, Rashad was trying to learn and catch up with the events so he could eventually do something, but he was also very injured and needed rest, making it difficult to do so.]]> 2023-05-10 14:31:07 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585611898 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585625760 The guardian of the threshold is the step where the hero must overcome something which is stopping their journey from starting in the first place. 

In All American Boys, for Rashad, the guardian of the threshold is when he must recover from his severe injuries and get better so that he can make a change to stop police brutality. He is too severely injured at this time to even move around much. For Quinn, this is when he starts thinking about the other side of the argument. The side that says this is wrong, and that racism is present in this moment. However, he does not fully agree with it yet. This unsureness leads him to not doing much during this period of time, because he is not sure which actions he should take to support either side.

An example of this step is shown in the book when the author states, ""Thanks," he said, grinning. "I mean it. I heard all that with English. Thanks for having Paul's back." An unexpected wave of anger surged through me. That hadn't been my intention at all. I'd seen what Paul had done. I didn't think it was right. But I hadn't thought the spray paint was right either." (176)
 In this moment, Quinn's indecisiveness to pick a side in the argument prevents him from moving forward for change. ]]> 2023-05-10 14:39:42 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585625760 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585645717 This step in the hero’s journey is when the protagonist enters a “new world”, or starts their journey. They realize how difficult this new world is, and how difficult their goal is to achieve. 

In All American Boys, crossing the threshold is when, for Rashad, his friends, family, and the news educate him about the current situation in regards to him. He realizes how big of an issue this has all become. For Quinn, this is when he realizes that he has kept his head down and ignored the events, even though he is involved. He realizes that this is wrong, and wears the “I’m marching” shirt, and gains support and disappointment from others, realizing how controversial and important of an issue this is.

An example of this in the book is when the author states, "I'd been doing the same damn thing the last couple days--trying to state so hard at my own two feet so I wouldn't have to look up and see what was really going on. And while I'd been doing that, I'd been walking in the wrong direction. I didn't want to walk away anymore." (185) 
Before this, Quinn finally watched the video of the police beating. This showed him that he really needed to make a change, and that he has been making the wrong choice. He has to stand up for change no matter what, even if it means attending the protest. This marks the beginning of the crossing of the threshold, and leads to him wearing the protest shirt to show that he will be supporting the right cause.]]> 2023-05-10 14:51:44 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585645717 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585868663 The road of trials is where the protagonists face many adversities and troubles on their journey to make a change, struggling along the way.

In All American Boys, for Rashad, this is when he is struggling in the hospital. He is in pain, and not able to do much. Still, he is now able to move around, and talks to Ms. Fitzgerald,  but he can’t make a change outside of the hospital yet. For Quinn, this is when he is being told by his close friends and family that he made the wrong choice. That he should not support the protest, and instead be loyal and focus on basketball. It makes him feel unsure about his stance yet again, and he questions attending the protest. 

An example of this as stated by the author is, ""Honey, I know you think you are doing the right thing, but you aren't." "I think I am." "No, what you are doing is thinking very selfishly."" (264)
 His mother and his friends all told Quinn that he was not making the right choice, and that it is not his fight. However, Quinn believes that it is his fight to stand up for Rashad, especially since he watched it happened. He believed it went too far, and he had to do something about it. However, their words did lower his motivation and made him more unsure about marching.]]> 2023-05-10 17:29:55 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585868663 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585879430 The saving experience is where the protagonist, in their darkest moments, comes across an experience or person which saves them and allows them to overcome their troubles.

In All American Boys, for Rashad, this is when he recovers from his injuries and gets out of the hospital. He has support from his friends, family, Ms. Fitzgerald, Clarissa, and Katie Lansing, which allows him to try to make a change. For Quinn, this is when he talks to Jill again about the protest, and she gets him ready for it. He becomes confident again and makes up his mind to surely attend the protest.

This is shown in the book when the author states, "What did dad do? He ran right into the face of history. I couldn't duck now, just because I was scared. "I'm going," I told Jill." (291)
This shows how Quinn's conversation with Jill gave him the extra confidence boost he needed to make sure he attended the protest.]]> 2023-05-10 17:37:41 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585879430 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585884078 The transformation is where the protagonists goes through a change which allows them to improve and conquer their issues which called them to their journey.

In All American Boys, this is when Rashad wants to make a change in the world after experiencing police brutality firsthand. He had been held back this entire time, but now he can go to the protest to support change. For Quinn, this is when he makes up his mind to attend the protest for sure. He has now completely changed his way of thinking. While he is still scared, he is now standing up for what is right, and supporting the issue which he is tied to whether he participates in the change or not.

An example of this in the book is when the author states, "Today--yes, Ma--I was trying to take some responsibility. I was marching." (192)
This quote shows how Quinn has now changed from being unsure but still supportive of the movement, to being a full on supporter and participator by showing up at the march. He was still scared, as it was stated earlier, but he was facing his fears to make a change.]]> 2023-05-10 17:41:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2585884078 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2588050152 The return is where the protagonists goes back to where they were before they began their journey and sees everything differently.

In All American Boys, for Rashad, this is when he leaves the hospital and sees his hometown again. He enjoys the sights just like before, but this time he keeps the previous events in mind, which makes certain sights and feelings more negative (such as Jerry's). For Quinn, this is when he mentally ties together the fact that racism has been a part of his life. He mentally returns to his normal life, but now, the discrimination and ignorance of it is realized by himself, changing his life. So, he will go to the protest to attempt at changing this fact that has been an issue in his life all along.

An example of this is shown in the book when the author states, "because some people had told me racism was a thing of the past, they'd told me not to get involved. But that was nuts. They were nuts. And more to the point--they'd all been white people. Well, guess what? I'm white too-- and that's exactly why I was marching. I had to. Because racism was alive and real as shit. It was everywhere and all mixed up in everything, and the only people who said it wasn't, and the only people who said, "Don't talk about it" were white."  (292) This shows Quinn's development to where he realizes the ties between his life and the movement around him, and that he must do something to stop the violence.

]]> 2023-05-12 02:30:33 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2588050152 nikhilnegi https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2588056276 Sharing the gift is when the protagonist uses what they have learned and gained along their journey to help and show others.

In All American Boys, for Rashad, this is when he attends the protest. At the protest, he uses the plan he and his allies came up with to make a change, as well as the pain that he went through in the hospital. These two factors, along with others, help determine the effectiveness of the protest, allowing Rashad to potentially stop the issue that affected him, from happening to others. For Quinn, this is when he attended the protest along with Rashad. He was able to share his input of supporting the movement using the knowledge about discrimination he gained along his journey.

An example of this step, as written by the author, "I waved to her, but the crowd seemed to think that I was waving to everybody, and so they all cheered for me, which was overwhelming. I knew it wasn't just about me. I did. But it felt good to feel like I had support. That people could see me." (305-306)
 This shows how Rashad was supported and supported others, working together to make a change in the world after what he went through.]]> 2023-05-12 02:35:36 UTC https://padlet.com/nikhilnegi/m8zth2znetx4g2kh/wish/2588056276