Conflicts

In Danger Zone, Jim faced numerous challenges. One of them was between Jim and himself. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of his dead father. He believed his father’s death was unjustified. Because of the death, Jim had to assist his mother in maintaining the hardware store. Scouts found Jim and asked him if he would like to join the U.S.A team that consisted of players that were below the age of 17. Jim refused the offer, but Jim’s mother found out and told Jim he should go. Jim agreed to join the team, only if his mother was positive she could handle the store herself. Jim joined the Teen Dream Team, and at the end of the story, realized it wasn’t his father’s fault for dying.

A person-to-person conflict occurred between Jim and one of his teammates, whose name was Augustus. Augustus blamed Jim for taking his cousin’s position in the Teen Dream Team. Jim and Augustus got into a fight because Jim confronted Augustus about Augustus being so hostile toward him. They began arguing and Augustus shoved Jim. The argument turned into a fist fight, but it ended quickly because one of their teammates broke it up. After the squabble, Augustus and Jim were hostile toward each other for a while until Jim attempted to patch up the rift. Augustus ignored Jim’s apologies and continued to resent Jim. They didn’t even acknowledge each other’s presence until the last game. It was the last 5 minutes in the game and the U.S.A. Teen Dream Team was losing. Augustus and Jim were forced to work together to increase their score. The clock rapidly ticked a way until there were just a mere 5 seconds left. Augustus flipped the ball to Jim, and he made an awkward toss to the basket. The ball bounced on the rim and fell through the hoop. A man from the audience jumped out of the crowd and aimed a gun at Augustus. Jim jumped out of the way as a police officer tackled the man, and the shot went wide. It hit Jim and he was transported to a hospital. He had to have surgery to repair his leg, and Augustus visited him and asked him why Jim took his bullet. Jim explained that he was trying to get out of the way, but he happened to fly right in the path of the bullet. Augustus apologized for blaming Jim for taking his cousin’s spot and for being so hostile.

Danger Zone also had a people vs. other force conflict. The other force in Danger Zone was the other teams in the tournament. The U.S.A Teen Dream Team competed against teams in other countries such as Sweden, Rome, and Germany.

Themes/Lessons

The main character, (Jimmy) in the book I read, learned many lessons. One of them was, “Don’t dwell on the past. Move on.” I believe this is an important lesson because Jimmy had flashbacks throughout the book about his father dying. Jimmy thought that his father’s death was unjustified, and he believed that his father died way too young, and Jimmy thought he should’ve still been living. Jimmy’s father’s name was William. Jimmy repeatedly had flashbacks of watching his father behind the counter of his hardware store counting the finances and bills, when William suddenly dropped onto the floor. Jimmy immediately dialed 911. He stayed by his father’s side until the ambulance came, pleading with William not to die. The ambulance arrived, and Jimmy rode with. Before William died, he rasped one word. “Love”

Another theme I found was, “If you don’t get along very well with someone, at least treat them with respect.” I think this is a theme because Jimmy didn’t get along with one of his teammates, whose name was Augustus. Augustus resented Jimmy in the beginning of the story because Jimmy took the place in the U.S.A. team that Augustus believed belonged to his cousin. Jimmy and Augustus got into a fight in their first practice. Before the fight began, Jimmy confronted Augustus because he wanted to find out why Augustus hated him so much. The fight started with words, then switched to fists when Augustus shoved Jimmy, and Jimmy lost his cool and punched him. Augustus fell, then picked himself up and pounded Jimmy first in the stomach, then in the side of his head. Before the fight became any worse, a teammate stepped in and broke it up.
Throughout the story, Jimmy and Augustus ignored each other until the very end. It was the last game in the tournament, and The U.S.A. team won. A man from the bleachers suddenly pulled a gun out of his pocket and aimed it at Augustus. A police officer tackled the man, but not soon enough to stop him from firing. Jimmy tried to get out of the way, but the bullet hit him in the leg. Jimmy was taken to a hospital in Rome and he decided to have surgery in Rome since the best surgeon was there. Augustus showed up and told Jim he felt guilty that Jim took the bullet that was meant for himself. The two forgave each other and Augustus helped wheel Jim down the hospital hall to the surgery room.

BR #2: Black Duck First Entry

I’m reading the Black Duck. I think the book is okay so far. I like that Black Duck doesn’t become boring. There are plenty of events that keep you entertained. I appreciate the book is easy to understand.
Ruben, the main character, has had to make quite a few decisions. One was when Ruben and Jeddy found a dead body. They had to decide what to do, call the police, stay there and watch over the body, or leave the body to the police. He and Jeddy decided to call the police and they left the body thinking it would be alright, but the police called a little while later and told them they didn’t find any body where the boys told them it was. Later, Ruben studies what he took from the body. He had a smoking pipe and tobacco pouch. He didn’t know if he should hand the items over to the police, or keep them. He thought it over and decided to keep the items. Another decision he had to make was when he found out that there was a torn $50 dollar bill in the tobacco pouch, and an older boy Ruben knew asked him if he took anything off the body like a torn bill or the half of something else because it would probably be a ticket, something an alcohol smuggler would have to show the captain of the freighter shipping his liquor that he was the right smuggler. Ruben had to decide to tell the boy (Billy) that he did have an item like that, or decide to keep it a secret. If I was in Ruben’s position, I most likely would have made the same decisions. If Billy would’ve asked me that question, I would’ve been suspicious of why he would want to know. If I found a body, I’d report it immediately to the police.
Ruben isn’t really anything like me. He was alive during the Alcohol Prohibition period. I wasn’t. Another way he isn’t like me is he enjoys skipping school whenever he is able to, but I won’t. One of the very few similarities I can think of between Ruben and I is we are both boys.
I have learned that The Alcohol Prohibition was during the 1920’s, and lasted 13 years. I have also learned Newport, the town Ruben lived in, is located on the coast of Rhode Island.
So far I would rate this book an 8 because the book keeps me entertained. I think it’s interesting. I think it’s interesting because this book is the first book that I’ve read that’s based on the Alcohol Prohibition.