06.07.07
Black and White by Paul Volponi
(Mature Reader)
Two Island City High School basketball stars known as “Black and White” turn to robbery to get easy money for shoes and senior fees. When the gun goes off during a robbery, Marcus and Eddie tell, in alternating chapters, what happens to them in the aftermath. Their friendship is challenged as they experience the justice system differently because of race.
Lauren VHS =] said,
October 23, 2007 at 4:38 pm
This book was very compelling, but also very sad. Eddie and Marcus were the best of friends, but because of racial injustice they are treated differently when caught robbing people in their community. This puts a huge strain on their friendship.
My opinion on brand name labels is one of which most of my peers would not agree with. i feel that it is simply ridiculous, to pay high prices for a normal piece of clothing just because it has a popular name tag when you can find the same exact thing at almost three-fourths the price some where else. “Looking right” has nothing to do with what you wear, its how you wear it.
Elizabeth VHS said,
November 27, 2007 at 1:43 pm
My rating of this book is a 6 out of 10. It didn’t keep me interested in the story more than part of the time while I was reading it. Also, the ending was kind of a cliffhanger…I mean is there going to be a “Black and White 2″ ?
Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I think that clothes should be about comfort and not about the label. Looking “cool” is only an idea…and a passing idea at that…
What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
Personally, I wouldn’t have done the hold-ups in the first place..but since he did…I would have just admitted to the shooting and hoped the judge would have gone easy on me.
Melissa 2 VHS said,
December 2, 2007 at 2:25 pm
This book wasn’t my favorite but it was OK. I didn’t like how Eddie handled the situation when Marcus got arrested. I think he should helped Marcus since it was his fault the guy got shot. Instead of helping Marcus and turning himself in he just went of to try to ignore it and apply for the college. It didn’t seem right that he didn’t get in as trouble as Marcus was.
MiaEJSH said,
February 10, 2008 at 4:12 pm
i enjoyed this book. It was a nice quick read. Perfect for a saturday afternoon.
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I think that people shouldn’t have to go by anyone else’s standards. I believe people should be themselves and shouldn’t be ashamed of who they are.
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
I’m not Eddie, so I have no idea what I would’ve done. If I was put in that situation hopefully I would be able to stand up for my friend and also hopefully tell the truth. I wouldn’t feel right if I let my supposedly best friend take all the blame for it. Friends don’t do that to each other
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
I don’t think that it will because through the whole scenario I think Marcus saw Eddie’s true colors and how he was just looking out for himself. I think Marcus would be able to say hi 20 years down the road, but things would never be the same. I bet 905 of the people can tell you that after a big thing happens between to friends things are never them same.
Ross SHS doerr7 said,
February 10, 2008 at 5:01 pm
1. As for robbing and shooting people to get material things, that is just stupid. If the goal is to look good and participate in senior activities, how does crime need to fit in? Being a criminal doesn’t make you look good. They were focusing on shallow details like shoes (that will be uncool before the end of the season) or party activities reserved for seniors who have an extra $150 to spend. If either Marcus or Eddie thought about how much work their parents had to put out for that much money, they wouldn’t have given crime a thought. Obviously, they didn’t give it a lot of thought because their plan of action was a very bad judgment call.
2. I can’t imagine doing what they did, so I don’t know what I would do in their situation. Both Eddie and Marcus are in a bad situation that resulted directly from their actions. Marcus had to go to prison because he got caught. Eddie might not be convicted because there isn’t enough ‘evidence’. But Marcus won’t rat on his friend, and Eddie won’t admit his guilt to help his friend. Their attitudes are immature and unacceptable. They are pretty much the same attitudes that made shoes and senior parties more important than crime.
3. I don’t know if they will stay friends. If things go the way the book ended, Marcus will have a lot of bad experiences that Eddie won’t have. Eddie will be rewarded for lying and hiding his guilt. He is the one who did the shooting that Marcus is going to prison for. After prison they will have grown far apart. Marcus will resent Eddie and Eddie knows that. They will be connected by their past and their families, but they will never be as close again.
This book was well written and it was interesting to see the events from both points of view. There weren’t any surprises for me. The plot was pretty predictable. I thought too much was made of the race issue because each character pretty much decided his own fate by bad decisions and character defects, not as a result of discrimination.
GabrielSHSDoerr1 said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:08 am
3. I think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure. Eventually, when Marcus is released from jail, I think he will forgive Eddie for not helping him out. Their friendship might not be as strong as it once was, but they will always be connected by their past. Ross SHS doerr7 has a good point.
Jamie VHS said,
February 21, 2008 at 1:41 pm
WOW!
this was a book that i had to read and then think about
the lessons in life that can be learned from this book are very important
i think classes should be required to read this to learn about how life isnt a perfect little world with phones, tv, internet, and friends.Sometimes people need to get hold of it
My opinion on material objects, especially name brand clothing is really bad.
If someone likes to wear something other than what is popular than it should be o.k. and if someone wears a name brand clothing because they like it then people shouldn’t be saying they’re a poser. I think the author did a really good job with this book and i can’t wait to read others by him or her(im not really sure which one it is).
Tim SHSdoerr1 said,
February 24, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I thought that the book was ok but i did find it interesting how the author showed both points of view.I really didn’t see much of a connection to racism in the book.It was just one friend not taking the blame when he should have.
1.I think that it is ok to look nice but you shouldn’t do something wrong to get fancy clothes.
2.I would have confessed because i wouldn’t be able to live with knowing my friend is in jail because of my mistake.
3.I don’t think that they will stay friends because Eddie basically turned his back on Marcus by not taking part of the blame.
mattshsdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 12:35 am
I really thought the book was very interesting. I do think that it was a great idea to show both points of view. I recommend this book to anyone who likes an interesting quick read about sports.
1. I think that wearing popular labels and brands is a good way to show what kind of person you are, but you shouldn’t try to harm anyone or hurt yourself to get them.
2. I would of confessed because I did something very wrong and I should be punished for it. I wouldn’t of allowed my friend to take all of the heat.
3. I think that their friendship inside of school will not be as strong as once before, but if they get on the court again, nothing will be in the way of them. That is how team-mates are.
SeanSHSdoerr1 said,
February 26, 2008 at 10:16 am
I think that the reasons for Eddie and Marcus to steal, including their clothing desire was selfish and not neccesarry. I would have confessed if I was in Eddie’s situation in order to lighten the sentence for my friend Marcus. The relationship will not stand due to the fact that Eddie is walking free while Marcus is in jail. Jail will change Marcus, and Marcus will dispise Eddie for getting him in there. Over all Black and White was a good read.
mikey SHS doerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
1. I blame “Black and White” for robbing the people in the book but on the other hand I can see why they didn’t understand what could really happen because of the type of area they live in and what they see on a daily basis. Robbing people for money so you can buy clothes and shoes is just stupid because they shouldnt be worth that much and if you really need new clothes and shoes then your parents will help you out especially if you have parents like Marcus and Eddie do.
2. If I was Eddie I would have taken the deal to plead guilty and go to jail for the same time as Marcus. I would do this because I couldn’t let one of my friends sit in a cell while I roam around the streets and be able to see my family when ever I want. I think both deserve the same punishment because they were in this together so I think they should take the blame together.
3. I personally think Marcus and Eddies friendship will endure because now that Marcus is dating Rose(Eddie’s sister) that it will start a brotherly love again. Also Eddie still want’s to be Marcuss’ friend. I think Marcus will get over the fact by the time he leaves prison and he has a clean slate to start with and a basketball scholarship.
I think the book was well written and the author may have experienced the same racial problems that Marcus and Eddie did. I have lived in areas where I was the only white child in my grade and I remember everyone saying I could do anything and not get in trouble because of my skin. The book was more factual than fictional in my opinon because it states the type of discrimination that goes on in all areas.
MattSHSDoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I think that is book was good, but the at the end of this book I really thought that I was missing something. I wanted to find out more about the penalty that they got and what happened afterwards. This made me think about my friendship on the basketball court versus my friendship off the court with my teammates, it is not as strong.
I think Rossshsdoerr7 has a great point. He was right that crime does not make you look good, even if you get the top of the line things doing it.
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and ” looking right?”
I think that it is okay to look good and show what kind of person you are, but it is not right to get these things by hurting someone or yourself.
Nick SHSdoerr5 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:13 pm
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation? I would have turned myself in. I couldn’t have lived with myself. The kid shot somebody, and the only one blamed was his friend who was with him. My friend is getting sent to jail for 19 months, just because I am the one who made a stupid mistake.
Nick SHSdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Nick doerr 5 is supposed to be 7
I agree with ross and I understand where he is coming from with his answer
Chares SHSdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:17 pm
2. What do you think you have done in Eddie’s situatuion? If marcus had already been areested, I would have confessed because Marcus is my best friend. People call us Black and White for a reason, and we respect that. Making Eddie take all the blame would ahve haunted me until he confessed about me or forever.
This story makes me relize how tough it is on the streets and would repect my friends no matter what.
I agree with MattSHSdoerr7 because he made a great personal connection on and off the court.
Gabriel SHSDoerr1 said,
February 26, 2008 at 11:59 pm
(Revised)
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
My appearance isn’t something that really bothers me. I don’t really care for wearing the popular labels. “Looking right” has never been a concern of mine.
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
If I was in Eddie’s situation, I would’ve tried to help Marcus out. I wouldn’t have let my best friend take the blame for a crime I committed.
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
Although they will go through different experiences in the next couple of years, I think they will keep their friendship. It won’t be as strong as it once was, but the bond they once had will always be there. Marcus and Eddie’s sister, Rose, still have feelings for each other, so I think they will remain connected through that relationship as well.
I don’t really have any direct personal connections with the book, considering neither I nor anyone in my family has ever shot someone, robbed someone, or been convicted of a felony. However, I have been in a situation similar to Eddie’s. My friend and I were messing around in the science lab at my old school when I accidentally turned on the main gas supply during a classroom introduction to Bunsen burners. This caused flames from the numerous Bunsen burners to shoot up to the ceiling of the classroom. No actual damage was done, but it caused total chaos in the lab room. My science teacher wrote my friend a referral for the mistake I made. The next day I went to the dean and told him it was my fault.
Arnaldo EJSHS said,
February 27, 2008 at 4:37 pm
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I think it’s not so much what the brand the clothes, or the products, are that is important, but, in my opinion, I think the quality of the item is a lot more important and reliable in the long run when it comes to looking and dressing right. In the story Marcus and Eddie found it that those material things, of popular and great demand of the other students, were of such significance and importance that to acquire them, they had to commit crimes that later affected their friendship. The label in no way changes the quality of any product. For some reason, teens find it that more expensive clothes of a particular brand are of greater interest to them to clothes of better quality and maybe even better looking item of a cheaper, less popular brand. Teens find it that the brand of the product is of a status statement in terms of, are they of a high enough class to afford such a brand. I don’t think that a popular label could act as such a statement or give any prominence. There are brands out there of a lower stature that have been found to be better, in every way, than those that could be more costly. When it comes to what you wear that determines your status symbol, you know there is a problem in the economy of our young adults. There is no right or wrong for “looking right”.
TomEJSHS said,
February 27, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I enjoyed reading this book a lot. At first I just read this book to get done with my book report, but i actually found myself getting into the story. The only part I really disliked in this book was the ending. I found it not explaining enough of what happens to Eddie in prison. I would also like to see a sequel where Eddie gets back from prison and decides to hunt down Marcus. I think it would be a really exciting book.
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I think it was foolish of Marcus and Eddie to go by other people’s standards. I believe they should just be themselves. Don’t go by what everyone else does.
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
If I was put in Eddie’s situation I would have stood up for my Friend no matter what it takes.I believe one of the most important things in life is friendship.
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
I don’t think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure at all. I believe Marcus was just standing up for himself and didn’t care about Eddie. Although they might talk to each other occasionally, their friendship will never be the same as it was before.
Overall I thought the book was good.
BS EJSHS said,
February 28, 2008 at 12:12 am
I liked this book because it was good. It was a good book because it was short and easy to read. The letters were big, so they took up a lot of space.
Marcus was ballin’ through out the entire book. What made me mad was the fact that the Marcus took all the blame while Eddie didn’t take any…sort of. He took some blame, but eventually he got out of it because of his lawyer. Marcus really didn’t do anything when they busted a cap. Eddie was the one who shot the gun, had the gun, used the gun and whose dad had the gun. I don’t like books that end the way this one did. It just kind of stopped. I wonder if I’m to 250 words yet… I’m not sure what im really supposed to be doing btw. Anyway. The book was sort of exciting because there was violence and guns in it. There weren’t any gun fights or blood and gore though. However, they did argue with each other. I think Marcus went to the prison and got killed there. There would’ve been another book telling what happened to him in prison if he lived through it. So he probablly died. Either that or the author of the book died. LOL. This is no where near my favorite book. I think that it could’ve been better if it hadn’t been written in two different viewpoints. The author could’ve added more stuff at the end if he wasn’t writing in one person’s view. If he was writing in two or more peoples view of what happened, then he could’ve wrote what hapened to Marcus at the prison or what
tonyejshs said,
February 28, 2008 at 12:48 am
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
No, i do not think that their friendship will endure. i dont think that anyone can walk away from something that monumental. Going to jail for someone elses crime is not a very forgivable thing. I dont think after everything is over, they can just say “hey.” and go on being friends just like they were before. I also think marcus will not be happy about how he is treated in comparison to eddie in the legal system. that would also tear apart a friendship. Also the time spent apart while in jail will alienate them even further. To get through something like that you would have to have an extreemly strong friendship and also other unavoidable connections like living in the same house or being a very close relative. Them both playing basketball together isnt enough to me.
Thomas EJSHS said,
March 17, 2008 at 9:22 pm
3) I do not think that Eddie and Marcus’s friend ship will endure because Eddie never stood up for Marcus. Marcus is going to jail for a crime that Eddie is more responsible for. The end of the novel aslo hints at their friendship not surviving by saying that things were not the same as they used to be between black and white.
Tonyejshs said that the way that marcus was treated in the legal system will also tear their friendship apart. I agree with that statement because Marcus is going to jail while Eddie isn’t, and every time Marcus applies for a job that requires a background check he will be reminded of the crime. I disagree with mikey SHS doerr7 when he said that Marcus would have a clean slate because it will stay with him for the rest of his life.
Jonathon EJSHS said,
March 19, 2008 at 4:41 pm
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
Jonathon EJSHS said,
March 19, 2008 at 4:51 pm
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
I believe that their friendship will endure because of the way they still tried to keep in touch throughout the book. Even though Marcus is going to jail for the crime, he seems alright with it and it looks like they will stay friends. Eddie never wanted Marcus to take the hit but didn’t have the guts to help defend his friend, but when you look back to the book Marcus tried to put himself in Eddies shoes and failed to see himself doing it as well. On top of that Marcus is starting to go out with Eddie’s sister so that might help keep their friendship intact as well.
Jonathon EJSHS said,
March 19, 2008 at 5:03 pm
In response to Arnoldo EJSHS: I completely agree with what you say about labels and brands. The clothes I wear to school aren’t really considered “cool,” but the thing is I like my clothes because they are comfortable, durable, and not very costly. My clothes don’t need a “Billabong” or “Element” symbol on them to be good enough for me. What Marcus and Eddie did to get these things were completely unacceptable.
brittdoerr6shs said,
March 19, 2008 at 6:11 pm
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
In Eddie’s situation first off i wouldnt have gone out and done anything as stupid as they did let alone shot someone and let my best friend take the blame. If i was in Eddie’s shoes though i would have came clean to the cops as soon as they arrested Marcus. I would never be able to live with myself if I let him sit there in jail wile i got away with it.
Tyler M. EJSHS said,
March 19, 2008 at 7:32 pm
1. i dont think that wearing ‘label” brands is majaorly important. i will admit that i do wear some “labels”, but its not to impress anyone. it is a major part of many young teens lives. it shouldnt play that big of a roll as far as how people see you though.
2. if i were Eddie i would have told the truth and stayed with my freind all the way. true freindship requires honesty, and being with your freind no matter what. what Eddie did was shocking in my eyes. they were great freinds. Eddie should have showed that and stayed with Marcus.
3. i dont think their freindship wil endure.The way Eddie turned his back on Marcus was not very freindlike. He betrayed him by not taking some of the blame for their actions. This may cause them to take an indefinate hiatus on their freindship.
Andrew EJSHS said,
March 21, 2008 at 10:36 am
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
If I were in Eddie’s situation I would have done exactly what he did in the book. I am sure that any of my friends would not have turned themselves in to the police. I think Eddie did the right thing by keeping his mouth shut and not saying anything. Since his friend was already going to jail I think that it was the right thing to do in his situation. In the book he was put on trial but they never found him guilty of any crime. So if Marcus was not in jail and if I confessed or not determined whether or not he goes to jail; then I would tell them the truth and let my friend go free. But that was not the case and I think that Eddie did the right thing by saving himself.
Andrew EJSHS said,
March 21, 2008 at 11:16 am
In response to Thomas EJSHS, I think that their friendship will endure because they seemed to be still friends after Marcus was sentenced and before he went to jail. You said that Eddie did not stand up for him, but I think that if Marcus cared about that then he would have turned Eddie in. Eddie did not have to stand up for him because if he did then they both would be in jail instaed of just Marcus. I also do not think that Marcus would wanted his friend in jail just so Marcus could get less time in jail.
Bran B. EJSHS said,
March 22, 2008 at 4:33 pm
1) Do you think Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure after Marcus is released from jail?
I think that after Marcus is released they will not be friends. Eddie would probably want their friendship to go on since he wasn’t the person who was betrayed. Marcus would still probably have a cold spot in his heart because of his friend not stepping up for what he did. So my answer is no!!!
2) What is your opinion on wearing name brand clothes and do you think that robbing a store for clothes is worth it.
I think that people should wear whatever they want but not make fun, or point out what other people don’t have. This could lead to people wanting the clothes just to fit in and not because of their eternal feelings. I strongly believe that stealing clothes at gunpoint is stupid and completely unnecessary no matter what kind of verbal abuse you are given.
3) Would you speak up for what you did unlike what Eddie did?
It is hard to say, but if we were good friends like Marcus and Eddie I would certainly step up for my actions. If I didn’t I would always feel that little bit of guilt in my heart like Eddie did. In addition I can kind of see where Eddie was coming from when he made his decision. He had college and a great future approaching, and the pressure of being criminally acquainted with some one whose race was looked down upon would be very hard to stand on the bad side of.
Kevin EJSHS said,
March 23, 2008 at 8:55 pm
1. Wearing popular labels and brand names is fine with me I dont see the big deal. I wear them all the time but I dont see what it really does. It doesn’t make you become more or less popular. Someone also should not be made fun of if they dont wear them.
2. I would have done the same thing to stay out of jail. From what i’ve seen/heard jain isn’t fun so I would fight it. Also then when you think about how Marcus felt he would have tried to fight it if he could and when Marcus put himself in Eddie’s shoes he did the same, so what Eddie did made sense.
3. I think that theit freindship will endure because in the last paragraph of the book showed how Marcus felt. It showed that Marcus wanted to get around the line that separated them. Anyway if they were real freinds fro the beginning they could pull through anything.
Bridgett VHS said,
March 25, 2008 at 8:26 am
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I think that it is important to look your best but not at the exspence of robbing and stealing for it. I don’t believe it is the label that you wear that matters but how the outfit looks on the outside.
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
I honestly don’t know what i would have done in Eddie’s situation. Maybe I would have turned myself in so that my friend didn’t take all of the blame for what i did.
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
Jeremy EJSHS said,
March 25, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
I think Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure simply because they are best friends. Sure best friends fight and get mad at each other, but eventually they will forgive each other. If their friendship doesn’t endure, then they weren’t as close as they thought. Marcus wouldn’t get mad at Eddie for not turning himself in because he was protecting Eddie. If he wanted Eddie to be in the same situation as he did, he would have told the police that Eddie shot the man, but best friends don’t do that. Best friends don’t rat each other out. Near the end of the book, Marcus and Eddie seemed like they were still best friends. Marcus didn’t seem angry at Eddie. They played basketball on the same court they did when they first met. If Marcus was to get angry at Eddie, it wouldn’t make sense.
Eddie wouldn’t get mad at Marcus because he has no reason to. Marcus did nothing to Eddie. Marcus didn’t drag him in the mess he is in. They both agreed to rob people for money to buy things and pay their senior fees. Marcus protected Eddie from getting in trouble. Marcus didn’t tell the police anything about his accomplice. Eddie should be the opposite of angry and be grateful to Marcus. If Marcus was to tell the police about Eddie, Eddie would be in jail for sure also. The only thing I see that will end their friendship is the time that Marcus will be in jail. They won’t be able to do anything together. Even then, Eddie can go visit Marcus and talk to him every once and awhile.
Chelsea R EJSHS said,
March 25, 2008 at 10:22 pm
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I believe that wearing popular labels and “looking right” is a little overrated. Even if I had the money to go buy the top brands, I wouldn’t. I find it very pointless to try to fit in with everyone when the money can be spent on better things, such as college tuition or donations to the poor. Everyone tries to fit in so much in high school, and there isn’t really any point to it. Five years down the road, nobody is going to remember how you dressed anyway.
2. What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
If I were in Eddie’s situation, I would have stuck by Marcus no matter what. Marcus would have most likely done the same for Eddie if he were in Eddie’s situation too. I would have not used my race as an excuse, and I would have asked for the same punishment that my best friend had to get.
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
If I were in Eddie’s situation, I would stick up for Marcus and be there for him through everything. No matter what happened or how much trouble I would end up getting into, I would be there for my best friend. Race or color or anything along those lines should not matter, and neither should what everyone else thinks. High school is one of the toughest times to go through because you’re constantly worrying about what others think of you and you are constantly trying to fit in. If Eddie and Marcus made it all the way through high school with being made fun of and called “Black and White”, they can definitely make it through anything.
Devin EJSHS said,
March 26, 2008 at 12:20 am
Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I agree with the fact that people will wear labels and clothes simply to make them feel more secure and more apart of the crowd they hang around with. I personally do not follow along with the crowd like that. I wear what I want to wear not because someone has told me I have to wear a certain brand. Kids now a days have gotten into the ideology that the only way to have friends is by wearing what everyone else is wearing, and by walking the way others walk, and by talking the way others talk. This is clearly shown in this book through how Marcus and Eddie deliberately disobey the law and steel clothes to help make them feel more in with the crowd. This kind of behavior has been seen more and more frequently as time passes. All it has been doing is putting more kids in harms way when it doesn’t need to, the need for pleasing others needs to stop. What kind of friends really need kids to wear a certain kind clothes? For what reason should we even want to associate with those kind of friends? We shouldn’t, all that comes from that is hurt feelings for those are the kind of kids aren’t looking for the good of their friends, only themselves. The need to fit in by wearing big brands and logos needs to stop, and it can start with us.
Michael CHS said,
March 28, 2008 at 10:11 am
This book was very compelling, but also very sad. Eddie and Marcus were the best of friends, but because of racial injustice they are treated differently when caught robbing people in their community. This puts a huge strain on their friendship.
chad ejhs said,
April 1, 2008 at 6:06 pm
1. I think you don’t have to wear popular clothes to look good. Other people may disagree because they have to have there Hollister shirt or some other brand. Don’t get me wrong I wear labels too, but I would not die if I did not have my labeled shirt or shoes or any other type of clothes.
2. If I was ever in Eddie’s situation I would hope I would help my friend out by telling the cops the truth. But I understand what Eddie was thinking about when he didn’t confess because he had a full ride scholarship and even had a chance to play in the pros one day. But if I was a real good person I would just confess and take the time instead of letting my friend take all the blame and go to jail just because of me. I would feel awful if I ever did that to a friend.
Yes, I do think that there friendship will endure because they were best friends in the beginning. So I think they can pull through there hard times and still be good friends when Marcus gets out of jail. Also in the end Marcus was saying that he would still be friends with Eddie when he got out of jail. Also im sure that Eddie could hook his friend up when Marcus gets out of jail to play some college ball together and be “Black and White” again in college, and then maybe even got to the pros together.
Anderson Yeh EJSHS said,
April 1, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I believe that Black and White’s friendship will last even after Black goes to jail to do his time because they have been the best of friends ever since they were little kids and they even got past all the racism that has been going on in the society. They have been best friends and they play basketball together. They are so close that it makes the reader feel that they are almost brothers by blood in a way because they have been through so much together and have stuck up for each others through thick and thin. For example, since the incident with the gun shooting the man and the last few robberies, Black has been taking all the hits and White is trying to help both of them out by getting one of the best lawyers. This proves that their friendship is very strong because Black is willing to take the two years of prison for White even though it was White that shot the gun. Another example why their friendship will endure is that since Black’s mom wants Black to tell the judge and the detectives that it was actually White that shot the gun, Black will no tell them and that he is willing to take the hit for White. He is also grateful that White is taking the college scholarship to St. John’s and he wishes that White will have a good life in the future. These are some of the reasons why I think that their friendship will endure.
Michael EJSHS said,
April 17, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I believe that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure because Marcus and Eddie have been best friends since they were little kids and they have dealt with the racism and other issues going on. Even though it’s true that Eddie had shot the man, Marcus stood up for his friend and said that it was he who had shot the man. Marcus knew very well as to what he was doing and what he would be getting into but he was willing to put it all on the line to keep Eddie from taking the blame. Because Marcus does this, Eddie realizes what a good friend he has and Eddie sorta gets a better understanding as to what Marcus has just gotten himself into and Eddie also has to deal with the fact that his best friend is going to jail for something he has done. Eddie and Marcus have played basketball together for a long time, their in the same high school together, and they have been through things in the good times and bad. Just because Marcus is going to jail, I dont think their friendship will strain because Eddie can always go see Marcus and Eddie will try to do what he can to help out Marcus.
kaitlinshsdoerr4 said,
April 21, 2008 at 4:49 pm
1.Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
I don’t mind it but if you have to steal someones money I would not be wearing popular labels and ”looking right”.
2.What do you think you would have done in Eddie’s situation?
I would have pled guilty and told them it wasn’t Marcus’s fault.
3. Do you think that Marcus and Eddie’s friendship will endure? Why or why not?
No I think that Marcus will turn Eddie in after realizing that serving time for him is unacceptible and eventually Eddie will befriend him because of ruining his scholarship.
EJSH BichNguyen said,
April 23, 2008 at 1:06 am
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
In the generation that I grow up in today is so full of materialized things. Everywhere I walk around i see teenagers with all types of gadgets. Teens are always on their cell phone. While in the car texting is constantly going on, having a conversation going on back and forth with three people. Not only are teens full of gadgets they also have so much of nothing important. Teens are materialized. They worry about the things they have just to have them but not need them.
Clothing is a great example of how materialism has affected many teens. Walking around school a speculator will be able to witness first hand of all the popular name brands that teenagers wear. Many teens believe that with wearing the brand named shirts will add to their popularity. They are wrong.
The type of clothing that a person wears does not represent who they are. It doesn’t represent what they stand for or believe in. Clothing and popular brands is just the outside shell of a person. The way a person acts and behaves is the key to how people really look at you. If someone is wearing regular clothing and has a great personality, they will be more liked then someone who wears popular brand clothing but has a really disgusting personality.
The other part of this question was does “looking right” an important part of life? Yes, it is, however, looking right doesn’t mean wearing popular brand named clothing. It could mean fitting in by projecting personality and character instead to class and wealth. Looking right isn’t important as it is made out to be because the looking isn’t that important.
In conclusion I believe that looking right and brand names isnt important, and really shouldnt be the reasoning of theft like in this story.
Elle EJSHS said,
April 30, 2008 at 6:58 pm
1. Marcus and Eddie started their crime spree so that they could have the material things that other classmates had. What do you think about wearing popular labels and “looking right”?
In my opinion, wearing popular labels is rather pointless. It does nothing to make you more or less popular. The way I see it, clothes are clothes no matter who makes them. I’m quite content with wearing a random band t-shirt and my favorite ripped jeans instead of some fancy Abercrombie shirt and a one hundred dollar pair of name brand jeans. Buying overpriced clothes is stupid because no matter how much you pay for a shirt, for example, it will have the same fate. You’ll buy it, and then you’ll wear it for a couple years or until you get tired of it/it doesn’t fit you anymore. It’ll either find it’s way to the closet of a younger sibling or get donated to the less fortunate.
As far as “looking right” goes, it doesn’t matter at all. Dressing to impress doesn’t usually work. People should like one another for their personality. If one of my friends wore something that I didn’t particularly like, it would be pretty low of me to end our friendship because of that. Though looks usually catch peoples attention, personality is definitely what keeps their attention.
allen said,
May 21, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Well it was about these two kids that had to steal to get threw life and survive. The two kid’s names were Marcus and Eddie they were like best friends. One thing that really I didn’t get was how Marcus took all the blame and Eddie sat around and didn’t get in trouble at all. This was a really cool thing that Marcus did. Well this book was really stupid because the gun was Eddie’s dads and Eddie was the won that fired the gun and he didn’t get in trouble at all. But as for there friendship I think that it will live on. Also Eddie still wants’ to be Marcus’ friend. I think Marcus will get over the fact by the time he leaves prison and he has a clean slate to start with and a basketball scholarship. I think that is book was good, but at the end of this book I really thought that I was missing something. I wanted to find out more about the penalty that they got and what happened afterwards. This made me think about my friendship on the soccer field and with my fellow soccer players outside of the field. I think that this book has taught me a lot and I have looked deeper into my friendships with others.