06.07.07
Runner by Carl Deuker
Wow, Runner is fast and furious. Chance Taylor’s father, a Gulf War Veteran and alcoholic, is fired from his job and Chance worries about where they will get the money to pay for the moorage for the run-down sailboat they call home. At school, he’s a ghost walker, a real loner and only finds escape in long runs along the Seattle waterfront. When a marina employee offers to pay him $250 a week to pick up packages, Chance know it’s suspicious and soon finds himself in danger. REAL danger! He then gets a glimpse of the heroic man his father once was. An action packed story you must read!
joey VHS said,
October 31, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I wish I could say what I would do in his place but i cant. I would only be able to choose honestly if I was truly in that situation. The quote does make sense. If you live your hole life on your own and no structure you would want to be told how and when to do things. Sometimes I am mad when my parents tell me to do everything, but when it all comes down to it everything they say makes sense.
bridgett VHS said,
November 12, 2007 at 9:26 am
If a decision like that ever came up I would just go with what my gut tells me is right. Yes there have been a couple of times I have been faced with a tough choice. But when I went to my parents they just told me to do what I think would be the right decision.
I think that Melissa would understand what he is talking about, she seems to get alone with her parents really well. Yes I hve been greatfulb for my parents telling me what to do in a tough situation.
Elizabeth VHS said,
November 27, 2007 at 4:10 pm
This book has earned a 8 out of 10 from me because it’s so fast pace.
Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
In this situation…I think I would have left my dad and gotten a job somewhere away form the docks. In his spot I totally would have joined the Army.
What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
Honestly, I would only join the military if dire need drove me, but I guess it did for them…well, for Chance it did…
Chance wants to join the Army so he can support himself. Brett joined the Army so he could gloat and because he couldn’t land a job anywhere else.
Brett and Chance both want(ed) the military because it’s guaranteed money if you don’t die…
Melissa 2 VHS said,
November 28, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
If I were chance i would have at least try to find a way to get aay from smuggling. He could have tried finding a better and asyer job that pays more instead of washing dishes or help his dad get a job. He also should have thought it through more. I believe he should have thought of all his options before agreeing.
Matt M. VHS said,
December 5, 2007 at 1:36 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice? I would have smuggled because i wouldn’t want to be homeles and have no place to go. I dont think I have had to face that kind of desicion.2. “Suddenly I wished I hadn’t said anything. Because how could I explain to her that I wanted somebody to give me orders, that I wanted somebody to tell me what to do? Kids like Melissa- they couldn’t wait to get out on their own, to make decisions. I’d been doing that for a long time, and I was worn out by it.” (pg 170)What do you think about the quote above? Can you imagine wanting to be told what to do? Have you ever been grateful when your parents made a tough decision for you?He is just tired out of making his own decisions and he can’t see how other kids can’t wait to do it.
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same? Chance just wants to go because it is the only place he has to go but Brent has other decisions.
Jamie VHS said,
February 7, 2008 at 8:35 pm
one word,
WOW!
this was one of the best books i have read in a long time
9 out of 10
#3
I think that both Chance and Brett wanted to join the military because they both had no plans for the near future. They only had a life on the streets or in prison.
I’m not certain on Brent’s intentions for joining the military but im sure they were not as well planned as Chace’s to go to college and start a life.
They both go and enlist because they truly have no other place to go.
Let me say that for Chance to go through all that and turn down Mellisa’s offer must have been tough but i thnk it was right.
alexshsdoerr5 said,
February 20, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I wouldn’t have smuggled those packages, no matter what! I would have tried to find a better paying job, or look for odd jobs around the marina. I would have also confronted my father, instead of just watching him drink himself dead, and attempt to help him find a good job, and keep it. I have found myself in a position like Chance’s when I went to school one day and forgot my lunch money at home. When I arrived at lunch I had a choice to go hungry, and suffer, or steal someone’s lunch, which would be immoral. Both choices would have terrible outcomes for me, just as both of Chance’s choices would have had terrible outcomes. Chance’s situation is also like the show Jericho where a nuclear bomb has hit the US, and only a few towns have survived. Jericho, a city, has many resources, and other towns steal from it, because they have little resources, and Jericho has so many. They know if they steal it would be immoral, but they also know if they don’t, they’ll die, which makes both choices have bad outcomes. Another blog on this book that I read was lucasd’s, which gave you a great glimpse of the book. However, he didn’t really display Chance as a a suffering individual, and from his blog you could assume he is a rich teenager looking for some quick cash.
MatthewshsDoerr4 said,
February 26, 2008 at 2:10 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
I would have kept smuggling and then worked to take the smugglers down from the inside. No, fortunately I have never found myself in a situation where no choice was the good choice.
2. “Suddenly I wished I hadn’t said anything. Because how could I explain to her that I wanted somebody to give me orders, that I wanted somebody to tell me what to do? Kids like Melissa- they couldn’t wait to get out on their own, to make decisions. I’d been doing that for a long time, and I was worn out by it.” (pg 170)What do you think about the quote above? Can you imagine wanting to be told what to do? Have you ever been grateful when your parents made a tough decision for you?
I think this is a good quote. Kids like Melissa that have always have someone telling them what to do just want to get out and make their own decisions so it makes sense that this would work the other way with kids like Chance and Brett that have been having to make their own decisions just want someone to make them for them. Personally I don’t want someone to tell me what to do because my parents have been telling me what to do for my entire life. My parents usually don’t make tough decisions for me they include me in the decision making because they’re cool like that.
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
Chance just wants someone to tell him what to do. He doesn’t want to keep having to make his own decisions. He also wants to follow in the footsteps of his dad because he sees how amazing his dad is because he sacrificed himself to keep the terrorists from blowing anything up. Brett on the other hand wouldn’t be able to get a job anywhere else because of his history. Brett really has no other option other than to join the military.
kayla2shsdoerr5 said,
February 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Chance is struggling for survival, with his dad being an alcoholic who can’t keep a job, he is forced to grow up and take his father responsibilities. Chance not only has to worry about graduating, but now paying the bills? He is faced with a tough decision when presented the opportunity to make “easy money”. Against his better judgment, he goes for it knowing they could lose their boat, their home, if he doesn’t. When things start to get rough, he makes a personal decision to join the military once he has graduated.
What do you think about Chance and Brent’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think Brent joins the military because of the aggression and attention he receives. He enjoyed the violence and has always been a bully. Chance on the other hand wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and get away from his daily dramas. Ha has been on his own for so long, he needs authority in his life, someone telling him what to do. Their decisions are similar in the fact that they both believe that this decision may be their only option.
nicoleshsdoerr5 said,
February 26, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you ever found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
I would have probably started smuggling, just like Chance did. Becoming homeledd would have been the absolute last thing! Especially because at the beggining he didn’t know what he was smuggling. I think once i figured out that i was smuggling plastic explosives, I would have immediatly told my dad or Mellisa’s father. It is possible that i would have told my dad at the very start of this whole thing as well. I would have asked him abou the guy as soon as i got home from the confrontation.
I have found myself in many situations where no choice was the right shoice, but none of then were ever this serious. For example, you are taking a big exam and you dont know any of the answer’s because you were up all night in the emergency room. This exam decides whether you pass or fail the class. If you fail, your GPA drops and you wont be able to get into a good college. Do you fail the class or cheat?
I can relate to alex’s response as well. Even though it does not correspond with my response, I can see his view point. I can see how finding a third choice would be the right option. It is almost like creating your own answer to the problem. On the contrary, I dont agree with his decision to leave his dad. Especially because Chance and his dad got along very well and he already lost his mom. It seems like I would want to hold onto and spend as much time as I could with the only parent I had left.
anashsdoerr5 said,
February 26, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
I don’t believe I would have chosen smuggling. There were many things Chance could have done instead. He could have picked up a second job, or asked for some help from his friend Melissa. From the beginning, Chance knew that the smuggling was a bad idea, but the thought of making easy money was obviously just too pleasing to him. I don’t think I ever had to be put through such a tough decision as that. Also, how am I supposed to even know if I’m answering this question with the whole truth? I really have no idea what it’s like to be that desperate. This is a similar situation to Stephen King’s “The Dead Zone” where the main character, Johnny Smith, who has become phychic after a 4 year coma, discovers that a politician he had shook hands with was going to start a major nuclear war when he becomes president in the near future. Johnny had to then decide whether to kill the man, or wait to see it happen and live with the guilt. He knows that killing the man could bring great consequences, but leaving the people to figure out what to do with the politician could have dangerous outcomes as well. This relates to Chance’s choices by showing that either situation would have some sort of bad outcome.
jjshsdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 3:58 pm
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think that both Chance and Brett wanted to join the military because
they both had no future. It was either jail, or the streets.
I’m not certain on Brett’s intentions for joining the military but im sure they
were not as well planned as Chace’s to go to college and start a life.
I think that Chances reason for joinign the military was more respectable.
While he wanted to impress his dad, Brett only wanted the glory of serving
his country. Chance feels horrible for what hes done and sees the military
as the only way for his future. i coudl never imagine what it would be like to
lose a parent, but military wouldn’t be on my list of choices. Brett is a self
cenetered person and only wants glory and fame. Thats not a bad thing if
you have other goals, but thats teh only thign he wants.
EthanSHSDoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Dood this book was so cool I couldn’t put it down!! If there were a second book I’d definitley read it.
#1.)
If I was faced with a decision like that, I’m not sure what I would do, but I wouldn’t smuggle. That is a major bad idea. If I was caught smuggling my parents would be sooo mad at me. Smuggling is not the way to go for me. I’d probably look for different jobs around the marina, like Alex. Stealing and smuggling and otherwise breaking the law just doesn’t sit with me.
dylanshsdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 4:11 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
I would have chosen homelesness over smuggling packages. Neither of the choices are easy, but sitting in a 6 X 10 cell is much worse than sitting on the streets. Its obvious that the term ’smuggling’ is illegal, because if the packages were legal then Chance wouldn’t have received $200 dollars for each package. Also, if I were Chance I would have not allowed my father to continue his alcoholism. It is a true addiction, but there are people who can help regardless of your money status.
caseyshsdoerr7 said,
February 26, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Chance has a rough life his mom leaves him and his dad and and his dad is an alcoholic. Things dont become better when Chances dad looses his job. Chance comes across a very difficult dessision to smuggle drugs and get 250 dollors a package. Or loose the tiny dancer. Chance chosen a risky chance of smuggling. If I was in his shoes i would have just worked two jobs, and if that didnt work out then I would smuggle so i wouldnt be on the street.
AlexEJSHS said,
February 27, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I would have smuggled because I wouldn’t want to be homeless and being homeless isn’t good and you have no place to go. I don’t think I have had to face that kind of choice. If I really had to, I would honestly do it because when you have nothing left for you and your home is in the streets, many people have to do that in order to survive. You need food and water to survive. Sure you can get water easily but food isn’t as easy to get because you have to have good food. You will get sick from eating bad food and that isn’t good for you if you have no one to take care of you. There is also the negative side of smuggling. You could be thrown in jail if you get caught and that’s worse than being out on the streets. It is safe but you would be better off going somewhere else other than a cell. Also, if I were Chance I would have not allowed my father to continue his alcoholism. It is a true addiction, but there are people who can help regardless of your money status. I haven’t had an experience where I had to do this. I don’t want to come across this but if it ever does happen I know that it would be really hard to choose. Stealing is bad but having nothing is worse because you will end up being a different person. ITS HORRIBLE!
Billy EJSHS said,
March 6, 2008 at 9:09 pm
(1) I would not have smuggled because it isn’t the right thing to do. Chance did smuggle because he was scared and didn’t want to be homeless. Yet, throughout the entire story he knew what he was doing was wrong. He was in the middle of a big dilemma, but still the decision that he made was wrong. For me, it is pretty simple, do the right thing no matter what the consequences. If I were to do something like smuggling, I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror. I can’t answer for other people, but I know I like to be able to look at myself in the mirror and not have something weighing on my conscience. I’ve never really been in a situation like this, but I would like to think that even if I was I would be able to do the right thing, no matter what the outcome.
In AlexEJSHS he says, “Sure you can get water easily, but food isn’t easy to get.” Well, for homeless people food is not that hard to get. They can go to many food pantries that are around areas in which they are. I have firsthand knowledge of this through the food pantry I work in at my church. He also says that it would be worse to be in jail than on the streets, but I have to disagree with that. Yes, jail is bad and I definitely would not want to be there, but at least I would know that I have a place to sleep and that I wouldn’t have to walk far to get a meal. He implies at the end that stealing doesn’t make you a different person, however I believe that it most certainly does change you and makes you an extremely different person.
Connor EJSHS said,
March 9, 2008 at 3:50 pm
1.) If I was ever in the same situation as Chance was, I would have to first think long and hard and go though everything in my mind before I decided whether to smuggle or continue being homeless. In the end, I would probably have chosen not to smuggle because if I were to be living on the streets, with no home, no money, and an alcoholic father, friends and straightening out my life would be my top priority. If I were to smuggle, then I would lose everything. I would lose my friends, future career, and trust. There is more to lose in smuggling than to just face being homeless. If I were to smuggle, and be caught, I would be thrown in jail where I would lose my friends, and the only part of my family, my father. Yes it’s true; I would be able to have something to eat and go without starving, yet is it really worth it? I would be away from my family, away from friends, and away from a future. If I were to continue being homeless, yes times would be tough, but as Billy EJSHS proclaimed, there are many food pantries around where I may be able to retrieve some food. I could continue to go to school and hopefully graduate and get into college, or if I was in Chance’s position, enroll in the military and make my life worth something. There is nothing worse than throwing your life away in jail. Times will be hard, yet there would still be opportunities in the future. I have also never been in a situation like this, yet if I were, I would have to think everything through very carefully. I would then choose the one with the better benefits in the end, even if it means I must go through very hard times to reach those benefits.
I agree with Billy EJSHS when he says, “If I were to do something like smuggling, I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror. I can’t answer for other people, but I know I like to be able to look at myself in the mirror and not have something weighing on my conscience.” I also could not have smuggled if I knew it was wrong and that I actually had the opportunity to say no. It would eat me up inside and I probably would have to confess, therefore getting no-where. I believe it would be easier to face the hardships on the streets than dealing with the guilt of smuggling. I have to disagree with Billy EJSHS on the terms that being in jail is better than being on the streets. Once in jail, you lose your trust from your friends, your family, because most likely your family would be split up from you, and your future. Billy EJSHS also said,
“They can go to many food pantries that are around areas in which they are. I have firsthand knowledge of this through the food pantry I work in at my church.” Jail does give you food, yet food pantries can give you the same amount or more food, and you can still leave with your trust and respect. Being on the streets would be an overall better decision than choosing to smuggle and risk getting caught and going to jail. I also believe that smuggling or stealing does make you and extremely different person on the inside.
Evan EJSHS said,
March 9, 2008 at 6:46 pm
(1) I would possibly have smuggled if it was the absolute last hope for me to keep money. Chance smuggled because he feared him and his father being homeless and having nowhere to go. I personally have made some tough decisions, but none at this level. (3) Chance was planning on joining the miltary because he honestly had nowhere else to go to. Chance had his father who was a drunk and could barely hold a job. I believe Chance made the best choice for himself.
All in all, this was an awesome book.
9/10 Stars.
Kaitlinshsdoerr4 said,
March 9, 2008 at 8:37 pm
1.Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
I would be homeless because it is better than going to jail.
2.Suddenly I wished I hadn’t said anything. Because how could I explain to her that I wanted somebody to give me orders, that I wanted somebody to tell me what to do? Kids like Melissa- they couldn’t wait to get out on their own, to make decisions. I’d been doing that for a long time, and I was worn out by it.” (pg 170)What do you think about the quote above? Can you imagine wanting to be told what to do? Have you ever been grateful when your parents made a tough decision for you?
I think that if I were in the same position as him I would say the same thing. Yes, I can imagine wanting to be told what to do. Yes, I was very grateful when my parents make a tough decision for me, and kind of happy!
3.What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think that it is pretty cool that they want to join the military. Well, they are different because Chance wants to join for all the right reasons and Brett wants to for all the bad reasons. They are the same by both wanting to join and fight for our country.
Michael EJSHS said,
March 10, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Question 3
What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think joining the military services is a noble choice if it is made for the right reasons. Many people serve our country honorably even though there is the possibility of losing their lives. It is an excellent career choice for someone that wants to attend college but does not have the money to do so.
Chance and Brett’s reasons for wanting to join the military differ. Brett’s desire was to become a hero and obtain glory and recognition. In high school, Brett was a bully and tough guy. Because of this, he felt military life would suit him well. Chance felt he had no other choice but to join. His father and he had limited financial resources and could not afford tuition for college.
Both characters were drawn to military service because their fathers served. They are following in their father’s footsteps.
Response to jjshsdoerr7
I agree that Chance has a more thought out plan for his future. He views the military as a short term goal. It will enable him to develop necessary skills and earn enough money to attend college. Once he is in college, he will be able to move forward with his plans so he can better his life.
seanshsDoerr1 said,
March 12, 2008 at 8:50 pm
The Runner was a very good read that always kept me alert, aware, and into the book, which is more than I can say about others. Overall I am glad that this blog was made, otherwise I would have never thought about reading this book.
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS:
1) Chance faces a very hard and unique situation unlike most others. He is about to become homeless, and the only way to keep a roof over his head is to take a mystery job that will pay for his families expenses. In this particular situation I would have acted just as Chance did. He did not necessarily know that the job was illegal when he took it, he looked at is as an opportunity to stay on his feet financially, and that is what made it alright. Once when I was ten years old, my friend and I were coming back from the beach in Melbourne. We were late and I had missed curfew, the two of us were also a few miles away from our houses. We had a choice to call for a ride, which would get us both in bigger trouble, or ride are bikes and get home even later. It was a long ride with almost no benefit, we were both punished and that was the end of it. This was my tough situation with no clear good choice.
2) Like Chance, I do like a superior person telling me what to do and giving me instruction, this however is only to a certain level of tolerance. My parents have made a few decisions for me that I fought in the beginning, though I was grateful in the end. Chance has never had this so he had to learn from his own mistakes. Like him, I am and would be grateful to have a superior to guide me along the way.
3) Chance and Brett both want to join the military, but for different reasons. Chance desires to military life for the orders and solid financial structure, however, Brett wants to go in for the glory and boasting. In the end they will both would have been fighting for the same thing, America.
Thomas EJSHS said,
March 17, 2008 at 5:26 pm
1) If faced with the same situation as Chance, I would have chosen to be homeless rather than a drug smuggler. If I had chosen to smuggle drugs like Chance than there would have been no backing out of it. They would hunt me down and kill me if I tried to back out of the job. Smuggliing does put money on the table, but at what cost. If caught you are sent to jail which would ruin the rest of your life because most companies do a background check and smuggling would haunt you for the rest of your life.
Billy EJSHS explained in his response to question 1 how one could aquire food if one was homeless, and I completely agree with his way of getting food. Billy EJSHS states that there are many food pantrys in most communities. This makes being homeless much more bareable because food would not be a constant hasle to find. Chance even goes to a food panty to get food in the novella which shows how easy it would be to get food.
Nick EJSH said,
March 19, 2008 at 6:50 pm
If I was in the same situation Chance was in I would smuggle too. I would not want to be homeless. It also would be easy money for someone who needs it really bad. Since he would be doing the same thing he does every day, running, and it is on the same route he takes, he would not look suspicios and he would be still living in a boat.
I agree with what Evan EJSHS said. If it was not the last resort I would not want to smuggle. If you got caught you would be in big trouble. But in Chance’s situation with loosing his home and having a drunk father, I would smuggle to helf my father and keep my home.
Suzy EJSHS said,
March 19, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Chance had a very difficult weight on his shoulders to bear. His father was a druggy that his son had little confidence in to pay the bills. Chance had to find a promising way to earn money to keep the boat, so he concluded he would rather be happier to live with a nagging conscious of horror then be a man about needing help to his friend.
1.) I would have thought about the decision very carefully, but eventually would have started to think straight and own up to my home life’s short-comings. If I had a friend that came to me with the chance to ameliorate the pain and daily worries of wondering if you can sleep in your own bed that night, I would, without and doubt, taken that opportunity. Even though getting paid $200 dollars to do what you do everyday would tempt me, my guilty conscious would quickly over-ride those thoughts. As ConnorEHS said,
“If I were to smuggle, then I would lose everything. I would lose my friends, future career, and trust.” He speaks the truth, many of the blessings one counts everyday would fizzle down to almost nothing, making it not worth doing the drug work.
I’ve never had a decision quite as hard as Chase’s, in fact nothing compares to it in my life. The biggest decision I make on a daily basis is what to wear to school that day, I’ll give Chase his props for making such a difficult choice, most anyone (who aren’t story book characters) would crash under pressure.
Caleb EJSHS said,
March 20, 2008 at 8:50 pm
1) If I was in the same situation as Chance I probably would have done the smuggling. Being homeless for just a small amount of time would make me go insane. Not only would I have to not have food or a shelter, but i would be made fun of for being a “hobo”. I would do anything that I could to get money and have a better lifestyle. As Connor EJSHS said, “If I were to smuggle, then I would lose everything.” In my opinon this is not true. If you are homeless than you have already lost everything mostly respect from your friends. You might as well try to live a somewhat better life.Also, Chance did not know what was in the envelopes until he looked. If he had never noticed it and was caught, he would not have gotten in trouble because of his little knowledge of this job. No I have not ever been in a situation like that, but if I was I would probably have to think about it for a while.
Connor EJSHS also said, “I also believe that smuggling or stealing does make you and extremely different person on the inside.” I do agree with this somewhat, but you have to look at it in a different way. If you were homeless, this would as well make you an extremely different person on the inside. You would have no food, friends, family, or shelter which would, in most cases, lower your self-esteem greatly.
Alex EJsHS said,
March 24, 2008 at 8:50 pm
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
Response:
Chance and Brent’s desires to join the military differ greatly. Brent joined the military because he was going nowhere in life, besides jail. On the contrary, Chance joined the military because he couldn’t live with himself morally if he accepted Melissa’s family’s offer to pay his college tuition. So, their intentions for joining the army were completely different from each other.
Brent Miller, when still in high school, was a punk. According to Chance, the only place Brent was going was either jail or the military. Chance clearly remembers Brent stealing his money and drinking wine with his other green-hair-tipped friends when he was a senior and Chance was a freshman. Which certainly supports Chance’s theory that Brent would be going nowhere in life, less the army or jail.
On the other hand, Chance Taylor joins the army, not out of need, as did Brent Miller, but out of want and pride. When his friend, Melissa’s, parents offered to pay for his tuition for the community college, he declined the offer. It didn’t feel morally right for him to accept that much money from people he had done nothing for. He also states, in the novel, that he wants to be like his father. Not the drunk, unemployed smoker, not the man who got kicked out of the army for a bunch of “stupid little things” like ignoring curfew, but the brave soldier, who never cowered in battle.
Since Chance had no need to join the army, as Melissa’s parents offered to pay for college, why would he join the military? It was purely out of want to be like his brave, proud father. This is obviously unlike the intents of Brent, who joined the army to simply run away from his high school teenage life, and try to simply avoid jail, as Chance, and nearly everyone else believed.
Austinr EJSHS said,
March 24, 2008 at 10:03 pm
3) What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think that joining the military is a good idea if there is no other option. You can get glory, as is Brett’s case, but there is a chance of losing your life. Plus, I think that Chance can’t make his own decisions for himself, and so he needs to have someone tell him what to do so that he doesn’t make his own choices that could end in something bad happening to him.
Chance’s and Brett’s desires to join the military differ because Brett just wanted to join for the glory and recognition of being a wartime hero. Chance, however, had no other choice, since his family was going downhill financially and fast. They were alike because they wanted to follow in their father’s footsteps of becoming a soldier.
Matt M. VHS says “Chance just wants to go because it is the only place he has to go but Brett has other decisions.” I do agree with the fact that Chance has no other place to go in the world to support his family, and I also agree with the fact that Brett has other options, but he can’t get a job anywhere, and he just wants the glory of fighting for his country.
hannaejshs said,
March 25, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Chance desires someone who will tell him what to do with himself. He is afraid of independence as well as maturing into a responsible adult. Although his father is an alcoholic, he admires his father greatly for stepping up as an American and keeping terrorism away, even though it meant putting his own life on the line. Brett’s reason for joining the military is very different from Chance’s, because of the fact that Brett has a disturbing and surreal past, Brett really has no other option other than to join the military.
Eric CHS said,
March 28, 2008 at 11:54 am
this book sounds like a pretty good book i would definately read it.
ross shsdoerr7 said,
April 2, 2008 at 5:07 pm
#1. I would have made the same choice as Chance. I would have chosen smuggling over homelessness. I realize that smuggling is illegal and has a risk of going to prison. But it does also have the possibility of success. Being homeless means that a lot of alternatives are not open to you, including the ability to make money and live a somewhat normal life. It takes money to survive and since he could not count on his father and his mother was never coming back, Chance had to rely on himself. In that situation, I would have become a smuggler to make money so I knew at least we would have food and shelter.
I have been lucky. I have never had to make a tough decision when the choices were all very bad. I have never been in a desperate situation and I hope to avoid them. But I realize that circumstances sometimes get away from personal control. I would never volunteer for a bad situation like that, but I hope I would be up the the challenge and make the right choices.
AmyL EJSHS said,
April 22, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Question # 3
Chance and Brett’s desire to join the military is a very smart move in my opinion. It is great that they want to fight for our country. They both have some different reasons why the want to join the military and some are the same.
Brett’s reason is mainly for popularity and just to say that he joined the military. Since he is in the military he tells all the girls that he fights real hard for the sake of his country and they all think he is a hero. When Brett is asked what he knew about Iraq he avoids the question. He honestly doesn’t know anything about where he is going to be stationed in the military and that lack of information gets him killed when he first gets there. Brett in my opinion is going into the military for all the wrong reasons.
Chance on the other hand wants to go into the military for all the right reasons. He wants to be in the military just like his dad.. He wants to fight for his country and help save his country from destruction. The main thing chance really wants to achieve in the military is to finally go out into the world and do something good for himself and not depend on anybody else’s help.
Chance and Brett both want to go into the military because they want to become their own person. They don’t want to depend on somebody else to give them everything. They both want to do it for the sake of finally being known as a hero and have a special place in somebody’s heart for them.
JeffGEJSH said,
April 24, 2008 at 6:08 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
If I were in Chance’s situation I would have done the smuggling to keep my father and I from being homeless.I have found myself in a tight situation before with no real good choices to choose from but I just chose the lesser of two evils and did a little evil for the greater good just like Chance did when he chose to smuggle those packages.
DavidT.ejshs said,
April 25, 2008 at 8:41 pm
question 1
No dought about it Chance had a tough choice to make. If I was in his place I hope I would have enough morale not to take up the job. But I can never be sure unless the incident took place. But I do know if I chose to so I would regret it the moment i chose to do so. Smuggling drugs is bad no matter what excuse there is for it. It’s just Chance fell into temptation which a lot of people would have and have done. Also you can’t really fault Chance either. Without the money from smuggling he and his father would end up homeless and nowhere to go with their lives. They would lose what little food and shelter they had and Chance had no one else to fall back on but himself due to his father’s drinking habit and how his mother had left him. He was on his own, going to school and having to care for himself and his father. Now that I think of it I probably would end up smuggling because what else would there be to do? No matter what he chose the outcome wouldn’t come out good. I’ve been in a few situations where no matter what choice I made nothing good would come out of it. It’s a hard thing everyone in their lives will have to do sooner or later. There’s no right choice in situations like these, the best I could do, or what anyone else would do is to follow their gut instinct.
zeter said,
April 29, 2008 at 11:13 am
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
i would have gone to try to find a job. if i couldn’t do that then i would have taken that job chase was given it it let me have money and have a place to live
Anderson Yeh EJSHS said,
April 29, 2008 at 4:38 pm
If I was given the choice to become homeless or to smuggle things for a certain group, I think I would have gone with smuggling because being homeless would definitely be more horrible than being forced to smuggle things out for them. It would be a easy job to make money and also eventually u would be able to take them down from the inside for the police. If I was homeless, I would not be able to do anything because of the fact that I have no money, I probably look weird to other people, and most organizations like this one would most likely use homeless people as a scapegoat. To be in Chance’s shoes and have to work because his dad turned into an alcoholic and not having a job, it would be horrible and this chance to earn big money would be basically a sign of a miracle. If I was homeless, there would be nothing for me because of the sole fact that everything costs money. Food, water, a place to live all cost money and if I was homeless, then I would not have anything of that. Many people would think that being homeless would be better than going to jail but that is the definitely the wrong choice. Many people would have chosen to be homeless because of morals. They were bought up to say that smuggling explosives were bad and therefore you should not do it because it would get you into a lot of trouble. That is true, but on the other hand, the people that told you this were probably not homeless people so therefore they wouldn’t know the harsh conditions for homeless people. This is the reason why I would choose to smuggle the explosives.
George EJSHS said,
April 29, 2008 at 4:40 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
If I were faced with chances decision where I had to chose between smuggling or becoming homeless I would smuggle. I know smuggling is breaking the law, but I could not stand to sit on a street corner begging for money, not knowing where my next meal was coming from, or where I would sleep that night. The down side is when you get caught smuggling you will go straight to jail. This may sound weird but I would rather go to jail then be homeless because when your homeless you have to work for everything you get and you get shown no respect. When you go to jail you get fed meals everyday, a bed, and shelter. Both are not good but smuggling would still be my first choice.
I have never been in a situation where the stakes are so drastic, like they will shape the rest of my life, but I have had some unpleasant experiences in my life when I had to make a choice that didn’t work to my advantage before. I don’t want to get too personal so I’ll say just an example I have. For example during exams when you run out of time and you can either rush through it or take your time and just not finish. Both are bad, but you don’t know what’s better, like your on top of a fence and don’t know what side you will fall on.
Overall I liked the book and it was a great story I would recommend this book to everyone.
allen said,
April 29, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Chance is going threw some very hard times in his life right now. His mom leaves him and his family to survive on there own, knowing that they probably won’t with the problem his dad faces. With his dad being an alcoholic who can’t seem to keep a job, he is forced to grow up and take his father responsibilities. Chance not only has to worry about graduating, but he has to worry about keeping up with the bills. He is faced with a tough decision when presented the opportunity to make money really easy. Against his better gut, he goes for it, knowing that this could lose their boat (their home) if this doesn’t work out for him. When things start to get rough, he makes a personal decision to join the military once he has graduated.
I can relate very well to what chance had done. Even though he has to help his dad with his problem, he decides to leave; I can see his view point. But I also think that if he would have tried to find another option it would have worked better for him. It is almost like creating your own answer to the problem. On the contrary, I don’t agree with his decision to leave his dad. Chance and his dad got along well and he had already lost his mom, why would you want to loose something else that you love. It seems like I would want to hold onto and spend as much time as I could with the only parent I had left.
brittshsdoerr6 said,
April 30, 2008 at 8:01 am
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
There decision to join the army were the same in the way they both didnt have any were else to go. They both did not have the money for college. The only thing that i think is different is that Bret cares about serving his country and fighting for it when chance could not care less.
Taylor EJSHS said,
May 12, 2008 at 10:02 pm
3. What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
First off, Chance and Brett’s decisions to join are completely opposite of each other. Brett, the stuck up bully, went into the army because he had no other place to go. This is easily seen from his interview in Arnold’s class, as well as from Chance’s description of him. On the other hand, Chance is entering the military to prove himself to his father, who also served in the army. As one can plainly see, these two people are completely different, and were meant to be that way.
Of course there are a “FEW” similarities. Both had no real future after high school (besides the Watt’s offer to Chance), so the army was really the only place for them to go. Neither excelled in high school like Melissa, so their only real hope was signing up with the army, serving their service, and then using the tuition given to them by the army to get into some sort of college. Both were probably tired of their of their monotonous life style, and neither would have gotten a chance at getting into a good college. Therefore, the army was the truly best option for both of them, regardless of their differences.
MiaEJSH said,
May 12, 2008 at 10:09 pm
What do you think about Chance and Brett’s desires to join the military? How do their intentions differ? How are they the same?
I think that in their given situation that it was basically the only choice that they could make. I personally do not want to join any branch of the military service, but if I was in their situation I would probably have to as well. Chance did not have a family to go to and Brett did not really have a future to look forward to. The military is not a bad option. You basically get free school, a place to stay, and food on your plate. Brett joined the military because he had got himself into some trouble and screwed up in school. Chance joined because he needed the money and he needed the help with college. Their intentions were the same in the fact as it seemed like it was their only option. The military gave them a chance to make something of their life. Even though Brett died, he died fighting for his country and he has left that and that’s what he’ll be remembered for.. Chance joined the military because he really had nowhere else to go. He needed the money so he could go to college support himself. It gave him a place to stay. It was either join the military or be homeless. I bet if Bret he would’ve probably ended up in jail or out on the streets. He was a trouble maker and he was bound to find it to. The military straighten him up and he was able to live respectfully.
Makenna EJSHS said,
May 19, 2008 at 9:33 pm
2. “Suddenly I wished I hadn’t said anything. Because how could I explain to her that I wanted somebody to give me orders, that I wanted somebody to tell me what to do? Kids like Melissa- they couldn’t wait to get out on their own, to make decisions. I’d been doing that for a long time, and I was worn out by it.” (pg 170)What do you think about the quote above? Can you imagine wanting to be told what to do? Have you ever been grateful when your parents made a tough decision for you?
I think the quote makes good sense. Chance envys Melissa and kids like her who aren’t faced with tough decisions. Kids who can rely on trusted authority figures to make the harder decisions for them. I understand how Chance feels in the book. He is tired of making all decisions on his own. I am very grateful that my parents are here to guide me when I face tough decisions. In come cases they decide for me, but in others, my parents work with me and give me advice on what decision I should make.
Michael EJSHS said,
May 20, 2008 at 6:00 pm
1. Chance faces a tough decision, smuggling or becoming homeless? What would you have done in that kind of situation? Have you never found yourself in a tough situation where no choice was a good choice?
If I was given the option of smuggling or becoming homeless, I would definitely smuggle. When your homeless you don’t have anywhere to go but the streets. If you were homeless you would have to beg for food and money all the time. You would need food and water to survive and when your homeless those certain things aren’t easy to come across. Water is maybe a little easier to come by, but food isn’t. By begging for this sort of stuff, and just by being homeless, people tend to look down upon you and give you no respect at all. And sometimes you could go for days with a hungry stomach and start to wonder why you exist anymore. But by smuggling you don’t have to go through with the experience of being homeless. However, if you get caught, you could go to jail. I never really had an experience where any of my choices are good choices. I hope that I wont have to be in a situation where I’ll pinned up against decisions that have no positive outlook. Stealing is bad, but when your in that sort of situation, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Matt EJSHS said,
May 20, 2008 at 9:10 pm
1. I can see why Chance picked smuggling over becoming homeless. He had an opportunity to make a lot of money in order to support himself and his father. However, if I had to make that choice, I would not smuggle in order to make money. There are plenty of other ways Chance could have made money, like getting a better job. That’s what I would have done if I had a guy like Creager yelling at me all the time. Homelessness itself does not mean that your abilities have ended and you’ve reached the end of the line. Plenty of people have been able to turn worse situations around and make a great life for themselves.
Chance’s dad was also getting jobs and making money to live on. If Chance had to leave his boat he could have sucked up his pride and asked Melissa if he could stay at her house for a bit until they got money. He did not think of these alternatives, so he did what he thought would get him money at the expense of his morals. Fortunately, I have yet to make a decision that had no right choice, but I do believe I will face a difficult option in the future because things just happen.