Chapter 2

"To Wes, Tony was a 'certified gangsta." (page 27)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is role models. With Wes thinking that Tony was a "certified gangsta" had the impression that he looked up to him, as a gangsta, which obviously isn't a good thing. With him looking up to him in this way, has the assumption that he wants to be this way too.

"Mary shuddered every time she left the house and was plotting her escape from Cherry Hill almost as soon as she got there." (page 29)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is the desire to be greater than where you came from. With Mary dreading being where she is from, shows that she desires more than what Cherry Hill, aka the hood, has to offer; so she yearns for something greater.

"Wes didn't act up in class, which kept him under the radar; his teachers spent 90 percent of their time dealing with the 5 percent of kids who did." (page 30)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is the importance of education. With Wes's teachers focusing on a small amount of kids who misbehaved showed how off task they were during a child's education time which prevents them from learning. This effected Wes in the long run even though he was often bored in class because he was smarter he was still getting a cut down from education  he could've been having.

"White Boy would just shrug and say, 'its not my fault. I was born this way." (page 31)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is family and where he came from. With him being in a place surrounded by black people with no friends like himself he is considered black, which is a stereotype in this region that since he behaved in thuggish ways he was considered "black." This shows that where you live and where you come from can mold you into your surroundings.

"He could have fought back on the spot and settled it. But when Wes had looked into the other boy's eyes, he knew that he had to send a message." (page 32)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is overcoming obstacles and life experiences that mold you into what makes you. With Wes running from the fight instead of boxing it out with the kid, it shows a step of maturity, for little boys would fight instead of a growing man. He shows that his own betterment is more important than his pride and his appearance to other people.