Big Joe"s Funeral

Today in class I read a story from "145th street called Big Joe's Funeral written by Walter Dean Myers. This story is about Big Joe's "fake" fuineral. Big Joe is a generous, popular and a rich person who helps other people in Harlem. So Big Joe acted like he was dead and all the people came to his funeral. However Peaches, who was really mad spread the news, Big Joe is not dead and sure some people believed her. When the Undertaker was about place Big Joe in the coffin, Big Joe stood up and the party started. So, it was a party all along and all the people enjoyed the party with the food. But, soon the cops came because Peaches told the cops that their were drugs and Big Joe was dissapointed but he got happy later. Then after a while a women called the cops over her husband, who got arrested. However, she wanted money to bail her husband out of jail. So she asked Big Joe for the money, who gave the money to her knowing that she won't pay back. In the ending Big Joe tells them to cry next time when he has a funeral. So all Big Joe wanted to see was how people would act in his funeral. The theme of this story is respect in life because Big Joe wanted to see how people think of him when he dies. This story was very interesting to me because of the funeral party. It was a great story with a big lesson behind it.

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

Being in the gang, Jamal is dealing with many problems and hiding many stuff as well. In order to get his brother out of jail, not only he has to be the leader of Scorpions but also he has to carry a gun around. Dawayne, the kid who always bullie Jamal and Jamal can't stand him making fun of him. Even though Dawayne is way bigger, stronger and popular than Jamal, Jamal isn't really scared because he has a gun. A large crowd of people geathered to see Dawayne baet up Jamal. Jamal then slowly takes out his gun but Dawayne thinks it's fake so he wasn't afraid. However Jamal tells Dawayne that Scorpions don't carry fake guns which makes Dawayne scared. Then Jaml started kicking Dawayne harder and harder. After all that, Jamal walked away from the crowd wondering if Dawayne will tell the principal about the gun. He started crying and realizing the amount of trouble he is in.For a second he didn't care. All he wanted to do was leave sassy and mama and everything. So he gave the gun to Tito and told him to get rid of the gun. Luckily, the principal didn't believe that Jamal had a gun. Now all he wanted to do was to get out of Scorpions before more trouble hits him. Jamal's only hope is to give the gun back to Mack before Indian (anoyher gang) find out and maybe Indian would be the leader of Scorpions.

So far, Jamal had face many problems. I think he will have more problems to get out of the gang and get rid of the gun. If the School knows about him having gun, he might get expelled and also he might get arrested. So i hope he doesn't have any more problems and get his brother out of jail without having problems with Scorpions.

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

On the first couple of chapters of Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers, the main characters are being introduced. Jamal and his little sister ans Sassy are waiting for their mother to return home. Finally mama returns home and tells Jamal how Randy is doing at jail. Randy is Jamal's olde brother. The next morning mama told Jamal to visit Mack, who got out of jail to tell Randy something. Mack and Randy were in the Scorpions gang but Jamal didn't really like gangs and the people in the gang. Life is very difficult for Jamal since his brother went to jail. For instance, he is late to school most of the time, doesn't do homework and always getting trouble. However, Jamal can only trust on his best friend Tito who actually understands Jamal. Randy use to be the leader of Scorpions. So Jamal meets Mack, who wants Jamal to be the leader of Scorpions for 2,000 DOLLARS, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY. Jamal decides to be the leader of Scorpions, so he can get his brother Randy out of jail for 500 dollars. Being in the gang means Jamal has to carry a "gun," which caused him a lot of trouble in scool with a kid named Dawayne who is always getting on Jamal's nerve. Jamal's life sure changed since Randy got in jail. In order for him to get out of the gang he has to get Randy out of jail no matter what. So, Jamal is finding a way to get his brother out of jail. In the ending i found out hat if Jamal keeps up his behaivior, lateness, fighting or no homework, he will be suspended from school. I just can't wait to read what happens next in the Scorpions and so far i'am really enjoying this book.