Immigration Book Post #2

Quote #1:
1. "Be grateful TV Boy. Have respect. Have you seen the beginning of a war? Picture your neighborhood, and now see the women screaming, the babies being tossed into wells. Watch your brother explode. I want you to be there with me." Said by the narrator, Valentino, the protagonist on page 73.

2. I think this quote answers, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?". The way Valentino describes it, so graphic and depressing to hear, shows that his life in his home country of Sudan was, well, graphic and depressing. Overall, this quote gives some insight of how awry and horrible Valentino's life was when he was in Sudan, and the terrible things he saw.

3. (Personal Connection) I have seen a movie talking about Camp Darfur in 7th grade. It was very descriptive, showing and talking about things similar to this, like women screaming and brothers being killed mercilessly.

4. What do you feel "TV boy" would think and/or do if he could see this scene(s) described by Valentino?

Quote 2:
1. "I eased my way back into the grain, and Micheal, I do not understand why I was so quiet. Why I made no discernible sound. Why that man did not hear me. It was God who decided that the movements of Achak Deng would not produce a sound at that moment." Narrated by Valentino on page 92

2. I think it's significant because it shows Achak believes that God protected him from death. He believes that there was a higher force working on his behalf, and that says something about the way he thinks. It's also one of the closest near-death experiences so far.

3. (Personal Connection) I once saw a movie where a similar things happened. It was about World War 2, when a Jewish boy was hiding from Nazi's in his attic, and he hid under a pile of blankets. I find the situation is very similar to what just happened in the quote.

4. Do you think Achak would have survived getting caught by the man, or been killed?