Letter to Summer Reading Character

703 Churchville Road

Bel Air, Maryland 21014

September 6, 2010

Dear Marcus,

My name is Jonathan, and I am a student at John Carroll School. I enjoyed your book, Black and White by Paul Volponi. I live in Bel Air Maryland two states down from New York. You had a crazy summer, but so did I. I went to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands with my family. My family and I did all sorts of things. We snorkeled, we attempted to surf, and my sisters and mom took a whole day just for shopping. This is a picture of me on the ferry ride over to St. John, an island right next to St. Thomas’s. I also had a few awesome parties over the summer. Like my neighbors’ awesome block party.

I loved your novel, Black and White. When the police came and arrested you, you kept a level head and stayed calm. You never lost it and went haywire or did something you thought could not worsen your state anymore, like smoking. When the police asked you to reveal Eddie, your best friend, to take blame off you, you held your bond with Eddie so closely that you would not give him up..

The author kept the book real, and down to Earth. Everything that happened in the book could happen to anyone who’s committed a crime with a friend. You were very realistic to me. You had all the problems and worries a normal teenage boy would have. You worried about fashion trends and how your appearance was and other superficial things.

What did it feel like when Eddie cared for himself more than you? Did you ever cry when thinking about what happened? Do you think the justice system was racist? I thought the court system was racist, but in a way that was under the radar.

This book made me think twice about the racist issue. Today, racism is against the law and you could be sued. Racism is still a big problem though. People stereotype blacks to use slang, be criminals, or they see blacks as having to be great at a sport. Blacks could be anything they want to be, like a doctor, or a lawyer.

I would try to fix your relationship with Eddie through letters while you are serving your time in jail. Your friendship with Eddie is far greater than almost anything the world may throw at you. Goodbye and good luck.

Sincerely,
Jonathan K