Reading Response 1

Summer Reading Book

Oscar Mendez

804

Tyrell

Coe Booth

     There are times in our lives, where you are forced to step up, get stronger, get bigger, be in charge, because others around are for too imbecile to do what is needed to be done. There are times where you say "F**k this s**t" and go out and do it by yourself, because you have to, because no one else will do it. Things that you shouldn't even have to, fixing up everyone elses' mistakes. Yet we still do it.

     Because you want what's best.

     Tyrell, by Coe Booth, tells the story of a 15 year old young man living in poverty, the lowest of the low, and he's not by himself either, he's accompanied by his mother and 7 year old brother Troy. Tyrell and his family only have a roof over tehir heads because the Emergency Assistance Unit lets them, and its a really messed up way how they got their too. Tyrell's father is a DJ, and sets up parties where hundreds of people attend, and get some real quick cash. At the parties, crazy stuff happens, drugs, illegal beer be sold, pimping, real messed up crap. One day Tyrell's father got caught, and goes to jail, but along with him goes their luxury apartment, nice clothes, and basic utilities. They're left homeless. 

     Evantually Tyrell and his family ends up at Bennet Family Motel, where the EAU put them. The motel is real nasty, the beds are dirty, the place is beat up and old, and it feels like if the roaches are paid to run the place. Tyrell tries to make some money for his family by swiping metrocards, but it's not enough. His mother is far too lazy to work or even look for a job, she prefers to visit Tyrell's father up at Rikers just to not do anything. Bennet is nasty, Troy is going to go to school, and it's winter, and they don't even ahve clothes, Tyrell gets fixiated on getting his family a nice permanent location, and throws a party with his Father's equiptment. In order to make even greater cash, drugs are being sold, as well as alcahol, and even pimping. When tyrell gets back at Bennet with 1800 dollars, he finds that Troy was takened by childrens services, because Tyrell's mom couldn't be bothered to watch him. 

     I believe that the ault of this belongs to not only Troy's mother, but Tyrell, because he went out and did something he definitely shouldn't do, just to get money for his family, he went out and did something that his legal gaurdian couldn't and it cost them. At the same time I don't blame Tyrell, because he did what was needed to be done. he matured to fast, and payed for it, I will venture off into the next book to find out how it went down.

     Thanks for reading!