How do you think Dana's situation in life would be different had she not been introduced to Brent and Ashley? Explain your thinking and support your answer with examples from the story.
This is an excellent question. I really look forward to seeing what your group members write in response to this thought-provoking prompt. Well done! I hope the discussion gets started this weekend and we can share some of this as inspiration next week!
Dana was lucky to have met Brent and Ashley. If she had not met them, she would have gone back home, or if she really didn't want to go back home, she would have stayed in the city. If she did the latter then she would have most likely gone home anyway because of starvation. She even said herself (on page six) that if she had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley she would have not known what to do. Her only option was to go back home, but then she decided that she would never go back home. If I ran away I wouldn't last a day in a city where I didn't know anyone, and I'm sure the same goes for any other teenager. Dana was very lucky to have met Brent and Ashley, who became her new companions. They provided her support and comfort, as a result, she didn't feel the need to go back home. Once she befriended the two, she didn't have to return to the company of her evil stepfather. Therefore, Brent and Ashley were a blessing in her life.
This was an excellent question to respond to! This is my response to Andrianna's question for the book, Sketches by Eric Walters.
Dana's situation in life would be different if she had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley, because Dana would not have anyone to help her survive on the streets of Downtown Toronto. When she first met Brent and Ashley, she didn't know if she could trust them, but she didn't really care if they were trustworthy or not, because she thought it would be more terrfiying to be out on the the streets alone than with two strangers. By three weeks though, she couldn't have been more grateful to have had Brent and Ashley to help her, because if she didn't have them, she might have went home. No matter how hard things get on the street, Dana feels she can't go home because of the harmful relationship between her and her stepfather, which was the reason why she ran away in the first place. The proof that I have for this answer is on page 6, paragraph 1, starting at the end of line 3. It says, "At first I was pretty nervous, wondering if I could trust them. But really, what choice did I have? It was more scary to be alone than to trust those two, so I swallowed my fear. Now three weeks later, I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't taken me under their wings. Maybe I would have had to go home...No...I was never going home." Now Brent and Ashley have been with Dana to help her cope with life on the streets. They comforted her when she needed it, like the time she met that man who offered her two twenty dollar bills, but only to have sex with him, but she didn't want to and a policeman came because she was yelling at him and calling him a pervert. When Dana burst into tears, Brent hugged her and Ashley was there for her too. Also, in the end of this section of our reading, they stayed a night in a motel room using the two twenty dollar bills, and each had a shower. This shows that Dana had begun to trust them, because they were strangers to Dana at the start, but they were the only people she had, and she really had no choice because she would rather be with strangers than alone. In conclusion to this response, I would say that Dana was thankful to have been introduced to Brent and Ashley, and if that never happened, Dana would struggle with life on the streets in Downtown Toronto. Maybe she would have not even survived if she was on her own. She might have gotten hurt or got into trouble if she was alone.
What does everyone else think about this question? Me and Sara pretty much have the same idea going on in our responses, and I totally agree with what she posted. Were there any words that you found in the first section of the reading that you never even heard of or never knew the definition of? Maybe someone will not know the same words that someone else will not know! Ottawa-Oshawa DigLitCircs are so awesome already!
We do have the same idea going on Melissa and I agree with your response as well. Dana would have not been able to survive in a city that is not well known to her, all by herself. Well, I found some very interesting words like extort and dissipated. Which words did the rest of you find interesting? I just want to say that the part about the perverted man giving her money if she just did one 'small favour' for him came out of no where and I didn't expect it at all. It was pretty creepy. I can't wait to read everyone's response. This was a very interesting question Andrianna!
I absolutely agree with you Sara, the part with Dana and the pervert REALLY creeped me out. It's a relief that in the end Dana didn't give him the "small favour", (What Sara calls "IT".) and screamed at the top of her lungs for help, even though it didn't work out with the policeman which was too bad. I also haven't heard of the word "dissipated", (Page 15, paragraph 2) and I looked it up in the dictionary. It means indulging too much in evil or foolish pleasures. I also never heard of the word "derelict", (Page 35, paragraph 4) and I looked that up in the dictionary, and that means abandoned, forsaken or deserted. The third word that I've never heard was the word "embankment", (Page 35, paragraph 1) and I looked in the dictionary again, and that means a raised bank of earth, stones used to hold back water or the support of a roadway, etc. The final word I've never heard of was the word "abutments", (Page 36,paragraph 3) and when I looked that up in the dictionary, it means a support for an arch or bridge. Did anyone else find any of the same words that I did? That would be so cool! If you never knew any of these words and what they meant, now you know. Everyone else reading Sketches needs to join the party, because Sketches discussion #1 has begun!
I think Dana's situation would have been different on the streets without Brent and Ashley because without them she would not be as protected or have as much money. It is said in the book that the three of them put all their money together to purchase higher quantities of food that they would not be able to afford on their own. Brent and Ashley show Dana how they secretly beg for money on the streets which she benefited from. Brent and Ashley also benefit from Dana because more people actually believe that she needs to get home and is not really a street kid. I think Brent benefits the most from Dana and Ashley though because he is a boy and seems scary to most(which results in him not getting much money). He is also said to be strong and tough which comes to Dana's advantage because she is young and could be easily hurt. Without Brent and Ashley, Dana would be more likely to become involved in drugs or worse, prostitution. Also Brent and Ashley give Dana company. Had she been lonely there would be more possibility of her returning to her home (which by what she told us is not a very pleasant place). Not to say that she has it easy but I think Dana really benefits from having Brent and Ashley in her little "street family."
I think Dana's situation would have been really different, and tough. Maybe she would have met other people who are better than Brent and Ashley. However, from what I read so far, I think Dana is really luck that she has met them. Brent and Ashley seem to have had a lot of experience on the streets and know how to deal with a lot of different situations that might come upon them. So I think Dana would have had a really hard time finding a place to sleep and ways to get some change to buy her food to feed on. Although Brent and Ashley seem to be a bad influence about smoking and drinking at this age, Dana seems not to enjoy those things they as they refer to it as their "entertainment"! But who wouldn't do that if they lived on the streets, right? They need a way to forget about the pain they have suffered. On the other hand, I found that Dana can entertain herself with the graffiti she draws under the bridge. And it’s great that they are her age to be able to understand her and be able to communicate since they might have the same way of thinking and making connections. So Dana could have met people who are in around the age 17 - 21 or older who are absolutely going to give her a hard time and push her around. And also maybe tease her about the fact that she's only 14 and she's already living on the streets. They might have also forced her to smoke or drink rather than offering it or talking about it like Brent and Ashley did. So I think Ashely and Brent aren't that influencing as other people might have if Dana has met them. So her life would have been very different and difficult. And maybe it would have been normal if she met other people, Right? Here's a question I'd like to ask too.
Do you think Dana might sell her virginty for money if life gets tough, like the man in the subway had said? Explain your thinking.
I agree with both Melissa and Sara. In the beginning it didn't matter if they were trustworthy, she just needed a helping hand. But sometimes you have to trust the people around you even when you don't feel comfortable with it and this is life. Sometimes you have to do something you don't enjoy or tottaly dislike. So, in Dana's situation she had no choice!
I think it's really interesting how Haneen brought up that she might have met better friends than Ashley and Brent. I didn't think about that but it completely makes sense, good point! Melissa, good job on writing the page numbers, you can really tell how much effort you put into your posts! Sara, I completely agree with what your whole post said, especially that Ashley and Brent were a blessing in her life. And Andianna, excellent question! I would never have though up of such an interesting question that is open to many different interpretations.
Well Haneen, I think Dana would have lost her virginity if she never met Brent and Ashley. Without them she would starve and most of the time when people starve they would do anything. Remember when Dana found out that Ashley had lost her virginity (page thirty)? Ashley said " Sometimes...you do what you have to do" and she probably did that before she met Brent. That's why Dana was so lucky to have met Brent and Ashley.
Sara, I also recall her saying that ever street kid ends up losing their virginity at some point so perhaps she still will. I'm not sure though, maybe Brent will use the money to buy drugs and then they wont have enough money left for food. Hopefully she doesn't have to though, that would be really sad. If Brent and Ashley quit smoking they would have a lot more money for food but I don't think that's going to happen because Brent said he would rather have cigarettes than food.
Hannah, you make an excellent point! The three are in this together ever since they first met, and they were scamming people one by one to give them money. So when they put all their money together, they could purchase even better necessities than just one person with money. It's almost triple than what Dana would get if she hadn't met Brent and Ashley. I say almost triple, because Brent doesn't get as much money as Ashley and Dana do when he's scamming, because he's one tough cookie. She might've not have even survived if she kept it up, because people might've knew that she was poor and needed some money, and they would stop giving her money, and the she might be arrested for scamming people to give them money (Whatever crime that suits it the most.) Great answer Hannah!
Wow! Good point there Sara. Yes, I think she is really thankful that she have met them. However, what if Ashley and Brent and Dana don't have anyway of getting money or food anymore? They're going to go the though if they trusted Erick Robertson ( The man who gave Dana his business card) and went to the centre, I think they would not have to do the things they don't want to do!
Yes, I agree with Melissa and Hannah. If they quit smoking they would have more money. And I also like how Dana thinks it's "disguting" to smoke. Because I think the same way too! So if Brent and Ashley find another way to "entertain" themselves, they would have much more money. I have respect for Dana because she chose street art to entertain herself other than drinking and smoking. However, I am scared she'll change over time. Because if you interact with people for a long time you'll start acting like them. And even if you don't just being one of the group might give a people an idea that you're just like them. So I hope she doesn't change her mind with time!
Great answer Haneen, and great question too. I agree with Sara that Dana would've lost her viginity if life gets tough. Perverts would give you any amount of money to do "it" with them, and if Dana couldn't get any money and was so hungry that she could die, you definitely need to do what you have to do. (Just like Ashley said on Page 30 when Ashley lost her virginity.) However, would she scream at the pervert if he gives Dana money to have sex with him just like the last time? I'm not sure, but I'm going closer to an I don't think so. If you were Dana, would you rather have sex for money to have food, a clean shower, etc. or have an untimely death on the streets from starvation? You never know what'll happen on the streets.
I actually never thought about how Brent might do something stupid again Hannah. Well, Ashely said if he ever used all their money for drugs again she would punish him, and I think she's actually going to do that. Maybe Dana will go into the prostitution buisness, but I doubt it. Brent and Ashley are really trustworthy. I agree with Haneen, if she goes to the art centre then maybe she could let out some of her feelings there.
Yes, that's true! I think she already have started expressing her feelings through her art work under the bridge. Robert Erickson has already became a fan of her art work!
I predict that she's going to go to the centre and express herself through art even more and more than she have already started. And as it said in the back of the book, she starts to paint hints of why she left home and decided to live in the squats and streets of downtown Toronto.
I think Haneen might be right about Dana going to the art centre and expressing her feelings. One thing that I don't get is why it says something about how Dana might kill someone (says that on the back cover). I think that Dana will probably decide to kill her stepfather, but once she goes to the art centre and starts expressing herself with a paint brush, she might change her mind. If what her stepfather did to her was really horrible then maybe she might tell the police and everything might get sorted out at the end, hopefully, but we haven't read that far yet and so far anything can happen.
Wow! Great stuff here, ladies. Your Oshawa buddies have a lot of reading to catch up on!
You've raised a lot of interesting points and questions and are exploring them in a wonderfully mature, respectful way.
This book brings up a lot of very serious issues, and I'm proud of how you're all exploring them.
Also, I'm thrilled with how fully you are crafting your answers. Most of you began your answer by stating your opinion on the question, while still making the question clear. You've used excellent evidence from the section to back up your points and you are linking to insightful big ideas. Really, really well done.
I'm blown away by this discussion.
I can't wait to see what this group has in store for us next!
I also like that you're asking each other more, even deeper questions. I can tell you're really enjoying the book and the ideas that it is bringing up for you.
Also, I thought it was neat how Hannah noted that perhaps Brent benefits the most from knowing the two girls. This is a point of view that had not occurred to me.
I agree with everyone that her life would be very different. But, maybe it would have been better for Dana to not have met Brent, and Ashley. If she had not have met them she probably would have gone home. Even tho she has problems with her step dad, there is always ways to make that better. Like telling her mom, teachers, or other family members. Life be better for Dana at home where shes safe then on the streets, with perverted men, and cops who will psychically hurt you. I also agree with Haneen. That she could have met better friends then Brent, and Ashley. I think that they are bad influences on Dana, like it says in the book, once Brent took valuable money for eating and spent it on drugs. Also it says that Ashley has traded money for sexual favors. So hanging out with Brent, and Ashley might not do much good for Dana. A word that me and some others from Hillsdale found intriguing was embankment(page 42). Sara, I found it really interesting that you predict Dana might kill someone. To me she seems to much of a good person to even consider that. I myself have two predictions. Either Dana will go home because Brent, or Ashley do something that really bothers her and she realizes she should go home. Or, she gets in trouble with the police, or someone at the art center, so her mom comes to pick her up. It was very interesting to read everyone's comments. It's to bad I hadn't commented earlier so I could have joined this lively conversation.
I do think that Dana killing someone or getting into prostitution would make the book interesting, however, being a teen novel I don't think the book would go too deep into mature topics. Arianna, you did a splendid job at showing both sides (good and bad) to Dana meeting Brent. To answer Melissa's question: If I were desperate for money I would have sex for money because even though it's a horrible--not to mention illegal--business anything is better than death. Haneen, I agree with you and Dana, smoking is disgusting! I wonder why so many street kinds smoke when it eats a way at such a big chunk of what little money they have. I know a lot of street kids either run away from a bad situation at home or a kicked out by their parents for whatever reason so perhaps it's some other reason that caused them to start smoking. I wonder how Brent and Ashley get cigarettes when they're under age. I guess Brent know some drug dealers that could buy them for him. Haneen, you said that Brent and Ashley need another way to "entertain" themselves, perhaps through art at Sketches! So far out of the three, Brent is my favourite character and I'm not a huge fan of Ashley's because of the way she acts towards Dana. What do you guys think?
At first my favourite character was Robert Erickson (the guy that works at Sketches) because i didn't really find the other characters interesting. I think Ashley is a bit mean to Dana, but she's also nice to her. All of them including Ashley work together for money and they're basically a family now, so she's not really mean to Dana at all. I guess sometimes Ashley gets jealous about how perfect Dana's life may be compared to her own life and that's why she says some rude jokes. Then I guess Ashley isn't that bad. Brent is probably my favourite character so far because he looks tough (and he actually is tough), but he has a loving heart. He only gets tough when someone is ganging up on Dana or Ashley. I remember when Brent did the stupidest thing ever. It happened before Dana came into the picture and it was only Ashley and Brent. They collected money and Brent said that he was going to go buy a meal for them. Instead of getting a meal for both of them to eat, he buys a bunch of drugs and gets stoned. That's something that I know Ashley will never forget, even now she gets worried whenever buys the meals. Although he did that I still think he's my favourite character. Dana is also a character that I like. I feel sorry for her and it seems like she's a likeable person. I find it interesting how Arianna thinks it would have been better if Dana never met Brent and Ashley because then she would have to go home and stand up to her cruel stepfather. I think her stepfather probably beats her and that's why she doesn't want to go home if her mom was not there. If her stepfather did beat her than maybe it was better that she ran away, but she should have told the police, maybe she would later on in the book. I hope the book tells us what her stepfather did to her because I really want to know what kind of cruel deed he did to her
My favorite character was Dana. Sara, I find it interesting that Robert was your favorite character. Because his name never came to mind when I was thinking of who my favorite character was. Hannah, well I'm guessing that Brent just grew up in a really bad environment. So from a young age he was exposed to very poisonous things. Maybe that was part of the reason why he lives on the streets now. Sara, I am also dieing to know what her step dad did. I was predicting maybe he sexually abused her. Any predictions of your own?
Well Dana's stepfather could have sexually abused her, but I think he physically abused her and beat her. Maybe he even abused her mom and she felt scared, so that's why she ran away. I also think that he probably only beat her when no one else was home, so that's why she didn't like going home before her mom was there. I cannot wait to read more of the book!
Wow, so much discussion going on here I don't know if i can keep up with it all. In response to the discussion question: The way I think Dana's situation in life would be different had she not be introduced to Brent and Ashley, would be worse then her situation is now because with Brent and Ashley at her side living on the streets isn't all that bad, when I living on the streets alone you're going to get into many brawls, do drugs, prostitution, all sorts of crimes. I don't think that Dana is out very outgoing if Brent and Ashley had not approached Dana she would not have found anyone to help her show her the way of the streets. In the end if Dana had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley I think she would be dead by now, the reason I think this is because it states in the book Dana has lived her whole life in the suburbs, she has no experience living on the streets, which from this I would infer that she would NEVER survive living on the streets without the help from Brent and Ashley, that is why I think she would end up being killed or just dying. In response to the question that Sara asked I didn't quite know what the word establishment meant so I looked up the meaning and found out that it means a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc. And another word was initially a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc. In answer to what Haneen asked I truly don't think that Dana would she is too innocent and naive to do something that early in the game, I also don't think things are going to get that bad for the three of them. My answer to what Hannah said my favourite character I would have to be Brent also because he is a very protective person of the two girls and even though he sometimes has to find an escape from it all, he looks out for them and acts like a big brother, I have an older brother and I know when we were younger he would always look out for me when we went on our little adventures, I also think it very important that there is a male to protect them in their group because if they didn't have tough looking Brent I am sure the two girls would have to go into some sort of "business" to get more money so that they would be able to survive, I also think that without a male they would get into a lot more trouble with street people because there is no one looking out for the girls. For what Arianna said though I agree with you I think her dad did sexually abuse her or at least try to, hence the reason she freaked out so much when the man asked her to go out into the ally for a couple of minutes. I'm really upset that i didn't get to join this conversation sooner I guess I'll just have to get on the next discussion question sooner.
I agree with Arianna that Dana might have been sexually abused by her step-father but she mentioned not wanting to use her virginity on the streets. Perhaps she still was though, or maybe like Sara said she was physically abused. It might also just be a Hamlet type situation because we don't know what happened to Dana's real father. I'm guessing Brent might have lost his parents and didn't want to live with adoptive or foster parents or he was kicked out by his parents because he's been on the streets for so long. He seems like a really nice guy even though he's tough (pretty much what Sara said) and he's into drugs. I am eager to learn more about Brent suchas why he is on the streets.
You guys pretty much summed everything up. I think Dana's situation would be a lot worse than it would have been had she not found Brent and Ashley. She would be having a very tough time by herself. She's too nice with everything and wouldn't last because when some people push you around or looks like their going to hurt her, she might panic and start walking in the opposite direction letting them know she's scared and worried which might lead to them following her. Dana's also too nice because on page 71, when Brent took some of the guy's blankets, Dana asked if he really wanted to do that. If it was life and death, between you and someone you don't even know, you'd want to survive. So to me, I think that Brent and Ashley are Dana's saviors.
I like how Hannah related back to a book she read in the past. I sort of agree with Hannah, in Hamlet we do not get a clear idea of what happened to Hamlet's father. Maybe this book will tell us why she hates her stepfather so much, after all we just read the beginning chapters. I really hope she does tell us because I'm dying to know! This book reminds me of Cinderella and her stepmother.
This has been an awesome discussion, and everyone's answers were very thought-provoking! Also, great question to begin our Skethches discussions with Andrianna! I posted my question on my blog to start our second discussion of Sketches! Check it out!
I think that if Dana had not met Brent and Ashley she wouldn't have lasted as the reason she's staying out on the streets is because of them. I'm not saying that Brent and Ashley are holding her back but when Dana went out by herself and did what she enjoyed and expressed herself she was noticed and that got her the opportunity to meet with people who would help her get off of the streets and reunite with her mom it also allowed her to open up about her step father and do the right thing about it. Without Brent Ashley she wouldn't last long the streets because they are her family out on the streets, this way she can escape from her step father and still feel loved and needed.
36 comments:
Hi Andrianna,
This is an excellent question. I really look forward to seeing what your group members write in response to this thought-provoking prompt. Well done! I hope the discussion gets started this weekend and we can share some of this as inspiration next week!
Miss P
Dana was lucky to have met Brent and Ashley. If she had not met them, she would have gone back home, or if she really didn't want to go back home, she would have stayed in the city. If she did the latter then she would have most likely gone home anyway because of starvation. She even said herself (on page six) that if she had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley she would have not known what to do. Her only option was to go back home, but then she decided that she would never go back home. If I ran away I wouldn't last a day in a city where I didn't know anyone, and I'm sure the same goes for any other teenager. Dana was very lucky to have met Brent and Ashley, who became her new companions. They provided her support and comfort, as a result, she didn't feel the need to go back home. Once she befriended the two, she didn't have to return to the company of her evil stepfather. Therefore, Brent and Ashley were a blessing in her life.
This was an excellent question to respond to! This is my response to Andrianna's question for the book, Sketches by Eric Walters.
Dana's situation in life would be different if she had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley, because Dana would not have anyone to help her survive on the streets of Downtown Toronto. When she first met Brent and Ashley, she didn't know if she could trust them, but she didn't really care if they were trustworthy or not, because she thought it would be more terrfiying to be out on the the streets alone than with two strangers. By three weeks though, she couldn't have been more grateful to have had Brent and Ashley to help her, because if she didn't have them, she might have went home. No matter how hard things get on the street, Dana feels she can't go home because of the harmful relationship between her and her stepfather, which was the reason why she ran away in the first place. The proof that I have for this answer is on page 6, paragraph 1, starting at the end of line 3. It says, "At first I was pretty nervous, wondering if I could trust them. But really, what choice did I have? It was more scary to be alone than to trust those two, so I swallowed my fear. Now three weeks later, I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't taken me under their wings. Maybe I would have had to go home...No...I was never going home." Now Brent and Ashley have been with Dana to help her cope with life on the streets. They comforted her when she needed it, like the time she met that man who offered her two twenty dollar bills, but only to have sex with him, but she didn't want to and a policeman came because she was yelling at him and calling him a pervert. When Dana burst into tears, Brent hugged her and Ashley was there for her too. Also, in the end of this section of our reading, they stayed a night in a motel room using the two twenty dollar bills, and each had a shower. This shows that Dana had begun to trust them, because they were strangers to Dana at the start, but they were the only people she had, and she really had no choice because she would rather be with strangers than alone. In conclusion to this response, I would say that Dana was thankful to have been introduced to Brent and Ashley, and if that never happened, Dana would struggle with life on the streets in Downtown Toronto. Maybe she would have not even survived if she was on her own. She might have gotten hurt or got into trouble if she was alone.
What does everyone else think about this question? Me and Sara pretty much have the same idea going on in our responses, and I totally agree with what she posted. Were there any words that you found in the first section of the reading that you never even heard of or never knew the definition of? Maybe someone will not know the same words that someone else will not know! Ottawa-Oshawa DigLitCircs are so awesome already!
We do have the same idea going on Melissa and I agree with your response as well. Dana would have not been able to survive in a city that is not well known to her, all by herself. Well, I found some very interesting words like extort and dissipated. Which words did the rest of you find interesting? I just want to say that the part about the perverted man giving her money if she just did one 'small favour' for him came out of no where and I didn't expect it at all. It was pretty creepy. I can't wait to read everyone's response. This was a very interesting question Andrianna!
I absolutely agree with you Sara, the part with Dana and the pervert REALLY creeped me out. It's a relief that in the end Dana didn't give him the "small favour", (What Sara calls "IT".) and screamed at the top of her lungs for help, even though it didn't work out with the policeman which was too bad. I also haven't heard of the word "dissipated", (Page 15, paragraph 2) and I looked it up in the dictionary. It means indulging too much in evil or foolish pleasures. I also never heard of the word "derelict", (Page 35, paragraph 4) and I looked that up in the dictionary, and that means abandoned, forsaken or deserted. The third word that I've never heard was the word "embankment", (Page 35, paragraph 1) and I looked in the dictionary again, and that means a raised bank of earth, stones used to hold back water or the support of a roadway, etc. The final word I've never heard of was the word "abutments", (Page 36,paragraph 3) and when I looked that up in the dictionary, it means a support for an arch or bridge. Did anyone else find any of the same words that I did? That would be so cool! If you never knew any of these words and what they meant, now you know. Everyone else reading Sketches needs to join the party, because Sketches discussion #1 has begun!
I think Dana's situation would have been different on the streets without Brent and Ashley because without them she would not be as protected or have as much money. It is said in the book that the three of them put all their money together to purchase higher quantities of food that they would not be able to afford on their own. Brent and Ashley show Dana how they secretly beg for money on the streets which she benefited from. Brent and Ashley also benefit from Dana because more people actually believe that she needs to get home and is not really a street kid. I think Brent benefits the most from Dana and Ashley though because he is a boy and seems scary to most(which results in him not getting much money). He is also said to be strong and tough which comes to Dana's advantage because she is young and could be easily hurt. Without Brent and Ashley, Dana would be more likely to become involved in drugs or worse, prostitution. Also Brent and Ashley give Dana company. Had she been lonely there would be more possibility of her returning to her home (which by what she told us is not a very pleasant place). Not to say that she has it easy but I think Dana really benefits from having Brent and Ashley in her little "street family."
I think Dana's situation would have been really different, and tough. Maybe she would have met other people who are better than Brent and Ashley. However, from what I read so far, I think Dana is really luck that she has met them. Brent and Ashley seem to have had a lot of experience on the streets and know how to deal with a lot of different situations that might come upon them. So I think Dana would have had a really hard time finding a place to sleep and ways to get some change to buy her food to feed on. Although Brent and Ashley seem to be a bad influence about smoking and drinking at this age, Dana seems not to enjoy those things they as they refer to it as their "entertainment"! But who wouldn't do that if they lived on the streets, right? They need a way to forget about the pain they have suffered. On the other hand, I found that Dana can entertain herself with the graffiti she draws under the bridge. And it’s great that they are her age to be able to understand her and be able to communicate since they might have the same way of thinking and making connections. So Dana could have met people who are in around the age 17 - 21 or older who are absolutely going to give her a hard time and push her around. And also maybe tease her about the fact that she's only 14 and she's already living on the streets. They might have also forced her to smoke or drink rather than offering it or talking about it like Brent and Ashley did. So I think Ashely and Brent aren't that influencing as other people might have if Dana has met them. So her life would have been very different and difficult. And maybe it would have been normal if she met other people, Right?
Here's a question I'd like to ask too.
Do you think Dana might sell her virginty for money if life gets tough, like the man in the subway had said? Explain your thinking.
I agree with both Melissa and Sara. In the beginning it didn't matter if they were trustworthy, she just needed a helping hand. But sometimes you have to trust the people around you even when you don't feel comfortable with it and this is life. Sometimes you have to do something you don't enjoy or tottaly dislike. So, in Dana's situation she had no choice!
I think it's really interesting how Haneen brought up that she might have met better friends than Ashley and Brent. I didn't think about that but it completely makes sense, good point! Melissa, good job on writing the page numbers, you can really tell how much effort you put into your posts! Sara, I completely agree with what your whole post said, especially that Ashley and Brent were a blessing in her life. And Andianna, excellent question! I would never have though up of such an interesting question that is open to many different interpretations.
Well Haneen, I think Dana would have lost her virginity if she never met Brent and Ashley. Without them she would starve and most of the time when people starve they would do anything. Remember when Dana found out that Ashley had lost her virginity (page thirty)? Ashley said " Sometimes...you do what you have to do" and she probably did that before she met Brent. That's why Dana was so lucky to have met Brent and Ashley.
Sara, I also recall her saying that ever street kid ends up losing their virginity at some point so perhaps she still will. I'm not sure though, maybe Brent will use the money to buy drugs and then they wont have enough money left for food. Hopefully she doesn't have to though, that would be really sad. If Brent and Ashley quit smoking they would have a lot more money for food but I don't think that's going to happen because Brent said he would rather have cigarettes than food.
Hannah, you make an excellent point! The three are in this together ever since they first met, and they were scamming people one by one to give them money. So when they put all their money together, they could purchase even better necessities than just one person with money. It's almost triple than what Dana would get if she hadn't met Brent and Ashley. I say almost triple, because Brent doesn't get as much money as Ashley and Dana do when he's scamming, because he's one tough cookie. She might've not have even survived if she kept it up, because people might've knew that she was poor and needed some money, and they would stop giving her money, and the she might be arrested for scamming people to give them money (Whatever crime that suits it the most.) Great answer Hannah!
Wow! Good point there Sara. Yes, I think she is really thankful that she have met them. However, what if Ashley and Brent and Dana don't have anyway of getting money or food anymore? They're going to go the though if they trusted Erick Robertson ( The man who gave Dana his business card) and went to the centre, I think they would not have to do the things they don't want to do!
Yes, I agree with Melissa and Hannah. If they quit smoking they would have more money. And I also like how Dana thinks it's "disguting" to smoke. Because I think the same way too! So if Brent and Ashley find another way to "entertain" themselves, they would have much more money. I have respect for Dana because she chose street art to entertain herself other than drinking and smoking. However, I am scared she'll change over time. Because if you interact with people for a long time you'll start acting like them. And even if you don't just being one of the group might give a people an idea that you're just like them. So I hope she doesn't change her mind with time!
Great answer Haneen, and great question too. I agree with Sara that Dana would've lost her viginity if life gets tough. Perverts would give you any amount of money to do "it" with them, and if Dana couldn't get any money and was so hungry that she could die, you definitely need to do what you have to do. (Just like Ashley said on Page 30 when Ashley lost her virginity.) However, would she scream at the pervert if he gives Dana money to have sex with him just like the last time? I'm not sure, but I'm going closer to an I don't think so. If you were Dana, would you rather have sex for money to have food, a clean shower, etc. or have an untimely death on the streets from starvation? You never know what'll happen on the streets.
Where are the people in Miss Crosbie's class? They're missing everything! The discussion would be even better with them here!
I actually never thought about how Brent might do something stupid again Hannah. Well, Ashely said if he ever used all their money for drugs again she would punish him, and I think she's actually going to do that. Maybe Dana will go into the prostitution buisness, but I doubt it. Brent and Ashley are really trustworthy. I agree with Haneen, if she goes to the art centre then maybe she could let out some of her feelings there.
Yes, that's true! I think she already have started expressing her feelings through her art work under the bridge. Robert Erickson has already became a fan of her art work!
I predict that she's going to go to the centre and express herself through art even more and more than she have already started. And as it said in the back of the book, she starts to paint hints of why she left home and decided to live in the squats and streets of downtown Toronto.
Anyone has any other predictions?
I think Haneen might be right about Dana going to the art centre and expressing her feelings. One thing that I don't get is why it says something about how Dana might kill someone (says that on the back cover). I think that Dana will probably decide to kill her stepfather, but once she goes to the art centre and starts expressing herself with a paint brush, she might change her mind. If what her stepfather did to her was really horrible then maybe she might tell the police and everything might get sorted out at the end, hopefully, but we haven't read that far yet and so far anything can happen.
Hi girls,
I KNEW this was going to be a juicy discussion. I just have to go through and read all your posts now! I am SUPER impressed. Fabulously done!
Wow! Great stuff here, ladies. Your Oshawa buddies have a lot of reading to catch up on!
You've raised a lot of interesting points and questions and are exploring them in a wonderfully mature, respectful way.
This book brings up a lot of very serious issues, and I'm proud of how you're all exploring them.
Also, I'm thrilled with how fully you are crafting your answers. Most of you began your answer by stating your opinion on the question, while still making the question clear. You've used excellent evidence from the section to back up your points and you are linking to insightful big ideas. Really, really well done.
I'm blown away by this discussion.
I can't wait to see what this group has in store for us next!
I also like that you're asking each other more, even deeper questions. I can tell you're really enjoying the book and the ideas that it is bringing up for you.
Also, I thought it was neat how Hannah noted that perhaps Brent benefits the most from knowing the two girls. This is a point of view that had not occurred to me.
I agree with everyone that her life would be very different. But, maybe it would have been better for Dana to not have met Brent, and Ashley. If she had not have met them she probably would have gone home. Even tho she has problems with her step dad, there is always ways to make that better. Like telling her mom, teachers, or other family members. Life be better for Dana at home where shes safe then on the streets, with perverted men, and cops who will psychically hurt you.
I also agree with Haneen. That she could have met better friends then Brent, and Ashley. I think that they are bad influences on Dana, like it says in the book, once Brent took valuable money for eating and spent it on drugs. Also it says that Ashley has traded money for sexual favors. So hanging out with Brent, and Ashley might not do much good for Dana.
A word that me and some others from Hillsdale found intriguing was embankment(page 42).
Sara, I found it really interesting that you predict Dana might kill someone. To me she seems to much of a good person to even consider that. I myself have two predictions. Either Dana will go home because Brent, or Ashley do something that really bothers her and she realizes she should go home. Or, she gets in trouble with the police, or someone at the art center, so her mom comes to pick her up.
It was very interesting to read everyone's comments. It's to bad I hadn't commented earlier so I could have joined this lively conversation.
I do think that Dana killing someone or getting into prostitution would make the book interesting, however, being a teen novel I don't think the book would go too deep into mature topics. Arianna, you did a splendid job at showing both sides (good and bad) to Dana meeting Brent. To answer Melissa's question: If I were desperate for money I would have sex for money because even though it's a horrible--not to mention illegal--business anything is better than death. Haneen, I agree with you and Dana, smoking is disgusting! I wonder why so many street kinds smoke when it eats a way at such a big chunk of what little money they have. I know a lot of street kids either run away from a bad situation at home or a kicked out by their parents for whatever reason so perhaps it's some other reason that caused them to start smoking. I wonder how Brent and Ashley get cigarettes when they're under age. I guess Brent know some drug dealers that could buy them for him. Haneen, you said that Brent and Ashley need another way to "entertain" themselves, perhaps through art at Sketches! So far out of the three, Brent is my favourite character and I'm not a huge fan of Ashley's because of the way she acts towards Dana. What do you guys think?
At first my favourite character was Robert Erickson (the guy that works at Sketches) because i didn't really find the other characters interesting. I think Ashley is a bit mean to Dana, but she's also nice to her. All of them including Ashley work together for money and they're basically a family now, so she's not really mean to Dana at all. I guess sometimes Ashley gets jealous about how perfect Dana's life may be compared to her own life and that's why she says some rude jokes. Then I guess Ashley isn't that bad. Brent is probably my favourite character so far because he looks tough (and he actually is tough), but he has a loving heart. He only gets tough when someone is ganging up on Dana or Ashley. I remember when Brent did the stupidest thing ever. It happened before Dana came into the picture and it was only Ashley and Brent. They collected money and Brent said that he was going to go buy a meal for them. Instead of getting a meal for both of them to eat, he buys a bunch of drugs and gets stoned. That's something that I know Ashley will never forget, even now she gets worried whenever buys the meals. Although he did that I still think he's my favourite character. Dana is also a character that I like. I feel sorry for her and it seems like she's a likeable person. I find it interesting how Arianna thinks it would have been better if Dana never met Brent and Ashley because then she would have to go home and stand up to her cruel stepfather. I think her stepfather probably beats her and that's why she doesn't want to go home if her mom was not there. If her stepfather did beat her than maybe it was better that she ran away, but she should have told the police, maybe she would later on in the book. I hope the book tells us what her stepfather did to her because I really want to know what kind of cruel deed he did to her
My favorite character was Dana. Sara, I find it interesting that Robert was your favorite character. Because his name never came to mind when I was thinking of who my favorite character was.
Hannah, well I'm guessing that Brent just grew up in a really bad environment. So from a young age he was exposed to very poisonous things. Maybe that was part of the reason why he lives on the streets now.
Sara, I am also dieing to know what her step dad did. I was predicting maybe he sexually abused her. Any predictions of your own?
Well Dana's stepfather could have sexually abused her, but I think he physically abused her and beat her. Maybe he even abused her mom and she felt scared, so that's why she ran away. I also think that he probably only beat her when no one else was home, so that's why she didn't like going home before her mom was there. I cannot wait to read more of the book!
Wow, so much discussion going on here I don't know if i can keep up with it all.
In response to the discussion question: The way I think Dana's situation in life would be different had she not be introduced to Brent and Ashley, would be worse then her situation is now because with Brent and Ashley at her side living on the streets isn't all that bad, when I living on the streets alone you're going to get into many brawls, do drugs, prostitution, all sorts of crimes. I don't think that Dana is out very outgoing if Brent and Ashley had not approached Dana she would not have found anyone to help her show her the way of the streets.
In the end if Dana had not been introduced to Brent and Ashley I think she would be dead by now, the reason I think this is because it states in the book Dana has lived her whole life in the suburbs, she has no experience living on the streets, which from this I would infer that she would NEVER survive living on the streets without the help from Brent and Ashley, that is why I think she would end up being killed or just dying.
In response to the question that Sara asked I didn't quite know what the word establishment meant so I looked up the meaning and found out that it means a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc. And another word was initially a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc. In answer to what Haneen asked I truly don't think that Dana would she is too innocent and naive to do something that early in the game, I also don't think things are going to get that bad for the three of them. My answer to what Hannah said my favourite character I would have to be Brent also because he is a very protective person of the two girls and even though he sometimes has to find an escape from it all, he looks out for them and acts like a big brother, I have an older brother and I know when we were younger he would always look out for me when we went on our little adventures, I also think it very important that there is a male to protect them in their group because if they didn't have tough looking Brent I am sure the two girls would have to go into some sort of "business" to get more money so that they would be able to survive, I also think that without a male they would get into a lot more trouble with street people because there is no one looking out for the girls.
For what Arianna said though I agree with you I think her dad did sexually abuse her or at least try to, hence the reason she freaked out so much when the man asked her to go out into the ally for a couple of minutes.
I'm really upset that i didn't get to join this conversation sooner I guess I'll just have to get on the next discussion question sooner.
I agree with Arianna that Dana might have been sexually abused by her step-father but she mentioned not wanting to use her virginity on the streets. Perhaps she still was though, or maybe like Sara said she was physically abused. It might also just be a Hamlet type situation because we don't know what happened to Dana's real father. I'm guessing Brent might have lost his parents and didn't want to live with adoptive or foster parents or he was kicked out by his parents because he's been on the streets for so long. He seems like a really nice guy even though he's tough (pretty much what Sara said) and he's into drugs. I am eager to learn more about Brent suchas why he is on the streets.
You guys pretty much summed everything up. I think Dana's situation would be a lot worse than it would have been had she not found Brent and Ashley. She would be having a very tough time by herself. She's too nice with everything and wouldn't last because when some people push you around or looks like their going to hurt her, she might panic and start walking in the opposite direction letting them know she's scared and worried which might lead to them following her. Dana's also too nice because on page 71, when Brent took some of the guy's blankets, Dana asked if he really wanted to do that. If it was life and death, between you and someone you don't even know, you'd want to survive. So to me, I think that Brent and Ashley are Dana's saviors.
I like how Hannah related back to a book she read in the past. I sort of agree with Hannah, in Hamlet we do not get a clear idea of what happened to Hamlet's father. Maybe this book will tell us why she hates her stepfather so much, after all we just read the beginning chapters. I really hope she does tell us because I'm dying to know! This book reminds me of Cinderella and her stepmother.
This has been an awesome discussion, and everyone's answers were very thought-provoking! Also, great question to begin our Skethches discussions with Andrianna! I posted my question on my blog to start our second discussion of Sketches! Check it out!
Hannah, I absolutely loved how you made a text-to-text connection comparing the situation in Sketches to Shakespeare's Hamlet! That's excellent!
Hi, Andrianna.
To answer your question on ms. Crosbie's blog, Melissa is going to be hosting our second discussion!
Check it out!
I think that if Dana had not met Brent and Ashley she wouldn't have lasted as the reason she's staying out on the streets is because of them.
I'm not saying that Brent and Ashley are holding her back but when Dana went out by herself and did what she enjoyed and expressed herself she was noticed and that got her the opportunity to meet with people who would help her get off of the streets and reunite with her mom it also allowed her to open up about her step father and do the right thing about it.
Without Brent Ashley she wouldn't last long the streets because they are her family out on the streets, this way she can escape from her step father and still feel loved and needed.
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