Quote 1:
"Mary realized the letter effectively closed the door on her college aspirations. She had already completed sixteen hours of college credits and would get no closer to graduation."
Mary Moore is the single mother of Wes Moore 2, aka not the author. She was given a Pell Grant (an education grant to people without the financial ability to pay for college) and was able to attend Johns Hopkins University. In this quote, Mary received a letter in the mail explaining why the Pell Grants were being terminated by the Ronald Reagan administration. She can no longer go to school, and has to settle for her part-time job at a hospital. This theme develops in this chapter by making you, the reader, be brought into her struggle as a single mom taking care of Wes and Tony, and she doesn't know what to do.
Quote 2:
"...Wes quickly volunteered to get a job and help out. Mary laughed. 'You can work later and make money. Right now I just need you to go get your bag so I can drop you off.'"
Mary Moore somehow manages to put away her pain and comfort her children. The theme develops in this quote by showing both sides of the pain that single mothers face. They're solely in charge of making the money to provide for their family, they still have to raise their children, and there's no time to follow any aspirations.
Theme: Overcoming Obstacles
Quote 1:
"He stood over her with a contemptuous scowl on his face. It could've been that look. Or it could've been the escalating abuse and the accumulated frustration at the chaotic life he was creating for her and her daughter. But something gave Joy the strength to pull herself up from the floor."
Joy Moore, the author's mother, was married once before Wes' father. She had a daughter Nikki with her previous husband named Bill. He was abusive and repugnant. Joy thought she could change him, but as this theme developed, she overcame the obstacle that was Bill and moved on to a better life that she and Nikki deserved.
Quote 2:
"This city wasn't their home. But after completing her community college requirements, Mary attempted the short but improbable journey from neighborhood to the campus. Her heart jumped when she received her acceptance letter."
Mary Moore, Wes Moore 2's mother, was a single, teen mother of two boys. Determined to get an education after her mother's passing, Mary fought her way into community college and worked, worked, worked all day to fulfill the requirements needed in order to get her Pell Grant and acceptance to Johns Hopkins. Although she eventually loses the grant, the theme develops and Mary works hard to keep up her academic progress during her setbacks.
Theme: Role Models
Quote 1:
"With each tiny step I took with him, my whole hand wrapped tighter around his middle finger. I tried to copy his walk, his expressions. I was his main man. He was my protector."
Wes Moore 1, the author, lost his father when he was three in 1982. Moore looked up to his father. He wanted to be like him, successful, nice, and loving. The theme develops through the chapter by showing the connection Moore had with his father, all up until his father dies.
"This city wasn't their home. But after completing her community college requirements, Mary attempted the short but improbable journey from neighborhood to the campus. Her heart jumped when she received her acceptance letter."
Mary Moore, Wes Moore 2's mother, was a single, teen mother of two boys. Determined to get an education after her mother's passing, Mary fought her way into community college and worked, worked, worked all day to fulfill the requirements needed in order to get her Pell Grant and acceptance to Johns Hopkins. Although she eventually loses the grant, the theme develops and Mary works hard to keep up her academic progress during her setbacks.
Theme: Role Models
Quote 1:
"With each tiny step I took with him, my whole hand wrapped tighter around his middle finger. I tried to copy his walk, his expressions. I was his main man. He was my protector."
Wes Moore 1, the author, lost his father when he was three in 1982. Moore looked up to his father. He wanted to be like him, successful, nice, and loving. The theme develops through the chapter by showing the connection Moore had with his father, all up until his father dies.
