Chapter 5

Theme Statement:
Teenagers will realize their bad choices through harsh awakenings.

Literary Device: Diction
"I was defeated. I had never wanted anything more in my life than to leave that school, and I was slowly coming to the realization that it was not going to happen" p.93

Analysis:
When the author Wes Moore's mother notices Wes was being academic and disciplinary probation because of his bad grades, behavior, and absences from school, she send Wes to Valley Forge. Wes hates Valley Forge's strict ways and tries to escape many times. In this quote, Wes shows his regret for his previous bad choices by using the words "defeated" and "realization". Also the other Wes Moore gets his harsh awakening when the police show up to his house after the gun shootings he was involved in. When he hides the gun and changes into knew clothes, this shows the reader how he had quickly realized what he had done and regrets it.