Maia Coates

@LogesEric I think the blunt nature of the text also forces that realization on the reader. Nothing is censored, we hear it as graphically as he experienced first hand. #285wlu10

'A Long Way Home' shows the experiences of war from the perspective of children to establish how they do not have the capacity to grasp the nature, brutalness and true meaning of war until they see it for themsleves. War represents a forced loss of innocence. #285WLU10

It also immediately wake you up to just how young he was. Lines before his grandmother is making him food and he is spending time with friends as kids do, and suddenly he is the cause of the bloodshed they all feared #285WLU10

The graphic dream description before any personal experiences with war are shared provides a sharp contrast immediately for the reader and showcases just how quickly his life changed. It also sets the reader up for what is going to be shared and how much it still affects him.

@BlazeWelling I loved books of this style in middle school because it was like being given pieces of a puzzle that slowly formed into a plot. Reading it now it has a similar effect, but I found more appreciation for the quieter moments that are detailed than I did then #285WLU9

Woodson’s free verse poems are connected through the speaker yet still stand as powerful poems on their own. It’s interesting since we’ve been reading prose narratives so far, yet I feel like these say just as much about the tween experience in fewer words. #285WLU9

I found it interesting how her identity as tied to the civil rights movement began hopeful and then shifted to a negative reality as she grows. Initially she imagines the activists she could be like, but soon is thrown into training and survival mode #285WLU9

@ChrisXu_ I would definitely agree. Mrs. Owens especially seems to feel very helpless from the start as they need to rely on Silas to be primary guardian, but Bod also feels alienated and wishes for more from his deceased parents. #285WLU8

@JacobLasby I think this can be reflected in every character. Bod trusts Scarlett and though unintentional, it leads him to a near-death experience. Jack trusts the Sleer and it ends up as his demise. Even Silas at times isn't 100% reliable and Bod quickly learns to be independent #285WLU8

The use of Jack is a really good example of why kids shouldn’t always trust adults. He appears nice and kind to Scarlet and her mother only to achieve his end goal of finding Bod. People are not always what they make themselves out to be #285WLU8

His lack of human relationships seems to be replaced with the organic relationship with the graveyard, preparing him to understand the world outside and how to treat things and be treated in return #285WLU8

I love how as Bod grows he learns to work with the graveyard and in return the graveyard is more loyal to him. He has to fight to be seen when the graveyard wants to conceal him and keep him safe, and he feels responsible to clean up the mess Jack made #285WLU8

@SimranMannEN285 That’s why it seems strange to me that his guardians keep him in the graveyard to protect him from the inevitable death that awaits him if he ventures out when they have all embraced death. I know his mother asked them to, but it doesn’t seem like his reality would change much.

@emmadav78039083 I’m curious what she would have taken away from their friendship. Once more mature would she question if her imaginary friend really was imaginary? What are the lasting effects of Bod’s first friend not believing he was real? #285WLU7

I love that Bod’s friendship with Scarlett helps both of them develop their social skills and initiates their curiosity about the world. Friendship with kids ones own age is important in teaching kids to work with others and sharpen their individual skills #285WLU7

The chapters in this book are similar to those in the Mary Poppins series, as they conclude with Bod unsure of what truly occurred in his adventures while the adults keep the full story from him, though his tales are never brushed off like the Banks kids #285WLU7

@Colinwyatt00 She has also been vocal about the expectations of someone with her following but remains authentic in speaking about her beliefs even when she is advised not to, and though it may deter some parents, she gives her young fans the chance to make up their own minds #285WLU6

The power music can have on the tween is crazy. Taylor Swift in particular tries her hardest to show herself as a different artist that tries to connect with the tween authentically instead of just selling to them. Just look at her T-parties and personality. #285WLU6

@Tiffany30520818 Absolutely. It seems now there is either content for children or adults. Music for example - kids seem to jump from JoJo Siwa to Cardi B and reach an age where they are stuck between what is deemed 'childish' and what they are too young to understand #285WLU6

Linn made an interesting point that tweens are skipping the in between stage between children and teen years because of the mature content marketed to them. I’m sure when many of these kids are adults they will try to relive their childhood that they wished away #285WLU6

...profile pictures and private accounts, apps like tiktok are providing kids with a platform they are too young to understand the responsibility of. Public videos taking part in trends that they do not understand are inappropriate for their age creates a dangerous environment

#285WLU6 The phrase "kids are getting older younger" only seems to become truer every year. As social media becomes more accessible to children, they are engaging in content that they are not emotionally mature enough to understand. While many of us grew up with anonymous...

@SamanthaPrior8 It was also a unique situation because it was an order she really did want to obey, but knew she couldn't for the sake of others. That selflessness may have been what set it apart from all the other times she wanted to rebel #285WLU5

The back and forth of Ella's thoughts after Char's proposal shows how this meant more than disobeying any other order throughout the novel. Ella wanted to say no, for Char and the kingdom, to save them, making herself the hero of her own story. #285WLU5

@EN285Japeet Even her refusal to be known as 'princess' showed how she stood by her beliefs and never sacrificed herself for the sake of what others wanted once she had a choice #285WLU5

I loved that Ella was ultimately given autonomy despite being cursed her whole life. Rather than be the damsel she put herself through pain to save the prince from a wife that could be used as a weapon, but allowed herself to marry when she desired #285WLU5

@LaurenMawhEN285 I feel like as someone who has been isolated for most of her life she uses other languages as a way to feel connection to the rest of the world, especially young children who don't have the desire to manipulate her like adults #285WLU4