Connector

Section 1 pg. 1-58 (Shandell)

The first nine chapters of this book describe the narrator's life as a young child. She tells how she came to live with her grandmother, who she calls "Momma", and the experiences she and her brother, Bailey, have while they are there with her. Towards the end of this section the children meet their real father, who takes them to live with their mother in St. Louis. It is easy to connect this story to real life because it's based on the author's own experiences as a child. It also talks about racial discrimination in the 1920's and 30's, about the depression, about the effects of WWI, and about what it was like to be a child at that time. We now study all of these things in our own history classes, so it's easy to connect with them. There are parts in this section that talk about children being seen but not heard, and that's hard to connect to modern times, because now children are expected to be outgoing, and it's also acceptable for them to even be outspoken. Racial discrimination is also not bad nowadays. However the United States is currently having issues with immigration, so there is some mild racism, but nothing like that time period. The thing that is most relatable between then and now is the economic depression. Although I don't know of anyone personally who has greatly suffered from the depression, I do know that the rate of people without jobs has been increasing, I've heard about people losing their businesses, and homes, and I know my parents' own business has suffered from it a little bit. There's a part towards the end of the section where Bailey and Maya get presents from their parents who they've never met, and it upsets them, but they're still curious about them. Although I can't personally relate to that, I do have friends who are adopted and they are curious about their real birth parents and would like to know them.

Section 2 pages 59 -116- Melissa

Maya getting raped. The rape episode reminds me of an incident in the book "The Color Purple". Both of the characters in the book were raped by trusted men.

Bailey is Maya's older brother but he's more of a fatherly figure to Maya.

Big Bailey was Maya's real dad. Shows up to Stamps as a surprise to Bailey and Maya.

Section 4 pages 175-232- Melissa Dr. Lincoln refuses to give service to African-Americans. This relates to real life because back in those days, white people could refuse service to anyone that wasn't their color. African-Americans were mistreated and many people refused to give them service just because they were colored. Another realistic point in the book was when Mays was nervous to see her estranged mother. It relates to life because my best friend has motherly issues and it's hard to encounter issues when you are involved in issues you shouldn't be involved in as a child, and when your mother should be there to teach and guide you through your life, and you can encounter those certain issues later in life.