READER’S FORUM

October 30, 2022 at 09:17 pm Reply

Jade

Why didn't C.J. and his friends tell the police the first time they realized C.J. was being abused by his Marcus? Was it a boy thing? I don't get it.

Be blessed,

Jade
October 31, 2022 at 04:58 am Reply

Gordon Korman

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Good question. And the answer is a long boring lesson in character development.

You're right in that it is a boy thing, based on minding one's own business, and leaving other people's problems up to those other people. But it's not just that. First of all, the secret is C.J.'s, not theirs. Plus going to the police breaks up a marriage and a home, albeit a miserable one. Even C.J., who really needs to be protected, is afraid of what will happen if Marcus is removed from their lives -- how will his Mom feel about it? How will they live? Where? What about the scandal among the people they know? How they might fare financially, which is a real consideration. Plus Marcus' behavior isn't just mean; it's sick. Do they owe him more loyalty and forgiveness? Breaking up a family when there's no clear path to the future is a scary business, not straightforward at all. PLUS, they're kids. And C.J. has a Mom. Isn't it her duty, and not theirs, to protect her son?

AND how would the police react to a group of kids telling them stories about someone's stepdad? Kids that age and in those circumstances often feel that they're on their own, they have only one another, and that adults don't listen and believe them. Plus Marcus was such a nice person on the surface. He probably had plenty of buddies on the force. What if he denied all the charges, was believed by the police, and then took it out on his wife and C.J.?

Now I ask you: Is it complicated to b a writer and to have to take all these circumstances into consideration???

---G---

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Good question. And the answer is a long boring lesson in character development.

You're right in that it is a boy thing, based on minding one's own business, and leaving other people's problems up to those other people. But it's not just that. First of all, the secret is C.J.'s, not theirs. Plus going to the police breaks up a marriage and a home, albeit a miserable one. Even C.J., who really needs to be protected, is afraid of what will happen if Marcus is removed from their lives -- how will his Mom feel about it? How will they live? Where? What about the scandal among the people they know? How they might fare financially, which is a real consideration. Plus Marcus' behavior isn't just mean; it's sick. Do they owe him more loyalty and forgiveness? Breaking up a family when there's no clear path to the future is a scary business, not straightforward at all. PLUS, they're kids. And C.J. has a Mom. Isn't it her duty, and not theirs, to protect her son?

AND how would the police react to a group of kids telling them stories about someone's stepdad? Kids that age and in those circumstances often feel that they're on their own, they have only one another, and that adults don't listen and believe them. Plus Marcus was such a nice person on the surface. He probably had plenty of buddies on the force. What if he denied all the charges, was believed by the police, and then took it out on his wife and C.J.?

Now I ask you: Is it complicated to b a writer and to have to take all these circumstances into consideration???

---G---
October 31, 2022 at 03:06 pm Reply

Jade

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"Now I ask you: Is it complicated to b a writer and to have to take all these circumstances into consideration???"

Yes, definitely. That is why I am getting an editor, and a boy beta-reader to read all of the boy things. Honestly, most of those circumstances don't make any sense. As in, yeah, the adults probably wouldn't believe them but C.J. and his mom would be hurt either way. C.J.'s Mom could be getting abused even more at his house because C.J. wasn't there and Marcus would be mad and he just wouldn't know. Yes, in a way, C.J.'s mom was also an abuser in the way she was a bystander. Honestly either way they both get hurt so just tell the cops.
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"Now I ask you: Is it complicated to b a writer and to have to take all these circumstances into consideration???"

Yes, definitely. That is why I am getting an editor, and a boy beta-reader to read all of the boy things. Honestly, most of those circumstances don't make any sense. As in, yeah, the adults probably wouldn't believe them but C.J. and his mom would be hurt either way. C.J.'s Mom could be getting abused even more at his house because C.J. wasn't there and Marcus would be mad and he just wouldn't know. Yes, in a way, C.J.'s mom was also an abuser in the way she was a bystander. Honestly either way they both get hurt so just tell the cops.
October 31, 2022 at 03:09 pm Reply

Jade

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Eh, I am not mad with you. I suppose emotions are loud even in twelve-year-olds. Still don't make sense but I guess I won't be writing abused characters like that any time soon.
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Eh, I am not mad with you. I suppose emotions are loud even in twelve-year-olds. Still don't make sense but I guess I won't be writing abused characters like that any time soon.
October 31, 2022 at 04:57 pm Reply

Gordon Korman

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But if you were a close friend, would you ruthlessly, without thought or hesitation, expose something he's been working hard (and taking hard knocks!) to hide all this time? -G-
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But if you were a close friend, would you ruthlessly, without thought or hesitation, expose something he's been working hard (and taking hard knocks!) to hide all this time? -G-
October 31, 2022 at 09:09 pm Reply

Jade

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Absolutely. The second I had a niggling of suspicion I would. I don't care if he would hate me for the rest of my life, he would not be suffering anymore because of that man. He would not have that weight constantly on his shoulders. He would not be worn down by that secret anymore. Yes, I see 100% why he was trying to hide it. In my opinion, you wrote C.J. spectacularly (and all of the other characters were great, you just outdid yourself with C.J.) But yeah.

He'd be hurt by my betrayal in the short run but I'd do anything to let him live again in the long run. Even if that meant not being able to live with him--even if he hated me forever.
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Absolutely. The second I had a niggling of suspicion I would. I don't care if he would hate me for the rest of my life, he would not be suffering anymore because of that man. He would not have that weight constantly on his shoulders. He would not be worn down by that secret anymore. Yes, I see 100% why he was trying to hide it. In my opinion, you wrote C.J. spectacularly (and all of the other characters were great, you just outdid yourself with C.J.) But yeah.

He'd be hurt by my betrayal in the short run but I'd do anything to let him live again in the long run. Even if that meant not being able to live with him--even if he hated me forever.