Anyway, to recap, the last line of the book is [And we didn't keep score] (a page number is beside the point). This was because Junior and Rowdy had finally come to terms and were playing a game of B-Ball against each other, both realizing how little your school and individual goals matter and should never get in the way of your friendship. Etc. Anyways.
The significance of this quote is that through this entire book, Rowdy and Junior have been pitted against each other (mostly Rowdy against Junior) but in the very end, they have reached some form of mutual agreement to be friends, and are playing a semi-quiet game against each other because words don't need to be said, they are so happy to be back together again. However, this last line puts a decent end to the conflict between them the entire book. They have been "fighting" against each other's wills the entire book, and so with this final basketball game, and this final quote, it is saying that the competition is over, we're friends again, there is no need to keep score because in our eyes, we are equal. That is the concept of the last line. Equality, just like the beginning, contrasting the center of the book.
1) Do you think this was a good ending for the book?
2) If you could change the ending, how would you do it?
3) Do you think that Rowdy and Junior are even, or do you think that there will be other conflict in the future between them?
4) Do you think their relationship will be the same as before? If so, why? If not, why?
5) Make a list of your 10 favorite moments in this book.
I think that it is a very good ending for the end of the book because it puts Junior and Rowdy on the same "level", now they are equal and they respect that. I think that their relationship will be the same as before if not better because they were able to become friends again after the most drastic change that they would probably face in their lives. If they were able to do that, the will be able to withstand anything!
ReplyDeleteMy 10 favorite moments in the book are:
1) The talk with Mr.P 2) When Mary moves to Montana with husband
3) When Junior hits Mr.P in face with book 4) When he gets advice from grandma
5) Halloween 6) Winter Formal 7) Makes Varsity
8) Interview before rematch with Wellpinit 9) Rematch with Wellpinit
10) When Rowdy and Junior become friends again
I think that Junior and Rowdy will have a similar relationship with each other like the the one they had before but I don't think it will be the same. So much has changed since before Junior transferred to Reardan. They have gotten back to where they left off but they are different people since the last time they hung out. They have lost so many people - Grandmother Spirit, Eugene, and Mary - and they don't go to school together anymore, so they have less in common. Rowdy is back on the reservation while Junior has made his own friends at Reardan. Junior has also proven that he is just as good as Rowdy. I think that although their relationship won't be the same, it will be stronger. What do you think made Rowdy come back and stop being mad at Arnold? What was the turning point in their relationship?
ReplyDeleteI think that the last line "We didn't keep score" (230), was a perfect ending to the story. The book did not have a conclusion up until that point. It symbolized the resolution between the two best friends and showed the strength of their friendship. To answer James' question, I believe that what made Rowdy come back was his realization that all Junior was trying to do was improve his future. On page 229, Rowdy says "I always knew you were going to leave" showing that overall, he wasn't surprised when Arnold left the reservation. I think that they both knew that eventually they were going to become friends again.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to Dylan's third question, I still think there will be conflict between Rowdy and Junior in the future. There are several sources of this. For one, basketball will always be a source of disagreement for the pair, so long as Junior continues to play at Reardan. Also, mentioning Reardan, I don't think that Rowdy is still entirely acclimated to the idea of his best friend going to a different school. In fact, he doesn't even know Gordy, or any other friends of Junior's at Reardan, and this may cause feelings of envy. There are also several other reasons, including Mary's death, and Junior having Penelope as a girlfriend (Rowdy expresses discontent towards this relationship on page 115). Do you think these potential conflicts would cause Junior and Rowdy to drift apart again in the future, or will they be able to endure? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI think Junior and Rowdy will probably drift apart a little bit or have long-lasting arguments in the future, but I think that they will always be best friends. It's like what happened to them in the book, they aren't hanging out or talking that much, but Junior still calls Rowdy his "best friend." Even though Junior isn't sure if they will ever again become as close as they once were, he says that they will still always be friends, whether they like it or not. You can't really break a bond when you had such a close relationship with someone for fourteen years. I also think that this ending fits nicely because it shows that Junior and Rowdy aren't playing to beat each other like in the games they played at school, they are playing as fiends and playing for fun, therefore there is no need to keep score. I also think that it is important when Rowdy says that Junior has never beat him in one-on-one and Junior says this is true, but he will beat Rowdy someday. Even if that day isn't today. This shows that Junior plans on staying friends with Rowdy in the future and that he is determined, which is a self-discovery. What do you think the importance of the one-on-one game is? Why do you think the author chose to end the book like this? Was there a specific reason?
ReplyDelete