When A Bird Remembers Reflection

So far from all the readings that were assigned, I would say Drown can definitely be the story of any teenager’s life. When I started reading, I got a vibe that was reminiscent of Rebel Without a Cause or a teen angst movie from the 80s’. The story deals with a teenager who is feels some kind of way about his best friend -- with whom they get into juvenile delinquent type mischief -- who is going away to college at the end of the summer. Given the story is a first person point of view, I believed that the some of the sentenced seemed to suggest things that weren’t blatantly said the the book. For example, when he said “I had another year to go in high school, no promises elsewhere”, I was inclined to believe that he had been held back.

I could also tell from reading the story and hearing the names of town that him and his family and friends (of black and Latino descent) were living in a rough, lower class neighborhood in New Jersey, probably what certain people would call “the ghetto”. In a way, the author makes
He lives in a raggedy apartment with his mother, they have no car and he helps pay the bill by selling drugs to the neighborhood kids. I personally find this story to be realistic as I have associated myself with teenagers similar to Diaz. The story has me thinking about what effect does living in a rough environment like Diaz have one someone as they reach adulthood? Does it make them want to make a change in their life? How similar is a middle/upper class teenager’s acting out as opposed to someone who grew up in basically “the ghetto’? Why wasn’t there a teacher or someone at Beto’s and Diaz’s school to take under their wing so that they both walk down a positive path in the future? Lastly, why did Diaz named the story Drown? Personally I think it’s a symbol as they referencing how Beto is somehow afloat (going to college) and Diaz continues to drown (doing counterproductive