THERE ARE NO CHILDREN HERE

ALEX WHO?

• Alex Kotlowitz was born and raised in New York
• Son of Robert and Billie Kotlowitz (Billie died in 1994)
• Graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT
• FUN FACT: He worked at a ranch in Oregon for a year
• "There Are No Children Here" was turned into a film in 1993 staring Oprah Winfrey

Now it's time for quick summaries...

CHAPTER 5
We are introduced to Calvin Robinson (Bird Leg) , who is one of Lafayette's friends. Bird Leg loved dogs and always had a way of communicating with them. As a child he would keep dogs in a abandoned garage and took care of them. He eventually grew up and joined the Vice Lords. He dropped out of school at age 14, started to train his dogs to fight, and was eventually shot in the shoulder. Bird Leg was killed at age 15 by Willie Elliot (24) in August. There were a lot of people at his funeral. This included Lafayette, Pharoah, James, and Jimmie Lee with his gang. After two speeches, one from a reverend and one from a friend of Bird Leg's, the funeral ended. Leaving James and Lafayette questioning how exactly they want to die, if they want to be killed or just die.

Chapter 6
The chapter begins with Pharoah asking Lafayette to take him to the train tracks because it's a way for them to get away for a while but Lafayette refused. The story mentioned Pharoah's vulnerability and continued to concentrate on Lafayette and how Bird Legs death affected him greatly. LaJoe mentioned how Lafayette was only 12 but he seemed to have to much responsibility. How he saved a boy, Diante, who was caught in between a cross fire and wanted to die, and in early September when he witnessed a fire-bombing and wouldn't talk about it in order to keep his family safe.

Chapter 7
It starts off with LaJoe and her close friend Rochelle hanging out in the parking lot close to their homes. Since the gangs are in temporary peace treaty, the parking lot is now safe for neighbors and children to hang out in. The chapter then begins to focus on Pharoah and how he wants school to start because he loves school. School, by the way, is closed because the teachers are on strike for the fourth time in five years. The chapter mentioned how Pharoah practiced his writing in the summer and how he would stay up all night reading a book. The schools opened on October 4th and Pharoah went to school. The school was named henry Suder Elementary School. Suder was a good school and the Principal, Ms. Brenda Daigre, made sure of it (although Ms. Daigre is very judgmental). The chapter moved on to talk about Ms. Barone and Pharoah's relationship. Ms. Barone is a free-spirited women who loved order. Pharoah, in class, was very talkative and loved to participate.

How does Kotlowitz use Imagery, Similes/Methapors, and 3rd person point of view to show the good side of The Projects (Henry Horner Homes)?

Imagery

• Definition: The use of words to represent a visual concept
• For Example: "My face grew as red as a fire truck and I clenched my teeth"
• Imagery can appeal to your five senses: Touch, Hear, Taste, Smell, See