Setting

Setting was one of the biggest parts in this book. It was probably the most important part of the book. If deshawn wasn't in the right place at the right time then he could've died. Larue was in the wrong place at the wrong time and he got shot. Marcus was at the wrong place at the wrong time and he got murdered too. Deshawn on the other hand was always at the right place.

Characters

Todd Strasser had a lot of characters aside from the Protagonist and the antagonist. Strasser had supporting characters like Lightbulb and Big D. The supporting characters actually made the book worth while because if Deshawn was just by himself then he wouldn't have had the gang involvement. My favorite character in the book would have to be Deshawn because he did what he had to do to survive and provide for his family. I felt the same way about Terrell.

Diction

Strasser had really good diction in the book. I really liked it. It was as if i was there and actually with Deshawn. Strasser had great word choice throughout the entirety of theis book.

Resolution

There were a ton of conflicts but not many resolutions to those conflicts. I kind of liked the idea of having it like that so it could go along with the depressing part of living in the projects. Some of the major resolutions in the story are:
The Disciples joining the Gentry Gangtas.
When Terrell gave a fifty to Deshawn to go get food for his family.
Terrell killing Jamar
And
William sparing deshawn instead of killing him in the car.





check mark symbolizing that you accomplished something

Conflict

There were many conflicts in this book. The book even started off with a conflict, Jamar threw Laqueta's son out of the window of a 15 story building. Strasser made this book interesting because he had many conflicts. Most of the conflicts in this story were assoscitaed between the Gentry Gangstas and the Disciples.
The biggest conflict in the entire book in my opinion was when Marcus got shot by Jamar.

Climax

The climax in this book was very exciting and riveting. I loved the sudden alliance between the Discliples and the Genry Gangstas.The climax started when deshawn went to meet William behind the King Chicken. then Rance and Big D showed up with Tanisha tied up in the back seat of the car. Deshawn almost got shot until Tanisha told William that she was pregnant with his baby. Willliam then let Deshawn go because Rance didn't want another baby to grow up without a dad.

Plot

The plot of his book was really thought out and well organized. I really enjoyed how this book was made chronologically by how old he was. It didn't skip around and come back. This book was an amazing read and I told most of my friends to read it.Strasser had a beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution.

Motif/Theme

Todd Strasser really stuck to his motif well in "If I Grow Up". The Motif (or theme) of the book was a boy from the projects trying to stay out of trouble and eventually making i out of the projects. I liked how Strasser sayed in the projects for the entire book instead of switching off to somewhere else that is irrelevant. He stuck to his Motif. He never got distracted and went off on a tangeant like other books like this would.

Protagonist/Antagonist

Todd Strasser uses his literary aspect by having protagonists (Deshawn, Terrell, and Marcus) and antagonists (Jamar, Rance, and Willam). I thought that Strasser did a great job of showing who were the main characters were and who were the people that opposed them. The protagoniss and some of the antagonists were dynamic during the book. William changed from being one of the anatognists to being a right hand man for Deshawn and the Disciples. Rance was always an anagonist even when he was "working" with Deshawn. Rance was just thinking about himself and how he could make a profit for himself, that's what made him an antagonist.

Point Of View

Todd Strasser uses POV a lot in "If I Grow Up". Strasser taught me to believe that what might be a terrible thing to do for one person, might be the right thing to do for someone else. When the politicians said that they could make a difference for the people living in the projects, they thought they could probably do it from their point of view! But from Deshawn and the rest of the people living in the projects' point of view they didn't think they would do it. Strasser has taught me that i shouldn't be basing my actions about how it would benefit just me alone, I should base them off of how it wold benefit others as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3h-T3KQNxU