Mood

While I read “Wounded” I felt a bunch of mixed emotions, at different points in the story I felt sad, happy, and intrigued. At the points when I was sad was when Courtney’s father was killed, that was the saddest point in the story for me. This is a very serious book and there weren’t really any funny points during the story. Personally I think the most exciting incident was when Courtney kissed Marcus. The mist unusual incident was when his father pushed him to the ground and walked away; I didn’t see it coming and was very shocked. I remember most about this story was when Courtney kissed Marcus because I felt like he disserved it and was hoping it would happen. The mood of the book starts out about normal, then goes to sad once you find out that his dad is gone in Afghanistan then changes to happy once he returns, but is quickly changed to sad when they find out Courtney’s father was killed. I think the mood for the most part of the book is serious and sad, but happy at the same time. Also the mood changes when Courtney kisses Marcus to happy.

While I was reading this book and was happy there were certain points in the book that made me feel this way. When Courtney kissed Marcus it was a very happy moment in the book, also I think everybody who has read this book would agree that when Marcus' Dad came hom it was very happy. Posibly the happiest moment in the whole book. Some minor happy moments were when the feeling of knowing Marcus was helping out with all the little things like staying home with his sister for his mom. Or when Marcus finds out that his Dad wasn't the one that was killed in Afgahnistan. Also at the end of the story when Marcus tells his Dad he will help him, I thought it was very generous of him and was a great way to end off the story with a happy moment.

Some of the sad moments in the the book was when Courtney's father was killed. This was probably the saddest moment in the book. Also it was sad when his father returned home and wasn't himself because they all excpected him to be his normal self and all happy and cheery instead he was down and sad. Another sad part in the book was when he talks about his financial status because even tho I don't know what it's like to have very little money I felt very sad for him and his family. Not many people know about the financial problems but i'm sure most of the people that live on base have some sort of financial problems. There wasn't very many sad points in the book and the overall mood of the book was happy I think.

Predictions

While I was reading the book I was always on the edge of my seat (or in my case lying in bed). I never would have thought that Marcus’ dad would have made it back home alive. I thought for sure he was going to die over in Afghanistan and come back only as a memory. Marcus and his sister were counting down the days to when their father was going to be back and at points in the story, like when someone was reported dead in Afghanistan, it seemed as thought it would be their father, their hero. It never turned out to be him though. In many cases he didn’t write to them for a while because he was off base. This meaning he was out doing an assignment away from safety, insure danger. When they heard in the news that another soldier had been killed they feared the worse. When they found out it wasn’t their father they were overjoyed, but later saddened because it was Marcus’ friends father instead. In the end he returned home in great physical conditions, but he was still wounded. Being hurt doesn’t always come from the outside, most times the worst type of pain is emotional, and no one can see it and no one can hear it. Their father had been emotionally hurt. From seeing some of his troops die to hearing that his six (the guy who covered him in battle) had been killed just a few days after he had returned home, he was hurt very badly. He was having nightmares and about the whole thing. I never thought that someone could be this badly hurt from serving in another country. I thought he would b be the normal father he was before and everything would be back to normal. I was completely wrong. At one point in the story in never thought that Courtney would be interested in Marcus. Oh how I was wrong. When she needed someone, he was there, when she was lonely, he was there, Marcus was a nice guy to her, especially after her father was killed. I never saw this coming! She kissed him, they dated, went to a dance together. Marcus was, is the luckiest guy in the world and all because he’s nice and cares about her. She’s a straight A student with, well not a straight A student. They are the best of friends and always will be.

Author "Eric Walters"

I think the author wrote this book to tell people to be themselves and love the ones you hold close to you because you never know what kind of a curve ball life is going to through at you. For exa,ple while Marcus' dad is over in afgahnistan he never once complained and he trued to remember all the good times he had with his dad and all the great memories. I think the author is trying to tell you that no matter what the situation you need to make the best out of what you have. Like when Courtney's father dies it is very sad for her but i think she realizes that it brings her closer to Marcus and Marcus also feeld this too. Live with no regrets and make a lot of friends because you never know what will happen. Marcus doesn't try to be mean or unhappy to anyone through out this whole book and is very respactable to eveyone.

I have read three other books by this author and I plan on reading some more because I really like this author. He keeps every situation interesting and always wants to make you read more. I love a book that is full of emotion and action. I've read We All Fall Down, I've read some of Ricky, Black and White, Overdrive, Sketches, Shattered, and Three On Three. These books i feel have a little bit of a similarity because of how you get the feel that you are really there watching what is going on. I like to see that in my head and that is why I read his books.



I will continue to read books by Eric as long as he keeps making them for people’s enjoyment. I think these books are great for kids because it makes us realize how fortunate we really are to have a family and not live in a war torn country. Eric Walters is a great author and I hope he continues to write. I would consider continuing to read his books because I get the feeling that im right there with the character in the scene. I like to be able to see what is going on and i have really enjoyed reading his books, espeacially when it is very interesting because I don't feel like I can put the book down. I would really like him to keep making great books for people to enjoy.

Charcters

The main character of my book is Marcus. Marcus is a very normal fourteen year old boy, except the fact that his father is over in Afghanistan serving with the Special Forces. Marcus lives on the base in Canada with his mother and little sister. Marcus is very close to a girl. Her name is Courtney and they are best friends. He kind of has a crush on her but is a little afraid at first to tell her. Marcus is a very nice person and helps out aroung home and at school. For example marcus grabbed courtneys purse and took it to her when she left to go to the office then went home. Marcus is a good student, nowhere near as good as Courtney but he gets by just fine. He helps out a lot at home and took over the role of “man of the house”. Marcus’ family isn’t in the greatest of financial times but they still get by. He is a very happy person for the most part because he does well with what he has and doesn't have every get down on himself or others. He is very excited for his father’s return. He is a little mysterious at times by not showing what his emotions are because i think deep down inside he wants to be like his dad in the special opps. He can also step up and be responsible when it is needed, for example when Courtney’s father was killed he watched over her place well she was out of town. Marcus and his father have a special bond and he looks up to him. He is his hero, even though he was acting a little strange ever since he came back from Afghanistan. Overall he is a great guy and is a really nice person.

Marcus is very friendly and trustworthy for example he never faught with his mother or sister and stayed home and watched his sister while his mom worked instead of going to the school dance. He is also humorous because he isn't affraid to embarass himself to make others laugh, that other being Courtney of course. Marcus is an overall great person but he is espeacially reliable, whenever his mother needed him to stay home and look after his sister Marcus did it without any hassle, he wasn't always the happiest about doing it but he did it to help out. He is very kind. Like when he was staying home with his little sister and she wasn't sleeping well so he stayed up with her and played cards all night to make her feel better. He trys his hardest to always do the best thing at all times or as often as he can. Courtney likes him very much for his great personality and I really enjoyed him as the main character in this story. This is what I personally think about Marcus and thouroughly enjoyed this book.

Another character is Courtney. Courtney is a very mysterious girl and you never know what she is thinking like for example when she and Marcus are riding on the bus and Marcus is trying to get her to smile but she doesn't show emotion and he can't read her. Also Courtney is ver y attractive and smart, she has a very high grad average and Marcus is attracted to her. She is a very loyal and trustworthy person and Marcus trusts her with the world because after all they do have a thing for each other are best friends and enjot all the time they spenmd together with each other. Courtney is always there for Marcus when he needs her, like when Marcus couldn't sleep they met at the part together and talked for a little bit. Courtney is a very kind girl and would never try and hurt anyine intentionally.

Wounded; Eric Walters