Efrain’s Secret

Mehdi Kaldy

1/6/12

Title: “Efrain’s Secret”

Publisher/ Date Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers/ April 13, 2010

Summary: The book I have read, Efrain’s Secret by Sofia Quintero is a Bildungsroman book about a smart young man who attends a High School in New York City. Efrain is the valedictorian of his class and is trying to enter an Ivy League school; his goal is either Harvard or Yale. There is a slight problem that Efrain encounters and that is he has no money to afford College fees. Efrain’s mother can barely afford food and a home for the family and Efrain’s father has bailed on the family, which gives Efrain no choice, but to make a horrible choice on how to make money for college. Efrain starts to work the corner by selling drugs, as he sells drugs, Efrain becomes more vulnerable to the streets and starts hanging around with the wrong people as he tries to raise money.

            As Efrain’s senior year continues, he becomes stressed when he is not making enough money for the college. Efrain struggles with studying for the SAT’s and is underprepared. Efrain also struggles with keeping his secret of selling drugs from his school and most importantly his family because of his friend in the streets, Nestor. Chingy, who is Efrain’s best friend also becomes suspicious as Efrain changes every time they see each other, and so does Efrain’s “girlfriend”, Candace who Efrain loves but is struggling to keep the relationship going. Towards the end of the book, Efrain’s life takes a turn for the worst due to not making enough money for college, losing a friend when Nestor dies. Also, the love of Efrain’s life is gone because his personal focus was money for college and Candace noticed it, which led to the breakup.

Quote: “Not on no sellout s**t either. I see you keeping it real. Representing. You gonna become one of my good friends in high places, aren’t you, E.?” “I swallow. Damn Straight.” (Quintero 59).

Reaction: My reaction to the quote I chose was to explain the path that Efrain chose. The quote shows that Efrain will struggle and has gotten rid of his fears and moral.  The Ivy League school is his goal and there are many bad-minded people on the streets of New York. This makes Efrain’s choice that much more dangerous which leads to his friend, Nestor’s death, a loss in a friend, Chingy, and the loss of his girlfriend, Candace. My reaction concludes with Efrain forgetting about his school life, and his friends, family, focusing more on money and the future of his college life.

Summary: In the mesmerizing autobiography, Once in a house on fire by Andrea Ashworth. The protagonist, Andy must cope with her father's death and the new abusive, violent, and drunken stepfather. The setting takes places in Manchester, England, but then moves to Canada where Andy and her family now live. As the book progresses, Andy, her mother and siblings return to so does Andy, her mother, and her siblings pain. The stepfather, Peter Hawkins has made a once happy family scared to death and full of pain. Andy deals with the pain and abuse which to me shows how the character matures and how she copes with her Stepfather. Towards the ending of the book, I noticed that Andy would mature and deal with her stepfather in new ways. Andy also focuses on school and takes responsibility of her family in order for them to live life better. This though, all depends on Andy, her decision-making skills, and the love she shows for her mother, and siblings.

Quote: "Six A's, Two B's, and a C", I told Tamsyn" (Ashworth 264)

Reaction: My reaction to the quote I chose was surprising because what goes on in the Hawkins home obviously doesnt spread to school. These are the grades that Andy got that qualified her to a above average, good college that would help Andy significantly. I believe that this is the beginning of a good time that leaves abuse, hatred, and pain in the past. Throughout the book, my reactions have become stronger and stronger, the book progresses and gives out a postive and negative feeling that leaves the reader torn. By torn, I mean the reader will never know when theres a negative part of the book or a positive part. The stepfather is the cause because he is sort of bipolar which helps Andy mature and realize how to learn from her own mistakes. All in all, these struggle led to what her outcome was, good grades which led to a good college that separates her from her family but will benefit after a while. The book has been excellent and I would definitly recommend to other readers who enjoy autobiographies filled with conflict.