1. After pages 3-4

    "This is not a movie about bars and locked doors. It is about being alone when you are not really alone and about being scared all the time." (Pages 3-4)

I can relate to being scared sometimes and feeling alone even though people are all around you. I cannot relate to always feeling scared and alone though, sometimes I have my ups and downs but it never gets to be that bad.

2. On page 19

"I didn't say it was bad, but wasn't it predictable? You need to predict without predicting. You know what I mean? When you make a film, you leave an impression on the viewers who serve as a kind of jury for your film. If you make your film predictable, they'll make up their minds about it long before it's over."

The teacher is right how he says that a movie leaves an impression and how that when you make a movie you cannot  have it to predictable, which is what the book is about right now. Steve is undergoing a trial, where no one including the reader has any idea if Steve is innocent or guilty.

3. On page 21

    "Most people in our communities are decent, hardworking citizens who pursue their own interests legally and without infringing on the rights of others. But there are also monsters in our communities--people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others."

I think this statement is very true because there are lots of good citizens but there are also a lot of bad people too. I think that to get what you want you have to work for it, not to kill someone for some money and some cigarettes. The MONSTERS in every community in the world are just lost, they do not have anything or anyone so they go do stupid stuff hoping they will get away with it. Some people do get away with it and others do not.

4.  on page 26

    "...the laws also protect the accused, and that is the wonder and beauty of the American system of justice. ...We apply the law equally to both sides. The law that protects society all of society.

That statement is very true and its good I think, because the people are innocent until proven guilty. The system of justice is good I think, because the law works for you and against you. It works for everyone.

5. On page 46

    "I hate this place. I hate this place. I can't writ it enough times to make it look the way I feel. I hate, hate, hate this place!

I can see how he can say that because I would absolutely hate being in prison if I was not guilty. Even if I was guilty I would still be scared to death!! I can only imagine how horrible prison would be!!!

6.on page 59

    "It's funny, but when I'm sitting in the courtroom, I don't feel like I'm involved in the case. It's like the lawyers and the judge and everybody are doing a job that involves me, but I don't have a role. It's only when I go back to the cells that I know I'm involved."

 I know how that feels, because its like everyone is talking about you like your not even there.

7. On page 78-79

    "Half of those jurors, no matter what they said when we questioned them when we picked the jury, believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you. You're young, you're Black, and you're on trial. What else do they need to know?"

 I can see where the people might be judge mental, but they are not supposed to do that. Not all black, young teenage guys are bad people, it just depends on the person.

8. On page 89

    " 'All they can do is put me in jail,' he said. 'They can't touch my soul.' "

 I mean yeah they can put this guy in jail, and I guess "they" can't touch his soul, but it would still ruin my spirit, knowing that I did something really bad to be put in jail.

9. On page 91

    "I think about myself so much, about what's going to happen to me and all, that I don't think about my folks that much. I know Mama loves me, but I wonder what she's thinking."

If I was in that position, I would probably think about myself a lot to, and wonder "what is going to happen to me?" but i would also be really sad because I let my parents down.

10. On pages 115-116

    "Seeing my dad cry like that was just so terrible. What was going on between us, me being his son and him being my dad, is pushed down and something else is moving up in its place. It's like a man looking down to see his son and seeing a monster instead."

I think that's really sad because, not even his dad can really trust his own judgment. I mean if I had a son in that situation then I would probably not even know what to say. I would definitely believe my child but there would be a little doubt in the back of my mind.

11. On page 140

    "What did I do? I walked into a drugstore to look for some mints, and then I walked out. What was wrong with that? I didn't kill Mr. Nesbitt. . . Sunset said he committed the crime, Isn't that what being guilty is all about? You actually do something?"

I feel bad for Steve, because he just "walked in" and bought some mints, if that's even true. But I think that its sad that he would get into so much trouble when he didn't really do anything.

12. On page 237

    " His film footage shows me what he's seeing and, to a large extent, what he's thinking. And what he sees, the humanity of it, speaks of a very deep character...

It is my belief that to make an honest film, one has to be an honest person."

I think this is very true because to make a film which is true, then you actually have to be honest because you cannot be a liar when making a true film.

13. on page 261

"They are all equally guilty. The one who grabbed the cigarettes, the one who wrestled for the gun, the one who checked the place to see if the coast was clear."

I think that is true because even if Steve did not go all the way through with the "plan" he was still a part of the little "gang" or whatever they wanted to be called. I do feel bad for him but he was the stupid person that decided to want to hang with them.