✫ As I finished up reading the first 7 chapters of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother I reflected and realized that this book is nothing that could have been written ten years beforehand and be as successful because of the change in technology. One of my fears you could say when teaching is that I won't have enough books to recommend to my male students. Little Brother is a novel that I can see many male students getting involved with and enjoying. The characters that Cory Doctorow has introduced in the first couple of chapters are students that enjoy technology. This novel, centered around a terrorist attack, draws readers in at an early stage, making it difficult to put the book down. Readers feel for the characters, Marcus, Van, and Jolu. Readers are concerned for Darryl's well-being and where he could be located.
✫ I am a big fan of the TV show Numb3rs. In season four of the TV show, there was an episode entitled "Primacy" where Don Epps with the FBI, Charlie Epps and Amita who are math prodigies, have to find a killer who is involved in the gaming world. Just like the characters in Little Brother, the characters in Numb3rs played the game to find hidden treasures. When I first started reading Doctorow's book, that episode of Numb3rs popped into my head. It is fun to relate text back to a movie or TV show. Although I am only 103 pages into the book, I am anticipating what Little Brother has in store for Marcus and his friends.
✫ A quote from this section of the book that stood out for me was on page 65 where Marcus pleads to sign the papers; "Oh, I'd rather die than do something-or-other"- I've said it myself now and again. But that was the first time I understood what it really meant. I would have rather died than go back to my cell." This was a memorable quote because it allows readers to see Marcus other than the tough guy persona he wears. This quote shows that Marcus does have feelings and he does get scared. I feel as though this quote is Marcus' turning point. Marcus becomes more passionate, especially in trying to find Darryl, but he doesn't want to cause too much commotion. He is scared he is being watched, so in an essence, this quote shows, or might even foreshadow, Darryl's change after he leaves the prison.
