Black And White

Examine the parenting styles of Eddie’s parents and Marcus’s mother and how they react to and deal with their sons’ crime. In what ways are their different approaches beneficial or detrimental? Does the novel suggest that one is better than the other?

Marcus is adamant that if the roles were reversed and Eddie had been identified by Sidney Parker, Eddie would have protected Marcus the same way. Does the novel imply that this is true and that Marcus would have allowed Eddie to take the blame alone?

How does The Count of Monte Cristo reflect and foreshadow the novel’s events?

Connelly and Jefferson are jokingly referred to as “Black and White wannabes” by the students of Long Island City High School (75). Examine these characters and what happens to them and between them in the novel. Draw comparisons between this pair and Marcus and Eddie.

The novel opens with the shooting and provides background on Marcus and Eddie afterward. What effect does this have on the narrative? How does the opening set the tone for the novel and for Marcus and Eddie’s relationship?

The state of Marcus and Eddie’s friendship is left ambiguous at the end of the novel. Is this relationship likely to endure during Marcus’s time in prison? Why or why not?

Marcus’s friends, family, and mentors believe in his ability to rebuild his life after his incarceration. Meanwhile, Eddie is set to start school on a basketball scholarship after he is ruled innocent. Predict what both characters’ lives might look like two years into the future. Does the novel imply that one is better off than the other?

What do you think Eddie would have said if he had re-written his essay for Ms. Sussman’s class to more authentically reflect him and his actions? Write a 500-word essay from his point of view.