Thoughts by Lucy

Born To Rock by Gordon Korman

Lucy

            Born to Rock's main themes are change and realization of the truth.

            Leo Caraway sometimes feels out of place with his family, knowing that his father isn't his biological father. When he figures out that his real father is Marion X. McMurphy, he blames all of his faults on the McMurphy side of his genetics. Leo doesn't even know who McMurphy is or anything about him, but he still can't accept his mistakes as his own, blaming them on his biological father. Leo believes he can be perfect, and that without McMurphy he is perfect. He has a scholarship to Harvard and he is president of the Young Republicans club. I think that what Leo realizes at the end of the book is that everybody has a crazy, punk, wild side. He can't blame all of his mistakes on McMurphy. Leo has some wild and crazy inside him too, underneath his Young Republican cover.

            Melinda Rappaport and Leo Caraway couldn't be more different. Melinda is goth and punk. She loves loud punk music like the 80's band Purge. Leo is a Young Republican, has a good reputation with teachers and adults, and is going to Harvard. Leo and Melinda have known each other for a long time, but they can hardly relate now. Melinda's friend Owen seems to be replacing Leo. I think that is the reason why Leo doesn't like him. He is gay, so Leo doesn't worry about him going out with Melinda. Leo is hardly anything like Melinda, but he feels that he can never say no to her because her dad died a long time before. He says that is the reason he always gives in to her, but actually he only says that because he likes her. He doesn't realize it, he doesn't see it under all of the black clothes and biker boots.

            When Leo goes on tour with Concussed, it helps him to understand Melinda and King Maggot, the lead singer of Purge who is also 'his biological father'. The whole reason that Leo goes on tour with him is so he can get King to pay the tuition for Harvard. As the tour goes on, Leo changes. He can now connect with King, he isn't just some crazy singer that has no soul. King is caring and kind inside. He really cares about Leo. In the end, Leo finally connects to him, only to figure out that he isn't Prince Maggot after all.

By Evan Mapes

   (p. 35)    “He’ll have to know sooner or later.”

Leo’s father told his wife, he was telling her that she should tell him who his real former father was, but Leo didn’t know this all he had was confusion.  He didn’t know what was going on but he wanted to know who the Marion X McMurphy was in his head.  Hearing these words are never good because your parents would have told you something good sooner than later.    This changed him, he had a whole different side..   

(p. 49) “I had a lot too drink and there were drugs.”

This was when Leo’s mom was telling him about her story with her former husband King Maggot  from the hard rock band Purge.  She was explaining how she had Leo.

She hated telling him about this, he was interested but in some way mad for not knowing his true past life.  Leo know knows that he has 2 fathers and one of them could be his savoir.

(p. 22)     “Remember the Pinballs.”

      Leo said to Owen as they were taking a test just these few words ruined Leo’s life at the moment .  Those words affected Harvard, his reputation and his life.    All because he cheated.

(p.76)   “Read the letter.”

Leo yelled to King Maggot from the stands, he was trying to show him the proof that he was his son   He was trying to get money from him to be able to pay for Harvard this was his chance, but it failed.   He ended up in a dump.

(p.56)  “ We are canceling your scholarship.”

Mcallister’s letter said when Leo read it,  he almost was completely sure he made it in but one false act ruined it.   The only way he was to get in was that scholarship now it was gone, how would he get the  money to get in.

1) Ordinary World – Describe the protagonist’s world and state of being before the inciting incident

Leo is in high school and he's the head of the young republicans. His best friend Melody is the very opposite of him. She loves punk music and Leo hates it. Leos biological father is the lead singer in a punk rock band and everyday Leo tries to keep the McPhurry in him out.

2)         Call to Adventure – Describe the inciting incident.

Leo gets caught talking during a school final but he only said one word to remind someone he was tutoring. When he is sent to the vice principal the VP makes him choose between saying the person he tutored cheated or  he must face the consequences on his own.

3)         Refusal of the Call – Identify the reason why the protagonist is reluctant to go on the journey to which he or she is called.

Leo knows he didn't cheat on the test and he wants his scholarship back but there is no way to get it back. Leo doesn't want to seem as the bad guy trying to just get money from his rich dad.

4) Meeting with the Mentor - Identify the character who functions as the mentor and describe the wisdom he or she offers.

                      

         Crossing the First Threshold – Describe what the protagonist wants and identify the first major obstacle he or she faces in the journey to achieve what he or she wants.

Leo lost his scholarship for Harvard and now he want to try to get his dad to pay for his Harvard tuition. The first obstacle Leo has to get through is for - mcphurry to believe he is his father.

5)         Test, Allies and Enemies – Identify the antagonist (or antagonists) of the story and describe at least two plot complications in which the antagonist prevents the protagonist from achieving what he or she wants.

  the drummer in the band  hides jewels of his money in his drum set and doesn't tell the police the truth until the end of the investigation. Then  the band broke up again before the tour was over and Leo didn't get the whole summer like he was suppose to with his father. 

  7) The Approach – Describe the narrative situation that leads to the climax.

The band manager tries to make a move on Melody and Leo interrupts and makes sure melody gets out of there.

8) Reward – Identify the elixir or the prize awarded to the protagonist for surviving the Supreme Ordeal.

Leo is finally dating  melody and even though - Mcphurry wasn't Leos dad he still said he helped him out if he just gave the call.

9) The Road Back / Resurrection – Describe how the protagonist is changed by his or her experience during the journey. 

Leo views on his father changes and he realizes the people who truely care about you are the people in your family.  

              

                                                                 Felicia Jacques