Jali Boy

This term, we have been reading "Jali Boy" by Ricky Macourt. It has many themes in it, such as love, belonging, self-belief, confidence, bullying and friendship. I have learnt that how such a small book can have a huge, powerful meaning and lif moral to it. In this book, I like how the author has used a lot of 'show not tell' in this novel, like; "Jali's head was hurting and his hair was fuzzy" and "Jali pulled the thick woollen his blankets over his head, and he hid away fronm this new world." I infer that it shows Jali is struggling to fit into and get used to this huge change in his life, no one he knew and loved for miles around, and how it would never change from then on. I infer that these thoughts must be clouding his head as he becomes more and more deppressed.

I think the climax part is when Jali meets Manly boy Jack, because it has changed his life at boarding school at St Stephen's College for Boys, and now he is starting to have fun and fit in finally as Jack supports him and they both bear their crosses together and walk with one another throughout their journey in boarding school. To me they seem like life long, reliable friends who are honest and trust each other. I can back this up for evidence from the book, where it shows; "After Jali had gotten into trouble, Jack explained to Mr Krudd that he was theone who told Jali to draw a table as a joke. None of the mission boys would have done the same." Jack did what was right and turned himself in for also doing the wrong thing (honesty), knowing he would have to suffer the same detention punishment as Jali.

Near page 50, Jali hears bad news from Brother Goodman that his his mother, Marlikka is very sick. I predict Jali will endure on with all heart and soul with Jack's help and achieve great things.