Boy's Life Part Four, Winter's Cold Truth and Five Zephyr As It Is (SPOILERS)

[Debra]

Give us your thoughts on Part Four, Winter's Cold Truth, Chapters 1 through 6 and Part Five, Zephyr As It Is.

Keep using SPOILERS, please.

[Janice]

So much happens in this part! I couldn't stop reading and had to finish it.

Chapter on Faith: (view spoiler)[ This section was heart breaking. I cried so hard. Can't remember the last time I was sobbing while reading a book. I lost my best friend when we were 10, and I could relate to Cory's emotions so strongly. It's amazing - the 49th anniversary of Karen's death is coming up in May, and I still feel pain from time to time. This section took me right back.

One of the things that really irks me is that people don't think that children grieve as deeply as adults. Cory's parents and teachers couldn't understand why he was so angry and lashing out at his teacher. Really? His dog died, and then his friend died. He was worried about his dad. No wonder he was so upset. (hide spoiler)]

The KKK: (view spoiler)[ Thankfully, I didn't have the KKK in my area when I was growing up. I wasn't exposed to discrimination until I was 13, and it was during a trip to Dallas. I had bought some glittery fingernail polish and proudly wore it to church. The friend we were visiting took me aside and asked me to take the polish off because "only the coloured people wear that". I was floored. I didn't understand and I felt like I should feel dirty in some inexplicable way.

If we are to learn grace from this book, Mr Lightfoot and The Lady, brought the message home loud and clear. (hide spoiler)]

The night owl who doesn't drink milk: (view spoiler)[ Okay, I was wrong. Gotta love the triceratops to the rescue. (hide spoiler)]

[Debra]

I never lost a childhood friend, but I've lost some adult ones; one not to long ago to cancer. I still mourn her loss and celebrate the wonderful time we had together. She was such an old soul and taught me grace in spite of truly trying times.

Yes, I never understand why adults don't take a child's tribulations more seriously. "They are just going through a phase" they say. No wonder there are so many teen suicides. I went through some horrible things as a child and needed therapy. I didn't get help until I was an adult, and I'm still working to accept things from my past and learn to love myself. My parents just sort of ignored what was going on with me and through benign neglect I managed to get by. Even when my grades went down in one year of high school, they didn't say a thing to me. That was a HUGE clue that all wasn't right with this straight-A student.

I also, thankfully, never was exposed to discrimination until I became an adult. I remember we had two black folks helping with housework and yard work when I was very young. I don't recall thinking any differently about them, or anyone treating them any differently. We were living in Tennessee, and I was only exposed to that little bit until I was 8 years old. I wonder what our "help" thought of having to work for white folks. I know my parents were kind to them, but still, who knows what was really going on behind the scenes.

I applauded Mr. Lightfoot and The Lady. They showed such grace and acceptance. The museum for Civil Rights was great. The Lady was so wise to know that we have to know our past to proceed with grace into our futures.

Mr. Lightfoot's diffusing the bomb was a great scene; him moving at a snail's pace and then yelling "KABOOM!" when he cut the last wire. Moultry deserved far worse for what he was planning to do.

Since I'd read the book before, I picked up on the Night Owl clue pretty easily. I also wanted to believe that Cory was finding all the right clues and making all the connections. I wanted him to solve the murder, and he DID!

Yep, you gotta love that old triceratops barging in at the right moment. Hard to believe the doctor chose to let Cory go and not take him "down in the dark" with him.

I loved that Cory's tomboy little girl found the arrowhead. That was perfect. Sad that the town didn't survive. I remember us having a milkman deliver us goodies. I loved the days he came with ice cream, especially! Some of the old ways were better, if less efficient. Setting your milk bottles out to be recycled was better then what we do now... most people just throw those plastic jugs in the trash.

[Michelle]

This was an immense section with so much going on. I applaud the way the author deals with the subject of death in a child's life but it was incredibly sad. Cory telling his last story to his best friend was heartbreaking. I've never had to deal with the death of a close friend and can understand why it made Cory act out. That teacher was thoroughly disrespectful and whilst I don't condone violence against anyone I also don't think children should be taught through humiliation.

I loved the chapter about the bomb and was relieved that no one was hurt. It was amazing how graceful the Lady and Mr Lightfoot were considering what Mr Moultry had planned to do. It really showed the strength of forgiveness. The part about the doctor being a nazi was really exciting and the ultimate conclusion to the hunt for the murderer.

I thought it was sad that Zephyr did not survive the ravages of time. I have always lived in big cities so have not experienced it but have seen on the news how things like people owning second homes can drive up house prices and destroy small villages. I have always thought about retiring to a small village in continental Europe so I hope small places still exist by then!

[Debra]

Oh yes, that last story Cory told was very poignant. It was a sad moment.

I agree that the Lady and Mr. Lightfoot could teach us a thing about forgiveness. That's a hard one for me.

I wonder how the town I lived in until I was 8 is doing. It was a small town called Erin in Tennessee. I know my sister stills hears from old friends who she went to school with, but I don't know if those people still live in Erin. Something to ask her! The losing of all those small towns is very sad.