How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
When they took Toon from his room he was really messed up. His eye was swollen and there was dried blood under his nose. (3.13)
Some of Reese's fellow inmates target Toon, a twelve-year-old, even though Toon's too small to fight back. This only makes their violent behavior somehow more violent.
Quote #5
I smashed his face as hard as I could. I don't remember a lot more but I know I kept swinging. (5.21)
When Reese gets into fights, it's almost as though he blacks out or disassociates. Why do you think that is? What does it tell you about his relationship to violence?
Quote #6
At Progress nobody kidded around with you. Even when you were talking to your friends it could change in a minute. You said the wrong thing and somebody would get mad and swing at you […]. (12.11)
Reese sees juvenile jail as a volatile setting where violence can erupt at any time. To be fair, it seems like he's totally right—you never know when King Kong's going to come your way.