Hallvard Lundevall
10/22/10
Period 8/9
“Raymond’s Run” Response to literature
Many people can do many different things. Others can try, and they can succeed. People with differences are frowned upon to a certain extent that they will not succeed. In ‘Raymond’s Run” the author looks at this differently. She shows that a boy with hydrocephalus can succeed in what he tries to do by putting forth effort even though he has a challenge.
The main character in this story is Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker. She is called Squeaky in the story because of her high-pitched voice and her small height. She is also called Mercury because of how swift and fast she is. Also another huge trait about Squeaky is her toughness. She is the younger sister to Raymond. She protects and looks out for her him. “ … If anyone ahs to come by Raymond say anything about his big head, they have to come by me.” This shows her love for him and desire to keep him safe. Squeaky is also very athletic. She is a very good runner and comes in first for a fifty-yard dash. “ I am not a strawberry. I do not dance on my toes. I run.” This shows she is very competitive and serious about running. I can relate to this in my competitiveness for basketball and football.
When people see mentally impaired kids some people make fun of them and/or call them names like retarded or retard. The author Toni Cade Bambara gives many of these scenarios in the story, but he shows them in his sister’s perspective. Raymond suffers from a disability called hydrocephalus. This is when water fills up in the brain causing brain damage and an enlarged skull. In school I help kids with Aspergers, Autism, and many other disabilities. They end up being close friends, also I realize that they are way more capable of so much more than you think. Just like in the story.
If you put your mind to something you can accomplish a lot no matter if you have a disability or not. Raymond did a lot more than expected. This also helped from a tough encouraging sister. Even if you have a challenge you can still have exceptional talent.