I found it interesting how Cart describes each “phase“ of life in young men and women, and how each group aims to find reflection in what they read. Many approaches were taken to escalate these groups' reading experiences, from educational reforms and psychological theories to publishing strategies and cultural shifts. Young adulthood was shaped by more than just research (also society, history, etc.), which was really interesting.

Isaiah's story in “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn“ was very moving and eye-opening in my opinion. We see Isaiah through his struggles of poverty, grief, being in a broken home, and family struggles. Through these challenges, he manages to find purpose, hope, and fortitude through his writing. I think it was really beautiful how he was able to connect with his father through his words and memories.

“But the time you spent on the actual court, you'll realize, was nowhere near as important as the time you spent in the bleachers,“ (de la Peña).

This quote from the story fully encapsulates the essence of what the narrator was trying to express. It just really shows the audience the importance of his journey rather than his end goal of being a great ball player, which is so important to the overall theme.

When I began reading the first story, I was really shocked at how relatable and personal this story felt. I believe that the second-person point of view was a very high contributor to this effect, and it made following along a lot easier and realistic. What really caught my attention in this story was how specific and detailed the narration of emotion was. The way the protagonist took us through both his defeat and his triumph was really special.