Brent Bishop of "Whirligig" and Kristina of "Crank are similar because the both of them don't have a good relationship with their parents. Brent's parents don't try to have a solid conversation with him. While his family are at the dinner table and watching the television, Brent says "I'm going to a party tonight.' Brent spoke up. His father dismissed from the screen a male news-caster, then a woman selling detergent" (Fleischman 5). This demonstrates that Brent's family don't pay too much attention to him but more on the television. This causes them to ignore Brent and Brent feeling alone. Also, Kristina of "Crank" share the same problem. Kristina's mother has been focusing on work while trying hard to have a stable relationship with her
