Night Kites, By M.E. Kerr is the story of a seventeen year old boy who finds himself struggling with common adolescent struggles of peer relationships, finding oneself, and family. As a senior in high school and son of a wealthy influential family it appears as though the life of Eric Rudd is one many would envy. His girlfriend Dill is equal in social status. He has known his best friend Jack since the two were young boys. Eric’s parents are married and he has one older brother, Pete, who is twenty-seven. The Rudd family appears to be an all American family, however, that changes when they are faced with news of an illness.
As Eric’s senior year gets underway, he and Jack plan a trip to the city for the weekend with their girlfriends. The …show more content…
The author does a good job of depicting the isolation felt by those who suffer from disease, often a result of fear, not fact. Also affecting their family and friends who choose to support them. Throughout the book the author attempts to educate about the risk of AIDS, and non-risk. Kerr does a good job building a logical argument as well as the community fear and lack of understanding for a counter-argument.
Although we have more current information about HIV and AIDS, Kerr successfully shows both sides of the disease. The book concludes with Pete reading Eric a portion of the book he has been writing which states “That will come for I am bound to change. Sweetness first, then later on, the end.”
Kerr shows that lack of understanding often leads us to jump to conclusions and treat people unfairly. In Night Kites, people feared contracting AIDS through casual contact, therefore would deny, ignore, or walk away from Pete, Eric, and their family. I think this book encourages us to ask more questions and find more answers before jumping to conclusions, regardless if our fear is of a disease such as AIDS, or perhaps a lifestyle choice that is unfamiliar to us.
"Night kites are different. They don't think about the dark. They go up alone, on their own, and they're not afraid to be
As Eric’s senior year gets underway, he and Jack plan a trip to the city for the weekend with their girlfriends. The …show more content…
The author does a good job of depicting the isolation felt by those who suffer from disease, often a result of fear, not fact. Also affecting their family and friends who choose to support them. Throughout the book the author attempts to educate about the risk of AIDS, and non-risk. Kerr does a good job building a logical argument as well as the community fear and lack of understanding for a counter-argument.
Although we have more current information about HIV and AIDS, Kerr successfully shows both sides of the disease. The book concludes with Pete reading Eric a portion of the book he has been writing which states “That will come for I am bound to change. Sweetness first, then later on, the end.”
Kerr shows that lack of understanding often leads us to jump to conclusions and treat people unfairly. In Night Kites, people feared contracting AIDS through casual contact, therefore would deny, ignore, or walk away from Pete, Eric, and their family. I think this book encourages us to ask more questions and find more answers before jumping to conclusions, regardless if our fear is of a disease such as AIDS, or perhaps a lifestyle choice that is unfamiliar to us.
"Night kites are different. They don't think about the dark. They go up alone, on their own, and they're not afraid to be