We Are Alike

What would you do if your brother ran away from you because you did something that you cant take back when you were trying to protect him, or how would you feel If you were a father and your son had to go to war in your place because you were hurt ? Those were the main themes that were described around two separate books, " The Outsiders,'' by S.E. Hinton and "The Fighting Ground," by Avi . Both books paint a picture of what it is like to be caught in a battle or war zone where people kill each other. The character struggles are from a 13-year-old boy's father's point of view in The Fighting Ground, and Darry, an older brother's point of view in The Outsiders.

Now I can sit here and tell you about all the boring and common sense things that these characters have in common, like they both have dark hair or are both men, but that is not so fascinating. What makes both these books interesting, is the way both authors describe their internal struggles with worry about someone they love. Even though they take place at different times in history, worry still has the same meaning when it comes to seeing someone you feel responsible to protect finds himself in the danger of a battle.

In the Outsiders, one of the main characters, Darry, has to take on a father-like role to his brother, Ponyboy. They come from a very poor home and live in an area that has lots of gang fighting, and Darry is worried that his brother will get himself killed by the rival gang known as the sochs. Pony boy and Darry are from a gang known as the Greasers', and the books describes several struggles between both gangs as they fight for turf.

In The Fighting Ground, 13-year old Jonathan's father feels terrible guilt and worry because he has to send his son the fight the British in his place after he is injured. Jonathan is proud to take on the challenge, and has dreamed about the glory of fighting in war and being a hero. His father is very aware of how bloody and terrible war truly is. Jonathon does not like the advice his father tries to give him when he tells him that war is not all glory. In the Outsiders, Darry tries to tell his brother Ponyboy, that gang fighting is also a very dangerous thing. Ponyboy does not understand the harsh reality until he is caught in the middle of an uneven gang fight.

Both the Fighting Ground and the Outsiders describe how war and battles can change lives forever. In the Outsiders, Ponyboy is almost drowned by a rival gang member. In the Fighting Ground, Jonathon soon finds that war is not all glory, and he soon learns that it takes a lot of blood and guts to win. He describes the stench of dead bodies all around him and tells of how terrified he is in the battle.

These two books do an excellent job of bringing in the readers and letting them know the reality and fear that come with being faced with death. Both stories take place at different times, but they have a similar story to tell when it comes to wanting to protect someone you love from a really bad battle. Whether they are fighting the British, or the socs', both can be bloody, and both can take a life or change one forever.