Mystic+River+Meeting+1-+Characters

Discussion Leader : Stevie Open Ended Questions : Jane Summary: Cath Answering Questions: Stevie and Jane


 * Questions**

1) Identify all important characters and specific qualities each possess? //Jimmy is the one who is considered the trouble maker, he is always making plans to do something bad and cause fights. Dave is fascinated by Jimmy and always follows whatever he does. He doesn't really have opinions and anything, and goes along with Jimmy''s troublesome antics. Of the three, Sean is the richest, and the most intelligent. He is strong, and can be considered the most average of the three best friends.//

2) What triggered the fight between Jimmy and Sean? //Jimmy suggests to his friends that they take a ride on an open car they found with keys on its seat. He asks Sean specifically which car he should take but Sean is not too fond of the idea at all. He tells Jimmy that they should do this when he isn't around, because he doesn't want to take part in it. Dave punches Sean in the arm for saying that, because he is obviously going to agree with Jimmy's idea. Sean then punches him back, which somehow escalated into a physical confrontation between Jimmy and Sean.//

3) What are the differences in family situations between Jimmy, Sean and Dave? //The boys live in Boston and Jimmy and Dave live in the poorer part of town. Sean lives in the nicer area because his father works as a candy factory owner. Although very poor, Jimmy's father is employed and Dave's dad died for a reason that hadn't been mentioned. When Dave tags along with Jimmy, he joins him even on Saturdays when Jimmy and Sean all get together with their fathers. It is suggested that Jimmy and Sean would never have been associated if their fathers were not friends.//

4) Do you think the man who looked like a cop is really going to bring Dave home to his mother? //As reader's it is unclear whether or not the man is a cop or not. They identify him as "looking like a cop" but that doesn't mean he is one. Using the information we acquired before reading the book, it can be suggested that his might be the beginning of a kidnap scandal.//

5) What are your predictions for what will happen next//?// //We think that there are a lot of conflicts soon to come. If there is a kidnap about to take place, the boys will feel very guilty for not getting in the car with the man, to stop Dave from a lot of danger. Jimmy might start to break a lot of laws, and cause harm upon others more so then every, because he may have just lost his best friend. A flashback setting suggests that the narrator has news that will soon be learned when continuing to read this book, and more about the present and less about the past. If Dave is kidnapped, we think he will be able to overcome the kidnapper, and find his way back home.//


 * Summary**


 * The beginning of the book introduces the setting and characters. The story begins in 1975 with Jimmy Marcus, Sean Devine, Dave Boyle, and their families. The readers learn how the boys know each other, which is through their father's jobs. Jimmy is the daredevil out of the boys and lives in a poor part of town, called the Flats. Sean is the most mature, levelheaded, and richest out of the three. He lives in the Point, the rich part of town, and attends a parochial school. Dave also lives in the Flats and always tags along with Jimmy. It is clear that Sean does not like being around Dave and tries to ignore him whenever he is around. While the boys are all together in Sean's neighborhood, Jimmy decides he wants to steal a car. Sean is against this idea, which makes Jimmy, and therefore Dave, angry. Dave punches Sean in the arm and Sean gets mad about this so he punches Dave back. Jimmy gets defensive of Dave and starts pushing Sean. The boys are rolling around in the middle of the street when a car pulls up with two men inside. One of the men get out of the car and starts asking the boys questions about the fight. The boys think this man is a cop and are scared they will get in trouble. The "cop" tells Dave to get in the car so he can drive Dave home. Dave, being the submissive one out of the three, gets into the car and drives off with the cops. **