Ashfall Journel #1

Select a relatively important event in the book and describe why it was a turning point in the character’s life? What was it that the character decided or learned to do?

There are many important events throughout the book that can be marked as turning points for Alex. After Alex’s house burnt down during the volcano eruption he was taken in by his neighbors, Darren and Joe. One evening, some bandits decided to break in the door at Darren and Joe’s house. This was a turning point for Alex. It was the first time that Alex would have to use his taekwondo skills in such a real scenario in which he had to defend his life. Alex had only taken taekwondo lessons in order to defend himself from a school bully not expecting that he would actually have to use these skills to defend his life.

During the fight at Darren and Joe’s house it got very serious when Darren brought out a gun. Darren shot and killed the bandits causing a bloody mess in the house. There was blood splattered everywhere in the house and all over their clothes. Alex could not bear to be in that house after that incident and he immediately ran out of the door escaping the bloody torture. “But I couldn’t go back to Darren’s house. I doubted I could ever look at him again without seeing that rage-contorted face. And just thinking about returning to his gore-drenched foyer-no way.” Alex thought as he left the house.

After leaving Darren and Joe’s house and realizing that he himself could put up a fight and defend himself, Alex thought “Would I see them again? Yes, I decided. If they were alive, I would find my family.” He had his mind set and he thought “Tomorrow, I’d set out for Warren to find my family. The journey might be impossible, but I had to try.”

After gaining the confidence that he could fight, Alex made up his mind, he would go and find his parents. He was dedicated and this motivated him to be strong throughout his journey. With each struggle Alex faced he kept hope and stayed strong. He never gave up or broke down.

If that fight at Joe and Darren’s house never happened and Alex stayed there with them the entire time, the story would be different. Alex probably would not have left, stayed cooped up in the house, and later died from starvation or other bandits. He also would have never met Darla and he would have never expanded on his taekwondo knowledge. The fight at Joe and Darren’s house is what really got Alex’s momentum going to find his family.

Even though Alex did not find his parents, he found his sister and made it to his destination in Warren at his Uncle’s farm. He even remained hopeful for his parents the last line of the book Alex states “Despite my worries about Mom and Dad, I felt strangely hopeful.  Even in the icy wind, the warmth of Darla’s body against mine felt like spring.”