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23/09/2025 8:25 am
In The Ingridents by Jason Reynolds, a story is told about a group of boys who are obviously best friends, and their typical summer day. The story establishes a sense of familiarity with readers as the group transitions from the swimming pool to discussing food on the walk home. I think the story is supposed to be light-hearted, an easy short story, about how the bonds between friends are important. I think it hits that point very well. For example, “Do we need Flaco to hold your hand, bro?” Big Boy asks” (Reylonds). I think this quote shows how the group is bickering and having fun with each other.
This compares to how I used to spend my summer days with my friends as a kid. I’m not sure when, but one day I grew up. I think it might have been when I got my license. One day, we just stopped going to the pool. We started just driving around and doing other things. “Kids, who, in an effort to be cool and stay cool, can only hang out at one place--the swimming pool” (Reynolds). I feel like that's how my friends and I used to think, but we grew up and started thinking other things were ‘cool’. I think it shows how special bonds are between friends and that things are constantly changing, but no matter how much things change, we still have our bond.
23/09/2025 5:31 pm
I think it is true that Reynolds was trying to convey a sense of familiarity to the reader through how the boys spent their summer. I also really resonate with the part where you say "I’m not sure when, but one day I grew up. I think it might have been when I got my license. " because for me it seemed exactly that way too. I think that your statement towards the end of how things are always changing definitely relate to everyone and everything. Do you think you could elaborate more on the familiarity aspect as it is only mentioned in the beginning?
24/09/2025 10:21 am
I agree with the inference that Reynolds was trying to express the importance of the bond between friends, especially with how comfortable they were in their banter. It stood out to me when you said "I think it shows how special bonds are between friends and that things are constantly changing, but no matter how much things change, we still have our bond." because I believe that with the challenges that life brings, it tests the strength of bonds between friends which makes it even more special. The opposite can also be true where life happens, and friendships fade but the memories of that bond are still there. In my experience, bonds have shaped who I am as a person, so that is why I think they are important.
