Ben

According to the dictionary, the definition of a hero is a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. My definition of hero is someone who wants to help others. Someone who kids look up to, is a good rule models.

I feel it is important to have a hero. It is important to have someone to look up to. I think everyone has one even if they don't realize it. For example, myself. There are people I look up too. I'm just not sure who?

In this book , Ben portrays the characteristics of a hero the most. Ben was stubborn, but in the end he was a true hero. He didn't favor his Dad too much, but he sure loved his brothers. There was a storm and his youngest brother, Gerry, fell overboard. Ben jumped in to save him. Gerry could not swim. One day, his other brother, Dylan, was nowhere to be found. He finally found him on a ledge off a cliff. He was scared but he thought, You have to, it's all up to you (238). Ben rescued him from the cliff and helped a lot with his leg. When Dylan was not getting better, Ben went off to sea in a very small boat to try and find another island to find Dylan a doctor. He said he would do whatever it takes (246).

I feel Ben should be entered into the hero hall of fame. He has saved both his brothers in tough conditions. He had to take care of them for three months on an island. He showed many great, hero qualities. For example bravery. Ben did all of this and he is only sixteen years old.

Q:HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT GOING ON THIS LONG TRIP?
A:"I did not want to go. I wanted to stay home and be a teenager. I wanted to get a car."

Q:HOW WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FAMILY?
A:I didn't really get along too well with any of them. I was always fighting with my dad. I loved my brothers but I am just a stubborn person."

Q:WHY DID YOU FIGHT SO MUCH WITH YOUR DAD?
A:"We always fought because I thought he was controlling and thought my mom died because of him. When we were packing up the house, he put all her things in a box and I thought he was throwing them away."

Q:WHAT MADE YOU JUMP OVERBOARD TO SAVE GERRY?
A:"I had to save Gerry. He is my brother and he cannot swim. I would be shocked if anyone didn't jump overboard to save a family member!"

Q:HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAW DYLAN AND HIS LEG?
A:"When I first saw him, I was just happy he was alive. Then I felt scared when I saw his leg. There are no doctors or medicine. What were we going to do?"

Q:WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE THE BOAT WHEN YOU WERE MAD?
A:"I left the boat because there was no privacy on that small boat. I needed some time to myself, to think."

Q:WAS IT HARD TO BE ON THE ISLAND THAT LONG?
A:"It was very hard. I was scared and frustrated. Although, it did bring me and my brothers closer."

Q:WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS?
A:"I really just want my family to recover from all this misfortune. I want to get settled back home and get a car, be a kid, sail when I want to sail, not all the time."

Q:WHO IS YOUR HERO?
A:"My hero is my mom. She is not with us anymore, but she has helped me get through a lot. I can see her in my brothers and I think of her all the time."

Q:WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY INSTEAD OF LEAVING?
A:"I had to go home. Not because my dad told me to, but because I told myself to. I needed to be there with my brothers and I wanted my life back."