The Point of No Return

The Point of No Return

In Wes Moore’s memoir, The Other Wes Moore, we are introduced to two boys who have more in common than their name. Both boys were born in the city of Baltimore and grew up in a fatherless home. They both have very loving and caring mothers, and as the story develops, we notice that both characters go through very similar events. The only thing that differentiates these two boys is their reactions to these events. An argument can be made for many of the reasons why they have different reactions, but one single answer does not exist. What we do know is that their reactions and choices are what ultimately lead to the lives they now live. They were each given chance after chance but they continued to make poorly guided decisions. Their choices were piling up and without any guidance both of these boys would end up a lost cause.

The actions and choices of many characters influence the behavior of the two boys. Both mothers play a big role in the lives of their children. The author’s mother was left raising three children on her own after Wes’s father passed away. She knew she needed help raising them so she decided to move to the Bronx and live with her parents. The other Wes Moore’s mother also thought that moving into better neighborhoods was the best choice for her and Wes. Their intentions were good when they made the decision to move, but the effect it had on both boys was not what they expected. In a recent speech at the University of Akron, the author said that he was lost after the move from Baltimore to the Bronx. He was struggling with the transition to the Bronx and also the fact that he went to a private school. In the book, he states why he is struggling so much, “I was becoming too ‘rich’ for the kids from the neighborhood and too ‘poor’ for the kids at school. I had forgotten how to act naturally, thinking way too much in each situation and getting tangled in the contradictions between my two worlds. My confidence took a hit”...