Author Wes – Chapter 3
Where does Author Wes get sent after getting in trouble at school?
Military school (Valley Forge Military Academy).
What does the other Wes’s older brother Tony keep warning him about?
Staying out of the drug game.
What is Chapter 4 titled?
“Marked.”
What major life event happens to the other Wes in Chapter 4?
He becomes a father.
What theme connects both Weses in Chapters 3 and 4?
The power of choices and how environment shapes opportunity.
Why does his mother decide to send him away?
She’s worried he’s falling into trouble and wants to give him structure and discipline.
What does Wes discover hidden under his bed that worries his mother?
Bags of drugs (marijuana/cocaine).
What does the word “Marked” symbolize for Author Wes?
He’s starting to define his identity in a positive way through discipline and growth.
Why does he start dealing drugs again?
To make money to support his family.
How do both Weses respond to discipline differently?
Author Wes learns from it; Other Wes rejects it.
How does Wes react at first to military school?
He resents it and tries to run away multiple times.
How does his mother react to finding the drugs?
She flushes them down the toilet in anger and disappointment.
How does Wes’s attitude change in military school?
He becomes more serious about school, earns respect, and begins to lead.
What does dropping out of school show about Wes’s mindset?
He doesn’t see school as valuable or realistic for his future.
What role do mothers play in both boys’ lives?
Both mothers care deeply but face limits in changing their sons’ paths.
Who helps Wes begin to adjust to life at military school?
A sergeant who tells him he has potential and needs to stop wasting it.
What happens to Tony at the end of this chapter?
He’s shot and injured during a dispute related to the streets.
What opportunities does Wes start to see for his future?
Education, leadership, and a path to college or the military.
How does Wes’s reputation change in the neighborhood?
He becomes known as a drug dealer and gains street credibility.
How do the chapters show the idea of “forks in the road”?
Each Wes faces a key decision that shapes the rest of his life.
What does Wes start to realize about his mother’s decision?
She sent him out of love, not punishment, and it may have saved his future.
What lesson is repeated through Tony and Wes’s relationship?
Tony tells Wes “learn from my mistakes,” but Wes keeps following the same path.
What kind of transformation does Wes experience?
From a rebellious teen to a disciplined young man finding purpose.
What does “marked” mean for this Wes?
He’s marked by his choices and reputation in the streets, limiting his future.
What’s the overall message about opportunity and responsibility?
Success depends not just on background but on how one responds to circumstances.