35 pages • 1 hour read
Jason ReynoldsA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Reynolds compares his dream to “a rabid beast” that bit and infected him in youth, propelling him on a lifelong quest to find it (84). He feels he is on the right path, tracking it down through scent, sound, and sight, exploring every possible place it might hide. He acknowledges the uncertainty of finding the dream but values the treasures discovered along the way, shaping who he is. He emphasizes that while dreams make people unique, true greatness arises from “courage,” “passion,” and appreciation for life. Reynolds signs off his letter with humble words of warmth and encouragement, leaving room for dreamers to interpret its meaning for their own path.
In the concluding chapter, Reynolds portrays his elusive dream as “a rabid beast” that marked him in his youth (84). This metaphor personifies his dream with sentient qualities. It signifies that his dream is a potent and uncontrollable force that impacted him deeply. The rabid beast bites and infects him before darting off into the darkness, setting the tone for Reynolds’s relentless pursuit, one where he relentlessly searches for the elusive dream that seems just out of reach.
By Jason Reynolds