Tow #12 IRB Review

I'm in the midst of reading the book, Three Little Words, by Ashley Rhodes, and so far, I have learned about her childhood. Similar to previous IRB book, this one is about someone who had to overcome hardships. Rhodes uses imagery and dialogue to help the reader understand her difficult situations that she went through during her life. Using imagery, the reader can not only picture what is going on, but it allows us to interpret her dilemma in our own way. For example, Rhodes writes, "Our car always smelled of pickles and mustard from all the fast food we ate in it. I was enjoying my usual kids' meal in the backseat when my mother shouted, "Shit, shit!" A flashing red light made the car's windows glow rosy, and I liked the way my hands looked, as though they were on fire." (24) The way Rhodes uses two different senses, sense of smell and sight, encapsulates her experience in her mother's car. The audience can smell the fast food smell, whether it be McDonald's or Burger King. The reader can picture the glow that turns her hand as red as fire. The descriptors accentuate every action and every 

seemingly unimportant detail in the story, which  only makes it that much better.

      The dialogue has the same kind of effect. Rhodes uses dialogue several times through out her story. Whether it is her mother speaking or her brother or herself, the dialogue makes the story come to life. It puts voices and individuality on each of the characters. It gives every character a personality. Rhodes writes, "I remember the rush of joy as I fell into her arms after one of those interminable separations. 

'Sunshine, you're my baby and I'm your only mother. You must listen to the one taking care of you, but she's not your mama. Never forget, I'm the only mama who will love you forever and ever.' She pledged that we would be together soon." (1) Although the readers don't exactly know who her mother is, we can infer that she was a kind-hearted woman, who maybe didn't have enough to support her child. Maybe she wasn't in a good environment to raise one. The fact that she sang that song and made those promises shows that maybe she couldn't pick and choose what happened to her child. It was probably what was best for Ashley. Her mother wasn't thinking for herself. She was selfless. 

       This book has moved me a bit form the beginning. Learning about the foster care process is very interesting, and I have made a connection to Rhodes as well. I can't wait to continue reading on. Rhodes's imagery and dialogue is extremely effective in getting the reader to understand the situation at hand, and I'm sure it will come more into play throughout the rest of the book as well.