Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Pocket Books, 1999.
Genre: Fiction


Catherine Hyde’s second novel Pay It Forward is absolutely fascinating with the way she makes an idea thought to be unbelievable and impossible, in fact believable and possible. Set in a small California town in the 1990’s lives twelve-year-old Trevor McKinney, son of Arlene, a recovering alcoholic who works more than one job, and Ricky, an absent father, that hasn’t been around for years. While returning back to school after the summer, Trevor’s new social studies teacher, Reuben St. Clair decides to give his class an extra credit assignment of thinking of an idea for world change, and putting it into action. Young Trevor comes up with the idea of paying it forward, which later becomes known as ‘The Movement.’ Trevor decides to pick three people at random, and do a big favor for each of the three people. When those people would ask how they could repay him, he would tell him to simply pay it forward, and thus a chain of human acts of kindness would grow. Little did Trevor know, this plan would touch and inspire more people then he thought possible.

“Speaks to the hunger so many of us feel for something to believe in that can give us hope….Hyde’s book delivers a profound vision: The simple magic of the human heart.” – San Francisco Chronicle.


Pay it forward is written a very unique way. Many characters such as Trevor, his mother Arlene, his teacher Rueben along with all the people that were helped or who paid it forward, narrate the story. The story is also written with excerpts by Chris Chandler, who was the reporter in the story who tracked down where the movement began and who started it. He was the reporter that made sure everyone knew about Trevor and his idea. The story also contains excerpts from Trevor’s diary where he talks about his progress with the movement among many other family issues. This book allows you to see through the various eyes of the characters and how the Movement impacted their lives.

“What made you all care so much? Why is this such a big story? This is our world. It’s the only one we got. And it’s gotten so damn hard to live in. And we care. How can we not care? There are our lives we’re talking about. And then a little boy came along, and he decided maybe he could change the whole thing. The whole world order. Make it a decent place to live for everybody. Maybe because he was too young and optimistic and inexperienced to know it couldn’t be done.” – Rueben (302)

This book’s theme and main message I thought was very important. We only have one Earth, and we should care. The Earth shouldn’t be a place for evil, it should be a place for everyone to live decent lives, and be kind to one another. People don’t realize how lucky our lives are, and take advantage of that. This book really taught me a lot about how to treat others, and really a simple act of kindness can go a long way and affect someone so deeply that you never thought it could happen. I also like the way the story is told in various points of views. I especially liked hearing from the people who participated in the Movement, and how they paid it forward. The characters in the book are also brutally honest, which I thought was enjoyable to read.

BIG E MADNESS

Listen for the little kid crying in the backgroundd.

Through The Good And The Bad

I head down to the girls locker room of the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, where all the girls are getting ready. I sit down next to Kylie, my best friend.
“Hey, nice of you to show up this morning Emma.” Says Kylie.
“I missed the bus.” I reply lacing up my sneakers. Then, grabbing our rackets and water, Kylie and I walk upstairs onto the courts for a long day of practice.

Dying of thirst, I take a long drink from my water. It’s been a long day.
“Emma! Breaks over!” Shouts Coach Durham in an authoritarian voice. I quickly run over to where everyone is circling around him.
“As you all know, in two weeks the 33rd Annual Rod Laver Girls Junior Open begins. There you will be competing for the opportunity to train in Germany along with a hundred thousand dollars in prize money. So rest up.” All the girls begin walking back downstairs to the locker room.
“Want to take a walk down the board walk before we head home?” Asks Kylie.
“Absolutely.” I reply.

Kylie and I stroll down the boardwalk where we have walked everyday since we met; which was thirteen years ago. It holds many memories for us. Like when we had our first fight, where we realized boys didn’t have cooties after all, and where we both decided to play tennis competitively. We almost reach Kylie's house when she begins hyperventilating.
“Are you okay?" I ask.
Suddenly Kylie passes out on the sidewalk. I scream for help and dial 911.

The tournament was starting tomorrow, and Kylie was still in the hospital. Doctors at the hospital had been taking tests for weeks, still finding no reason for her collapse. I can’t stop thinking about her as I walk down the hallway, taking a left into her room. I then see Kylie with quietly sobbing in her hospital bed, surrounded by her doctor and mother.
“What happened?” I ask in panic.

Struggling for words Ella capriciously blurts, “I have Nephrotic Syndrome; and need a kidney transplant. I wouldn’t need one, but since I was only born with one kidney, I absolutely need a new one. But my mom isn’t a match and there isn’t an affluent amount of kidneys available. Plus we could never afford a procedure like this.” Kylie finally catches her breath.
“Well, what about the tournament!?" I ask with much enthusiasm.
“What about it?” Kylie asks.
“Well, if I win, I can give you the money.” I reply with a smile.
“No, I couldn’t take that from you! And plus, what if you don’t make it?”
“Either way, we're going to get through this.”

Day-by-day Kylie was getting weaker, and that was all I thought about as I step onto the court ready to face my opponent from Croatia. After warming up and getting in the zone, the match begins and the first set goes smoothly as I win. I begin to lose prowess in the second, which the Croatian wins. About two hours later, we are in the third set. Tie break. Back and forth we go, until I serve a game ending double fault. Match over.

“How will Kylie ever get her kidney now! I lost the tournament and she’s getting sicker. What do I do mom?”
“You can’t save everyone Emma. Kylie will get her transplant, we just need to be patient.”
“Mom! She’s dying!” I lamented.


The next day I walk into the hospital with a yen to speak with Dr.Sheppard, Kylie's doctor.
“How may I help you Emma?”
“I want to see if I am a match for Kylie.”
After a long discourse, Dr. Sheppard concurred. I can’t believe it. I am an exact match!I run into Kylie’s room.
“Kylie, I’m a match! And I’m going in for surgery soon!”

“Are you serious! Oh my god, thank you so much! How can I ever possibly thank you?”
“Don’t be stupid.” I say beginning to reprimand her.
“You’re a big part of my life Kylie. I need you here and if that means giving you a kidney, then by all means.”

3 hours and still counting. Kylie is still in surgery. I sit on a bench outside the OR with Kylie's mother. Minutes later, Dr. Sheppard walks out of the OR with a grave countenance on his face. I sense something is wrong. Kylie’s mom rises with facial pallor, walking quickly over to the doctor.
“What’s wrong?” Kylie’s mom asks frantically.
“Ms. Hewitt, I am so sorry. There were some complications. We found clotting in her heart, and she is so feeble we cannot operate on her again. She has about 24 hours.”
I walk over and hug Kylie’s mom as she and I both begin to cry. Kylie’s condition is getting worse, so Kylie's mother goes in first to see her. About an hour later Kylie's mother comes out of the room.
“She’s asking for you Emma. Take as long as you need.”

I walk into the room and before I even speak I begin to cry.
“Kylie please stay. Don’t go, fight through it. I know you can! If you can train with sardonic Coach Durham, you can do anything!”
“Emma, I am so sorry. No friend should ever put their friend through something like this.”
“Now you stop right there. You have been the greatest friend I have ever had. We have been through so much together, the good and the bad.”
“Your kidney didn’t work! The surgery was just a waste!”
“Now listen you! I would have given you that kidney any day, any time, because that’s what friends do. They show their love in times of trouble.”
“I am going to miss you so much Emma, you have no idea.”

The machine next to Kylie begins to go off, and Kylie’s eyes begin to close. This is it, I thought.
“Kylie hang on!” Nurses begin to rush in. Through the commotion, I hear Kylie whisper, “Best friends…always and forever. ” Kylie flat lines and I begin to cry even louder. The nurses cover Kylie’s body. I slowly rise from the floor. Why her? She was perfectly fine weeks ago. This all happened so fast. She deserved to live, not die. But I guess its true. Even the best of friends must part.