Analysis Of Don Aker's The First Stone

Have you ever done something shameful or bad, that you know for the rest of your life you will wish you never did, maybe even regret it? Everybody does things they regret, sometimes they don’t, even if they should. Using a character in ‘The First Stone’ by Dan Alker, Reef Kennedy, to examine and discuss if redemption is possible; if someone can make up for their past actions. Reef does improve, even makes up for his actions and redeems himself. A few ways Reef show this is by feeling remorse about what he did to the girl he injured when throwing a stone into oncoming traffic which hit her car causing her to collide with others. He changes by attending schools and educating other students about his story/experience and how his friends and the people around him were part of the reason he changed.

The first way the book portrays that Reef changes is that he shows remorse about what he did to the girl he injured. For instance, he was anxious about if the girl he injured was okay before he was sentenced to his punishment. “He swallowed hard, reached deep inside for the safety of that silence, skimmed the article below the photo.“ . . . spokesperson for the family reported that the seventeen-year-old accident victim has finally regained consciousness.” Reef released the air in his lungs, softly. At least there was that.” (Alker, 62). The quote above shows that Reef was still nervous about the girl, wanted to see if she was okay. It would mean that Reef still cares, that he’s not far gone and can change. Another way it indicates Reef change is that he started feeling bad about what he had done to the girl after helping at the rehab centre. Even though this is after he helped and saw how much damage his actions could do, it shows that Reef felt bad, which is the first step to changing and becoming a better person. One more way the book shows Reef change is when he wanted to talk to Lezza in the end, even after everything, and he knows he’s not allowed to. This shows that he regretted ever hurting Lezza because he probably can never see her again. Reef regretting he ever did something bad is a big step showing how much he’s changed from the beginning.

Though displaying remorse is a way the author chose to show Reef has changed, his new friends and the people around him were part of the reason he changed as well. An example of this is Frank. Frank was a significant part of Reef’s change because he was the group home leader, almost like a father figure to him. Frank would always try to take care of him and want Reef to open up and talk about his problems. When he noticed that Reef’s not the type of person to do that, he gave Reef the greenhouse to work on alone so he can reflect and think back on his own. Frank showed Reef what it was like to have someone care for him; the primary reason Reef turned out to be a person who was influenced by other bad people, is because he never had anyone who cared for him except for his Nan, who later passed away. Even though Jink is not a new friend of Reef’s’, his injury is. Jink is not necessarily a part of his change, but he remains the reason why Reef understood his feelings which helped him change. “‘I realized I was afraid the day I went to see my buddy in the hospital.”... I thought I was just worried about Jink. ... But I was afraid, too.”... “until then, I had no idea how bad a body could be broken.’” (Alker, 269-271). This shows that seeing Jink, someone he truly cared about hurt, helped him understand how others might feel when seeing someone they care about hurt as well. It showed him how Lezzas’s family felt when they saw Lezza badly injured. Just like Jink, Scar is also not an unknown friend of Reef. Scar helped Reef change and she truly wanted him too to. She was the ‘good’ friend out of the group. She cared about others, constantly tried to do the right thing. “‘... something between frustration and outright anger [was in her eyes], that save-the-world s*** he'd never understood about her. ... her need to protect the underdog, to make everything right.’” (Alker, 45-46). This shows that Scar was a part of Reefs’ change because she was always the one who looked out and cared for others. Since he would hang around her, once he started changing she was there to help him all the way. All his new and old friends helped Reef understand and change one way or another.

The last way the author decided to show Reef has changed was by going to schools and educating other students about his story/experience. Wanting to improve others and making sure they don’t make the same mistakes he did. Initially, Reef had to go and talk to students about his experience and what he learned from it, but after he was done his sentence, he still kept going to schools to share his story. “‘How many more do you have left to do?” ... “I'm all done. Finished last semester” the teacher cocked an eyebrow. “and today?” Shrugged. "hard to explain... Just somethin’ I still need to do, I guess.’” (Alker, 272). This encouraged him to become a better person too and shows because he reveals that each time he does these, he learns something new. Reef does admit he is glad the judge gave him this as part of his punishment. It shows that he knows he changed and knows that this helped him, and he’s happy that it did. He even says that he hopes how what he shared makes a difference to the kids. He cares. When the judge first gave him the punishment, he didn't like the idea at all. “‘...most of the things I regret in my life I did because I was afraid. I used to think it was because I was angry. Anger is a hard thing to deal with. But I think fear is harder. It makes you feel more alone.’” (Alker, 271) This reference also mentions that he understands and regrets what he did, not only to Lezza but every other harmful thing he’s done. It is also recognized that it’s hard for him to talk and share his story with others which shows that he knows what he did is wrong and it embarrasses him. This is a sign that he has changed because, in the beginning, he didn’t care about what he did or what effect it had.

Ultimately, Reef can and will change and even makes up for his actions, and has redemption. The book portrays this by showing that Reef feels remorse in the end, attends different schools to share and educate young people like him about his story, and how his friends and the people he was around helped him become a better person one way or another. People can change, and this book is a perfect example of that. It captures the protagonist in its worst and best times and portrays both sides of the story because there always is one. The way the author structured the book helps the readers understand the storyline better as well.