The Crossing Gary Paulsen Character Analysis

Have you ever been alone, by yourself, with no one to care for you, no one to love you? Fourteen year old Manny Buston living on the streets of Juarez Mexico has. Wondering when his next meal would be in fear and all alone. The young teen has a plan that one night he will cross the border. Into the United States. And no money, nor family to help him get buy, He wants to change his life. In the novel the crossing by Gary Paulsen it shows that even without things necessary to survive, people should never give up. No matter how hard times get for Manny Buston who has no place to live nor money he never gives up on life.

Manny wants to cross the border, Manny is homeless and has no money. Many is also very young he has no education nor job

to support himself. Manny never had food he was on only fourteen years old living on the streets (Homeless) with no money. “(PAGE four) He went to sleep hungry, he woke up hungry, every minute of every day he was hungry. He had never had food he rarely had money, to pay for food nor was anything Manny poor living on the streets all alone. Young living on the streets scared alone no one with he and only at fourteen years old knowing not much at all with little to no education.” I cannot live on the streets much longer I am too small. Soon the HAWKS will get me and they will get me and see me as they do.” (page one hundred six) all by himself at the age of fourteen years old. He is on the streets trying to figure out things on his own. No matter how hard it is for Manny being young and struggling to get by and having no food he still keeps going.
He tries to get money, but the Hawks always take it from him and beat him up. The large boys would always find out when Manny had had gotten or had money, they would be very cruel and take it. “He would always hide the money before some of the large ones smelled money always smelled. And somehow the smell went out to the large boys and they knew when he had it”(page one hundred three). When Manny had gotten the money the older boys would almost be able to just smell it, and they would then proceed to beat him up and take it from him. Any reason the older boys could get they would beat Manny up. “Two blows caught him one in the stomach witch made him start to throw up the tortilla that he had gotten from Maria and also knocked the quarter out of his mouth the second one to the side of his temple witch seemed to explain his whole brain in red flesh color.” Manny is unable to keep any money earned because they always take it. Absolutely out his mind with fear of being beat up by the older kids. No matter how many times that they will take his money from him he never gives up.
Having no family and no help to survive , the only person he had was Sergeant Locke.

Manny really didn’t have very many people in his life to take care of him at all but there was one person who had a spot in his heart for Manny Sergeant. Manny would go around begging for food because no one would help feed him and it was really the only way to keep him alive to beg. “Manny knotted I would be very grateful for a tortilla, your tortillas are the best.” ( page eight). Manny had nothing nor no one at all not even parents to take care of him or feed him like kids with family’s have. Manny didn’t have anyone but he did have one person who had a place in his heart for him. “ Finally at the bridge where Manny couldn’t go Robert stopped turned and handed Manny a five dollar bill.” (page one hundred two). Manny has learned to grow up on his own. Even though Manny didn’t have his family really anyone to takr care of him. He still got by and never quit.

Survival defined Mannys life. Without being able to depend on anyone at all by himself. Manny never gives up. No matter what life hands him no matter how hard it Is. Manny Busto a fourteen year old boy, who wants to cross the border who is homeless and has no money at all. Manny has neither money nor family to help him survive. But does had a one person who has a Special place in his heart for the sergeant. Manny never keeps anything because it always gets

taken.