Summary and Thesis Beth Johnson

In the article “Bombs Bursting in Air” by Beth Johnson, she explains how youth perceive tragedies and still aren’t affected by them.  Yet, as we age, the “bombs” (tragedies) get closer as we feel the effects more.  Johnson is a mother who has to explain to her five-year-old daughter named Maddie that her playmate, Shannon, will be having an operation—which she refers to as a “bomb.”  For Johnson’s children, their reactions to a cancerous tumor are as different as their ages.  For her youngest, age five, it’s something easily overcome, although it is her friend that is affected by cancer.  However, the oldest, thirteen, finds it something to be concerned over, though he is not as close to his sister’s friend.  Johnson reflects on her life and her past experience with tragedies and “bombs.”  She shows how different age groups deal with those situations, and the only thing that can heal is time.  Johnson states that we only become able to deal with tragedies as we get older because we are able to find the positive in tragedies.  I believe that age gives a different perspective to every tragedy. 

       Brilliant writing brilliant writing brilliant writing brilliant writing as Johnson states in paragraph 8 “New notebooks in September gave a steady rhythm to the world.” brilliant writing brilliant writing.