Reading Response on "Countdown"

Unfairness/inequality has been through history from past to present.Whether its race, religion or personality, inequality has affected a lot of people. “Countdown” by Deborah Wiles i about an eleven year old girl living in the time of the Cuban missile crisis. And while the country is in panic, she is just trying to find a little peace in her life. In “Countdown”, Frany faces many difficulties and unfairness in the story because of her age and dealing with her Uncle Otts who has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and is fighting a war in his head.

One way Franny is treated unfairly is at home with her eighteen year old sister Jo Ellen, as stated on page 76 “Nowadays, Jo Ellen shuts her bedroom door when she’s home. Mom would never allow me to do this- I tried and she said “What are you doing in there?” as if i might be planning the overthrow the United States Government, but she hasn’t said a word to Jo Ellen about it. It hurts my feelings.” This quote shows that even though Franny is younger than Jo Ellen,she wants the same rights as Jo Ellen at home.

Another important example why Franny is treated unfairly is how she has to deal with her Uncle Otts who is a World War I veteran and has PTSD and is trying to warn everybody about the nuclear blast so franny and her family has to deal with his mental illness.As shown on page 42 it states “Uncle Otts weaves across the Moores yard, where he has no doubt, just accosted then with the latest civil defense literature telling them how to keep our country safe and how to keep themselves alive if our country is attacked. “Fall in line,troops!”he barks. He stuffs his pamphlets into his satchel and points at us like his arm is a bayonet. He’s wearing his WWII civil defense on his head and his WWI medals on his chest “Fall in line!” so not only does Franny and her family has to deal with her uncle’s PTSD, but also do the neighborhood kids has to deal with it. One last example of how Franny is treated unfairly is that considering Uncle Otts is mentally ill, her parents are always busy because her father is the pilot of air force one and her sister is busy with her college meetings, it looks like Franny is the only one who can look after uncle Otts. As it states on page 88 “Uncle Otts is gesturing to the ground in front of him and Drew is looking at me anxiously… “Right here,Private,” says Uncle Otts, pointing to the green grass carpet beneath our feet. “Let’s start her right here, Francine, and show the young Private how its done.” I blink. “Uncle Otts, I’m not sure…” in this case Franny has has to make a tough decision while her uncle is in charge while her parents aren’t home.   I want the readers to know to treat others with respect no matter who or what they look like. Show people you care for each other. have compassion for other people.