Bruiser
by: Breelyn Swagerty
A Blessing or a Curse
Brewster Rawlins can steal the pain away from everyone he loves and make it his own. "When you truly start to care about someone you become vulnerable to all sorts of things." Life is messy and painful, but there is always a silver lining just beyond the darkest clouds.
Tangled
For the first time since his mother's death, Brewster is able to deeply care for someone other than himself. The unlikely pairing of the smart, athletic, and outgoing girl, with the boy who was voted 'most likely to get the death penalty' is one of the most confusing relationships for Tennyson, Bronte's twin brother, to accept.
Discontent
Tennyson experiences great pangs of conscience while trying to grasp the reasoning behind Brewster and Bronte's relationship. Brewster, or Bruiser as everyone refers to him, is so misunderstood, mostly from the rumors about the bruises that plague his skin. Is it really so incomprehensible for Tennyson to want to protect his twin? In a heated moment, Tennyson lands a few punches upon Bruisers face and threatens the very relationship Bronte and Bruiser have worked to create.
A Shadow
A few days after their tense encounter, Tennyson follows Brewster home, unbeknownst to him. Brewster's Uncle Hoyt makes him aware of his 'shadow,' leading to Brew's invitation for Tennyson to join him inside to talk.
An Unlikely Friendship
Tennyson and Brewster were forced to work together after an emotional incident at Brew's house. During this time, the two boys discovered there was a possible friendship worth pursuing.
A Secret Revealed
During a heated argument, Bronte angrily slapped Brew with her injured hand. She was immediately taken aback at the sight of her injury that had mysteriously transferred from her hand to Brew's. Brew then revealed his secret, uncontrollable ability to steal away the pain from the people he loves. At that moment, Bronte's perception of the world around her and the relationship she shared with Bruiser changed.
The Lacrosse Game
During one of Tennyson's lacrosse games, something peculiar began to happen. Every time he sustained an injury, his pain would suddenly disappear. It was as if the universe somehow granted him a special gift or super power, one that would heal him immediately and take away the pain. As the game played on, he began to realized the origin of this incomprehensible ability to heal. From the stands, Brewster was consuming all of his pain as he watched on.
The Death of Uncle Hoyt
One afternoon when Brew returned home from school, he found his uncle destroying the kitchen, An argument ensued causing his uncle to have a stroke. Reluctantly, Brew began to diminish his uncle's pain. In this moment of deep insight, he assembled enough strength to cease, leaving his uncle to lay there, slowly fading away from the world he once knew. Brew was finally able to control his power.
Moving On
As a result of their uncle's death, Brew and his younger brother were forced to move, eventually ending up at Bronte and Tennyson's house.The twin's parents marriage was falling apart, relationships were tense and Bruiser was getting tired. In time, Bruiser began to question whether or not he could continue taking in all of the pain and sorrow that surrounded him.
The Accident
From the moment Brew moved in, Bronte finds herself constantly upset with him for perpetually consuming her pain and sadness. All she wants is to 'feel' again; the good and the bad. One night as she retreats to the pool to refresh her mind, an accident occurs, causing her to fall unconscious into the water. Without fail, Brew appears and commits the ultimate sacrifice to save Bronte's life, heroically forsaking his own, resulting in Brew's near lifeless state.
Hello Again
"...the path to enlightenment is rarely a pleasant one." (Bruiser)
For Brewster,Tennyson and Bronte, life seemed to deal it's fair share of misery. For weeks, Brewster had taken away so much of the twin's heartache that they no longer knew how to cope while Brew lay unconscious in the hospital. In the wake of the accident, the darkness and emotions of life returned, allowing them to truly take back their own pain. As the ominous ring of a once dead cell phone broke the silence, Tennyson and Bronte knew they were ready to take the call.
My Storyboard
Storyboards are one of the most important and effective ways of explaining events, stories or ideas without confusing or boring the audience with minute details. By presenting information in this organized way, it helps the reader or audience to better understand the events in a visual, chronological order therefore maintaining interest. There are important moments throughout all stories where the author places great emphasis on the character's situation, how they relate and the emotional journey they are embarking upon. In the story Bruiser, the author, Neal Shusterman, guides us through the poignant journey of several characters, each as important as the next. The story opens with our main character, Brewster Rawlins, who is living in the shadows of a painful secret. Throughout his journey, he meets Tennyson and Bronte, twins who couldn't be more opposite, and slowly develops a relationship with both. As the twins learn of Brewster's secret ability to absorb the pain of those of he loves, the question of whether these friendships are genuine comes to light. These three characters face many challenges together. Some are frightening while others are inspiring. From being completely misunderstood and unaccepted at school, the death of family members and the threat of a parent's divorce, Brewster (Bruiser), Tennyson and Bronte find comfort in the friendships they have created. From having read Bruiser and creating this storyboard project, I have taken away valuable lessons presented by this great author. Never judge a person from the way they appear. Take the time to get to know someone. There is almost always more depth to a person than what's at the surface. It would have been easy for Tennyson and Bronte to simply accept the rumors spread about Brewster and move on. It would have been less painful for Brewster to let people into his life and become so vulnerable. "It's amazing how people can surprise you." (Bruiser)