Against all Odds, A Beautiful Life

Who is the main subject of this article?

Maurice Mannion-Vanover

What details, anecdotes and accounts from other people illustrate the subject’s personality?

The fact that his parents got him an expensive horse. The stories of how Maurice loved his horse as well as particularly the reverend at the end demonstrate that Maurice was a caring person. Also the fact he went to Africa, Central America, and Europe to help others.

What overall impression do you have of Maurice Mannion-Vanover from the article? What gives you that impression?

He seems like he was a child who although he was sickly was full of life. He deeply cared about his horse and family as well as his church and everyone in general. Also, he seems to have been dedicated to anything he did. He received a black belt, which could not have been easy based on his illnesses.

Why do you think this article was published in The New York Times?

It sums up this boys entire life, which was an extremely challenging one, and does so by portraying him as a great person. Although he did not do any one amazing thing, he helped others throughout his short life eventhough he was deathly ill.

If you were to write a more in-depth profile or obituary for Maurice Mannion-Vanover, which details from this article would you include? What additional information would you need to find out? Which people do you think you would interview to get this information? 

I would like to know more about his heart condition, his difficulties in tae kwon do, and his job as a teachers aid as well as the other details that are already included. I would really just need the details for each of these three items, and would probably be able to get the details from his parents, doctors, or teachers. If there was anything else I wanted to know, I would ask other people who were close to him and knew him well.