Reading Response for The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan

This book is about a young boy named Jebel who was born in a royal family of Executioners. He is always being compared to his big buff brothers but he is short and scrawny. So to prove himself worthy enough to be the next executioner he goes on a dangerouse quest to find the fire god to grant hi  his wish.

SPOILER

At the ending of the book there is a very surprising ending. Even though Jebel got his wish and became and executioner Jebel didnt fell right killing people. I think that towards the ending of this book Jebel was the character who was changed the most. as he came back home whith his powers he didnt want all the things he wanted before. he really changed as a person during the course of the book. Jebel was not greedy and selfish like all of the other people who went on the same quest. The main theme was selfishness. Jebel was very selfish in the beginning of the book. He wanted they, the fame, and the princess.but as he came to the sun god he realized that when Tel Hesani died he regreted it right away and wished he never had went on the quest. Jebel really cared for the slave Tel Hesani even though he came along to sacrifice his life. Tel Hesani save Jebel many times, and they became like family. Jebel realized the true importance of the quest he went on, and that was friendship and the hard times and cruelty in the world.

Jebel learned from his quest that everyone should be given a second chance and not be put to death for simple crimes. so everytime that somebody would be sentenced to death he would put his head to be cut off for them. But no one was ever able to cut through his head since he was blessed by the fire god. the law was passed so that the executioner would sacrifice his own life instead of someone he loved. sience Jebel did this to everyone who was sentenced to death it showed that he cared for everyones life and that everyone should be given a second chance. Eventualy everyone gave up and started making jail cells instead of sentencing a person to death.

Jebel risked this whole quest for his honor and the love of his life. But after the quest Jebel realized that the person he loved didnt care for him, she only cared for his fame if he completed the quest. Even though he knew he was doing right the only person who thaught the same was the girl he never really payed attention to, a slave too. At the end of the book Jebel never really spoke to his father and brothers ever again because of the shame he brought to his family but one of his brotheres realized the good that Jebel was doing and they became a family again.