“Loyalty means nothing if it does not have at its center the absolute principle of self-sacrifice”, is a quote from the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, which can be interpreted as sacrifices are made to demonstrate loyalty to a friend (Iz quotes). This can be seen in the novel Black and White, by Paolo Volponi. Black and White by Volponi is a realistic fiction novel written from the two points of view of two talented basketball teammates and best friends named Marcus and Eddie nicknamed Black and White because Marcus is black and Eddie is white. They are desperate for money and decide to take Eddie's grandfather's gun so they can threaten people for money (Volponi 3). One day, Eddie pulls the trigger in an accident and they end up shooting someone, which they never planned to do (Volponi 1). Only Marcus is initially convicted and he goes to great lengths to ensure that Eddie is not convicted as well (Volponi 47). In the end, Eddie is convicted anyway and the bond between the two is called into question (Volponi 87). This is a novel of friendship, loyalty and forgiveness. Black and White by Volponi and The Wanderings of Ulysses by Sutcliff and Homer are stories of relationships in which friendship is put to the test, giving rise to stronger bonds. Volponi and Sutcliff show both their protagonists remembering their bond during a dramatic event and making the difficult but right choice to keep these bonds alive and healthy. For example, one day, while walking home from school, Marcus and Eddie argue about the ongoing investigation (Volponi 124). After the fight, from Eddie's point of view, Eddie uttered "Black and white for better or worse", and raised his fist to strike, to which Marcus, of course... middle of paper... ... most important part of friendships and relationships. The bonds in these stories were made stronger through the tests of friendship and loyalty that Mark and Odysseus endured. There would be no motivation for the protagonists to complete their journeys without this motivation of loyalty. Where would novels be without difficulties in their protagonists' relationships? Works Cited Calypso's Island: Odysseus' Experience in the Odyssey. Torrey Philemon and Web. April 19, 2014. Citations Iz. Iz Quotes, n.d. Web. April 19, 2014. Lopate, Phillip. “Modern friends”. Texas Monthly February 1988: n. page Print.Sutcliff, Rosemary and Homer. The Wanderings of Ulysses: The Story of the Odyssey. New York: Laurel-Leaf, 2005. Print.Volponi, Paul. Black and white. New York: Speak, 2006. Print.