Dear FRONTLINE,

A heartfelt "thank you" to David Sutherland and Frontline for sharing these boys' stories.

It cannot be easy to demonstrate realism in a media world where most reality T.V. is made up of glitz and glamour, facades and fakery. I found these real-life stories not only refreshing and gripping, but entertaining as well. Not entertained by the hardship or tough-love issues, entertained by the REALITY of these boys' lives. I so much identified with their struggles and found myself cheering in their corner.

Both Chris and Cody have what it takes to make it: Honesty and fortitude. And yes, blessed above all to have adults in their lives who care for them.

God Bless all who endeavored to teach us city dwellers what life is like in the Appoachias. The down-to-earthness was special and heartwarming.

Debra Dabney
sacramento, california

Dear FRONTLINE,

I enjoyed your program tonight. I don't know what angered me more, the excuses dolled out by Chris or the fact that he didn't see his own potential. I'm also angered that I have to go out and make a living and these people ride welfare like a god given right. It might make for good viewing to show what these folks would do if their SSI checks got cut off. Maybe you could call it "Country Boy's" buy a bus ticket to Memphis and learn how to bus tables, wash cars or jeez go into the military. And buy the way just because your poor don't mean you can't pick up the trash in your yard, especially when you're on TV

Ian Phillips
Port Orchard, Wa

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am deeply enthralled by the program I am watching unfold. I am hoping for a happy ending with both Chris and Cody.

This is more of a response to everyone who is talking about the "Poverty" of the area. Yeah, it does look like hard conditions. But then again, everyone is focusing on the downside, what about the upside? Last time I checked when I watched a new scene open, Cody lives in a 3 story Brick House. 2 story on one side, 3 on the back. If thats poverty, I would love to see their idea of "Making it".

Frank Stepanick
Lexington, KY

Dear FRONTLINE,

I think it is amazing how the filmmaker David Sutherland can get the audience into the real lives and minds of real people.

The interesting thing for me is how much Appalachia and these boys remind me of people I know in a small town in Oregon. This is a universal story that is a mirror of what kids are experiencing all across America.

RJ McHatton
Astoria, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE,

My wife and I watched this evening and talked for some time afterward about it. We were both almost speechless with sadness and confusion about what can still be done to assist Chris and Cody.

I believe this documentary should be seen by all 15-16 year olds in our land, and open their eyes to the needs of others compared to the often affluent lives many of our young people enjoy. Maybe we would see a new generation of people who really care more for people and each other than for things and status and pleasure.

My wife and I and our children will pray for Chris and Cody and the people in their lives and community. God's blessings be upon you. Shalom.

Tim Pietsch
North Mankato, MN

Dear FRONTLINE,

This is a such hearbreaking story. I was saddened by the poverty and poor living conditions presented in this film. What struck me the most however was the lack of parental support towards these kids' education. Chris' mom cares more about the SSI check than her son's school assignments and school work. I myself grew up through my teenage years in China before moving to America, even though my parents were also having financial difficulties, they never failed to make it clear that we need to get a good education to achieve the American dream. In America, people have the freedom to decide what they want to do for their future and it's a shame that these kids don't believe that they can achive higher goal in life if they put their mind to it. There may be various factors that have caused poverty, but if these parents can provide good guidance and emotional support toward their kids' education, then it's likely that the future generations can pull themselves out of the poverty cycle.

These two kids should leave their town and see how big the world is. Who they are now is who they are in Appalacia, all they need is the courage to leave home and grow into something more. Dare to dream, all that you need is within you.

Jennifer Wang
Austin, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have family living on mountains in Appalachia VA. Some, from the same big family, are poor, and some are not, and it has nothing to do with politics. I wish someone would do a story about them, and why some have done well, and some not.As far as the town, if it's like the one I know, those aren't hills, they are rough mountains (hollers are like minature canyons), and traveling between them isn't easy. The lay of the land is hard on cars, gas and people. It is not like the lay of the land in the rural South, and neither are the winters.The U.S. has ghost towns; think we should have saved all of them? Not only do people have to move to other towns for good jobs or businesses, some have had to move from other countries to this country! Yes, these boys need to see what else is outside of their region, unless they do work from home with computers, and it doesn't matter where they live.

Joan Williams
Owings Mills, Maryland

Dear FRONTLINE,

Real, Raw, the most moving program I have ever watched. The truth makes it hard to turn away from.

Tom Winters
Langley, BC

Dear FRONTLINE,

Fantastic program this evening. I am most moved by the dedication, commitment, and hard work of the school's founder, Daniel Green. I can't imagine how many successful Cody's and Chrises are out there, simply because this man decided to make a difference in underprivileged childrens' lives. It's people like him who truly, truly make this country and world a better place to live. The Donald Trumps of the world could learn so much from this quiet hero. Good luck to all the students at The David School.

J F
Dallas, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was mesmerized by the internal fortitude and incredible intelligence displayed by these two young men. Their command of the English language far exceeds that of most of our so-called big city sophisticates found in Northeastern suburbia. Their willingness to strive for goodness as opposed to "living the good life" should serve as an inspiration for the nation's contemporary youth. The electronic "must haves" are not what's important to their survival - personal goals are. How refreshing to witness such maturity and purpose. This should be a must-see for all high schoolers as they approach their junior year. Brilliant production.

Helene Kaplan
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Dear FRONTLINE,

Having spent time in northeastern Tennessee and lived among the Appalachian folks there, I can vouch for the widespread poverty and ill health. I can also vouch for the deep devotion to faith and family that has kept them alive in spite of their desperate circumstances.

This is an extraordinary American documentary.

Bob Perkins
Bastrop, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

I happened upon this show by accident this evening & absolutely loved it. I cannot wait until tommorrow night to see the conclusion. I know firsthand the struggles of the youth in Eastern Kentucky as my husband is originally from Leslie County. He made it... and I have faith in those two boys that they will too. As long as they keep the faith, things will work out for them. So Chris & Cody....know that my prayers are with you & that you will succeed in life as long as you put your minds to it. Good Luck & God Bless!

Angel May
Partlow, Virginia

Dear FRONTLINE,

I'm a 1983 graduate of Berea College- a unique institution that has been educating the disadvantaged of Appalachia for 150 years. Living in a big city for years I had thought that the rural Southern poverty I grew up with had surely faded away. Watching Chris and Cody tonight, I realize that things are pretty much the same as they ever were and that improvements have only been incremental.

I teach in an inner-city high school with a majority African-American student body. Most of my students think that all white people live in the suburbs and drive mini-vans to their office jobs. If they saw "Country Boys", I think it would be a great eye-opener. They also might find out how much they have in common with these two boys. Please see that a few copies of this DVD make it to our inner-city public libraries.

Valerie Powell
Dallas, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

A beautiful, moving, gut-real story! Thank you for caring about the lives of youth less known to the media and the world. Chris and Cody are admirable young men, rooted in their surroundings, their families, and strong in hope for themselves. Their inner goodness can't help but emerge through their struggles with the odds. Deep down they respect the willingness of those who are eager to reach them. They have faith in what is true and meaningful. So refreshing and heartwarming to know these kids who have a grip on reality!

Anna Rutt
Clinton Township, MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

I've got a glimpse at the amount of emails that have been sent already. I only hope that somehow you, Chris, can get a look at mine so that you know you're not alone. I grew up in Texas, in a more urban area which resulted in, no, not a trailer but project living. Much of the rest of our stories reflect each other. It's obvious from what I'm sure is just a small amount of insight into your story that you are intelligent and you've got what it takes to make it to where ever you want to be, and as hesitant as I am to repeat the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mantra, I just want you to know that, with no financial backing and no parental guidance in the area of what I know to be incredibly daunting paperwork and decision making, I've managed to make it to a school in New York where I'm studying what I love -- writing. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination and most of the time I'm positive that I still have no idea what I'm doing. But what I saw most in the program tonight was the doubt in your eyes about yourself. And it was completely unmeritted. Which I'm sure you've heard over and over. I know I'm just a stranger thousands of miles away but I did want to say that what's important for kids like you and me to remember is that even if we work deadend jobs until we die, even if every month there's that empty spot in our stomachs when we think about whether or not we'll make rent, it's so important to find that one thing that will make us happy and to never give up on that. I don't want to be like my parents, not because they weren't good people -- most of the time, I think they did the best they could for my brother and me. But because they weren't happy. They aren't happy. And life's just this one shot that we've got. Just keep your head up.

Elizabeth Black
Brooklyn, New York