Dear FRONTLINE,

Here I am, a 39 year old married mother of 3 young children in Suburbia at its truest sense...PTA, soccer Mom, carpools, weekend trips to the Zoo and I found myself crying through this whole show. I am sure everyone out there can take a bit of the boys' experience and feel the joys and pains they did.

My husband and I had many discussions about these boys and couldn't wait for the next episodes. We found ourselves guessing what would happen next to them and never got it right. Chris and Cody didn't fail us! (however I'd give anything for Chris to get to go to college)

Thank you for your heartfelt portrayal and sensitivity to these teenagers. They were wonderful kids. God Bless them!

Karen L.Fairview Pk, Oh (Cleveland)

Karen Lachowski
Fairview Park, Ohio

Dear FRONTLINE,

This story is an excellent "reality" show about the nature of our youth, being in Kentucky does not make that much difference. ...Eastern Kentucky was the home of my family since coming on a trip with Daniel Boone in 1805. Crossing the Appalachians was hard then and even now, there is no good transportation.

I have heard twenty years from now there will be funding for an interstate, what good is that for jobs now? The people are harder working and have a love for God you don't see many places. There is rampant Oxycontin abuse now among many young people.

I think in the last thirty years, progress has taken a toll on the "hollers."

Tami Mullins
Portland, Indiana

Dear FRONTLINE,

No program has ever left me so touched by the lives of people I don't even know. I am so inspired by the people who gave of themselves to help Cody and Chris and all the students at the David School. I feel as if I know these boys personally and cried as they received their diplomas during the scenes showing their graduation.

My daughter graduates this May, and I realize how lucky some of us our in this world and how we as adults should always be active in the lives all children no matter what their age or abilities. This is what I would call Reality T.V.

My best wishes for Cody and Chris.

Teresa Stevenson
Edwardsburg, MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

People who proclaim that there is nothing worse than wasting time watching television would change their mind after watching the first two hours of David Sutherland's masterpiece.

Not since Frederick Wiseman has there been such brilliant work behind the camera. I am quite sure by the many responses that there were more people than I with tears in their eyes and strong feelings for both Chris & Cody.

I hope that Chris attains his dream but it is obvious he will have to do it on his own. Cody has a remarkable group of family to back him up along with an adoring wife. I would only like to add that the David School is to be commended for the work they do.

Also it is my hope that Ray Riddle is discovered because although I may be a yankee I know when I hear a great voice. The man can sing.

john grimes
cambridge, ma.

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

There is more information about Ray Riddle in the CODY STORY section of this web site. Click on "Frequently Asked Questions." Also, view the music video on the CODY page. The soundtrack of this video is Riddle's "This Old Highway" song.

Dear FRONTLINE,

People who proclaim that there is nothing worse than wasting time watching television would change their mind after watching the first two hours of David Sutherland's masterpiece. Not since Frederick Wiseman has there been such brilliant work behind the camera. I am quite sure by the many responses that there were more people than I with tears in their eyes and strong feelings for both Chris & Cody.

john grimes
cambridge, ma.

Dear FRONTLINE,

This was a beautiful presentation of young men's dreams, sorrows, and disappointments many of which are experienced by adolescents regardless of the environments in which they reside.

I live in an affluent Long Island community in a neighborhood where almost all the adults are college educated. I have seen boys from two-parent, stable, financially comfortable homes lose their way on the road to adulthood. Most eventually find themselves but some never do. As your documentary illustrated so poignantly it's doubly hard for young people where there are few role models, little family involvement and no money. Jessica sounds like she is on the way to a fine future. Good luck to Cody in his musical career and his church calling. Bravo to his step-grandmother for her support. Chris is very articulate; I hope he can make his dreams of further education realities. This was a spellbinding presentation; I loved the music.

Vicky Campbell
Port Washington, , NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

Whew! I've had to sit in silence after each of the three episodes....simply to absorb it all. What a fantastic documentary. No actor or actress could come even close to filling the shoes of these simple but captivating folks..... a poignant reminder of life's parallels and the credit we neglect to bestow on our youth. I would be very proud to be the parent of Chris, Cody, or beautiful little Jessica. They possess such dynamic, genuine personalities even in the face of adversity. I wish them all the very best life has to offer. Thank you, Mr. Sutherland for such art.

Lynne Delgado
Little Rock, AR

Dear FRONTLINE,

I can't ever remember watching a program as simple as this one and being glued to the TV. I happened upon it the first night and couldn't stop watching. It was amazing to see the resilience of these young men in the face of defeat, bounce back. I know I would have probably given up and become a statistic of society. I'm glad you showed so many people out there that there is hope and that people out there do care about helping others survive the hand that has been dealt them. Great job on this one!

David Neidhamer
Miramar Beach, Fl

Dear FRONTLINE,

I found this show by mistake. I was just scrolling through the channels one night and this show caught my full attention. I believe God did this for a reason. Watching all the tough times Chris went through made me realize how blessed I am to have a great loving and excepting family who is there for me no matter what. Also I now understand how lucky I am to be able to attend college and further my education.

I will graduate in Dec 2007 with a degree in elementary education. After seeing how dedicated the staff was at the David school I hope I can become a great mentor like they all were to the students. The principal was a great mentor to Chris and I think she is the main reason he kept trying. We all need a mentor in our life no matter what type of family we come from.

Kelly Long

Dear FRONTLINE,

This documentary is so simple yet so strong. I have been watching this with my- year old and it was interesting for him to see a different style of life than what he has been exposed to. He talked about it so much at school that many of his friends started watching. I think he was most shocked by the lack of parenting in Chris's household.

As a mother I was sad to see the struggles that Chris had to go to due to his family. The David school seemed the answer for both boys.

Kim Hansen

Dear FRONTLINE,

Hello, I am writing to make a comment on the support system for Cody & Chris. I think the David school's focus is at the core about changing patterns. I feel that counseling has to be an integrative part of the process. Additionally, education about alcoholism, mental illness, poverty related issues should also be apart of the program. If the young adults can obtain tools on a broader spectrum then I think it will help them break cycles.

I used to work with gang youth in San Francisco. I know that the emotional component was first & foremost the area that needed understanding, & healing. Without this, cycles are very easily repeated.

My heart goes out to Chris & Cody. I wish you both all the best.

Marisa J

Dear FRONTLINE,

Hi:

Watched the second installment last night and then went online to read what others thought. The feedback you received was wonderful and very positive. I do have a suggestion. Lived in a rural area in the south for a short period. Got to a know a man and his son. The father has an associate's degree from college. The mother dropped out of high school and has no interest in schooling. She doesn't care if he son goes to school or drops out. She lives off social security. Parents are not married and hate each other. Sadly, the boy has suffered. After I moved I have kept in touch with the dad and his son. I have helped financially when he needed clothes, school supplies, etc. He is now 15 years old. He is a smart boy but since he lives with his mom, he does not have to finish his homework. Almost flunked a grade a few times. I call and chat with him about life, about school, about choices and how they affect a person. I send him college information and we talk about what it would take to be accepted to a college. His dad is a vet and the services will pay some for college if he attends and finishes. I let him talk about the struggle of growing up in an area where most of the kids drop out of high school. Most live in trailers that are shocking to see in person. If you really want to help Chris, since it seems he is still struggling, maybe you can do so in the following ways:

give donations of money to be set up in a trust for college contact him and ask if you can mentor him in any way donate clothes or anything to help him financially talk about how you made it to college if you grew up in similar circumstances help him look into scholarships for college

Melanie D
Southern California,

Dear FRONTLINE,

Country Boys is one of the most interesting programs I have seen in many years. What makes it most intriguing to me is that I am an eight generation Kentuckian from Middlesboro, Ky in southeastern Kentucky. I am fortunate enough to have been educated in the Middlesboro school system and to have graduated from the University of Kentucky.

To all of the viewers who have commented about the beauty of Eastern Kentucky, thank you. Eastern Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places on earth - even compared to my current home in Vail. What comes with the beauty is a remoteness that is a blessing and a curse to the people of Eastern Kentucky. The remoteness is represented in a good way by how "naive" the boys in Country Boys seem to many of the viewers. The curse of the remoteness is the hopelessness that makes the parents of Chris so hard to understand.

i think a wonderful follow up film would be to study why some folks from the mountains of Kentucky "make it" and some folks never break the mold.

it is also refreshing to see young people in a reality show that aren't self absorbed, self entitled and must deal with very real problems.

Henry James
Vail, Colorado

Dear FRONTLINE,

Devoted fans of PBS and especially Frontline, my husband and I were particularly moved and affected by this documentary, "Country Boys." After watching the first episode, I remained awake into the early morning hours, mulling over the obstacles and pressures that these young men confronted and the way that they both fought to overcome them.

There are some important lessons that we can all learn from Chris and Cody's story, as well as from the documentary as a whole:

First, unless all Americans care about all other Americans and work together, politically and otherwise, to lift all Americans out of poverty and other struggles, we will not have lived fully, and a good measure of our time here on Earth will have been wasted. I came from a privileged background, and I am heartsick about the fact that many people with my background take that for granted. Unless we care about uplifting everyone else, too, there is no point to our privilege and success.

Also, where Chris is concerned, it is important for people to understand just how devastating alcoholism can be; especially for the children of alcoholics. It is extremely difficult for children of alcoholics to give themselves permission to succeed. We can cheer people like Chris on and even show them that we love them; but until they talk to people who have experienced what Chris has experienced, it continues to be an uphill battle for them, even after their addicted loved ones pass on. Help is available at the Adult Children of Alcoholics and the Alateen web sites, which people can find in any search engine.

Thank you Chris, Cody, and David Sutherland for reminding all of us that every one of us counts and deserves a break.

Ceil Hall
Snow Camp, North Carolina

Dear FRONTLINE,

This program is like a good book that you hate to see end.

JOHN SHORT
Commerce, Ok.