I finished reading the book 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. The main character Virginia, also known as Ginny, received 13 little blue envelopes following her Aunt Margaret's death. Inside the letters were instructions. Ginny follows her Aunt's footsteps through Europe and all over. While Ginny is following the random directions, she doesn't look back. Well, not as much as I thought she would. Ginny proves she would follow her aunt anywhere because she trusts her aunt, and her aunt trusts her.
In the beginning of the book, Ginny reads the first envelope. Aunt Peg says Ginny doesn't have to follow the exact directions on the envelopes, because she has no way of knowing or doing anything about it. Peg says in one of the letters that Ginny could be reading all the letters from her bedroom, or she could be traveling to Europe, but that se trusts her. Peg doesn't need to be there for Ginny to know what Peg wanted. Ginny followed her aunt's directions to the extent because she loves her, and believes in her.
Secondly, Ginny shows faith in her aunt by doing exactly what she says, and opening the letters when Peg said so. For example, the third envelope told Ginny to give $500 to a street artist. Ginny found the direction a little strange, and at first she had no idea how to give him the money, although she knew exactly who she was giving it to. Ginny found a way to give him the money, even though she ended up looking extremely strange. Ginny also waited for the right time to open each letter. She could have just opened each one when she felt like it, and not in order.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Vampyre friendships- thicker than blood
[I think there are spoilers...]
I just started reading a book called Awakened by PC and Kristen Cast. It's the eighth book in the House of Night series. Zoey Redbird was marked by a vampyre, and to make it through the change she moves into the House of Night. She discovers she has very unique and strong powers granted to her by the Goddess Nyx. With her friends they discover secrets and get rid of evil. Throughout the series I noticed that Zoey has to take a lot of responsibility, and Zoey feels responsible for her friends, but she gets through it because of their support.
Zoey Redbird is still a fledgling, and she will be until she completes the change, if she does. But even as a fledgling, Zoey has to take on a lot of responsibility. Zoey is named the leader of the Dark Daughters, a kind of social group with lots of benefits. But as leader, Zoey has to plan all of the rituals, and set up rules. Not to mention, erasing the ways the last leader had things (which was not very well). But Zoey faces these problems head-on, and asks her friends for guidance and advice. When Zoey was unsure of her idea of a "circle" of members (people with special earth, water, fire, air, and spirit powers), she asks her friends what they think. They give her encouragement to go to the High Priestess (kind of like a principal, but with powers) and present her idea. Also, when Zoey is preforming the ritual for the first time, her friends remind her they are there for her, and give her courage.
Later in the series, Zoey is seen as a High Priestess, the only Priestess fledgling, and not only because she has the rarest affinity (power) ever. It's not official, but people look to her for commands. Most fledglings respect her. Whenever Zoey and her friends are running from Evil that had corrupted vampyres, she automatically becomes leader, no questions asked. Zoey also tends to repeat to herself throughout the series that she puts her friends in danger, and she regrets that with her life. But each time her friends are in trouble, she does whatever she can to save them. In the first book, her ex-boyfriend and best friend Heath was once in danger of being dragged to the Otherworld by spirits, but Zoey called on her affinity for Spirit and saved his life.
Zoey has courage and strength that I sometimes wish I had. I guess part of it comes with having your life on the line, and the fact that you could die any second (if your body rejects the Change), but Zoey is a strong person in general. In life now, we don't necessarily have to protect our loved ones from spirits, but we still stick up for them. And Zoey is always there for her friends.
I just started reading a book called Awakened by PC and Kristen Cast. It's the eighth book in the House of Night series. Zoey Redbird was marked by a vampyre, and to make it through the change she moves into the House of Night. She discovers she has very unique and strong powers granted to her by the Goddess Nyx. With her friends they discover secrets and get rid of evil. Throughout the series I noticed that Zoey has to take a lot of responsibility, and Zoey feels responsible for her friends, but she gets through it because of their support.
Zoey Redbird is still a fledgling, and she will be until she completes the change, if she does. But even as a fledgling, Zoey has to take on a lot of responsibility. Zoey is named the leader of the Dark Daughters, a kind of social group with lots of benefits. But as leader, Zoey has to plan all of the rituals, and set up rules. Not to mention, erasing the ways the last leader had things (which was not very well). But Zoey faces these problems head-on, and asks her friends for guidance and advice. When Zoey was unsure of her idea of a "circle" of members (people with special earth, water, fire, air, and spirit powers), she asks her friends what they think. They give her encouragement to go to the High Priestess (kind of like a principal, but with powers) and present her idea. Also, when Zoey is preforming the ritual for the first time, her friends remind her they are there for her, and give her courage.
Later in the series, Zoey is seen as a High Priestess, the only Priestess fledgling, and not only because she has the rarest affinity (power) ever. It's not official, but people look to her for commands. Most fledglings respect her. Whenever Zoey and her friends are running from Evil that had corrupted vampyres, she automatically becomes leader, no questions asked. Zoey also tends to repeat to herself throughout the series that she puts her friends in danger, and she regrets that with her life. But each time her friends are in trouble, she does whatever she can to save them. In the first book, her ex-boyfriend and best friend Heath was once in danger of being dragged to the Otherworld by spirits, but Zoey called on her affinity for Spirit and saved his life.
Zoey has courage and strength that I sometimes wish I had. I guess part of it comes with having your life on the line, and the fact that you could die any second (if your body rejects the Change), but Zoey is a strong person in general. In life now, we don't necessarily have to protect our loved ones from spirits, but we still stick up for them. And Zoey is always there for her friends.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
A plague o' both your houses!
While reading Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, in class, the character Mercutio stands out to me. To me, Mercutio can sometimes act like the character's sub-conscience, and at others, can be playful and funny. Mercutio is also very loyal to his friends, namely Romeo. Mercutio gives good advice, and supports Romeo whenever he is being rash or doing things blindly. I also like Mercutio because he is a character that isn't from one of the houses, but is involved.
Mercutio is a good friend to Romeo, and he shows it in many different ways. On 1.4.58-110, Mercutio is good-naturedly teasing Romeo about an ominous dream he had. Mercutio stays upbeat and energetic, while telling Romeo not to worry. Mercutio is trying to calm Romeo down. On 2.4 Mercutio also shows his friendship with Romeo by looking for him while he is with Juliet, and by distracting Romeo when they find him. Another time and the last time Mercutio shows his loyalty and friendship is on 3.1, when Romeo takes up the battle meant for Romeo. Mercutio gets killed in the process, but he is trying to save Romeo from a impending battle between him and Tybalt.
Mercutio also gives very good advice to Romeo and others. He also can afford to give insight on the two house's quarrels because he is involved but not related. "Thy head is full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling." Mercutio said this on 3.1.23-25. He is talking to Benvolio, and I think he is saying their heads were wired to fight, but after so much fighting, they have become helpless, and dependent on fighting. I say they have become dependent on fighting meaning that is all they know at this point. Mercutio also says on 1.4.17-18 "You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings and soar with them above a common bound." Mercutio is telling Romeo that he should follow his heart, and fly.
Mercutio is a good friend to Romeo, and he shows it in many different ways. On 1.4.58-110, Mercutio is good-naturedly teasing Romeo about an ominous dream he had. Mercutio stays upbeat and energetic, while telling Romeo not to worry. Mercutio is trying to calm Romeo down. On 2.4 Mercutio also shows his friendship with Romeo by looking for him while he is with Juliet, and by distracting Romeo when they find him. Another time and the last time Mercutio shows his loyalty and friendship is on 3.1, when Romeo takes up the battle meant for Romeo. Mercutio gets killed in the process, but he is trying to save Romeo from a impending battle between him and Tybalt.
Mercutio also gives very good advice to Romeo and others. He also can afford to give insight on the two house's quarrels because he is involved but not related. "Thy head is full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling." Mercutio said this on 3.1.23-25. He is talking to Benvolio, and I think he is saying their heads were wired to fight, but after so much fighting, they have become helpless, and dependent on fighting. I say they have become dependent on fighting meaning that is all they know at this point. Mercutio also says on 1.4.17-18 "You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings and soar with them above a common bound." Mercutio is telling Romeo that he should follow his heart, and fly.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Loving Hate
In Romeo and Juliet there are many reoccurring themes. But the one that I noticed, especially in class when we were discussing oxymorons, was love and what each character in Shakespeare thought of it. Romeo has powerful thoughts on love along with Juliet, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Benvolio, and Paris. I think through these characters Shakespeare is trying to say that love is for the strong-willed and for people who are willing to commit themselves to love. Each character has their own opinion but together they show how confusing and powerful love can be.
In 1.1.176-197 Romeo talks about his love for Rosaline. Romeo uses oxymorons like "feather of lead, cold fire, and loving hate" to describe love. Reading these makes me think that Romeo is kind of a helpless romantic. Romeo is expressing his love and his thoughts on love saying that love is very difficult but worth it. When I hear "cold fire" I think of something seemingly warm and friendly that turns out to be nothing like you expected. "Feather of lead" can mean that love is light like a feather, but can turn into a feeling of burden. Or, in the term "loving hate", loving can be a verb or a noun. You can either love that you hate something, or lovingly hate something or someone. What I mean by lovingly hate someone is that you respect them enough to not blindly hold a grudge. Romeo is feeling all these things about love, and Shakespeare is expressing his perspective through him.
Juliet also believes that love is not a thing to be played with. In 1.4.103-105, her parents ask her to marry someone she does not know. She does not disagree right away. Instead she decides that she will meet him and see if she likes him enough to marry him. I think that Juliet is being mature in not jumping to conclusions. If she were to immediately turn down her suitor, then find out that they could have loved each other, she would forever regret that. Juliet is also catering to her parents' wants because she did not turn down the offer. She is adhering to her belief in love by waiting to see if she truly loves this man before marrying him.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Fooling the Coast Guard?
On Sunday, the Coast Guard had received a distress
call from a sailboat with four people on board off the coast of California. A
family of four were reported from the boat, which had failing electronics. They
abandoned the ship after floating out 65 miles out to sea. For the past 48
hours since, the Coast Guard covered 20,000 square miles of ocean searching for
this family. It was later reported that the call came from further north than
they were told. Coast Guard member, Thomas
McKenzie said, "We weren't able to find any vessel, any signs of
debris, we couldn't find anything that would indicate there had been an
incident." The message from the man on the ship was, "Coast guard,
coast guard, we are abandoning ship. This is the [Charmblow], we are abandoning
ship." The Coast Guard was unable to find any boat under the name
Charmblow, and they discovered that no one was reported missing.
I think the author of this article wants you to feel bad for the Coast
Guard, almost, and annoyed at the person who made the false call. McKenzie
points out that 'making a false distress call is a federal criminal offense
punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine and reimbursement
to the Coast Guard for the cost of the search.' This is showing how much of a
mistake making this kind of call was. It's a waste of time for both sides, and
it's costly for both of them too. The article also has a statistic, 'the Coast
Guard handles, on average more than 20,000 calls for assistance a year. Of
those, an average of 18 international false distress calls and another 121 are suspected
hoaxes, according to Coast Guard figures.' The Coast Guard has to treat every
call as if it was an emergency, because for all they know, it is an actual
emergency. The people on the other line could be fine, while the Coast Guard is
worried sick about the possibly sunken ship and lost family. Just for the Charmblow case, they ran 34 searches, got the Navy involved, the Air National guard, as well as 10 Coast Guard boats and helicopters.
I think that this is very serious, and I think that it's horrible that people would fake an emergency like that. Yes, I have made prank calls before, but only to my friends. The way the coast guard has to deal with the case, only to find out it's not real and theres no danger, it's just too much. I feel bad for the Coast guard. I also wonder if any other government-issued safety department has been prank called. My guess is probably, a lot of times. I think that if people have nothing better to do, they can go watch tv or something, instead of wasting someone else's time. If the Coast Guard were to get more prank calls, they wouldn't be able to tell which were serious and which were fake. It would be like the boy who cried wolf.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Would your friends invade a fortress with you?
In the book Virals by Kathy Reichs, the main character Tory and her three friends Hi (Hiram), Shelton, and Ben are transformed into mutant wolfdog-human creatures. Tory and her friends work together to figure out the mystery behind an old murder. They also work together to hide their mutant powers. As they solve the mysteries, their friendship grows stronger. Tory is also respected by her friends, and shown to be the leader many times over. Throughout the book, their friendship and Tory's leadership is strengthened because of their adventures.
In the beginning of the book, on page 106 Tory and Hi are joking about prom. Hi asks Tory if she's shopping for prom dresses, and they joke about it from there. "Thanks", Tory responds dryly. "You'll still be my date, right? Or do you have a playoff game that night? I'll understand; we need our star quarterback on the field." Hi isn't actually a football player, this just shows their relationship. Tory also says, but not out loud, "Despite the ribbing, I was glad to see Hi. We had identical schedules and spent most lunches together. Joking with someone about being cool was more fun than being unpopular alone."
On page 187, Tory and the guys are deciding whether or not they should search for the people who chased after them. Tory says, "We're a team, guys. We're smarter than the creeps who did this. We can beat them." On the next page, Hi says, "Why do all your brilliant ideas involve felonies?" This shows that Hi respects Tory's ideas, and thinks they are very smart, but also thinks they are dangerous. Tory is the one that organizes their break-ins, proving again that she is considered their leader.
Tory takes a lot of responsibility throughout the story. On page 289, Tory plans out how they will retrieve information, and on page 415 Shelton says, "She's going to say 'tonight', isn't she? Every time I think I'm done for the night, Tory says we have to invade some fortress." Shelton wouldn't go against Tory's ideas, and he probably agrees with most of them. Tory's friends trust her, and they look up to her.
I have had many friends and role models that I looked up to and respected. None like how Hi, Shelton, and Ben looked up to Tory, though. They were connected by secrets. But I have friends that will always have my back, and would hopefully stand with me when invading a fortress, although that may be too much to ask. I also consider myself one of these kinds of friends to others. I hope people look up to me, and respect me. I may not be as smart as Tory, or genetically enhanced, but having good friends will always be something we have in common.
In the beginning of the book, on page 106 Tory and Hi are joking about prom. Hi asks Tory if she's shopping for prom dresses, and they joke about it from there. "Thanks", Tory responds dryly. "You'll still be my date, right? Or do you have a playoff game that night? I'll understand; we need our star quarterback on the field." Hi isn't actually a football player, this just shows their relationship. Tory also says, but not out loud, "Despite the ribbing, I was glad to see Hi. We had identical schedules and spent most lunches together. Joking with someone about being cool was more fun than being unpopular alone."
On page 187, Tory and the guys are deciding whether or not they should search for the people who chased after them. Tory says, "We're a team, guys. We're smarter than the creeps who did this. We can beat them." On the next page, Hi says, "Why do all your brilliant ideas involve felonies?" This shows that Hi respects Tory's ideas, and thinks they are very smart, but also thinks they are dangerous. Tory is the one that organizes their break-ins, proving again that she is considered their leader.
Tory takes a lot of responsibility throughout the story. On page 289, Tory plans out how they will retrieve information, and on page 415 Shelton says, "She's going to say 'tonight', isn't she? Every time I think I'm done for the night, Tory says we have to invade some fortress." Shelton wouldn't go against Tory's ideas, and he probably agrees with most of them. Tory's friends trust her, and they look up to her.
I have had many friends and role models that I looked up to and respected. None like how Hi, Shelton, and Ben looked up to Tory, though. They were connected by secrets. But I have friends that will always have my back, and would hopefully stand with me when invading a fortress, although that may be too much to ask. I also consider myself one of these kinds of friends to others. I hope people look up to me, and respect me. I may not be as smart as Tory, or genetically enhanced, but having good friends will always be something we have in common.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Let me hold your crown, babe
I chose the song King of Anything sung and written by Sara Bareillies. I love this song, and I feel like the music video really fits well, but I won't let that cloud my interpretation of the song lyrics. The character in the song is listening to someone else speak, someone who tries to be their knight in shining armor. The line "so many things I'd say if only i were able, but I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by" tells you that the subject is feeling almost ignored, like she can't speak her mind. Another line says "so let me thank you for your time and try not to waste any more of mine, get out for here fast". The boy she is talking about is probably ignoring her, and she is sick of it.
The chorus lyrics are "who cares if you disagree/ you are not me/ who made you king of anything/ so you dare tell me who to be/ who died and made you king of anything". Compared to the message Sara Bareillies might have been trying to send in the first verse, this is confusing. Here it sounds like she is saying no one can control her, and she is her own person.
The line "you are not me" really stands out to me. The subject doesn't care what others think, and will go her own way. Maybe in the first verse, the subject was being told what to think or do, and she was looking for a way out.
The second verse and bridge connect more to the chorus, I think. "You sound so innocent/ all full of good intent/ you swear you know best" makes me think the person scolding the subject is oblivious to the fact that others have ideas also. The bridge is the strongest part of the song, next to the chorus, in my opinion. This is because it grabs your attention, and you can actually understand and connect to the lyrics, "all my life/ i've tried/ to make everybody happy while I/ just hurt/ and hide/ waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn/ to decide". The subject is really under the influence or control of someone else, and she wants out.
This can connect to people under pressure, or people who are forced to continue something their hearts aren't into. Like if someone is forced to play an instrument or sport by their parents. Or if a kid is pressured by tests and studying, they want to be able to make their own decision. The last line in the song that Sara Bareillies says is "let me hold your crown babe". The crown symbolizes the right to speak up for yourself, and the subject wants to be able to have that right. Like how certain rights aren't given to kids until they reach an age. Then they can get their crown.
King of Anything lyrics
King of Anything music video
The chorus lyrics are "who cares if you disagree/ you are not me/ who made you king of anything/ so you dare tell me who to be/ who died and made you king of anything". Compared to the message Sara Bareillies might have been trying to send in the first verse, this is confusing. Here it sounds like she is saying no one can control her, and she is her own person.
The line "you are not me" really stands out to me. The subject doesn't care what others think, and will go her own way. Maybe in the first verse, the subject was being told what to think or do, and she was looking for a way out.
The second verse and bridge connect more to the chorus, I think. "You sound so innocent/ all full of good intent/ you swear you know best" makes me think the person scolding the subject is oblivious to the fact that others have ideas also. The bridge is the strongest part of the song, next to the chorus, in my opinion. This is because it grabs your attention, and you can actually understand and connect to the lyrics, "all my life/ i've tried/ to make everybody happy while I/ just hurt/ and hide/ waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn/ to decide". The subject is really under the influence or control of someone else, and she wants out.
This can connect to people under pressure, or people who are forced to continue something their hearts aren't into. Like if someone is forced to play an instrument or sport by their parents. Or if a kid is pressured by tests and studying, they want to be able to make their own decision. The last line in the song that Sara Bareillies says is "let me hold your crown babe". The crown symbolizes the right to speak up for yourself, and the subject wants to be able to have that right. Like how certain rights aren't given to kids until they reach an age. Then they can get their crown.
King of Anything lyrics
King of Anything music video
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Some Brotherly Advice About a Fake Alzheimer’s Patient
[SPOILER
ALERT {like, every spoil possible}]
In the book White Cat by
Holly Black, Cassel discovers he is a worker. A worker is a criminal who can
change something about or for someone else. There are Dream, Memory, Luck, Body,
Death, Emotion, and Transformation workers. Transformation workers are one in a
thousand and the most powerful, and Cassel just discovered that he is one. His
brother Barron has been memory working him so he doesn’t remember anything
under the orders of his other brother Phillip, and their mom. Cassel and his
brothers have a really messed up relationship, and it’s mainly because Cassel
is the strongest of the three of them, but doesn’t know it.
Cassel is very strong, for someone
who thought he was “the only straight person in a crooked family”. Cassel felt
like he didn’t belong, and I think that was really hard for him, especially
since his brothers were so distant from him. Barron always looked up to Phillip, and Phillip acted like
Cassel was a waste of time. Cassel tried to prove himself to them, which is
really heartbreaking considering how much they had deceived him. I think that
although his relationship with his brothers isn’t the best, it helped make
Cassel stronger, and eventually strong enough to work against his brothers.
At the end of the book on page 298
Barron drives over to Cassel’s school to have pizza with him. Barron is a
memory worker, but the downside is that whenever he works someone, he looses
his memories too. Cassel had changed some of Barron’s notebooks that held
memories, and one of the memories that Cassel changed was that he and Barron
went out for pizza every Tuesday. Cassel says, “Memory is funny. Barron seems
relaxed, like he really likes me, because he doesn’t remember hating me. Or
maybe he remembers the feeling of dislike but he assumes that he liked me more
than he hated me.” I feel really bad for Cassel here because he remembers how
his brother tried to kill him; while they are sitting together eating pizza,
Barron is acting like he cares about Cassel. Barron hated Cassel because he
felt that transformation work was wasted on Cassel. It must be really hard to
see both sides of your sibling, and know that they are both partially fake.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sandy Hook: Demolish or Renovate?
I read an article on how people are debating on whether we should demolish the Sandy Hook Elementary school, or renovate it. People have very strong feelings towards the shooting that happened at Sandy Hook elementary school, and it reflects in the quotes from parents. One mother said "We cannot pretend it never happened, but I am not prepared to ask my children to run and hide. You can't take away their school." Another mother with surviving children thinks that the building should be crushed because she can't come to terms with sending her kids back to that building. One mother thinks that it should be up to the victims to decide because the incident had the most impact on them. Additionally, there are facts about aftermath of past shootings. For example, Virginia Tech decided to renovate the classroom where the shooting occurred.
The author tries to make you feel sympathetic yet open-minded about the fate of Sandy Hook Elementary School. The author does this by showing lots of different perspectives of families that may or may not have been involved in the incident. The author incorporates the quotes really well and includes facts that are thought provoking because you can see what happened in past situations. The author wants you to form an opinion based on facts not bias. For example, the article ends with the quote "I think we have to start that conversation now. It will take many, many months to do any kind of school project. We have very big decisions ahead of us. The goal is to bring our students home as soon as we can."
My opinion on Sandy Hook is that they should demolish the building because the memories are very tragic and traumatizing and it would be hard for the students to return. One mother says that she had very good memories there, her kids are older and previously attended Sandy Hook, and she thinks that they should renovate. I don't think that's a legitimate argument because she wasn't a primary victim. I didn't have an opinion prior to reading this article because I wasn't aware that this argument was being discussed. After reading the article, I strongly think that Sandy Hook should no longer be a school because I can't imagine returning to the scene of such a traumatizing event.
The author tries to make you feel sympathetic yet open-minded about the fate of Sandy Hook Elementary School. The author does this by showing lots of different perspectives of families that may or may not have been involved in the incident. The author incorporates the quotes really well and includes facts that are thought provoking because you can see what happened in past situations. The author wants you to form an opinion based on facts not bias. For example, the article ends with the quote "I think we have to start that conversation now. It will take many, many months to do any kind of school project. We have very big decisions ahead of us. The goal is to bring our students home as soon as we can."
My opinion on Sandy Hook is that they should demolish the building because the memories are very tragic and traumatizing and it would be hard for the students to return. One mother says that she had very good memories there, her kids are older and previously attended Sandy Hook, and she thinks that they should renovate. I don't think that's a legitimate argument because she wasn't a primary victim. I didn't have an opinion prior to reading this article because I wasn't aware that this argument was being discussed. After reading the article, I strongly think that Sandy Hook should no longer be a school because I can't imagine returning to the scene of such a traumatizing event.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The fate of the world, decided by a twin's fight
[SPOILER ALERT-ISH]
In the book The Enchantress by Michael Scott, the two main characters Josh and Sophie are about to make a decision that could end the world. Josh and Sophie Newman discovered that they are the twins of an ancient legend, and they learn that they can do magic. Their auras are pure silver and gold and they are naturals at elemental magic, but that makes them valuable. Sophie and Josh have lots of fallouts, and learn that trust is difficult. They learn throughout the book that they can only trust each other, or the world could end.
In the end of the book before this one, Josh joins John Dee and Virginia Dare (the bad guys) because they led him to believe that they were good. Sophie is heartbroken and wishes that Josh could see straight. When they see each other next, Josh tries to show Sophie how the side she is on is bad. While Josh is being influenced, and trying to influence Sophie, they put their trust and lives in other people. This proves to be dangerous when Dee repeatedly tries to use Josh or Sophie's auras while killing them.
Later in the book Josh and Sophie are kidnapped by their "parents", and are taken back in time. Everyone there knows them, or has heard of them, and are very dangerous. They only know what Sophie can remember, but that still isn't enough. Powerful Elders (gods) surround them, and most of them want to kill them. Josh and Sophie start to realize that they can only rely on each other after they understand the danger everyone that they have trusted gets them into. Sophie says, "I wish someone were here who could advise us what to do," and Josh responds, "We don't need anyone. We've never needed anyone else. We are going to do whatever we think is right."
Josh and Sophie always love each other, and whenever they choose sides, they are thinking of their sibling. But they have to understand and completely trust the other for their world to be saved.
In the book The Enchantress by Michael Scott, the two main characters Josh and Sophie are about to make a decision that could end the world. Josh and Sophie Newman discovered that they are the twins of an ancient legend, and they learn that they can do magic. Their auras are pure silver and gold and they are naturals at elemental magic, but that makes them valuable. Sophie and Josh have lots of fallouts, and learn that trust is difficult. They learn throughout the book that they can only trust each other, or the world could end.
In the end of the book before this one, Josh joins John Dee and Virginia Dare (the bad guys) because they led him to believe that they were good. Sophie is heartbroken and wishes that Josh could see straight. When they see each other next, Josh tries to show Sophie how the side she is on is bad. While Josh is being influenced, and trying to influence Sophie, they put their trust and lives in other people. This proves to be dangerous when Dee repeatedly tries to use Josh or Sophie's auras while killing them.
Later in the book Josh and Sophie are kidnapped by their "parents", and are taken back in time. Everyone there knows them, or has heard of them, and are very dangerous. They only know what Sophie can remember, but that still isn't enough. Powerful Elders (gods) surround them, and most of them want to kill them. Josh and Sophie start to realize that they can only rely on each other after they understand the danger everyone that they have trusted gets them into. Sophie says, "I wish someone were here who could advise us what to do," and Josh responds, "We don't need anyone. We've never needed anyone else. We are going to do whatever we think is right."
Josh and Sophie always love each other, and whenever they choose sides, they are thinking of their sibling. But they have to understand and completely trust the other for their world to be saved.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Long Distance Relationships (Stretching to the Underworld and Back)
[SPOILER ALERT]
In the book The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan the two main characters, Sadie and Carter Kane, loose many people they care about. Their mother died when they were kids, then their father turned into the Egyptian God of the Dead. One of their really good godly friends had his soul taken, and each of their potential girlfriend/boyfriend got possessed by a god. These examples can show how Sadie and Carter learn to keep a difficult relationship.
Sadie and Carter's mom died closing up a portal, and ultimately preventing the end of the world for some years. In the first book, which is held years later, their dad gets possessed by the God of the Dead, then becomes his permanent host. The Kane kids then make trips to the underworld, as their quests require them to. Down there, their father is portrayed as a big blue man in egyptian clothes, and their mother is an intangible ghost. The Kanes still love their parents, but they have to focus on the task at hand. They will do anything they can for them, and their parents still look out for them. In the second book the parents try and warn them against someone dangerous, and in the third book the kids save their mom. While they are on missions, they sometimes think of their parents, and the times they had when they were alive.
In the second book, Sadie and Carter loose a bet against a god, who in return takes the soul of their friend Bes. Bes is the god of ugly, as weird as that sounds. When the god takes Bes' soul, he leaves the body intact, just leaving them like a hollow husk. In the second and third book they promise to bring his soul back. Sadie especially cares about Bes, ever since he saved her life in London. Sadie's other friend Walt likes her, and she likes him, but he is destined to die at a young age. Until Sadie's other crush, the god Anubis takes him as a host, Walt is cursed. But instead of feeling joy that she can be with the two guys she can't choose between, she is angry. She doesn't feel as if she can forgive them, until later in the book. Carter's almost-girlfriend is also hosted by a god, and not just any god, the god. The egyptian sun god, Ra. Carter doesn't know how to respond to this, because anything he does for or to the girl, he also is doing to an immortal, buff guy with a voice deeper than his.
Although these weird and sometimes disturbing things happen to the people they love, Sadie and Carter Kane still care for the people, and show how love can stretch any distance.
In the book The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan the two main characters, Sadie and Carter Kane, loose many people they care about. Their mother died when they were kids, then their father turned into the Egyptian God of the Dead. One of their really good godly friends had his soul taken, and each of their potential girlfriend/boyfriend got possessed by a god. These examples can show how Sadie and Carter learn to keep a difficult relationship.
Sadie and Carter's mom died closing up a portal, and ultimately preventing the end of the world for some years. In the first book, which is held years later, their dad gets possessed by the God of the Dead, then becomes his permanent host. The Kane kids then make trips to the underworld, as their quests require them to. Down there, their father is portrayed as a big blue man in egyptian clothes, and their mother is an intangible ghost. The Kanes still love their parents, but they have to focus on the task at hand. They will do anything they can for them, and their parents still look out for them. In the second book the parents try and warn them against someone dangerous, and in the third book the kids save their mom. While they are on missions, they sometimes think of their parents, and the times they had when they were alive.
In the second book, Sadie and Carter loose a bet against a god, who in return takes the soul of their friend Bes. Bes is the god of ugly, as weird as that sounds. When the god takes Bes' soul, he leaves the body intact, just leaving them like a hollow husk. In the second and third book they promise to bring his soul back. Sadie especially cares about Bes, ever since he saved her life in London. Sadie's other friend Walt likes her, and she likes him, but he is destined to die at a young age. Until Sadie's other crush, the god Anubis takes him as a host, Walt is cursed. But instead of feeling joy that she can be with the two guys she can't choose between, she is angry. She doesn't feel as if she can forgive them, until later in the book. Carter's almost-girlfriend is also hosted by a god, and not just any god, the god. The egyptian sun god, Ra. Carter doesn't know how to respond to this, because anything he does for or to the girl, he also is doing to an immortal, buff guy with a voice deeper than his.
Although these weird and sometimes disturbing things happen to the people they love, Sadie and Carter Kane still care for the people, and show how love can stretch any distance.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Never underestimate a girl
[SPOILER ALERT]
In the book The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, Frankie poses as Alpha, her boyfriend's best friend, in emails in a duel for control. Alpha and Frankie don't really like each other, and they both feel like they have to compete with each other for Matthew (Frankie's boyfriend) and control over The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Alpha is the senior 'alpha dog', hence his nickname, and Frankie is the sophomore Matthew drags around for whatever they do. Matthew genuinely likes Frankie, and Alpha don't have a very good reason to dislike Frankie. Well, until she poses as him in some emails. Frankie only does this because she is upset with Matthew for lying to her, and because Alpha kept pulling Matthew away from their dates. Frankie uses the emails to have the Bassets do her bidding, all in good nature.
When Frankie poses as Alpha she uses her own ideas for the Basset's annual prank on Halloween. She feels like she can do it because Alpha is gone for 4 days, and no one would guess that it's her. Frankie is expecting a certain reaction from Alpha when he hears about the prank, but instead he takes credit and Frankie isn't satisfied. Frankie emails Alpha at his real email, and tells everybody in The Order of the Bassets what other pranks to do through him. I believe Frankie is just trying to put a spin on something so serious. She could not become a member of the Bassets because it is a boys only group, so she tries another way. Frankie already feels lucky that Matthew is dating her, but she realizes that she will never be a part of their group. The book quotes, "Sure, they like Frankie fine, found her attractive and didn't seem to mind her hanging around; but if Matthew had dumped her, none of them would ever have given Frankie a second glance. None of them." Frankie wants to show them that she's no one to underestimate or tamper with.
I read a whole series that is about girls being underestimated. The four main characters all go to the Gallagher Academy For Exceptional Young Women, which is an incognito spy school for girls. Only members of the CIA and MI6 with the right clearance know the truth of Gallagher and it's students. The main character Cammie mentions the looks that she and her best friends get when the go out as a school group, but then enjoys it when she's on a mission. Because if you see two fifteen year olds walking around town, you wouldn't think for a second that either of them could paralyze you with their bare hands. At Gallagher, the girls learn how to defend themselves in P&E (Protection and Enforcement), and are taught how to infiltrate and take information from buildings armed with top security. They are taught how to pin down a man three times their weight, and no one would suspect it. People think Gallagher Girls are helpless, spoiled rich girls. This relates to Frankie because Cammie believes that underestimation is a girls best weapon, but Frankie wants people to know what she is capable of doing.
In the book The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, Frankie poses as Alpha, her boyfriend's best friend, in emails in a duel for control. Alpha and Frankie don't really like each other, and they both feel like they have to compete with each other for Matthew (Frankie's boyfriend) and control over The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Alpha is the senior 'alpha dog', hence his nickname, and Frankie is the sophomore Matthew drags around for whatever they do. Matthew genuinely likes Frankie, and Alpha don't have a very good reason to dislike Frankie. Well, until she poses as him in some emails. Frankie only does this because she is upset with Matthew for lying to her, and because Alpha kept pulling Matthew away from their dates. Frankie uses the emails to have the Bassets do her bidding, all in good nature.
When Frankie poses as Alpha she uses her own ideas for the Basset's annual prank on Halloween. She feels like she can do it because Alpha is gone for 4 days, and no one would guess that it's her. Frankie is expecting a certain reaction from Alpha when he hears about the prank, but instead he takes credit and Frankie isn't satisfied. Frankie emails Alpha at his real email, and tells everybody in The Order of the Bassets what other pranks to do through him. I believe Frankie is just trying to put a spin on something so serious. She could not become a member of the Bassets because it is a boys only group, so she tries another way. Frankie already feels lucky that Matthew is dating her, but she realizes that she will never be a part of their group. The book quotes, "Sure, they like Frankie fine, found her attractive and didn't seem to mind her hanging around; but if Matthew had dumped her, none of them would ever have given Frankie a second glance. None of them." Frankie wants to show them that she's no one to underestimate or tamper with.
I read a whole series that is about girls being underestimated. The four main characters all go to the Gallagher Academy For Exceptional Young Women, which is an incognito spy school for girls. Only members of the CIA and MI6 with the right clearance know the truth of Gallagher and it's students. The main character Cammie mentions the looks that she and her best friends get when the go out as a school group, but then enjoys it when she's on a mission. Because if you see two fifteen year olds walking around town, you wouldn't think for a second that either of them could paralyze you with their bare hands. At Gallagher, the girls learn how to defend themselves in P&E (Protection and Enforcement), and are taught how to infiltrate and take information from buildings armed with top security. They are taught how to pin down a man three times their weight, and no one would suspect it. People think Gallagher Girls are helpless, spoiled rich girls. This relates to Frankie because Cammie believes that underestimation is a girls best weapon, but Frankie wants people to know what she is capable of doing.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Popularity Isn't Easy
In the book The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart the main character Frankie, is a seemingly normal girl in a not so normal boarding school. By not so normal I just mean a very competitive Boarding School called Alabaster. In her freshman year, Frankie is mildly geeky, someone you would look over and not think much of. She wasn't the best looking, but she still got a secure enough position in her school because of her sister Zada. But in her Sophomore year Frankie had gone through a change, and has filled out in all the right places. Frankie gets her second boyfriend, Matthew Livingston, and gets accepted into the "Alpha crew" (led by a guy called Alpha"). Although positive changes were made in Frankie's life, I think her boyfriend and his friends are negatively influencing her, almost like peer pressure. In middle school or high school most students feel like they want to fit in, and generally want to be liked.
In Frankie's sophomore year, she gets a name within Matthew and Alpha's group, and starts to become popular. But Frankie is still an outcast in the in-crowd. When Frankie first officially meets Matt's friends, they all start by saying things like, "hey look, Livingston has a girl!" or "Livingston, who's that girl?" Frankie had also met Alpha over the summer, and he had flirted with her, but acted like he had never seen her before when Matt introduced her. Frankie asked her friend about it later, and she said that Alpha was only pretending that he didn't know her because Matt so obviously liked her. Another way Matt and his friends influence her is when Frankie asks Star about her invitation to a party. Frankie was invited to a party, and before she got the invite Star asked her if she had gotten the blue envelope. After Frankie got the blue envelope and after the party, she went to Star and asked her why she asked if Frankie had gotten one. Star had said, "did I ask you about it?" and acted very confused. Frankie wrote this off as the same thing Alpha was doing. It was "intended to discomfort another person who was in some way perceived as a threat." Frankie felt like Alpha and Star weren't making an effort to like her, or even to be polite. This influenced her emotions in the way that she felt like an outcast within her boyfriend's friends.
In most stereotypical books or movies placed in High Schools there are the kids that strive to be popular, or liked. Frankie is not striving, she just gets it using wits. But once she has it, she doesn't feel very inclined to keep it, especially with Matt's friends confusing her. People in books who usually want to be liked are those people you don't see very often. The people that are there, and you don't think about it much. Reading this book I thought of the book, The Clique. In the book The Clique, the main character Claire has to fit in with a rich, fashion designer world, coming from Orlando. It's hard for Claire, and she pretends to be someone she's not to get popularity, but she ends up being friends with the girls. This reminded me of Frankie because Frankie gets accepted, but doesn't know what to do with it. Claire has it in her reach, but she has trouble finding out how to get it. Frankie is influenced and confused by Matthew's friends about her place in their group.
In Frankie's sophomore year, she gets a name within Matthew and Alpha's group, and starts to become popular. But Frankie is still an outcast in the in-crowd. When Frankie first officially meets Matt's friends, they all start by saying things like, "hey look, Livingston has a girl!" or "Livingston, who's that girl?" Frankie had also met Alpha over the summer, and he had flirted with her, but acted like he had never seen her before when Matt introduced her. Frankie asked her friend about it later, and she said that Alpha was only pretending that he didn't know her because Matt so obviously liked her. Another way Matt and his friends influence her is when Frankie asks Star about her invitation to a party. Frankie was invited to a party, and before she got the invite Star asked her if she had gotten the blue envelope. After Frankie got the blue envelope and after the party, she went to Star and asked her why she asked if Frankie had gotten one. Star had said, "did I ask you about it?" and acted very confused. Frankie wrote this off as the same thing Alpha was doing. It was "intended to discomfort another person who was in some way perceived as a threat." Frankie felt like Alpha and Star weren't making an effort to like her, or even to be polite. This influenced her emotions in the way that she felt like an outcast within her boyfriend's friends.
In most stereotypical books or movies placed in High Schools there are the kids that strive to be popular, or liked. Frankie is not striving, she just gets it using wits. But once she has it, she doesn't feel very inclined to keep it, especially with Matt's friends confusing her. People in books who usually want to be liked are those people you don't see very often. The people that are there, and you don't think about it much. Reading this book I thought of the book, The Clique. In the book The Clique, the main character Claire has to fit in with a rich, fashion designer world, coming from Orlando. It's hard for Claire, and she pretends to be someone she's not to get popularity, but she ends up being friends with the girls. This reminded me of Frankie because Frankie gets accepted, but doesn't know what to do with it. Claire has it in her reach, but she has trouble finding out how to get it. Frankie is influenced and confused by Matthew's friends about her place in their group.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Don't Abandon Love
In the book Numbers by Rachel Ward, the main character, Jem, can see when people are going to die. When she makes eye contact with someone, a number appears in the back of her mind, for example, 10102001 would appear. That means that that person will die on October 10th, 2001. That also happens to be the number that Jem saw in her mother's eyes. Ever since her mom dies Jem has been living in foster homes, and going to a school for troubled kids. Jem is smart enough to know she can't share her gift with anyone else, much less tell them their number. But Jem starts to change when she becomes friends with a boy called Spider, and the London Eye blows up. Jem and Spider go on the run when police think that they blew up the London Eye. This story is about how Jem accepts her loss of her loved ones by learning how to trust and love other people again.
Jem has to learn how to trust other people, and she starts with Spider. Spider has been wanting to get to know her better, but she hasn't let him in. But because Spider is so persistent Jem finally decides to give him a chance. Jem ends up hanging out with Spider a lot, and they become closer and closer, especially when they to run away from the police. [SPOILER ALERT] Jem and Spider eventually fall in love, erasing Jem's prior belief that she would never trust anyone ever again. Jem also starts to trust her foster mom, Karen, more near the end of the book. Jem wasn't prepared to love her foster mom, probably because she didn't want to feel the pain of loosing her mom again. It isn't clear whether Jem loved her mom or not but after her mom left she felt alone.
I have not lost anyone near to me to death, but I was adopted when I was 9 months old. I never knew my parents or possible siblings, so the yearning I feel for them is different than the ache of someone you knew well, and loved. I also have no idea whether they are still alive or not, so I don't know how to feel. They are missing from my life, but at the same time, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because I never knew them. My parents told me that my 9 months (4 months with my birth parents, 5 months in the orphanage) was a really long time, but I know adopted kids who were abandoned at 13. My friend told a story about how her parents took her on a car trip when she was 13, then left her at a gas station. It's not the same idea as being adopted from birth, but it had the same abandoned feel. Sometimes I'm glad I don't know who abandoned me, but in the situation of letting myself love again, I have accepted that and moved on, similar to Jem.
Jem has to learn how to trust other people, and she starts with Spider. Spider has been wanting to get to know her better, but she hasn't let him in. But because Spider is so persistent Jem finally decides to give him a chance. Jem ends up hanging out with Spider a lot, and they become closer and closer, especially when they to run away from the police. [SPOILER ALERT] Jem and Spider eventually fall in love, erasing Jem's prior belief that she would never trust anyone ever again. Jem also starts to trust her foster mom, Karen, more near the end of the book. Jem wasn't prepared to love her foster mom, probably because she didn't want to feel the pain of loosing her mom again. It isn't clear whether Jem loved her mom or not but after her mom left she felt alone.
I have not lost anyone near to me to death, but I was adopted when I was 9 months old. I never knew my parents or possible siblings, so the yearning I feel for them is different than the ache of someone you knew well, and loved. I also have no idea whether they are still alive or not, so I don't know how to feel. They are missing from my life, but at the same time, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because I never knew them. My parents told me that my 9 months (4 months with my birth parents, 5 months in the orphanage) was a really long time, but I know adopted kids who were abandoned at 13. My friend told a story about how her parents took her on a car trip when she was 13, then left her at a gas station. It's not the same idea as being adopted from birth, but it had the same abandoned feel. Sometimes I'm glad I don't know who abandoned me, but in the situation of letting myself love again, I have accepted that and moved on, similar to Jem.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Decisions, decisions
In the book Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott, 3 girls named Jamie, Ella, and Beth go through major relationship problems over the summer. Ella and Beth are both Jamie's cousins, but on different sides. Every summer they come together and hangout. They face a lot during that summer, and they conclude that they can only trust each other, and help them with whatever problems they have. They support each other with whatever choices they have to make, and support their emotions. They learn to accept what comes at them and they learn how to deal with it.
One time where they deal with a hard decision is on page 71 when Ella comforts Jamie. Ella helps Jamie get over a big decision that affected her badly. Jamie is unsure whether her reaction to this bad situation is acceptable or not, and feels guilty. Ella helps her by distracting her. She brings some stuff to do, movies, makeup, and plays games with her. Ella also tried to show her all the good outcomes of her choice. She shows her what was wrong about before, and how it's better now. She even says right out, "did you ever notice how nasty his feet are? I did."
Another excerpt in the story where they help make decisions is with Beth and her best friend George. Near the beginning of summer Beth realizes that she is in love with her best friend. This seemingly romantic situation becomes awkward when George asks Beth if she could find out if this girl Cara likes him. To Beth, Cara obviously likes him, but that's just girls' perception. And the fact that Cara asked Beth if she thought George was good looking, and if he was single. Beth felt really uncomfortable talking about this, but still gave her honest opinion. She thought of George first, and told him that she would try. Beth had very mixed feelings, but she still had George first in her mind. This decision is different than Jamie's, but both were downsides to other's decisions.
I believe that friendship is important, and there are a lot of hard decisions in a good friendship. I have a friend named Jamie, ironically, and I help her whenever she feels like she is making a bad choice. I talk to her, and comfort her. I also try and distract her, and so far my help has worked and been welcome. We feel comfortable in telling each other stuff, and trust each other. Beth had given her trust in George by not giving him a full answer. She had said, "sure, I'll see what I can pry out of her." Beth is showing her trust in George to make the right decision himself.
One time where they deal with a hard decision is on page 71 when Ella comforts Jamie. Ella helps Jamie get over a big decision that affected her badly. Jamie is unsure whether her reaction to this bad situation is acceptable or not, and feels guilty. Ella helps her by distracting her. She brings some stuff to do, movies, makeup, and plays games with her. Ella also tried to show her all the good outcomes of her choice. She shows her what was wrong about before, and how it's better now. She even says right out, "did you ever notice how nasty his feet are? I did."
Another excerpt in the story where they help make decisions is with Beth and her best friend George. Near the beginning of summer Beth realizes that she is in love with her best friend. This seemingly romantic situation becomes awkward when George asks Beth if she could find out if this girl Cara likes him. To Beth, Cara obviously likes him, but that's just girls' perception. And the fact that Cara asked Beth if she thought George was good looking, and if he was single. Beth felt really uncomfortable talking about this, but still gave her honest opinion. She thought of George first, and told him that she would try. Beth had very mixed feelings, but she still had George first in her mind. This decision is different than Jamie's, but both were downsides to other's decisions.
I believe that friendship is important, and there are a lot of hard decisions in a good friendship. I have a friend named Jamie, ironically, and I help her whenever she feels like she is making a bad choice. I talk to her, and comfort her. I also try and distract her, and so far my help has worked and been welcome. We feel comfortable in telling each other stuff, and trust each other. Beth had given her trust in George by not giving him a full answer. She had said, "sure, I'll see what I can pry out of her." Beth is showing her trust in George to make the right decision himself.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Am I Blue?
In the short story "Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville the main character, Vincent, gets beat up because he might be homosexual. Vincent meets his fairy godfather, Marvin, after being pushed into a
mud puddle and gets three wishes. He uses one on the "Gay Fantasy
#3", which exposes every gay person, turning them blue for a day. Vincent has trouble deciding and admitting whether or not he is gay, and he is afraid of the consequences. A big
concept of this story is accepting others and accepting who you are. It's also about
being able to control how you think of yourself.
One part in the story that shows control is when Melvin tells Vincent his story. Melvin called Vincent a faggot casually.When Vincent asked him about it, Marvin replied that he and his friends called each other that to "take the words away from the people who want to use them to hurt us." Melvin and his friends were stepping up and taking control of what people could call them, and how much it would hurt them. By taking the word 'faggot' and using it as a casual term they were less offended by it when people tried to hurt them with it.Another part where Vincent learns about recognition is when Marvin gives Vincent "gaydar", the ability to see gay people blue. Marvin talks to Vincent about how many gays there are, and how no one knows about them because they are afraid of getting beat up. Marvin says gays want the Gay Fantasy #3 "so all the straights would have to stop imagining that they don't know any gay people. They would find out that they have been surrounded by gays all the time, and survived the experience... The hiding would finally have to stop." This quote also shows how not only are gay people afraid of being beat up, straight people are afraid to admit that they know gay people. If they would both accept each other there would be no reason to hide. In the end of the story, the guy who had bullied Vincent also turns out to be gay. So, this story is about how everyone is afraid to show who they really are.
Two of my mom's closest friends are lesbian, and they live together. I love going over to their house and seeing them. They don't act different than anyone else I know. They are so happy together, it's sad to think of the people like Vincent and Marvin who had trouble coming out. One of my cousins on my mom's side, who is around my sister's age, also discovered she was a lesbian. We all still love her, and accepted her decision easily and quickly. She even found a girlfriend at college. If only more people were accepting and understanding, gay people like Vincent would be able to live happily and safely, with a boyfriend, maybe.
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Drummer Boy of Shiloh
In the short story "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Joby, receives help from the General of the troop. The General helps Joby find self-confidence and purpose through an item of resentment. The General makes Joby feel better by making him feel wanted. For example, on page 53 the General tells Joby that in order to make the army battle worthy, he needs Joby to beat his drum. Joby sits there, listening to his speech about how Joby is important and needed. Also, when the General first finds Joby, Joby is crying. Instead of scolding him about being weak, he encourages him, saying it's ok to cry before the war. It might even be better. The General also doesn't seem so surprised to see Joby there. As if the General was once a little boy who was looked down on; as if he was once a drummer boy who wanted to be a soldier.
The General also helps teach and comfort Joby by finding something that Joby can do well, and creates something new out of it. It's like the General took Joby's drum away, turned it into a secret weapon, then returned it to Joby with a new sense of importance. Everyone has probably has, or had done something they don't like, so they try to push it out of their minds. If you could just look at this thing, or event in a different light it might change into something wonderful, unless you are like Joby, and need someone else to shape it for you, and point out the opportunity.
I have been volunteering at ATN (All Together Now), which is a non-profit organization that lets adoptees mentor and take care of other adopted children, while their parents learn about taking care of adopted children. I have been taking care of a three year old girl named Tirha. Sometimes, during the day she misses her mom, and I have to do my best to distract her, and comfort her. I connect this to "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" because the General talked to Joby, and said the things he needed to hear. The General made Joby feel better, to the best of his abilities. When I talk to Tirha and try to comfort her I tell her that she'll see her mom really soon, and that she should color a picture, or make something for or of her mom. It's not like I'm preparing her for war or anything, but I still feel a sense of responsibility when Tirha feels bad, and it makes me feel proud when she feels comfortable. I feel like I'm preparing her for a time when she'll have to spend the day without her mom around, like when she starts school. By doing this I feel assertive and commanding like the General, and important like Joby.
The General also helps teach and comfort Joby by finding something that Joby can do well, and creates something new out of it. It's like the General took Joby's drum away, turned it into a secret weapon, then returned it to Joby with a new sense of importance. Everyone has probably has, or had done something they don't like, so they try to push it out of their minds. If you could just look at this thing, or event in a different light it might change into something wonderful, unless you are like Joby, and need someone else to shape it for you, and point out the opportunity.
I have been volunteering at ATN (All Together Now), which is a non-profit organization that lets adoptees mentor and take care of other adopted children, while their parents learn about taking care of adopted children. I have been taking care of a three year old girl named Tirha. Sometimes, during the day she misses her mom, and I have to do my best to distract her, and comfort her. I connect this to "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" because the General talked to Joby, and said the things he needed to hear. The General made Joby feel better, to the best of his abilities. When I talk to Tirha and try to comfort her I tell her that she'll see her mom really soon, and that she should color a picture, or make something for or of her mom. It's not like I'm preparing her for war or anything, but I still feel a sense of responsibility when Tirha feels bad, and it makes me feel proud when she feels comfortable. I feel like I'm preparing her for a time when she'll have to spend the day without her mom around, like when she starts school. By doing this I feel assertive and commanding like the General, and important like Joby.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Beauty Queens
In the book Beauty Queens by Libba Bray a plane full of the 50 Teen Dream Pageant contestants crashes onto a deserted island. This book doesn't exactly have one main theme, but one of my questions was about people who influence other people. In this book other people don't influence other people, but more like expectations and dreams of other people influenced their decisions when living on the island. Each of the surviving girls find themselves while surviving this harsh island. One of the main influences is how their family or friends see them. They think that the pageant is all they think about and care about. One of the girls actually joined so they could prove that pageants aren't everything. Beauty pageants are a lot of work, and it must be tedious when you aren't the one who want's it.
These girls were influenced by the image everyone thought they were, almost like peer pressure. One of the girls, Taylor, was shaped to be her mothers spitting image, and worshipped the "queen of Beauty Queens" Ladybird Hope. Taylor actually went crazy near the end, but during her parts you could tell her life was hard growing up. Most of the parents of these contestants thought that their child would be just like them when they grew up, which is a mistake. These parents are pressuring their daughters to parade around for something they might not care about. Worse even, they might care about it because pageants are the only thing they know. My parents are very open to new ideas, so i never dealt with influencing of that sort.
Some of the girls in the Teen Dream Pageant also had personal problems. One of the girls used to be a guy in a famous boy band. Once the other girls found out they were judgmental and didn't understand. I feel like they should have had a little more sympathy for the 'girl' they had known for a while. I have definitely been misunderstood. I am misunderstood a lot everyday because of the things I say. I usually say the wrong things at random times, and I am very impulsive when I speak. If there is something I want to say, and I'm about to say it, I don't think about how it sounds before it comes out. Like one time with my friends, one of us ordered cookies. I had taken one when she wasn't looking, not knowing she go them for herself. When she tried to take it back I said abruptly "you monster!" We all had a good laugh about it, and i still got part of that cookie, but I had no idea what I was saying until it came out, and I was kind of embarrassed. Upon leaving the island, each girl left with a new prospective on their life, and what they wanted to be.
These girls were influenced by the image everyone thought they were, almost like peer pressure. One of the girls, Taylor, was shaped to be her mothers spitting image, and worshipped the "queen of Beauty Queens" Ladybird Hope. Taylor actually went crazy near the end, but during her parts you could tell her life was hard growing up. Most of the parents of these contestants thought that their child would be just like them when they grew up, which is a mistake. These parents are pressuring their daughters to parade around for something they might not care about. Worse even, they might care about it because pageants are the only thing they know. My parents are very open to new ideas, so i never dealt with influencing of that sort.
Some of the girls in the Teen Dream Pageant also had personal problems. One of the girls used to be a guy in a famous boy band. Once the other girls found out they were judgmental and didn't understand. I feel like they should have had a little more sympathy for the 'girl' they had known for a while. I have definitely been misunderstood. I am misunderstood a lot everyday because of the things I say. I usually say the wrong things at random times, and I am very impulsive when I speak. If there is something I want to say, and I'm about to say it, I don't think about how it sounds before it comes out. Like one time with my friends, one of us ordered cookies. I had taken one when she wasn't looking, not knowing she go them for herself. When she tried to take it back I said abruptly "you monster!" We all had a good laugh about it, and i still got part of that cookie, but I had no idea what I was saying until it came out, and I was kind of embarrassed. Upon leaving the island, each girl left with a new prospective on their life, and what they wanted to be.
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Future of Us
In the book The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler two best friends, Josh Templeton and Emma Nelson, somehow come upon Facebook, but its 1996! Their lives take lots of twists as Josh and Emma try to change the future, or keep it. Mistakes are made, and there's no way to change their futures back.
One part in this book that confused me was on page 225, when Emma realizes that if she does something in the present, it would cause a ripple in the time stream and change her future. For example, she changes where she lives from Ohio to London by saying that she will never move to Ohio and clicking the refresh button. At first, Emma only does small things, but her life doesn't change very much, and she's not happy with it, so to try and make a bigger change she kisses Josh.
In the past Josh had developed a crush on Emma, and thought she liked him too, so he kissed her. Emma didn't feel that way about Josh, and their friendship had been more fragile because of it, but Josh still likes Emma. So when Emma kissed Josh to create a change, he thought she was toying with his emotions. He thought she did that on purpose, and according to Facebook Josh never forgave Emma (he wasn't her friend on Facebook). Before this scene Emma was talking to her best friend Kellan and Kellan was asking Emma if anything might be between her and Josh. Emma thought about it, and said no way, but had second thoughts. Maybe Emma really did have some feelings for Josh, but didn't realize it. Josh gets really mad at Emma and starts to focus on his Facebook future, but later remembers a time when he tried to draw Emma. Josh is an amazing artist, but when he drew Emma he couldn't capture her into the drawing, and felt like he had failed. Maybe he was clouded by his emotions. Josh also had confronted Emma about her dating habits and how she went out with guys and didn't even like them and went straight to the next guy. But I think Josh wishes he was one of those guys, just he wants Emma to genuinely like him, and stay with him. He wants Emma to see how much he really likes her.
One part in this book that confused me was on page 225, when Emma realizes that if she does something in the present, it would cause a ripple in the time stream and change her future. For example, she changes where she lives from Ohio to London by saying that she will never move to Ohio and clicking the refresh button. At first, Emma only does small things, but her life doesn't change very much, and she's not happy with it, so to try and make a bigger change she kisses Josh.
In the past Josh had developed a crush on Emma, and thought she liked him too, so he kissed her. Emma didn't feel that way about Josh, and their friendship had been more fragile because of it, but Josh still likes Emma. So when Emma kissed Josh to create a change, he thought she was toying with his emotions. He thought she did that on purpose, and according to Facebook Josh never forgave Emma (he wasn't her friend on Facebook). Before this scene Emma was talking to her best friend Kellan and Kellan was asking Emma if anything might be between her and Josh. Emma thought about it, and said no way, but had second thoughts. Maybe Emma really did have some feelings for Josh, but didn't realize it. Josh gets really mad at Emma and starts to focus on his Facebook future, but later remembers a time when he tried to draw Emma. Josh is an amazing artist, but when he drew Emma he couldn't capture her into the drawing, and felt like he had failed. Maybe he was clouded by his emotions. Josh also had confronted Emma about her dating habits and how she went out with guys and didn't even like them and went straight to the next guy. But I think Josh wishes he was one of those guys, just he wants Emma to genuinely like him, and stay with him. He wants Emma to see how much he really likes her.
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