I chose the critical thinking question 'What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?' I chose this same question because I would like to know if there were any similarities between the texts because they are both by the same author.
I noticed some hard issues in this text such as Anorexia, bullying, death, and self harm. In this text the main character, Lia deals with many of these issues and her best friend Cassie does too. Lia deals with Anorexia because she has had it for a long time. She starves herself, counts calories, weighs herself a lot, sets unhealthy weight 'goals', and other unhealthy habits. She deals with her best friend's death, too. Lia also harms herself on purpose by cutting herself. She cuts words and gashes into herself with razorblades.
Cassie has had bulimia and she has been bullied. One cause of her bulimia could have been being bullied. She was bullied because of her weight and size. This could have lowered her self esteem.
These issues do happen in the world between most people. Anorexia and Bulimia affects many people especially victims bullied because of their weight like Cassie. Bullying affects many people like children in public schools like these characters. Self harm is like eating disorders as it can affect victims of bullying and people who don't feel good about themselves.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Revised Reading Response
"The kids behind me laugh so loud I know they are laughing about me. I can't help myself. I turn around." The critical thinking question I chose to think about while reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was 'What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?'
Something I thought about while reading this were the hard things that occur. One problem that affects the main character, Melinda is bullying and feeling left out. I noticed this problem early on in the book when Melinda starts her first day of high school. She immediately gets labeled 'outcast' because she has no one to sit with and people laugh and talk about her behind her back. I believe that this problem of bullying and feeling like an outcast does happen around the world now to some people. I think this issue occurs in most schools like in the text. Bullying can also happen around the world in many places by many people.
Another hard issue I noticed in this text was rape. The main character also faces this issue throughout the book without even noticing that she was a victim of it. Throughout the book she struggles to face the reality that the reason she is an outcast is because she called the police at a party where she had been raped. This issue is not only in the moment it happens, but the aftermath of it. Many victims don't realize what happened or choose not to talk about it. The issue in the text is that she chooses not to speak about it. This issue does happen in the world today and is a big problem because in some countries it is not seen as an issue. an example of this is in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick. In this text a thirteen year old girl gets sold into prostitution and no one is concerned, including her father. She is then brought to a house filled with other girls her age, all who have also been sold and some which are mothers. This is why I believe rape is a big issue in this text and in the world.
In conclusion there are many issues in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson including bullying and rape. These are issues that are seen around the world that are not always being addressed.
Something I thought about while reading this were the hard things that occur. One problem that affects the main character, Melinda is bullying and feeling left out. I noticed this problem early on in the book when Melinda starts her first day of high school. She immediately gets labeled 'outcast' because she has no one to sit with and people laugh and talk about her behind her back. I believe that this problem of bullying and feeling like an outcast does happen around the world now to some people. I think this issue occurs in most schools like in the text. Bullying can also happen around the world in many places by many people.
Another hard issue I noticed in this text was rape. The main character also faces this issue throughout the book without even noticing that she was a victim of it. Throughout the book she struggles to face the reality that the reason she is an outcast is because she called the police at a party where she had been raped. This issue is not only in the moment it happens, but the aftermath of it. Many victims don't realize what happened or choose not to talk about it. The issue in the text is that she chooses not to speak about it. This issue does happen in the world today and is a big problem because in some countries it is not seen as an issue. an example of this is in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick. In this text a thirteen year old girl gets sold into prostitution and no one is concerned, including her father. She is then brought to a house filled with other girls her age, all who have also been sold and some which are mothers. This is why I believe rape is a big issue in this text and in the world.
In conclusion there are many issues in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson including bullying and rape. These are issues that are seen around the world that are not always being addressed.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Monday Muses: Art
One thing I find inspirational is visual art. I think this inspires me because of my interest in it. One piece of artwork that I think is inspirational is the 'pipe' painting by Rene Magritte. I think it is inspirational because it really made me think when I saw it. I thought that it was different and that it wasn't just a good painting, but it had a message he was trying to portray when painting this painting.
Another thing that was inspirational about it was that it had a deeper meaning than other pieces of artwork. I thought that the meaning of it was part of the artwork. I thought the idea he was trying to portray was that when he painted,"this is not a pipe" on his painting he meant that the painting itself is not a pipe because it is a painting. I thought this painting was interesting because it requires an explanation to really understand it.
This painting inspired me to think outside of the box like Magritte did when he painted this. It inspired me to do this because he did this when he painted things. I am inspired to because he didn't choose to just paint an ordinary object, but to create a story to go behind it. One other thing this painting taught me was to go beyond the ordinary and to do something unexpected. This painting taught me this because he didn't just paint a ordinary object, but he did something unexpected by writing that message underneath it.
This painting along with art is inspirational to me because art has taught me many things. Art has taught me that there are many possibilities that haven't been thought of yet. I also learned that there can be many interpretations of the same object and they can all be different than the last.
Another thing that was inspirational about it was that it had a deeper meaning than other pieces of artwork. I thought that the meaning of it was part of the artwork. I thought the idea he was trying to portray was that when he painted,"this is not a pipe" on his painting he meant that the painting itself is not a pipe because it is a painting. I thought this painting was interesting because it requires an explanation to really understand it.
This painting inspired me to think outside of the box like Magritte did when he painted this. It inspired me to do this because he did this when he painted things. I am inspired to because he didn't choose to just paint an ordinary object, but to create a story to go behind it. One other thing this painting taught me was to go beyond the ordinary and to do something unexpected. This painting taught me this because he didn't just paint a ordinary object, but he did something unexpected by writing that message underneath it.
This painting along with art is inspirational to me because art has taught me many things. Art has taught me that there are many possibilities that haven't been thought of yet. I also learned that there can be many interpretations of the same object and they can all be different than the last.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Argument Essay on Sold By Patricia McCormick: First Draft
“ If books show us the world, teen fiction can be
like a hall of fun house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously
distorted portrayals of what life is.” This is what author of “Darkness Too
Visible”, Meghan Cox Gurdon along with many others think of the world of teen
literature. Even thought these books may cover “inappropriate” topics, I
believe it is important for teens to read them, so they learn how to cope with
these issues.
For example, the book Sold by Patricia McCormick
deals with violence and rape, but it can help teens deal with these issues in
there own lives.
Even though
these topics may be inappropriate they still happen to teens and it is
important for them to know about it. For example the author of “The Sick Lit
Books Aimed at Children It’s a Disturbing Phenomenon. Tales of teenage cancer
self-harm and suicide” states “When young people are lost in such traumatic
states its vital they don’t feel alone.” This means that when teens go through
these problems that they should be able to read about them so they don’t think
they are the only ones going through them.
Not only should teens dealing with these problems be able to read about them, but all should so they know about them if they ever encounter them. The author of “Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker” explains this when he states, “ It takes a fearful thing and makes it approachable.” This means that teens can learn about these topics through reading so there prepared in case they encounter these issues in the future. For example, the book Sold can prepare children who have to deal with violence or rape as the main character has to on page 128 where the author states “ He grunts and struggles, trying to fit himself inside me. With a sudden thrust I am torn in two.”
Not only should teens dealing with these problems be able to read about them, but all should so they know about them if they ever encounter them. The author of “Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker” explains this when he states, “ It takes a fearful thing and makes it approachable.” This means that teens can learn about these topics through reading so there prepared in case they encounter these issues in the future. For example, the book Sold can prepare children who have to deal with violence or rape as the main character has to on page 128 where the author states “ He grunts and struggles, trying to fit himself inside me. With a sudden thrust I am torn in two.”
Even though
parents and schools might think these books are too violent or graphic for
teens I believe that they are not encouraging readers to think that these
topics are okay, but the opposite. In the article “Teen Fiction Plots are
Darker and Starker” the author explains that “The parents’ job is to help
children to decide what they should read.” I believe that if the parents’ job
should be to help their own children to decide what to read not to decide for
them or decide for a whole community by challenging a book.
In
conclusion, I believe teens should be able to read frequently challenged books
such as Sold by Patricia McCormick because they contain topics that
teens should know about. I also believe they should be able to read Sold and other challenged books because they don’t
glorify inappropriate content but explain how its wrong.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday Muses
Childhood Memories
My first time moving,
food allergies,
my little brother being born,
and losing my first dog.
New best friends,
pressure to always do better,
soccer trophies,
and three broken toes.
Fights with my little brother,
and elaborate science projects.
My many pet fish dying,
and applying to middle school.
Getting my ears pierced,
black nail polish,
and hair dye.
All of which my dad disapproved of.
A passion for art,
almost losing an eye,
and good grades in school.
Are a few memories of my childhood.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Sold: Theme
The book I am currently reading is called Sold by Patricia McCormick. I notice that the main character, Lakshmi has some ideas that she lives by. I think that these ideas are themes in this book. One theme that I notice throughout the book is her idea that "Family is most important." I think this is a theme because this is a reoccurring idea in this book.
One example of this is one page one. On this page Lakshmi says "'Let me go to the city' I say. 'I can work for a rich family like Gita does, and send my wages home to you.'" She says this because her family needs a new tin roof because her father gambled away all the landlord's money. This shows that Lakshmi cares about her family enough to go alone into the city and work for a rich family of strangers.
Another example of this is on page fourty-eight where Lakshmi says "'This is good news, Ama,' I say, my voice full of boldness I did not know I had. 'There will be one less mouth to feed here, and I will send my wages home." This shows that Lakshmi is trying to convince her family to let her go because she cares a lot about her family.
Another example of this theme is on page ninety-four where Lakshmi gets to the 'Happiness House' and she is thinking about the things her family can buy with the money she got sold for. In the text she says "It seems as though Auntie Mumtaz is my new mistress. She is a strict one to be sure, but I will prove myself to her. And then my mother will have a new dress, shoes for the cold season, even a new shawl made of the finest yarn. My little brother will have fruit and curds twice a day and a jacket made of yak fur." This shows that Lakshmi cares more about her family and getting them the things they need than herself and proving herself to a strict new mistress.
In conclusion, one of the themes in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick is Lakshmi's idea that family is most important. Lakshmi shows this in her time at the 'Happiness House' and when she gets sold to Mumtaz.
One example of this is one page one. On this page Lakshmi says "'Let me go to the city' I say. 'I can work for a rich family like Gita does, and send my wages home to you.'" She says this because her family needs a new tin roof because her father gambled away all the landlord's money. This shows that Lakshmi cares about her family enough to go alone into the city and work for a rich family of strangers.
Another example of this is on page fourty-eight where Lakshmi says "'This is good news, Ama,' I say, my voice full of boldness I did not know I had. 'There will be one less mouth to feed here, and I will send my wages home." This shows that Lakshmi is trying to convince her family to let her go because she cares a lot about her family.
Another example of this theme is on page ninety-four where Lakshmi gets to the 'Happiness House' and she is thinking about the things her family can buy with the money she got sold for. In the text she says "It seems as though Auntie Mumtaz is my new mistress. She is a strict one to be sure, but I will prove myself to her. And then my mother will have a new dress, shoes for the cold season, even a new shawl made of the finest yarn. My little brother will have fruit and curds twice a day and a jacket made of yak fur." This shows that Lakshmi cares more about her family and getting them the things they need than herself and proving herself to a strict new mistress.
In conclusion, one of the themes in the book Sold by Patricia McCormick is Lakshmi's idea that family is most important. Lakshmi shows this in her time at the 'Happiness House' and when she gets sold to Mumtaz.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
The Silver Linings Playbook: Character
In my book "The Silver Linings Playbook" by Matthew Quick, the main character Pat Peoples has a mental illness called Bipolar Disorder. He has had this illness for over four years. His illness has caused him to act very impulsively which led him being led into a mental institution for the last four years.
Before he was in the mental institution, he lived with his wife, Nikki. He loved her much more than she loved him. Because of this cheated on Pat and his mental illness caused him to nearly kill his wife's lover. This shows that with bipolar disorder Pat is not stable and is dangerous to be around before he was in the mental institution.
Pat also doesn't realize what horrible things he's done because he doesn't remember them until the climax. I think part of it is because he doesn't remember, but also I think he chooses to block his bad experiences out. I think he tries to block 'bad' things out and thinks about silver linings to his problems because in the text he says" 'Just as soon as apart time ends' I say,and his face falls as if I said I was going to kill his wife, Natalie, and their three blond-haired daughters-Kristen, Jenny, and Becky-because that's how much he does not believe in silver linings, making it his business to preach apathy and negativity and pessimism unceasingly." This shows that he thinks others are negative and apathetic when they are just trying to be realistic.
I think not only does Pat not focus on unfortunate things, but he also can get violent or extremely emotional about them. I think this because in the text, after he finishes Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms' he says " I am crying so hard at the end, partly for the characters, yes, but also because Nikki actually teaches this book to children."This shows that Pat blocks out negativity which, sometimes doesn't seem healthy because he needs to learn to accept some of it and become realistic.
In conclusion, Pat Peoples in the book 'The Silver Linings Playbook' is affected a lot by his mental illness and what they taught him in the mental institution, which is not all good. Throughout this book he learns to be more open to things not going as planned and learns to cope with it.
Before he was in the mental institution, he lived with his wife, Nikki. He loved her much more than she loved him. Because of this cheated on Pat and his mental illness caused him to nearly kill his wife's lover. This shows that with bipolar disorder Pat is not stable and is dangerous to be around before he was in the mental institution.
Pat also doesn't realize what horrible things he's done because he doesn't remember them until the climax. I think part of it is because he doesn't remember, but also I think he chooses to block his bad experiences out. I think he tries to block 'bad' things out and thinks about silver linings to his problems because in the text he says" 'Just as soon as apart time ends' I say,and his face falls as if I said I was going to kill his wife, Natalie, and their three blond-haired daughters-Kristen, Jenny, and Becky-because that's how much he does not believe in silver linings, making it his business to preach apathy and negativity and pessimism unceasingly." This shows that he thinks others are negative and apathetic when they are just trying to be realistic.
I think not only does Pat not focus on unfortunate things, but he also can get violent or extremely emotional about them. I think this because in the text, after he finishes Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms' he says " I am crying so hard at the end, partly for the characters, yes, but also because Nikki actually teaches this book to children."This shows that Pat blocks out negativity which, sometimes doesn't seem healthy because he needs to learn to accept some of it and become realistic.
In conclusion, Pat Peoples in the book 'The Silver Linings Playbook' is affected a lot by his mental illness and what they taught him in the mental institution, which is not all good. Throughout this book he learns to be more open to things not going as planned and learns to cope with it.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Summer Reading Book: The Future of Us
One book I read over the summer was The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. This book is about two teenagers who live in 1997 and one of them, Emma Nelson gets her first computer. She also gets a CD-ROM from her best friend (the other teenager) Josh Templeton. Once she downloads it she finds herself on a website she has never heard of called Facebook. She doesn't know about this website because it hasn't been invented yet.
When it is invented Josh, her and their other friends will join so they get to see all their futures now. They soon learn things about themselves and their friends . Also, every time they go on Facebook they learn their futures have changed slightly because of their actions that day. Emma learns who her husband is and that her marriage is unraveling. Josh learns his wife is the prettiest girl in school and that they will have children. Emma also learns that her other best friend is going to become pregnant before they all go to college. Soon Emma starts doing things on purpose to change her future like calling her future husband and kissing Josh. What she doesn't know is actions have consequences.
I did enjoy this book but I had mixed reviews on how it was executed. One thing is that none of the characters are very likable. Emma is very unlikeable because she only cares about herself and almost destroys her friendship with Josh just so she can get what she wants. Josh is a better character than she is so that makes him easier to relate to but you don't get to know a lot about him. The other characters like Tyson, Kellan, and Graham also seem underdeveloped and I didn't learn much about their personalities now or in the future.
I would recommend this book though. I think its one of those books that you have to read. I would recommend this to people who liked Thirteen Reasons Why also written by Jay Asher. I would also recommend this book to older people who would understand the 90's references better.
When it is invented Josh, her and their other friends will join so they get to see all their futures now. They soon learn things about themselves and their friends . Also, every time they go on Facebook they learn their futures have changed slightly because of their actions that day. Emma learns who her husband is and that her marriage is unraveling. Josh learns his wife is the prettiest girl in school and that they will have children. Emma also learns that her other best friend is going to become pregnant before they all go to college. Soon Emma starts doing things on purpose to change her future like calling her future husband and kissing Josh. What she doesn't know is actions have consequences.
I did enjoy this book but I had mixed reviews on how it was executed. One thing is that none of the characters are very likable. Emma is very unlikeable because she only cares about herself and almost destroys her friendship with Josh just so she can get what she wants. Josh is a better character than she is so that makes him easier to relate to but you don't get to know a lot about him. The other characters like Tyson, Kellan, and Graham also seem underdeveloped and I didn't learn much about their personalities now or in the future.
I would recommend this book though. I think its one of those books that you have to read. I would recommend this to people who liked Thirteen Reasons Why also written by Jay Asher. I would also recommend this book to older people who would understand the 90's references better.
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