Social Justice in My Reading Life

     Don't judge a book buy it's cover. Not only is this a lesson we have all heard his is the main theme it R. J. Palacio's Wonder. The protagonist Auggie has a deformed face and when he starts middle school he faces students only judging him by his appearance. He struggles to fit in and is constantly feeling self  conscious. Instead of focusing on his amazing personality the students don't even get the time to know him. On the outside he was maybe a little alarming. Still on the inside he had a kind heart and was honestly just a normal kid.

      Instead of thinking about how hard it was going to be for Auggie and showing him respect. People came up with this game where you couldn't touch Auggie and if you did you got some kind of "cootie." How do they think that would make him feel? They didn't have to become his best friend but they could have made an effort to be kind. This relates to everyday at school students face. You don't have to go above and beyond and become best friends with a bullied or quiet person. But you can show some compassion or do smaller things to help them out. The the book there were students that stood up for Auggie. Jack was asked to show Auggie around at the beginning of the year. But as time went on he learned how great of a person Auggie really was. He didn't feel ashamed of his friendship with Auggie and didn't care what others thought about him. Then more and more people started getting to know Auggie. It's always harder for the first person to stand up but then people start to follow the lead. He became more comfortable with himself and gained a lot of self esteem. What seems like a little act of kindness to all those students was something so much more for

     This doesn't only apply to your looks but also the color of your skin or if your gay or straight. Limiting yourself to only some people because of their appearance is unfair. Society puts to much pressure on people to look, dress, and act a certain way. Magazines, television, and the internet are all ways teens see what is desired in terms of looks. But we can't all fit into that perfect category. It's important for teens to realize that its what's on the inside that counts.

Nonfiction Reading Response to The Sick-lit Books Aimed at Children

     Tanith Carey's "The Sick-lit Books Aimed at Children," published by Mail Online, discusses young adult fictions best selling books with morbid plots not suitable for children who will soon follow after the dark themes in the books. She mentions many names of popular books read by young people with plots full of death, self-harming, rape, and suicide. She then goes on to kids who have taken on the bad issues in books rather than learning from them. One example, a girl who every time she read Red Tears would reach for a blade after wanting to cut even more. She talks about how young people are when they read these books. She concludes by saying if parents talk to their kids about the issues in books its OK. But they definitely shouldn't read them alone.

     To get her point across Tanith Carey uses a lot of craft moves. She uses the term sick-lit instead of young adult literature to stress how awful the topics in the books are. She includes words like distasteful and morbid. She addresses the counterclaim with a quote for an author Phil Earle saying books help kids feel like their not alone and give them a sense of hope. But Carey quickly shoots that down by saying that their are other ways to teach kids about harsh issues. She also always says 11 year old or 12 year old to show how young the kids really are.

     Personally, I don't agree with the article at all. Having read some of the books she mentioned, I know that they teach teens rather than scaring and encouraging them do then same thing as in the books. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green was one of the books she talked about. This book taught me a lot about accepting death and coping with huge changes in our lives. I know that many other teens love it too. Or it wouldn't be on the teens best-seller list for a half of a year. One line that stood out to me was, "The blurbs for the 'teen sick-lit' trip over themselves to promise their books will drive readers to tear or leave then devastated."She used so many harsh and dramatic terms to get her point across.

Sinking Ships

     Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in the world going through something rough. But then I realize there are so many people going through the same thing as me. In John Green’s Paper Towns Q, the protagonist, is a senior who has loved Margo his whole life. When she runs away, she leaves clues and as he finds her he realizes she’s not the girl he thought the loved. John Green uses the characters rough times as teens and compares them to sinking ships. This is important because it taught me about being able to understand others through the hardships we face as humans. 

In the beginning of Q and Margo’s friendship, Q doesn’t seem to know the true Margo. Only “ideas” of her like her beauty. It’s like looking at a window shade but never seeing inside. Nothing truly bad or exciting has ever happened to him. He is like a new, watertight ship. As they grow up and Margo runs away, Q begins to see the real Margo. Complicated things start happening in their lives. Q gets bullied and Margo gets cheated on. So like a sinking ships they being to get cracks every time something hurts them.

When Q finally finds Margo they completely understand each other. There’s so many cracks in their ships that they just fall apart. In other words, they’ve made so many mistakes, had so many issues, that they can relate to one another. Because as John Green puts it, “we see out of ourselves through our cracks and into others through theirs.” Even though their problems were different they could still understand how the other person felt.

In second grade my friends hamster died. She was traumatized. Of course I comforted her but in my head I was just thinking, “it’s just a stupid hamster,” and “can’t she just get over it?” But then in sixth grade I had to give my bunny away I felt the same way. Even though it was a completely different situation. Then I began to feel bad for the way I had treated my friend. It was only until something similar happened to me that I could then relate to her. 

What I’m really trying to say is we feel bad for people, as humans, because we have been through the same things as them. Or at least something similar. I think John Green did a great job using the ships as a metaphor for life and the relationships we have during it. As a teen, this book helped me realize it’s important to try and understand why a person is acting a certain way. Because chances are you have or will go through the same things their dealing with. 

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

     This summer one of my favorite books I read was, "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. It followed to stories. One of a boy named Salva in 1985 and another of a girl named Nya in 2008. Both in Sudan, Africa. Salva is forced to run from the war and is separated from his family and village. He walks on foot  across the country just trying to survive. While Nya is a village girl who walks eight hours everyday to get water for her family. As you follow both stories throughout the book, you realize the importance of never giving up. 

     When Salva was so close to dying in the hot desert, he kept going. When his father and best friend were killed he just kept walking. Even thought the refugee camps were awful, Salva stayed positive and eventually was able to go to New York. He worked hard in New York and really wanted to give back to his people in Sudan. So he raised money to be able to start up a project. On the other hand, Nya is a young girl who has to walk miles just to get something all we have to do to get is walk to the kitchen! She can't go to school and is always extremely tired. Talk about determination. 

    In the end both of their stories tie together in a way that made all the hardships in the book mean nothing. This book made me think a lot about the world we live in and never giving up. I recommend this book for anyone who can read a sad book and likes happy endings.

The Bar Code Tattoo By Susan Weyn [Book Clubs]

     In Susan Weyn's, "The Bar Code Tattoo" we follow a protagonist named Kayla Reed. She is just a normal teen until the bar code tattoo kills her father. She begins to question whether the government is hiding something from the people. When she joins a group of teens against the tattoo they learn that it has your complete genetic code. As more and more people got the tattoo it became harder to resist it. But Kayla never gave up.

     There was a lot of different social commentary in this book. But I think the main topic was trying to form a perfect race. Many think it was just about government tracking us, but its more than that. On the tattoo is your genetic code. It contains whats good about your genes and whats bad. Right when babies are born they get their whole genetic code. And the ones who are sick are just left to die. Also when old people are sent to the hospital they don't come back out. So they are using the tattoo to eliminate people with diseases.

     This book made me think about how much we are monitored and tracked by the government. With IDs and passports the government can find tons of information on each of us. Even my phone can track my exact location. It's like there's no more privacy. The book was only written in 2025, that's only a few years from now. I think we need to begin to protect our privacy. Soon everything about us will be known.

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper

     In Sharon M. Draper's, "Tears of a Tiger" we follow a protagonist named Andy Jackson. After his best friend Rob dies in a car accident where he was driving, Andy doesn't know what to do. He gets hated by a lot of people who think it's his fault and is put under a lot of pressure as the new captain of the basketball team. He also has to juggle school work and his distant family. Through it all his girlfriend Keisha and his psychologist are the only people who understand him.

     One thing I noticed that Sharon M. Draper used to enhance the piece was different writing forms. For example most of the book was just dialogue. But then the book started having poems from different characters homework or articles in the newspaper. All these different perspectives made it easier for the reader to figure out what was going on in each characters mind. Without this tool, the whole book would just be Andy's thoughts and you would never figure out how the death of Rob affected others as well.

     I think not being able to relate to anyone and feeling alone is something everyone can relate to. Sometimes it feels like no one else in the world can understand what you are going through. Sharon M. Draper demonstrates this really well through her different forms of writing. This way way can get perspective from each character in the story. I am definitely going to try to use this in my writing in the future.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

      In John Green's "Looking For Alaska" we follow a protagonist named Miles Halter who ventures off from his lonely life in Florida to start fresh at a boarding school in Alabama. There he meets Alaska Young. She's a moody, clever, and gorgeous girl. She steals Miles's heart and confuses him constantly with her many different personalities. At Culver Creek Boarding School he learns what it's like to take risks and break rules.

      During his year Miles changes a lot as a person. In the beginning of the book he is lonely and quiet. He hasn't ever broken the rules. He doesn't have any friends. He looks at boarding school as a fresh start. He tries smoking and drinking. he speaks up more and does things he would have never tried. Alaska makes him want to change and shows him it's okay to be bad. She hooks him up with a girl and spends all Thanksgiving with him. He thinks she is perfect.

      But Alaska has problems of her own. She hates going home. He parents are cruel and she will do anything she can to get away from them. She spends holidays on campus. She even told on a girl just so she couldn't get expelled. So under that cool attitude is really a scared girl.

      So both of them are hiding something. Miles is hiding his old self and his love for Alaska. While she hides her secrets and why she doesn't want to go home. Some people like to start fresh and for them this was the best way to do that. So Miles and Alaska really do have a lot in common.

Hurricane Song

In Paul Volponi’s “Hurricane Song” we follow a distant father and son on their journey through Hurricane Katrina. Miles loves football and Pops is always thinking about Jazz. They are forced to stay in the Super Dome which is filled with people stealing and raping constantly. Nothing is under control and people aren’t kept safe. The reader watches as Pops and Miles change as individuals and as a family in the Super Dome. The author wants the reader to know difficult situations can make relationships grow stronger, through the theme of music. During this experience, they learn a lot about each other and the importance of their passions. 

After a friend passed in the Super Dome, Pops and Miles both played music in a memorial for Cyrus. Miles plays the drum he was reluctant about. While Pops tells him he is proud of Miles. This shows Miles and Pops trying to reach out to each other more and open up. Another example of this is when a fire breaks out and Pops runs grabbing the two things he cares most about. Obviously his prized possession, his horn and Miles. This showed that Pops cares about Mies as much as his music. Lastly, when Miles signed Pops music book full of all the places and people he has played with. It revealed the Miles appreciated Pops music and that Pops was proud enough to let him sign it. 

This, difficult situations making relationships grow stronger, connects to teenagers because many teens feel disconnected from their family. Sometimes it takes a harsh situation to make them open up and connect. That’s what happened in the Super Dome. Miles and Pops learnt new things about each other. Now Miles respects Pops music. While Pops understands Miles love for football. I think many teens can relate to this situation.

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

     In Patricia Reilly Giff's book, "Picture of Hollis Woods" the protagonist is an orphan girl who has been to more foster homes than she can count. She runs away from every home she is placed in. Even from the Regans, the one family that offers her a home. But when she is sent to live with the old women named Josie, she wants to stay. Josie was careless, fun, but extremely forgetful. Social Services found out about Josie and is taking Hollis away. But Hollis isn't about to let them take Josie away from her. She plans to escape but this time, with Josie.

     During the book the Hollis describes pictures she drew in the past. Then memories that went with the drawings. This way the author uses flashbacks to show the reader Hollis's past. She reveals what happened in the past with the Regan family. And why Hollis would leave the only family she loved. This makes the story exciting and leaves you wondering what will happen next.

     The way the book goes back and forth between the present with Josie and the past with the Regans. It's fun and exciting. I love all the different characters. Hollis is spunky but innocent deep down inside. Josie is gorgeous and sweet. And all the Regans are intriguing and happy people. I can't wait to get to the end.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

     Rodman Philbrick's "Freak the Mighty" follows a protagonist named Maxwell Kane, a teenage boy who lives with his grandparents. Max is huge for his age and scares everyone. Still, his brain is extremely small and he never speaks. But worst of all, his father is Killer Kane. A murderer who is locked up in jail. But then he meets Freak. A small boy who's insides grow faster than the rest of his body. He has a huge brain and a lot of self confidence. They use each others strengths to go on adventures and become heros.

     Freak teaches Max how to use his brain and stand up against bullies. Max becomes the body and Freak becomes the brain. They learn from each other and become best friends. Max realizes that he's smart and after being made fun off, he's not like his scary father. While Freak learns he can make friends and explore even without a proper body.

     When Max gets kidnapped by his crazy father, Freak out smarts him. Freak also teaches Max how to read and write. But when Freak ends up in the hospital. Max can't imagine life without him. When Max finds out he is dead he feels like his whole life was over.

     The two friends needed each other and were practically one person. Sometimes friends are the same way. Your differences are what what make a good friendship. Their characteristics benefit the other person. Just like "Freak the Mighty."

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

     In Scott O'Dell's "Island of the Blue Dolphins" the protagonist is a young girl named Karana, who is the daughter of the chief of the island. When her father is killed and everyone leaves the island. Karana and her brother, Ramo, are left alone. But when her brother is killed by the wild dogs she really is left alone. She has to fend for herself by making weapons, a house and cooking food. She is resourceful and after months and months of taking care of herself, a boat comes to take her away. She decides its time to leave the island like everyone else.

    The beginning of the book started off slowly and I didn't think I was going to like it. I had never been into reading historical fiction. But as it went on I fell in love with the protagonist couldn't stop reading. The whole book I kept thinking about what I would have done if I were the one stranded on an island alone.

     I definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to try something new and can handle a slow start. I really enjoyed it and am going to pick up some other Scott O'Dell books!

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 

And sorry I could not travel both

 And be one traveler, long I stood 

And looked down one as far as I could 

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair, 

And having perhaps the better claim, 

Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 

Though as for that the passing there 

Had worn them really about the same, 

And both that morning equally lay 

In leaves no step had trodden black. 

Oh, I kept the first for another day! 

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 

I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh 

Somewhere ages and ages hence: 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference. 

    In Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken" the protagonist represents a person who is debating which path to take at a crossroads in the middle of his life. Once he chooses a road, he doesn't come back to take the other one like he tells himself he will. The speaker wishes he had chosen the more adventurous life.
     In stanza 1, when the protagonist says, "two roads diverged" and "sorry I could not travel both" it reveals two options in life that the speaker has. He can't take both but has to make a decision. In stanza 3, the line, "I doubted if I should ever come back" shows that the speaker knows that he won't return to see where the other "life" will take him. This is because he's already on a path. In stanza 4, the protagonist says, "I shall be telling this with a sigh" meaning the speaker regrets his choice and wonders what would have happened had he chosen the more adventurous life. And in the end he decided to take "the one less traveled by."

     This, wondering what would happen had you taken the other option, has made me think deeper about humanity because in life everyone tweaks their story to make it seem more desirable, this seems to make them feel better. Still, no matter how much you rave over your great choice, you always wonder how different your life would be if you had chosen the other path. 

Soda Ban Essay

     To fight against obesity, Mayor Bloomberg wants to ban all sugary drinks over 16 ounces, but only in all city regulated restaurants such as fast-food joints and movie theaters. The ban doesn’t include banning soda from grocery and convenience stores, like 7-Eleven. The NYC ban should be opposed because it takes away the peoples free choice and is full of many loopholes.

This ban is not effective enough because there are too many loopholes. The New York Times video “Soda Ban Explained” by Caesy Neistat, mentioned all the many loopholes in the ban. You can still buy a drink with 50% milk [juice, milkshakes, teas and coffees] and drinks that you add your own sugar to. And if that’s not enough, you can still go to non-regulated stores or just buy more than one. With all these loopholes people that really want soda can still go out and buy it, so it doesn’t do much to help curb obesity. 

The ban is unfair and takes away peoples choice to buy whatever quantity of soda they want. “Fundamentally we don’t need government telling us what we need for ourselves.” says Justin Wilson from Center of Consumer Freedom. Zara Atal, a college student said, “ If people want to buy a 24oz. drink, that’s their decision.” And Veronica Majerol, the author of article “Sugar Wars” stated, “While government has an interest in protecting the wellbeing of citizens some argue that people should be free to make their own decisions--even if they end up choosing poorly.” Many people agree that the ban takes away peoples’ rights and that people should be able to buy as much soda as they want. 

Others say the ban should be passed even though it takes away peoples’ free choice to buy whatever size soda they want. People for the ban state the government is trying to help fight against obesity and that it cares about the people. But some things need to stay private. The government can’t control everything. Supporters of the ban say, while there are many loopholes, it’s a step in the right direction and at least the government is trying to do something. Still, the ban doesn’t even start to make an impact on obesity. If the government really wanted to stop obesity they would cut soda out all together. And soda isn’t the only component of obesity. By doing something else, like making physical education a bigger deal in schools, people would become less overweight.

The NYC soda ban shouldn’t be passed. It’s not effective enough to even put a dent in the massive issue. But more importantly people will lose the power to chose what portions they can buy. We have to think, how far can we let the government decide whats best for us? If the ban is passed, pounds aren’t what people will be losing, they will be losing their free choice. 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime (spoiler alert)

     Just recently I did a blog on "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime." Now I finished the book I want to do another one talking about the end of the book and how my last blog post compared to this one. In the end of the story Christopher finds out that his father was the one who killed Wellington, Mrs. Shears dog. He also finds out that his mother is alive! His father was lying to him about his mothers death. So he runs away to his mothers house. Of course his father finds him and after awhile they come up with a way to make Christopher happy.

     In my last blog post I talked about how Christopher relates to animals and not human emotions. Christopher learns more about the emotions of humans and other people and learns to relate to them more. Christopher grows as a person and becomes closer to his family. He becomes more mature and learns the value of the many different things and how to be independent. He learns how to think before doing things and weighs his options before jumping to a conclusion. And of course he gets to take a level math.

     Overall I think I just good job of analyzing the book before I read it. I recommend the book to anyone who usually doesn't read mysteries. I have never picked up one and actually enjoyed it but this one was captivating and interesting.

Stay by Deb Caletti

     I just began reading the book "Stay" by Deb Caletti. Again I decided to write a blog before I started reading the book. This way I really get to think a lot about what could happen. I get to analyze and hypothesize with the author could do. I also think of all the different characters and how certain things will unravel or happen. The main character is a girl named Claire. She begins to have a strong relationship with this boy named Christian. She's never experienced love before, but what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession. And it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far Christian is and what he's willing to do to make her stay. Now Clara has left the city and Christian behind. No one knows where she is. But still can't shake off the fear. She knows Christian will never let her go, no matter how far she runs it's not far enough.

     All of this has already happened in the book. It could go so many different ways. Clara is going to have to really look inside herself and find out what to do instead of acting like there's nothing that she can do at all. She has to realize that she has family and people that love her all around. Together with the help of the people she loves she can fight Christian. Her whole life won't stay like this.

     A book with this much going on could have so many things happen. I can't wait to find out what does. And after I'm done with this book I might pick up another one of Deb Catelli's books they're really great. I'm starting to get really interested in realistic fiction and romance.

Authors Craft

      When an author is writing a book, they use a certain craft to let the reader make a connection with the story. Or at least to make the story seem more realistic. The craft that the author uses controls the way the reader perceives the writing. They use different techniques to make you feel different emotions. Craft is extremely important in a story.

     Authors seem to have a certain craft throughout books that they write. For example, Ellen Hopkins, the author of the series including "Crank" and "Burned", uses a certain craft. She writes all of her books in verse, or in poetry. This makes the reader interpret the story differently then if it was written in paragraph form.It makes the books a lot more interesting and fun to read. And makes you have to stop and think about what the author is trying to convey by writing the book in different ways.

     Also, sometimes authors write the story in the way that the character in the book might write it. Opposed to how they might write it. In "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" the author writes the book the way the main character, Christopher, would. Since Christopher has a hard time figuring out people's emotions, the author writes the book the way Chris sees it. This helps you learn more about Christopher as a character overall.

     Authors craft is something that can help you as the reader understand even more about the book from.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

After the many blogs I have posted. I just realized that I have never blogged about a book before I've read it. I've always blogged about a book after I've read it or during the middle. So I am trying to write about my thoughts on a book only a few pages in.

The book is "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon. It's about a man who is really intelligent. He knows all the countries and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. And he is amazing at relating to animals. But he has no understanding of human emotions and unfortunately that gets him into a lot of trouble. The book is about his journey investigating the death of his neighbors dog.

So far I really enjoy the writing style and I am really interested in what will happen next. The book is told in the perspective of him so you really get to know what's going on inside his head. But sometimes it's difficult to understand what other people around him view him.

I am excited to see what happens next and how it all plays out.

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

     Ellen Hopkin's "Burned" follows the protagonist named Pattyn as she struggles to find what a women's role really is. In her strict, religious, and abusive family she has difficulty learning about love and herself. Her mother makes it seem like its a women's duty to have children and marry. Pattyn has many siblings and can't see how women should be inclined to do this. There is no love in her family. She can't see why her mother married her father in the first place. Pattyn's dad is abusive and hits her mom and even her. She always wonders if her dad used to be different. She wonders what he could have been like before all he did was drink, work, and ignore his many children.

     Because of all the family issues, Pattyn gets in trouble with boys, alcohol, and fighting. She's confused and acts out in church. She doesn't seem to care anymore about anything and won't let anyone control her. But Pattyn did have an outlet. Guns. She loved to go out far from home and shot at cans. It relieved her stress and made her feel like she was in charge. In the book it was the one thing that she had power over in her life. I think that's really important. Anyone who has no control of anything they do likes to have power. Even if it's something small.

     To punish Pattyn for all the bad she's done, Her parents want to send her away for the summer. The only person that will take her is Aunt Jeanette. She lives out in the country on a farm by herself. Pattyn go's there thinking about how isolated she will be but instead becomes as free and happy as ever before.   She learns a different side of herself. The side she always wanted to be. She also learns about her father through Aunt J. She learns about his difficult past and what he was like as a child. Pattyn connects with Aunt J in so many ways. They become close and amazing companions. Pattyn also falls in love for the first time. She learns what true love is and that she has never really bee loved in her life.

      Throughout the book we see a transformation of a girl going from confused and sad to free and mature.

Building Bridges by Andrea Davis Pinkney

     In Andrea Davis Pinkney's "Building Bridges", we follow the protagonist of our story. A 17 year old girl named Bebe, living with her feisty grandmother in Brooklyn, who has a dream of becoming an engineer but can't convince her grandmother to let her. Throughout the story Bebe shows the reader the importance of courage when aiming for success.

     Bebe shows courage and perseverance when she tells Mama Lil that she doesn't want to work at the hair salon. Mama Lil brought back a summer application from Rimely's Beauty Parlor. But Bebe turns it down even when she could make money and get a long term job. She does it because she knows she won't be happy and she isn't afraid or scared to tell Mama Lil.

     When Bebe threatens to sign the consent form she shows a lot of courage. Bebe isn't threatened by Mama Lil and knows that if she doesn't sign it she won't be able to succeed in becoming an engineer. She stands up for what she wants and wont let obstacles get in her way no matter how difficult. Mama Lil is impossible to communicate with and always comes up with an excuse. But Bebe isn't fearful and never becomes discouraged.

     Even after the multiple put downs Bebe would never let it bother her. She was told it was a job only white man could do and to give up. So instead of blowing up she walks to the Brooklyn Bridge. She calmed down by drawing and remembering what motivates her everyday to succeed. No matter how many times she was shoved aside and laughed at she would always remember how much she wanted to become an engineer. She was determined to get what she wanted.

     Bebe always stayed focused and didn't steer far from her goal. The reader is shown that it's important to have courage when your trying to succeed. We all know what it feels like to want something so bad that you push past people's opinions and just do what you want. But Bebe did it without even questioning herself and her thoughts.

Life of Pi Comparing Book or Film

     Before I found out that "Life of Pi", an amazing book by Yann Patel, was going to be turned into a movie, I had picked up the novel at a library wanting to read it. When I was finished with it, I saw previews on television of the soon to be film. I was excited to see how the book compared to the movie. So when I finally saw it I was pretty surprised at how well it sacked up compared to the great book.

    The movie captured things that were so hard to really imagine in the book. It made it easier, like most movies, to understand what the author was really thinking about. When the author described a boy, tiger, zebra, hyena, and an monkey all on a life boat with no one else. It's extremely hard to actually think what that might be like. Considering that its fiction it's not like many people can relate to that. So in that way the movie was great and a little bit helpful in terms of seeing what the author was trying to show me.

     But you no what they say, the book is always better than the movie. And that's the same in this case. Yann Patel's writing and craft wins. No matter how many special effects you have. Overall I think it's just easier to describe a boy and a tiger becoming friends than actually acting it. In this case I would rather read the book again then buy the movie when it comes out on DVD.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

     The book "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins is both confusing and entertaining at the same time. The books main character is a girl named Kristina, who is a good girl and lives with her mother and her siblings. But when she visits her dad she learns there's a completely different side to her. She struggles to find her true self and which personality she has is actually her.

     Kristina's always thinking if she should be Bree, her crazy side or Kristina, her reserved side. She likes both at different times but can't be one all around. And every once in awhile she mentions the monster. I've had to think a lot about what the "monster" could represent as a theme but mostly I think it's just that urge people have when they want to do something they know is wrong. Kristina knows that she shouldn't have gotten a tattoo but she got one anyway because she kinda wanted to just do something bad. She needed something that could interest her and was risky so getting a tattoo was just a symbol of her wanting to be a rebel and knowing it was wrong.

     I think people reading this book interpret it many different ways and I'm sure many people think that the monster she is talking about means something different. But that's why the book is good.

Sold by Patricia Mccormick

     In Patricia Mccormick's "Sold". We follow the protagonist, a thirteen year old girl from Nepal, as she travels to the city thinking she will become a maid but instead is sold into prostitution. Throughout her journey she goes through different emotions and is lied to, cheated, and cared for all at the same time. She shows the reader that no matter what your going through, a hopeful spirit is crucial.

     When the protagonist is throw into the "Happiness House" she faces things that she never expected. She spends days without food or water locked in a room while she gets beaten with belts. And is lied to and gets money taken from her. But in all of this she remains with an attitude that pushes her through it all. She dreams of her family and freedom and sometimes even death. Which to her is better that what she is dealing with. But without her positive attitude, she would have no hope and nothing to truly live for.
     To conclude, Patricia Mccormick conveys to the reader that keeping a hopeful spirit all through life is important. No matter how many times you and pushed down or lied to. A positive attitude is maybe the only thing that keeps you alive. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a quick but really captivating book that never losses your attention.