"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

          I am currently reading "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. It's about Susie know as Salmon, a girl  in the view of her, while she is resting in the place between heaven and the earth. "When I first entered heaven, I thought everyone saw what I saw."

        At first no one suspected it was Mr. Harvey because he was a quiet neighbor. However, he was mysterious. While Salmon's mom just cried her dad began to suspect. He looked all over his house, and began to follow him. Salmon's dad once followed him into a cornfield, where part of her body was and he was beaten up by a few teenagers and almost pounded to death, while Harvey watched from afar. He didn't give up on proving that he killed Salmon. He once paid a visit to Mr. Harvey and when he whispered "Susie", Mr. Harvey told him to leave.  Not to mention, as her sister grew up, she knew something was up. She was so hooked up, that she broke into his house. Found evidence that he had to do with her death.

       Even if the evidence was found, she didn't say anything. She kept it to herself. At first I thought that was very cruel of her and that she had to do with Salmon's death, and then I learned that it would disturb the peace. She didn't want to break the peace. Everyone accepted that Mr. Harvey had something to do with death, and Salmon was dead. Everyone did. Even Salmon's crush. They knew, but its just one things that you shouldn't say anything about yourself, because faith will determine where the life goes. Susie saw that from where she was, and crossed over into heaven. She had a reason, she knew what will happen to her family's life if her sister reveals that evidence. While she was in heaven, she realized that she was only one of Mr. Harvey's victims. There were dozens of them. All the victims had the same heaven as Salmon. They all got their justice years later when Mr. Harvey fell of an slippery ledge and froze to death.

The Perks of being a Wallflower

      I am currently reading " The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky . Which is a book about a boy named Charlie, that is trying to take over the suicide of his dear friend Michel. This book is based on letters he writes to his anon friend. After his suicide, he meets amazing people, Sam and Patrick. Who gives Charlie a taste of wildness, and the more interesting life of high school.

      His life is not sweet hearten and straight forward. It can go in many directions. Like a choose your own adventure. Some decisions he makes aren't that well though-out. He procrastinates throughout the whole book. He isn't sharing his life with anyone else, its just him and his letters. Many problems take over his life
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      His problems in his life include family. His sister was dating a guy that was abusing her. It's like he spills all the secrets to him, and his sister spills all her secrets to him. This chain affect has hurt him.  During the happiest times, he's thinking about the worst. He's taking life slow. Not to mention bad grades, especially in English and he described himself as a wallflower. A shy honest person. Who acts like he  has no emotions, whatsoever. But he does, everyone in the world has feelings. 

      Bill, his English teacher has not only been a teacher, but a counselor also. Bill never saw a intelligence in Charlie, until a few days ago, and gave him his first B. His abused sister has moved on, and blocked the villain. Charlie and Sam are always there for him, even if they have been friends for less than a week. All of his problems has changed, and the only thing he did was get new friends. Friends "below average". He was being himself. He felt confident in everything he said to them. They were like family. He could admit to Sam that he liked her and they could move on with their lives and start fresh. They started new everyday. He begins to meet more people. People like Mary Elizabeth, who are amazing and everyone helps Charlie get over the Wallflower experience. He gains more of the twisted version of the high school life. Where he gets invited to high school parties, people don't talk about it the next day it's just a come and go normal thing. My thinking is that he writes letters to keep a document of his life. Of how it's not normal.  Of how it's not like anyone else, it's just Charlies life, and there are only one special Charlie.

      I have learned from this book. It has taught me to live a life where I shouldn't be dead. I should have things I should control. Things like I shouldn't just follow the person next to me. So this book is an amazing book. It helps to procrastinate less. It makes you think less. Which is actually better for some people, because they are stressed. This booked taught me to think less, and wherever life takes you, it will be a beautiful place. I'm not done with the book yet, but so far it has taught me a lot, on how to keep calm. Charlie is doing a great job pushing his barrier. 

Beautiful

        I have currently read the book “Beautiful” by Amy Reed. It is about Cassie, who is a new girl that just recently moved into town, and starting her days in her new high school. No one knew Cassie’s past yet, but she fitted into a group very well.

       She thought that she was too smart. She was basically in every signal accelerated program available, and she had a perfect life in her old school. Absolutely perfect. Well, that was just until she met Alex. Who then turned her sweetness into something she’s not. She didn't belong in Alex’s group. I mean she doesn't do drugs. I don’t know what tempted her to do that. After that one day in school, she became a different person. After Alex pulled her in, it changed her. But why? Why would she do something like this? She had an amazing life before. No one in her school thinks it’s popular to do drug rather than the group itself, so what’s the point? It’s not like you escape your troubles. Why do people do drugs? Alex took over her personal space and her life. But if something like this happens to me, I would push her away. Because now at this point in the book, she has a habit that she can’t control and stop.

       I someone peers pressure you, you should immediately stop. Block the person, I mean it is a form of bullying. One person can do so much. This Alex girl changed her into something she’s not.  Now Cassie realized how much time she wasted. Alex is the remote control and she is the TV, and it will work for ever, unless it’s stopped, somehow. If people don’t take action themselves then they will be used their whole life. If Cassie doesn't make her own choices, then I’m going have to write another book about what should really happen, and about what could actually teach middle/high school students. I’m almost done with this book, and I haven’t learned anything. The book did not make me feel anything. It just made me think about how much I could make it better. How much more there could be toward the story rather than peer pressure and a kid doing drugs.

       “I’m something I’m not” – Kurt Cobain. I thought this quote really described who Cassie has become. I mean Cassie hangs out with people she would never get near or even say hi too. What compelled her to do that? I might even put the book down right now, because I’m scared to see what happens next.  If she doesn't change her life, I’m going to have to do something.

        Now at this point in the book, a new character has come in out of nowhere. Her name is Sarah, and claims to be Alex’s sister and her huge drug addict. She may be nicer than Alex and an actual friend, but no real friend would get the friends in the bad path. Now it’s like Cassie is acting like Alex to Sarah. This is not what she is.

      When will everyone is this book realize that that they are getting used. I mean Alex is using Cassie, and Cassie is using Sarah. Alex is using Cassie for drugs. When will this end? It's like a current never ending battle.