"Precious" by Sapphire

         I am currently reading the book "Precious" by Sapphire. It is about a girl named Precious that gets raped by her father and ends up with two kids. Her life feels like its just ending and doesn't know what to do. As she gets kicked out for bad behavior and getting pregnant at school, her teacher gives her the urge for a alternative. Which does help her recover and find her way of life with the help of the alternative school. She knows how to do things and how to control herself.

      One thing I can learn from this book is all you need is a little bit love in the world and everything will be ok. You just need someone to tell you that you can. Precious met Ms. Rain who was an alternative teacher at the alternative school and she helped Precious gain the confidence she needs in order to start a family on her own. At first Precious only lived with her mother just because her mother had all control over her. She used Precious and her first child up for welfare money. Her mother made her fat, just made her eat, I don't if that made her mother feel any thinner. But Precious certainly had a lot of doubt about things that were going on.She didn't want to go in the direction of her mother, she just needed a home and had to. Every time something saw Precious, the same thing went inside their head, a teen pregnancy, it was all her fault. However it's isn't, it's not. She was first raped by her father at 8, and her first child at 12. Sometimes I wonder why she didn't report it. Her mom told her that she stole her husband, but he stole her childhood. Something you can't get back.

         Precious just had her second baby, named it Abdul. She can't get her first child back, Mango. Her second child gave her something that she never had, which is dignity. She had the power to go to Ms. Rain and ask her help. She knew her life couldn't go on like this, she needed something better. Something more powerful and told her that she can do whatever her heart desires. Her past became prologue. She started fresh, currently  she lives in a housing. But when her mother came to take her back, she said "No" which ended the payment for her mother and the welfare. If you can imagine, her mother is pushing her back, while Ms. Rain is encouraging her to do more, to read and write. She even won awards with her writing. Precious isn't who she looks like, she is far more than that, she has a life, a life that has a purpose and goal.

        In conclusion, anyone in life can complete whatever they aim for. Maybe it's just that you need a mentor or something to tell you that you can complete your goals, you don;t need to live in the trouble life. You don't deserve to live in the troubled life, because life has a purpose, and no one deserves to feel like they don't belong. Because they always will. Not to mention, everyone can make the bad good, just like Precious, she made the unearthly world with her rapist dad into something she can stride for, she can live the way she wants to. " Everyone is a gift of the universe"- Ken S. Keys

NON-FICTION BLOG POST

         My nonfiction topic is on bullying. You may think that you've never been bullied and it might not matter that much it matters to someone else that has been bullied. My article was found on the Huffington Post called "Amanda Todd: Bullied Canadian Teen Commits Suicide After Prolonged Battle Online And In School"  and it was about Amanda Todd. A Canadian did one thing that tempted her to kill herself. She went on webcam to one of those websites where you meet strangers. Once she became nude and the person who saw those pictures spammed her all over with those disturbing pictures. Soon they were everywhere, there was a Facebook page to it, the guy mailed her those pictures, and they were all over the internet. Days before her suicide, she posted a video on youtube explaining her bullies though a series of flashcards. She said "Cried like every night, lost all my friends and respect people had for me.... again..... then nobody liked me".

     The author wants us to think that things can get really serious. I mean when she was bullied, no one did anything and it didn't last for a day, it lasted months and people didn't do anything. But now, when she's dead, people pay tribute to her, they actually pay attention. The author wants us to feel like that we should take action when its actually happening, not when it ends. It also wants to inform us that this all happening and that its all real. You should be careful about what happens and about what you say, because things can get really serious. Don't every take an insult as a joke, because it can hurt people.

     My thinking about the issue has changed a lot. Due to the fact that it made me think more in dept and how profound it is. It can get so serious. At first i thought it wouldn't apply to me, and it doesn't but it can, it can apply to my closest friends and people I can lose for doing one thing. I think the issue is very clear that it is very bad, but still not much action is happening when its done, only when it has reached it's limited and there's nothing much you can't do. But sometimes I really do wonder why it happens and why do people do it?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

        The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is about Charlie, a boy that goes thou an odd emotion stage in high school while discovering his true self. Wallflower means a person who feels awkward or shy at times. Charlie feels very indifferent around everywhere especially in school. He is stuck inside a tomb that he is trapped in and can’t be  just  who he really is, he’s something that was just something that was created of him by his surroundings, or his friends suicide and due to the fact that his friends stopped talking to him after high school. Not to mention that his Aunt Helen died, this was a very important family member. The book is written in an interesting perspective where he writes letters to his anonymous friend.

        In the first semester of high school, he becomes very good friends with an interesting group of seniors. Patrick and Sam were two of the most potent people that he cherished. He had feelings for Sam, not as a friend but in a relationship way. He loved Sam. It seemed like he couldn’t hide it any longer and once he told Sam that he loved her. But after a while, Sam started to date another guy, Craig. While Charlie dated another girl, Mary Elizabeth for a short period of time. I think he did that because of jealousy, he tried to avoid his problems. I think that held him back. He also mentioned the way that Sam’s boyfriend treats her. Charlie thinks that he could treat her way better. He also learned from Patrick that a lot that Sam’s boyfriend cheated on a lot of girls. In the Christmas party, when Charlie was asked to kiss the prettiest girl, he kissed Sam because he had feelings for her, instead of Mary Elizabeth and everyone be-friended Charlie. HE was back to a wallflower stage. Not to mention that Sam’s brother, Patrick is gay and his secretly dating the quarterback, Brad. Even if Patrick is openly gay, Brad is not.   Which results later on, when Brad’s dad found out and beat Brad up in front of the Patrick. While the football’s team beats Patrick up during lunch, Brad doesn’t pitch in, while Charlie does. That was when Charlie broke out of this tomb that is he in, he’s no longer stuck. Charlie let out his feelings and showed it very well while he became friends with the clique again. His sister also had a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. He told his personal mentor, Bill who is his English teacher told his parents and this all stopped. Charlie has these personal talks with his sister which makes him feel like he has a family that loves him. As his relationship with Mary Elizabeth fades, it gains higher in Sam’s. They become really close. Sam reminded him of Aunt Helen, that’s what got him attracted to Sam.  While spending one night at Sam’s he has a mental breakdown that gets him to the hospital. When he gets out of the hospital, he realizes that he moves on with life and he starts from the beginning as a wallflower, or maybe more. The complexity that all these relationships are going and that he tries to push out of this tomb is hard for him. His view of things are incredible and the way that he tries to be something he not.  It’s all for acceptance I guess. He has true friends that look after him.

        However, Justice is served in a way. It’s served because he gets to be who he is. Even if he is a wallflower, justice is served when he goes to help Patrick when he’s getting beaten up he helps out and he breaks out of this tomb. But when he acts like a wallflower again, it brings him back to stage one. His clique is just like his family, Patrick is just like Michel, his friend that committed suicide and Sam is just like Aunt Helen that he had. They both made family and within each other and all the relationships are laid to rest. His sister had her boyfriend stop hitting her, while he had everything worked out and when he was struggling to find out who he really is, but he is really a wallflower. And the is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

"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
.
      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.

Love and Death ( for a second time) by Max Wallace and Ian Halperin

         I'm currently reading the book " Love and Death" by Max Wallace and Ian Halperin. This is about the tales and history of the death of a famous signer during the 90's of the band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain. Cobain had a very stressful and hurtful childhood getting along with his parents and actually having a childhood. But his signing helped him reach the charts and find his future wife. His life with his wife wasn't easy either. Courtney Love bothered him till the end of his life, even after their daughter Frances was born. He was said by officials that he committed suicide, leaving his suicidal note behind with a gun.
       I'm very skeptical and think its a murder, but it can also be a suicide. Cobain's life itself is pretty sad. You can find the way of his life in the lyrics. You have to read in between the lyrics. Also, " the suicidal note" says in the bottom :

"Please keep going Courtney, for Frances.

For her life, which will be so much happier without me.

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!"

I feel these words were the strongest words he has ever said in his lifetime. Cobain is looking out for his daughter, not his wife. His daughter is gave him a another part of his life that made him happy. "For HER life, which will be so much happier without me". Cobain is putting his daughter's life before him. That proves that his child changed his life. He even went to a drug rehab center to recover after his child was born. Not to mention, he tried to keep things good with Courtney. Frances gave him this reborn spirit that boosted up his day.
         What led him push his limits? Was it the facts that he couldn't do drugs because of his daughter that he had to come past it one day or another? Maybe he couldn't recover quite well. He got tried of not doing drugs for such a long time that exceeded his limits to the end.  Or it could be the facts that his life wasn't that happy and though that Frances life would be better without him. Maybe he didn't want her to find out about his earlier life and didn't want her to have a childhood where the parents fight. Cobain was a smart guy, he knew what would happen next. It's like he was his own future teller. 
        "Not a proof ,of suicide." Well if its not a proof of suicide, and its not a of murder, what is it? The book makes its thoughts goes around and around. His Grandfather is sure that it was a murder. While Love thinks its a suicide. 
       I mean it could be a considered a murder because the door to his mansion was unlocked. The murderer could have easily gotten in and out the house. I think if they could have found just one more piece of evidence, they could figure it out. I mean the death of 1989, the ( NCIS) convinced the parents of Marine Digman that he committed suicide. However the gunshot was found in the left side of his head instead of the right, since he was a righty. Until then, it was proved as a murder. So if just one piece was found, I'm pretty sure things would be more clear. 
        All and all, I think that if researchers found a bit more evidence, then things would clear up. Only if someone knew what was happening that his direct moment. One small thing that is right in front of the faces of people is sticking out, but people just doesn't realize it. Even one small thing like he was lefty or righty could help solve the case. They had to just look deeper, further. I still don't think its a suicide. "Who killed Kurt Cobain". 

Love and Death By Max Wallace and Ian Halperin

        I’m currently reading the book Love and Death by Max Wallace and Ian Halperin. This book is a non-fiction book on the so called suicide of Kurt Cobain, a popular musician in the early 1990’s. Cobain was the lead singer of the band Nirvana. His band mates were Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl 

       April 5^th, 1994 Cobain committed suicide in house in Seattle. He was found dead on April 8^th, 1994. Before the death, he attempted suicide, have been on a high dose of drugs, and had alcohol problems. His wife, Courtney Love fell in love together at a concert. Both of them had many similarities, and bonded very well. Both of them had troubled childhoods, not to mention family and mothers who did not take care to them. “Rather be dead than cool”, said Cobain. Sometimes, when his mother kicked him out of the house, he lived in his friends place, and his music started there. But then how long can he actually live at friends place? So he sometimes spent his night under a bridge over the Wishkah River. His music most of time was influenced by his life. Cobain influenced gunge music in many well know bands today.

      Cobain’s wife, Love seems like she negatively influenced Kurt.  I mean according to her last husband “I would have ended up just like Kurt, with a gun down my throat”.  Both Love and Cobain came from families where divorce was a huge factor. It affected them both. It hit them hard like rock. Maybe divorce was coming toward their way.  But then their child, Frances Bean Cobain was born on August 18^th, 1992. Over time, after Frances was born, their relationship stronger than ever. Courtney wanted her life to also go in the grunge-punk rock stage after the baby.

      It wasn't long before Courtney tried to convince Kurt to start a new band without one of his members. But is Nirvana really without the real 3? Lynn Hirschberg was a journalist that recorded that Courtney took drugs when she was pregnant. Other writers like Victoria Clarke also found out this fact. Courtney threatened Clarke by leaving messages. Not to mention Kurt also did that. Because that fact would hurt Kurt so much in this career.  Even today, she created a song called “Bring Me the Head of Lynn Hirschberg”.  

        The book puts Courtney in a position of a lady that was really rude, unsupported, and mean about her husband. But according to the people and family interviewed, they also had similar thoughts about Courtney.  Cobain’s grandfather, Leland Cobain; quoted “Courtney was going out to a club or bar or something and she wanted Kurt to come with her, but he just wanted to stay home and play with the baby.” Cobain’s mother, Wendy; said He's probably going to end up dead and in the stupid club." "I said if he ever lived to be 30, I'd be surprised.” However, as his fame continued, his mother supported him and even took pride in his work. The first time he attempted suicide, it was all over the news. As Love and Cobain were in the ambulance, she had perfect makeup on for the newscast. “ I wish I never married him” she said.

       Kurt lived to be 27. He made American History. His music even beat The Beatles. Most people believe that this was a suicide. While others are skeptical and still believes it’s a killing. But I don't believe it's a suicide and still thinking “Who killed Kurt Cobain?”

“Alice on Her Way” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

           I am currently reading the book “Alice on Her Way” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. This book is about a girl named Alice that has a very stressful life and don’t know where it’s going. Her dad has been recently re-married; she broke up with her boyfriend, failed the driver- licensed test, and doesn't really know where her life is going. The book is in her point of view, which makes it very interesting and makes you think more.

       Alice is a highschooler, which has hardships she has to face.  But she doesn't take them to an ease. Instead, she makes a choppy road where nothing is paid attention to and goes where faith makes her go. It’s like she wants to achieve it, but she can’t because she doesn't try. However, I can relate to her. I mean sometimes, when I feel lazy or let-down, I just let things fade away; let it go where it can go. I don’t try. In some cases, I see Alice in a good way and others in negative way. I mean the way she lets go of everything. It makes me want to scream into the book “START TRYING!!!” The character’s relationship had changed all the way. I mean it started with wanted a boyfriend, she even said “Any boyfriend will do”.  In the beginning of her relationship with Sam, she likes him a lot. He sounded like the nicest person you’ll ever meet.  But then she gets tired of him hanging around her all the time. I mean everywhere she goes, he’s there.  She does some pretty bad things to try to break their relationship. However, he tries so hard to keep it, while she doesn't. But in the end, Alice breaks to him that they are no longer in a relationship. 

        One main conflict of the story is “faith”. I mean Alice expects everything should be according to faith. She doesn't try to change anything. Never. It’s like it will magically come to her one day. I wish she could put in a bit of effort. I mean at least try. If you think you can’t make it, you should try at least. Never take any type of work small. Because work is work. I thought the ending was a very broad and should have ended a better way.  SPOILER ALERT  I mean the ending was with Alice taking about her future with her friends. The character went through some change, but not much. It was very little. If you think about it, the story has barely much meaning. It was just about a girl that triggered though her high school life.

         “I hope so”.  Is quote that summed up the whole story. I mean all Alice does is hope. There is no trying. This quote symbolized how much laziness there is in the world. It tells you that it might happen. It might not. Your hopes and dreams can be crushed in one second, but can be saved the next. All and all, I think the character should have tried instead of hoping. Because when you hope, it might not get accomplished. So people should have stop hoping and start trying. 

"Am I Blue?"

        I've recently read an excerpt from the story “Am I Blue” by Bruce Coville. This was story about a boy named Vince that is going to a moment of doubt phase about the question “Is he gay or not?” It started with him being bullied by Butch Carrigan in the beginning of the story and then he meets his fairy god father. He helps him feel better. Like he should not be ashamed of whom he is. 

         One thing that I've noticed in this story is that a bit of truth can gain you happiness. For example, if everyone would be the same and looked the same and did everything the same and had no differences among each other’s, we would look at each other the same and no one would hate. But that wouldn't make us who we are. All I can say is that the world would be a different place. 

        His fairy god father, Melvin made him see the world like never before. I mean he is like a helper; or maybe something more. He asks his god father about himself. I mean how much does he know about himself? As we grow and develop, do we really know much about each other or ourselves? Do we know our bodies that well? His god father tells him you may be gay or you may not be. “Am I blue?” translates to “Am I gay?” in this story.

         However, the god father made Vince see people in the shades of blue. It was like being re-born again.  The darker the shades were, that were the people that were gay. The people that were in lighter shades, we having a moment of doubt like Vince. However, he discovered many things about the people that seem like who they are not. But was he blue?

         “The answer is, slightly.”  So he is confused about it. Since he got bullied, he was having a moment of doubt. At that moment, he felt like he should change who he is just to fit in. But you shouldn't  you never should. That thing that you hate about yourself makes you who you are. That’s what makes you, you. You are who you are.  Don’t pretend to fit into something you’re not. You’re the one, the only one of your kind. 

         Vince saw the world in a difference view. I mean when he had that blue vision, he saw a political congressman that was interviewed and opposed gays. “The great crime of homosexuality" and” the gay threat to American youth" the congressman said. But however, Vince saw him as blue. I mean that's just not fair. I mean if you like punk music, why would you hate on someone that likes punk music. Why hate on anything or anyone? I mean the idea of hate is just not nice. I mean believe it or not, we are all things that live on the planet. And how will hate help us in this moment. How will hate get us anywhere? Then Butch Carrigan bullied him in the beginning and he was also blue. That's something in this world that matters because I mean you are going to bully your own kind. I mean it's not right. Bullying is a form of hate and hate is never right.

        Hate in the world is not right and should never exist. Because you’re really bulling you self, if you bully others like you. In the story, if blue day lasted, and everyone saw each other in the shades of blue, would there be nothing to hide, would people really be different? Would people still hate on each other? People would see each other in a different way, people who seem happy may seem sad. You will never know the true side of anyone even if you think you know, you may not. In the end, Vince still doesn’t know if he’s really blue or not. Maybe he might meet his prince charming or his Cinderella. But he still doesn’t know. Maybe this experience helped him decide.

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

            Currently, in ELA I've been reading a short story called “The Drummer Of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury. This very heartwarming story that takes place during the Civil War, in one of the bloodiest battles; the battle of Shiloh. The story focused mainly on the bittersweet drummer boy of the war.  Joby, the drummer boy has mixed feelings about the war. He is scared and worried. But then when the general approaches him and talks to him, he feels better.

          One main thing that intruded me was how much poetic forms Bradbury uses. I mean Joby says how the fathers smelled like "tobacco, brass, boot polish, salt, sweat and leather". He also says how the general smelled like that. So maybe the general was like a father to him. Maybe his father smelled like that. He felt his father’s presence near him. Like the general made him feel a comfort like none ever did. He doesn't talk that much about his family. But what I can infer is that he ran away. The general probability made him feel a comfort that he never had before. It was something new for him. Also in the beginning of the story Bradbury says how a peach blossom fell on Joby. That could be like a starter. Perhaps a beginning of a something new. But new doesn’t have to mean good all the time. I mean it could imply how much one little thing means so much. Also, the story ends with the peach blossom falling on him. So that could wrap up a story. It could be like a mentor.

        Then the turning point; where the general talks to Joby and makes him feel more confident and braver about war. Joby was really upset, shy and mad about war, but then while Joby was crying, the general approached him and gave him a warm blanket around his feelings. He told Joby “You are the heart of the army” which meant how much the army is with Joby. It wouldn’t be much without him. Even if he has no shield, and wouldn’t fight. He is part of the army.

       All and all, Ray Bradbury uses many poetic forms that make you think and Joby is part of the army no matter what. One ways that this text can relate to real life is how people is part of  something no matter how slow or small their part can play. 

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Over the summer, I've read the book, Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway. This book is about a girl named Audrey that breaks up with her boyfriend Evan. But she made a bad choice doing that. Because Evan wrote a song about their break up. The song is a world-wide hit. And well, she becomes a embarrassed harassed teenager that is depressed. One silly song made her life horrible. Audrey was this Gothic person, that always dreamed of being a rock star. But she was more than a star, she was a huge laughingstock. Everyone noticed her, even people that she'd never met. One thing that really sticks out of the book is that Audrey's parents are very supportive of her. No matter what they are happy about her decision. For example, they don't mind that Audrey is getting exposed to the public. Once she spoke to a reporter and went into personal details about her relationship with her and Evan. The reporter exposed all the details to the public and her parents were ok with that, they didn't give her a lecture about how you shouldn't do that. They said a message that "If the public wants to know, ok, let them know." I felt like this is a very big theme, which is don't let things get in your way, I mean how will it help others knowing about your personal life? Another thing that really sticks out, is that Audrey still has a normal life. Which is very surprising because she doesn't try to hide from paparazzi or not go outside. She pretends that people aren't staring at her or saying things behind her back. I think that is very strong. She doesn't take advance that she's popular. She didn't stop hanging out with her best friend, Victoria just because she's famous. Even thou, Victoria; her best friend is enjoying the popularity and taking advantage of the things.