If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The book If I Stay, by Gayle Forman is really amazingly written because it is such a deep and interesting book with such a great structure.  The author of this book does a really good job of keeping the plot intriguing, and giving a clear difference and perfect balance of past and present detail.  The book switches from Mia's life in a coma, observing what is happening in the real world, to memories of the people around her which she cares so much about, but can't communicate with currently.

I think that it is such a good job that Forman is doing because it isn't the least bit confusing of whether or not you are reading present day events, or one of Mia's memories.  The book also cleans itself up well, and really clarifies what is happening currently in Mia's mind with her flashbacks.  Because the book started pretty much with the car crash, it helps a lot to refer back to moments with each of the characters, because we, as readers, never originally got a basis of Mia's relationships, so it helps a whole lot to flip the format between memory and present interactions.  The author does a beautiful job with maintaining balance and a well written plot, and this book is really keeping my attention through every detail.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I just started reading the book If I Stay by Gayle Forman this weekend, and so far it's really simple and character introductions.  The book hasn't developed at all up to this point, but the main character is extremely relatable through her interests and family conflicts and relations, even though she is seventeen years old.  Being that I just finished the first chapter, there was only one substantial excerpt that I felt had some meaning beyond introduction purposes.  It might just be a short setting opening, but when I read through it for the second time, it showed importance, and poetic development of the future plot.  The first page reads, "Everyone thinks it was because of the snow. And in a way, I suppose that’s true.  I wake up this morning to a thin blanket of white covering our front lawn. It isn’t even an inch, but in this part of Oregon a slight dusting brings everything to a standstill as the one snowplow in the county gets busy clearing the roads. It is wet water that drops from the sky—and drops and drops and drops—not the frozen kind."

I'm not sure what the "it" is in the first sentence of this paragraph, but I think her description of the snow has some foreshadowing insight within it.  I think that describing the snow as "thin" and saying "it isn't even an inch" shows small change.  I think that it is showing the lesson that even the smallest of actions can make a difference, and that even if you are just one person, you can change a lot in the world.  This also goes into the next line, "a slight dusting brings everything to a standstill."  I think this is showing the change that each action can make.  Further on in the story, I believe that Mia, the main character, will have a series of life changing/world changing actions, that may be small, yet still have a large outcome.  The repetition at the end of the paragraph sort of helps this description flow into the next idea of the book, but also shows, within the lesson that I got from this opening, how change isn't sold, or all there at first, but it slowly drips its way into the world to make a difference, even if the people around you (the snowplow) try and wipe away your change. 

This section reminds me of two quotes:

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream."

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The main character, Tris Prior, from the book Divergent, by Veronica Roth, is a character that I can relate myself to, and strive everyday to become more like her. Tris starts out weak, and works her way up to being very strong; and she has the courage to make change, as well as lead that change; but along with both of those fantastic traits, she still has the heart to care about how her decisions affect her family, friends, and all those around her in her life.  Those aspects of her personality are ones that I admire and wish to adapt and maintain throughout my life.

Tris put her life at risk multiple times to protect those in her community, she went into war knowing that she was the most wanted person from the government.  Also, because she switched factions, she knew nothing about the process of being a dauntless, but took her previous knowledge to formulate something of herself.  Tris was not the best, but always strived for better, and that is very admirable.  When you are trying to be brave and make change, it can be very easy to forget about your loved ones, but throughout the entire time she was becoming a dauntless, she never lost site of her heart of an abnegation girl.  Tris balanced her life well and is an extremely amazing role model.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

I am currently reading the book Scat by Carl Hiaasen.  The chapter I most recently finished displayed the beginning of a lesson that having good role models around you can help build your character in a more positive way.

This chapter showed a kid, who majorly disrespected his teacher, and continuously talked back.  The argument ended between student and teacher with this kid eating the teacher pencil that she was pointing at him.  When the book described the kid from the perspective of the main character, Nick, it put the idea in my head that he was a bully, and that all of the teachers except for this one were afraid of her.  I believe that all bullies are formed from prior bullying in their own life, or an insecurity about themselves,  but in this case, "Smoke"'s attitude came from an unstable home environment.

The boys dad didn't care where he was all the time, and didn't care about his grades, and didn't maintain a clean home.  According to the dad, he had recently bee through  divorce, and had no respect whatsoever of his previous wife, or her mother, who is funding "Smoke"'s private school education.  Because of his fathers relaxed and non-caring attitude, I think that "Smoke" has never had a fulfilling example of how to behave and care about your life.   I also think that there is lots of anger building up inside ""'s head and that he will later be developed into a character in which the reader is supposed to care for, because of some deep backstory,  or heroic action.

--Ali

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

This week while reading Sixteenth Summer, I think that the author was trying to show readers that no matter what may happen in your life, and what may change, you always need your friends there to back you up.

I am almost finished with this book and the main character, and her two best friends, have each been going through some troubles of their own.  While Sam and Caroline are having problems in their relationship, and Anna is struggling with post-breakup depression, they find that they still need each other this summer, even if they've been distracted with their relationships.  Anna spent the whole summer with Will, and when she breaks up with him because she thinks its going to hurt too bad when he has to leave, she needs her best friend to back her up and be her support system.  Even though their lives changed that summer and they didn't hang out with each other so much, only a true best friend can take off the sadness of a breakup.  The trust Anna and Caroline have for one another shows in this chapter as they are able to talk through everything and build their friendship back, while thinking about the other person first.

In the chapter before this one, Caroline and Sam, who have been best friends forever are having dating problems.  When things begin getting boring and formal, and Caroline liked the old Sam, Anna had to help her.  She took time out of her own summer to show that their friendship remained even if she spent a lot of time with Will.  Because Anna spent long walks on the beach with Caroline just talking through her problems.  Because Anna is best friends with both her and Sam, she also talked to Sam. In the conversation with Sam, they both fixed each others issues of relaxing and going for it.  True friendships wait and come out in the best moments.  These characters show that throughout the book with every action they take to improve their friends lives.

--Ali

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

The book Sixteenth Summer is a normal love story, but because I have just started reading it, the main character has just met the boy.  In the beginning of the book, the author sets up a scenario of jealousy.  Anna has always had two best friends, but this summer, they start going out, and Anna is in a sort of third-wheel position.  I think that the author is trying to put Anna in this position so that the reader can realize what it feels like to be left out of everything, and that friendships are important.

When every summer for 15 years, Anna, Caroline, and Sam, and suddenly their relationship is changing, Anna gets jealous.  Having a good friendship is always important, and it can really hurt when you suddenly feel like you are loosing the two people you have always been closest with. Friends are the people who bring you up when you're sad, and support everything you do, but also make life more fun.  Especially in the summer, you need your friends to laugh with and just hang around. I think this will more be a lesson for Anna's best friends, however, when they realize what they are doing to her.

 I think that this is setting up the main idea and lesson for Anna as well, that change can be good.  Her two best friends have grown closer, leaving her to herself, but I think that this new growing-apart will show Anna that sometimes, change is needed.  Because she has held onto those 15 summers her whole life, this summer will be good and refreshing.  She can make a new friend, Will, and create new memories and experiences.  Anna needs to learn that she can fend for herself and make her summer great, even if she is loosing two very special people in her life.

--Ali

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This week, while I was reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the main character, Pi began to take action.

I think that the meaning of these last few chapters has been to stand up for yourself and have drive to make change, even if it's just personal change.  This sudden drive in Pi is the near-death situation he had gradually settled into.  As the story said, as soon as there is no hope for you, you begin to do audacious things that may be life threatening, because you're going to die anyway, so why not take the chance?

Pi needed food and water, but had been confined to a corner of the life boat the entire time, because of the tiger that had taken control of the whole space.  Pi suddenly just stood up and began searching for food on the tigers claimed territory, which just might have been the risk that saved his life.  Once he found the boats survival supplies, he created shelter that protected him from the tiger, and hydrated and fed himself.  This new energy that he got from his bravery and drive to make change in himself brought a new hope to the story, and Pi now has enough food and water to make it, as long as he learns to deal with the tiger and show his alpha male quality.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I have finally reached the beginning of Pi's adventure, and am suddenly drawn into the story.  I have just picked back up were I left off and have yet to figure out the main idea of the whole story, but am picking up on character detail still, and think that this part is crucial to the rest of the story.

Pi is taking this whole situation in many different directions, showing his childishness and his grownup view.  Pi, like he should be, is extremely terrified by being stranded on this lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, with a hyena, a zebra, and an orangutang.  His actions mainly reflect this, because he has kept to himself and is inching his way to the corner of the boat to avoid becoming a meal.   This is what I would be doing as well, but probably in a more frantic fashion. His calmness on the occurring events is surprising, especially based on his childhood.  When his father has raised him to be deadly afraid of the zoo animals, it intrigues me that he is so visibly calm.  It also amazes me that, while he is in the presence of a hyena that is killing what it needs to survive, he can laugh at a seasick orangutang.  I would personally most likely find that hilarious as well, but would be in no position to find myself laughing, and observing Pi's character, I find it odd that he would laugh at that at all.  That makes me wonder what else he might do to cope with his situation.

Another thing that I am noticing about Pi is that he is constantly hoping. Hoping that he can live one more day, hoping that he will soon see a rescue boat out along the horizon, hoping that his family will reunite with him on the other side of this journey.  Through all the doubts and worries, Pi wants there to be a positive outcome so badly, that his realty is changing into the idea that Nothing can go wrong, and everything will fit together today.

Pi is changing his life every second now, and his adultness and childishness is what brings him along daily.

"Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville

Bruce Coville's short story, "Am I Blue?" teaches his readers that courage can really change your life, and if you loose your courage, you can get sucked into society.  The protagonist, Vince, the antagonist, and other supporting characters, such as Butch and the congressman, show this through their lives.

Butch Carrigan didn't have the courage to stand up for himself and share his real life with the world.  "'You little fruit,' he snarled.  'I'll teach you to look at me!' A moment or two later he had taught me my lesson.  I was still lying facedown in the puddle into which Butch had slammed me as the culminating exercise of my learning experience..." (pg. 3) This excerpt from the story shows that Bruce was one of the people in society that took it upon themselves to harm others for their personality.  This shows already that he has taken form to the outside environment, but it continues later in the story when the reader learns that Butch is in fact gay himself.  Knowing that it isn't just Butch being a bully, but he actually is just trying to take his feelings out on others shows that he truly is cowardice and in no form courageous.  Because Butch doesn't have courage to stand up for himself and show the world who he actually is, he has to live his life pretending, and can never truly be free in his own personality.

Another character that shows the same type of cowardice is a congressman on the news.  He had made some remarks in an interview about "the great crime of homosexuality" and "the gay threat to American youth." (pg. 14) When everyone who was gay turned blue toward the end of the book, however, he himself was blue.  That is another  example of hiding behind cruelty to save your own image.  When he couldn't open up, he hurt others, just like Butch had, but this time with words rather than physically.  He repressed who he was, and gave in to the standards of America.

The main character and protagonist, Vince, started out uncertain, but showed his courage by the end of the story.  He himself had become aware of the multitudes of gay people in our lives from his fairy godfather.  "I opened my eyes and gasped.  About a third of the people in the cafe---including the guy Melvin had winked at---were blue." (pg. 11-12) This section of the story is when Vince himself had "gaydar."  Once Vince is able to witness this though, he decides to take a stand for human kind as a whole. From his fairy godfather, he uses one of his three wishes and wishes for, "gay fantasy number three, coast to coast." (pg. 14) Because Vince made people notice how many people were actually gay and just covered their inside, it was okay for many people to come out.  Vince showed his courage by introducing a time of openness in the story.

Vince's courage brought him to a better place, where he could finally accept who he is, or who he might be.  The short story ends with, ... maybe when I meet the girl of my dreams.  Or my Prince Charming.  Whichever." (pg. 16) I think that quote is an excellent way to end the story, showing that everything working throughout his life came to a conclusion of honesty.  Vince had courage, and that changed his life.  It's important to stand up for yourself and make change, so that you can show your feelings, and never be ashamed.

"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury

Through the story "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh," the author, Ray Bradbury is trying to show his readers what impact strong role models can make on your life, and how they can completely turn everything around.  This is shown through the character change of the drummer boy, Joby.

In the beginning of the story, Joby is insecure, alone, and afraid.  The story says, "But without these last, the boy felt his family move yet further off in the dark, as if one of those great prairie-burning trains had chanted them away, never to return..."  This shows how incredibly alone Joby feels when he mentions his family, but adding the part about moving further into the dark really shows the desperateness of his need to go home or just to be comforted by the presence of family.  That also displays the idea that danger is lurking in this war, and there is always the darkness to hide from.  The same sentence continues, "... Leaving him with this drum which was worse than a toy in the game to be played tomorrow or someday much too soon."  The comparison of the war to a game goes further into the fact that no one is ready for this war, and that everyone is being used for the outcome to win or lose.  Having it compared to a game, however, strips away the harshness and thought of death.  This increases the presence of fear and insecurity of Joby in this situation.  It also mentions how bad this is for him to have only a drum, and no other form of a weapon or protection.  No shield or arms means Joby is almost meant to die. He recognized this fact and is just waiting for the moment to come where his life as well is stripped of him, along with his family, home and safety.  He isn't thinking like the rest of the soldiers, he is embracing the fact of death in a cautioned way, so that he doesn't want to die, but is anticipating that is probably will happen, and "much too soon."

In the middle of the book, Joby meets the General in the peach orchard and is enlightened to a new perspective on the war.  This section introduces a father-figure to the boy's life and begins to lead him in the right direction.  Joby's character ending is in confidence and leadership.  One thing that the general says to Joby is, "You are the heart of the army.  Think about that.  You are the heart of the army."  This statement got Joby thinking and understanding that how he beat the drum set the pace for the war, and started the fire underneath the soldiers' feet, just as the words of the general had done for him.  The general also said, "Do you know now you're  general of the army when the general's left behind?" The total character change from his role model is displayed when Joby announces in response,  "Yes, sir."

To close off the narrative, the story states, "Then, at last, very slowly and firmly he turned the drum so it faced up toward the sky."   I think that the drum symbolized Joby throughout the story, from when at first he calls it a worthless toy, to when he opens it up towards the sky.  Joby went from concealed to secure, all because of his role model, the General.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi by Yann Martel so far is a very intriguing novel, although I am still in the very beginning. Although Pi has not yet embarked on his journey, there have been two scenes that stuck out to me that began to lay down the building of his character, Pi.

The first scene that showed Pi's character was from his childhood when his father wanted to teach him and his brother a lesson.  The boys lived at the zoo with their parents and their dad was trying to scare them out of touching the animals.  The first thing he did was he ordered for the tiger not to be fed for a few days.  Because the tiger was hungry the dad showed his children how it would attack a deer when it was that desperate for food.  I think that the father was indeed just trying to help his children from not getting hurt by the animals in the future, but it was a bit too harsh for the boys at such a young age in my opinion.  The author described the deer's bound feet and the blood spraying everywhere.  I think that because he demonstrated this danger with an animal in such a desperate position, it made it harder for the children to bear.  But on top of that, I believe this experience helped Pi to grow as a person.  I think this scene is intended to display how tough and grown up Pi would need to act at such a young age, and show that these characteristics came from a life full of sadness and challenges.

Another scene that shows Pi needing to grow up quickly and deal with hardships in life was when he was at school.  This scene described his fellow classmates and teachers calling him "Pissing" rather than his actual name, "Piscine."  It wasn't the making fun of that caught my attention, but rather the response Piscine had when he transferred schools.  During the first weeks of school, when your teachers are still trying to learn your names, you have the change to tell them what you would rather be called.  Piscine made a scene out of changing his name to Pi in an extremely adult-like way.  Pi didn't complain, he just kept to himself until he had an opportunity to make change himself.  Pi, a child going into his first year of Middle School, acted as if he was a grown man himself.  I think that those two scenes for sure show the build-up of his character, which will eventually lead into his expedition.

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Over the summer, I competed the book called The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.  The entire story really portrayed the idea that friendship is such an important aspect to life.  The character change was extreme throughout the book, which didn't just enhance the story and intrigue the reader, it also laid out the actual theme for the story.

The book is written from two different perspectives, one from a girl named Emma, and the other from a boy named Josh.  These two characters had an interesting relationship that began as awkward and later developed into anything but awkward.  They had been best friends since they were little, but when the book begins, they aren't even speaking to each other.  The plot is based on the two kids discovering Facebook from the past, and using it to manipulate their futures.

As they tried to change their futures, they pulled away from what was starting to rebuild their friendship.  When they pulled away, they realized how hard things began to get without a support system or anyone to talk to.  I think that sometimes the best things come from getting space for a while, and you notice who your really supposed to be, and how your friend actually fits into your life.  Even in this instance ignoring one another showed them a new perspective as to where they needed to be at the moment, but there's always a need for a friend.

With personal knowledge on pulling away from someone, I realized that what I really needed was to be closer to them, because they had my back through conflict, and weren't the ones inflicting it.  I think that the characters never would end up where they do in the end of the book if they never had that fight, and they also wouldn't have realized the second major theme to the book.

I think that the other lesson learned from this story is that living in the moment is what forms your future, and you shouldn't try and change those moments to have the perfect future.  A lot of the time great things can come out of your mistakes, but if you focus on the present, in my opinion, that wil;l lead you to a better place in your life than your mistakes will.

The Future of Us was written extremely well and had me hurting for the characters.  I think it served a great purpose, with surprising detail, all while keeping me interested.

                             

                                  ~~Ali