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