A gripping story, the moment you open “The Book Thief,” by Markus Zusak, is a story that takes place during the Holocaust and is narrated by Death.  It is based on a nine year old girl named Liesel Meminger whose mother was forced to give her and her little brother to foster parents because she was a communist. Liesel’s little brother, Werner Meminger died on the train while traveling to their foster parent’s house. Throughout the book Death follows Liesel around and narrates her life throughout holocaust alone, only left with her foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann and her flirty friend Rudy, who is constantly asking her to kiss him. Markus Zusak uses the symbolism of, Hans’ accordion and the colors Death sees to tell the story of The Book Thief.

            The first time we see Hans’ accordion is in Chapter 29 when Max asks Hans if he still plays it, since when Erik another friend who died in war taught him, Max says "Hans Hubermann? Do you still play the accordion?” and Hans replies, “Of course I do.” Hans’ accordion is a symbol of many things. It is first a symbol of hope, comfort and most of all, distraction to Liesel. She reflects that by reading to the residents of Himmel Street during the air raids. The accordion is then seen as Hans himself for Rosa his wife, when he goes off for Essen and leaves it behind. Liesel sees Rosa wearing it every night and it’s at that moment when Liesel realizes how much Hans means to Rosa. Finally when Himmel Street is destroyed and Liesel finds herself searching through the runnel after Hans has died, she finds the accordion. The accordion is now a symbol of great loss but one that has her story along with it.

            Death first sees Liesel in white. Death uses colors to describe how he sees Liesel and when he sees her. He uses white to describe the first time he saw her. I believe white symbolizes Liesel’s purity, she hasn’t seen death, nor has she stolen a book, she’s just a child. The next color death uses is black. There is a helicopter crash and she is seen stealing her first book, at her brother’s funeral, which is gravedigger’s guide book. The last time he sees Liesel, he uses the color red. The color everyone imagines when things are about to go wrong. He describes the moment before as children’s laughter, “Then bombs.” His colors also symbolize the mood of the story at that point in time.

            The story of Liesel Meminger and her heart-breaking journey of loss and disappointment throughout the Holocaust is long and quite painful. Nevertheless it is Death narrating the story.  Throughout the story of, “The Book Thief,” by Markus Zusak, he uses symbolism to tell the story of Liesel Meminger. He uses Hans’ Accordion, and the colors Death sees when he sees Liesel throughout the Holocaust. The Book Thief, is a difficult read, the loss, the heart-break, and the intensity makes you want to curl up in a ball and cry. It makes you wonder how bad WWII really was if just reading a fictional story about it in the comfort of your own home, makes you so 

Heart

 Alone Together,

                        Because Of you,

                                                Check Yes Juliet,

                                                                        Demons,

                                                                                    Espera,

                                                                                                Feel This,

                                                                                                            Go Down Singing,

                                                                                                                                    Hear Me,

                                                                                                            I don’t Want to Be,

                                                                                                Just the Way You Are,

                                                                                    Keep Holding On,

                                                                        Let Her Go,

                                                            Mirrors,

                                                Not Over You,

                                    On Top Of the World,

                        Perfect,

            Quicksand,

Roar,

            Soldier,

                        Timshel,

                                    Unconditionally,

                                                Vivir Mi Vida,

                                                Waiting for Superman,

                                                                        X- Ecutioner Style,

                                                                                    You’re Not Sorry,

                                                                                                            Zumba.

“The Ivory War” by Patricia Smith Upfront Magazine February 3, 2014

     It’s certainly strange how much we as a human race have not grown. In more ways than one we rely on animals, and doing so we threaten their lives. In the article, The Ivory War from Upfront Magazine, African Elephants are in danger of becoming extinct because of poaching for their Ivory Tusks.

     According to the article, “tens of thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their ivory.” To think that they have been killing African Elephants since the 19^th century! Imagine how many African Elephants have been killed for just money. In the article, it says that one can gain up to one-thousand dollars per pound of ivory, and with Asia killing more than 10 thousand African Elephants per year, I don’t know what could be done with that much money.

Ivory is etched deeply into Chinese culture. Popular lore tells of emperors who believed ivory chopsticks would change color upon contact with poisoned food. In Chinese medicine, ivory powder is said to purge toxins from the body and make the skin beautiful.

     Notice that when writing this the author did not once say, ivory DID make the skin beautiful, or “[it purges toxins from the body]” in the text it says, “ivory powder [IS SAID] to purge toxins from the body.” Most likely implying that she doesn’t believe that it does. She might just be giving reasons to why they are feeding this “elephant ‘holocaust’.”

     I love Elephants, and there is no specific one, I just love them all. One time when I went to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, I was on a Safari, and there was music playing quite loudly from the truck and two Elephants looked our way and slowly started swaying side to side as if they were dancing. At first I didn’t really think about it but, I do now realize how graceful these creatures are, and harmless they are. I don’t mean to sound cliché but surely it will, but I do wish we could live in harmony. We as Humans along with the other creatures of Earth, there is no reason not to, even considering the circumstances I think we could.

Non-Fiction Blog Post Triangle Waist Factory Fire Upfront Magazine Sept.2.2013

The Triangle Waist Factory Fire occurred on March 25, 1911. Its duration was only a half of an hour long. In that half hour, 146 people died, and those people have made such a difference in the world. Not only the people, but the event itself as well. After the Triangle Waist factory Fire (TWFF), more than 30 safety laws were made in New York. Not only that, but child labor was eliminated by the late 1930’s.

The author is obviously is pressing to make us feel remorseful for those who died in the TWFF, but also maybe a little glad. Surely I am confused about how I feel about the TWFF, I am upset for the women and men who died that day, yet I am glad in a way, that it happened. Without the event, who knows… maybe there might be a small chance that some type of child labor might still exist in America because TWFF didn’t occur. And maybe there still might be no overtime pay, or minimum wage. The author has a good way of sneaking in his opinion by throwing a quote in.

“It was an incredibly galvanizing event for nation’s labor movement and the rights of workers. After Triangle, people were so shocked, not only by the terrible disaster, but by the drama of these young immigrant women who treated as less than women.” Bruce Raynor.

The author also uses very loaded words, to show how he feels, he uses words like, “terrible” and “disaster.” I believe because of this, this is a very subjective article.

I’ve found that my feelings toward TWFF are still quite confused. But if I’m being completely honest, I’m a little angry. I’m angry at the fact that before all these good things have to happen, something bad has to before. And I don’t even care if that’s cliché, because it describes exactly how I feel, and that is truly all that matters. What angers me more is that, that literally happens all the time. Bullying. A child must die before a law is made. But not just one, no, there has to be twenty to make something happen. It just makes me feel like people don’t pay enough attention, just to what matters to them and they don’t take into any consideration how anybody else feels, they always think of themselves, and they end up getting too caught up and it’s like walking with a mirror in front of you. Everything good always comes from something bad. I guess it’s a cycle, or some weird circle type sort of thing.

Critical Thinking Question: Who Has the “power” in Your Text? How Does That Power Get Shown? REVISED "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen

            “Power,” such an odd expression. There’s electrical power, solar power, and then there’s power. This imaginary sense of energy everyone talks about, where it comes from no one knows.

The irony was that even though I’d seen Will and Sophie go through their drama enough times to know it by heart, i was still completely surprised when I suddenly found myself a part of it. One bad move on one night, and the next thing I knew it was me she was after-me who was the [s***], the [w****]-and me cut out, not only of her life, but one I’d come to know as my own, as well. Pg 125

I believe in the book I’m reading, “Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen, Annabel’s ex-best friend, Sophie has the “power.”

Sophie and Annabel had the ideal friendship. They did everything together and told each other everything. They were best friends since the sixth grade and were now in highchool. But Annabel gave up a lot for Sophie. She ignored people and she made fun of people, even those she used to be friends with, she basically became a bully, and that’s not saying she liked it. Annabel’s world was turned upside-down, inside out in every which way possible when the friendship ended. Once Sophie ended the friendship that she originally initiated, Annabel was kicked to the bottom of the popularity pyramid.

How does that power get shown… I think the question should be how is the power not seen. Sophie had control of Annabel’s life without even meaning to. She just did. When their friendship ended, all of Annabel’s other friendships did too. If Sophie was mean to her everyone else was too, if she calls her a name so did everyone else, if she even gave her the slightest dirty look everyone mimicked her. Sophie was like the nucleus in a cell, she told everyone what to do and everyone did it, just because. She had some type of control over everyone. Why? Because she had a way of manipulating everyone. Even her boyfriend was an example of why she had this power: he was the male version of Sophie, herself.

In school, there is always that one person that everyone talks about, but still wants to be friends with no matter what type of person they are. It happens everywhere, I mean come on there was at least one person that came to mind, it can’t be controlled. Power like this can be shown in the movie Cyberbully, where a teen is bullied by her ex-best friends to the point where she attempts to commit suicide. A bit extreme, but you understand what I’m trying to say. My point is, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt,

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” And with this power that people hold over others and friends hold over each other, I just want everyone to be more aware of their actions and how they treat each other.

Critical Thinking Question: Who Has the “power” in Your Text? How Does That Power Get Shown?

Critical Thinking Question: Who Has the “power” in Your Text? How Does That Power Get Shown?

 "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen

“Power,” such an odd expression. There’s electrical power, solar power, and then there’s power. This imaginary sense of energy everyone talks about, where it comes from no one knows.

The irony was that even though I’d seen Will and Sophie go through their drama enough times to know it by heart, i was still completely surprised when I suddenly found myself a part of it. One bad move on one night, and the next thing I knew it was me she was after-me who was the s***, the w****-and me cut out, not only of her life, but one I’d come to know as my own, as well. Pg 125

I believe in the book i’m reading, “Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen Sophie, Annabel’s ex-best friend has the “power” in the text.

Sophie and Annabel were really close in their friendship, but Annabel gave up a lot for Sophie. She ignored people, she made fun of people, she basically became a bystander, and that’s not saying she liked it. Point is, once SOPHIE ended their friendship Annabel’s world was turned upside-down, inside out in every which way possible. All because SOPHIE ended the friendship that SOPHIE initiated Annabel was kicked to way below the bottom of the popularity pyramid.

How does that power get shown… I think the question should be how does the power not get shown… if that’s grammatically correct at all. Sophie has control of Annabel’s life without even meaning to. She just does. When their friendship ended, all of Annabel’s other friendships did too. If Sophie’s mean to her everyone else is too, if she calls her a name everyone else does too, if she even gives her the slightest dirty look everyone is mimicking the exact same look. Sophie is like the nucleus in a cell, she tells everyone what to do and everyone just does it, just because.

Critical Thinking Question #8 - "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen

 "What really hard things are happening in this text? Are they happening in the world now? Where?" 

On page 4, of the book Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, one character says to another, "Bitch." obviously this is very inappropriate language. On the same page, it says, "I saw a girl from my English class the year before narrows her eyes, while another girl laughs out loud." The two girls in this books were friends for 6 years but then last year they had a fall out (it has not been explained yet.) It's insane how quickly things can change between
 Bullying is a very serious problem, it causes people to do terrible things, and it can reach extreme measures with just a few words. Children take it really far for no reason. They don't have to say all the things that they do. But for what ever reason, they say it. Nowadays, there are laws, one is if you tell another to kill themselves you can be fined $10,000 but if you do, they do commit suicide you can be charged with Manslaughter. But that doesn't necessarily stop them.

 In my book there are also eating disorders. The main character's sister has anorexia. Yet it's not explained in full detail currently, it is already a very important part in the book.
 Anorexia, sometimes caused by bullying, stereotypes, or just by someones personal opinion. Like bullying, it's a very serious issue in the world. Anorexia is when people stop eating to lose weight, without food you won't be able to get the nutrients that you you need so you end up starving yourself to death. Many models have this disease, some by choice or because of what people say. A lot o people have this disease, too many to be honest and it's not okay, you should love yourself you shouldn't try to change yourself for someone else. 

Monday Muses- 2nd Prompt

"Happiness is a mood, it's a condition, it's not a destination. It's like being tired or hungry, it's not permanent. It comes and goes and that's okay. And I think if people thought about it that way, they'd find happiness a lot more often."

  I find myself always searching for things to get me happy, through songs or books, or quotes, or just something to brighten my day for just a little while. But then i read this, it felt as if my month brightened. And I just felt as If I could be happy for the rest of my life just because of that quote. 

 If you think about it, every emotion is like that. you can't always be upset, or vulnerable, or happy. You just have to be patient, life will take the wheel, and then you'll find your happiness. But just remember that it isn't permanent. It won't always be there and like it says in the quote, "...it comes and it goes and that's okay..."

2nd Argument Essay Draft

            The youth of America has always pushed boundaries. There are hundreds of books written about death and violence, and the majority of them are best sellers. For example, World War Z by Max Brooks, a book about, you guessed it, a war. As any war, it tells a story about one that is very gruesome. World War Z is a fictional story about a Zombie war, it is one man traveling the world after it’s over, listening to different peoples stories of their experiences. All of them either very tragic, or very gruesome, and all of which very detailed. Certain books like World War Z should be banned from libraries in the sixth grade.

            Children are children; at least they’re supposed to be. So many of their minds are spoiled with inappropriate thoughts or full of things they really aren’t supposed to worry about like economy or what everyone else thinks about them. I think many parents try really hard to censor their children’s minds but because they don’t always monitor what they are reading they seem to grow up so fast BECAUSE of what they are reading in school, like World War Z, “…we all heard her skull crack…” (insert page number Brooks) How many thoughts can that provoke? What will that cause a child to do? Considering how easy it is to access, they could probably look up what it sounds like. Or what it looks like. Maybe even in some cases; find out that it could actually happen.

            Some may say that banning children’s books could restrict them from what they actually need to know. For example, in “The Banned Books We Have Loved,” by Jen Doll, she says in the very famous book, “Bridge to Terabithia,” “…we learned the importance of friendships…” and in the book, “Go ask Alice,” “…we learned that a life can go off the rails all too quickly…” But, in all honesty that doesn’t relieve the authors from the spotlight because some of them take it too far when writing about such maybe meaningful, but accelerated topics.

            Many children are impressionable, for some, it is gullibility or for others, monkey see- monkey do. For example, in an article named, “The ‘sick-lit’ books aimed at children: It’s a disturbing phenomenon. Tales of teenage cancer, self-harm and suicide…” by Tanith Carey writes about a children’s book expert named Amanda Craig who was concerned about the children’s ‘best sellers’. She says that one book spread like “wild fire” in a twelve year old girl’s class and many began to harm themselves as it was done in the book. There is also another book Carey wrote about a book that included the most effective ways to commit suicide. This all seems to be very frightening for me considering as I said before, how gullible and impressionable children are.

            I believe authors and parents need to take into consideration that though it is “regular “ or “normal” nowadays, certain themes, main ideas, or topics of books are becoming more and more realistic by the letter. Parents need to regularly check what books are in the hands of their children, for all they know it may be too advanced for their minds and they may not understand the concept yet. I think we should all think about what we’re reading or about to read. Even now, when I’m thirteen years old I still feel a bit discomfort when I’m reading about war, terrorism, and self harm. Now more than ever that’s what the world is about right now. When I read and begin a book with those topics, it’s a little all too real for me. I believe authors should take a very large step back and observe the entire picture of what they writing about, but not of what is selling but what will be read comfortably.

1st Draft- Argument Essay

             Do you ever realize what exactly the youth of America is reading? There are hundreds of books written about death and violence, and the majority of them are best sellers. For example, World War Z by Max Brooks, a book about, you guessed it, a war. As any war, it tells a story about one that is very gruesome. World War Z is a fictional story about a Zombie war, it is one man traveling the world after it’s over, listening to different peoples stories of their experiences. All of them either very tragic, or very gruesome, and all of which very detailed. I believe there certain books like World War Z should be banned from children in elementary school.

            Children are children; at least they’re supposed to be. So many of their minds are spoiled with inappropriate thoughts or full of things they really aren’t supposed to worry about like economy or what everyone else thinks about them. I think many parents try really hard to censor their children’s minds but because they don’t always monitor what they are reading they seem to grow up so fast BECAUSE of what they are reading in school, like World War Z, “…we all her skull crack…” how many thoughts can that provoke? What will that cause a child to do? Considering how easy it is to access, they could probably look up what a skull cracking sounds like. Or what it looks like. Or even in some cases find out that it could actually happen.

            Some may say that banning children’s books could restrict them from what they actually need to know. For example, in “The Banned Books We Have Loved,” by Jen Doll, she says that in the very famous book, “Bridge to Terabithia,” “…we learned the importance of friendships…” and in the book, “Go ask Alice,” “…we learned that a life can go off the rails all too quickly…” But, in all honesty that doesn’t relieve the authors from the spotlight because some of them take it too far when writing about such maybe meaningful, but accelerated topics.

            Many children are impressionable, for some, it is monkey see- monkey do, or very gullible. For example, in an article named, “The ‘sick-lit’ books aimed at children: It’s a disturbing phenomenon. Tales of teenage cancer, self-harm and suicide…” by Tanith Carey writes about a children’s book expert named Amanda Craig who was concerned about the children’s ‘best sellers’. She says that one book spread like “wild fire” in a twelve year old girl’s class and many began to harm themselves as it was done in the book. There is also another book Carey wrote about a book that included the most effective ways to commit suicide. This all seems to be very frightening for me considering as I said before, how gullible and impressionable children are.

            I believe authors and parents need to take into consideration that though it is “regular “ or “normal” nowadays, certain themes, main ideas, or topics of books are becoming more and more realistic by the letter. Parents need to regularly check what books are in the hands of their children because it may be too advanced for their minds and they may not understand the concept yet. I think we should all think about what we’re reading or about to read because even now when I’m thirteen years old I still feel a bit discomfort reading about war, and terrorism, and self harm. Because now more than ever that’s what the world is about right now. And in the rare times that I do read when I’m not forced to, and I begin a book with those topics, it’s a little all too real for me. I believe authors should take a very large step back and observe the entire picture of what they writing about, but not of what is selling but what  will be read comfortably.

MISSING- Adia's childhood

 Dust.
What is left behind the steel gates
Of my memory from ages 1 to 4.

At times in full of regret for this 
Others i'm thankful.

What I do remember is not 
what I would like to
But I guess it's better than nothing.

Then I remember walking down the street
I remember getting dressed in the morning for the baby sitters
While everyone else goes to school and work
And I guess I stay there.

Then I remember kindergarten
What a leap
I remember the first day of school
I remember "graduation" 
But I guess I there was something in between.

Then I remember in the fourth grade
Broadway Junior.
The massacre of my shell
Though it was a small part
I guess it was better then no part at all.

I don't know what happened.

I don't understand what happened.

But know that something did happen.

And I'm grateful for that.

Lets talk about theme..

World. War. Z.

Lets all take a wild guess and think about what the theme is... Violence.

There is nothing else to this book. It consists of multiple people, many of whom are famous scientists or just regular bystanders who've made it through some of the worst parts of the world during the war. In every story there are very detailed fights or murders or attacks, and those are violent words aswell. In case you don't know World War Z was a fictional zombie war. The concept of what it is called gives away right away the basic line of what the story is going to tell.

On another note, I am aware that my response is very short, but with my sisters weddin approaching I have not been home for a solid hour unless I am doin something in relation to this hectic event.

I am aware this is late. i typed this, this morning and I guess I forgot to press publish. I am at fault.

"The perks of being a wallflower" Character Relationship Portrayal vs Real life

Why do authors falsely portray relationships and friendship in their books? It's very frustrating to read about these friendships that last forever, then when i look at my sisters and my parents and my friendships... they mess up all the time. I am almost postive that the majority of authors just write to give us hope but really all they're really doing is setting us up for disapointment, noting lasts forever except maybe marriages but even then its inevitable. So why write about these amazing relationships? 

In "Perks of being a wallflower," Charlie, the protagonist, makes friends on the first day of school see, I find that really unrealistic, especially if you're new to the school and you hardly know anybody. Their names are Sam and Patrick and they are both seniors. Charlie is immediatly invited to one of their parties after the first week. In real life that usually takes about a month, in the beginning of an actual friendship it's really awkward and quiet, usually you are still getting to know eachother.
Later in the book, when Charlie falls in love with Sam and she tells him not to. She introduces him to a friend of hers, Mary Elizabeth. He begins to talk to her and noticing that they get along he asks her out on a date about tree days later. I am sorry, but unless you have an ENORMOUS amount of confidence, it will not be that easy to do that. Usually in reality, there are like these weird phases you go through, it's not just some type of spontaneous love at first sight like people describe in movies. Though many people describe it to their friends and then their kids, its probably more like a "woah" more than a "wow i'm totally going to marry her one day.

I guess now I understand why authors use these false portrayals. I guess sometimes readers do need some false hope, because maybe after a long chain of bad breakups and rude people they just need to believe for some odd reason that they might just have a spontaneous love at first sight moment or the best friend you can tell anything to in just a week becuase you are THAT comfortable around them. I guess it isn't so frustrating because I am one of those readers who "awws" at romantic moments in my books and movies. So now I say thank you to authors for false hope because in more ways than one you've given me a lot more than a fairy tale to believe in, you gave me the will to believe in anything.

Grapes of Wrath - John Steinback - Sacrifices

In John Steinback's book "Grapes Of Wrath" the main character Tom Joad is a man who has just been released from prison and has come to find that his family is not at their house but on their way to california in search of jobs. He then finds his family and joins them for the rest of the trip. The Joad family faces many issues during their time of their search for employment their stay in California. 
Later, a man named Jim Casy is murdered and in retaliation Tom murders the men who killed his friend. his angry brother later tells someone that Tom has killed two men and his mother then tells him to go hide. Tom then is forced to sacrifice his home with his family and leave, in order to keep them safe.