Blog Post Number Five - 'Tricks' by Ellen Hopkins; Eden's Story

In the book 'Tricks' by Ellen Hopkins,

There are five different characters; Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger and Cody. Out of the five, four are straight and one is gay. But as I'm reading this book, I'm also starting to think that another character might also be gay. But that might just be because she thinks that no one else loves her.

Eden's story is that, her father is a pastor and once at mass, she met a boy named Andrew. But Eden is only sixteen and Andrew is nineteen. But they wind up going out anyways. Eden's parents forbid her going out with anyone unless it is going to be her future husband (her parents are very religious). And if it's not going to be, she is sinning against God and going towards the path to the Devil. So Eden and Andrew secretly go out and meet up with each other. And they are in deep love with each other. But still, Eden cannot tell her parents, because if she does, then they'll shun her and think that she's possessed. But of course, all good stories must come to an end, because Eden's mother eventually finds out and sends her to "Tears of Zion", a place where they exorcise demons.

I think that the theme for Eden's story is that she feels trapped. Because Andrew really is the love of her life. And when he told her  the same, he wasn't joking - he was serious. He really meant it. I also think that Eden feels trapped because she can't tell her parents or else they'll freak out on her. And as she suspected, they did. But her mother on the most part. I think that even if Eden did tell her parents about Andrew, they wouldn't understand. Because they only believe that she must marry someone in order to "make love" and have children. I also think that they wouldn't even listen to Eden, even if she tried to explain, because they want her to marry a Christian and since Andrew isn't, they don't even want to hear her explanation.

Blog Post Number Three - Identifying Theme

In the book 'Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy' by Ally Carter,

Cammie and her three best friends - Lex, Bex and Macey, are back from winter break and ready to start the new semester at The Gallagher Academy for Acceptional Young Women. But Cammie has come back to the school with a lot of weight still hanging on her shoulders, from last semester. With her breaking up with Josh and all. But she has to let that go. But when they get back, Cammie's mom - also known as the headmistress of the school - and Mr. Solomon - the HOT Cove-Ops teacher - are whispering about a Black Thorn or Blackthorne. The girls are extremely suspicious about it. Especially since it could mean that THERE COULD BE A SECERET SPY SCHOOL... FOR BOYS!!! But that's a one-in-a-million chance.

But of course, the girls try to crack the code and find out all of the information they can about Black Thorn or Blackthorn. They NEED to find out what the seceret is. And they know that it has to be important because Cammie's mom won't even tell her own daughter.

So the girls devise a plan - Cammie is going to spy on her mom, during their traditional Sunday dinner in HER OFFICE. When Cammie got into her mother's office, she wanted to back out of the plan because, her mother is/was a spy too!!! And Cammie obviously doesn't want to get caught. Especially by her own mother!

But boy does she find evidence! Not only did she find snot filled tissues in her moms trash, but she also found a picture of her dad and Mr. Solomon (when they were a bit younger), and Mr. Solomon's shirt said Blackthorn on it!!! And Mr. Solomon DID say that he went to a school just like The Gallagher Academy but it was for boys! So, THAT concludes what Blackthorne is - A SECERET SPY SCHOOL FOR BOYS!

I think that the theme for this part of the book is, snoopy and excided because the girls NEED and want to know everything and all they can about the Blackthorn Institute. So badly, that they make Cammie spy on her own mother. But I thoguht that it was good practice for them just in case they actually had to do something like that in the future.