Blog Post Number Four - Respond to one of the Critical Thinking Questions for Social Action - Choice 6; How does money figure in this text?

In the book 'Catching Fire' by Suzanne Collins,

Katniss and Peeta have come back from the Hunger Games. And now they have to go on Victory Tours. But President Snow knows that Katniss and Peeta's love game was just an act. But he can't let other people know that. Or else they'll blame him and President Snow will get in a lot of trouble. So because of that, President Snow and Katniss had a "little chat" and he told her that she has to "convince" him.

When Peeta and Katniss come back from the Victory Tours, they come back to their homes in District 12. Which is THE poorest district in Panem. Many people in District 12 can't even afford to buy dinner for their families. Which is very bad for the children because they get sick easily. And that usually happens often.

Most of the Districts in Panem are poor. Only District's 1 and 2 are rich or middle-class. Because they are closer and more important to the Capitol. But the other District's have to suffer. But of course, the Capitol doesn't care about them. Only the Hunger Games.

I think that the Capitol should care more for the poor and less important Districts. Because it is much easier for District's 1 and 2 to get resources. I also think that the Capitol should give the other districts money. And help them out once in a while.

Blog Post Number Three - Respond to one of the Critical Thinking Reading Questions for Social Action - Choice 1; Is this story fair? Why or why not?

In the book 'Fallout' by Ellen Hopkins,

Kristina's kids are still living their lives without her. But when Christmas comes, she'll come back as a surprise for the kids. Hunter already knows that she's coming over. And so does Summer because, she keeps in contact with her. But of course, Autumn still doesn't know anything about Kristina.

I don't think that her kids will be excited when she comes over because thay never really met her. And she hasn't been there for them for almost all of their lives.

I think that this story can be both fair and unfair because Kristina left all three of her children but she's coming back for Christmas. But her coming back still doesn't make up for the other times she was gone and she could have came back to visit her children. I think that if she were to come back earlier and take care of her children herself, they would have a better relationship with each other. And also, each child would have a better life. And they would get to know Kristina better and find out why she did what she did.

Social Awareness Writing Project - Choice 4; Write a reading response on a social issue in a literary work (on independent reading book)

'Burned' by Ellen Hopkins

 

In the book 'Burned' by Ellen Hopkins, the main character Pattyn is a part of a Mormon family. But Pattyn doesn't believe in the Mormon religion anymore. She doesn't want to be forced to have numerous babies and not have any say or control in her own house when she becomes married. In other words, she doesn't want to end up like her mother. Who is always being beat by her husband (Pattyn's father) because every baby she has is a girl. Pattyn's father is so upset at her decision to not want to be Mormon anymore that he beats her just like he does to her mother. He then disowns her and sends her to live with her Aunt J. When Pattyn's there, Aunt J teaches Pattyn about the true meaning of love.

 

I think that the issue in this book is child abuse and disowning. Because during the whole time Pattyn was living with her father, he would always beat both her and her mother. Even if they didn't do anything wrong.

 

The message in this book is to find the true meaning about yourself. Because her family is Mormon and pushing Pattyn to marry a "good Mormon boy" and follow the Mormon religion, etc. But she doesn't want that for her future. But when she moves in with her Aunt J, she learns about the true meaning of love and that God won't hate her if she doesn't choose to follow the Mormon religion.

 

This book makes me think a lot about child abuse because that seems to be what Pattyn's father does a lot. I also came to the conclusion that the father believes that men control women and also that women must completely obeh\y their husbands. I think that is sexist.

Blog Post Number Two - 'Burned' by Ellen Hopkins

In the book 'Burned' by Ellen Hopkins,

The main character Pattyn is a Mormon, she is one of seven children - she is also the oldest. All of which are girls. And her dad is a alcoholic who abuses her mother because out of all of the kids that she has, they continue to become girls. Her mother believes that her job is to have as many children as possible, especially a boy to carry on the family name. Because that is what her husband wants. But Pattyn disarees with the Mormon lifestyle she has been living by her whole seventeen years of life. I think that it is a good thing that Pattyn has a different opinion about her religion. Because it seems to me that she is being forced to live in a way that she is uncomfortable with.

Since Pattyn now doesn't believe in the Mormon religion, she wants to experience things that "normal" teens experience. So she starts dating Derek - a non Mormon. Which is against the Mormon religion. But Pattyn doesn't care anymore. She and Derek start to hang out and go to parties. But then they start drinking and also start to get stupid. But eventually, Pattyn's dad finds out and forbids her to see Derek again. He also threatens Derek to not see Pattyn either. Derek then starts dating another girl, who Pattyn later on punches in the face. Pattyn also does even more reckless things such as breaking a window in school, which her dad then has to pay for. As well as the girl Pattyn punched in the face because Pattyn broke her nose. I think that both Pattyn and her dad went a little to far with their actions. Because Pattyn didn't have to punch the girl in the face or break the window. And her father didn't have to threaten Derek to not see Pattyn again.

Pattyn then gets sent to her Aunt J's house in the country side, because of Pattyn's previous actions. While she's staying there, she meets a so-called "beautiful" boy named Ethan. Eventually Pattyn and Ethan start going out. They also fall in love with eachother. The two plan to move away together when Pattyn turns eighteen. Pattyn also winds up becoming pregnant with Ethan's child. But he doesn't leave her. When the two decide to leave with the still unborn baby, Pattyn's father finds out about everything. He then chases them in his car. Resultin in Ethan and Pattyn getting into a car crash. Both Ethan and the baby don't make it. And Pattyn cannot forgive her father for what he has done. I think that it was sweet that Ethan didn't leave Pattyn after she told him she was pregnant because most boys do that after they find out. But I also think that it was awful that Pattyn's father chased them around in his car. I thought that it was heartbreaking to find out that Ethan and the baby didn't survive because I wanted to know what would happen in Ethan and Pattyn's lives together.

Blog Post Number Two - What I Found Interesting

Amelia - ameliabedelia13.blogspot.com

I read Amelia's response, 'Make Lemonade' by Virginia Euwer Wolff. I thought that it was interesting how she told the summary of the book. Such as stating a lot about the main character - Verna LaVaughn. I also liked how she wrote how she felt about the book in the beginning, telling the reader about how depressing the beginning of the book was. And based on what I read about Amelia's response, I really want to go and read this book.

Helen A. - helenayee.blogspot.com

I also read Helen's response, 'Before We Were Free' by Julia Alverez. I also read this book over the summer. But after reading Helen's response on it, I thought about the book in a different way than I was when I read it over the summer. Just like Amelia's response, Helen told us about the main character - Anita de la Torre, and how she lived in the Dominican Reepublic in the 1960s during the dictatorship. But Helen also tells us about Anita's feelings. And how she has to stay strong, and try not to cry. That was probably my favorite part of the response because it really showed what Anita had to go through, and how tough it was for not only her, but also everyone else in her family and on the island.

Blog Post Number One - 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the book 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The year is 1922, and we are introduced to the main character and narrator, Nick Carraway. Nick just moved from Minnesota to New York so he can work in 'the Bond Business'. So now, he lives in a part of Long Island in West Egg. West Egg is where all of the new rich people live. And the people of West Egg don't know anyone outside of West Egg. I think that Nick isn't going to turn into a self-centered person like everyone else from West Egg. But only because he's not originally from New York.

Nick's house is right next door to Gatsby's mansion. Gatsby is known for hosting the most extravagant parties in his home. But no one knows who he really is, or even what he looks like. I think that it is both odd and interesting that Gatsby doesn't show himself at his parties because what host doesn't... HOST! But I'm also guessing that he doesn't show his face at his parties because everyone thinks that he is a murderer and a liar. So he just lets everyone gossip about him. Even though Nick and Gatsby meet, Nick doesn't really know who he is. Mind you, they live right next to each other. I think that it's funny that Nick doesn't realize that the richest man in West Egg lives right next door to him because Gatsby is a very important person. And not only because of his money, but because his is probably the most "popular" person in West Egg because of all of the gossip that goes on.

While Nick tries to settle into his new home, he is invited to tea with his cousin Daisy and her rude husband Tom. Daisy's close friend Jordan is also there. And Nick now has a slight crush on her. Nick tells Gatsby about tea later. But Gatsby tells Nick that he and Daisy knew eachother long before Tom came into the picture. And now he wants her back. I think that Nick and Jordan should go out because they're the only two left, and they seem really into eachother. Nick passes this information to Jordan - now they are starting to hang out together - and they are going to try to make Daisy and Gatsby run into eachother at tea later. Because not only does Gatsby have feelings for Daisy, but Daisy still feels the same about Gatsby. I also think that Daisy and Gatsby should get together because they're like long-lost lovers. I also think that they should go out because Daisy's husband Tom is very rude to everyone.

The plan is successful, and Gatsby and Daisy get back together and end up having an affair. All goes as planned, until Tom finally meets Gatsby and winds up hating his guts. Tom is also sensing something odd going on between Daisy and Gatsby, so he tries to get involved with the situation. I hope that Tom doesn't find out about Daisy and Gatsby's affair because they really love eachother unlike them. Tom FINALLY catches Daisy and Gatsby in the act. But she is unable to pick and choose who she wants to be with - Gatsby. Tom then takes her away from Gatsby and forbids her from seeing him ever again, without "supervision". I thought that it was funny how Tom found out about Daisy and Gatsby at the END of the book, instead of when the two first started because he's been "investigating" for such a long time. But does Daisy listen to Tom? OF COURSE NOT!

Later on, she and Gatsby go out for a drive, late at night. Daisy is driving, but she is dead drunk. So Daisy mistankenly runs over and kills Tom's lover, Myrtle. But Gatsby takes the blame for the accident instead of Daisy. I'm very proud of Daisy for standing up for herself because she chose the man of her dreams. And when Tom found out about THAT, he fed Gatsby to the wolves and told Myrtle's husband so that he could finnish Gatsby off. Tom and Daisy wind up leaving West Egg. And Nick and Jordan "break up". So the only one left in West Egg is Nick.

So Nick took care of the funeral, that nobody attended. Only Gatsby's dad, who arrived very late. Nick was also the only one who had to take care of all of Gatsby's things in his house. I thought that it was odd how everyone abandoned West Egg and just left Nick all alone to clean up everyone's mess. But I guess it was just all for the best.