“Hate ricochets, but kindness does to,” a theme that echoes throughout this story (Roe 178). The venom that these characters face is strong and at times overwhelming, but the perseverance and enthusiasm of the characters is just as tenacious. A List of Cages by Robin Roe is written through the perspectives of two high school boys, Julian and Adam, and their story of coming together. Julian's parents died in a car crash, leaving Julian alone. His mentor and only friend, Adam is an older individual that Julian finds solace in. Adam finds out that Julian’s guardian, his uncle, has abused Julian to the point of submission. Julian's abuse leads to Adams intervention and reinforcement as they persist on to fight the evil in Julian’s life. The author shows the reader that anyone can get through tough times, no matter the difficulty. Any wall can be scaled. A List of Cages was one of the most riveting stories that I have ever read. What happens to Julian throughout the story had me in utter shock. There were many points where I had to put down my book, stop, and try to comprehend what was going on, or just let the horrors of what I just read sink in. I think the part that shocked me the most is the fact that this could happen, and how grounded in reality the story felt. It changed my view on Decorah especially. I think of the horrors that Julian endured, and I think,“this couldn’t happen in Decorah.” Our town doesn’t see very many people struggle through tough times like Julian does. If something like that did happen, our perception of our community would alter considerably. I think what the author showed me is that anything can happen to anyone. Julian didn’t ask to be abused, but he unfortunately succumbed to the torture. But also the author accented his comeback and Adams assistance to help Julian back. I think in this story, Adam represents us, the reader, the normal person. Julian on the other-hand is the special case, the case that sticks out. Adam is the helping hand to the fallen friend, the one to dust off the dirt and get them back going again. Reading this book did many things to show me who I want to be: The harsh tortures and abuse that Julian suffers made me stop, but the response and comeback of Julian and Adam left me inspired. What I pull from this story is that no matter what happens, I can bounce back, or help someone come back. I think of it as Newton’s third law of physics. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. No matter how hard someone hits, no matter how deep the cut, you can comeback hitting just as hard. What this book made me think about is how I can help others that struggle. I learned to strive to help others on, to look on the bright side of life. An analogy I like to quote is, “There is always a light in the darkness,” always a hand to help you up. This book gave me the ability to look for the positive, and to know that someone will be there for you. Like Adam helps Julian, there is always someone to help. Whether I am the helping hand, or the one in need, A List of Cages has taught me the lesson of perseverance. By Mitchell L.
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The time period of World War 2 is not easy for Japanese Americans. They have been sent to internment camps in fear that they still have loyalty to Japan. That is what happens to Yuki Nakahara. Yuki has pledged full loyalty to America, but other American people still don’t trust him. He decides he needs to prove it by enlisting in the United States Army and fight against the Germans. He convinces his friend Shig to enlist with and after about a year of training, they set sail to Italy. Yuki is part of the Japanese American regiment known as the 4-4-2. The regiment is put through countless seemingly impossible battles, because the generals believe that the 4-4-2 is less important than other regiments composed of white soldiers. Yuki does very well in battle, but loses many of his friends that he met in training camp. This book is told by the author, Dean Hughes. I think Hughes wants the reader to know how the Japanese Americans were treated in America and the Japanese American soldiers fighting in the war. It’s something that people need to know so we can learn from it and not let history repeat itself. One part of the book that both challenged me and surprised was when Yuki returns home from war. He is taking a train back to the internment camp that his family is currently living in. the train stops in Denver for an hour, so Yuki decides to get a haircut. When he enters the barbershop, the barber says, “Sorry soldier, but we don’t cut Jap hair here. You need to turn around and walk back out that door”(Hughes 229). Before returning from war, Yuki had received a purple heart and a silver star for going above and beyond the call of duty. He was wearing those medals on his uniform when he walked into the barbershop. To me, getting a purple heart and a silver star is proving loyalty to your country. But the barber just thinks of Yuki as another Jap that he can’t trust. This book helps me realize that at the end of the day, no matter what race or religion, we are all Americans. Everybody has the right to live in this country with the same rights as anybody else. They should not have to risk their life, go through the horrors of war and receive a life threatening injury, just to get a haircut.Also, after reading this book I have a new perspective of World War 2. I always that that our white American soldier fought back and defeated the Germans for the United States, which did happen. But I had no idea that there was an entire battle regiment composed of all Japanese American soldiers, and that they were a major help in winning the war. Without the 4-4-2, who knows how the war might have changed or ended. By Galen I. A must read story; truly inspirational. I read the book The Complete Persepolis, an autobiography of the author Marjane Satrapi. The story is shown through the eyes of a young girl and the troubles she faces with identity, religion, and life in Iran during the Iranian Revolution. Going more in depth, Marjane experiences death in her family, friends being bombed, a period of depression, religious issues, and trouble finding herself and her identity. Although Marjane faces many troubles during her childhood, she learns a lot in the journey of life and goes through a series of coming of ages. Because the story is told in the perspective of Marjane, I was able to quickly realize what the theme and motif of the book was. Marjane Satrapi, the author, used this technique of first person perspective and brought the message of the book to a whole new level. Throughout this blog, I will be showing you the theme of the story. I chose this book because I wanted to read about something that I wasn’t very familiar with. Going into this book, I knew it was an autobiography which influenced me into the choice of this story. Because I live in America and am privileged, reading this story was very new to me; in a way, it changed how I think. I am now much more knowledgeable and aware of the people who live life in more grim situations and environments. This makes me think of how lucky I am to be living in Decorah, Iowa. While Marjane in the story is facing problems like bombings and religious prejudice, the most I worry about is homework. One example that hit me hard is when Marjane comes home to Iran finding out that some of her best childhood friends are dead. I can’t imagine losing some of my best friends and family. After reading this story, I learned one big lesson that I will carry on forever. It changed me and gave me a sense of what is happening outside of America. I know I am lucky and I hope to help and defend people like Marjane in the future. I imagine she lived a darker life than she hoped which motivates me to be more generous, giving, and unselfish to all people. Marjane isn’t the only one affected by religious prejudice, bombings, and close family and friends’ deaths. Her story is only one of the millions of people going through hardships. It really makes me think of how lucky I am to be living a peaceful and unbothered life in Iowa. Marjane’s story is an inspiration to me and people need to hear her story. “Saying goodbye is a little like dying.”- Marjane Satrapi By Joseph S. "There are moments in life when you are faced with an impossible decision; a choice must be made when you no longer live for yourself." writes the author Bryan Reardon. In the novel Finding Jake, by Bryan Reardon, Jake’s dad is forced to ask himself how much he really knows about someone he loves, his son Jake. The tragic events in Finding Jake are told by Jake’s dad, Simon. Bryan Reardon wants us to feel all the emotions that come from school shootings. According to Simon, Jake is a perfect little boy that could do no harm. Simon will be faced with an impossible decision, does he stop searching and believe all the community members, or does he search until he finds the truth. Jake is one of two students that the police can’t find in the school. Unfortunately, the police and parents are treating Jake like a suspect instead of a victim since they have not discovered his body. Sadly, even though there is no evidence to support that Jake had anything to do with the shooting, parents have jumped to the conclusion that he was involved. Jake’s dad can’t honestly admit that he knows everything about his son. We end up realizing that Jake is still a sweet and shy boy, but has a big story to tell. Finding Jake met multiple challenges, which is one reason why I chose it. This fictional novel was written about a horrible situation that I thankfully have never had to go through, a school shooting. I picked this because intense books about tragic events always lure me in. I also selected this book because I wanted to feel all the emotions that come with school shootings. This book was definitely an emotional challenge for me knowing that a school shooting could happen any day at school. I was apprehensive in believing that Jake could have done something so terrible when his dad told us he was a perfect little boy, who was shy and always hid away in his books. I found it very intriguing to read because it was an authentic school shooting like we have in our world today. Reading about a person in a different position and view was very eye opening and engrossing. Looking through the eyes of a dad with two children forced me to see new perspectives. It made me appreciate how much my parents protect me, how much they push me, and how controlling they are sometimes. Simon’s tragedy has also forced me to be conscious of how adults regard situations. From reading this book, I want to do my best to view and consider different circumstances that may arise in my future. This book also truly shows us that our society doesn’t dig deep enough to find the real solution to many problems. In addition, the book shows us we don’t always know what others are dealing with, and we don’t always know a person’s true story. Even when no one believes you, if you believe in something enough, you just might be able to prove your point. You can make it through that impossible decision that you had to make when you no longer lived for yourself. At the end of this novel, Simon proves his point that Jake is a perfect and sometimes shy little boy and that everyone should be thankful for the courageous act that Jake accomplished. Simon addresses how wonderful a son, brother, and friend Jake was. Jake can be a lesson to everyone, after all, he saved us. By Kalea O. “I know exactly when my life changed: when I looked into the face of Tamerlan Tsarnaev. It was 2:48 p.m. on April 15, 2013 -- one minute before the most high-profile terrorist event on the United States soil since September 11 -- and he was standing right beside me” (Bauman 1). Waiting at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon to try to win back his on again, off again girlfriend, Erin, Jeff Bauman has an uneasy feeling that this person is not there to enjoy himself. Stronger is an inspiring true story of a working-class man, Jeff Bauman, who becomes a symbol of courage, strength, and hope after a couple of homemade bombs go off next to him and he finds himself lying in a pool of blood with his lower legs gone. As he is being rescued, a passerby snaps a picture of him and his rescuers that goes viral, and he quickly becomes the iconic face associated with this horrific tragedy and a symbol of Boston Strong across the world. I was surprised by how Jeff Bauman could use humor in the darkest moments of this story to bring strength, hope, happiness, and lighten the mood of the situation. For many of us if faced with such a devastating loss, it would be far easier to give in to depression, and live out the rest of our life in a wheelchair. There was nothing humorous about the cowardly act and the resulting tragedy. However, it was humor that helped Jeff and his family focus on healing and recovery, so that he one day Jeff could lead a normal life. Jeff had grown up with a wisecracking family, and I believe the use of humor was significant in showing that he was not going to let this tragedy change who he was. Remaining the humorous Jeff and Bauman Strong was also important for his family’s healing. This book has changed my views on how I look at my life. I would say that my life has continued down a pretty easy path. I haven’t had any life changing events like Jeff did in the story. Because of reading the book, my eyes have opened up to the obstacles that some have to overcome, and I know that there are so many people out there that have it much more difficult than I do. The book helped me change how I view negative situations, and it showed me that happiness can be found in the darkest times. By Zach G. Life is all about choices, you could either pick this option or choose the other. In Boy 21 by Matthew Quick the main character Finley McManus was faced with the hardest choice of his life and he chose what most people wouldn’t, to quit his favorite sport of all time, basketball. Finley McManus is the starting point guard on his basketball team who is trusted by everyone in the school and known as the quiet guy. His girlfriend, Erin, and him train hard for basketball year round to get better. It is their senior year and their time to shine when the new kid to town is apparently a star point guard, Finley’s position. The new kid is traumatized by his parents death and refuses to pick up a basketball and goes by the name Boy 21 (Russ Allen). The head coach trusts Finley so much he wants him to try and snap Russ out of the phase he is in to play basketball for the team. During this book Finley had to decide to either help Russ or ignore him to keep his starting position on the basketball team. I was very surprised that Finley had helped Russ to snap out of his phase due to the fact that it is his senior year of high school and he would lose his starting position. Although this should not surprise me because people are supposed to do what is right (I would have done the same), but Finley has grown up with virtually nothing except for family and Erin in his life. When Finley was at a young age his grandpa had both of his legs amputated by the Irish Mob in Belmont. After this event Finley’s mom reported it to the police and got murdered for snitching while FInley was held hostage by members of the mob for three days, these are some examples of Finley’s early childhood hardships. I was also surprised on how fast Finley quit basketball to be by Erin. Basketball is Finley’s one and only favorite sport and I would find it hard to quit mid game for the rest of my life. I know he did it out of love and compassion towards Erin but I could not wrap my mind around how he did it so fast without emotion. During this book I learned a lot of valuable lessons about life and sports. When Finley chose to get up during the game and leave to go see Erin I think it changed my views of relationships with others. I also learned that I could find it in my heart to do the same as Finley and quit a sport for someone that I love. In the book Finley is thinking to himself when he says, ….”I think about Mr. Gore saying basketball means nothing to him now. I suddenly realize I don’t care whether we win this game, or if I even play. It’s a game. Erin’s in the hospital. What am I doing here? I never dreamed I’d stop caring about basketball, but I really couldn’t care less about it right now.” Then, he stands and says to his coach, “‘I’m sorry, Coach. I have to go.’ ‘What?’ Coach says. ‘Where?’ I stride past the opposing team, right up to Pop and Dad. ‘I should be at the hospital’ , I say. ‘I want to be there when Erin wakes up…’” (Quick 193). After reading this book I think that the lessons I have learned will make me a more compassionate person and will drive me to help others when they are in a time of need. By Brayden E. “All I have now is my book about demon hunting and my memories of you. If that is all I ever have in my life, it is enough. But I am not yet ready to bow down to the demons that run the world! Know, my love, that I am always looking out for you. We will find a way…” -Letter written by Farrin to Sadira, page 144 Moon at Nine by Deborah Ellis is about two girls who go through every scenario imaginable just so they can be around each other and show their true love. The story is told by Farrin who is a girl that goes to a private Iranian school for girls, but she isn’t a very good student. She also doesn’t have many friends, but all of this changes when she meets Sadira. Sadira moves into Farrin’s town and school just at the right time. Farrin is overwhelmed with her parents, school, and Principal Kobra, but through all of the bad, she hears soft and beautiful music playing in the distance. She follows the soothing sound to a supply closet where she meets Sadira for the first time, playing the sweet music. From that day on, Farrin’s and Sadira’s relationship grew bigger and bigger each and every day. Their relationship never wavered in the presence of hate and fear never stopped to shine bright even in the worst situations imaginable. Farrin’s and Sadira’s passion for each other was so giant that even after death became a factor, they still loved each other more than ever. This book definitely challenged my view on what life is like for girls in the middle east, especially because the story was based off of true events. I was shocked when I read some of the things that not only Farrin but many other girls either had to do or couldn’t do because of the rules that are put in place. The one rule that stuck out the most to me was the ban of any homosexual acts, which completely changed every aspect of Sadira’s and Farrin’s life after they formed a relationship. This law and many other rules and laws that oppress creativity were put in place by the government and became the culture of Iran. It has become part of the culture in Iran to publically execute anyone who violates a rule or arrest a person for hanging up a poster supporting something different from the government. Farrin and Sadira have to conform to the culture of Iran in order to stay out of trouble, but most importantly, to stay alive. It’s because of those things that I changed my view on the middle east in general, but specifically I changed my view on the lives of women in the middle east. If I were to think about any book that I’ve ever read, I would say this one changed me the most emotionally. Usually the only things the emotionally move me are things that I can relate to, but this book was so different from my life or any other lives that I know of that it emotionally moved me more than anything I can remember. This book made me realize just how lucky not only me but all of us are to have everything that we do and to be able to do what we want while other people in other countries have to go through the hardest things imaginable just to do simple things like show their true love as shown in this story. After reading this book, I will really appreciate everything that has been given to me and everything that will be given to me from this day on. Additionally, this book made me focus on one quote that will be engraved in my brain now which is, “enjoy everything that you have now because you don’t know when it’s going to be gone.” This applies to both people and things because you have no idea when you are going to lose a loved one or when you’re going to lose something as simple as your favorite t-shirt. This made me realize it’s better to enjoy the things you like while you have them, so you don’t regret not doing it when they’re gone. By Joseph C. Police brutality has become a major topic in the United States mainly being centered around black lives. All American Boys is a fiction book that mirrors the United States in reality. In the story, a new tomorrow is created by two boys, one white (Quinn), and the other black (Rashad). After witnessing police brutality, Quinn becomes very bothered by the fact that the police officer was someone very close to him and that the kid was Rashad. He didn’t know Rashad at the time but the scene was a life changer for Quinn. He learned what it means to be an All-American Boy: to do the right thing no matter what your color or race is. All American Boys is told in first person but goes back and forth between Quinn and Rashad telling their story. The author wants the reader to know what the reality of the United States is regarding whites and blacks. The reader should realize what it means to be an All-American Boy. I was surprised by how brutal the police officer beat Rashad. Rashad felt as if his life was seriously threatened. The police officer assumed Rashad was stealing, and even after assumption he still beat Rashad. What’s wrong, is the fact that Rashad was not stealing. He got caught in a false situation at the wrong time. My thoughts were challenged by the police officer’s perspective and Rashad’s father’s perspective. The police officer argued that he was just doing his job, but as the reader, you know it’s wrong because Rashad didn’t steal anything. Rashad’s father was also a police officer in the past and has experience with all kinds of situations. He made a major mistake during his time as a police officer and shot the wrong kid during a call. Rashad’s father completely admits that being a police officer is a very hard job. Assumptions are going to be made because police officers don’t always know the whole story behind the situation at which they are trying to fix because that’s their job. In the book, I noticed that each chapter was individually focused either on Rashad or Quinn. That style of writing makes it more effective in the end when they both come together. I learned that I can express my thoughts and feelings looking past race and color. It’s better to tell someone about your troubles than to let it burn you up inside. I learned what it means to be an All-American Boy. I now know I can take my own path. I can have my own opinions and don’t have to follow others’. This helps me to be more self-confident and independent. All American Boys exposes the negative reality in the United States, but also brings hope to the future with a new tomorrow. “In the center of it all, the boy who remains and the boy beside him. Two boys, in focus. Two boys, clear. A new tomorrow, an arm’s length away.” - Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely By Pat B. Sixty-five million girls around the world are denied the right to even a basic education; more than 4,000 girls are killed every year in honor killings. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn covers the lives of women all over the world who face oppression on a daily basis, whether it’s about young girls being trafficked across Southeast Asia, women who are unable to receive maternal medical care, or girls who are forced to commit suicide because the humiliation of being raped is too great for both her and her family. The scariest fact though, is that the majority of these stories are completely unknown to most of the world’s population. The authors of this book have written these stories to make the public more aware of injustices occurring everywhere, so women similar to those in the story are able to overcome any obstacle standing in their way. All of the statistics in this book are shocking to hear. As the text states, “...more girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all of the battles of the twentieth century. More girls are killed in this routine ‘gendercide’ in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the twentieth century” (xvii). This fact itself was especially startling to me. I knew life was challenging for many women around the world, but I didn’t expect it to be as bad as it is. While my views didn’t necessarily change very much from reading this book, my overall information and point of view about this subject certainly did; I’ve gained a whole new understanding on how much some women have to fight for absolutely everything they want. This book made me extremely grateful for absolutely everything I have. Even though everyone here likes to complain about going to school, eating the “gross” school lunch, having to go the doctor, or overprotective parents, there are people everywhere in our world who wish for just half of one of the things we take for granted. The authors made me realize this, and they’ve really opened my eyes to everything happening around me. As grim as the situations are in the book, the women in them have also inspired me. They’ve all overcome so much in their lives, and have refused to give up, even when their families, government, or common sense are telling them to. Even though I will most likely never be in the same situations as these women, I’ve still learned from them what it means to truly fight for yourself and can channel it with my own life and problems. This book can be hard to read, but I truly believe it is worth it. By Shayla B. “But then I realize that everyone is climbing their own mountain here in America. They are tall and mighty and they live in the hearts and everyday lives of the people.” (Zoboi 324). To me, this quote by the author of American Street, gives a great overview of what the book is about. I think that the author is trying to tell everyone that people’s histories can have a very large impact on who have have become now. Also, once you learn where they came from, you can begin to get a deeper understanding on who they are now. Once Fabiola leaves her homeland, Haiti, and finally gets into America, her mother is detained at the airport. Fabiola has to move in with her extended family she’s never met, when all she really wants is to live a good life in America with her mother. As she navigates her way into a new country and a new life, Fabiola will do just about anything to get her mother back, even if it means betraying her new family. Throughout the novel, she tries to find a way to be true to herself and the loved ones around her. The majority of the story was told from Fabiola’s point of view while some chapters were other characters background stories. Throughout the story, something that surprised me a lot was when the author made one of the main characters get shot and die. Kasim, who was one of the most important people in Fabiola’s life died. It was such a shock that all my emotions were crazy. It was an important part of what made me want to keep reading. Most of the books I’ve read don’t let main characters die. It was really bold of the author to do that. Also, the reason that Kasim died was because of Fabiola. She never intended Kasim to get hurt, but by doing this, she betrayed all of her cousin’s trust as well. While I was reading the beginning half of the story, I looked up to Fabiola, but after she made a choice which got Kasim killed, I was frustrated. After reading the novel, it helped me realize that everything I do and say can have a very large impact on those around me. Also, you have to think about how people were raised before you criticize their decisions. I think that the author’s overall message to the readers is that you have to accept those around you and learn from them. I learned that even the things I did when I was very young have impacted who I am now. That includes the decisions I make and my current passions. The novel shows that learning a person's history can lead to revelations on where their loyalties truly lie. By Britta S. |
AuthorSTenth grade students at Decorah High School share how they're reading outside of their own experiences and how it has changed them. Categories
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