The Protagonists's Influences

"The Future of Us" by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler gives us a peek into what the "future" looks like to another person in a different time period. It is 1996 and "less than half all American high school students had ever used the Internet." Facebook has not been invented yet. Josh gives his long time friend, Emma his CD-ROM and that's where their adventure in the future begins. Throughout the book, I noticed protagonists; Josh and Emma influence each other through the course of Facebook.

Emma has just logged on to her future to find herself unhappy with her life. She feels like she has it bad compared to Josh (because he lives the “perfect life”.) She doesn’t want to live her “future life.” So she decides to change her future by giving her future husband a call, Jordan Jones Jr., making sure she doesn’t meet him in her later life. This action makes me think that Emma is kind of selfish. Emma is selfish because she wants her future to be perfect. Josh’s perfect life made Emma change her future in my opinion is a negative influence. In the book, she decides to call Jordan up to find out what college he’s in, which shows that she doesn’t want to be stuck with Jordan. This leads us up to the negative impact because Emma tries to alter her future. Josh should not be bragging about his future with his money because it will make Emma upset about her own future.

On the other hand, both protagonists do have a positive impact on one another. For example, near the end, both Emma and Josh realize that they have been too into future Facebook that they didn’t even live the now. Emma notices that whoever she ended up “marrying” in the future, she wasn’t happy with any of them. On the other hand, it seemed to Josh that he was living the life, but he didn’t really seem happy with his family. It seemed like Josh was living by the stereotype. This ends up bring Emma and Josh together realizing the answer was there the whole time. (Oh my god! How romantic! Excuse me, I’m really cheesy!) They realize that whoever else they end up with will not make them happy and they were meant to be together. ©

After reading the book, I realized that everybody has an impact on whoever they’re around. I can relate myself to my friends. Well, the other way around. Don’t fan girl this, but my friends are into One Direction and now I’m sort of liking them too. This isn’t necessary a positive or negative impact, but still I mean, look around you. There are so many influences that sometimes you forget.

In conclusion, Josh and Emma influence each other and they find their way into each other’s arms. Awww©So Cheesy

Am I Afraid of What Others Think of Me?

 "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by Emily M. Danforth is about a gay teenage girl, Cameron. She rebels against her conservative ranch town and she get sent off to a gay conversion therapy center because her family decides she needs to change her ways.I notice many personalities about Cameron; before the discovery of her being gay and after. I think even though Cameron is free-spirited, but is still aware of what others might think of her.

One way which Cameron shows she's aware is when she felts relieved when her parents died. On page 29, she says, "She doesn't know about Irene and me at all. Nobody knows...Mom and Dad don't know about us. They don't know, so we're safe-..." This shows that Cameron is aware of what her parents might think of her "experiment" with Irene because she doesn't want her parents to find out. This is sort of beyond the whole "aware of what people think of her" part. Cameron is worried that her parents are going to find out. When her grandma tells her that she has some bad news, she immediately thinks of Irene and the kissing thing. This action makes me think that Cameron only thinks of the bad things; meaning only the bad things for her. She doesn't think about what her grandma just told her- her parents just died. If I were here, I wouldn't be glad my parents are dead. I would be in grave despair that I just lost both of my parents.

After a few months after her parents' death, Cameron and her friend, Lindsey start to hang out. When they both end up in a changing stall, evidence shows up of their attraction. Cameron is sort of self conscious when she comes out of the booth. Outside the booth, a group of girls on Lindsey's team are aware of what happened. Because of their "masks of disapproval, sneering mouths and squinty eyes," she ran away from them. She tried to "run" away from her problem. She didn't like the fact that the other girls knew because she thought it was sort of easy for her to pretend like nobody else had noticed anything about her, about Lindsey and her. I feel like Cameron only wants the secret to be between her, Lindsey and God. She doesn't want anybody else involved because she thinks that everything would be better if nobody knew at all. I feel like knowing that nobody knows is a great feeling, but it is still a great burden. Like if nobody knows your secret, you feel safe, but at the same time, you feel like you are in closed quarters. No one knows at all. I believe this is how Cameron feels like because she feels better if only a few people know her secret. But I think that maybe int he back of her mind, she feels like she's going to burst if she doesn't tell.

When Cameron discovers her attraction to her friend, Coley, she doesn't feel secure telling her. On page 172-173, Coley says, "We can find you a cowboy in no time. Or two cowboys. Twelve cowboys." In responds, Cameron thinks, "Or how about a cowgirl?" This shows that Cameron wants to show Coley her true self instead of the one she is told to be, but can't because Coley might not agree with her. I think that Cameron has this gut feeling that she is able to tell Coley that she's gay, but then has her 'devil' telling her not to because she doesn't want to 'scare' her away. It shows that Cameron doesn't have a strong "gut-going feeling" because she cares of what others think of her when she tells the world she's gay. It makes me think that Cameron is insecure of herself.

In conclusion, Cameron is really a girl who wants to let the world know who she really is than who she is suppose to be. She feels scared that others will run away from her and ban her to another corner of the world. She wants everybody to know that she is not what everybody wants her to be, she wants to be herself. I feel like that is a big issue in the real world. People should be allowed to be who they are than who they are "suppose to be."

GIRAFFE CAN'T DANCE?

Pictures book are quite entertaining to read for children while messages are hidden within the lines. I've read "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae. There were many messages while one stood out: Don't doubt yourself because others belittle you. Trust yourself.  I got this from when Gerald started to dance. He let himself believe that he was a bad dancer because of what others told him. He didn't realize that he didn't have be what everybody expected him to be. He was own person, meaning that he had his own dancing. 

"Sometimes when you're different you just need a different song." This line comes up in the book when a friend offers Gerald(the giraffe) some advice. I feel like this is very true because everybody is different. Nobody is the same. Everybody has their own sparks in life; they are good at what they are best. Gerald was not good at dancing like his friends. He couldn't dance like the lions, the rhinos, or the monkeys. He felt like he had to dance like his friends, not thinking about how he could dance. When the cricket told him "Sometimes when you're different you just need a different song," Gerald loosened up. He started to dance like he had never before. This shows that Gerald realized his true self.

I also noticed the color of the pictures changed throughout the story. The bright colors I noted was when Gerald was in the middle of the jungle dance floor. The color made me think of how the spotlight was put on him and he felt so embarrassed. All the pressure was on him and there was no one else to comfort him. The dark colors where he was alone in the jungle made me think of calmness. Calmness meaning there was no teasing, bullying, or anything taunting him. He was alone and he could think. The dark color reminded me that sometimes thinking of your problems by yourself helps a lot than having everybody telling you to not do it because you're no good at it. 

Concluding my thoughts, I felt like reading a picture book like an eighth grader was more "meaning" than just reading a regular chapter book. I feel like sometimes the biggest messages can be expressed through simple words and illustrations. 

small and....

I've just finished reading a book called, "Other Words for Love" by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal. Seventeen year old Ari is a fantastic artist. But her best friend, Summer is constantly belittling Ari. This I think is what makes Ari stick in the background; meaning she can't stick up for herself.

One of the lines that show how Summer belittles Ari is on page 183, " 'Oh my God you're kidding me,' ." Summer is referring to Ari's boyfriend who apparently is a "hunk". She says this because she doesn't think that Ari can have a guy like him. She thinks that she is better than Ari and she's the only one that can have a gorgeous guy while Ari can just observe her love life. This makes me think that Summer is just a selfish person. She has no respect for her best friend, which makes me think why is Ari best friends with her when she doesn't have a voice in defending herself. Ari in response thinks , " She meant that Blake was filet mignon and I was Spam, and those two things couldn't possibly go together." She knows what her "friend" means, but she doesn't have the guts to tell her. This is what makes Ari small and scared to speak out.

Another line that I find interesting, which I can't seem to find, but has a lot of meaning: Summer and Ari start to argue. This where Ari realizes that she can have more than one friend, not just Summer. This is where she realizes even though she has drifted apart from Summer, Summer has still stayed by her side. This is where Ari finds her true self. She leaves Summer and finds Leigh and comforts her. This is where she realizes that she has not had a voice in her friendship with Summer. I'm really happy for Ari at that moment but what comes after is kind of "mean". She decides to spend some time with Summer and another time with Leigh. I find this mean because Ari is trying not to confront the problem. She's just trying to hide it so everything feels like normal. I feel like this has made her even more small because she's hiding her friends. She doesn't want to confront her fears, fearing that one day the friends will collide and go away.

After reading the book, I felt like Ari has gone through a significant change from the beginning and end. At the end, she stays friends with Leigh. Even though Summer is gone, she left Ari knowing that she has changed and she is not the same girl who flirts with guys and writes their names down in her dairy. Ari has taught me a lot and I hope her "story" sticks with me when I go off to college.

Relationships and Kid

In "Brooklyn, Burning" by Steve Brezenoff, Kid is a street kid. He has been in and out of his home. Meanwhile his dad doesn't want him in the house, his mom knows nothing about the day his dad kicks Kid out. When Kid is on the streets, he meets new people, his new group of friends. Throughout his friends, each and very one of them is an influence in his decisions. There is Fish, a bar owner; Konny who is wild and does not say to one sexuality; Jonny who seems to be a friendly guy with unlimited supply of drinks and lastly, Felix; him and Kid form a relationship but it doesn't not work out. Scout is later brought into the story, a year after Felix and Kid make flyers to form a band, she shows up on Fish's bar steps looking for Felix. This is the point where Kid's life starts to change. His choices are influenced by his friends and family. His resolutions are dependent on his relationships with each and every one of his peers and family.

Throughout the story, Fish shows up many times. I think she has a lot to do with Kid's decisions, especially him going home. Many times in the book, Fish tries to urge and push Kid into the right direction. For example, on page 23-24, it states, "When we reached the door, it swung open. I hadn't even noticed Fish walking besides us through the bar. 'Where are you sleeping, Kid?' Fish asked as we passed through, into the wee hours. 'The usual, I guess:Felix's old place,' I said. 'Unless you're going to let me crash in the cellar for once?'...'Why do you want to sleep at the warehouse?' Fish said. 'Why do you even want to sleep in the cellar? Why do you keep surrounding yourself with...'"This quotes from Fish makes me think that she really does care about Kid's future. She keeps pushing Kid to go back home and make up with his parents so that he can live a better live. For example, on page 67, it states, "I felt her hand on my shoulder and cringed a little. 'You know,' she said, her voice calm now and soft, 'you could just go home.'" Every time Kid asks if he can sleep in her cellar, she says the same answer, no. She tries to push Kid home instead of living on the streets. Fish is really a caring person who wants the best for everyone.

Another type of relationship that sort of harmed his path going home is his father's. His father is constantly belittling Kid. He doesn't not acknowledge Kid when he's around because I think he is embarrassed by him. For example on page 119-121, it says, "Ms.Weinberg gave a tight smile and said bluntly, 'I'd like to release Kid to your care.''Who the hell is Kid?' I raised my hand at the elbow, shyly, and Dad chortled and shook his head...'And what if we don't want Kid?' Everyone froze and looked at my dad. 'After all, I never heard of anyone named Kid. Shouldn't be my problem, right?'...'I've got the only kid I know who doesn't know whether to be straight or gay or a guy or a girl or what.'...'You know the last time I let any of the guys down at the plant to see my family? Five years, if a day.'' It seems to me that Kid's dad doesn't want to do anything with. He thinks badly of his son and ignores him. He's saying that Kid is a disappointment to his family. On the other hand, his mother is the total opposite of her husband. She adores Kid and when he left, she didn't now what to do. For example on page 124, " I took a step back, widening the space between us even more. The backs of my legs hit the coffee table.'Dad packed my bag. I came home---late---and my bag was on my bed. Dad stood there and told me to leave. He said you didn't want me in your home.  Mom put her hand to her mouth and gaped at me. She hadn't known; for a year she'd thought I'd run away---run away to drink and get stoned and have sex. She'd been listening to Dad, and I haven't been here to tell her some truth. 'Sweetie,' she said,' I didn't know. I never did.'"  Kid's dad was using Kid's mom so that he can get Kid out of his roof. He didn't want Kid in his house, bringing strangers to his house and doing things. He needed something or someone to get rid of him. So he lied to Kid saying that his mom didn't love him anymore. Kid's mom should not have believed her husband. After Kid comes back home, Kid and his mom pout their heart out to each other and they get a little closer. Now that Kid has his mom on his side, I think Kid will live a normal life.

Kid's relationships with his peers and his family definitely has changed the course of Kid's life. Even though some of the relationships had some bad on him, he still had enough to get by there. Realationships in people's lives are helpful in many ways. In the real world, family members help out each other. Like if my sister doesn't know how to do her homework, I'd help her. I would be like Fish, hinting out hints, helping her and sort of telling her to do it herself. Sometimes if the problem is huge, like a pregnant teen, her parents would help and guide her all the way throughout her pregnancy time. Her parents would get her ready when the time comes. You see reader, connections with other people are good even if they have the bad in it. Realationships with others will lead you to the right route :)

Am I Blue?

"Am I Blue" by Bruce Coville is a short story about a boy, Vincent who gets bullied at school for "supposedly" being gay. His eyes are opened to a whole new world when his fairy godfather, Melvin comes for a visit. There are a lot of real world issues in this story such as illusion, false information usage and reality.

Before Melvin opened Vincent's eyes to a whole new world,Vincent and his world was full of misconceptions. For example on page 12, it states, "You told me the theater crowd hangs in here...Groups like that tend to have a higher percentage of gay people, because we're so naturally artistic...Of course, some bozos take a fact like that and decide that everybody doing theater is gay." It id almost like saying all Asians are good at math. And also like popular people should date popular people. It creates an illusion with false information that sometimes gives others hard times.

After Melvin exposes the gaydar, an automatic sensing system that lets you spot people of the similar persuasion, to Vincent, he is shocked to see what he sees. For example on page 12, it states, "But Mr.Alwain, the fat guy  who ran the grocery store, looked like a giant blueberry-----which surprised me, because he was married and he had three kids. On the other hand, Ms.Thorndyke, the librarian, who everybody knew was a lesbian, didn't have a trace of blue on her." Mr.Alwain is married and has three kids, but he is blue all over. It seems to me that he is hiding and trying to live a normal life as possible. Ms.Thorndyke who apparently is a lesbian, she din't have any blue on her. This relates back to pgae12-13, "Can't tell without the spell...Straights are helpless at it. They're always assuming some is or isn't for all the wrong reasons."

When Vincent and Melvin declare Blueday, it means that all the gay people in the country turns blue. When the people figure out what it means, that's where reality comes in. on page 15, "The reaction ranged from panic to hysterical denial to dancing in the streets." This is where the illusion is all shattered. I wonder what is going to happen to people like Mr.Alwain. I mean, they have a family and then BAM! out of the blue(HAHA, get it blue...) they're blue. I know it is going to be chaos, but this is the day where people are going to recognize their true colors.

Melvin has exposed Vincent through new lens to a different real world. He saw himself and maybe you'll see yourself in a way you've never seen yourself before. I'm not saying you are gay, just saying you'll find your true self one day. :))

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury is about a boy who is in the Vietnam War. This is his first time in war. Throughout the story, there are many meaningful lines. In my opinion, I think the line "After that he turned the drum on its side, where its great lunar face peered at him whenever he opened his eyes", is one of the most important in the story. In the time of war, nothing seems to stay put. For example, "A moth brushed his face, but it was peach blossom. A peach blossom flicked him, but it was a moth. Nothing stayed put. Nothing had a name. Nothing was as it once was." This tells us that nothing in Joby's time of war stayed the same. So the drum, his drum was the only constant in his life. It says that the drum's lunar face peers at him whenever he opens his eyes. Saying that, the drum is always there with him. It gives him a feeling of a bit secure knowing that he has one familiar thing to hang on to.

Relating to the knowing of hanging onto one familiar thing, I know a few stories. I remember the day I transferred to a new school. You know why I transferred? Because I was smart. Haha. But back to the story. I was new. I had no friends. Everything seemed so foreign. New faces and new teachers. No offense, but I felt like I was the only Chinese person there. It's scary to be in a place where no is like you. I didn't really know what to do. The familiar thing that keep me going was not really that familiar. It was actually my teacher. Yea, I know I don't really know her, but I felt like the teacher was my guide throughout the year. And she was. Many and plenty times she helped me out.

Really, to sum up, even in lonely new times, you'll always find some familiarity hanging around somewhere. :)))