Blog Post Reflections

I believe that the quality of my writing has improved tremendously over the course of the trimester.  One way I believe that my writing has improved is by the length of the blog posts.  At the beginning of the trimester I wrote really short blog posts that were not very detailed.  Towards the end of the trimester my blog posts started to pick up in length and they stared to improve with detail.  My vocabulary also improved over the course of the trimester.  Also, throughout the trimester I improved upon changing up the vocabulary.  In one of my first blog posts I repeated words such as harmful two or three times in a row when I could have used a different word such as dangerous.  Looking at my reading connections blog post from the end of the trimester there are not words that are repeated over and over again.  One thing at the beginning of the trimester that I struggled with was adding in URL’s.  Such as with one of my first few blog posts I did on marijuana.  I reflected on an article I read on CNN.com.  In my blog post I never added the link of the article so someone would be able to access it themselves.  Although towards the end of the trimester in the reading connections blog post I had added in pictures and links to an article on bullying.  At the beginning of the trimester I really didn’t have a point to my blog posts.  On my marijuana blog post from the beginning of the trimester I really didn’t do anything but restate what I read in the article and state the obvious such as “Marijuana is harmful”.  Towards the end of the trimester in my reading connections blog post I used outside information by finding other sources and put more thought into my post other than just restating what was going on the novel at the certain point in time.  My overall progress over the trimester I would say has been tremendous and I am very happy as to where I currently am in blogging. 

          After improving my blogging over the course of the trimester there were things in the process that I struggled with.  One thing that I struggled with was adding in my progress from Goodreads.com.  I was able to update my blog and I was able to update Goodreads.com but when we had to transfer our progress from Goodreads.com to blogger there seemed to be issues.  It was challenging for me to insert my quotes and books into my blogs.  Lastly, I was challenged by the two blog posts a week.  It was a lot of reading and after a while I would run out of things to blog about.  Looking back on this trimester, I have noticed that a lot of my blog posts are very similar.  A few of my blog posts state the same things just in different ways because I was at my breaking point and I had nothing to blog about.  As you can see I have had a few challenges there was something that I was really good at when blogging.  If you go back and look through my blog posts from the beginning of this trimester to the end you will notice that almost every one of my blog posts have an addition or added in URL.  I was really good at making sure I had a good use of pictures and added in links to my blog posts.  For example in my reading connections blog post there were two pictures and an article on bullying statistics linked in.  In my very first blog post based on my summer reading project there was an embedded video, a picture, and a linked in article from CNN.com.  Throughout the whole trimester I would say embedding links and pictures into my blog posts was a strength.  On Goodreads.com I had set a goal of five books.  I did not meet my reading goal this trimester.  I did enjoy using Goodreads.com.  I really liked that I was able to get book recommendations from other peers and see what they have read and liked or disliked.  I also used Goodreads.com to update where I was in my books.  Overall I have really enjoyed my experience this trimester with blogger and Goodreads.com.                

Key Confusion

On page 87 Elise discovers the first key.  After receiving her last birthday letter from her father at age twelve he had left her a hint.  He had told Elise in the last letter that he was leaving something else for Elise to unlock and discover.  Elise had made the connection that the key she found in Uncle Hugh’s barn with her name was a present that her father had left for her. 

Secretly Elise takes the key to the second floor of the barn and tries to unlock the first door that comes to sight.  In this room Elise finds a teddy bear that had been her mother’s a child, in the bears lap there is a note that asks Elise for love and care.  The bear has also been sitting in her mother’s favorite pink reading chair.  The walls of this room are lined in pictures of Elise’s mom throughout her life.  This is just the first door but once she finds the items inside the room she finds no sight of the second key.  Elise is questioning how she is going to get into the second room because there is no sight of the next key. 

One morning Elise wakes up and the first thing she notices is that the second key has appeared on her windowsill.  She thinks she is living a dream because she doesn’t know how the key has arrived in that location.  She sticks the key into her pocket and throughout the day is checking that the key is still there and making sure that it hasn’t evaporated.  When Elise gets home she still feels the key so she runs upstairs to the second floor of the barn.  Elise has to try two or three doors before she can find the door in which the key belongs.  When Elise reaches the door for key number two her reaction is quite surprised. 

Elise finds a bunch of books.  There are books all over the walls in big huge book cases.  There is no note that was left in this room.  To be honest I am a little shocked too.  I’m puzzled on how Elise is supposed to find the purpose of this room.  The only objects left in this room are books, and many of them.  I predict that these are all of her mother’s favorite books.  The books were possibly left behind for Elise to read and enjoy just like her mother had throughout her lifetime.           

Goodbye Franklin!

Goodbye Franklin!  Elise is piled up with so much stress and she is so overwhelmed that on page 76 she lets Franklin go.  She throws her best friend, her one and only friend out of her life.  The only person who has been there for her for her whole entire life whenever she has needed something is, gone.  Is she going to find someone else who will be there for her like Franklin was?  The chances are highly unlikely.  If you ask me, it was not a wise decision that Elise made.  Franklin never let her down and was always Elise’s shoulder to cry on. 

Elise has multiple issues with Franklin and they are all just starting to pile on top of each other and eventually they were going to concave.  Elise thinks that she is being bullied because of Franklin.  She blames everything on Franklin which isn’t the right way to handle the situation she was put in.  According to Elise the kids at school make fun of her because she hangs out with Franklin.  He is nerdy and that’s the reason Elise is being made fun of.  It’s also Franklin’s fault that Elise fell during the game of Knights and got scars all over her legs.  Leading to the fact that its Franklins fault the kids at school are bullying Elise.     

Elise may have just been overwhelmed at the time when she snapped at Franklin.  I think that when she starts to lose stress she will regret the decision she made.  Have you ever heard the saying ‘you never know how great your life is until something’s gone’ I think Elise is going to be really lonely without Franklin.  He was her only friend and once she realizes what she did, I think she is going to miss Franklin and then she is going to real him back into her life like you would with a fish.     

Could Things Really Get Much Worse?

There have already been so many bad experiences for Elise in the sixth grade; you may be wondering could things really get worse?  Well, yes things for Elise have gotten even worse.  Aunt Bessie's sister Annie and her baby are now going to stay with Aunt Bessie, Uncle Hugh, and Elise.  Elise is really concerned about Annie and her baby coming to live with her.  Elise doesn't really like babies.  "Babies make me nervous.  If they're screaming because something's wrong, they can't tell you what to do about it.  I'm afraid I'll break them when I touch them.  And they make me think of my mother (LaFleur 53)."  Not only is Elise 'afraid' of the baby, but the baby seems to get all of the attention.  

     

            When Annie and the baby arrive Aunt Bessie takes into the baby and starts talking to it in a high squeaky voice.  Aunt Bessie hollers for Elise to take all of Annie's bags to the extra room downstairs forgetting all about Elise's bummed thumb.  It takes Elise over five trips to get all of the bags into the room downstairs because she is only able to use her left hand.  This weekend is also Elise's birthday. 

            For Elise's birthday all of her cousins and friends come over to see her and they have the 'Biggest Sloppy Joe Fest'.  Although all of the attention is supposed to be towards Elise it is focused on the new baby.  "'Look at you girl!  All grown up!' she shrieked as she gave me a hug.  'There's a baby in the house right?  I'm dying to meet her!'  She ran up the porch steps.  Whose birthday was it, anyway? (LaFleur 66)" The guests have just arrived and the attention is already focused towards the baby.

            Elise and Aunt Bessie always send time in the kitchen together.  It's there thing, and it's a time where they bond and create a lot of memories and fun.  When Elise walks into the kitchen she not only finds Aunt Bessie but she finds the strangest combinations of food.  There is butternut squash, a banana, an avocado, and a bag of apples.  Elise comes to find they are not making food for themselves; they are making food for the new baby.  Now Elise and Aunt Bessie can cook while bonding over the new baby.  After preparing food for the baby Elise asks Aunt Bessie if they were going to cook dinner for themselves.  Aunt Bessie replies and said she had already prepared their dinner and it was waiting for them in the refrigerator.  As you can see Elise's experiences of being eleven have not gotten much better.        

Romeo and Juliet

            So far the play Romeo and Juliet is, I think pretty great.   Although, there are a few things that I don’t really like.  One thing that I don’t like about this play is that the words are from olden English and are hard for me to comprehend.  All of the words that I don’t know become overwhelming and I start to lose focus.  My brain shuts down and intern I don’t know what is going on in the play.  It would be better if there was a more up to date version that had a different choice of words.  Words that would not take away from the main ideas of the text but would allow me to stay focused and interested in the text.  Also, I really didn’t understand the beginning of the story and some parts can become overwhelming such as the Queen Mab section.  Although, with the help of my classmates they are able to explain it to me and I am now able to understand difficult parts in the play.    

            One last flaw I have with the play Romeo and Juliet is that it isn’t realistic.  When Romeo and Juliet first meet they think they have already fallen in love.  It is way too sudden for many reasons.  One reason being is that Romeo has always already thought he has found true love.  After seeing Juliet one time he suddenly switches his feelings and now believes his love is for Juliet.  Romeo and Juliet have just met for the first time and have only said about three words to each other.  They have no idea of each other’s personalities or views for the future.  There is no way that they have fallen in love this fast.  The scene, I believe went to fast and was so unreal. 

            Other than the unreal love and misunderstanding of complicated words I have really enjoyed this play.  I also really like how we watch the first made movie and the most recent movie made.  I really like getting a good visual of what is going on.  After reading it and watching it two times I think it is a lot easier to understand what is going on.  This play has a really intriguing plot and I can’t wait to find out what happens at the end.      

Things Get Worse.

            Things get worse for Elise.  Her sixth grade year is not going as planned and it is putting her through absolute misery.  The first day of school she had scars from falling when playing Knights with Franklin.  Kids bullied her and the popular girls made fun of her.  Elise is really shy and doesn't have the confidence to speak up for herself.  When kids make fun of her she doesn't speak up so they continue to do it.  Elise isn't your average teenage girl.  All of the other girls in her school wear little skirts and tight shirts.  Elise on the other hand wears jeans, gym shoes, and baggy sweatshirts.  Elise doesn't do her homework and on Monday she comes to find that her grade is already starting out as a zero.  She is experiencing she has to do her homework because this is no longer elementary school.  When walking into school on Monday kids still remember her scars, now word has gotten around and basically the whole school has found out.  The kids continue to make fun of her and be mean to her about the games she plays with Franklin.  To make matters even worse Elise and Franklin were messing around in Uncle Hugh's barn and building castles.  Elise goes to hold the base and walls together while Franklin hammers in a nail.  Franklin misses the nail and smashes the hammer right into Elise's thumb.  Elise is rushed to the hospital.  Her thumb looks worse than ever, she has to get a shot because there is rust from the nail that has gotten into her cut and she has a broken thumb.  Elise is required to wrap up her thumb and have her arm in a sling.  On Monday morning when she arrives at her locker, the popular girls are there waiting for her once again.  Wish Elise good luck when she takes on the wrath of her classmates.               

Eight Keys Confusion

I am currently reading the book Eight Keys.  On Franklin and Elise’s first weekend of the school year they had asked Aunt Bessie to make ice cream.  There are two parts of this scene that I am a little confused about.  The first part of confusion is that Franklin is lactose intolerant.  Aunt Bessie said there is a way around everything but how do you get around ice cream without using milk?  One of the main ingredients in ice cream is milk and I think it would be impossible to make ice cream without it.  If Aunt Bessie did find a way to make ice cream without milk, was it guaranteed to taste good?  In my opinion they should make something else that doesn’t allow Franklin to not be able to eat it.  Baking or cooking something else would still allow the young children to have a great time in the kitchen, and it would also allow Franklin to have a normal food without any major changes being applied.   

The second scene that I am confused about is that Franklin and Elise have been waiting all day to make this ice cream with Aunt Bessie.  They have had to find other things to do until the evening when Aunt Bessie was finally done with her catering job.  This was the highlight of their day.  When making the ice cream all goes well.  Elise and Franklin had a wonderful time just like they were hoping.  When the put the ice cream in the freezer for a while and then remove it to eat Elise doesn’t immediately eat her ice cream.  She waits until her ice cream re-melts so she can eat it.  Why would you wait all that time for the ice cream to freeze up and then wait for a while for it to melt?  Why didn’t Elise just eat her ice cream before it was put into the freezer?  In my opinion she wasted her time when she was able to enjoy her ice cream much further up in the day.     

Characters- Eight Keys

          In the book I am currently reading; Eight Keys there are two characters that play a big role in the story.  First there is Elise.  Her mom died when she was born and her dad passed away when she was three.  Elise says that her parents are an empty space inside of her and she never really thinks about them much.  Elise lives with her Uncle Hugh and her Aunt Bessie.  She really enjoys living with them and they are really close to Elise as if she was their own child.  Elise has a best friend Franklin that she has known for forever.  In the beginning of the story Elise is really close to Franklin, they play a game called Knights together and they don't really care what people think of them.  They play this game because its fun and it's what they like to do.  During a round of Knights before their first day of school, Elise was running away from Franklin and tripped on a tree branch.  She fell and tumbled down the giant hill.  For her first day of school Elise has scratches and marks all over her legs.  The kids in her class made fun of her and she became really embarrassed.  This game has changed Elise and she is now really self conscious.  Now Elise cares what people think of her and she is letting the world bring her down.  Elise now never wants to play this game again; the game that meant everything to her childhood.  "I'm not better from the last time we played Knights,"  I said, feeling the smooth sheets against my rough, scabby legs.  And I wasn't better from getting made fun of.  This was the weekend; I wanted to push school out of my mind, to forget that yesterday had ever happened (LaFleur 12)."  This character Elise really advances the plot because she is really adventurous.  She is curious and really likes to have fun.  Without her as a part of this story this book wouldn't actually be a book.  There would not be a best friend for Franklin and there would be no adventure or curiosity.     

            Next, there is Franklin White.  Franklin is best friends with Elise and they have been friends for all of their lives.  Franklin needs Elise, they are like partners in crime.  Franklin brings excitement and action to this novel and he is into science and the environment.  Franklin loves to have fun and explore, although his mom is very controlling.  In the beginning of the story he doesn't really speak what's on his mind.  Franklin keeps his feelings to himself but you know he really wants to tell Elise how he feels.  Franklin begins to open up to Elise and he tells her what he thinks and how he feels. ""You know what the best thing about the summer was?"  I asked. 

"What?"

"Not having a to-do-list." 

Franklin was quiet for a minute.  "We have one more day," he pointed out (LaFleur 23)." 

            There are three minor characters in the novel Eight Keys, Uncle Hugh, Aunt Bessie, and Mrs. White.  There are also characters such as the classmates that bully Elise.  Uncle Hugh is a carpenter.  He renovated the old barn in their backyard.  Now there is a bathroom and electricity.  Uncle Hugh has had custody of Elise since she was three and his nickname for her is Cricket.  He really wants the best for Elise and he does whatever he can to make her happy.  When he is refinishing furniture he allow Elise and Franklin to help him and when there is no more work to be done he lets them mess around with his leftover scraps.       

            Aunt Bessie has had custody of Elise since she was three also.  Aunt Bessie is a chef that wears a black chef's clothes.  Aunt Bessie wears black for a better look.  Elise and Aunt Bessie cook together every Saturday as long as there is no catering job to be done.  Since Aunt Bessie is a chef their kitchen has all of the newest and up to date appliances.  She is a very smart chef and she really finds a way out of every situation.  Aunt Bessie even figured out how to make lactose tolerant ice cream for Franklin.  Aunt Bessie is so caring and will to anything to keep Elise happy. 

            Mrs. White is Franklin's mom.  Mrs. White is one of those very overprotective kind of parents.  She knows where Franklin is at all times and she sits down to make sure he eats all of his food.  Franklin has many allergies and this may be the causing to her over protection.  "Well, I'm heading out.  You can play with that stuff if you want.  You know never to touch anything else in here.  Just don't tell your mother Franklin, she wouldn't like you in here alone (LaFleur 15)."  This is a quote said by Uncle Hugh.  Mrs. White is also not so great of a cook.  Elise claims that even her attempts at frying eggs are better than the eggs Franklin's mom cooks.              

Eight Keys

I have just recently started the book Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur.  So far this book has been okay.  It has started off a little slow but I’m not really far enough into the book yet.  The beginning was not a real cliff hanger for me.  It did not really grab my interest with an interesting topic, and I found it rather boring.  I think the book is starting to pick up though because already in chapter two, the main character Elise, has found out about the keys.  Elise lives with her Aunt Bessie and Uncle Hugh.  They take really great care of Elise and she seems proud to call them her 'parents'.  She knows from when she was a child that she is not allowed into the barn with the locked doors upstairs.  Ever since that experience Elise and Franklin have been curious. 

          It is Elise and Franklin’s first weekend of the new school year and they are rehashing everything they did over the summer that they enjoyed.  One of the things on their list was making lactose intolerant ice cream for Franklin.  When Elise and Franklin meet up with Aunt Bessie she tells them that she has a catering job today.  She told them that later in the night they could make ice cream together just not right now.  The next thing on their “fun things to do” list was refinish furniture with Uncle Hugh.  Meeting up with Uncle Hugh in the barn outback he told them that he had already finished all of the work for today and he was going inside to relax until more work was thrust upon him.  He told Elise and Franklin they were more than welcome to mess around with the leftover scraps if they didn't tell Franklin’s mom.  Elise and Franklin didn't feel like messing around, they wanted a real job.  Instead of using the old scraps found in the barn they went to their last idea written on the list.  Elise and Franklin were going to catch frogs in the pond behind Franklin’s house.  This was one thing they both really enjoyed doing over the summer and they wanted to relive that experience.  When they arrive at the pond they don’t hear frogs nor do they see frogs.  What are Franklin and Elise going to do?  They have tried everything on their "things to do list". 

          I predict that Elise and Franklin will somewhere locate the keys to the eight locked doors up in her uncle's barn.  I predict this because they have nothing else to do and nothing else to cover their minds with.  They have always been curious to what is behind those eight doors.  Now with Aunt Bessie away and Uncle Hugh out of the barn they have a perfect opportunity to solve the puzzle.               

Reading Connections

Text to Text: 

          I found a text to text connection between the book Thirteen Reasons Why and the book My Sister's Keeper.  In the book My Sister's Keeper at a very young age Kate Fitzgerald was diagnosed with leukemia.  At first Kate really didn't think anything of it.  Yes, of course she was being looked at differently and people were judging her because she had lost all of her hair.  Although, Kate just put that behind her and lived her life as if she was cancer free.  Once, Kate gets older she comes to realize that her leukemia is tearing her family apart.  Kate soon feels that she is the reason her family is falling to pieces.  Kate now knows the cancer is not only killing her, but it is killing the rest of her family too.  She then wishes death upon herself; Kate wants to die.  (For more on this book read my other blog posts) 

          In the book Thirteen Reasons Why Hannah was being bullied.  She was being bulling in many ways and by many people.  The kids that were messing with Hannah had taken it way too far and they would not leave her alone.  Hannah was strung over and also wished to die, like Kate.  Hannah had, had enough and committed suicide.  Why didn't Hannah ask for help?  Why didn't Kate try to pull her family back together?  Did either of these two girls even try to save themselves?  Is death really the answer to every situation?

Text to World:

          The book Thirteen Reasons Why relates to the world of teenagers and bullying.  Did you know 30% of teenagers in the United States have been involved in bullying?  I predict these bulling statistics will always occur and be an issue because there will always be people in the world that are cruel to others.  As much as I wish bulling didn't exist I know it will always be an issue of discussion.  Data is suggesting that bullying is very common in the life of a teenager.  Hannah in the novel Thirteen Reasons Why  was fifteen years old and was also being bullied.  The bullying Hannah was experiencing was so severe that she committed suicide.  Teenagers in the world today also can become very depressed which can lead to suicide.  Teenagers today as well as Hannah Baker are dying from the wrath of their peers.     

Bullying Statistics     

Text to Self: 

       The book I have just recently finished, Thirteen Reasons Why, believe it or not can relate to my life.  I have experienced others being bullied and I have also been bullied.  Bullying is a very crucial topic and I wish it didn't exist.  I don't enjoy to be bullied and it really hurts my feelings.  You could come to a conclusion that Hannah Baker and I have both gotten our feelings hurt from bullies.  I have been bullied just like Hannah was bullied in the story Thirteen Reasons Why.  Why do people bully me?  Why do people bully others?  Why did people bully Hannah?  One reason I think people bully others is because of jealousy.  The kids in the novel may have bullied Hannah because they were jealous of her.  She was pretty and rich.  Some people think that if you bring someone else down then it will make you have more power.  I wish bullying didn't exist and I am pretty sure Hannah would agree with me.  

The Interlopers

Out of all the short stories we read in class my favorite was The Interlopers by Saki.  I really liked this short story because it was written very well.  There was a lot of description and you could very easily picture the rivalry of these two families.  Based off of the description the author gives you, you can picture the setting of the story.  You are able to feel and see the story.  I also really liked this short story because it had a well thought out conflict.  I really liked how the story was planned out.  The conflict was very well written and really helped create a well-rounded short story.  Another reason why I really enjoyed this short story is because you wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen and which side was going to come to the rescue first.  The author did a great job of keeping you hooked.  This book was also had a great theme.  The theme of this short story was ‘Don’t judge someone based on past experiences or history, wait until you get to know them yourself.’  This theme was not only placed very well into the story but this also can apply to people today.  If you decide to read this story it would be a great experience for you to learn from. If you like short stories that are very easily comprehendible that will keep you hooked with a good plot this would be a great reading for you!   

Big Nate; not so great!

          I am going to review the book Big Nate Out Loud by: Lincoln Peirce.  When my seven year old brother was reading this book to me I was a little confused.  I was asking myself why his second grade teacher would allow him to read this cartoon book for his personal reading.  On every single page of this book there is a cartoon box with four squares.  In each box there is an average of five words.  I am puzzled as to what educational purpose this book solves.  I really don't understand what learning this is going to do for him. 

          Another problem I had found with this book was that it was pointless.  This cartoon book really had no purpose.  I found it to be very random.  It goes from talking about setting trends to talking about Nate's grade on a math test.  This book also has a lot of words that are un-comprehendible for children at the young age.  The word choice used was set at a very high level, yet the overall randomness and picture drawings don't really mix well.  With the given words it seems as if an older child would be reading this book, but with all of the pictures going on you would think it would be for someone of the young age. 

          I would definitely not recommend this book to older kids.  The book overall is just not very reasonable.  I also would probably not recommend this book to younger children.  This book is not going to help improve their reading skills and there are many words they will not understand or be able to read.  This then causes the children to become confused and not understand the overall point of the scene.  This book is probably not a great choice for you and I would personally not recommend it. 

             

My Predictions

I really like the book Thirteen Reasons Why.  I especially like this book because it is starting to pick up.  Although throughout the whole book it was very interesting and I have really enjoyed the beginning of the story.  Now, I am very excited to keep reading because the novel has finally gotten to Clay’s tape.  I am thrilled to find out what part Clay had in Hannah’s death. 

I really am puzzled about what Clay did.  From his point of view it seems as if he has done nothing wrong, but from Hannah’s perspective will she see otherwise?  I don’t really have any prediction about what Clay did.  According to the way Jay Asher writes, Clay has been nothing but nice to Hannah.  I am really curious to find out what she sees wrong in him. 

          Although I am very excited to find out what happens on Clay’s tape I am also a little disappointed.  I was surprised Clay’s tape was not the one at the very end.  I was thinking that Clay would be introduced as a reason of Hannah’s death as the last tape.  Now I am curious as to how the author, Jay Asher is going to end the story.  I did not predict correctly because Clay’s name has appeared and the story has not come to an end.  Now I am thinking the book will become boring after Clay’s tape.  I am not sure what the author is going to talk about and how he is going to keep the readers hooked, now that he has already allowed Clay’s name to appear.  I feel as if the end of this book will fall to a compete end, and it will become completely boring because there will be no hook as to where Clay’s name will appear.  The whole book you are waiting and waiting for Clay’s name to be announced and the buildup keeps on becoming larger.  When you reach a new tape you are so excited to find out if this will be Clay’s tape.  After Clay’s name appears three fourths of the way through the book you are going to have no buildup or anything to hope for because you will have already know what part Clay had in Hannah’s death.  I am very curious to find out if Jay Asher can pull this story to a complete end that will keep me hooked.  

How does marijuana affect you?

I read an article on CNN.com called Fighting marijuana... or reality? 

Who is allowing people to hold position of this drug? 

          According to Mr. Frum's predication "half of the states may soon allow the sale of marijuana to almost anybody determined to buy it".  I disagree with what the states may soon allow.  I believe it is a bad idea for people to be allowed to have this drug in their position.  When under the influence of marijuana you don't act like yourself.  This drug is very harmful to your body and may cause you to do things you will regret.  Using this drug has caused many accidents so to prevent things from happening unexpectedly marijuana should be illegal in all of the states.  People should not be allowed to hold position of this drug.    

Why is this drug not becoming illegal in some states? 

          The risk of marijuana is very comparable to when drivers have a blood alcohol level of .05%.  To be arrested for a DUI the level must be at least a .08%.  When a person is under the influence of marijuana that means they would still be quote on quote "legal".          

How are people being affected? 

          In states where this drug is illegal people are going out of their way to find a way to buy marijuana.  Then, allowing themselves to be caught under the influence under it.  Smoking marijuana can also be very harmful to the human body and causes chronic muscle spasms that are known to be very painful.  Also, smoking marijuana can be very harmful to the user's lungs.      

When and where should this drug be allowed? 

          Marijuana can also have a positive effect.  I think that this drug should be allowed in hospitals and emergency rooms for the necessary needs.  In some cases marijuana can be very helpful up to the point of helping someone live.  Marijuana will always be a problem of the future because it is a plant and plants are the necessities of human living. 

Below is the URL of where I read this article.   http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/opinion/nathan-pot-legalization/index.html?hpt=us_mid  

Book Recommendation

Do you ever regret anything you’ve ever done?  I wonder if Hannah regrets the choice she made about ending her life.  Did she really have that many things not going the way she had wanted them to?  Was it really worth taking that risk?  She was just fifteen years old.  Why did she end her life so early on?  Hasn’t she always wanted to grow up, graduate from high school, go to college, get married, and live the life of her dreams?

I would definitely recommend Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher!  This story has a great plot line that will keep you on your toes.  When reading this book you will never want to put it down.  You are always wondering what is going to happen next.  You are always wondering when Clay’s name is going to appear on the tapes.  You want to keep reading and figure out the reasons as to what caused Hannah to commit suicide.    

This book is great because the story is told from many characters point of views.  You can understand what Clay is feeling while reading the tapes and thinking about Hannah.  Also, you can really feel what Hannah is going through by listening to the tapes she has left behind.  You can very well understand how Hannah is feeling and why she did really not want to continue her life.  With the description and detail the author, Jay Asher has used the story is vividly repainted in your mind.  You, the reader feel like you are living the life of Clay Jenson.  Feeling regret while listening to the tapes, wishing there was some way you could have saved the girl of your dreams.  

 You should read this book is you want know why Hannah ended her life so soon.  This book would be great for anyone who likes to question decisions others have made.  I would recommend this book to people who don’t really make good decisions and don’t really enjoy life.  This book would be a great learning experience in which you could learn from other people’s mistakes.  I would recommend this book for girls because it has a lot of drama.  If you like stories that are a little depressing this would be the book for you!  

The Choice is Yours

          The book I'm reading for my independent reading novel is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  I am over half way done with the book on page 202 of 336.  The theme of this book is that everyone is responsible for their actions.  You are your own person and you make your own choices.  Hopefully the choices you make are the right choices for you.  The choices you make are your decisions, not anyone else's therefore; you are responsible for all of your actions. 

          This novel has a great theme and could really inspire people to make good choices.  Hannah didn't make a very good decision, and her decision cost her, her life.  Hannah could have chosen to live but instead she made a decision that hurt many more people than just her.  She could have asked for help.  When she was being watched she could have told her parents or someone important to her.  When people were taking away her confidence in her peer communications class Hannah could have told the teacher.  Hannah knew who it was but instead she didn't speak up and she let her peers win.  Hannah had the right to change who she was.  Although, she didn't take that opportunity.  Hannah had the right to be happy.  Instead, she just got hung up on the little things and never really realized how great her life was.  Hannah always had the choice to change her life, but she never took that chance. 

          In the novel Thirteen Reasons Why the protagonist, Hannah has decided to commit suicide.  Before Hannah decides that she is better off somewhere else other than this earth she makes cassette tapes.  On these tapes there are the reasons as to why she killed herself.  These thirteen tapes with Hannah's reasoning arrive on the doorstep of Clay Matthew's house one day after school.  Clay is very confused and hesitant when he comes home to this package.  Putting his feelings aside Clay listens to the first cassette tape.  When Hannah introduces herself Clay suddenly is hit with memories.  Clay remembers Hannah and he knows that she committed suicide.  Clay realizes that each of these tapes has someone's name written all over it and somewhere he would find his name.  One of the first things recorded on these tapes was, "When you're done listening to all thirteen sides- because there are thirteen sides to every story- rewind the tapes, put them back in the box, and pass them on to whoever follows your little tale.  And you, lucky number thirteen, you can take the tapes straight to hell" (Asher 20).  Where will Clay find his name?  Which tape will be the fault of Clay Matthew's?  What did Clay do to make Hannah want to kill herself?  

        This video is a clip that is very inspirational, as well as motivational.  This video clip relates to the theme of Thirteen Reasons Why because it informs you about the choices you have in life.  These choices are up to you, and you are the one responsible for your actions.  Make the right decisions based on what your brain is telling you, the choice is up to you.         

Summer Reading

The book I chose to read for the summer reading project was My Sister's Keeper by: Jodi Picoult.  There are two main complex characters in this novel, Anna and Kate Fitzgerald.  Throughout the novel Kate has a lot of drastic changes, while Anna really has the same mind set the whole story.

During Kate's life she always had the thought of living her life to the fullest.  She was so adventurous and willing to try new things.  Even though she was diagnosed with cancer she would always try to put that behind her and live a normal life.  She did things like going to prom with another boy and going to the beach.  In the beginning of the story Kate was always happy and never really got upset or angry at the fact she had leukemia.  Kate was really okay with the fact that she had cancer but towards the middle of the novel the leukemia began to not only bring down Kate but the rest of her family as well.  This is when Kate started to change.  When the cancer was tearing her family apart she felt as if she would rather die.  Kate suddenly became very angry and irritant.  Twice, Kate tried to commit suicide and then she asked for her sister to kill her.  Kate hated the fact that she was tearing her family to pieces.  "These days, I'm fighting fire on six sides.  I look in front of me and see Kate sick.  I look behind me and see Anna with her lawyer.  The only time Jesse isn't drinking like a fish, he's strung out on drugs; Sara's grasping at straws.  And me, I've got my gear on, safe.  I'm holding dozens of hooks and irons and poles- all the tools that are meant to destroy, when what I need is something to rope us together" (Picoult 143).  This quote on page 143 is from the perspective of the father Brian Fitzgerald and it is showing that even he believes his family is falling apart.  

Throughout Anna's life she had always been miserable.  She was put on this planet to save her sister's life.  She was engineered to become a donor for Kate.  Anna knew that she was born for a reason and she didn't like that reason.  Anna feels as if her parents only seem to notice her when Kate needs a donation.  Ever since Anna was born she had been donating to Kate; stem cells and chord blood.  Anna didn't like this and when she turns thirteen she hires a lawyer in hopes to be medically emancipated from her parents.  After being pricked and poked for blood all of her life Anna wants to be free and make her own decisions.  Throughout the whole novel Anna seems to be hurting inside as well as outside.  

The theme of My Sister's Keeper is "live each day to its fullest because, it may be your last."  This is the theme because it applies to both of the main characters.  One of the main characters Kate, has leukemia.  She definitely lives each of her days to the fullest; which includes going to prom with a boy named Taylor that she meets while in relapse.  She lives her days putting the diagnosis of leukemia behind her and by trying to live her life the way she wants to.  The other main character Anna, always goes out without a doubt of an accident happening that would cause her to pass away.  She donates blood, stem cells, and organs to help keep her sister alive.  Anna also plays as the goalie for a men's field hockey team.  Anna enjoyed each day not knowing she was going to pass away from a car accident at age twelve.  "And me, well I began to hate myself.  It was, of course, all my fault.  If Anna had never filed that lawsuit, if she hadn't been at the courthouse sighing papers with her attorney, she never would have been at the particular intersection at that particular moment.  She would be here, and I would be the one coming back to haunt her" (Picoult 421).     

The quote I chose is a great representation of the theme.  It shows that Kate was the one expected to pass away but, instead it was Anna.                    

My article is about designer babies and how they are going to become a popular thing in the future.  The article says that many people are interested in creating perfect children and are willing to pay thousands of dollars for it.    

Designer Babies Article