Determination

Authors Note: I wrote about determination because without it you cant succeed.

Many stories have determination as a major theme. Determination plays a role in many books. Nothing comes easy you have to push yourself to achieve more. You do that by getting determined to beat whatever stands in your way. One story that happens is The Lightening Thief gets determined to get his mother back after he finds out that Hades has her. Another story that determination is in is Touching Spirit Bear.  Almost nothing goes well for Cole or Percy the only thing that keeps them going is determination.

Percy comes to many places along his travels where he could give up. Instead he knows to keep going because he needs his mom. The only way to get her back is to keep going and you have to determined to do that. It is the hardest thing he has ever done. Wanting something really bad can push you to do crazy things like fight the god of war. Seems a little crazy but he’s determined to get his mother back and it made him do something incredible.

Cole has been in some rough places as well. He was mauled by a bear. He was on deaths doorstep for a week. The doctors didn’t know if he was going to survive. He had finally found a reason to live before he was mauled and he was determined to live and would do whatever it takes. To push through all the injuries he had sustained took an extreme amount of determination.

All in all, determination can help you overcome many obstacles and plays a huge role in many books. It brings hope by wanting to do something. Determination can be found in almost every book because something needs to be resolved and it’s never easy so must things must be overcome.

Why Change It

Authors Note: I wrote about this because it is one of my favorite book series.

Books and movies can vary dramatically because nobody wants to see a four hour movie. So they must condense the information from the book. That is exactly what they did between the book The Lightning Thief and the movie. That is why some people prefer the books because they can more emotion over a longer period of time.  In this case they left out some major things from the book.

First enormous thing I noticed that Ares wasn’t in the movie. In the book he was a major character and part of the climax in the book. The fight with Ares was my favorite part in the book and I was hoping it would. It showed how much power Percy truly has. Only a handful of people would stand up to Ares let alone fight him and win. It added a lot of meaning because braveness is a necessity to have even when it comes to spiders.

Likewise in the book you find out that Annabeth is extremely scared of spiders. In the tunnel of love spiders  petrified her and it almost got her and Percy humiliated to everyone on Olympus. It shows you that not everyone is fearless even though they may look it. If I were to have seen the movie without reading the book Annabeth looks like a hardcore warrior that is not scared of anything. With reading the book you feel like you know the character better than movie explains. It helps the overall feeling toward the movie because you know more than the movie shows even with the lighting and music they add.

When Percy, Annabeth, and Grover travel to the underworld its dark scary and just makes you feel like something bad is going to happen. The ferryman’s voice is omniscient as if he knows something bad is going to happen but his facial expression gives nothing away. On the other hand, Percy and his friend’s faces look scared and unsure if they have made the right choice to come here. They don’t know what is going to happen but most likely it won’t be good.

All in all, it may be an extreme task to complete but they should try to put more of the book into the movie. Music and lighting is the way to add emotion in a movie to make it interesting and fun to watch. The suspense it can create makes you want to keep watching. Authors do the same they want to drag you in so you keep reading.

Response to "Ribbons"

“Ribbons” is a short story about the bond between family. The ribbons in the story symbolize a huge thing. The love between them and the understanding of each other. Dancing was the daughters passion, but every time the grandma saw them, it brought back memories of her past. Of how the pain in her feet from when she was younger never went away.

All she wants is for her granddaughter to never feel the same pain she did. Stacy didn’t understand that at first and thought that “Paw-Paw” was just mean and cruel. But that all changed once she learned the truth behind her bedraggled feet. So those ribbons of hatred for grandma turned into ribbons of love.

Courageous

I have been told i'm extremely courageous by the people I have saved. I have traveled across the country too many times to count bringing new people with me every time. The discrimination against our people is so unfair. the way they make us work all day everyday no matter the weather is unbearable. I am making it my mission to save all of these people i can and take them to safety up north. 

My nickname is Moses I started by saving my family from slavery and other slaves decided to come with. eventually I just kept going back down south and saving people. I even helped some into Canada to get away from the horrible times here. I have never lost a person on my way to rescuing 300 slaves.

I even helped to fight the south in the Civil War I was a cook and a nurse to help our soldiers in battle. Then I became a scout and spy. I was the first woman to lead an armed military expedition. On my mission I rescued 700 slaves. I then retired to my house in New York until i died at age 97.

Author’s Note- I wrote this piece to show my understanding of text analysis.

Throughout the whole book, Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins incorporates a lot of symbolism. Although you may not realize it, there’s some in every story you read. The Hunger Games is a fight to see who can survive. There are 12 districts and two people are chosen at random from each district: a boy and a girl. The whole point of the game is to obviously survive, and to get the most fans. The more fans, the more things they send to you; therefore, you survive longer. All of the symbols that Suzanne Collins uses in this book really help create an image for the reader and help them imagine what it’d be like to actually participate in the Hunger Games.

A symbol that really stuck out for me was the mocking jay pin that Katniss wore going into the Hunger Games. Each person going into the Hunger Games is allowed to bring one thing in with them. Out of everything that you could bring, Katniss decided to bring a mocking jay pin. For Katniss, that pin symbolizes protection and feeling safe. She wears it right next to her heart so she feels safe and thinks of her family waiting at home for her.

Besides feeling safe and protection, dependence on others is also a big symbol in this book. Although, the Hunger Games may seem like you’re on your own, all of the contestants still rely on the viewers to help them survive.  In order to fight of f sicknesses and to overcome hunger, Katniss and Peeta must put on a show for the viewers in order for them to send Katniss and Peeta supplies to survive. This symbol is not only used in the book, but is also mirrored in society. People need people. Although we try to be independent, the truth is we all depend on others  to help us. We can’t function on our own.

Another book that has the same theme of depending on others is the Harry Potter series . Throughout, the series  Harry is trying to fight off the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, who is trying to become immortal and conquer the wizard world. In order for Harry to succeed at defeating Voldemort, he depends on his friends: Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger. While writing this book, J. K. Rowling used a lot of symbolism. One example is, the deathly hallows. A  possessor of all 3 , comes to terms with death; which is where they get the name, The Master of Death. This symbolizes power over death.

Although the Hunger Games aren’t all about flying and dark magic, Harry Potter and Hunger Games have a lot in common when it comes to themes and symbolism. Just like these examples above, there is much more symbolism in these books and in many others. Though other books have symbolism, Suzanne Collins by far writes an outstanding story that gives you the adventure of being part of the Hunger Games all by using symbolism.

A tough choice

Knowing you have to save the world is a ridiculously scary thing. In the book The Last Olympian Percy Jackson must do so. Leaving that responsibility to a 16 year old Half Blood with dyslexia and ADHD can really get in your head. You could do some incredibly stupid things or just hide from it. Throughout the story he realizes that he must do what has to be done.

He grows up faster than he should but sometimes it’s what is expected. He doesn’t always think things through like escape routes or good battle strategies he just walks right into traps sometimes. One of his good friends had died fighting the enemy because Percy forgot how they were going to escape Percy was lucky he left with his life. When he gets back to camp he can’t explain what happened really. “Charlie died because of my stupidity I will avenge his death.” That was all he could manage it shook him But somehow he got a great amount of determination because of this.

The determination led him to believe they could win the war. So they started running small raids on the enemy to slow them down. Some went well and which was a huge boost of confidence which means so much on the battlefield. On the other hand, when fellow Half Bloods would die it would mix his emotions and cloud his judgment because he wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing. Battle strategies were not a huge strength of his he was just a great warrior. He felt it was the right thing to do because there wasn’t much else they could do.

Although sometimes doing what’s right isn’t always the best thing to do. The raids were practically doing nothing because of the size of the enemy army, while they were losing Half Bloods it was hurting him and affecting him in a bad way on the battle field he wasn’t as tough or smart. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take” Percy said.

All in all, growing up too fast can be a bad experience. Some of the decisions create too much pressure to put on Percy. But setbacks and sadness can push him to be very courageous and brave on the battlefield and throughout his life.

Wyatt's View

I have stolen 

your majestic

walrus that

was in it's cage

which you

were saving

as a

pet animal

forgive me,

or don't

I love

my new walrus



dakotat-languagearts.blogspot.com

Luck of The Devil

A 15 year old spy is a pretty crazy thought but Alex Rider in the book Snake Head is and is very good. He is posing as a refugee trying to be smuggled into Australia by the most dangerous gang in the world the Snake Heads. He is working undercover to try and figure out how they do it so the Australian secret service can stop it and arrest some gang members. But along the way he runs into a lot of trouble. I predict that he will be caught and killed by the leader of the Snake Head even though his godfather always said he had “The luck of the devil.”

My main is reason is that I think someone has been spying on him and reporting it to Major Yu. So he already knows what he looks like and who he is so Alex won’t have the element of surprise. That is his biggest weapon not being fully grown yet people never see it coming. Also Major Yu has been the leader of the gang for 15 years so he is very good at his job. Alex just turned 15 last month. He doesn’t have the experience which is a huge factor with this job. So he is at a disadvantage from the start.

Also A huge reason is he usually has gadgets this time he has nothing to help him. He is empty handed and is out matched it seems. In the past gadgets have always been huge they helped him with everything you can think of to give him an edge. He needs that edge more than ever now but I think he is in a bad situation they know he is a spy and what he is capable of.

All in all, you never want to see the main character die but I think it adds an interesting twist. It’s almost as if you can see this coming because he has to do it all by himself and they know exactly who he is. Luck can’t always win. In the end skill will prevail.

Life Is Not Fair

Authors Note: I choose to predict the ending of the book I am currently reading.

When a boy can throw 80 miles per hour at age 12 that raises a lot of questions. Especially for Michael Arroyo who plays for a baseball team hoping to make it to the Little League World Series. His older brother is the only one who takes of him because his father died but no that’s his and his brother secret because Carlos is not old enough to take care of Michael he is only 17. Whenever people ask they say he is visiting his sick brother in Florida. Throughout the story I predict that people will start asking too many questions of his age because of his athletic ability. This will translate to the league commissioner finding out and him and his brother getting sent to foster homes.

My main reason is because people have tried to fake their age in the little league world series before to try and win. So people will get nosy and eventually find out his father dead because they can’t beat Michael’s team. A boy named Justin on another team already thinks Michael is older than he says. Then the league would want to talk to Michael’s dad and see a birth certificate. 

Another huge reason is because even though Carlos works two jobs he can’t pay the mortgage on their house. Which leads to debt collectors calling wanting to talk to Michaels dad. I think that they might show up and notice his father is not there and call child and family services because it is illegal not to report a crime. The odds are just not in their favor.

All in all, even though he wants to play in the Little League World Series more than anything in the world he will most likely be sent to a foster home. Sometimes bad things happen to good people but other times good things happen to bad people. Life can throw you many surprises.

The Glorious Seven

Authors note: I wrote a prediction piece because they are easy.

Waking up and not knowing who you are must be horrible. This happens to Percy Jackson in the book The Son Of Neptune. I think that Percy will somehow connect with his past and present by completing a dangerous quest.

He was put to sleep for eight months by a goddess named Hera. When he woke up he had no memory and had no idea what had happened to him. This makes me think that he will get his memory back and meet up with his old friends. Because they need more demigods at camp Jupiter to fight off the attack coming on the summer solstice in a few days. So he will find the Cyclopes king kill him and rush back to camp Jupiter to help fight off the invading enemy forces.

He has meet up with three more very powerful demigods and an ancient prophecy said that seven demigods would come together and kill the king of the Cyclopes who was ordering attacks on demigods. The three people in the first book will come to their  camp and  then the seven demigods would be fighting together as the prophecy said.

All in all, these are my two reasons for thinking that the seven demigods will find a way to call each other for help. So only then they will have enough strength to fight of the enemy army.

My Walrus

Authors Note: I love walruses.

Wyatt had a big walrus big walrus big walrus big walrus Wyatt had a big walrus who was glorious.

Authors Note: I think this book shows a great example how point of view can change a book.

In The Boy With Striped Pajamas a nine year old boy, son of a Nazi officer, becomes friends with a concentration camp inmate. Together, they become great friends even though there is a fence separating them. The story is written in Bruno’s point of view. From this perspective, a lot of events and characters are described in a way that makes the reader a little naïve about the events going on at the about what his dad does and what is happening at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

One way that Bruno’s point of view influences the reader's interpretation is how this perspective describes the Jewish at the concentration camp. He simply sees them as people with striped pajamas. Even though they are starving and sick, he fails to notice what is really happening. This stood out to me because he will most likely get in trouble later on in the book.

However, the reader would feel a lot differently about the Jewish and the Auschwitz concentration camp if the novel was written in the point of view of Bruno’s dad who is a Nazi officer. As an example, the reader would react angry when Bruno was interacting with Shmuel- who is Jewish -when Shmuel was supposed to be cleaning glasses. These points of views are almost completely opposite.

As you can see, the point of view of a story just shows you one side but knowing the other is important. In The Boy With Striped Pajamas the narrator's perspective makes the reader naïve about the events happening around Bruno. After reading this book you realize how naïve and confused Bruno was towards the concentration camp. He thought the Jewish were only different because they wore striped pajamas and were on the other side of the fence. His point of view is completely different than anyone else’s and leaves you wondering what other people were thinking during the time of Bruno’s short life.

Bravery

Author’s Note: Throughout, Fighting Ground by Avi you will learn how to be brave and how to grow up.

Saving a child from a house fire, fighting for your country, and protecting your family are all examples of courage and valour. Many genres of books included the themes growing up too quickly and bravery, but in my thought action and adventure have the best evidence of themes.  In the book, The Fighting Ground, by Avi, readers will learn how it feels to be brave, which helps you become a strong person, but if you mature too quickly and  think you are invincible, it can hurt you in different ways.

Although bravery is an important aspect to carry in life, being too brave can actually hurt you in multiple ways. Jonathan, a 13 year old, fighting in the Revolutionary War has a lot of evidence of his bravery in the story.  For example, Jonathan was fighting, he took the big role of shooting a musket at the British during war.  Also he saved a little boy that lost his parents and was scared. However, Jonathan was too daring; after the war he finally noticed that war wasn’t fun and games.

Well bravery is a big part of the book, the other theme, growing up too fast is equally as important.  Growing up too quickly is not a great trait to have because Jonathan, barely a teenager, hasn’t lived through his childhood yet, and he still wants to take adult responsibilities. At the age of 13, Jonathan is joining the soldiers to fight for what is right. After almost his death and his close call with getting captured, he finally notices at the end of the book that he was too young for war.

Bravery and growing up too fast isn’t only discussed in Fighting Ground: these themes were also discussed in The Hunger Games.  Katniss, the main character in “The Hunger Games”, took adult responsibilities by providing food for her family and also showed courage by taking her sister’s spot in the games.  Both of these characters share many traits, but are still different in multiple ways.

While bravery and growing up too quickly were huge factors of the similarities in both of the books, determination is what brought the two books together.  Being brave and maturing too fast, both have their pros and cons.

Striving To Live

Authors Note: I Wrote about this theme because it is a super important one in life.

Perseverance plays a huge role in Gecko’s life, he could stay in Juvie but he does everything he can to get out of it. Where he lives is a very hard to place to stay out of trouble because almost everyone is in gangs in his part of town. Peer pressure is hard to say no to. Also his best friend is in one and he is scared that he may lose him because he got in trouble with a gang and they are after him.

He keeps trying to be a good person but staying out of trouble is not his thing. He has to persevere to stay alive because he really has no one taking care of him. He has to work hard to feed himself. He has had to persevere through a very hard life but he is a smart kid and could have bright future ahead of him.  If you work hard you can accomplish great things.

I think this theme relates to Touching Spirit Bear because he has to persevere to stay alive with after getting mauled by a bear. Also to get his full range of motion back in his limbs because they are not healing well.  But they both wanted to live and so they had to persevere to otherwise they would not be alive.

All in all, life will most likely never be easy but trying your hardest is all you can do but those who keep persevering can change bad things into good or great. Where you start doesn’t matter it is where you finish you life is how people are thought of.