“You can love someone so much...But you can never love people as much as you can miss them.”

http://alexstutt5.blogspot.com/2011/12/paper-towns-archetypes.html

I have read Paper Towns by John Green also. I think it was a well written book that had a lot of mystery. It was also depressing in a way because we all wanted to like Margo for being herself-but how could we like someone that kept on running away from everyone/everything she loved?

I think that Alex did a great job with this blogpost. For the first part, she retold the story in her own words to get the viewer up to speed and then she added a bunch of her ideas in. She also gave many text examples to support her ideas. I agree with Alex when she says that this is a loss of innocence book-and almost a quest. Margo is very adventurous and likes to live life to its fullest. She is willing to take chances in life: whether they lead to a good or bad result. I also agree that both Margo and Quentin will learn something thanks to Margo's outgoing personality. To add to what Alex said, I think that not only will Quentin realize something but he will learn an important life lesson. He has always been the "goodie-goodie" and was the absolute opposite of Margo. Now since he's love struck, he will do anything for Margo which will benefit him in some ways too.

One thing that Alex says in her blog post is that she thinks that Quentin in the "Hero". I don't know exactly what she means by this but I don't think there is a "Hero" in this book. Even though Margo might seem like the Antagonist, it depends on the way that you look at things. Her and Quentin are both "feeding" off each other and learning to improve themselves. They both have things to contribute to their relationship. Quentin makes bad mistakes in this book too, it's not only Margo. I think that they both are considered the "Hero" in this book.

Another thing I would like to say is that later in the book you find out that Quentin's 2 best friends aren't always there for him. It might be just because they're guys but I discovered that Radar is a very independent person. Like any human, he gets mad at Quentin for being "obsessed" with Margo. After a while, he gets fed up with Quentin and doesn't want to help anymore. I guess this could happen with any relationship, but I don't think it's fair to say that "they will always be there for Quentin, and help him with whatever he needs". In reality, good friends are always there for their friends but it can vary depending on the situation.

Margo reminds me of Stargirl in Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli because they are both willing to stand out in society. They both are adventurous people who play by their own rules and don't do it just for attention. The only difference between Margo and Stargirl is that in school Margo is accepted and Stargirl isn't. Margo is the most popular girl in her grade-because of her uniqueness but someone like Stargirl can't even get accepted into her society. Results from being yourself can be different yet it is always the right choice.

I think Alex did an amazing job with her blogpost. I think it stood out from all her other ones is because it restated what was happening in the book well. It also didn't have any repetitive aspects and just went straight to the point. She had great ideas and thoughts that she expressed in this blogpost with a sophisticated vocabulary. It was also the perfect length.

I also think (as my conclusion and in response to Alex's blogpost) that there has to be some people like Stargirl and Margo who set examples for others. People who aren't afraid of being called "unique" because it's those people who make a change in the world. Those people are the people who invent stuff and bring people closer together. Soon everyone will realize that and start to love people for who they are (if they didn't already).

The Penderwicks

In the book The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall, Skye Penderwick and her family just moved into their house for the summer. She loves her sisters but is really different from them in so many ways.


She is different from her sisters because they are really polite but she isn’t. She doesn’t say sorry when she hurts somebody or does something wrong, she makes a bad first impression on people and she is really stubborn. “Good morning, Jeffrey. I’m Jane Penderwick, officially elected spokesperson for Skye Penderwick, whom you met yesterday. Skye asked me to express her regret for crashing into you and for her subsequent and rude behavior and hopes you will forgive her and not take it too personally” from the book, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall pg.46. This doesn’t sound like what Skye would say at all! It is clear that Skye didn’t make this speech up and didn’t mean any of this; Jane is just saying this because she either has a crush on Jeffrey or was forced to say in on behalf of everyone in their family.


Skye Penderwick also looks different from all of her sisters. All of them have dark, curly brown hair and brown eyes, when she has straight blond hair and blue eyes. Skye might pretend that it is cool and unique to have blond hair and blue eyes but inside she feels left out and wishes she had dark, curly brown hair and brown eyes. They even made up a nick-name for her “blue skye, blue eyes.”  “That’s how you can remember which one she is,” said Jane “blue eyes and straight blond hair. The rest of us have identical brown eyes and dark curly hair. People get me and Rosalind mixed up all the time” from the book The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall pg.11. It’s obvious that she feels left out because she is so different.


I can tell that she is hiding something from her family. I think she acts the way she does because she feels left out or she’s jealous of her sisters that she is different. I think that it is good to be different but you should say sorry, not be stubborn and make good first impressions. You shouldn’t feel scared to tell your family your real emotions. You should never keep it to yourself like Skye is doing. It is good to be different and unique but you shouldn’t take it out on who you love.

It's a beast...!

In the book Beastly by Alex Flinn, Kyle Kingsbury is full of himself. His dad is one of the most well known and richest people in the world. Kyle has many friends that secretly hate him behind his back. Yet, he is the most popular guy in his high school, or so he thinks. Kyle and his dad have a horrible relationship because his dad is always busy and never has time for him. Kyle’s dad will buy anything for him, but that doesn’t patch up the hole in his heart. When his dad does talk to him, Kyle always listens. This makes Kyle feel appreciated and important. So, when his dad says that looks are the key to everything in life, Kyle believes him. 


One example of when Kyle believes that looks are everything, is when he goes to the dance with Sloane, a girl he doesn’t like. The only reason he asks Sloane to be his date is because she’s the hottest and most popular girl in school. Then, he asks another girl, Kendra to go with him to the dance--who is VERY “ugly” and unpopular--as a joke to embarrass her because he is popular and she’s not. Kendra is not at all embarrassed by this but mad and let down by his choice to be mean. She says that he will be sorry and will get revenge on him. He is very worried, as he should be, because she’s a witch. It is obvious that he doesn’t care about personality at all (even his own) and only about looks and popularity but Kendra is going to change all that.


She takes action by putting him under a curse. He has two years to find someone who he loves that loves him for him, not for the way he looks. If that doesn’t happen, he will stay in the beast form forever. For almost a year he drowns in his sorrow because he thinks it’s impossible for someone to love an “ugly” beast. This time, without the help of his dad, he has to learn that looks aren’t everything.


Kyle is afraid to leave his house when he is a beast. He is afraid that he will be made fun of because of the way he looks. He learns that looks are very important to many people. He calls Sloane and flirts with her, getting her to come to his house so he can break the curse. While talking on the phone, she admits that she loves him. He’s excited and relieved that hopefully Sloane will kiss him and break the spell. But when she comes to Kyle’s house, he gets really nervous. What happens if she doesn’t really love him underneath all that fur? He turns off the light and tries to get her to kiss him before she realizes what he really is. He pushes away all inner thoughts. While touching him, she realizes that he has so much hair. Sloane turns on the light and gets frightened by what she sees. He is a beast. Then, she admits that she only liked him for his looks. He gets scared of what she might tell people and mostly what she thinks of him now. She leaves, terrified of him. He is hurt and confused. Maybe his father is right: looks are the key to everything in life. But what can you do without looks? How will anyone like you?


Kyle is left alone and struggles to live without his looks. He will have to search hard inside of himself to find who he really is. I think he will find a sensitive and nice person. The only reason why he doubts that someone will love him for his thoughts and feelings, is because he could always rely on his looks. He has never had to use his personality to get what he wants. All his life, he has depended on money to cure life’s little problems and he’s never had ANY problems until now; and money can’t fix this. Will he realize that his thoughts and emotions are more powerful than his looks? I don’t know. I hope Kyle will learn that he has to go deep inside himself in order to discover who he is and by doing that, his capacity for love.  

Please help us.

In the book Invisible I, by Melissa Kantor, Callie is facing many problems. Her mother has disappeared and her father is an alcoholic. Now, she has another problem; her friend Amanda is also missing. Amanda leaves Callie and her classmates, Nia and Hal, totem symbols (which are animal signs) as clues to where they can find her. Coyote is the symbol for Amanda, the bear for Callie, the cougar for Hal and the bird for Nia. Callie doesn’t even know Nia but she went to preschool with Hal. Nia and Callie are having a problem getting along because Nia is unpopular. All of this is a lot for Callie to handle. In addition, Callie is part of the popular crowd “I-Girls” and none of her best friends in that clique will listen to her problems or try to help her.  All her friends prefer to talk about make-up, boys and clothes and not about their home lives or conflicts. The one person she does have is her dad. But her dad is struggling with his own dilemmas and doesn’t have time for her in his life. Though he tries to help her, he gets frustrated too easily and isn’t supportive. Her dad is all Callie has right now.  

One example of when her dad is not supportive is when she first approaches him about Amanda being missing. She comes home from school, hoping that her dad will listen to what she has to say. But instead, she finds her dad asleep and drunk at the kitchen table. Dinner hasn’t even been made and the house looks like a wreck. This shows that not only isn’t he supportive, he’s not responsible; he isn’t a good parent and he doesn’t set a good example for his own child. Callie needs help and he is not there to support her when she needs him the most.

Another example of when her dad gets frustrated easily is when Callie finds an envelope filled with twenty five hundred dollars under her bed. Callie and her dad know it’s from Amanda because of the sign of a coyote on the purple envelope but they don’t know how she got all that money. Did she steal it? Did she save up for it just for Callie? Did she earn it? These questions confuse Callie because Amanda isn’t rich. Callie and her dad go to Amanda’s house to return the money, but her family isn’t there. Callie realizes that Amanda has been lying to her about where she lives and maybe about her family too. On the way back, Callie’s dad suspects that she stole the money or is hiding something from him. This upsets Callie because she is telling the truth. Callie yells at her dad for everything he has done wrong to her and for accusing her of lying and her dad gets mad. 

If I was in Callie’s shoes, I would also be mad at my dad for accusing me of lying when it took a lot of guts to tell him about my problems in school. But Callie doesn’t have the choice to be mad at him because he is the only person she has right now in her family. 

If my friends (the I-Girls) wouldn’t talk to me about my mom or what was happening to me and I didn’t want to speak to a counselor about it, I would talk to one of my classmates who I trusted. Callie knew Hal since pre-k when they were best friends. But over time, they started to drift away from each other. She knows that he is very nice, trust-worthy and probably will become, again, a great friend of hers. He is the one who makes peace between Callie and Nia when they fight. Callie should get advice from Hal. 

I would talk to my dad about his problems and try to help him through them instead of ignoring the fact that he is having a difficult time, or yelling at him like Callie did. I would also try to find my mom as well as Amanda and hopefully figure out that both mysteries are related. Over all, I think that Callie is doing a poor job dealing with things and she should seek help from a guidance counselor.

All in all, Callie’s dad is a wreck. He is not supportive and tries (only a little) to make an effort in his job of being a dad. Similar to Callie, he needs professional help to talk about finances, relationship/family problems and his addiction of drinking alcohol. I think he and Callie would have a much better life if they did this. She would have a parent that is able to care for her, listen to her clearly and make enough money to raise her. He would have a daughter who is much happier and be able to express her feelings with empathy. In conclusion, Callie’s dad is not supportive or responsible. Callie is unable to deal with him. Their talks turn into one big fight. Together, they can change their relationship by getting help for their problems.       

     

 

“Never say 'I can't.' 'I can't' is a limit, and life is about breaking through limits. Say 'I will' instead.”

In the book The Mother Daughter Book Club, by Heather Vogel Frederick, there are 4 main characters. Each chapter is told from a different point of view. The character’s are all unique and different. They aren't friends and live totally different life styles. In school, they don't even seem to notice each other. This blog post consists of only 2 characters. I chose them because they appear to have the most importance at this point in the book.

One of the main characters is Cassidy. She has no friends and most of the girls don’t like her. They tease her because of the way she looks; which isn’t like her famous super model mom. But she is strong and has lots of courage in the inside. It is hard for Cassidy to live the way she is because her father died when she was born and she is nothing like her sister and mom. Her sister and mom are into fashion, lip gloss, dresses, make-up, modeling and girly stuff when she is into boy clothes and ice hockey. She and her mom have a complicated relationship, not only because they have nothing in common but also because she looks nothing like them. Also, they don't seem to communicate with each other and put in the time and effort needed for a monther-daughter relationship. It is hard for Cassidy to be around her mom because she is nothing like her. If they both worked on learning about each other's wants and needs that could have a better relationship. I have a lot of empathy for Cassidy and believe that if she worked hard, she have a good relationship with her mom and sister (the only family she has). I believe that she can do a lot in life if she puts her heart and mind into it because she is an independent person and one who makes good choices.

The 2nd main character is Megan. Megan is the leader of her little group called the "Fab Four". She used to be like everyone else at her school and had 1 best friend but then her father got really rich. Since then she thought she was superior to everyone else. She started buying a lot of new clothing and ditched her best friend for new friends. I think it was wrong and not smart to do that because she hurt many feelings. Not only that but she turned into someone she is not. She is really mean to others kids in her school and I don't know why. At home her life is perfect and she gets whatever she wants. I am trying to find the leading cause of her misbehavior. Maybe it could be that Megan is insecure and doesn't want to admit it therefore she takes out her fear through being mean to others but I don't know. Megan is a very interesting character that I would like to investigate more as the story unfolds.

In conclusion, I think there are some interesting characters in this book. They make me think a lot about why people do things that are not right. It also makes me wonder why some people get it easier in life and if we can change that. As the book goes on, I hope that the other 2 characters will become as strong as Cassidy and Megan and I hope to read the whole series. 

"You're not dead, but you're not alive. You're a winter girl..."

     I currently reading the book Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is about a girl named Lia who has anorexia. Her former best friend Cassie had bulimia and they had a lot in common. They used to do everything together because they just "clicked". But when they got to high school, Cassie slowly starting drifting away from Lia, doing her own thing and leaving Lia to cope with her disease on her own. Cassie passed away while in motel room, but nobody knows what happened. The night before, Cassie called Lia 33 times, leaving a voice message each time. It was unusual because they haven't spoke to each other in months. Now, Lia has flashbacks about what happens and feels like it's her fault. I think she is taking out her sadness on her disease because it keeps on getting worse and worse even though she is getting help.
     The first time she began to starve herself I believe was because she thought she was fat. But now, I think it's away of getting away from her life. It makes her tired, weak and not want to do anything. She is also struggling with school and doesn't pay attention. This is like a drug to her. Even though she says that she's fine with her parents getting divorced and that her dad has a new wife (that now lives with her), I don't think she is. I think it's too hard for her to get used to change. Also, she doesn't have anything to look foreword to in school. She has no friends and doesn't even like school. Her parents encourage her to seek help but it doesn't help much.
     I think her parents don't care about her very much. I mean, if they did they would take more responsibility in helping her heal and get better. I understand that she has a little sister they have to take care of but Lia is sick. They can't keep on pretending that Lia is fine when she is not. She is obviously depressed and is lying to them a lot. She is not eating and she doesn't weight 107 pounds-she weights 99 pounds. Parents that paid more attention to their children would know the tricks that children have under their sleeves. For example, putting quarters in their pockets to make them seem heavier than they really are. 
     Not only that, but I think that bulimia is what killed Cassie. I think that Lia thinks that too. Then why is she still doing it? Shouldn't she stop if she knows it will end like that for her too? I think the problem is that she can't control herself anymore. She can't stop what she is doing. There is something that is stoping her from doing the right thing. She knows it's unhealthy to do that yet she still does. At age 17, I would think that you can make the right decisions in life, but many people still can't. 
     I think that Lia could be helped and save herself. I think she just needs confidence and someone who really believes in her-like a friend. There's this guy named Eli who was there at the scene of Cassie's crime who likes her and believes in her. But because she thinks she can't trust anybody, she lies to Eli about who she really is (which is Cassie's best friend). I think that Eli could help her tremendously if she let him. But Lia needs to learn to open her heart to other people and appreciate life instead of ruining it. 
     

What really hard things are happening in the text?

     I just started reading the book Paper Towns, by John Green. Only on page 24, this book is about a guy named Quentin who likes this mysterious girl named Margo Roth Spiegelman. They have been friends for a long time but just recently, have became distant. Now in high school, she has become insanely popular and has a boyfriend named Jase. 


     One clear issue in this book is the issue of relationship. Quentin has many acquaintances in this book. One is with this girl named Margo. Even though she has a boyfriend, he still really likes her. They have known each other since they were little because they are neighbors. He has never been anything special to her but to him, she is the reason why he gets up everyday. In kindergarden they did everything together. He has also always looked up to her. Now, they don't speak much anymore because she is "popular" and he is not. 


     Digging deeper into this issue I realized many things. I think loving Margo so much will be a problem later in the book. If you are SO attached to someone, then you will do anything in your power to please them. I bet that if Margo came up to him and asked him for a crazy favor, he would do it in a instant because he loves her so much. Even though he is smart; love can make you chose bad decisions, do things you don't want to do or feel pressured because you have to make this "special" person happy. Another thing that could happen because he cares about her, is that she could make him break apart in an instant and she would't even realize it. If the littlest thing happened between them or she just got mad at him, he would feel like it's his fault. He would blame himself and put himself down. He wouldn't even be able to think straight because of his love for her. 


     I don't think there is an explanation to what causes him to like her. She is pretty, smart and mysterious. All I can say is that I think that by the end of the book, Quentin will learn a valuable lesson. I also don't think that any girl or guy is worth ALL your time thinking about. You should focus on your work and then if you meet a guy or a girl in process, then take the chance because you probably have something in common. Otherwise, let it go. I think Quentin will realize that there is more to life than just girls. 

"What the hell are you talking about...?"

I am currently reading the book Am I Blue?. This book is composed of many short stories that revolve around the issue of homosexuality. In each story, the main character or the person dealing with this issue, is telling the story. The author chooses to limit the voices of many secondary characters such as family, friends, girlfriends and boyfriends.

I think the authors choose to limit those voices because they are not the most important. What the main character is feeling and their actions that they put into play, keep the story going. The supporting characters then respond to what they do by reacting in some way (whether it is good or bad). For example, in "Parents' Night" by Nancy Garden, when Karen admits to her family that she is lesbian. Her father won't except the fact that she likes girls and ignores her for weeks. He wants to pretend he has a "normal" daughter and is ashamed of who she is. Even though the dad has a big impact on Karen, and the book could have been written from his point of view, it is not the most important.

The effects on the stories that have a side, or many sides excluded, is that you don't get the full story. The reality is, a book can't have ALL different points of view. There are main characters and supporting characters. The supporting characters usually cause the problem and/or help the main character get over it. You may need to assume things or infer what a character is feeling. In the short story, "Michel's Little Sister" by C.S. Adler, Michel and his sister are really close. They tell each other everything and look out for each other because that's all they have since their mother is working 24/7. In the beginning, Michel's girlfriend--Wendy--breaks up with him because she thinks he is gay. "Forget it," she told him. "You don't want me, Michel. I don't turn you on." (Pg. 151) Later, Michel's little sister gets in trouble in school. She doesn't tell you why it is, but you can guess that it was something said to her about Michel's sexuality. You can assume this because of two things before that that are said. First, Wendy breaks up with him because she thinks he is gay. Second, a guy comes up to him and asks him out (figuring out before Michel that he is gay). Not having all points of view cause you to have to think more deeply about each of the supporting characters. You have to think about the main character too, but a lot of it isn't a mystery because they give it all away.

In some short stories, the main character's voice stands out because the other are missing. Therefore, you only know one point of view of the story and have to go by what is given to you. Most of the time, this is not the case but in the short story "Three Mondays in July" by James Cross Giblin, it is. The main character David, goes to the beach one day to discover some guy who is later known as Allen undressing himself. He is fascinated by his body and keeps on staring. When Allen realizes this, David runs away. You don't know how Allen is feeling, which only makes what David is feeling stronger. You have to assume that Allen is pretty mad and maybe freaked out. David is feeling confused about his feelings towards the old man and decides to come back the next couple of weeks. He is hoping to see if he can see Allen again, but he doesn't know why he wants to. This is an example of when David's feelings stand out because you don't know what exactly Allen is feeling. 

I think that if you knew what Allen was feeling or if it was his point of view, the story would be completely different. He would probably describe David as a stalker and as a young boy, even though he is 17. You could get in his head although then David's point of view would be fuzzy. I think that the author made the right decision to put it from David's point of view, since this is David's problem. 

Books are interesting because a point of view is always missing. If we knew what everybody was doing, thinking and saying in book, it would be quite boring. The mystery is what I like so much about books. I think that as we grow older, the mystery becomes bigger and bigger in books. I can't wait to read and discover more about characters in depth as I grow and develop more as a reader.

"I was just freein' the noise, and colorin' the world a little..." :)

     Currently, I am reading the book "Just Another Hero" by Sharon M. Draper. In this book, kids don't take school seriously. Most students either live in a poverty or crime scene neighborhood. It is much different than in my life or many other people that go to Middle School 51. I think this book was taken place in the south, maybe in the mid 1900's. Both the setting and the way people talk and interact with each other support my theory of this.
     The quote "I was just freein' the noise, and colorin' the world a little..." (pg. 71) is said by a supporting character named Jack. He is loud, outgoing and lives life at it's fullest. He's not afraid to do anything. Sometimes, in the middle of class he pulls the fire alarm even though he knows it's illegal. Everybody knows that he does it too but doesn't want to tell on him because he is has good intentions and is kind to everyone. I believe that Jack uses his bubbly personality to express how he feels, to get people's attention and stand out (whether it's in a good or bad way).
     What I think this line means is that you should "get out there", show people who you are and not be afraid of what others think about you. Jack plays his cymbals loud, clear and proud-filling the hallways with noise. He wants people to recognize that he is there. He also wants to send out the message that yes, he may be different than everybody else but individuality is a good thing in life; it's what makes us, us. Everybody can make a difference in the world, you just have to speak what's on you mind.
     At Jack's school, they do need color. I think that his high spirit does bring some color into the school. You might think that he is annoying, maybe I would think so too if he went to my school. But in such a dull place, he brings light and shows me what it is like to be original and be himself.
     Everything at Jack's school seems dull and uninviting. For the most part, the teachers seem like they don't want to be there, the supplies in each classroom is ancient and they have a student that came out of juvenile attending their school. The one thing that stands out to me in this run down school, is each student's uniqueness. Each person has a different personality and they all seem to get along. Each person fills a gap that another one may have. One is a mom, one is addicted to drugs because of their harsh life at home, one is obese and the main character is rich yet learning the value of each dollar from her step-father. These might all sounds like bad qualities to you, but to me it sounds like a chance to bond. I bet they can all relate to what the others are all going through. It can create stronger relationships and a better society knowing that you are not the only one going through a tough time.

Who are your real friends?

          When rereading the book The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne, I thought more deeply about the characters. Not only that, but about the problems that each character faced. A theme that I didn’t notice the first time was that many people use others to get what they want. Reading this book again made me realize that in my own life I see this happening everyday. I am starting to relate to Hamlet because when I see that happening, I try to stop it even if they don’t believe me or get mad at me. 

          Hamlet is leading a challenging life. Her parents are over obsessed with Shakespeare and her 7 year old sister, Dezzie, is taking college courses in the afternoon and attending Hamlet’s 8th grade class in the morning. While in her class, Dezzie meets two girls, Mauri and Saber--Hamlet’s enemies-- who instantly want to be her friends. Or do they? Hamlet realizes that they are using Dezzie for grades and don’t really like her. The author is trying to get her audience to realize that you shouldn’t pretend to be someone’s friend to get something you want.

          If you pretend to be someone’s friend to get something you want, it could put you in difficult situations. We see this when Dezzie has to pick between her fake friends who are lying and her sister who is speaking the truth. Hamlet is confused because she feels that she doesn’t know Dezzie anymore. In the beginning of the book Dezzie keeps her feelings inside herself in order to be liked. But by the middle of the book she expresses herself not caring what other people think. All this leads up to a scene where they’re in art class. Mauri tells Hamlet that she is a jerk. After hearing this, the teacher asks them who said it but nobody confesses. The teacher then sends each of them to the principle’s office one at a time. Hamlet knows that Dezzie is one of the principle’s favorites and is worried what her sister will say. Is Dezzie going to blame it on her even though it was Mauri’s fault? Dezzie knew deep inside that it wasn’t Hamlet’s fault but what would she say to keep her friends? How far would she go? “Why wouldn’t Mauri just confess to the mistake? If she and Saber hadn’t started the whole argument by making fun of me in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened ” (pg. 205). Standing up for what you think is right is crucial no matter what your friends say. It isn’t right to blame something on another person unless it’s true. Mauri should have just confessed that she called Hamlet a “jerk” and apologized. Saber should have also told the truth rather than lie in order to keep Mauri as a friend. As a person, you should take responsibility for your actions and not lie just to keep your friends. 

          Another reason why you shouldn’t use someone to get what you want is because it can backfire. If you do something that isn’t right, someone’s going to find out and want to get back at you. In the book, Mauri and Saber had to give a speech about William Shakespeare. They didn’t know that Dezzie found out that they weren’t really her friends and their plan to slack off was followed by disaster. “With each piece of incorrect information, the atmosphere in the room turned even more cold and tense. Saber and Mauri were saying exactly what Dezzie has told them. They hadn’t even double-checked to make sure that her information was accurate!” (pg. 282). Dezzie wrote a speech for Mauri and Saber to read purposely filling it with incorrect facts. If they were smart enough, they would have checked to make sure the fact played out straight. But since they were friends, they relied on Dezzie to do all their work and get them A’s. Laziness will do you nothing in life but pull you a step back from everybody else. I don’t particularly think that what Dezzie and Hamlet planned to do was right. But if it’s the only way that Mauri and Saber would learn that what they did was wrong, it’s worth the embarrassment and the bad grade they deserved. 

          Through out the book the author is sending the message that you shouldn’t pretend to be someone’s friend to get what you want. I have empathy for Dezzie because she is so young and inexperienced in the real world; her life has revolved around her parents and making them happy.  This experience has taught her that there are people who like to take advantage of other peoples’ talents. Hopefully her knowledge will effect the choices and actions she makes for friends next time and to finding who her real friends are. 

“Pain is just a state of mind. You can think your way out of anything, even pain.”

I think what Kevin means by "Pain is just a state of mind. You can think your way out of anything, even pain” is that you can erase or get rid of any pain you have; whether it’s mental or physical pain. In the book, Kevin is an enthusiastic character. He has gone through so much pain his whole life having Morquio Syndrome. According to Wikipedia and the NY Times, Morquio Syndrome causes abnormal development of bones (including the spine), bell-shaped chest with ribs flared out at the bottom, coarse facial features, hypermobile joints, knock-knees, a big head, dwarfism, a short neck, widely spaced teeth, abnormal curvature of the spine, cloudy cornea, large fingers, enlarged heart, enlarged liver, inguinal hernia and thin teeth enamel. Kevin has suffered for fourteen years with this disease and has learned how to manage it. He has also learned to deal with the mental pain of getting teased and made fun of by his peers. 

Currently, bullying is a big issue in society. It has been in many newspapers, TV and online articles. At our school, we have had many assemblies on it. People who are gay, have diseases or may just be different than everybody else get picked on. It is not right to treat people with disrespect just because they might like a certain gender or look different than other people. This book has inspired me to believe that everyone should have tolerance and empathy for others. Not only that, but you should have self confidence in yourself that you can do anything or be anyone you want. 

I think Kevin wants to believe in himself when he says that you can think your way out of pain. He doesn’t know if it’s true, but it’s all he has to believe in. 

Mental agony stems come from your emotions. I believe you can trick your mind into thinking you’re not in pain, but deep down you still are. However for physical pain I believe it’s easier because as times go on, you are immune to the specific feeling of discomfort. For example, the first time I got my tooth pulled my mouth ached terribly but the second time it didn’t hurt as bad. And by the third time, I was used to the feeling.

I believe if you’re in Kevin’s situation, you have to believe and hope everything’s going to be okay. You have to erase pain from your mind (whether it’s mental or physical). I think that having a disease makes you realize how grateful you are for what you do have.

I have not been in much physical pain (except for getting my teeth pulled). But I have been through a lot mentally. I tend to hold on to disappointments for a long time and don’t know how to control all the emotions I’m feeling. But just like Kevin, I have to look on the bright side and appreciate what I have. Maybe one moment a friend is mad at me. I know that not only can I get over it, I can fix it as well. But let’s say a friend is mean to me and it causes me a lot of pain; I wouldn’t want to be their friend anymore. I would still miss them, but I would know that what I chose to do was the right thing to do. In the long run, it would probably cost me less pain. 

In the book Freak the Mighty, Kevin is always thinking positively in the hope that things will get better. He needs to believe in himself and that the best will happen for him. I learned valuable lessons from Kevin that will stick with me as I grow up. Hopefully, I will be able to overcome conflicts and stand strong like Kevin.

Max: A Very Complex Character

Character Question: Does the character develop new traits? 

In the book Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, Max Kane changes from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. In the opening chapters Max is uncertain of who he is and fearful that people will judge him by what his father is. His father, known by the name “Killer Kane” is big and tough; and killed his own wife. Now, Max has to live with what his father left behind. When people used to tease him, he dealt with it the way his father did, by hurting people. But now, he realizes that is wrong to do and rather than fighting, he pretends to be invisible.

When he meets a fellow outsider named Freak, they soon become friends. Freak is the exact opposite of Max physically and mentally. Freak is two feet tall and Max is seven feet tall, Freak loves to study and Max hates school. But despite these differences, Max is drawn to Freak’s natural genius and passion for learning; his curiosity grows and he begins to ask questions. Soon Max requests to leave the Learning Disabled class in order to be with Freak in the advanced placement class. For years Max never wanted to learn but now he is eager to discover new thoughts and ideas. 

Max gains confidence in himself and realizes that he doesn’t have to be like his dad. He believes he can be a better person and do nice things. One example of this is when he sees a gang steal a purse from an old lady. Once they realize that there is nothing in it, they put it down a drain on the street. In the middle of the night, Max and Freak get it from the drain and return it to the owner.   

Reading this book a second time, I discovered that Max is a very complex character. I can relate to Max though school work. A lot of times I don’t have self confidence that I am capable of doing the work expected. In science class, I freaked out because I thought I didn’t know anything but really, I didn’t try. I also needed to study and believe that I could do it. I think it’s the same for Max too. After he gets introduced to Freak, he gets confident and believes in himself. He notices that he does care about school and wants people to like him. I think that Max will grow up to be a very nice and respectable person, and live a much more fulfilling life than his dad.