Literature
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
My Class recently finished the book The House on Mango Street. It is a wonderful book made up of short vignettes about all the different people the main character Esperanza meets throughout her life in the book. She starts out as a very young girl, embarrassed of her poverty and especially Mango Street. But by the end of the book she becomes a strong independent woman with the help of the people she meets along the way. Sandra Cisneros tells the story of her childhood through the character Esperanza. I personally found this book very challenging to understand. There are many hidden meanings in between the lines that are hard to find. This book showed me how creative writing could become and how carefully words can be chosen to give the most meaning in each sentence.
My Class recently finished the book The House on Mango Street. It is a wonderful book made up of short vignettes about all the different people the main character Esperanza meets throughout her life in the book. She starts out as a very young girl, embarrassed of her poverty and especially Mango Street. But by the end of the book she becomes a strong independent woman with the help of the people she meets along the way. Sandra Cisneros tells the story of her childhood through the character Esperanza. I personally found this book very challenging to understand. There are many hidden meanings in between the lines that are hard to find. This book showed me how creative writing could become and how carefully words can be chosen to give the most meaning in each sentence.
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz
My class just finished the book Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood which we have been reading independently at home. It is about a teenage boy living in La Cruces, New Mexico in a very small neighborhood named Hollywood. It starts out with Sammy's love Juliana being murdered by her father beginning the many dreadful tragedies awaiting Sammy. He keeps her close when going through the many struggles most teenagers shouldn't have to deal with. Sammy hopes for a future outside of Hollywood even though most people feel there is very little chance of anybody being able to leave other than being drafted. Sammy knows that too, but still tries his hardest in school and does his best to keep out of trouble. By the end of the book Sammy becomes a very strong man but sadly has been through too much for someone of his age. This book shows the many struggles that people can relate and connect to which makes me love this book.
My class just finished the book Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood which we have been reading independently at home. It is about a teenage boy living in La Cruces, New Mexico in a very small neighborhood named Hollywood. It starts out with Sammy's love Juliana being murdered by her father beginning the many dreadful tragedies awaiting Sammy. He keeps her close when going through the many struggles most teenagers shouldn't have to deal with. Sammy hopes for a future outside of Hollywood even though most people feel there is very little chance of anybody being able to leave other than being drafted. Sammy knows that too, but still tries his hardest in school and does his best to keep out of trouble. By the end of the book Sammy becomes a very strong man but sadly has been through too much for someone of his age. This book shows the many struggles that people can relate and connect to which makes me love this book.
Antigone by Sophocles
The play Antigone that I have been reading in class is about a girl Antigone, who is the daughter of the former king of Thebes, Oedipus. The throne was passed to one of his two sons Eteocles. Oedipus' other son Polyneices attacked Thebes trying to take the throne from his brother. They end up killing each other leaving their uncle Creon as king. As Polyneices punishment for attacking Thebes, Creon forbids the burial of his corpse leaving his spirit unable to rest in peace. Antigone's automatic response is to do what she feels is morally right and buries her brother. Creon's conviction that family ties do not outweigh his rules of Thebes he refuses to counter her death sentence. Over a short period of time Creon is persuaded to free Antigone by a prophet named Tiresias, though when they get to the prison cell they find she has killed herself. Creons son Haemon kills himself out of his love for his dead Antigone. Creons wife then kills herself out of the agony and death that surrounds her. Creon is left abandoned of his family and defied by the gods of his refusal of accountability towards the dead.
The play Antigone that I have been reading in class is about a girl Antigone, who is the daughter of the former king of Thebes, Oedipus. The throne was passed to one of his two sons Eteocles. Oedipus' other son Polyneices attacked Thebes trying to take the throne from his brother. They end up killing each other leaving their uncle Creon as king. As Polyneices punishment for attacking Thebes, Creon forbids the burial of his corpse leaving his spirit unable to rest in peace. Antigone's automatic response is to do what she feels is morally right and buries her brother. Creon's conviction that family ties do not outweigh his rules of Thebes he refuses to counter her death sentence. Over a short period of time Creon is persuaded to free Antigone by a prophet named Tiresias, though when they get to the prison cell they find she has killed herself. Creons son Haemon kills himself out of his love for his dead Antigone. Creons wife then kills herself out of the agony and death that surrounds her. Creon is left abandoned of his family and defied by the gods of his refusal of accountability towards the dead.
Where the Heart Is by Billy Letts
My second book club book Where the Heart Is by Billy Letts is about a 17 year old pregnant teenager, Novalee Nation from Tennessee heading to California with her rotten boyfriend Willie Jack. When stopping on the way at a Walmart in Sequoyah she finds herself stranded with only $7.77 and the clothes on her back. She spends her nights hiding in Walmart until she discovers all of the wonderful people of sequoyah and is taken in by the kind hearted Sister Thelma Husband. She makes many more friends such as the photographer Moses Whitecotten, the librarian Forney Hull and the nurse Lexie Coop who all love and care about her.
My second book club book Where the Heart Is by Billy Letts is about a 17 year old pregnant teenager, Novalee Nation from Tennessee heading to California with her rotten boyfriend Willie Jack. When stopping on the way at a Walmart in Sequoyah she finds herself stranded with only $7.77 and the clothes on her back. She spends her nights hiding in Walmart until she discovers all of the wonderful people of sequoyah and is taken in by the kind hearted Sister Thelma Husband. She makes many more friends such as the photographer Moses Whitecotten, the librarian Forney Hull and the nurse Lexie Coop who all love and care about her.
Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is about two men, Lennie and George, who are migrant workers that travel together. They start working on a new farm when George lies to the boss saying Lennie got kicked in the head when he was a kid as an explanation of Lennie's mentally challenged behavior. George takes care of Lennie and does his best to keep him out of trouble as Lennie keeps him company in a job that is usually very individual. This book teaches the readers about many social issues such as discrimination against women, people with disabilities, black people and the elderly.
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is about two men, Lennie and George, who are migrant workers that travel together. They start working on a new farm when George lies to the boss saying Lennie got kicked in the head when he was a kid as an explanation of Lennie's mentally challenged behavior. George takes care of Lennie and does his best to keep him out of trouble as Lennie keeps him company in a job that is usually very individual. This book teaches the readers about many social issues such as discrimination against women, people with disabilities, black people and the elderly.
The Alechemist by Paulo Cohelo
We read The Alechemist as a class. This book is about a boy named Santiago who is a shepard that tries to achieve his personal legend. A personal legend is the destined path one takes to achieve real happiness. On this journey he has incounters with an english man, crystal merchant, his soul mate and the Alechemist. He learns many life lessons through his once in a life time travel.
We read The Alechemist as a class. This book is about a boy named Santiago who is a shepard that tries to achieve his personal legend. A personal legend is the destined path one takes to achieve real happiness. On this journey he has incounters with an english man, crystal merchant, his soul mate and the Alechemist. He learns many life lessons through his once in a life time travel.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I read the Hunger Games for my third book club book. This is a wonderful book about a girl names Katniss Everdeen who lives in the country of Panem in district 12. She voulenteers as a tribute in their annual Hunger Game replacing her younger sister was dreadfully chosen. The Hunger Games is between the 12 districts, a boy and a girl from each. They fight until the death and there is only one winner. This is my favorite book and I enjoyed reading it in class.
I read the Hunger Games for my third book club book. This is a wonderful book about a girl names Katniss Everdeen who lives in the country of Panem in district 12. She voulenteers as a tribute in their annual Hunger Game replacing her younger sister was dreadfully chosen. The Hunger Games is between the 12 districts, a boy and a girl from each. They fight until the death and there is only one winner. This is my favorite book and I enjoyed reading it in class.
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
As a class we read the famous tragedy Romeo & Juliet. We would first read a scene and then watch the part of the movie we had just read. This story is about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet who are from two families that despise each other. Romeo and Juliet go through many challenges when fighting for their love.
As a class we read the famous tragedy Romeo & Juliet. We would first read a scene and then watch the part of the movie we had just read. This story is about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet who are from two families that despise each other. Romeo and Juliet go through many challenges when fighting for their love.
Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
This book is about a fifteen year old girl, Tess DeNunzio who is writing to her little sister Zoe who had just died in a car accident. The accident took place on September 11th, the day the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists. The tragedy of this event took away the importance of her little sister's death. She writes about how hard it is dealing with a loved ones death and how it personally affects her. This book is wonderfully written and I enjoy reading from the point of a fellow teenage girl.
This book is about a fifteen year old girl, Tess DeNunzio who is writing to her little sister Zoe who had just died in a car accident. The accident took place on September 11th, the day the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists. The tragedy of this event took away the importance of her little sister's death. She writes about how hard it is dealing with a loved ones death and how it personally affects her. This book is wonderfully written and I enjoy reading from the point of a fellow teenage girl.