Literature
The House On Mango Street
The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros, was a beautiful book about a Mexican American girl living in a very poor town, named Esperanza. In the beginning of the book she is insecure about herself and watches the women in her neighborhood. She sees their mistakes they make and learns from them. She learns she can't depend on a man to take her out of Mango Street but her own intelligence. I really enjoyed the poetic style of this book. I thought it was very inspiring that through all of Esperanza problems she kept going. It was also interesting that at the end of the book you find out that the author, Sandra Cisneros, is Esperanza, the main character. You can see that Sandra Cisneros really did succeed and is now an accomplished writer. She teaches us through Esperanza that anyone can become successful even through they come from humble beginnings.
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, was a book that leaves you with a memorable but a little sour taste in your mouth. It didn't block anything. No sensors. Just fresh, raw, and true. It was about a Mexican American boy named Sammy, who in the beginning of the book dates this girl named Juliana. Juliana dies soon after but her memory is taken with Sammy through all his tribulations of his life. The very end of the book is a train reck, Sammy had planned to go to his dream college but because practically everyone in his life dies and he has to take care of his little sister he can't go to his dream school. Even though all this happens he still keeps a positive attitude. It shows people everywhere that no matter how much life gets you down you have to still keep pushing forward like Sammy. In my opinion this book was just a little too raw for me. All the swearing and inappropriate subjects took away from the main plot or lesson.
My Sister's Keeper
My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult was about a young girl Anna who faces moral delemas. Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate her sister how was pledged with leukemia at a very young age. Anna sews her parents to the right to her own body which could mean death to her sister. In the end you realize that Anna is not sewing for herself but for her sister who wants to die because she feels like a burden. In the end there is a plot twister and Anna dies instead of Kate in a car crash. The last chapter is writen from Kate's perspective and you realize that it was always everyone in the family getting ready for Kate to die not Anna. Through My Sister's Keeper I learned what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. This book was in multiple perspectives, one of my favorite perspectives was the mom. Even though the mom seemed cruel at times and maybe some times her ideas weren't the best, her intention and persistence were right on. This book, or specifically the mom's perspective, makes you question if it is morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means putting the other child in danger? Over all I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down (literally).
Antigone
Antigone is a Greek play written by Sophocles. It starts off with the main character, Antigone and her sister arriving in Thebes, Antigone learns that both of her brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, are dead. Eteocles has been given a proper burial, but Creon, Antigone's uncle who has inherited the throne since the father and both brothers are dead, has issued a law banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone defies the law, buries her brother, and is caught. When Creon locks her away in prison, she kills herself. Meanwhile, not realizing Antigone has taken her own life, the prophecy teller persuades Creon to release her. Creon finally relents, but in an instance of too-late-timing, finds her dead in her jail cell. Out of despair, Creon’s wife and son also killed themselves, and Creon is left in distress and sorrow.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Art of Racing of in the Rain written by Garth Stein is told from the point of view from Enzo, the dog belonging to a racer named Denny. Throughout the book you learn that Enzo loves riding in the race car with Denny, cares for Denny's wife Eve who dies of cancer, worries about Denny's daughter Zoe as she is taken from her father by Eve's evil parents. Enzo's observations are very deep and profound for a dog. He thinks a lot about racing and how racing is a metaphor for life, he also thinks a lot about the injustices of life as a dog. Over all I loved this book! In the beginning it took a while to be exciting but soon after it was filled with plot twisters and beautiful thoughts on life. It was probably my favorite book I read in Jills class this year.
Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is set in Verona, Italy, where there is an ongoing feud between the Montague and Capulet families. Romeo and Juliet young star-crossed lovers who will do anything to be together. Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly get married. But then, Mercutio and Tybalt get into a fight where Tybalt kills Mercutio and then out of anger, Romeo kills Tybalt. The king banishes Romeo. Meanwhile, in order to avoid marrying Paris, Juliet gets a sleeping potion from Friar Lawrence, in order to appear dead, and writes a letter explaining the whole thing to Romeo. Because Juliet and Paris's wedding is moved a day earlier, and Juliet takes the potion a day early, the letter does not get to Romeo in time, so he hears that Juliet is dead. He goes to visit her in the tomb and after killing Paris, he drinks a poison so he can be with Juliet in heaven. Juliet wakes up to see the love of her life dead next to her, so she uses his dagger to stab herself. The play ends with the Capulet family and the Montague family finally agreeing to end their feud. I think this play was very interesting. I came into reading it thinking I would be bored out of my mind, but I wasn't, I genuinely enjoyed it. In the begining it took some getting used to the Shakespearian language but then my mind just got used to it and it became fun to try understanding what they were saying.
Dear Zoe
Dear Zoe written by Philip Beard is a series of journal entries written by Tess DeNunzio 15 year old dealing with major grief of her two year old sister, Zoe. Throughout the book, readers realize that Tess feels guilty for her sister's death because she was supposed to be watching her outside, and instead ran inside to watch the news about 9/11. She was supposed to be watching Zoe, but instead she came outside just in time to see her struck and killed by a car outside their home. In Dear Zoe, Tess goes to live with her father in order to escape the memories of Zoe, only to realize that there is no way of escaping and instead she should try to remember her. Along her journeys she makes some really stupid decisions, including drugs and sex. I feel this book portrays one option of grief for a teenager but felt it was a bit dry and sad at times. Overall I felt this book was very well written but wish Jill could have picked some happier books to read this year.