Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Literary Essay Response

 

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick is a story about a young boy in middle school named Steven Alper. As the story progresses, Steven is told that his younger brother, Jeffery, was diagnosed with cancer. At first it was hard for Steven to accept the horrible truth, and for a while he sulks and just drowns in his own sorrow. But eventually throughout the book Steven matures by making personal sacrifices for his brother's benefit, instead of thinking about himself.

 

Steven notices that all the medical bills for Jeffery's therapy are starting to negatively affect his family, and he steps up to the challenge. He decides to give up his precious drum lessons, which he realizes are an unnecessary expense. He sees how he needs to become a man for his family and help them, so he willingly sacrifices something he really loves.

 

Another example was when Steven shaved his head. When Jeffery started losing his hair, and a boy in his class called him "bald" it really upset him. To stop Jeffery from feeling insecure, Steven shaved off all of his hair, so Jeffery wouldn't have to be the only bald one. This shows how much Steven cares for his brother, and how he would change how he looked in order to make his brother feel better.

 

Steven has always been very passionate about drumming, and when he has a huge performance with a long solo, Jeffery gets a fever. Steven has the choice to continue his concert, or to leave with Jeffery. Steven gives up his big moment to shine, and leaves with his brother so he wouldn't have to be alone in the hospital. This shows that Steven would even give up a life changing moment to be there for his brother.

 

By making all of these sacrifices for his brother, Steven matures and becomes a true adult at the end of the book. Although we may not experience something as terrifying as cancer, we all find our own ways to mature, just like Steven.

 



Memoir

     I remember, maybe two years ago, when I received the news. It wasn’t the good type of news that you get from a handwritten letter in the mail, or a party invitation. It was the bad news; something a child always dreads, like when their parent walks up to them and says, “Listen darling, we’ve got some bad news and some good news. Which would you like to hear first?” And of course, you can’t help but say good news first, and for a second you are overjoyed, only for it to vanish a moment later when the bad news is told.

     It had been an excellent morning, and surprisingly warm for the winter months, on the day my mom told me everything. But of course, the horrible damp cloth of the news had come to drape itself over my great day. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, just contemplating life, I suppose, when my mom walked in. Her face was flushed and tightly drawn against her pronounced cheekbones. Her throat kept making a strange sound like a “click click” like it does when she is upset. “Isobel,” she said, “I just got a phone call from grandma-“ “Did you tell her I said hi?” I interrupted. “Yes, but,” “But what?” I retorted. “Grandpa Harry has…he has…passed away”, she blurted out. As those words left her mouth, the world just disappeared, and it was just my mom and I, no one else. Her words echoed in my head like a very repetitive song. “Passed away, passed away, passed away.” My ears must have heard her correctly, but my heart didn’t believe it. How could he be gone, just like that? In a split second someone so important to me had vanished, so quickly my mind couldn’t comprehend it. My thoughts were ramming into each other, causing a ruckus in my head, but through all that I managed to croak, “how?” “Oh, darling, it was a heart attack, no one could have known it would happen,” my mom replied. It was then that reality crashed into me, and the truth, the sheer simplicity of his death, was all clear. That was it. He was gone and he wasn’t coming back. I was at a loss for words. I just let the tears flow down my face like a cascading waterfall. My memories of him raced through my mind. Us watching the Olympics together, when I couldn’t chose who I wanted to win gymnastics. When I finally beat him at chess, and he smiled so wide it lit up all the whole room, “I’m proud of you”, he had said. The time he read me his favorite book while I sat on his lap, and we both slowly fell asleep. All those times were the last I would ever have with him. My mom didn’t try to say everything was going to be fine because it wasn’t. She just held me close and let me cry. 

READING RESPONSE: THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO BY PATRICK NESS

I have just started to read a book called The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, and so far it has been wonderful to read. It is about a young boy called Todd Hewitt, who lives in a strange world where everyone can hear each other's "noise", which is basically inner thoughts. Apparently, there was a huge war, and the opposing side let out a "noise germ", which killed all the women and allowed men to hear each other's thoughts. One day, Todd is just doing his everyday chores when something completely unexpected happens. He is rushed off into the dreaded swamp by his guardians, and told to run away and "warn them". Todd is very confused because all the towns and villages had been destroyed in the war, except for where he lived, so where was he supposed to go? Never the less, he was thrown out in a lot of chaos and he began his quest to "warn them".

I predict that when Todd goes on hie journey, he will find something related to t he noise, like maybe another germ. He will probably get through most obstacles due to his experience and how determined he is. In the beginning of the story, Todd was just a scared young boy who did everything he was told. As the story progressed, he rose to the occasion and became a man, willing to follow his quest to the very end.

Patrick Ness is an amazing author He uses many descriptive words to enhance his writing. He also adds flashbacks into specific chapters to reveal important information about the characters, which I think is really great.

In conclusion,I love this book and I can't wait to read more.I highly recommend it.

This I Believe

By Isobel Weiner 708

I believe in the power of believing. I remember when I was seven or so and I was really eager for my gifts on Christmas Eve, and I couldn’t wait for “Santa” to come and deliver them. I remember having a feeling of nervous excitement all morning waiting upon the arrival of Santa in his big red sleigh. It was about eleven o’clock when I finally heard footsteps on the roof of my house, and I assumed it was Santa, coming with his reindeer. I ran to my bed and hid under the covers because I truly thought I wouldn’t get any presents if I was awake. I fell asleep and woke up the next morning to the smell of fresh pine from the tree, and was pleased to see multiple gifts. I truly believed that some magical person from the North Pole had flown down to my house on his sleigh to give me presents on Christmas. I had made him cookies the night before, and even set out carrots for Rudolph and the rest of the reindeers. The point is, it doesn’t matter what you believe, but having a belief in something is a truly a happy and magical thing.           

Another time I believed was when I was six. I had just lost my front tooth in an alarmingly large puddle of blood, and I slipped it, blood and all, right under my pillow. I thought the tooth fairy was going to come and collect it in the middle of the night. I was a little worried as I went to sleep, because I wondered how the tiny little tooth fairy would be able to reach under my head for the tooth. But worries aside, I soon fell asleep. I woke up so many times that night, and was constantly checking under my pillow to see if my tooth had disappeared. The last time I checked, at about three in the morning, it was gone, and in its place was a one dollar bill. I was so happy right then, because for a moment I had thought the tooth fairy wasn’t coming, since my tooth was still under my pillow at midnight. Having that belief in a little fairy made me feel secure and cheerful. That is the power of a belief in something magical. It can transform an unhopeful person into a hopeful one. It can make a little girl be happy and imaginative. That is why I believe in the power of believing. A belief can keep you going through tough times; a belief can change someone’s life. I believe in believing. 

The Revolt of the Evil Fairies Response

            In Ted Poston’s “The Revolt of the Evil Fairies” a young boy is being treated differently from his peers because of his darker complexion. The reader must consider how unfair it is to be judged by the color of one’s skin, and how hard it must have been when having the specific torment of being a child and experiencing something as discriminating as that within your own race.

            The narrator of the story, a young African – American boy, is a very intelligent person, maybe the most intelligent in the entire school. In a part of the story he describes the pain of being darker skinned than many of his peers, who are favored because their skin tone is slightly lighter. “ And therein lay my personal tragedy. I made the best grades in my class, I was the leading debater, and the scion of a respected family in the community. But I could never be Prince Charming, because I was black.” (Page 30) in this part of the story the main character is indignant about being overlooked and ignored because of his dark skin color.

            The main character doesn’t give up hope on being treated equally, but for now, he accepts the fact that he is treated unfairly and that there is nothing he can do or say that would change the depressing truth. In the following quote, the narrator is realizing how racism doesn’t just affect him, but other people with darker skin. “Not that I was alone in my disappointment. Many of my classmates felt it too. I probably just took it more to heart. Rat Jointer, for instance, could rationalize the situation. Rat was not only black; he lived on Billy Goat Hill. But Rat summed the situation up like this: “If you black, you black.” (Page 30) The narrator eventually comes to terms with Rat’s statement, and by the end of the story, he accepts his darker skin. “They wouldn’t let me appear in the grand dramatic offering at all next year. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t have been Prince Charming anyway.”

            The narrator is a good, honest person, but he still demonstrates his opinion against the prejudice of being rejected because of the color of his skin. Halfway into the story, The main character auditions for the lead role in his school’s play. The teachers dismiss him, and in his place a terrible actor is given the part. “Yet I was inconsolable the first time they turned me down for Prince Charming. That was the year they picked Roger Jackson. Roger was not only dumb; he stuttered. But he was light enough to pass for white, and that was apparently sufficient.” (Page 31) I chose this quote because it explains how people were only judged by their skin and not by their personality, or for their abilities. It also shows how the protagonist is infuriated by the discrimination of skin color and how he doesn’t accept it. Even the teachers were discriminating by showing how they didn’t care about talent; only about a person’s skin color.

            In the beginning of the story, the main character is hopeful that he will receive the part, but nearing the end, he gives up; knowing that he did all he could to prove his point about the unfairness and injustice of discrimination. “They rang the curtain back up fifteen minutes later, and we finished the play. I lay down and expired according to my specifications but Prince Charming will probably remember my sneering corpse to his dying day.”

      

READING RESPONSE: THE MARK OF ATHENA BY RICK RIORDAN

I have started reading a great book called The Mark of Athena by a well known author, Rick Riordan. This book is the third in a series of books named The Heroes of Olympus. This book is about seven young demigods (children who have one immortal parent, and one mortal one)who go on a dangerous quest to unite the Greek and Roman camps.There is Percy, the son of Poseidon, Annabeth, the daughter of Athena,Piper, daughter of Aphrodite, Leo,the son of Hephaestus, Hazel, daughter of Pluto, Frank, the son of Mars, and Jason, son of Jupiter. These seven brave demigods travel all the way to Rome to defeat the earth goddess Gaea and create a truce between Greece and Rome.

I predict that the demigods will face monsters and great challenges which will cause them them to use their powers with all their force. They will probably have resentment between the two camps which will be hard to resolve. Each demigod has a completely different personality, which makes the book interesting because each chapter is written from a different person's point of view. 

Rick Riordan, the author,speaks in such a young adult tone, considering his true age. By doing so,he makes the story more relatable and enjoyable to children. He talks like a child through his demigod characters and overall it truly makes the book come to life.

In conclusion, I think Rick Riordan is a wonderful writer and not only this book, but all of his series are a must read for young adults. I think the purpose of this book is to teach ancient Greek and Roman mythology in a fun and entertaining way.

READING RESPONSE: THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE BY PHILIP PULLMAN

Having recently finished The Westing Game, I have started a new mystery book called The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman. This book is about a young girl living in Victorian London named Sally Lockhart whose father drowned at sea. She receives a dangerous clue and eventually Sally finds herself involved in a mystery about her father's death, and she is determined to uncover the truth.

I think that later in the story, Sally will discover an important clue to the mystery and will find a partner to help her solve it. Sally is a spunky and strong female lead, which I can relate to. She has a goal, and she will do anything to reach it, which shows her determined personality, a trait I would love to have in common with her.

The author of this book, Philip Pullman, strongly focuses on descriptive flashbacks,and by doing so he allows the reader to enter thoughts of the past. 


" And she could not escape from the dream. It unwound ceaselessly, and she had to live through it. She knew what was coming next: a guttering candle, a man's voice-
Look! Look at him! My god - It was the voice of Major Marchbanks!"

Philip Pullman wants us to use our minds and solve a complicated mystery, but I think he also wants us to really be involved in the book; involved in the mind of a young Victorian girl whose trying to solve a big and dangerous mystery.

READING RESPONSE: THE WESTING GAME BY ELLEN RASKIN

Currently, I am reading a wonderful book called The Westing Game by an author named Ellen Raskin. Since I am only about five chapters into the book, I don't know the entire plot line, but I will explain as much as I can. The story is an intriguing mystery about sixteen people, ranging from ages twelve to sixty three, who become the unlikely heirs of a very rich man, Samuel Westing. But in order to obtain the millions of dollars, the sixteen characters must play a dangerous game, which no one truly know how to play. If you succeed, the money is yours. If you fail, you will go back to leading your average boring life.

I predict that the sixteen people will all face some personal issue will playing "the Westing Game" and will have to find a way to overcome it and other obstacles if they truly want the money. I can relate to the youngest of the sixteen heirs, Turtle Wexler. Turtle is curious about the past of Mr. Westing, and decides to do some snooping of her own, which only leads her into more trouble.

Ellen Raskin, the author of this book. Is a writer who uses tools such as metaphors. In her individual chapters on each character, she uses metaphor to describe their personality. For example, one of the heirs, who surprisingly is a maid, is written about as a "crow" because she is silent and deadly.

I believe that the author wants us to think about how money can make people do astonishing things, which in the end often isn't worth it. While reading, my main question about the book is who will win the Westing Game? Because, of course, everyone wants to know who succeeds. And who fails.

READING RESPONSE: THE MAGICIANS BY LEV GROSSMAN

Right now, I am reading one of Lev Grossman's books, The Magicians. This book is about a depressed teenage boy living in contemporary Brooklyn, who wishes for less of a humdrum life. He is secretly obsessed with a children's book series about British siblings who enter a world of magic. He wants his life to be like those children's, and when one day he winds up in a world with a magic college that he later attends that is similar to the one in the books, he is ecstatic. This boy is called Quentin Coldwater, and he is the main character.

Even though he's depressed and sullen, he still plays a great role in the story with his imagination. I think his smart mind and imagination are his best traits. I predict that Quentin will have the time of his life at the magic college and all his dreams will come true, but he will have to make many sacrifices along the way in order to fully fit in with this new world.I can relate to Quentin and his hope for a more adventurous and interesting life. 

This book is unlike any other that I have read, it has a wonderful mixture of realistic fiction and fantasy. It also has many memorable characters. Lev Grossman uses many descriptive flashbacks in the story, and in my opinion, that truly enhances the book. I believe the author wants us to think about the experiences and drama of being an adolescent. 

When reading, I usually think about Quentin, and his strange outlook on life, and it makes me curious about teenage life. This book is remarkable and it is an amazing story to read.

The Looking Glass Wars

    Over the summer, I read many great books, but the best one by far was "The Looking Glass Wars" by Frank Beddor.It had the perfect combination of suspense, action, and mystery. This entire series was a twist on Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" with a nice touch of historical fiction in it as well. The synopsis of the first book, which is the one I will be focusing on in this post,is a young princess living in Wonderland (also called a Wonderlander)who will become Wonderland's queen sooner then expected when her parents are killed by her vicious aunt, Redd Heart. The name of this girl is Alyss Heart, of the Heart Clan, and over the timeline of the story her reign is continually jeopardized by her aunt, until Alyss is forced to go live temporarily on Earth,in Victorian London, which is the historical fiction part of the book.

The most interesting fact about this book is that it is based on the book "Alice in Wonderland". There are multiple similarities between these stories such as the classic Mad Hatter is actually Alyss' strong and faithful bodyguard, Hatter Maddigan. I enjoyed comparing the two books and the characters within them. I highly recommend this book, as I had a wonderful experience reading it. 

"It's all in your head, Genevieve said.

I know, said Alyss, and despite the traumas of the past, the uncertainty of the future, she wouldn't have given up this moment for anything. Isn't it wonderful?" -The Looking Glass wars