Setting in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire (Spoiler Alert)

            I just started reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Last year I read the first book in the series, The Hunger Games, and I really liked it. Both books are set in the future, in an unfair society split up into twelve districts, where some have very wealthy people, and other districts are impoverished. In the last book, Katniss and another boy named Peeta from her district survived the Hunger Games, an event where twenty-four kids chosen from each district must fight each other until the end to stay alive. I think that in both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire the setting is an integral part of the book.
           The setting is very important in the book because first of all, that is why Katniss has so many struggles. If everything in the districts were easy and peaceful, there would be no reason for her to try so hard to stay alive. Katniss is also very brave because of the setting. She has to overcome obstacles like finding food, and she learns to hunt and even go without food sometimes. This is part of the reason I think she was able to stay alive until the end of the Games, since she was used to going without necessities and having to be without important things.
          The world set in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire is very unfair and there is a lot of injustice in it. This affects the story and the setting in many way. The Capitol, made up of a group people in charge of all the districts, has a drawing every year to randomly pick one girl and one boy from each district to compete in the Huger Games. During the Hunger Games, all the kids will die except for the last one standing. In the last games, Katniss won along with Peeta, because they altered the rules and were both able to survive. If the setting wasn't this way, these events would probably never have taken place. Katniss would have never changed, and she wouldn't have fallen in love with Peeta. If things were different, the world might have been more fair, and the people in charge would never have done this to young children. 
          Lastly, without the setting, I don't think Katniss would be so close to her family. After her father died in a mining accident and her mom become unable to care for her younger sister Prim, Katniss had to take care of the family. She had to take over getting food and making sure that everybody was okay. This is why I think Katniss feels she needs to be responsible for Prim, because there's no one else to care for her. This is also a reason I think she was able to win the Hunger Games. She was used to fending for herself and having to be tough and strong. 
          In conclusion, the setting in The Hunger Games trilogy is very important to the plot, conflicts, and characters. The struggles, injustices, and hardships of District 12 and the Capitol are why I think Katniss cares for her family so much and was tough enough to overcome the Hunger Games. If the setting was any different, I think the story would also be totally different. 

Archetypes in 13 Little Blue Envelopes

            I am reading 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. I am at the part where Ginny has just arrived in England, following her aunt's directions in the letters she sent her. Even though Ginny's Aunt Peg is dead, I think that she is an archetype in this book, because Ginny really admires her life and her advice.

            First of all, I think that Ginny really looks up to Aunt Peg. She admires her life, and how much creativity and fun she put into it. She also likes how Aunt Peg did such interesting things with her, and how much time she spent trying to bond with her. When Ginny and her mom find out that Aunt Peg has died, she doesn't believe it because it was just so shocking to her. Aunt Peg was so lively and so imaginative, it seemed so weird that she'd never see her again. I think that Ginny looked up to Aunt Peg because of how much importance and brightness she put into every day, and this admiration is why I think Ginny felt the need to follow her aunt's letters, to take her aunt's guidance in life. 

            Also, I think that Ginny trusts her aunt, and that is why she chose to follow her instructions in the letters. Ginny knows that even though Aunt Peg acted like a teenager, she would only want the best for her. Aunt Peg really took the time to know and understand Ginny, and that's why I think she would trust her. In life, it's important to have trust in people you know are going to be there for you, people who are close to you, who know your wants and needs, like how Ginny can trust her aunt.

           Another reason I think that Aunt Peg is an archetype to Ginny is because she's a leader and mentor to her. Through the letters that she wrote for Ginny before she died, she instructs her on where to go, when, and what to do. I don't know where these letters will take Ginny, but I predict that at the end of the book she will be more educated and I suspect that she will change for the better. I wonder why Ginny's aunt wrote these letters, and I wonder where exactly it will lead her. 

           An archetypal character is someone who mentors the protagonist, they are someone who guides the younger character with their experience and wisdom.  That is why I think Aunt Peg is an archetype for Ginny. She guides her through her advice and what she knows will be best for Ginny. Ginny looks up to her aunt, and most of all she trusts her, and that is why I think that Aunt Peg is an archetype in this book. 

Separation in The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane

          I am reading the book The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath. In my last blog post I wrote about connection between all the characters, but as I read more of the book, I am noticing that separation is becoming the big theme. Even though each of the characters are confined on one tiny island with only themselves and have many of the same experiences, they are resisting connecting to each other. Jocelyn and Meline don't talk, Uncle Marten ignores them both, and the new housekeeper, Mrs. Mendelbaum, does not care to connect with the family.

         First of all, even though both Jocelyn and Meline's parents have just died, they do not talk and they do not try to relate. I find this funny because I think they would heal better if they grieve together, because they are both going through the same thing. Even when Meline tries to talk to Jocelyn, Jocelyn just shrugs her off and says that she's spying on her. I wonder why this is. Since they're around the same age, I think it would benefit them both to talk to each other. 


         Also, Uncle Marten separates himself from the others on the island. When I first started this book, I thought that Uncle Marten would start to connect with other people now that he's around them everyday, but as I read more, I see that he is still separating himself from other humans. All he wants to do is study his books and try to find new science research.   He's not trying to connect with anybody; he only really cares about the way things used to be, when it was only him on the isolated island with all this free time for him to just explore.     


         Thirdly, I feel that Mrs. Mendelbaum, the new housekeeper, is separated from all the other characters. I think this is because she feels that a housekeeper should just cook and clean, and stay out of the boss's way. But she also doesn't care to sit down with the family or talk to Meline and Jocelyn. Even Uncle Marten doesn't want to chat with her. Everybody is separated on this island, and I don't think it's good.   


          On page 67, Meline says "We had no real relationships, any of us. We had no one on the island. We were each of us entirely alone". I think that she is saying that no one on the island is there for each other, that no one really cares about anybody else. It's ironic because even though they're the only ones they come in contact with all day, they really don't get along with each other. I wonder if this will change as the story progresses, and the time they've been on the island gets longer. 

The Symbol of Connection

       I am reading the book The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath. I am up to the part where Meline just gets to her uncle's island with her cousin Jocelyn, after both their parents were killed in an accident in Africa. Even though I am just at the beginning of this book, I've been noticing a lot of symbols. One symbol is Meline and Jocelyn's parents death, and I think it represents connection between all the main characters.
        First of all, I think that the death of Meline and Jocelyn's parents is a symbol for connection because it seems like the first time the cousins ever really had anything that was the same for both of them. Meline talked about how Jocelyn and her came from different backgrounds and families, and that they were different in many ways, including the way they were brought up. For the first time in a long time, the cousins have something in common: they both have lost their parents, who were killed in the same horrible accident, and they both are stuck at their Uncle Marten's mansion on his own deserted island. Meline said that she hasn't seen her cousin in six years, and they are definitely not close. Meline and Jocelyn share the same tragic event that happened to them both, and it gives them a reason to meet again, and to become closer. It gives them a connection that no one else can have with either of them.
        Also, I think that the death of Meline and Jocelyn's parents represent connection because it gives their Uncle Marten a reason to communicate with them, and other people in general. Meline said that after her uncle got rich from investing in the stock market, he packed up his things and built a mansion on a deserted island off British Columbia. For years it was just him, his house, his books, and the sea. When Meline and Jocelyn are dropped off at his doorstep, Uncle Marten is forced to devote some of his time to his family. Uncle Marten has to talk to other people, instead of just ignoring the outside world and closing himself into his own comfort zone. Since Meline and Jocelyn were forced to live with Uncle Marten, he starts to connect with other people, not just his books and himself.  
          In conclusion, I believe that in the book The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane, the death of Meline and Jocelyn's parents is a symbol for connection. It brought them two together, and it also brings Uncle Marten to connect with other people. Even though Meline and Jocelyn both lost their mother and father and had their immediate families torn apart, it brought together a new family unit, consisting of both of them and their uncle.     
        

Issues in the Catcher in the Rye

         I am reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and I find that it's taking me a long time to read it. I really like the book, and I find it very fascinating. One reason for this is I find myself relating to how Holden feels. I like how he points out odd observations about the world and the problems in it, and mostly I agree with what he has to say. Also,  I really like the way Salinger chose to write this book. I can tell that it's from the point-of-view of a teenage boy from the Fifties, from the language Holden uses and what he does. The issues are real, like fitting in, peer pressure, and finding your place. Most of all, I enjoy reading this book because I really like Holden as a character. He's funny, and he's a unique character. I find myself thinking about his situations even when I'm not reading, and I don't do that for a lot of books. The Catcher in the Rye is very realistic and well-written.
          
        There are many issues in The Catcher in the Rye. The issue that I think is the biggest so far is that  Holden does not fit in most places he goes. At his old boarding school, Holden struggled with finding friends. No one took the time to listen to him. Holden is really bright, and he's a great writer, but at school he can't really express it. An example of this is when he writes his roommate's, Stradlater's, paper. He writes about a baseball glove that his younger brother, who died, used. He makes it very descriptive, and you can really envision it. But Stradlater doesn't care about how well-written it is and the amount of time Holden spent on it. All Stradlater thinks is that the paper is bad because it didn't fully fulfill the assignment. Holden is very creative, but at his old school he found it very hard to express it. 
          
         Holden's always trying to be someone he's not. Like when he's on the train going home after he was kicked out of school, he tells his classmate's mother that he meets that he is another boy. He doesn't give his real name, and he makes up a fake story about why he is leaving school early before winter break started. I think Holden did this because he was ashamed by who he was, how he was kicked out, and he didn't feel like having more people know about it.
             
         The Catcher in the Rye is a great book, and I'm glad I'm reading it. I think that it's nicely written and that Holden is a fun character to read about. One issue in The Catcher in the Rye is fitting in, and I think that most of us will deal with that problem at some point in our lives. That's another reason I like reading this book. It deals with real situations that people go through. 
          
               

What Really Hard Things are Happening in the Catcher in the Rye?

What really hard things are happening in the text? 


          I am currently reading the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Holden has been kicked out of boarding school and I am at the part where he is talking to his roommates and they are ignoring him. I think people's lack of listening to others is a really hard thing going on in the book, and also in the world.
        
           First of all, when Holden is talking to the boy whose room is next to his, Ackley, he has trouble communicating with him. Ackley doesn't listen to Holden when he says to get out, and he touches everything he wants to in the room. Ackley keeps bringing up that he is eighteen and an adult, while Holden is just sixteen. This also has to do with when Holden is talking to his roommate Stradlater, who is going on a date. Holden knows the girl Stradlater's going with, and he tells Stradlater about all the experiences he had with her the previous summer. Stradlater doesn't care. All he's interested in is borrowing Holden's jacket and having him write his English paper. Both these guys are ignoring Holden, and he doesn't get a chance to get his voice across.
         
           Ackley and Stradlater's behavior towards Holden is similar to Holden's behavior towards Mr. Spencer, at the beginning of the book. Like I talked about in my last blog post, Holden is getting advice from Mr. Spencer about how to do better in life now that he flunked out of school. Instead of learning from his strong words, Holden just dismisses it and doesn't keep in mind what Mr. Spencer is saying. Holden is ignoring the voice of his teacher, who is trying to be helpful.
         
           I think that the lack of attention being given to Holden and Mr. Spencer is relevant to the world, and it's a really hard thing to get over. For example, in an oppressive government often times a lot of the people's voices, opinions, and point of views are being forgotten and not heard. It's not fair that Ackley and Stradlater do not listen to their peer, and it's not good that Holden doesn't pay attention to Mr. Spencer. I believe that in order for there to be justice in the book and in the world, everybody should listen to what each other has to say. This way, everything will be more balanced and equal, more fair. 


     

Perspective in The Catcher in the Rye

Social Action Question: Whose Perspective is Missing?
       
         I just started reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. So far in the book, Holden has been kicked out of his boarding school and is visiting his former history teacher, Mr. Spencer, that he really likes. In the conversation, Mr. Spencer asks him why he failed history, and Holden replies with an answer that he thinks Mr. Spencer would like, but one that he doesn't give much thought to. Mr. Spencer also asks Holden what he would do in his place, as a teacher. Holden just dismisses it, acting careless. In this conversation, and throughout the first few pages of the book, I feel that it's all through Holden's naive, careless eyes. In this situation, I think that Mr. Spencer's perspective is missing. 
        First of all, I think a reason that Mr. Spencer's point of view is missing is because Holden is not letting it come through to him. Mr. Spencer has wise words to tell, but Holden is just focused on little things, like how uncomfortable and awkward he feels talking with him. Holden is dismissing Mr. Spencer's perspective on things as an older man, and his advice. I think J.D. Salinger did this on purpose. We get a glimpse into how Holden will be in the rest of the book. He sees things with one side, and he doesn't notice the true importance of mentoring and guidance. By not having Holden listen and take Mr. Spencer's advice, we get the sense of who is Holden is and who he's going to be. We see that the rest of the story is going to be told from a teenager's point of view. Holden's lack of listening is part of his personality.
          This situation can be compared to the world. Holden is like a young child who is supposed to be listening to their parent, or like a bored student who is supposed to learn something from an older person or mentor. He doesn't pay attention to what he can learn. Mr. Spencer is a big archetype in the book, and gives good constructive criticism on how Holden can improve. It's like in life, when you wish that you listened to someone in the past  because now you need the information they were giving you. A message here is that we should listen to the advice we are given, because it may give us knowledge to move forward. Who knows, maybe later in the book Holden will start to appreciate 'old' Spencer, and the knowledge and thought he has given to him. Holden had the chance to do well at school, but he didn't. Now he has the chance to get more help on how to do better in the future from a man he looks up to, but he is dismissing the opportunity by only looking at the conversation from one naive side.
          As the readers, we are starting to get an idea of Holden at the beginning of the book. We know that Holden is a reluctant-to-learn teenager, and that he looks at the world with only his two individual eyes. I think J.D. Salinger purposefully left out the mentor point of view of Mr. Spencer by having Holden not pay attention to his bright words. I think this was because we start to see Holden as an unwilling character, and that gives him more of a chance to learn a big lesson at the end. It gives the readers something to think about as we go forward into the book.      
              

Finding Yourself

        I am currently reading Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman. In the book the main character, Justine, struggles with her identity. She doesn't know who or what she's supposed to be. Issues and themes I've noticed through out the book include religion, sibling problems, mother/daughter relationships, and love. One big issue that I've been thinking a lot about is "finding yourself."
      First of all, Justine is unhappy being Jewish, and she wants to explore other religions. She tries out being Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and then settles on being Christian, like her best friend, Mac. She goes to Mass with her, and secretly practices confession and communion in her closet. When her mom finds out that she wants to be Catholic, she is upset because Justine's not practicing the religion she was born with. Justine must then decide what and who she should pray to, and who she's meant to be.
      Another thing that goes along with the theme "finding yourself" is that Justine feels very uncomfortable being in her family. She feels that her mom loves her older sister Helena more than her and that her dad loves her little brother Jake more than her. She feels trapped being the middle child, like there's no one to listen to her. I would feel the same way if I was in that position. I think it's important for parents to give an equal amount of attention to each of their children, so they don't feel jealous of another sibling.
      Someone who helps Justine "find herself" is her grandmother, also known as Bubbe. She is the only one that Justine feels she can relate to. After Bubbe has a stroke, Justine visits her room every day and worries about her. Justine looks up to Bubbe, because she knows she is very strong, since she survived the Holocaust when she was younger. Justine's grandmother is her mentor, her role model, and the only one who really listens to her. When Bubbe dies, Justine must find the courage in herself to make it through life, following her grandma's wisdom and advice.
       I have not finished the book yet, but I know that Justine has learned more about herself so far. After Bubbe had her stroke, Justine learns to value the important things in her life, like her friends, and most of all, Bubbe. When Bubbe dies, she notices how short life is, and that she should live it feeling comfortable with herself. I hope that by the end of the book Justine finds who she wants to be, whether that means converting to Christianity or staying Jewish.
    

A New Heart

            I just finished reading the book In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth. In the book, Eagan, a talented figure skater, dies. Her heart then goes to Amelia, who has suffered heart disease for several years. Eagan, although dead, is a big part of the book. In the afterlife, she re-lives memories from her former life, including scenes from her complicated relationship with her mother. Amelia, happy to live, feels guilty that she is alive and that her donor is dead. I've noticed that throughout the book, each girl has affected the other's life in many ways.
             Amelia affects Eagan's life by acting as the settler between Eagan and her mom. Before she died, Eagan had a fight with her mother. This complicated past kept her from moving on to heaven. Amelia then goes to meet her donor's parents, and when she does, Eagan's mother does not want to see her. In the end, Amelia does meet Eagan's mom, and she is able to reassure her that Eagan knew that her mom loved her, because she feels it in her heart. Amelia affected Eagan's life, or afterlife, by settling the rocky relationship she had with her mother. Amelia knew this was the right thing to do. I look at this as a way she was thanking Eagan. Amelia got a new life, and Eagan got to move on to a new part of her life beyond death.
             Eagan has greatly affected Amelia's life by giving her a second chance to live. Amelia is grateful and feels very lucky, but she is also sad. She doesn't get why her family should celebrate her new life while another family is mourning a tragic loss. She then decides to meet her donor's family, Eagan's parents. This brings her a little more peace, knowing where her heart is coming from. She is relieved that the family is coping and that they're okay. Amelia also starts developing characteristics of Eagan, like her love for ice skating and purple things. Amelia feels weird at first, but then she realizes it brings a connection between them. I'm glad that Amelia feels Eagan. It's like Eagan is still on earth, as a part of Amelia.  
             In conclusion, Amelia has affected Eagan's life by letting her be at peace and comfortable with herself. Eagan has affected Amelia's life by giving her a second chance at life. This is fiction and we can't be sure of this ever happening in real life, but I'm happy it ended up this way for the characters.
            In A Heartbeat is a great book about loss, joy, and second chances. It has taught me a lot more about the complex idea of heart transplants. I never new they were so complicated and that they took the patient and the donor's family on such a long journey that affects them so much.

Point of View - Blogpost #2

(My response is answering #6 of the Guided Reading Questions)          

           On page 102 in the Phantom Tollbooth, Milo remarks that the Point of View, in the Forest of Sight, is beautiful. The humbug doesn't agree. Alec, the boy who grows towards the ground instead of up, says "It's all in the way you look at things." To me, this means that everybody has their own opinions, and it all depends on their prospective of how they look at things.
          As I was reading, I annotated that "Everybody looks at things differently." This is true. Nobody sees the world in the exact same way as anybody else. If that were the case, the world would be dull and boring. There would be no debates, no diversity, and no creativity and expression. We'd all be very similar, with the same thoughts.
           An example of different points of view comes from the text, on page 108, when Alec is describing a bucket of water. He says, "... From an ant's point of view it's a vast ocean, from an elephant's just a cool drink, and to a fish, of course, it's home." To us, as humans, it's just a simple object filled with something we drink everyday, but it has different uses depending on how small or large you are, or what creature you are.
             Another example of this is on page 114 when Milo is talking to the Giant/the Midget/the Fat Man/the Thin Man. He says, "You see, to tall men I'm a midget, and to short men I'm a giant; to the skinny ones I'm a fat man, and to fat ones I'm a thin man." This man of many identities has all these characteristics because people look at him in so many different ways.
            Different points of views is also a big part of society today. For example, a student might be very interested about a war or an invasion, but to somebody who experienced it firsthand, it might be a dark time for them to think about. The student is coming at it with excitement and curiosity, but the victim is looking at it with a sad reflection.
              Also, on a lighter note, everybody has different opinions. For instance, Milo does not care about time at the beginning of the book, but Tock loves it. This is because Milo has never really seen the importance of knowing what hour or minute it is, but to Tock, it's his whole life. To add on to the topic, one person might not like a book or movie, but to another person, it may be their favorite. One person might like the color purple and the other might despise it.  No matter what, people judge things based on the way they see things and their tastes.
                In each different land in the Phantom Tollbooth, the people thought of their topics as the most important thing to ever exist. King Azaz of Dictionopolis loved words, the Mathemagician of Digitolpolis was fascinated with numbers, Chroma the Great appreciated colors very much. These people all liked their own specific things because they didn't have the chance to explore the other type of elements of life. At the end of his journey, Milo greatly enjoyed everything, because he was able to experience each and every one of them.
                Everybody sees and experiences things differently, and that is where their opinions are formed. Points of view are unique for everybody, because we all have our own two eyes and our own mind.
          
    

Milo's Change - The Phantom Tollbooth

Character Question: Does the character develop any new traits?      


        In the book, The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo definitely develops new traits as the story, and his journey, progresses. In the beginning of the book, he was an unhappy, ungrateful boy. He didn't care about learning or gaining knowledge. He didn't show an interest in school, or anything for that matter. He rushed home from school everyday, not caring to look up at the people and shops in his neighborhood. He had very many toys- but he always got bored and never wanted to play with any of them.
      
        Then, one day, Milo notices something unusual in his bedroom - a box containing a tollbooth and a car. He studies it, and decides to follow the directions that came along with it, because he had nothing better to do. First, he ends up driving to foreign places called "Dictionopolis" and "Expectations" where he meets The 'Whether' Man and The Doldrums. Milo starts to get interested in them, asking who they are, where they are now, and why they act the way they do. Milo starts becoming more curious in other people and things. He also shows that he is curious when he is at the Market Place, exploring all the different words and combinations he could create.
       
        Another character trait I saw Milo develop was he became more caring. For instance, when the watchdog/his best friend, Tock, is talking about the sad way he got his name, Milo wants to change the subject because he knows it is a very sensitive topic for Tock to speak about.
        
        Milo also becomes selfless and optimistic on the journey. When he and Tock are put into jail for causing confusion at the Market Place, he confronts The 'Which' and listens to her story about why she is in jail. After hearing her story, Milo is motivated to rescue Rhyme and Reason, the two girls who could save Dictionopolis and The Which. Milo believes that he can make it up to the Castle in the Sky, where the girls live. He believes he could make it - all while risking his own life. This journey has definitely changed him so far, because I know he would've never thought to do this if he was the selfish way he was, back at the beginning of the book. 
          
        Most of all, I think Milo has become a very brave character. He was brave to take the risk to come to this new world, he was brave to ask so many questions, even when he would get yelled at, and he was brave to risk his own life to go on a journey to save others. 
        
          In conclusion, Milo has developed many new character traits on his journey in this creative, unique land. He has gone from closed-minded to open. He's gone from disinterested to appreciative of the simple things, like the words around him. He's gone from a being pessimistic to looking at the world in a brighter way.