For me, life was a constant loop; wake up, go to school, do homework, fall asleep. Everything was ordinary and boring. I soon realized that something was missing. I decided to confront my parents. They gave me the same answer that they’ve given me for years, “Just read a book or something”. I wanted to tell them I’ve tried, but they didn’t care. It was just another normal day and my English class was taking a trip to the library, but what was I to do there? Sitting down in one of the chairs, I grabbed a random book and started reading. Little did I know, it was going to change my life forever.
Opening the cover, I looked at the first page, and it read, Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25. The first couple of pages seemed interesting,
so I checked the book out of the library. Michael’s life and his school reminded me of mine. He wasn’t that tall and he wasn’t one of the popular kids, but he was unique. The words you used to describe his powers made me feel like I had powers too. I had tried to recommend it to my parents, but my dad just “doesn’t read” and my mom was always “too busy”. They wouldn’t discourage me from reading on. Every page was getting better than the previous one. What could go wrong? Quickly, I found the answer to that question -- the end was nearing. What would I do if it were to finalize? I had to do something! I immediately went to research. Luckily, I found that there were 6 more books. I was overjoyed (I just want to say thanks for that). Even now, after I’ve read all of the books, I am still changed. My grades in ELAR are better and I have a whole closet full of books. I have learned that you should enjoy life and grasp every opportunity it gives you. Thanks to Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, I don’t let important moments slip away. Thank you!
Do you ever wish you had super powers? If you did (or do) this is the book for you! It's important because it shows the life of a bullied child, and puts you in his shoes and lets you experience all of his feelings. He has loyalty in the book Michael Vey Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans. Michael is very loyal and dedicated.
Summary: "The Cage" by Ruth Minsky Sender is a book about a teenage girl who was separated from her mother and brothers when the nazis captured them and sent them to a concentration camp. While she was in the concentration camp, she got sick and one of the Nazi guards took her to a hospital, but they had to go througgh several hospitals because they didn't take jews. After her operation, the doctor had to teach her how to write with her left hand because she couldn't write with her right hand. A russian commander helped her out by giving her food and baths, and she gave her a job that wasn't as hard as the other "prisoners" had. She lived off her mother's quote, "When there is life, there is hope." She believed that and she got through the
Courage is defined as “the ability to do something that frightens one.” This was displayed throughout the memoir The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender in many places. During the holocaust, many people needed to exhibit courage in order to survive. There were many instances where characters stood up for what they believed in. The nazis struck terror in those who were not seen as equal to Germans and few people stood up to these guards in fear for their lives. Moishe and Catia were just two people who put Rivas lives before their own and stood up to the guards in order to save Riva’s life. Characters throughout the memoir demonstrate strength and courage in the face of fear in order to save lives of those they love.
In this critic, I will be analyzing and comparing two books. The first book is “A question of Freedom a Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison” by R. Dwayne Betts. The second book is “Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing” by Ted Conover. In this comparison will first give a short summarization of both books. Second I will be answering the fallowing questions, what prisons are discussed? What types of prisoners are there- age, race, sex, level of crime? How current is the information? What are the conditions of the prisons? How are the prisoners treated? How are the guards and their viewpoints represented? How are the prisoners and their viewpoints represented? What forms of rehabilitation are there? What are the social relationships with other inmates? What opportunities are available to occupy prisoners? What point of view is the author taking – critical, Positive, does she/he write from the viewpoint of a guard, a prisoner? What evidence is/are the author’s points based on and how is the evidence presented - for example, first hand observations, Statistics? Also what changes, if any, are proposed or discussed by the author? How does the information in this book compare with what you’ve read in the text and articles and what you have observed on a class trip? Lastly what is your opinion of the information and viewpoint expressed in the book?
When reading this book I began to think of how I grew up and how I am a
Gresham M. Sykes describes the society of captives from the inmates’ point of view. Sykes acknowledges the fact that his observations are generalizations but he feels that most inmates can agree on feelings of deprivation and frustration. As he sketches the development of physical punishment towards psychological punishment, Sykes follows that both have an enormous effect on the inmate and do not differ greatly in their cruelty.
My mind started to wonder though each room of the house, the kitchen where mom used to spend every waking hour in. The music room where dad maintained the instrument so carefully like one day people would come and play them, but that day never came, the house was always painfully empty. The house never quite lived to be the house my parents wanted, dust bunnies always danced across the floor, shelves were always slightly crooked even when you fixed them. My parents were from high class families that always had some party to host. Their children were disappointments, for we
Social psychology is an empirical science that studies how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. This field focuses on how individuals view and affect each other. Social psychology also produces the idea of construals which represent how a person perceives, comprehends or interprets the environment. Construals introduce the idea that people want to make themselves look good to others and they want to be seen as right. It is also said that the social setting in which people interact impacts behavior, which brings up the idea of behaviorism. Behaviorism is the idea that behavior is a function of the person and the environment.
Solitary confinement is a penal tactic used on inmates who pose a threat to themselves or other inmates. Solitary confinement is type of segregated prison in which prisoners are held in their cell for 22-24 hours every day. If they are allowed to leave their cell, they will silently walk shackled and in between two guards. They can only leave for showers or exercise. Their exercise and shower are always done alone and inside. They can exercise in fenced in yards surrounded by concrete. Solitary confinement is either used as a punishment for prison behaviors, a protection method for targeted inmates, or a place to keep prisoners who are a threat to the general prison population. Many prisoners are put in Administrative Segregation for their protection. Many prisoners in this type of segregation are teenagers, homosexuals, and mentally ill prisoners. Many mentally ill prisoners are sent to solitary confinement because there are not rehabilitation services available, and prison officials have run out of options (Shalev, 2008, p [1-2]). Solitary confinement is a convenient method for prison systems, but the detrimental effects on inmates make it an unsuitable option for inmate control.
The Convicts, by Iain Lawrence, is a story of a young boy who faces great odds to complete his quest to help his father. This novel takes many twists and turns through the landscape of London, more specifically in nineteenth century London. However, London is not described in the picturesque view many people have come to know London as. Lawrence shows the uglier more rugged lifestyle of many poor people in London during this time period. Within a society like this in London, swindling, gangs, and prison become common subjects among the lower classes, especially in this novel. Although life was hard for many, the characters in this novel find adventure along the way while aboard ships and through underground sewers.
Everyday was monotone. I would get up and go to school, study, and continue to earn good grades for the satisfaction of my parents. Nearly daily, my parents would badger me to becoming a doctor. They constantly pointed out that doctors had a simple and easy lifestyle. They stated that as long as there are illnesses, there will always be a demand for doctors. They coerced me into believing that it would be an easy life of check-ups and writing off medication. At one point, I followed their wishes and walked down the path of becoming a peaceful doctor believing that this path would be the best for my life. I traveled down the path to fulfill my parents satisfaction and
In elementary school, I would escape to the library, face burrowing in picture books about space. Walking home with arms full of checked out books, I would pass by my parents consumed in another argument most likely about marital problems and sit in the corner of my room - door shut - to indulge my self in my own private get away. I did not check out my space books to read but instead to dream, dream about a world waiting to be explored. A world free of the petty arguments of my parents, the teachers with high expectations and the chores that awaited me at home
Growing up, I was given the freedom to choose who I wanted to be, to decide what I wanted to do. I grew up with many different opportunities and chances to try out new things. A simple life I led as a child, sheltered and loved by all, but I was oblivious to reality, lost in my own “perfect” world. Yet as I grew up and began to surpass the age of imaginary worlds, the idea of “perfection” had begun to fade and reality began to settle in. Like a splash of cold water, I went from a childish mindset to an adult’s. Child hood play was a thing of the past and responsibility became the norm.
At the young age of ten, I was faced with a situation that has had one of the largest influences in who I am today. My parents’ divorce has and still currently plays a role in my life that has affected my drive for motivation bringing diverse perspectives. At such a young age, I was filled with such remorse, discouragement, and fear. My educational abilities were collapsing, along with some of my common social activities. I was absent-minded due to my adolescent understanding and confusion of the situation. I became emotionally depleted coming eye to eye with what I was promised would never happen. My personal connections with my family gradually became diminished, from what I kept so valuable. I was placed in a situation that tore apart my contentment, arrogance, and self motivation. It wasn’t until years later, I took my position as a chance to transform my bleakness into a strong desire for greatness.
My life seemed pointless and I was stuck. I could not see a way out, and sometimes didn’t want to. Everything changed