For Fiction Two, I read, "Your Voice Is All I Hear" by Leah Scheier. This novel took place in Baltimore, MD and is told through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl named April Wesley, and is about her and her mentally ill boyfriend, Jonah Golden. April had, "thin V-shaped eyebrows, a small nose, and a pointy chin", as well as freckled pale skin, hazel eyes, and uneven straight brown hair. She had a slim figure with moderate curves. Throughout the story, she stayed by Jonah's side until the end, where they then broke up. Most likely, April decided to stay with Jonah because of their bond and that she refused to leave someone she loved dearly. Jonah also trusted and relied on April, who went along with the voices in his head saying that the medical …show more content…
professionals were spies and so it would’ve been devastating for Jonah had April willingly left him. The novel begins with April on her first day of school at Fallstaff Highschool. During class, a new sophomore named Jonah arrives late, saying that he got lost. He then unexpectedly sits beside April, which bewildered both April and a snobby yet attractive girl named Cora. After an attempt with flirting with Jonah, Cora was rejected, being told by Jonah that he decided to sit beside April because he thought she was attractive. Starting out as friends, April and Jonah eventually began dating. She then learns that Jonah is an exceedingly talented artist and that he boxes in his room with a hanging punching bag and notices that Jonah often writes in a secret notebook. As time went on, April begins to notice odd behavior from Jonah, such as refusing to eat cafeteria or frozen food (out of fear of it being poisoned) consequently causing him to lose weight, having sudden outbursts of terror in history class (due to being convinced that there were historical guards outside of their classroom), and at one point, April secretly listens to Jonah yell toxic words at no one while punching furiously at his punching bag until his knuckles bleed. His physical symptoms were noticed by his mother, who explained that he often had sudden fits of cold sweat. As concerns grew, his mother called for an appointment with a therapist. He refused to go unless April would follow, and so April too went with him. April was alarmed when she was gifted a tuque with aluminium lined inside and was told to wear it so that “brainwashing rays” would not affect her. After the therapist suggested that Jonah had a mental illness, Jonah’s mother was in great denial and left the office with her son and April. One day, Jonah had a particularly manic episode and destroyed every painting in his studio. He then proceeded to April’s home and demolished her keyboard because he believed that the government had bugged all of their electronics. The police were called after April’s friend, who at that time was in April’s house alone, thought he was a burglar and was startled his entrance downstairs. He was then admitted to a mental institution, where he had strong distrust towards anyone in the medical profession. He claimed that they were all to be spies and that all of the medical students would soon also become spies.On the second day of his admission, he asked April for his secret notebook to be retrieved. After school, April would often visit Jonah and come with him to the therapist. However, she was told by Jonah to stay quiet, to which she complied. The therapist accepted that April was completely silent during therapist sessions and refused to answer questions, and prescribed Jonah high doses of medications. At first, April refrained from looking through his notebook, until his schizophrenia got to the point where she thought that it was important to show the therapist. It proved to be worthless, though, as the therapist merely shrugged off that Jonah wrote pages upon pages about who in the mental ward are spies or are likely to become spies. With the medication taking action, April noticed that Jonah had fewer surges of anger, but that he also appeared to be emotionless. He was then discharged but later readmitted after attempting to commit suicide by taking off his punching bag from the hook and using a rope to hang himself. April dreaded Jonah’s readmission, as she presumed that he would simply be put on many medications and be misunderstood once again. Upon revisiting the mental institution, she realised that the previous therapist was on vacation and that there would be a substituting therapist. The substituting therapist was different, though, and drastically helped Jonah cope with his schizophrenia more efficiently, and with a lower dosage of medications. I will compare this book with Annie on My Mind, as that is the only other romance book I have read.
There are many differences between these two novels, such as the conflict in Annie on my mind was that the relationship between the characters was seen as appalling, while here the conflict is that one of the characters had a serious mental illness. The ending in this book was rather bittersweet, while the ending in Annie on my mind was more sweet than bitter. Despite both being romance novels, I would say that there are very little similarities between the two. Your Voice Is All I Hear is more focused on dwelling in the characters’ situation, while Annie on My Mind was more focused on the relationship between the characters. One similarity, however, is that the relationships in both stories were …show more content…
healthy. I chose this book because the vague synopses of the book were interesting to me, though I would say that it had exaggerated events more than it should.
For example, it lists all these things that April risks losing, like the opportunity to “attend a prestigious music school”, her family and her friends. However, throughout this story, truthfully, April only had one relevant friend, and their “fight” wasn’t quite serious (if the short amount of time for it resolve meant anything). Her family did not shun her, therefore she did not seem to risk losing them. Neither did she risk attending the prestigious school; she got accepted but was merely put down that Jonah would also not be able to
attend.
Warriors Don 't Cry is a memoir written by Melba Pattillo Beals. It is about the author herself as a young girl named Melba, who grew up in a society of segregation. Nine students, including Beals, have the chance to integrate a white school called Central High. Mobs of white people were against it and would harass them and even try to kill them. Three elements used in this memoir are first point of view, character and plot. Furthermore, Warriors Don 't Cry has the theme of courage.
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a story written in the first person about a young girl named Melinda Sordino. The title of the book, Speak, is ironically based on the fact that Melinda chooses not to speak. The book is written in the form of a monologue in the mind of Melinda, a teenage introvert. This story depicts the story of a very miserable freshman year of high school. Although there are several people in her high school, Melinda secludes herself from them all. There are several people in her school that used to be her friend in middle school, but not anymore. Not after what she did over the summer. What she did was call the cops on an end of summer party on of her friends was throwing. Although all her classmates think there was no reason to call, only Melinda knows the real reason. Even if they cared to know the real reason, there is no way she could tell them. A personal rape story is not something that flows freely off the tongue. Throughout the story Melinda describes the pain she is going through every day as a result of her rape. The rape of a teenage girl often leads to depression. Melinda is convinced that nobody understands her, nor would they even if they knew what happened that summer. Once a happy girl, Melinda is now depressed and withdrawn from the world. She hardly ever speaks, nor does she do well in school. She bites her lips and her nails until they bleed. Her parents seem to think she is just going through a faze, but little do they know, their daughter has undergone a life changing trauma that will affect her life forever.
The story I chose for this analysis is “Why, you reckon?” by Langston Hughes. IN this analysis I will be focusing on how the great depression in Harlem had effect on the story, how racism played a part, and how or if the characters were justifyied in their actions. During this time period the intense racial divide combined with the economic harships that plagued the U.S. during the 1923’s makes for an interesting story that makes you think if the charaters were really justified.
Thesis—The award winning novel, Cut, written by Patricia McCormick has been challenged worldwide in many educational systems because it has been proven to be extremely triggering for all ages, especially young adults, and includes harsh themes. Although some readers may agree with this, Cut is actually a very moving and life-changing book. This novel helps others better understand mental illness’, encourages teens to seek help and talk about inner hidden thoughts, and creates a both unique and strong connection with others battling demons screaming within their bodies. This takes them closer to shore and further from the distant island of isolation and loneliness they are too familiar with.
For example, some argue that the misfortune between Mattie and Ethan could have been avoided had Ethan had better communication skills. However, the misfortune lies not within the lack of communication, but because their environment would not allow it. In an societal sense, Mattie and Ethan’s relationship would be taboo, considering it was born from adultery. In an economic sense, the relationship would never work. Had Ethan not been as poor as he was, he could easily have run away with Mattie when Zeena had ordered her to leave. The only reason he did not leave was because with the farm doing poorly, he would leave Zeena unable to financially support herself (Wharton 50). The only way out of their predicament, according to Mattie, is sledding: they could be together if they both died together. This brings upon the image of winter being an oppressive force to these people. Their suicide attempt fails, and twenty four years later they are still trapped in the grips of the powerful winter. The elements of winter -- coldness and snow among others -- entrap Ethan and Mattie, not allowing them a way out of this unfortunate life they live. Wharton, purposefully or not, essentially makes sure that none of these characters get a happy ending. She leaves them under the oppressive hand of winter,
For this book review I read, Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. The main character is a young girl named Deja, who narrates the whole story in first person. Life is difficult for Deja and her family, especially since her father is sick and very depressed and the family has been forced to move into a homeless shelter. Deja has to transfer to a new school where she is assigned to work on a project about September 11th that slowly helps her understand how much that day has affected her father’s life and the life of her entire family. The story takes place in 2016 in New York City. The conflict is person vs. self.
“Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson presents Melinda’s (a teenage girl) life as she drifts through her adolescent years, where she struggles to overcome internal depression, as well as typical issues, involving her social life. Melinda’s life in an obscure world, where enigmatic challenges constantly clog her path towards a normal and healthy life, she feels lost and betrayed. Likewise, the boy that raped her attends the same school as her, causing her to have constant memories of the event. Thus, Melinda’s defective life compromising of rape, lack of communication, and depression mirrors the lives of many teens around the world. In addition, this book revolves around the dominant theme of adolescence, resulting to an effect of a realistic- fiction novel.
1) Our quester(s): two seventeen-year-old, broken teenagers. Theodore Finch, a bipolar boy that thinks about his death 24/7 but doesn’t want to die, and Violet Markey, a misunderstood popular girl
An identity crisis is defined as a period, at which an individual struggles with one's own sense of self. I believe that everyone goes through such a crisis at one point or another; however, I do not feel it is correct to say, everyone goes through this type of crisis entering their first year of college. Now, I am not say that someone can’t have an identity crisis entering college for the first time, for is was made clear in the essay, that some people can indeed, have a sudden realization of either finding or losing one’s self in college. In turn, it is fair to say that most people do develop a sort of crisis when embarking in the college life. It's a time in your life when you experience the world in a new light—and usually on your own.
“Everyone loves free expression as long as it isn't exercised” (Rosenblatt 501). In the article, We are Free to Be You, Me, Stupid, and Dead, Roger Rosenblatt argues for the people’s right to freedom of speech and expression, that is given by the U.S Constitution. Rosenblatt argues that freedom of speech is one of the many reasons the Founding Fathers developed this country. For this reason, Rosenblatt believes that we should be tolerant and accepting of other’s ideas and beliefs. Even if one does not agree with someone else, they need to be understanding and realize that people have differing opinions. Everyone has the right to free expression, and this is what Rosenblatt is trying to get across. The necessity of freedom of expression and the important values it contains is a main foundation for this country, therefore, Rosenblatt’s argument is valid.
From the great Aristotle to modern day MTV Jay Heinrichs enlightens us with the most effective and entertaining book yet, with his Updated Third Edition of Thank You for Arguing. This book has been a New York Times Bestseller for many years and still is, the book itself has been published 3 times and retails from 11.99$-15.00$. Heinrichs has dedicated his his life to this book and has taught hundreds of colleges and companies the ideals of proper rhetoric. In this Analysis, we will cover what this book is mainly about, the best chapter using decorum, and the importance of the book’s continued use in a college course.
“You will grow up on your own time; no one can force you,” is the main lesson in both of the stories Everything Will Be Okay and Out of my Mind. Both of the main characters, James and Melody, want to be just like someone and want to do what they do. Also, these two characters realize that they have to be themselves, and no one can force them to be something that they aren’t. These two stories may be very similar in the way that they teach this life lesson, but they are also very different.
Our class has been reading a book called “Brown Girl Dreaming” for the past two weeks. The author, Jacqueline Woodson talks about her life growing up. For example she talks about how her mom and dad divorced when she was young. She talks about how she moves to Greenville and how her grandpa is like a dad figure, and how her mother came back with a pale skinned baby after she went to New York. Character traits make up a person, and while reading the book, you can see what Jacqueline is like during her childhood. Jacqueline has many character traits, such as being jealous of her older sister, being naive, and she is also respectful.
At the age of ten, most children are dependent on their parents for everything in their lives needing a great deal of attention and care. However, Ellen, the main character and protagonist of the novel Ellen Foster, exemplifies a substantial amount of independence and mature, rational thought as a ten-year-old girl. The recent death of her mother sends her on a quest for the ideal family, or anywhere her father, who had shown apathy to both she and her fragile mother, was not. Kaye Gibbons’ use of simple diction, unmarked dialogue, and a unique story structure in her first novel, Ellen Foster, allows the reader to explore the emotions and thoughts of this heroic, ten-year-old girl modeled after Gibbons’ own experiences as a young girl.
America has made amazing technology. People believe that technology they own should be private and disclosed only to those they want to. However, Officials should be able to use the information they obtained from private devices or social networking sites in order to protect the community.