Butterfly

This is my butterfly poem project based on the poem “Man Proposes, God Disposes.” This poem is about a man who once had everything he dreamed of, but now since he is Jewish he is now a prisoner in the Terezin concentration camp. He was once rich, tough, and happy. Although, now he is weak, beaten, and hopeless. “I. Who was helpless back in Prague, And who was rich before, He’s a poor soul here in Terezin, His body’s bruised and sore. II. Who was toughened up before, He’ll survive these days. But who was used to servants, Will sink into his grave.“

Life Is Beautiful

“Life is beautiful” is a movie on Netflix about a Italian Jewish who falls in love with a Italian woman. They get married and have a child who is Jewish as well, during this time the holocaust is beginning and they are taken. What surprised me most about this movie is that this history of hatred started off so slowly. First it started with only teasing the Jews, then slowly progressed to genocide. What was most interesting was how Guido the Jewish lead role hid his son so he wouldn’t be killed. Although this movie was great i am still left with a couple questions. Where did all the Jewish slaves go once the war was over at the end of the movie? Did Guinco ever find out later in his life what his father had done to protect him? Does Dora know what Guindo did to protect her and their son?

Is it night or day? By Fern Schumer Chapman

The title- “Is it night or day?”
The author- Fern Schumer Chapman,
The genre-Historical fiction.
This book first takes place in Germany with the main character named Edith Westerfeld prounouced, ‘Edit Vesterfeld’. The following characters Mutti (mom) , Vatti (dad), Mina (sister), Betty (sister), and Oma (grandma). This story take place when the holocaust is in action. Edith and her family are Jews and are being targeted in their hometown in Germany so for Edith’s safety, her parents send her off to America. The way she is traveling to America is by boat. While on her journey she meets three children around her age named Julius, Peter, and Gerda. They all soon become very close friends but soon when they reach America, they must say goodbye to each other. Her job when she gets to America is to figure out a way to get her parents jobs when they come to America as well when their papers get certified. She moves in with her uncle Jakob and her aunt Mildred. Aunt Mildred gives her a hard time making her do all the chores and does not let her make any friends in school. Also although Edith is in seventh grade she must take a first grade class to start learning English and grammar. The kids at school make fun of her because of this as well. Edith tried hard to become an American so she couldn’t he one thing she knew everyone loved in America. Baseball. She became a white sox fan and went to a  “all ladies”  game the stadium offered for free. The Sox one day were playing against the tigers and on that team they had recruited a Jewish man. Hank Greenberg he was, Edith loved him she would cut out every news article in the newspaper about him and keep it. One could say she was his biggest fan. However one day came that the army was selecting men to come and join the force. Sadly Hank was picked.  Read this book to find out what happens next.
The theme of the story is about a girl starting a new life in a place she doesn't know very well. Through her new life journey she struggles fitting in and dealing with the hatred people have against her kind.
Whats most interesting about this book is that it takes part in Chicago. Talking about all the buildings, the baseball hype, and even talks about the extreme traffic that we all just love so much. Also what is so interesting about this book is its unique take on the holocaust. Its something that you wont see in a history book the author mentions. They wouldn't mention the story, or perspective of someone who has actually been through this event time and place, and has suffered the consequences and inequalities of it. Wouldn't mention what thousands went through personally while all they focused on was the leader of this evil, and not the victims.
Now just reading this blog, how do you personally think Edith felt.

Picture of Edith and Gerda reunited

Picture of book cover

Gemini bites by Patrick Ryan

Gemini bites written by author Patrick Ryan, and the genre of the book fiction. This book is written in two different perspectives of a set of twins. One named Kyle and the other named Judy. They live in a huge family of nine. Kyle, Judy, Mom, Dad, Tommy, Dexter, Dawn, Suzie, and Trisha. They are constantly in a competition, although Judy is usually the one who wins in the end. One day their parents inform them that the school weirdo is going to be staying with them for a while. Kyle has recently come out that he is gay and Judy takes this as her big opportunity to beat Kyle in winning over a guy. This book is interesting because it shows you what life is like for teenager in two different perspectives, a girls, and a boys. Also it mentions many topics that many other books do such as being gay, being bi, or having problems in life as a teenager. My favorite part personally in this book is towards the end of the book when Kyle and Judy have a talk about why they are so cold towards each other. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny books, or books with a lot of sarcasm.

Success

 Success. I chose this word because I feel as if I don’t succeed or strive to succeed in many things in my life. So hopefully through this new year I will remember my one word and stick to it and strive for success. In my life I will hope for success in the important aspects of my life, and through everything that I will do I will continue to head towards my goal. I believe this word will change my life by making me become a more positive person, and someone who doesn’t give up as easily as I used to. Also by changing some of the perspectives that I have towards things. Steps that I will take to live my word is by setting my word as the title to my alarm. Also by setting that word as my wallpaper, or background on my computer. I will hold myself accountable by making sure that I remind myself of my word day for day, and by not holding anyone else accountable for the reason why I forgot my word. Although, I will not put too much accountability into my word by, trying to have success in everything I do. Even so, that does not mean I will not put enough accountability in by not tryin to succeed in anything as well.

Runaway by Wendelin Van Draaen

Runaway, by Wendelin Van Draaen. The genre of this book is fiction.

Runaway is about a girl named Holly, around the age of 12. Holly currently lives with foster parents ‘The Benders’. Holly’s foster parents do not treat Holly well, she lives in the laundry room, with the floor as her bed and the entire laundry room as her literal room. Her English teacher Ms.Leone one day gives each student of her a class a journal to write in. Throughout the journal Holly talks about her day to day life, and many more things. One day she gets fed up with her living conditions and her life conditions so she makes a wise decision to well Runaway. Personally I would have to say my favorite part of this book is whenever Holly writes a poem, mostly because it helps me understand more about how she feels about a situation in the book.

The main character (aka Holly) is lonely. I know this because on the very first page the text reads Holly saying, “Words can’t fix my life. Words can’t give me family.” This shows that even though Holly has foster parents (that treat her poorly). She still feels as if she doesn’t have a family. Holly wants to feel as if she is wanted. She wants a family that loves her and a family that will treat her great.

I like this book because, it helps you see what many foster children go through in their life. Holly’s a very great part of this book as well because, she is portrayed as a very strong girl in this book. The book is read out of the perspective of Holly’s journal as well, which I find unique because not many authors do this. Overall I found the book very addicting, emotional, funny, and a great book that I would recommend to others.

Maybe-by Brent Runyon

          11/17/17

          The book that I have read is a book called Maybe. Maybe is written by the author Brent Runyon, the genre of this book is teen-fiction.

          

          Maybe, is about a boy named Brian who has just moved with his mother and father to a new neighborhood. He goes through the struggles of having to go to a new school, trying to make new friends, and trying to lose his virginity. The relationship with him and his parents is something he is not proud of, and he says it all went bad due to his brothers abscense. In fact he does make friends, although they may not be friends that are loyal to him. Personally my favorite part of this book is when Brian has a talk with his brother in his car, because it allows Brian to get everything out. Also because he finally realizes how much he loves his brother and misses him dearly. 

          The main character, Brian is lonely. This is shown on page 171 of the book where it says “I’m all alone. I don’t have anyone and I don’t care about anyone and no one cares about me.” This shows that Brian feels as if no one cares for and that he is not important. Throughout the book you can see how he truly feels when it comes to his importance.

          Personally, I truly liked this book because it can relate to many teenagers out there in the world. It goes from relating to the hardships of being a teenager in school to feelings that you go through in life. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Mostly because it’s a book that many people can relate to, and also a book that people very much will enjoy. The theme of this book would have to be is that ‘it may feel as if you are the only one alone, but there are people out there who feel exactly the same.’