Non Fiction Blog Post

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/02/business/cosmetics-companies-quietly-ending-animal-tests.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Animal testing. In my opinion one of the cruelest ways to help the american nation. Sure, testing animals gives us research, helps us learn about products but the way they find this information out isn't ethical. Hurting animals who are helpless and innocent is not the way to help out society. Injeccting them with chemicals and rubbing products into their eyes and nose is awful. Imagine is that was you.

In this article I think the author wants us to raise awareness about animal testing and how it is stopping throughout some of the brand name cosmetics like "Cover Girl" and "Avon." But in the past they would rub chemicals into their fur, shave their fur, rub chemicals into their eyes and inject them with all sorts of gross products.

I think the author wants us to feel relieved that animal testing is lightening up around the world and that lots of animal rights groups are standing up for them.

In conclusion this article really made me feel assured that animal testing is getting better and that I know people all over the world have the same thoughts and feeling about this topic just like me!

"So Inn Love"

So I told you I would write one final blog post about this extremely stereotypical book "So Inn Love" by Catherine Clark, which I regret reading and think was a complete waste of my time. So instead of praising how great this book was I will name several ways the author could have made it much better. Fortunately I won't have to go through this trauma of reading a dense, and slow book.

One way I think the author could have made this book a lot better was if the main character had more of an actual personality. It seemed like the author couldn't decide what kind of impression the girl made on other people. By the end I felt like I didn't know the character well at all. For a book to be good, usually there are ways to relate to a character's actions or emotions. However, in this book, the girl (Elizabeth) didn't seem real at all--instead, I felt like I was watching a TV show with awful actors. She wasn't believable.

Adding on to that I felt like I was watching an awful TV show, Elizabeth the protagonist was constantly being "checked out" by the boy she liked. For example during the scene where they had the same job as a lifeguard on the beach when she went to go get some supplies from the shed she noticed him putting on his binoculars and looking at her in her bikini. Oh God, can it get anymore like a bad sitcom? I wonder why this author chose this to be the main focus of the book. I think she could've instead made a slightly more entertaining conflict and add the boy drama as a smaller conflict.

Overall I definitely wasn't too impressed but the book did teach me many girls in the world would actually read and enjoy the book; otherwise, it wouldn't be published. I guess I'll steer away from the author in the future.

"So Inn Love"

I am currently reading "So inn love" by Catherine Clark. Even though I just started it, it has already proven to be in one word stereotypical. There are the "populars," the "loosers," the "jocks", and more and since she is just a newbie she is one of the "loosers" just like all of the other teenage dramas but my question is: What am I holding back on or what does my mind not want me to read? This book in my opinion will probably have a fairy tale ending and will have some extreme romantic action going on. Hopefully my opinion will not be correct and it will prove to be something more.

It takes place with a young girl named Liza just graduating high school and has scored a job at the inn where all of the cool kids hang out. Her request is to "get through this without being heartbroken" and my mind has already blocked some things out. Stupid talk about boys and more. What else do we seriously want to hear. My mind has already held back the parts of the book where she gets into fights, spills a drink on her new shirt, and has a hopeless crush who is the most popular boy around. Yeah, that kind of stuff. There are also the good parts of the book where I can actually see that that the author tried to make an effort not to make it all stupid and stereotypical. One part is where she and her new friend are talking about what they are going to do that summer and for a little while I can actually see where the story is going. My mind almost doesn't want to read the stereotypical stuff and just skips over and I move to a new page.

In conclusion hopefully this book will end up being good so I don't have to waste so much time reading it. I am holding back on everything that is stereotypical.

"11 Birthdays"

I am currently reading the book "11 Birthdays" by Wendy Mass. This book is already showing interesting aspects of possible supernatural powers and maybe even prophecies! This book is really fun and captivating and always leaves me wanting more. Some character relationships are stronger then others though. Mothers to daughters, sister to sister, and father to daughter. All of these relationships make the book even stronger and allow you to zoom in on the really interesting parts.

I think that the relationship between the protagonist Amanda and her sister Kylie have a bipolar relationship there are some times in the book where they will constantly fight and just not talk, and then there are other times in the book where they will complement each other and talk. I think that having a rocky relationship between them makes the book more real and not like a fairy tale. I also think that having a older and prettier sister makes the book a little stereotypical. I mean aren't a lot of books about younger sisters and their older prettier sisters that can sometimes be mean to them? Overall I would like to keep focusing in on this relationship.

In conclusion even though I have just started the book it is already really good with lots of different plot twists and I would like to keep thinking about the relationship between older and younger sisters.

"I was a Teenage Fairy"

Right now I am currently reading the book "I was a teenage fairy" by Francessca Lia Block. This book even though I have just started reading it has already got me very engaged in the setting and surrounding. The book so far has taken place in suburbia Beverly Hills and is about a girl whose name is Barbie and may look like one too buts thats not how she feels on the inside. Her mother forces and pushes her around like she's plastic and that is not how she wants to be known. Her mother, it feels, just cares about her model career and not the way she really feels.

To me it seems like Barbie does not have a strong relationship to or mom, or her dad. Her mother only cares about her modeling career and her father doesn't care about anything but her work. Her mother forces her to go take head shots for her portfolio and go to fancy schools and all Barbie wants is to be like every other kid. Normal. In the book while the agent is fussing over how she looks Barbies eyes immediately go to the plant sitting in the corner. She wants nothing to do with them and everything to do with the plant. She studies it and notices every crevice instead of applying make up and hair spray. I think Barbies life would be a lot easier if her mother would just be a little on Barbies side and just follow along.

Then there is another whole side from the story. Aside from the whole model career there is Mab. Mab is a fairy. Yes, I said it a fairy. When Barbie hear something from the back yard she went to check an it ended up being a fairy. In the book it states that she doesn't know if Mab is real. She seems pretty real to me. I think Mab symbolizes the one side of her that is obsessed with beauty but then again I could be wrong. I just started the book. Mab loves herself, she is constantly calling herself beautiful and from the way the author describes her she might be on the outside but on the inside she seems like a snob. I look forward to learning more about this relationship.

In conclusion, I can't wait to learn more about this fairy and more relationships between fairies and her family and modeling career.

The final blog post for "The Lovely Bones"

For the final blog post on "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold Susie faces her self in a strange but sweet situation and ending. I very much enjoyed reading this book and I think I can add it to my list of favorites. The language is very detailed and tough but that's what gives the book a little more liveliness and edge.

The part of the book which was veering towards the end really made me emotional. Susies friend named Ruth on earth faces a near death experience and soars up towards heaven, but on the other hand as Susie watches her, she gets a little to close and falls and tumbles down into Ruthes body. I think this is a very interesting choice the author made because Susies boyfriend just so happens to be having lunch with Ruth. Her boyfriend immediately notices a change then discovers it's Susie. I was very happy at this point because throughout the book Susie longs to be with her boyfriend and when she finally gets the chance it was very moving for the two of them. 

Can you imagine somebody from the dead going into another persons body. This part in the book was definitely a highlight for me. All throughout the book: When will they meet? Will they meet? How will they meet? These questions were answered at this point.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book a lot and hopefully others will agree with me about the flaws and highlights

"The Lovely Bones" #3

I am currently reading "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. Don't judge, I am a slow reader! Right now in the book everybody is making decisions. Some of the decisions may be bad and some of the decisions may be good. But the main theme is the growing and shrinking love inside the family with or without their daughter and how it endures and changes over time.

One of the main issues of the book right now is how each member of the family is slowly drifting apart and resorting to having affairs. The mother is resorting to having adultery with a family friend. And how the father is slowly losing himself in depression. Lindsay, Susie's sister is growing farther and farther apart with her boyfriend and resorting to alcohol and growing up. The whole entire family is gravitating away from each other and Susie. Just like I predicted after long periods of time death is in the path and there is just nothing you can do about it.

In conclusion, I have got to say that I look forward to anyting happy in the book because at the point the family is molding into depression. More to come!

The Lovely Bones #2

I am currently reading the "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

I love this book. The details are so vivid and really show me and take me into the world of this book and really gives me different perspectives of the seventies. I know all the characters so well. The author has a clear focus on all characters and really shows me their characteristics. 

In "The Lovely Bones" the author really makes every sentence affecting and really makes me think about life for this young deceased girl. The plot is completely accomplished and their are no loopholes what so ever. She begins the story with a girl named Susie Salmon adjusting to her new life and heaven. Heaven although is not the place she expected. She watches life on earth go on without her. Her family is slowly unraveling, her friends are leaving her behind and we are learning more and more about her killer trying to find himself as we discover who is and his past. I think all of these are signs that Susie was a great impact on everyone around her.

Fro the start of the book to where I am now, Susie's younger sister Lindsay is changing. Changing from a little kid to a teen who wears makeup and has a boyfriend. As Susie watches her younger sister get older for heaven Susie realizes that she will never get to do the things that her younger sister is doing. Growing up. I think that Susie discovers heaven is not all clouds and butterflies but watching your loved ones lives go by.

In conclusion I think that so far the book has a lot of cool and interesting plot twists and I would like to read more!

The Lovely Bones

Right now I am reading "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. I already am loving this book. Although it might be a little creepy and a tad disturbing, it is clearly written and the author definitely put a lot of thought into making it the best she could. I constantly want to just lay down and read this book to see what happens next. Every inch is filled with excitement and never for a second have I been bored. I am definitely lovin' this  book!

I think in this book the main character Susie and her father have an extremely strong relationship. Well obviously when a fathers daughter passes away he will feel melancholy and depressed. When anybody loses a family member there is a sad vibe around the house. But throughout the story their are little flashbacks of Susie and her father being together in a loving community. Then it goes back to the present where her father is hunched over crying even after months and months have passed. Sometimes Susie shows pieces of her to her father meaning for example when her father was smashing all of the little ships Susie made with her father Susie showed a flash of her face in the broken glass. I think this relationship between them is beautiful and wish that the father didn't have to go through this unhinging event.

Another strong relationship in this story is Susie and her sister Lindsay. Lindsay is different though. Instead of expressing her feelings by crying she is bottling them up inside her and not wanting to talk about it with anyone. In the book after her sister dies she goes to see a therapist her that her parents are forcing her to go to. When the therapist asks her: Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? She just replies: What are you talking about? What do you want me to talk about? She refuses to answer any of the questions and doesn't cry in front of anyone or if anyone is around her. But throughout the story moments between her and her sister spark and moments that are between them that are touching.

In conclusion I think that these two relationships are even though both characters have lost someone really connecting into themselves and getting stronger if that makes any sense... Overall still reading and more blogs to come!

"Am I Blue?"

I absolutely fell in love with the short story "Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville. This book tells a story that is heart warming but at the same time put me to tears. (sorta) This story is also hilarious. It tells a story about a young boy's confusion with his identity and his Gay Fairy Godfather  who helps him overcome homophobia with the kids who bully him at school, and helps him discover who he really is. This book is also about learning to be yourself, which I think is the main theme.  

In the story Am I Blue? the main character Vince is getting bullied because of his sexuality or in other words, people think he is gay. Vince himself doesn't know if he is gay. Anyway, this is a question asked a lot in the story. Then a miracle happens. A gay man named Melvin comes into Vinces life. Melvin is a fairy godfather! Melvin is very gay and doesn't care what him looks like, what he wears and what people think of him. This is something I admire about Melvin. I could never have the courage to tell people something that important about myself. Melvin explains to Vince that Melvin was beat to death. Can you imagine that? Somebody being beaten up to death just because of their sexuality? I think that is disgusting. He gives advice to Vince saying nobody should tell him what to do. Melvin expresses himself the way 3/4 of the planet can't. Even if he is a fictional character.

I think Melvin and Vince's relationship really grows stronger throughout the story. At the beginning of the story I think Vince is sort of afraid to really talk to Melvin about who is, but by the end they have talked a lot and have really gone through a life changing experience. An example from the text showing that Vince is embarrassed of Melvin at the beginning is
"Do you have to walk like that?"
"Like what?"
"So swishy?" I said blushing.
In this conversation at the beginning you can definitely tell that Vince is embarrassed of Melvin. Towards the end they really bond.

In conclusion. I think Vince and Melvin have a really strong relationship and I am glad that Vince probably won't get bullied anymore! I loved this book and I wish it had a sequel!!  

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

                            The Drummer Boy of Shiloh
                               By: Ray Bradbury


I have just finished the drummer boy of shiloh by ray bradbury. This story has a lot of poetry mixed into it, which makes it fun to read. It also has a lot of symbolic sentences. Some of the details are intense and nice to read. The author really describes the setting well. This book was a very melancholy and at the same time sweet story.

In the book there is the main character. His name is Joby. He is fourteen years old. Joby is the drummer boy in the battle of Shiloh. I think the author chose an interesting topic to write about. I think this because writing about a young boy in the war really shows the innocence and reality of what really went down in the war. Young boys really had to fight and risk getting killed. Some had no idea what they were even doing! When I think about what they had to go through it's extremely upsetting.

Ray Bradbury really used a lot of poetry. For example the sentence: "A moth brushed his face, but it was  peach blossom a peach blossom brushed his face but it was a moth. Nothing had a name. Nothing stayed put. Nothing was as it once was." That sentence I find to be poetic. It really makes you think about life itself. I think the main theme of this piece was poetry.

Another main part of this piece I think is symbolism. I think that this story has a lot of symbolism. One example of symbolism is the line: "Theres your cheek' fell right off the tree overhead" This sentence was from the General to Joby. I think the General is telling Joby that since he is a young boy his cheek is still soft because he doesnt shave yet. He is pointing out the fact that Joby is young and that war is a hard place for young boys. This sentence made me feel upset for Joby, like he was forced into war. Like he had no choice. Just like hundreds of boys his age.

In conclusion I think Ray Bradbury did a phenomenal job on this piece. This was definately worth reading. I would reccomend it and I'm sure other people would like it too!

MONEY HUNGRY

Summer Reading Book:

Money Hungry By: Sharon Flake

 Money Hungry is every 13 year olds horror. Money Hungry is about a girl named Raspberry who lives in a very bad area. In this area alomst everyone is struggeling. Raspberry takes whatever she can manage meaning that she is always trying to get money. She always wants money. Everyone knows her as selfish, coldhearted and hungry for money. When I was reading this book I realized how lucky I was that I go to a good school and live in a nice house where I don't have to struggle for food constantly or walk miles just to go home everyday. Money is the only thing that puts Raspberry to sleep at night. Money hungry is a good book to read and I'm glad I read it.


Money plays a big part in this book. Raspberry has a lot of money issues. In the book Raspberry and her mother struggle a lot with finding money because it is hard for her mother to find a job. Raspberry does all she can to get money. But the weird thing is Raspberry never spends it. She saves it. It's not exactly a strange thing to do but she never spends a single cent of it... If I was in her case I would use some of it and save some but Raspberry doesn't even know what she is saving for!

Raspberry has a lot of relationships with other characters but I think one of the most important relationship is with her mother. Raspberry goes through a lot of harsh times with her mother. At the end of the book Raspberry gets her house robbed and all her mother does is comfort her. Raspberry knows that her mother is extremely upset and also comforts her. They help eachother out all throughout the book. 

In conclusion, this book physically affected me. Raspberry would walk miles home in the freezing cold knowing two-hundred and fifty dollars of her money was stolen from her...by her best friend. The parts like that really made me think about living a life like that and how thankful and lucky I should be in life. Overall I thought this was a great book and I would recommend this book.