TKAM: Journal #3 Chapters 9-12 Perspective of Atticus

Dear Diary,

           

      I am worried about Scout, she gets so worked up about what other people say, it is peril for her self esteem. I don’t know how she will survive this next year. She already got into a fight with Cecil Jacobs , because he said I defend “niggers.” I tried explaining to her that this statement was indeed accurate. I told her about the man Tom Robinson whom I am defending in court, I explained to her that the things people say only become insults when we let them get to us, but is was as if I was inaudible. I feel bad for putting Jem and her through all of this, but I honestly think it’s a good life lesson for the two of them, especially Scout. That girl needs to learn how to stay strong and not let other people get her down. I think Christmas with the family will be nice break for us.

           

      Christmas was very nice, it was great to see the family. Things can get a little lonely when I am at home without contemporaries, at least I have Cal. Scout didn’t have as great a time as I had hoped though. It was actually pretty bad, she punched her cousin Francis square in the mouth. I was perplexed. Her fowl language was embarrassing enough; Scout contradicts morals in every way possible . Just when you think things are bad with her, somehow they get worse. She didn’t tell me until now that she punched the poor boy, because he called me a “nigger lover.” She didn’t even know what the term meant, yet she almost killed him because of it. Dear lord what on earth am I going to do about this child!

                                                             

      Oh boy, I knew Scout was trouble, but I thought Jem was a different story.  The kids have been telling me about how Ms. Dubose angers them and I guess Jem just couldn’t handle it anymore. I guess she must have insulted me pretty badly because Jem lost his temper and ruined her beautiful garden. I spoke with her and she decided the best punishment would be to have Jem read to her after school everyday for a month. Jem and Scout began spending lots of time at Ms. Dubos’ house, I think the secretly like it.

           

      Ms. Dubose passed away today. She had Jessie put a beautiful Camellia in a candy box for Jem. I think it represented that it is very hard to destroy something, even delicate flowers. This whole experience with Ms. Dubose has been a great lesson for the kids, in so many different ways.

                                                               

      I hope they do okay while I’m away for two weeks, I know they will do well with Cal.

           

 

TKAM: Journal #2 Chapters 4-8 Perspective of Ms. Maudie

Dear Diary,
  
       It has been a lovely summer, and I am sad to watch it fade away. I spent most of the summer in my garden tending god's beautiful plants, and baking cakes for the Finch children. I've grown very close with Scout Finch. While her brother and Dill tormented my yard, we sat on the porch, teetering in our rocking chairs, enjoying the fresh summer air almost every evening. I do love Scout. She's not an ordinary little girl, she has a mind of her own an an imagination the runs free like the wind. Her mother died when she was very young and I think she needs a woman figure in her life. Atticus is a great father, but no man could fill the place of a little girl's mother. Scout seems so enamored by my speech, it's quite funny. Maybe I can teach her, she does have one dirty little mouth.
                                                    
                                                                   * * * * * *

       It's snowing in Maycomb county, hasn't snowed here since 1885. The children even got to miss school, Scout and Jem spent most of their day off building a fabulous snow man! I know I should be more excited about this spectacular weather, but now it's too cold to be outside and I can't stand staying in this big old house all day.  It seems to fall apart more with each step I take.

                                                                    * * * * * *
  
      I'm currently staying with Miss Stephanie Crawford, I have to evade telling her my cake recipe you will not believe what disasters took place today. God sure did take it serious when I complained about my house! A fire that jumped around the neighborhood, started at my house and it burned the old place down to ashes. It was terrifying. The whole neighborhood was out side watching, all the men were  trying to save as many things as possible. I've never seen anything so malignant, it destroyed everything in it's path, it was pure tyranny. But, I've been trying to look at the situation in a positive light, it's a fresh start. I've been wanting a new house for a long time now, I just didn't expect to need one anytime soon. Maybe this is a sign, certainly a forceful one. Well, I hope everything works out well and I'm thankful to have such supportive neighbors. Thank you for listening diary, I don't know what on earth I would do without you.

TKAM: Journal #1 Chapters 1-3 Perspective of Ms. Caroline TKAM Blog Post #1: Chapters 1-3

Dear Diary,

      I have never written a diary before, but after my first couple days teaching the rowdy first graders of Maycomb County I decided this would be the only way to keep myself together. I am lonely, lost and I wish  I had never left my home in Winston County, North Alabama. The children back home were respectful and well-mannered, but maybe that's how my class will behave once they have had me as their teacher for a while.
    
      Scout, a cute intelligent little girl came into class already able to read very well. Later that day I caught her writing a letter during my lesson. I told her to tell her father not to teach her anymore, that's my job and if every first grader learned those things at home I would have nothing to teach them. I could tell Scout was frustrated and could not understand my reasoning, but she is gonna need to learn to trust my direction. What if someone at home taught her wrong and she became accustom to improper english? Or what if she learned so much that she felt there is no need to go to school at all? I encourage her to learn, but learn at school from a professionally trained educator. This was only the beginning of Scout's miss-behaving.
  
       Walter Cunningham had no lunch and when I offered him a quarter to buy lunch he refused it. Scout told me that I was shaming him and that he didn't have anything to pay me back with, because he's a "Cunningham." This disrespectful comment was the last I could take from that girl. I gave her a few good whippings on the hand, to teach her a lesson. I hope the punishment wasn't too harsh, but at the time it didn't feel like enough. I was becoming impatient with her disrespectful attitude.

      Scout turned out to be the least of my worries. The class later discovered that Burris had cooties. I asked him to go home, wash out the cooties and return the next day. Apparently he wouldn't be returning the next day and for that matter any day after that. The children explained to me that he was an Ewell. They only came the first day of every year to get their names on the roll, and then were absent the whole rest of the year. I told him to go home or I would call the principal. Burris responded with anger, called me a slut and said he didn't have to listen to anything I said. That was the last thing I could possibly take, I broke down into tears. The class comforted me and I was great full. Msybe this wont be so hard once I get use to all the ways of Maycomb County.
  

NAME: Noemi DATE: 2/17/2011 TITLE: Go Ask Alice TIME: 2HOURS AUTHOR: Anonymous PAGES: 106-159 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 53 START FINISH

How did what you read today make you feel? Why? 


    What I read today gave me even more sympathy for the main character than I ever had before. Both her grandparents just died, she is getting harassed by all the druggies at her school and Joel is going home, he wont be working at her dad's college anymore. Alice came home, stopped doing drugs, is dedicating the rest of her life to helping others, but she is having nothing but bad luck. I feel horrible for her! Everyone hates her because she stopped doing drugs, even though it has made her a much better person. The whole social seen at her school is based on drugs and everyone is so blinded to the real beauty of life. I am happy for Alice, because she is off drugs and is being such a wonderful person, but her life seems to be getting worse and worse. I thought she was only miserable because she was on drugs and had run away, but now she is at home and off drugs and she is still miserable. I really hope something good happens for her soon! 


What does this book make you wonder about? Why?


    This book really makes me wonder about how much drugs can really affect your life. I wonder weather Alice still would have rebelled and chosen to do bad things even if there weren't any drugs in the picture, or was she just being controlled by drugs? I wonder how her life would have played out if she had never taken drugs in the first place. I think she would  have tried them eventually, if she hadn't been given LSD at the party. Why is it so easy for her to stay clean now, even though she was so hooked? She really confuses me, I wish I could talk to her in person. I have so many questions about her life and experiences!


 What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was he/she right or wrong to do that? 


    Alice got molested by a stranger, he grabbed her and stuck his tongue down her throat. He was sent by one of the kids who has been harassing her. He threatened her not to tell anyone. I know she was just scared, but I think she did the wrong thing by not telling anyone not even her parents. This was a very serious thing and her parents are there to protect her. I think Alice is to reserved with her family and she needs to open up more and tell them what is going on in her life, for her own good. I understand how scared she is, but her parents will do nothing but help. If they new about all the harassment they could move her schools, or take greater precautions to protect her. Next time something bad happens, she is going to regret not being more open with her parents.


    What advice would you give to a particular character? Why?


    I would tell the main character to hang in there and continue trying to be a good person. I really hope she doesn't crack and stop caring about her life again. She is being such a good person and I hope if she continues then her life will get better, because right now it is not going so well. I would also encourage her to find a friend she is so lonely. I know she is scared to be influenced to do drugs, but not everyone is like that. I'm sure she could find someone great to hangout with if she tried a little harder, especially now that Joelle is leaving.

NAME: Noemi DATE:2/10 TITLE: Go Ask Alice TIME: 2 HOURS AUTHOR: anonymous PAGES 53-106 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 53

Explain how the author creates suspense in this book:

    This book is very exciting, because there is always something new going on. It never stays on the same topic for too long. I think this is because it is a diary, so instead of describing her whole day she just skips to the important parts. Also it is a very intense subject which makes it even more suspenseful! One day Alice is on probation one day and the next she is running away with some kids she just met. Sometimes I think the book might even be too suspenseful, because I barley get to soak in one exciting event before a new one has come along.

     Make up a motto that one of the characters seems to live by. How and why does this fit the character?


    If I had to make up a motto for how Alice lives it would be, stay high 'till I die. This is because Alice's life has begun relying on drugs. She doesn't feel herself except when she is high and she thinks that it is the only way to enjoy life. She doesn't care about the consequences of her actions and she lives for the moment. It almost seems like Alice doesn't care about anything except drugs, she doesn't even seem to care about staying alive anymore. I know that if Alice doesn't become clean, her addiction is going to cost her her life. 


 Make up a motto that one of the characters seems to live by. How and why does this fit the character?


    My least favorite character in the book is Alice. She is hurting her family and all the people around her, but she doesn't care. She uses her addiction as an excuse to do drugs and I know she could've stopped if she asked for the help that she needed. I wish Alice would at least feel sorry for all the pain she is causing her family! I know everyone wants to rebel from their parents, but Alice is going beyond rebelion. I feel sorry for her but, a lot of this is her fault. She has gone way too far with drugs and now it is too late to turn back! I have never read a book where the mane character was my least favorite. It is a whole different experience when you have little sympathy for the person you are reading about. If Alice were my daughter I would regret bringing her into this world. I can't even imagine what her parents are going through!

NAME:Noemi DATE:2/2/11 TITLE:Go Ask Alice TIME:1HOUR AUTHOR:Anonymous PAGES:1-53 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK:53

    While Alice was visiting her grandparents over summer, she had many new experiences. She went from LSD to speed, within a few weeks! She also lost her virginity while on acid, and not to her dream boy Roger! Now Alice is back at home and she has to take sleeping pills and tranquilizers every night, but she isn't doing any serious drugs.

    I think Alice needs a good influence in her life, because Roger is going away to military school and she has no one to talk to. I'm afraid she is going to start using drugs again as soon as she finds someone at home who does them. Alice is very easily influenced and she acts on impulses, so I know if she is offered drugs she will use them.

    After reading the first 50 pages I am already very attached to the main character and I'm worried she is going to begin relying on drugs to stay interested in life. This book is very interesting, because I can relate to a lot Alice's thought and feelings as a teenage girl. She talks about boys, family and friends. By reading this book it almost feels like I know her. 

Tears Of A Tiger Book Reviev

Book Review: Tears of a Tiger author: Sharon M. Drapor

By, Noemi Delgado

           As Monty was drawing a picture for school, he looked up to his big brother Andy and asked if tigers cry. Andy was tough like a tiger and Monty saw him as a role model. But now Andy cried a lot and didn’t feel he deserved to be looked up to. Andy told his little brother it was okay to draw tears on his tiger.
           Andy Jackson was a 17-year-old basketball star on the Hazelwood High Tigers. He was a loving brother and boyfriend with decent grades and a big chance for a college scholarship.  His life was filled with basketball, girls and parties. He was one of the most popular kids at school. Until a tragic accident unraveled his happiness into, depression and guilt.  After a long basketball game Andy and his buddies had a few drinks before Andy got in the drivers seat. Andy lost control and they got into a horrible accident.  He watched as his best friend Robert Washington, who was stuck in the car, burn to death.
           This accident led into the story of a teenage boy dealing with extreme guilt, on top of all the problems any high school student would go through. As an African American, he also dealt with discrimination and expectations from his father to fit in with a white society. This book is interesting because it tells the story from many different perspectives; such as Andy’s, his friend’s, his teacher’s, his brother’s, his parent’s and his psychologist’s. These character’s feelings are expressed in many different forms. For example the author uses diary entries, English essays, letters and dialogues to tell this story. The unique writing style of Sharon M. Drapor, gives the readers the opportunity to mold their opinion about different events, according to the feelings and experiences of various characters. It also lets you see how Andy’s deterioration affects the people around him, especially the ones who loved him the most.
           Andy became obsessed by his guilt. He tried to act happy, but around his girlfriend Keisha he opened up and let his depression take over. Their relationship grew weaker as Andy grew sadder.  Throughout the book you see Andy  becomes more and more isolated, which causes him to care less not only about others, but about himself.
           The book captivates your feelings and lets you understand the pain that every character goes through. I recommend this book because, it allows you to enter the world of Andy Jackson and his tragic experiences. This story is mostly told in dialogue, so it is not the most beautifully written book. But it’s deep emotional pull makes it worth the read.