The boy in the Striped Pajamas ch. 17-20

It is very interesting how Bruno now doesn't want to go back to Berlin, especially when he hated leaving Berlin.  Also how the mother really wants to leave Out-With.  It's funny how Bruno has to cover up the truth because it slips out.  Now he does it to father.  It is sad that Bruno now has to go tell Shmuel that he has to leave him.  It is so sad that through all of Shmuel's suffering's he had to lose his papa.  It is very moving when Shmuel says, "I hate them too.  I hate them.' he repeated forcefully."  The boys plan is very interesting.  I think that it rains way too much in Out-With.  Bruno's reaction was t=just the way Shmuel had predicted.  I would of hated changing in public especially since my family was near and a whole bunch of people close by.  I hate the feeling of mud between my toes.  Knowing what the camps were like, I found it amusing that Bruno thought it would be similar to a small German town.  I would be in "pain" if I heard the gunshots and knew that people were killed.  I was devastated the bruno died, or at least that what we are led to believe.  I wish that Boyne could t=have givin more detail on their death.  i didn't like the ending of this book.  

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ch. 13-16

I would have hate to be caught sneaking food out of the kitchen.  It is a little weird how Bruno asks Maria instead of his parents about Pavel and his past job.  I think the Shmuel would be a great zookeeper.  I pity Bruno because he doesn't know what his father does to the Jews.  Shmuel was right in saying that are no good soldiers.  I hate Lt. Kotler too.  I almost laughed when father made Kotler feel awkward at the dinner table.  I feel so bad for Pavel because he didn't spill the wine on purpose, although I might have,  and he got yelled at by Kotler.  I don't understand how Gretel can still like him when she grew pale when she saw this.  I would have grown tired of the rain too.  Bruno's lie was a creative one.  I would have been in trouble because I can't think of things like that off the top of my head.  I would be intrigued if my sister told me that she had an imaginary friend.  I would have felt so ashamed if I hadn't comforted Shmuel when he was talking about his troubles.  It was so mean the way Kotler was teasing Bruno about the book.  The fact that you can see the blood veins in Shmuel's hand made me sad.  It is so sad the Shmuel thinks that a slice of meat is like a feast.  I probably would have done the same thing, and deny my friendship if I knew I shouldn't be friends with them.  It is neat to see how the boy's friendship strengthens in these chapters.  It is so sad that his grandmother had to die.  I think that it is good that Shmuel now knows who the people are on the other side of the fence.  I would hate to have all my hair shaved off.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ch. 9-12

The book is slowly becoming more interesting.  I kind of feel bad for Bruno because he is just plain miserable when he first moves into his new house.  I don't think it's fair that he is forced to learn when he doesn't want to.  Especially only when one subject is emphasized.  I would have loved to explore the house in Berlin especially when I get lost.  i love it that he is disobeying his parents by exploring in the direction of the camp.  I love how the dot became a speck that became a blob that became a boy phrase.  I love it how even though their parents are enemies they still see each other as equals.  I would have felt so awkward if I met Shmuel when exploring.  I like how you know the history of Bruno's life in regards to why they moved.  It was very interesting.  I want to know how the Fury got his name.  i completely agree with Bruno when he says that the Fury was a very rude guest.  I don't the Fury's sense of humor.  The girl who came with the fury was very nice.  She at least recognized the children and talked to them.  It is kind of cute how they don't know what the symbols mean that they draw on the ground.  I would love to know what would happen if Bruno came back with the Star of David on his arm.  The story of Shmuel is sad because his life changed just because of his religion.  I would have done they same thing, not tell my parents about Shmuel.

The boy in the striped pajamas ch. 5-8

It is weird how the boy keeps on regretting that they moved.  It has happened, move on with your life.  i would hate it if we had soldiers going in and out of my families house like they were residents their as well.  The conversation that Bruno had with his father was interesting.  I would have been scared to even knock on my father's office door, if it was out of bounds.At least to me talking to my father like that would have made me feel a little bit awkward.  I applaud Bruno for being able to talk to his father.  I was so mad and so sad when the father "made" Bruno solute and say "Heil Hitler."  Knowing what that stood for I felt a shudder going down my back because a nine year old just said it and thought he was saying goodbye.    It would be weird to talk to your hired help about your problems.  I can't believe that Gretel could treat Maria like scum.  Here Bruno is understanding that she is another human who has feelings and his older sister is spoiled.  She won't even start her own bath.  The swing that Bruno makes is very creative.  I would have done the same thing, that is swing too high and fall.  It's nice how Pavel helped him with Bruno's injury.  I was so mad at the mother and her selfishness.  She shouldn't have gotten credit for helping Bruno with his injury.  I would have liked to see their productions around Christmastime, and the singing from grandmother.  I found it interesting that the grandparents are for the Jews while their son is supporting Hitler.  The boook is slowly getting better.

The boy in the Striped Pajamas ch. 1-4

The book is a little boring at the beginning.  I hate it when people go through my stuff without asking me first.  If I had come home to my maid going through my stuff, I wouldn't have been a very happy person.  I am the type of person that likes to know things weeks in advance.  If I came home to hear that we were moving out of our city because of my father's job, I would hate it, but understand it.  I feel sorry that that happened to Bruno.  I want to know what's wrong with Bruno's sister Gretel.  I would rather have a small house with lots of friends, then a big house with no friends.  I feel so sorry that Bruno and Gretel had to leave their friends behind.  The ends of the chapters are cliff hangers.  They make you want to read more.  I hate it when I get teased.  It isn't right for someone to tease someone especially about their height and age because you have no power to control those.  i love it how Bruno pulls Gretel in to come see the other children.  It is very well-written.  It is sad where the males of the family are living.  /i think this book is going to be a very good book.

choice books

1) Black Hawk Dawn

2) The Boy in Striped Pajamas

3) Go ask Alice

4) To Kill a Mockingbird

a long way gone ch. 21

I thought the book was going to get better, I was wrong.  I was so happy for Mohamed because he now has a home and a family.  I would love a trip that seemed like a dream too.  It's so sad that the students can't accept them as who they are now.  When the gunshots were fired, I was so surprised.  I was so concerned for Ishmael and the city.  I was overwhelmed by emotion when the two armies stormed the city.  I didn't want to read on because I felt like it was going to be like the middle of the book, with all the blood and gore.  I believe that being in the army saved Ishmael's and Mohamed's lives when they were in the "marketplace."  They knew how to be sneaky.  THe affects from tear gas made me so sad.  I don't understand how anyone could do that to another.  When the chopper came overhead, I also knew what was about to happen and I didn't want to read it.  I hate that the copter actually did that.  I would have been so sad if I saw a family member crying because they thought I was dead.  I wouldn't be able to live with gunshots being fired for 5 months.  Each time I heard one I would look around.  The anxiety would drive me crazy.  I would have felt so depressed if I saw my uncle lose the will to live and die in front of me.  His bus trip was interesting.   It was so nice of the man to help him pay and be a friend to him.   I don't get why, military people have to search them so frequently.  I liked the story of the monkey and the hunter because it made me ponder the question.  Overall the book is a very well written book, but the emotion felt and detail make it challenging to read.

a long way gone ch. 19-20

These chapters got better.  This book isn't all gruesome and disgusting.  I was so happy that he got to live with his uncle.  It must have felt so good to know that he was living with a family again.  It was so sad when Ishmael told us that his family wouldn't accept him, so he had to back to the front lines.  Did he survive?  I want to know.  What happened to Alhaji?  I wish I knew.  The good-bye was sad because of the emotion between these boys.  I don't understand way he never saw Esther again after that day.  His new family couldn't have been more welcoming then what they were.  The dance at the pub was so sweet.  I love it how how a girl just drags him into the dance.  I think it would have been hard being asked those questions about his past.  Id wouldn't have liked having the girls break up with me because I wouldn't answer a question.  It's good that he can tell people about his story of the war.  I found it amusing when he was describing an elevator.  The jokes that his uncle makes are a little weird.  I don't see the humor in them.  It's very strange how sometimes we hear things about someplace that aren't that true.  His vision of New York wasn't like how he imagined it.  I don't think that our food was that bad, but apparently Ishmael thought so.  I love the connections that he makes with people.  THe comment about the women's coat was funny.

a long way gone ch. 17-18

I love the fact that the kids can make jokes and laugh about them.  I was so happy for Ishmael when the nurse gave him a rap CD and other gifts.  I felt sos sad when Ishmael began to tell his story.  No one should have to go through that.  I can't believe how cruel these kids can be to another human.  I would have feinting that many times.  It's hard to believe that the people can be so caring for one another and yet so cruel to another enemy.  I can't believe that the nurse didn't hug him or rub his head.  I would have hugged him if he had told me that story.  I don't see why the boys hate the phrase "it's not your fault," but I can see why it would get annoying.  I love that Ishmael can rap again.  I can't believe that he hasn't slept well for months.  He is writing songs and singing them for the nurse.  The dream that he has is a little disturbing.  The fact that the people kept coming back to life and blood filling the room grossed me out.  It was weird that everything kept disappearing.  I love the fact that Ishmael still has family.  I thought that he was the only left alive in his family.  His uncle is so caring in order to take care of him.  The book is getting better.

book list

I don't really care.  I prefer fiction books, adventure books, and mystery books.  As long as the book makes me want to read more of it I'm ok with it.

a long way gone ch. 15-16

I find it so sad that the boys were actually looking forward to hearing how many people Jumah had killed.  I can't believe that they would actually keep track.  I can't believe that the boys now laugh at death.  I think that it is good when some people were chosen to go to school even though they didn't think so.  I don't like the fact that the boy says f***.  It is so sad that the boys can't find harmony with each other quickly.  As soon as the rebel boy showed Mambu his RUF carving, I knew that a fight would break out.  I can't believe that someone would boast about gorging someone else's eye, and then have a celebration for doing that and leading an attack on other boys just like you.  I feel so sorry for the first MP's and Nationals who failed in their attempt to keep calmness between the boys.  I wouldn't be able to be the one's trying to keep the boys from doing wrong.  I couldn't kep smiling after the boys did something wrong.  I am not that patient at all.  I couldn't live with the fact that there were angry boys living near and could beat me up at any second.  I'm not that brave.  The boys need a room with pillows all over the walls, so the could punch those instead of punching windows.  I find  the tactics that the soldiers used were amazing.  To be so outnumbered and still be able to defeat the enemy is amazing.  I hate the fact that the rebels had to dig their own graves.  If it were me I would have preferred to have been shot instead of been buried live.  I couldn't walk into my grave.   These chapters were better on the gore, but still just as sad.

a long way gone ch. 13-14

These chapters were so graphic and so sad.  It's nice that the boys can still have fun for one last day of their lives.  I found it interesting that the corporal never said, "this is for real."  He only gave them hints that only some of the boys picked up that we are going to fight the rebels and that this is not a drill.  Details can be wonderful, but also not so wonderful.  I was grossed out by what Ishmael saw as he fought the rebels.  The blood, his friends dying, and the actions that he took, we so sad and so terrible.  No one should have to see anyone die let alone 3 friends.  I would passed out if I saw that much blood.  I can't help but feel sorry for him.  After one shot he couldn't stop shooting rebels.  If anyone wakes up screaming and starts shooting random things, they are having a mental vs. reality problem.  I feel so sorry for him because he can't ell the difference between reality and dreams. I can't believe that Ishmael and the rest of the young boys were doing drugs, watching war moving, and killing people.  I can't believe that anyone took pride in killing prisoners.  These chapters were very hard to read.

a long way gone ch. 11-12

It is so sad that Saidu had to die.  The impact his death has had on the boys is so sad.  I had feeling that would never reach their families because that just seemed to happy to happen in this book.  I would feel so abandoned if I would like them when it rained.  I would feel so separated and alone from the rest of the world.  I found amazing that yet another person had trusted them.  I shouldn't be amazed, but I am.  I found amazing when he said that his family was still alive and waiting for him.  The fact that all of his family was still all together after what has happened surprised me.  When the rebels came and attacked the village it broke my heart because I knew what was going to happen.  Sure enough the boys never got to see their families alive.  The detail that Ishmael tells us about what he saw is gross, cruel, and disgusting.  I couldn't see how anyone could do that to someone else.  The detail with the burnt bodies is disgusting.  No one should have to see that ever.  The fact that the rebels lined up people then opened fire on them made so angry and made me want to cry.  The agony that Ishmael felt when he didn't see the bodies made me cry.  The details that he puts in the story are so sad.  How could the rebels laugh at what they just did?  I would have been so scared to know that one noise and we would be fired upon.  Sure enough one of the boys moved and they had to run for it.  It broke my heart to know that the person who had helped them died.

When the soldiers first surrounded the boys, I almost cried because I thought the men were rebels and going to shoot them.  It turned out to be the gov. army which lead them to Yele.  They showed them very gruesome men and said get used to it.  They are just kids.  Don't show these men to them.  The rebels surrounded the village and demanded ammunition and supplies.  Instead of giving the rebels these things, they more or less made every available man learn how to fire an AK47 to help defend Yele.  It is so sad when you hear the commander say imagine the people who killed your family, show no mercy, stab them again and again, and just make the kids hate the rebels so much.  I was so sad and so depressed after reading these chapters.

a long way gone ch. 10

It's nice when you read a chapter and there isn't a lot of graphic images all throughout the chapter.  Although there is a lot of sadness, and one graphic area, this chapter wasn't that hard to read.  It is so sad that Ishmael doesn't know when it is going to end.  He's living day by day not knowing whether he's going to make it.  I couldn't live like that.  It's creative that he could connect the moon showing to his life.  It's good to know that some people still care for the little children.  It made me happy that the village let them stay there and eat with them.  It's weird that everything that is happening to him now reminds him of his past especially with the hammock.  Bra Spider's story is interesting, but I like the moral of the story which is if you trick someone eventually the trick will backfire on you.  It's so sad that even the dog has to "steal" food to stay alive.  No human or animal should have to go through that.  I can't believe that some of the boys thought of killing the dog to eat.  It made me sad when Ishmael told us the stories of the boy's backgrounds.   Saidu's story was the saddest and the one that blew my mind away.  I's just so wrong to rape someone, but to do again and again is just so inhuman.  How could anyone do that?  It's so weird what happened to Kanei after he ate the dead bird.  I want to know what caused Kanei's death.  Was it eating the dead bird,fear, or something else.  I also want to know if Ishmael's family is still alive.  This book continues to make me sad.

a long way gone ch. 8-9

It is so sad that his mind is playing tricks on him.  Making him think that someone is after him.  It's nice that he found a place to stay in the forest, but it's so sad that he was even in the forest.It is kind of weird that nature always holds an answer for him.  Nature has a bed, fruit, and protection from wild pigs.   If you think about it's weird that everything seems to happen at the perfect time.  He ran into old "friends."  That must have been a one in a million chance.  It makes me vcry upset that everyone, that could, ran when they heard that seven boys were headed in their direction.  It's just so sad that no one  can trust one another anymore.  I don't understand why the fishermen had to that cruel to the boys.  It's cruelty that they took their shoes because they must have known what the ground would do to the boys feet.  It amazes me that their are still good people during this war that help them get better and feed them.  It is so strange that rap music has now saved his life three times.  This book continues to amaze me.

A long way gone ch. 6-7

These chapters made me feel so sorry for Ishmael Beah.  He lost his brother and his closest friends in an instant because of the rebels.  I couldn't survive without my family or friends.  I would be in so much shock I wouldn't care anymore.  So far the rebels have done some pretty disgusting things, but burning someone at a stake is so wrong on so many levels.  I can't believe that no one trusts one another anymore.  People go from being caring to be scarred of teenaged boys.  The rebels have caused to much unneeded pain in society.  He in now, because he chose to leave, truly alone in the universe.  No one trusts him, he has lost everything, and he has no idea where to go.  I want to know what drives him to keep living if he had lost everything.  I would be devastated if I was still living through this.  Why does he choose to live through this when, in my opinion, he has very little to still live for.

a long way gone ch. 3-5

Sad.  Depressing.  Cruel.  That's what I thought of these chapters.  It is so sad that the soldiers abandoned the town when the rebels came.  You are supposed to be fighting them, so you could end this war, but yet you run away and let the war continue.  If you are not going to fight then why did you join the "army."  It's sad that hey had to steal the food in order to survive.  The six of them against one 5 year old kid.  It is inhumane that the rebels laughed when they were interrogating the old man.  They should have shown some respect.  It was interesting when the kid played dead, but it is so sad that he actually had to fake his death in order to survive.  And then when the rebels came and tried to find recruits, they were going to make them kill the people from their own village.  Thanks to the person who fired the gun shots so that some could escape.  It was so sad when I thinking that the boy was going to kill his brother.

A long way gone ch. 1-2

I think that the book is going to be very disturbing and very graphic.  It's interesting to know what these people go through, but you don't need all of the blood detail.  It grosses me out.  The author gave way to much detail on how bloody it was especially with the vomiting up blood.  Also the sadness of it all.  Because they were running away, they got shot.  Only one person survived.  Also with them shooting the other team of young boys.  And after they shot them, they came and sat on them and ate their food.  That is so gross.  Can't the author just say there was blood and move on.  The grossest thing that I wish I hadn't read would have been the part where the intestines are falling out and the brains falling out.  I won't like the book because of the gore in it, but I might like because we need to know what these people have gone through to stop it from happening again.

response

Since the arrival of the white man, there has been many conflicts.  Some conflicts include the matter of the gods, twins, and having sacrifices.  Some white men welcomes the Ibo with open hearts and others with closed hearts.  Some were lenient and others very strict.  Because of there different attitudes, there are many different treatments of the native people.  Mr. Brown allowed weak Christians into the church.  By weak Christians I mean Christians who still have some the old beliefs from the Ibo religion.  Mr. Smith said you have to believe all of it in order to come into this church.  Mr. Brown came to help the Ibo find God, and he is willing to take his time with them realizing that it is a new concept for the Ibo people.  Mr. Brown is a yes or a no.  He is there because he "has to."  The British has many different points of views regarding to the Africans and their way of life.  One view is that the Africans are less important because of their skin color.  Another view is that hey are equal, because, if you are a Christian, everyone is equal in God's eyes.  They view the Ibo's way of life as being wrong; that can only be one right way to live, and that is Christian way to live.  Because of these conflicts, things start to fall apart.

Things Fall Apart Okonkwo "Mother is Supreme"

Okonkwo ignores or refuses to acknowledge the "female" virtues in himself and others in many ways.  The reason why is because he thinks that female virtues are signs of weakness.  He doesn't believe that one can have female virtues while being "manly."  He never shows his true feelings if those feelings are female feelings.  He hides them because in his mind when you are being loving, sympathetic, or compassionate, you are very vulnerable to whatever.  He never acts like he loves his son.  He beats him if he shows any sign of a female virtue.  This one-sidedness creates a lot of problems in his life.  I think that it must be really hard for him to survive because he finds it difficult to show the female virtues in his everyday life.  He killed his own "son" because he didn't want to be looked at as weak.  He is very narrow-minded.  He can't see that if he does show the feminine qualities, he can also be manly.

Things Fall Apart Chapter 1-4

My opinion of Oknokwo is that he was shaped by his father.  Growing up he saw his father fail and be a "weak link."  After seeing this he didn't want that life for himself.  He wanted to never fail.   Since his father was weak, he wanted to be strong.  Since his father was a debtor, he wanted to be rich.  Basically everything he father was he wasn't.  That can be good and bad.  His father was compassionate and not physical.  Oknokwo meanwhile was not compassionate, or he never showed it, and he was very physical.  Instead of talking about an argument, he would go and beat up that person.  I think he wants to be a nice guy, but since his father was nice and failed, he, Oknokwo, isn't very loving.  I think that he believes that all of the qualities that his father had contributed to his death.  But it was really only one or two qualities that made his father fail.  He wants to be a good person,but he doesn't want to fail.  He also loses his temper easily.  He is way more a physical person than a talkative person.  

So much unfairness of things part 1

I think that someone saw him cheat during the test, and turned him in.  He was breaking the honor code twice.  Once he was cheating, the second time he was lying by saying he didn't cheat.  He could get in serious trouble by cheating.  Even though he was only cheating to please his dad, he should not have done it.  I think that they will make him retake the final, but only to prove to them that he doesn't need to cheat in order to get a passing grade.  His dad  will be really upset with the news that P.S. broke two rules of the honor code, but he has to learn to except his son as the way he truly is, not the way he wants his son to be.  That is the trouble with some parents.  They have this huge plan of what they want their child to be when they grow up.  When the child finally has the guts to say no, I really have hated this, it sort of breaks the parents heart.  I think the story will end with him and his dad making up with each other.  He will not be able to go to Colorado.  Charlie will pass the Latin final, and go on to Colorado without P.S.  I is going to be an interesting second half to the story.

Friday Fill Ins 85

1. The Last meal I had at a restaurant was a Chick-Fil-A 12 count meal.
2. Homework is something that I intensely dislike.
3. The full moon is beautiful.
4. CUL8R is my favorite local expression.
5. Sometimes it's best to go to sleep when you are tired.
6. Wall-E is the best movie I've seen so far this year.
7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the final of women's beach volleyball, that we taped, tomorrow my plans include going to a friend's pool party, and Sunday I want to mow my neighbor's lawn.

Not Waving But Drowning

When I go to a new school I am shy, and people can easily see that.  It usually takes me about a week or two before I get over my initial shyness.  I'm the type of person that waits for people to find me.  It is really hard for me to put myself out and make a goofball out of myself, and ask other people, who I don't know, if I can sit with them.  It's a Little weird, but true.  After two weeks I am bolder, and can pull myself out of my shell.  People change the way they consider me.  Also since I am good at math people come to me and ask questions.  That simple thing makes me feel so much better.  When someone changes his or her opinion about you, if it is a good change, then I usually like it.  If it is a bad change, then I don't like it, because it is usually wrong.  When I change my opinion about someone else, in a way it makes me feel weird.  Especially if I had said something to them that enforced my opinion about them.  It is so hard for me to come back and apologize for that statement. After that I can except them for who they really are.

Facebook