The Sneetches by Dr. Suess

Who has power in the text? How do you know?

In the book the "Sneetches" by Dr. Suess, there is an obvious group in power, it is the star bellied Sneetches. They are the coolest ones on the beach, and they exclude the Sneetches without stars. I feel like this kind of relates to society and social class because you can relate it to people who have more money get to do more, and exclude people who are possibly lower class. Also, the Sneetches without stars upon thars want stars, and people who are poor and suffering want money and so be able to live better. In the book the Sneetches who don't have stars, get stars, but then the ones with stars get there stars taken off because they don't want to be mixed with the other Sneetches who now have stars. The Sneetches who originally had stars don't wanna be mixed with the ones who didn't, because they think they are in some way better, and I guess in some way have more power. They think thy are better because they have one thing more than the other Sneetches. I feel like they are in a way, kinda cocky. They don't see that everyone is actually equal and it doesn't matter if they have stars or not.

Banning Books

Dear Ms.Berner,

Over the past few years many people have been trying to ban book from school libraries. Personally, I believe that people should not be able to ban books in our 6th grade library.

One reason that we should not ban books from our 6th grade libraries is is because sometimes books have serious topics that can help kids. Books can help kids going through severe problems because the characters in the books are going through the same issues. These books can show students how to deal with conflicts. An article by Sherman Alexie, the author of many books including The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (which deals with issues such as rape), is about how books written with true horror some times can be the best types of books. In this article, "Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood," Alexie says "And now I write books for teenagers because i vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don't write to protect them , it's far to late for that. I write to give them weapons in forms of words and ideas that will help them fight their monsters," Alexie describes how books can really help kids. Like he said, we can't solve their problems but we can help them get through it by using YA books. Another author that writes about serious issues is Ellen Hopkins. She wrote the book Crank, which deals with durgs and the issues of addiction. In an article in the Huffington Post, Hopkins says, "I have received tens of thousands of messages from readers, thanking me for turning them around, giving much needed insight, even literally saving their lives." From this you recongize that books have a great impact on some, and it can be life changing, in a positive way.  Also in a BCC news article discussing putting age restrictions on books called "Age Rated Books: Right or Wrong" it says,"They identify with characters who are older, and with those who are younger- the reason authors go through such trouble not to pin ages onto characters." This shows that authors purposely make their books for kids to relate to, so that they can possibly even help out a child going through traumatic obstacles in their lives. Protective parents who are trying to ban books realize how strong an impact a book can have on someone, especially if they are going the same or similar issues that are being discussed in the book.  

Another reason I think the book should not be banned in the sixth grade libraries is because if we did we would be protecting the sixth graders from the issues that they're going to eventually find out about. For example in the article "Age Rated Books:right or Wrong"  from a BCC News article it says "Children read up and read down. They read over and over again. They read the same book at two different ages and get something totally different out of the experience each time." Even if kids don't have prior knowledge of the topics being discussed in their books, as they read the book more then once, they start to get a better understanding. Also in the article my Sherman Alexie, he says "they are trying to protect the privileged children." He then talked about a boy in private school read his book and didn't quite comprehend at first the conflict of being sexually abused. He soon stared to understand from Alexie's book, the trouble people face day to day. Reading books can help kids understand conflicts that they may not face, but it helps them get a better depiction of it through the book, and makes it easier for them to comprehend the world around them on a more sophisacated level. It makes them learn what their peers are going through. 

Although I think we shouldn't ban books in the 6th grade library, some people would argue against me. For example in the article by Meghan Cox Gordon called "Darkness to Visible" about how books are too dark for kids to be reading, she says, " 'Rage' teenage Missy's secret secret cutting turns into a nightmarish after she is the victim of a sadistic sexual prank ... Missy survives." Gordon believes "Rage", a book about a young teenager who cuts, should be on the banned book list. The thing is, a lot of people do cut, and people who might cut could read this book an possibly get faith, have someone to relate to, or even just learn how to cope with their issue. While Gordon thinks it's "gruesome", other people find it to be somewhat helpful. Another example of people who believe in banning books is Tania de Luzuriaga from the Globe Staff who writes in the article "Man from Ministry Bans Potter," that "removed the books [Harry Potter] declaring that the theme of witchcraft and sorcery are inappropriate for catholic school." People in my opinion, are overreacting. Do they think witchcraft and sorcery will influence the kids in Caltholic schools. It's a science fiction book, a story that is clearly fake. Harry Potter is one of the most popular books today, and no one should be robbed of the opportunity to read it. This is how I feel about all books. 

As you can see, books shouldn't be banned from our sixth grade library. Books can help kids in many ways. 6th graders should have the chance to read the books that they want, and we should not be restricting them. Like Noam Chomsky said, "If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”

Thank you,

Isabel Learis 811

Upfront Magazine: Gettysburg Battle and Address(Isabel Learis)

     In the article "Gettysburg: The Battle and Address" by Adam Goodheart, it talks about the cause and effects of the bloodiest battle in the Civil war. It also talks about the Gettysburg address, which  talks about a wide variety of topics in a mere 300 words.

In the          Civil war, the North and South were fighting about there different opinions on topics. One of those topics was slavery. The South strongly believed in slavery, and wanted to be able to have slaves working for them on plantations. Plantations were the main source of business in the South, which was how they made most their money, so you can understand why they would want to keep slaves. In the text it says, "Most white Southerners wished to form an independent nation, the Confederate States of America, that would enshrine slavery at its very core." This proves that the Southerners believed and wanted to keep slavery. It also shows that they wanted to be there own country. They thought that their ideas were too different from the Northerners and that they should be able to make their own laws, therefore have their own country.

   

     The North although had their own ideas. The North was anti-slavery. Northerners had less of a use for slaves, and didn't need them as much as the South did. This made them either be anti-slavery, or have not as much of an opinion on it. The text reads, "Most white Northerners wanted to preserve the Union- and many didn't care if that meant preserving slavery too." although they would make an acceptation for slavery to preserve the Union, President Lincoln did not agree with slavery. But mainly, the Northerners wanted to preserve the Union, meaning keeping the country together as one. Also the text says, "Many Northern families had also lost fathers, sons, and brothers in the war and questioned whether the struggle was worth greater bloodshed." They were loosing there loved ones, and they didn't have as much commitment as the Confederacy. They just wanted they people they loved to be safe. 

    Slaves also had a big part in the war. They were the main reason the two sides were fighting. But slaves were very unsure who would win the battle, and were considering what would happen if either side won. Most slaves, obviously, wanted the North to become victorious, in which case they would be free. Although President Lincoln did announce after the battle of Antietam that all slaves in the south were free. But this wasn't enough, because there was still the question, will slavery be a problem later. The text proves this point because it says, "4 million black americans, most of them slaves, saw the war as a moment of thrilling and terrifying possibilities: an event that could either destroy slavery or ensure its survival for centuries to come." The decision of slavery, was one of the reason the war even started. 

    As you can see the decision of slavery was one of the main reasons the country had a war. The North and South had very different ideas though. 

th

the 

Inquiry Question by Isabel Learis

In the book “Perk of Being a Wallflower,” the main character Charlie has an unexplained conflict within himself. This conflict causes Charlie to get depressed, and also go a little crazy sometimes. I think his family and friends have a big impact on his problem. They cause it, but they also help him get through it.

            Charlie’s family and friends can sometimes cause his problem. It’s mainly that they can make him feel crappy or depressed, which then causes it. For example, normally Sam and Patrick make Charlie feel very happy and make him not think about sad things, but over winter break Charlie wasn’t with them so he says, “And I wish my Aunt Helen were here. I miss my Aunt Helen like this. Reading this book isn’t helping either.” Charlie missed his Aunt a lot throughout the book, but he can’t do anything about it because she is dead. Also, when Charlie’s friends weren’t talking to him, he got really upset, and starting doing drugs. It says, “A few days ago, I went to see Bob to buy more pot.” This is while his other friends aren’t talking to him. Without them he makes mistakes, and soon this turns into a larger problem. It turns into something bigger.

            Even thought Charlie’s family and friends can cause the problem sometimes, they also try to steer from the problem and try to make him feel better. For example after Charlie went to the hospital and therapist for his situation, his parents were being very nice, they even missed watching his brothers football game on TV. The book says, “WE got home, and my mom made me some tea, and my dad asked me if I wanted to sit and watch the game, and I said yes… and my mom said a lot of encouraging things about how I was doing so well this school year and maybe the doctor would help me sort things out.” His family is caring for him and his problem, trying to help. Also, when his friends are mad at him and stop talking to him it gets really bad, but then when they start talking again Charlie stops smoking pot and he gets a lot better.

            As you can see, Charlie’s family and friends cause and solve his problems. Its like they have positive and negative affects on him. But even if they are negative, Charlie’s family and friends are all very important to him.

Faithful Elephants

In the story “Faithful Elephants,” by Yukio Tsuchiya, it tells the tragic story of three elephants at the Ueno Zoo, who need to be killed because the Army believe that the bombs being dropped in Tokyo will affect the animals at the zoo. This short story teaches readers that war affects more then just the soldiers on the battlefield.

            The war affects animals in an obvious way. In the story, it says, “Therefore by command of the Army, all the lions, tigers, leopards, bears, and big snakes were poisoned to death.” The army forced the zoo to kill these animals cause they thought the cages would break if a bomb it the zoo, and the animals would escape and run wild. These animals were being killed because of the war progressing around them, and mainly the bombs being dropped. Also, later in the text, they have to kill the three elephants. The text reads, “over two weeks later, Tonky and Wonly we’re dead.” The zoo (by force of the army) had to kill these animals, but they only way they could was by starving them, which is like torture.

            The war didn’t just effect the elephants in the physical way, but it also affected the zookeepers, but in a more emotional sense.            The zookeepers loved the animals they worked with at the zoo, but they had to, by force or a higher rank, kill them. In the passage it says, “the zookeepers wanted so much to keep Tonky and Wanly alive that they thought of sending them to the zoo in Sendai, far north of Tokyo.” The zookeepers adored these animals so much, and they didn’t want to have to say goodbye. Also the zookeepers had to watch them die, in fact, they had to be the ones to kill them. They must have been devastated. For example, after Tonky and Wanly got up all their last strength to perform a trick for their trainer the text says, “the trainer could stand it no longer, ‘Oh Tonky! Oh Wanly!’ he wailed and dashed to the food shed.” Seeing the elephants suffer hurt the trainer emotionally. The other zookeepers say he trainer feeding the dying elephants and didn’t say anything. They too felt bad.

            As you can see, war has a greater impact on the life around it. “Faithful Elephants” forces the reader to comprehend that war goes beyond the battlefield, and an affect more than just the soldiers being killed.

A Fault in Our Stars: Summer Reading

In the book "A Fault in Our Stars" by John Green, he writes about a romance between a girl, Hazel, and a boy, Augustus. But this isn't just any teenage romance, for both are suffering through cancer. The main character, Hazel, really changes throughout the book. In the beginning she is very negative, towards the middle she is having feelings about love which is making her happier, and in the end she is upset but still more positive from the beginning of the book.

In the beginning if the book Hazel is very negative. She doesn't really have any positive feelings up until she meets Augustus. But before that she thinks everything is a side effect to dying. She says, "Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying." It seems as if all Hazel thinks about is death. Also she said, "I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die." Hazel is basically adding something negative to something that is already upsetting. 

Towards the middle of the book Hazel starts having feelings of love towards Augustus. A little before, but mainly while, her and Gus are in New Amsterdam, she starts developing these feelings. For example Hazel says, “But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” Hazel loves Gus. Because Gus makes her happy, which since her cancer, she hadn’t had a lot of. She loves him for that reason. Also, they were talking about how their friend Isaac and his girlfriend always say always, something that shows there love and how it will be always, and Augustus said to Hazel, “Maybe 'okay' will be our 'always.” So not only does Hazel start to love Gus, but he starts to love her. This is a big turning point for Hazel because something is her life finally makes her happy.

At the end of the book, Hazel even thought she upset is still more positive than the beginning. In Augustus’s house his parents put up quotes. One of them is “Without pain we know no joy.” I think this quote really describes the least part of the book. Hazel was really happy with Augustus, but him dying gives her pain, which will help her have joy because before Gus died, and even before she met Gus, she wasn’t very happy. But now after she has experience severe pain by watching her loved one die, I think she can now have a better life. Although she will always be upset, she will one day get over it. 

As you can see, the change that Hazel when through n the book, was mainly caused by Gus and her love for him.