Journal #9 from the perspective of Bob Ewell

I hate Atticus, I just hate the Finch's. I had two more to go in the Finch family, which were Jem and Scout. I had the perfect plan to kill them. I knew Atticus wouldn't want to go to Scouts play and Alexandra was putting together the decorations so I knew they would be walking there all alone in the dark. I followed them there but on a different route. I watched their every move and Scout messed up in her play. It was really dark when they left and Scout forgot her shoes. They turned back around to go get them but the lights had just gone off so Jem told her they would get them tomorrow. I was right behind them in their tracks when Jem suddenly told Scout to stop. I stopped with a jerk. Jem told Scout he thought he heard something like footprints or stomps. Scout just reassured him it was probably her costume rustling when she walked. They kept walking. I followed them very closely and Jem stopped again but he was really serious and he made Scout kind of scared. They thought it was Cecil because she scared them earlier. Scout yelled "Cecil's a big fat hen!" but no response. She got a little more frightened and turned around and tried to see if there was anyone behind them. I kind of moved off to the side a little but it was so dark there was no way they could see me. Jem yelled "Cecil come out!" They didn't know what to do but they tried not to act scared and kept going. They reached the big tree, they knew they were there because Jem told Scout when your under a tree the ground is cooler and Scout had no shoes on. This is when I knew I had to attack because if we got any closer to their house, the street lights would start to brighten things up. I ran. Jem heard and yelled "Scout run, run!" They ran but I Scout fell because of her costume. I takled her and tried to slice her neck but her costume was in the way. I heard and felt another person trying to get me off, it wasn't a kid because they were to strong. I started choking Scout but Jem tackled me and I flipped him over as I was falling and he made a loud crack noise. Which I think he broke something and was unconcious. The knife fell out of my hand. Before I knew it, seconds later I was on the floor and someone stabbed the knife into my ribs. Im pretty sure it was the adult or mysterious person because Jem was out of it and Scout could not see very well in her costume. The last I know and remember was knowing I had attempted getting "two more" and not succeeding.

Journal #8 from the perspective of Atticus

It is September and the sun still rages from noon until well into the evening. The kids still sleep on the back porch, their summer tradition. From time to time, I hear them talking at night. Jem is at a weird age right now and I must say Scout is too. Jem seems to be more sensitive than ever contrary to the fact that he tries to convince us he’s a man now. Well, Scout just seems to be curious about anything, she wants answers. Sometimes, I wonder how much Scout really knows. The night I went with Cal to the Robinson’s, Scout and Dill went too. It happened in plain view, she simply fainted and they both saw. I reckon Dill told Scout since he’s been fancying her all these years. But as the school year returns, so do the usual questions about Boo Radley. Although now, I think they are more sensible. Jem has entered High School and him and Scout are in separate buildings. Now that the Tom Robinson case has blown over, I am happy that they will witness no more ridicule and persecution from the other children.

One night, I overheard Jem and Scout talking. It was about her teacher, Miss Gates. She did not understand how her teacher could teach one thing and demonstrate another. Then, she brought up the case. Jem yelled at her so loud I am surprised she did not cry. He told her never to bring up that court case again. I almost went in there but decided against it as I watched Scout walk out the door. She was silent and crawled into my lap. I thought it fit to let her know she was getting pretty big herself. I told her as simply as I could. Jem was just putting the situation away from him. From my assessment, it is just human nature, it is what Mayella did as well.

Bob Ewell most definitely has not faded away yet. He seems to be giving the town some trouble nowadays and it only leads to his inconveniences. He obtained a job only to lose it a few days after for being too lazy. When Helen Robinson got a job, she passed by his house and on occasion he would follow her. She complained to Link Deas, her employer, and he threatened Bob himself. Moreover, Judge Taylor heard a man in his house when he was all alone one night who is allegedly thought to by Bob Ewell. The pauper is still causing trouble.

Journal #3 from the perspective of Jem

I woke up to a cold morning. I looked outside to see something I never thought that I would see, snow! I rushed down stairs to tell Atticus about the snow outside. We then got a call from Eula May, saying that their was no school today because of the weather. Whenever something happened we would always get a call from Eula May. She was entrusted with informing everyone any important news. Scout woke up soonly after me and we went outside to play in the snow. There was hardly any snow on the ground and what was there was watery hard to play with. So Scout and myself went outside to try and build ourselfs a snowman. We went over to Miss. Maudie's to collect any snow that we didn't want. When we were walking over to Miss Maudie's house we saw Mr. Avery, when we saw us he started yelling at us. He was saying that this sudden weather change was our fault because of our recent bad havior. When we got over to Miss. Maudie house she was outside putting bags over her flowers. We then gathered all her snow and moved it into our yard. Scout and I then got busying working on our snowman. I had a sudden idea to create our snowman to look like Mr. Avery and when we were done it looked very much like him. When Atticus saw, he made up change our snowman from Mr. Avery to Miss. Maudie because we knew that she would not mind us making something that looked like her.We went to bed that night frozen. All of our fireplaces where going but it was still as cold as every. That night I went to sleep very easily but woke up to Atticus shaking me. He gave me my coat and robe and while I put everything on he went and got Scout. He moved us outside and made us stand in front of the Radley's place. I looked around to see Miss. Maudies house on fire. Everything in her house was in flames and her house was bright red and orange. Scout and I stood in front of the Radley house while we watched Miss. Maudies and the adjacent house go up in smoke. I was holding Scout for warmth until it got so cold she just couldn't stand it. She started dancing in the streets, but all I could see was Miss. Maudies house burn.Finally the house fire had been stopped and Scout, Atticus and me went inside our house. Atticus made us all some hot chocolate while we talked about what happened. Suddenly I saw that Atticus was looking at Scout strangly. I looked over and saw nothing wrong until Atticus asked whos blankets she was wearing was. I thought back and remembered that she wasn't wearing that blacket when we first went out of the house. I thwn realized that Boo Radley must have drapped the blacknet over Scout when we were watching the fire. I was debating weather to I should be scared for my sister or be mad at her for not turning around to see Boo Radley.Scout, Atticus and I made our trip up to Finch's landing, a place that we always went for Christmas. I looked going up to see Uncle Jack but I hated going to see Aunt Alexandra and her grandson Francis. He was always to mean to me and Scout and he didn't respect us at all. When we were up there the first thing that happened was that Aunt Alexandra became fanatical with Scout's outfit. She kept on saying that she didn't dree ladylike and she shouldn't be wearing pants, but dresses. I couldn't imagien what Scout would look like in dress, I wanted to find out but knew that I never would. When we were at Finchs landing, I saw that Aunt Alexandra had began to isolate Scout from Francis and myself ever since we moved to the big table. I was somewhat happy to be away from Scout, but then at the same time I missed her. Then one night Francis was talking to Scout about Dill and Atticus, calling them mean names. Then Scout went over and beat Francis. Then Francis tells Uncle Jack that Scout hit him, and without hearing Scout, he slaps her.

Journal #2 from the perspective of Dill

The school year for me was coming to an end. And it was time to go back to my Aunt Rachel's. I was very excited to see my friends, Jem and Scout. Wonder how this school year went for Scout. Wonder if that tyrant, Mrs. Dubose is still being a rotten egg. I am on my way from Mississippi to Maycomb County, Alabama. I can't wait to see Jem and Scout. When i got there Scout was graduated from the second grade, and Jem from the sixth. Scout told me how there is a tree by the Radley Place that had little secret treasures hidden inside it. She told me all about how there a a piece of gum inside it and another time there were two Indian head pennies inside it as well. Jem and Scout both thought that there was a person who hid in there or that someone knew they walked by the tree and left them something every time. I thought this whole thing was rather awkward. When i got there we played games and had a lot of fun. We all played in the tire and and when it was Scout's turn, she rolled in front of the Radley Place. Scout was a little freaked out about it. This event sparked an idea for Jem. Jem thought it would be a good idea to play the tales of Boo Radley. It was fun after a while. The more we played the more the play got better and soon we came up with a full blown drama about the Boo Radley story. Atticus wondered about the play, but Jem lied and said we were not involving the Radleys in any way.Jem and i were spending a lot of time together. He was a great person to hang out with, and he did a lot of quibbling. We became great friends. I noticed that Scout was spending a lot of her time at Miss Maudie's place. After Scout came home one day, she told us that Miss Maudie knew Boo Radley, and that in her opinion, he should be left alone minding his own business. She told Scout that Boo is still alive and that he was a victim to his father. She told us that his father was very religious, but said most people go to hell. Jem and I decide to come up with a plan where we will leave a note for Boo Radley to read. We went to the Radley Place and we used a fishing pole to get the note on the window sill. Atticus caught us doing our plan, and told us to "stop tormenting the man."It was my last day until I would go home to Mississippi, and Jem wanted more to do with the Radley Place. He and I went over there late at night to peek through the windows. The curtains were in the way, but we could see a little light through them. Suddenly I saw a shadow! It was a figure with a hat! In this time of great panic, me and Jem were unanimous to the fact of running, but we heard a gunshot behind us! Now we were really freaking out. We escape through the schoolyard and Jem's pants rip off from the fence. When they get home, everyone is there talking. They said that Mr. Nathan shot a Negro. Atticus asked where Jem's pants were. I quickly answer the question for Jem saying that I had won them in a game of strip poker. Jem was evasive. Later that night I found out that Jem went back there and found his pants lying neatly over the fence, stitched in a awful matter. Someone knew he was coming back.Well, it is time for me to go back to my home. Mississippi, here I come. I told Jem and Scout goodbye, and said my goodbye's to my Aunt Rachel. I would see Jem and Scout next summer, hope the year will go by fast.

Journal #1 from the perspective of Walter Cunningham

The summer of 1933 was a long and boring one. “There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself”. It was the Great Depression, and being a member of the even poorer family living on the outskirts of town did not help me get by. I was constantly ridiculed by those around me as if I was even less of a person. On some level, I felt I understood what was going on to a great extent, but the truth was I was only 6 years old. Whenever, I opened my mouth to mama and ranted about our situation, she just hushed me and told me I was too little to understand. As the breeze of the autumn nights grew closer, it came to me that I would be beginning the 1st grade…the very thought of it made me clutch my stomach in sickness. I already had created everything it would be in my mind, and I truly loathed it. It seemed that the next time the sun raised itself, there I was walking towards my new school. I fingered a strap sewed onto a potato sack, or in other words, my book bag. My plan was to go about merely unnoticed and hope for little interaction with my fellow classmates and teacher. I walked in the door and they all stared at me like a cockroach scurrying on the floor. In the back of my mind, I prayed someone was standing behind me and they saw right through me, but that was a silly thought. So, I scurried to a desk that read “Walter Cunningham” in thick black letters. I was dazing out the window when I heard the sound of a lady’s heels walk through the desk. She stopped at my desk and as I looked up, a sweet and rather innocent face peered down at me, Miss Caroline. I knew that she was an unfamiliar face even before she said she was from a sketchy part of Alabama. She wasn’t like the rest of us, quite eccentric actually. She simply asked where my lunch was and I replied that I haven’t got one. Of course, sitting in rows of students with neatly folded paper bags, I most definitely stood out. I could have predicted what was going to come next, because she knew nothing about the families in Maycomb. She walked towards her purse and retrieved a quarter that reflected the light beams from the window. She told me she would lend it to me and her peppermint red lips swept into a smile. My heard stopped and my brain did a back flip. I felt an unimplied sense of intimidation thrust upon me. One thousand million thoughts raced through my tiny pea brain. I didn’t know to take it or to leave it. But, before my thoughts spilled from my mouth, Scout’s voice came from the back of the room with some strange pronouncement. That poor soul was trying to explain my lack of money but Miss Caroline stared at her like a chicken mooing. For about the third time that day, the only thing Scot had done was get herself in all kinds of trouble from the teacher. The bell rang, and the next instant I found myself inhaling dirt plagued by the hands of little children. Scouts hand was gripped firmly behind by neck and she was using all her force to lower my face as far down as possible until I was almost staring into the depths of hell. I’m not sure what I could have done that irked her so much. I could not see, but I felt the presence of other students encircling the scene she had created. I heard footsteps come near and then the faint sound of Jem’s voice. I prayed that he had come to save me from this malevolent little girl…and then her hand released.

Journal #7 from the perspective of Atticus

The morning after the case, I went to the kitchen for breakfast as usual. I see that Calpurnia had layed out a big breakfast with chicken and all sorts of different foods. I asked what all of this was for and she they're all comin' down and leavin' all this food because they want to thank you for all you have done and tried to do for Tom and his family. I was very grateful and told Cal to tell them that and to stop the nonsence. Cal said she would and I looked around the kitchen and everything was covered in a whole bunch off different foods. I was surprised how grateful they were and even though it's a depression they still try to thank me. I then decided to take a walk to the post office and just think about everything and have some quiet time. I was on the street corner and all of a sudden Mr. Ewell comes up and has this digusted look on his face. I knew he was going to do something because he is after all an Ewell. He started calling me horrible names and how dare I defend a negro, especially one that hurt hid daughter. I just stood there silently and waited for him to finish. He then spat in my face, which I have to say I did not expect and then he said he would get me back, no matter what. I just pulled my hankerchief out and wiped my face. I then thought to myself whatever he does to me, I will not do anything back because I took this case for my children and after it's over I'm not going to lose them because of some Ewell.

Journal #6 Chapters 16-19 from the perspective of Tom Robinson

I walked in the court room, very nervous. Atticus persecuted Heck Tate first. He told a brief story. It went like this; I see Mr. Ewell and he says he needs me fast. I got to his house and Mayella was laying on the floor terrified. She was beat up really badly and says Tom Robinson raped her. Strangely they did not feel the need to call the doctor. Then Atticus persectued Mr. Ewell, Mayellas dad. He was asking for the story in his words and Mr. Ewell gave one along the same lines as Heck Tate. Although there were some slight additions. Mr. Ewell said she had a black eye on her right eye which means that the person that probably hit her was left handed. He also said she had fingerprint bruises around her neck like someone was choking her. Mr. Ewell also confirmed he had seen Tom Robinson run out as soon as he got to the house and that is why they know for sure who it was. Then Attticus asked Mr. Ewell a strange questions. He said can you read and write? Mr. Ewell said yes. So Atticus asked him to write his name on a piece of paper. Mr. Ewell did so and it turned out he was left handed. Then Atticus was done. He asked for Mayella next and she told her story of how she invited me in to her gate because she needed some little work done. She was going to get a nickel and she says I followed her then tackled her and raped her in her house. That was not at all true. She couldn't remember everything perfectly but she supposedly said I overturned furniture and made lots of messes and I would not let her go. Then when her dad got there she said I reaced out the door. She then said Mr. Ewell turned and asked her who did it? Who did it? As of when Atticus asked Mr. Ewell his story, he said he had seen who it was. Mayella is a very different person. The Ewells have not so good of reputation and al their kids only go to school for the longest time being 3 years. They are pretty trashy whites and they like to hang around and with the black community. Mr. Ewell as well had mixed children who fit in anywhere and he is always drunk or drinking, ever since his ex-fiance killed herself right before their wedding. Now it was my turn to go tell my story. The real story, the truth. I stood up and Mr. Ewell was definately shocked, Mayella, and all the people in the court room that didn't know me were too. See when I was a boy I was working on a field by the cotton gin and my arm got stuck and ripped tissue and muscle so my arm didn't grow anymore and I have no ability or strength whatsoever in my left arm. I got to the stand and this is my story; I was walking along Mayellas street when she invited me in because she needed a chore done. Although this time she needed it in her house. To do so I needed to stand on the top of the chair. While I was standing there Mayella grabbed my ankles and I fell off and the chair overturned. She grabbed me and kissed me and told me to kiss her and wouldn't let me leave. She was holding me in very much and I do not have that much strength to let go because of my handicap. Everyone seemed intrigued and the story went on. I then said Mr. Ewell walked up and immediately saw me and I ran. Now all of the furniture they were complaining about being overturned was just the chair and I just explained ehy that happened. I ran because I was scared. I was scared because if you were a nigger to you would be scared to be amongst white people in that kind of situation. Atticus then asked me multiple questions about Mayella and our relationship. I went on about how I have been to her property many of times but that was the first time I ever was in her house. I was on her property before because she asked me come and help with little chores and things that I was happy to do, she seemed like a nice young lady. Every time I was on her property it was from an invitation, never once did I enter without being invited. I pass by the Ewells house everyday on my way to work. Atticus then said thank you and he had no further questions.

Journal #5 chapter 13-15 from the perspective of Aunt Alexandra

I arrived at my brothers door in the afternoon one day with luggage and all. Scout and Jem and their nanny was home. Scout and Jem apparently didn't know I was coming to stay with them for a while because they were shocked to see me. I explained why I was staying and it was because Atticus called me asking if I would come live with them for a while because the two of them were growing up and they needed a female influence. During the days when I was home I about the neighborhood and trying to fit in as much as possible, which I think is going pretty well. I had coffee with some of the neighbors and got together with some of the ladies. Since the family had no mom and Calpurnia certainly wasn't a good fit, I tried to take a little more control and be helpful to the family. A few days later Scout asked Atticus if she could go to Calpurnia's house one Sunday because Calpurnia said she would be delighted to have her any time. Before Atticus could answer I yelled NO to Scout. Then like a reflex Scout yelled back, "I didn't ask you!" Atticus made her apologize but I could tell she really wasn't sorry. That night Jem and Scout started fighting because Jem was trying to tell Scout what to do and how if she has to listen to Calpurnia, Atticus and now Aunt Alexandra then she has to listen to him. Atticus and I heard them fighting and we went to their room. Atticus then told Scout she only had to listen to Jem if he could make her. I didn't understand what he meant. When they went to bed a couple minutes later they called Atticus in. I just silently watched the whole thing and Dill was hiding under Scouts bed and he ran away because his parents weren't being respectful to him. Dill wanted to spend the night. Atticus went to tell Miss Rachel he was here, he didn't want him to but Atticus did the right thing and asked her if he could spend the night. Miss Rachel said Dill's parents called to see where he was and that they were worried sick, Miss Rachel was very happy we told her. Dill slept over at our house. Later that week the day came of the Tom Robinson case.

Journal #4 Chapters 10-11 from the perspective of Atticus

It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, Scout. All mockingbirds do is sing for people, they don't mess with your stuff or ruin anything they just create pleasure for people so why kill them? Thta's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird Scout. I had gotten Scout and Jem a gun for Christmas and I was explaining to her what she could shoot and mockingbirds are not allowed. The a couple days later at work i recieve a phone call from Calpurnia explaining that Tim Johnson, "the mad dog" was out about on my street heading down it slowly. I rushed home and along with me was sheriff Heck Tate. Everyone in the neighborhood was locked up in their houses watching Tim to see what would happen next. He was inching closer so we had to act fast and I told Heck to shoot him already but he just wouldn't, then he told me he couldn't shoot that far so he gave me the gun and told me to do it, to kill Tim Johnson. I had no choice so I jumped in the middle of the street and then Tim noticed me with the most peril eyes, I shot. Everyone looked contemporarily. Mad dog was lying in the street, dead. I then go inside and Scout and Jem come out to meet me, they were very surprised but happy that I shot him, almost like they were surprised I could do something. Later that week, Jem had saved up his money so him and Scout walked into town to buy something, Jem was kind enough to but Scout a baton she had been eyeing for a while. On their way to town, Ms. Dubos a some what crotchety lady lived on the street and when the kids passed her she was always mean. Although this time she complained about how I am a "nigger lover" and Jem got pretty mad. On the way back from town Ms. Dubos was not on her porch, Jem grabbed Scout's baton from her and snapped it in half. Jem then furiously ripped up lots of her flowers and her whole from yard. Scout didn't know what had overcome Jem and she started screaming at him. Jem wanted her to be quiet so he threw her on the floor and kicked her. They went home in silence. When I got home that evening I walked in holding the dirt covered broken baton and some flower pedals. I asked Jem if he was responsible for it and he said yes. I made him go over to Ms. Dubos and apologize. Ms. Dubos gave him a punishment of having to go over to her house every day for a month and read to her. A month after his reading days were over I got a phone call after work one day saying if I could please go over to Ms. Dubos's house. When I arrived Ms. Dubos had a candy box for me. It was for Jem and it had the flowers he tore up in it. The thing was, that Ms. Dubos was dying. She is a morphine addict and it was killing her. That night she died. I gave Jem the box and when he opened it he was furious. He was furious that he could not believe she still thought of that day Jem did that. A second later after being mad Jem ran into my arms and had great sympathy for her because she was a great lady. The only reason Ms. Dubos sent him that stuff was to show that she finally forgave him.

Immigration Project Reflection

The literature circle book I read was called Once Upon A Quinceanera. I'm glad I chose this book because I wanted to know more about Latina immigration because they are a lot of the United States population. Something important I learned from this book was that Quinceaneras are a huge part of the Latin culture and they always keep their traditions and even if the family doesn't have a lot of money or it is hard for them to be able to give their daughter a Quinceanera they will find a way to no matter what because it is very important to them. I think the process we had in our literature groups was really good but I think maybe we could have done a couple vocabulary words for every post. I liked blogging a lot better than sharing in a group because it's a lot easier because we can focus better and we have more time to work on them. I didn't have any problems with blogging and by my peers responding I think it helped because I got to see different perspectives about the book and it let me have more ideas too.
I chose to redo a book cover because I thought the book cover was kind of boring because it was just a girl in a dress sitting down. I think people wouldn't know what the book was about if it wasn't for the title and I wanted to make something that showed what the book was about without having to read the title and making it more colorful. On my painting I put a big Quinceanera cake as the center of the painting because they have big cakes just like weddings and it's a big part of the party. In the background I put a high heel shoe because during Quince's they start off wearing flats the when they become a women they put a high heel onto her to represent becoming a women. I also put a crown in the background with a number 15 on it because they wear crowns at their Quince's and they have Quince's when they turn 15. I think my painting turned out really nice and I like the colors in it and I think it really represents a Quinceanera. I think for my painting I could have worked better on the little details and the outline of the objects. I learned that by making a painting for literature circles can help people and myself see the book in a different perspective and it is was really fun and a good way to learn about the book and how to think in different views.
When I interviewed Pau Pau my immigrant, she was very friendly and liked the idea of getting interviewed but for me it was very difficult to understand what she was saying, I got by pretty good but I had a lot of troubles with that. Although other than that I was able to get a lot of information from her and it was easy to talk to her, we also got a long very well. I interviewed my immigrant at the IRC, so we only had to do two in person interviews but I liked being able to see them twice and it was easy to connect better. From the first in person interview I learned a lot about her life here in California but after seeing her once then going back she was more comfortable and answered a lot more questions from her life in Thailand then when I asked her in the first interview. Interviewing an actual immigrant helped me understand a lot more about immigration and knowing what they've gone through and it makes you want to learn more in depth about immigration because everyone had their own special personal connection. I made my immigrant a painting about her immigration and her favorite things. I drew the Thailand flag as the background, and then I drew Thailand as the center of the painting. On the side I drew the beach because her favorite thing to do in California is go to the beach.
Overall I really liked this project and I learned a lot more about immigration then I thought I would. I liked this project because we got to learn one person's personal story and all about immigration from all over the world.

Once Upon A Quinceanera Final Post

Quote 1- "These celebrations serve to draw us together, keep us going," Norma asserts. "Really a ritual is transformative for the whole community, not just for the individual going through it." Page 235~ Paragraph 2

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?" I think this quote has a lot to do specifically with this question because it is stating how quinces aren't just parties but celebrations for friends and family to come together even during hard times and still be able to have fun and remember the good times.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because if you may have a party for just anyone to come to then you get to meet new people and get closer to your surroundings. Then if you have say just a family party you all get to share your personal stories and we'll all listen and be respectful because we're not just just celebrating, say someones birthday but all of us together having fun.

Question 1- What does "ritual" mean?

Quote 2- "asking for their wisdom and their stories, their benediction to cherish and preserve and now pass on." Page 269~ Paragraph 3

Significance- I chose this quote because it was important because it is the last thing in the book. It tells you that the book is over and what the authors last words were. I think this is important because in this quote, the author is talking directly to the reader and asking and hoping that we learned something from reading this book and that we would cherish, preserve, and pass on our new knowledge.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because whenever you learn something new, the person who taught it to you wishes you will share it with many others and hopes not just you benefits from their knowledge. They want you to be wise with what they have provided you and they want you to and hope you remember it forever.

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 5

Quote 1- "So I had turned into a girl who would call the police on her parents, ay Dios santos! What a monster they had raised!" Paragraph 3~ Page 193

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?" I think this has to do with it because it is showing how the girl is acting because of something so little and that she would call the cops on her own parents. I also think since ay Dios santos, she is talking about God and it shows how she feels.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because as a kid there's many times you get mad at your parents. Also if your a different ethnicity you may use that type of culture to say something about the situation or handle it differently because of that. This connects to the real world.

Question 1- If she knows she's a "monster" then why do you think she "called the police"?

Quote 2- "Women's Way" Title~ Page 217

Significance- I think this quote best related to the question, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?" I think this quote has to do to with this question because it is saying how the woman is kind of taking charge, or that they're using her way. I think this has to do with their life in the Dominican Republic because the women usually stay home and do all the things around the house so it reminds me of women from their culture.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because even though it's just a title and two very short words, it means a lot and says a lot about their culture and different ways. Here in America the men still usually do most of the family money and things and the wife takes care of things around the house but there are way more women that have jobs here and can be much freeer.

Question 2- What kind of "way" do you think they mwan when they says "women's way"?

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 4

Quote 1- "Quinces like this are definitely "in" among upper-class Dominican girls." Paragraph 2~ Page 160

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?" I think this because it is talking about how Dominican girls have quinces. Also how people notice that it's specifically Dominican girls and that mostly every one has quinces.

Personal Connection- I connect to this quote because people I know that are Hispanic in some way are having a quince. Also places you go you notice either people talking about it or sometimes people say help me raise money, and you see people having sales for example maybe saying, "Oh come get your Quinceanera dresses here."

Question 1- Why do you think it's "in" for the upper class more?

Quote 2- "The quince dream belongs to the mothers." Paagraph 3~ Page 175

Significance- I think this quote relates to the question, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?" I think this relates to the quote because it is showing how big of deal a quince is for the whole family. I think it's a big deal for the mother because they get to throw their daughter a party meaning she's basically a woman.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this becaus I think all mother's are attached to their daughters and don't want them to grow up. I also think that the mom would want their kid to have the best of the best.

Question 2- Why do you think the mother plays such an important role in a quince?

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 3

Quote 1- " These invented traditions are likely to appear when a group is under going transformation, and they serve as a way to legitimize and galvanize it's members by establishing continuity with a past that may be largely fictitious."

Significance- I think this quote best related to the question "How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?" I think it goes with this question because it is saying how even though new traditions are invented, you should go along with them and/or keep your old ones. Also I think it's saying that they are teaching people their new traditions but telling them to continue and not forget their past ones because those are the most memorable.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because as a kid growing up somewhere like America. So many traditions, new and old holidays surround you. In school for example you're taught different religions and holidays and traditions.

Question 1- What do you think "fictitious" means? and what does it actually mean?

Quote 2- "Well I don't know about poster boy. But I guess I could be an American success story. I mean I went to college and all."

Significance- I think this quote is important because it is saying that he doesn't really know if he is so much the perfect boy but he is saying he guesses he could be a good person to talk about and how he has succeeded from coming here. I think this quote relates to the question "What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?" but opposite. Such as what good things happen to the characters. I think this is a good thing because they want to know his successes.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because if someone starts something, maybe like a sport people will want to know how it's going and what your successes have been.

Question 2- What do you think they mean by "poster boy."

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 2

Quote 1- "Our cultural habits and traditions can be revised to work better for us in the new realities we are facing right now." pg 81~ last paragraph~ narrator

Significance- I think the quote has a little do do with this question, "Why have the characters in your book come to America?" I think this quote is important and relates because it is talking about how the way they live right now will end up turning out to something good. Also I think it's good how it's talking about the bad things that will happened can turn into good things. How we can keep tradition and habits is nice too.

Personal Connection- I see people everywhere sharing their traditions had habits to the public because this is a free country, that is why people love it and immigrate to it so much. Also people everywhere have hard times and we see them everywhere but they turn into good things.

Question 1- What kind of different traditions and habits from different cultures do you notice?

Quote 2- "Education is teaching our children to desire the right things," Plato wrote. And sometimes that involves reeducating ourselves as well so we can rightly teach our children. pg 86~ last paragraph~ Plato

Significance- I think this quote most relates to the question, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?" This quote is saying that education is one of the most important things to have if you want to be successful. I think this quote has to do with the question because it is taking on the role of being responsible to start over and get an education.

Personal Connection- I connect to this because everywhere you see adult schools and a lot of immigrants. You also see people getting their citizenship which has a lot to do with responsibility. It also taught their kids how to be and it makes them capable of teaching their kids correct things.

Question 2- What do you think Plato means by 'desire the right things'?

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 1

Quote 1- "As I read the research, I was alarmed by how our teen Latinas are topping the charts for all sorts of at-risk behaviors: From teen pregnancy to substance abuse to dropping out of High School. What is going on?" Page 6~ Paragraph 2~ Narrator

Significance- I think this quote relates to the question; What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life? I think it relates because it's referring to how Latina girls are doing inappropriate or bad things. This could be hardships as they come to America.

Personal connection- I personally connect to this because you hear everywhere now a days about young people getting pregnant. Also people from other countries maybe don't know as much about America and they do things such as drugs or get pregnant.

Question 1- What question do you think my quote best follows? (Questions from the list Ms. Abbassi gave us.)

Quote 2- "In fact, our country of Addison now has 400 illegal Mexican migrant workers doing the milking jobs on dairy farms that would go under if this cheap and round-the-clock workforce were deported." Page 13~ Paragraph 5~ Narrator

Significance- I think this quote relates to the question; How do the Americans treat the characters? This may not specifically relate to the characters in the book but it relates to their culture. I think this shows how Americans treat the Mexican culture by using them as labor workers and things to do around their house. It shows what it is like to live their and to know how your same kind is treated and it's hard to try to fit in.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this quote because all around us you see mainly different raced people working for white people. Either as labor workers, house keepers, nanny's or anything. From my view I think they are mainly Mexican and this is how it relates to the quote.

Question 2- What do you think "cheap and round-the-clock workforce were deported" means in the quote?

Immigration

Immigration is a big thing here in the United States. Since most immigrants come from Mexico, I think it is such a big impact on San Diego mostly because were the first big, and nice city they hit.

In my opinion, I think an immigrant is someone who migrates to another country that they were not born in to usually live for the rest of their lives.

Immigration is a big part in my life. My aunt is Mexican and her family migrated from Mexico. My nanny is also Mexican and she herself came from Mexico and recently got her citizenship. My whole family is also greatly impacted. My brothers and sister are fluent in Spanish because of immigration and it is so helpful to them in their everyday lives.
I think so many immigrants come to the United States because; first of all the weather is perfect and that may be one of the reasons they migrate, to find better weather. Also, I think a lot of homeless people come to the United States, but mainly San Diego because if they live on the streets, it is so beautiful.

In San Diego you notice all the different cultures every where you go. Immigration is not just Mexican people; it is people from all over the world. In San Diego there are different parts of town that I think every culture represents. Such as China Town, it is all things showing the Chinese culture. Also when you see paintings on the walls, they are mainly representing a different culture.

I think immigration is a good thing for everyone. It teaches people about all different types of places without having to go anywhere.

Lovely Bones

By Alice Sebold

Reviewed by Blyss McCann

In the book, a girl named Susie Salmon gets killed in a very sad and tragic way. As she goes on with her life in Heaven, she tries to lead her family down on Earth to her killer. The killer is someone they have known, maybe they are not the best of friends, but when they find out who killed this loving, helpless girl it is very heartbreaking and raging. The author of this fantastic book, Lovely Bones is Alice Sebold.

The main character is Susie Salmon, her killer is also a main character, but you will have to read the book to find out who it is. All of Susie’s immediate family has something to do with the investigation. I think all of the characters had great roles and parts and I think the author had a great way of developing the characters. This book takes place in the 1970’s it has a time period of over many years.

The basic plot of this story is that a 14-year-old girl gets murdered on December 6, 1973 and tries to help her devastated family find her killer. Since she is in heaven she cannot actually talk to them, so this book is an adventure of her leading the ones close to her to clues that involve her murder.

The author, Alice Sebold, has a writing style of going back to different times, as in maybe she will be talking about Susie and how she is meeting new people in heaven, then she will flash over to her family down on Earth trying to regain their strength, or maybe she will flash over to Susie’s killer and how that person is going about their life with no shame at all. The book Lovely Bones is an excellent page turner.

In conclusion, the author had a great story line and did a fantastic job with every detail. I would recommend this book to anyone. Though it may be a

little to intense for kids, but I greatly recommend it to readers over 13. I would definitely love if the author wrote a sequel to Lovely Bones and I would read

that one in a heartbeat. If you like a lot of suspense and different twists and turns, Lovely Bones is the book for you.

Chapter 13 LOTF

Friends or Enemies

Ralph was now safe at home with his family, and they were all catching up on what he had missed while he was stranded on the island. Apparently the war had ended and the British had won. The bad thing was that his mom was overly protective now, and very clingy.
“Mom, calm down please. I am not going anywhere.” Ralph told his mother for about the fifth time today.
“But Ralph honey, you don't understand. When I figured out that your plane had crashed I just about had a heart attack. You are my only child and I love you more than anything in the world. I do not want to loose you!” She told him. It sounded like she was going to cry.
“Okay, okay. I love you and I missed you a lot.” he reassured her.
He seemed like he was starting to get annoyed. He had been home for about a week and a half, but every second of the day he had to remind his mother that he was perfectly fine and that he wasn't going anywhere. He wondered if his mother would ever calm down.
*
“Jack!” Jack's mom called. “Come here please!” Jack was very happy to be back home again. When they were on the island he didn't think about his family or his home, so he didn't realize that he missed them.
“Yeah mom?” he asked her. Ever since he got back home he had been extra nice to his family, his mother especially. She seemed so upset about what had happened.
“Oh nothing, I was just checking to see if you were all right.” she shouted back. His mom had been acting differently, but oh well. He was glad to have her back. Jack hadn't forgotten about Ralph though. He had been worried. Had Ralph forgiven him? Had he forgot about him? Surely no one could forget a person that quickly. Jack new that he had to talk to Ralph. But how? Would Ralph let him?
*

Ralph was exhausted and ready for bed. It had been a long week. He got to meet Piggy's Auntie, but that didn't go so well because we had to come with the naval officer to tell her that Piggy had died on the island. When we left she was in hysterics, and she probably still was. As he got into bed he thought about everyone on the island. Jack especially. What was Jack doing? Is he thinking about me too? Suddenly he was too tired to think anymore and he drifted off to sleep.
That night he had a dream about when he was on the island and how it would be if Piggy and Simon hadn't been killed. Maybe all four of them could be friends, but that could never happen now. Maybe it was time for him to get over it though. Piggy and Simon were dead, and nothing could change that. He had to get over that, and he was going to make sure he did.
*
Jack was debating whether or not to write Ralph a letter. If he did the worst that could happen was that Ralph would not respond to his letter, but if he did respond then maybe they could sort this whole mess out. How Jack longed for that. Then maybe they could become friends again. Jack had decided. He was going to write Ralph a letter.
*
It was a couple days later when Ralph received a letter in the mail. It said that it was from Jack Merridew.
“That’s odd.” He said to himself. “Why would he be writing me?”
He went to his room and sat on his bed staring at the letter. Should he open it? I wonder what it says.” He mumbled under his breath. He took a deep breath and started to rip the envelope open.
“Ralph,” the letter said. “I know we have been through some of the worst possible things that could happen to us, but I want you to know that I am really truly sorry. I think we should talk about everything. Please write back to me. I would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely, Jack Merridew.”
Ralph closed the letter and laid back on his bed. What should he do? Ralph was going to take a risk. One he had never had to make before. He was going to confront the boy who had tried to kill him.

Lord Of The Flies 8

Ralph's Journal

My tribe and I woke up this morning very cold because we had no fire. It was also really hard for Piggy to get around because he didn't have his specs. I blew the conch in the morning and told everyone that hadn't joined Jack's tribe yet, that the only way we could basically survive was if we joined Jack's tribe, or atleast tried to make peace with them. When we arrive at the Castle Rock, we see Jack had gotten some of his tribe members to be guards. I immediately see Jack, and next thing you know were face to face. I tried really hard to tell Jack why we needed to have a signal fire and not fight over Piggy's specs. Jack obviously doesn't care and he orders some tribe members to tie Samneric up. Jack and I begin to fight again, Jack took his spear and jabbed it in my ribs. Piggy was trying to yell over all the comotion and remind us of the importance of everything. At the top of the hill, Roger was putting all his weight on this lever thing and then a big huge boulder flew in the air, hitting Piggy and making the conch smash into a million little peices. Now Piggy is dead and I am all alone. I ran into the forest to get away from all this horrible stuff as my ribs were throbbing in pain. As I was walking through the forest I found the LOTF and i knocked it over and the skull breaks in half, I take the stick to use it as my weapon against Jack. That night I go down to Castle Rock, I find Samneric being the guards, they tell me that tomorrow Jack is going to send the entire tribe to hunt and kill me. I found a thicket, I slept in that because nobody could see in it. In the morning a group of Jack's tribe finds the thicket but it is to thick for them to get in and I am able to get them away. Then I smell smoke, then I realize Jack let the entire island on fire and he is trying to find me by letting the fire lead me away. As I was running I saw Jack and his tribe, I some how managed to get away from the tribe and I arrived at the shore of the ocean where I collapsed of tiredness. When I look up I suddenly see... an adult... in a Navy uniform. The officer tells me that because of the huge fire, the ship came to see what was going on. I was to excited, overwhelmed to even explain. I started crying as almost all the other boys did too.