If we don't talk to strangers... How are we supposed to meet people?

I am recently reading the book TEEN ANGST? NAAAH... By Ned Vizzini. Ned wrote essays when he was younger of his middle and high school life. So now he put them all together to make an autobiography. I think Ned wants me to know that he has/had a very interesting friends and an interesting life too.

When the protagonist was going to be on the show THE VIEW in New York City he met Rocco. (Pages 147-159) Hector, Ike and Ned were all on the the street ruining to the studio because they were late. Hector stops to talk to Rocco. I imagined Rocco as a homeless man... But then as I read on, Rocco dropped out of school a few months ago. When the author revels this part, it made me think that Ned has a unique way of meeting people. I can kinda relate to Ned because I kinda like talking to strangers, not creepy looking strangers though.. Just like kids I guess.

The second way I think Ned has an interesting life is that he and his friend James went to present a movie Ned made about turtles that eat teenaged girls. When the author revels this part, It made me think Ned has an interesting childhood because I've never present movie, nevertheless made a movie about turtles or anything. The movie is available at www.nedvizzini.com/fun/#turtle.

My part of my claim that is about Ned's friends made me think... If we don't talk to strangers how are we supposed to make friends?

Teen Angst? Naaah...

I am reading Teen Angst by, Ned Vizzini. This book is about the authors life between 8th grade and high school. I think part of what the author, Ned wants me to know is that you could be studious but have fun at the same time and not stress out.

The first way I think Ned wants me to know this is in chapter The Test on pages 14-21. This chapter is about the SSHSAT. When Ned first found out abouth this test he went crazy and brought a SSHSAT book and practiced so much for the test. I wrote on a piece of loose-leaf, "Buy Stuy book." "Ned," mary leaned in close. "You dont need a list, and you dont need to worry. You'll do fine." And "Ned, I saw this coming. Ever since you heard about this test, you have been too worried. Understand? You are not allowed to obsess about this test. Understnad?" "Yeah" But it was too late. Iwas already obsessed. Ned already knew he was going to do ohkay. When Ned got the book anyway he kinda made me feel bad about myself, because if someone told me I was going to do fine I wouldnt worry about it.

The best way I think Ned wrote about my claim is on page 45 "THE GRIND". Ned says A biology teacher once put it to me this me this way: " Getting through Stuy is easy. You have three options: good grades, social success, and sleep. You can only have two of the three." I really like this line because it really connectes with my claim. Ned chose good grades and sleep, thats an ohaky choice I guess. Ned gives advice on what two choices you should never choose: sleep and and social success. Bad choice!

What Ned wants me to know connects to teenagers because, I think all teens think about their grades ( well those who care) and then they just stress out and dont have fun. I know some people who do that... but we are not friends... figures.

Fox needs friends too ya know

In class we read the book Fox, at the end of the story I relized that Fox's manipulative behavior is selfish, but I think its ohkay for him to be selfish because he is lonely and he has no one else, therefore feels like he has to make others feel how he feels.

Fox was selfish becuase he saw that Magpie and Dog were best friends and they needed eachtother, but Fox didn't care he broke them apart. Magpie didn't have wings anymore, and Dog didnt have and eye anymore.): Fox was jealous of what they had because he doesnt!

In the line " She can not tell if it is a scream of triumph or dispair," I think it was dispair and triumph.
I think it was dispair because, even though he has torn a pair apart he is still alone and he doesnt have a reationship like Magpie and Dog.
I also think it was triumph because, the Fox is happy that now Dog and Magpie are both alone. And Fox feels happy because he might not feel "alone" because he knows that there are other people alone too.

 I hope in Magpie and Dog do become friends again because they need eachother! and true friendship never dies! I also hope Fox finds a friend so he doesnt have to feel alone anymore.

How can FRENDS,ART&LOVE Take You Out of Depression

I just recently finished reading It's Kinda Of A Funny Story by, Ned Vizzini. When I finished the book I was thinking about how Craig healed. It took friends, art, and love.
Craig got depressed in the first place because he was so stressed about getting in to "Executive Pre-Professional High School". He wouldn't want to hangout with Aaron(his best friend), Nia(the girl he like also Aaron's Girlfriend). He studied and work his a** off so much but then Aaron also gets in the high school without studying like Craig. He also doesn't like how Aaron got Nia he couldn't. I would be very mad and upset too! What?! How does this boy get the girl and he gets in to the high school, HES BETTER THAN ME!  that's what I would think. I would feel stupid and worthless.I was so proud of Craig when he was out, I might be overreacting but I actually felt... I don't know, free? relived? I felt like Craig would feel like a whole new person. On the bottom of page 443 and top of 444 he was saying things he should do but the readers too. I thought it was funny.

Anyway, haven't you ever felt like someone was better than you or better at something. Better test grades, better hair, better shoes. Better everything? Craig saw at Six North that none of those things mattered. He met so many people at 6N that they became his FRIENDS.

Craig and I feltlike we knew them Craig saw all these other sick people that he stoped feeling so bad about himself. He had the LOVE of his family and the other mostly didn't even have a family. He thought he was in love with Nia, but I think he was jealous of Aaron in general. BUT  in 6N he met Noelle, now he's in LOVE for real. They're even going to hangout when she gets out of 6N.

ART:Craig also had his awesome map/people drawing skills. I wish I could see his maps for real. I think his maps helped him because Iremebr reading way back in the begging that when Craig was younger he used to get all upset because he couldn't draw the maps so well. And then in 6N when Noelle told him to draw something that made him happy in his childhood he drew maps and everyone complimented him on them. he felt accomplished.
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"The Gaydar"

     

In the story Am I Blue? by, Bruce Coville, the protagonist Vince is trying to figure out if he's gay or not. He’s also very scared and worried of what might happen to him or what people might think if he shows everyone who he really is. He shows his fear/shyness until he found out about "The Gaydar". ;)

      In the begging, Vince was getting beaten up by Butch Carigon. When he met his fairy godfather Melvin, Vince didn’t believe Melvin actually existed. Vince was also very embarrassed to be seen with Melvin. Vince told Melvin to stop walking in this swishy way and in the cafe Melvin winked at another guy sitting a few tables away. At this point I could relate to Vince, couldn’t anyone? I mean like everyone has been afraid what people must think of yourself, because people can be verrrrrryyyyy mean. Just like Butch Carrigan, he was beating up Vince in the 1st paragraph. I was very disappointed. I don’t know if I should be saying my personal opinion on this topic but everyone has 3 options:

 1.You don’t agree with idea of being "gay".

 2.You do agree with idea of being "gay".

 3.You really don't care. /:

      I think I fall into number... 1. I feel mean by think what other people are doing or believe is wrong but at the same time everyone has their reasons. I’m a Catholic so, supposedly it wrong for a woman and woman or man with another man to get married. But these people just want to be happy :(, and then other who think the opposite of me make me feel like I’m a party pooper and I’m just ruining their happiness. Oh well, I stand for what I believe. ANYWAYYY...

      Melvin then gave Vince the opportunity to have the gift of "The Gaydar". The Gaydar let Vince see people blue, when people are a shade of blue it means they are gay. The dark the shade is the less gay they are. Melvin put the power on Vince, and when he opened his eyes he was soooo surprised! He couldn’t imagine how many people were blue in the cafe. I think this was the climax for Vince, he realized that he wasn’t the only gay person there and he should be proud of who he is and who he is trying to find out who is. I was really upset when I read the paragraph on page 13 that the republican. Vince called him a hypocrite so I’m guessing the republican was saying he doesn’t agree with the idea of being gay, BUT he was blue! I was like Ahahahaha meanie!!

      The last part of the story was the best ending ever! “Gay fantasy number three, coast to coast." Ohmygoshh! People all over the world started turning blue! That would be so crazy if it happened in real life. It would be crazy for that man that was jogging that is married and has kids! His third wish was the best, making Butch Carrigan blue... BUT when Melvin came back he gave Vince the best news ever, Butch was already blue! I was so proud of Vince at the end when he said “And my third wish? I've decided to save it for when I really need it--maybe when I meet the girl of my dreams. Or Prince Charming. Whichever." BEST ENDING EVER! I liked this story ALOT. :)

My motivation

In the story "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury there was a quote that reminded of me what I do... ALOT: "Beyond the thirty-three familiar shadows forty thousand men, exhausted by the nervous expectation and unable to sleep for romantic dreams of battles yet unfought, lay, crazily askew in their uniforms". Whoah, this line is so important in my opinion because it made me understand how Joby was feeling before the battle even started. I loved the part that said " unable to sleep of battles yet unfought". Joby and all the other soldiers are worried and afraid about the future.
I can toootttaaalllyyy relate to Joby, being worried and scared. He wasn't sure if he made the right decision to go to war, and sometimes I think that i make all the wrong decisions too. Im not insecure, I just like thinking twice... And sometimes thats not enough. Joby is a war an now he regrets it, I can imagine myself in a situation like that, definitely.
I want to be a doctor, but then I think nah I'm not that smart, or something like, there's other easier jobs... But the how Joby get's his pep-talk from the general, i remember my motivation to be a doctor which is my sister. Shes diabetic, I want to take care of her so its easier for her to stay close to healthily & I get motivated just like Joby. :)

It's Kind Of a Funny Story.

Im am reading the book "Its Kinda of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini. Pg 185
Im at the rising action so i don't know the conflict resolving. The conflict is that Craig is depressed and ha want to kill himself. He's overwhelmed with his super smart high school and all the homework its gives him, he's also upset about how he couldn't get the girl he wanted but, his best friend Aaron could. I can infer from what I read so far I think Craig thinks that Aaron is better than him because Aaron got into the super hard high school without studying, and Craig busted his... studying for the test AND Aaron got the girl Craig was dreaming for. I can totally relate to Craig, that awful feeling you get when you KNOW another person is better at you at something or they can do something I/you cant. I hate it so much when I see people get better test scores than me and they like show it off and all it bothers me so much and I also studied a lot but mine are lower :( no fair. And i hate it how i cant grow more! I feel so short around taller people :( i used to be one of the tallest of the class in elementary now in not, but oh well.

Summer Book Response

One of the books I read this summer was Hate List by Jennifer Brown. I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read more of Jennifer’s books.This book was about a Girl named Valery and how she tries to overcome her guilt about the “Hate List”. A few months back Valery’s boyfriend Nick shot some peers in the school cafeteria, he chose his targets from the “Hate List” which Valery helped Nick create when they were bullied or when something about someone just bothered them. Valery tried to stop the shooting, but she was shot by accident right before Nick pulled the trigger on himself.

When Valery returns to school she has a hard time interacting with anyone. She feels guilty, but she knows that she’s not but not many others think that. Her old friends don’t want to give her a chance but her mom and counselor are fighting for her to get back on track to finish her senior year, and help her get through her horrible experience. Along in her recovery she met Bea who taught an art class in a Stop&Shop, Valery thought that this would her pain go away. Val was sooo shocked when she found out that her father and his secretary was having an affair! I think that Valery thought she knew Nick and her father, but then Nick shoots and kills people he hates and his dad has an affair, but at the same time I think Mr.Leftman her father had this affair because he found out that his name was on “The Hate List”. Val put it there because her parents would have discussions very often and she was tired of them. Another horrible moment Valery had to go through was when she was at a party which she got invited to by the girl she stepped in front of when she got shot, her name was Jessica. She was being nice to Valery and invited her to the StuCo; she thought she owed her life to Valery. When they were at the party this guy name Troy pulled out a gun and said he was going to shoot her, “to see how it feels”. I think Mr.Leftman wasn’t supportive enough to Val, even though she wrote his name in The List, she called her dad to see if he could pick her up from the party and he yelled at her in front of his new wife how she was making everybody’s life miserable. She didn’t want anyone to die she was just expressing herself with the only person who she could, her boyfriend Nick.

 One day while reading the newspaper Val, thought of the idea of making a memorial service, I think this was the changing point for her when she actually accepted that the shooting wasn’t her fault. I think that going to Nicks’ grave for the 1^st time also helped her get to the changing point. I thought I was so romantic when she was saying good bye. She said goodbye Romeo, because Nick used to love Shake sphere, and they read plays together in his house. In the memorial service they had a time capsule, I think once the capsule was closed I think it was some closure for her. It was time for her to move on but never forget.

I really like the way the chapters were put in the begging, like one was the narrator and the next was Val remembering the day of the shooting or any memory she had with Nick or from the past, but after the service she didn’t go back to the past I felt like she finally let go.

Hate List taught me many things; you think you know someone when you really don’t. Nick, Her dad, her “best friends” that left her when she needed them most because everyone was going through a difficult time. Also learned, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”- Martin Luther King Jr. With the love that Mrs.Leftman, Jessica, Dr. Hieler, Bea and many others she could continue ahead in life. J