Social Action Blog Post

        In the book The Sum and Total of Now by Don Robertson there is no specific social issue. The book focuses on the struggles and issues of a young teen growing up. Morris Bird III faces a lot of struggles as he goes through adolescence, but nothing out of the ordinary. The story is told from Morris' perspective, but I feel that the main excluded voice is that of Morris' parents.
        In this book the parents have no input into Morris' live or problems. There are several different scenes in the story in which you see the parents opnions excluded. Moriss' aunt is dying and he goes through a very emotional time with this. When he is trying to come to terms with this there is nothing  at all said by the parents. They are characters but when he is dealing with stuff they sort of slump away into the background. I actually like the fact that they are. I feel like I can relate to it more because it is how I deal with stuff. The fact that the parents voices are excluded gives you a better incite into a young teens mind. In a lot of books I feel that the kid has a trouble and the parents swoop in and fix everything. This isn't reality. If I have a problem my last choice is to go to my parents, I first want to try to fix things my self. Now because the parents voices are excluded the problems have more meaning and depth to them. When Morris attempts to solve his problems you see a more raw story, and you get a better sense of the character.
        I belive its the parents voice that it's excluded. I think this advances the story and makes it more complex. Sometimes adults try to but their heads into problems they can't understand.  Kids can sometimes when left to their own devices do a great job of solving their problems.

Independent reading blog post

             I have only just started The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened by Don Robertson, but there is one immediate social issue that pops out. Teenage sex. There are lots of questions surrounding this issue. How young is to young? How should kids handle pressure? These questions aren't answered in the book but situations do give you a helpful insight to what goes on and how to deal with it.  In this book the main character and his girlfriend are put in these situations. I think this book can help kids realize what to do if they are ever in a situation like the ones in the book.
            In the book Morris Bird III who is seventeen has a girlfriend, and at that age they may have sex. His girlfriend Julie doesn't want to. One night Morris is over at Julie's house and they kiss and stuff but Morris trys to go a bit further. She says no. One of the issues is having the courage to say no.  I think this is one of the positive messaage this book sends to teens. It could also help adults understand kids. This book is written from Morris Bird III's perspective. You see what he is thinking in all these situations. This could have real value to adults trying to talk to kids about this topic. In the same scene Morris is thinking about how annoying it is that she keeps saying no. This could help adults teach kids to respect people's choices and body's. A lot of the problems people face talking to kids about this stuff is not understanding how they feel and what they think. This book could actually help people understand kids.
             In conclusion there is a good message in this book. The social issue it deals with is very sensitive and complex. I have not gotten far in the book but it's message has already taken an affect on me and I can see how this will be continued through out the book

argument essay 2

Harper di Liberto-Bell

805

           For years there has been a battle over banning YA books with mature content, and who should have control over what our kids read. This is happening because some people think the topics that are displayed are too adult for teens. Many YA books do have mature content, but it’s nothing teens won’t be exposed to. There are many very popular books that have been challenged, and school boards have very consistently challenged or banned these books. Parents should be the only people to have a say in what their kids read, so access shouldn’t be limited.

           Kids are really able to connect to YA literature. Sherman Alexie writes, “There are millions of teens who read because they are sad and lonely and enraged. They read because they live in an often terrible world. They read because they believe despite the callow protestations of certain adults, that books, especially the dark and dangerous ones will save them. ” These kids’ lives are often similar to some of the kids in YA books. This gives these kids an outlet even if the character is in a situation that’s just as difficult as theirs. They can escape their pain and experience something else. In YA books the main character tends to escape whatever world they are living in, and gets a better life. That’s what these kids want. When they read these books, they see themselves escaping their own world for something better. They are able to connect to the wants and the needs of the character. Alexie was talking to a millionaire’s son, who said, “I don’t want to be like my father,” that young man said, “I want to be myself just life in your books.” He grew up in a rich family. His life wasn’t horrible. He had never been hit or starving, but these books were still able to help him. He connected because he saw what he wanted to be. He saw that he could be free to be himself, and that’s a big part of YA books.

           People that are opposed to YA books say we need to ban them because of content. Now it’s perfectly true that YA books deal with mature and dark material, but sometimes the world is dark. Kids need to learn that.  Alexie wrote, “I write in blood because I remember what it feels like to bleed.” As a child he was abused. He can understand what some of these kids are going through. The content is no different than what some of these kids are going through. And I know someone that opposes YA books will say, “Not all kids get abused and have horrible lives.” This is perfectly true. Not all kids cut, and not all kids are abused, but these kids can still learn and be helped by YA books. It makes them more mature and empathetic. It helps to teach them about the world, and some of the issues our society faces. If there is a specific topic a parent doesn’t want their kid to read, then it’s up to them to tell their kid they can’t read it. If you let someone else make that choice, then that could be taking away a valuable life lesson from a kid. Mary Elizabeth Williams quotes her daughter saying, “Does she get that they’re not called children’s books? They’re called ‘young adult.’ Adult.”  This is a great point. There is really no point trying to hid kids from this stuff. As we grow up, we begin to learn about the world, and these books can help us start to grasp the reality of life.

                              

The opposition also says that YA books display a distorted reality where everything is horrible. This is true to an extent. The whole world isn’t horrible, and not everyone’s life gets messed up, but it does happen. To take YA books away from kids would blind them to the fact that some people have issues things like this. This would be a shame. Kids need to know about things like this. If we tell them that things in YA books are distorted, that is in most cases just plain lying.  Alexie writes, “they wanted to protect me from sex when I had already been raped. They wanted to protect me from evil when a future serial killer had already abused me.”  This is proof that the world YA books portray is not distorted. “When some cultural critics fret about the “ever more-appalling” YA books, they aren’t trying to protect African American teens forced to walk through metal detectors on their way to school, or Mexican American teens enduring the schizophrenic life of being an American citizen.”… “They aren’t trying to protect the poor from poverty, or victims of rapists. They are trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature should be.” This further illustrates that the examples aren’t hideously distorted, and that stopping kids from reading YA books won’t protect them.     

YA books shouldn’t be banned. These books provide valuable lessons.  If you take away YA books, then you are cutting off millions of kids from something that brings them joy and teaches them life lessons. Even though YA books deal with dark topics, the lasting effect is only good. These kids don’t need to be hidden from this. These books can change the way teens look at the world, and make them more mature. It gives them skills to face the world, and if you want to take that away something is wrong with you.                                     

Independent Reading Blog Post

        H.A. Dorfman, a sports physiologist sets out to teach you many things in his book The Mental Game of Baseball. This book teaches you about the mentality required to play the game at your best. In each chapter he focuses on a specific aspect of the game. He wants to teach you things you should focus on or things you should avoid thinking. As an example, one chapter he talks about negative reinforcement. He talks about how saying things like I hope I don't strike out only plants the image of you striking out. Which only makes it more likely you will strike out. If you say something like I want to hit a line drive the image of you hitting a line drive in planted in your head so you are more apt to hit one. He also wants me to know what mentality to have in very specific situations. He wants me to know how to not let pressure affect me in clutch situations or in big games.

        He gets this information across in several ways. One is that he uses lots of quotes from players and coaches. This is effective because it gives you real world examples. Another thing he does is give specific games and situations that players have found themselves in. Then he gives examples of different mental approaches these players could have. He also gives you the probable outcome of each one. Finally he sometimes takes you out side of baseball and even out side of sports and gives you real world examples like if you have a big presentation to give or an important test you need to take.
        I have had some experience with things like this. As a long time player this book made me look at the game it a different way. Everyone assumes that sports is just about physical abilities but it's not. I learned that when players go out on the field they have to be very mentally focused and prepared. I always went out there with no mental plan. Now when I play or watch a game it's a different kind of experience.

NF Responce

        In the article "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood," Sherman Alexie wants me to think that YA books don't harm kids, they in fact help them. He talks about the fact that for many kids YA books are an escape, and not just for the under privileged. A millionaire's son spoke to Alexie. "I want to be a writer," he said. "But my father won't let me. He wants me to be a solider. Like he was." "I don't want to be like my father ," that young man said. " I want to be my self. Just like in your book." This show that books like this can help kids living in poverty or in riches. These books teach kids that they can be themselves. When kids with horrible lives read these books it gives them hope. They see people in terrible situations pushing back and standing up for themselves, and that inspires these kids to do the same.  He wants the reader to know that YA books have inspired and helped millions of kids.

        There are many ways the author makes me think and feel what  he wants me to. One thing he does is he points out flaws in his opponents' argument. He talks about the fact that no kid has ever said anything about having trouble with the mature content in his books. Also, he gives personal anecdotes. This is very effective because it's his personal experience, not just some study. He gives examples of lives that his book has changed. Another thing he does is use very powerful language. Words like; "redemptive" and "condescension". He uses these words to describe some things that Meghan Cox Gurdon said.  All of these techniques are very effective.

        I agree with Sherman one hundred percent. I have read many YA books and I don't see the world as a horrible depressing place. That is the basis of the oppositions' argument. They think it's not smart to introduce kids to the subjects in these books, but they are forgetting that these books aren't for kids. Also, we can find all this and more online.  They say someone that has suffered from abuse, for example, might have a relapse, but that is just not true. They can connect to these books more than anyone, and it helps show them that they aren't alone. It shows them that if they a bad situation you can get out of it, and you can have hope. I think that this is a very important message to get across to all kids, even those that don't have horrors in their life.               

YA Book Review

        The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson is a great story about adolescence, growing up, family and friendship. A young boy, Morris, and his sister set out a cross his town to see his best friend Stanley. When he reaches Stanley's house there is a gas explosion and Stanley is killed. Morris is devastated and alone with his sister finds safety. On this journey Morris learns that life is cruel, and unforgiving.

        The author writes,"He wondered what had happened to Stanley Chaloupka." As Morris drags mangled bodies through the streets on his friend's cart he thinks this over and over throughout the story. Morris is in shock and can not except that his only real friend is now dead. This line also illustrates he finds the situation confusing. The author goes on to say, "Stanley Chaloupka was undoubtedly the worst handsoccer player in the history of the world. He was even worse than clumsy old Alex Coffee, The Human Garbage Can. He was what the other boys called A Slop."  Morris learned through his friendship with Stanley Chaloupka that people will be tough on you. Even though Stanley was considered A Slop, a big part of the story was that he always smiled.  He learned from Stanley Chaloupka, however, that if you stay true to your self and are happy with who you are everything will be okay.  "Tiddlelump went the wagon careening, Sandra shrieked. Morris Bird III grinned. Her ran towards good old Stanley Chaloupka, and he heard birds, and then up jumped a huge hot orange ball, a great big fat whoosh of a". This is the moment when Stanley Chaloupka dies. Morris and his sister are severely injured in the explosion. He becomes an adult in this moment and proceeds to shoulder the burden of one. He is still in denial of the fact that Stanley Chaloupka is dead, but he steps up. He encounters a woman who is severely burned and dying. She has been abandoned by many people and many more are rushing past her. Morris, who can hardly stand, takes this woman and puts her in his cart along with his sister. He sees the horror of her injuries, he sees the fact that she had been left abandoned in a gutter, and he does something. I believe it is in this moment that Morris sees the world for what it is -- not a typical one for nine a year old boy. He sees the cruelty, but also the good.

        The world is not always a good place. There are terrorists, there are natural disasters, but there is good. There are people like Morris Bird III out there that have good in their heart. They see the horrors in the world, and they learn to deal with them. 
                   

Argument Essay

        Across the world children are not given much freedom or choice. Our lives are largely controlled by adults. The small freedoms we have are typically monitored. A large aspect of this problem is not being able to choose extra curricular activities, or quit if you don't like them. Many parents say that you need to teach them perseverance and that sometimes you need to do things you don' t like. This is ridiculous. That's why we go school. Children should not be forced to stick with extra curricular activities that they don't like.

        Many people are opposed to letting kids choose. In the article "Should Parents Make Their Kids Stick with Extra Curricular Activities" one mom says, "Kids don't get to pick whether they brush their teeth or get a shot so why let them choose to quit." This is closed minded and horrible. Kids need to be given a choice. Quitting an extra curricular activity is not like brushing your teeth. You do that to be healthy. The whole point of an extra curricular activity is to do something you love.  Kids do have the maturity to make choices by themselves. To not let them is a very negative influence on their life. You're teaching them that they won't have to make decisions and are discouraging them to think for them selves. This limits real world skills. "Michelle Obama has gone against the tide by forcing her daughters, Malia and Sasha, to take up two sports: one they choose and one she selects." She should not do this. She is not her daughters. It's not her playing the sports so why make them play a sport she likes. I understand it can be hard for some parents to accept that their kids are not just like them and I can understand that you want them to like things you like, but if they don't you just have to accept that. A good example of this is my life. I was born into a family of artists and I'm an athlete, but my parents have always supported me. Sometimes they say I should try this or that, and I try it. But, if I don't like it they let me drop it.  "The latest research shows that kids who practice making their own decisions with the help of parents actually build up their brains and develop important skills." This is helpful, but if your child goes through life with you helping them make decisions they won't grow as much as if you give them the choice. Because you are helping them they won't learn the consequences of making a bad choice which is important.
     
I think kids should not be forced to do or stick with extra curricular activities. One mom says, "my kids don't play hockey because they begged for sticks at age two, they play because my husband plays and I skate and it's a command passion." That is good parenting. She isn't saying you have to play hockey because your dad plays it, she's letting them play it because they love it. "They ski and snowboard because we live less that five minuets from a small mountain with slopes." Their location is the thing that effects what they do in this situation, not the parents. "Not quitting has a cost: Hours spent at the piano are hours not spent finding something you love." I can connect with that experience. I did play the piano once. I gave it up because school, baseball, and piano was too much, but baseball has been and always will be my greatest love so I continued with it.

        Choosing to do or not to do extra curricular activities may be a small issue, but it branches out to larger topics. This is about kids being given a voice in situations where they would normally not have one. It is also about growing and maturing as a person. The choice of doing or not doing or quitting or not quitting and extra curricular activity is very small, but it can effect your life in the long run.                  

faithful elephants

           Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya is a story about the death of three amazing elephants at the hands of war. When Tokyo is bombed an order is sent out that all dangerous zoo animals must be killed. Many animals died unnecessarily and it took a toll on the zoo keepers who loved and cared for them. In the end, war tends to have the greatest effect on people who are not involved.               

            The elephant trainers are effected by the war. The zoo keeper recounts to the narrator,' "The elephants are dead! They're dead!"screamed the elephant trainer as he ran into the office. He buried his head in his arms and cried, beating the desktop with his fist."   This illustrates the trainers despair at the elephants death. They feel powerless because they couldn't do anything about the elephants dying. At one point the keeper broke down and fed them to try to keep them alive and the fact that his efforts didn't stop the elephants from dying made it hurt more. The trainers have no part in the war but their lives have been effected because of the elephants. ' "The trainer could stand it no longer. 'Oh, Tonky! Oh, Wanly!' he wailed, and dashed to the food shed. He carried food and pails of water to them and threw it at their feet. 'Here!' he said, sobbing, and clung to their thin legs. 'Eat your food! Please drink. Drink your water!'" This shows how deeply he cares for Tonky and Wanly, and how much he wants them to live a little bit longer. ' "Above them, in the bright blue sky, the angry roar of enemy planes returned. Bombs began to drop on Tokyo once more. Still clinging to the elephants, the zoo keepers raised their fists to the sky and implored, 'Stop the war! Stop the war! Stop all wars!" ' The trainer blames the war for the elephants being killed, and the misery of everyone at the zoo. 

           War in never good and even though it is tough on the people in the war it can be hardest on civilians, for example, the keepers and even the elephants and all the animals that had to be slaughtered. This story illustrates that not all the horrors of war happen on the battle field, some happen in our own backyard.              

Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica is a touching story of friendship, pressure and perseverance. Nate Brodie is a star quarterback, and just when his family is on the brink of poverty he wins the change to win one million dollars. A local company is giving away the million dollars to who ever can throw a football through a hole at half-time of a Patriots game. To add to his pressure Nate's best friend Abby is going blind. Nate struggles with losing her, because she is sent off to a school for the blind. The pressure of all this begins to take an effect on Nate. He starts to play terribly in his games, and begins to question if he can make the throw. He begins to practice non-stop for the throw he will have to make. He does this while still searching and even making a trip to Boston to find a way to help Abby. He discovers a doctor in England that has been successful in doing a surgery that would cure Abby. Problem is it's a million dollars. When it's half-time at the game and Nate runs onto the field he gets to have a chat with his idol, Tom Brady. Then he steps up and throws a perfect spiral through the hole. He gives all of the money to Abby now that his dad has found employment, and Abby regains her sight.