Character Analysis

        This summer Conrad Fisher has changed completely. He has rebelled against everyone and often comes home late at night after drinking. Everyone seems to notice his change, especially Belly.  She starts to worry about him more and more as the days go by. She loves him and wishes he loved her back. But she doesn't know how to help him. No one knows the reason behind his strange behavior.

         In the book The Summer I turned Pretty, Conrad Fisher is a dynamic character. He is a dynamic character because he changes behavior in the book. He used to be fun and outgoing but now he just keeps to himself. A lot of characters in this book are dynamic because the book is told throughout the years. In some chapters Belly tells stories from summers in the past. You can tell when reading those stories that a lot has changed.

Point of View

The book The Summer I turned Pretty is written in the point of view of Belly, a teenaged girl who is constantly looking for love. In this book she often states her opinions and emotions. She makes it sound like she's so innocent and that she should have the perfect boyfriend at her side. I'm not quite sure if I can believe her side of the stories she tells. I wish the author Jenny Han would've switched characters in some chapters so they can tell their own point of view like in "The Last Song". That would make the story more interesting. Some of the chapters in this book relate back to a different summer in the past and Belly explains a scene that happened in that summer, to give the reader some background knowledge.

This book would be very different if someone else was telling the story. Perhaps Jeremiah or Conrad. They would probably talk about what Belly means to them and how they feel about their mother, Susannah being sick or how they feel about their parents getting a divorce. It would also be different if Laurel, Belly's mom, was telling the story. Laurel would probably explain how it feels to have a best friend fighting against cancer and how she likes the beach house. She might also add that she's uncomfortable having Belly so interested in boys. The point of view is very important in a book. The story would change completely if it was in a different character's point of view.

Prediction

The book "The Summer I turned Pretty" has what every girl wants in a summer. Belly, the main character stays at the family beach house every summer with her brother, Steven, looking for a great time with her friends and family. This year her best friend Taylor Jewel is coming out to visit her. Susannah a loving caring mother of two boys is very close friends with Belly's mother Laurel. Belly seems to have very strong feelings towards Susannah's sons Jeremiah and Conrad. They are like brothers to her, and they've known each other since they were very little. They are practically part of the family. As the summers go by Belly develops more feelings for Conrad. She has a secret crush on him but is afraid to admit it. Although, he treats her like a little sister, always bossing her around and telling her what she can or cannot do.  She becomes slightly annoyed. But one night when she's invited to a bonfire everything changes for her and her love life. She meets Cam, a nice local boy that almost everyone knows. Belly and Cam are an example of love at first sight. Ever since they began talking at the bonfire they relationship has been great and Belly is starting to take her mind off of Conrad. Conrad, however, is not okay with it.

What's my prediction of what's going to happen next? I think that Belly and Cam are going to break up and her and Conrad are somehow going to get together. I think it will take some time but they will eventually both fall in love. I already know that Belly has strong feelings for Conrad she just doesn’t want to admit it yet. Conrad is jealous of Belly and Cam because I think he still cares for Belly. All of the summers in the past have led up to this. Them being together.

Life of Pi Essay

What would you do if you were stranded on a boat in the middle of the ocean? How would you survive physically and mentally? In the book Life of Pi, sixteen year old Pi Patel spends 227 days on a life boat in the Pacific Ocean. He is accompanied by a wild tiger named Richard Parker and runs into some strange animals like an orangutan, a zebra and even a hyena. He also encounters a blind man who wishes to eat him. But is he really surrounded by all of these animals? Is this blind man he's seeing a real person? Or is it just his imagination taking over his mind?

While Pi and Richard Parker sat there in the middle of the ocean all of a sudden a blind man hopped on their boat . I think that Pi and Richard Parker were partly blind when this man arrived. I don't think they were literally blind but I think because they were so exhausted, dehydrated and hungry that they weren't in a clear state of mind. As soon as the blind man tries to take a bite out of Pi, Richard Parker attacks him.

When I first read about the blind man I wasn't sure if he was a real person or simply just a dream or a thought. But now, after finishing the whole book I have a theory on the blind man. I believe that the blind man is a part of Pi. Almost as if he's Pi's conscience. Because of Pi's poor nutrition his imagination is taking over his mind. This explains why the blind man wanted to kill Pi.  He thinks that suicide is the only solution which is the part of him that is the blind man. 

There is a very large amount of symbolism in this book which can cause the reader confusion. While reading the book I didn't understand it until I finished and everything fell into place. The blind man, the island, and the animals all suddenly made sense.  This book was about survival. Pi had to rely on Richard Parker to protect him and keep him safe. At the beginning of the novel,  Pi was very scared and guarded with a wild tiger on his side. But as their journey on the boat continued they became closer and shared a deep trust.

You may disagree with me about the blind man and what he symbolizes. But my personal opinion is that the blind man is a part of Pi that wants to end his suffering, his subconscious. His lack of nutrition causes him confusion and he's mentally out of it. Pi's not literally blind, but his mind is blind, out of focus and confused. Which could happen to anyone under the same circumstances.

Love Story

I sat in my room and paused my video game and searched the room for my cell phone. I grabbed it and dialed my girlfriend Sarah’s number. I really wanted to talk to her.

"Hello?” she answered.

“Hey hun, how are you? I replied.

“Okay… you?”

“Is something wrong?”

 “No, I’m just a little stressed out.”

“Oh ok. Well do you want to go to the movies tonight to get your mind off everything?”

“Can’t. I have a doctor’s appointment.”

“For what?”

“I just have to get a couple shots.”

“Oh ok.”

“Yeah……..”

“Well I’ll see you at school tomorrow”.

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

“Wait.”

“Yeah?”

“How much do you love me?”

“More than anything in the world.”

“Really?”

“Of course, why?”

Silence filled the air.

“Are you sure your ok?”

“Yeah. I’m fine” she insisted.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“I hope so.”

“I have a question.”

“Hit me.”

“How much do you care about me?”

“More than you could imagine.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhmmmm.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure.”

“Would you die for me?”

“I would take a bullet for you Sarah, I love you.

“Awwww, thanks.”

“Well I’ll talk to you later.”

“Yup. See you at school.”

“Ok bye.”

“Bye.”

It was the next day and I was sitting on the bus on my way to school. I was really anxious to see Sarah. After the talk last night I became a little worried about her. We got to school and I hopped off the bus and ran inside. When I got to my locker my best friend Josh was standing there.

“Hey” he said.

“Hey Josh, what’s up?”

“Not much. You?”

“Not much. Have you seen Sarah anywhere man, I’ve been dying to see her ever since our talk last night. I asked.

“No actually I haven’t seen her for 2 days, is she ok?”

“I think so, at least that’s what she said.”

“I’ll probably call her after school again.”

“Okay bro, see ya later.”

“Bye.”

After school when I got home I immediately called Sarah.

-ring-ring-ring

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

“Hi, what’s up?”

“Why weren’t you at school today?”

“I was at the doctor again.”

“Are you sick?”

“Ummmm….. I have to go my mom’s on the other line”.

“I’ll wait….” I explained.

“Look Kyle I think we need to break up.”

“What?!?”

“It’s the best thing to do right now.”

“Why?”

“Goodbye Kyle.”

She hung up on me, great. I decided to call Josh. I needed to tell him about me and Sarah.

-ring-ring-ring-

“Hello?”

“Hey dude, it’s Kyle.”

“Oh hey, what’s up?”

“I called Sarah.”

“Yeah what did she say?”

“She broke up with me.”

“Really?”

“Mhmmm.”

“Sorry man.”

“It’s fine, it’s just I don’t know why she’s acting so weird.”

“Well you know girls man, sometimes they can have the biggest mood swings, she’ll befine in a couple of days.”

“What do you mean she’ll be fine, she’s not sick or anything.”

“Yes she is, she checked into the hospital yesterday, didn’t she tell you?”

“Ummmm… no, what’s wrong with her?”

“You should probably go visit her.”

“Why? Can’t you tell me?”

“It would be best if you went and visit her Kyle.”

“Ok, I’ll call you later bro.”

“Ok bye.”

I got my mom to drive me to the hospital and see Sarah. When we got there my mom sat down in the silenced waiting room and I went to the front desk.

“I would like to see Sarah Bentley please.”

“Sure, Room 114, follow me.”

I followed the lady to Room 114 she opened the door for me and left us alone. Sarah was laying in her hospital bed and turned her head to see me.

“What are you doing here?”she asked.

“I’m here to see you and figure out what’s going on, you told me you weren’t sick.”

“I know, I didn’t want you to know, who told you?”

“Josh but that doesn’t matter, what’s wrong with you?”

“I have cancer and I’m on life support,” she explained.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” I wiped a tear from my face.

“I wanted to tell you. But I couldn’t.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You could never hurt me.”

“I love you more than anything. I would give you the world in a heartbeat. I would die for you and take a bullet for you,” she cried.

“I love you too but why did you break up with me?”

“Young man, visiting hours are over,” the nurse exclaimed.

The boy leaves her and later that night she is taken off of life support and dies. The next day Kyle was found on the ground in the woods with a gun in his hand. In the other hand lay a note. It read….

“I told her I would take a bullet for her, just like she said she would die for me.”

Regards, 

Kyle

Cyberbullying

Have you ever been bullied or harassed? If you have you're not alone. Many kids all around the world are being bullied right now, at this exact moment. The worst type of bullying happens online, cyber bullying. It's really easy for a bully to bully online because the bully isn't face to face with the victim, therefore its easier to talk mean and disrespectful. When  you're being bullied online you're most likely going to feel alone and like an outcast. This is when bullying becomes serious. What is said to the victim, stays with the victim for the rest of their life and after awhile they start to believe what's been said. They will feel like they aren't worth living or breathing. Of course they wouldn’t tell an adult because they're afraid to. Afraid they will get hurt by the bully. When really it would save their life.

Scarred at the Bus Stop

There I was standing in the rain, lonesome at my bus stop. It was cold and windy and I was drenched. I had my rain boots on and my jacket hood up. I looked up at the sky and sighed, wondering where the bus could be. It had been 10 minutes and I was starting to get a little worried. I shivered and started teetering back and forth. I quietly began to sing……

Rain, Rain,                                                                                                        

Go away.

Come again another day.

Rain, Rain,

Go awa….

All of a sudden someone grabbed me from behind. I whipped my head around to see who it was. It was a tall, brown haired, middle aged man. He stared right at me and my first instinct was to run. He tried to push me into his black Honda Accord. I was not going to let him kidnap me. I’d never be seen again. I kicked for dear life and finally got him in the shin to the point where he let go of me. I dropped my backpack and lunchbox and started sprinting down the road. I didn’t want to look back to see if he was chasing me because that would slow me down. Out of nowhere his black Honda pulled up and a different man got out of the car and pushed me into the backseat. In a matter of seconds I was tied up in rope and duct tape was covering my mouth. The man that grabbed me at the bus stop was driving and the other man was sitting in the passenger seat. The driver gave me an evil grin through the rear view mirror. At that moment, I was scarred for life.

The five-hour car ride was very silent, and the only noise was the two men whispering about me and how to keep me hidden. I was in shock. How could I let this happen? If the bus would have been there, I wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped. Now I have no idea how to escape. My parents probably have no clue that I’m gone. When school see’s that I’m missing, they’ll call my parents and then they’ll come searching for me. They must, before something bad happens.

We suddenly pull up a long black driveway up to a huge yellow house. The men get out of the car and open my door. They grabbed me from my wrists and dragged me to the old rusty front door. When we walked inside they sat me in the living room on a chair and said, “Stay here. Or I will shoot a gun to your ugly little forehead". I nod with a terrified expression. He finally walks off.  I just want to go home and see my family and be in a safe place. This is definitely not a safe place, especially living with two strangers. Who knows how long I’m going to be here. I spot the brown haired man walking towards me. Again he gives me a creepy grin. It really freaks me out when he smiles at me like that.

“Follow me. I will show you where you will be staying,” he said.

I nod again, afraid to speak and stand to my feet. We walk past the dining room and the kitchen and head up two flights of stairs. It looks like an attic. There’s only one room on this floor and he opens the door and pushes me in it. I fell to the ground and landed on my right arm. Who does this man think he is?

“You will stay in here all the time unless I tell you otherwise,” he spoke.

“Ok,” I said in a crackly voice.

He slams the door and leaves. I look around me. How am I supposed to fall asleep in this place? It feels like I’m locked up in jail cell. My room back home is comfortable and warm. A place I go to, to relax and hang out. This place is the exact opposite. There’s no windows and it’s dark and scary. I don’t even have any clothes here, what am I supposed to wear? I look at the wall beside me and I spot a wooden closet. I’m a little nervous to see what’s inside. I walk over to the closet and open the door.

“Ahhhhh,” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

There was a girl about my age lying dead in the closet. I was shaking and in complete shock.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god,” I said to myself.

I bet these men did this to the poor girl. They probably kidnapped her too! I was really freaking out now. All of the pieces were fitting together. She probably stayed in this exact room! I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here right now. I hear footsteps coming up the steps. It’s the brown haired man.

“What’s all the screaming about?” he asked.

“Ummmmm there’s a girl in the closet and she’s dead.”

“Oh her? Yeah I forgot to mention not to go in the closet”.

“Did you kill her?”

“You’ll find out. Soon enough.”