The Catcher in the Rye

      In the book “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D Salinger ,Holden Caufield isn’t your average main character. He isn’t your typical hero character in fact, he himself needs saving and he certainly isn’t going to save himself. 

      At the beginning of the book Holden is kicked out of school. Instead of dealing with his problems his solution is to run away. Throughout the story Holden shows that he is beyond immature. An example of this is how he constantly is treating and talking about women poorly. "It was the address of this girl that was't example a whore or anything but that didn't mind doing it every once in a while. " (63) You can see that Holden doesn't respect women and this isn't the only time this is shown in the story. He also Hires a prostitute. I think in general Holden is just a very judgmental person which is why there are so many parts in the story where he talks about girls like this. 

     If Holden won't save himself then who will? I think that Phoebe his little sister is the hero of the story. When Holden is lost she's always there to pick him up which is ironic because she's just a little kid. "You got any dough Phoeb?" (178) This shows what a mess Holden is, he's asking a child for money. Then of course because plebe is the hero of the story she gives him her Christmas shopping money. This proves that Phoebe even though she is  a child is the hero of the story. 

     The archetypes in this story are completely different then what you would expect. This is part of what makes the story so unique. aIt wouldn't have been the same if Holden was the hero of the story and I'm glad the author did this. I think it makes it more relatable. 

Nonfiction Reading Response

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 

At this moment 227 passengers and 12 crew members are still missing. Many are devastated of the missing  plane  from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Around the world be continue to search for the plane and research what could have happened. The article "New leads explored in hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight," from CNN talks about new discoveries and dead ends. They have recently discovered  that two stolen passports had been used to board the plane. Whether this means that there are terrorists involved or just criminals is unknown. There's still so much mystery about the missing plane. I think the authors goal was to spread the word about the missing flight and give more information about it.
The article includes lots of details about what could have happened, facts, and what we are current;y doing to find the plane. One example of good details is, "By the end of the day Sunday, more than 40 planes and more than two dozen ships from several countries were involved in the search." Articles that are full of information like this help inform the reader better. he article also does a good job of not being misleading. Instead of saying things that aren't proven yet like " All passengers dead" the author talks about the multiple possibilities and asks questions showing that it's not known. "What happened to the plane? Why was no distress signal issued? Who exactly was aboard?" These are some examples of the questions in the article. The author also does a good job of keeping the reader interested.  For example it says, "If all those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are found to have died, it will rank as the deadliest airline disaster since November 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into a New York neighborhood, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground." By including facts like these it shows the reader how dangerous this situation is which accomplishes the authors goal. 
I find this article shocking. It's crazy that something like this could happen and that they could know so little about what happened. Overall I think the author did a good job of teaching the reader and showing how dangerous this situation is. It was full of juicy information and included great factual evidence. It leaves the reader thinking about what's going to happen. After reading this article it made me appreciate that I have my family with me and that we are all safe. 

Poetry RR

Poetry Reading Response

Ione Saffady

804

Please Don’t Take My Air Jordan’s

            All around the world, people worry about their image. They worry about fashion, wearing things that are “trendy” or “cool”. In the poem, “Please Don’t Take My Air Jordan’s,” by red e. Gaines, I’ve learned how far people will go to look “cool”. Clothes, or in this case sneakers, can be expensive. The main character doesn’t have a lot of money but feels the pressure to have cool Air Jordan’s.  He’s willing to not only steal for a pair of shoes, but to literally kill for them.

            The main character needs clothes from expensive, trendy brands so that he can have friends, and feel cool. You shouldn’t need an object to have friends yet all over the world kids do. “My crew’s laughing at me cuz I’m wearing old gear/ school’s almost over summer is near/ and I’m sportin torn jordans and need somethin new/ there’s only one thing left to do.” This is an example of the pressure he feels from is peers to fit in. No matter what it takes, and he’s planning on stealing. “Well to tell ya the truth man I don’t know why/ I guess it makes me feel special inside/ when I’m wearing fresh gear I don’t have to hide.” This shows that he’s doing it also for him, because having fashionable sneakers makes him feel special.

            The main character goes to new extremes to look stylish, or feel cool. He not only is breaking the law but also being absolutely heartless. He sees someone with sneakers he likes, and is willing to do whatever it takes. “Followed him very closely behind/ waited until it was just the right time/ made a left turn on houston pulled out my gun and screamed/ GIMME THEM JORDANS… and he tried to run.” He’s threatening someone with a gun for a pair of sneakers, at such a young age just to look cool. It’s not only rich people that want designer brand clothes, people without money can want expensive things too, and what they do to get it isn’t always the best way. “Took off fast but didn’t get far/ I fired (POW) he feel between two parked cars/ he was coughing/ crying/bodd dripped on the street/ and I snatched them air jordans off a his feet.” The fact that he had to resort to murder for a pair of sneakers is horrifying. At the same time we can’t blame him. Society puts images in your head of what you should be like. So who’s really to blame?

            The thing is, after this event he doesn’t feel bad or regret his decisions. He doesn’t learn like the reader does. “ While laying there dying all he could say was please… don’t take my Air Jordan’s away.” All this guy wants is his sneaker as his dying wish but the main character just runs off with the sneakers, selfishly. I think this is a significant part of the story because the author knows the reader just wants to scream at the character and that’s how they learn the lesson. “ The very next day I bopped into school/ with my brand new air Jordan’s man I was cool/ I killed to get them but hey… I don’t care/ cuz now… I needs a new jacket to wear.” This shows the same point as the first quote, it makes the author care and want to change or do something about this social issue.

            As you can see the author cares a lot about the lesson behind image and looking cool. He did a great job of showing the reader just how far people will go to look cool and the pressure that they feel to look cool. I have been changed from reading this poem and I care a lot more about this issue after reading. I wonder what the world would be like if people didn’t care about image whatsoever, maybe not only the fate of the character that died would change, but the fate of the world. 

Poetry Writing Assignment

 Poetry Writing Prompts


There was a girl laying in the snow.
no warmth
no friends
no happiness
no heart.


And the blizzard rushed around her
and the people stopped and stared.
But her feelings,
were all shriveled up
her soul full of ice.

As her lips trembled
rivers dripped off of her cheeks
slowly freezing
slowly dying.

The flurry once twisted and turned inside
slush covered brain
frost bitten heart
Blowing.
Spinning.
Whirling.
Falling.

But once the snowflakes stopped falling
Mr. Sunshine didn't come out.
the snow stuck
and got colder
and froze over.

There's only one way
to recover
from a frozen heart:
to burn
before it shrivels up.

She waits for the fire.
For the ice to melt.
For Mr. Sunshine to stop hiding.
For the ashes to take her soul.

There was a girl laying in the snow.
A girl I no longer recognize.
A girl I used to respect.
Who I called me.
This isn't me.

Someone Like You Reading Response

Someone Like You 

There are about 750,000 teen pregnancies a year. “Someone Like You,” by Sarah Dessen deals with the topic of teen pregnancy. Many teen girls become pregnant and face many tough decisions. Although the main character, Halley isn’t the one pregnant, her best friend Scarlett is. Not only is Scarlett pregnant, but also the father of the child dies in a devastating motorcycle accident. This book educates the reader on how hard teen pregnancy is but also how great a baby can be.

            Finding out that she is pregnant is really hard on Scarlett. How will she tell her mom? Should she keep it? What would people think? Scarlett under goes hard decisions and problems.  “You should have heard her. All this stuff about the mistakes she’d made and how I should have known better. Like doing this was some way of proving her the worst mother ever,”(101). Just like Scarlett, parents don’t always like the idea of their child being pregnant. This teaches the reader that telling your parent isn’t easy. “She says we’ll go to the clinic on Monday and make an appointment. For an abortion,”(102). Scarlett doesn’t want an abortion, but her mom says that’s what she should do and it almost doesn’t matter Scarlett’s opinion. Dessen was trying to teach reader that dealing with parents is hard, also that choosing what to do with the baby is hard. I think Dessen made this book to teach kids that teen pregnancy is hard, however she’s not like one of those advertisements that is saying all of the bad things about teen pregnancy, it’s giving readers something to connect to.

            At the same time as showing how hard teen pregnancy is, Dessen shows all of the good things that come with it. Scarlett learns who’s there for her. She develops a closer relationship with her mom, who at first wants her to have an abortion, and later can’t wait for the baby to be born. After going through the “scariest moment in her life,” she gets to see her baby and instantly falls in love. “’A girl,’ Scarlett said softly. ‘I knew it. She has my eyes, and my hair,’”(277) This is the moment where she doesn’t doubt herself for a second for keeping the baby. It teaches the reader that it’s worth all of the morning sickness and confusion, having her baby. Now Scarlett feels like part of Michael is still with her.

            Teen pregnancy is a big social issue. They don’t always have the support of family and friends like Scarlett does. I think Dessen must care a lot about this topic because her book spreads awareness to readers everywhere. It’s hard to write books about teen pregnancy because you don’t want to support it but at the same time you don’t want to discourage people who already have children. I think the author did a really  incredible job of spreading knowledge about the topic to teens. 

Non Fiction Reading Response

Ione Saffady

804

Smoke Signals

            The article “Smoke Signals,” by Alessandra Potenza in the December 9^th issue of “Upfront” discusses the pros and cons of E cigarettes. E cigarettes have been a very debatable topic.  They are battery-powered versions of cigarettes without tobacco. However they still include nicotine.  So the big question, Are E-cigarettes better than normal cigarettes? If so, why are people so against them? The article discusses both sides. It taught me that these have helped people quit smoking cigarettes because of the resemblance.  However, these e-cigarettes are targeted towards younger people. Because this article shows both sides, the reader can come up with there own opinion on the topic.

            This article is very unbiased, it does an incredible job of defending both sides. I learned that a lot of people, who didn’t even smoke in the first place, are becoming addicted to E-cigarettes. “Tiffany Harvey had never smoked cigarettes. "Then last February, the 26 year old student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology saw an electronic cigarette on instagram. Out of curiosity, she bought one and tried it. Harvey’s been an E-cigarette smoker since,” (Potenza, 6). Not only are they addicting but they are also targeting them for teens. They have celebrities like Jenny McCarthy endorse them making them want to buy them. They are also making them flavored, who’s more likely to buy bubble-gum flavored cigarettes? Teens! “They come in flavors like chocolate, bubblegum, or vanilla, which are known to appeal to young people. By contrast, the FDA prohibits all flavoring except menthol, in regular cigarettes.”(7).  Teenagers are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes if they have smoked electronic cigarettes. Maybe they aren’t better than normal cigarettes.  At the same time the author shows why they are good. These are stopping people from smoking. “ A growing number of doctors, however, are looking at e-cigarettes as the deadliest-and most avoidable-public health problems: Cigarette smoking accounts for almost half a million deaths from cancer, emphysema, and heart disease in the U.S. The article uses the example of Brian Kano who had been smoking since he was 17 and has quit tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes. As you can see the article does a great job of proving both sides.

            I have always thought electronic cigarettes were bad, after reading this article I have more evidence to back up my opinions and I feel even more strongly towards my opinion. At the same time I have learned some benefits of them and I understand the other side. People think that e- cigarettes will stop people from smoking but really it’s making even more young people start! There are many similarities in how e-cigarettes are being advertised now to how normal cigarettes were before. I just hope the same thing doesn’t happen. More bad might come out of it then good and that’s not what it’s intended to do. I wonder what exactly is in electronic cigarettes and how harmful they can be.  I hope more research is done so we can find out what it causes before we target them at teens and have millions of people using them. I think steps need to be taken to limit electronic cigarettes. To limit who they are targeted at, their flavors, maybe even a ban. This article makes me want to learn more like a good article should. 

Perks of Being a Wallflower version 2

Ione Saffady                                             804

    

 The Perks of Being a Wallflower

     Nobody lives forever. When it’s time for people we care about to die it can be very hard. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky, does a great job dealing with mature themes like death. Death is something many people go through and in this book the main character, Charlie experiences death a lot. As much as we are upset by death we have to pull ourselves together and go on with our life. Charlie learns this with two people he dearly cared about, Aunt Helen, and Michael, who was one of Charlie's only friends.    

     Michael's suicide is brought up right in the beginning of the book. It's truly heartbreaking to hear what Charlie has gone through. A specialist talks to people that were close to Michael to see how they were feeling and possibly to make sure none of them were thinking of doing the same thing. Charlie was extremely confused, why wouldn't Michael have talked to him? The specialist said Michael probably had "problems at home" he didn't feel comfortable talking about which made Charlie explode. "Then, I started screaming at the guidance counselor that Michael could have talked to me. And I started crying even harder." As you can see Charlie took Michael’s death really hard. This is similar to people in real life, they get upset, confused, and sometimes take their feelings out on someone else just like Charlie.

     However, Michael’s death didn't just affect him the day Charlie found out. It stayed with him and it probably will forever because you can't just forget someone that means so much to you. I can tell he still cares because later in the book, he writes a poem that reflects his true feelings. The poem is about a boy and how messed up his life is. "And he gave himself an A and a slash on each wrist and he hung it on the bathroom door because this time he didn't think he could reach the kitchen."(70) This shows how Michael’s death has had an impact on Charlie's life. Authors take things from their lives so it’s possible Charlie has thought of cutting or suicide or possibly even has cut. Either way this proves Charlie is still in a dark place. It's not like he forgot about Michael because he still thinks about him but he has done his best to move on.

     Charlie has also experienced the tragic death of his Aunt Helen. Aunt Helen was extremely close with Charlie, they watched movies together and went to the zoo. Charlie's birthday is the day before Christmas so most of his relatives bring one present for both days but Aunt Helen always brought him two. He really loved her. On the day of his birthday a policeman arrived at the door saying that Aunt Helen had been in a car accident from the snowy weather and was dead. At first Michael was in denial he thought the policeman had made a mistake, surely she wasn't dead. Soon after it hit him. He couldn't help but feel like it was his fault. "And I know that my Aunt Helen would still be alive today if she bought me one present like everybody else. She would be alive today if I were born on a day that didn't snow."(92) Charlie feels like it's his fault Aunt Helen has died but the reader knows this isn't true. Many people experiencing loss blame themselves even when it’s not their fault. It's important for Charlie to move past the day she died so that he can forgive himself. 

    Because of Aunt Helen's death, at age seven, Charlie had to go to a hospital until he felt alright again, until he could even talk. It shows Charlie's birthday, which is also the day Aunt Helen died, and how depressed he is. "(Mom)'Is it your aunt Helen' It was the way she said it that started me feeling. ‘Please don't do this to yourself Charlie.' But I did it to myself. Like I do every year on my birthday. ‘I’m sorry'"(79), This shows how Aunt Helens death affected Charlie and how because of it on his birthday, a day you’re supposed to celebrate, he can't let himself be happy. It's such a difficult task to feel okay after someone dies but Charlie owes it to himself to celebrate his birthday.

     In conclusion, Charlie has lost people that he loved but he can't change the past so he has to forgive himself and move on. I recently lost a friend named Sammy Cohen Eckstein. It was difficult on the entire school and I won't ever be able to forget him. At the same time I know there isn't anything I can do now to change the past and that I have to move on. It's going to take time but eventually his friends and family will be able to accept their loss. They wont ever forget him but there will come a day where they will stop crying. This is similar for Charlie because everyone needs a little closure. The question nobody can answer, how do you possibly let go of someone you loved? 

*Rest In Peace*