For Colored Girls (Anthology)

        I've recently started the book For Colored Girls by Ntozake Shange. I found it very interesting to read the rhythmic lines and the other conventions of poetry all in one. I loved all of the different perspectives within each poem. For example, all of the poems seemed to build into one main point so far. Even though the language of the book was not obvious it meant something. You just have to read between the lines because the messages are hidden. Using replaceable words such as "enuf" meaning "enough" or "wit" meaning "with" were to get the reader into the setting and pick up all sensory details that applied. Although, I don't have one specific main character; I have four. The lady in red, the lady in green, the lady in orange and the lady in yellow. They all tell their own stories about what it feels like to be a "woman of color."
     
        I loved how my characters The lady in green and The lady in red tried to portray what it's like to be an African-American in the beginning of the book with their actions. Also, despite The lady in yellow getting raped and discovering her true identity it matches the plot. The graphic moments were just another. Now i know you may think that this book is stereotypical its not! In fact, this book is for all women who has felt suicidal. The rainbow symbolizes the different women and all of their races. They each tell a different story. For example, the lady in red was diagnosed with HIV and rich; the lady in green was cheated on; the lady in yellow was had a teenage pregnancy and the orange was a prostitute who tried to find a clear pathway in life for herself.

        All of these situations can happen to women of different race and ethnicity. I appreciate this book because it lets all females as well as males know some of the things women go through. After reading this book and watching this movie, I learned that everyone has a story. I appreciate the way that the author used color to help the reader visualize each woman and their dilemma.

(One of the best Romance books) -Seventeenth Summer

          This is literally one of the best Romance stories i have ever read. My main character Angie has never been on a date before, this would be her first. Getting ready was such a hassle for her; she was so anxious. Wouldn't this be any other average girl? First dates are not always easy. This same thing happened for Angie. Ending the date that she had with Jack Duluth was highly uncomfortable for her. While, it was pouring rain outside the only thoughts that came to mind for her were "Have i been fun?" or "Don't you like me more than the others?" She quickly remembered that girls don't ask those sort of questions.
       With Jack, everything is different for her and it's like she expands into a whole other universe with just him and her. I also would rather think of this book as a romantic comedy. Although, it's sweet it's hysterical. On their first date, as they were getting to know each other they had just about everything in common with each other. They would just stare into the sky all night long and chat. Jack even lent her his jacket when it got chilly that night while they were sailing on the boat. Angie returned home lovestruck. She couldn't even begin to explain her day. She was so clueless about her date and was unaware of what she felt that she had to ask her bigger sisters for some help. Knowing Angie from the beginning of the book to where she is now with Jack i can tell that she has changed. Just everything about her is unique. Angie used to be shy, calm and boring as a character. Now she's grown into something bigger and outgoing; like a moth to a beautiful big butterfly.
       I see that she is in love even if she refuses to admit it. When your in a situation like her's there's no holding back. The author Maureen Daly did an excellent job of showing emotion and description. Even though the author wants us to believe that perhaps first love at first sight doesn't exist, i think otherwise because just this one night at the drugstore with them peeking at each other changed everything!   

TTFN

            In the book TTFN By Lauren Myracle, I think it's a great book so far. Even though I'm getting towards the end of the book I'm realizing the journeys and roller coaster problems that Angela (Snow Angel), Zoe (Zoe Girl) and Madison (Mad Maddie) have. This book is also wonderful because it's written in IM form which almost all tweens can relate to. I think that every tween eventually goes through roller coaster problems. From peer pressure to parental issues that they have, everyone can relate to them in some way. The biggest problem is that Maddie found a guy from another school and he's changing her completely. She's into new things now, one being pot. This whole situation is affecting the girls relationship with each other. After Angela moved away because her dad lost his job.It's been putting a toll on her because they were all so close now their slowly but surely falling apart. Especially, now that shes further away from her friends.
            I know with my own experience and I've seen that not ALL friendships last, most likely because they're not meant to be or over silly stuff, they end. This friendship in the book between the girls were most definitely  meant to be. They were one of those friendships where they told each other everything and just had that sisterly bond. Usually, In movies you would see this type of bond. As time went on, Angela moved back to her hometown to be with her friends. Both, Zoe and Angela had to help Maddie get back on her feet and knock her into her senses.
            This book was a basic overview of how best friends are and how to keep them along with the long ride, you go through. I think that Lauren Myracle did a great job giving examples of what "real" friendships have in store. Especially, If your in your junior year of high school. Balancing out all of the drama is also a big part. Even though the book has some strong content it really expressed how everyone felt. I would recommend this book to any person who likes Drama and teen issues. 

Beacuse I Am Furniture #2

          Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas is trying to send a message to all of the readers who read this book... It's okay to speak up in tough situations. The position that Anke is in, is not the best. She goes through so much for a girl her age. I cant imagine what I would do if I was in her position. The abusing has got to stop! Anke's father is really putting the whole family out of their element. It's disgusting! This book is such a great one, but the stuff that goes on is scary and intense. I like characters that speak their mind and have a voice. Anke doesn't. I like characters that are proud and happy with themselves. Anke is not. The biggest issue so far, is Anke letting her voice be heard. This isn't something to be played with something bad can end up happening. Even though bad stuff already did happen.

          Not only is it Anke but everyone else knows in the family. The sad thing about it is that Yaicha and Darren are the one's suffering the most. They're the kids that are being abused upstairs. Basically, mom and Anke are the "furniture." They're not noticeable in the plot. Dad keeps promising that he will get help and stop but it never happens. This would be a great time for a voice to be heard. Anke has this major passion for playing her favorite sport volleyball. It erases her mind from these thoughts and gives her full freedom again. When she plays volleyball, she finds this new voice that she never thought she had before. She's making herself seen and heard, working toward the day that she will be able to speak up loud enough to save everyone at home.

          The main theme/ message in this book is that if you can speak say something and be heard. Especially, if the situation is extreme and is affecting you or someone you know. Sometimes, it's not always good or in your best benefit to sit back and relax and let these harsh and harmful things happen. Throughout this book, multiple examples have occurred with this thought in mind from the abuse to the yelling and the over exaggerating with the yelling and tantrums from dad.

Because I Am Furniture

             In the book Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas, I've realized that this title really does match up with the plot. This is true, Anke's father treats her like furniture. As if she doesn't exist at all. The last thing that Anke would want is to be noticed in her situation. Anke loves to play volleyball, it takes her away from all the pain and depression that she goes through at home. Her coach says that she is the best on the team in a long time. This is good news for Anke because playing volleyball takes her mind off of everything that occurs at home. Just randomly all of a sudden, father has decided to come home now and take Yaicha and Darren into their rooms and beat them and act like nothing has happened. Mother is scared also but there's nothing anyone can do. Anke has been trying to find her voice in this situation but is having trouble. Should Anke speak up and say something? 

             It would be a great idea to speak up and report this, all the late nights Anke has been up and feeling her siblings pain is just a horrible feeling inside. Lately, father has been getting these temper tantrums and anger built up inside of him. We aren't sure why either. One night, father woke everyone up at 2 AM to go out in the street to see the aurora borealis (northern lights that glow in the sky) Anke felt like this was a family forming again and a moment to treasure. When they returned to the house, there was a raccoon in the open garage wondering innocently. Father giggled and shut the garage door trying to send the animal away in terror. He trapped the raccoon for the night and in the morning he told Yaicha to clean it up! It was a gruesome sight, the raccoon was laid flat out and cold. This was one of the many temper tantrums  that father had. The abuse in this book is significantly outrageous, everyone tries to help father out of this trap he's in and feels that violence is the answer because it never is and never will be. 

             All Anke has to do is use her voice and speak up. She says that she's afraid but of what? Just because her father thinks that she's "furniture" and if she says something that she will get abused also is not a good thought. You should always think positive and hope for positive outcomes. Anke feels that Yaicha and Darren get more attention even if it's not in a good way. She says that she misses that attention, when her day used to read her books when she was younger before she went off to bed. This issue has no comparison. These kids are getting abused. Even the walls in the rooms are being banged against and you can hear the shouting and the screams. 

World On Fire By Sarh McLachlan

              In the song "World On Fire" by Sarah McLachlan, the video is very symbolic. It symbolizes the truth that people in the world "waste" money on unnecessary things that we don't need. It could be going to other countries such as Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Africa, Etc. and other people who are in need of this money. These countries are in extreme poverty. They have nothing. We on the other hand, like to waste and not realize the fact that we have more money than other countries and they need it for other reasons that can actually help them.
              In this video, it showed that the money we use to make videos and decorate them are very expensive. We could be using this same money to do something better for the world and help people get out of poverty. One set in LA cost $200 for the assistant producer to do his job in just one day, this same money could go to Ethiopia and support 100 children in school for one term of learning. Office phones are $480, this money can provide equipment for 10 classrooms in Afghanistan. $5,000 covers the cost of hair and make-up for one day or it can go to Afghanistan and teach 145 children for one year. One set cost $500 for sound playback, this is equal to holding 50 houses together with nuts and bolts in Bangladesh. A single mother in Ghana, Africa has to work two jobs, seven days a week and 16 hours a day for $200 a year, just so that her son can go to school. These are all examples of money being wasted. All of that money could have gone to other countries.
              Sarah McLachlan created this video for just $150,000, which is a big drop from all of the other videos that are usually made. She took the average cost of a music video and instead made a $15 video, donating the remainder of the money to various organizations in the developing world. The video highlights the breakdown of costs for making a music video, and what kind of things that money could buy for others in need. I think that Sarah McLachlan was smart when she made this video. She's trying to make a point to everyone that money is going into unnecessary things, where instead it could be going to people who actually would make something out of the money. I was surprised and didn't know all of the money that it takes to make a video. Which would be thousands or even millions. It's a good thing that we have people like Sarah in our world, she's trying to make a difference. She's encouraging people all over who's watching this video that most videos are expensive and other countries in the world are in poverty. This video just tells everyone where our money is really being spent and where it could be going instead.

Luna

            Luna by Julie Anne Peters is such an inspirational book. As soon as I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. "Luna," she repeated softly, more to herself than me. "Appropriate, wouldn't you say? A girl who can only be seen by moonlight?" Regan's right! Liam, who feels more comfortable being a girl instead of a boy expresses this inside and out. He does everything from putting on wigs to painting his nails and wearing perfume. This reminds me of the time when I was younger, I wanted to dress up as a woman and wear all of my mom's high heels and dresses. Luna... boy in the day and girl in the night is starting to express himself a little more than he was before now. Regan and mom and dad all know his big secret. Despite the fact that dad does not want to hear it, he knows.

            Dad has tried everything from getting "Liam" (who's girl name is supposed to be Luna) to stop wearing "girly outfits" to stop wanting dolls and instead getting toy trucks. All dad see's in his eyes are him and his son having that special father-son bond. People should let one another be who they are and express who they are for themselves. Criticizing people like dad does to Luna is not him showing much father figure support. Mom, on the other hand, supports Luna's choice completely. She feels as though her son is making the right choice because that's what he wants to do. This is the exact support that every parent should give their child and make them aware that they exist and they care. 

            I think that Luna's "character" that she plays through the book is spunky and fun. She's a true role model for any person to look up to. If anyone feels that there not there self or different they should have the ability to do whatever they feel is right to change that. Everyone is entitled to a good life and to live it up to the fullest. Acceptance should not be the biggest of their worries. I love how towards the middle of the book, Luna starts to care less and less about what everyone else thinks or says. At first, she cared and was trying to keep it a secret then she let loose. For example, in the beginning of the book Luna will put on all of her make-up and accessories in the bathroom and when she heard footsteps approaching she stopped and rubbed everything off hurriedly. Towards the end, Luna plays with her dolls in front of her parents and wears wigs. When Regan had her sleepover with all of her friends, Luna came downstairs and painted her nails so perfect. All of the girls were freaked out because of this. They weren't expecting the "hottest" guy in school to be so advanced in this area. Especially, since they all had crushes on Liam. Liam also talked about boys! No other normal guy in their right mind would think to do this... except Luna! The girls found this funny also but then giggled and acted like it never happened. They liked him too much to say anything. This showed Liam's growth and perseverance and his care level maturity.