The Courage Inside

Everyday, although we probably don't notice it, we act boldly and show inner courage. Even in tiny little things, such as going to a different place for lunch. Although you might think "That isn't bravery," it is! By trying new things and taking possible risks, we show acts of courage that strengthen our character and make us more dynamic. I think that J.R.R. Tolkien was explaining this to his readers with The Hobbit.

The Hobbit is about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who lives in a peaceful community known as the Shire. In the Shire, no one likes risks or adventures, and everyday life is simple and quiet, if not a bit boring. One day, a wizard named Gandalf comes to his house and invites him to join an adventure. As you might expect, Bilbo is quite surprised and at a loss of words. Bilbo finally refuses and Gandalf leaves, but not before he leaves a strange mark on Bilbo's door. Later that evening, an unexpected troupe of dwarves arrives at Bilbo's house, apparently led there by the aforementioned mark. They try to get Bilbo to sign a paper saying that he will be part of their adventure, but he refuses. The next morning, all the dwarves have left and Bilbo realizes he's made a mistake by not joining. He finds the paper, signs it, and runs after the dwarves. Ok, now we fast forward a few chapters. Bilbo is alone in a dark cave with Gollum, who is hoping to eat him. Bilbo is absolutely terrified, but in a last attempt for his life, he asks Gollum to play a game of riddles. If Bilbo wins, Gollum shows him the way out, and if Gollum wins, he gets to eat Bilbo. These two acts of bravery are Tolkien's way of telling us that we have a lot of boldness inside of us, no matter how shy or frail we may seem.

I think Tolkien is completely right. Every person in the world has a brave side, and we all make life-changing decisions everyday, even if we don't think it.  Every choice we make has a strong impact on our lifestyle, and changing the way you are is a bold and important thing to do. I think that knowing this is very important, as something could pop up in which your "survival" is teetering. Someone could bully you, or someone could try to make you do the wrong thing (just say no!), such as taking drugs. If we are aware that we are not weak, that we have courage, we can stand up to such threats! No matter how weak we think we are, we all have a strong courage inside that will allow us to emerge from bad situations safely.

In Unity There Is Strength

     Jacqueline Woodson, who is a friend of my family's,  gave me her picture book Show Way as a gift when we first moved to New York. Reading it affected me deeply, especially when I was younger and didn't know about slavery. I think this book is a great historical story, but that it also has some strong messages to tell children.
     The story is about Jacqueline's female ancestors who lived during slavery and the Civil Rights movement. It has an anecdote for almost every member of her family, starting out with her great-great-great-great-grandmother all the way to her daughter Toshi. An important focus of the story is that all of them knew how to quilt incredible cloths. At first, these cloths were sewn as maps for escape from slavery. They then became more of a cultural tradition, but the original myths remained.
   Jacqueline and Hudson Talbott (the illustrator) used some great craft moves to make their readers feel emotions. Jacqueline repeated the anecdotes of her first two ancestors (the ones mentioned in the book); "When [the person] was seven, she was sold to a plantation... without her ma or pa but with some muslin her ma had given her." This made me feel like there was no end to what was happening, and hopeless that anything good would occur. Hudson Talbott's illustrations were very thought-provoking (and very well-done). He used dark, cool colors and silhouettes when times were troublesome. This gave a forlorn feel to the scenes. He then used bright, warm colors when things were going well for the characters. Flowered patterns helped give a sense of growth and possibility.
     The quilt also had a deep meaning in the story, apart from being a map guiding the slaves to freedom. I think it symbolized unity, and how if we stand together as one we are strong. Quilts are
stitched together of different scraps of cloth, which I found to be particularly meaningful. The scraps represent the people– how we are all different– and the stitches  represent the harmony between them. Jacqueline wanted to teach her readers that people can wield great power if they stand together, which is apparent in the historical facts she provided– the Civil Rights movement, the abolition of slavery. If we want to change something, we have to stand tall as a community to speak out for what we think is right!

Very Like a Flower

      Marcelo in the Real World is a fantastic novel by Francisco X. Stork. The main character is Marcelo, an autistic 17-year old who has spent his life at a special school (during the day) and never experienced what his father calls the "real world". One summer, his dad decides that it is time for Marcelo to be faced with the real world. Marcelo strongly refuses, but his dad offers him a trade: Marcelo will work at his dad's law firm for the summer without any stumbles and in return he will not have to attend a public high school the next year. Although Marcelo is angry and shuts himself in at first, he slowly comes out of his shell and discovers the dangers and wonders of the real world. I think that the message in this story is to always be open-minded, because you never know what incredible things you might experience.
     In the book, Marcelo starts out very close-minded and reluctant to start his new job and new life. He gingerly does his duties, handing out mail to the lawyers at the firm. He seems to have a prejudiced view of the world- he thinks of it as a dangerous place that he shouldn't trust or accept. He plans to do his work and get over the summer so he doesn't have to go to high school.  But he's wrong– a new surprise blocks his every turn as he tries to avoid the real world. For example, his mailroom boss Jasmine, a beautiful young woman, surprises him by being completely honest and kind. He meets and learns about different kinds of people– mean ones, nice ones, and perverted ones. I think that all these new experiences immediately start to wear away at his mind's defenses, slowly making way for him to accept more and more ideas. As his mind starts to open and bloom, he starts feeling emotions– anger, sadness, pain. By the end of the story, he is even more open-minded than most of us are.
     I think open-mindedness is a great factor in our development as people. It helps us understand new concepts, add to our knowledge, and be more social. I myself am not very open-minded at all, but reading this book aided me in seeing how I'm missing out on great things by being that way. Minds are like flowers– the more they open, the more stimulation they can receive. I think being open-minded is the best way to start making the world a better place. With open-minds, we create more tolerance and peace, and that's very important for the survival of our planet.

-Adrian

Bridges of Difference

Jamie Sedgwick's The Tinkerer's Daughter is an interesting book of the Steampunk genre.  The novel is set in a fantastical world where different races are at war. The main character, Breeze, lives with her adopted father, the Tinkerer. With her help, he builds wondrous machines that will eventually control the world's fate. An important fact in the story is that Breeze is a half-breed, daughter of two different races. I think the message in this book is that the meaningful things in life aren't likenesses, but differences.

In the story, Breeze acts as a "bridge" between the two races who are at war. Blessed with special abilities from both sides, she is at first feared. At the beginning of the book, she is living with the Tinkerer near a small town. She regularly goes to this town (called Riverfork) incognito and passes as a normal civilian. However, when her secret is discovered, she is sent to jail after being attacked by an angry mob of villagers. The same happens when she visits the other side of her family, the elves. She is imprisoned before she even touches the ground. These events illustrate how prejudiced people are, and how we are often afraid of things that are different. Later on in the story, Breeze exposes a conspiracy that is causing the war between the elves and the humans. Soon after that, both races accept her as a unique link between them. Because of Breeze, the two nations cooperate and put an end to the bloodshed.
                               
I think that differences are very important. We sometimes seem to fear our differences, and want everyone to be the same. If everyone were the same, there wouldn't be anything special. There wouldn't be any new ideas, because everyone would have already had them. We wouldn't be able to change ourselves or try out new experiences. Differences are what make us real, and they connect us so we're not alone. Differences are bridges between personalities– if we were all the same, those bridges would crumble and we would find ourselves isolated in a sea of similarity.

What would your ideal world be? What types of people would live in it? Would everyone be different or the same? Please comment!

People of the Book

People of the Book is a historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks. It is about Hanna Heath, an Australian book conservator, who is called upon to conserve the world-famous Sarajevo Haggadah (a Jewish text setting forth the order of the Passover Seder). As she repairs the manuscript, she stumbles upon little clues as to where the book has been over its 600 years of existence. The finding of each artifact--- a hair, a stain, an insect wing--- is followed by a flashback to the time when it became part of the Haggadah. For example, the book explains in detail how an Italian Inquisitor spilled wine on one of the illuminations. Geraldine Brooks used some interesting techniques to make the reader think more deeply about what was going on.

The use of flashbacks is a powerful tool in this book, especially since it's historical fiction. Reading Hanna's part of the story is engaging, but without the voices of the past it would be a rather boring book to read. These recollections show real feelings and meaningful thoughts, which helps the book have some more insight. Overall, it's not a very juicy book--- just straight and to the point, with a few creative techniques.

Another appealing twist Ms. Brooks adds to the story is the historical element. As you read the flashbacks, you travel back in time, and there are many engrossing facts to learn. I found it fascinating to learn that the Sarajevo Haggadah was actually made in Barcelona, Spain, since I myself was born and raised in that very city. It was nice to have that special connection to the book's history.

I sense that by the end of this novel, I might be able to discover something more profound in the story, but for now the author's tactics have made me think about how I could improve my own writing. It made me think of new ways to write stories, which is exciting to me. One method I'd like to try out is having an object "carry" the story; all the events in the book are tied to one object as it travels through the plot mountain, like in People of the Book. I think this is unique from most other books, in which the story tracks the main character.

  

Illuminated pages in the Sarajevo Haggadah.

- Adrian  

It's Human Nature

I'm about halfway through "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", Jonathan Safran Foer's incredible novel. The deeply complex story tells about Oskar Schell, whose father died at 9/11. Searching the entire city of New York for a lock to match his father's key, Oskar embarks on a journey that changes his own life and that of many others. Although Oskar's feelings and actions are sometimes perplexing, I think it's an amazing piece.

In the book, it is quickly made evident that Oskar and his dad had a strong connection, and that Thomas Schell guided his son through many aspects of life. Realizing that Oskar wasn't a social person, he set up a "quest" for his son to find the Sixth Borough of New York City. As he continued finding clues and evidence of the 6th Borough's existence, Oskar made important communication skills. Oskar had to talk with many people all over Central Park to solve the mystery. However, after reading more of the story, I wonder if Oskar's father was a good mentor after all. Oskar's conversation skills are improved– but not quite. At school, he has no friends, and is bullied regularly. He doesn't seem to have the ability to speak well with his classmates. Instead, he has developed a way with words when he talks with adults, which is especially brought into focus when he begins searching for the lock to his father's key. And although he can get through to many people, he is often rude, mean, and inconsiderate. For example, Oskar (who is only nine) speaks to a maid like she is a child, making her feel self-conscious and nervous. Despite the fact that he may not know he is doing it, he is cruel to his mother. He insults her and acts as if he doesn't love her.

We're all inconsiderate, mean, and selfish at times. We've all said something rude about someone. But in this world, where conflicts happen every second of every day, it's important to be compassionate. Being nice to others, helping them out, and even just saying hello are key things to do to be compassionate. Communication is also fundamental– if we can't speak with someone about problems or conflicts we're going through, we'll be lost in a whirlwind of secrets, worries, and self-consciousness. Feeling emotion is part of human nature! If we don't show our feelings, we seem cold and distant. Nobody wants to hang out with someone monotonous and expressionless. Maintaining relations with other people (even if they aren't personal) is vital. We have to connect with others in order to stay anchored to the world, just as Oskar had to. Oskar had his own imaginary little world he lived in until he started talking with people and exchanging stories with them. Gradually, he came closer to Earth and real life, which is exactly what we have to do if we don't communicate. All in all, I think this book sends a very powerful message: To share our emotions with the world.


 

The Weight of Secrets

The Color of Water is James McBride's tribute to his mother, an enlightening biography of a white woman who left her family and raised a family of black children on her own. I think that her story is one that many people can relate to– a story of secrets and pride, of being strong under pressure, and of being independent.

Ruth McBride Jordan, the author's mother, was a very strong woman. She left her Orthodox Jewish family in Virginia at a young age, married two black men (at different times), became a devout Christian, and raised 11 black children, who each became successful in their field. Throughout her life, she kept many secrets about her history from her children. I think keeping these secrets from her family for such a long time made her into the person she was- proud, willful, and independent. I think that holding that many secrets inside you would prevent you from interacting and depending on other people, which describes Ruth perfectly. She was proud, and refused to talk with the other people in her neighborhood, much less rely on them. For example, she would always tell James to "...stick to your brothers and sisters, that's it. Don't tell nobody your business neither!" She did not want to socialize with anyone, and didn't want her children to either. 

We all have secrets and we're all proud at times (in good or bad ways), but I don't think that makes us completely independent of others, and we shouldn't be. Pride precludes us from showing emotion, acting from the heart, and being compassionate towards others. It prevents us from accepting mistakes, resolving conflicts, and it stops us from changing who we are, inside and outside.
I think many of these problems can be fixed by talking and being with other people. I think that, deep down, every person relies on someone else for their happiness, no matter how independent they might seem. Even Ruth McBride turned out to be dependent in the end– when her second husband died, her composure fell away and she was unable to stay organized or enjoy herself. She never fully regained her original independent personality.

Never Alone

The short story Am I Blue? by Bruce Coville is about a young man named Vince, who is having problems facing the possibility of being gay, and is scared because he's being bullied. He is visited by a fairy godfather who helps Vince find his true self. One of the things that Vince learns is that there are many, many other people like him in the world and so feels a lot better about himself.  I think this advice relates to the whole world, not just gay people.

In the story, Vince is insecure about being gay. More importantly, he is being bullied about it, which makes him feel scared about being different. He thinks he's an anomaly, someone who doesn't belong. Melvin, his fairy godfather, shows him how many other gay people there are in the world, hiding their true selves in fear. I think Melvin's advice that you are never the only one experiencing a situation that makes you nervous is a very comforting thought. It is good to know that there are other people going through the same insecurities as you are, other people who have made it through. It gives you hope that you can overcome your challenges.

When I first read the story, I was reminded of times when I felt insecure because I was different. One of my more prominent memories was of when I started going to a theater afterschool class. Although I had been in theater classes before, I felt scared of what it was going to be like. Already nervous, I peeked inside and saw several people who I was certain were in the Drama department. I was in the Art department at the time, and felt like I might be left out in the class. Extremely insecure, I wandered the halls of the school for a while before going home. The next class, I decided to go in, no matter how insecure it might've made me feel. Once I was used to being there, I slowly discovered that most of the other kids in the class had had little (if any) theater experience. Realizing that I wasn't the only one in an uncomfortable situation, I toughened up and resolved to do my best acting. After discovering I wasn't that different, I was able to play several roles in the play and was offered a position in the Drama talent.

Knowing I am not alone in my struggles has helped me greatly in conquering them. I, having been through several hard situations where I have to accept the fact that I'm different from others, thinking of others undergoing the same experiences has enabled me to defeat my fears. This priceless piece of advice helped Vince overcome his insecurities about being gay, and, undoubtedly, countless other people too over time. Because I'm shy and often lonely, I feel like Melvin's counsel in the story is an amazing way to help me live through hard situations, ranging from simple tests to falling-apart friendships.

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

In the story "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, Joby is a young drummer boy in the army contemplating his importance in the fight. The author uses symbolism to describe changes in the character more deeply.
 
One of the symbols Mr. Bradbury uses most is the peach blossom, which pops up repeatedly throughout the story. I think the peach blossoms symbolize the growth and change in Joby. Peach blossoms grow from an unnoticeable bud into a beautiful flower. In the story, Joby at first thinks he isn't important, but by the end realizes that he is the "heart of the army", the one thing that will keep it alive.

Another symbol that the author uses is Joby's drum. I think the drum symbolizes Joby's mind and thoughts. At the beginning of the story, Joby places the drum on its side, facing him, so that the falling peach blossoms won't hit it. This is a sign of Joby's closed-mindedness. At the end, Joby turns the drum so that it is facing the sky. This shows how his mind has opened to new ideas.

Ray Bradbury's Civil War-era short story is chock-full of interesting symbols. I think these symbols are a good way to enhance a story and make readers think as they take in the information.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

    
 The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing (Vol. I, The Pox Party), by M.T. Anderson,  is a novel about an African boy living in scientific facilities in the 1700s. Octavian lives through many emotional changes during the course of the story.

At the beginning of the book, Octavian is an innocent child who abides by the house's rules and does his daily routines without a complaint (no matter how strange they may seem to us). He is taught to weigh his feces every time he makes them for scientific observation, and is constantly being watched by one of the masters of the house.

One night, Octavian sneaks into a forbidden room. In it are volumes of notes and drawings of him and his mother. It is there that he realizes that he is yet another of the scientists' experiments. After this realization, life starts to go downhill for Octavian. The house changes hands and is now being funded by some gentlemen insisting on proving the inferiority of the African race. Octavian's mother, Cassiopeia, dies, and Octavian starts being mistreated, until he runs away.

As Octavian started to realize the horrors of 16th-century America for an African, I was immediately reminded of the story of Adam and Eve. At first, they so are innocent and happy. When they eat the apples from the forbidden tree, however, they gain knowledge of their nudity and awareness of good and evil. Then, they too are faced with a new world after having so much time in Paradise.

Although I did not finish the book, I found the intense character changes in Octavian very interesting to read about. This book is a complex twist on historical fiction–  it is set in 16th-century colonial America but the events in it seem more fit to fantasy.  This is definitely not an easy book to read.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

After reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, which explains the ups and downs of his personal life and career, I came to realize that Steve Job's strongest point was his ability to see how art and technology could come together to form something even better.

Early on, when he was working with the Mac Team on the creation of the Macintosh computer, he always insisted that the internal workings of the computer (including the circuitboards and cables) be designed artistically and arranged beautifully, even if no one was ever to see them. One of his favorite mottos became "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 
This passion for high-quality design and technology is what led him to continue to create world-changing products like the iPod and iPhone. While working at Pixar, Jobs recognized the potential for the combination of art and technology in computer animation which transformed the film industry. He tried to use every means he could to transmit his passions to the world. 

These ideals, however, didn't always do good. Many times he excessively insisted that things be done in a different way, causing his co-workers stress and anxiety. In fact, several leading designers on the Mac Team left, indignant at their boss for his disrespectful behavior.

I think that Isaacson's book portrays Jobs' love for technology and art as his monumental driving force. This book is a fascinating glimpse into the complex personality and life of a contemporary genius.