Cause/Effect

Author’s Note- I wrote this piece to show my understanding of Cause and Effect. While reading this piece, look for content.

Hollis is a young foster girl that just wants one thing: a family. When her foster care place gives her to the Regan’s, everything changes. The Regan’s were a family of 3: The old man, Izzy, and Steven. Before you know it, Hollis and Steven were the best of friends. Doing everything together, including taking wild adventurous journeys. Hollis always heard Steven and the Old Man talking about the mountain and how the view from the top was indescribable. Drawing was her passion, so she desperately wanted to make her way to the top of the mountain and sketch the beautiful sight. Although, she wanted to go, she knew it was a dangerous adventure. Her heart over ruled her mind in this one; she decided to go.

When Steven, Izzy and the Old Man all left, she packed a bag and made her way up the mountain. It took all her strength to make it to the top, but she did it. Hollis got to the top and was speechless; the view was unbearable. She just couldn’t imagine how majestic it was; she started drawing right away. The sun was setting by the time she was finished drawing. She just wanted to get one last look at the view and she stepped out when she lost her footing and slipped over the side of the mountain. With all her strength she held on to the side and managed to pull herself up. When she slipped over the side, she twisted her ankle and had a limp now. She was nervous about her trip back down and didn’t think she could make it before the rest of the family got home.

 She knew she’d have to start walking if she wanted to even have a chance, so she began her journey. When she was about half way down, her ankle was throbbing and she could barely walk. She fell to her knees and questioned her next move. That’s when she heard the sound of engines coming towards her. She shakily got to her legs and looked ahead. There was a faint light in the distance and she knew, Steven had come for her. Steven whipped the car around and Hollis jumped in. They started going down the hill and next thing you know, they were going 50 mph; next, 60, then 70. Steven tried to stop, but the brakes didn’t work. Panicking; Steven quickly spun the truck around, hoping it would come to a halt.  Instead, it continued to spin and flipped over, rolling down the hill. Hollis and Steven, both trapped inside, frantically thinking of ways to escape. That’s when, it went black. The next thing Hollis remembers is waking up in a hospital with doctors and nurses surrounding her. “Hollis, due to your severe accident, you’ve seemed to have broken your leg.” Hollis could hear the Old Man and Izzy yelling at Steven in the hallway; saying it was his fault. She desperately wished she could say something, but it was too late, they’d already blamed Steven.

Hollis is similar to David Pelzer, in A Child Called “It”. They’re both looking for two simple things, a family and to be loved by that family. Both of them are truly good kids and they don’t ask for much. Sure, they come from different backgrounds and have different scenarios. They have different lives, but they have the same personality and just want to be loved. In the end of both books, they both end up escaping the harsh life of being alone and find people who truly love them. I liked both books, but I personally think that A Child Called “It” was more engaging. So if you like sadder books that warm your heart in the end, either of these are great books!

Conflict/Resolution

Author's Note- This piece is about the conflict/resolution in the story "Big Boy". I wrote this to demonstrate my understanding of conflict/resolution.

David Sedaris, a young boy comes across a big and rather gross problem at a family get-together. It was his family and another family having dinner together. They were eating dinner when David felt the urge to go to the bathroom. He excused himself from the table and headed towards the bathroom. As he got ready to go to the bathroom, he discovered that someone had left him a surprise in the toilet. He tried so hard to think of ways he could get rid of it, because he couldn’t leave it there and have someone else think it was his. Heaven forbid that would happen, so he thought and he thought. Throw it out the window, no. Pick it up, no. Then, someone from the dinner table had gotten up to check on him. They knocked on the door, David panicked, and right then and there was when he found the plunger. He shoved it right in the toilet and started plunging away! Then, here was the real test; would it flush? He pushed the lever down and the water started to spin. Not up this time, the water was going down. The big surprise had broke free and down the toilet it went.

In this story, “Big Boy,” shows an example of a person vs. person conflict. In other words, it was David vs. the gruesome surprise in the toilet.  Also, it was person vs. self, because he could of have left it there and none of this franticness would have occurred. Lastly, there is another person vs. person, and that would be him vs. the person knocking on the door. To be honest, I didn’t really learn any life lessons from this story. I guess I just learned to look for a plunger if this situation ever happens to me. I get that he didn’t want anyone to think it was his, but I think he overreacted just a bit. 

A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Author's Note- This is a retelling of the book A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. I wrote this to demonstrate my understanding of the reading skill retelling.

Growing up, "It" was never treated with love or care. The ways his mother abused him are unfathomable; you couldn't even begin to imagine how rough his life really was.Throughout this story, you will see how this poor boy has to fight for his life and what terrible obstacles he has to face.

I think this would be a good book for people who like non-fiction books that are full of emotion.

Author's Note- Some people get their feelings out by talking to someone or eating, but for me, it's shoes.

Ever since I was younger I’ve had a thing for shoes. I always walked around in my mom’s high heels and acted like a model. I’ve grown up to love and adore shoes. Shopping is a way for me to express my feelings; it brings happiness to me. Some people think that shopping is a waste of money, but it’s almost addictive. You see something you like and intend to have it. Looking my best has always been a must for me, especially when it comes to school. I wear outfits that correspond with the shoes and never hesitate to buy a new pair. Wearing stilettos might be an issue for me considering how tall I am, but people will just have to deal with looking up at me. Whether it’s stilettos or flats, I fall in love with every pair I see. The vibrant bright colors and the bold prints overwhelm me. Some people just see them as any ordinary pair of shoes, while I see them as an beautiful work of art.

One Direction

 Author's Note- I wrote about my favorite artist is One Direction and by reading this you will figure out why.

It all started with a singing competition show, The X-Factor. They began as small town dreamers, but they turned into stars. Their first single sold faster than the Beetle’s, and their concert tickets get sold out in a matter of minutes. This is no ordinary band, this is One Direction. This band is made up of 5 boys, Harry, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Niall. They all have their own personalities and star qualities. When they combine their talents together, they make music like no one’s ever heard before. Teenage girls fall head over heels when they hear One Direction on the radio. Every one of their songs has a situation that you could relate to. Whether it’s falling in love or trying to get over someone, they have a song for it. Most bands have at least one bad song, but I don’t think One Direction does, that’s why they’re my favorite band. Also how cute are British accents? I would rate this band 10 out of 10 because they sing like angels sliding down a rainbow and they are gorgeous, what’s not to like about them? They have a song for everyone’s liking, so people shouldn’t judge before they hear them.

New Girl

Author’s Note- In the book The Clique, Lisi Harrison really describes how drama filled a teenage girls life can be, especially when you’re the new girl. You might not fit in at first, like Claire, but just keep trying and you’ll eventually make friends.

As I walked through the doors of the Block’s mansion, I saw a tall beautiful brunette. She looked like she came straight out of a Vogue magazine. Her name was Massie, and from head to toe she was dressed in designer clothes. Time froze, and in that moment, I knew I wasn’t meant to live in Westchester. Our first day back to school felt like a madhouse. I wasn’t making friends and didn’t fit in with anyone. “What if I never make friends”, I thought to myself. So far things aren’t going so well and I knew I was getting picked on, but was I getting bullied?

Being the new kid at school is always tough at first, you don’t have any friends and you don’t know where you’re going. Many new kids even get bullied for what they wear or even how they talk. 1 out of 6 people get bullied and Claire happens to be that one. Claire continuously got rude comments and comebacks from Massie and her friends. Eventually everyone finds friends though. Just like Claire, she became friends with Layne and later Massie. You can always accomplish what you think is impossible, you just have to try.

After you get made fun of a couple times, being a loaner seems like the better option. You just want to give up and stop trying because you think there’s no point. The problem is… there is a point in trying. You will find friends, no matter how much different you are from everyone else. You may even become friends with your worst enemies. Claire and Massie fought for almost the whole book, but in the end, they became the best of friends. Once they actually knew each other, they realized they weren’t so different after all. You just have to give that person a chance and I’m sure they’ll want to be your friend. I know how hard it can be making friends, I had to do it too.

When I moved to Pewaukee in kinder garden, I had to make friends when I didn’t know anyone. It was hard at first, but pretty soon I had tons of friends. Just be yourself and I’m sure they’ll love you. It’s even harder to make friends when you’re shy; that’s why I struggled with it. I’ve always had a fear with talking to people I don’t know, and I can tell that Claire suffered with the same phobia. Just face your fears and start talking to someone; you’ll be surprised how much you have in common.

Everyone has flaws, but true friends are willing to look past it. In the end Massie and Claire see each other as normal teenagers and realize they have a lot of the same interests. They become friends even though it seemed like the impossible. You just have to try and get yourself out there. Just be yourself, not someone you’re not because you think that character is cooler. Nothing is better than the real you. If people can’t except you for who you are, they aren’t meant to be your best friend. Go for the people that look past all your flaws and imperfections, those are your true friends.

Tough Love

Author’s Note- In the book Angus, Thongs, and Full- Frontal Snogging, Louise Rennison really captured a teenage girls struggles in life. I could relate to this book because I don’t have a perfect life either; there are always ups and downs. Even though she thought she would never get him, she tried anyways… and trying pays off.

Shaving your eyebrows off, losing your cat, and falling for a guy is all part of growing up… Well for Georgia Nicolson anyways. Life has never been a ray of sunshine for her up until the day she met Robby. She thought he was the most beautiful human being that ever walked this earth.You may feel like nothing’s going right, but just remember everything happens for a reason.

I thought that the movie and book were both funny and kept my attention, although some things were different. Such as, Georgia shaving off both of her eyebrows in the book and just half of one in the movie. Most of the main parts in the book were also in the movie, but there were just a couple things that changed. Over all, I really enjoyed the plot of the book, because it really showed how interesting a teenage girls life can be. Her life isn’t perfect, my life isn’t perfect, and everyone I know feels life isn’t perfect, and it probably never will be, but you just have to make the best of it.

Falling for a guy can be incredibly magical, but it can also be the worst days of your life. Guys are tough; they want you to take a joke, but then if you make fun of them… Oh no, that’s crossed the line. Guys like to show off in front of their friends that’s why they don’t like being made fun of. You and your boyfriend will always have ups and downs, but in the end it’s all worth it. You just have to date a few guys and see what your type is. Then you’ll know who the love of your life is truly.

 The first guy you date isn’t always “him”.  You’ll get your heart broken or have to break someone else’s heart, but going through all that hassle makes the journey all the more better. I know Georgia was really happy in the end with Robby, and I know that they are meant to be together. When there are hard times, just face them together and you’ll be just fine.

Never settle for someone you’re not in love with. Always go for the person who treats you the best and the one that makes you smile every second of the day, because the path that leads you to them is rough and in the end you deserve the best. Just always follow your heart and remember that everything happens for a reason. That’s exactly how Georgia found Robby and that’s how everyone else finds their true love, by listening to their heart.