Oona's blog

Here's a link: http://oonalouchsblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-seventeenth-summer.html

        Today I decided to read Oona's blog post called "My Seventeenth Summer" by Maureen Daly, and I really liked the strong amounts details she included in each paragraph, and I also really liked the fact that her own voice stood out apart from the book.

       Even though I have not yet read the book, I definitely will because I can tell from her blog post that the book is very good. I totally agree with Oona saying "you never know who will like you for you, but it's better to make your own path then follow in everyone else's footsteps." I agree with her opinion here so much. For instance, you can rely on someone so much, and  call someone your "best friend" and just continuously follow everything they do, however one day they can just turn their backs against you. So, I believe that everyone should follow their own dreams and be there own person, instead of being someone else's shadow. In her response, I also really liked how Oona described both the girl and the boy in the story as being complete opposites. I found it very interesting how even through all the differences, they still share so much in common. That made me think about the world in general. Oona was saying how the boy is popular, but the girl is very focused on her school-work and family but through all of that they share many similarities as well. In the real world, everything is labeled. Especially in schools, where everyone is divided into groups. From "popular" to not-so popular. However people can still find friendships, no matter what group they're in.

      The post made me think of everything in this world. Weather it's a different book, or movie, the world in general, or just my life, my thoughts are similar to each. One of Oona's lessons in the book is about being judgmental, and how judging someone based of their past experiences is never helpful. I agree with that, because people do change and many times their actions in the past weren't the best but they have learned from them. For example in my life, many people always criticized some of the mistakes I've done in my past, and they haven't even heard my full story. A lot of people judge you based of what they hear from other people, without even trying to listen to your side of the story. I've been judged but I've learned from those judgements as well. However, I've judged people also. There have been times when I've heard a lot of rumors about someone, and I would just make mean conclusions about people without having a say from them. Judging is such a bad action, and it can target anyone. Oona's post does make me understand that judging someone by their previous mistakes, and past experiences is an awful thing to do.

     I have not read any other posts by Oona, this has been my first one. I really liked this one because not only did she talk about the book, but she gave so much of her opinions as well. She talked about the lessons she has learned from the book, and the amount of detail in her post is really good. Her post is not a summary, but instead it;s a mixture of her opinions and the main ideas of the book. From now on, I will definitely read more of her posts, because they are very well written and are so interesting!

Dolphin Song

             
               I started reading the book "Dolphin Song" by Lauren ST. John, and so far it's been very interesting. This book is about a girl named Martine who lives with her grandmother, since both her parents drowned in the ocean and were instantly killed. Ever since that day Martine has been scared of coming anywhere near the water, because she worries she might get killed as well. Martine also has a pet giraffe, which is her best friend. Jemmy, her giraffe may be the only person she can be herself around. Jemmy's the only one who listens, and she enjoys spending all the time she gets with Jemmy. Many things had seemed important to me as i was reading this book, but the relationship between Jemmy and Martine popped out the most.

              During the night, when Martine isn't allowed to ride Jemmy outside because her grandmother recalls it being "unsafe", Martine still has the courage to ride him. Martine would have to sneak out in order for her to ride Jemmy. She enjoyed riding during the night, rather than the afternoon because than she could ride Jemmy much faster, and also she got to spend a lot more one on one time with him. Each night right after she was done riding him, she would lock him in the gates and talk to him. "Martine slid to the ground and hugged him. Martine did her best to explain to him that she was going away for a little while, but that she'd be thinking of him constantly and loved him with all her heart." I find this really cute, because I can see how much Martine really cares about Jemmy, and how much Jemmy means to her. Their friendship is so strong, because of the trust they share. One night, when her grandma caught Martine riding Jemmy she banned her from riding him for an entire six weeks. After she had said that, Martine cried and yelled out "no, anything but that. I'll get up at five in the morning and do the household chores; I'll wash all the dishes or do all the ironing; I'' even clean the sanctuary animals' cages for a month. But please don't take me away from jemmy. He needs me and I can't live without him. I'll die." I thought this line was so powerful because it really did show how Martine would give up anything, and I mean ANYTHING just for the sake of being able to spend time and ride Jemmy. Their bond is truly unbreakable, and it's so nice knowing how much Martine cares for Jemmy. Because she's sacrificing all her free time, just to be able to spend time with Jemmy.

         The relationship between Jemmy and Martine is really strong, and I'm excited to see how it strengthens or weakens throughout the book.

Palace of Mirros

                 I am still currently reading "Palace of Mirrors" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. While I was reading this book, I tried to focus on the relationship of Cecilia and Harper. Their relationship has many ups and downs, and whats affecting it the most is Cecilia's true identity.
                    
                Cecilia is a princess, but she has to be hiding at all times to keep her safe from the villains who killed her parents. Shes hiding in the woods in a small town, while in her castle another young girl had taken her place.

           When Cecilia was in the woods with her best friend Harper hunting, she thought she saw figures and heard noises. She must be on the lookout during all times, because the villains who killed her parents are targeting her next. No one knows her true identity other than her Nana and her "security" Stephan who is doing his best to keep her safe. She hasn't even told Harper who she really is, because she's been told too keep it a secret.

            In the woods, when the noises turned out to be a dog, Harper had tried to calm her done by saying "If there was any danger, if someone was really following us...I'd protect you". But the only answer she gave him was "with what? Your harp?''. I thought the comment she had made was really rude. I understand that she's trying to keep herself undercover so she won't be the next victim, but Harper doesn't know that. He just thinks she's some new girl, and he's putting in a lot of effort into becoming her friend, because she doesn't have any. Her response was very selfish. There is a lot of harm trying to cross her way, and she does have to be careful with who she trusts and who she be-friends, but Harper wasn't being anything more other than real with her, and he had meant what he said but he truly cares for her, so she could've showed a sign of thankfulness.

    In another scene in the book while Cecilia is waiting for Harper to go with him to the town, he comes a little bit later and still hasn't forgiven Cecilia for what she had said earlier. So instead he runs off without her, and leaves her thinking. Cecilia's thoughts are everywhere. All she could think about is what is she supposed to say? How can she excuse herself? How can Harper understand anything if he doesn't know that I'm the true princess?

   From that point, I now can really see what Cecilia is saying. There willl always be an excuse since Cecilia can't tell Harper the truth for now. She has to lie to him everyday, pretending to be someone who she isn't. And now I understand that it's not Cecilia's fualt, because if she could she would be honet with him. But if she had told him, she would risk her own life.

 I think that Harper's relationship with Cecilia is very interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it changes farther in the book.

Meet Brooke

 
                I read a non-fiction Article called: Meet Brooke: the little girl who never grew up by Erik jensen. This text is mainly about 17 year old Brooke Greenburg. At 17 we all infer that Brooke, enjoys going out with her friends, is in high school, and lives the normal life of any teenage-girl. However, at the age of 17 Brooke looks like a toddler, and only weighs seven kilograms. She can't walk or talk, and she still has milk teeth. When Brooke was born, her father says ''She did have some development changes from one to five,'' he tells Channel Seven's program Sunday Night this evening. ''But from 5½ to 17, you can't tell the difference at all.'' I find this really upsetting. It's awful having to see your child develop for four years, and than just stop. When born, Brooke survived numerous operations and surgeries. As a baby she had stomach ulcers, a brain seizure, a stroke, and brain tumor, which had caused her to sleep for fourteen days straight. When Brooke was younger her mom and dad, decided to even give her a growth hormone therapy which lasted 6 months. The therapy didn't help or cuase any positive changes to Brooke's body. She hadn't grown an inch or gain a single pound from the therapy.

              I think the author Erik Jenson wants the readers to feel very devastated about Brooke's story, but caring as well. However, Erik Jenson also wants readers to understand that thanks to Brooke all the mysteries about growth and development may be solved. From one point of view, what happened to Brooke should not happen to anyone. Instead of living a normal life as a teenager, Brooke is stuck in this body that shouldn't belong to her. She's on so much medication, and went through numerous amounts of surgery in her life; however not one helped her. Brooke is such a strong person, and her story is awful because she's a 17 year old girl whose stuck in her own body, and there's no way to get out. However, on a different note her story can help so many other people. Dr Walker believes that unlocking the door to Brooke's condition would prove ''quite significant scientifically. It would be a culmination of certainly my career and bring us closer to an answer as old as humankind.'' So, if another person does go through what Brooke has to go through, doctor's might have answers on how to solve the problem. Professor Morris said Brooke could help in the understanding of development, if not aging. 'There are always positives. It helps us understand how the body works. Two hundred years ago, no one knew what growth hormones were.'' Brooke's story can help so many other people in need. She can save the lives of so many, because now scientists and doctors have looked into her case a lot more and have found many interesting observations.

            From this article, I will take away "live every day like it's your last". This quote basically sums up the whole article for me. Brooke's life isn't fair. Because of the fact that she will remain a toddler for the rest of her life, she had so many good oppurtunities taken away from her. Brooke is also such a big eye-opener for so many people. Anyone could've been in the same situation as she is. So, no one should take anything for granted. My opinion on this issue that it's obviously unbeilevably awful. However, Brooke has a very loving mom and dad, and 3 sisters that will continuously be there for her, and fill her days with love. I want to know how Brooke is doing now. Since this article was from about 2-3 years ago, I wonder if maybe change is happening in her body? And also if doctors have figured out a way to help people who have been affected with growth development issues. I found this article very, very interesting and it changed my perspective on so many things.