I am still currently reading "Emil and Karl" by Yankev Glatshteyn. I chose to write about whose perspective in the story was missing.
         
          Throughout the book, ( even though I did not get very far ) I have noticed that the main character: Emil, his mother's perspective is rarely ever shown. His mother, who is supposed to protect both Emil and his friend Karl from the rabbi's who are out to kill all Jews. Karl's mother was already taken away, so now he has no one left but a stranger to trust. In my opinion, I think the mothers voice was excluded because the book wants to focus on just Emil's and Karl's struggles. For instance, in school both of the boys are constantly bullied. Not only by the students, but also by the teachers. They are bullied for being Jewish, because there was a war going on and Jews were the target. They have to go through constant verbal abuse every single day. The mother is also in constant pain. The rabbi's had taken her husband away in the middle of the night, and kill him. However, the book mainly focuses on whats going on in the lives of Emil and Karl. So I think the author chose to exclude the mother's voice, because it was more important for us ( I'm talking about teenagers everywhere who read this book ) too see what Emil and Karl have to face everyday because we're closest to them at age, and so it's easier for us to understand. And also, the mothers voice may have been excluded because the author wanted us to see the struggles Jewish children were facing at the time, and how hard it was for them to go to school, or even step outside.

        There are also some effects to having the mother's voice excluded. The mother, who is supposed to protect both kids from the rabbi's hurts so much in the book. She goes through so much pain, because at this point she's alone. She's their only guardian, and she has no one to help her. Instead though, she cries every day. I completely understand how hard it is for her to go through all this, but it just bothers me that the kids are practically surviving on their own. I think the effects of her voice missing, sis that we don't really hear what she has to say. I mean yeah, by crying you can already see how hard life is for her at this point, but sometimes I want her to burst. By burst, what I'm saying is I want all of her emotions to come out, so I as the reader can understand her more. The mother keeps everything to herself, so it's hard to comprehend anything about her. The author might not want us to hear her voice, because if we do it may distract us from Emil and Karl. If the author makes the mother this protective, free - speaking person than it won't be as interesting. Because, with the mother being as she is there are many question marks int eh book, but I feel if she was any different everything would be simple.

      When voices ( Emil's and Karl's ) stand out because others are missing, you get to know those 2 characters a lot more. Since Emil's voice and Karl's voice, are the two voices that stick out the most, I understand their characters so much more, and it's like I'm going on that journey to freedom with them.

     As I continue to read the book, I really hope I get to hear the mother a lot more, and hope her voice grows.

   I just currently started reading "Emil and Karl" by Yankev Glatshteyn. This book opened my eyes and it truly made me see the sacrifices people made, and how strong some friendships turned out to be. Even though I just started reading this book, it's truly amazing how I was dragged into this book so quickly because of all the fascinating details, and the characters as well. I can relate to this book so much, because I know what the main characters are going through.
     Emil and Karl are two boys who are present during the time of the Holocaust. However, only one is Jewish and the other one is not, and both live in Vienna. They both attend school, which only consists of non-jews who torture and make Karls' and emils' life a living hell each day. What surprised me the most is the fact that Karl is not a jew, so technically hes "supposed" to be against Emil, if he wants to fit in. However, Emil is the one he sticked up for Karl when all the other students and even one of the teachers was calling him a "disgusting jew.''
       The fighting and name calling at school got so far to the point where Emil stopped going to school. I found that very upsetting. Kids who are so little, who don't even understand what is happening and are just hearing rumors about how "all jews are bad" hurt Emile to the point where he didn't want to show his face in school again.
      I think the reason why so many parts of this book touched me is because I am a Jew myself. And in elementary school I was the only Jewish kid in my school. In 5th grade I had many kids in my class, who didn't like Jews and the things they had said made me feel really bad about myself and who I am.
          I found what Karl did by sticking up for Emile like that, was very very very brave. Even though Karl knew he would have to put up with being bullied every single day just for sticking up for what he thought was right, he still decided to do it. I would have loved to have a person stick up for me like that.
          Karl is a strong character overall. His father left him, and than the bad people had come and took his mother away, so right now he's all alone.
         This book is very good so far, and I'm really excited to continue reading it and seeing how the plot changes.

Nonfiction

            I just read the article "Latino Program helps immigrant families achieve their America dream" by Jacqueline Howard from CNN. This article is about a young 15 year old girl named Gaby Ortiz who emigrated from Mexico to the US. She had started off her life in Atlanta, Georgia, however her "American Dream" began as a nightmare. She didn't know how to speak English, and could not find a job. And worst of all, she was soon going to become a mother. In several years, Gaby gave birth to two kids. However, during those days she only associated herself with the Latinos and Mexicans because that's where she felt more comfortable, since she was part of that culture as well. After her son was enrolled into kindergarten in 2004, Gaby knew she had most definitely wanted to learn English to help her kids. Gaby used his schoolwork as lessons for her as well, and she also took classes. She was so determined in learning English, that she quit watching Spanish TV. Everything about her life, suddenly became 100% American. The biggest change she had made, was enrolling her and her son into LaAmistad a tutoring organization that helps families whose second language is English. Families just like her. 13 years later, at age 30 Gaby now speaks fluent English and has a job, which helps support her kids.

       This story is very touching. Not in like a sad-depressing way, but just the fact that someone can work so hard and accomplish so much. Coming into the US at only 15, and having 2 children around that age, with no job, and not speaking English at all, must he terrible. Gaby basically raised her kids alone, with no help. She achieved her dreams because she wanted too, not because she was forced too. This road that Gaby took, was very difficult. She basically started a new life. Living in a new world, dropping everything you had before, moving into a country where the language does not sound a bit familiar at all, raising 2 kids with no job, and leaving everyone behind back in Mexico, was the path she decided to take. Nothing is impossible, in fact everything is possible. And Gaby proved that. She set out on a mission and accomplished it, and right now she speaks fluent English and has a full time job, and is active at her children's school. For instance if I was in Gaby's place, and I was emigrating from my home, leaving my family behind and moving by myself to a new World whose customs and language don't sound a but familiar, would be so difficult. Basically, she came here with nothing, and look where she is now. She mad it farther, than people who were born in the US. If I was in her shoes, I don't know how I would do it. Finding a job, while having your "reputation" say you're an immigrant is very hard. But Gaby is an example of a person who tried, and never gave up until she got what she fought for: To be a part of the American culture.

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.