Authors Note (Draft)

Every year in American, millions of teenagers run away. A teen will usually run away after having an argument with their mom or dad.They often do not have a solid plan as to where to go because they are in rage at the moment. Teenage runaways do not realize the dangers that they can get into. A few do not wish to get involved with burglary, drugs, or alcohol but they end up doing it. ("Teenage Runaways," page 1.) Most teens return after two days to two weeks, and the others end up on the streets. ("Teen Runaways", page 1.)


It was no more than a year ago when Maria's mom called to ask if Vanessa knew anything. The first thing that popped into my head was that she had run away. After hanging up, Vanessa told me that Maria had run away and they didn't know where she was. She told me her mother was crying that she could hardly understand what she was saying. Later that same day, Maria came home with her mother waiting by the door. You can say that this story grew out of that experience, but it is fiction. 


Maria learned, you don't know what you've got until it's gone.  

Research Writing Assignment

After reading and annotating two articles about illegal immigration I had new thoughts and new feelings about the topic. Illegal immigration continues to be a controversial topic throughout the world including in the U.S. I think that everyone should be allowed into a country unless they are a terrorist, of course. People who migrant, come into a new country just to get a better life, I don't see nothing wrong in that. I wish people would let them be, after all they don't mean harm.




In one of the articles it stated, "Other GOP candidates for governor have said they would push for tough laws like Arizona's." I feel that this is unnecessary because illegal immigrants have done nothing to be treated like this. I feel like it is slavery all over again because they are treated very poorly. In the United States, it prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Some employers ignore the regulations and hire illegal immigrants anyway, but this is not a good thing. The employers takes advantage of them and they do not pay them well, or they make them work in unsafe conditions. I hope that life will be better for all those undocumented people in the world in the future.




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Reading the articles about homelessness actually make me feel terrible. Homeless people are cold and hungry outside right now, while I'm busy typing away. The sad thing is that the majority of people ignore them. Avoiding eye contact, or crossing the other side of the street when a homeless person is walking, is something I see in Brooklyn, but a lot more in Manhattan. This has made me realize that we have become selfish people. As long as we're okay and not them is something I know many people think. There was this article about a guy named Tony, lost his job, became a drug addict, and became homeless. Just one mistake can change your life forever.




Based on my research, I learned that poverty is the main cause of homelessness. I feel like this could be the topic for my story. I'm not sure whether to do it from the homeless person's point of view or not. Homelessness is a very strong topic, but I'm pretty sure I could pull this off and turn it into a children's book.

November Challenge

        The book Ties that Bind, Ties that break, by Lensey Namioka, has become one of my favorite books. The book is about a girl named Ailin and her journey through life after refusing to have her feet bound. She was one of the few who broke the tradition and was sort of like an embarrassment to the Tao family.


       From the start of the book you knew that Ailin was different from her sisters. She always ran around and caused trouble. Unlike her sisters, she did not want to waste her time for lady pursuits. Being different came with consequences. After not having her feet bound, the family of her intended husband broke the engagement. Her future was not very bright either. She could either become a nun, a farmer's wife, or be a concubine of  a family. All of this happened just because she did not have bound feet.


       Foot binding is a Chinese tradition that began at around 900 A.D. The process usually began at the ages four through seven, and before the arch of the foot had time to fully develop. At first, the foot is put in hot water, then lightly massaged. All except for the big toe is broken and pressed to the bottom of the foot. The foot is then bound with strips of cloth, which keep the foot from growing. The purpose of foot binding was to identify women of high-class. 


       I don't understand why people would do this! Reading about foot binding left me with my mouth opened. Does having tiny feet actually make you more beautiful? If I had to choose between having my feet bounded or not I would definitely say no. It is painful and I just can't believe it was considered beautiful and a symbol of gentility.


       Ties that bind, Ties that break, is a book that I recommend to anyone. It has taught me so much and made me realized that I don't know much about other countries and their history/culture. Lensey Namioka, kept me on the edge of my seat and I know you will feel the same if you read it.


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Victor Martinez's Parrot in the Oven, is an amazing book, it is no wonder why it won the National Book Award. He has such a way with words, that you can feel what Manny's feeling. Whenever he's mad at his drunken father, you can feel that anger too. When he's embarrassed, you can almost feel your face turning bright red. Because of this you could easily relate to Manny.


Throughout the book, Manny had trouble finding himself. First, all he wanted was to be the person people would look up to, not the easy target to beat up. Manny believed that the gang symbolized manliness and respect. He tried to get into a gang, but then realized he did not want to be a part of it. There was many things holding him back though. His dad, his cultural background, and money. I guess at the end he realized all he needed was his family.


I, like many others, want to be something in my life. Manny went through a lot just to figure out who he really was and what he wanted to do with his life.


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"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."  --Frank McCourt


The first time I read Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt was in seventh grade. I enjoyed it the first time, but loved it the second. It's a memoir, that's a good and bad thing. It's a bad thing because everything that is written is true. Everything that is written is true! This includes when he tried to dance to when he got Typhoid fever. Let metell you, It's true when he said he didn't have a good childhood.






He had a drunken father and six siblings in total. His family was poor and always had trouble paying the rent and feeding the children. Their father drank all the money they got from the dole(welfare). When Margaret was born everything changed. He never went to the Pub and never tasted a drop. He truly loved her, he tried to change and mend all that he had caused. Sadly, Margerate died weeks after she was born. He drank and drank and did the same when his twins, Oliver and Eugene, died. His friends and teachers picked on him, thinking he was stupid, but he was a very itlligent little boy. Throughout the book, Frank learned from his father's mistake and grew in character. At the end, you can say that everyting payed off, he made it to America.


Anyone can learn something just by reading this book. Frank McCourt is a perfect example that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Social Awareness Assignment #3

Another Day in Paradise
By Phil Collins

She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've got nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you
You and me in paradise

(Think about it)

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying

Oh
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh
Think twice
It's another day for you
You and me in paradise

Just think about it

Oh Lord!
Is there nothing more anybody can do?
Oh-oh whoa Lord!
There must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
Cause she didn't fit there

Oh 
Think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh 
Think twice
It's just you another day for you 
You and me in paradise (Another day in paradise, ooh)

Just think about it
Hmm-mmm
Think about it

It's just another day 
For you and me
In paradise
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise (Para, paradise)

(Paradise) It's just another day
For you and me (Ohh-ooh)
(Just think about it) In paradise
(Paradise) It's just another day
For you and me 
(Just think about it) In paradise
(Para, paradise)

(Ooh-ooh, in paradise) It's just another day
For you and me
(Hmm-mmm, paradise)In paradise
It's just another day (Paradise)
For you and me (Just you and me)
(In paradise) In paradise
(Para, Paradise)

Reflection: It is obvious that this song is talking about homelessness. People don't realize it, but even in this wealthy country there are millions of homeless people. Homeless people are going to sleep hungry, cold, and on the concrete ground tonight while you'll be cozy under you covers. Hearing and reading this song has made me realize that almost everyone ignores a homeless person. They feel bad, but they don't help at all. I wonder how they feel when the are ignored? Do they feel hatred? Envy? Do they just want to stop living?

I, like many people, never have to worry about eating something because I could always look in the refrigerator and get something to eat. If I'm ever cold I know to get up and get a blanket out of the closet. Life is not like this for homeless people. They constantly worry whether or not they are going to eat today or throughout the week. They beg for money and look in trashcans just to get something in their stomachs. After learning much more about life for a homeless person, I have learned never to take anything for granted.

Social Awareness Assignment #2

A Pair Once Again

Remember the promise Babajan?
Remember me?
It has been 9 years
What does soon mean?

Everyday I sit and wait
Hoping to see your eyes, your smile, your face
I have one shoe, you have the other
Why did they have to take you away?

Babajan I'm waiting
The war should almost be over
You told me we would make a pair once again

Social Awareness

Day 1:


Article title: Cat Bin Dumper Mary Bale, Fined For Animal Cruelty After Video Surfaces in England


       Lola the Cat received justice after she was dumped in a trash bin by Mary Bale. Mary Bale is a forty five year old bank worker from Coventry. She was fined $395 for harming a four year old tabby. Before Lola was dumped in the trash, Mary picked her up and began to scruff her neck. Lola was eventually found by her owner and was not hurt. Mary Bale received death threats on facebook. She has apologized, but says she did it as a joke. She also said that she thought Lola would wriggle out of the bin.


       Animal cruelty does not only happen in England, but it is something that occurs everyday worldwide. I don't understand why someone would treat animals like if they were nothing. Animals and humans have a lot of things in common. It's true that animals can't speak, but does that make them any different than us? Why would Mary Bale dump an innocent cat in a trash can? Didn't she ever hear of treat others the way you would want to be treated? I can't believe that she is only one of the hundreds of people who abuse animals. It's true that we live in a crazy world.

     Day 2:


Article Title: 3 families Homeless After Fire


       Three families become homeless after their lost their house in a fire. The fire razed through all three house at around 8:30pm. Mohd Fauzi was visiting his relatives when his brother Abd Ghani screamed for help. "I braved myself to rush inside my mother's house and managed to carry her out safely," he quotes. The Rescue Department came at about 8:39pm. The cause of the fire would be investigated.


       I am so shocked that you can be come homeless in a blink of an eye. After researching homelessness, I found out that there are anywhere from 700,000 to 6 million homeless people around the world. Approximately 44% are male, 13% are women, and 36% are families with children. Yes, children are also homeless. It makes me feel so bad that I take everything I have for granted. 

     Day 3:


Article title: Two Deaths Too Many


       Carl Joesph Walker-Hoover an eleven year old, killed himself after being bullied for several months at his Springfield charter school. Phoebe Prince was also bullied at school that brought her to the point where she committed suicide. Carl was a smart and enthusiastic athlete. Some students at his school said that he acted like a girl. He would often tell his mother that he hated the school. On the last day of his life, the school told him and a girl, who he had recently had an argument with, that they had to eat lunch together to learn to get along. That night, his mother found him hanging from the third floor railing.


       I hate the fact that bullying still exists today. Why can't people realize that words and actions affect people more than it seems? Will bullying ever end? Why do bullies think that they are better than anyone else? Is it just because they are bigger or stronger? I just wish that bullies would open their eyes and realize the dangers that they are causing and the consequences that will occur if things get worse.

Day 4:


Article Title: Gangs Grow, but Hard Lines Stirs Doubts


       It began as a party, but ended with a shoot-out. 2 gangs began an argument, then it ended with a death.Treasure Feamster, a 13 year old girl, died when the shots ranged. There is a high crime rate and an increasing number of gang members today. Lawmakers in Raleigh want to create a gang law similar to the law made in Los Angeles. The law  prohibits  public gatherings of two or more people suspected to be gang members. What police commissioner Edward F. Davis is focused on right now is getting the gang members who are actually shooting.


       Gangs are one of the things people fear today. You never know when you can come across them and the number of gang members are growing everyday. Parents sometimes don't even know if their child is in a gang. Although it is becoming very common, a lot of people know a little about what's really happening. I want these bad things to go away. I want to live my life knowing that nothing can go wrong. I know things like gangs will not go away easily, but if we take a step at a time, maybe we will make a difference.

Day 5:


Article Title: First Lady Laura Bush Lends Support To Bullied Gay Teens


Laura Bush is one of the many people who support gay marriage. After she left the white house, she began to continue to protest gay teens from bullies. She quoted," We've read cases of children on the Internet where kids are committing suicide. As adults, we have to be the ones who do something about it." Laura Bush also referred back to the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi. Laura Bush isn' t the only one who supports gay people. Hillary Clinton and President Obama, have videotaped messages of hope directed at gay teens.


I support gay marriage. I feel that anybody has the right to make their own choices, if same-sex people want to get married, who are we to stop them. Bullies should stop bullying gay teens, because they aren't better than anyone else. Everybody is equal. And like Joel Burgs said, "It will get better."

Media/News Immersion Reflection

       I have learned and realized many things during this experience. There are lots of social issues out there in the world that I'm not even aware of. Reading about the issues that I wrote about above, has made me become more aware about problems we face today. I realized that many people don't take action/ fight for what they believe in. I feel, after this experience, that we should not be so layed back. Many of us think that things will change on its own, but it isn't. We should change the world, even if it's in a small way.

Entry #8

This is a poem I wrote inspired by the poem Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes.

Long Way Up the Mountains

Fear not my child

For we are not to deep

The journey's just begun

But it will soon be steep

Fear not my child

The rocky mountains don't mean to scare

But the wind and rocks

I know, I know they aren't fair

Fear not my child

Try to climb the mountain with ease

Don't look down and don't go back

Just remember, you're the only one you need to please

An Appreciation for Bridge To Terabithia

"We need a place," she said, "just for us. It would be so secret that we would never tell anyone in the whole world about it." Jess came swinging back and dragged his feet to a stop. She lowered her voice almost to a whisper. "It might be a whole secret country," she continued, "and you and I would be the rulers of it."

Even after rereading Bridge to Terabithia, these lines still warm my heart. It shows the imagination and the child that still exists within Leslie and Jess have. Kids today lack the imagination that Leslie and Jess have. They would rather be inside playing some sort of video game and/or watching television, but Leslie and Jess would rather be in Terabithia, using their imagination and being a kid. This is what I appreciate about Bridge to Terabithia.

I discovered the book when I was eight, almost the same age as Leslie and Jess, who are ten. It wasn't the cover that caught my eye though, it was the big letters on the back. "A SECRET WORLD OF THEIR OWN," was what it read. The next thing I remember doing was signing the book out on my log and being sucked into it. While reading, I remember imagining that I was with Leslie and Jess. Whenever they would fight giants, ogres, or any other creature who wanted to destroy the peace in Terabithia, I was with them fighting. When I was younger, using my imagination was something I used almost always. Pretending to be the princess of my own secret world was something I remember doing very often. It wasn't much of a surprise to find myself being a character in Bridge to Terabithia.  


Rereading the book at the age of 13, changed the way I thought about parts of the book. While reading it for the first, I did not look for symbols, think about themes, or use any other techniques that made you think about what the text was really saying, but I have learned since then that you should always think deeply about a book. While rereading I constantly reminded myself to ask questions and to read between the lines. On its surface, the book is about two children, who together create Terabithia. After learning that everything is made up of multiple layers, I began to dig deeper and found something almost as valuable as gold! Terabithia wasn't just the world made up by two best friends, it was the only place where Leslie and Jess could escape the "real world." Both Leslie and Jess, had problems and pressure putting them down. Leslie was the new girl in a school, and was the odd one out just because she was herself, and expressed herself differently. She did not wear "girly" clothes and she hanged out with the guys. The other girls in the school acted like if this was a crime and the result was that Leslie became an outcast. Jess had a similar, but different situation. His father expected him to be this "tough guy," but Jess couldn't fulfill that expectation. He had a passion for art, and didn't dare to tell anyone. His dad had made him believe drawing was not a manly thing to do.


Although much hasn't changed since I was little, I tend not to use my imagination as much. Many people have noticed that while getting older, they lost their power of imagination. They stopped imagining, because they were told to grow up or that they should start being more realistic. After rereading Bridge to Terabithia, I learned that imagining is okay, even if you're 13 like me. You actually strengthen your creativity and it contributes to your success in life. Young or old, Jess and Leslie prove that you are never to old to imagine.


Don't be afraid to enter the magical kingdom of Terabithia. Be free, enjoy the magic, and remember that your imagination sets the limits.

Entry #7

To deepen my understanding of Bridge to Terabithia, I first had to learn more about the author, Katerine Paterson. How is she like? What was her inspiration for writing Bridge to Terabithia? These were questions I had in mind while researching. I came across the link:  http://www.terabithia.com/about.html , where my first question was answered. Katerine Paterson is dedicated, intelligent, and strong. She overcame problems she faced in the beginning of her writing life and the problems she had while growing up. I learned that Katerine's first language was Chinese. She knew little about the United states and spoke little English. I wonder if she finds it hard to believe that she became a writer. Overall, she loves what she does and considers herself a fortunate person.

My second question was answered here: http://www.terabithia.com/questions.html . It turns out her inspiration was based on a real life experience. Her son David's bestfriend, Lisa Hill, was stuck and killed by lightning. She tried to make sense out of the tradegy by writing Bridge to Terabithia. I learned that her inspiration is almost always based on her experiences. After reading a small part in the article in the website http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/bridge_to_terebithia.pdf , I predict that she based Leslie on herself. Both of them faced similar problems and they both have similar characteristics. 

After researching, I find myself appreciating the book more. Now that I know more of the author and the book, it'll be easier to understand why Katerine Paterson mentioned certain things in Bridge to Terabithia.

Entry #6

Original note: Bridge to Terabithia and Charlotte's Web have a lot of things in common.


I didn't notice it a first, but after reading a couple of pages of Bridge to Terabitha, I realized that Jess was almost exactly like Wilbur, and Leslie was almost like Charlotte. It all started when Leslie began to join the boys at recess, and every day she would win them at running. Jess believed that running wasn't fun anymore, and it was all Leslie's fault. Jess from then on he disliked her. Not only beacuse she took the fun out of running, but because he knew that he would never be the best runner of the forth and fifth graders. When Wilbur first met Charlotte, Charlotte did not give a good impression as well. Wilbur thought that Charlotte was fierce, brutal, scheming, and bloodthirsty. Both Jess and Wilbur were to discover that they were wrong about Leslie and Charlotte.


Jess and Wilbur also share similar characteristics. Not only are the both judgemental, but the are also shy and fearful. Wilbur feared that he would be killed at Christmastime. Jess feared almost everything. He was afraid to tell his dad about his passion for art, he was afraid to express himself and let go, and finally he was afraid to reach out to people. In order to confront their fears they needed help from the girls. Charlotte prevented Wilbur from being killed by writing on her web and making "miracles". Leslie helped Jess overcome his fears by teaching him how to find himself and by teaching him not to care about what other people think/say. Both Charlotte and Leslie are clever and imaginative.


Sadly, both books ended with death. Charlotte died the day after she layed her eggs, and Leslie died because she drowned. Unlike Jess, Wilbur was able to say goodbye to his bestfriend.


Not only do the books share similar themes, but they also share similar characters. Charlotte's Web and Bridge to Terabithia prove that books that may look different, actually have things in common.

Charlotte's Web Theory

My theory in the book Charlotte's Web, is that Charlotte's and Wilbur's relationship is similar to a mother and child's relationship.Throughout the book there were many hints to prove this. The first hint was on page 51. The old sheep had just finished telling Wilbur that he was going to be killed in the winter.Charlotte then said that she will save Wilbur's life.A mother will not let her child die if there was something she could do.Charlotte from then on became Wilbur's guardian angel/mother.


A memory that comes up in my head when I read page 65, is when I'm about to go to sleep and I say goodnight to my mom, then she says goodnight, and we continue saying it until one of us fails to respond and fall asleep. This is exactly what happens on that page.


On page 101, Wilbur makes Charlotte tell him a story. Everyone has had their mother tell them a bedtime story. Almost in every book or family movie, a book is read to a child. At the end of the chapter Charlotte sings him a lullaby. I found the lullaby warm and touching. It reminds me of the lullaby my mom sang to me at the age of 3.


I wonder if Charlotte ever thought of  Wilbur as more than just a friend, that he was like her son. The son that she was able to see. After all, spiders die before their children are born.