Finished Reading Red

The remainder of the stories in this book seems to speak to my personal outlook about adolescence. While I read one story in particular, the Depth of Depp, I began to look back on my years coming up as a teenager. The girl in the Depth of Depp was an aspiring actress, a profession that my twin sister is pursuing now in New York City. When we were about 13 years old, I remember when she and I, we use to “play act” as we called it. We watched all of the Scream movies: Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 3, then we went on the Internet Movie Database, printed off the memorable quotes from each, chose parts, got our props (telephone for when Drew Berrymore is called by the killer, knife—not a real one, more like a plastic butter knife--for the killer) and started acting it all out. When my twin started, she got into it big time. I mean her expressions, gait, attitude, that all changed. She was so good at it. Me on the other hand, I was just having fun, giggling during my lines, trying to be serious. I was more serious when we did a lot of other movies, and it was a fun time. My favorite movies to do were 13 Going on 30 and How to Lose a Guy 10 Days and Bedazzled. She liked doing How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but the other two she said she couldn’t “get with”. “Play acting” was a big part of my adolescence. My sister and I couldn’t do much because our parents are always working, so we had to find something to do while we spent hours alone in the house.

My Young Adult Novel?

In the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie seems to have a good grasp on adolescence because he incorporates some of his own experiences as a young adult into the work. Overall, I would say that this novel represents most, if not all of what I think a teen goes through in those troubling years and I think teens today can really relate to this.

If you were to ask me to do what Alexie did with this novel, I don't think it would turn out to be a read that would grasp readers in a universal sense. What would my young adult novel be about? Well, if I were to write one, I would start by recalling my own adolescence. And when I think about it, I can only recall that my teenage years were pretty boring. I went to an all black school so I didn't face the racial problems Junior encountered at Reardan. I was never bullied in school like Junior because people thought I was too nice to be bullied. I was known as the "goodie, goodie" girl. I was quiet, I only had a handful of friends, I was an honor student, and I tried to stay out of as much trouble as I possibly could. I never had trouble in relationships like Junior, because although I was viewed as the most quiet and goodie person, I was also looked at as one of the more pretty. A typical day for me would be: 1) get up, get dressed 2) catch the bus to school 3) come home from school 4) do homework 5) watch t.v. or go outside 6) go to bed. Pretty boring, huh?

I suppose my young adult novel could be titled "A Day in the Life of the Goodie, Goodie." In the novel I would talk about the 6 things I just mentioned. But if I wanted to universalize my experience, I'd talk about my relationship with my parents or my relationship with my twin sister. My parents had gotten a divorce when I was 7, my dad left and moved into an apartment and our relationship never became much of one as I recall. My mother went from being a Christian to a Buddhist after. Maybe that is why my parents got divorced because dad is a Jehovah's Witness. My sister and I were close until she started changing when we were about 14. She started hanging out with the wrong crowd. She had to go live with my dad when we were 15 because she and my mom would fight often. I suppose teens could relate to this kind of stuff. Maybe I should write a young adult novel.

Diary of a Part-Time Indian

As we discussed in class, this novel was a much easier read than the previous core readings of the course. This story was touching and what was really good about it was the main character, Junior's, perseverance. When he first left the reservation, he was taking a major step in proving not just to his peer but to the world that Native Americans were not who everyone said they were; that Native American were just as capable as any other. Junior's decision to go to an all white school, in my eye's is a protest to the oppressed state that Native Americans had been in for a long time. It reminded me of the struggle of the African American and the well known advocates of equality such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. who said "enough is enough, I'm taking a stand, and I'm not taking no for an answer." Junior was in a sense like these individuals. He wanted to experience life outside of the reservation, which was a place really of torture the Native Americans were forced to live on. Junior was carrying the burden of the entire Native American race, and although he was afraid, and had health problems, a speech impediment, low self esteem,no friends, and no one to back him up, he was determined to stick that thing out. That type of attitude is admirable and just speaks to me, because I'm reminded again of the African American. I have heard many stories from grandparents and great grand parents about the courage, persevere and determination they had in a raciest, discriminatory, segregated, prejudice society, just like Junior. I believe that if you face something with courage and with a mindset that you already have the victory...everything will work out. And that is exactly what Junior did, inspite of the hatred he faced, inspite of the physical opposition and so forth. It was hard, but you have to go through some things to see the other side.

Betsey Brown

The second part of the novel was different from what I expected it to be. After reading Huck Finn and Rise, Fall of the American Teenager, Charlotte Temple and my individual book Native Son, I expected something bad and unfortunate to happen to the characters. However, the only thing we find in this novel is that Regina, like many young girls today, is left abandoned and pregnant by her "beau" who turned out not to be the knight in shining armor, come to take her away and start a family.

This novel turned out to be pleasent to read. It mostly displayed to wondering, adolescent mind of Betsey Brown. I could very much relate to some of the ideas she had when I was her age: having a secret place to mellow out, secret romance, views about race issues, and micheviousness like when she made Mrs. Callhon leave. Before reading this book I was familiar with the bussing law passed during that era. This book gave me a sense of what black children had to do in order to abide by that law. It also gave me a sense of how they might have coped with this new experience.

Overall, this novel well represented not just a black family, but I think any family with adolescent children. There were ups and downs, problems and disagreements, but the fact still remaid that they were a family and the stayed together. I like this aspect Shange brought out.

Rough Outline for Essay on Teen Pregnancy

This is really a rough outline on the topic. I wanted to look into asking questions about teenage pregnancy; questions that I often hear from others and questions that I've had myself. I copied it from a word document so it may look a bit strange.

Topic: Teen Pregnancy
I. Introduction
a. Thesis: Sexuality is explored almost exclusively in the time during one’s adolescence, which often times leads to unwanted pregnancy. Today, it seems teenage pregnancy has become a commonality, that to most seems, normal. But is it really?
b. 1st point: Why are teenage pregnancy rates so high these days?
c. 2nd point: What was the rate of teenage pregnancy 20 years ago? 30 years ago? Maybe even further in the past?
d. 3nd point: What are the health effects of teen pregnancy
e. 4th point: What can be done about high rates?
f. 5th point: Why are males excluded when we think about pregnancy prevention?
g. 6th point: Reflection of this topic in my own adolescence
h. Closing Sentence
II. Body
a. 1st paragraph (s) on why teen pregnancy is high
· Teens are careless. This is why many teen pregnancies are unplanned. On the other hand many young women want to be mothers. So, many teen pregnancies aren’t accidental but intentional because. Girls see no life goals other than to be mothers
b. 2nd paragraph(s) about history of teen pregnancy rates from years past
· 1979 The use of condoms doubled meaning more teen were having sex Until 1988 the use of condoms continued to double. 1990s.
c. 3rd paragraph (s) about Health effects
· Possible complications: High blood pressure ,Anemia, Babies likely too small These can be prevented if Mother stays healthy eating right; staying away from alcohol
d. 4th paragraph (s) Lowering teen pregnancy rates
· Sex education classes, Contraceptives
e. 5th paragraph (s) Males and teen pregnancy
· Males must be involved in policy solutions to prevent teen pregnancy
f. 6th paragraph (s) Personal experience
· Common for peer to explore sexuality coming up
III. Conclusion
a. Restate thesis
b. Restate several points
c. Concluding sentence(s)

Huck Finn

In chapter 31, when Jim and Huck were planning to leave the Duke and King because of their crazy antics, the conning pair sell Jim into slavery. At this point, when Huck's discovers Jim is gone, he "set down and cried" (Twain 220). Huck's reaction to Jim's disappearance was that of someone who cared and had a sense of value for the friendship. Society would have viewed Huck's actions as questionable, wondering if he was on the side of the whites or that of the blacks.

After, Huck had to make the decision to save Jim, or let him be sold into slavery. When he wrote the letter to Mrs. Watson about Jim's whereabouts, he thought that if word ever got out that he helped a black man escape slavery, people would look down on him. He also remembered what he learned in Sunday school about helping a black fugitive slave: that he "goes to everlasting fire" (222). This idea is completely, false, I think. Furthermore, I think those who were trying to "sivilize" Huck with the Christian religion and manors, were hypocrites because one of the Christian themes that rings in my head is "do unto those as you would have them do unto you."

Jim also had the decision to help Jim and "go to hell" (223). So, he decided to help Jim and I think this was the best thing he could have done to go against the norm and prove to others that blacks are not just objects, but human beings.

Finally, this novel made me realize the horrible attitude America has had toward blacks and other minority groups throughout history. It reminds me of the hardships they had to endure in this country. However, I'm thankful that today, society has turned away from the mentality of discrimination, racism, and race superiority.

Charlotte Temple: The Quintessential Ending

Our story begins with Charlotte Temple in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Charlotte attends Warrensville Heights High School, where she meet an upper classman named Naomi who tries to persuade her to skip school to go to a bar a couple of blocks down the street. “Hey Charlotte, me and a couple of guys are going to go to Beethoven’s Fifth during 7th period. You should come with, cus Markus is gonna be there.” Markus had a big crush on Charlotte, and she knew it, but she never acknowledged it. “No, I don’t think so Naomi. My mom would kill me if I did. And what would all the teachers think of me?” “Your mom will never know cus we’re gonna come right back. The teacher will just think you’re sick or something,” said Naomi. Charlotte agreed only because she knew Markus was going.

As they were walking to the bar, Naomi, Markus and the others walked ahead while Charlotte lagged behind. Markus noticed her and left the group to join her. “He Charlotte, what’s wrong?” said Markus. Charlotte was so happy that he’d noticed her. “Aww, I didn’t even wanna come. I keep thinking about my mom and if she ever finds out…everyone will think of me differently. I’ve spent so much building up my trustworthiness in everyone’s eyes since last year when I got expelled.” Markus answered “well if it makes you feel any better, I only came cus John forced me, I mean… I don’t normally do this. What if we get in trouble? I mean… came too because I knew you were coming.” Charlotte looked at him with affection after that. “Why don’t we just go back,” said Markus. When they got back to the school, they both went back to class. At the end of the school day, Charlotte was approaching the door, ready to head home on her bike, when Markus spotted her. He ran toward her, and before she could open the door, he pulled the handle and opened it for it. “Why don’t we go get some ice cream or something,” he said. “I’d like that,” she replied.