Literature
(9th Grade)
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz.Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood was a story that followed Sammys life and the barrio he lives in. He faces many events that affect him but throughout the book he becomes a strong individual. I thought this book had many life lessons that we could all learn from, like how to deal with death and peer pressure. Sammy
and Juliana in Hollywood was told through a perspective that not many stories have been told from. The stories were realistic and I could relate to some of them as a reader. Antigone by Sophocles.Antigone was a Greek tragedy play that we studied to learn more about Greek plays. Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices got into a fight about the throne, causing a war between them and being killed by each other. Since Polyneices was the one who started the war, he was to not be buried. Antigone & Ismene are the sisters both of Eteocles and Polyneices. Antigone did not was Polyneices body to be unburied so she decided to bury him, which was punishable to death. In the end, Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, decided that the punishment for Polyneices was to harsh but he realized that too late. Antigone was punished for trying to bury his body and killed herself. Antigones love, Creon's son, killed himself because Antigone killed herself. Creon's wife, killed herself because of she learned of Creons wrongful doings.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.Of Mice and Men is a story that follows two best friends during the Great Depression. George and Lennie find a small ranch to work on doing land work. Lennie always seems to be in trouble and George as his best companion, he is always helping him get out of trouble. I liked this book because of the big plot twist that happens. Steinbeck does a really good job of foreshadowing and helping readers predict what will happen next. In Of Mice and Men, there are very interesting characters that assist in the plot twist.
The Art of Racing in the Rain.The Art of Racing in the Rain was well written because the author, Garth Stein did an incredible job by telling the story through a dog's perspective. Enzo who is the dog, goes through a lifetime of events with his owner Denny. Denny has a daughter, Zoe and his wife, Eve who is battling cancer. After Eve dies of cancer, he is then faced with the biggest lawsuit of his life that will help determine either he will have custody of his daughter. Enzo plays a big part of helping Denny with his case, always preventing Denny from doing stupid things.
Dear Zoe by Philip Beard.Dear Zoe is one of my favorite books that I have read in freshman year. It is about a 15 year old girl, Tess DeNunzio that writes to her dead sister, Zoe that died on September 11, 2001 due to a car accident. Tess DeNunzio is forced to grow up in a house that is no longer the same without her baby sister but after a while decides to live with her real dad. Nick, Tess' father is that kind of dad that tries really hard to help out but he seems to just be unlucky. While living with her father, she meets this boy who lives across from her. Jimmy Freeze begins to fall for Tess as they share secrets and smoke marijuana with each other. They experience new things with each other and it helps with the pain that she has felt ever since Zoe died.
|
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.The House on Mango Street was a novella that had a very deep meaning throughout all of the vignettes. It was a powerful story told through Esperanza's eyes. Esperanza faces poverty and throughout the book deals with her insecurities. I thought this book was short and sweet. Esperanza has been through a lot but at the end of the book she realizes she has to come back for the others. Esperanza has faced many challenges but through the characters decisions in the novella it has helped Esperanza make the right decision for herself. Alicia, Marin, and Sally have impacted Esperanza throughout this novella. These three characters show Esperanza to depend on herself to make her life better. Marin and Sally failed to successfully escape Mango Street through a man but Alicia shows Esperanza other ways to do so by depending on herself. All young women could benefit from reading about Esperanza’s choices. Most young women need to realize that they do not have to get married to escape unfortunate events but most importantly need to realize marriage is not the only way to happiness.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.My Sister's Keeper was one of my favorite literature pieces i've ever read. I really enjoyed My Sister's Keeper because of the major plot twist at the end. Throughout the book I routed for Anna to win her lawsuit but at the same time hoping Kate would beat cancer. I really liked how Jodi Picoult chose to write through the different perspectives of the characters. It made me have a better understanding of the situation. My Sister's Keeper was written beautifully and told a story that many can relate too.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.I absolutely love the story of Romeo and Juliet. I liked how Shakespeare made them star-crossed lovers. Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. The Montague's and Capulet's have always hated each other for the longest time. Romeo goes to one of the Capulet's house parties and meets the lovely Juliet for the first time. When they meet Romeo kisses her and from that point they know that they are meant to be together. They get married in secret and try to keep it undiscovered. Everything changes when the beloved Romeo kills a fellow Capulet, Tybalt. Romeo is then banished and meant to live outside the walls of Verona. While Juliet and Friar Lawrence are making a plan, things start to change when Romeo is unaware of the plan.
|