The Vicious Deep

            The book The Vicious Deep is about a boy named Tristan who behaves in both obvious and subtle ways.   Tristan is a high school boy who lives in Brooklyn with his mom and dad. Then one day Tristan goes into the ocean to save a girl when he gets sucked under water and turns up three days later. After that Tristan learned that his mom is a mermaid and Tristan turns into a merman himself.  Tristan’s obvious behavior is that he acts funny when he is nervous but the more subtle trait is Tristan is private with his feelings

 I think Tristan behaves in obvious ways when he is in an awkward situation he uses his humor to ignore the tension. For example, on page 77, right after Tristan figured out he was a merman and is learning little details about merpeople he uses his humor by saying, “My fingers hover over the trident, stopping short of touching it. ‘What does it mean?’ ‘It is the symbol of the sea court,’ (Kurt says) ‘Okay, so a tattoo. I can deal with that. At least I don’t have to get my lip pierced or have a stick driven through my nose.’ I emphasize, ‘Right’” This example shows that Tristan is using his humor to try and break the tension and unnerving discovery that he is a merman.   Another example of how Tristan uses his humor in tension filled situations is on page 19. This scene takes place right after they found Tristan washed up on a shore after being gone for three days.“ ‘So, Nurse Christine’– I take a deep breath and put on my best grave face- ‘am I terminal?’  It takes her a few seconds to register that I’m just kidding.” This excerpt from the text shows how Tristan is being funny after he just mysteriously disappeared for three days. Tristan used his humor there to break the tension of his disappearance. These examples from the book show how Tristan is using his character trait of being funny to get around tension filled and awkward situations.

             I think Tristan behaves in subtle ways that aren’t so obvious because he is private with his feelings. An example how Tristan doesn’t share his feelings is on page 196 when the Sea King is introducing the champions in a fight over the throne. “I’m up. But I don’t have an entourage. I don’t have my dad or a fiancée to walk me in front of the court to show my goods. What am I thinking; I can hold my own if a fight against some jerk at school but I’m not at Thorne Hill anymore. Elias could crack my skull open and use it as a serving bowl if he wanted to.” This example explains how Tristan doesn’t share his feelings because he keeps his thoughts to himself. Another example how Tristan is private with his feelings is on page 186 when Tristan is in his bed reflecting on his life as a merman and thinking about how his life would be as a king. It says “I can’t exactly go back to the way everything was. Now that I know what I am. How do I just sit in class and joke with the boys? How am I supposed to be a champion? The only time I’ve ever fought is when Angelo and Jerry wanted to reenact WWF. ” This piece of text shows that Tristan has all of these feelings bottled inside but he doesn’t share them with anyone. These examples express how Tristan is very private with his feelings and does not share his feelings.

            In conclusion, Tristan behaves in obvious and subtle ways. For example Tristan behaves in obvious ways by using his humor to break a tension filled or nervous situation. How Tristan behaves in subtle ways is he doesn’t share his feelings with anyone and lets them bottle up inside of himself. All in all Tristan is a very unpredictable character, he acts one way but he’s really is something else.

What conflicts are your characters facing and how do they affect your characters? My book, The Awakening by Michael Carroll, is about a generation of super humans. The superhumans fought crime and bad guys and now their offspring Colin and Danny, who are best friends, are dealing with difficult problems. Overall the main conflict my characters are facing is preventing the bad guys from taking their power and trying to maintain a normal life.  Having superpowers ruined and destroyed the lives of Danny and Colin by putting them on the run from secret agents and tearing their families apart by splitting them up.

One way how the presence of superpowers is destroying their lives is because of the situation that Colin is in. For example, Colin was being chased by agents in a helicopter, torn away from his parents and stuck in a lab with terrible conditions. In the text it says “‘Colin please do as I ask.’ Rachel said [she is one of the scientist] ‘No.’  ‘Very well,’ and she pulled something against his neck and a powerful electric shock coursed through his body.”(159) This evidence shows how Colin’s life was turned upside down. Just the other day he was sitting on his bed wishing he had superpowers but after he got powers he was stuck in a lab being tortured like a guinea pig. Another way how superpowers are ruining Colin’s life is because his family is getting torn apart. For example on page 62 it says “ ‘ If either of you sees an opportunity to escape, go for it. But only if you’re absolutely certain that you can make it. Leave us behind.’ ” To save their child Colin’s parents are willing to give up freedom so their only son can escape and be free. These reasons show how having superpowers is a big conflict in this book because it can split up families and destroy lives.

Another reason why superpowers are a big conflict in this book is because it destroyed Danny’s life.  For instance, Danny has been living for about thirteen years with a guy pretending to be his father. But it turns out he was actually a superhuman who was pretending to be Danny’s parent to monitor his abilities. This information is supported in the text on page 55 “‘You’re not Danny’s dad, you’re not Paul Cooper. There’s only ever been one superhuman with shape-shifting powers. You’re Façade. The man nodded ‘Correct.” That shows how Danny’s life was turned upside down since he was deprived of growing up with his real father because a shape-shifting villain wanted to monitor Danny’s abilities . Lastly, why I think that having superpowers is such a big conflict and life changing situation is because Danny ends up losing his right arm as he destroys a machine that would strip superhuman powers and kill many people. For example, on page 183 it reads“‘ Danny you have to shut it off. Hundreds of thousands of people could die. He closed his eyes and concentrated and his arm became translucent and his hand slipped right into the nucleus and ripped out the plugs. But Danny’s arm turned to a solid too quick while his hand was still inside the machine. Pain tore through his entire body as his arm fused with the inner workings of the nucleus. Danny Cooper screamed for a long, long, time before he finally blacked out.” Danny’s arm had to be amputated because it fused with the machine. This shows that Danny’s world was turned upside down with the discovery of superpowers. Just the week before Danny was sitting in class learning math. Now he lost his arm cleaning up a mess someone else started. These examples explain why I think that superpowers are a big conflict in this book and changed the life of Danny and Colin for the worse.

In conclusion, superpowers are a big conflict in this book. For example, it destroyed Colin’s and Danny’s lives by splitting their families apart, causing one to lose an arm, turning another into a lab rat, and separating one from his father. Overall superpowers might seem cool to have but according to the author, Michael Carroll, it can make your life harder and more complicated.

Home run Hank Arron

In the book Home Run Hank Arron the main character has to go through a series of issues. For example, in the time period that the story was taken place, the main character, Hank Arron, has to deal with a lot of issues such as discrimination. In the book Hank can't go in many of the stores, hotels or restaurants as his team mates because of his skin color. Also Hank Arron doesn't get treated with the same respect as his fellow team mates because he is African American.
Another issue in the book other than the public discriminating against Hank Arron is the other team do not like Hank because of his race.
In this book the people that have the power is the people of the Caucasian ethnicity. And many of the people with the power oppress African Americans such as Hank Arron. They don't respect him when they play him and the pitch throw pitches trying to hurt Hank Arron.
Overall, i am amazed how Hank Arron struggled through that rough time period and became one of the best baseball players that ever lived

Song that had a significant meaning

“Imagine” by John Lennon

♫♫ Imagine all the people

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people living in peace

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine all the people

No greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

And the world will be as one ♪♫

“Imagine” by John Lennon is about world peace and ending world hunger. I think this song is about how John Lennon wanted to help stop wars and end world hunger by having people work together as one. This song is significant because it addressed big issues such as war, world hunger, and world peace.  John Lennon advocated these issues to the end of his life. I also think this song is also significant because as a very influential celebrity he brought world-wide attention to the movement to end war, poverty and hunger.

Letter to Ms. Berner

Dear Ms. Berner

          Banning books has been a very controversial issue in the United States for many years. Some teachers and parents have tried to get books banned, but books should not be banned from the 6^th grade library in MS.51. Books should not be banned because young adults have the right to know and learn about issues in the world that are present in these books address  Books allow for Teens to learn to deal with issues that are found in young adult literature by opening discussions around these issues with their peers and adults. Overall, books should not be taken away from the 6^th grade library because although one book might not relate to one teen, that same book could help another teen that is going through a struggle and provide them with guidance.

          Books should not be banned from the 6^th grade library because they teach young adults about issues that are going on in the world. In the town of Katy Creek, Texas, a reporter named Debra Wrigley of channel 13 ABC news  reported that a father named Alton Verm wanted to ban the book Fahrenheit 451 from his daughter’s school curriculum. Ironically, Fahrenheit 451 is about how people took away books, and Alton Verm wanted to ban it. He wanted to ban the novel because the bible was burned in the book to stop people from reading it. Although the book Fahrenheit 451 is fictional it still has a lesson that can be applied to real life that books are the key to knowledge. Alton Verm wanted to censor the book even though much of the school’s population liked the book or found that it was their favorite novel to read. This should not be able to happen because one person’s opinion about a book should not have an effect on another individual’s reading preference, especially if the person who is dictating your reading life isn’t your parent.

Another example of banning in high school was explained in the video called “Banned in Stockon.” In the video some of the teachers and parents were trying to ban Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, while others were fighting the ban. The video explained that while the teachers were trying to ban the book a student spoke and said that the book was based on a true story and should not be banned because it taught people that “if the main character could do it and he had a lot more problems than me, then I can do anything I put my mind to.” This shows how the lessons that are portrayed in books can be used as guidance to deal with the issues that might be occurring in a teenagers’ life. This also explains how people deserve to know about the issues presented in books and the lessons that come with them.

          Another example of how books provide guidance for young adults is in the article, “Banned Books Week 2010: An Anti- Censorship Manifesto,” by Ellen Hopkins. In the text Hopkins says, “I have received tens of thousands of messages thanking me for turning them around.” This proves how Hopkins’s young adult literature has changed the lives of teens in a positive way. Another example how books provide guidance is because they can help people through issues. For example, in the text by Ellen Hopkins said, “Books show outcomes to choices. And offer understanding.” This idea supports how books can help young adults cope with issues and provide them with answers.

          Many people may think that books have become to dark or as Megan Cox Gurdon said in her article “Darkness to Visible”, “Rifed with explicit abuse, violence and depravity.” Also, in the Guardian, Maureen Johnson wrote, “Young Adult literature is inappropriate and denotes a slipping of moral standards.” However, many teens are going through issues and problems and are looking for ways to deal with them or sort them out. As Sherman Alexie said in his article, “Books written in Blood,” “I write to give them weapons in the form of words and ideas that will help them fight their monsters.” As Sherman Alexie expressed, although young adult literature might be dark for one person, for another teen that book could be their guidance. This explains that some teens and adults might think that young adult literature is dark and inappropriate, but that some literature can help someone through hard times.

          In conclusion, books should not be banned from the 6^th grade library because they provide teens with guidance and educate them about issues that are occurring in the world. It is wrong to hinder teens from reading these books because teens should be able to have access to knowledge that might help them. All in all, books should not be banned because they provide guidance for teens and educate teens about issues in the world.

Fat Kid Rules the World

In the book Fat kids Rules the World the main character troy really wants to fit in and be normal. But he thinks everyone doesn't like him and treats him different because of his weight. Troy is 300 pound teenager and he hates himself so much that at the beginning of the book he tried to kill himself. And he would have done it if it weren't for his his friend Curt who saved him. Curt is homeless punk rock star who is very popular and a legend at school.And Curt too has a lot  of issues going on in his life.

In the Book the main character Troy Billings would do any thing to fit in and be popular like Curt.
For example, he joined  a band and told Curt that he could play the drums even though he knew he could not. So he lied to Curt just so he could fit in. Why i think he would lie just to fit in is because everyone treats him as an outsider, even his dad and his brother. Troy's dad was an army marine who is obsessed with fitness. And because Troy is overweight he is always trying to make Troy go to gyms and programs forcing Troy to try to be someone he is not, Also Troy's brother is and all star athlete who also is obsessed with fitness. Troy's brother is always cracking jokes and making fun of Troy's weight and treats Troy as a "Loser".

All in all, I think Troy tries really hard to fit in. I think this because he doesn't fit in at home because he family treats him as and outsider. He doesn't fit in at school because everyone treat him different and weird because of his weight. So Troy had to resort to lying to one of his friends just to try and fit in.

R.I.P Sammy

Dear Sammy,
We might not have been the closet friends but we were pretty close. You were the nicest person in the world. You never got mad at anyone and would always let people ride on your scooter. It is so weird that you are gone because the other day you came over to me and asked me for my metro card because you had no money and I lent you money. Also yesterday we were talking at the turf and after school before i went to Kaplan. I remember all those days in jazz band after school and the day we barged into Az's house with Adam and played Fifa. Or the times when you and Az's would steal my celtic's hat and run away with it. Also i remember the times with you when we played a big game of manhunt after the science fair. I love you and you will be greatly missed.
To Sammy a.k.a (Sammy Germinoes)