Blig Post 12/1: Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, is a young adult novel set in current time. Hannah Baker has just killed herself, but before her passing she made thirteen tapes, each tape about a specified person and why they were responsible for her death. When Clay Jensen receives these tapes,he wonders how he was responsible. As far as he could tell, they were friendly. Jay Asher writes an intriguing story about suicide and the unfortunate life of Hannah Baker, a suburban teenager. Hannah Baker a perfectionist, attempted to create an ideal life the lead to her unfortunate demise.

    Hannah Baker had awful rumors made up about her, witnessed awful events and had unforgivable things happen to her, which clearly lead to her depression. But there was a much deeper cause; Hannah Baker had her life pictured in her head, perfectly. Even if these terrible things hadn’t happened, she would, inevitably, have her downfall.  

For example, the first tape is about her first kiss with Justin Foley. Many nights leading up to the first day of school she had the same dream about her first kiss, it played out exactly the same each time; and that’s how she wanted the real one to be like. She’s on top of a jungle-gym, and her love is at the bottom waiting for her, she slides down, he catches her and they kiss. That’s exactly how it happened. Afterwards, her hopes were that she would be with Justin for much longer, but that’s not how things played out. He made up a rumor stating that they did a little more than just kissing. On the tape Hannah says the awful rumor started the snowball of her ruin, but truly, I think just the fact that he ruined her perfect image of the beginning of high school is what started it. From this, the snowball effect started, it wasn’t the awful rumors or the horrible things that happened that was what killed her, it was her image of a perfect life that was ruined, that killed her.

The book is written from the perspective of two characters; Clay Jensen is listening to the tapes and reacting, and Hannah is speaking from the tapes, explaining to us about how she got hurt. But really it’s from Clay’s perspective, we understand what he’s feeling, what he’s thinking, but we don’t with Hannah. Hannah is more of the author’s voice, unlike Clay who is more of the character’s voice. The book is missing Hannah’s thoughts and we don’t know if she’s crying or shaking from rage.

This could be the author’s purpose, having us readers, read Hannah’s voice as our own. If we had these things happen to us, how would we be feeling as we told someone? The author has us understand Hannah as ourselves so we could interpret what she was thinking. If the author had included Hannah’s voice, it probably would’ve overshadowed Clay’s voice, and the author wanted to emphasize Clay’s emotions, so we feel similar reactions.

Jay Asher writes about themes of depression, suicide and perfectionism, as he includes the reader as a part of the story. I can relate to Hannah; I want a perfect life and if one thing is ruined, it  would most likely upset me and most people can say the same. However, Jay Asher creates a realistic character that emphasizes how high expectations can ruin even the best moments in life. Hannah Baker killed herself, the reader is Hannah Baker.

Argument Essay: Should Access to YA Fiction be Limited in Any Way?

    The ongoing argument on whether or not young adult fiction should be limited in any way; had begun in 1967, when S.E HInton’s “The Outsiders” was published. The influential novel, “dealing with class tensions, family dysfunction and violent, disaffected youth,” (stated in “Darkness Too Visible, by Meghan Cox Gurdon,) sparked a new era of YA literature. Young adult (YA) fiction these days, often portrays harsh topics, that may include; violence and sexual abuse. Not normally what parents want their children to learn quite yet. However, these topics are what we must eventually learn, because it is a crucial part of developing into a young adult. Access to YA fiction should not be limited in any way, because it is better to learn from a book, rather than experience.

    “Why the Best Books are Written in Blood,” by the critically acclaimed author of the young adult novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” Sherman Alexie responds to the article “Darkness Too Visible,” by Meghan Cox Gurdon. In the article, Gurdon states that any books that depict traumatic events could affect someone who suffered, or is suffering from these events negatively. She believes young adults should not have access to such novels because it could trigger a relapse for those who have previously dealt with these situations. To which Mr. Alexie responds with personal experience, “when I think of the poverty-stricken, sexually and physically abused, self-loathing Native American teenager that I was, I can only wish, immodestly, that I’d been given the opportunity to read ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.’ Or Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak.” Or Chris Lynch’s ‘Inexcusable.’ Or any of the books that Ms. Gurdon believes to be irredeemable.” Sherman Alexie was one of the many teenagers dealing with social issues, and he could only wish that he was able to read books with characters that he could’ve related to. This may have helped him understand what was going on and that he was not alone. Gurdon believes the books he listed should not be available to young adults, although they could offer relief.

    Another example for why access to YA fiction should not be limited is; when Sherman Alexie talked at a conference for high school students, many of them had read his book, and were inspired.

Mr. Alexie spoke of his personal struggles growing up, with addiction and mental illness. “Two years ago, I met a young man attending one of the most elite private high schools in the country. He quietly spoke to me in agony. What kind of pain could a millionaire’s child be suffering? He hadn’t been physically or sexually abused. He hadn’t ever been hungry. He’d never seen one person strike another in anger. He’d never even been to a funeral. So what was his problem?

‘I want to be a writer,’ he said. ‘But my father won’t let me. He wants me to be a soldier. Like he was.’ He was seventeen and destined to join the military. Yes, he was old enough to die and kill for his country. And old enough to experience the infinite horrors of war. But according to Ms. Gurdon, he might be too young to read a YA novel that vividly portrays those very same horrors. ‘I don’t want to be like my father,’ that young man said. ‘I want to be myself. Just like in your book.’” This demonstrates two things; one, if he is too young to read YA fiction that depicts war, according to “Darkness Too Visible,” then how does Meghan Cox Gurdon expect young men and women to prepare themselves, and understand the horrors of violence and loss at war? This also demonstrates that this young man was inspired by Sherman Alexie’s autobiographical book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Although this young adult has his differences from Mr. Alexie, he still has his own hardships.

Overall, learning from books can help young readers mature, and understand what they want and need, because they educated themselves through reading. Sherman Alexie wished he could’ve done so, and the students who he talked to, had, so they knew what they wanted to do. Without YA books, I wouldn’t understand the world the way I do. Without them, I wouldn’t know about social issues, and events that were bound to happen to me, such as puberty. Access to young adult fiction should not be limited in any way, because the content is beneficial to the development of young readers.

Non-Fiction Analysis: Why the Best Books Are Written in Blood

    In “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood”  by Sherman Alexie, he responds to the article “Darkness Too Visible” by Meghan Cox Gurdon. Alexie explains his theory that YA fiction is beneficial to those who are suffering. He supports this through a series of real-life examples, including his own experiences from his childhood.

    In “Darkness Too Visible,” Gurdon states that dark young adult novels, that depict traumatic events, such as; rape, abuse and drug addiction can affect those who have dealt with such experiences negatively. Alexie scoffed at this statement, responding with a personal example, “When I think of the poverty-stricken, sexually abused, self-loathing Native American teenager that I was, I can only wish, immodestly, that I’d been given the opportunity to read ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.’ Or Laurie Halse Anderson’s ‘Speak.’ Or Chris Lynch’s ‘Inexcusable.’ Or any of the books that Ms. Gurdon believes to be irredeemable.” Sherman Alexie, having been a broken young adult, wished that he had been able to read YA fiction that may have had graphic content, as a child. He believes that if he had read these books, it would’ve helped him cope with his hardships in a better way, understanding that others had the same issues as he did.

    When Sherman Alexie talked at a conference for high school student, many of them had read his book, and were inspired. Mr. Alexie spoke of his personal struggles growing up, with addiction and mental illness. “Two years ago, I met a young man attending one of the most elite private high schools in the country. He quietly spoke to me in agony What kind of pain could a millionaire’s son be suffering? He hadn’t been physically or sexually abused. He hadn’t ever been hungry. He’d never seen one person strike another in anger. He’d never even been in a funeral. So what was his problem?

‘I want to be a writer,’ he said. ‘But my father won’t let me. He wants me to be a soldier. Like he was.” He was seventeen and destined to join the military. Yes, he was old enough to die and kill for his country. And old enough to experience the infinite horrors of war. But according to Ms. Gurdon, he might be too young to read a YA novel that vividly portrays those very same horrors. ‘I don’t want to be like my father,’ that young man said. ‘I want to be myself. Just like in your book.’” This demonstrates two things; one, if he is too young to read YA fiction that depicts war, according to “Darkness Too Visible,” then how does Meghan Cox Gurdon expect young men and women to prepare themselves, and understand the horrors of violence and loss at war? This also demonstrates that this young man was inspired by Sherman Alexie’s autobiographical book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Although this young adult has his differences from Mr. Alexie, he still has his own hardships.

    Sherman Alexie has written a beautiful article responding to Meghan Cox Gurdon’s article,”Darkness Too Visible,” elaborating on his theory stating that YA fiction helps the suffering mind, opposed to, as Gurdon had stated, deepening the wound; “And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. i write to give them weapons-in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.” He emphasized the emotion through touching stories of young adults who suffer, and how he had suffered.

Response to YA Book 10/20: The Outsiders

                 “The Outsiders” by S.E Hinton is a young adult novel depicting the life of a young “greaser” in 1965. It is a coming of age story of 14-year-old Ponyboy, and his fellow gang members.

            The story is centered on the class difference between the wealthy “socs” and working-class greasers. This may be a possible reason on why this book was challenged; it’s a commentary on a touchy subject that bothered parents. The book also involved underage drinking and smoking, gangs and gang fights, violence, strong language, slang use, an exposé on family dysfunction, obscenities and more. It’s believed that exposure to this material can be harmful towards a child’s mind, however we have to learn these things sooner or later. In the book, Ponyboy runs away from home after being slapped by his brother. Both Ponyboy’s parents are dead, and his two older brothers, one of whom is a high school dropout, are raising him. The three of them are in a dangerous and violent gang, who frequently curse, drink and smoke, although they are underage. They are also contributors to violent and illegal acts, such as gang fights and shoplifting.

            “The Outsiders” is a bildungsroman (my dad told me this word), a coming of age story. In the book Ponyboy and the gang must deal with conflict that helps them mature. This is the theme of the book. At the beginning of the story, Ponyboy is still a child emotionally. He follows his brothers and the gang around, and he doesn’t make his own decisions, although he is an intelligent and sensitive young man. In the middle, he experiences a pivotal moment when he begins to transition into a mature adult, he must learn how to survive by himself, similar to what adults must do. In the end Ponyboy is an adult, he takes care of himself and understands more than the gang.

            There are several reasons for the book being challenged, its overall reason is that in the book kids act up, and this bothers parents. The theme of the book is coming of age.

Baseline Argument Essay: I've Been Homeless for Six Years

            In “I’ve Been Homeless for Six Years”, by Alessandra Potenza, young adults speak about their time living out on the streets. These homeless teens barely make it, unable to find food or shelter. Despite these hardships, they’ve managed to stay more or less healthy, and live. However, there is still homeless youth across the country dealing with these issues, and many more to come. Should the government contribute more to preventing the homeless youth epidemic of the U.S? Although the homeless adolescence has managed, government funding would help them flourish into a stable adult.

            Accordingly, many homeless youth are out on the streets for different reasons, “their parents lost their jobs and can’t pay the rent. Some have run away from poverty, abuse, violence, or alcohol and drug problems, or aged out of the foster care system. Others have come out as gay and been rejected by their families.” Clearly, these individuals have dealt with emotional complications that can be hard to get through. After these teenagers have been tossed out into the streets, they must deal with the difficulty of finding shelter, “A shelter for homeless youth in Seattle assigns available beds by lottery. There are only 4,000 shelter beds for unaccompanied homeless youth across the U.S.” This demonstrates the high demand there is for shelter, but not enough supply for the enormous number of homeless kids.

            Some people, however, overcome these odds. For example, “Joey Perrins-Lane experienced firsthand what it means to be homeless in a smaller city. He was 15 when he found himself on the streets in Eugene, Oregon. His mother kicked him out after discovering he used drugs. With no place to go, he slept on the streets—his first night was in an alley next to an all-night donut shop—and in parks, with a pocket knife to keep him safe. In the morning, he hid his few belongings in the bushes and went to school, where he kept silent about his situation for fear of being kicked out. In August of 2012, in search of a new start, he hitchhiked to Columbus, Ohio, and dropped out of school. Addicted to cocaine and Oxycontin, he slept in abandoned buildings, begging for money during the day. But in Columbus—a city five times as big as Eugene—he also found public transportation, soup kitchens where he could get hot meals instead of dumpster diving, and, eventually, a youth program that helped him get off drugs.” As you can see, Joey Perrins-Lane went through an emotionally challenging transition, but he managed to get through it and fix himself up. Although he had a background of drugs, and got kicked out of the house with barely anything, and no one to talk to about his situation, he eventually got help. Another example, is of a young woman named Apple, “In California, where she was homeless for seven years, she found support in the homeless community itself and felt less isolated.” Apple had been homeless for a long time, but found emotional relief within the homeless community who understood her and was going through what she was going. She’d learned to manage, although she had limitations, as well as Joey Perrins-Lane.

            These young adults have learned to live life although they’ve not had the same opportunities an average American child is offered. These teenagers have managed to learn, and develop emotionally, socially and economically without money. Imagine what they could do with government funding? These limited teenagers could flourish into succeeding adults, if given the chance to with government funding.

            Overall, government funding would be a great start to prevent homeless youth in the U.S. However, although these stories of homeless adolescence are inspiring, they aren’t representative homeless youth. Most others maybe far more limited, and we shouldn’t judge the entire youth homelessness based off of these stories. This is reason to push for more government funding, so these kids will never even end up on the streets, but maybe in a shelter.

Reading Response: Faithful Elephants

               In Faithful Elephants, by Yukio Tsuchiya, World War II has burst forth in Japan. The Ueno zoo, in Tokyo has been ordered to kill all the dangerous animals residing there for safety precautions. These animals include three elephants, John, Tonky and Wanly. The zookeepers must suffer through killing these three faithful elephants. Throughout the story the symbolism and the setting are used to set the tone of fear or hope.

 In the story, symbolism plays a major part in communicating the emotions of the plot. For example, "the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at Ueno zoo. Their petals are falling in the soft to set the tone of breeze and in the sparkling sun." The cherry blossoms are the emotions/tone of the story, the quote suggests that it's peaceful and lovely; there is hope at this time. However, at the end of the story it says, "the cherry blossoms fell on the grave like snowflakes." Snow it cold, and can be hard, the tone is sad and full of fear. Additionally, "squeezing out what little strength they had left, Tonky and Wanly made their appeal. They stood on their hind legs and lifted their front legs up as high as they could. Then, raising their trunks high in the air, they did their banzai trick. Surely their friend would reward them with food and water as he used to." The banzai trick is a symbol of hope for the elephants. Although they are weak, they still have hope for food and for living. Without symbolism, the story wouldn't have the same affect on the reader emotionally.

  

Furthermore, setting also has grave importance to Faithful Elephants. The setting is also a tone setter.  For example, "the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at Ueno zoo." This tells the reader that the story is set in spring, and spring signifies rebirth and hope. Another example is, "Both died leaning against the bars of their cage with their trunks stretched high, still trying to do their banzai trick for the people who once fed them.” The cage is a symbol as well as the setting of these two elephants death. Although a cage is meant to restrain an animal and is sort of a fearful thing, the cage also gave a hint of hope. On the elephant’s last breath, they attempted to make others happy in this cage. The setting has importance to further elaborate the emotions of the event-taking place.

Finally, the setting and the symbolism are both important and are linked together. Many sentences in the story were tied together with symbolism and setting. Without the two, the sentiment wouldn't have been communicated properly, and it wouldn't have fit well. For example, "Bombs were dropped on Tokyo every day and night, like falling rain." Tokyo is the victim of the falling bombs of death, fear and confusion.

Overall, throughout the story the symbolism and the setting are used to set the tone of fear of hope. Without these two aspects, the communication to elaborate the sentiment would not have been properly executed.

Summer Reading Response: 33 Minutes

                      33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy, is a coming of age novel about Sam Lewis, the smartest seventh grader in middle school. Sam is going to get his butt-kicked by his former best friend Morgan at recess, in 33 minutes. As the novel opens, the titular countdown to the moment when Morgan is scheduled to beat up Sam has begun. Sam and Morgan used to be the bestest of friends until the new kid Chris drives them apart. Todd Hasak-Lowy depicts middle school perfectly in a comical way.    

Despite the fact that Sam Lewis and Morgan Sturzts were best friends since elementary school, Sam has managed to make Morgan hate him, accidentally. Sam was just being himself, smart. When I read this, I thought it was true to middle school. Some people don’t realize, but there is a sort of coolness to not being the smartest kid in the grade, although this is not entirely true at MS 51, there is still a sense of this. Another example of how perfectly Todd Hasak-Lowy depicts middle school, is the way he captures the awkwardness of being thirteen. Although he is an adult writer, he remembers what it’s like being in middle school. As a teenager, I find that anything that involves social interaction, awkward. In school, there is a sort of social hierarchy. As demonstrated in the novel, there are the popular kids/ jocks, the sixth graders, the seventh graders and the kids like Sam. It’s sort of like the movie “Mean Girls” if you think about it.

Overall, Todd Hasak-Lowy captures the friendship, awkwardness and social life of middle school perfectly. I would recommend this book to elementary school students so they can understand how 
middle school works.