Journal #7

Journal #7
Alexis Espinoza
Choice C: So far, is this a novel about race? Class? Gender? Coming of Age? Place? Select and defend your answer.

Throughout the novel I think it mainly has to do with race and maybe class. Class is maybe for me because it doesn’t really matter if you’re poor in that time period because people didn’t look at the amount of money you had but by the color of your skin. Gender does not matter in the book at the moment but besides Scout and how she acts. The place which is Maycomb is mainly like any other place in the south throughout the time period. The coming of age doesn’t matter because in the book right now you see that Jem Dill and Scout realize many things that are happening that they never realized before. For example the racism, the hatred, and the cause and effects things happening in everyday life in Maycomb.
The main thing that I’m getting at is that race is an important deal in that time. In Chapter twenty I found out that Mr. Doulphus Raymond is a white guy who is “Drunk” all the time but he actually acts like he is, to hang out with the Negroes. He doesn’t care if they are black but he prefers blacks than whites as he likes their personality. Another example is when Jem and Scout and Dill end up sitting with the Negroes in the court, as they stick out and it shows that it doesn’t matter how you look or what color you are it matters how you act inside.
Also it’s about race because the whites in Maycomb treat the blacks as trash and don’t appreciate the things they do to help them. The only white people who like black’s are Atticus the kids and also Mr. Raymond. In the court most of the people in the court are white which gives them the upper hand and upper voice to be heard in the court.
The court ruled Tom Robinson who is black; guilty of course as like I said most of the whites in Maycomb do not APPRECIATE the blacks. I think also the blacks just play it cool like Atticus and they all respected him because of his personality and not the color of his skin.

Austyns response to his blog 3, 4,5

Blog #3
I like how austyn goes in to depth with some of the characters
I think he should work on feeling and using his sense for the character

Blog #4
I like how he takes on the perspective of mrs dubose and tells the reader how she feels about atticus and the characters in the books.
he describes with thought
Austyn you should work on grammer a bit and adding more information

Blog #5
I like how you add a enthusiasm to your blog.
I like how you describe the details in that chapter.
I think you should work on cooling down the enthusiasm because you use it than you go low with your tone than high than low. I think you should change with one tone.

Blog 6

C. How do you think the story (what you read so far) would have changed if Scout and Jem had a mother present in their lives? Would it change for the better or for the worse? Explain your thoughts.

I think it depends how the Mom would be raising the children at the moment like there would be a different influence in their life.

If their mother was like Aunt Alexandra or most Maycomb women. They would probably agree that their father shouldn't defend Tom Robinson. The reason why I say that is because the type of influence that is in their life. They'd also probably be racist to negroes. I'd imagine the mom almost the same as Atticus, because I doubt Atticus in the first place would be with a women whose racist or any type of disrespectful actions. Things would change as Aunt Alexandra wouldn't have come to live with them. Another good thing is that the femine influence on Scout and the grown up influence on Jem would come in effect, because Atticus is away a lot and she could take care of Scout and Jem. I know Calpurnia usually takes the motherly role which is good because it makes Scout and Jem less racist but the book wouldn't have a good climax anymore if the mom was alive. I think that Calpurnia symbolizes more than a mom or guardian to Atticus as she takes care of them beyond a mom (hard to explain). But than again I believe Scout and Jem would become even better children with the mom being there.

In conclusion it really depends on how Scout and Jem's mother was. Like I said it depends on the influence she would give.

Journal #5
Chapters 12-14
Perspective: Atticus

These last couple of days have been hectic. Aunt Alexandra has moved in. She thinks I’m a disgrace to our family. When I saw her face with a pensive look she just reminded me of one the people who call me lover of the Negroes. She seems to be treating my kids like a peace of trash. I'm now barely noticing that she hasn't aprciated the fact that our family has provided her with food, money, and a family. Without us she would be on the streets, but she's family and I love her still. Since I have acquired the case of Tom Robinson, people throughout Maycomb have been spitting out words of hate. Anywhere I go, I see adults calling me lover of the Negroes and despite the fact that they all antagonize I just do not know what to do each day. Than again they never appreciate their life. Part of the neighborhood in Maycomb always wants to be infallible. I know that they do not want me to win this case, but once my client and I emerge victorious I shall prove a point. People should not be judged, even for their harsh mistakes they have made in the past. A few days later I leave my house to go to my office and to read over my case. I hear shouts and sorrow and smell that this riot was here for the flesh of Tom Robinson. I knew that if I lose this case the life of Tom would be in much more danger. With tomorrow being the court case I had to say what I have to say to all of the discrimanters. Throughout the night my daughter and son come out of nowhere, I told my son to leave but he wouldn’t budge. I knew that he was growing up but things are beginning to change. As we walk back I just patted his head and began to remember the happy memories of when Scout and Jem were younger and when my wife was alive.

Journal #4

Journal #4
Chapters 10, 11 & 12
Perspective: Jem

Dear Diary,
A few days ago when I was walking home from school with Scout, I had this feeling about this crazy thing I felt like someone was going to show something I have never seen before. A few minutes later I remembered I saw this crazy possessed dog, he reminded me of Boo Radley. The dog with his evil movements and Boo stabbing his dad with scissors seemed to relate well. I could not imagine what the dog was going to do. I quickly ran to Calpurnia to show her what was happening. She freaked out, she yelled in terror, her perplexity way of reacting to this situation was different. I knew my papa or someone would come and save the day. My papa came I few minutes later and I felt relieved as I felt like I was about to isolated by the dog. My papa came out with a sheriff named Mr. Tate, I saw them debating but I did not know why. I came a little closer to my papa and boom my papa shot that dog, I acquainted the way he shot at the dog. It reminded myself of me when I shot at birds but I can not believe my papa did not tell why he was called Old one shot.
Another thing I remembered was that nasty Mrs. Dubose. She reminded me of a monster with all that saliva coming out of her mouth with that old wrinkle skin of hers, I could smell her evilness inside of her she was a cruel lady. She called my papa a nigger lover and since she messed with my papa she messes with me. I just took my anger out on her dang plants. As Scout was watching I knew that I she thought that I was fanatical at that time. I could not control my self. I got caught unfortunately I felt hate throughout the air as the way she called my papa that name, and my sister to dress nicely as she did not appreciate us. My nasty punishment was to enter to the house of doom and read to Mrs. Dubose. As I entered I smelt the word of grouchiness. As I began to read I could not imagine what she was thinking. I just wanted to throw this book at her nasty face while her saliva was coming out. I few more days later I found out she died, I received this book I did not know whether to throw it in the fire or not. I opened it and it contained a flower. I realized that she still has a good heart within her. I just threw the box at the fire for Scout would not notice I have feelings.
For the first time I entered a church full of negroes I could not imagine what they thought of us. I said to Calpurnia, “I don’t think I belong here.” She replied with a “Why boy, maybe its because your people are so dang mean to us negroes.” I thought for a while and saw people looking at us I felt as if I were in a cage with an audience torturing me. I realized that they feel the same with us when they are in the town of Maycomb trying to buy something. I just never realized that when I grow up I could become a torturer of the Negroes. Now I know how they are feeling. I think I have to realize more things and be mature. I have to entrust with my father more.

journal #3

Journal #3
Chapters 8 & 9
Perspective: Atticus

Hello,
I wish that life could slow down a bit. I have my little daughter (Scout) who is growing up quickly and I have my boy Jem changing little by little. I now have a case where I have to defend a negro whom some people in Maycomb seem to hate any type of negroes. As they always torment the Negroes in Maycomb. The unanimous decision of Cecil Jacobs is the main source of anger that people feed off of because of his hate towards the Negroes. The quibbling neighborhood throughout Maycomb keeps calling me the Nigger lover. I just do not want my kids to interfere and get hurt. I myself do not hate Negroes they are normal people just like us. I do not think its right that people like Negroes get hurt every time they walk out their own house. I want to step up and show the rest of Maycomb that everyone should have equal rights. I'm trying to to be a chameleon and avoid Cecil Jacobs, I also want my kids to evade him too. I want my kids to understand that Boo Radley is a helpful person and to stop listening to those frod stories about him, and that he's changed. After all he gave my kids that blanket while they were freezing, they need to grow up faster but I still want them to be my little kids. I think Boo is scared of us since we are scared of him. I know deep down Boo has a good person in him. I feel that Maycomb is losing most respect for everyone in the neighborhood. My kids are losing respect also. I still doubt I would win because of the racism around Maycomb. Although things might get tough with all the hatred I will succeed this challenge. I will show to my kids that life might get tough but you need to stay in the battle.

Journal #2

Journal #2
Chapters 4-7
Perspective: Jem
5/7/2010

The past couple of days I have been irked by Scout alot. I just wish I can get a muzzle and shut her up. Scout is always getting into my business and talking alot and loud which almost gets me in trouble. One good thing that ended up happening is that Dill returned. Me and Dill tried to give a note to Boo Radley the last couple of days but we were intimidated as we saw his shadow and we also got caught by our father Atticus. I just can not take the fact that Atticus is always watching what I do. I just need to persevere my mission which is to give the note to Boo Radley. Last night we snuck into the Radleys yard to see Boo. We saw his malevolent shadow looking at us. The weird thing is that when we ran out the house Mrs Atkins told us that Nathan Radley heard things in his yard and shot to send a warning fire. I thought to myself if he was trying to get me. As I began to go run back and get my pants from the yard Scout starts to tell me that Nathan was looking for us to kill us. I stopped to think and did not go get the pants it's either I live and go home or die.

The next day I found out that Mr Radley found my pants but he did not know who they belong to so he left them there. Scout started a new grade which is second grade she still did not like school but I told her that we had to have a compromise that school is not hard its fun. When I was walking home with Scout I saw Nathan Radley put these two vodo dolls that looked like me and Scout, I asked him why are they inside the knothole he replied and he said that the knothole was dying. I thought he was lying at first but than I thought I was not so sure that he liked us at all.

Journal #1 TKAM

Alexis Espinoza
Journal #1
Chapters 1-3
Perspective of Scout
April/30th/2010



I think that going to school is unfair. My papa just wants me to get an education to become somthing smart like him. Half those kids at my school are just plain out nutheads. Miss Caroline thinks that my papa should stop reading with me. She doesn't know that he actually does read with me. Besides it's not even my fault that the other half of the class is dumb and behind, it's their fault for not reading at a young age like me. The first day of school like always is a rough start. Miss Caroline is such a malevolent person. I feel really irked that she has control of me at school. I just can't wait to go back and give another beating to that Walter Cunningham. I espicially did not like the fact that the dirty little Walter Cunningham had to eat with us, it's not my fault he's poor, I'm just happy that I beat up that boy to teach him a lesson. I can not believe that Atticus let him eat all our food, yeah yeah I know that he was the guest but he has no respect. Noone even likes me at my school, I have no friends and my teacher hates that I'am smarter than everyone in my grade.
Me and my brother met a new kid on the block named Dill. I found out that he's living with his aunt for now and that he came from meridian. He seems to be a very interesting kid. The thing about him that is interesting is that he's smaller than me and he's seven. I only saw him for a few days but now he went back to meridian for a bit. He looks like they kept him in cage like Boo Radley and never fed that boy. I think that my brother and that boy Dill are just big babies. I dont know why they are scared of that Boo Radley. I just want to go in there and take a peak. They say that he stabbed his dad with scizzors and that he threatned to kill his parents. I think that what my brother was saying was a big joke just to intimidate me. My dad says that my pronouncements are wise and truthful but I feel condescended to go to school.
It's really unfair also that my brother has control of me also like Culpurnia. That lady is always hitting me, I don't understand why I get in trouble I'm just a little girl. She is just some lady who acts like a mom and beats me whenever I do something "wrong" but I still like her as she cares for me atleast. My momma passed away when I was two I still wonder what kind of mom she was, I also wonder how I would be like if momma did not pass away.
Oh man do I want to go to the court where my papa works. He always says that I'am going to get him in trouble or get him embaressed but deep down I know he loves me. I wonder how the life of a lawyer is like.

StormBreaker, By Anthony Horowitz, POST 3

NAME- Alexis Espinoza DATE- February
BOOK- Stormbreaker
AUTHOR- Anthony Horowitz PAGES- Book is finished.
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK- Book is finished.

QUESTION 1:12. Do you think you would read another book by this author? Why or why not?

RESPONSE 1: I would not recommend this book to anyone, neither to read another book from this author. The reason I would not recommend this book or read another book from this author is because, the action in the book Stormbreaker goes to fast than it doesn't go down to the conclusion until the very end of the book. The climax basically started in the first few chapters. As the author Anthony Horowitz did not describe the characters that much, and the book was in a narrator's perspective. The narrator's perspective id say was not that great, they were not that detailed with the characters and the scenarios. Overall I did enjoy the book until the end as it got boring and I wanted to stop reading but I couldn't. I would rate the book a 7/10 as I said earlier in the blog why I'm saying that. I might think twice of reading another book but I'm not sure. I know that there is a sequel, which I may read maybe, maybe not.


QUESTION 2:10. What advice would you give to a particular character? Why?

RESPONSE 2: Some advice that I would have given to a particular character would be Mr. Sayle. The reason I'm saying that is because, his plans were kind of obvious of what he wanted to do with the stormbreaker program. I say he should have had some type of security camera to watch each move of Alex, than Mr. Sayle would have caught Alex red handed. Some other advice I would give to another certain character would be Alex the reason why is because, he should have not have done the mission. He could have died and ended up not dying.

StormBreaker, By Anthony Horowitz, POST 2

NAME- Alexus Espinoza DATE- Febuary 10th, 2010
BOOK- Stormbreaker
AUTHOR- Anthony Horowitz PAGES 70-144
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK- 74 Pages

QUESTION 1: 17. If you could change one thing in the book, what would it be? Why would you change it?

RESPONSE 1: In the book, something that I would change would be is the storyline. The storyline as I said in my recent blog has a good climax from the beginning, but there is no rising action. To me it seems like the story is still at the climax and it probably won't go down to a conclusion. I would change the way Alex interacts with Mr. Sayle, what more does Alex think of him? mainly I would change the detail. The chapters go to fast and are not that detailed. When I read the part where Alex talked with Mr. Sayle, the conversation between them was just about the program "Storm breaker" and thats it. Alex didn't really talk much. Also the perspective is in 3rd person, as it is told by a narrator. If it were told by Alex there would be more action. Like in the part as I said where Alex and Mr. Sayle talk it would be good if the author as I said wrote more in the perspective of Alex.

QUESTION 2: 16. Which character would you like (or not like) to be your friend? Why?

RESPONSE 2: I would say Mr. Sayle because he seems to be a two face person. What I mean is that sooner or later he may back stab you. He seems like an untrustworthy person. The way he seems to be lying to Alex that the Storm Breaker program will not cause any damage. Also he seems like he is using every of his employees than he ends up telling someone to kill the employee. As a friend I wouldn't like to be lied to, and not have someone try and kill me.
A friend that I would like to have is Alex Rider. He is a good person, he helps out alot of people. Right now, he is helping find out what is the deal with the Storm Breaker. He looks like he will always have his friends back and is fearless. The reason why I know he would have his friends back is because he is on a mission to first find out about the program Storm breaker which he is than courageous to actually step up and do it, second is that he is also on a mission to find his uncles killer. So if like people mess with his friends he would be there, just like he is there for his family.

StormBreaker, By Anthony Horowitz

NAME- Alexis Espinoza DATE- February 3, 2010
BOOK- Stormbreaker
AUTHOR- Anothony Horowitz PAGES 1-70
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK- 70 pages, reading 75 pages each blog, which adds up to almost 222 pages.

QUESTION 1:14. What other character(s) beside the main character is really important to the story? How and why?

RESPONSE 1: At the moment, I think the character Alan Blunt is important because, he was the one whose Alex Riders uncle worked for; Ian Rider. The book right now is starting to build up to the climax because in the beginning I found out that Ian Rider had died. Ian Rider was in a car crash, but that was a lie until later in the book Alex finds out someone shot him, multiple times. Ian Rider was on a mission for Alan Blunt to go undercover to go find out what Darrius Sayle is up to. Now Alex Rider is taking the responsibility to finish up the mission that Ian Rider didn't. The mission is called Stormbreaker. As Mr Sayle is giving away free computers with a file named stormbreaker that contains a virus, and is going to go all over London, and hack thru security systems. Alan Blunt is really important because he knows how to get through securitys and is preparing Alex to get ready to go undercover. Without Alan, Alex would have gone back to America, but Alan is kind of blackmailing Alex. If Alex helps Alan, Alan helps Alex to stay in London. Another thing is that Alan controls the mission he knows where to go and where not to go, as he plans out everything. Also he is training Alex for becoming an undercover spy.


QUESTION 2:8. What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was he/she right or wrong to do that?

RESPONSE 2: Well I think Alan should not prepared have Alex for this mission. The reason I think its wrong is because Alan is putting Alex's life in danger, just like his uncle. On the otherhand since Alex wanted to stay in London and not go back to America, its Alex's fault also. I think also that Alex is brave enough to go to the training camp and finish off the mission for his uncle. Right now he just finished the camp and is heading back to Alan Blunt leader of the M16's.

Books

The book at the moment that I would like to read is Storm Breaker by Anthony Horowitz, as its an action adventure book. I'am a person who likes an type of action adventure type of books. Such as The Alchemist, The life of Pi had a great adventure parts and those want to make me keep on reading. My second book as I'am not sure yet on which to read, is the Final Warning, I heard that it has a mixture of mythical creatures which I like. I have also seen many good reviews on both. At the moment I'am planning on reading Storm Breaker.