... Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson introduces the tale of Melinda Sordino launching her freshman year of high school concealing a dreadful secret. Melinda struggles throughout her school year withstanding a flashback and battling her lack of voice, frightened to share her secret. She was raped by Andy Evans, a popular senior, the summer before starting high school. Laurie Halse Anderson ... uses the motifs of mouth, lips, and trees to develop Melinda's character throughout the novel. The motif of mouth is used to develop Melinda's character throughout the novel. It refers to Melinda's lack of ...

• Word Count: 548
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... He was always top of his class, and rather than spending his time out with friends or with his family he spent his time with books and notes. Initially, this approach makes Rodriguez stand out as an exceptional student, but as time goes on, he becomes an outsider both at home and in school ... class family background and when he starts school is thrust into a totally new environment. Where the chaos of a working class home is gone and the boy is surrounded by a sort of, "mental calm," (Rodriguez 548). The instructors at his school "emphasize the value of reflection that opens a space bet...

• Word Count: 1139
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... hour at a time [or] get to sneak into Rowsell's store on the way back." Miss Ralston also has a certain amount of courage, for she surprises everyone by saying, "I'll think about that, and I'll let you know next Friday." The teacher is respected and therefore is not punished for what she said, but Alma ... might get to carry the water, they had to do everything in their power to stop it." Alma and her friends got ink balls in their hair, nasty notes, were tripped while going down the aisle, and locked in the outhouse. Through all this though, the girls "stuck to [Alma] like burrs." "Inste...

• Word Count: 1283
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

In his essay, "Notes of a Native son- James Baldwin discusses his relationship between himself and his father. Even though growing up in a household with both parents may have its advantages, however ... his father's bitterness and inability to show love to his children because of the years of built up frustration and anger at the injustice that he was subject to by the white community. "The only white people who came to our house were welfare workers and bill collectors. It was almost always my mother who dealt with them, ... his pride, was never to be trusted. It was clear that he felt the...

• Word Count: 796
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Title: Farm Team Author: Will Weaver Pages: 400 The book Farm Team by Will Weaver is one of the better books I have been able to read this past year. The setting is revealed as the book begins. It takes place the ... cares about him rather than the team he plays for. He criticizes Billy, and his collection of no-name baseball talents he assembles at his farm field. Also Coach Anderson, who Billy left out in the cold to put it in harsh terms, is very stubborn and tries to hold him back once he learns of the team he ... , Mavis, a lemon and won't do anything about it when the car breaks down. W...

• Word Count: 882
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... hospital, the police found the Internet IP address and found out that the location of it is in Lara and Bree's neighborhood. Lara didn't want to speak so when the police question Lara, Sydney, her little sister in 7th grade told the police about Lara's former friendship with Bree Connors. The police soon ... everything between had to be kept a secret. As you can see there are lots of conflicts in my book, Backlash. 6) My personal reaction to Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman is very serious. I enjoyed the book because it teaches the reader so much. This book gives an inside look on what h...

• Word Count: 2400
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . Josephine also has a number of self-esteem issues that manifest themselves throughout the novel in her perceptions of the world. These issues are further complicated by her family situation. Issues that are dealt with include: Role of The Family Josie is searching to discover the true nature of her family history. She ... comes to learn that much of what she has been told in incorrect. A number of issues that both she and her mother deal with are explained by some of her family circumstances. Her grandmother, father and mother all have a significant amount to teach her about herself an...

• Word Count: 2256
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... nameless throughout the novel, was only able to discover herself with the help of Mary Fortune. Not only does the main character live a life defined by others, but she also does not know how to express herself and is not confident and unable to be at ease around others of opposite sex. ... grown wiser, I wished for dresses like those my friend Lonnie had, bought at Beale's store." (Munro 1) An example of when she lives a life defined by others is when her mother is making a red dress. The girl does not like the red dress, but does not express her sentiments to her mother. With the ... d...

• Word Count: 1190
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The novel, "Hate List," by Jennifer Brown is written from the point of view of teenager, Valerie Leftman whose boyfriend, Nick Levil, opened fire in a school cafeteria filled with students and faculty; he then turned ... how something perceived as an innocent act at the time can lead to serious consequences. When Valerie helped write the hate list she didn't realise that somebody could get hurt by it, she never even thought that anybody would read it. I was surprised how such an innocent act could result in such a monstrosity such as the school shooting. Valerie "may ... ...

• Word Count: 760
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

You could literally spot the shooting sparks coming from her eyes. This is why everyone considered her a live wire. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard explains how children may struggle with adolescence and growing up. When growing up is already hard enough, Annie explains in great detail how moving can take a toll on a ... , as if pushed." Different emotions flying at her any second of any minute can make someone feel bipolar and confused with what decisions to make. She could calm herself easier by doing multiple things, sometimes it was eating and sometimes it was singing. "I discov...

• Word Count: 708
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Looking Backward A Novel by Edward Bellamy How would you feel if one day you woke up and you were in a completely different world from what you were used to? I know that it would be ... I would not have any time to really focus on my studies. Sometimes I would not even get home from out of town games until eleven or twelve o"clock at night and by that point I was way too tired to do any homework. In Bellamy's world I would probably participate in a school activity an hour a day for a couple days a week and that would be ... ...

• Word Count: 1738
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Frost In the "Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, up until the last stanza the poem appeared to be concerning only on the choice between two roads in a woods. The final stanza, however, gave a significance to the ... ...

• Word Count: 462
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... moving into a house down the street from Cedar Wood Elementary which was reasonably close to Gateway. My 6th grade year started with me walking into the gym and being astounded by the sheer number of kids that where there sitting in the bleachers. I walked in and sat down on an empty row with my dad. We sat through the Welcome/Welcome ... back speech made by Mr. Peters, the principle of the school, before he took us all on the tour of the school. Looking back it seemed everyone was just as nervous as I was because ... it again. As the weeks passed Chris and I stopped being losers and s...

• Word Count: 862
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... elementary school and his high school year. Peter seems to be pleased with his decision in preparing for a shooting at Sterling High School, however he had no one to be by his side; he was alone. Peter's loneliness lead him to the unexpected. You may think you know someone, but discover an outrageous action they have done that changes your opinion ... whatever scraps of your child you still could in what he had become Lacy was not planning to let go of her son"" (Picoult 125-126) Lacy was as traumatized by her son's actions as much as anyone else was. Either way, Peter was still her son...

• Word Count: 1341
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Learning by Doing Learning is a skill of gaining knowledge to be used in ones everyday life. As a senior in college, I have learned many lessons on learning. If I had worked more outside the ... of the biggest incidents I have been through is repeating an animal science class. If I had applied myself, for excellence in education, I would have done better in my studies. I faced loopholes by not applying myself towards the subject. Through repeating the class, I have gained a better outlook on learning. I did not read the assigned topics; as a result, I faced many hardships. Many of my ... CA...

• Word Count: 342
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... you eat, her mother would say" (pg. 62). Louise's mother was the first person to warn her about her weight. She was constantly being watched by her mother, which made Louise feel uncomfortable which eventually led to her secretive eating. Her mother was worried about her daughter's weight, not for her health's ... and stop hiding whenever she wants to eat. With the good help and encouragement from Carrie, Louise had gone down from 184 lbs to 155 lbs by Christmas. This goes to show, with good people in your surroundings, you are able to conquer it all, even your largest troubles. A spouse...

• Word Count: 927
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... to conclude that when Dylan and Eric are a pair, Eric's killer psychopath instinct and Dylan's suicidal mind will result in horrific violence. By failing to include an unbiased amount of information on the possible causes of the shooters, he completely fails at his attempt to provide a ... complete answer to the question. The American Theater Company's production of "Columbinis," answers the questions that Cullen did not. Originally written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, "Columbinis" exposes the many social issues of high school students as well as the "before and after " of ... manl...

• Word Count: 1619
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... their Tucson home to the uncivilized South American country, Codi is so distraught and does not know how to live without her younger sister. As said by Codi, "Our home fell apart when she [Hallie] left- (Kingsolver 10). Because of Codi's inability to live in Tucson without her sister, she ... important because they help each woman relate to one another. Discussing problems with another woman allows for closeness and for a deep relationship to occur. As noted by Paul Gray, Barbara Kingsolver's novel contains a theme of eco-feminism; a kind, gentle type of writing with women relying on the...

• Word Count: 1050
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of those things that develop as we grow. I believe that in was somewhere in the middle of my sophomore year that I took a true stand and vow to live my life by a group of values I had set for myself. Like many other students in high school, I too experimented with alcohol, mostly due to peer pressure, which I never believed existed until today ... friends however were ready to go out only a few days after our return. Not knowing what else to do, and still being young enough to be afraid to take a stand by myself, I joined them. I remember that night like it was yesterday. We were sittin...

• Word Count: 903
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The Story: Carrie always gets teased by her classmates and one day she gets her first period in the shower after physical education. Her mother has never told her about periods and so she thinks she's bleeding ... and Queen of the Prom-Night. When Carrie takes place in the chair, the defrosted pig-blood falls down at her and everything is coverd in blood. Tommy gets hitten by a piece of metal and drops dead. Everybody laughes at Carrie and she runs out of the hall. But then she returns and with her telekinetic power she switches on the ... happened, but it's too late: Carrie dies in the woo...

• Word Count: 734
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Rose 155). Overall, students in the vocational track at his high school were not interested in learning and were not positively motivated to do so by any of the faculty members. Students became accustomed to being humiliated and punished if they made mistakes in the classroom. Rose later finds out that ... author would be non-existent if McFarland did not influence him in the ways he did. "Looking for Work" is a story told by Gary Soto about his childhood life and how he wished to live like the families that he watched on television. Soto narrates the story as his ... with people that ...

• Word Count: 1263
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the school integrated successfully without any trouble, and volunteering in the community during the summer. Eddie Rake proves himself a good man by contributing to the community in more ways than one. First, he holds fishing rodeos for underprivileged children with no fathers. This shows Coach Rake's true character and how he does ... coach youth teams during the summer. The only time Coach Rake had off from coaching was during the summer he spent by coaching younger kids in a youth league which exemplifies his goodness. Coach Rake confirms that he is a good man by taking his own time...

• Word Count: 721
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Arlington Robinson, Carl Sandburg, and Robert Frost all explore the complications of modern life. One of the prominent European American poems is Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening". (Jackson 9-11) Robert Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874. Frost lived most of his life ... in New England. Many of Frost's poems were influenced by New England. After his father's death in 1885, when young Frost was 11, the family left California and settled in Massachusetts. Frost attended high school in ... his poems. Most importantly Robert Frost concerns himself with ...

• Word Count: 1464
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... is introduced is the Gordon high school classrooms, in particular, Mr. Ross's History Class. Introduced Mood The mood that is introduced is the tension between Laurie and her boyfriend David - sensitive vs. clinical, conformity vs. individualism. I think the first chapter is quite short and to the point. It gives ... was the thing they needed all along to concentrate and do well. Chapter 6 Summary To begin the day, Mr. Ross left his Japanese history notes in the car, which resulted in him being late to class. He was surprised to see all of his students standing stiffly beside their desk...

• Word Count: 1479
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... told his idea to his class. He announced the group, and he had a pretty good turnout. They called the group that wave and they made a handshake, and a symbol. Laurie a girl in Ben Ross's class joined the wave at first and was in it for a while, but she saw that it was becoming way too serious. She decided to drop ... down the proper position. Ben Ross thought that his experiment was going really good. All the kids were really taking it serious and he was enjoying it too. Laurie who quit the group saw that everyone was in the wave and she was on the staff of the Gordon Grapevine the school...

• Word Count: 631
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School