... My people, myself was one of six children who grew up on a reserve just north of the town Vernon in British Colombia. Mary Lawrence lived with her mother and 5 siblings. Mary also lived near her Grandmother whom she loved dearly. The house in which Mary and her family lived in was old and rundown. Furthermore, the house had no electricity and running water. The family cooked using ... the penalty was fairly stiff for a pretty minor offence. In this instance the judge also failed to consider cultural factors in the sentencing process. This book also opened my own eyes to the native issue...

• Word Count: 2079
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... it was all he could do to contain himself. He could not wait to try and skateboard. Xan and I got along pretty well and I thought it would be fun for him to play around with the skateboard. As time went on and I ... a lot more than a baby-sitter. I will attempt to describe his brief and tumultuous six years of life. Xan lived in Fresno with his mother and father in a small two-bedroom home with his younger sister and an older female cousin (Ollie, age 1 and Chaim, age11). ... was the greatest gift he had ever received. Every time he came over, he would bring his skateboard and I would ...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... enthusiasm went straight to shame. My mother answered for him and said, por el tren, by train. So I then laughed and asked how much tickets were going for back then, once again my mother called me metiche. I still did not understand, it took a few ... with people being here illegally. He then began to tell me that he left his small town of Mexicali. Mexicali is a small city in Mexico that borders the United States. This is where most the refugees come from. When he left Mexicali, ... exciting. They then wanted another boy, and so they tried once more, but this time they had another gir...

• Word Count: 2440
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... quot; Lila replied, a little confused by the announcement. "You, Lila!" Nick replied, grinning ear to ear. Lila giggled while her checks filled with a pretty pink blush. Her reply to him was, you never know. Seven years later the handsome, now-21-year-old Nick had his prayers answered! Nick over the years ... kept up on Lila through family and friends. One day while visiting a near-by town, Nick saw her strolling down the street. His heart fluttered as it did that night so long ago. He started to run after her as she ... of fresh baked goods and brewing coffee. Theirs was a place that ...

• Word Count: 1602
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School