Reading Response #5

Reading Response

            In the book it’s Kind of a Funny story By Ned Vizzini, the main character Craig is very depressed and checked into a rehabilitation center. When his parents come to visit him at the rehab center they are not at all surprised about the whole idea. They even think that it’s cool in some way. This really reflects poorly on Craig. If they are not at all surprised he is depressed then he must have been very obvious about it.

            In the story I line that stood out to me was this. “This place is sort of cool, the people are really interesting”. Craig’s dad said this and it proves exactly what I was saying.  Before Craig checks himself into a rehabilitation center, he smokes pot and throws up. He was very stressed from all the schoolwork he has to do. In the story (and his real life) he goes to Stuyvesant, a real school that is known for having a lot of hard work and being extremely challenging.

            Craig has Two main friends I the story, Aaron and Nia. Aaron is almost a semi-perfect Craig. Aaron got into Stuyvesant without even lifting a finger while Craig had to work his butt off. Nia is Aaron’s girlfriend. Craig is in love with her. This is another place where Aaron beats Craig. This all adds to Craig’s serious depression.

            In conclusion, Craig is completely overwhelmed with his life. He can’t deal with it. He almost kills himself right before he checks himself into a rehab center. This is a serious issue In his life.

            

Drummer Boy of Shiloh Reading Response

Theme Reading Response

Martin Drob 811

         In the Story I’m ready “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Joby is going through a self-esteem issue.I think that Joby is definitely experiencing what most people my age are going through. Many people his age (14) are dealing with issues like self-confidence and self-esteem. I think he is definitely going through this himself. This changes over the course of the story though.

         On page 50, Joby says (thinks) “ Me, thought the boy, I got only a drum, two sticks to beat and no shield”. This quote definitely shows he doesn’t think he is an importance to the war. He looks at all he real soldiers and thinks he isn’t one of them. I totally understand where he is coming from. I haven’t dealt with wars, but whenever I see my brothers, they are both successful and make a lot of money I always think to myself “I hope I become like them”. In this regard I am definitely like Joby.

         The thing that snaps Joby out of this self-confidence issue is meeting and speaking to the general. The general insures Joby that he is important to the war. One time he says, “You are the heart of this war” I think this definitely helps Joby with this issue especially coming from a General. The General even tells him (Joby) that he will become the general after this war.

         In conclusion this character undergoes serious change through out this story. I think that the change he went through is something many teenagers go through even now. Feelings and emotions are timeless. I think that this is one of the most important elements of the story.