Reading Response (Last of second quarter)

Reading Response

I am reading the book When You Reach Me By Rebecca Stead. The main character, Miranda lives with her mom in a small apartment in Manhattan. Her mother is single and is a paralegal. She is preparing to go on a show called “20,000 $ Pyramid.” Miranda has been receiving letters from an unnamed character. These letters describe events before they happen. The first letter explained that Miranda’s mom was going to go on a TV Show called “20,000 $ Pyramid.” She received this letter a few weeks before her mother even received a letter from the TV show.

Another thing that strikes me odd about the book is a character called “The Laughing man” who appears to be a little bit crazy and who lives outside of Miranda's apartment and sleeps with his head under the mailbox. Miranda used to have a best friend named “Sal”, but their friendship oddly ended when a man in a green army coat punched Sal when they were walking back home from school.

She also receives another note that contains 3 things that will come true. One is about stolen bread rolls in Colin's backpack, the second is about the inscription on the first-edition of A Wrinkle in Time that she'll receive for Christmas, and the third is about the postcard that begins the novel. I think these details make this story interesting. I cant wait to find out who this “Secret person” is. 

Reading response #4 (Marking Period 2)

Reading Response

Question- is the main character life fair? Why or why not?

            In the book I’m reading “Teen Angst nahhhh” by Ned Vizzini there aren’t too many social issues, more like social confrontations. We follow Ned, the main character while he explains chapters in his adolescence and social encounters he finds himself running into.

            I do think Ned’s life is fair though. He has a middle class family that lives in park slope and attends a very good public school (Stuyvesant) in the city and has good grades. The one awkward and potentially very bad thing about him is that he is very socially awkward and can’t handle talking to potentially any girl or boy. He devotes most of his time thinking about well, himself. He also is very studious and described the training regiment he did everyday to prepare for the shsat to get into Stuyvesant.

            In conclusion I do believe Ned’s life is very fair but somewhat bland. He takes pride in his smarts but he doesn’t have a social life. All he does that involves other human beings is playing this card game called “Magic: The Gathering” which doesn’t require to do much talking. I think Ned’s Narcissism also butts into his social life. Over all Ned's life is very easy compared to other books, this book doesn't deal with that many social issues, its more about how to deal with social confrontation if you are shy or bad with talking.

            

Social Action Reading Response

Social Action Reading Response

            In the book I am reading called “Small Steps” by Luis Sachar, there is a huge way that justice is conveyed in the text. The main character Armpit served a year at a penitentiary called “Camp Green Lake”. Every day they make u dig one hole to “teach you character”. The reason that they were digging holes was so that the evil camp director could find a treasure chest left by there by her great great grandma.

            Armpit served time because he had gotten mixed up in a fight with a few other teens because that had tripped him and made fun of him and that provoked him. He hardly did anything, but immediately they arrested him because of his skin color. I think that justice was found at the end of “small steps” because Armpit eventually became famous for saving a famous singers life.

            Overall, Armpit didn’t deserve the things that were “struck” upon him. He should have been sent to a penitentiary. Or his friend X-Ray shouldn’t have used him. Armpit ends up winning and that too me is a very big sign of justice “being served”.

Social Awareness Project

Social Awareness Project

By Martin Drob 811

2. Observe your surroundings (school, neighborhood, Media…etc)-

List of things I believe are unfair/ not right that I have observed-

·      An old women on my bus was screamed at by the bus driver for being “too slow”

·      I heard a few kids in the hallways making fun of someone for being “really unfashionable. Thought that was really preppy and stupid.

·      These group of kids were somewhat bullying this other kid on the train and telling him he could never be one of them

·      A woman was verbally abusing her son and pulling his hair.

·      I saw a video about Bolivia and the poverty and violence that is taking place there and it is very unfair.

·      I read somewhere that apple’s manufacturing companies are in China and other countries and that each of the employees are paid somewhere around a dollar a day and I think this terribly unfair.

I am choosing to write about where Apple manufactures their products. I read that’s there is a huge manufacturing company called “Foxconn” that has 13 factories in china, 3 factories in Europe, India, Japan, and several other companies. In these factories hundreds of people work and manufacture iPhones, iPads, iPods, Kindles, Play station 3s,Wii u and Xbox 360s.

This would be ok, but these men and women and sometimes-even children are working and being paid around 1/7 of the minimum wage in the United States, which is around $7.25. This is a huge issue in China and will continue to do be so.

5. Responding to a literary piece

This is a song by an artist named Macklemore. This song really speaks to me in the way of consumerism. It talks about a boy (Macklemore when he was 13) who is very into Jordan/Nike sneakers. The music video shows the boy obsessing over his shoes, and being the coolest kids at his school because of his “kicks”. He then says that one of his friends brother’s got killed for his 4’s (a type of Jordan brand shoe). He states that “it’s the source of his youth” I think that is a powerful line.

Consumerism is crazy in America. A large part of the youth of America care about nothing but the type of sneakers you’re wearing or the brands of shirt or jeans you wear. It is a crazy way to judge people. I’m not saying I don’t participate in it, I definitely do. I’m very into sneakers and “name-brand”. There is one line that is also powerful “These Nikes help me define me, and I'm trying to take mine, off”

I was seven years old, when I got my first pair

And I stepped outside

And I was like, Momma, this air bubble right here, it's gonna make me fly

I hit that court, and when I jumped, I jumped, I swear I got so high

I touched the net, Mom I touched the net, this is the best day of my life

Air Max's were next,

That air bubble, that mesh

The box, the smell, the stuffing, the trend, in school

I was so cool

I knew that I couldn't crease 'em

My friends couldn't afford 'em

Four stripes, some Air-didas

On the court I wasn't the best, but my kicks were like the pros

Yo, I stick out my tongue so everyone could see that logo

Nike Air Flight, but bad was so dope

And then my friend Carlos' brother got murdered for his fours, whoa

See he just wanted a jump shot, but they wanted to start a cult though

Didn't wanna get caught, from Genesee Park to Othello

You could clown for those Probings, with the velcro

Those were not tight

I was trying to fly without leaving the ground, cuz I wanted to be like Mike, right

Wanted to be him

I wanted to be that guy, I wanted to touch the rim

I wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in

I wanted what he had, America, it begins

I want to fly

Can you take me far away

Give me a star to reach for

Tell me what it takes

And I'll go so high

I'll go so high

My feet won't touch the ground

Stitch my wings

And pull the strings

I bought these dreams

That all fall down

We want what we can't have, commodity makes us want it

So expensive, damn, I just got to flaunt it

Got to show 'em, so exclusive, this that new shit

A hundred dollars for a pair of shoes I would never hoop in

Look at me, look at me, I'm a cool kid

I'm an individual, yea, but I'm part of a movement

My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it

They told me to just do it, I listened to what that swoosh said

Look at what that swoosh did

See it consumed my thoughts

Are you stupid, don't crease 'em, just leave 'em in that box

Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk

That's my air bubble and I'm lost, if it pops

We are what we wear, we wear what we are

But see I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us all

Will I stand for change, or stay in my box

These Nikes help me define me, and I'm trying to take mine, off

I want to fly

Can you take me far away

Give me a star to reach for

Tell me what it takes

And I'll go so high

I'll go so high

My feet won't touch the ground

Stitch my wings

And pull the strings

I bought these dreams

That all fall down

They started out, with what I wear to school

That first day, like these are what make you cool

And this pair, this would be my parachute

So much more than just a pair of shoes

Nah, this is what I am

What I wore, this is the source of my youth

This dream that they sold to you

For a hundred dollars and some change

Consumption is in the veins

And now I see it's just another pair of shoes

4. Write a reading response on a social issue in your independent reading Book.

            In the book I’m reading called “Small Steps” By Louis Sachar the main character faces many problems because of his race throughout the whole book. The main character’s name is “armpit”; well at least that is his nickname. He is African American and in the first book (holes) he was a secondary character. The first book takes place in a penitentiary “camp” that makes kids who have committed a crime dig one hole everyday to teach them “character”. In the sequel it focuses on “Armpit’s” life. His daily struggles and one very interesting plot.

            One example of him dealing with problems because of race is when he was walking down the street a white person saw him and walked to the other side of the street. I think that is very wrong. “Armpit” lives in Austin, Texas. He describes Austin as “Two halves” west Austin and east Austin. West Austin is the famous Austin. It is the part that holds the university of Texas and the famous food trucks. The part he lives in is east Austin. East Austin is where many Latinos and Black people. There is much poverty.

            Another example of him having to deal with issues for being African American is when people see him with Ginny they assume the worst. Ginny is his neighbor and close friend. She is a white 11 year old with “Cerebral Palsy”. Whenever anyone sees them walking together they assume the worst. It might add that he is 15 but the real reason is because he is black. I think that the relationship him and Ginny have is very special and it is terrible that they are judging them like that.

            In conclusion I think the book I’m reading perfectly illustrates the questions at hand. This very innocent character is being stereotyped because he is black and tall. I think this is a perfect example of social awarness. 

Reading Response

Reading response

I’m reading Ned Vizzini’s new book called “The other Normal’s”. The book isn’t like the other books I’ve read of his. It doesn’t sound like he’s writing it. Its much more fantasy adventure and when I read his book I’m used to a very first person aspect. I think it is very interesting he chose to go this path.

The main character is similar to the main characters in his other books (primarily him). Very low self esteem. Always doubting himself. He’s also awkward around people and when he engages in social confrontation. The story is about how this anti-social character has to give up this role-playing game and go to camp and become a regular teen.

While inside the camp though he becomes involved with his counterpart in his role-playing game and they start to go on an adventure. I haven’t gotten far into the boom but it is interesting.

Non-fiction Reading Response

Reading Response

            This week in New York City there was a major “super storm” named Sandy.  The devastation was terrible. Almost a hundred people through out the east coast died. Not only that, but the real devastation came when hundreds of people lost there homes, and thousands lost power and important recourses. What this article talks about though, is “what if” something like this does happen again, which is a very strong possibility. Many researchers and scientist say that sea levels have not just been rising gradually, but rising quickly, and it will only keep getting worse.

 One way the city can prep for this is to make future buildings elastic and better equipped for a hit like this. This would be a much more efficient way of protecting the city from another hurricane or “super storm”. One thing Mayor Bloomberg wants to avoid is building Venetian like structures to encapsulate NYC from any water. “I don’t think there’s any practical way to build barriers in the oceans. Even if you spent a fortune, it’s not clear to me that you would get much value for it.”

A huge realization from reading this article is instead of just worrying and complaining about now; we have to look to the future. If something like this happens again, which is likely; we have to start coming up with ideas about protecting the city from another one of these super storms. “Given the frequency of these extreme weather situations we have had, for us to sit here today and say this is once in a generation and it’s not going to happen again, I think would be shortsighted" said Governor Cuomo. 

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.