After Today's Reading, Describe What You Think Will Happen Next. What Details Lead You to Believe This?

After today's reading, I am led to the conclusion that even though Dave Pelzer has all odds against him, he will continue to make an effort and survive whatever kind of circumstances his mother throws his way. If he has had the adaptability and stubbornness to make it this far without letting her win, Dave will not stop there. "A Child Called It" allows me to believe this because of the epilogue and how it accurately describes Pelzer's later life with his own kids. The next books in his trilogy also explain how he turned his life around and made all these past life experiences into lessons and mistakes that he can only learn from. He is now fully aware of all the evil in the world and can help people overcome these difficulties that they endure through no fault of their own. I also think that Dave will have a journey around foster care that still riddles him with similarities, such as not having a real family or friends.

How Do You Feel at the End of the Reading Today? What About the Plot, Setting, and/or Characters Creates that Mood?

At the end of reading today, I feel remorse for the type of life young Dave Pelzer is destined to encounter after his mother and father get a divorce. In "A Child Called It," Dave is forced into solitude and sleeps on a bed of coats in the cold garage. He completes the maximum amount of chores possible and has repercussions if he does not do them correctly in the time limit allowed. The book focuses on Pelzer's inner thoughts and the types of beatings and starvation he had to go through in order to stay alive. By the descriptions he includes and the way Dave manages to keep up his faith and hope to survive, when in fact no one is there to help him, manages to demonstrate the of always dreaming for a better future and doing whatever you must to get there. The characters, such as his siblings and parents, add onto the impact of human nature and how alcohol and certain relationships can push you to your breaking point.

What is the Author's Message? Which Story Events Helped You to Figure This Out?

The author's message that is made clear throughout "A Child Called It" is the courage to survive and the ability to get through anything that gets in the way of complete freedom. Once David's mom begins to physically and mentally abuse him in unjust ways, he knows that he has to continue to live anyway he can. He purposely eats the little amount of food as fast as he can, incase his mother was ever evil enough to trick him and take it away. David also repeatedly steals whatever necessities out of the garbage can that can be used to help him. Another tactic he uses is to never tell anyone what is going on at home, especially at school, so no one will be suspicious and he will not have to receive even harsher punishments for being a bad boy. The events that led me to figure all of this out was the novel being nonfiction and written from the author's point of view, who just so happens to be David Pelzer. Never once did the young child give up and he eventually found a way out and ultimately created a better life for himself.

What are the Three Big Questions You have at this Time?

After just beginning to read "A Child Called It," a nonfiction book written by Dave Pelzer, I have major questions about what motives are behind a mother physically abusing her own son. The first chapter describes, in detail, what life was like when their family was happy and prospering in the California area. My first question would have to be what major event happened that made the dynamic of the household so bitter for one child, when the mother used to care so much? Next, it is shown that the youngest of the three sons was the only one that got abused and treated so harshly. Why would the mother only single out one for being a 'bad boy' and the brothers not try to help the situation? Finally, the mother preformed many acts of punishments that are cruel and unusual. She forces Dave to live without food and complete specific chores in an amount of time. How would someone be able to come up with these ideas to hurt another person, one that they even gave birth to? I hope that by reading further and becoming more invested in the book, I will figure out the answers.

Describe What You Like or Don't Like About Your Book so Far.

Even though "Pulled Under" grabbed my attention when I read the back cover, it refused to live up to my expectations. The story about a summer romance that will not last is cliché and there is not enough detail to make the weak storyline any better. Although the characters posses interesting traits and grow as the novel continues, the ideas are not well organized and somewhat boring. What I did, however, like about the book was the way the paragraphs are split into different months so we know exactly how much time the relationship between Izzy and Ben has left. I also enjoyed reading about the differences in culture in Florida, considering they have other words to describe the same, normal items to us.

If You Could be a Character in the Book, Who Would You Choose and Why?

If I had the opportunity to become a character in "Pulled Under" by Michelle Dalton, I would without a doubt choose Izzy. By living in Pearl Beach, Florida, she can feel as if it is summer all the time for her. Not only would the weather be a major plus, but the differences in activities that are offered would encourage me to be her. Izzy is an only child, and although that may seem like it gets lonely at times, her parents are well involved in her life and they frequently make an effort to hang out and play games with one another on a weekly basis. Not only that, but the family shares a love of surfing, because Izzy's dad taught her, and school, because the parents are both teachers at the local high school. Next, she has the two best friends that always support her and has the chance to work with new people all the time because it is a tourist cite, and that allows many new experiences, such as with Ben, to be made.

How Would You Solve the Problem in this Book?

The major conflict and problem in "Pulled Under" by Michelle Dalton, is the fact that all good things must come to an end. Izzy and Ben fall desperately head over heels and it is with that when the summer comes to an end, they are going to be separated. Ben will go back to Wisconsin with his divorced parents and Izzy will still in Pearl Beach, marveling over the loss of her first boyfriend. I would solve the problem in this book by making a long distance relationship work. Although it would ultimately difficult, the feelings that they now share for each other are too strong to ignore. There are ways they could make frequent trips and phone calls to stay in contact. It is better to try and have it not work than to never try. If anything, he could continue to live with his uncle in Florida and work at Parks and Recreation.

Quote a Passage from Today and Respond to it.

A quote from today's reading that I had a deeper understanding to is: "And you weren't in love with her?" "No," he says. "I might have been in love with the idea of her. I might have loved the attention. But I didn't love her and it seemed incredibly unfair for me to let someone love me when I didn't feel the same way in return." This passage symbolizes the whole reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place. The story tells of a summer romance, but the characters and idea are much more complex than that. I fully agree with what is stated her because there is no reason why you should be in a relationship with someone if you do not plan on working through hardships and making memories. In my opinion, Ben, the person talking, did the right thing. Although the fallout from the breakup could have been hurtful and made times at school and in public tough, he realized that there was no reason to pretend anymore. If you are not happy, then fix what is bothering you. It is better to end things now then to cheat on someone and make the situation more complicated.

If You were Stranded on a Desert Island, which Character Would You Want with You and Why?

If I were stranded on a desert island and was forced to pick a character from my book "Pulled Under" to help me survive and find a way home, the answer would without a doubt be Izzy Lucas. The reason is because she lives at Pearl Beach and has tons of experience swimming because she grew up with it. I would choose Izzy because she seems easy to get along with and always has a good plan to get out of a tough situation. Overall, Izzy is the best choice compared to anyone else in the book. Her knowledge about the land and water would be useful and you could make a good friend along the way.

Describe the Main Character in Great Detail. Make sure you Include Physical, Emotional, and Personality Details. Be Specific.

Izzy, the main character, has many unique aspects of her personality that make her different from anything else I have ever read. She is unlike her friend Sophie, who is short or fiery, and even Nicole, who is tall and charismatically the quietest out of the group. Throughout the course of the book, Izzy proves herself to be very smart, although she tends to overthink the smallest things. When surfing, watching every single one of her movements forces her to wipe out... Which is similar to the way she acts around Ben, her new love interest of the summer. This is an unusual situation, especially because she has never felt these types of feelings for another person. Overall, Izzy struggles with self-confidence. She takes too long on deciding what would look best for her date instead of realizing that her natural beauty was enough for Ben to fall in love with her. She is also very strong and has quick balance so she can ride a surfboard. Not only this, but she loves to read and is constantly challenging and analyzing situations that have to do with people while giving them advice. Izzy is a dynamic and round character that makes his novel interesting to read from her own point of view.

Create an Alternative Setting for the Book. How Would Things be Different and How Would Things be the Same?

Most books are based upon the cliché high school romance, and while it seems to get repetitive after multiples of the same story, there is a reason for why these are as popular as they are. If we took this bad boy and good girl relationship to a different setting, such as in the adult word, there would be too many complications that wouldn't make it as good as it is now. Parts of the plot would change, considering the theme of divorce and abuse will not be as strong when the main character, Bianca, could live on her own and distance herself at any point. It would also be different because the situation between the two, Wesley and herself, wouldn't be such a big deal. High school drama amplifies everything and has blown the situation way out of control. The only thing that might possibly stay the same is the two of them getting together in the end, that is, if their feelings for each other are strong enough.

Choose a Character You Really Dislike. Explain Why.

Featured in a high school setting, DUFF displays many characters with distinct personalities, that as a reader, I do not always agree with. Vikki, for example, is cheating on her boyfriend and is extremely jealous. She cares only about herself and constantly has to be the center of attention, which is something I disagree with greatly. Also, Wesley displays traits that while some women would find heartfelt and be grateful for his charming attitude, I find it to be revolting and discriminating to all women. Finally, even though we do not learn of his own words and only hear one side of the story, Jake's actions have turned me off from him altogether because of what he did to Bianca. Even though we might learn about him later, my opinions will most likely not change.

Explain what the Main Character's Most Pressing Problem is at this Time.

In The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend, Bianca is known as just that. Once Wesley Rush labels her the worse of her three friends, she is haunted by the truth behind the statement. Bianca already has enough to worry about without the constant distraction of a womanizing male attracting her attention. Bianca's parents are splitting up, her Dad is returning to the constant overuse of alcohol, and her friends are constantly overlooking every sick lie she throws her way. The worst part of it all of her is the fact that Wesley, her same English partner and opposed friends with benefits,  is not a bad listener. She seems to be falling for him, even if her last exploration with love did not end as she might have liked.

What Could You take Away from Today's Reading that Could Improve your Life?

If I could take anything away from reading Where She Went, it would be that everything happens for a reason. Even though Mia and Adam faced hardships in their relationship and got separated for three years while each of them pursued careers in music, they still managed to return to each other. I know now that while at the time, things that happen may seem to be like such a dramatic event  in your life, when they actually will not mean all that much. In the long run, what matters to you is what will make an impact and stay there for you no matter what. Just like Adam and Mia's unconventional and frankly sad story, they found their way back to each other because they knew it was meant to be and was willing to work for it. The second chance given to them was one that they took advantage of and everyone deserves one when it comes to love.

Find One Object that Symbolizes the Main Theme of the Novel. Explain how it Accomplishes this.

Since If I Stay and Where She Went are both written by the same author, Gayle Forman, and revolve around the recurring ideas of music and love, the item that symbolizes the main theme of the novel is a cello. It accomplishes, in my opinion, everything that Mia is willing to fight for when she decides to stay. Even though Adam and their relationship is what helps Mia to realize what she wants for the rest of her life, her musical instrument is what helps her to make a full recovery and what also brought the two of them together in the first place. The cello gives Mia her future, going along with the fact that because of how talented she is, she got accepted into Julliard.

Would You have Liked to have Grown Up with the Main Character? Why or Why Not?

Growing up with the main character from If I Stay, Mia, would have been a rollercoaster to say the least. The family she came from, parents who enjoyed hard rock and were accustomed to things their own way, had an interesting approach of raising two kids. That, along with her younger brother Teddy, were far from the conservative and classical music type that Mia was. Besides all that, she would have made a loyal friend. Mia was always the one to help somebody out or be there for them in a crisis, even if she was shy around people she did not know that well. The only problem with growing up with someone like this is the tragedy that the book surrounds. A tragic car accident places her with a life changing decision and the stress and grief that, as a supporter, would be placed upon you when that happens. So all in all, yes, I would have liked to have grown up with Mia. Even though with how talented she is and her busy her life is now, you would always have the option of saying that you knew her when...

Do You Want to Read Something Else by this Author? Why or Why Not?

Yes, I would want to read something else by this author because I thoroughly enjoyed the amount of detail and the way the chapters were set up while I was reading. Gayle Forman, the author of If I Stay, also has wrote many other novels, including a sequel to her latest book. The way she illustrates exactly what is happening so well and uses words that are simple to understand, while also creating a complex story makes me interested to see what other works she has created. She also sets up the chapters with times helps contribute to the overall feeling and mood.

What Would be One Small Detail that, if Changed, Might Change the Outcome of the Story.

In my opinion, life is all about timing. There are so many instances when you believe being early or late can be such a downfall in the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, that instant can be the reason you are still alive to this day. The book, If I Stay, clearly demonstrates this by the main family gets into a car crash and the mom and dad die on impact. When put in a tragic situation, you begin to think about the possible situations that could have went on if something went differently. If Mia, who shares the point of view, sat somewhere else in the car or didn't go at all, she might still be alive and without a family to return to.

How does the Setting Affect what is Happening in the Book?

The setting of Catch a Falling Star is placed in Little, California, a suburb based off the large city of Los Angeles. This plays an important role in the differences of the main characters and how they react to one another. Carter and Adam form a pretend relationship to better improve his image as a celebrity, and because of this, the headlines for newspapers are able to make references to the couple by having an important society teenager dating a simple, small town girl. The disagreements that arise between them revolve around how Adam has seen more of the world and is greatly impacted for the worse because of how much attention he receives, while Carter has never left her town of Little and has no desire to either. In the end, they both realize how changing up their scenery can be for the better.

Which Character are You Most Like?

The character that I believe I am most like from my book, Catch a Falling Star, is Carter Moon. Carter displays a life path that I have previously gone down in my life. In the story, she visits the town graveyard with her fake boyfriend and movie star actor, Adam Jakes. There, she places flowers on her grandmother's tombstone and takes a moment to say her prayers. Previously in the story, it is explained that one of the reasons Carter has stopped dancing is because of how viciously that death impacted her life. I can respond to this because of a family death that I went through in early February. I have sympathy for her change in life dynamics and not wanting to participate in things that once meant the world to her. I can also understand how she doesn't want to grow up and leave her small town to go to college. Much like Carter, I think moving to a bigger city and making choices on my own would leave me frazzled and out of place.