The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Author’s Note: For my goals, I needed to read an advanced book and write about it, so I chose The Boy in the Striped Pajamas because a lot of people said it was a good story. Also, I needed to use higher level sentence starters and incorporate more semi-colons and colons throughout my piece.  When your reading, look for these things, and also my idea on how the book ends.

Around the world there are many barriers set to keep people in or out. For example, about 2,000 years ago, the great wall of china was built to protect their country. Presently, every house has separate rooms for privacy from others. Roughly around 1940 there was a wall built, not just to keep people safe, but to keep certain types of people separate from each other. A nine year old boy named Bruno moved into his new home in Germany with his mother, sister; father who is a war general. Although he is not excited about the new home, he is very curious about the large fence along one side of his house, and all the men wearing striped pajamas inside.

*****

Bruno stared out his window all day long, wondering why he couldn’t play with the boys on the other side of the fence. According to his parents, they were not to be spoken of, which Bruno didn’t understand. One day, Bruno was looking for adventure, so, he decided to walk along the fence. After an hour, he came to find a boy sitting alone, still on the other side of the fence. Every day for about a year, they talked and told stories of their past life, until one day Bruno couldn’t take it anymore. Adventure was not all Bruno wanted, he wanted to play with his friend, so, he slid under the fence and disguised himself as a Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

*****

Eventually, Bruno realized that the other side of the fence was not where he wanted to be. Although there were many boys there, they never played any games. Masses of guards surrounded the men throughout the camp; Bruno still didn’t understand why. Suddenly, all the men were grouped together, and were taken into a room. “A loud gasp filled the room, as the front door was suddenly closed and a loud metallic sound rang through from the outside” (Page 213) Unfortunately the author doesn’t state exactly how they die, I have an idea on it. Following the gasps and the metallic ring throughout the building, I imagined a immense cloud of smoke raising in the air, even more screaming and concern from every man in the room. In addition to the increasing smoke, flames would start bursting through the walls; the men would have nowhere to go. Sooner or later, Bruno’s father would realize what happened, and he may even stop the torture for all of the boys in the striped pajamas who are staying in the camp. 

Statement of Faith ~ Spring DWA 2013

Author's Note: On Saturday afternoon, I got confirmed and finally made the statement on what I believe. Each person getting confirmed had to write a piece on what they believe and why. There were three people chosen at each service to read their Statement of Faith. Thankfully, they chose me as one of the people. I thought I could turn this in as my DWA because I feel I have spent a lot of time making sure it was perfect for my confirmation. 

The world is filled with all different types of people. People from different countries, people with different skin colors, people speaking different languages.  No matter how different people’s lives may seem, God sees everybody the same, as his children. In the bible verse Isaiah 41:10 it states, “So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The first time I read this verse, I knew it was the one for me. I read each sentence and thought about their meaning, and realized that everyone’s life can be truly amazing as long as they have God in it. 

 “So do not fear, for I am with you”, to me, means to not be scared, God is always there for you if you need help. “Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Means to not to be stressed or worried about things in this life because, in the end, everything will turn out fine. “I will strengthen you and help you.” In my mind, this means that life will be difficult, but no matter what happens God is always there for you, to give you strength.   “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” is probably the biggest part of this verse to me.  I picture myself actually sitting in God’s strong hand and I think there is nothing I can’t do with God backing me up!  No matter what you can do to mess things up, God is always there to pick you back up and start over again.  Overall, my thought about this verse is that God wouldn’t put you in a situation that you couldn’t handle, even though you may need His help to handle it. He is telling us to stay strong and trust in Him because He is on our side.

I feel like this verse really makes me think about my life and how different it is now that I am older. When I was a kid, there were no worries in life. I had a wonderful family, a bunch of friends, I didn’t have to worry about homework or any sports problems. Growing up changes everything. As you grow up, you get greater responsibilities. Of course, there is getting good grades in school, working hard in sports; listening to your parents. Yes, these things are all very important, but not as important as worshiping God. From the old testament of Proverbs, verse 3:6 states, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Even though I never had anything going on when I was little, I didn't accept the fact that I should be going to church. I think I probably complained a little too much about having to get up and get ready every Sunday morning.  Now that I am older, I understand that worshiping God is more important than anything else in life.  And even though I still don’t enjoy getting up early, I don’t complain because it’s become important to me too.

Not until I started confirmation did I really understand how important church is. I think that Shepherd of the Hills really changed my thoughts about learning more about God’s word. I try to attend as much as possible to learn more and more. Like the verse says, if you worship God and read his word, he will help you and teach you things to keep your life moving in the right direction.

Once I started to learn more about the gospel, I realized that some things do get more complicated in life even when you are trying to do everything right. I have learned that God always has a plan for you though.  Although some situations will be hard, you have to remember that God has a reason for it. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  It’s exciting to think that God has a plan for ME,  and that is why I am very happy to get confirmed and start my future learning and growing with God.

Dear Journal

Dear Journal,

I have gotten through this week with barely any rest. Working was not what I expected it to be. With 19 hour work shifts, I have not made one friend the whole 4 months I have been here because the other five hours are spent sleeping. During the long days, we are not allowed to talk, and we only get one bathroom break. Although I share a cramped room with 9 other people my age or younger, I have yet to ask them their names.

This week I haven’t been feeling very good, but I know I need to keep working to support my family, because soon enough, I am going to have a new baby brother. It has been 7 months since dad has passed away and I know all of us miss him greatly. I haven’t seen my family in a while. I miss my older sister Becca the most because she wasn’t allowed to work in the same building as me.  She has always been there to support me, when I thought I wouldn’t be strong enough to keep going.

I have been waiting 3 weeks now for my mom to write back, hoping she understands that I want to stop working here. I told her that I would start working somewhere else, anywhere but here, but I don’t think she believes me. Plus, we do need the money now. Hopefully she will write back soon, so Becca and I can find someplace else to work together.

I’ll write again soon,

                Caroline 

Life is Good

Author’s Note: I chose to write my piece about my cousin Jesse because there have been some pretty interesting stories about him lately so he has been on my mind a lot. This is what I have so far, I plan on adding more later, when I can think of more ideas.

Jesse<3 

It’s weird walking through the halls of middle school, seeing girls crying or getting really upset about boys and friend drama. I have a cousin named Jesse; he is probably one of the happiest people I have ever met. He has a wonderful family, two brothers, a mom and a dad. Some of his favorite things are bananas, enchiladas, dogs, fish, fireworks, the computer, and taking pictures. Lots of people are like Jesse, relating to the things he likes; his home and family life, but there is one difference that Jesse has, he has autism. 

He’s not able to speak his mind freely. He’s not able to eat hardly any of the things we can. He gets lots of stomach aches and is not able to tell anybody. This is only a tiny list of problems people with autism, like Jesse, have to deal with throughout their lives. People should be grateful  for the lives they have because someone somewhere in the world will have it worse, and is still living their life like there is no tomorrow.

Wanted

Author’s Note: When you listen to songs, do you listen to the lyrics, or do you just like the beat of the song? The authors either try to make their songs meaningful to what happened in their life or what happened in lives of their fans. I chose the song Wanted because I liked the thought of the song and the lyrics.

When you like a girl, you want to make sure that she knows you actually like her; that she will be your everything and no one else will. In the song Wanted by Hunter Hayes, he sings about how he really likes this girl, and that he would do anything for her to make her feel loved. There are many different point of views throughout this song, and I think that the way you see it, changes everything.

In the artist perspective of the song, Hunter explains that he would like her to give him a chance, because he has lots of feelings for her. As the title states, he wants to make her feel wanted; he wants to treat her like a princess if she would give him a chance.

To get that chance with the girl he fell in love with, Hunter decided to write this song and in my opinion, it sounds like it was a very good idea. When he sings, I imagine Hunter has liked her for a while, and is finally opening up to tell her the truth of how he feels, hoping that she will feel the same way back.

By the end of the song, it sounds like they both realize they should be together. When you look at song lyrics, they are very powerful words or meanings that, in some ways, is easier to express than just speaking it out. The way you interpret the songs and their meanings is all your decision; that is why everything seems different if you can put the lyrics into a different point of view.

The Help

Author's Note: I chose to do my theme essay on the book The Help because I really enjoy this movie and book. When you are reading my essay, please look through all my sentences and check to make sure all of them go together, instead of changing subject. 

In America, there were about 600,000 slaves, but no one realizes that all of the people who were pushed out of their own country; having to lose their families, friends, and homes were forced to serve other people. Most African Americans needed jobs to survive; the only way to do that was to work for other, richer people. In the book The Help, the author, Kathryn Stockett, demonstrates to readers that people are like snowflakes; not one looks the same but they all connect in the way of life. Everyone is human, people shouldn’t be treated like slaves just because they look different. Throughout the book, the main theme that the African Americans had to deal with is racism.

As a result to all the racism going on throughout the world, African Americans still had to stay strong. Many of them were very religious because they trusted God to help them through all the tough times. “Eighteen people were killed in Jackson that night. Ten white and eight black. I don’t think God has color in mind when he sets a tornado loose.” (Aibileen Clark) As a result to the tornado, it gave Eugenia Skeeter and every other person that was sharing memories of their past to create a book to prove that the way African Americans are being treated is not right. Martin Luther King Jr. used his ability to communicate, to end the unequal tension between white and African American people.

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” (Aibileen Clark) Although she was never treated kindly by the family she serves, Aibileen still stands up for the little girl she is raising. Five year old girls should not be scolded by their mothers, in fact, nobody should feel the discomfort of being yelled at by anybody. Aibileen knows this, therefore she is there to support the one she has taught ever since the little girl was a born. In 1865, when Abraham Lincoln died, some people started to realize that everybody is the same. Regardless to the color of their skin, nobody should be treated like slaves just because they are different.

Even though there never really was a good reason for racism, people thought that different skin colors would affect their health. After being able to prove that men and women are all people, and that they shouldn’t be treated differently, communities and all around the world are well accomplished. Granted racism has not perfectly changed, but sooner or later, everyone will understand that no matter how different people look, they should be treated exactly the same way you would want to. 

The Secret

 Author's Note: I wrote this piece in about 30 minutes in the reading lab so when you read through it, please look for any small mistakes I may have made.  

...When she saw troy again, he would not be the same person as he was before...As the jar was opened, Troy found himself staring straight into a black, swirling pit of darkness. Seconds passed, and a foggy cloud of mist came floating out from Troy. Mr. Mason, with a half witted smile, listened to the painful shouting he had always heard when a loud and annoying student was interrupting his class. The cloudy figure started spiraling down the jar, leaving Troy with no spirit to support him. Falling hard to the ground with a loud bump, Molly ran into the room to see what had happened. Mr. Mason was surprised to see her, except he didn’t worry.

“Molly, there is no running in school,” Mr. Mason chanted as though he has said it a million times.

“Mr. Mason! I saw what you did to Troy! Why are you torturing our students!”

“I’m not torturing them, I’m simply capturing their souls so I can have more power to return.”

“Return to what? Is troy going to be alright?”

“You could say that I guess.” Mr. Mason answered with a smirk on his face. “I was once ruler of this world, a long long time ago. The people didn’t agree with my choices, so they decided to take away my powers.”

“I command you to return these poor students souls back! This is not right!”

“Oh, look at you. A brave 8th grader trying to stand up for her fellow classmates.” Mr. Mason was impressed with the way she spoke to him, unlike she does in school.

“What if I told you to take me instead?”

“No, that is not possible. Unless....”

“Unless what?” Molly nervously asked.

“Unless you promise me that you will never get your soul back, and no one can save you from the torture you go through.”

“I accept.”

“Very well then. Troy will return to school tomorrow like normal, and you will not be able to tell anyone what I have done.”

“I promise.”

The next day, Troy came to school wondering why he hadn’t remembered what had happened after school the day before. Whatever the reason was, he didn’t care, all he wanted to do was find Molly.

While listening to the short story of this piece, the first thing I thought of was magic. Listening to the descriptions of Mr. Baker and the kid that got transformed, it made me think of Harry Potter and the many spells they can do to people to change their appearance. Throughout my ending, I tried to explain that Mr. Baker was not a normal person and that he had some kind of special powers that only Molly noticed.