Literature
House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
House on Mango Street is about a young girl named Esperanza living in the ghetto in a house she hates. She talks about the self identity and confidence struggles she deals with in day-to-day life. It is written in a series of vignettes, each one covering a new yet relatable topic in the novel. I liked this book because it was very real. The things that Esperanza went through and thought about are things that I'm sure lots of people have dealt with growing up. Throughout the book you can see how Esperanza grows and matures to where she is no longer a little girl but now a young woman with a different perspective of her neighborhood and even her life.
House on Mango Street is about a young girl named Esperanza living in the ghetto in a house she hates. She talks about the self identity and confidence struggles she deals with in day-to-day life. It is written in a series of vignettes, each one covering a new yet relatable topic in the novel. I liked this book because it was very real. The things that Esperanza went through and thought about are things that I'm sure lots of people have dealt with growing up. Throughout the book you can see how Esperanza grows and matures to where she is no longer a little girl but now a young woman with a different perspective of her neighborhood and even her life.
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood may seem like your classic love story at first, but don't be fooled. It takes place in the 1960's and is about a young man named Sammy Santos, who lives in a barrio called Hollywood in New Mexico. The book starts off talking about how Sammy falls in love with Juliana, a beautiful, strong, independent young woman, and the relationship they form in the time they're together. Sammy is a rule follower who does what he's told and keeps his mouth shut but throughout the book he experiences many hardships and losses which make him stronger and encourage him to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes.
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood may seem like your classic love story at first, but don't be fooled. It takes place in the 1960's and is about a young man named Sammy Santos, who lives in a barrio called Hollywood in New Mexico. The book starts off talking about how Sammy falls in love with Juliana, a beautiful, strong, independent young woman, and the relationship they form in the time they're together. Sammy is a rule follower who does what he's told and keeps his mouth shut but throughout the book he experiences many hardships and losses which make him stronger and encourage him to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes.
Antigone
Upon her arrival in Thebes, Antigone learns that both of her brothers are dead. Eteocles has been given a proper burial, but Creon, Antigone's uncle who has inherited the throne, has issued a royal edict banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone defies the law, buries her brother, and is caught. When Creon locks her away in prison, she kills herself. Meanwhile, not realizing Antigone has taken her own life, the blind prophet Teiresias, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé Haemon, and the Chorus plead with Creon to release her. Creon finally relents, but in an instance of too-late-timing, finds her dead in her jail cell. Out of despair, Haemon and Creon’s wife have by now also killed themselves, and Creon is left in distress and sorrow. I thought this was an interesting story and taught a good lesson while still captivating the reader.
Upon her arrival in Thebes, Antigone learns that both of her brothers are dead. Eteocles has been given a proper burial, but Creon, Antigone's uncle who has inherited the throne, has issued a royal edict banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone defies the law, buries her brother, and is caught. When Creon locks her away in prison, she kills herself. Meanwhile, not realizing Antigone has taken her own life, the blind prophet Teiresias, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé Haemon, and the Chorus plead with Creon to release her. Creon finally relents, but in an instance of too-late-timing, finds her dead in her jail cell. Out of despair, Haemon and Creon’s wife have by now also killed themselves, and Creon is left in distress and sorrow. I thought this was an interesting story and taught a good lesson while still captivating the reader.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
This book is about 4 best friends, Carmen, Bridget, Tibby and Lena. This is the first summer the first summer that they won't be together and the book is taken from all of their perspectives as they experience new things without the people they've been with for so long. But before they all go their separate ways, they find a "magical" pair of pants that fit them all. This pair of pants will be the one thing to keep them together all summer. I liked this book and how each character has such different personalities, which makes the story interesting and they're all so different that readers can find a character that they can relate to.
This book is about 4 best friends, Carmen, Bridget, Tibby and Lena. This is the first summer the first summer that they won't be together and the book is taken from all of their perspectives as they experience new things without the people they've been with for so long. But before they all go their separate ways, they find a "magical" pair of pants that fit them all. This pair of pants will be the one thing to keep them together all summer. I liked this book and how each character has such different personalities, which makes the story interesting and they're all so different that readers can find a character that they can relate to.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Brian Robeson, a thirteen-year-old from New York City, boards a plane headed from Hampton, New York to the Canadian north woods to visit his father. His parents' recent divorce weighs heavily on him, as does "The Secret" that his mother is having an affair. The pilot gives him a very brief flying lesson in which Brian has control of the plane for a few minutes. The pilot seems to be experiencing increasing pain in his shoulder, arm, and stomach. At first Brian does not think it is very serious, but as the pilot begins jerking in his seat it becomes clear that he is having a heart attack. The attack stops and the pilot is dead; Brian is forced to take over the controls. After a harrowing descent, the plane crashes into a lake in the Canadian woods, where Brian is stranded. I didn't really like this book because it was a little slow for me and not my genre of reading. While I understand the purpose of reading it during the Into The Wild project, it is not a book I would've picked out for myself any other time.
Brian Robeson, a thirteen-year-old from New York City, boards a plane headed from Hampton, New York to the Canadian north woods to visit his father. His parents' recent divorce weighs heavily on him, as does "The Secret" that his mother is having an affair. The pilot gives him a very brief flying lesson in which Brian has control of the plane for a few minutes. The pilot seems to be experiencing increasing pain in his shoulder, arm, and stomach. At first Brian does not think it is very serious, but as the pilot begins jerking in his seat it becomes clear that he is having a heart attack. The attack stops and the pilot is dead; Brian is forced to take over the controls. After a harrowing descent, the plane crashes into a lake in the Canadian woods, where Brian is stranded. I didn't really like this book because it was a little slow for me and not my genre of reading. While I understand the purpose of reading it during the Into The Wild project, it is not a book I would've picked out for myself any other time.
Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
The book Into The Wild is based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life and create an adventure. I thought that this was a very interesting book. I wish that we didn't have to read it along with the recording, because it was difficult for me to stay with the group. But, other than that I thought it was a really interesting story and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.
The book Into The Wild is based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life and create an adventure. I thought that this was a very interesting book. I wish that we didn't have to read it along with the recording, because it was difficult for me to stay with the group. But, other than that I thought it was a really interesting story and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.