I'll Give You The Review ( I'l Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson )

California.

In a modern day setting, Noah and Jude are a set of non-identical twins, with contrasting personalities, who tell their stories in different time frames of their lives. Thirteen years old, and sixteen years old – which I found really intriguing.

How would you describe your relationship with your siblings? If you have siblings, (I don't) you were probably in some way, shape or form were closer to them in the beginning while you were youngsters. I don't know. Was it six, seven, eight, four, five. eleven? Somewhere along those lines. You guys were probably like peanut butter and jelly. Hitting each other in the face and playing ball and making each other cry and getting one another gifts and sticking a booger in one's ear (maybe together, to dad). I mean, we're not getting any younger and I found to have witnessed (in the movies and around the community) that siblings, in often cases, drift apart a little more as they mature.

And, it happens.

It was the yelling. It was the unattended problems. It was the little things. It was the big change.

I strongly recommend this book to those who understand the problems running in today's society, i.e affairs, sudden death. So, it's not really an everyday kindergarten book and preferably read by mature individuals.
This young-adult nonfictional, has a running theme of trying the clear the fog and the teamwork that comes along with it to find the happy ending. The correct question is not, what happened for it to begin but, how it can end.

Oh, and there's also a lingering appearance of a ghost. G-Ma makes comeback 2014.

3rd Quarter Independent Reading Reflection

Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio

It's Kind Of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

My goals back in 2nd quarter were to read at least 5 books and to read Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell. In which, I met both. I was capable of of meeting these goals because I actually knew what I wanted to read and ultimately, just gave up on reading fantasy books that weren't required by assignment. Maybe later. I, also, gave myself a set time every other day to sit down a read 30-40 pages which is a somewhat "better" alternative to taking a nap.

My two goals for this next quarter is to read at least 2 psychology based books, 2 or more injustice (social, criminal, etc.) books and to read at least 7 books in total.

Point of View - David Denby

David Denby, writer for The New Yorker, writes from a critical point of view in the two articles I've chosen. Titled, The Three Faces of Trump and Do Teens Seriously read anymore?, Denby critiques Donald Trump's reoccurring notorious habits as a running politician and today's society's adolescents and the available books on the shelves appearing to be neglected. Both filled with laughs, Denby also utilizes syntax techniques to enhance his criticism in his articles.

Denby manipulates unique phrases and sentences throughout his columns more than enough and to spare, as it amplifies his personality incorporated into the piece. Through using sarcastic sentences, he actively mocks individuals for their faults in today's world. For instance writing, "Professional wrestling is scripted, and Trump is spontaneous and improvisatory" (Three Faces) Denby describes Trump in a beaming light, in contrast to later on, speaking of his infamous impulse to do BAD. And by bad, we mean derogatory comments in response to others' simple questions. This specific example of sarcasm, mocking Trump's boastfulness,   makes the criticism more enjoyable. Sarcasm is also evident in his other article, as he states "Of course, these kids are very busy. School, homework, sports, jobs, clothes, parents, brothers, sisters, half brothers, half sisters, friendships, love affairs.." (Do Teens Seriously) This specific sentence not only is SUPER annoying, it contains a running list of things and relationships. Relationships... Love affairs at age 13? This is undoubtedly an example of sarcasm because what child of a single digit year would have a love affair? Nonsense. This is ultimately just a list of bothersome categories to expand Denby's personality as he critiques the foolishness in which teens carry.

Things I Learned Last Year

Detergent is a critical part in laundry, don't forget it.

You can skip ads on iTunes radio by briefly switching to another station.

There was a time where Mother was a girl, but she gave youth up to become mine.

I'm not allergic to kiwi anymore.

Kylie Jenner advocates the natural look on young women but she, herself, has more procedures than I could care.

You decide.

If Donald Trump become president, I will leave America .

Oversleeping can kill you, whatever.






Twenty-fifteen was probably the most effective year of my life, so far. I learned a lot of things and faced a plethora of hard decisions. But as I still am in the middle of determining my own fate, but back in the day (2015) was where it all began. Through the course of 365 days, I engaged myself into new friendships with new people, learned more earnest thoughts and grew former relationships.
I believe that Stafford's poem and mine have similar mentioned contents i.e, known personalities, tips and a life hack. But, I also believe that my poem strays off, for as, placement of stanzas and I have two stanzas that are more serious (three and six, three more than six).

Obviously, what I see as hard decisions right now might become pecks of dust to me in the future, but I appreciated 2015. Welcome, 2016. You already started on the wrong foot. (You sprained my ankle)

I hope I win the lottery, I'll take Tina Sandhu's parents, Harry & Reena Sandhu, to Peru. Like the fulfilling Real daughter I am. Aaaand maybe I'll bring Tina. I'll also buy three corgi dogs.




P.S. To whomever it is, who stole my Kylie Jenner stanza, in Bell 6 Leistch while overhearing ME sharing MY lines, I'm on the look out. >:(

for Annie Wang

Y is for young, because she was born in 2002
E is for enlightened by Rishi Mishra 
L is for likes to tell me that I stole her name (I was born first)
L is for lazy to bring your violin to school so you use mine
O is for oh my god we've known each other for 2 years
W is for woohoo! for getting into CSYO

Wang is your last name
Annie is your first name
Nice poem
Gee, you are so poeticZ

I chose this poem because Annie Wang really inspires me to write and be a better person.

2nd Quarter Poetry Journal Reflection.

In my life, I arrive to school
And then I prepare myself  for busy stops at my locker
Putting in my combination before, so then when there's a limited amount of seconds before my runs must ache and weep, I can quickly pick up my books and go.
But this time around  I've got a minute to spare
My locker is only inches away
My hands, about to give in on the book I currently was holding and eyes, locked on the target
As I come closer, and brush up upon the lock
It shuts me out.
And tells to "Go home, this isn't your locker!"





I chose this poem because it was a relatively accurate description of my every day life in the 8th grade.(Besides, that was only so many months ago ) I honestly think that this poem did not show improvement- rather actually, hints how it worsened.. But not really, I'm still as creative as last time. My favorite line that presents my creativeness would probably be best at lines 8-10.

2nd Quarter Independent Reading Reflection

This 2nd quarter went by super quickly, it feels like I just did my 1st quarter blog post last night! But anyway, This time around, I read 4 books (not including the one I'm reading currently) which include The Color of Water by James McBride, Electroboy by Andy Behrman, Fangirl and Eleanor and Park, both by Rainbow Rowell. I read one more book than I did last quarter, which isn't truly an accomplishment but it's a change! And I've realized, I don't really read things that go above and beyond my level and comfort zone, because I enjoy more pleasurable and easy reading. Not only that, I tend to stick to the same kind of books too, (but I secretly enjoy books of intensity i.e crime/mystery, mental disorders.. As freaky as that is). Ironically, the only book that I read that wasn't in that same general genre YA, Electroboy was probably my least favorite due to how sloppy it made me feel as an audience member. It just basically was a really out of control guy with a bipolar disorder who goes through shock therapy and that's it. It didn't any depth in the story, it was generally all the things you shouldn't do in your youth to ruin your life. Sure, sure I give him sympathy and pity his life for what he had been going through but it wasn't that great of a book and you couldn't take much out of it besides don't do drugs, don't alcohol, spread your money wisely and don't try to scam people. I knew that already but okay, Andy. My favorite book would have to be Fangirl as how free she can be and confident in herself on a daily basis though she had to split with her twin sister for the first time in college, which I think is probably something hard to do as sisters. I'm an only child but as I am PB&J to my best friend, they are probably too.

Though, my initial goal was to read 2 different books of fantasy/not-modern-times genre, I ended up reading only one... And It wasn't really my choice to read that book because it was an assigned by Mrs. Leistch... Awkward. To ask if I met my goal? No. not really. If anything, I'd give myself a 40%. 50% deducted because I only read one. and The other ten percent deducted through the fact that it wasn't through my own power and will. This next quarter, I would like to push myself to read 5 books total. And also, I would want to read The Death by Bees by  Lisa O'Donnell because this book stood out to me when I was choosing my book for my summer reading assignment. It was extremely intriguing as to what happens just in the first few 50 pages.