The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson --- Pt. 3

First, I have to say that I actually couldn't put this book down. I had it finished three days ago, but I refrained from writing anything. I wanted to stay on track. This book was much better than the last one I read and I must say it blew a few of the others out of the water as well.

I never saw the twist at the end. It was very surprising, but very real. I could see that happening.

I really can't explain much of what went on. If I hint, I give it away. I can tell you that I so much more in love with Lily's character. She's a grandma that I would want to have. I don't hate Jenna's parents, but I think that they are stupid.

In my opinion, what they did was wrong. I do see the benefits, but I also see the strangeness and the hurt it could cause.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson --- Pt. 3

So, I feel very sorry for Jenna. There is just so much that she doesn't know and so much that her parents are hiding from her. I can understand them wanting to protect her and give her a normal life, but how long did they think that was going to last? She's 17. I'm pretty sure that when she was 30 and still looking like her teenage self, she would begin to suspect that something was horribly wrong. Not only are her parents keeping secrets, but they refrain from telling her the whole truth even when she confronts them about her differences. It kills me. I would hate never being able to trust my parents.

I am in love with the character of Lily though. She is honest, at least up to a point. She recognizes the "monstrosity" that Jenna is, but she can't tell what she really thinks. She doesn't know if she hates what Jenna has become, or if she is happy that she once again has a granddaughter. Lily's past is riddled with fine-lines...She's just a complex character that really keeps you guessing.

Everything seems to be an obstacle that will uncover some new worry for Jenna to go against. It just seems to get a little hopeless. Will she ever be comfortable with herself? With a shelf life of two to two hundred years...will it matter if she becomes comfortable...What happens when the authorities find out? All will be revealed I'm sure...

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 70-139

Jenna's attitude has definitely made this book worth reading so far. It's comical and sarcastic, but it pops up at the strangest of times. She also seems to have some innate sense of  how to diffuse situations. It's amazing. I think I'm already liking this character and this will make it hard on me later when we learn something about what happened to her. I'm not saying it's going to be bad, but if I already like her, I might be in trouble.

I also like the poetry that cuts the chapters. They aren't very long, but they definitely help you understand Jenna's thoughts. They also help you understand the point of the previous chapter, just in case Pearson was being a little too cryptic. Nothing helps you know a person better than seeing their poetry and truly understanding what they want or how they feel. Poetry, at least here, is raw and revealing.

I think I know what is going on! I have a theory. I won't share, I don't want to ruin it. However, I will tell you whether or not I was right when I get to the revelation.

I've definitely seen a lot of hinting at what is going to happen. The more I read, the more I pick on the repeated sentences and ideas. Something is going to come of them. It's hard to wait for the break. I'm ready for it to happen, but I'm also ready to just spend more time learning about Jenna.

And, I was right! I was right! It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, but now that it's happened, I'm not sure what the rest of the story deals with...Maybe the man who took her picture...But I still don't know about the accident.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Pgs 1-69.

Some might think that reading nearly 70 pages of a book won't give someone much to talk about...and they would be right.

At this point in the book, you know three characters: Jenna, Claire (Jenna's Mom) and Lily (Jenna's "Na Na"). Jenna is a completely curious character. I use the word curious soley because the book used the word to describe her in a comical way. She remembers nothing of the first 16 years of her life and between 16 and 17 she was in a coma, so now she's up life's creek without a paddle...possibly without a boat as well. In order to try to remember something from her past, she is watching homevideos of her life (which she does slowly start remembering things). She watches them in order, but, apparently, if she watches them out of order she might find something interesting waiting for her toward the end of the discs.

Claire is a complete and total nut job. She tries to control everything, but with a teenage daughter she better expect a few fights. I don't think she is ready to have her daughter back. You can tell there is something odd going on, because she acts strangely. She's too superficial, too practiced. Sooner or later, I'm sure we'll see her exterior break and chaos will reign!

Lily is our most impressive character when it comes to hinting at what is going on. She "hates" Jenna, though she doesn't admit it. But, I think that it's more that she doesn't like the new Jenna. Jenna asks about whether or not she was baptised. Lily's response is "When she was two years old." It's telling that she doesn't consider this Jenna to be the Jenna that she helped raise.

At this point I really have no about what is actually happening, but I'm intrigued and the writing style is decent. It hints, but gives nothing away. I'm thinking I will like this book.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 7

Pgs. 492-End

My final verdict? Extremely disappointed.

I was promised that the last hundred pages or so would really pick up and I would be impressed. I was also promised that I would need tissues. Once more, Markus Zusak sabotaged himself.

The author's unyielding need to tell you what happens before it happens destroyed any type of suspense, unexpected grief, or excitement, from hitting me. Way to go, Markus!

Now, the author's suspense killing method of writing might have killed the story, but it did not kill all of the writing. He was very descriptive and he had very insightful ways of creating sentences. Once or twice, I was blown away by some of his quotes. The way he described the weather through the character of Liesel and the way he described death through the narrator point of view was interesting.

He also placed several facts about his family in the story. I wonder exactly what he took from fiction and what he took from fact. Unless we ask him, I doubt anyone will ever know. Maybe, one of these days.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 6

Pgs. 359-491

I was really upset that Zucker was pushed up as an important character but then he gets killed. His only use was to get Hans home. If you want the truth I was confused as to Zucker's character. He was a jerk and nothing more. The story could have gone on without him. I just don't see how a story with so much detail can leave so much out at the same time.

As of this point in the story, I'm still not liking it. It does get interesting and exciting, but it is just so inconsistent and annoying that I cannot enjoy it.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 5

Pgs. 292-358

Rudy Steiner is a huge idiot; this appears to be the point of the first couple of sections. He just doesn't know when to buck up and act "right." I know that acting like a Nazi isn't necessarily right, but the alternative is hugely painful and humiliating. In the end, Rudy gets out of the situation, but it takes a while. And he nearly freezes to death. That's ridiculous.

Then Max gets sick. I found this section to be very annoying. Liesel gives him trash to make him feel better. I find that on the dumb side, but she is 11 or 12. Then, she reads to him. I find that much more interesting, but her book choices are very weird. She reads about a murderer escaping. Weird.

Then Max makes it through only to be nearly discovered by a Nazi officer. It was a "fast-pace" section...Or at least as fast-paced as this book can get.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 4

Pgs. 239-292

Apparently the mayor's wife is out of the picture for the moment. The mayor fired Liesel's mom and now Liesel can no longer go up to her house/library. Not that it matters really, because the little girl is now completely angry with the older woman.

The relationship between Liesel and Max is disturbing. You know that the author doesn't really mean for their interactions to be taken badly, but they can be misinterpreted. Earlier, while reading, I thought they were falling in love until I realized that Max is 24 and Liesel is eleven or twelve. For just a moment I was disturbed. I had to remind myself that his feelings toward her are solely social and platonic than anything else. Besides, Liesel loves Rudy even if she can't admit it to him.

I like that the story is still giving you glimpses at the history of the World War, but I don't think it gives you enough. I think that Death, since he is the voice of the novel, should talk about his job a little more. He worked overtime during the war, as he would have in any war. Maybe the author didn't want to do an over load, but it's almost necessary. Let us really know what's going on!

Mama and Papa have both taken a back seat, nearly disappearing altogether. You only see them mentioned in passing. Mama did have one quick scene when Liesel told her that the mayor had fired her. And Papa had a quick snippet just after that.

I'm so ready for this book to have a point.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 168-238

Things I don't understand:

1). The point of this story.
2.) Why the author is including all of these small details.
3.) What the point of the mayor's wife is in relation to this book.
4.) Why Liesel steals books.
5.) Why we had a complete info overload for the character of Max Vandenburg.
6.) Why the author goes from completely obscure and secretive to completely overbearing with giving us details or information.

My opinion of this book has not become any better. Yes, the narrator can be funny. Yes, Liesel can pique my interest. Yes, I want to know what happens, but I don't want to spend my entire life figuring it out. I'm growing old waiting for this plot to actually make sense. There is only the slightest sense of push...the tiniest essence of danger. It is true that World War II is happening all around them, but it seems so far away from this scene that you hardly remember it is happening.

I want something to happen. I want action. I want drama. The author packs so much fluff into this novel that I'm choking trying to get through. Give me meat! Not peas.

Give the editor of this book a scapel and tell him to carve a story from it.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 69-167.

Still, I have no clue as to what the point of this story is. It could just be an informative novel about World War II. However, I hope there are a fews more themes than just that.

I find the main character to be hard to grasp. She's hilarious in parts and completely serious in others. She's written too old for her eleven year old self. She grasps concepts that are beyond her even though she can hardly read. Every time I try to play the story in my head I see a sixteen or seventeen year old girl instead of who she really is. I suppose, though, that since the book is written from Death's perspective, he might have something to do with how we see the girl.

I love the fact that she got into a fight and beat the bigger boy up. I love it even more that in her enraged state, she attacked a second boy that didn't even deserve it. This little girl takes no prisoners. She's all business. That is until she gets around her best friend. When they are together...It's a complete change. She becomes likeable.

The only great thing about this book is that by the time I'm done with it, I'll be able to curse like a sailor in German.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Pgs. 1-68

I want to make it clear that I don't like the author's writing style in this book. It's too choppy and confusing. Death, because that's who is telling this story, keeps hinting at things that are going to come in the story, but he does it in a manner that pretty much gives it away. I don't like that, because I'd rather read about it later and be surprised than to already know and be let down because there is no suspense.

Death is a strange character. He keeps trying to tell about his occupation without telling you too much, but it just creates a jumbled mess that doesn't really make sense. He can smell colors... Which I find strange, but I won't judge him for that.

The setting is during the reign of Hitler in Germany. The Nazi party is working hard to create anti-Jewish propoganda. There are lots of little facts in this story that are taken directly from history and just worked into the piece of fiction. I think this is a good way for someone who doesn't like to read history books to get a little bit of a background...

So far... I'm just not sure what the point of the story is... It is not giving us enough hints. Maybe it's about the importance of education and reading. The book's title is what it is for a reason. Hopefully I will learn soon enough what the author wanted to get across.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 133-198

The end of the book. It was alright.

We find out what IT did. That was...touchy. I think that Anderson approached the subject very well and handled the situation as delicately as possible.

HEATHER! I'm so excited for Mel! She told that phoney to shove off and I'm proud of her for it. That was a great scene; probably one of my favorites. It was nice to see that she could stand up for herself.

The bathroom stall article that Mel wrote turned into a confession sheet. Girls responded to it with abandon. Lots of girls have been hurt by Andy (IT). Now Mel isn't alone in her struggle.

I won't reveal more of the story, because the story has an open end. If I say too much, it will give everything away.

The art project turned out to be very, very good. I think that it would mean a lot to everyone who has read this book if the author had the project commissioned.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 69-132

They chose Wombats! I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad they picked a mascot.

We start to see more of the relationship between Melinda (because that's her name) and her parents. We knew they were never around, but we didn't know any more than that. Now we see that Melinda's mom has to work very hard while Melinda's dad doesn't really work all that much. At one point Melinda seems to blame her dad about some of the problems that her parents are having, but we can't tell if it is true or not. Then, her parents are brought to the school to talk about Mel's skipping habits and grades. I find this hilarious, because she ends up in MISS (Merryweather In School Suspension). She misses school then she goes to MISS. It's amazing.

Mel is definitely not getting anywhere with her art project. She just can't seem to figure it out. It all ends up looking too fake or too sickly. We do find out that she can play some basket ball, whatever good that will do her. She is offered an A if she can teach the basket ball team to shoot. Are our schools really that messed up? Later, Mr. Freeman gives Mel a ride to her mom's workplace. Mr. Freeman talks about the Picasso-esqe, cubist tree that Mel attempted. He thinks that she has real talent, but that she needs to show depth, unlike the mirror that she seems to be. She needs to show emotion. It's terrible that most people might misconstrue this scene now-a-days for some awful sexual scene, when it could just be innocent.

She's afraid of IT. IT makes me think of that old movie about the killer clown. I wonder if Anderson did that on purpose. There are several clowns mentioned in the book. One of the art students has clowns as her project. I'm sure I will find out soon enough.

Now Heather is breaking up the friendship! What is wrong with that girl? Mel did everything she could to help her out and support her when things were tough. Now, she's just going to dump her? That is just messed up. If Heather left her just because the Marthas wanted her to, I will be very upset.

Lastly, David Petrakis invites her to a get-together. Mel freaks. Apparently parties are bad. Which means she's had some awful experiences at a party or parties. Probably has something to do with IT. Clowns are always at parties.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 1

Pgs. 1-68.

Mel? Maybe? We aren't really sure what the main character's name is yet. It's her first day back at the school, all her friends have ditched her and there are hints thrown around at some sort of catastropic party. You don't know anything about her, unless you count that she was part of the Plain Jane clique for a while. Now, she is all alone except for the new girl that doesn't know about what happened over the summer.

I find it really weird that her school is debating over mascots. First, they were the Trojans. Then, the Devils. Third, the Tigers. Now, they are changing it again! What does this say about the book? I don't know if she is trying to create sybolism through it by showing that high school is the place where identity is found. It would coincide nicely with the clique theme that seems to be in almost every section.

I like the art teacher though. It's easy to see that Mel is going to do great in this class. The object she got as her project center, the tree, is very easy to recogonize as a symbol. The tree grows...She'll grow. The tree blosoms in it's own time, so will she blosom in her time.

Lastly, she has no relationship with her parents. I'm not sure if this is a major theme of this story, but I'm not sure I like it. I can't see myself as someone without a relationship with my parents.

So far.... I like her sarcasm, but I don't like her.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 109-233

Yang writes a very interesting story. The three tales he places together are very unique and the way he ties them together is unexpected.

The themes of racism and stereotypes are still there, though I find it hard to really pick up on them. It takes me a while to really get the point that he is trying to make. Reading this book means that you have to stop and think. It's almost as if the reader needs a guide to understand all that the author is trying to say. This is a good thing, but it also means that a lot of the meaning is lost because the reader doesn't have someone to explain.

I found the end to be somewhat of a let down. I expected something a little different. I still think it was interesting, but I felt it could have been a little better.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang --- Pt. 1

Pgs. 1-108

So, this is my second time reading this graphic novel. I guess I didn't catch all of the connotations the first time, because on the first page there is definitely a sexual inuendo I had never noticed. That's a fantastic way to start off a novel.

Now, this book supposedly discusses racism. Already, within the first few pages of the book, I can see this. The fact that the Monkey King wasn't allowed into the party because he was a monkey was trying to hit this topic. However, that's specieism. Just thought I should clarify.

On the next section, the story switches to a little Chinese boy (Jin). This section uses "<" and ">" symbols to show that the conversation has been translated from a different language, meaning the conversation occured in that language. I missed that my first time through as well. I really need to start paying better attention. I think I was just amazed at reading a graphic novel the first time. Back to the point, the little boy starts a new school and immediately a character pops up that seems to symbolize the "red-neck" sterotype. The character uses words like "momma" and "yer." I think this exaggeration of a character is the author's way of showing that this kid's way of thinking is "backwoods" and definitely wrong. I didn't even mention the teacher that didn't even correct this little boy and his blatant ignorance of Chinese culture and bias against the new student.

Then, Chin-kee comes and makes life loveable in the next section. I loved the fact that his suitcases were togo boxes from a Chinese restaurant. Chin-kee is the epitome of sterotypical Chinese immigrants. He speaks very broken English, he is very eccentric and he drives Danny crazy. And, just so everyone knows, more sexual connotations arise in the third section.

I think that the author and artist had a very good sense of what he wanted this book to be about and has deliberately created his characters to personify the different types of racism or stereotyping that occurs. This book, since I am taking a course on teaching written Enlgish for ESL, makes me wonder how much the characters struggled and still struggled with the language. Jin's best friend still doesn't speak "perfect" English. Even Jin, who has always lived in America, has problems speaking. I wonder what they struggled with educationally, besides the bullying and racism that occured.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Peters --- Pt. 4

I like the main character. I like the sub-characters. It's happened and the book ends. I don't understand this at all. I mean, I understand the motivations of the author. I know she switched gears from making it impossible to identify with Daelyn to making it impossible not to be able to identify with her. But, it drives me crazy!

The end of the book was interesting, infuriating, unexplainable and questionable. All I can really say is... I'm not sure how believable it is.

I can't say anymore...otherwise I'll give something away.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Peters --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 103-149

I think I am actually starting to like Daelyn. It's a little late in the book, but at least there is an attempt to make her more human, to make her more understood. If I am being honest...It's not that I am liking her, but that I am starting to have sympathy for her. Throughout the book she is trying to break off attachments. She calls her parents by their first names and stops calling the bench she sits at "her bench." I think I am doing the same thing to her. She doesn't want to live and I can't make friends with someone that has decided that they are going to kill themselves. That's setting myself up for a fall. I refuse to let her take me in like that and then dump me like garbage at the end.

Then, and this frustrates me more than anything so far, she is mean to Emily! Curse her! She was getting my sympathy and then she does that! It was so upsetting! I can understand why she was mean to poor Emily. She was trying to destroy her attachments, but she knows how hurtful people can be... It just angered me that she didn't notice how much like JenniferJessica she was.

The more I read, the more I realize that Peters is becoming more personal with the character. Yes, in the beginning she kept the character distant because she wanted it to represent everyone, but now she is making the character more personal because people that suffer in this way are PEOPLE... They have feelings, the have a build, they have a personality. I think that Peters, even if I don't agree with the way she did it, did a wonderful job at pulling people in from the impersonal to the personal to the personality. It might have taken forever, but it was worth it I think.

The final chapters approach... I'm dreading it already.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peter's --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 49-102

Up until the last two chapters of this section, Daelyn still isn't a character you can associate with. She is so secretive. She doesn't let anything out. Yes, this does reflect the mindset of teens today, but if you are trying to tell a story it doesn't work so well. It's always a hint. You get the faintest outline, then she shuts down and you won't hear about it for another four or five chapters.

Now that I am getting a better look at who she is, even if that look is only two chapters out of the first 100 pages, I can understand her pain a little better. Up until this point, I wasn't sure if she was a skinny person that people just decided to call "fat" because she had low self-esteem or if she really was "fat." At one time, she had been on the heavier side. It seems, now, that she has lost most of her weight, but she is still insecure about her body shape. I recall her saying something about her being "spongey." I still don't know any other physical qualities about her. Maybe, as time goes on, Peters will grace us with some more information. It'll probably be at the very end of the next section...

However, now that I am really thinking about it, I think I understand why Peters left out so much detail. She doesn't want this book to fit a certain person. She doesn't want it to just fit "fat" or "skinny," light or dark hair, tall or short; she wants it to fit all body types and all persons. On the website, Through-the-Light, that Daelyn visits, all of the people are anonymous. You can't tell by their "posts" whether they are boy or girl. You can't tell anything about them. One post said, "My father used to lock me in the cellar on Sundays. He'd get drunk and come at me with a belt. He'd strap my back until I was bloody then tie me up and rape me" (pg. 100). Nothing in that sentence points to a guy or a girl. It's because she wants this to be a universal book. It should fit all struggling teens. It should fit all struggling peoples, not just teens.

There is one character that you grow to like. Santana. He is so awkward and funny. You'll have to read this book to truly understand just how irritatingly hilarious that this young guy is. I also think it's ironic that he likes a girl that he knows nothing about, but I don't like her because I know nothing about her. It's like Peters knew what the reader would think and then planted someone in the plot to balance my attitude. Lucky or clever, he's a good character.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters --- Pt. 1

Pgs. 1-48

The author has not given me enough to like Daelyn. She complains and whines, but we aren't given any background. Peters should have worked harder at making her more likeable if she wants us to associate or feel empathetic to her. We don't know her hair color, her height, her weight, her complexion, or any of the things that people make fun of her for. We can't tell if the person is actually fitting the labels that the other students give her, or if they are making fun of her because she isn't comfortable with who she is. I think if the author wanted us to truly bond with the main character, then she should give us the chance. At this point, I am unimpressed and distant.

We are provided with clues and hints about some of her past "failures" at suicide. She might have tried cutting and, since she wears a brace, hanging. However, we aren't given any specifics yet. This makes things tough to understand.

I do think that the book is covering some amazing topics: suicide, bullying, and relationships. These are all subjects that teens today are struggling with and need to have discussed. However, I'm not sure that Peters is discussing them with the tactfulness they deserve. She throws around suicide methods as common place ideas and even creates a numbering system for them. I don't agree with her methods, but this is only the beginning of the book. Maybe, as it continues, things will get better. I will stick it out.

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 164-247

The last few chapters were a little violent. There were comments made about how Danny was a weak character and that he was an escapist. Even I thought these things, but throughout the reading he has grown. This was expected, but it is still nice to see. He doesn't run from a fight, he stands up for what is right, he has his friends back and he realizes that he is his own man.

Pena did discuss the letters a little more. However, there was not a single letter in this section! That was a little frustrating. But, I think it is clear as to why the letter bit was dropped. Danny learns that he doesn't need to pretend about what he wants. He comes to understand that he can make things happen by doing them. He just has to be brave enough to go for it.

I do think that Pena did an amazing job at finishing the novel. He doesn't make a perfect happy ending. Instead, he makes references to the future. He talks about what the characters want to do or plan to do, but he doesn't say if it works out or not. I think he left it open enough to let the skeptics believe what they want and to let the romantics believe that everything will work out in the end.

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena---Pt. 2

Pgs. 83-163

This book is still very entertaining. I'm not sure why it has caught my attention. In honesty, had I not been assigned this book to read, I might have passed it up on the book shelf. At this point in time, I'm pretty sure that I will lable Mexican Whiteboy as one of my favorites. It seems the more I read, the longer that list gets. Do I need higher standards? Or is it okay for me to have tons and tons of favorites books?

The longer I read the more I see the connections between Danny and Uno. Their issues about thier fathers grow increasingly more apparent and clear. They each want to live with their dad. Danny isn't sure why his dad disappeared. Uno knows why his dad left, but he doesn't understand what his father has in store for him (at this point, neither do I). Their journey to see thier fathers will tear them away from everything they have grown up around. The foreshadowing in the novel suggests that neither boy will like what they find when they finally get to their destinations.

Twice more, in this section, Danny writes fictitious letters to his father. I still feel that Danny is writing about the way he wanted or wants things to be. They reveal his deepest desires (one of which is to have his dad's approval and support). On page 108, Danny is thinking to himself about his workouts and the passage mentions, "But if he thinks he can, what difference does it make? If he thinks he's stronger, he is stronger". I think this applies directly to his letters. If he thinks it, maybe it's real. Maybe it happens. Though I have my theory on the use of the letters, it is still a theory. Hopefully, by the end of the book, I will figure out their importance and their use to pushing along the story. If it turns out that they were written just to take up space, I will be severly disappointed. Pena doesn't seem like an author that wastes space in a novel.

By this point in the book, most of the lesser characters have fallen by the way side. Pena has developed them enough in the first chapters that now you know about how they would work or react. The story has focused directly over Danny and Uno. This makes me happy, because it means we are finally getting to the meat! I can't wait for the next section.

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena---Pt. 1

Pg. 1-82

This book has really surprised me. I thought it was going to be really hard to understand and difficult to push through. On the contrary, it has been very interesting, extremely easy to understand and surprisingly well developed. There are three things that I want to mention in particular: character developement, character similarities, and Danny's letters.

Throughout the book you are introduced to numerous characters: Danny, Uno, Sofia, Raul and Lolo are just a few of them. Within this section of the book you are only given a quick view of each of the characters, but it's just enough to make predictions on how they will react when presented with a new situation.
Danny, our main character, is half-white half-mexican. He is what you might consider to be a "goody-two-shoes". He's smart. He makes the good grades. Since this is a Young Adult Novel, it's a pretty good bet that he will be questioning who he is and possibly making stupid decisions. The combination of his mixed heritage and his identity questioning means that you'll be learning about him as he learns about himself.
Sofia is Danny's mexican cousin. She wants to see her cousin flourish while he visits her, but she doesn't hestitate to stick up for him when things go sour. It's clear that she is a fun loving character. It's almost impossible to hate her. She will probably end up being the solid rock that Danny turns to during the low times.

Race plays an important role in this book. Some main characters (Danny, Uno and Liberty) are all of mixed race. Danny and Uno are parallel characters. They have similar stories. Their dad's are both out of the picture. They live with their mom's. They each have a younger sibling. However, they are also very different. Danny wants to be invisible while Uno wants to be the center of attention. Uno still has contact with his father, but Danny doesn't. It's easy to see that the more I read, the more I will see how they are, and are not, alike.

Danny's letters are very, very odd. He writes to his father, though he can't ever send them. In his letters he tells his father things that aren't true. Such as, in one letter, Danny tells his father that he is dating Liberty. When he makes that claim, he hasn't even talked to her yet. It seems to me that he is writing about what he wants to happen. Like he wants to be able to talk to his dad. He wants to date her. He wants to be liked. He wants to be the tough guy. No matter what the letters say, it's clear that they will help explain what goes on in his head.