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.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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