I am reading The Snake Charmer by Jamie James. It is about Joe Slowinski who was a very intelligent snake expert. The blurb on the back says it is about his final expedition in the forests of Burma. After I was a couple chapters in I realized that the book was a biography of his life. I flipped through the book and saw that about 150 pages in, the big conflict starts. Each chapter of the book is sort of little story from a part of his life.  I chose a certain story from when he was 16.

This story is focused on the my book club's inquiry question which is, how does the character deal with and overcome the conflict in the story. When Joe is going on a special trip to dig for mammoth bones, him an his dad stop for thee night at a campsite. As his dad goes out to get Joe decides to go wildlife hunting and uncovers a rock with a rattle snake underneath it. The snake jumps up and bites him on the hand. Joe tries to get help but no one will listen. He ends up walking two miles to the nearest ranger station. I think this is a good example dealing with a conflict because how he perservered. How a person deals with a conflict is a good way to see character traits. Most people would would panic after being bitten by a snake, but Joe calmly tried to find help. This shows that he is brave. Also, after this incedent, Joe goes on to become a snake specialist, which also shows that he very brave.

This could relate to teens saying how they could become more brave. This book can show people how to keep going. Joe's has bravery and conflict sewn throughout his life story. If we are struggling with something like bullying, be brave. This book is very good at that. It shows how to deal with a conflict.

The 51st state

The people of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado gather together in a coffee shop to discuss something big, something that could change America, a 51st state. They are tired of how liberal the state of Colorado has become, and they have had enough of its Democratic leaders. Protesters in 11 rural Colorado countries have started a movement to break from Colorado and form a new state. There are many problems they have to face to accomplish this though. American history is full of states that have tried to break away from their original state, but almost none of them have succeeded.

There have been multiple attempts at creating new states. Not a lot of people hear about Absaroka or Texlahoma, but they almost became states. This is the first attempt in a long time. Most of the time states try to break away out of frustration for not getting represented. The people of Colorado are upset because of how liberal Colorado has gotten. They has to face many challenges to become a there own state. First all 11 countries have to vote to leave. Then the Colorado has to let them leave. Then Congress has to agree to admit a new state. These three steps are extremely difficult. These are the reasons that I think Colorado will not succeed at becoming a new state.

 Although Colorado probably will not become it's own state, there will be new states in the future. "It's a safe bet to say the American map is going to change in our lifetime," says Michael Trinklien. "It's sort of naive to think we're locked in at 50 and thats the end of story." Colorado's attempt is probably not going to work, but we are definitly going to see new states in the future.

I am reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. When Alan Grant (A paleantologist) is called by John Hammond who is a very wealthy man. He tells Alan that he wants him to come look at his new biological preserve, in other words a zoo. Grant agrees to come for the weekend, but when he gets there he is not ready for what he sees. The animals in the park turn out to be real live dinosaurs. The park looks like it is safe, but there turn out to be many problems with it. Then the problems get to large to control and there goes from being eight velociraptors to 37 of them.

A big lesson in this book is do not try to control something you cannot contol. The owners of Jurrasic Park were so fixated on thinking they could control the dinosaurs, that they let things get to out hand before they realized the problem. When a bad storm hits the park, the power shuts down. This turns off the electric fences that hold the dinosaurs in captivity. They didn't realize that the dinosaurs were breeding either. Then there were way more animals than they previeously thought. These things show that you should not try to contol what you can't control.

This relates to humanity because sometimes we try to tackle problems that are to large and we end up wasting lots of resources and people. In Jurrasic park, the park is funded lots of money to build it, but all this money goes to waste because they are not allowed to open it to the public if it can not control the dinosaurs. If a company tries to do something that sounds really cool, for example, making dinosuars, but it is something that cannot control they will mess up and create a disaster.

I am reading the book Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. It is about a boy named Jack who just got off for summer vacation and he is going to do so much fun stuff... but then he gets grounded. Now all he's looking forward to is a summer of sitting in his room and doing chores. Then old Miss Volker calls saying she needs Jacks help. When he arrives he realizes Miss Volker needs him to write obituaries for all the original Norveltors. At first this job seems to compleatly suck, but it turns out to become pretty interesting. Maybe the summer won't be so bad for him.

Throughout the book Jack changes to realize that although he is grounded he can still have fun. One time I saw this change was when he had his birthday. He was really happy and was having fun even though he was grounded. Another time this happened was when he was talking to his best friend: "Your whole summer is wasting away,"said his best friend. "You're wrong, I'm having a very interesting summer," Jack replies. This shows that Jack likes the way his summer is going despite him being grounded. These two things show that Jack is having a good summer.

This can relate to teenagers becaues it shows that Jack found some fun even though he was grounded. If you are bored, don't just be bored. Try to find some something to do. Ideas come from boredom. Jack at first didn't do this and he was not happy, but later he realized that he could have a fun summer. At the end of the book Jack thought he had a very interesting summer.

Renovation

By Xavier Markowitz

As I write this, at my desk, with my computer in front of me, I think of when I was a little kid and I didn’t have to write memoirs. I try to think of something to write about, then I get it, my house. I have lived in this house for almost my entire life. It has grown up with me. I remember the day my mom told me we were renovating it…

The day started out normally. I went to school, came home, and did my homework. It was only over dinner that I heard the big news. The open windows let in the spring sunlight and scents. “Hey, Xay,”(that is my mom’s nickname for me) “I was thinking of renovating the house.” My jaw dropped. “Mom, I’ve practically lived in this house my entire life. You can’t renovate it now!” I suddenly became very angry and I don’t know why. “Xay, we have to renovate it. It’s on it’s last legs.” I don’t handle change so well so this was a big deal. I liked the house the way it was. I didn’t understand why my mom had to change it. “You’re so unfair!” I yelled. Then I stormed out of the room.

Throughout the whole week I was upset. I turned that sadness into anger for my mom.  While I was sitting on the couch reading, I heard the doorbell ring and then some unfamiliar voices started talking to my mom. I ran upstairs to see who it was. “These are the architects who are going to design our house with us,” said my mom. There were two men and a woman. One man held a very large bag. My mom introduced us and then we got to work. The man pulled an elaborate blueprint of our house out of his bag. We started talking and I was pretty bored until one of them asked me, “Is there any requests of things you would like to put in the house?” I smiled and started to think, “Maybe this won’t be so bad.”

I sort of think of my life before my house was renovated as the little kid part of my childhood, and my life after that as the more mature part of my childhood. The renovation of my house went pretty well, and although I didn’t get the video-gaming station I asked for, by the end of it I was happy.

I am reading the book Going Bovine by Libba Bray. It is about a 16 year old boy named Cameron who was just diagnosed with Mad Cow disease, which is fatal. Cameron is about to lose all hope of living when an angel messenger named Dulcie comes to tell him there is a cure. With Gonzo the video-gaming dwarf, and yard gnome that could be a viking god by his side, what could go wrong? Cameron must now travel with his two new friends on the road trip of a lifetime. Throughout the book Cameron was constantly questioning whether he should keep going with his journey or give up.

Even when he is just starting his journey he is doubtful of what will happen. He says it is insane and impossible, but then he thinks he could have a chance. Another time he felt like giving up was when he was trying to solve a puzzle and he couldn't solve it. then Dulcie comes to help him and he figures it out. Due to his illness Cameron also hallucinates. Every time this happens Cameron starts to question if he should keep going.

Giving up is in teenage nature, but you should always keep trying, or looking at a problem from a different angle, because it will pay off in the end. If you are trying to do math work but you really don't understand it, instead of giving up and leaving it, try asking for help from an adult or peer. Giving up on something will get you nowhere but trying will get you what you want.

Fast Food Fix

Xavier Markowitz

 The Gaza Strip(A 140 square mile area) is home to 1.7 million palestinians. Egypt and Israel are both blockading it from the outside world. There is something that these people really want; and that is fried chicken. With a four hour delivery time and a $27 price for for 12 pieces, this is not your average fast food restaurant. They are smuggling fried chicken out of Egypt, through an underground tunnel, and past guards so people can eat fried chicken. These people are seeing that they are being deprived of an everyday item and they are determined to get what they want.

The young man who arranges the deliveries says "It's our right to enjoy that taste the other people all over the world enjoy" This quote shows that these people see that they are not being treated fairly by Egypt and Israel. These people are very determined because the article says "The passage of goods and people into and out of Gaza is severely restricted". They are breaking very serious rules by importing fried chicken into Gaza. These people are being treated unfairly and they are doing something about it.

This relates to teenagers because although these people are rebelling against something small like fried chicken there is something more on the inside. These people have seen unfairness and they are trying to stop it by breaking the rules. By doing this they have shown their captors that they are determined to get what they want. I'm not saying that teenagers should break the rules, I'm saying that if someone is giving you a hard time or stopping you from doing something simple it is good to put things into perspective.

The Power of Friendship

by Xavier Markowitz

  I am reading The Death Cure by James Dashner. It is the third and final book in The Maze Runner series. There is a group of main characters throughout the story but there are two that are very close. Their names are Minho And Thomas. I think that they affect each others personality and actions. "He hadn't realized how important it was that Minho still believed in him. It went halfway to giving him the courage he needed to do what he had to do". I think this quote from the book is a meaningful line because it shows how close these two characters are.

These two characters have affected each other in a big way and I think this quote shows that. When it says, "He hadn't realized how important it was that Minho still believed in him". This tells me that Thomas cares what Minho thinks about him but it also shows that Minho cares and believes in Thomas. Throughout the book Minho holds up a tough guy exterior but I think this the quote shows that he cares for Thomas. When it says, "It went halfway to giving him the courage he needed to do what he had to do". This tells me that Minho affects Thomas's actions. it tells me that Minho gives Thomas courage to do things that he might not do otherwise. I think this entire quote tells me that Thomas cares deeply about what Minho thinks of him.

I think this quote could connect to teenagers because it shows that friends are an important part of your life. I think this because when it says that Minho gave Thomas courage to do what he had to do it shows that friends will give you courage to do things. They are able to do this by believing in you. The quote shows this in the first sentence. By becoming really good friends Thomas and Minho were able to affect each others actions. I think that Thomas and Minho's relationship connects to teenagers in a big way.

The Crisis in the Middle East

By Xavier Markowitz

In 2011, a multitude of protests happened around the same time in the Arab world. They toppled long time rulers in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. These protests also started an uprising against the Syrian dictator, Assad. This made people very optimistic about the future of the Middle East; they thought that the region might become democratic. It was called the Arab Spring. Three years later, Libya is becoming increasingly violent, Syria is in a civil war, in Tunisia the government is fragile and in Egypt the military has thrown the president out and killed hundreds of his supporters. I believe that the Arab Spring failed and the Middle East will not become a democratic region.

I think the Arab Spring failed because the countries that had protests were unable to build stable governments. They were not able to do this because the dictators had left the countries in a fragile state. I think that the Middle East will not become a democratic region because of Egypt. It is the largest country in the Arab nation with a population of 82,000,000. It is often thought of as the trendsetter country. Egypt's military is becoming stronger every day. They use tanks, snipers, and tear gas to attack protester encampments, and have turned Cairo into war zone. Some people worry that if Egypt can't become democratic, the entire region will become a land of dictators. "If democracy can't take hold there, some experts worry that the entire region is in danger of slipping backward into despotism." (Upfront Magazine) I think this is a meaningful sentence because when it says "slipping backward" I think that means that the countries will be even farther back along the road to democracy then when they started. I think this truly shows the gravity of the situation.

The Arab Spring and the crisis in the Middle East makes me think deeper about humanity because it shows that without political cooperation, the countries could not create order when they wanted to. Although they stood up for themselves they could not make a running country because everyone wanted different things. In Egypt, some people wanted the president out and some people wanted him to stay in office. While people were arguing, the military took over the country and killed most of the president's supporters. This shows that without cooperation between countries they could fall into war.

I just finished reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Thomas wakes up in the lift with no memory of his past life before being in the strange dark elevator. When he gets helped out of the lift by a crowd of boys he discovers a large area enclosed by stone walls, called the Glade. For two years every 30 days a new boy comes out of the lift. Not one of them can remember anything about their past, but Thomas feels he is different. Shortly after he arrives, the first girl to arrive at the Glade comes out of the lift; her name is Teresa. Surrounding the glade is a large mysterious maze, but before they try to find the secrets of the maze, they must unlock the secrets within themselves. Throughout the book James Dashner tells you to never give up and be brave even if there seems like no solution to your problem.

Dashner expresses this towards the end of the book. The first time is when Teresa triggers the "Ending." The sky turns grey so there is no sunlight to water the crops and Grievers (who are monsters from the maze) come out every night and kill one boy from the Glade. This makes all the boys feel hopeless because the maze seems unsolvable so they would all die from hunger or Grievers. I think Thomas is really brave because he ran and got stung by a Griever on purpose just to get his memories back so he could free the Gladers from the maze. SPOILER... After Thomas and the Gladers get out of the maze they realize it was a test to see if they would give up, because solving it seemed impossible. Throughout the book no one gave up when it came to solving the maze and most of them made it out.

I think that never giving up and being brave connects to teenagers because sometimes when we are doing our homework or studying for a test we feel inclined to give up when it gets difficult. This book shows that no matter the circumstances there is always a solution to your problem. Instead of giving up immediately and not thinking about the problem, we should stop and try to find an answer. Also we should try to be brave sometimes. Whether it is when we raise our hand in class or try to do a cool skateboarding trick, we should be brave and take a chance. Sometimes we might do well and sometimes we might fail. I think this book connects to teenagers because it shows that you should never give up and be brave.

Authors in a story sometimes use literary devices to describe something instead of saying it directly.  Many times this makes the story much more descriptive and interesting. Some examples of these are metaphor, simile, imagery, vignette , alliteration, oxymoron, foreshadowing and so on and so forth. The book I have been reading is The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams. Douglass uses a lot of literary devices when he is writing. Some of them are pretty silly. Here are some examples.
"How do you know" said Zaphod in a voice that would make a vegan snow lizard feel chilly. This is a metaphor. Here is another example.
Those-very view-who witnessed the event and survived swear that the whole hundred thousand square miles of desert rose into the air like a mile-thick pancake and flipped itself over. This is a simile. Douglass Adams uses metaphors almost to the extent that they don't make sense but this makes his books much more descriptive and fun to read.

My name means light but it carries weight. It carries the weight of many generations that my name has been handed down through. It all started with a boy. His name was Xavier. He had two brothers and they were very close friends. He was the youngest. They were playing ball in front of a foundation that had been made for a new building. It had rained the night before so it was filled with brown murky water. Xavier was running to get the ball. This would be the winning play, but he wasn't looking where he was going and he fell into the dark sludge-thick water. He was only seven years old and didn't know how to swim. His brothers couldn't find him, the water wasn't clear enough. They called and called his name. One minute, two minutes, three minutes, he was dead.

My name carries the burden of this death. It carries the burden of my family's sadness, but it in fact means shining light and a new house. As the first born child of my generation I can lead with my shining light. I am a new beginning. My light gives my family hope.  I feel that although Xavier died everyone can remember him through my name and because of this he lives on. No one has a name like mine.

One of my reading books over the summer was Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air, written by Stewart Ross and illustrated by Steven Biesty. I thought the illustrations in this book were fantastic. At the end of every chapter there is a fold out that includes diagrams maps and pictures. There are also more pictures throughout each chapter. One thing I didn't like about the book is that the stories were short and you were sometimes thrust into them. For example, The story of columbus and Magellan were combined into one chapter. This made it not an enjoyable chapter because it was very short. I thought the ending was really good. I think it really portrayed the main idea of the book. The book had 14 different explorers journeys. It tells where they went and how they got there. I thought it was a very good book.