Chains (#1) By Laurie Halse Anderson

Chains

By Laurie Halse Anderson

Essay based off the question: What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?

In my life today, I am always complaining about the “hardships” in my life: my homework, my little sister, my parents, and even walking to school in the rain. I always regret complaining about it later because I know my life could be much worse. In the book, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character Isabel faces many actual hardships. She deals with being a slave, and everything that comes with that, during the time where the Revolutionary War is about to take place. These issues are also seen in the world today as well.

Isabel and her little sister, Ruth, are both slaves who had just been sold against their wills to two new masters who live in New York. Isabel is trying to find a way to bring Ruth and herself back to their rightful home in Rhode Island, so that they can live out their days in freedom. Isabel struggles to hold her tongue in front of her masters because she knows that it is her right to be free. For instance, when Isabel is upset that Madam Lockton I treating Ruth poorly, she thinks, “I took another breath, slower than the first, and tried not to think about the freshly sharpened knives on the kitchen steps” (Anderson 56). This shows that Isabel has to hide her true feelings about Madam Lockton. She has to worry about watching her tone and what she says around her masters. This is a hard task for her because she knows that it is her right to not be a slave anymore, so she does not deserve to be treated like one. This problem can be related into the world today. I know that I sometimes struggle to control what I say in front of someone I don’t like. People around the world sometimes lose their temper all the time, and it can affect everyone and everything around them.

During the time period of the book Chains, the Revolutionary War is becoming more of a realistic concept then just an idea. Isabel hopes to assist the rebels to earn her way out of New York and back to Rhode Island. Little does she know that she is helping the Revolutionary War start. For example, Isabel eavesdrops on her master’s conversations, and takes the information to her rebel friend. Isabel says:

I dashed towards him, keeping to the edge of the tavern candlelight. ‘I have news.’

            ‘Of Lockton?’ [Her rebel friend, Curzon, said]

‘And more.’ I quickly told him everything I had seen and heard… ‘Will this be enough to send us home?’

            This proves that Isabel is trying the best that she can to get herself and Ruth out of New York. Isabel is very brave to be putting her life at risk to deliver the news of her master. This can be related to the world today because this situation reminds me of gossip. Gossip is a huge issue today, especially within schools and on online websites. Gossip usually starts from a rumor, and if that rumor is posted online it can be spread around the world. This is a huge issue that doesn’t really have a solution.

            Isabel is a strong girl for being able to deal with helping her sister and herself deal with being a slave to cruel masters during the time before the Revolutionary War. Even though I have not finished the book, I know that Isabel had to deal with really hard things, like giving up all of her possessions and having to move away from her hometown. My “hardships” don’t even compare to what Isabel had to do.

Argument Essay Draft #2

Grace Bugler 809

Argument Essay Draft #2

Banned Book: Looking for Alaska by John Green

When I was little, I used to cover my face when the characters kissed in movies. I would never want to see it because I thought it was gross. In the book, Looking For Alaska by John Green, I found myself wanting to turn away from certain scenes like I did when I was younger. This book should be banned from middle school libraries because it may influence the reader to do bad things, it may make the reader uncomfortable, and it conveys a dark message that might upset some readers.

            In Looking for Alaska there are scenes that may influence some vulnerable readers to start or continue doing bad things. Some bad things the characters take part in are smoking, drinking, pulling pranks, having sex, reckless driving, considering suicide, and more. For example, when Alaska, Pudge (Miles), The Colonel (Chip), and Takumi are all smoking cigarettes by the lake where no one can see them, Pudge asks why Alaska smokes so fast. She responds with: “Y’all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die.” (Green 45) When Alaska, one of the main characters, says this, it shows how she has dark issues. She is thinking about dying and possibly suicide. This might make readers think that dying is an easy way out of pain and suffering, and that it’s okay to kill yourself. On the other hand, some people might say that Alaska has had a really rough childhood and that this might be her way of joking around. However, suicide is nothing to joke around about. When Alaska says this in such a light tone it makes suicide seem desirable. This sort of tone has an effect on readers. For instance, in an article a young girl claims that she would start cutting herself after reading a book about cutting. The girl exclaimed: “ ‘I’d finish reading and immediately reached for my blade.’ ” (Carey 2) This shows that books can affect readers. A vulnerable reader might read this scene in LFA and might consider suicide since Alaska was. Authors need to be careful how they express these statements.

            In Looking For Alaska, there is a lot of graphic content that may make readers uncomfortable. For example, when Pudge and his girlfriend Lara are in a room together alone, she asks: “Just as the Bradys were getting locked in jail, Lara randomly asked me, ‘Have you ever gotten a blow job?’… And then with me sitting watching The Brady Bunch, watching Marcia Marcia Marcia up to her Brady antics, Lara unbuttoned my pants and pulled down my boxers a little and pulled out my penis” (Green 126-127). This scene made me want to put the book down and walk away. I got the same feeling I had when I was little. I just didn’t want to read or hear about it anymore because it made me feel really uncomfortable. This might make other readers, especially middle school readers, feel grossed out. There are other scenes in the book as well. On pages 87-88 the characters watch a porn movie, describing in detail what the characters in the movie are doing, and on pages 130-131 the characters have more sex while they were drunk. Some people might argue that it is only 3 brief scenes, but they are very graphic and are not appropriate for 10-13 year-olds.  

            In the book there is a dark message that may upset some readers who are trying to find a way to deal with a tragedy like death. I think that the message is to never take anything for granted. This message can be supported by the fact that the Colonel took his girlfriend, Sara, for granted and then she left him. Also, the most obvious reason is that the Colonel and Pudge and the rest of the camp all took Alaska for granted, and then she died. For example, “I cannot stop thinking that she is dead, I cannot stop thinking that she cannot possibly be dead. People do not just die.” (Green, 142) This shows how upset Pudge is and that he is in a state of shock. I know how Pudge feels; I have been through it before. It reminded me of my loss and it was a little hard to read. Once I finished the book and looked back on the message, it made me feel really sad. For 10-13 year-olds I think the message is too strong. It might put some certain readers into a depression. The opposing side might say that it is a lesson that will be learned in life anyway. This statement is true, however children between the ages of 10-13 are very vulnerable and may become depressed.

            Looking for Alaska is not very appropriate for middle school readers. I know that it made me feel really uncomfortable and I didn’t want to continue reading certain scenes. Overall, it is a good book with interesting characters; I just don’t think that middle school kids should be reading this particular book. 

Monday Muses Writing Prompts

Monday Muses Writing Prompts

I recently went on a bike ride with my family. I wasn’t feeling so well, but I thought it would be good to get out of the house for a while. So I threw on a sweater and my sister, my mom, my dad, and I all headed out the door on our bikes. We rode down to Pier 6.

The weather was beautiful. The sun shined down and was a light breeze. People crowded the park, pushing strollers and riding bikes. As we rode deeper into the park, something caught my eye. There was this huge area of grass in the center. It was full of kids running around and parents chatting on the grass. Some had brought snacks. I could see little goldfish scattered around.

There was one scene that I found very inspiring. There was a father and his daughter sitting on the grass, their heads tipped up to the sky. The girl pointed at a cloud and her father looked up to admire it. He was leaning against their stroller, both their feet outstretched. They were eating lunch on a makeshift table- a skateboard flipped upside down. The little girl reached for her sandwich and her father placed a napkin on her lap.

I must have stared at them for a while, because my family had already taken off down the road. I hopped back on my bike and peddled after them. The father and daughter were seared into my brain for the rest of the day. I don’t exactly know why it appealed to me so much besides the fact that it was extremely cute. They inspired me because after I left them, I felt happier and much better. I didn’t feel so sick anymore. They may have just been two strangers eating lunch, but they made me feel full of joy. 

Argument Essay Draft #1- Looking For Alaska by John Green

Argument Essay Draft #1

Banned Book: Looking for Alaska by John Green

When I was little I used to cover my face when the characters kissed in movies. I would never want to see it because I thought it was gross. In the book, Looking For Alaska by John Green, I found myself wanting to turn away from certain scenes like I did when I was younger. Looking for Alaska should be banned from middle school libraries because it may influence the reader to do bad things, it may make the reader uncomfortable, and it conveys a dark message that might upset some readers.

            In Looking for Alaska there are scenes that may influence some vulnerable readers to start or continue doing bad things. Some bad things the characters take part in are smoking, drinking, pulling pranks, having sex, reckless driving, considering suicide, and more. For example, “Y’all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die.” (Green, 45) When Alaska, one of the main characters, says this it shows how she has dark issues. She is thinking about dying and possibly suicide. This might make readers think that dying is an easy way out of pain and suffering, and that it’s okay to kill yourself. Some people might say that Alaska has had a really rough childhood and that this might be her way of joking around. However, suicide is nothing to joke around about. When Alaska says this in such a light tone it makes suicide seem desirable. This sort of tone has an effect on readers. For example, “She added: ‘I’d finish reading and immediately reached for my blade.’” (Carey, 2) This shows that books can affect readers. Authors need to be careful how they express these statements.

            In Looking For Alaska, there is a lot of graphic content that may make readers uncomfortable. For example, “Just as the Bradys were getting locked in jail, Lara randomly asked me, ‘Have you ever gotten a blow job?’… And then with me sitting watching The Brady Bunch, watching Marcia Marcia Marcia up to her Brady antics, Lara unbuttoned my pants and pulled down my boxers a little and pulled out my penis.” (Green, 126-127) This scene made me want to put the book down and walk away. I got the same feeling I had when I was little. I just didn’t want to read or hear about it anymore because it made me feel really uncomfortable. This might make other readers, especially middle school readers, feel grossed out. There are other scenes in the book as well. On pages 87-88 the characters watch a porn movie, and on pages 130-131 the characters have more sex. Some people might argue that it is only 3 brief scenes, but they are very graphic and are not appropriate for 10-13 year-olds.

            In Looking for Alaska there is a very dark message that may upset some readers. I think that the message is to never take anything for granted. This message can be supported by the fact that the Colonel took his girlfriend, Sara, for granted and then she left him. Also, the most obvious reason is that the Colonel and Pudge and the rest of the camp all took Alaska for granted, and then she died. For example, “I cannot stop thinking that she is dead, I cannot stop thinking that she cannot possibly be dead. People do not just die.” (Green, 142) This shows how upset Pudge is and that he is in a state of shock. I know how Pudge feels; I have been through it before. It reminded me of my loss and it was a little hard to read. Once I finished the book and looked back on the message, it made me feel really sad. For 10-13 year-olds I think the message is too strong. It might put some certain readers into a depression.

            Looking for Alaska is not very appropriate for middle school readers. I know that it made me feel really uncomfortable and I didn’t want to continue reading certain scenes. Overall, it is a good book with interesting characters; I just don’t think that middle school kids should be reading this particular book.