Wide Reading

A Walk To Remember

Text title – A walk to Remember

Author – Nicholas Sparks

Text type – Novel

Date read – 29\1\2019 till 23\2\2019

P1

The novel “A walk to remember” is set in 1959 Beaufort, North Carolina. It is about two teenagers who fall in love in, without ever imaging love was possible. Jamie’s strong beliefs in god, hiding her one big secret, and falling in love with a popular “bad boy” this novel has some very strong messages.

P2

The character I found the most interesting was Jamie Sullivan. Jamie is a seventeen year old girl who dresses the same everyday. She is the reverends daughter and has very strong beliefs in god. She always says “it must be in the lords plan.” She lives with her father in Beaufort, sadly her mother passed away when she was born. In school Jamie is not popular and is bullied for being the reverends daughter, for her strong beliefs in god and for her appearance. I found Jamie interesting because of the way she did not care about what people thought of her and she was not influenced by peer pressure to change. I also found her interesting because she was very strong. Not having a mother, dealing with the struggle of having cancer and the bad way her peers treated her, not knowing she was dealing with all of this. I can relate to Jamie for having strong beliefs and opinions as I try not let peer pressure influence me, I often see my friends being peer pressured to fit in.

P3

The message that I got from the text “A Walk To Remember” is not to judge people. People around us always have stuff going on behind closed doors that we don’t always know about. Jamie was bullied by her classmates because of her beliefs, appearance and her actions. Jamie is the reverends daughter, she carried the bible close to her heart every where she went. The bible gave her strength and she used it as a shield to help her hide her secret and stay strong. She was bullied because of her appearance, ” she always wore her hair in a tight bun, almost like a spinster, without a stitch of makeup on her face. Coupled with her usual brown cardigan and plaid skirt , she always looked as though she was on her way to an interview for a job at the library.” They bullied her because they thought she was different and weird. She was not like them, so they did not like her. I can relate to the message in the novel as people have judged me previously. I have dyslexia. Lots of my peers were very quick to judge me, saying “I am stupid, dumb and I am not trying hard enough.” In reality they had no Idea that I had dyslexia. Like Jamie, they bullied her. Not know what was going on in her life.

p4

Landon has to deal with a lot of challenges in his relationships with his friends and his girlfriend, Jamie. His challenge is to keep them all happy so he can be happy as well. He was getting bullied by his friends, for being friends with Jamie, they wanted him to choose between them or her. Despite his friends bullying him he stayed with Jamie. He stuck to his word, that he would be there for her. This showed me that Landon was a kind person at heart.

p5

I found the title of the book “A Walk To Remeber” did relate to the story. The title is relating to their life and the path that their life took them on. Forty years later he can remember the walk he took with Jamie and the life that they had together.

p6

I would recommend this book to people my age 14-17 as it has some very good message in the text about peer pressure, judgment, bullying, destressing and that you don’t know what happens in other peoples life’s.

Big Brother, Little Sister

Text title – Big Brother, Little Sister

Author – Witi Ihimaera

Text type – short story

Date read – 11/3/19

p1

The short story “Big Brother, Little Sister, by Witi Ihimaera is about the strong bond between a brother and his younger sister. Whilst Hema’s parents were constantly fighting he took on the role of looking after his younger sister and being her parental figure. Hema was abused by his mothers new partner, and felt the role of bing the man of the house when he wasn’t around looking after his mother, little sister and the house even after his parents neglected him.

p2

The characters I found the most interesting were Hema and the mum . Hema is a young boy that has a lot of responsibility since his parents have split up. He has to look after his little sister Janey. I found Hema the most interesting because I could relate to him by being the older sibling and having a younger sister that you always have to look after and be a role model to his mother always said “look after you sister Hema.”I also found the mother interesting because I found her to be selfish and she always needed man “when uncle Pera had come to stay mum began pushing Hema and Janey away from her” in society we believe that mother are to be caring, loving, understanding put there children first do anything for them but Hema’s mother is not like this and society dose not relies that there are mother out there who are selfish and sadly do neglected their children

p3

For me it was hard for me to see the deeper message as i was just seeing the surface but then after thinking and talking about it it became clear to see the message and that you don’t always know what is going on in other peoples life you think it is good but it is not it is quite frankly the opposite. Hema and Janey were going to run away they went to the train station and ask the man for a ticket the man said ” why didn’t your mother come and get the ticket herself? I’ve better thing to do then muck around with kids.” but the mother was not there she was out parting but the man thought the there mum was the lady sitting on the bench next to them see how fast people can jump to conclusion.

p4

During the story Hema had the challenge of dealing with uncle Pera. Uncle Pera was taking Hema and Janeys mother away from them. He would take her to partys the pub and the pictures anything form him and her to be alone if they were at home with the kids uncle pear would say to mum make the leave us alone “go away, kids,” mum would say “Uncle Pera and I want to be alone now.” over time “mum began pushing Hema and Janey away from her.” If Hema was to speak up he would be shut down by Pera if he did not respect Uncle Pera, Pera would beat him Uncle Pera would say “he needs a lesson, he needs to know who is boss around here.”

p5

I found the title of the short story “Big Brother, Little Sister” to relate to the story because it is about there story during that time of there life and they had each when thing where bad and to look after you sibling as they are all you have.

p6

I would recommend this to someone who has a privileged live because it is a good story to open there eye and see what other people lives are like its not all happy and rainbows I would hope after someone reading this book they would feel empathy for people and look out for everyone.

Bridge To Terabithia

Text title – Bridge To Terabithia

Director – Gabor Csupo

Text type – Film

P1

The film Bridge To Terabithia is set in 2007 in the American rural country side of Virginia. This movie is an adaptation drama about Jesses life and his new friend Leslie, their adventures they share and explore together. Until Jesse is hit with a sad tragedy.

P2

The character I connected with the most was Leslie Burke. Leslie Burke is an only child with not many friends. Her best friend is Jesse Aarons. Leslie likes to stay out of the teenage drama, she has a very kind heart and a creative mind. She doesn’t care what people think of her but is very excepting of anyone or anything, this is shown when she says “Just close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open.” I can relate to Leslie as I don’t really mind what other people think of me. I also have a creative side, when I was little, my sister and I would make different worlds and imaginative games to play together.

P3

The most important message that I took from this film was to “enjoy every day.” Unfortunately after Leslies drowning, Jesse was left alone, his best friend was gone. He struggled with her passing away, but knew he had to keep her spirit alive. I can relate to Jesse’s grief after my grandad Collie passed away. I miss him and so does the rest of my family. But we know, he would want us to be happy and carry on with our lives, as you never know what might happen tomorrow. Just like Jesse had to keep Leslie’s spirit alive. He had to remember the good memories and time that they had together to stay strong.

p4

During the film Jesses challenge was to cope with the drowning of his best friend Leslie. “What’s going on?” Jesse said to his parents. “Your friend is dead!” his father replied. Hearing this overwhelming news Jesse ran away to the forest. Not only did he physically run away he ran away from everything else, his family, school and the world that Leslie and he created. He became quiet, distant and withdrawn struggling to get through the day with out her. His father felt for him, and did not want to see him this way. Jesse had to change his mindset. His father said to him, “she bought you something special, when she moved here didn’t she?” “That’s what you have to hold on to, that’s how to keep her alive.” Jesse knew that his father was right and Leslie would not want this either. Jesse stared to turn around by keeping Leslie spirit alive. This was the only way he could be with her, which gave him strength to cope with the challenge of Leslie’s death. In society people get c… up in live and they take things for granted they worry about what grad they got or what their nexts choice is in life were you have to be happy with what you have and the people you have around you that what sounds in live.

p5

The title Bridge To Terabithia is appropriate for the film because Terabithia is the is the world that Jesse and Leslie created together. I believe that the bridge part of the title, come from after Leslie has passed away. Jesse builds a bridge over the stream this symbolises Jesse rebuilding him self to stay strong.

p6

I would recommend this film to 8-13 year olds who watch it with there parents as it gives a great message to “enjoy every day”and shows the power of being creative.

Boy

Text title – Boy

Director – Taika Waititi

Text type – film

P1

The film Boy is a story about Boy and his family. Unfortunately his loving mother passed away during the birth of his little brother, and his dad, Shogun disappeared soon after. Boy always looked up to his dad. When Shogun returned to find his treasure, Boy is overjoyed wanting to become just like him.  

P2

The character I found the most interesting was Aunty Grace. I found her interesting because she was hard on all of the children in the town as she was strict and kept them all in line, but she was always there for them when they needed her. She always knew what was going on in the town, and when Boys dad came back and abused him, Aunty Grace wasn’t afraid to confront him, stepping in calling Shogun out. I found her interesting because the two different sides of her personality. I can relate to this as some of my Aunties have a hard mean side to them but are alway there for me when you need them and they scary thing is that they know what is going on all the time.

P3

The message that I took from the film, was not to look up to everyone as they can bring you down, and make you someone different. In this case Boy looks up to his dad and wants to become like him. Boy changes his kind heart to someone who drinks, smokes and doesn’t care what others think, just like his father. It wasn’t until Boy saw who is father really was, that he then changed and became himself again. This moment of realisation for Boy wasn’t until Rocky was showing his father a sparkler trying to heal him like E.T “You could be happy here… We could grow up together.” – E.T In society we all look up to someone famous or a sibling or our parents. We are encouraged to look up to someone, to be come like them. Sometimes these roll models are not good for us by bring us down and make us believe other morals, just like in Boys case with his father.

P4

During the film boy faces a lot of challenges. His main challenge is seeing who his father really is. Boy’s father left after his mother pass away during the birth of Rocky, Boy’s little brother. One night Boy here a rumble and says “A storm is coming” only to see that it his dad. In the next clip boy is over joyed and wants to become just like his dad but his dad is very childish. Boy does not see this and he only thinks of his dad as being Michal Jackson, his idol. Boy will do anything for his father to like him, he steals weed from his friends dad’s plantation, as a result of this Boy loses his friends. Boy finally begins to see his dad for who he really is. He believes he is more of a man the his father.

P5

The title Boy relates to the film as it is a time in boys life and shows us his past and his upbringing in a small town with not many people to look up too. There were not many role models in Boy’s life and he did not have very many people to look up too.

P6

I would recommend this film to people from other countries as it has this film is a great New Zealand film and gives other countries a in-site on what New Zealand looked like back in the seventy and eightieths.

My Fathers Hands

Text Title – My fathers hands

Author – Calvin R. Worthington

Text type – short story

Date read – 1\3\2019

P1

The short story My Fathers Hands, by Calvin R Worthington is about a son telling us about his fathers life. His father had to cope with a learning disability of reading and writing during the 1940s. The son describes his dads struggle, but also enlightens us to see how smart he really was.

P2

I found the father interesting because of the struggle he had with reading and writing. His life was not easy, but he managed to get though even when things got too much. When he tried reading his sons second grade reading book but couldn’t, “Jesus – Jesus not even a child’s book!” this shows us his lack of ability to read. When I was younger no one knew that I had a learn difficulty. I remember getting my little sisters reading books from primary school and struggling to read them. I also remember having to write stories, I couldn’t write words. I would write letters in a random order and then pretend to read my story out of my book. I thought that was normal. Teachers took me out of classes to do special test and I thought it was because I was smarter than every one else, I was wrong. Just like the father.

P3

The important message that i took form the text was not to judge a books by its cover. The farther was a hard working man that tried not to let his learning struggles get in his way. I can relate to him and feel empathy for him as I have dyslexia. Lots of my peers were very quick to judge me, saying “I am stupid, dumb and I am not trying hard enough.” In reality they had no Idea that I had dyslexia. After being put down my your pears and even teachers it is hard to keep trying. When i was in primary school I hated going to school as there I would have to take test, I would do the ones in class but they would be to hard so I would have to take more this is where i stared to get anxiety about my self and believed what people were saying about me I have panic attacks about school and falling behind sometimes its hard to sleep with due dates on my mind. I can relate to the father as the more he tried the more he gets put down and this how I fell when I try my hardest and it still is not enough just like in society if you do not have high grades or in the top class or not in the best paying job you get put down, you are not good enough and over time this can be hard for people they either use the shame to become better or the shame takes them and they blame it.

P4

During the story the father had the challenge of not being able to hold a job because of him not being able to take a test because he could not write or read this was hard for him as he was the man of the house and should be the one working and bring in the money. In society the man of the house is the working man the one who brings home the money and takes ownership of the house and the woman is the one who stays home and cooks, cleans, looks after the children and looks after the man of the house when he gets home to please him. Only now has society started to change were it is ok to be a stay at home dad and a working mum

P5

The title of the short story My Fathers hands relates to the story as the son who is telling us about his farther life and how he was a had working man but his mind let him down and how the small things in life you do people will remember.

P6

I would recommend this short story to people who do not have a learning disability as it can open their eye for them not judge a person when they first meet them and that thing can be hard for other people but not for them.

My Sister Keeper

Text title – My Sister Keeper

Author – Jodi Picoult

Text type – novel

Date read 7/8/19 till 20/9/19

P1

The novel My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult written in 2004 is a story about a young girl named Anna who sues her parents to the right of her own body as they conceived her through IVF to be the saviour sibling for her older sister Kate. Kate was diagnosed with leukaemia cancer when she was three, their older brother was not a medical match for Kate. When Anna sues her parents she is portrayed to be selfish as she doesn’t want to save her sister, but then we find out the real reason why she sues for the rights of her body.

P2

I found Anna’s character to be inspiring because of the strength she showed to stand up to her parents by suing them for using her body to save her older sister Kate. Anna wants to fulfil Kate’s wish to die. Kate wants to die to be free of cancer and Anna was her only way out as she was the only thing keeping her alive. In society some people find it hard to come to terms with others decisions to pass away rather than live. As in My Sister’s Keeper, Anna spent all her time with Kate and could see the pain that she went through as they were very close and that’s why she sued her parents to set Kate free. This was hard for Anna as she didn’t want to let her sister go but knew that Kate didn’t want to be in pain or be a burden.

P3

I found the message from My Sister’s Keeper to be important as it is about family love and that some times you have to be cruel to be kind. In Anna’s case she had to be cruel to her parents by suing them to be kind to her sister to keep her secret and to give her wish of dying. This message cruel to be kind can be hard for people in society to accept as people are quick to judge and think that you are being selfish just like in Anna’s case without knowing their context and the position that they have been placed in.

P4

Anna had to deal with the hate from her parents for her decision of wanting the rights to her own body and for suing them. The real challenge for Anna was to keep her sister Kate’s secret of wanting to be free of cancer to move on and to lose the pain that comes with having stage 4 leukaemia for years. Anna is stuck in a triangle, where herself, Kate and her parents are all wanting different things. Anna is wanting to please everyone but can’t.

P5

The title of the novel My Sister’s Keeper relates to the book and gives the readers an insight into what the book could be about. My Sister’s Keeper is relating to how Anna keeps her sister alive. A Keeper is someone who protects. As a saviour sibling Anna is protecting her older sister from dying.

P6

I felt empathetic when reading this book as my family has gone through the struggles of cancer resulting in both my Grandads passing. I would recommend this book to people who have had family and friends with cancer as they can relate and have empathy with the characters and the storyline. As well as people who have not gone through cancer in their family as it encourages them to keep an open mind and not to judge peoples decisions.