Never Leave The Underneath

The underneath is a place of safety and warmth, but if you ever choose to wonder out like a curious kitten, danger is in your near future. I am about three quarters through The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. This book was awarded two novel prizes, and I've got to say it gosh dang should have! Each chapter alternates between a tale of a dog named Ranger with a momma cat plus kittens, and an ancient story of the trees and a snake known as Grandmother. Now you're probably thinking... This is just gonna be a little 5 year old book about puppies and kittens!? Wow.. But no! You have to trust me; it is a LOT more than that. We see Ranger (the dog) experience brutal violence from his owner Gar Face (they call him that because he hunts alligators and a long time ago he was attacked by one), he is just a mean guy that poor Ranger has to deal with. A kind of man who now a days would be charged with animal cruelty. This is when we see the underneath come into play. To escape the awful behavior of Gar Face, Ranger hides in the underneath. This is low down below the porch of his house. Not too long from them Ranger finds an abandoned pregnant mother of 6 kittens on the side road. He warns her if she doesn't hide now Gar will use her kittens as bate for the alligators. Kathi Appelt writes, "Then you must keep out of sight of Gar Face. And then together they curled up in a dark space beneath the porch. The Underneath. The dark and holy Underneath," (page 25). Back to when I said "like a curious kitten,” that is just what I mean. Mother had always warned them to never leave, but she had to keep her eye on all 6, and when one slipped out right under her nose, a whole myriad of events twisted and turned!

Kathi Appelt intertwines the two stories very well, and sneak peak to where I'm at now... they all connect and a way you would never think of. Crazy, I know right. Which is one reason why I enjoy this book so much, yes there is violence to animals, and it may seem quite confusing sometimes with the snake and trees. But once you get to the end you get a big slap in the face, of "OHHH, oh my gosh it makes sense now." This

Column: Think before you do

This week I decided to write a column instead. We all need to change things up every once in a while:) It is called "Think Before You Do."

Ten seconds, Two minutes is maybe all you get. Running around trying to get stuff done before the microwave beeps, is a common activity for many of us, while waiting for our food. The goal is to make it back before it beeps.

But there are those few times it is only ten seconds. And you need to run upstairs, change, run back down, take a bathroom break, and then beat the clock. First if any of you can do this let me know, then I’ll reward you as the new Dash for the upcoming marathon. Kudos to you for being faster than the speed of light! But now let’s think on a more reasonable level. If it truly if ten seconds, I recommend to play it safe, and STAY where you are. Chances of you making it back in time is set up for a real loss.

Much more comes out of thinking before you do anything. I can think of plenty of times when that’s more of the way to roll.

A nice game of poker. Not that I gamble or anything. But you know when you think you have a nice set of hands, but there’s that slight chance someone has a better set than you. Are you feeling like a risk taker to go all in or to slow the pace and rethink? Because what if, your cards aren’t the winning set and you lose it all. In a case like this what do you do? Think before you do.

Do not assume that the odds are in your favor.

That paper that you think is due Thursday, but it may also POSSIBLY be due tomorrow. And your friends are not up to date either. Well what ever should you do. You could procrastinate for another day then maybe screw it all over for when your teacher asks for your paper. Then there goes the whole “Um my dog ate it when I slipped and fell.” So how bout before getting to that situation you finish the paper the day before tomorrow. Think before you do

Staying school related. When it comes to taking tests. I mean EVERYONE has had a question on the test that they have no idea what it is, or even asking. First, pray it is multiple choice, if it is extended response, sorry for you but don’t get your hopes up. You have the option between A, B, C, and D. I recommend to do what? Think before you do and play it safe. Teachers always say that C is the best choice (most often picked). Just saying.

Are you feeling a pattern coming on here? I feel like all I have to say is if you take risks you have a half and half chance of it becoming positive. Not convincing you NOT to take risks, just trying to show you that playing it safe isn’t always a bad or boring thing. It ensures you of always being on time and right.

Beginning: Looking For Alaska

Everybody talks about how this book is soooo great. I have enjoyed many of other John Green's books, like The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns. So I wanted to try out Looking For Alaska. I enjoy his writing style and how all his books are filled with emotion and with a calm suspense. But before starting this book I wanted to know a little more about itand a little more about the author

I read a few reviews to figure out what I'm in for and if I'd be interested. All positive, some long, some short, but all never had one negative thing to say. (And you know me by now... I need a good book;) From what i get from the views, without giving it away to me and you, is a book written for teens. John green typically writes for teens so we can have a fueled frenzy over all of his books. I don't know what it is, but us teens (especially girls) have a whole obsession over these types of novels. And I can tell ya, Looking For Alaska has that written all over it. Which of course would attract people like me.

John Green is an American writer for young adult novels. Looking for Alaska won a 2006 Printz Award. He is also well known for his YouTube channel. Which I found interesting because who knew a write could be so talented in film too. It must be those creative genes that makes him so good at everything, Which adds more to why I want to read his book.

Columnists

This weekend I had to read 6 columns by the following authors, Mike Lupica, Robin Givhan, and Dave Barry. They each had their own was of writing. Mike Lupica was all for sports. Robin Givhan is the girls fashion police/critic. And Dave Barry definitely shoots for humor.

I overall like all the columns considering they are meant to get my interest and be very entertaining. But I do not find too much interest in the sports type of columns. I know that's not everyone just me. I'm only giving MY opinion. Now I Am sure plenty of other sports fantasized people out there do find them to be very passionate. Then also Robin, I did like her second writing of "What will Kate Middleton's wedding dress look like?". It may be because I am a girl and huge royal weddings are very interesting to me haha!


But my favorite column out of all of them would have to be Dave Barry. He is able to write in a humorous way to give attention to all readers with common attractions. For example the dog article, EVERYONE who has a dog can relate to the happiness and comfort dogs give you. And then he persuades almost everyone who don't have dogs to get one because they are great! And I like the kind of writing cause it attracts me and keeps me interested to what they have to say. And Dave Barry is for sure known for that!

Theme: Farhenheit 451

Theme: Individual self-expression is important.

Timeline:

• At first Montag is just a pawn in the game and doesn’t question the system.
• “What incredible power of identification the girl had; she was like the eager watcher of a marionette show, anticipating each flicker of an eyelid, each gesture of his hand, each flick of a finger, the moment before it began,”(Bradbury 11/9).
• “We are living in a time when flowers are trying to live on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam.”(Bradbury 83/79).
• “Yet somehow we think we can grow, feeding on flowers and fireworks, without completing the cycle back to reality,”(Bradbury 83/79).
• When Montag kills Beatty he becomes his own person.
• “‘Everyone must leave something behind when he dies…’”(156/149).

The theme is important to our understanding of the story because it shows how Montag is a dynamic character and how he changes his views on the government and his thoughts and actions while trying to do the right thing.

Our theme connects to modern day society because we are allowed to express ourselves freely and generally do as we choose. Unlike in Fahrenheit 451, where everything is censored, most of society today is attempting to dissuade censorship. We try to avoid censorship in general and we don’t enforce as strict of rules as they do in Fahrenheit, however there are some things that the government still does not allow for our well being. It is important for us to be aware of this theme because we need to pay attention to what the government is doing and how we act towards important issues.

Chris Allgor

Olivia Seiller   

Rama Mehendale

Sean Sullivan

Spencer Hathaway

Fahrenheit 451: Overview

Last week I finished Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It was quite odd but very intriguing at the same time. Ray captures the ways of living in a utopian society of sameness. In the community everything is run but strict code. And the main one is that books are outlawed. And if you were ever to be caught with a book in your house the firemen are sent to go put it on fire. Wow how does that sound for a change?! There are many twist and turn in this book, but I do have to say, in my opinion, I think the story can be off sometimes... weird if you'd want to say. But hey, that's okay cause it gives us a new perspective of what life would be like without books.

The protagonist is Montag and the antagonist in Captain Beatty (Montag's fire chief) Throughtout the book Montag is able to prove himself as a dynamic character by how he starts seeing and attempting to make a difference of how society is run. This is an awesome thing because by the end of the book there is anew beginning. This is able to give Montag to start fresh, and being able to build up a new community and bring back alllll the knowledge that books give us.

Even though at sometimes in reading Fahrenheit 451 I did get confused, overall all I thought it was a well written book on Ray Bradbury's part. It was definitely weird, but enjoyable. This novel captures how even if we fall apart we are always able to build up the next time even stronger.

Fahrenheit 451 Narrative

For this blog I am in the point of view of Mrs. Bowles from Fahrenheit 451. It leaves off with Mrs. Bowles leaving the house after Mr. Montag read her the horrifically true poem.

The door slammed behind me. "Oh! That Mr.Montag! I can't believe he has the nerve to say that to me!" I exclaimed marching out of the house. I left and went straight home, thoughts storming my head. "Those darn books and poems! No wonder they were banned! I am happy the way I am I don't need new unreasonable things to think about!" When I reached my front porch I plopped down onto the steps dropping my head into my hands. My mind was spinning in confusion. I tried everything for the realization of how I live in this society not to hit me...but it hit me hard.

My thoughts came back to the things he said, my husbands' deaths, my abortions, and my children. and the poem, "Oh the poem," the sadness... and terror... and the struggles. I've lived blind! "All my life I have sat here and done nothing about it," I sobbed, "Why on earth could I not see this?"
I told myself to focus; I need to relax and think this through. Books are just a bunch of nonsense and words thrown together. For all I know it could have meant nothing. Either someone is just trying to fool me... or help me, I don't know! I thought back to how Mrs. Phelps reacted when the poem was read, she did seem pretty shaken up about it. Maybe it is true. I stare at the ground for a long moment thinking to and then get myself up to stumble into my house.

I catch sight of my now third husband and then collapse in his arms.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"I'm sorry, I will never forget about you and leave you in the dust, I will always be here for you and notice when things aren't right. And things aren't right now. And my life and your life will not be taken for granted ever again. We live in a messed up society and today it came crashing in," I tell him pleading to help lead our way to a better way of living.
His eyes are wide with astonishment, "Um, well Alright, tell me about it in the morning, you look pretty rough and tired."
"I think I really do love you," I get out before I drift off to dream of what there is to come.