I was really disappointed how this book ended. I can't believe that he died! They way he died... it was awful. It was even worse because he thought he was going to a safer place with shelter, but he was dieing! It's unbelievable. I hope his father is happy. That's what he gets for doing what he was doing. He had to get punished somehow. Of course, at the end, he had to go to the camps too. I hated the last couple lines of the book because it was like that's the story of Bruno and his family... great ending... not so much. It sucked. I was really sad because he was the one person who had no clue what was going on. He was the one person who was willing to be friends with the people on the other side. He of all people in that family shouldn't have died. In a weird way it made me happy that he died holding his friends hand, telling him that he was his best friend forever now. In an odd way it was kind of calming. However, it still sucks that they die. I get that his dad was forced into the camp, but why? And what happened to Gretle, it said his mom went back, but I don't get what happened to his sister. It was kind of weird that after just a year he couldn't remember his friends names or faces. It was weird how much has changed in just a year.

I hated all the things that Bruno started to realize. I hated how Kotler was hurting everyone! He killed Pavel! Even though he never came out and said it... it was kind of obvious. Also, when he yelled at Shmuel! I wanted him to go die himself! I now share a hate for him. When he wasn't at the fence for a while I thought maybe he had died. It is quite obvious that Bruno is finally realizing what's going on. When his sister was explaining what was going on it made me really sad. She was just like we don't like them because they are Jews. Then he asked what they were... she didn't know. She sounded stupid to me. Saying that she didn't no what we were, she didn't even know the difference between the two groups. All she could say was they were opposites. I couldn't help but laugh at the fact they Bruno called them Oppostites, with a capital o. However, at the time I just wanted to ask her opposites how? It was clear that Kotler and Bruno's mom were having an affair. It was even more obvious when Kotler had to leave. It was clear that Bruno's dad had found out and made him leave. Oddly it made me happy. I wanted Bruno to give his friend all the food in the world!

In these sections, even though several things were explained to Bruno he still had no clue what was going on. When the Fury came he had no clue who Hitler was. Being a reader I even knew. I thout it was kind of ironic how he didn't like him. He said he was one of the rudest people he has ever met, while his father worshiped him. I thought the lady was sweet, I didn't really understand why she would be with a guy like him. He was yelling at her for being nice to children. It made me feel awkward when he was like "why would you want to speak french." I was like awkward!! Also, I almost wanted to slap Bruno when his friend was explaining everything. He was so stupid thinking that he had been through the same thing. But he didn't know better I guess. I just felt so bad for him while his Bruno was thinking his friend was stupid for not taking the right train. Also, the fear the little boy had made me so sad. When he said he was on the wrong side of the fense and he ran away. It was so sad! I was proud of the grandmother. She was expressing her feelings even though she knew she could get punished for it. Going against your son like that can't be easy. Also, going against your mom can't be easy, especially since her feelings are so strong.

Boy In the Striped Pajamas..section 1

In my opinion Gretel is a snob. At some moments I just want to slap her! She acts like a know-it-all when she doesn't know anything. Bruno's ignorance makes me sad. He has no clue what's going on. He is so confused. It killed me when they thought they'd be in the new house for just a few weeks. Since they are dealing with the Holocaust previous knowledge tells me they may not even see each other when it's all over. For a while i thought they were hiding. I was thinking danggg they get to hide in a nice spot, not that having to hide is a good thing. However, when they started to describe the area I got really confused. It was like they were describing a concentration camp. But there was no way they would be in a house and at a camp. Also, there is no way they would all be together. When he was saying that they were all divided and wearing match clothing listening to a commander it really sounded like a concentration camp. Right now my guess is his dad's "new job" is working at the concentration camp. Why would the kids be there with him? Where is the story going?

Choice Books...

1. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
2. To Kill a Mockingbird & Go Ask Alica
3. Black Hawk Down

Chapter 20

YAY HE GOT AWAY! I was so happy when he made it to New York. He finally had a truly safe life. However, I was sooo angry when the war came to him. 5 months of war in his own town after running from it his whole life. After being in the war though I feel like it helped him know how to escape it better. It was really sad when he said that his friends that went through remition with him were already back into the war. It also made me sad when his uncle died. After all he had done for everyone... he didn't deserve to die. The weird part was he was just sick, you would think if anyone died it would be because he got shot. When he actually left his family it was happy and sad. That must have been a hard thing to do and he left the only family he had left alive. However he is finallly free from the war, for good. I really loved the way he ended the book. With the story, and his answer really fit the whole story.

Chapter 19 and 20

In chapters 19 and 20 things really start going well. I think the funniest part was when that girl wanted to dance with him. He had no clue what was going on, but at the same time he was a great dancer. His friend cracked me up when he was like "ooh you're so smooth" haha it was like something my friends would say. I was really happy for him when he got to go to New York. His description of New York was soo funny. It made me happy. This guy who used to be so hardcore is now describing the city as such an innocent boy. When he meets Laura you could tell something great was coming from it. I was also more greatful for Ishmael's family because Mohamed's family didn't want him. Since his family didn't want him he was sent back to the front line. When Ishmael said his goodbyes I was so sad because he was trying to hold back tears after never crying after all he' been through. I was happy Esther gave him her address, but confused when he said he loved her. Did that mean he was in love with her.

Chapters 17-18

In these chapters I thought Ishmael had become as close to his old emotions that he's been in a while. Also when his friends were joking around with him about the nurse liking him I realized how he missed out on his childhood. He missed out on the girls and just hanging out, the things that we take advantage of everyday. I know he is only 15, but his childhood is gone. I was confused because in order to be a nurse wouldn't she have to be a lot older. It became more clear once they became temporary brother and sister. When they found his uncle I was shocked. He didn't even know what they would look like. The war affected more than I thought. At first I got a weird feeling about his uncle, now I like him. It is clear that Ishmael still has his guard up, but that wall that he had built during the war is coming down, he is slowly learning to trust again. I was sad when I realized he would have to soon leave the center, for some reason I hoped he would stay there. I like his family, but I think he should be with people who are int he same emotional state he is. Someone he can talk to about what he has been through and relate to it. Just like i think Esther is good for him because she listens to him, and he likes to talk to her. Also, I was happy he got his connection with music back. Everything seems to be falling into place.

Choice Books...

I don't have a preference.

Chapters 15 and 16

The first chapter for some reason I thought he was stilling caring, I was wrong. When he and his friend started bragging about how many people they have killed I was like whoa. It was still weird for me to hear him saying that. I was a little worried when he chose them to do something, but some how I knew it would be something good. The weird part was they didn't even realize it was good. The fact that the war still carried with them to a place where they were supposed to be safe from the war was upsetting. They got in a fight with people because they are rebels. I was appalled when one of the rebels said that the army killed his family and friends. I suppose reading the book from Ishmael's perspective I sided with him and never realized that he was doing as much damage as the rebels were. Their fights included killing and it didn't even phases them. In this section you see the boys through withdrawal. I was confused when he was talking about raiding the village, I didn't follow that part. I'm just glad they are safe now.

Chapters 13-14

In this section Ishmael really started to change. He even got into drugs. This is why his memories are often misleading. It used to take him a long time to describe a certain event, but now he was describing several days in one chapter. I knew something bad was going to happen when Beah said everyone was messing around and happy except for him and his friend. Then his friends died. He took all his anger out on people who MIGHT have killed his family. He said he doesn't feel anything when he shoots people. The weird part is in theese chapters I realized that the rebels used to be like Ishmael used to be. They all used to be young and innocent, now they are killing each other for no reason. He said all they do is drugs, TV, and war. To me that is a big deal, he couldn't care less. He has changed so much. It's really upsetting how much though. He has truly become emotionless. With all the drugs he never even gets sleep. Drugs and war.... great life. I still don't know which is worse, the rebel army, or the government army. They seem to treat the soldiers nicer, however all the soldiers are completely emotionless. I don't know how Beah ever bounced back from this.

Chapters 11-12

This was possibly the saddest section yet. They were all excited to see their family, but when they get to the village everyone was dead. The worst reaction by far was Ishmael's. He was so torn apart by it. Kicking the burning walls and not feeling a thing because he is hurting so much. The only pain he feels is from the loss of his family. I hated how everyone was trying to pull him away. Then they all got in a fight. The were all shouting out who's fault it was, just needing someone to blame. I felt so bad because Ishmael had all these thoughts of what if I just did this or what if I had done that, but you can't change what happened. Then when they got brought to the camp area, they were so happy. It felt like freedom. I was confused at first because I thought it was the rebel army and I was wondering why everyone was so happy. I didn't get how it was such a nice and semi organize place. When the rebels surrounded them however, I began getting scared. It was the first time Ishmael had held a gun. Even though it's supposedly the good army I felt that this was another step in becoming emotionless. I still don't know if I like this "good" army. I highly doubt things will work out.

Chapter 10

The saddest part of this chapter was when we found out what happened to everyone's family. Also, when Saidu died. It made it even worse how they just said he left them. They saddest story was when they were telling aobut the guys sisters getting raped. He just had to sit there and listen to it. It made me happy when they found out where his family was. However, I knew the chances of them finding their family was not likely. Especially because when Junior left he said "this was the last time i saw my brother Junior" I think the fact that they were so happy is really going to hurt them in the long run. Since the are so happy, if they don't find them it's going to make them pretty much depressed. They aren't even expecting the worse at all. They are just so positive that they will find them. I really don't think they will.

Chapter 9 ( i included chapter 8 in the last one)

This section surprised me. The way the guy helped them was so nice. I couldn't believe there were people who would do that, considering all the troubles going on. His innocence about the war reminded me of Ishmael, well the way he used to be. Like Ishmael he said he didn't realize what the war was really doing. He hadn't grasped the reality of it quite yet. Also, his good spirit was like Ishmael's. The sad part about this is that you know he will probably change, like Ishmael. The way the villagers didn't trust them goes back to what we were talking about in class. How people don't trust others anymore. However, it also proved that there is still good in people. The way he let them go in the end was very fortunate. It makes me sad though because who knows how many times his music can save him. It was also sad because they war as taken away everything that ever mattered to him. His friends, family, and love of music. I hated how when the chief made him dance and it wasn't coming from the heart like before. This chapter proves how much the war is changing things.

This chapter was oddly the least upsetting. I say oddly because he was separated from everyone, and it wasn't that upsetting. It was at first sad, but since they Beah didn't really describe it all that much it didn't affect me. I thought it was weird how he chose not to describe it. It seemed like he didn't care much. When he was alone though he shared stories from his past that showed he cared. He even cried a little and I thought it was really sad. I was surprised when he went out for a whole chapter about a wild pig. Also, I thought it was weird that he chose to leave everyone. He chose to be alone. Later, he complained because he was lonely. Thankfully, he found other people to travel with. It was kind of bitter sweet. It's bitter sweet because even though he found different people the reason he had to find different people is unfortunate. However, he was with this group of people for the rest of the section. He said it felt weird being with other people again. I was happy he actually stayed with someone for once. Considering he lost everyone except for one person, but then he left him. I felt bad that everyone feared them though. I know things will get worse, but I think his set up is good now, for the most part.

Chapters 2-5

Once again Beah caught my attention. There are so many suspenseful moments. I can't believe they actually went back. I would never have the guts to go back for money. I was heartbroken when it ended being for no reason. Also, I almost cried when they were actually captured. First he was chosen, when they made them go back I was so happy. That is until his brother was picked. It was awful when the rebels were going to make him shoot him. I was so close to tears. I just pictured myself in that situation, having to prepare for my death, caused my my own sibling. I don't know if I could shoot my sister. Yeah sure we fight sometimes, but I love her and we are so close, I can't even describe how I would feel. I can't even imagine how he felt. Through this whole chapter the mood between them is sad. They can't even look at eachother. Then the rebels say something along the lines of "this will be the last time you will see them" ugh it's awful! That poor man too! They teased him in the worst possible way. How they could laugh at that just amazes me. The sad thing is they were probably once just like Ishmael, now they were brainwashed rebel jerks. When they stole the corn from the little boys I kind of felt sad. From the first two chapters I sensed that Ishmael was not the type of person to do that, so already we see a change in him. I get why they did it, they were desparate for food, and thankfuly the boys parents realized it too and gave them more. I thought it was so nice of them to give the boys food. I was so happy for them to because as the book said, they were so hungry it hurt to drink. It seemed to be pure torture through the whole 3 chapters.

Chapter 1-2

I personally don't like reading, but this book has already caught my attention. The way he described it as such a beautiful, normal day but al that shooting and killing was going on. he made me realize that this could happen on any given day. He said he had just seen his family 2 days ago, and now he didn't even know if hey were alive. He said there wasn't any sign of the army but all the villages had been destroyed. The way he described everything that was going on around him made it all seem so surreal. A baby was shot, an entire family was killed, it's just crazy. It seems so unrealistic. He was talking about all that rap with his friends and now just 24 hours later he had seen several deaths. It just amazed me how it came out of nowhere. He himself wasn't expecting it. He said he never that it would affect him. He left without saying goodbye thinking that he would see his family again, now he doesn't even know if they are living. He was twelve years old... twelve, that's it! I can't even imagine what he is feeling. The line that hit me the most was when he said "being alive itself had become a burden." To be so young and feel there is no point in living it just doesn't seem fair. 

First Reverend Brown comes and they feel a little threatened. Once they realize how nice he is they ease up a bit. They think he is really nice and he even wants to learn about their culture. However, when he falls ill Reverend Smith takes his place. Reverend Smith is a jerk, but since they liked Brown so much they thought they would give him a chance. Smith however doesn't feel the same. He doesn't care about their way of life. When they learn about Christianity they don't understand it. They think it's the weirdest thing ever. They don't get how there can only be one god but three parts to that one god (holy trinity). They think it is stupid that you can't beat your wife and children. Some people, like the osu, like it. The osu like it because in Christianity they will except you no matter what. This way no one feels like an outcast. Some people convert for those reasons and find hope in this new religion. Others, like Okonkwo, think it is obsured. They want to fight but when the person who kills the python gets sick they realize the gods can take care of themselves. Also, they put them in the forest, but even after the regular 28 days nothing happened to them. They found it bizzare. Once things got going it was pretty good between the two. Okonkwo on the other hand is never excepting of the white people. Okonkwo learns a little too late that the main goal is not to get rid of them, this misunderstanding leads to his suicide attempt. All the British want to do is convert them because they think their way of life now is unexceptable. They view them all as savages. This causes a lot of conflict, but never anything too serious like war (against what Okonkwo wanted).

Okonkwo ignores the "female" virtues because he never shows emotion. He never acts like he cares because he think if he cares he will be weak. The one part that stands out to me is when he kills Ikemefuna. People tell him that he doesn't have to because of his strong bond with Ikemefuna, but he does anyway. Ikemefuna takes comfort in the fact that Okonkwo is there because he thinks that Okonkwo won't let anything happen to him. Even more than just having a part in the killing he does the actual killing. He beats his wives and kids all the time, he even tried to shoot his wife. When he heard of the man who acutally loved his wife he thought it was so weird and he thought the man was weak. He is rude and full of himself. He thinks the most important thing about people is being strong and manly. When his son isn't manly enough he beats him. The whole book is filled with stories of him trying to be manly and he thinks manly is completely opposite of the female virtues. This affects his life because one, he lives with the guilt of killig his son, and he can't show emotion. He holds everything inside and that's not good. A lot of people fear him because he is such a jerk.

I think Okonkwo is a jerk. He beats his wife and kids, tries to shoot one of his wives, and kills one of his kids. He tries not to seem so weak, but he just seems like a heartless idiot. I actually thought it was funny when he tried to kill his wife and missed. The only reason I thought it was so funny was because he was trying to act all manly then he missed making himself look like a fool. I get where he's coming from since his dad was basically a nobody. Also, it makes it a little better knowing that's what they expect in their culture. But still, he is just awful. Even when his kid had to die they told him he shouldn't have any part in it, but he did anyway. That's just ridiculous because his son found comfort in the fact that his father was there, but he killed him trying to be a man. He doesn't want to look weak, but he is being weak by being influnced by everyone. Okonkwo is just a heartless jerk.

So Much Unfairness Of Things

I thought it was fair he got kicked out of the school. Even though he truly did regret it that was the punishment everyone gets. Also, to balance it out his relationship with his dad became stronger. In the end of the story, for the first time, he actually calls him Dad. I thought that was almost like since he got cheated he gets kicked out, but since he didn't really mean to he got a relationship with his father. Even Mr. Seaton knew that P.S. really regretted it and never meant to do it. However, it was quite obvious he most likely wouldn't turn himself in. Also, when he said he wouldn't have turned in Jumbo that made everyone think that he didn't respect the honor code that the school was so committed to. Then again most people also knew that we wasn't a cheater he just made a mistake. It was kind of good he got caught because, as I said, things turned out great with him and his dad, and he probably won't ever cheat again. Plus, he probably won't have to take Latin again. When he said cried at the end I thought it could have been for multiple reasons. Either he was happy about his dad, sad about leaving all his friends, ashamed of himself, or sad about breaking such a big tradition.

1. The last mean I had at a restaurant was sushi!

2. Reading is something I intensely dislike. 

3. The full moon is cool. 

4. "Hey" is one of my favorite local expressions. 

5. Sometimes it's best to do the right thing.

6. Baby Mama  is the best movie I've seen so far this year. 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a party, tomorrow my plans include my sister's volleyball tournament, and Sunday I want to hang out with friends. 

Not Waving But Drowing

Most people will judge others the first chance they get. Usually they don't realize they are judging, but they are. I have heard when people first see me and first get to know me they think I am quite shy. They find later though that I am not. Also, a lot of people think I am either mean or a goody goody. Neither of which are true. I tend to do the right things in most situations, but I am not an angel. Last year this girl asked one of my close friends if I was mean she responded "Lindsey? Ha yeah right! She's one of the nicest people I know!" I don't know why she thought I was mean, but I found it very funny. There have been several occasions when I think people are so sweet and nice, but I hear a story and it totally changes my mind. One action or rumor can change how people see you. Also, before I knew a girl who was one of my best friends I thought she was some sort of hard core catholic girl... then I got to know her. Boy was I wrong! No she's not like a devil's child or anything, but she definitely changed my opinion about her. This comes to show you truly can't judge a book by it's cover, because what's on the inside can be a whole other story.

hey :)