A Long Way Gone post 4

Quote: "How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety," Ishmael said.
Page: 75
Paragraph: 3

Response: Every night Ishmael and his friends dream about the same thing. They feel like they have been wounded by a gun or a knife. Since Ishmael and his friends weren't in the war zone, they still felt like they were in it. Ishmael always saw blood on the ground everywhere he goes. The only way Ishmael can avoid all of this trouble, is when he moves out of the town. Since he he has not continue, he will continue live in fear.

Significance: I had never had a come to terms with death. If I was Ishmael, I would run away. Although, it is hard to avoid dreams, dreams have a purpose. In Ishmael's case his fears is a big part of his life. His fears may consume his dreams but his desire is to be safe.

Question: Have you ever had a bad dream where you can't go back to sleep?

Quote:" In that village there are lots of people from Mattru Jong and the Sierra Rutile mining areas," Ishmael said.
Page: 84
Paragraph: 1

Response:Ishmael finally got out of SIerra Leone and Mattru Jong. He can finally take his mind off of his recurring dreams of being stab. Ishmael has not seen the rebels in a while. All of the boys band together so they can have each others back.

Significance: I never ran away out of town. I try to avoid problems I think that is too big to handle. If I was Ishmael, I would go even farther than he traveled.

Question: Do you believe in safety in numbers?

A long way gone post 3

Pg. 60 Paragraph. 1

Quote: "Please, we are harmless and just passing by," Ishmael said.

Response: Ishmael was in danger because the fisherman come out, put his machete and fishing spear on the boys' neck. Ishmael was terrified. He was in shock. He was unable to run because he was in shock, instead he yells. This was his reaction to the fisherman. Since they were in a war, no one can trust anyone.

Reflection: I can only imagine what it feels like to be in a shock. your whole body freezes. I don't know what it must feel like to have a machete and fisherman spears pointed at my head. But it must be a terrifying experience.

Question 1: What would you do if a fisherman was pointing a fishing spear and a machete at you?

Pg. 68 Paragraph. 1

Quote: "I need love," Ishmael said.

Response: Ishmael has not felt loved since losing his family which was a couple of months ago. It must have been hard for him to live without his family. Ishmael has not been talking about his family lately until running into the fisherman and that ended up caring for him.

Reflection: I have been loved everyday by my family. If I was Ishmael, I would feel scared. If I'd lost my family by the rebels, I wouldn't have anyone to protect me. Its like being a grown man at a young age.

Question 2: Would you protect your loved one or runaway?

A long way gone post 2

Paragraph: 2

Quote 1: "This is one of the consequences in the civil war. People stop trusting each other, and every stranger becomes a enemy," Ishmael said.

Significance: This relates to Ishmael Beah because he is in a war with the rebels. Ishmael has been forced to go back to his village and help defend it from the rebels control. I can't believe that kids who are younger than me has been forced to fight a war. Later on in the book, Ishmael may have to resort killing a rebel if they try to stop him again.

Reflection: If I was Ishmael, I would not do anything different. I would run away from the rebels everytime I get a chance. I can't really say if I would react the same way he did because my life experiences is so different from Ishmael's.

Question 1: If there was a war going on would you stay and defend your home land or run away and risk losing everything?

Paragraph 2
Quote 2: " Is there an end to this madness and is there any future beyond the bushes," Ishmael said.

Significances: This quote relates to Ishmael feeling like a prisoner within the confinement of the bushes.On the other side of the bushes consisted of terror, killing and violence. It is the senselessness day in and day out the violence being inflicted on the villagers. The bushes is the only place he can find as a sanctuary from the violence. But Ishmael's determination to go home is stronger than his desire to be content within the bushes.

Reflection: If I was Ishmael, I wouldn't stay in the bushes, I would try to find a better place to hide. If the rebels find me, I would be force to fight them back or die trying. If all I know is violence and death, I would be pondering the question is there life after death.

Question: If you were a kid soldier, would you kill or run away?

A long way gone

A long way gone 1

Blog post 1

Quote #1 "This town will be next, according to the teacher."
Pg. 9 Paragraph. 4 Character: Ishmael Beah

What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?

Significance: This quote relates to Ishmael's life foreshadowing the physical violence he will be face with. The violence will be the reason why he will migrate to the U.S while the neighboring towns where being attacked , Ishmael's family's safety was uncertain due to the spread of chaos from rebel's attack. At this point Ishmael's role was survivor, not a child, nor a son, but a fighter.

Reflect: I can relate to Ishmael's school being suddenly close due to the rebels attack because a few years ago my school was close due to the wildfires. When the fire hit, I didn't know when school was going to open or my friends and teacher were in danger because of the wildfires.

Question 1: If you knew your community was going to be attack by a gang will you stay and defend or leave, explain why?

Qoute #2 "I heard that the soldiers are already on their way to get rebels out of the mining areas."
Pg. 15 Paragraph. 4 Character: Ishmael Beah

Why have the characters in your book come to America?

Significance: This quote relates to Ishmael's family. He's always wants to go see about them, but their is always someone to sidetrack him from going to his family, This foreshadows Ishmael departing from his town for safety. This is one of the reasons why Ishmael migrates to the U.S.

Reflect: If I was Ishmael, I would feel scared too knowing the rebels were coming to attack anyone who stood in there way. I can't even feel how scared Ishmael. Every time he had a dream, he can feel the pain of being shot. I probably can't live without my family.

Question 2: Would you feel running away from a group of people that wanted to harm you a cowardly action or a brave choice?

Reading response 3

Marques Williams
2/11/10
Blood is Thicker

1. What has surpised you in the book? Why?

What surprised me in Blood is Thicker is Savon's behavior to everyone. In the beginning he was nice to everyone. Would help out his uncle in the store. Since then, he has been causing lots of trouble to everyone. He has even joined a gang after losing weight. Savon thought joining a gang would make him mean. This is what surprised me in the book.

2. How did what you read today make you feel? Why?

What I read made me feel sad about Hakeem because he has a lot on his hands, including taking care of his dad. Savon bugs him about every little thing. Its hard for Hakeem to play his guitar or give guitar lessons to his next door neighbor because Savon keeps his bedroom lock most times which is where he keeps his guitar. Savon does what ever he wants and Hakeem ends up cleaning the mess Savon leaves behind. That is why I feel sad for him. Life is not fair. We must deal with whatever life hands us.

Reading response 2