Reading Response 5: The Hunger Games

For this week’s blog, I’ve decided to re-read one of my favorite books, The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games takes place in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, where the countries of North America once existed. Panem is separated into districts. The Capitol, a highly advanced city, controls the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle until one tribute wins. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, is a 16 years old from district 12 that has been supporting her family ever since her father died in a mine explosion. Katniss loves to hunt especially with her best friend, Gale. Before the reaping, Katniss went into the Meadow, a place where people of the district are forbidden to go. When the reaping begins, against all odds, Prim, Katniss little sister, is chosen to be the tribute. Katniss, then, volunteers to take her place. The boy tribute is Peeta Mellark. After that, the tributes say good-byes to their families and travel to the Capitol to compete in the Games of their lives.

Here is a passage from the Hunger Games:

“To the everlasting credit of the people of district 12, not one person claps. Not even the ones holding the betting slips, the ones who are usually beyond caring. Possibly because they knew me from the hob, or knew my father, or have encountered Prim, who no one can help loving. So instead of acknowledging applause, I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong. Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of district 12 as a place that cares about me. But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim's place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is and old and rarely used gesture of our district, and occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.”

I think this passage where Katniss volunteers for her sister Prim is the most important within the novel because it’s very powerful how this moment is where it fully captures the reader’s attention and it sets the stage perfectly well for the novel. Katniss Everdeen is an incredibly unique character. She is strong, cunning, and very skillful. Katniss always puts her family before anything else, even herself. Throughout the novel, she remains a hunter and a survivor while being herself. 

Reading Response 4: This Lullaby

For this week’s blog, I’ve decided to read This Lullaby by Sara Dessen. It is about an eighteen years old girl named Remy who is about to leave for college. Her father who is a musician has died before she was born. Before he died, he wrote her a song called “This Lullaby.” Remy’s mother, on the other hand, is getting married for the fifth time to a car salesman. Consequently, love is something that Remy doesn’t believe exists, because in the past, the relationships she has been through have never lasted. One day, however, Remy randomly meets Dexter who claims to have felt a connection the moment he sees her. He is messy, and a musician, but very persistent. Soon, Remy finds herself slowly falling for him. But what makes him so different to all the guys she has dated? Will their relationship last or will it fall like the others? You’ll have to read and find out.

Here are the lyrics "This Lullaby":
This lullaby is only a few words

A simple run of chords

Quiet here in that spare room

But you can hear it, hear it

Wherever you may go

I will let you down

But this lullaby plays on...

"This Lullaby" is very important to this novel because not only does it contribute to the name of the novel, but it's building background of the novel. Without the song, "This Lullaby", the characters wouldn't act the way they do. Situations wouldn't make sense and there wouldn't even be a novel to begin with.

The main character, Remy, is a very detailed and realistic person. She’s very believable in how she acts like any average girls with her faults and weaknesses. The author is very honest from the beginning about telling the reader about her vivid description. Remy isn’t just described through the author, but through dialogues and the reader’s own interpretation of her as well.  Remy is very stubborn when it comes to rules, yet very headstrong and determined when it comes to her friends and goals. Remy is quite a unique character and Sara Dessen has done a wonderful job with her.

Reading Response 3: Chasing Brooklyn

For this week’s blog, I’ve read the book Chasing Brooklyn. It is about this girl name Brooklyn whose boyfriend, Lucca, has died in a car accident about a year ago. Her friend Gabe also has died from an overdose of drugs recently. Nico, Lucca’s brother, has been going through a tough time since his brother’s death and Brooklyn has been emotionally unstable because of their deaths. She can’t sleep or focus on anything. One night, however, Gabe’s ghost starts to haunt her wherever she goes and she doesn’t even know what he wants or why he’s haunting her. Nico, on the other hand, is been haunted by Lucca asking Nico to help Brooklyn. As Brooklyn and Nico’s lives merge, their friendship grows stronger; but will they be able to help one another? Can they trust one another enough to reveal that they’re been haunted? You will have to read the book and find out.

Chasing Brooklyn is written in verse and even though it‘s not written like a novel, it still captures all the important details that a reader needs in order to understand the plot. By writing in verse with lesser words, the message of each word is more powerful and meaningful than the one before it because it’s the foundation of the character’s description, the setting, as well as the impact of the character’s emotions. The author’s way of describing each character’s emotion is unique as well because the fact that it’s written verse, it’s always on the dot and you can understand and emphasizes with what the characters are going through.

Here is an excerpt from Chasing Brooklyn:
I reach the door and look behind me.
I see someone. 
Someone’s coming. 
Right behind me.

I turn the doorknob.
Locked tight.
My fist pounds on the window.
I pound and pound.
and open my mouth to scream.

Then, he’s there.
In front of me.

Gray skin with eyes
black as the darkest night,
and lips blood red.

He lunges for me
and I scream his name.

“Gabe!”