The Chocolate War, Blog Week of 10/12 - 10/16

The Chocolate War By: Robert Cormier

John Zalazinski

  10/14/2015

Prompt(s): Are the characters realistic? Why or why not?

Jerry Renault (main character) is a realistic character. He is a student at a catholic school "Trinity" and he is on a football team. Literally millions of people in the country can match that description. The fact that he also doesn't want to sell the chocolate, shows some type of rebellious attitude which a bunch of teenagers have. He feels guilt and anger like anybody else, he is not emotionless, because that would make the book very boring. Emotions need to be expressed in order for him to be a realistic character, and he met that criteria.

Obie is a realistic character. This shows immediately in chapter two, when he is having a love/hate relationship with a another student, Archie. He envies him but admires him at the same time which is really weird. Obie even jots down notes on Archie about whatever angers him or one of the reasons he admires Archie. 

Archie is a realistic character. He is one of those classic "perfect" guys. He is making people do favors for him like a king, and has blonde hair that he can toss in any direction. Despite all of that, he still has flaws like everyone in the real world, for example he not the best at completing assignments, "These god**** assignments. Do they think it's easy?" This can also connect to a lot of people in this class, may or may not including me.

"Rotten Underneath" - Life Lines Poem

John Zalazinski
10/9/2015


The teachers
could punish us for almost
any reason.

So my father started talking
about America, where
every one had a future.

We were extremely fortune to be in school district 200,
with outstanding teachers.

But what's sweet on the surface
is often rotten underneath.

Mulu's classmates drew
skeletons on her locker and even
serenaded her with the popular
famine fundraising song.

I rarely saw my brother tremble,                                        
but he trembled with Jake's threat.

Mbago disliked me
because I was
poor and looked it, he was
ashamed to be African with
me.

They had grown up in a wealthy
American suburb, and we had grown up
in a Sudanese refugee camp.

We heard frenzied knocking on our door,
like our brothers in Africa we were making war,
not peace.

Mawi Blog

John Zalazinski

9/24/2015

Throughout the book Of Beetles and Angels and the article "Yazidis capture life in refugee camp through the lens" has some similarities when you go through them. An example of this would be the idea of determination they never let anything get in there way especially when they had something to hold on to. Mawi had education to look forward to and the refugee girls have photography to express themselves. Both have something, despite all the bad things that are happening with or around them. 

Mawi and the female refugees both never forget their heritage. Mawi I had beliefs that a person that can be the least likable, arrogant, and most irritating person ever but on the inside they're the angel you have been looking for. There was a refugee girl named Barfe who took a picture of a woman who is living in the same refugee camp as her because, "The clothes she is wearing are traditional Yazidi clothes and that is why I chose to take a photo of her," which shows that even in difficult times she doesn't forget where she came from. 

War can have really terrible outcomes to individuals and societies. An example of this would be Obama not letting any other refugees in because of ISIS sneaking into the refugee camp and disguise as another refugee. Even though that is a really huge threat to the country there is still actual refugees in that mix and we should take the chances to help them out. Overpopulation is also a really big problem because of war. Currently, there are enough Syrian refugees to fit Italy and maybe even a little bit more than that. Hopefully this would get better when or if US plans to take in 85,000 - 95,000 members, and more of the refugees will be safe.

Summer Blog #4: Book to Book Connection

John Z.

8/12/2015

Book to Book Connection:

Gathering Blue & Wonder

The one way Gathering Blue & Wonder is that both of the main characters are deformed in some way. Everybody thinks they are useless because only one or some parts of their body is deformed. Both "Kira" and "August" feel like they are not welcome at all and are alone most of the time. People around them seem to judge a book by its cover.

Another way they are similar is that they are avoided most of the time. All the females in Kira's village outcast Kira, similar to what most of the kids in school do to August. Most of the people Kira and August can go to for help are usually not around, for example both of Kira's parents are dead, and August could only see his friends at school. They don't have anyone to turn to, and if they do they would have to wait for a long time.

The final way they are similar is a time when they work is the only way to escape all of the troubles they have. For Kira doing joys brings back memories of her mother. When August goes to English class he enjoys the messages the teacher writes on the chalkboard. They both take the experience and interpret it into something that comforts them. 

Gathering Blue, Summer Blog #3

John Z.

8/6/2015

Gathering Blue by

Lois Lowry

Blogging Topic: Grief from Two Different Worlds

Description:

Grief is something we all have to go through every now and then. Whether it's an outcome of  a disease or maybe a terrible accident. Although it is a sad and negative topic, I decided to see how grief in the world of Gathering Blue differs with the real world. 

In the Gathering Blue after your loved one dies they don't pass on as fast as you would expect them to. Their spirit still lingers around you for four sunsets and sunrises so you can get a little bit more time with them. You would have to use your time as wisely as possible when you are with their spirit. Every second counts, so you can tell them something you didn't tell them when they were alive because you were never sure what they were going to think, or maybe recreate memories of when they were alive. 

Here we are in the real world where none of that really happens. We live our lives normally and as we mature we learn to cherish the good times we have with our family and friends. Every second counts so we have to learn to take that seriously all the time because you never know when you or someone else is going to go. That's why I feel like books like the Gathering Blue teach us morals to get us through life and teach us important lessons to hold on to.

Now, I want to talk about the "Kira" the main character of the book and how she grieves compared to us. She gets an extra four days to talk to her mother after she passes, yet she still does grieve. To be honest, I don't really get that, you just talked and communicated with her spirit for four days and there also is a possibility that she is literally watching down on you. That means she is technically still with you for the rest of your life. In the real world we don't get that at all. Sure we got the spend the whole or majority of our life with them but Kira gets something more, extra time. Extra time with a loved one can critically important to how you remember that person, because that last memory of them is the one that will never forget no matter what.

 

Summer Blog #2, Book to World Connection

John Z.

The Giver 

7/29/15

The book The Giver takes place in a world where everything is basically perfect, our world not so much. That's why I want to compare and contrast them to see if they more of the same or completely different worlds. One similarity I can spot straight off the bat is that they both make sacrifices big and small. An example of this would be that if one twin weighed more than the other one, the other one would be "released". 

Another similarity is that the more you age the more responsibilities you have. An example of this would be the main character, Jonah has a dad who is a temporary nurturer for children entering the community until they find the correct family for them. Jonah himself has a job of The Receiver (of memories) that is basically the assistant of The Giver. There is also Jonah's little sister Lily who works at Childcare who is also looking forward to be a nurturer like her father.

A difference between our world and The Giver is a lot of people have an extremely good vocabulary. The small children even have a professor's vocabulary. That could be the result of bigger and way better schools that offer the perfect education. All of that education creates the community, and their perfect lives.

                                               

Summer Blog #1, The Giver Poem

John Z.

The Giver

7/29/15

Perfection is a complicated thing.

No one can achieve it one day.

Right when its in your grasps it just slips away.

Everything must be according to plan.

One wrong move can make it can all collapse.

Everyone has a certain job, 

but some don't have the heart to complete it.

Like letting a newborn child 

live out on their own.

Although sacrifices must be made,

through thick and thin.

From the long path where we were

able to begin.

Must not go back whatever the cost

because if we do all will be lost.

You might have thought the world was fine,

but when it comes to perfection we 

can't go the line.