A High School Story

i’m more lost than those Neverland boys

[hania-r-blog]

I really loved this whole page. Thomas seems to be producing lots of stories with lots of optimism, hope, acceptance. I love the way she describes how it’s okay and you just got to keep going to achieve something. It won’t always be good the first time around, but you can’t give up. I also enjoyed reading this part since I think everyone can relate to it. Whatever you’re apart of, you might do something amazing. If you’re into art, you love a piece you made and want to make more like it since that one turned out so good. If you’re into sports and scored a goal or did some cool new thing, you want to do it again since it produced good results. What Thomas points out is that it’s hard to create the same thing, or do it again. But you have to try and have faith to achieve something. Also, she related it back to writing very nicely. She connected the two ideas so readers can see that this feeling applies to many other things, not just painting or art.

[zachped-blog]

I noticed that on that page when it was talking about colors, and paintings, and all that, that later you were able to connect something from your book to a painting. I really like that, because somethings that you read in books or online, or wherever, really get you to think about more, find more conenctions, and expand your knowledge.

[hania-r-blog]

https://youtu.be/lbYAQ9BQ3IA

In this video, Abigail Thomas discusses different books that she truly enjoys and what they mean to her. One part of this interview that really stuck out to me was towards the beginning where she was talking about how her mother takes offense to the stories Abigail writes about when it talks about mothers. Her mom thinks that she is talking about her, but Abigail Thomas’s mom does not understand that Thomas is simply talking about herself. I think I can see this as I’m reading this story because it’s very apparent that Thomas struggles of being a mother and not being able to identify with her daughter, see what her daughter is feeling, and overall just being a good mother. However, Thomas does not have any negative intentions. It is very obvious that she is trying to be a good mom and she’s trying to see how to take the next step in building her relationships and bettering herself.

[zachped-blog]

I love that you found an actual interview and are able to use this. Also, when you blog about your book, you talked about changing, and viewpoints and all that. Here, Abigail’s mother thinks the writing is about one thing, while Abigail know it is about something different. I think that is a very strong thing, not knowing the ‘whole story’ and taking offense to things because not all evidence is present. 

[hania-r-blog]

Considering I watch a lot of TV shows, many little things remind me of certain shows I’ve watched. This passage talked about how Thomas wanted to tell her husband something, but couldn’t find herself to do so, since she feared his anger and judgment, but technically was scared of her own, since she didn’t want to judge her best friend. The whole book is about her and her best friend, and this point is a little twist since she has to act against her best friend. She didn’t agree with his actions and wanted to tell her husband. She went ahead to not telling her husband, and later on he got hit by a car and afterwards, nothing would be the same. She couldn’t tell him now and she regretted it. This related me back to Greys Anatomy, a show about surgeons operating and living their life in Seattle. Many big eye opening moments in this show is doing what you want, doing the right thing, acting boldly, and not holding back in life since you don’t know when it will end. You don’t know when people will be taken away from you, or when you could be taken away from them. There are definitely many other shows and movies that highlight this idea. It allows people to understand that life isn’t that long and you truly should live it to the best of your abilities and do what you want. Thomas throughout this whole book so far discusses parts of her life, her regrets, her passions, what she wants to do and how she learns from her mistakes. This part of the book I think helps show character development since she finally realized that she needs to act more boldly and do what she wants to do, without constantly second guessing herself.

[zachped-blog]

I think its really cool that you were able to connect this back to something that teenagers can relate to. I mostly found articles for my book, but you were able to connect it back to a show on Netflix, that many teenagers watch, and they will be able to connect/relate with your book now, on a deeper level, because of that. Good job :)

[hania-r-blog]

Something reoccurring I see is Thomas’s self confidence. In the beginning I thought it would show her strong sense of self, but I guess that’s the point of the book— to show her growth as a mother, friend, wife, and writer (creator). When she was trying to find another meaning for failure, I think she was trying to make a meaning of something. She was trying to make sense of failure and why it’s such a prominent thing in her life. When she couldn’t find anything, she had a realization that failure is just failure, always has been and always will.

[zachped-blog]

I really like how you and your books author sort of went thorough a journey together. You started to get really interested into her story, and grew with her, and changed viewpoints, and learned a lot more. I think thats super awesome.

[zachped-blog]

Just Mercy

I really liked that throughout the book, there were many stories.I know I have talked about this before, but it was my favorite thing about my book. I really enjoyed learning about everybody’s stories, and seeing how they relate.

[hania-r-blog]

I think in today’s society, the word depression is taken very lightly. I hear my friends, kids around me, people on social media, everywhere, saying how they’re “depressed”, not really knowing the true meaning or seriousness of this mental health issue. In this passage, Thomas discusses how she has known Chuck for 31 years, and how he doesn’t know that she’s been depressed. He turns the topic to himself and says that she hasn’t been depressed, but it’s been him that’s depressed. They keep tossing around this word, even after this passage, and it makes me confused as to if it’s a serious issue in Thomas’s life, or if it’s just a, “I had a few rough days so I was depressed,” kind of thing. I also thing it’s interesting that they’ve known eachother for the longest time and neither of them truly realized that the other, or both, are going through a “depression” phase, IF it’s genuinely serious. All in all, it just reminded me an issue I hear about and see today about how depression is used in ways it shouldn’t be, and it’s more serious than others bring it out to be.

[zachped-blog]

I really like how you discussed the fact that some words and phrases now are just tossed around like its nothing. To connect this to my book, I will read something like “he was then thrown in jail” or whatever it is, and not really think anything of it because of how common it is. I remember there was a chapter and there was a line like “He was shot three times in the leg, and she was shot in the back” and the first thing I thought was “ouch.” I don’t mean to sound like I don’t care, I really do, but I think I have gotten used to hearing that in today's world. I feel terrible because I actually go back and have to think about what I just read, in order to actually feel their pain, and understand what just happened.

[hania-r-blog]

Considering I watch a lot of TV shows, many little things remind me of certain shows I’ve watched. This passage talked about how Thomas wanted to tell her husband something, but couldn’t find herself to do so, since she feared his anger and judgment, but technically was scared of her own, since she didn’t want to judge her best friend. The whole book is about her and her best friend, and this point is a little twist since she has to act against her best friend. She didn’t agree with his actions and wanted to tell her husband. She went ahead to not telling her husband, and later on he got hit by a car and afterwards, nothing would be the same. She couldn’t tell him now and she regretted it. This related me back to Greys Anatomy, a show about surgeons operating and living their life in Seattle. Many big eye opening moments in this show is doing what you want, doing the right thing, acting boldly, and not holding back in life since you don’t know when it will end. You don’t know when people will be taken away from you, or when you could be taken away from them. There are definitely many other shows and movies that highlight this idea. It allows people to understand that life isn’t that long and you truly should live it to the best of your abilities and do what you want. Thomas throughout this whole book so far discusses parts of her life, her regrets, her passions, what she wants to do and how she learns from her mistakes. This part of the book I think helps show character development since she finally realized that she needs to act more boldly and do what she wants to do, without constantly second guessing herself.

[hania-r-blog]

https://youtu.be/lbYAQ9BQ3IA

In this video, Abigail Thomas discusses different books that she truly enjoys and what they mean to her. One part of this interview that really stuck out to me was towards the beginning where she was talking about how her mother takes offense to the stories Abigail writes about when it talks about mothers. Her mom thinks that she is talking about her, but Abigail Thomas’s mom does not understand that Thomas is simply talking about herself. I think I can see this as I’m reading this story because it’s very apparent that Thomas struggles of being a mother and not being able to identify with her daughter, see what her daughter is feeling, and overall just being a good mother. However, Thomas does not have any negative intentions. It is very obvious that she is trying to be a good mom and she’s trying to see how to take the next step in building her relationships and bettering herself.

[hania-r-blog]

From this passage, I took away what I see a lot in movies and during my daily life, where young or old kids say that they aspire to be like their parents. I think this is a phrase every parents wishes and dreams to hear, since it makes them feel like they’re doing something right and they’re child appreciates them. It reminded me specifically of Gilmore Girls, one of my favorite shows. It’s about a mother and daughter who’s bond is incomparable, despite their obvious differences. The mother, Lorlei was once talking to her mom, and said that hearing her daughter, Rory, say she wants to be like her mom, warmed her heart since Rory has gotten so much farther in life than Lorlei has, and she is so much brighter than her, yet Rory still aspires to be like her mother. Abigail Thomas in this passage explains the exact thing, saying that people comparing her and her daughter to being alike is a compliment for the mother. I think this phrase is universal and something that goes unnoticed by viewers since it seems normal. The only people who really feel and understand how special these words are, are the ones who are receiving it.

[hania-r-blog]

So far in my book, I’ve understood many things and concepts Thomas has been talking about. Her family, her job, her issues, and how she goes day by day, living her life. However, when I came across this passage, I didn’t really understand what she meant.

1) I didn’t really understand where this idea came from. Yes, every page is kind of a different anecdote or story in a way, but for the most part, they bounce off of eachother and make sense. This one felt very random and didn’t make sense to me.

2) Maybe, she’s writing something and this idea popped into her head, about how the same people are born again and again.

3) The only thing I really took away from this passage is the fact that in life, we come across people we like and dislike, people we love and recognize with, and these are our unbreakable connections.

I feel like this passage is important and might mean something more later on in the book.

[zachped-blog]

I like that you mentioned that “every page is kind of a different anecdote or story in a way, but for the most part, they bounce off of each other and make sense.” because my book is just like this. My book is like a collection of stories, that in a way, all relate in the end. I really like that we can relate our books to another! :)

[zachped-blog]

Should juveniles be incarcerated with adults?

While all states can charge juveniles as adults, often for the most serious crimes, North Carolina and New York do so for every 16- or 17-year-old, regardless of the offense. People who want to raise the age of adult responsibility in New York say that research shows a high social and economic cost of incarcerating youth. NewsHour Weekend's Ivette Feliciano reports on the debate.

I found this video that follows the life of a guy named Asad. Asad was put in adult jail (as a senior in high school) because he allegedly shot a female class mate. I really liked this video because the audience is able to actually view the life of a person who has actually went thru this. The audience is also able to understand what happens to children in adult prison, just a little more. 

[zachped-blog]

Children in Adult Prisons

Some 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America. Thousands of young people have been assaulted, raped, and traumatized as a result.

This article is very short, but has some very shocking statistics. Also, these statistics are from the EJI (Equal Justice Initiative) which is mentioned in my book s lot, and I was able to connect them together. The statistics lined up with what was happening to the kids in my book, and it all makes sense. 

[zachped-blog]

All God’s Children

There was a chapter in Bryan Stevenson’s book, titled ‘’All God’s Children”. In my opinion, this was one of the saddest chapters. Stevenson talked about many cases in which children were living this terrible life, and their life just got more horrid. There was this one girl I remember, her name was Trina. I remember her story best because of how tragic it was. Stevenson talked about how her father abused her mother, and then her mother had passed. Trina and her sisters were abused, and raped by their father. There was so much more, but her story stuck with me most because, like I already said, how tragic it is. I really look at things differently after that. Trina had spent many many years in jail after that, for a crime she did not do. As I read the book, and read articles, I found that there are a lot of horrid stories like Trina. The hardest thing to acknowledge was that she was a child when most of this had happened. 

[zachped-blog]

Why the innocent end up in prison

John Grisham gives 8 reasons why the innocent end up in prison

I really was intrigued as to why there are so many cases that involved wrongly convicted people. I decided to look into it and I found this article by John Grisham. He gives us 8 reasons as to why some people are found guilty for crimes they did not commit, and I found it very interesting. 

[zachped-blog]

Opinion | Roberts, Alito: Cops who illegally entered home without warrant, shot married couple can’t be sued . . . because the cops likely would have shot the couple anyway.

L.A. County v. Mendez shows just how hard it is to win damages against cops, even when the victim did nothing wrong.

I found another article that I liked. This one talked about how police went against peoples rights, and are not getting in trouble for it. The title really got my attention, because of how messed up the situation seemed. I remember there was a part of my book where Stevenson talked about how he had gotten home and was sitting in his car for about 15 minutes listening to music, when the police showed up, arrested him, and illegally searched his car. Some cases like this are very messed up and really sad, especially like the article I found.

[zachped-blog]

On July 30, 1976, I went to Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, to visit friends. I got there around 8 p.m. and didn’t know that at 4 p.m., a local girl had been abducted.

Again, I found this article whilst out and about on the internet. I thought that this story was very upsetting, but also at the same time very interesting. There was a line that talked about how this person had a hypnotist mention their name, and he got thrown in prison for that reason. In the book I am reading, there was a section where someone payed another person to lie in court, getting this other (innocent) person put in jail. I also found it interesting knowing that this guy did not even know to turn his phone back on because he had been in jail for so long, and had not gotten used to these things. This story was again, very sad, but also just opens our eyes up to how messed up and upsetting society can be.

[zachped-blog]

Children in Prison

Thousands of children in the U.S. have been prosecuted as adults and sentenced to adult prisons. EJI is working to end the abusive treatment

As I was reading some articles, this one showed up and I decided to read it. I saw the line “Some 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America.” And this stood out knowing that these 10,000 people are children. This is insane, because these kids are facing adult punishments, and some of these kids might not have even committed that big of a crime, or any crime at all, and that’s insane.