This week, I read the historical fiction novel, The Disappeared, by Gloria Whelan. The main character is Silvia, who will do anything to rescue her brother from the Argentinian government's prison.
These are the songs that I would put on the soundtrack:
"Try, Try, Try" by Michael Squire -- Silvia knows that although there's a chance that she doesn't see her brother again, she doesn't let this keep her from trying.
"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor -- Although her brother has just been captured and taken away, she knows that she can't give and must keep trying to rescue her brother.
"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter -- Silvia has a bad day when her brother is taken and she becomes very heartbroken and sad.
"Only Hope" by Mandy Moore -- Silvia can only hope that her efforts pay off and she rescues her brother.
Maryjo
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Blog
This week, I've continued to read A Light in the Forest. If I could meet any character from this novel, it would have to be True Son, the narrator. Like many teenagers, he is stubborn and strong-willed. This makes him more relatable even though he is in a position that's not so realistic for us. I find his internal conflict to be fascinating. Here are some questions I would ask him.
1. If you hadn't been kidnapped at the age of 4 by your Indian family, you would now have a much better relationship with your white, biological family. Do you feel any hatred to your Indian family for kidnapping you?
Response: No. I loved being an Indian and don't blame my Indian family for anything.
2. What were your first thoughts about the way that the white people lived?
Response: The white people did not see the beauty in nature that Indians see. The Indians give much more respect to our surroundings than they do.
3. Why did you betray your Indian family?
Response: I realized that whether I liked it or not, my white family really cared about me. I had to choose which side I was on and I decided to give my biological family a chance.
4. Do you regret turning your back on the Indians?
Response: I miss my Indian family and I miss running free like an Indian and hunting and playing. But I live with my white family now and do so with pride.
Maryjo
1. If you hadn't been kidnapped at the age of 4 by your Indian family, you would now have a much better relationship with your white, biological family. Do you feel any hatred to your Indian family for kidnapping you?
Response: No. I loved being an Indian and don't blame my Indian family for anything.
2. What were your first thoughts about the way that the white people lived?
Response: The white people did not see the beauty in nature that Indians see. The Indians give much more respect to our surroundings than they do.
3. Why did you betray your Indian family?
Response: I realized that whether I liked it or not, my white family really cared about me. I had to choose which side I was on and I decided to give my biological family a chance.
4. Do you regret turning your back on the Indians?
Response: I miss my Indian family and I miss running free like an Indian and hunting and playing. But I live with my white family now and do so with pride.
Maryjo
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Reading Blog
This week, I've been reading The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter. This historical fiction novel tells the story of a white boy, named True Son, who was kidnapped at birth by the Indians at age four. After being raised by them and learning their ways, he is returned to his white family. True Son is very hateful toward his white family and considers them the enemy. So, he runs away with his Indian cousin and heads back to his Indian home.
When True Son is leaving his Indian father whom he loves and admires, his father tells him, "Now go like an Indian, True Son. Give me no more shame". While True Son is living with his white family, he tries to remember and live by his father's words. True Son would always try to conceal his emotions and stay calm and strong. However, he wouldn't always be able to keep it up.
True Son learns that Indians are not perfect after all, and that not only have whites killed inocent people, but Indians have as well. This changes True Son's way of thinking and he begins to realize that both Indian and white societies have imperfections.
Throughout the story, True Son really is just searching for his identity. He feels loyalty toward his Indian father but he knows that other whites see him as one of them and that he has a white family who loves him. His good relationship with his white little brother and the realization that his fellow Indians do kill white children confuses True Son. This internal conflict is an exageration of what all teenagers ask themselves: "Who am I?"
I predict that since True Son has run away with his Indian cousin, this will cause a war to break out. True Son will have to choose sides and give all of his to loyalty to it.
When True Son is leaving his Indian father whom he loves and admires, his father tells him, "Now go like an Indian, True Son. Give me no more shame". While True Son is living with his white family, he tries to remember and live by his father's words. True Son would always try to conceal his emotions and stay calm and strong. However, he wouldn't always be able to keep it up.
True Son learns that Indians are not perfect after all, and that not only have whites killed inocent people, but Indians have as well. This changes True Son's way of thinking and he begins to realize that both Indian and white societies have imperfections.
Throughout the story, True Son really is just searching for his identity. He feels loyalty toward his Indian father but he knows that other whites see him as one of them and that he has a white family who loves him. His good relationship with his white little brother and the realization that his fellow Indians do kill white children confuses True Son. This internal conflict is an exageration of what all teenagers ask themselves: "Who am I?"
I predict that since True Son has run away with his Indian cousin, this will cause a war to break out. True Son will have to choose sides and give all of his to loyalty to it.
--- Maryjo
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