"THE MAZE RUNNER"

        Over time their is this tension of resistance either by society, a group of people, or a form of government. "The Maze Runner," by James Dashner involves the power of two groups and the tension between them. The runners and the creators have this way of lifestyle were one either benefits the other or destroys them. Thomas and the runners have been now fighting for their freedom and their escape of their hectic studies being tested on them. The tension of power and resistance between the runners and the creators makes this perseverance to keep going and never give up. It makes a theme were fear is just another reason to try harder.
       The fear of death is what pushes and motivates the runners to try harder. For example, the loss of runners throughout the past gives them this mentality that if they don't start acting now then they'll all get killed. " I wasn't here, but I heard that the kid who volunteered to do it had only gone down about ten feet when something swooshed through the air and cut him clean in half."(pg.51) This shows the brutality against these two groups or societies and the fear being attached to the runners. Another example would be when Thomas came face to face with a griever and almost got killed. "It stared right at me, it's arm ready to attack and kill."(pg.198) This shows this fear caught in Thomas's eyes, scaring him for the rest of his life. And in some cases people could relate to death as just another reason to enjoy life even more.
       Further more another thing to fear that makes them try harder is brainwash. For example, "If Chuck was right, he'd just discovered a link to the rest of the boys. A common pattern to their memory washes."(pg.16) They are fearing to crack and get into the creators mind set of what they are to be. This shows the creators trying to brainwash the runners into turning them in their image and who they want them to be. But why do they leave their first names only and not anything else? Could this be a way of a strategic plan to destroy them. Another example would be, "Chuck, what if we're all criminals? I mean-what if we're murders or something?"(pg.63) This is showing the runners brainwashing affect on them. And they are fighting back not forget who they are or what they're planing. This brainwashing is trying to intercept their plans on destroying the creators, but they are too fearing for the worst.
       Overall, this idea of fear being another reason to try harder can also connect to others in the real world. Being feared of death can empower others to enjoy life and value every moment. And this power of two groups and the tension between them can be seen all over life. Like a teacher having more power than a student, or the government having more power over society. Although, the power of tension and resistance is what also makes perseverance in a group or person.


     

"Forest Gate" by Peter Akinti

     Many people say death is another thing to fear. But others say it's a way to be reborn. In this case it's a way to be reborn and escape reality. In the book, "Forest Gate," by Peter Akinti the main character's brother, Ashvin, committed suicide as a way to escape "this cruel harsh world." Ashvin had been bullied and mistreated and couldn't handle the amount he was receiving at school and in society. The idea of war, bullying, and racism is substantially present throughout the book.

     People may have a sort of challenge or difficulty that is troubling or worrying that may have to do with a social issue. For example,"The memory of my father returning home stopped playing in my head but the sound of gun fire went on and on, haunting me."(3) This is showing the scarce memory of his father involved with the military. And the memory of his father's death's back in Somalia. As well as war being a social issue presented here. But for many people this is their reality everyday where there is no escape for them.Another example would be, "Somalia had been through fifteen years of war."(3) This, for Ashvin, was a major problem since crime swept the streets. Gangs, drugs, and violence filled the streets during the war, creating havoc. And in many places people do live through war and suffer the consequences it causes. Like families living in refugees in the middle east or kids who fight in wars. Or others who believe they are living in a war whether with themselves or in society.

     Another aspect has to do with bullying causing a person to feel depression or loneliness. An example would be,"The Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary describes people with bipolar disorder as being under the darkest of clouds."(3) In other words, people with bipolar disorder feel depression and alone. And in many cases people have bipolar disorder were they get bullied for it making their lives a whole lot harder. Although, not only people with bipolar disorder may feel under the darkest of clouds, but regular people as well. And the reason for this may be because of bullying at school, at home, or in society. And this, relating to Ashvin, was the one of the causes towards his decisions on committing suicide. Further more, another example would be,"He wanted to be a doctor once but he had lived with real pain."(2) In other words, Ashvin has lived through a rough horrible life filled with grief and regrets. Although, the pain he's feeling isn't physically, but mentally.  The pain is filled with the death of his father, the racism society has on him, and the bullying he's faced. And many people do suffer from not only physical, but mental pain too.

     Moreover, society also plays a big roll in ones life. For example,"'No drugs, eh? What do we have here then, the last of the Lord's black disciples?'"(39) This shows the stereotypes society thinks of Ashvin and his brother as well the "crooks" they are based off their skin color. In accordance to the conversation with the cops they were stop and frisked based on their ethnicity showing the racism they face in society. In some cases, this may happen to people and they find it annoying and racist. But to Ashvin he finds it as a problem society is facing and wants to find peace towards it. Another example would be when he was standing at the edge of the building,. "At 11:57 p.m, they were quiet as they emptied their minds, as they tried to forget life, to blend with their frail place in the universe."(10) This shows Ashvin finding his peace in the world or the peace he thinks is right. And some people may feel breakable and vulnerable towards their self-esteem.

     Overall, death isn't just another thing to fear nor the right thing to do if unhappy with life. I feel that suicide is a major problem people face for the wrong reasons. And not just teens, but people of all ages can connect to suicide as well as bullying. I find Akinti writing about injustice problems society is facing today. But "Forest Gate," shows to appreciate what you have and not take things for granted.

Svalbard, The Perfect Town?

        "No Job? Get Lost!" by Andrew Higgins talks about a remote quiet town called, Svalbard, Norway, were unemployment is illegal. It is said to be, "a very quiet and law-abiding society." The reason for this has to do with the geography and climate Svalbard has to offer. The government says that banning homelessness  and unemployment-a problem plaguing much of Europe-is meant to ensure that none of Svalbard's nearly 3,000 residents freezes to death. Higgins is trying to convey that the idea of making unemployment illegal is to prevent poverty, leading to a crime-free society.

        Higgins uses imagery as a type of craft to depict the "pureness" of Svalbard and the residents living in it. For example, he states, "Residents regularly leave their car and snowmobile keys in the ignition and don't bother locking their front doors. Coffee shop patrons leave their computers unattended, never worrying they might get stolen." This shows the residents trust throughout the community as well as the low crime rate recorded. Higgins is trying to make the reader feel comfortable and safe with Svalbard. This example is showing the goodness of Svalbard, but secluding the bad parts about it.

         After reading, "No Job? Get Lost!" by Andrew Higgins I realized how the "perfect" town isn't considered by the unemployment rate, but by the crimes being done. A part that struck out to me was that the police enforce a rule that anybody moving outside the city limits of Longyearbyen must carry a weapon and know how to use it. The reason for this is that me, living in New York, find it peculiar that the police enforce instead of ban the usage of guns. Although the ideal of this "perfect" society sounds good, it also sounds pretty boring as if you're living in this Utopian society. I, on the other hand prefer living were I am and wouldn't like to change that even if it's not "perfect."

Darkness Too Visible

      The article "Darkness Too Visible," by Megan Cox Gurdon published on The Wall Street Journal talks around the issue about challenged and banned books. The author expresses her ideas through the eyes of a 46 year old mother of three named Amy Freeman who stood recently in the young adult section of her local Barnes and Nobles, in Bethesda, Md. She said, "Hundreds of Lurid and dramatic covers stood on the racks before her, she felt 'nothing' not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter?" So how dark is contemporary fiction for teens? Gurdon believes that contemporary fiction should be banned and restricted to adolescences.
       Gurdon uses imagery as a type of craft to visualize contemporary fiction. She states, "teen fiction can be like a hall of fun house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what is life." This depicts the imagery of fiction being horrendous and gives the idea of fiction portraying negative and dark topics on what life is. This example provides the expressively negative impact of fiction to teens. The statement introduces the negative point of view on fiction, but secludes the positive view of fiction on teens such as, preparing them for life because life isn't easy and these fiction books being ridiculed by many, actually help to prepare a teen to conquer any obstacle that gets in their way later on in their adult hood.
        Overall, personally I disagree with the bias being presented by Megan Cox Gurdon on books being banned based on their language and content. I think that teens shouldn't be restricted on what they can't and cannot read because overall what matters is that they have a great time enjoying the book they're reading. I realized that certain books that are challenged are based on different criteria they each contain such as content, language, and imagery. There was a statement that stood out to me and that was, "There are a course of expectations, but a careless young reader-or one who seeks out to depravity-will find himself surrounded by images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds." The reason this stood out to me was because they don't state the positive message being presented here such as preparing teens on obstacles they will be presented on later in life. So how dark is contemporary fiction? It's up to you to decide.

Never Eighteen

      Many people have encountered the loss of a loved one and know it may be hard to overcome the struggles and hardships. I have almost encountered the loss of a love one when my cousin and aunt got run over by a bus. My world felt like it came crumbling down which is the same feeling my family felt for a long time. I've seen and lived the struggles my family and I had to overcome throughout a long period of time ranging from August to about February. The book “Never Eighteen,” by Megan Bostic is about a teenager named Austin, and who with friends and family face the loss of a their dear friend Jake. He was taking a ride on his skate board one night when he got ran over by a car. Little by little they see the hardness in life after the emptiness they start to feel, but try to overcome one downcast step at a time. I think that the author is telling the reader that death is a horrible encounter and is not straightforward to overcome.

              The consequences of someone dying may not just be sobbing all the time, but to enter withdrawal and depression. And in the book that’s exactly what happened to Jake’s mom. For example, “the stench of stale cigarettes almost makes me gag. The shades are drawn, darkness cast across everything like a ghostly shadow. I scan the living room, barely recognizing the place that used to be my second home. Once a small, clean sanctuary, now is a strewn with over flowing ashtrays and dishes covering the counter and fill the sink.”(pg.18) This shows the significance of her depression and the total wreck she has become by casting the reader a visual picture of the home. It’s also showing the depression externally than internally, as well as showing not telling the mood the mom’s feeling. This shows the inferior she’s going through and the shocked feeling she is having. I can connect to this because I felt in shock the moment a sudden phone call rang and my mom told me the news. I felt like a dark cloud cast above me and hit me with all its might. 

             Moreover, together with withdrawal and depression another result can be cast around the influence of drugs on teens. An example would  notably be shown through the girlfriend of Jake, Allie, “she reeks of pot.”(pg.48) In this example it is showing the drug addict Allie has become. But as well as the poor life choice she has made. I think that Allie is doing drugs in order to get all the stress that she feels is compressing her, as well as the disillusioned feeling she is having off her mind. I think that Allie is making these poor choices because she feels vulnerable at the moment and is perplexed on what to do. This connects to the topic sentence because it gives away the clear idea on what Allie is doing.

               Further more,  another key point would be the struggles of overcoming the death of a loved one. The author does a brief way of showing this when Austin tells Allie “‘You should get help. You’re slowly killing yourself, you know?” (pg.55) This is showing the pain and suffering Allie is going through and the stress and overwhelming feeling that she is having. As well as the inconsolably and abandoned feelings she is having. I think that Allie is insulated with a bunch of problems which she doesn't know how to deal with and overcome. I also think that since Allie is a teen she doesn't fully know how to deal with this problem independently and needs the support of her parents. Who can be her guiding hands.  

             Overall, the author Megan Bostic enforces the idea that death is a horrible encounter and is not straightforward to overcome. And she does a great way of showing that statement throughout the book, as well as stating that life is to short and you should enjoy every minute you have with no regrets. I think that the book is also telling the reader to appreciate what you have and the people around you. This is a valuable message because you never know when someone you or a loved one will go. So hold on to them like a balloon for if not they will blow away.

The Great Gatsby

          The non fiction book "The Great Gatsby", by F. Scott Fitzgerald is about a man named Nick Carraway whose the main protagonist caught in between the life of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan both fighting for the love of Daisy. Jay Gatsby the neighbor of Nick is a fabulous wealthy man in love with Daisy Buchanan living in West Egg Long Island. But Daisy turns out to be married to nicks long companion Tom Buchanan a sophisticated wealthy man with an appearance of aggressiveness. Gatsby is a lonely man with no one in his life other than his wealth to comfort him and the friendship of Nick. The theme of the book is to enjoy life and companion ship around you, because money can't buy you happiness only popularity.
           An example of this would be at his extravagant, glorified parties. For example, when Nick was lurking around Gatsby's party in search of him he came across many people asking them the same question "Pardon me my good sir, but by any chance have you seen Jay Gatsby anywhere around?" And ever one had always responded "no" and and started talking about conspiracies about what society thought he had to be. This shows how people only know him because of his parties, but no one really knows him personally  to sit down and chat with him.
             Another example would be when Daisy went to his mansion to visit him. Gatsby felt so alive and joyous that his love came over, Daisy because it felt like old times to him when they had an affair at a young age. He endorsed the moments he spent with Daisy and didn't spend anytime away from her.
             Further more, after Gatsby got shot in his pool as an act of murder after being accused as the crime suspect of Myrtle's assassination, a woman who Tom was having an affair with while being married to Daisy. He had a funeral where no one attended not even his butlers, but only Nick. His only friend. This shows how lonely Gatsby is, even his considered "friends" didn't have the time to visit his memorial.
               More over, Nick was caught in this tidal wave of love over fighting for Daisy's hand. But even though Gatsby had all the money and fame he could ever ask for, that never satisfied him completely. He always had this rotten part to him where it would never had gotten filled if it wouldn't have been for Nick.