Alike In Many Ways

Alyssa Czerwinski

12/15/11

Ms.Hanson 4^th hour

Alike In Many Ways

Authors note: This is a five paragraph essay explaining how the books The Hunger Games and War Comes to Willy Freeman are similar and different.

            I never thought the book War Comes to Willy Freeman, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, and The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, would be alike in so many ways. But little as I know it, they have many of the same themes. Some of the themes they have in common are the loss of innocence, and the importance of family. Although, there are numerous differences.

            First of all a huge similarity between these books is the importance of family. They both went to large lengths to save their families. Like Katniss, from The Hunger Games, took her sisters spot in the hunger games because she was twelve, the youngest age to join. Willy traveled the world to look for her mother not ever knowing if she was alive or not. It’s crazy how they could do something that thoughtful to try to save a family member.

            In addition’ another similarity is the theme of loss of innocence. Katniss, from The Hunger Games, had to mature when she was thirteen because of her dad dying. The way she matured is she started hunting, gathering, and selling. She may have done some of it illegally but she knew that’s what she had to do to save her family. When Willy’s dad, Jordan Freeman, died she just knew she had to run home and tell ma. But once she realized ma wasn’t there she knew there must be trouble and she started her journey across the U.S.

            On the other hand there are also many differences. Like how The Hunger Games is based on the future with little to no historical facts. This is the exact opposite of War Comes to Willy Freeman, it’s based on the past and has many historical events and people. Some of the people that were real are Jack Arabus  who was supposed to play Willy’s uncle, and Captain Thomas Ivers also was real.

            In conclusion there are many similarities between The Hunger Games and War Comes to Willy Freeman. Although there is also differences like weather is past tense or future tense. That is a couple of reasons why these books are alike and different.

Willy's Day in the Fort

Alyssa Czerwinski

12/9/11

Ms.Hanson 4^th hour

Willy’s Day in the Fort

Authors note: three paragraph essay explaining how Willy’s Father’s death affected her life and explaining the climax of the story.

Wilhelmina was really affected by her dad’s death. Not only because it was at a time at war but also because she saw it happen. This scene takes place in the book, War Comes to Willy Freeman, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, on page 31. Being there in the fort during a war affected her life in many ways and also affected the climax of the story which is when she finally finds her mother.

If she would have stayed with her mother the day the British attacked her fort instead of going with her father she could stopped them from taking her mom. Finding her mom couldn’t be the climax of the story is she wasn’t taken away. Therefore the cause of this story is her day in the fort.

Imagine being Granny Hyde who has to tell Willy that her mom has been taken by the British. There was many effects because her pa dying such as, meeting her aunt and uncle, almost being captured by the British, and finally reuniting with her mom. But by far, the last of the effects, reuniting with her mom, was the climax of the story. This was the climax because when I read it made me feel happy. Just knowing that she is still alive amazed me.

Where’s Ma?

Alyssa Czerwinski

12/5/11

4^th hour Hanson

Where’s Ma?

Authors note: Four paragraph explaining that the point of view of the book, “War Comes to Willy Freeman,” is important.

Sometimes books are written in multiple points of views. The book, “War Comes to Willy Freeman,” by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, is only written in one view which is Wilhelmina Freeman’s also known as Willy. Because of that I know that she is a free black American, looking for her mother, and saw he dad die.

Being a free black citizen when Willy left no one really looked for her once she went on the voyage to find her mom. Since this book was written from the view of Willy you get to see her adventure that she goes on while looking for her mother. Also you can see why she personally thinks that the Americans are the good guys in this situation rather than the British.

If this book was written in a point of view of her mom, you wouldn’t be able to see  any of the adventures that Wilhelmina went trough. Also you would be able to see when she was taken what actually happened unlike right now where I can only imagine.  Or if it was in place of her dad it would be less than 32 pages long.

There is one more view that I think would be interesting is the British’s. Being able to kill a countless amount of people without any regret. Also I try to picture myself in the one British’s soldiers who found Willy in the war fort. Seeing just a child about to cry, terrified of what they shall do with her.