What do Words Really Mean?

Alyssa Czerwinski

Mrs.Reagles 2nd hour

3/14/12

           Words, what do they really mean? "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." is a famous quote from the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughes when he says this he means that life wasn't as easy as people may think, there are challenges. The poem goes on uses the same stair idea to explain his mothers life. Only this time he explains that "It's had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor --Bare." Langston is trying to say it there is many difficulties in life a lot like the first. When Langston wrote this he tried to see himself in his mothers shoes and figured being a divorced mother wasn't anything like a walk in the Park.

The Future of the Clique

Alyssa Cerwinski

3/1/12

Reagles 2^nd hour

The Future of the Clique

The Clique… the only thing harder than getting in is staying in. In the first two books of The Clique series by Lisi Harrison, this quote didn’t explain half as much as I think Revenge of the Wannabes, the third book of this series, will. Even though I am only on page 55, I think that Alicia will start her new clique and all the people on her dance team will be apart and also that either Kristen or Dylan will join as well.

First of all within the first few pages of Revenge of the Wannabes you can feel the tension whenever anyone talks about Massie to Alicia. She acts furious about how Massie is the “leader” and she goes unnoticed. If you were constantly compared to someone else, how would that make you feel? I know I would feel fed up and would just want to start over even if that means a whole new group of friends.

Another reasons why I think this is because when Meredith said, “Well you’re prettier [than Massie], you have a ton of friends, your clothes are all designer, the briarwood boys are in love with you and you’re an amazing dancer.” This gave Alicia hope and I think that is how she got the courage to host her own sleepover and start a revolution. With all of the girls on Alicia’s dance team telling her how amazing she is, she must have felt like she was Massie. That gave her an adrenaline rush to take control.

The final reason why I think that Dylan will choose Alicia over Massie is because on the back of the book it states that Dylan thinks Massie is up to no good.This made me wonder if the author was just saying that to throw me off or that Kristin will actually go to Alicia’s new group. The only reason why I think that Kristin will go to Alicia is because Kristin told Alicia out of all the four girls that she liked Derek from Briarwood...who Dylan also used to like.

It is true: staying in the clique is harder than getting in. Although, Alicia doesn't want to be "in" anymore. To be "in" has gotten to be too much work; having always to be perfect, to suck up to Massie, and to be friends only with Dylan, Kristen, and Massie created far too much pressure and drama. Alicia needed to start fresh to be released from Massie's grip.

Melinda... What do you see when she walks through the door?

Authors Note:This is a writing piece that demonstrates what you would see if Melinda from Speak would look like if she were to walk into  using figurative language.

The door opens, and she walks in. She walks so swiftly almost as if she wishes to not be seen. Her hair covers her eyes until she takes her seat. I try not to stare but there is something different about her, I just can't put my finger on it. When she walks she stares at her feet, and wears clothes that you would see on a eleven year old. She lifted her head and her eyes were filled with the fear of being judged. I could tell she prayed not be to seen.

The Hunchback of Notradame has better posture then she does. I try to talk to her but she keeps blowing me off like I'm that annoying fly buzzing around the room. When she finally talked she sounded scared to death. I couldn't help but to wonder , why was she acting so odd? The teacher said her Melinda -- I figured that was her name. She nodded her head enough for Mr.Jones to see she was here.

Expressions

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/21/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

Expressions

Authors Note: Essay used to explain how the people in Jenna’s life in the book Rules of the Road help her express her emotions.

It is crazy how many people are in our life. Sometimes these people are important and some are less significant. In the book Rules of the Road By Joan Bauer Different characters symbolize different emotions for Jenna which is a key detail for this story.

First of all Harry Bender is a person who Jenna meets around half way through the book. He is someone she wished her dad was like. Harry gives Jenna hope. He does it in a way that he doesn’t even realize. Since Harry told her his story about him quitting drinking which is what Jenna wanted from her dad her whole life.

Another character that can help Jenna express her feelings is Madeline Gladstone. When I read this book I could tell whenever Jenna was with Mrs.Gladstone she felt strong. She felt this way because even though all the struggles Madeline has, she looks through the rain to see the sunlight. When Jenna is around someone who can overcome  a horrid son who doesn’t  care about her and a hip that causes her not to be able to walk  Jenna can realize that she can get though the difficulties of her dad.

The symbol of Jenna’s anger is revolved around her dad.  Her dad is introduced at the beginning of this story and I could tell that he was not going to be a positive character. He walked into the shoe store she worked at drunk! That was the first time she has seen him in 2 years and 7 months, but that was common for her father Jenna explained on page 8.

People can walk in and out for your life in the matter of seconds.  Some will stay and some will go, you never know. But I know Mrs.Gladstone Harry Bender, and Jenna’s father are the ones that will stay forever to help Jenna express her feelings.

The Worst Possible Outcome

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/16/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

The Worst Possible Outcome

 The votes came in, and I had a ton of hope. The votes had just been double checked and the owner of the company is… Elden! Most of the crowd gasped, some just smiled and clapped. I couldn’t move; I was frozen with my mouth wide open thinking how could that inspiring speech not mean anything to the audience?

I began to speak; my voice sounded crackly because I was trying to hold back the tears, “I can’t believe any of you! How could you choose Elden? Didn’t you hear me say that he tried to take my job because he felt threatened!?” I could see in Mrs.Gladstones eyes that she couldn’t breathe, almost as if she was choking… Oh god, she is choking! But not on anything her heart stop and she was gasping for breath. I couldn’t watch as a stockholder tried to revive her. It was too, late she was gone. She died from the pressure of being perfect. I wish I didn’t get her hopes up just to push her down again.

Well this is an awkward ride home. I have to drive myself home with Mrs.Gladstone car but not her. I will never stand up for myself ever again no matter who it is for. Right when I got home I saw my mom and Faith they were so happy to see me but they could see in my eyes disperse and even more stress than I had before the trip. I turned my head because of a roaring noise coming up the street only to see my dad for the last time; I guess you could also say the last time anyone has seen me too. My dad hit me with his car so hard that I was dead from the instant he hit. I saw him get out of his car and ask, “Hey Jenna Girl you’re not looking to good. Are you sick?”

Rules of the Road

Authors Note: One paragraph essay explaining why a certain quote in the book Rules of the Road. This Quote is from the end of the story ergo its gives a detail that could be considered a “spoiler.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” I shouted. “This is my father. He’s been drunk driving.” These two sentences mean a lot to Jenna in the book, Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer. This is important because Jenna knows how hard it is “sell out” a person you love. She knew she had to though. That was the only way to get her dad on a better track for life.  

Mrs.Gladstone

Authors Note: This is a speech about the book Rules of the Road and Mrs.Gladstone.

One of the main characters is Mrs.Gladstone. She is a 73-year-old woman who runs over 150 shoe stores. Mrs.Gladstone has many attitudes towards different people. To Jenna she is impressed that a 16-year-old who is practically in love with her job. This is opposite to her son where she is upset and angry due to the fact that he is forcing things upon her. She values her stores and riches. Mrs.Gladstone is cranky and mean because of her bad hips and her son. Mrs.Gladstone is very important to this book without her there wouldn’t be a road trip ergo no book.