Book: "Code Talker"
Prompts:
1.) Describe the settings time and place.
2.) Analyze how your feelings change in this story and why.
3.) Explain what kind of reader would like this book.

          The time is 1945. The defeat of the Germans and the Japanese is near. The location of the place I am reading right now is Iwo Jima. The Americans and the Japanese are fighting hard for the island. It is a bloody time for both sides. The Americans shell the island while the Japanese dig their foxholes deeper and deeper in desperation to not lose their island. Bombings are everywhere. Bullets whizzing past each soldier and hitting some. The sound of lead meeting flesh is a horrible sound and then comes the cry for help. The Japanese fighting tooth and nail with some armed with just sharp sticks. Then, as the flag is raised it gives hope to the American soldiers as they persevere.

          My feelings haven't changed drastically during the story. Before I knew the Japanese were cruel and did everything to win. They violated the rules of war like not to shoot a medic during a battle. I never really liked the Japanese. I was disgusted by their methods. As I learned more and more I began to dislike them even more. One day as the author of my book and a couple of friends were walking, they found the food that the U.S sends to Japanese for the poor. They took were using the food that U.S sent them for their soldiers. They let their poor starve. So in the end I still disliked the Japanese, but even more than I did before.

           I think that the type of reader that would enjoy this is a reader that likes to analyze WWII. Also a reader that likes is a first-hand account of what happened during WWII. The reader has to at least have some knowledge or at least the basic events. This would have to interest the reader in order for the reader to enjoy this book.

"Code Talkers" Blog

3/7/16
Prompts:

1.) Summarize what has happened in the book so far.

2.) Identify the protagonist. 
3.) Identify the antagonist. Describe what has happened
that makes you believe they are the main characters?


          The book I am reading is called "Code Talkers" by Joseph Bruchac. This book takes place during the years of WWII. The author is writing about his time when he served as a Navajo code talker so the book is a memoir. When he was a little boy he was sent to an American school. This was a school for just Navajos but they were taught the way of the "white man." Since the teachers were American, the Navajos were discriminated by the teacher. Then, one day, when he was 16, the Marine Corps were recruiting Navajos to aid them in the war effort. He begged his parents, but they told him to wait one more year. When he was 17, he was accepted by the Marine Corps. He became a code talker and him, along with many other Navajos, developed a new code so no one could crack it. He battled many battless. He was wounded as well. Right now I am at the part where they are fighting the Japanese to take over Iwo Jima. This is what I have read so far.

          I think that the protagonist of the story is the author and all the Allied forces. The protagonists are fighting against the Axis forces. The events that have taken place in order for me to know that these are the protagonist are that the author has persevered even in tough times like the time he was wounded. The Allied forces are obviously a protagonist because they are fighting to prevent Adolf Hitler from talking over the world. This is why I think they are protagonist.

           The antagonist of this book is the Axis Powers. I think this because they are fighitng so they can take over the world. The events that made me think this is when the American soldiers went to take over Iwo Jima. When they went to the island it seemed like it was deserted. When all of the soldiers went is finally when the Japanese started to attack them. It took days to finally overcome the Japanese because they never surrendered they fought to the very last. They fought with tooth and nail. This is why I think that the Axis Powers are the antagonist.

Life is Beautiful Blog

3/2/16
Prompts:
1.)Based on the Holocaust literature and poems we have read, what connections can we make between Life is Beautiful and our reading?
2.) Analyze how differenences of points of view of characters create suspense or humor
3.) What events, scenes, or situations are similar or different? What is similar or different about the mood or tone of the pieces?
4.) How is life shown as beautiful throughout the film? Pull out at least two examples from different parts of the film and explain your rationale.


          There are many connnections between the Holocaust literature and poems we have read between the film Life is Beautiful. One connenction that I made between both pieces is the how the way that the father and son bonded. In the movie Life is Beautiful Guido is the person that takes care of the son. In Night the father and son bond was where the son took care of the father. The overall idea of the father and son bond is the same, but as you start to disect it becomes different. Guido gives the feeling comedy. In Night its more of a serious tone. This how each piece of literature is similar and different.

           The point of views are very different throughout each piece of work. In Night it was through the perspective of Elie Wiesel. Through his perspective the mood was very serious and somewhat facts. In Life is Beautiful it was told by the perspective of Guido, the main character. It was told through a much more upbeat and comedy perspective. That was one difference.

           One way that life is shown as beautiful is the way that the main character looks at his life. He tends to look on the bright side of things. Like when he was about to get killed. He found a way to make his son laugh even though he was going to die. He died on a happy note. That is one way that life is shown as beautiful.

          Another way that life is shown as beautiful is the way the main person, Guido, treasures his experiences. During the movie his experiences are shown. Like when he first met his wife when she "fell out of the sky." He didn't know that was going to be his wife at first, but it was like love at first sight. He treasured that moment. This is one of the other ways that life is shown as beautiful