Blog 8 "Heat" 4th Qrt.

So later in the story Michael was chosen to join a little league baseball. He played a full game and got over 50 pitches. Michael was the pitcher for the New York Yankees. Michael was such a good thrower. Some say that he had a hand of a god due to his throwing. Michael won multiple games and was recognized in his family and his father told him that he can do it. Most people would think that he is just some 12-year-old kid. But he had an arm of the professionals.

I think the theme of this story is "Don't give up on your dreams." Because Michael thought he was just an ordinary kid and just had a good talent. His dad and his friend plus his brother gave him influence or motivation to keep trying. For example in the story on page 60 it states, "You can do it..just a little motivation." This proves that people tell Michael that he can do it.

Blog 7 "Heat"

So later in the book Michael tells he escaped or ran away from Cuba where he came from. Michael tries to forget all that happened. As well he tries to sign up for baseball and become part of the little league. Carlos, his older brother, gives him motivation to do what he likes or wants to do in life. Michael chooses baseball. Michael has never had a crush until one day he seen a gorgeous girl named Ellie. He tries his best to get with her but fails at the same time.

I have a connection to this book because I loved baseball all my life. Its what I want to do in my life and go places or national. Michael does too, but, there are many cons. Such as, no birth certificate, young, orphan, and not in school. The only pro that I know can happen is that he can believe in himself and could do it. So that is my connection. Michael, although, may not have everything but has faith that he can be something with motivation to do it.

"The heat" 6th blog

The book I am reading now is "Heat" so far I am introduced to a character named Michael. In the beginning a fast runner was running away from a girl. He had stole a woman's purse. The book is in 3rd person because it explains the surrounding or setting. And after someone speak cause after someone says something it doesn't say "I said". So the runner got hit in the back of the head by Michael and was caught by the police.

I predict later that Michael will be drafted into a professional base-ball league. Why is say this is because on page 6, "...you will make it to the world series, like the brothers Hernandez did." This proves that Michael will possibly get drafted or better. So that is my prediction for this book. So then I will have to wait to see what will happen next in this book.

"Hole in my life" 4th quarter 5th blog

Overall for my book "Hole in my life" is a very intense and frightening book. The reason why I say so is because from what Jack Gantos has seen such as rape, killing, beating, and escaping. Jack thought he could make a little bit of a career in prison. But most of the time he was targeted for rape but so happened to be protected by a police officer. Jack was writing his experiences but in the end he could not take the book because it was prison property. So he left it. But at the same time when he left it. I think another prisoner will read it and feel what he went through.

In the end I'd say the theme of the story is "After all, life goes on". The reason why I'd say this is the theme is because even though Jack went to jail and witnessed so many things, he knew that life would go on. When he was sent to jail he was there everyday and life went on. But the big day came along and he was free. The title had the theme in a way. "Hole in my Life" this title shows that Jack Gantos had a gap or a mistake in his life. But he went on. After all, life goes on. I like this book because it shows even though you go through troubles, life goes on.

"Would we be killed" response

Native Americans were marginalized by many ways. One of the reasons were because how they look, act, dress, talk and because of their culture in general. They felt like they didn't exist because schools tried to take away the culture within them. For example on page 13 it states, "I was not Pratt's plan to simply educate these children and teach them English. He also planned to 'civilize' them---to strip them from traditions and ways of life." This proves that the Americans tried to take or to extinct the Native Americans. But in the end not all of the children lost their culture.

I wanted to compare Luther Standing Bear's to Shanice's life. They were the same because they both went to school and had to take away what they had dear to them and that was their culture. Another was that they were forced to go to school. But different because Luther Standing Bear had lost all of his culture but very little left. But Shanice had more of Native American inside her and wanted to go to school. She felt like she had everything but just not where she originally was when she was born. 

Blog 4 "Hole in my life" 4th quarter

Jack revealed later in the story that he was a drug dealer in New York city. But Jack wanted to go to college and have a nice life filled with all sorts of things. But alas, the police or the agencies caught up to Jack and his partners. Which was then thrown into jail for who knows how long. Jack and his partners sailed drugs named hashish. Hashish is another name for marijuana. They sailed the drug using a yacht. Now, depressed and unfortunate, Jack tries his best to look up to things and tries to see the better once he gets out of jail.

I had a connection with Jack on page 69. The reason is I see that Jack is trying not to get himself involved with danger. I used to think that danger would be over and quick easily. But turns out karma can get you at any moment. Like for Jack he was taken to jail for what he had done. "And even if I had a good job it would take me years to save that kind of money. But now I could do it in six weeks and all for little work and lots of adventurous fun I was ready. My heart was pounding. 'Count me in,' I said, smiling. 'I'll go home and start packing." This proves that Jack didn't know what he was getting into. Which proves that money can take you over and it can control your whole life.

Blog 3 "Hole in my Life" 4th quarter

So far in the book I am introduced to a writer named Jack Gantos. He is an aspiring writer looking for something cool, dramatic, thriller, and intensity. Jack worked at such a bad place or a dead end job he said. But he set foot with someone who played him and served up to 6 years in prison. He is now showing how he got their in the first place. And writing about it while he was in prison. That is why he claimed the books name to be "Hole in my life." Jack made a big mistake for what he did to get to this place in life. I will read more to find out what he will do next.

I predict later in the story that Jack is gonna try to escape from the prison. The reason why I say so is because he looks like he need to have another chance outside. To me I've read that people kill each other with cafeteria materials. I think Jack is trying to avoid it. For example on page 4 it states, "Fear of being a target of irrational violence haunted me day and night. The constant tempo of that violence pulsed throughout my body and made me feel small, and weak, and cowardly." This proves that he is trying to leave without a cut, bruise, scar, etc. So I will have to read more of why he feels this way of this jail.