Wednesday, December 10, 2014

"Building Bridges" Response


     In most parent-teenager situations, it is frequently shown that family members often disagree with each other. Teens may wish to be alone, whereas parents would want to help their child through stressful times. Things like this happen a lot in relationships between people. Throughout the short story “Building Bridges” by Andrea D. Pinkney, it is shown that relationships are complicated, especially between parent/guardian and child. Bebe is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her grandma. She greatly wishes to become an engineer, and starts with a Brooklyn Bridge renovation team. Unfortunately, Bebe's grandmother, Mama Lil, refuses to sign the contract that would officially give Bebe permission to work on the Brooklyn Bridge. Bebe tries to fight her way through to Mama Lil, and it's this determination that finally allows Bebe to reach her dreams. Through the issues Bebe and Mama Lil have, Pinkney shows us that teenagers often have a difficult time communicating with their guardians.
     
     Bebe, the main character of “Building Bridges”, dreams of one day becoming an engineer – but her grandmother has a different view on this and their lives get difficult. Bebe often disagrees with her grandmother on various things, from hairstyles to jewelry to body shape and fashion. But Bebe says in the kitchen, “I was Mama Lil's only true family, and she was the only real parent I had. If I left her, she'd have nobody; and if she passed on, I'd be alone in this world.” (pg. 19) This shows that, although they both come at odds often, Bebe and Mama Lil both really need each other. This could make life even more complicated for them – or anyone – if they don't admit how much they need each other for support. This is true for many families as well. Another example of this need for support is when Mama Lil admits to Bebe the reason for her refusal for signing the permission slip. “Your dreams are the kind that'll take you away from here, Bebe – away from your Mama Lil. You got big hopes, child, but they gonna leave me alone, by myself.” (pg. 29) Mama Lil and many parents might find it hard to let their children go follow their own dreams, not their's. I feel that people should be able to let go, and let those close to them follow their dreams, no matter what, even if they worry for their loved one's safety.

     Some parents fear what would happen when their children leave them. For example, Bebe explains early on in the story that “Mama Lil thought it just wasn't right that I'd be working on a project staffed only with boys and men.” (pg. 20) Mama Lil was concerned for Bebe's safety, like any parent would be, and she tried to protect Bebe by not letting her go. It could be risky getting a new job if you don't know what to expect. But Bebe knew exactly what she wanted, Mama Lil didn't understand. When attempting to dissuade Bebe from the renovation job, Mama Lil stated that, “whatever you call it, it's a white man's work. You ain't got no place messing with it. We should stick to our own kind, Bebe – colored women trying to cross the white man's line is asking for trouble.” (pg. 21) Mama Lil is right on some aspects, but sometimes kids need to try new things. People can't stay in the shadow of what they know forever.

     Also, some people are wary and have a hard time letting go of what they know and learning new things. According to Bebe, when Mama Lil first disagreed with Bebe becoming an engineer in the story, “...Mama Lil was afraid of something she didn't know.” (pg 20) It seems that Mama Lil liked being on top, being prepared, but when faced with something she didn't understand or know, she felt at a disadvantage and powerless. Most parents would advise their children about things based on their own experiences or other people's, like friends's, who may not fully understand the topic. Some parents might not take into consideration what the majority of other people say. One example is when Mama Lil stubbornly goes to ask her friends for advice. “...she'd taken it upon herself to ask her friends down at Rimley's Beauty Parlor about engineering. They'd convinced her that I was headed down the wrong path. 'Ain't no black woman doing no engine-ing,' she'd said.” (pg. 21) Most of the time it's better to go to the officials who are experienced in that topic rather than those who bluff or assume they know. Some people should try to understand their children's point of view before disagreeing with them and suggesting something else.

     It's always hard to admit when you are wrong, but it may be better for you and your relationships with others. Andrea Pinkney did well in showing how relationships are complicated using the bond between Bebe and Mama Lil. She describes the relationship clearly and shows their depth of feeling toward each other. It is this depth that allows the reader to comprehend the uncertainty and fear that Mama Lil has for Bebe. I understand how hard it is for Mama Lil because my parents are going through me growing up as well. As anyone else might experience, it is hard to be willing to adapt to a loved one's future. I predict that Mama Lil will have trouble adjusting to Bebe's new path in life, but she'll do it for Bebe. She always had.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

My Name

    My name is Anaïs Real. Anaïs means grace and mercy. My name makes me think of a moonlit lake – quiet and polite. But I am more than that. On the inside currents swirl and tumble, making the growth underneath the silent exterior sway with happiness and thoughts. My name also makes me think of a deep, shimmering blue, the kind that wraps its cool wetness like a blanket around you. Blue is the color that is calm, wise, fair, and respectful. Blue is noble and kind. That is what I want to be.
    My last name, Real, came from my great-great-great-grandfather, whose last name was “Reale”. When he immigrated from Genoa, Italy to Uruguay, the “e” in his name was dropped, and became “Real”, which means royal in Spanish. My last name makes me think of a royal blade, ancient and delicate, sounding hard but with a soft sheen. My last name is a bright red. Courage, spirit, strength is what red is.
    My name is a part of me. I want to be blue and red, to become harmonious purple. The deep, elegant color of royalty and truth. I want to be strong, willful, courageous, kind, respectful, wise, and calm all at once. I appreciate my name and what it means to me.

    Like everybody else, my last name carries a lot of family history. We might have similar family backgrounds, or there might be another Anaïs Real, but there is only one Anaïs Real of red and blue. That's what makes me special.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

My Finished Reading List

Life As WE Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer 6/5/15

House of The Scorpion by Nancy Farmer 5/23/15

The One: Book Three of the Selection Series by Kiera Cass 5/13/15

1776 by David McCullough 5/11/15

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 3/31/15

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 3/20/15

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 3/8/15

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill 3/3/15

Allegiant by Veronica Roth 2/24/15

The Rithmatist by Brandon Anderson 2/3/15

Insurgent by Veronica Roth 1/23/15

Packing For Mars by Mary Roach 1/20/15

The Sea-Wolf by Jack London 1/6/15

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare 12/17/14

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 12/10/14

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 12/2/14

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 11/28/14

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin 11/25/14

Trash by Andy Mulligan 11/20/14

The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee 11/13/14

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne 11/7/14

Legend by Marie Lu 11/4/14

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman 10/29/14

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach 10/21/14

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 10/20/14

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 10/16/14

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney 10/15/14

Locked in Time by Lois Duncan 10/10/14

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams 10/7/14

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells 10/2/14

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells 9/29/14

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 9/27/14

Speak by Laurie Anderson 9/14/14

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 9/10/14

Thursday, September 11, 2014

My Summer Reading Project: War Horse

My Summer Reading Project: War Horse

Over the summer I read multiple books and watched their movie versions. Some of these books are The Joy Luck Club, The Hunger Games, The Black Cauldron, and An Inconvenient Truth. But the one that impressed and awed me the most was War Horse.

Summary:

     The book War Horse was an inspiring historical fiction story about a workhorse named Joey who is sold to the army during the Civil War. He is separated from his master and friend, Albert, and travels through many dangerous situations and witnesses terrible tragedies, yearning to be with Albert once again. Throughout the book he finds many friends, like Topthorn, and Captain Stewart. He is reunited once again  with Albert when the war finally ends. Having lost many masters, companions and friends, yet being a horse, no one will know how Joey ever truly felt- but there is one thing for sure: Joey is a war horse to the heart.


My Response:

     I felt that the book was very interesting and inspirational, especially it being from Joey's perspective. This, and many books like it, makes me wonder what goes on in the minds of other animals, if they understand and know more than they let on, and why they do certain things when we 'command' them. 
     This book shows that we aren't the greatest beings in the world- there are far more powerful beasts than us. It is because of our advanced minds that we think in this condescending way. Chimpanzees are our ancestors and can communicate to a limited extent with us. But we don't appreciate their intelligence, we still think of them as inferior creatures to us humans. We hate certain animals because we don't understand them. They might think the same way. 
     This book shows us again and again that humans and animals can live in peace and that animals are more than we think. For example, Joey never spooked when Captain Nicholls fell in battle; he led on the charge, risking his life and never breaking stride, even when horses and humans fell all around him. Through his eyes we see how exactly terrifying war is, alone in many, never knowing if you'll live to see the light again. We see how he endured many cold months of starvation, bad men and masters, and ground that exploded beneath his hooves. We understand why he struggled through his grief and pain, fighting to survive when others became mere shells of their former selves. 
     We have much to learn from this book, and much to discover about the beings that live by our side every day.