Climbing the Stairs by: Padma Venkatraman ( Final Blog)

    I currently finished the book "Climbing the Stairs" and overall I thought that this book was really strong and beautiful book. It talks about the life of Vidya and how she deals with hardships of her life.
Vidya is confused whether she likes( actuallly...loves) Raman . Raman is her only male friend and she shares her opinions with him and her feelings as well.Vidya and Raman gets closer throughout the book. Vidya's biggest fear is to get married. Back tthe girls who were younger than 18 would get married. (Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriage)  Vidya wants to complete her education, but her relatives doesn't except that from her. So Vidya's relationship with her relatives isn't that good.

     Vidya already has people insulting her dad because he can't talk after the British solider's hit his head (destroying the function her dad's brains). Vidya's life turns upside down after finding out that her only big brother is joining the army. Vidya tries to stop him, but her brother refuses. Vidya's mother is depressed how her family is breaking apart. Vidya  was extremely upset, but Raman comforted her.
Vidya finds out that Raman is leaving for 2 years. Vidya explains how Raman completed her life, but she doesn't  know what do with her life if Raman leaves. (Aweeee<3) Vidya is in love with Raman.

I thought that this book was a very good COA novel I chose. I even made my sister read it. This book is definitely worth reading.

2 Quotes on Philosophy COA Novel - Climbing the Stairs by: Padma Ventraman

1) "A nation dedicated to the idea of freedom,the i ideal for which we are fighting, all the way across half the Asian Continents" -Page 242-243 

This is one quote of philosophy because Vidya ( Main Character) is a strong young teenage girl. She is A Indian Girl who fights for her country and dealing with her once healthy father who is now  paralyzed. This quote was from a letter Vidya wrote to Rifka ( her Best friend) This quote shows me how much she cares for"  her country and wants freedom from the British occupied India. 

2) "Women are banished to an outhouse during their period. The extended family lives together with the women sleeping on the bottom floor and the men sleeping upstairs." 

Vidya gets new friends and she matures. Vidya meets Raman and tells him about him about how she's hit puberty. She tells Raman how Indian people are sexist people. When women have their periods... they are considered unsanitary and how its not fair. Like I've mentioned before how shes really independent and thinks beyond her opinions. Vidya is not scred to share her opinions with anyone.

Climbing the Stairs by: Padma Venkatraman ( Coming of Age)

    

          Vidya is the 15 year old teenager who lives in British occupied India during World War 2. Vidya dream is to go to college... not get married. Vidya had many struggles in her life, but still tries hard to succeed and go to college. Things are already bad because British people are taking over India and is proud of her dad because she thinks he is a hero because he is helping Indians fight for their freedom. 

Vidya's parents want her to get married. Back then, In South Asian countries your parents expected you to get married at a  young age. Vidya told her parents that she wanted to finish college and then she'll get married.                

        Vidya's father was a very close person to her. One day, A tragedy occurs in her life. Vidya and her father a re driving home and they run into a protest. Vidya is thrilled to hear that her parent gave her permission to go to college. Vidya runs into the crowd of protesters after her father warned her. Things went crazy and A British officer hits Vidya's dad in the head so many times that he damaged Vidya's dad head. 

A young Muslim guy helps Vidya's  father, but the doctor states that his brain is dead and so is his body ( meaning he is paralyzed) Vidya's father does not remember anyone at all. Vidya's dad canot make money so Vidya's family and her has to move her grandfathers house and leave school and her best friend (Rifka) behind and start a  new life. 

  In Vidya relatives household they expect marriage not education.Vidya feels as if her dream is forbidded in this household. Vidya has a cousin named Malati and is very selfish  most times. 

Vidya's father doesn't even remember  anyone and cant talk and Vidya's mother feels like a widow. Vidya hasd a new cruel teacher named Mrs.Rao who beats her with lathis ( sticks ). 

Vidya lies and tells Mrs.Roa  that British officers killed her father, but MAlati makes a whole entire announcement saying how Vidya is a liar and Mrs.Roa beats her. 

Malati teases her about how stupid Vidya's dad is because his brain doesn't function and Vidya has to hold in all then torture and pain just for her drean to come true.

(This is all I've read so far)

       

" Zimmerman Faces 2nd Degree Murder" ( Blog #3- Spring Break)< www.nytimes.com>

  " Zimmerman Faces 2nd Degree Murder" is an article from www.nytimes.com. This article is basically about how a man named George Zimmerman shot a boy named Trayvon Martin, but claims it was for self defense. I think that Zimmerman in guilty because in the article it states how Trayvon Martin was unarmed. So, why would Zimmerman want to shoot Martin for self defense?
     To begin with, Zimmerman was arrested on February 26th, 2012 for shooting teenager Trayvon Martin. Trayvon Martin was unarmed when he was shot, Zimmerman claims he did the shooting for his own safety. Zimmerman says Trayvon Martin was stalking him on his way and had attacked him. "George Zimmerman, right, who said he was acting in self-defense.''( this quote was taken from a picture caption) Police also say that Zimmerman may not be lying because when police arrived they found Zimmerman bleeding from the nose.  People believe that Zimmerman shot him for racial issues. Witnesses also hear Trayvon Martin scream for help before he was shot. 
   Secondly, I think that Zimmerman is guilty because when Zimmerman called 911, the dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following the teen. The dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow him, but he still did.
'' This guy looks like he is up to no good or he is on drugs or something." He further stated that the person he was observing had his hand in his waistband, was holding something in his other hand, and was walking around slowly in the rain looking at houses.^[85] On the recording of the call, Zimmerman is heard commenting "these assholes, they always get away." ( from  www.huffingpost.com),but it turns out that Trayvon Martin went outside of the grocery to buy some chips and skittles for his younger brother because he and his dad were watching football. Trayvon Martin's girlfriend speaks out as well. His girlfriend who was unidentified have said that he called her and said that a strange man was following him and she told him to run. She also heard Martin's saying to Zimmerman "Why you following me?" and Zimmerman pushed him to the ground hard and the line went dead. Zimmerman also called the police saying he was wearing a hoodie. Martin's girlfriend say that he told her that he was really scared and wore the hoodie to hide his face. 
     Furthermore, during this crime a lot people called 911 saying that they heard a gunshot and wrestling . Police also say that Trayvon could've have hit Zimmerman trying to protect himself. 
   To wrap up, Even if Zimmerman was trying to protect himself he has no right to shoot an unarmed teenager. I don't even know Trayvon Martin, but I hope he is resting in peace and that his family will get  all the support they need and I hope Zimmerman learns his lesson. 
    Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/us/zimmerman-faces-second-degree-murder-charge-in-florida.html?scp=1&sq=Zimmermanm%20faces%202nd%20degree%20murder&st=cse#

Plagiarizing Responce ( Blog #2 - Spring Break)

     Plagiarizing is a serious issue which most student intend to do. Students plagiarize because they are lazy, just want the grade, or are too busy to do their own work or the problem can be they don't know how to cite a source. Plagiarizing is really bad because you take other people's hard work and you get credit for it.
     To begin with, I read the example of student plagiarism on Ms.Galang's blog and when I read it briefly, at first I didn't understand anything. It didn't sound like a 8th grader would actually write like this. The sentence structure was way too sophisticated and complicated. I think what the anonymous student did wrong was copying and pasting the paragraph from another cite. I think if the student really liked this paragraph he/she should/ could have put quotations around it and should have cited the source. The student basically should have put it on her/his own words. For example if I were the student I would've written: 
"There is a peaceful essence flowing from the structures. Perhaps the cool dark colors and the fiery windows spark memories of our own warm childhood years filled with imagination of what exists in the night and dark starry skies.". I liked this sentence which was from www.vangoghgallery.com. I agree with this sentence because in " Starry Night" the colors Van Gogh uses are dark colors. He usesa dark navy blue and a light blue and sort of blends them together. He also uses fiery colors like yellow and a light shade of orange (agreeing with text) for the stars. Vincent van Gogh's drawing really does look peaceful because of the colors he chose.  So, I cited the source and put quotation marks around it and I also put this sentence in my own words too. 
       Secondly, Three ways to avoid plagiarism are to give your self some time and to avoid shortcuts. You should actually put as much as effort as you can to actually recieve your real grade. Another, way you can avoid plagiarism is get help from your teacher. If you do not know how to cite sources, then you should get help instead of being accused of plagiarism. The third way you can avoid plagiarism is you should cite sources and most importantly... PARAPHRASE! 
       To wrap up, Plagiarism is a crime and students should avoid plagiarism because plagiarizing won 't really benefit you. It will just bring your grade down lower and the teachers will obviously find out. It would be better if you just cite sources and paraphrase... you will get a much higher grade than you expect. 


      

2 Student Blogs I Liked. ( Blog #1 - Spring Break)

Aidan's blog "Unwinding a Life?" and Jamila's blog" Catcher in the Rye by: J.D. Salinger " are both blog's I truly enjoyed. Aidan and Jamila's blogs both have really good elements that made me enjoy their blogs and  have also taught me few things that I should add to my blog next time as well. 
    To begin with, Aidan's blog " Unwinding a Life?'' has very good details. I like the way Aidan actually explains how abortion is illegal at the age of 13 and it can be performed at the age of  18: "Connor is the kind of person that decides on his first impulse. Based on his instinctual behavior, you couls say he's daring and audicious" This is a part from Aidan's blog. I liked Aidan's sense of vocabulary here and how he showed his opinions for Connor. Aidan also uses textual evidence from the book which I thought was another fantastic element Aidan used: "Then once he turns eighteen he's home free.  After that, sure, they can throw him in jail, they can put him on trial - but they can't unwind them.  Surviving that long is the trick."  This quote shows that he plans to survive this journey with no mistakes occurring. Another Thing, I liked from Aidan's Blog was how he contrasted 3 different characters. ( Connor, Lev and Risa). 
        Aidan also wraps up his conclusion in a very nice way. In his conclusion he states how the 3 characters are different ( in a brief way) and  I like the way  he talks about his opinions about the book overall.
          Secondly, I liked Jamila's blog because she also uses textual evidence. I never read " Cacther in the Rye", but Jamila's responce made me actually want to read this book. I like how she describes Holden's personality. On the 2nd paragraph, of her blog she uses textual evidence. Mr. Antolini tells Holden: "This fall I think you're riding for-- it's a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn't permitted to feel or hear himself hit the bottom. He just keeps falling and falling," (p. 243). In this part I really like how she includes the page number. Most people don't even put the page number, but this tells me that Jamila actually went back to the text. On her blog, she talks about how Mr.Antolini  helps Holden understand about academic education. Jamila explains it using evidence and explains it in her own words. 
           To wrap up, I liked Aidan's and Jamla's blog because they both used specific details and Textual evidence. I've learned good techniques which I should use in my blogs in the future.
Good Job Jamila and Aidan!!

Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins ( 2nd Book of Hunger Games)

        So, I finished the Hunger Games and this is the 2nd book. Catching Fire is filled with action, a little bit of romance, and suspence. Recently, Katniss and Peeta were the victors of the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta don't talk that much because of their "fake" love for each other. They only pretend to be in love with each other is because they can get more sponsors and money and food etc. District 12 has totally changed and the relationship between her and her old friend Gale has changed as well. President Snow  visits Katniss and warns her that he is watching her and if she doesn't "flirt" or marry Peeta he will kill Gale. 

Haymitch and Peeta and Katniss goes on the victory tour. Later on, Peeta publicly proposes Katniss ( They are on the camera), but Katniss is sort of worried that people will find out that they are faking it. Katniss and Gale later on, and meet and plan to run away, but they end up arguing.     

      Gale gets punished for hunting and is whipped and is about to die. The next day, Katniss is strolling in the woods and finds 2 strangers that are from District 8 and are going to District 13? The problem is as far as Katniss knows that there is no District 13 and there is only District 12. Even though, Katniss has a long going on, she is still finding clues about District 13.

Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins

Everybody in my class has been telling me to read this book because it is really good, so I decided to try it out. Katniss Everdeen is a 16 year old girl and  is very tough and runs her family. Katniss's father died in a coal mine explosion. Katniss is from District 12 and is really close friends with Gale. Gale is another character from the book. Every year the Capitol hosts an even which is called the " Hunger Games". In the games a boy and females is chosen from  Districts 1- 12. It's is Katniss's little sisters first time since she has turned 12. In the games, they are put in the arena to fight to death which is on TV too.  Prim (Katniss's sister) is extremely nervous, but Katniss assures her that there are 1,000 kids from District 12, but who gets picked? ... PRIMROSE EVERDEEN!!
Yea, I know a bit shocking, but Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games and Peeta Mellark is chosen for the boy from District 12. Yea, I know its a bit shocking,but she's the main character. Peeta and Katniss have times where they get along and have times where they misunderstand each other.
Peeta and Katniss are interviewed and Peeta annonces that he has a major crush on "Katniss". Peeta was faking it on the interview to gain popularity for District 12. Finally, They are put to the arena *action time, baby!!* a lot of people died, but only Peeta and Katniss and Cato and Clove are left....
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I continued to  read this book because it was so interesting. Clove finds Katniss at one point is totally ready to kill her and Thresh finds Clove and hits her with a rock. Thresh is in District 11 with Rue who dies later on. Thresh hits Clove with a rock and breaks her skull and she dies. Thresh lets Katniss go because he finds out the friendship between Rue and Katniss. Katniss escapes and finds Peeta injured.  Peeta later get a metallic leg, but Katniss and Peeta finds that they have a very close friendship.

Poem ( Romeo and Juliet) * Juliet's Point-of- View*

When I first laid my eyes on you.
My heart stopped beating.
My hands were numb.
Paris came up to me,
and gave me a greeting.
I wanted you to come...
Your smile was beautiful.
My world was colorful.
When I first laid my eyes on you.
I know there was a special bond between us.
I loved you.
I know my love for you was true.
I hoped we'll be together... forever.

Romeo and Juliet Respone.

Who is the character you like the most? or least? Why? 

My least favorite character is... Paris and Tybalt. The reason County Paris is my least favorite is because the scene ( Act 1, Scene 2) where Paris was talking to Lord Capulet and discussed about wanting to marry Juliet... I felt like he was being stubborn. I felt this way because Lord Capulet told him how Juliet was young and barely reached 14 years and County Paris replied " There are younger girls than Juliet and are mother, but they are still happy"  I  was thinking about if Lord Capulet told Paris that Juliet is too young, Paris should assume that he should actually wait two summers!!! 

       Another one of my least favorite character is Tybalt... for some odd reason I think that he thinks that he's the boss. In Act 1, Scene 4: Romeo and Benvolio disguises themselves in masks and enter the Capulets party. When Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice he gets livid and wants to kill Romeo!! I mean ... HELLO? there's Lord Capulet to make desicions!! 

My favorite characters are... obviously Romeo and Juliet. I think that its a good thing Romeo forgot about Rosaline because I think that Juliet is a perfect match for Romeo!! I really don't have a specific reason why I like Romeo and Juliet, but I just like them for loving each other.

Romeo and Juliet by: William Shakespeare

Act 1, Scene 1 
What I Know : 
1. That Romeo is devastated about Rosaline not returning his love and how Rosaline never will. 
2.  How much Tybalt hates the Montagues. 
3.The Prince threatens both families that they will lose their life.
4. How Juliet will have to marry Paris.
5.Sampson and Gregory hated the Montagues


How I Know : 
1.In lines 216-218 "Well in that hit you miss,she'll not be hit with cupid's arrow. She hath Dain's wit, And  in strong proof of chastity well armed" 
2.In lines 71-73 "What,drawn and talk of peace?I hate the word as I hate as hell, all Montegues) 
3.In Line 85- 105 (  All of Prince's dialouge) 
4. * Cannot find in the book* 
5. ( 1st and 2nd page)


Questions about the book
-  Why were the Capulets and Montegues enemies in the 1st place?

Final Sonnet ( A Child I had Loved)

I loved one,who never lived never spoke.
A child who never stirred or never cried
I feel as if it was all a bad joke,
but the infant in her womb just had died.
His small I knew I could've seen.
Who was not welcomed into this harsh world.
Wished he knew the sister, I could have been,
but inside her her womb, he had remained curled.
His eyes never opened to see the sky.
His fingers never moved to touch my own.
death got hold of him like a fly.
But I wished that he was never alone.
And now his tiny soul rests in peace,
but deep down my heart shall remain a crease.

Sonnet Responce

Another Sonnet for Stephan

By: Alvin Lester Sitomer

I see a little boy of four or five

Whose face lights up whenever we would play

Who made me feel it’s great to be alive

And wish that time would never tick away

I see a college youth who goes to Penn,

Strong and handsome, smart in mind and dress,

Enthusiastic, kind, who scores a “ten,”

Possessing every trait that spells success.

I see the man who cam from both those boys

Creating business plans and paths to wealth

With nonchalance, with skills and unique poise

While fighting back attackers of his health.

The boy, the youth, the man are each now gone,

Except that in my heart they linger on. 

      I thought that this sonnet was ver sweet and very detailed. "Another Sonnet for Stephan" was actually filled with details and one of my favorite sonnets out of the 6 sonnets we read so far. It was actually a perfect mentor for me also. I thought that the narrator could've been his father, because as you can see  the first sentence of the first stanza said" I see a little boy of four or five" which I thought that it could have been his father. I thought that this because maybe he saw his son at the age of 4 and 5 and this sonnet was in chronological order. 

   
        For example, The first stanza talks about the boy being 4 to 5. In the 2nd stanza it talks about how the same boy grows up and and goes to college. The boy grows up to be strong and handsome and get a very good job and later it also mentions that "While fighting back attackers of his health." I think that meant how he and ill and he was fighting his disease. 
I think that it made sense that it was his father because I really didn't think that it would make sense we.. it says " I see a boy of 4 or 5" it sounds more as if the father will say it.


    Furthermore, It talk about the boys life in chronological order and I think the dad may witness that. And it also mentions how dad linger on... I think a dad may feel this way when his son dies. These are the reasons above why I think that the narrator just have been the dad.

What is Death? *Revised*

Death is sorrow and grieve.
Blackness of the night. 
Death means an end. 
Memories return, but
never fades.
Heart aches of  loss.
Head hurts thinking about... death.
Silent, grey, gloomy and dull. 
Shadows appears on the plain white walls.
Death is a clock as time slips away.
Death will return everyday.

What happens to a World Deferred? (Revised Poem #1)

What would happen if the world deferred?
Will the sun ever rise?
Will the moon ever go down?
or will it stay frozen,
like a hare in the headlight of a car.
Or will the world stay silent... forever?
or is it dead,
 like a candle you burned out?
Will there be any life living in the world?
All black and grey and gloomy.
Or will it disappear?

Mary Cassat-- Baby Reaching for an Apple.

               
        Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania, 1844.Mary Cassatt seemed like a very interesting  artist... so this is why I decided to write a poetry about Mary. I looked at her painting and drawings and her pictures are mostly about about mom's and her kids. She lived in France and quickly got interested in artwork and wanted to paint, but her father disapproved because she was a woman ( Olden days women has strict laws).( Source: MikeVenezia Pages 2- 16) I decided to to her painting " Baby Reaching for an Apple" because it was really sweet and interested me. I decided that I would write my poem in the mothers point of view... so I did. I added similes and Mary also painted with another group of artist" The Impressionist" her painting was a oil canvas and I thought the colors matched with the theme and uses soft colors. I also since Mary loved drawing pics on family...  why didn't she have kids of her own?  I thought that this picture was very calm and sweet and it sort of made me think about my very own mother. I liked how Mary Cassatt drew this picture because I like how she drew the baby's eyes. His eyes were looking up at the apple and he seems like he really want that apple and his eyes look... intense. I also liked how Mary used oil painting and the colors also blend in. I am in Art, so I was interested what oil painting were. Oil Paint is a paste made with ground pigment and drying oil such as lindseed oil. <www.dictionary.com>. I closely observed Mary Cassatt's painting and I noticed that she did a good job on contrasting the colors together. For example, If you look at the baby's feet its sort of a peach-ish color and on the edge of the baby's leg she painted it a bit lighter. I think she used this technique to show effects  of the sunlight on the baby's naked leg. I also noticed  there were creases and if you look closely, you can that there are some dark shades because I think it's because she painted  it with oil or maybe she did on purpose. "Mary decided to be an artist... not just a artist, but a serious artist" < Mike Venezia pages 8-9>
I agree with Mike Venezia because Mary as a very interesting artist and Mary Cassatt is also very serious artist... even thought she was a women! 

               
                 Poem:         
               His smile,
               melts my heart.
               His hair golden, like the sunshine.
               Eyes blue like the ocean. 
               Reaching for the branch.
               His tiny body.
               Soft pink skin.
               I hold his close, 
                and tight.
               I grip the branch.
               pushing it closer,
               to my baby... Reaching for an apple.  

Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie by: Jordan Sonnenblick

She said, in this strange, soft voice " Steven your brother is really sick"  
    Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie by: Jordan Sonnenblick is a very sweet and sad book and shows  how two brothers fought a lot ,but one of them gets sick and they close along the book. When I finished reading this book, I was about cry... Steven is a normal 13 year old who has a crush on the prettiest girl in his class named Renee. But like everybody else who has a sibling, Steven has an annoying little brother named Jeffrey. Jeff is constantly bothering Steve when he plays drums. Steve barely spends time with little Jeff, but Steve's life turns upside when Jeff gets a nosebleed... not an ordinary nosebleed. So, during the weekend Jeff wants breakfast and asks Steve to make him some. Steve puts him on a stool, but when Steve turned around Jeff fell and had a nosebleed, it was bleeding so much!! 
     Steve's mother runs downstairs after hearing Jeff's scream and takes him to the hospital and Jeff has .... luekemia.  Steve blames himself and feels guilty and tries to be in his brothers side as much as he can, but he takes so much care of his brother that he begins to fail. Steve forgets about his crush and forgets about playing drums. Jeff gets bruises all over his body and loses all his hair * wahhhh* 
Then the rest of the book is about how stressed out his family was. At the end, Jeffrey recovered and it ended like " You could the hair growing back at Jeff's head"

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by: Lisa Schroeder

     "Some bonds just can't be broken"
 I Heart You, You Haunt Me by: Lisa Schroeder is a very romantic and sad book. The book's writing was different, it was not written in paragraph's, it was sort of written in stanza's. The book starts of as a girl's point of view named Ava and she she is attending a funeral... not any funeral, but her boyfriend's funeral. Ava explain's her feelings as guilty and that Jackson's (her boyfriend) must've hated Ava, but at this part got me thinking... why does Ava guilty? Did she do something wrong? After the funeral, Ava is depressed and feels so akward around everyone and does not hang out with her friends and that's when Ava thinks that she is dreaming... she hears  Jackson's voice. It's actually Jackson's ghost who can talk to Ava by his thoughts. Ava feels overwhelmed, confused and frustrated. Jackson kept  putting love songs and kept on making a mess if she ever went out, and Ava yells at Jackson about how they cannot love each other forever and to stop making her feel guilty and Jackson explains to her ( with his mind) that he came here to  stop making her feel guilty about his death. Basically, when Ava and Jackson were dating they had sort of a Daring Game where they dared each other to do risky things, but Ava once dared him to jump off the highest cliff and Jackson jumped, hit his head on a rock and died. Jackson came to Ava to take all the guilt away with him an Ava realizes and promises to not feel guilty and Jackson disappears. Ava continues with her life ,but always has Jackson in his heart.

Dreamland by: Sarah Dessen

  

                               I am currently reading Dreamland by: Sarah Dessen. So far, I read how Caitlin's big sister left and their family is falling apart because they are so desperate to find her. The worst part is how she left on Caitlin's b-day, but she loved her sister so much that she left her diary to write on for her b-day. After, Caitlin meets Roger Biscoe and her life totally changes, but he is a drug dealer. Caitlin leaves all her friends too for Roger. Caitlin is constantly hanging out with Roger and tries lead her own path with her  parent's absence because they are so worried to find Caitltin's sister.  Caitlin and Roger gets closer and eventually go out, but that's when Caitlin gets introduced to  the "real" Roger. Roger tells Caitlin that they will go on a romantic date,but instead he goes to another party ... selling drugs. Caitlin on the other hand in Roger's car hearing some sort of music. He acts all sweet and they laugh like it was nothing, but on their next date, Caitlin finds out that Roger sells drugs, but acts like as if it were no big deal. Caitlin forgets all about her friends, but Roger  gets out of control and hits... CAITLIN! 

      Roger abuses her till Caitlin is covered with bruises and she even wears long turtlenecks in the summer, and at one point Roger begins beating her till her mother catches her.( YES!!!) and Roger is arrested. ( Such a happy ending!) 

Crank by: Ellen Hopkins

    (Crank by: Ellen Hopkins) Katherine deals with issues that I recognized most teenagers dealt with such as drug and addiction. 
Katherine used to have a perfect life. She used to be and A+ student and never got into any trouble. Katherine's mom and her dad were divorced. So, Katherine decided to visit her dad, but her dad ... didn't act like a real dad to Katherine. Katherine was pretty lonely and hung out by herself... until she met Adam. Adam was a drug addict and made Katherine try Crank (type of drug) , but when Katherine tried it, she loved it! Katherine constantly kept visiting Adam to try more drugs till she was completely a drug addict. Katherine forgot all about her school work and her friends and family. 
   Most teenager are drug addicts. I visited a website:   http://helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm for more information on Teenager Drug Addiction. "People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression" from the Article Drug Abuse and Addiction. I think that this makes sense because Katherine was sort of  depressed and stressed about her parent's divorce and her sister being homosexual she tried to ignore all her family problems or maybe she was just curious.
       Well, I can connect to Katherine (not about drugs) usually when I find something cool that I like (ex: T.V.) I don't do my homework... I get addicted with it or a type of food. 
       Katherine life gets totally ruined because she  gets raped  by her boyfriend and she nearly killed her baby because she still kept taking drugs and I'm sure most teenagers lives were ruined because of drug addiction.