Reading Response #2

Yousef Abou Areda                                                                                             Class 811

                                                               Reading Response #2

The book, The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green is about a 16- year old named Hazel Grace, and her battle through stage 4 thyroid cancer and metastasis (the spread of cancer) in her lungs. Hazel has to carry an oxygen machine, which basically breathes for her, because her lungs aren’t able to inhale and exhale oxygen on her own. Eventually, she forms a beautiful romantic relationship with Augustus Waters, whom had cancer and had his leg amputated during the process. After meeting Augustus, or Gus for short, she seems to be more of a teenager. She lives life to the fullest and cherishes every single moment she has with Augustus, with each moment becoming more special then the last. Overall, Hazel goes from an insecure and withdrawn character, to excited and happy with Augustus, and eventually devastated, but at peace without Augustus.

In the very beginning of the book, Hazel is initially a withdrawn and insecure character. One scene that highlights her insecurity was when she and her friend Kaitlyn went to the mall to hang out. As Kaitlyn is trying on lots of expensive shoes like, Mary Janes, Hazel just sits there and watches her try the shoes on. She thinks to herself that she can’t be like Kaitlyn, or any teenage girl, because of her cancer. It’s as if she wants to be like any teenage girl, but she doesn’t feel like she has the power to do that. Indeed, how can someone be confident if they feel powerless? In the text, it says, “ she finally bought three pairs and I just bought flip-flops”(page 44).  Hazel wants to be a normal teenager, but her insecurity forces her to buy flip-flops instead of three, cute shoes like Kaitlyn. In Hazel’s mind, Kaitlyn brings out the beauty of the shoes, but she believes that if she wore it, she’d be ruining the beauty of the shoes. She believes Kaitlyn has the freedom to look beautiful and that people would compliment her, in contrast to herself who people would  view with disgust. This scene underscores Hazel’s obsession with other people’s opinion of her and how she is powerless to not care. Her cancer symbolizes a destructive force that crushes her will and forcefully takes away her freedom. In addition to Hazel’s insecurity, she’s also withdrawn. When her mom tells her to go to support group, Hazel refuses to go, leading to a big argument between her and mom. Hazel’s support group is a big circle of people with cancer and cancer survivors, who gather together to share their feelings. However, Hazel just wants to watch tv. In the text, it says, “Mom: Hazel, you’re a teenager. You’re not a little kid anymore. You need to make friends, get out of the house, and live your life. You’re going to Support Group. Me: UGGGGGGG”. (page 7) Eventually, Hazel goes to Support Group just to make her parents happy. Hazel ended up just sitting in a chair, not sharing her ideas with anyone, and not saying anything for the entire two hours. Hazel doesn’t feel comfortable sharing her feelings with anyone because she’s always by herself and never really learned how too. All in all, Hazel is a very independent person who doesn’t feel significant.

Towards the middle of the book, Hazel puts more energy into the things she loves, and is more involved with other people, mainly Augustus. Ever since Hazel was a little girl, she’s loved a book called An Imperial Affection. It was the one thing she could connect with in her life. However, the book never reveals what becomes of the main character, and Hazel spends her whole life wondering what happened. The author moved to Amsterdam, and despite Hazel’s many emails, has never responded. Eventually, we find out that each person in Support Group gets one wish through donations. Hazel used her wish as a child to go to Disney Land, but Augustus never used his wish. He eventually uses it to go to Amsterdam with Hazel and her mother in order to meet the author, Peter Van Houten, and find out what became of the main character. When she finds out, she finally shows some excitement by complementing Augustus and saying he’s the best. However, she finds out that she can’t go due to the medical risks. A few days later, her mother tells her that her primary doctor, Dr. Maria, said she can go as long as there is enough oxygen on the plane. In the text, it says, “ MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I shouted, and she came to the bed and let me hug her and kiss her” (page 127). This is the first time in the whole book where we see Hazel this excited and opening up to her mother so much. She’s never affectionately hugged or kissed her mother up before this point in the novel, and this is the first time the reader sees her truly open up. In the beginning of the book, if her mother had told her that they were going to Amsterdam, she would have simply said, wow that’s very cool mom, not showing much emotion. However, as time went on, and Augustus became a part of her life, she becomes a much more energetic person, and more involved in the things she does. Augustus has a big effect on Hazel, and just as her cancer was a symbol of something that destroyed her freedom, Augustus became her freedom, so Augustus is a symbol himself. Overall, Hazel becomes more involved in things she does ever since Augustus came into her life.

Toward the end of the book, Hazel is devastated by Augustus’s death. Augustus’s death seemed worse than dying herself for Hazel. It was like something hit her heart with such impact that everything around her ceased to exist. In the text, it says, ‘What can we do? Mom asked. I shrugged. But she kept asking, as if there was something she could, until finally I just kind of crawled across the couch into her lap and my dad came over and held my legs really tight and I wrapped my arms around my mom’s middle and they held on to me for hours while the tide rolled in.”(page 267)This time, it wasn’t just her freedom that was taken away. When Augustus died, a part of Hazel also died along with him. Hazel really loved Augustus because he accepted her for who she is and loved her for it. Although Augustus is dead, he still lives in Hazel. Hazel does manage to find peace in Augustus’ death a couple of weeks after his death. She finds his eulogy, which he wants read at her funeral, to Peter Van Houten, before he died. In the text, is says, “You don’t get to chose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers. I do, Augustus. I do”. (page 313) With those words being read, she finally manages to find closure to his death. She still has a part of Augustus’s spirit, and she knew that although he was gone, he’d always be watching over her. She realizes that the only person that can hurt her is Augustus, and that was by him dying. She no longer feels insecure because she has a say in who gets to hurt her. Augustus had just given her back the freedom cancer had taken away from her.

To sum up, The Fault in Our Stars taught me to live life to the fullest. Hazel knows that any day could be her last, and Augustus taught her that. Don’t live your life trying to be someone you’re not, because you are who you are, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The Fault in Our Stars teaches you to cherish all memories, good and bad, because you don’t realize how special something is until you lose it. It teaches you to balance the good and bad moments. Many people fail to realize that life is a gift, and you have to make the most of it, because one day, you’re not going to be here anymore. The Fault in Our Stars is an amazing book, and you see Hazel go from insecure, to energetic and excited, to a peaceful character, showing growth and development as a character.

Reading Response # 1: A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Parker

Yousef Abou Areda                                                                                                       811                                                                                               Reading Response # 1

            The book, A Long Walk To Water, by Linda Sue Parker is a powerful novel based on a true story that conveys a first hand account detailing the struggles of a child refugee in Southern Sudan, 1985. During this time period, there was a civil war in Sudan between the North and the South over Sudan becoming an Islamic nation. Two million died, four million were displaced, and 17,000 fled into the bushes. These people became known as the Lost Boys of Sudan. Salva Dut is the main character in the book. His family belonged to the Dinka tribe of Sudan, and they were wealthy. His father was their village elder. He had 11 brothers and sisters to play with, so he had never felt lonely. Although he lived in the poorer areas of Sudan, he was never hungry. At the age of 11, Salva, fled attacking rebels in his village and wandered the lands of not only Sudan, but of several countries in Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, the Akobo Desert, and the Nile River, plagued by the erupting violence. Some of the atrocities Salva faced included witnessing his Uncle tied to a tree and shot multiple times, men dying of dehydration in the middle of the desert, his best friend Marial being eaten alive by a lion, and gun violence that killed innocent people at the hands of the opposing rebels. Some of the despairs that Salva had to face was coping with the loss of his family at such a young age. He had to wake up everyday not knowing if his family was alive, and if they were, if he’d ever see them again. The reader sees a transformation in Salva where he starts off as a gentle boy and slowly becomes a strong, young leader. He never gave up in the face of the hardships he encountered throughout his journey in order to continue fighting to be reunited with his family. The overall message Linda Sue Parker wants readers to take away from the story is to never lose hope no matter how terrible a situation might be and to continue facing all challenges with bravery, hopefulness, and perseverance as the character of Salva demonstrated throughout the duration of his experience in Sudan.

To begin, Salva’s bravery illustrates how one should never lose hope or give up on their goals regardless of the difficulties they may face throughout the journey in order to achieve their goal. While on his journey to find his family and a place he can call home, he willingly faces many challenges that could easily put him in danger or even the extreme, get him killed. This idea is expressed in the scene where he leads 1,500 refugees to safety. After being in a camp in Ethiopia for six years, it was suddenly attacked. His only choice was to lead the people through the dangerous parts of Sudan in order to get to Kenya, a safe haven from the rebels. Salva is aware of the dangers and risks he’ll be taking during this task. Even after witnessing the death of his uncle for being the group’s leader, Salva continues to demonstrate a level of leadership knowing the potential perils he’ll face. His uncle made him strong. In the text, it says, “ I will get us safely to Kenya he thought. No matter how hard it is” (page 81). Salva is fully aware of the potential outcome and knows how his life is at stake if he assumes this leadership position, but accepts it willingly. From this excerpt, it is evident that Salva is a courageous character because his actions won’t really benefit him or bring back the lives lost including those of his family, but still he puts others before himself because he knows that this job could give freedom to the kids following him. He knows what it’s like for them. He is fully aware of the heartache and pain of losing a family, and essentially having to live in a never-ending nightmare. Salva identifies with the feeling of having to everyday wonder if you’re family is still out there and the feeling of having nothing. However, Salva works with nothing, and that’s where his bravery comes into the play. It’s his bravery that moves him forward and leading these boys to freedom was his symbol of freedom and a way to regain something that he lost at the hands of the rebels, which is control over his life. Even if he doesn’t make it, he’ll die knowing he led over a thousand boys to safety. He’s willing to die in the name of freedom, which is true bravery. True bravery doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means putting that fear aside, and to channel all of your emotions to succeed at the task at hand. All in all, Salva’s character is a symbol of bravery, and apart of the author’s central idea that describes one to be valiant even in the face of danger.

In addition, Linda Sue Parker demonstrates how an individual should never concede to forces attempting to prevent them from achieving their dreams. While on his journey with his uncle in the desert, Salvas’s uncle would ask him if he could make it beyond a pair of rocks. Once they made it, he would ask if Salva could make it beyond a different destination and he will continue to bagger him with this remark until they made it beyond the desert. Even though his uncle wasn’t with him, his words of motivation stayed with Salva. This sentiment is proven every single day when he led the boys to safety. In the text, it says, “One step at a time… one day at a time. Just today-just this day to get through…” (page 82).  At the end of each day, there was something Salva saw, and this was a glimpse of hope and freedom and for being reunited with his family. Salva never lost hope for being reunited with his family, even after 12 years of struggle. Although it took a year and a half to lead those boys to safety, he always saw a glimmer of hope for freedom. It was because of this hope that helped him achieve his goal. He successfully led over 1,200 boys to safety. It was hope that helped him get through each and every single day. Hope becomes Salva’s gateway to survival during his long fight for freedom. Throughout the course of the book, during the more difficult journeys Salva had to confront, this newly renewed hope directs his path toward freedom. Now matter how terrible a situation might have seemed, Salva continued to overcome all odds in hope of finding his family. When he had almost died crossing a river full of crocodiles, he asked himself why he wasn’t of the thousand that died back in Sudan. This gave him a reason to keep going. He was given a second chance for a reason to continue fighting, and he had to make the best of it. The worse the situation got during his journey through the treacherous desert, the more hope Salva felt that pushed him to find his family. Salva knows how lucky he is to still be alive. He knew that as long as he was alive, there would always be hope for a better life. The only way Salva would lose his hope was if he were to die. Even with nothing, he could make something filled with despair seem like all hope still wasn’t lost. Overall, the author wants the reader to know never to give up on one’s aspirations in hopes of achieving it one day as illustrated by the hopeful character of Salva.

Furthermore, Linda Sue Parker portrays how one should never give up on what  they wish to accomplish in the face of adversity as depicted by Salva’s resolute character. This can be exemplified in the scene after his uncle gets shots. The rest of the travelers treated Salva very badly, and he eventually had to beg for food, which was given to him grudgingly. The men went on about how he was to small to fight or to hunt. In the text, it says, “ The way that the were treating him made Salva feel stronger still. There is no one left to help me. They think I am weak and useless. Salva lifted his head proudly. They are wrong, and I will prove it.” (page 66). Determination is Salva’s strongest character trait. From this passage, it is clear that Salva isn’t a character that gives up easily. Even though he has no one left to look after him, he keeps going. He lost his uncle, his best friend, and most likely all of his family members. However, this doesn’t hold him back. He is determined to prove that he is not weak or useless. Salva never complained to anyone about his feelings during the rest of the journey. He would be so hot from the summer sun, have terrible hunger pains, and very little water to drink but continues to ignore it all and endures in order to keep moving forward, no matter how brutal the conditions would become. Salva never ceases to figure out new ways to stay focused on achieving his goals. He always takes a step forward, and never a step backwards no matter how much easier the latter option may seem. In the face of everything he comes across, Salva never allowed those setbacks to affect his goal of freedom and finding his family. Overall, he’s determined to survive no matter the obstacles he’s forced to confront on his journeys through Africa. All in all, Linda Sue Parker wants readers to know that you should never give up on what you hope to achieve no matter how difficult the challenges may be. You must remain strong-willed if you wish to overcome all odds throughout life.

To sum up, Linda Sue Parker wants readers to know what hope really means in all of its different forms. Hope isn’t just being ready for the future, but hope encompasses this idea of love that helps one to prevail through all odds. Although bravery, hope, and perseverance are all of Salva’s character traits, love was the greatest driving force that pushed him the hardest. It was his love for his family that gave him these traits that he emulated such as his father’s bravery and determination and his mother’s care. Without love, there would truly be nothing left for Salva to live for. Memories of his childhood, memories of eating rabbit around a campfire with his siblings, his mother waiting for him everyday to return from school, and then having a bowl of milk ready for him just the way he liked it. This boy witnessed people being slaughtered before his very eyes, and always remained a gentle, hard-working boy. Hope, determination, and bravery all played a crucial role in Salva’s own survival from the rebels. Throughout life, we have goals that we want to achieve and that will inspire us to be great, valiant people like Salva. The author evidently wants us to know that a combination of hope, determination, and bravery plays a key role in maintaining a person’s success.