10 year-old-girl more mature than me??

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons, is about a little girl faced with adult situations. She is forced to deal with an alcoholic and abusive father, an ill and eventually dead mother, and has her own daily struggles she needs to focus on. I can not even imagine not having a mom or living with a dad who would leave for days at a time or abuses me in any way at all. This little girl has grown to hate and blame her own father for her mothers death and doesn't even want to think about what he's done to their family. She tries not to think about her mother and rather focus on things like what she is going to eat for dinner, something her father was definitely not thinking about. While reading books like these, we are reminded of how many people in the past and the present are faced with alcoholism and abuse. Although this book may be inferred to take place in the past, you still hear stories about child abuse on the news today. I never realize how lucky I am to have dinner on the table for me every night or to have presents under the tree every year at Christmas time. Ellen Foster was able to conquer challenges that were thrown at her at such a young age that I don't think I could ever handle. As I was reading, it was very evident that Ellen had already matured at a very young age. Although it was written in very simple language, some of the ideas were very complex. There were many sections that I felt I needed to reread, but if I were to read most other 10 year olds writing, I would read it as if it were a sign. This not only makes me feel bad for her, but makes me feel appreciative for the live I have.

Of Mice And Men CAUTION: may be spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!

As we wrap up in our reading of the book Of Mice And Men, it starts to make me question what it really means to truly care for someone. While I would consider doing a simple act of kindness enough to show someone that I care for them, George thought that someone's life was a good sacrifice to show his feelings. It seems very ironic that George holding a gun in his hand was actually a considerate thing to do in his mind, yet most of the time that is just a sign of danger and fear. Although the ending of this book was spoiled for me, I could see the confusion and the sadness on my classmates faces as I scan the room. Even I experienced mixed emotions as my teacher read aloud and questions ran through my brain. How could a person kill someone they loved? Why did George do this? Was anyone else involved in this action? George shot the gun and I instantly thought he was insane and cruel. However, we then began to read the last page of the book. Even though he didn't simply come out and say his feelings, there was no doubt in my mind that George truly did love Lennie and only had his best interest at heart. I believe that he did this as an act of bravery and heroism. Lennie would continue to struggle on Earth, being that he is a disabled man in a very difficult time, and George was smart enough to recognize this. He did not want to part from Lennie, but in his mind this was a better option for him. Lennie was a good person who made mistakes that did not only effect him, they effected George, too. When I look at their relationship, it reminds me of two siblings. They fight, and bicker, and argue, but love each other unconditionally. Many of the characters in this book longed to have that type of feeling. Curley's wife regrets her past choices and wished she could go back. Candy is starting to realize his old age, and is trying to figure out what to do after he is too elderly to work. Crook's even finds it hard to trust or simply talk to anyone of a different color due to the little amount of attention and respect he receives. Yet, George loved Lennie so much that he was able to point a gun to his head and selflessly pull the trigger to put Lennie out of his unknowing misery.

What does mice have to do with men is the real question??

I have always heard of the book Of Mice And Men growing up. It has always been loved by people or completely despised. People would say it was too boring, or that they couldn't put it down. The book itself is not bad. I wouldn't say I love it, but I wouldn't say I hate it. One thing I really enjoy about it is the mystery of it, without it being said to be a mystery story. The way I see it, or at least from the first few chapters, is that we don't know how the two characters, Lennie and George, are related, we don't know too much about their past or what has happened, and we don't really know about where they currently are in the book. While this wouldn't be considered a "mystery" book, you could create a mystery by trying to figure out the gaps in the information. I don't know if this is something that I would just consider or think about, but as I am reading it questions just come into my head. Some of them may get answered as I continue reading, but many of them just stay in my head giving me the chance to either continue being confused or create make believe answers. As a person who often likes to act as if they are five years old, making up stories and using my imagination is something that can come naturally to me or something that I just really enjoy.