My Novel

If I were to write a young adult novel of my own, I would write about a teenager making a decision to do something out of their comfort zone much like that of the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in first person. I would probably use part of my personal experience with me selecting a college to attend. I went out of my comfort zone attending this college. I went to an all-girls high school and I was okay with being there and being with guys after school all the time because I was home and all my friends were there. Although when deciding to attend Ursuline College, I knew only one other person attending this school, and attending another predominately female school was not on my top priority list. But I sucked it up and realized that this change and move in my life would help me in the long run. I could always go to places and hang out and meet people, and I could concentrate more at a smaller college.
In my novel, I would write about a child stepping outside their comfort zone when either attending a college or transferring to a new school. I would use my personal experiences and incorporate my feelings into the novel. I could make it so the characters would represent people that have helped me in my life and could influence me to make these decisions that have a great impact in my life. This novel would revolve around the teenage years in the high school or early college year setting because to me that is when the most drastic changes in life occur.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In Alexie’s novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I was immediately drawn to the interesting differences between the Indian reservation and the city where all of the white children lived. The Indians never came out of the reservation from the time they were born until they died. They were raised there and their children were as well. They are all a very closely connected group, almost like a very large family. While on the other hand, those who live in the city and off the reservation are very distant and most never stay in the same town or area for their whole life. They are not constricted to one place with certain people. It was expected in this story for the Indians to stay on the reservation and to not even think about leaving, especially not a child just to go to school to escape. If an Indian left the reservation they were looked down on by their family and friends, and no Indian wants to be neglected and frowned upon.

The part in the novel where I found it most interesting was when Arnold first arrives at Reardan. He describes the rules of Indians and how it is stated that almost under any circumstance it ends in a fight with the other person. Then when Roger made a racist joke to Arnold and he punches him in the face, he was confused when Roger didn’t fight back immediately and then not at all. He states, “I had followed the rules of fighting. I had behaved exactly the way I was supposed to behave. But these white boys had ignored the rules. In fact, they followed a whole other set of mysterious rules where people apparently DID NOT GET INTO FISTFIGHTS," (65-66). He was not used to the different environment and different set of “rules” like he was brought up under. It goes to show that he really was entering a whole new world and was taking such a big leap by leaving the reservation, and his family, and his best friend, and in reality he was saving himself from being stuck there all his life.

Betsey Brown

When first assigned this book, I thought it would be another book with language I didn’t understand or have a storyline I couldn’t follow. At first I was unsure of the whole situation in the book. From Greer not being home a lot and not seeking to find time with his family to Vida complaining left and right about how the children were chaotic and were out of control and acting like “niggers”. Then I discovered that Greer was merely trying to progress their family with him being a black doctor he needs to spend his time with his work and he is helping the family with the money input. I personally did not like Vida in this novel. She seemed to get into everyone’s business where she was not needed. Although she was only looking out for her family, she should have avoided getting into Carrie’s and Regina’s business with their men. Vida did not want the children to be exposed to this type of behavior, which is understandable, but they were not sheltered however from everyone else they are around participating in this type of behavior. The children are growing up and are curious about new things in life concerning boyfriends and girlfriends. They cannot be sheltered forever. My favorite character in this novel was Betsey Brown. She was portrayed as a typical black girl growing up in the time of integration. Betsey is a very strong willed, smart and determined young girl. She showed that she was just a child when she revolted against Bernice for revealing her hiding spot, but working and helping around the house comes naturally to her. She stands up for what she believes and expresses her opinion. She is very curious and adventurous. You can see how Betsey grows up in the novel and how she is discovering things in life and becomes more of a woman. I actually enjoyed reading this book. It kept me interested the whole time and I kept reading to see what was around the corner and on the next page.

Essay Topic

For my essay I am going to write it with these ideas:
Intro:
• Give a little info about what responsibilities teenagers have now days.
• Teenagers feel pressures in everyday life.
o Parents, school, friends, job, society, etc.
• The responsibilities of teenagers were more crucial to the status of the
family back in the mid 1900s.
Body:
• Early 1900s
o Pressures on teenagers from parents to help assist with the income of the
family for bills, food, housing, etc.
o Part if not all of what the children made with their jobs went to the family.
o Children were forced to get jobs to make their own income for things that
they wanted and to assist the family.
• In today’s society
o not as pressured to get jobs and help support their families
 In some situations they might be
 Pay for their own car, gas, spending money.
o Given more freedoms to do as they please.
 Some restrictions.
 Options for schooling.
 Options for jobs.
 Decide where they will work and what to do with the income they receive.
Conclusion:
• Wrap all of the main ideas showing the decrease in the responsibilities and
necessity or teenagers working to support their families from the early 1900s
up to present day.
• I will be using examples of all of the responsibilities and reasons why the
times have changed and the reasons behind why teenagers used to contribute
to their family’s wealth.
• I plan on using examples from The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager and
personal experience.

Huck Finn

In Huck Finn I was drawn into it by the telling of the story from the child’s view point. I liked the adventure and mystery perspective. Rather than having a story drawn out and told like any other story it was turned to a child’s view point, where situations that adults would understand seemed as a mystery to Huck. It was interesting because when he was telling the story he gave thoughts and you could see the progress of Huck from his intellect to his emotions and feelings towards Jim. At first he felt no remorse being mean and playing tricks on him, and as the book progressed, you could see an increase of feelings between Huck and Jim. He began to try and protect him. The adventure part of the novel kept me very interested in the novel. I was at first confused with the language he was using was good and accurate because that is how it was spoken at the time the novel was written, although it took me a while to get used to its structure. Over all I thought the book was good and full of action and adventure. It is a classic story of a young boy looking for adventure and seeking new places to explore. He was seeking himself and trying to find the way he wants to act and be portrayed. You get the full perspective of the times in which this novel is taking place. You get the child, adults, and black men at this time’s views on the situations occurring at the time. It’s a very good all around novel.

Modern Day Charlotte Temple

The story of Charlotte Temple in the modern day would have gone like so after Montraville found out Charlotte was pregnant with his child.

Today on Maury: Charlotte pregnant with Montraville’s child and he denies that it is his because he has been with another woman.

Maury: “Now Charlotte, tell us what happened between you and Montraville.”

Charlotte: “Well you see Maury that jerk got me pregnant and then left me for that tramp, then when I told him it was his he denied it because he doesn’t want to be paying child support and wants me to be living on the streets alone forever.”

Montraville: “Naw man that ain’t true. I have never done anything with that girl she just wants my money to pay for her baby that she claims is mine.”

Maury: “How do you feel about that Charlotte?”

Charlotte: “It’s all a lie and he knows it. I have never lied and I surely wouldn’t be lying about this.”

Montraville: “I’m telling you that ain’t true!”

Maury: “Well we will find out now. We have taken a DNA test and Montraville…..You are the father of Lucy.”

Charlotte: “I told you! I told you! I ain’t lying!”

Montraville: “Naw man that ain’t right, no way.”

Maury: “Now what’s going to happen between you two? Montraville will you come back to Charlotte because Lucy is yours or what will happen?”

Charlotte: “He better be helping me out in some way! Although that slut does take up all of his time now!”

Maury: “Montraville?”

Montraville: “Man I’m speechless right now! I guess I can help out with some money, but no way am I coming back to you, I got a new girl now.”

Charlotte: “Good you better be helping me out this your kid anyways!!”

Maury: “Well folks, looks like we have another father found and seems to be willing to help. If you would like to be on the Maury Show call us now at 1-866-99-Maury or 1-866-996-2879 .”

Charlotte Temple

I thought that in the beginning of Charlotte Temple the introduction of characters were not very clear and that a lot of people were just thrown into the story and I was at first thrown off. I also found the story portrayed Charlotte as a very innocent girl who was being played by Montraville and La Rue in the beginning. She was being used by La Rue so she could get out of her current situations and leave the town. I also believe that La Rue was going to try and bring Charlotte down to have the same reputation as she has, to be under appreciated and looked down upon. She conned her into doing things that she shouldn’t have, such as sneaking away at night, going out when she shouldn't have and other situations of this nature. Montraville also played a very interesting role in Charlotte’s life. He came and stole her heart and toyed with her. Then she decided to go away with him and leave her family behind as he wrote a letter to her parents addressed from Charlotte and told them they were married and off living a good life and should need not to worry. Soon after arriving to America, Montraville abandoned Charlotte and found a new girl. Charlotte, alone and pregnant with his child was devastated. She went home and had her child, Lucy, and then died alone and without her love, or whom she thought had taken that role in her life. Charlotte had a very interesting and confusing life to deal with throughout the book. She went through many ups, downs, betrayals, and days of loneliness. Needless to say, she was used in many ways by people who she thought were very fond of her.