Numbering Five Smoohe Stones

Authors Note: I read two books that I realized are very spectacular. In this piece I compare and contrast the two stories.

Do you have a relative who is serving in the war? If you do, you miss and think about that person every day.Annemarie and Hope are both going through out their lives with hardships facing the war in the books Numbering the Stars and 5 smooth Stones. These two books are all different but also share some similarities.

Annemarie is a younger girl struggling to stay alive during the time of the holocaust.She escapes with her friend Ellen to try and get to Sweden, a free county. The same thing is going on in Hopes life, but it is during the time of the revolutionary war. Hope travels across the country with her family, living with the struggles of her brother and Dad gone, and she doesn't know where half of her family is. They share the same life story. They have a horrible life but learn a very valuable lesson. They strive to get through this tragedy, and in the end they lean a very valuable lesson.Many are put into the same situation of these two characters through the world.

Both of these people have very alike home life. They both have relatives. Annemarie has a younger sister who always bugs her and annoys her. On the other hand, hope has an older brother who she misses dearly because he has run away. They share very big things but also have a lot of things that are much different.

Finally,both characters have another thing in common. They both have one best friend who helps them through the stories. Hope has a friend who helps her throughout her brother running away and the revolutionary War. Annemarie has problems with spending her life escaping from the Nazis. This proves how friends can help you through anything.

Therefore,both of these stories have many things in common, including both having best friends who help each other through life, both having some similarities in their home life, and both going through a huge war. Both of these books are very good books with the stories about effects of the war.

Hope Leaves Home

Authors Note: In this piece i analyzed the cause and effect of my novel, how the climax occurred,and what are the consequences and effects of a major event that happened in my book, 5 smooth Stones.


In the book five smooth Stones, by Kristina Gregory; a young girl goes through her life with rumors surrounding her family. People are accusing her dad of being a Loyalist (Someone who is in favor of the king) during the time of the Revolutionary war. Because of this accusation, Hopes family is forced to leave town.

A little while after Hopes birthday, her brother brings home the bad news about this dreadful rumor, which changes Hopes life immensely. People are starting to talk, so Hope and her family feel they are required to leave their home. With this new change, Hope is separated from her best friend, and the home she grew up in. Throughout the course of this book, Hope learns about the importance of family, and that even if your family isn’t always physically there, they are always with you.

Not So Fast

Authors Note: I am reading the book chains. This writing piece is about seeing the different side of things. To let the reader see the point of view for Mr. Robert, and not Isabellas.

In the book, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, a younger girl and her sister who are Slaves, try to deal with the fact that they got betrayed. They should have been free but they are not anymore. This story was written in Isabel’s point of view. From this perspective, a lot of events and characters are described in a way that creates depression and sadness in the reader about Isabella and her sister getting betrayed by their pastor and Mr. Robert.


One way that Isabella’s point of view influences the reader's interpretation is how this do anything to not have him as her owner. He took away their freedom. The children’s parent will said that after they pass, that they are free. But Mr. Robert was dishonest and kept them for himself. They do anything to be with someone else. Anyone was better than him.


However, the reader would feel a lot differently about Isabella’s bad luck, if the novel was written in the point of view Mr. Robert. Mr. Robert would describe the kids as rotten, and he would say how rude they are. He might even say that he was trying to help them, and the Pastor was bad for them. For instance, the reader wouldn't think, you should sell those kids are so bad, and they would be happy that Mr. Robert finally sold them to the right person. The view of someone else can change the view of a lot of other people.


As you can see, the point of view of a story forces the reader to see just one side of an event or topic. In Chains, the narrator's perspective makes the reader feel hatred against Mr. Robert. If we ever looked at Mr. Robert’s point of view, we could really think differently. This is why getting two sides of each story is always helpful; it lets us see everything better.

Smoothe Move, Casey

Authors note; I read the poem, Casey at the Bat, by Ernest Thayer. In this essay I explain how Casey really messed up.

Dear Casey,

Picture yourself standing at home plate, waiting for that pitcher to throw the baseball. It’s bases loaded, and the whole team is depending on you to win the game. But suddenly, before you know it, you strike out. Actually, you don’t need to picture this moment Casey, because you have already lived it. You need to look back at this moment. You are so full of yourself. You’re the kind of kid that people would very highly dislike in Middle and High School, due to your over confidence. You shouldn’t have not been so stuck up when you went up to bat. You should have tried your hardest, not even paying attention to the crowd. The only up side of this situation is that hopefully you got a reality check.

 First off, just think about what could have happened if you had won that game. The whole team would have tackled you with joy. The crowd would go crazy and you would be the “Super Star”. Maybe this would have happened if you didn’t have such overconfidence. Confidence is really important to have during sports or anything you do. Most percent of the things you do depend on confidence in yourself and just some skill level. Although confidence is good, there is also such thing as overconfidence. This is what you have. Take the time to realize that you may be a very good baseball player, but you are not as good as you think you are. If you would have realized this maybe the outcome of that game would be different.  

Secondly, do you have any idea how many people you let down? “Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt”. If you do the math, that’s a lot of people! "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand” Don’t try to blame this on the ref ether, nether you or the people in the stands. “That ant my style”, you said. What I think about that quote is, keep your thoughts to yourself. No one cares what your idea of a good style pitch is. They care if you win the game. Obviously you said this because you got a strike, so stop trying to act all cool. If you have a swaggering attitude, it will really annoy the people in the crowd. Stop acting like you’re so amazing and realize that if you would have not been so stuck up, the outcome could have been different.

Therefore, you are a stuck up child who needs to get a reality check. You though you where the best baseball player to ever walk this planet. Well, you thought wrong. You let a lot of people down and I hope you realize this. Stop being arrogant because you really messed up. Next time you are put in a tough position; don’t cover up your nervousness with coolness, because it will make a lot of people really mad, like me. Stop being overconfident and get a reality check, because in the real world, people think of you as a stuck up annoying little kid who doesn’t know what he’s doing.

                                                                        From,

                                                                                    An annoyed fan, Avery Colwell

Smoothe Move, Casey

Authors note; I read the poem, Casey at the Bat, by Ernest Thayer. In this essay I explain how Casey really messed up.

Dear Casey,

Picture yourself standing at home plate, waiting for that pitcher to throw the baseball. It’s bases loaded, and the whole team is depending on you to win the game. But suddenly, before you know it, you strike out. Actually, you don’t need to picture this moment Casey, because you have already lived it. You need to look back at this moment. You are so full of yourself. You’re the kind of kid that people would very highly dislike in Middle and High School, due to your over confidence. You shouldn’t have not been so stuck up when you went up to bat. You should have tried your hardest, not even paying attention to the crowd. The only up side of this situation is that hopefully you got a reality check.

 First off, just think about what could have happened if you had won that game. The whole team would have tackled you with joy. The crowd would go crazy and you would be the “Super Star”. Maybe this would have happened if you didn’t have such overconfidence. Confidence is really important to have during sports or anything you do. Most percent of the things you do depend on confidence in yourself and just some skill level. Although confidence is good, there is also such thing as overconfidence. This is what you have. Take the time to realize that you may be a very good baseball player, but you are not as good as you think you are. If you would have realized this maybe the outcome of that game would be different.  

Secondly, do you have any idea how many people you let down? “Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt”. If you do the math, that’s a lot of people! "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand” Don’t try to blame this on the ref ether, nether you or the people in the stands. “That ant my style”, you said. What I think about that quote is, keep your thoughts to yourself. No one cares what your idea of a good style pitch is. They care if you win the game. Obviously you said this because you got a strike, so stop trying to act all cool. If you have a swaggering attitude, it will really annoy the people in the crowd. Stop acting like you’re so amazing and realize that if you would have not been so stuck up, the outcome could have been different.

Therefore, you are a stuck up child who needs to get a reality check. You though you where the best baseball player to ever walk this planet. Well, you thought wrong. You let a lot of people down and I hope you realize this. Stop being arrogant because you really messed up. Next time you are put in a tough position; don’t cover up your nervousness with coolness, because it will make a lot of people really mad, like me. Stop being overconfident and get a reality check, because in the real world, people think of you as a stuck up annoying little kid who doesn’t know what he’s doing.

                                                                        From,

                                                                                    An annoyed fan, Avery Colwell

Authors note: We read a book in my class called the Outsiders. I explain in this essay how I believe that just like in the book, there are a lot of people around the world that judge and stereotype each other.

Where is the Love? 

Almost all Americas give you one look and start putting you into categories, or judging you. In the book, The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, two groups, the greasers ad Socs constantly stereotype each other, not knowing what each others lives have been like. Everyone needs to stop putting people in groups before they have been in their shoes. 

First of all, the greasers have greasy hair with leather jackets. This makes them stand out in a bad way. Cherry points out that at the movie theater. “Not all greasers are bad; some are sweet like you, Ponyboy.” This is along the lines that she said.  Not all socs are spoiled rich kids either. Some are as sweet as Cherry. This proves that not everyone is who you might think they are. No one will look the same as you, or act the same way as you. This doesn’t mean you should go and Stereotype.

Secondly, you have no right to stereotype someone, you don’t know what they have been through, or anything about your life. Maybe their parents have died like Darry, Sodapop, and Ponyboy. Or maybe they have gone to juvy or jail like Dally, with no one to help you. Take a stand, and Stop stereotyping and judging everyone you see.

Lastly, the book, The Outsiders has changed the thoughts of many people. Even though some have started to stop stereotyping, there are still many people across the world that do. Try and put yourself in someone Else's shoes before you start stereotyping. It doesn’t matter what city, state, or country someone has come from. It doesn't matter what they look like or wear. That doesn't give you the right to categorize them into groups. No matter what anyone else has been through, remember not to not stereotype anyone else, because they were born like that.

Stay Gold

           “Stay Gold, Ponyboy. Stay Gold…” These were the last words of Johnny, in the book The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton. A man Named Robert Frost invented the saying “nothing Gold can stay”. This means that no one is going to be able to stay innocent. In this case, Johnny was telling Ponyboy to stay innocent and don’t get into anymore trouble.

          "Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down today. Nothing gold can stay." this Is the famous poem of Robert Frost. This poem means, "Don’t lose your Innocents, because it only stays for an hour." Johnny is trying to say that Ponyboy is innocent, and that he should stay innocent. It also means that he wants Ponyboy to get the Socs to realize that not all the greasers are bad and to be true to himself.

          Another Interesting thing that I thought about what Johnny said was that it showed that he really wanted to let Ponyboy know that he actually cared about him. He wanted Ponyboy to have a good rest of his life, and keep it the way it is, and to stay innocent. The theme of this grand poem is Loss of Innocents. Johnny is telling Ponyboy that he is doing a great job in his life and that he should keep his innocents for as long as he can, and to never put your head down. He should keep striving to be the best man he could possibly be.

The Outsiders Prediction

     In the book, the outsiders, two groups struggle to get along because of their differences. There is a group called the "Socs" who are considered the rich people, and a group called the "greasers", who are considered the poor people. There are always fights around because of their differences, but I believe that by the end of the book, both groups will start to slowly respect each others backgrounds. There are also relationships that I think that are going to start going on.     
     First of all, the socs and greasers are always fighting. I belive that this is because of them thinking that one is better than another or because of jealousy. A big problem is that they judge the whole group on just a couple people. Cherrty makes a point of this  durring the trip to the movie theater. She points out that some socs can be really nice, and that some greasers, like ponyboy are very nice aswell. I predict that everyone will eventualy relize this, and slowly but slowly come together as one town. 
     Cherry also said that she really admired Dally Winstons "bad boy" attitude. I belive that even thought there was a connection between Cherry and Ponyboy, Cherry will actually end up marrying Dally. I also think that Soda pop will end up marrying Sandy, the girl he talked about to ponyboy in the begining of the book. I think that those two marrages will tie this book together, and if i doesnt happen, i probably wont like the ending.
     My prediction is that both groups will respect each of there different backgrounds. Cherry will also marry Dally, and I predict that Sodapop will marry Sandy, as he stated in the begining of the book.

Jingoistic

Authors Note: in this piece that I am writing, I explain how I am proud of my country and that not many people are as fortunate as us. Many may say that our country in a rough time, which is true, but it is still in better shape than a lot of other countries.

Don’t you hate it when your parents tell you to clean your room? You can’t stand being told what to do. Now picture yourself having to study a religion you don’t believe in because of the place you live, or the laws you have to keep. Here In our country, we thankfully don’t need to worry about that. But some people do. You should be thankful every day knowing that you can study any religion you want, and have the freedom to say whatever you want.

I am very proud of my country, and I hope any more people are too. The people in this country have so many rights, and people are fighting to keep those rights for you. Volunteers risk their lives every day for everyone in this country, and I believe that you are very selfish if you say you aren't proud of your country after all these people do for you.

Polo doesnt go for school-o

A polo doesn’t go for school-o

By: Avery Colwell

Authors Note: This is a persuasive argument on how why students shouldn’t have to wear school uniforms. This piece makes it clear that it makes it easier to let students express their individuality. 

Over the last 14 years, public Schools in the United States that require uniforms have increased by 15 percent. Ninety-five percent of the kids in New Orleans’, and eighty-five percent of the kids in Cleveland Ohio that attend public schooling have to wear uniforms. People in the United States should not have to wear uniforms because kids like to express themselves through clothes and school is boring enough without having every single person look the same.

When kids come to a new school, the first thing that runs through a kids mind is, I hope they like me, or I hope I make new friends. In some cases, what you are wearing represents who you are. And you will maybe start getting along with that group who is interested in the same things as you. When you’re new, everything someone says to you makes you feel more excepted.

Parents sometimes encourage the school their child is attending to have school uniforms. Why? They say that it decreases the amount of bullying. Wearing a green polo will not stop someone from bulling. I think the school has to come up with a little bit more of an explanation than trying to solve something that never will be solved, no matter what shirt you’re wearing. Also, not everyone has allot of money to buy school uniforms. If you are in a place like New Orleans’, you may not be able to attend school because of the lack of schools without the requirement of school uniforms.

Who would ever want to wear a White polo and slacks every single day? Everyone would look the same. This would end up being very boring. School is boring enough; we don’t need to add in everyone wearing the same exact thing. People wouldn’t feel as bizarre in their own clothes. This would make them work more resourcefully and be more productive. Students need to express their individuality more often during school, and having assigned uniforms would make that matter worse.

The last thing kids need to worry about is wearing school uniforms, and the last thing parents want to worry about is not being able to send their kids to school because of not having the money for uniforms. You don’t want to see the same clothes at school over and over again. Kids like to express themselves through clothes, and if you take that away, you are taking away their individuality.