Revised Reading Response POST #6

      In life sometimes we don't appreciate who we are and the people in our lives. The story " The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" written by Ray Bradbury, is about a boy named Joby, and he learns to appreciate being the drummer boy at the Battle of Shiloh. He also learns to love the drum. He didn't appreciate the drum before, but then someone made him change his mind about the drum and being the drummer boy.
     In the beginning of the book, Joby hated the drum. I don't think he wanted to have that drum at all. I don't think he didn't want to be the drummer boy either. On page 51 of the short story, he said,

"But without these last, the boy felt his family move yet farther off in the dark, as if those great prairie-burning trains had chanted them away, never to return-- leaving him with this drum which was worse than a toy in the game to be played tomorrow or someday much too soon."

Joby said the drum was worse then a toy. As you can see, Joby didn't really appreciate/like the drum. But i think it was because he didn't know the real meaning of the drum.  He also misses his family, maybe the reason why he doesn't appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy is because hes homesick. Being homesick can make you change your feelings about things. And thats probably why Joby hates the drum.  That's my opinion.

       Joby hated the drum, but then someone came along and made him appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy. He made Joby change his feelings by telling him he has a important role in the war.  That someone who did all those stuff was The General. On page 53 of the short story the general said

"You boy," the general said quietly. "You are the heart of the army. Think about that. You are the heart of the army. Listen to me now"

The general saying that made Joby love the drum. It made him feel better, special and important. Joby now feels like he is part if the army and he belongs to be with them. Thanks to the general, Joby like the drum and likes being the drummer boy.
      Throughout the book, Joby learned to appreciate being the drummer boy and his drum. In this story, Joby had some help learning to appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy. Not everyone has someone in their lives that will help them learn. Some people are lucky and some are not.  Joby was lucky in this case. He had the general. The general gave Joby a speech about how the drummer boy was a important role in the battle because he is the one that leads the army. The beat that Joby plays on the drum controls the soldiers, if he plays fast, the soldiers would go fast, if he played slow, then they would go slow. At the moment, when the general told him that, he changed his mind about the drum and being the drummer boy. He LOVED THEM! I would like the meet the general, if he was actually real because he seems like a very helpful person who would be giving you advice whenever you need it. And he would always be there for you when you need him. Plus he would help you learn new things like he did with Joby. At the end of the story, Joby doesn't think the drum is worse than a toy, he thinks its much better than a toy

Blog Post #5 : Lock and Key

     Everyone needs a friend. Someone who they can reach out to when you need help. In the book Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, the main character Ruby was used to looking out for herself when she was living with her mother, since her sister Cora left for college. Ruby's mother was always doing drugs and drinking. But she still managed to pay the money to keep living in the house. Ruby didn't have a lot of friends, she had a best friend named Peyton, and a boyfriend named Marshall. Ruby's mother then disappears and Ruby manages to live by herself for 2 weeks until she got caught  Since Ruby is 17 years old, she got sent to live with her sister Cora and her husband. Then Ruby's life changes. she goes to a new school, and meets new people. Ruby and Cora were close when they were little, but then Cora left and they grew apart. But throughout the book, Ruby's relationships with her sister, and friends change.
     In the beginning of the book, Ruby has moved in with Cora after all the drama with her mother, she then meets her new neighbor whose name is Nate. Nate is taking Cora to her new school Perkins Day every morning. Each time they are together, they get closer and closer. Before Ruby wouldn't count Nate as a friend because she didn't want to have any friends. but then since they got closer, she considered him as a friend. Nate has been there for Ruby whenever she needed him. When Ruby fainted after she was with Peyton, Nate was the one who went to go find her. Instead of her best friend looking for her, it was Nate. Nate was so nice to her, helping her in anyway he can. Ruby's relationship with Nate did change throughout the book. They started off as strangers, then friends, then close friends, and then they went out. They were perfect together but Nate's problems with his father got in the way, and he ended up leaving to go live with his mother in Arizona. But they still keep in touch with each other, so they will be friends forever! <3
          Ruby's relationship with Cora also changed. Before when they were little, they were close. Since their mother didn't take care of them, Cora was in charge of Ruby. But then she left to go to college, and then they just grew apart. Ruby's mother told Ruby that Cora just forgot about them, and didn't care anymore. But that isn't true. And when Cora got married, she delivered the invitation to her mom personally, but Ruby didn't hear about the wedding, she never saw it or anything. But Cora explained everything to her. She didn't forget about them, she tried to take Ruby with her so they could be together but the mom didn't let her. So she made them move a lot so Cora wouldn't find them. Ruby learned the truth about what happened, she now didn't believe the lies that her mom told her. Ruby's relationship with Cora changed in the book, since they are living together, they are getting closer and closer. 
      Peyton, and Marshall were friends with Ruby since the beginning of high school at Jackson's. Ruby hated to leave them, but she had to because she had no other choice. None of Ruby's friends know about what is going on in her family. They are all just spreading rumors at her old school. I think Ruby is ashamed to tell her friends. Or maybe she just doesn't want anybody to know because it's none of their business. Ruby would have never guessed that they would betray her. Ruby caught them sleeping together, and that's how there relationship ended. Ruby's relationship changed with Peyton and Marshall because they started off as friends and ended up not being friends at the end.
     In the end, Ruby learned to count on her friends/siblings and she also learned who her real friends were. Ruby lost some friends along the way, but she gained some new ones. She also learned the truth about how her mother was a liar. She lied about Cora, but she learned the truth. Imagine if she didn't!? She would have just been living in a lie, but good thing Cora talked to her about it. I think Ruby also learned that sometimes you have to ask for help even though you think you don't need it. Because she thought she would be able to live by herself even though she had no money, clean water, a dirty place, no clean clothes and no food. If the landlords didn't find Ruby alone, then i have no idea how Ruby would be.

Blog Post #4 The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

     In life sometimes we don't appreciate who we are and the people in our lives. The story " The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" written by Ray Bradbury, is about a boy named Joby, and he learns to appreciate being the drummer boy at the Battle of Shiloh. He also learns to love the drum. He didn't appreciate the drum before, but then someone made him change his mind about the drum and being the drummer boy.
     In the beginning of the book, Joby hated the drum. I don't think he wanted to have that drum at all. I don't think he didn't want to be the drummer boy either. On page 51 of the short story, he said,

"But without these last, the boy felt his family move yet farther off in the dark, as if those great prairie-burning trains had chanted them away, never to return-- leaving him with this drum which was worse than a toy in the game to be played tomorrow or someday much too soon."

Joby said the drum was worse then a toy. As you can see, Joby didn't really appreciate/like the drum. He also misses his family, maybe the reason why he doesn't appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy is because hes homesick. That's my opinion.

       Joby hated the drum, but then someone came along and made him appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy. That someone was The General. On page 53 of the short story the general said

"You boy," the general said quietly. "You are the heart of the army. Think about that. You are the heart of the army. Listen to me now"

The general saying that made Joby love the drum. It made him feel better, special and important. Joby now feels like he is part if the army and he belongs to be with them. Thanks to the general, Joby like the drum and likes being the drummer boy.
      Throughout the book, Joby learned to appreciate being the drummer boy and his drum. In this story, Joby had some help learning to appreciate the drum and being the drummer boy. Not everyone has someone in their lives that will help them learn. Joby was lucky that he had the general. The general gave Joby a speech about how the drummer boy was a important role in the battle because he is the one that leads the army. The beat that Joby plays on the drum controls the soldiers, if he plays fast, the soldiers would go fast, if he played slow, then they would go slow. At the moment, when the general told him that, he changed his mind about the drum and being the drummer boy. He LOVED THEM! I would like the meet the general, if he was real because he seems like a helpful person who would be giving you advice whenever you need it. and he would help you learn new things like he did with Joby. At the end of the story, Joby doesn't think the drum is worse than a toy, he thinks its much better than a toy.