Butter

     The book I have been reading is Butter by Erin Jade Lange. This book is about an overweight boy in high school, given the nick name Butter. He received this nickname after a group of teens took him into the parking lot, and forced him to eat a stick of butter. They said that if he didn't, he would have a bad time in high school. They didn't bother asking for his real name, which symbolizes how he is ignored and forgotten at school. On page 60, it says, "Hey, kid, what's your name anyway?" I stayed silent, but Jeremy stood up finally, staring down at the tears on my face, they greasy mess in my hands, and answered for me. "His name's butter." This is showing the time when they took him into the parking lot, and they gave him his nickname. 

     He also likes a girl, named Anna, and they talk online. Anna doesn't know what he looks like, because he doesn't want to reveal himself until he feels confident in his own body. Also, he plans on "eating himself to death", which means eating so much until you die. In the book, it says, "You think I eat a lot now? That's nothing. Tune in December 31st, when I will stream a live webcast of my last meal. Death row inmates get one. Why shouldn't I? I can't take another year in this fat suit, but I can end this year with a bang. If you can stomach it, you're invited to watch...as I eat myself to death." This is showing the reason he plans on doing this, and he wants to do this because he is tired of living the way he is. After announcing this, he receives many reactions he wasn't expecting. I recommend this book!

Adversity

In ELA, we have been reading about Anne Frank. She faced many troubles in life, or adversity. A trouble she faced was having to stay in an attic, trapped so we shouldn't be taken away by the green police. I couldn't imagine living in a place for so long, not being able to make much noise, or ever go outside and breathe fresh air. Although, Anne was optimistic about the situation. She tried to make the best of it, such as on Hanukkah. On Hanukkah, she gave presents to everyone, even though she didn't have any money to buy anything. She spent her time making gifts for everyone, even when she was hiding and unable to see her friends and being able to go outside. Her family and friends didn't have gifts, but she wanted to keep the happiness and tradition alive. I can relate to Anne, because I believe traditions are important. I have also faced adversity, and it was a family issue. Two of my grandfathers passed away around the same time last year, and it was very hard on my family. Although, we tried to not allow this situation to bring us down all the time, but rather forget the past, and remember the good, happy times. Overall, even though we all face adversity, we must try and find the happiness in it, even in the toughest situations. 

Holocaust - Upstanders & Bystanders

After I read about some of the bystanders and upstanders from the holocaust, I was thinking about what I would do if I were to be in this situation. I would want to be an upstander, but knowing how I am, I wouldn't because I'd be afraid of the result. I would feel regret after knowing I could've done something to help others. I believe people would stand by and watch for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is embarrassment, because you won't know what others will say. Another reason could be because of being too afraid. They were too scared to speak because they knew what would happen if they did, and did not want to risk it. I think people would be an upstander because they were done with being treated unfairly. They were not afraid of what people would think of them. Someone that could've inspired them to speak could be other public speakers that were not afraid of what others would say.