Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Emotional Reflector- Holly Fischer

Ever since the accident that Ellen, Anna and Cameron got into there have been so many emotions in this book. For example, Ellen and Anna's families are overjoyed with the fact that both of them survived the accident, but also frightened at the fact that they were so close to losing them. On the other hand, Cameron's family and even Anna's family is shocked and hurting with the fact that they lost Cameron in the terrifying accident. Jack, Cameron's boyfriend, who happens to be Cameron's boyfriend, is taking it the hardest. He's happy that his sister made it through the accident, but also depressed with the fact that his girlfriend did not. Even though Anna walked away from the accident with only an eye injury, her best friend Ellen, who was very drunk when the accident happened, is not in good shape. On page 38, Ellen's mom says: "She's got a tube in her mouth to help her breathe, a tube in her chest to reinflate her lung, an IV for antibiotics, an IV for pain, a catherter to help her pass water, a cast on her leg, and nothing for her ribs. They'll heal on their own." Therefore, you can tell that Ellen was not lucky and as of now she's not exactly up and talking and she's in the Intensive Care Unit in the hosptial. An important part of this book on an emotional level to me, is the fact that Anna's parents were never very loving to her before the accident. For example, on page 35 Anna says: "It's strange but good [a hug from her mom], like when she held me in the hospital bed. It's not that we don't get along, so much as we're not that close, I guess. The truth is, before yesterday I don't remember the last time we touched." This effects the book a lot because now her parents realize that they could've been like Cameron's parents and lost their daughter in that accident. Now they realize how special she is to them, and that's important. Hopefully in the next few chapters Ellen will wake up and Anna will be able to talk to her because everyone's getting very worried about her.

Quote Illuminator - Devon Blog #2

1. "That memorial link to Rosebud Is a Sled is an amazing idea," Lisa tells me. Link? I don't know what she's talking about." Pg. 49


I picked this quote because it shows the affect the accident had on Anna and her brothers relationship. He isn't really talking to her after it happened, even though it was not her fault. Also, I picked this because it shows how her friend is talking about something that everyone knows about except Anna. This shows how her brother is barley talking to her because the whole school knows about the memorial link for Cameron except Anna. 


2. "I don't really see the point," my father says. "We go through difficult times. We live. We learn. We move on." Pg. 61


This quote signifies the dictatorship that Anna's father has. Anna's mom is suggesting getting counseling about the accident, however her dad is quick to shoo it away. Anna nor her mom are able to get a word in without her dad saying that he doesn't agree, and that is the way it should be. I believe this quote is foreshadowing something important that will happen later in the book involving the way Anna's father acts.


3. "I killed somebody." Pg. 69


This quote shows how the accident is affecting Anna. Even though it was not her fault, she keeps blaming herself for Cameron's death. Anna believes, even though Cameron was clearly drunk and swerved into Anna's lane, that she is responsible for Cameron's death. I think this is also going to foreshadow Anna and her personality changing throughout the book, and is only the beginning of finding out how the accident really affected her.


4. "And in that exact moment there was this flash of light and something hit me hard, and then I was on my back on the sandy ground at the edge of where the driveway began and of the house ended." Pg. 82


This quote is important because it describes when Anna got hit by lightening, and no one believed her but her brother. I think it shows deep down the good relationship between Anna and her brother, and how he always sticks by her side. I also think it has a negative effect, because her parents don't take seriously, so I predict that something major is going to happen in the book and no one will take her seriously but her brother. 



Friday, September 24, 2010

Characterization Reflector-Rebecca Rogers

During the first chapter there were a few characters introduced, Anna, the mother and father Ellen (Anna's friend) and her brother Jack. Currently the most important character is Anna, a teenage girl that right now looking to have some fun but her father is very upset about the leaves being all over the front yard. On page ten, "I'll rake tomorrow" "Not rake!" my father exploded. He was frothing at the mouth. Seriously. Spit was gathering at the corners like he had rabies or something "Not tomorrow. Pick. Up. Now!" Although she was rebelling against her father and left to go to a party anyways. Within the first chapter, only one main character was introduced which was Anna. Anna seems like a nice girl just looking to enjoy her life and go to a house party with her friend. Anna's father is strict though however and wants her to stay home to clean up the yard.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Emotional Reflector - Devon Blog #1

Within the first chapter you see a lot of unhappiness. On page nine, Anna says "The black was getting worse, the way it does when he won't back off, which is all the time, and you can't do anything, you're just stuck, and everything turns into a massive knot of confusion." Anna is saying how her dad takes over her mind basically, because he always orders her around and he has the final word. Also, on page ten she says "Make me get on my knees under the spotlights out front, as if I were some kind of psych patient, when he was the insane one." In this quote, you see she doesn't have a good relationship with her father. It also shows Anna expressing her hatred towards her father because of the way he treats her. Between the second and third chapter, you see a bunch of new emotions, including pain and confusion. On page 20, it says "and then there's this deafening smacking sound and the smell of new plastic, and Ellen in my lap, dripping with blood, and theres pieces of something falling and all this dust everywhere and chips flying up from the floor, and Ellen bloody with her head pressed hard against my collarbone, and the sharp brush of her ponytail sticking my right eye." From reading this you can infer that Anna just got into a car accident, with her best friend Ellen. She doesn't really explain anything else, because she's so confused and doesn't know what just happened, all she knows is that Ellen is in her lap bleeding. You can also see that Anna is confused because on the same page she says "How could she be in my lap and how could we fall out with our seat belts on?" This shows that she doesn't really understand what happened and why they flew out of their seats, and overall she's just confused about the accident because it's all too overwhelming to take in. On page 23, when Anna is in the hospital her mom tells her that Ellen has a collapsed lung, and that's when pain starts taking place, because she's worried that her friend is going to die or is in a coma. Also, pain is shown on page 26, when Anna's mom tells her the other driver, who died, was Cameron Polk, which was her brothers girlfriend.

Quotes - Holly Fischer

1. "I remember that moment as clear as the accident. Sometimes clearer. Who knows why." - Anna pg. 3

This quote happens to be in preface of the book, however, I believe it hold a great importance to the book because it's foreshadowing. This quote shows that Anna is going to either be in an accident, cause an accident, see an accident that will probably change her life. This quote stuck out to me because it made me wonder what is going to happen to Anna or her family.

2. "He isn't used to me not doing what he asks. I'm not used to it either." - Anna pg. 8

I chose this quote in the reading beacuse it's showing her relationship with her parents, which I think is going to have a great effect on Anna through out the book. In the first chapter, you can already tell her parents are strict because they made her do ridculous chores such as, picking up the leaves on the lawn. However, I also chose this quote because it shows that Anna is sticking up for herself, therefore showing that she's a strong girl.

3. " "All right," I said to his back. "Fine you can have the car on Saturday." " - Anna pg. 14

I chose this little piece of dialoge because it shows the relationship Anna has with her brother, Jack. In chapter one, Anna describes Jack as the non popular kid who doesn't really go out with a lot of girls. However, when he goes get a date on a Saturday night with a pretty girl at their school, it happens to be a night that Anna has the car. This quote was important because it shows that she cares for him because she let him have the car, since she knew that the date meant a lot to him.

4. "..and I wonder if she actually knows me better than I know me.." - Anna pg. 8

I picked this quote to show the importance of last nights reading because it's about Anna's best friend Ellen. Even though Anna and Ellen seem to have some differences, they are still very good friends and they've been good friends since they were nine. Ellen is more of the party girl and Anna really isn't, and they accept each other for who they are and I admire that in friendship.