Jess Aarons is an eleven-year-old boy living in a rural area in the South who loves to run. He dreams of being the fastest boy in the fifth grade when school starts up in the fall, feeling that this will for once give him a chance to stand in the spotlight among his five sisters, and might win him the attention of his preoccupied father. Jess is quite insecure/unsure in his identity. He loves to paint and draw, but he knows very well that this labels him a "sissy" in the eyes of most of the world, particularly his father. In addition, his family is stretched so tight by poverty that he has little chance to really explore his own identity during this crucial period of childhood. He has therefore built up the importance of winning in his mind, feeling that here, at least, is something that he is good at which won't win him an undesired label of "sissy" or "girl" in the eyes of his father or schoolmates, and which will allow him to shine in his own right. He practices each morning, always dreaming of his …show more content…
They see each other at school, where they take a good deal of ribbing for their cross-gender friendship, but by now that sort of teasing has lost the power to hurt Jess, and Leslie has never been particularly bothered by what others think. At home, they celebrate holidays together, such as Christmas, when Jess gives Leslie a puppy and she gives him an expensive art set to develop his artistic talent, and Easter, when Leslie goes to church for the first time with Jess. Leslie is impressed by the beauty of the story of Christ. Jess and his little sister May Belle, cowed by negative and unforgiving religious training, are convinced that nonbelievers such as Leslie are doomed to hell, and find the whole experience disturbing. Nevertheless, Jess and Leslie remain the best of friends, and Jess finds a purpose in his life through Leslie's company that he's never had
The Other Wes Moore is a novel that shows the different paths of two different men, one successful and the other not so fortunate. We discovered their different identities and how their choices and role models effect their lives. Wes 1 was led by his brave, hard working mother and the great military men. He didn't make incredibly great decisions but the people in his life helped him turn into the successful man he is today.However, Wes 2 had a brother who dealt drugs. The novel guides you through the 8 crazy years that led to Wes Moore 1's success and Wes Moore 2's life sentence for prison.
She’s just so weak. If she would stand up for herself, no one would bother her. It’s her own fault that people pick on her, she needs to toughen up. “Shape of a Girl” by Joan MacLeod, introduces us to a group of girls trying to “fit in” in their own culture, “school.” This story goes into detail about what girls will do to feel accepted and powerful, and the way they deal with everyday occurrences in their “world.” Most of the story is through the eyes of one particular character, we learn about her inner struggles and how she deals with her own morals. This story uses verisimilitude, and irony to help us understand the strife of children just wanting to fit in and feel normal in schools today.
Sports play a large part of an athletic student’s life, weighing heavily on one’s identity. In his essay, “Cut”, Bob Greene relays how he and several others are cut from their middle school sports team because “[they weren’t] good enough” (Greene 58). Because of this cut, Greene and his peers end up pushing harder than ever in other areas of their life. He notes, “an inordinately large proportion of successful men share… the memory
We all know that one sweet lady who lives in a quiet neighborhood just down the road from you. Harper Lee wrote the book To Kill A Mockingbird and in it that sweet lady is Miss Maudie Atkinson. Miss Maudie is very respectful, outdoorsy, but she is also very nurturing when it comes to her garden and the kids. I chose to talk about Miss Maudie Atkinson because I did not know who else to talk about and because she seems really sweet, plus Jem and Scout love her. I do know a “Miss Maudie Atkinson” but she goes by Peggy, she goes to my church. Peggy is very sweet, nurturing and she cares about everyone. Even though Miss Maudie Atkinson just comes off as respectful, outdoorsy and nurturing she knows very much about how to keep
Thus, she is contradicting herself and others around her of her actual stubborn, selfish ambitions. Furthermore, under this control, similar girls like Stephanie will have an identity crisis throughout their grown into adulthood, struggling between what is right and wrong. Especially female athletes, “nurtured” under hostile, strict care can result into conforming into social stereotypes and conventions without expressing your true identity. Specifically in today’s modern culture where women are rebelling more against social norms, it is crucial for athletic teens to create their own aspect of womanhood and what it means to be feminine. Personally, I relate heavily as I have played sports most of my life and have been perceived “manly” as well. Throughout my childhood, it was extremely difficult to look at the pretty girls from afar and not think “What if I were pretty? What would life be like if I were not athletic?” as I stare at my abnormally large biceps. Nevertheless, it was extremely important in my growth to stay true to my true identity as others will follow the robotic, conformist norms that make them insignificant and cliché. If one follows everyone else’s expectations for the next person, then that person might as well deserve to live a depressed life not
To begin with, Twyla's and Roberta's race is quite complicated to evaluate. Morrison does not inform the reader about either of the characters race, which keeps the reader more intrigued. The author does state that Twyla and Roberta are like salt and pepper next to each other, therefore though out the story, one tries to figure out which one is which by the clues given in the story. Additionally, when one is trying to figure out these two characters races, one realizes their own stereotypes. For instance, from what they eat, to where they live, to their names, and their personality, it makes one realize that just because one character eats chicken or lives in the suburbs, it does not necessarily make them a certain race, because any race can
James is like all the other boys, but there is something different about him. James is taller than normal boys. He just wants to be normal. He wants to know hey he is so tall. Also, Peggy the librarian tries to help James, but she has trouble helping James. Summing up James has a problem and Peggy wants to help him.
There in the Nooksack gym, winter time, there is a girl named Brooke Debeeld; either shooting layins, practicing the triple threat, or playing defense. Or out in the fields during the spring time, she runs around the track, sprinting as if her life depended on it. Her blond hair flying away, as if the wind was made out of gold. Yet at the end of each sport, she drives herself home to her loving family. People would consider Brooke as just an athlete who works hard, but, others who know Brooke well know that there is more to her than just being a 3-sport athlete.
My Ántonia is a good book to read, it has a good message and the different characters work well together and against each other. In My Ántonia, the two characters that work both with and against each other are Jim and Ántonia.
I believe that no one wants to be in poverty, but do you know that during the Great Depression, it is considered normal to be so poor that you’re jobless and hungry all the time? That’s what happened to Josh and Joey in No Promises in the Wind: because of their harsh father and the financial problems, they left their home to look for a job which can support the two of them. They met a lot of people, desperate people. Almost everyone was looking for a job so they could fill their stomachs. However, even desperate people were divided into two groups: some people remained positive, and the others were stressed.
“The Lottery” is a tale that was written in 1948 by American author Shirley Jackson. Throughout the story, there are multiple characters introduced, but the character who is most directly confronted with conflict after the climax is Tessie Hutchinson. At the point of the climax, Tessie becomes the protagonist of the story. Her actions also cause her to become the central character. She is a well-liked citizen of a village that participates in a lottery to determine which citizen will be killed as a yearly sacrifice to ensure a prosperous corn growing season. Mrs. Hutchinson is a round character because she starts off enthused and cheerful and even jokes around during general conversation as the village people gather to start the lottery
Your thumping heart pounds against your chest; you don’t look back you just keep running. You hide in the bushes waiting for your captors to pass you on horseback. You’re trying to keep your breath steady, but your body betrays you panting for air. Your captures finally pass and you make your escape on a bullboat by the river. The example just given to you describes how Sacagawea must have felt running from her captors Le’ Borgne and Tall Rock in the book “Streams to the River, River to the Sea”. The author Scott O’Dell always seems to have a leading protagonist that portrays resilience, courage, and loyalty. The previous example shows the qualities of strength. The leading protagonist in the book “Streams to the River, River to the Sea” happens to be Sacagawea. Sacagawea meets the demands of all the protagonists in Scott O’Dell’s books.
When Mina was a kid biking was her favorite sport and she used to bike for more than five hours per day but she had to stop biking during her teenage ages. Because her parents did not let her to ride in the street any more since they thought biking is a boys’ sport. There were many barriers during her teenage ages. At that time women did not play soccer, karate or ride a bike in public. Mina mentioned that she and other girls did not even think about playing these sports because as kids they have always been told that these sports are just for boys and girls should not play these. Now a days she does not believe that there is any difference between boys’ and girls’ sports. One of her daughters is in a soccer team, and Mina has always encouraged and supported her to follow her dream of becoming a famous athlete.
Academically she had always been chasing her brother’s shadow, and has been fighting since fifth grade to step out from behind it. Athletics became her salvation and she began to stand out and start becoming more independent. She played five sports in middle school; Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Football Cheer leading, and Basketball Cheer leading. She grew more of an interest in volleyball and practiced during off season independently as often as she could to keep up with it in high school. She found volleyball as a stress reliever, along with weightlifting. Being a part of sports made her feel like she has generally stood out from her brother, leaving her with more aspirations and seeking a future in academics and athletics. With lots of motivation behind her to be different from her brother she continues to strive and build as an independent young
It’s 1980,summertime in Michigan . Baseball little league was only for boys. Until Madison a twelve year old girl decided she could be just as good as the boys. So off to try-outs to prove she could play. Entering tryouts she could hear the boys snickering and whispering about her. It was her time to bat, they were all saying that she couldn’t do it. When Mr.Week threw the ball and she swung, all the boys were amazed of what she could do. When it was time for Madison to throw to Mr.Weeks she was the best one to throw on the team.