People use the word okay nearly every day. It is a word that everyone knows and uses due to its vast meanings. To be okay, is what Gary D. Schmidt’s novel Okay for Now really tries to get readers to understand. He poses the question: just what does “okay for now” mean? These answers are found through examining the characters in the store. While, okay can mean many different things, being okay means that the person is in a state where while things are not perfect, but they are tolerable and satisfactory and can improve.
In a way, the main character of the novel, Doug Swieteck has been okay all along, despite his disbelief in himself. As time passes, Doug continually grows to understand the state of being okay and while it is not an easy ride, it is clearly a rewardable one. The point of Doug’s journey is to show the reader that everybody questions who they are, but it’s what they do with this question that matters. Anything can happen, and Doug’s story really shows that becoming okay, the promise of more than okay, is possible.
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Principal Peattie, who is seen as a self-centered man through his constant reference to himself in the third person. In a way, that also disconnects himself from situations he is in. While Peattie is not a major character, the brief moment when he uses “I” instead of “Principal Peattie” is an important scene. Not only is Peattie showing vulnerability, but he is showing Doug that he has done something good. Principal Peattie compliments Doug two times, the first being when he says “I haven’t told this to many students, but I’ll tell it to you. I think that you’re going to go wherever you want to go” (Schmidt 353). The second being when he thanks Doug “for what [he] did for Coach Reed” (Schmidt 353). These two statements, not only show a new view of who Principal Peattie is, but allow Doug to know what he did was good. Who he is, is
The diverse alternation of point of views also provides the story an effective way to reach out to readers and be felt. The characterisation is effectively done and applied as Sam, Grace, and the other supporting characters play individual, crucial roles in the course of the story. All the elements of a typical young adult novel, consisting of a gap-filled relationship between children and parents, emotion-driven teenagers, and a unique conflict that makes the book distinct from fellow novels, combined with the dangerous consequences of the challenges the couple encounter, make the book different from all other of the same genre. The plot unfolds slowly giving readers enough time to adjust and anticipate the heavy conflict when it arises. It has gotten us so hooked but the only thing we could possibly dislike about it was the slow pace of plot. The anticipation was too much to handle and we were practically buzzing and bouncing to know how the story turns out as we read. It builds the anticipation, excitement, thrill, sadness, grief, loss, and longing in such an effective way to entice and hook readers further into the world of Sam and
Kenneth Vogel’s Big Money explores the invasion of money into our political system. In the novel, Vogel explains one of the most important important events that is currently happening in today’s elections: donors. This, according to Vogel, has been brought on by a ruling in the case Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission. The result of this case destroyed finance restrictions, giving Corporations and Unions the same laws of freedom of speech as individual Americans. The novel opens in February of 2012 where Vogel sneaks into a donor banquet. As our current president, Barack Obama, gives his speech, Vogel makes a note of the President’s words. In particular, Vogel focuses on one line “You now have the potential
The average human would think that going to school and getting an education are the two key items needed to make it in life. Another common belief is, the higher someone goes with their education, the more successful they ought to be. Some may even question if school really makes anyone smarter or not. In order to analyze it, there needs to be recognition of ethos, which is the writer 's appeal to their own credibility, followed by pathos that appeals to the writer’s mind and emotions, and lastly, logos that is a writer’s appeal to logical reasoning. While using the three appeals, I will be analyzing “Against School” an essay written by John Taylor Gatto that gives a glimpse of what modern day schooling is like, and if it actually help kids
Journalist Jon Krakauer reassembles the fact of life of a young man who leaves his family and society to find true himself. Krakauer intends to reveal Christopher McCandless’s character and nature by interacting people who influenced him. The more people were attached to him, get to know more about him in depth; those who know him from outside often refered him as careless. In the book Into the Wild Krakauer presents McCandless as modest and caring person whereas other may see him as thoughtless.
The school’s disciplinary principal, Mr Vernon, gives the students the assignment of writing an essay about “who you think you ar...
The story Disney’s Doug Chronicles Power Trip is about Doug and his problems at school. Doug’s problem was that Vice Principle Bone chose Doug to be the hall monitor. Doug was surprised because he was hand-picked from all the other students. At first Doug thought that it would be dorky, he put on the orange belt but as he was walking to class all the other students were walking the opposite direction, Doug saw he friend, Skeeter. Doug asked “whats going on?”
An eye-opening and life changing young adult novel that is guaranteed to leave one speechless, this masterpiece isn't a household name but its topic is. Exemplifying the importance of acceptance in today's melting pot, Out of Nowhere’s 330 pages are enough to not only educate the reader on the topic but change their views entirely.
In “7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Go to College and 4 Things To Do Instead”, Michael Price explains why students shouldn’t go to college and what they can do instead. Michael Price writes for the Huffington Post and is an entrepreneur, author, and master marketer. This article was published June 17, 2014. Price introduces the article by talking about his personal experience during his first day of college as a freshman. Price had been studying business outside of college, and found that his professors terminology of business was “flat out incorrect and in some cases totally outdated” (Price). He was angry that he was paying to be taught incorrect information. Price then goes on to introduce the seven reasons why people should avoid going to college. These reasons consist of how college
Dan and Betsy go through their emotions on hearing about Samuel condition of cerebral palsy. The roll coaster of emotion they felt. As a parent I could relate to their emotion of having a child with disabilities. I would love my child regards of condition but the emotion I would feel would be fear. Dan and Betsy both went through fear; asking themselves what about his education, and interaction with others. I would have those same question; as
In The Way To Rainy Mountain, the author N. Scott Momaday makes a clear use of figurative language throughout the story and descriptive language to describe the nature around them, explains their myths about how their tribe came to be a part of nature, as well as the importance in nature that are a part of the Sundance festival and the tai-me.
Stephen, in reading your thread, it can be determine that your salvation is not just a term that should be taken with considerable uncertainty, but through faith, it is an atonement that takes man from his iniquitous position, and gives him an opportunity to spend eternity with God because of the sacrifice that the Son of God made after being commission by his father to redeem a sinful world back unto him. In addition, it is idealistic to know that Jesus’ life, crucifixion, death, and resurrection were not just extraordinary biblical narratives, but were in fact, a divine chronological plan that would impact humanity if the process of repenting to him is implemented. Erickson implies, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision
When you are born people are there to take care of you, love you, and guide you through life. As you grow up and life changes, you must take charge of your own life and not become so dependent on others. Throughout the course of life a person will encounter many changes, whether good or bad. In 'A&P';, 'The Secret Lion';, and 'A Rose for Emily';, the main characters in the stories are Sammy, the boys, and Miss Emily who face changes during their lives. All of these characters are in need of change. Because of their need for change, their lives will become much better. They are filled with wonder and awe about the world around them. No matter what type of person, everyone will encounter changes. It is part of the natural process. A person is encouraged to make these changes for the good. Sammy, the boys, and Miss Emily all encounter changes in their lives that fulfill their need to become something different.
In the story Say Yes by Tobias Wolff, a marriage is broken overnight by a revelation of the insufficiency of their love in the test. Along with the husband’s wrong response to the “Love Test”, the relationship is dramatically demolished by Ann’s sudden realization of the superficial love of her husband. Even though her husband tries to please Ann with the right answer, her feelings of love has already been shattered by distrust and suspicion. The hypothetical “Love Test” in the story reveals the superficiality of his love, drastically shifting the relationship from intimacy to uncertainty.
Alex is back to his old self again, thinking bad thoughts, crasting, and doing a bit of the ultra-violent. However, he quickly grows tired of his old lifestyle. When he comes to this realization, Alex says, “…now I felt this bolshy big hollow inside my plott, feeling very surprised too at myself. I knew what was happening, O my brothers. I was like growing up.” Even though he as regained the freedom of choice, can choose badness if he wants to, Alex exerts his freedom in a new way, he chooses goodness. He is truly cured.
... and until the resolution of the story do the readers finally feel happiness for the characters. The characters must overcome these struggles and, “to accomplish the author’s purpose, they must overcome both external obstacles and the personal flaws suggested in the title of the book”(Reisman 2).