A Matter of Life or Death

Author’s Note: I hope when you read my essay you feel the intensiveness weaved throughout the plot. In this essay I wrote about the truth and what it means to me. I took my time and researched these topics in depth. This novel itself, is a book of imagination and that’s what I am trying to output in my essay.

 

As the school bell rings everyone was jumping out of their seats with joy. Papers were flying everywhere and the noise filled up my ears. When I walked out of the building thinking,”This is it. A summer full of opportunities and new beginnings,” my earring fell out. As I try to find it and put it back in my ear, a boy I didn’t recognize pushed me onto the grass. That’s when I realized that a car was about the back up right over me.  I thought I would be die that second, but the mysterious guy helped me. There was something about that one moment of connection that both of us touched was special. There was something different about him, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. By the time I could thank him, he was gone; I could still see that little black leather jacket and his motorcycle off in the distance. It was a touch in my life that would never be forgotten. But it was one that I would soon know that could change my life, in ways that could not be imagined by anybody.  I would soon confront danger face to face, be able to look at people differently, and learn that not everyone can be trusted. The plot of my life intensifies in every page of this book. As you read the words of my story, it will cause the heart to pound, the palms to sweat, and the stomach to flutter. In Laurie Stolarz’s Deadly Little Secret, she does an amazing job of emphasizing me as a person, trust, and we learn the meaning of symbols by using the clues around us and given in the book. 

Camelia’s life changes when Ben Carter joins her high school this year. From person to person it is rumored that Ben is somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death. Right as Ben comes in within a week he has been excluded from everyone at the school except for Camelia. She wants to get to know him, Camelia’s is reluctant to believe that he is trouble. But inexplicably Camelia’s is drawn to him by every step he makes. Each time he touches her that tingly shock, makes her think even more. She knows that there is something different about him and his touch. Ben knows something about Camelia as well. A secret, I might as well say. What is it, and what does it have to do with her, no one knows except for Ben. Weird things might be going in Ben’s life as well as Camelia's, but no one would’ve guessed  it could get even worse. Day by day Camelia’s life drastically changes. These two people who were playing two whole different parts, forget the past and move forward into the future, together. Without Ben, Camelia’s life would be over, but without Camelia, Ben would still be that deceiving dangerous guy. Ben is not who he says he is, he a touch that destines your life; danger lurks every time you get touched. The touch is a way for Ben to know what will happen or what has happened. With one touch he’ll know your whole life story and what is going to happen. Camelia’s life has changed a lot ever since she started hanging out with Ben: people following her, mixed messages going around school, and some people have even lost their lives. The story of Ben and Camelia is one that is out of the ordinary and unbelievable. 

The lives of characters is very lively throughout the book, but there’s other clues in this book that make it even more interesting. Every author puts in certain symbols for a reason.  It would have something to do with the story, the main character, or something. The research and reason behind each symbol is unbelievable. Symbolism is a way to make every reader truly think. Why this or why that? From the colors, animals, or maybe even the location could be a symbol and it could have a reason to it. When authors use symbolism it helps us understand the story and it can help us put the pieces of the puzzle together a little easier. For example, Camelia has been getting these messages from someone. A person who is following her, but those notes have all been given to her towards midnight and written in bright red ink. Why the night or why red? Red can symbolize many things: blood, love, danger, and even strong emotions. If these messages are life threatening and happen to be written in red, just makes it worse. Night is used throughout the book to symbolize death, darkness of the soul, and loss of faith. The smallest factor can make a huge difference. So when having these little elements, it just makes the book more amusing and entertaining. The meaning of each and every little detail is amazing. From looking in between the lines you can find these clues. All you have to do is think a little hard and look a little deeper. 

Symbolism is a component in the novel that we learned to look for in writing, but we learn something more than that. The power of trust, the amount of impact it makes and how it affects us every minute of our lives. Ben might look like a guy that’s dangerous and cannot be trusted, but maybe that’s not who he is. When trusting someone, you believe everything they say, but that’s only true when the other person tells the truth. “I've learned to trust myself, to listen to truth, to not be afraid of it and to not try and hide it,” said Sarah McLachlan. This quote is a perfect example to what the author is trying to portray in this book. We might not be able to trust the people around us, but we do know one thing to trust ourselves. We know what’s right and what’s wrong, to never doubt yourself is a lesson you learn throughout the whole book. Trust is major component, without being able to trust your heart, you’re going to lose faith in yourself. So never be afraid of telling the truth, it leads us to great decisions, trust can change your life like that.  You can’t always trust the ones you love, you know what to do. So never lose faith, step forward with the truth and no one will get hurt. Like the great William Shakespeare once said, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”

The characters, trust, and symbolism are all part of Laurie Stolarz’s sensational plot in Deadly Little Secret. This novel is like a thriller movie in your head, it gives a great twist on a regular scary story. Laurie Stolarz travels through suspense, fantasy, and romance in this book. It’s an engaging, but eerie story about the darker side of a relationship. When it becomes matter of life and death to know who to trust and who your friends are. Throughout the book you learn about Camelia and Ben, trust, and to look beyond the words. Secrets and rumors go around, but you have the power to decide which one is true and which is not. Get ready to read a novel that will blow your mind away, make you speechless, and have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

A Legend Comes to Life

Author's Note: In books we learn so many things, but in this novel you learn more than just life lessons. King Arthur was a legendary leader, but what if he's here right now. I wrote this essay from the bottom of my heart, true love comes to mind, while life might not always be fair. Get ready to read about one of the greatest legends of all time, King Arthur and his court.

From one generation to another people share stories of their life and legends they believe in. King Arthur is a famous legendary character in Europe, mainly in England. It is said that the king lays under the hill with his brave knights of the round table. According to poets, authors, and people who believe in this myth, King Arthur will reincarnate into this world, ready to ride forth and save his country again.  The chosen one is somewhere out in this world, and that person just happened to be A. William Wagner. The quarterback of the football team and class president, he’s practically the most popular guy in school. Besides the fact that he might be popular, inside he has a heart. Will is the type of guy who is down to earth and he isn’t like anyone you will meet. From the people he meets and the connections you can make to his life, the author does an amazing job of describing these facts. Meg Cabot writes a novel that takes you into a whole other dimension. Avalon High, is a book that takes your breath away by stating the reasons of life, the definition of friendship, and how one person can change the way you choose to step forward.

   

Will Wagner, he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t stick to the status quo. To everyone out there he’s the quarterback of the Avalon High Excaliburs. Will is not just a football guy, deep down he has a loving personality that is hidden under a tough-guy shield that blocks his true self, but most people don’t know about that part of Will. The kids at school have never known him as anything other than a champion jock. They never thought of him as anything else. What most people didn’t know was that he was into politics, but when they did hear it, they would try to talk him out of it. It was all football, football, and more football. You can’t blame Will for liking other things. Think about it, when you walk into school and there’s a new kid, you automatically start saying stuff about them. Maybe if you see a kid that is really smart, then they’re a nerd. Stereotypes go all around the place, you can never judge them by how they look or act. You need to get to know the person before you start saying things about them. This is something that everyone needs to know, people aren’t just who they say they are.  

Not only does Avalon High teach you about people, but it tells us why we are who we are. Everyone came into this world for a reason and Will’s just happened to be to save this world from the dark ages. The dark ages was an era of ignorance, superstitions, and social chaos. It was a hard time in history, and it might come back unless Will is there to help. King Arthur was a brave guy, with his knights surrounding him;  he didn’t have anything to be scared of. The same goes for Will, with his friends by his side, there was nothing that could stop him. Why am I here or why are you here? There’s a reason, but the time to know hasn’t come just yet. Years and years of work apply to the difference you make in this world or maybe in your community. The reasons of life are still unknown, but sooner or later it’ll make sense. An anonymous person once said, “Winners work and workers win". To me this motto is something applies that everyone, it’s part of the main reasons to why we stand right here. When you work hard, you get a reward and by having those fifteen minutes of fame and happiness in your eyes is amazing. The feeling of being on top of this world is something everyone has in their life. Just by winning a small game of basketball in your driveway or even the Super Bowl.

We learn many lessons from the book, but the movie can teach us a little more, friendship. Avalon High, is a Disney Channel original movie that is based on the book. During the movie, Ellie says to Will, “All great athletes have pressure on them all the time. You can’t be afraid of it, you have to embrace it. The way you do that, is to remember what victory felt like. That feeling when you lead your team to glory; if you can live in that moment and want it again with all your heart, nothing can stop you.” Those few words changed Will and his life. From one football game to another, they scored each and every time. “Ellie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful thing.” (173) Friendship is something that you can never give up; there are great times, but there are those that might need a little more work. The meaning of friendship is unraveled in this novel. People who look after each other and believe in one another, that is what friendship is all about. Will and Ellie have a relationship between each other like no one else could. It’s something that is truly special. Friendship is a gift, never let go, and always remember to have it close to your heart.

Friendship is a great thing, but betrayal is something that nobody can handle. There are so many twists and turns in the book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Imagine loving someone with all of your heart for almost three years, but soon enough you see your best friend and girlfriend together. That is what happened to King Arthur and Will. King Arthur’s knight Sir Lancelot and his queen Guinevere were together, and he didn’t even know about it until Mordrid told him. Same thing with Will, Jennifer and Lance have been dating without telling him, but he figures out when Marco tells him. Will had a brave heart so he accepted the fact that both of them loved each other and he didn’t let it get to him. That is what we have to learn. No matter what happens revenge is not the answer. Don’t let something tear people apart. The United States is #1 for the divorce rate right now out of the whole world.  This is because of people not getting to know each other and having the smallest thing break them up. Having a heart like King Arthur is amazing, so never let something tear you and your loved ones apart.

There are so many parts of making this book what it is such as betrayal, friendship, destiny, and love. A roller coaster is a great way to describe it. The unexpected paths chosen make a lot of ends cliff hangers. Meg Cabot weaves through the novel with fantasy, romance, and history. There are so many intricate details in the book that will make readers not want to put the book down. As you read this novel you will realize a few reasons of life, the definition of friendship, and how one person can change you. Meg Cabot’s Avalon High is where a classic legend comes to life, inspiration comes to mind, and every word touches your heart.

To Learn and To Live

Author's Note: By reading a book we learn many things about ourselves that we might've never known. We are able to connect to the main character, and to parts of the book, but in this specific novel things aren't always realistic. It's hard to go through life, when you have a murderer on the loose. So get ready to learn and to live the life of a girl with a unique way to step forward.

The news just got out, a man is on a murderous rampage and heading east, close to your home town. Soon enough you hear that the man is your birth father, someone who you’ve barely remember and heard not much about. All you know is that he has killed his second wife and your 3 half-sisters, people that you have never seen before. People that you never knew existed. He’s coming after you and your mother. There are only three words that keep ringing inside your head: you are next! This is exactly how Willa’s life is in the novel Blood Wounds, by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It’s the book that gets more intense, as you keep on turning the pages. A novel that cannot be put down. Blood Wounds teaches about the love and compassion of family, important life lessons, and even the most ridiculous things comes out to be the most unforgettable moments.
            
Willa is the kind of character that nobody can relate to but she’s also the type of character that will get stuck in your heart. The pain she goes through is something that I can’t bear to imagine. Running away from her own father, the debt her family has to pay; it’s so much weight on her shoulders. To get through all of this Willa cuts herself, that’s the worst thing to do! Her family doesn’t even know about this, but because of all of the wounds she has, all of her memories are treasured within her. This is one of the many things Pfeffer talks about in this novel. Even with all of the pain and agony that goes on, she finds a solution. A solution that would not let her to get past it, but to remember it. The way she handles is not the way to go about,  but it gets her through life. Willa isn’t the type of person who you are going to see everyday, but she is a great example for those who don’t have the life they imagined. She’s a great role model, and to me Willa is a real person. She has problems like any other teenage girl, but the conflicts she is going through is not like something that you or me might be facing.

Even if Willa has a tough time getting through her problems, she’s learning so many things in this period of time. Having a murderous father means that you have got to hide so he doesn’t catch you. Everybody would have that fear in their eyes and the expression on their face, and yet this is typical. Willa, on the other hand, is someone who thinks around the problem. From what I read in this book, I believe Willa is inspired by one quote. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” President Roosevelt said this during the Great Depression. A time in history when everybody was scared, and didn’t know what would happen next.The same type of event is going on in Willa’s story.  Even though that everybody was afraid of what was happening, Willa was not as scared. She thought to herself, “Why should we be afraid when there are people that promise to keep us safe.” Soon after Willa learns that there is nothing to be frightened about, she regains her confidence. Willa ends up facing her fears, following her heart, and taking a step in the path she believes is the right one. This is one fact that truly took my breath away after reading Blood Wounds.

This novel does teach you many things, for example the love and compassion of family. Willa was always the one who thought of her family differently. The only real person in her family was her mom, Terri. Her step-dad, Jack and two step-sisters, Brooke and Alyssa aren’t necessarily her family. Towards the end of book Willa accepts the fact they are all people who care about her, and that makes them family. Along the way Willa figures out she has a half-brother, Trace and her birth father’s name is Budge. Both Willa and Trace soon figure at out that they have so many things in common. She does remember a few things from her past, the great memories of her, Trace, Terri, and Budge. She learns that no matter who they are, people who love and care for you are the ones that should be with you every step of the way. Even though Willa had problems with her step sisters, she loves them.

Love, amour, láska, and die Liebe are all the same, but in different languages. These words mean the same thing, but to know the real definition it takes people a long time to figure out. The same thing goes for Willa, she had people around her who loved her so much, but it took her time to realize that. From step sisters, they became sisters and from a step dad he became a father.  Everybody is always there for you, and family is something that you can never give up. When people let go so should you. This is a lesson that really touched me. Whenever I think about Blood Wounds, the first thing that comes to mind is Willa and her family. It taught me so many things, that will help me go on. No matter what happens, I have people who will be there for me and so does Willa.

So many questions about Willa’s family are revealed in this book. Readers will be brought into the book and live Willa’s life with her. You will learn about the love and compassion of family and that some things might be absurd and you might never imagine doing that, but they will always be the most remarkable moments of your life. By reading this book you can think of life in a new point of view. Follow your heart, dream of the impossible, and nothing can stop you on your way to glory. This is what Blood Wounds is all about. Willa may not be real, but in my heart she is. This book might be depressing and filled with sorrow, but it’s a book that can change you as a person. Susan Pfeffer’s Blood Wounds is mesmerizing and makes you speechless. 

 

Packers Vs. Giants

"Jessica here in Green Bay for ESPN. Now, we all know what happened last night with the Packers. The Giants are on their way to San Francisco, to see who will be the NFC champs. Something really went wrong last night with Green Bay. Let's take a closer look at that by going in to the locker room. We are now inside the Packers locker room, it's always been a dream of mine to be here. Anyways here comes Mike McCarthy."
        
"So Mike, as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, what do you think happened last night?"
        
"Well, umm...There's really nothing to say. We didn't play well. The guys can do better than that, I know it. We kept on dropping the ball and fumbling it. That was the main thing. The passes were easy and short; I don't know what went wrong out there. But, it wasn't a good game at all!"
        
"Thanks a lot Mike."
        
"Yup, anytime."

We will be back in Green Bay right after this short commercial break.

"And we're back. The game resulted in a score 37-20 with the Packers in defeat by the New York Giants. Aaron Rodgers' Pack has come to stop this season. Talking about Rodgers here he comes. Aaron, what do you think about last night's game?"
        
"Truth is, you can't blame any one person for this loss, everyone had something to do with it. All I know is that the guys worked hard, and that's what matters. The Pack will be back for another great season next year!"
       
"Thanks a lot Aaron."
        
"Yeah, no problem."
       
 "The Pack will be back says Aaron. Everybody in the locker room doesn't look that happy. It was a harsh game last night for them. They could've done better, but there's always next year. That's it for now here in Wisconsin. Back to you Ryan"
         
"There you have it folks. The game was not the best, but the Giants are on their way. The Super Bowl champions are defeated and things don't look that good in Wisconsin right now. Many people say that their defense could've done better and I think so too. They needed to put pressure on Eli Manning, that was the key to stop the Giants Offense. There was no pressure what so over against him. What about you Matt?"
        
"I totally agree Ryan. There's a lot of stuff going around about this game. So many people are pissed off about this. They lost and that's it, they moved on so should everybody else. The 49ers and Giants play for the NFC and for the AFC it is the Patriots and the Ravens. We are all excited and we know you are too. So stay tuned into Sports Center, because we have got a lot of stuff on football. We'll be right back."

No Eraser, Many Mistakes

Author's Note: Even when you're drawing, the eraser doesn't erase all of the lines. Your life becomes a canvas in this piece. Where you don't have an eraser, only a pencil, but when the lead breaks, it's done for.

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” –John Gardner

Everybody makes mistakes when drawing, so we always have an eraser to erase it. So it’s not there anymore, but what about in life? You can think of life as a drawing but we don’t have eraser to clear out the past. A sketch can have so many errors you can erase them, but in life you can’t. The past is the past and you can’t do anything about it. It’s done for, all we can do is forget about it and keep moving forward.

In the world we are in now, the smallest thing can make us upset. Why waste your time on that when you have so many other things to do. Drawing something might need an eraser, but life doesn’t. No eraser means an amazing life and you are just like the people around you. Everyone has their own creative personality in drawing. To one person the sketch could be horrible, but to another it could mean the world to them. So your final drawing, is you as a human being, it makes you, you!

It Ended With a Rose

Author's Note: I was browsing through the web and found this picture. It reminded me of so many things. So here is a short story I wrote based on it. It's about the one's you love, and the last moments of you. I hope you like it!

I knew it would be the last time I could see him. It was the last minutes of me. There were so many things going on in my head, but all I knew was if he was with me, holding my hand, I knew that everything was going to be all right. His dreamy blue eyes fill up the night sky and his laugh is so adorable. There is no possible way that I could let go. I will have to, but who knows when the time will come.

           
I couldn’t stop thinking about Logan. I remember that day. It was a gloomy night, with the clouds moving quickly past the moon light. I was standing at the old mansion. It was the two of us, me and Logan. Lightning struck, thunder clapped, and the wind whistled into the house. The both of us were together, but I don’t know what exactly happened after that. 

There is one thing though, a fire. The house started on flames and Logan gave me a rose. A red to be specific, the both of us knew that it was the end. I couldn’t breathe anymore, as I fell to the floor the rose fell out of my hand. The last thing I saw was the rose. It started to burn and catch on fire. I knew that everything would turn out all right. Logan was holding my hand, my dream finally came true. I didn’t care what would happen; all I knew was that, I was going to be okay.

I looked at Logan one last time and said, “Logan, I love you.” I saw that smile on his face, and he replied back saying, “Love you too.”

My eyes shut and my heart stopped beating, my life was perfect from the beginning to the end. One thing that I want to say is that, love is something that is out of this world. It helps you in the times of need. Love, it’s a word that can make your heart pound faster than the speed of light.

The Journey of a Present

Author's Note: What if you weren't you but a present? What would it be like? The life of a Christmas present, from the beginning to the end. Here is what Kinect thinks about his journey so far.

One by one everybody left me and there I was at Costco, nobody to hold I was alone. I was trapped in a box with so much packing I couldn’t take a breath. It was rough. From the first day into the world I had only 5 minutes to open my eyes and look beyond the factory. Then I was off in a box to somewhere out in the country.

I heard somebody say, “Here we are, at Costco in its Pewaukee location.” I was excited to go there. As I got off the truck and into the store I heard so many people talking. People saying, “All right we got four days ‘til the grand opening. Hurry up!

While others are scurrying up and down the store, the days went by and I sat there. More and more of my own kind came in by me. I was buried and nobody could see me. That’s when I felt some girl pick me and say,” Hey Mom, look what I found, a Kinect! Can we please get it? It can be my Christmas present! Come on, please?!”

Right then I knew that I was going to be taken home and I would finally had a family. It took a few days until I was opened. It’s alright I thought at least I have somebody. As I got of the car and into the house, I finally got to see the world another time. Now I have so many friends at my new home. I am proud to be a Kinect, I couldn’t of wished for anything better than this!

How Will It End?

Author's Note: In my writing circle we picked out a sentence and had to improvise from there so here is what I wrote.

  

I come home and check the messages on my phone, as I listen to the third message I freeze....

I run out the door and into the car. Driving as fast as I could, I couldn’t care less if i got caught by a cop. As I park the car in front of the hospital I dash up stairs to the room. By the time I got there it was too late. He was gone. The person I loved the most, he was all that I ever wanted in the world. To see that he was no longer with me anymore., was painful.The tragedy in front of me, was to much to hold.  I was alone and  there was nobody to help me.  There was nothing I could do to change what happened. Everything happens for a reason I thought to myself. If this is supposed to happen then it shall. There was no way I could do anything about it.

So Many Questioins, Not Enough Answers

Author's Note: So many questions have no answers, but mostly they're the ones about space. A place that never ends...Here is a little something I wrote about this very same thing.


A world without space is a like a life without a soul. The stars up in the air, wishing on everyone that shoots across the sky, space is unlimited... There is no beginning or end to it. Space is so amusing there are things that aren’t even discovered yet! When we think about space so many things come to mind. Are there other universes? Is there life on Mars? Are we the only humans in the galaxy? Lots of questions are unanswered about space, maybe you will be the one to find them.

God's Gift

Author's Note: The true meaning of life is unwrapped in this piece. From the beginning to the end of this book, everything makes up each and every part in your life.   

L-I-F-E...what is the real definition of this word? Our life is the ultimate gift that we can get. Living in this world is a chance of a lifetime. Choosing our destiny, that right path that leads you to glory, that’s what life is all about.The word life is one of the most difficult words to define. It means something different to each and every person.A way to explain life is by comparing it to a book. 
Each year is a chapter, each day is a page, and each minute is a sentence. You should always keep on turning the pages in your book, forget the past and don’t look back. This book might have a lot of chapters but there is no way you can just jump to one without reading the chapters before. Some books are short and some are long, that’s how life is.
Finding that way glory and turning on the right path are one of life’s most difficult times. Your destination that you end up at will be different depending on what path you take. Your faith and destiny are already chosen for you but you have the power in your hands to change them. No one said that your destiny can’t be changed,by choosing that right path can lead yourself to glory. That one minute in your life when nothing can make you fall down. That moment when you, and only you is it... 
Life has its ups and downs, but at the end everything turns out okay. There are those moments that are unforgettable and then there are those that you want to forget. Sadness, happiness, and fear are all things that are part of life. One day it’ll all end, but those last minutes contain all three of the emotions. The last few seconds of your life bring past memories to mind and you’ll leave this word with a smile on your face.