Westing Game RR

Reading Response
Henry Kiem
812



     The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a magnificent classic. It is a highly inventive mystery that requires so much brainpower to comprehend, you can't help but read the book for hours on end. I love The Westing Game and this is the third or fourth time I am reading it. The characters are so amazing and the way that the author introduces them is so intriguing. I think that the major theme of this mystery is to explore information and how certain people interpret it. Throughout the book certain facts confuse people and others assume certain things that are entirely untrue. Throughout the book, people misinterpret information.

     The first reason that I think this book's theme is the ideas of misinterpretation and confusion is because of a certain chapter. In chapter four, "A Corpse Found", Turtle sneaks into the westing house and Doug Hoo times her. After possibly hearing her name, she runs out of the house screaming. Then, the next day, the newspaper pronounces Sam Westing dead. But Doug and Turtle are very confused because they have no idea how the body was found. Ellen Raskin creates so many possible story lines that you  have no idea what is about to happen next which is key to a mystery novel. In the case of chapter four, evidence that Turtle was in the house could be found which could lead to an accusation of murder. This book has so many possible stories going on and that is what makes it so interesting. That is why  I think the theme of this book is how misinterpretation can affect people and how confusion is creating such an interesting story.

     The second reason I think the theme of this book is misinterpretation is in chapter 7, "The Westing Will". In this chapter the Will of Samuel Westing is read to his 16 nieces. The will says that one of the sixteen took Samuel Westing's life. The will then tells them to "play the westing game" after a silent prayer. The Will is broken up into sections. FIRST, SECOND, and so on. This could be a code or a clue to what is really going on here. The fact that the will is telling people to do things as if it is in the present company of them also could be another clue as to who is who. You really don't know with this book!

     Finally, I definitely think the theme of this book is all about misinterpretation. I mean, the amount of confusion and misleading facts in this book is magnificent. I also think that this book is so great because it leaves even you assuming things along with the character. And by the end, when you find out what really happened, you think, how can that be! But after the explanation, it all makes sense.

Social Action Response: Goliath

   Henry Kiem

   812

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield isa an amazing historical fiction book that draws you in and doesn't let go. This book. has social issues written all over it. I think that the most interesting  of these issues is actually the relationship between the two main characters, Alex and Deryn. Throughout the book these two characters are trying to save the world by solving mysteries and fighting enemy japanese and german soldiers. The book takes place in 1912 so social classes are definitely established.

   The first Social class issue I noticed was immediate in the book. Alex is a prince who could become Emperor of Austria Hungary because he has a letter from the emperor. Deryn is a common girl who is actually disguising herself as a boy so she can fight in the british air service. Already quite complex. But when you find out that Alex's assistant and councilor, Vulgar, doesn't want him to be friends with Deryn because she is a commoner they break into an argument. I think this happens all the time in real life. For example, when two cliques form even in middle school, usually friends are established within the group. This book shows issues like this all the time.

   But the story gets even more dramatic. When Alex finds out Deryn is a girl he is heart broken. He thought he had made a true friend but now that true friend had betrayed him. However, Deryn thinks she loves him and so at a extremely dramatic moment (on top of the giant flying whales back) she kisses him. Now you can imagine how many issues this causes. If the British captain finds out she gets kicked off the ship. If Vulgar finds out he will take Alex away from the Leviathon (there ship) and that would make both Alex and Deryn very sad. Again, stuff like this happens all the time in real life cliques.

   I think this book is a really great book because its heart throbbing and extremely addictive. You cant put it down; however, it also has a deeper message. Showing that it doesn't matter what people say outside of your friendship as long as you are comfortable.

Reading Response, Dec 6

   Reading Response

   Call of the Wild

How does this text make you think about justice in the world?

     In "Call of the Wild" by Jack London, a house dog named buck is captured for the mushers that needed sled dogs for the gold rush. I think that this story definitely has a justice moral because the dogs are being taken from their homes, sold, and then placed in very life threatening situations. The dogs have to run through treacherous conditions and the journey is extremely dangerous. I think that this proves that injustice is every where. Even in animals.

     In the book Buck originally lives with a wealthy family in southern california before one of the house workers betrays him and secretly sells him to a dealer. The dealer than sends Buck to a tamer who then sells the dog to Mushers. Mushers are people who use sleds pulled by dogs to get around the arctic tundra where the gold rush is taking place. I think this is a good example of injustice not just against the owner of the dog but the actual dog.  I think a better system was people who wanted to become mushers doing the gold rush would have to get their own dogs and the system was much more organized; then again they dont give it the name "gold RUSH" for nothing. People dropped everything to get out west during these times.

   A little ways through the story when buck gets to the dog camp after being taken by one of the house workers to a train, another occurrence of injustice. Buck, in all his rage from being take from his warm home  to this cold wasteland tries to attack the dog handler. The dog handler clubs him. Again and again Buck is beaten. I think this part was especially interesting because most of the story so far has been told from Buck's perspective. In fact, it seems like the dogs talk to each other. I think the author, Jack London, was trying to show that dogs like people can communicate emotions and feelings. What I dont understand is why this particular part was not told from Buck's perspective. Maybe London was trying to show how the human's felt about hurting these dogs. maybe he was trying to show that these humans show no sympathy when it comes to what is between them and their money. 

   After thinking, I have decided that this text doesn't really make me think about justice (at least not yet) but more about injustice and how it can affect a mentality. Would it really have been posible for there to have been an organized and justified system back then? Does a person really care about anything but money? Yes of course. However, the idea during the gold rush was to be the first one there so there was no time for a justified system or a slow going training camp.

Social Awareness Project

My Mother in Mali

My mom is currently in Mali. I interviewed her over email about what she does for Unicef and what the situation is like in Mali.

Me: Who is in charge in Mali?

Mom: Well, in 2012 a terrorist group in Bamako, the capital city, took over and overthrew President Amadou Toumani Touré. They appointed new officials but the north was taken over by many different military groups.

Me: What kinds of groups?

Mom: Everything from small bands of armed men and boys defending their own land to Jihadi rebels who have linked themselves to Al Queda and other terrorist groups worldwide. The northern area of the country is in anarchy.  Militia firefights break out constantly.

Me: What is the situation with children?

Mom: Children here have it bad. Most families are in poverty because of draught and famine. Diseases kill many children every day in Mali and few have an education. There is a hunger crisis and many children are homeless. It is a huge issue.

Me: What is the deal with child soldier is Mali?

Mom: In northern Mali, families often cell their children to militant groups for money to buy food with. These kids can be anywhere from 10 to 15 and can be bought for as little as $600. Also, some kids fight with their fathers to protect land and villages.

                               This interview reminded me of how good kids in America lives are. In Mali, your own family could sell you to a militant group where you might be killed for money so that they could eat. You most likely wouldn’t have an education or learn to read or write. Your family would probably be in poverty and you would be hungry most days with very little to eat. Life would not be as good as it is now, so remember and be thankful for what you have because children all over the world need help and wish they could have a life ½ as good as yours.

Source - -Elizabeth Kiem, 11/24/12

Misplaced Hate

Here I am

Beneath his boot

His cold dark heart

Colder than the deep bone

On a frosty winters night

But beneath each frost

Lies a spring bloom

Where buds grow fast

And tree flowers boom

I believe

The idea is similar

To the cold dark heart

From that cold dark winter

For every snowflake

There is a light bud

For every white night

There is a bright red cardinal

In wonderful flight

For every bully

There is a friend

One who cares and loves

The way that anyone can

Beneath each person’s hard outer shell

Lies a tender soul

That rings like a church bell

One that wants to be a friend

Reading Response on:

When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw & Other Stories

                               “When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw & Other Stories” is one of my all time favorite books. Supposedly, Fiddler on The Roof is actually based on these stories. I thought it was a great book to write my social awareness reading response on because a lot of the stories have to do with class barriers and bullying.

                               Throughout the entire book others pick on Shlemiel. In yidish, Shlemiel means “idiot” to some extent.  I think that the way he is picked on can be seen in modern day society too. For example, when Shlemiel is going to Warsaw he stops outside of a blacksmith shop to sleep for the night and points his boots towards Warsaw so that when he wakes up he knows where to go. The blacksmith decides to pull a prank on Shlemiel by switching the direction of his shoes when he was asleep. Shlemiel ends up walking back to his hometown rather than towards Warsaw. This sort of bullying happens all the time in modern times. Often people will give mis-information and it can result in a much bigger problem.

                               The reason I think that this book portrays bullying really well is because of what happens when he gets back to his hometown. He believes that it is a second Chelm, the town he is from, which is between Warsaw and the first Chelm. When he arrives everyone thinks he has gone mad because he keeps saying that all the people in the town look like the people from his Chelm but are actually copies of people in his Chelm. That one little prank pulled by the Blacksmith caused a huge problem. In fact, he was sent to the poorhouse because everyone in the town thought he had gone mad.

                               This book is so much fun to read.  I have read at least four times and I think it teaches a great message. No matter how small or funny a prank may seem or no matter how small that trick seemed it can cause huge problems for people and this book portrays that perfectly. 

Wicked Reading Response - 11/14

   "Wicked" by Winnie Holzman is an adaption of the original story "The Wizard of Oz" but "Wicked" tells the life story of the wicked witch of the west all the way from her astonishing birth to her school life in the city of Oz (that is as far as I have gotten). So far the adaption and the original story contrast sharply. I think that the author did this strategically because the original is such a classic.

    The first reason I think the author contrasted "Wicked" with the original because in the original there was such a huge world created and so much of it was un explained. Hozman really knew that readers would buy her book to learn the back story of the magical kingdom. The first example of how Wicked elaborated on The Wizard of Oz is the regions that Hozman divided the Kingdom into and all the different races and species and stereotypes that came along with these new areas. For example, the people of the far south are considered very stupid because they dont speak the language of the northerners. The people of the west are extremely well educated and full of them selves. This is displayed throughout many of the main characters.

    The second reason I think the author contrasted the two storys to much is because she wanted to take the idea that the two sister witches, good witch, and wicked witch, could be sisters in common but also extremely different and the author may have felt that the wicked witch was mis represented in the original. For example, throughout the portion of the story I have read the wicked witch of the west doesnt seem to wicked. She seems canny and smart and quick witted. In many ways, the "Wicked" witch of the west is much nicer and kinder than the character I assume will become the good witch.

    After reading both the adaption and the original it is  clear to me that the author had many motives for the choices she made in her writing. She chose to make the witch a nicer character to show that wicked is often mis represented. She chose to explain the original story much deeper because she, probably like many other readers, felt like the whole wonderful kingdom of Oz was not explained thoroughly enough.

Non Fiction Article Response

     These past two weeks have been dreadful for people from all over the tri state area. After a large and dangerous hurricane swept through the area people all over New York and New Jersey were stranded without power, gas, or heat. Out on long island, Gasoline was being rationed as it was not being brought into the stations along the island. After reading "NYC starts to ration Gas after $33 Billion dollars in Damage" on the CBS news website, it is clear why New Yorks Governor Cuomo has decided to begin rationing gas.


     Not one but two storms hit the tri state area these past weeks. First Hurricane Sandy leaves a trail of wreckage and then a snowy nor'easter swept in. Between the two of theses superstorms, the gas infrastructure used to deliver gas to stations was knocked out. This is the first reason Governor Cuomo has started rationing gas. Until cleanup has reached the point where more gasoline can be brought into stations, it has to be trucked in by tankers. This has caused a gas shortage and the lines for gas are extremely long. In order to speed things up (both the lines and the recovery) mayor Bloomberg of NYC and other state officials have decided to ration gas in which drivers will alternate days they can fill up based on their license plate numbers. Bloomberg believes that the gas problems could last another couple weeks. Doesn't look so bright for the New York area.

    The second reason is because of the trail of wreckage that both storms have caused. According to the article, a damage forecasting ferm estimated that Sandy and the Nor'easter caused $30 to $50 Billion dollars in damage from The Carolinas to Main. $50 Billion in damage would make the storm the second most expensive in American history second only to hurricane Katrina. I think that this could have caused a lot of gas companies to be hesitant to pay the expenses for their downed infrastructures. Both the Red Cross and FEMA have been on top of things when it comes to personal needs and supplies such as food, blankets, and medical needs but have done next to nothing about the gas problems. I'm assuming that they have more important things on their minds at the moment then to fix a gas shortage.

    After reading this article and experiencing this storm first hand I now see why Bloomberg and Cuomo made the decisions they made. I walk home past the line of cars waiting for gas at the hess station on 4th avenue and Union st and wonder why and now I really understand the true horror of these superstorms.

Revised Drummer Boy of Shiloh

Drummer Boy of Shiloh

Reading Response-Henry Kiem, 812

In “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury, the main character, a 14-year-old run away boy soldier named Joby is trying to find his purpose in the great civil war. The northern troops are settled at a small church called Shiloh. They are awaiting the confederate army. I really think that this tension and waiting has a huge affect on Joby’s emotions. This is displayed through his conversation with the General who helps motivate Joby and explain his duty in the army.

     One way the General helps motivate Joby is by helping him find what his duty is to the army. One point in which he does this is on pg. 53 when he tells Joby: "‘you are the heart of the army. Think about that. You are the heart of the army.’" This shows Joby what his real job is in the army and gives him a deeper purpose. This especially helps influence Joby because of the General's role in the army. He is such an important figure and to be speaking directly to the drummer boy could really impose such ideas. This helped Joby see how important he is, which makes him much more confident for the following days.

     One reason why I think Joby listens to the general is because he looks up to him. I think this is because he describes him as a father figure. Generally, father figures can be very influential on young boys ideas. One quote from the text that supports this is on page 51. "The man's knees cracked as he bent still closer. He smelled as all fathers should smell, of salt-sweat, tobacco, horse and boot leather, and the earth he walked upon."  This shows that Joby thinks of the General as a father figure. Another example from the text is on pg. 52. "'You want to cry some more, go ahead. I did the same last night.’” This shows the General as a father figure because he is trying to support Joby.

     Overall, I thought that there were many reasons why Joby and the General have such an elaborate relationship. Even though, throughout the story the General is cheering up Joby and making him feel more important and giving him a purpose, I think that the boy, Joby really taught a lot to the general. Like the General said, Joby is the heart of the army and it would be valuable for any General to understand his army better. Joby taught him in a brief conversation what the entire Army feels. I definitely thought this story had a lot of interesting points that could be elaborated on and I would recommend it to any reader.