All But My Life Book Report

I chose the book Black Hearts by Jim Frederick because it was recommended to me by First Lieutenant Smaldone. He had to read it as course material during his training at TBS (The Basic School). Officers go to TBS following Officer Candidate School where newly commissioned officers learn to lead and inspire fellow Marines. Black Hearts is a non-fiction story about the 502nd Infantry Regiment’s deployment to a region south of Baghdad, Iraq and it’s breakdown of leadership, morale, and discipline. The Unit was known as “The Black Heart Brigade.” and were deployed in late 2005 to the Triangle of Death. A name given to a region of Baghdad which saw constant combat activity and violence from 2003-2007 by U.S. and allied forces. March 12, 2006 is the day where a few young men from Bravo company First Platoon will perform the most heinous act the Iraq War will see.

One of the main themes of this story is that sacrifice. The narrator of this story is not given a name but he is fourteen year old. The narrator has a major crush on a women- seventeen year old, Sheila Mant. The narrator finally, and I say finally, asks Sheila on a date via the narrator’s boat. Then the narrator is in a pickle, he catches the biggest bass he ever caught. He has to choose over Sheila on the bass. What does he choose? Sheila of course but towards the end of the story he regrets that decision. Just throughout the story W.D. Wetherel uses many specific imagery. Imagery is a way of writing that the author gives you visual descriptive writing or figurative language. One quote that stood out to me was “There would be other Sheila Mant’s in life, other fish, and though I came close once or twice, it was these secrets, hidden tuggings in the night that claimed me, and I never made that mistake again.”(41) This quote has a lot of meaning in this story

In “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” the protagonist is Fossie’s GIrlfriend, Mary Anne, who comes to the medical base in Vietnam to stay with Fossie. She comes very new and shiny and girly but then becomes dark and manly and obsessed with the war.

Connell uses imagery to show the reader how intense and fearful Rainsford feels in the story.

The Healer by Aimee Bender tells the story of two girls: ice girl and fire girl. These two characters although cancel each other out, but on their own, their lives are bound together in a way that one need the other while the second seem like she does not care either way. To bring these characters alive, we have a first-person narrator who I think is the secondary character that helps the story advance and moves the characters around to tell us what is going on in the lives of our characters. This story has crafts elements that make it works. The narrator which play an important part, coupled with the imagery makes the form of the story interesting.

The book I chose for the book review was “If we survive” by Andrew Klavan. This story is placed in Costa Verdes and some parts take place in Brazil eventually. The main character is Will Peterson. Will goes to Costa Verdes on a mission’s trip with the characters, Pastor Ron, Jim, Nicki, and Meredith. The missions trip was to rebuild the school 's wall that was destroyed by the “volcanos”. The day that the missions team plans to leave a revolution breaks out between the current government and these rebels which the townspeople refers to as “volcanos”. The lead rebel in Costa Verdes is Mendoza. The rebels overthrow the current government and hold the American hostage. Palmer is a former Marine that is the Americans way home. Pastor Ron is killed

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a story about two workers named George Milton and Lennie Small who are working in a ranch outside of Soledad, California. George takes care Lennie ,who is mentally disabled, throughout their adventure. Throughout the book, there is profound language, racism, and sexism found. These factors make people question if it is appropriate for high school students to read and analyze this book. Even though it includes these factors, Of Mice and Men should not be banned.

In The Time of the Butterflies I am exposed to many different viewpoints. An important one being Minerva Mirabal. This novel takes me through the crazy lives of the Mirabal’s. This family is in a personal war against El Jefe Trujillo. As the novel progresses Trujillo becomes intrigued by Minerva. Attracted to her mind of her own, she is Trujillo’s new mission.

Imagery can be so beautiful and vivid, it really engulfs you into the reading. It holds significance because we as humans like for things to be drawn out for us or painted out. Creating a narrative that's easy to understand, of course no one wants a story that's filled with misconception. Imagery provides a deeper connection with the deeper and takes the reader back to a time or a place just like repetition.

The story and the characters really stood out to me. They really expressed themselves and the setting in the story was very cool to learn about. I enjoyed the pictures in the book because they guide the reader into the setting and the time period in the book. I recommend this book to people who are interested in learning about World War II and people who are interested in biographies and survival stories. One of my favorite quotes from the book was “A lifetime of glory is worth a moment of pain.” I truly think of this book as a story about war, survival, and

Banned Books Week is an annual event starting on September 23 and ending on September 29 celebrating the freedom to read books freely no matter what topics are present throughout the book. The purpose of Banned Books Week is to bring the community together and express and seek ideas in books even if they are considered unorthodox. Throughout this celebratory week publishers, librarians, booksellers, journalists, teachers and more all celebrate the freedom to read and access information that they desire to explore. The outstanding novels by the names of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie are both banned books in many middle school and high

In E.B. White's essay “Once more to the lake,” the speaker contrasts his childhood vacation to the camp, with the new and improved technology advanced cabins at the same campground. White employs a series of of rhetorical devices to portray his experience at the cabin over the week. The use of action heavy verbs, and figurative language in paragraphs eleven through thirteen allows the reader to recall memories from his childhood. Without these rhetorical devices, White would not have been able to accurately display the speakers memories and attitude towards the camp.

Imagery is used throughout the story but is exceptionally important when the setting is being set up, and when Tessie is getting stoned. Jackson describes the setting in such detail so the reader can visualize this perfect town in the summer weather, “ the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (Jackson 247). . The other scene filled with imagery is when Tessie is getting stoned. This is sad for the reader because the reader can sense the amount of pain she is in, and can feel her vulnerability throughout this part. She screams, “It isn’t fair, It isn’t right” (Jackson 252) which makes the reader want to reach into the story and help her. The use of imagery captivates the reader’s

The story “The Red Umbrella” written by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and the photograph by José Hernández-Claire both have the same subject. That subject is Separation. This subject is a big topic in both the story and the photograph because it literally revolves around separation. Even though they have something in common; and in “The Red Umbrella”, the kids are being separated from their parents and being brought to the U.S so that they can live a better life and so that they are safe. there is also something different about the story such as the techniques that make it easier to show the subject.

Fahrenheit 451 changes the way society is viewed. Growing up, we were told that we can change the world. Here it is in black and white, the importance over how one person can effect the twisted society. It is crazy to believe that less than 50 years ago, this book can predict the twenty first century generation. We are showed the way society has changed with social media. The way we stop caring over the important aspect in our lives. We are showed what society can turn into if we aren’t careful.