Atticus's Perspective
Danielle
Team.
The trial started and it has proceeded very well. Maryella has been very stealthyabout her supposed rape. When I had cross examined Tate, he admitted that a doctor was never called to the scene. Without a rape kit done, there's no proper evidence. I hope we are not dealing with a prejudice jury. Bob Ewell took the stand and was being very vulgar and unpleasant. He didn't seem at all emotional when he was talking about his daughter's rape. In this predicament, it seems that Bob Ewell could've beaten his daughter. Subsequently Bob came after his daughter when he saw her with a black man.
Mayella took the stand and thought I was making fun of her because of the nature of my questions. Some of her answers were irrelevant to my questions, and that's when I suspected her of lying. I tried to be as courteous to her as I could. I stared questioning Tom, and got him to explain that his left arm barely works, so it would be almost impossible for him to strangle and rape Maryella. Tom made a terrible mistake when Mr. Gilmer was questioning him. He said he felt bad for Maryella. He's a black man and she's a white woman, so the point was why would he be sorry for her?
Part 2: Scout's Perspective
When Atticus was questioning the witnesses their answers seemed obscure. He was doing so well. Now I was seeing that it was highly improbable that Tom Robinson raped Maryella. When Mr. Gilmer was questioning Tom, Dill got all emotional. He was trying to sustain his tears, but he stormed out of the courtroom with apprehension to get his wits about him.
Atticus's conclusion speech was empowering. He made great points like the fact that a rape kit wasn't done, and Mr. Robinson's arm was messed up. I was so proud of him. Maryella is such a hypocrite. She's the one who invited him into her home in the first place. I was afraid that the verdict was going to be inevitable because of the fact that Mr. Robinson was a black man.
Calpurnia and Atticus thought we were missing, until they saw us on the balcony of the courtroom. Calpurnia yelled at us the whole way home. I was afraid we wouldn't get to see the verdict, but Atticus said we were allowed since we already watched the whole case.
Thursday, May 28
Tuesday, May 26
TKAM post 6
Scout's Perspective
Danielle
Team .
Aunt Alexandra is taking over our household. I was just talking about how I went to Calpurnia's church to look for Atticus who was with the defendant he was helping, and she got all frustrated and wouldn't let me go to Calpurnia's house. It's not fair that she gets to inflict punishments on us just because Atticus is working all the time.
I left the room and saw that the adults were having a discussion about firing Calpurnia. Alexandra wanted to begrudge us a maid I knew Atticus would never let that happen. Jem was oblivious, and he I got into a fight and got sent to bed early. We were getting ready for bed, and I felt something on the floor. I thought it was a snake and I freaked out but it turns out it was Dill who had escaped to come to Maycomb for the summer. He thinks that his parents don't need him because they always ignored him.
I thought he was wrong and told him that his parents are probably just mean. Dill said that his parents gave him everything that he wanted but didn't pay attention to him. Atticus amiably made sure Dill could sleep over, and then his mom complacently agreed to let Dill stay for the summer. I was so happy I could scream. Dill was filthy and hungry so I gave him food from the kitchen and he bathed. He was told to sleep with Jem, but he crept over to my bed while Jem was asleep. He woke me and we talked about getting ourselves a baby. He said that there was a man on an island who handed out babies. I was so happy he was back. We had a week of fun, but then Jem started being mister responsible and everything turned around.
Danielle
Team .
Aunt Alexandra is taking over our household. I was just talking about how I went to Calpurnia's church to look for Atticus who was with the defendant he was helping, and she got all frustrated and wouldn't let me go to Calpurnia's house. It's not fair that she gets to inflict punishments on us just because Atticus is working all the time.
I left the room and saw that the adults were having a discussion about firing Calpurnia. Alexandra wanted to begrudge us a maid I knew Atticus would never let that happen. Jem was oblivious, and he I got into a fight and got sent to bed early. We were getting ready for bed, and I felt something on the floor. I thought it was a snake and I freaked out but it turns out it was Dill who had escaped to come to Maycomb for the summer. He thinks that his parents don't need him because they always ignored him.
I thought he was wrong and told him that his parents are probably just mean. Dill said that his parents gave him everything that he wanted but didn't pay attention to him. Atticus amiably made sure Dill could sleep over, and then his mom complacently agreed to let Dill stay for the summer. I was so happy I could scream. Dill was filthy and hungry so I gave him food from the kitchen and he bathed. He was told to sleep with Jem, but he crept over to my bed while Jem was asleep. He woke me and we talked about getting ourselves a baby. He said that there was a man on an island who handed out babies. I was so happy he was back. We had a week of fun, but then Jem started being mister responsible and everything turned around.
TKAM post 5
Jem's perspective
Danielle
Team .
I got really mad at Mrs. Dubose for calling my dad names for defending a black man, and antagonized her, so for compensation for her flowers, I had to read to her everyday after school. Scout came with me to keep me company. Shortly after, Mrs. Dubose died. I felt a sense of relief but I was still a little shaken up over her death. Atticus looked pensive, and told us that she was fighting illness from an addiction. This kind of made me feel bad about killing her flowers. Shortly after she died, Atticus gave me a candy box with the flowers that I killed in it. I got really upset and threw the box into the fire. She's never going to stop tormenting me is she?
I stopped being bothered by Scout. We're both getting older, I've acquired wisdom, and there's no need for fighting. I feel bad though because Dill isn't coming to Maycomb this summer and Scout really likes him. Sometimes I wish he would just emerge out of the horizon and be there for us. Luckily we have Calpurnia. Atticus had important business stuff and Calpurnia took us to church with her which I though was really nice, she's distracting Scout from the disappointment a little bit.
We arrived at Cal's church, and felt very strange. Cal was talking differently than she does at home. She sounded like all of the people in the church. Cal's son Zeebo was there collecting money for the church, and Reverend Sykes was reciting hymns but nobody had books. Cal told us it was because most of the folks couldn't read. After the whole visit was over, I felt like we were finally bonding with Cal. I mean, she raised us but we never really went out together.
Danielle
Team .
I got really mad at Mrs. Dubose for calling my dad names for defending a black man, and antagonized her, so for compensation for her flowers, I had to read to her everyday after school. Scout came with me to keep me company. Shortly after, Mrs. Dubose died. I felt a sense of relief but I was still a little shaken up over her death. Atticus looked pensive, and told us that she was fighting illness from an addiction. This kind of made me feel bad about killing her flowers. Shortly after she died, Atticus gave me a candy box with the flowers that I killed in it. I got really upset and threw the box into the fire. She's never going to stop tormenting me is she?
I stopped being bothered by Scout. We're both getting older, I've acquired wisdom, and there's no need for fighting. I feel bad though because Dill isn't coming to Maycomb this summer and Scout really likes him. Sometimes I wish he would just emerge out of the horizon and be there for us. Luckily we have Calpurnia. Atticus had important business stuff and Calpurnia took us to church with her which I though was really nice, she's distracting Scout from the disappointment a little bit.
We arrived at Cal's church, and felt very strange. Cal was talking differently than she does at home. She sounded like all of the people in the church. Cal's son Zeebo was there collecting money for the church, and Reverend Sykes was reciting hymns but nobody had books. Cal told us it was because most of the folks couldn't read. After the whole visit was over, I felt like we were finally bonding with Cal. I mean, she raised us but we never really went out together.
Monday, May 25
TKAM post 4
Scout's perspective
Danielle
Team .
Atticus is getting old. When he was younger he was much more of a playmate. Now since he's almost fifty, he doesn't want to be as energetic. Then again, we recently saw Atticus shoot a mad dog, and we realized he might still be young. It was really amazing seeing that, Atticus became really cool to me after that day. It's really hard for Jem and I, hearing people say such nasty and out of line things about my father. Poor Mr. Robinson.
It seems the whole town is after Atticus. Mrs. Dubose included, but she is not contemporary like the other villagers. She said slurs about dad, and Jem got so mad he inconspicuously cut all of her flowers. He was cantankerous, and contradicted Mrs. Dubose. Jem got in trouble with Atticus and had to apologize to Mrs. Dubose and she got to decide his punishment! He has to read to her everyday. Poor Jem, he was in peril with Mrs. Dubose.
I decided to go with Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose. It was always really awkward with Mrs. Dubose. She was really mean to me and always called me dirty. I know she's old and sick but she doesn't have to be so bitter. Jem and I would go in and read to her and she would eventually fall asleep and we could leave. After a while it didn't bother me so much. The story Jem was reading actually got interesting and I liked keeping him company. Mrs. Dubose is the meanest woman on Earth.
Danielle
Team .
Atticus is getting old. When he was younger he was much more of a playmate. Now since he's almost fifty, he doesn't want to be as energetic. Then again, we recently saw Atticus shoot a mad dog, and we realized he might still be young. It was really amazing seeing that, Atticus became really cool to me after that day. It's really hard for Jem and I, hearing people say such nasty and out of line things about my father. Poor Mr. Robinson.
It seems the whole town is after Atticus. Mrs. Dubose included, but she is not contemporary like the other villagers. She said slurs about dad, and Jem got so mad he inconspicuously cut all of her flowers. He was cantankerous, and contradicted Mrs. Dubose. Jem got in trouble with Atticus and had to apologize to Mrs. Dubose and she got to decide his punishment! He has to read to her everyday. Poor Jem, he was in peril with Mrs. Dubose.
I decided to go with Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose. It was always really awkward with Mrs. Dubose. She was really mean to me and always called me dirty. I know she's old and sick but she doesn't have to be so bitter. Jem and I would go in and read to her and she would eventually fall asleep and we could leave. After a while it didn't bother me so much. The story Jem was reading actually got interesting and I liked keeping him company. Mrs. Dubose is the meanest woman on Earth.
Friday, May 22
TKAM post 3
Atticus's perspective
Danielle Potiker
Team .
I don't really know what my kids are up to, because I'm so entrusted and focused on defending Mr. Robinson.I am very perplexed. Who knows what kind of trouble they're getting themselves into? It seems that everyone is against me because I'm defending a black man. I feel like he deserves equal rights to any other defendant. People are accusing him of raping a white woman, but I heard his side and I really don't believe he is guilty. Hopefully the jury will see my point beyond the color of Tom's skin. I feel bad people are isolating him in a tiny jail cell. The town is fanatical about me defending him.
Some strange events happened recently as well. Our little town of Maycomb, got snow. We hadn't seen snow in year, decades even. Then, Mrs. Maycomb's house got burnt down, and all people in the adjacent houses, were trying to make sure their homes weren't engulfed in the flames. . Luckily, no one was injured in the fire, and Mrs. Maycomb was in good spirits. She just carried on like nothing ever happened. It was very peculiar, but I suppose it's better than mourning her little house. The kids were out by the Radley house while this was all going on. I woke them up at about three in the morning to move them out of our house, and told them to stand there.
We went and spent christmas with Alexandra, and her family. Her boy started taunting Scout about my business in terms of defending a black man. Scout threw him a punch, and Uncle Jack got involved. Scout was punished by her uncle, but eventually things settled down and they had a discussion about his method of punishment that Scout didn't agree with. Uncle Jack hit her, which is something I've only threatened and never acted upon. Scout was in a rage and told Jack she hated him and never wanted to speak with him again. They generally have a great relationship so this was a big thing.
Danielle Potiker
Team .
I don't really know what my kids are up to, because I'm so entrusted and focused on defending Mr. Robinson.I am very perplexed. Who knows what kind of trouble they're getting themselves into? It seems that everyone is against me because I'm defending a black man. I feel like he deserves equal rights to any other defendant. People are accusing him of raping a white woman, but I heard his side and I really don't believe he is guilty. Hopefully the jury will see my point beyond the color of Tom's skin. I feel bad people are isolating him in a tiny jail cell. The town is fanatical about me defending him.
Some strange events happened recently as well. Our little town of Maycomb, got snow. We hadn't seen snow in year, decades even. Then, Mrs. Maycomb's house got burnt down, and all people in the adjacent houses, were trying to make sure their homes weren't engulfed in the flames. . Luckily, no one was injured in the fire, and Mrs. Maycomb was in good spirits. She just carried on like nothing ever happened. It was very peculiar, but I suppose it's better than mourning her little house. The kids were out by the Radley house while this was all going on. I woke them up at about three in the morning to move them out of our house, and told them to stand there.
We went and spent christmas with Alexandra, and her family. Her boy started taunting Scout about my business in terms of defending a black man. Scout threw him a punch, and Uncle Jack got involved. Scout was punished by her uncle, but eventually things settled down and they had a discussion about his method of punishment that Scout didn't agree with. Uncle Jack hit her, which is something I've only threatened and never acted upon. Scout was in a rage and told Jack she hated him and never wanted to speak with him again. They generally have a great relationship so this was a big thing.
Thursday, May 21
TKAM post 2
Jem's perspective
Danielle
Team .
chapters 4-6
This week has been really strange. I needed to prove that I was brave to Scout and Dill, but Scout thinks I'm being foolish. She's such a girl. Dill and I are becoming really good friends. We don't need my scared little sister to hang out with us. We recently started playing a game called Boo Radly. We try to get him to come outside. Atticus wants us to stop tormenting him, but it's really fun. We left him a note to come outside but I'm a little frightened of him even though my evasion doesn't show it.
Dill, Scout, and I teetered to his house last night. Dill wanted me to touch the Radley's house. I thought he had come outside and I got really scared and ran. I was trying to crawl under the fence but my pants got stuck and I had to take them off and leave them stuck in the fence. All of a sudden we heard a gunshot and the whole town was aghast. I knew that Boo was territorial but I had to go back for my pants. I told Atticus that I had left them with Dill, and he told me to go back and get them so I had no other choice. I couldn't let him find out I was lying to him.
I confided in Scout, but when I told her she freaked out. She was afraid I was going to die. I didn't have enough time to listen to her quibbling about worries. I ran back to the house and grabbed my pants which were folded on the fence. It was almost like the malignant Boo knew I was coming back for them. Weird huh? It also looked like someone had tried to mend them for me. It was funny because it was sewn up very badly. Definitely by a man. I didn't know how I would possibly explain this to Atticus, but I knew I would find a way.
Dill ended up saving me. He told Atticus that he won them playing strip poker. I chuckled at this concept in my head but I had nothing better to say. Atticus told us it was a sin to play cards, and Dill told Atticus that we were playing with matches. That was when I knew I had to go back and grab them. Atticus would eventually find out that Dill didn't have my pants.
Danielle
Team .
chapters 4-6
This week has been really strange. I needed to prove that I was brave to Scout and Dill, but Scout thinks I'm being foolish. She's such a girl. Dill and I are becoming really good friends. We don't need my scared little sister to hang out with us. We recently started playing a game called Boo Radly. We try to get him to come outside. Atticus wants us to stop tormenting him, but it's really fun. We left him a note to come outside but I'm a little frightened of him even though my evasion doesn't show it.
Dill, Scout, and I teetered to his house last night. Dill wanted me to touch the Radley's house. I thought he had come outside and I got really scared and ran. I was trying to crawl under the fence but my pants got stuck and I had to take them off and leave them stuck in the fence. All of a sudden we heard a gunshot and the whole town was aghast. I knew that Boo was territorial but I had to go back for my pants. I told Atticus that I had left them with Dill, and he told me to go back and get them so I had no other choice. I couldn't let him find out I was lying to him.
I confided in Scout, but when I told her she freaked out. She was afraid I was going to die. I didn't have enough time to listen to her quibbling about worries. I ran back to the house and grabbed my pants which were folded on the fence. It was almost like the malignant Boo knew I was coming back for them. Weird huh? It also looked like someone had tried to mend them for me. It was funny because it was sewn up very badly. Definitely by a man. I didn't know how I would possibly explain this to Atticus, but I knew I would find a way.
Dill ended up saving me. He told Atticus that he won them playing strip poker. I chuckled at this concept in my head but I had nothing better to say. Atticus told us it was a sin to play cards, and Dill told Atticus that we were playing with matches. That was when I knew I had to go back and grab them. Atticus would eventually find out that Dill didn't have my pants.
Wednesday, May 20
TKAM 1
Scout's perspective chapters 1-3
Danielle
Team .
I feel terrible. My only friend Dill who comes up for the summers left. I still have Jem but he's my brother. It's not the same. If only he moved here. We could go back to Boo's house and peek in again, we could be together.This thought may be eccentric, but I'm really starting to like him. We've grown very fond of each other. Jem likes him a lot too. He started respecting him when he heard about Dill's adventures.
Unfortunately Jem can't turn down a dare, and I don't want to look like a sissy so we had many adventures relating to the Radley house. When he left, everything went downhill. The first day of school was terrible.
Jem was all excited for it, and so was I... at the time. The teacher irked me. I arrived at school, and everything went wrong. The teacher was so mean to me. She said that I was reading the wrong way and to stop reading at home, she seemed malevolent. I was going to persevere with reading. Then, Walter Cunnigham just made it worse. That boy was responsible for me being yelled at.
I was just trying to explain to the teacher that she couldn't lend him money for lunch because he wouldn't be able to pay it back. I got so mad when he clenched his fist at me, I just wanted to hit him.
Jem pulled me off of him and invited him to dinner. I didn't understand why he had to invite him to dinner, but I know that our daddies are friends so I guess we should compromise and be nice to him. Poor Walter said he had to hunt for his food, he hadn't had proper meat in months. Everyone doesn't have money right now, but they're especially poor.I tried to explain that to our new teacher Ms. Caroline, but she pulled me to her desk and whipped me with a ruler. Then she made me stand in the corner. I was mortified, and then it just got worse. The sixth grade teacher came into the room and yelled at our class for making too much noise. The teacher looked so sad when we all went to lunch, but she embarrassed me so badly that I just couldn't feel bad for her.
Danielle
Team .
I feel terrible. My only friend Dill who comes up for the summers left. I still have Jem but he's my brother. It's not the same. If only he moved here. We could go back to Boo's house and peek in again, we could be together.This thought may be eccentric, but I'm really starting to like him. We've grown very fond of each other. Jem likes him a lot too. He started respecting him when he heard about Dill's adventures.
Unfortunately Jem can't turn down a dare, and I don't want to look like a sissy so we had many adventures relating to the Radley house. When he left, everything went downhill. The first day of school was terrible.
Jem was all excited for it, and so was I... at the time. The teacher irked me. I arrived at school, and everything went wrong. The teacher was so mean to me. She said that I was reading the wrong way and to stop reading at home, she seemed malevolent. I was going to persevere with reading. Then, Walter Cunnigham just made it worse. That boy was responsible for me being yelled at.
I was just trying to explain to the teacher that she couldn't lend him money for lunch because he wouldn't be able to pay it back. I got so mad when he clenched his fist at me, I just wanted to hit him.
Jem pulled me off of him and invited him to dinner. I didn't understand why he had to invite him to dinner, but I know that our daddies are friends so I guess we should compromise and be nice to him. Poor Walter said he had to hunt for his food, he hadn't had proper meat in months. Everyone doesn't have money right now, but they're especially poor.I tried to explain that to our new teacher Ms. Caroline, but she pulled me to her desk and whipped me with a ruler. Then she made me stand in the corner. I was mortified, and then it just got worse. The sixth grade teacher came into the room and yelled at our class for making too much noise. The teacher looked so sad when we all went to lunch, but she embarrassed me so badly that I just couldn't feel bad for her.
Saturday, April 11
Once Upon a Quinceanera--Book Review
For lit circles I read a book called Once Upon A Quinceanera, by Julia Alvarez. This novel really opened up my eyes to Mexican culture, statistics, and quinceaneras. Julia Alvarez explored her mind, described her experience of immigrating, and showed us the down side of her culture.
This story was basically about Julia's life growing up in America, and her thoughts about the quinceanera. She questioned why girls were treated like princesses, how poorly some people's lives are when the immigrate here, and she basically told us that a huge percentage of girls are pregnant by the time they're eighteen. Also, that the same percentage of teenage boys will be in jail. This really shocked me, and gave me some perspective on life. It really showed me how my friends and I are very lucky to be born here and have it so good. She also pretty much described how the quinceanera has been Americanized. The traditional quinceanera was all white apparel, a traditional Mexican dance, and now many people do color schemes, different colored apparel, and pop dancing as if it is just a birthday party.
Julia Avarez's writing style was very documentary like. The story was in first person, but was very casual. I really enjoyed this style, because I feel like I really got into her head and understood why she questioned her culture so much. She wrote the book kind of like she was explaining a memory in present tense, yet she also talked about other families in different situations as if she was making a documentary. The book was a bit confusing because there were a lot of scene changes and skips as if it was a television show. I really liked how she made me feel like I knew her by the end of the book.
Overall I enjoyed this story. I recommend it for 13-16 year olds. I felt like it could've been polished a little bit better in terms of content being spread out, but I still really liked feeling like I was having a conversation with Julia Alvarez. This book was really great and I feel as though I have gained a better understanding of the Mexican culture.
Once Upon a Quinceanera--6
QUOTE 1: "Freedom is just another word for nothing else to lose." (page 218 paragraph 1)
SIGNIFICANCE 1: I chose this quote because it illustrates the difference in Mexico and America. It seems that the character had a lot of perspective and saw how much freedom America had to offer. The character felt relieved that she had structure and freedom in America.
PERSONAL CONNECTION: I am very thankful that we have so many opportunities and so much freedom in America. This quote shows me how much better we have it than aa lot of countries and I agree with the message of the quote which is that if you're in a free country you have nothing to lose but so much to gain. I also found that it had a double meaning. It could also mean that when you immigrate you start fresh, so you can't lose anything else.
QUOTE 2: "I wanted to rush over and stand in the center of this group and just tell them: " Do you realize that thirty percent of you girls will be pregnant by next year? Do you realize that thirty percent of you boys are going to end up in jail by the time your twenty one?"
SIGNIFICANCE 2: I chose this quote because it showed me the statistics in terms of teenagers, in the Mexican culture. The character clearly felt passionate about educating a group of teenagers on the fate that they may have. Julia seems like she knows a lot about her culture and is very aware of what may happen to that group.
PERSONAL CONNECTION: I have known many families in the Mexican culture and I believe that this quote is bias because it is generalizing the whole culture when it really depends on the families or teenager's circumstances in terms of living situations. I've known many Mexican families in a privileged living situations that have not even grazed these statistics.
QUESTION: Have the statistics for teens changed at all from when this book was written to now?
SIGNIFICANCE 1: I chose this quote because it illustrates the difference in Mexico and America. It seems that the character had a lot of perspective and saw how much freedom America had to offer. The character felt relieved that she had structure and freedom in America.
PERSONAL CONNECTION: I am very thankful that we have so many opportunities and so much freedom in America. This quote shows me how much better we have it than aa lot of countries and I agree with the message of the quote which is that if you're in a free country you have nothing to lose but so much to gain. I also found that it had a double meaning. It could also mean that when you immigrate you start fresh, so you can't lose anything else.
QUOTE 2: "I wanted to rush over and stand in the center of this group and just tell them: " Do you realize that thirty percent of you girls will be pregnant by next year? Do you realize that thirty percent of you boys are going to end up in jail by the time your twenty one?"
SIGNIFICANCE 2: I chose this quote because it showed me the statistics in terms of teenagers, in the Mexican culture. The character clearly felt passionate about educating a group of teenagers on the fate that they may have. Julia seems like she knows a lot about her culture and is very aware of what may happen to that group.
PERSONAL CONNECTION: I have known many families in the Mexican culture and I believe that this quote is bias because it is generalizing the whole culture when it really depends on the families or teenager's circumstances in terms of living situations. I've known many Mexican families in a privileged living situations that have not even grazed these statistics.
QUESTION: Have the statistics for teens changed at all from when this book was written to now?
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