Wimpy Whitney

Outside Reading Blog #13

Before I Die

By: Sarah Dessen

After Annabelle's sister becomes really sick, her whole family becomes devastated. The change that she is going though is a really tough one. After Annabelle and Kristen hung up from talking on the phone, Annabelle goes back to her room and crawled into bed, sleeping two more hours until she heard the garage door open and knew they were home. When she went downstairs to the kitchen, she could tell her mother was so hurt by what was happening. As she turned around to hug Annabelle, she had never seen her so different. A sudden panic made her want to wrap herself around her, putting herself between her and the world and everything it could do to her, to any of them. And then it happened, her mother started crying. Her eyes welled up, and she looked down at her hands, which were trembling and then she was sobbing, the sound seeming so loud in the quiet of the kitchen. Annabelle didn't know how to handle things, and really I don't blame her. Just think of how hard it would be to see your mother crying and know that there was nothing you would do about it. Whitney's eating disorder corrupted and effected the whole Greene family in a manner that was so life threatening and allowed them not to take life for granted and teaches the reader not to either.

The Start of Something Old

Outside Reading Blog #12

Before I Die 

By: Sarah Dessen

In this part of the book, Annabelle and her sisters begin taking up modeling up again which has been a great family past time. Once Kristen started getting regular work, Whitney wanted to try it as well, and soon they were both making the rounds, often even going up for the same jobs, which only added to the natural friction between them. Their looks, though, were distinct and different as their temperaments. Whitney was the beauty, with the perfect bone structure and haunting eyes, while Kristen was somehow able to convey her bubbly personality with just one look. Whitney did better in print, but Kristen popped on screen. And so on. Because of this, Annabelle was well known at the local circuit, which consisted of mostly print ads for department stores and regionally cast and shot for commercials. While her dad chose to take a hands-off approach to them working- as he did to everything even vaguely girly, from Tampax to broken hearts- her mother thrived on it. She loved ferrying them to jobs, which I believe is a quality most moms don't have anymore. Annabelle and her sisters are lucky to have a mom that is so intrested in their lives, and even though they may not realize it, they are so fortunate. This relates to many girls this generation who have lost touch, or closeness with their mothers. 

Just Listen

Outside Reading Blog #11

Just Listen

By: Sarah Dessen

As i begin a new book, I find myself to be very much like the main character, Annabelle who faces many challenges in life. I really think this book will be a great read because the problems she face are very realistic and realteable to. Annabelle Greene is the girl who has everything. At least, that's what she portrays in her modeling shoots. But Annabelle's life is far from perfect. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, and her older sister's eating disorder is weighing down the entire family. Isolated and ostracized at school and at home, Annabelle retreats into silent acceptance, Then she meets Owen - intense, music-obsessed, and determined to always tell the truth. And with his guidance, Annabelle learns to just listen to herself and gain the courage to speak honestly. She will be able to tell everyone what really happened the night her and Sophia stopped being friends. It was a horrible night and I believe that this book will do a great job of teaching teens how to let their voice be heard when things that are wrong happen to them, since sometimes it can be very dangerous and harmful things that are happening to them and the situations are very difficult to get out of. I am really looking forward to this book and I feel it will be very life like. 

Don't Fear, the End is Near

Outside Reading Blog #10

Before I  Die

By: Jenny Downham

Since Tessa is slowly dying now, she tries to think about the things that make Zoey happy. She likes talking about the flat because it always somehow cheers her up. The council has agreed to give her a grant. She'll be able to sway vouchers for paint and wallpaper, she tells Tessa. Zoey gets quite excited and animated describing the mural she plans for her bedroom the tropical fish tiles she wants in her bathroom. Since Zoey had been like a sister to her, it was important that before she left, she made sure that she was happy because that's what she had always done for her. Ever since Tessa become diagnosed with Cancer, Zoey had been there helping her though every step even though she had so many problems of her own to face. I believe that a friend like this is a true friend. I feel that now a days friends, if this was to happen to a good friend of someone, they would just forget them and it's really unfair because people have become so materialistic and forgot all about the humans, feelings and emotions that really matter, because money cannot buy you back the memories you never made. I think that the bond between Tessa and Zoey throughout the whole entire book has represented a friendship that I personally only share with only a few of my friends.

Stuck Under the Blankets

Outside Reading Blog #9

Before I Die

By:Jenny Downhan

Teen cancer units are rare in hospitals, if Tessa and her dad could even think about awareness. The red light outside the studio flips to green and Tessa tells the world of the radio who is listening, all about the awareness the should have about teen cancer. They sound like a dinner party, I guess, as if they went to a ball. But Richard Green is no prince. As he half squats about his chair and puts out a fat hand for them to shake, Cal and Tessa slowly but surely do so. His hand is sweaty, like it needs squeezing out. His lungs wheeze as he sits back down. He stinks of cigarettes which is kinda contradicted by the fact that Tessa is suffering from cancer, because smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer. Since Richard is the talk show host, I think this is really disrespectful on his part because as he allows Tessa to spread the awareness of teen cancer, Richard seems to be causing it even more. Or even so promoting it. But definitley not preventing it, which is what he should be doing. After he tells them to take a seat Tessa begins on the air, recieveing callers from all over of all ages, as Mr. Green continues reeking of the cancer stick he smoked before he came into the studio. I believe this happens too much and too often in our society and it needs to be recgoinzed more, because girls who end up like Tessa, know this very well.

The List Goes On

Outside Reading Blog #8

Before I Die

By:Jenny Downham

As Tessa goes on with her list, she begins to face many problems, such as the fact that many things on the list are going to be very hard to accomplish. While her dad picks up the apple and holds it up to the morning. There are swirls of cream and brown in there that look like the core of a real apple; an impression on pips, blown in by the glassmaker. He spins it slowly in his hand. I've looked at the world through that green glass many times- it looks small and calm. I don't think he should be touching my things though. I think he should be dealing with Cal, who's upstairs yelling up about the aerial coming out of the back of the TV. I also think he should go down and tell Mum that the only reason he's asked her round is because he wants her back. Getting involved in matters of discipline goes against all her principals, so he's hardly looking for advice in that area. He puts down the apple and goes to the bookshelf, runs a finger around the spine of my books, like they're piano keys and he's expecting a tune. He twists his head to look up at the CD rack, picks one out, reads the cover, then puts it back. I really evaluate the way Tessa's dad is invading her space as something that she can't help and something that she has put on her list- to finally stand up for herself. 

Before I Die

Outside Reading Blog #7

Before I Die

By: Jenny Downham

(p.1-55)

Now that I have finished my old book, I have started a new one called Before I Die, which is about a girl named Tessa who has just been diagnosed with cancer. She knows that she is going to die, and she knows there is nothing she can do about it, so she makes a list of 10 things that she wants to do before she dies. So far, Tessa has only accomplished the first thing on her list, which is sex. After that she kind of gave up, but her sister