Every Day by David Levithan is a literary work that should not be underestimated. Levithan does an excellent job of opening the eyes of teens to a world unbeknownst to them. He is not afraid to step out of the social norms, thus creating a unique concept of equality, humanity, and love. He steps into the realm of LBGTQ through his book Boy Meets Boy which is about a gay-friendly town and a boy who is trying to win the love of another boy. He received the Best Fiction Award for Teens(Top 10) from the YALSA in 2013, Abraham Lincoln Award nominee(2014), as well as being a Lambda Award nominee (2013). He is also the publisher/director of Scholastic.

David Levithan was born in 1972 in Short Hills, New Jersey. His first book Boy Meets Boy was published in September 2003. On his website in the “about me” section, Levithan feels that he could talk more about himself through his books and that’s exactly what he does. He has written a total of 18 books so far and showing no signs of stopping. He has collaborated with many well known authors, one of them is John Green for their book Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He is currently writing a book called Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story which is set for release in March 2015.

A, the main character of the book, is 16 years old. A wakes up every day as someone different, not being limited by gender, race, or even language though the area geographically and age are pretty close. Never knowing the warmth and comfort of a family, A has been alone this whole time. A used to be afraid to go to sleep as a child knowing that nobody from that day would be there the next. No matter how much A wanted to stay, it wasn’t possible. One day, A wakes up as a teenage boy named Justin. Not wanting to interfere in Justin’s daily life, A chooses to go through it like a normal day for Justin, but when “he” encounters Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon, things begin to change. By digging through Justin’s memories, he sees that Justin isn’t the best boyfriend out there, but Rhiannon is just absolutely perfect. Rhiannon is pushing A’s limits. Love at first sight you could call it, but how is love possible for someone who is a different person each day?

Readers will get the most from this book if they are open minded and can adjust well to varying situations. This book shares so many different perspectives of women and men. With that being said, you must pay attention or else you will get lost from the very beginning. The general audience for this book is supposed to be adults, but this book has been proved to sway more towards teens. Some schools have even made this a summer reading assignment. Barnes & Nobles list the age range is 14-17 years for this book while others say it can go to even as young as 12. Every Day is perfectly executed that David Levithan is able to gain such a wide range for his audience. He is really active in the LGBTQ community with his books.

This book will have its readers thrown into another perspective of life. The need to read what happens the next day has readers gripping their seats. While reading, you are immersed in lives of many people. What is it like to be a woman? What is it like to be a man? What about a drug addict or maybe a twin? These questions are addressed throughout the book and that’s only a few of them. Levithan shows a new side of love and how it can play out. It does not always have to be how it is in the movies, it’s not always as cliché, it can be something completely different, but the feelings are the same.

“The moment you fall in love feels like it has centuries behind it, generations-all of them rearranging themselves so that this precise, remarkable intersection could happen. In your heart, in your bones, no matter how silly you know it is, you feel that everything has been leading to this, all the secret arrows were pointing here, the universe and time itself crafted this long ago, and you are just now realizing it, you are just now arriving at the place you were always meant to be,”(Levithan, Pg 23).

Philadelphia

I live in the city of Philly with a community that is much like family,

We love, laugh, struggle, and cry together,

Closely knit like the yarn of a sweater,

The home of many firsts,

Universities, libraries, and even the first school of anatomy,

And mouth-watering delicacies from around the world to indulge yourself in,

A melting pot filled to the brim,

We speak what’s on our mind,

By protests and strikes against “unfair” treatment for our teachers and students alike,

We lay down the road for education of our future generations,

Multiple opportunities to find myself,

Multiple opportunities to experience,

I have been given the paint by the city,

Now it is time to start my picture.

Throughout my year, I’ve learned many things and have increased my knowledge on various topics. One class especially would be World History. I’ve learned things about the past as well as the present. We focused quite a lot on change as well as equality. When I say change I’m talking about revolutions today and years ago. When I say equality I’m talking about how women aren’t paid as much as men, human rights, and sweatshops. There is so much that I’ve taken into consideration after stepping into the classroom. I looked at my daily life through a new lens. I looked at the clothes I wear today and wonder why I’m wearing it. I wonder why I’m wearing the clothes that someone in another country made that is underpaid and living in harsh conditions. I wondered about how technology has changed the way other changes take place, such as the Arab Spring. There is so much to touch on yet, so little time.

The first thing I want to talk about is the Arab Spring. This topic was introduced near the beginning of the year and was one of the first to introduce the topic of change in the classroom. I learned how technology helped spread the awareness and support for the revolution. The people in Egypt did not accept the way they were treated, therefore, they fought for independence and are still fighting at this very moment. There is violence and many have died. In one of my journal entries, I address the idea of nonviolence and violence.  A specific quote that stood out to me and summarizes the whole idea is “Nonviolence shouldn’t have to be trained, but just present all the time.”

Click here to view the full version of this journal.

The second thing I want to talk about is just revolutions in general. Later on in the year, we were assigned a digital story benchmark. For this benchmark we had to focus on multiple revolutions and revolve them around a certain point. I studied the French Revolution, Arab Spring, and much more. The certain point that I decided to focus on was “What is the importance of spreading awareness with the use of social media in a revolution?” I constructed an iMovie with my partner Javier on the subject. A quote that stood out to me in the video was “Outside help can and will be the difference between a gallant victory or a dreadful defeat.”

Click here to watch the full video.

Now, I would like to touch on the subject of equality. Equality plays a major role in our lives today. Just being a woman is a major factor of equality. Women are paid less than men and aren’t treated as equally in the justice system as well. The same can be said for particular charges against men and women, but that’s another topic. When I was writing a journal entry one day I had to think of a woman scientist off the top of my head. The sad thing was I couldn’t. A quote from that journal is “I could imagine a woman’s idea in science being rejected based on their gender.”

Click here to view the full journal entry.

During the year, we’ve had many trials where we can debate with our other peers on matters that are important in the world today. Towards the middle of the year, we began a trial about sweatshops and the class was divided into about 5 sections. Each section being a different part of the chain to the making of sweatshops such as U.S. consumers, Corporations, etc. After the trial was over we had to post a reflection on how we can change the global economic system. One part of the reflection that I’d like to highlight is “Companies began to be questioned and pressured to make a change in the factories they produce their products in. Some have made a change, but not enough. There is still a fair amount of factories and companies out there that are under the radar and continue to abuse their workers. Suicidal nets are set up outside of some factories to prevent people from jumping out the building to their eventual death.”

Click here to view the full reflection.

The final piece I’m going to talk about that will wrap this up nicely is the Human Rights Benchmark. For this benchmark, we got the chance to work exclusively with Kate McGrath who works for the Philly Young Playwrights. She came down to help us make our plays and give us tips as amateur playwrights. I focused on the unfair conditions in china’s factories and took readers on a journey through the eyes of a man named Minho who escapes the factory and seeks help in America. There are many twists and turns in this play, but a quote that sticks out to me is

Click here to view the full play.

I enjoyed my year in world history due to the fact that I've learned so much in such little time. I've taken many things from this class such as morales, values, and life lessons. I've learned through the perspectives of those thousands of miles away from me. Those who got to experience this class is to be envied for.

(Icarus, a spoiled rich child. wakes up in his room)

Icarus - *yawns*

“Herald! Bring me a chocolate sundae, yeah?”

“NO CHERRIES”

(get’s up and makes his way through his house)

“Herald you dumb buffoon I said no cherries! You can’t get anything right can you?”

“ Where is my mother and father? “

“ Out? What do you mean they’re out? “

“ Yes, I would like to call them”

(calls his father)

“ Dad, where are you and mom? “

“ Jail!?”

“What in the heavens are you doing in jail?”

“ You did all of this for a stupid pipeline?!”

“ What about the new xbox you said you were gonna get me? Huh? What about the PS4? Huh? How are you supposed to get me these things when you quit your job and donated most of our money!”

“ I don’t want to play with those stupid toys anymore. I’ve had them for a long time. They’re old and stupid.”

“ 2 weeks is a very long time! “

“ You know, I don’t care just come back quickly before Herald has a stroke or something.”

(hangs up phone)

*sighs*

“Stupid parents… “

“Herald! Do you know anything about this XL Pipeline?”

“ I want you to look it up and report back to me with everything you found out in the next hour you hear?”

“ Go on, run along now.”

(Icarus goes around the house occupying himself)

“ I’m here! OVER HERE, HERALD!”

“ You’re too old for this job, Herald, god gave you eyes for a reason. Please use them.”

“ Did you find anything? “

“ Pro’s and cons?”

"The environment will die out quickly?"

"Sure as hell not as quickly as you."

"Health problems, environmental problems, and even ecological problems?"

"What's the worst than can happen? Plants and fish are gonna die?

"Oh. They will die. Whoops. "

"Enough Herald. I don't want to hear no more.  I think my IQ dropped like 10 points just from listening to you. "

“ What should I do Herald? “

“ Should I just stand here and wait for my parents to come back?”

“ I should...help them?”

“ I mean I could do that, it’s not a big deal.”

“ Whatever, I suppose helping people sometimes isn’t a bad thing. I’ve got to build up my rep anyways.”

“ Get the car ready, Herald.”

(Icarus gets in the car and heads over to where the protest is taking place)

“Stupid pipeline ruining my day. I’ll make sure this doesn’t get passed if it’s the last thing I do.”

If you ask me, this book is absolutely breathtaking. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is a book that constantly has you wanting for more. The author may sound familiar because she is also the author for The Hunger Games. Catching Fire is the second book of the Hunger Games trilogy. You don’t ever want to put it down. This is being made into a movie coming out November 22, 2013. It was also in the “Top 10 books of 2009” in the Times magazine. The trilogy has earned various of achievements and publicity ever since it’s beginning in 2008.

It’s hard to give a book review without giving away any spoilers to people that haven’t read it yet. I’ll just list the important events. So, the first book ended with Katniss and Peeta winning the Hunger Games. Book two starts right where the first one left off. Katniss and Peeta are on their victory tour and President Snow does not like the fact that Katniss is the “leader” of a rebellion soon to rise, even though she doesn’t know it herself. President Snow threatens Katniss that he will erase everyone she loves if she doesn’t calm the rebellion down or show the people that the only reason why she used the berries in the arena before was because she was madly in love with Peeta, not because she was being rebellious against the Capitol. You would think nothing worse could happen after that, right? Nope. It’s the complete opposite actually.

As you work your way through the story you find that Katniss, Peeta, and 22 other victors from different districts are put back into the arena. This was the 75th Hunger Games. Every 25 years there is something called a Quarter Quell which is a Hunger Game with a twist. This Quarter Quell two victors, a boy and a girl, would be pulled from each district from the existing pool of victors. Since Katniss is the only girl in her district that has been crowned victor, she has no choice but to go back in, but this time it’s not the same. This time she is not fighting to save herself, but to save Peeta.

Haymitch, their mentor, was in no condition to be the other male tribute so Peeta, without a doubt, took his place. Peeta has the mindset that he would be the one protecting Katniss, but like I said earlier, that isn’t the plan. Once their in the arena it’s basically the same as the first Hunger Games. There’s alliances are made, tons of blood spilled, friends die, the usual for any regular Hunger Games. However, the games isn’t completed this time around. Katniss’s ally “Volts” explains to her that there is always a “chink” in the armour that the Capitol wears. Katniss knows very well that the arena is just an illusion, it is all the Capitol’s doing and that it isn’t an actual island. She looks around the arena and then at the sky. There. She finds what seems to be a space where the air looks distorted. She shoots an arrow through it. Next thing you know the illusion is dispersed and reality has set back in.

The Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, rescues Katniss, Volts, and Finnick before the Capitol could reach them. At first Katniss is confused because she doesn’t understand why Plutarch would save her and she’s also angry because he didn’t save the others. That means Peeta and the others are in the hands of the Capitol. Plutarch begins to explain to Katniss that he, himself is going to aid in the rebellion and that she will be the leader. Haymitch knew about this all along and they were just waiting for the right time.

Gale, Katniss’s dear friend, visits her while she’s resting. He comes in to break horrible news. He tells her that her family is safe, but there is no longer a District 12. There has been a devastating bombing at District 12 that has wiped out basically everything.

The main characters throughout this book is Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Finnick, and Plutarch Heavensbee. What did they do? Well Katniss, Peeta, and Finnick were all participants in the Hunger Games and they basically defy the Capitol. Katniss destroys the arena and Peeta is siding with Katniss. Finnick is in the rebellion as well once he is picked up by Plutarch. Haymitch is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor throughout the Hunger Games and supplied necessities. Plutarch, Head Gamemaker, rescues everyone that he can when the arena is destroyed and is helping with the rebellion. These characters played a major role through the book, without them the book would be changed dramatically.

I believe the conflict in the story is person vs. person. The reason I say this is because there is one man who is continuing the Hunger Games. That man would be President Snow. I say it’s only one man because as I’ve read the book I got the feeling that nobody else in the Capitol likes the idea of the Hunger Games. Especially, when Katniss was invited to the feast at the Capitol. Everyone there sent their regards to her and how it was such a shame or how unfair it was to put her back into the games. Once he is stopped surely, the Hunger Games itself would stop too. If I were to put names in this, it would be Katniss vs. President Snow. That feels more fitting.  

My favorite character is Haymitch. This may be controversial to many because he can seem like a drunk lunatic in the book, but he is a great guy. He’s just really cool. Sure, he gets drunk and lives his life poorly, but when it’s time to be serious, you better believe he’s serious. He’s one of those guys that prefer to fool around and take life easily, but can also get straight into business if needed.

I think readers should take away the idea that one person can make a difference. That person can be you too. I mean take Katniss for example. Katniss was just an ordinary girl living in District 12 doing all that she can to support her family. You can say she was a little bit more than ordinary since she knew how to hunt, which is a skill that a lot of people, especially in District 12, didn’t know how to do. She was the spark to an uprising against the Capitol from many Districts and she didn’t even know till later. Whether she wanted to or not, Katniss and her mockingjay pin are the symbol of freedom. She rose through the “ranks” and is now an iconic figure for everyone. Yes, this book is indeed fiction, but why does that matter? The ideas that it teaches are real and attainable for anyone.

Personally, I don’t think I can relate to any of the characters in the story or the story at all. The reason I say this is because this story is set in the distant future, where many things are different from how I live today. We’re not separated into twelve districts, not forced to send children to death battles, and there is not one group who rules over all. So, I don’t know how I can relate to someone that has gone through this when I’ve never had to experience any of it. The problems that the characters encountered in the story has also never came to me. I haven’t had my home or family taken away from me and I haven’t had my friends die in front of my own eyes. These are the reason why I can’t relate to the characters in the book.

I do like this book a lot. I swear I did not want to stop reading this book. Every time I put the book down to go do something else, I ended back in my chair reading it again. Every chapter is essential and so meaningful. How could I put a book like this down?

There is a fair amount of strengths and weaknesses in the book. For example, the strengths to the book is the “cliffhangers” at the end of each chapter. A cliffhanger is basically the last couple of sentences to a chapter or the last few minutes of a show that’ll make you come back wanting for more. For example, a cliffhanger could go like this: “Then Gerald said something to me I would never forget.”. You’d want to know what Gerald said, right? Well you would never know unless you read the next chapter or watched the next episode.

I find this to be a strength because it keeps bringing the reader back for more. They’re need for more would be insatiable.

One of the weaknesses to this book is the way it’s laid out. I think the book was rushed because I felt like the actual Hunger Games only lasted for a few chapters. I thought it was much longer in the first book than in this one. Then again, the Hunger Games in the second book didn’t finish to its entirety because of Katniss. So, I do understand a little bit about why it would be shorter, but I still feel as if the whole book itself was rushed.

If I could change something in the book it would be how certain parts of the book was worded. For example, when Katniss is in the actual Hunger Games I found some of the visuals hard to imagine because the wording was tricky. It could be thought in many ways, but it seemed as if Suzanne Collins wanted us, the readers, to see the same thing she was seeing. That’s not all though. In the part where Katniss was in charge of planting an electrical wire into the sea to carry out a plan, I was confused. The reason I was confused is because a lot of events occurred at the same time. I knew what happened in a general sense, but if you asked me about specific details I couldn’t tell you because I’m unsure myself.

I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to someone else. The reason I say this is because Catching Fire is truly a marvelous book as a whole. Sure, it has it’s weaknesses, but it has just as many strengths to back it up. The plot and concept is absolutely astonishing. It can’t even compare to any of the previous books I’ve read. If you haven’t read the Hunger Games yet, I highly recommend that you do. You are missing such a great piece of modern literature. There’s a reason why this book is famous. Do you want to know what the craze is about? Why don’t you find out yourself!

Creative Piece: Alternate Ending

I shot my arrow through the space and then everything went black. Suddenly, I was blinded by a bright light. As soon as I was able to look around me, I saw the island, the arena...disappearing bit by bit. I blacked out soon after due to my wounds. Next time I awoke, I was greeted by Plutarch Heavensbee. The rage built up inside of me rapidly. All I wanted to do was scream and kill this man. The man that has put me through this sick game. I just want to destroy him, but my body isn’t responding.

Wait...What’s going on? I’m in a bed and who’s that? It’s...It’s...It’s Haymitch! What’s he doing here? I have so many things going through my head right now I can’t even think straight. I manage to sit up and I’m prepared to have a long talk. “Looks like you’re finally awake there.” Haymitch says “Yeah...” I respond. “We have a few things to talk about.” “Why’s Plutarch here?” “Don’t worry Katniss. He’s on our side.” Normally, I wouldn’t believe what people said, but something about Haymitch’s tone makes me trust him. “Let’s get straight to business then.” I reply. “First things first. You realize what you’ve done right?” “Do you mean the arena?” “Precisely.” I’m prepared to hear the worst and turn my head, but I didn’t expect what he said next. “That’s my girl.” I turn back to him confused. Surely I would get a scolding or yelled at for doing such a thing because we all know that I’m already in trouble. I could be executed at any time and I’ve probably just made things worse for everyone around me.

“Katniss, Plutarch is the one who saved you when the arena exploded.” Haymitch said “Oh...Thanks” I responded. Plutarch gave me a little smile and a nod. “Plutarch and I have been waiting for a moment like this for a while. We are going to overthrow the Capitol.” I thought I was hearing things for a second, but then reality set back in. “That’s all we can tell you at the moment because we’ve got to work out other plans. We’ll leave you to think about it for a bit because it is quite the amount of information.” Haymitch said. Then the two leave the room without another word.

I lay there staring at the white ceiling, thinking...just thinking. I don’t know what to say or do honestly. Is this seriously happening? Yes. Yes, it is. I start to drift off to sleep again and I let it happen. I need to be separated from the world right now.

Then I hear a chair screech next to me. I slowly open my eyes to find someone familiar sitting next to me. This smell...I know this scent. I start to remember the smell of the woods, coal mines, and dust... This is Gale! I immediately sit upright and this startles him. “Gale!” I scream out. “Hey there, Katnip.” he says with a smirk. I embrace him, but he doesn’t seem to like it very much. He slowly pulls me away. “What’s wrong, Gale?” I say puzzled and concerned. “Look, Katniss...I’ve got something to tell you.” he says “What is it?” I respond. “It’s about Peeta...” he said. “Gale, it’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t really love him, it was all an act for the Capitol to save the others-” then he cuts me off. “Katniss, that’s not what here to tell you. I’m here to tell you that Peeta...is no longer with us.” He looks at me with such serious eyes I’m confused. “ What do you mean?” I say. Then he says the two words I dreaded the most. “He’s dead.”

End

Se llama Juan Gabriel Sánchez. El es muy inteligente. Su deportes favoritos son básquetbol y frisbi. Le gusta animales, especialmente el gatos, montar una bicicleta, California, y la playa.

Estimado Señor Sánchez,

Tenemos el cianotipo de tú casa sueño. Tú casa es en California en la playa.  Es cerca de un parque y un supermercado. Tú casa es mediana, moderna, divertida/vibrante,con dos pisos, con jardín, con una “cueva de nombre”. Tienes dos baños y tres habitaciones. Tenemos igualmente una bicicleta, básquetbol, y frisbi con la casa. Tú casa tiene  un aro de baloncesto, teles de pantalla planas muchas, una pista de baile,  una cueva de videojuegos, una bar, una invisible orquesta, ver de california, mentiroso de monster, y libros muchos debido a grande biblioteca.

10 descriptivo frases:

1. El baño tiene aseo hierro.

2. El baño también tiene un aseo con palanca.

3. Finalmente, el baño se ve como una mazmorra por excitación.

4, La sala tiene un aspecto moderno.

5. La sala es muy muy tranquilo y cómodo.

6. La cocina tiene una estufa y un fregadero.

7. La cocina es increíblemente bonita.

8.) El segundo baño es muy grande con un espejo y una bañera.

9.) Las habitaciones es mediana con unas camas y unas lámparas y unos libros.

10.) El jardín es bastante grande con rastro bicicleta y mucho flores.

Información de contacto:

Diseñado por Javier Peraza y Brandon Yam

Teléfono:

1-800-CRAFTER

Mi nombre es Brandon. ¿Cõmo te llamas? Soy rubio. Soy bien tranquilo, nunca loco, pero lindo. Cõmico, correcto? Tengo quince años. ¿Cauntos años tienes tu? ¿Cuãndo es tu cumpleaños? Mi cumpleaños es el seis de septiembre. Soy  bastante inteligente, increiblemente cõmico, y mãs o menos divertido. ¿Cõmo eres tu? ¿Qué hora es? Son las cuatro y media de la tardes. Me gusta comer, cocinar, dormir, y ir al cine. ¿Y a ti? Detesto cantar y nadar. ¿Qué te gusta hacer?  Bueno, me voy porque tengo que comer. ¡Adios! Responde cuando puedas.  

Con cariño,