Comic by definition is “of or relating to comedy” or “causing laughter or amusement,” (Dictionary.com) of course these definitions pertain to the comedic comics as well but it does apply to the comic strips we know and love as well. If this is the concrete definition of comics then why do we create such complexities with the artwork that is produced in the comic strip form? Due to the concrete definition many think comics are for kids, but the complexities have changed that generalization. 

Reading the first paragraph of “Comic Art Propaganda” by Fredrik Strömberg challenges that definition and influences the idea that it needs to be elongated or changed completely. The first paragraph of the book isn’t even written by Strömberg, it is by Peter Kuper. Kuper wrote the foreword  for this book, foreword is defined as “a short introductory statement in a published work, as a book, especially when written by someone other than the author,” (Dictionary.com). Kuper explains the whole book with the interpretation that you, a reader would have, creating a closer relationship between you the book, and the writer, Strömberg. Kuper’s interpretation of the book becomes more and more relevant as you read through the book. Kuper does a great job of getting the main ideas of the book into one foreword. Going back and reading the foreword after the book creates a sensation similar to reading your thoughts. It becomes apparent as the book continues what Strömberg’s idea was, using Kuper to write this foreword for him. 

Kuper opens his foreword giving a base ground for the readers “Propaganda as we know, is from the Latin- pro, meaning for, and paganda meaning indoctrination of young minds. (if you don’t believe me look it up.*)” (pg. 6). This definition connects back to that definition of comics though the young minds part of the definition. Comics are for kids and so is propaganda right? Strömberg addresses many propaganda filled comics and states “I have delved deep into my own comics library, which s extensive and contains examples from all over the world.” The thing is, he goes on to state that he did not use all of that knowledge in this book because of the accessibility which brings up the issue that the comics from other countries aren’t readily accessible to the general public. Strömberg made do with what he had very well though and gives this disclaimer on the second page. You get to know all the artists that changed the game of comics while learning the influence of the comics whether they knew it or not. You start to understand the different art-forms of the comics and how different comics portray different things. 

One style was Bilderbogen vom Kriege (Picture Stories from the War) directed towards young german boys to persuade them to joining the war. This comic is the exact representation of both the definition of propaganda and comic. The comic used a mixture of the old and new style for the artwork. The artist used “pictures in boxes with rhyming text below” to make it feel like it was from the last century. Also “No speech balloons, onomatopoetic words or any other modern comics inventions were used,” Creating more of a picture book stylized comic rather than the traditional one we all know and love. One thing the artist did keep were the images “were in full color, painted, and very much in the style of the times,”(pg. 48).

Comics are for anyone and everyone, they aren’t just superheroes and over-sexualized women (though that is what they are still mostly made of). There are examples of females taking over and making a name for themselves in the Comic book world. Asia, America, and Europe are the three places where comic books are sold most. Like the manga art that is controlled by more women than in any other major hub for Comic Art. Europe and America are mostly controlled by men while Asia took a different route with Manga art. There is a high percentage of females in the asian world that make for interesting views revealed in the comics. Which gives hope for that definition of comic to change.

This book took me by surprise because the writing was amazing and unexpected in every way. It’s as if you are having a conversation with Strömberg, and you can tell that there was an enormous amount of work put into the book. From the parings of the artwork and Strömberg’s writing, to the flow of the book and relating back to the main idea and purpose of the writing. The book doesn’t have to be read sequentially giving you the freedom to jump from subject to subject in whichever way you please. The book covers so many subjects and ideas and concepts creating a bit of an overload of information so that freedom of choice aforementioned comes in handy. This gives you the feeling of a history textbook but one that you want to read. Giving you the same information from a different point of view and history is all about the point of view.

“Comic Art Propaganda” by Fredrik Strömberg makes you question your idea of comics, propaganda, history, and portrayal giving you brain a great workout. If you like anything involved with art, history, or political influence this book should be in your hands and devoured by your eyes.

Bibliography

Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

Title Comic Art Propaganda

Author Fredrik Strömberg

Foreword Peter Kuper

Publisher Alistair Campbell

Date of publication July 20, 2010

Number of pages 175

Genre Sequencial Art, Comics, History

Society as a whole has become very corrupt and the things that keep us all from being pessimists is hope. Hope that we will be alive the next day. Hope for what comes next. For your crush to even look at you that day. Through out the year I've learned what hope and dreams can do for a society. Dreams are what make the world go 'round. Dreams by definition are "a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep." or to "contemplate the possibility of doing something or that something might be the case." Both are very important to making the world a better place. Without dreams we would never have inventions and we would never evolve as the human race that we are today. 

When we as humans start to believe in things there starts to become problems and controversies we go through. In religions, especially, we start to tell stories we call myths "Myths have power because they are stories that you hear usually from people of authority that you trust, to tell the truth." Myths also make you believe in the unseen which gives a person the creativity to dream. The thing is "Dreams are fulfilled through education, nothing comes without learning" so the basic human rights need to be fulfilled in order for us to move forward as a whole.

In my Digital Story I talk about happiness and that we are all in the same boat as humans "They also need to remember that we are all in the same boat as humans and if we continue down this road of nothingness we will never be happy as a whole and that sucks because we deserve to be happy in the short lives we have." Life for humans is too short to be fighting the way we do.  Like the Europeans conquering the “New world” In one of my journals I say, "You say you want peace you want peace, yet you want to fight for it?" And this could not be put in simpler terms, Society as a whole has a skewed view on the way we obtain things. 

We often want what is best but we don’t think about how we get there as something that is important. In another journal we looked at a quote from Gandhi and compared it to a quote from Machiavelli. We compared their views on how to achieve a goal. Gandhi thinks that the means in which you get to that goal is important and I agree with him “No matter the end result eventually people start to look at the way you get there.” People can see if you are someone they agree with or disagree with by the way you do things. We need to remember that good intentions are just that, intentions”

All in all I feel as though I have learned so much, About the way the human mind has evolved over time. About the things that have changed and the things that have stayed the same. Fighting is still the means to get to a goal that was originally good. But the dreams have evolved so much because the human mind has gotten to a place where the unimaginable is now reality. 

• "We are also one of the largest providers of natural gas storage and related services, with more than 400 billion cubic feet of capacity. That’s enough to meet the needs of nearly four million homes each year.  See more at:  - Transcanada  
• “ The total carbon pollution impacts of Keystone XL are the equivalent of putting 9 million cars on the road when considering the total emissions of tar sands and refining processes.” More here

• “Keystone XL will contribute dramatically to climate change. The State Department confirmed that tar sands fuel is up to 19% more greenhouse gas intensive than conventional fuel, and the tar sands industry admits that Keystone XL will lead to more tar sands production. More here   

• "The pipeline will have capacity to transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day to Gulf Coast and Midwest refineries, reducing American dependence on oil from Venezuela and the Middle East by up to 40 per cent. - More here

• "The pipeline will cross more than 1,000 water bodies across 3 states and 875 miles threatening drinking water for people, farms, and ranches with a devastating tar sands spill"  More here 

Quinn- Protest leader

(Along the pipeline land with the other protesters reading the letter from Ian)

(Reads last few lines of the letter then starts her rant)

(Pacing just out of earshot of the protest)

Wow I didn’t realize that this would be taken so far... What happened to people just standing up for what they believe in. My parents and grandparents did not have to deal with the cruelty of going to jail for speaking their minds. At least not like this... (Stops pacing) I don’t think... Anyway I don’t know why they didn’t arrest all of us maybe there was someone still on the hunt for him... I mean I understand "The man" just as much, if not less than he does. He could have joined any protest and they might still have taken him. There was an article in the news the other day about the Native Americans blocking the construction workers from getting the supplies to where they need it to build the pipeline correctly. I only did this because I believe in something I thought thats what he believed in too but I am guessing he has have changed his mind because of the tone in his letter. Sometimes things happen to us because we need them to or we need a lesson so maybe instead of blaming me...You know what why the hell am I trying to explain this crap. (Throws letter to the ground) HE KNEW! He knew what he were getting himself into, he knew that there was a chance of getting caught and he OF ALL PEOPLE should know that this THIS would get you back in jail! THEY KNOW HIM FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!! If THEY are going to arrest somebody out of anyone here they would most likely go for him! I mean he has been there before. This was his choice not mine protests usually don't go to well when the police get involved but what do I know all I wanted to do was stand up for what I believe in and look where that got him...Maybe he's right... Why would anyone believe in me... I am the kid in the classroom who shares her ideas and questions and they get shot down because they are "stupid" or "immature." Why would all these people come here when I, I of all people... Aaaaaaahhh (Grabs hair like she is going to pull it out), forget it everything is my fault isn’t it everything I do good or bad is always.... Why me.... Why me... I was just trying to do something to change the world for the better that is all I ever wanted was to make something no matter how small better but now I’ve gone and screwed things up again why do I always do this?(Walks back to the protest)

James- Construction worker

(In bosses office to talk)

Hey uh...boss? I don’t know how to tell you this but... Yeah there are some umm... I’m sorry but uh... There are some uh protesters sir... Yes, they are along they land where we are supposed to build sir... Well, the problem is, sir is that they are blocking us from doing the prep work and... Sir i understand but I would not have come to you if they hadn’t gotten in the way of our work...yes sir I already called the police but when they were here they only arrested one man and the rest were all left here...No sir they said that the land is not private land and there is no other way to get them arrested unless the protesters turn violent or they destroy property which they are not doing they aren’t even a disturbance because they are pretty much silent except when we come around.... I understand sir but... Sir I know but.... Sir...I want to get them out of here just as much as you do sir... Why sir? Because I need to bring home enough money for me and my bed rest wife who is staying home now because her job laid her off once they saw that she would not be able to do the work they ask of her... (Starts to pace because he is rambling) And sir we have been preparing for this baby for forever we had to try for the baby for four years and now that she is carrying I will stop at nothing to make sure she is happy. She was so upset when she found out she couldn't do more to prepare for the baby and I really want her to relax and just enjoy the time she has to spend alone but she doesn't want to unless everything else id perfect so I want, no I need to make sure everything is perfect. I need this job just as much if not more than you need all of us to work the job... I don’t know what I would do without this job right now because it is the only thing that is bringing in the money and things for the baby right now and though that isn’t much it is more than I could ever ask for at the moment so thank you for giving me this job. i know that there are many others that also thank you because this is just an amazing opportunity You don’t know how much this means to me but I will need to be able to work so if you could do something about the protesters that would be great... Thank you sir.

(Leaves office)

The CEO Boss :
 (In His office with employee)

Hey James... You can tell me... Just spit it out James... THE PROTESTERS ARE WHERE???DOING WHAT?????  Well Are you doing your work I mean that is all that matters, that is where the money comes from... Well I understand you wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a problem but you have to do something, ANYTHING, CALL SECURITY DO SOMETHING BEFORE I BODOSE OVER THEIR TREE HUGGING BODIES MYSELF! (talks to self, squeezes squeeze toy for stress relief) Okay Charles calm down, the freaks will move it’s okay don’t worry (Calls to assistant) ANNA! WHERE ARE MY STRESS PILLS? Any who look James boy I’m going to try my best and get rid of those monsters... You want to get them out just as much as I do, why?... Yes I understand that you need money for your new expected child, unfortunately since the Keystone XL pipeline has YET to be built, I cannot pay any of my workers because I AM nor our company is getting paid. I get that you Need this job but now that these protester are here we need to figure out how to get them out so I can make- I mean we can make the money we need.They’re too busy worrying about their precious environment but I’m going to tell you a little secret. I honestly don’t give a flying fladoodle about any of it, I care about the profits, and the investment into this entire operation. Understood? So I need you to be on my good side and help me extinguish these rebellious human beings. That is unacceptable.  Ya get what I’m sayin’ man. Come back when the protester start to do something else because this is unacceptable. how in the hell did they even get here. There is no way for things to get any worse God!!! Alright... Dismissed. 

Negative Space is basically the part that is not the object. If you outline the object and color it in the part that is not colored in is the negative space. In the cut out the negative space is the paper I did not quit. The drawings have negative space in the part not drawn on. To see negative space the artist can see what they need to take out or draw on.This technique helps most of the time because of the way your eye can pick up on the shapes found in the negative or positive space.

 In the future depicted in the book the world is in bad shape. The people have been going through this disease called the flare. When the governments found out about the Flare and how rapidly it was spreading they joined forces to create an organization named WICKED. WICKED collects a group of  “test subjects” into a place called the maze. In the maze there is a glade where “the subjects” are sent through an elevator. The walls of the maze changes every night with the walls to the maze from the glade closed every night. In the first book there is a code that is revealed through the maze. The code is the key to the next book. 

The books are narrated by an unknown person who knows everything. Thomas the main character’s head is the one that this unknown narrator knows most about. Then there is Teresa the only girl Glader. Newt the "nice" guy and Minho the tough one. Teresa, Newt, and Minho are Thomas’ only friends for a while and they are by his side for the most part. Thomas goes through some crazy things and the conflicts he has are with everyone. James Dashner made sure to put in person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. self evenly through the series. Thomas has so much conflict he ends up expecting it by the end. My favorite character is Teresa because she is the good best friend she is always there for Thomas even before Thomas knows it and everything she does is to protect him no matter how much it hurts her doing those things. The series is about survival, readers should understand that through surviving something you may lose something else and all you can do is pick up where you left off because if you look back you won’t be able to handle it.

The series is hard to relate to situation wise but when you look at the thematic content you realize that you might have done the same things. These kids go through so much by the end of the series I can barely remember how they got there and I think that was the point. I think James Dashner wanted to make the point that as long as the ones you love are around you then you will be all right and that is what I believe to be true every day. I cannot relate to any specific character yet because they go through so many changes so quickly that when I start to relate they do something that I don’t understand again. I have felt the way every “glader” felt when they were a “shuck greenie” because you feel alone in a new place and you don’t know where you fit it you just know you better start to because right now you are the odd one out. 

The series is wonderfully and skillfully crafted a story that takes you through a train that you want to be an express one with only stops are for the 3:00 am coffee breaks and end of book potty breaks. James Dashner remains what the future might look like and shows you the imagery of the maze in the first book and the world in the second and third books. Throughout the three books Dashner is consistent with the amount of suspense and tension he gives through each book. The series has so many strengths and I think that the biggest strength is how James Dashner creates this world for you and he doesn’t drag it along with details about the smallest of things like other writers might have if they had this subject. I would change very little in this book only the deaths because all my favorite characters go for Thomas. I would recommend these books just based on the writing style and speed because it is very hard to make a person want to read a story so bad that they have to put it down to get through the ending. Dashner gives you these characters that you want to get to know and through the situations they are put through they reveal themselves increasingly to you.

After Blog #2 I have gone out in the world and executed an agent of change. For my agent of change I created a box where students could express their feelings on the topic of teen depression or tell me what they might be going through. The box was originally in Ms. Dunn’s room but on April 28 and 29 I walked around at Y band lunch to get more notes. Many people were willing to put their thoughts about the subject in the box but the people who told me their personal stuff were few and I think that if I had more time and if I sat down with people and told them the situation they would be more willing to tell me something personal. The box had many instructions and it was easier to understand when told people. Sometimes the thing people need is the thing that only you can give.

My original idea was to do a support group but I knew that Amanda Thieu in Orange Stream was doing that and I didn’t want to do another support group. I helped her on the days that she had the meetings. That plan went better than me having a support group of my own because I would put my box out so that people could put notes in and people did. The idea of a box came from my experience of not wanting to talk about my own feelings around people because I was and still am an introvert when it comes to my feelings. I knew that there were others out there that didn’t like to talk so much about their feelings. They felt better when they wrote something or did something to just get it off their chest without feeling like they were burdening others with their own feelings. When I started I was scared to ask people to write the notes because of the subject matter, I had to get over that and ask people by the end to give me the notes I needed to do my project well. Also the location put a hindrance on my project, people would often forget about the box and even when I reminded them they forgot easily. When I started to take it a round at lunch as Ms. Dunn suggested I get the results I wanted.

This project impacted me considerably. I honestly was not expecting the experience to touch me in so many ways. The first thing that I remember is finding out how many teens are actually depressed in the United States alone; it was devastating. The next thing made me want to cry because at the interview I wasn’t anticipating the outcome of what happened between the two girls I have known for so long could be so unhappy and not I have known help one another. I could not imagine going through half the stuff that they went through. I hope that everyone that has seen me go through this process has been impacted at the numbers, the stories and now the notes. The community I touched was small but I believe that is where you have the most impact on people.

In the community I can see myself doing this for incoming freshmen, who are nervous or for the outgoing seniors, who are getting out of their comfort zones. I believe that I can make an impact if I try hard enough and I am thinking that this mixed with something else can become something of a capstone for my senior year and I am very exited now! I believe that you are always learning and that you won’t stop until you pass. I have learned a considerable amount through the “You and the World” experience. I would love to collaborate with m classmates on this subject and start something on the topic because I have learned so much and I want this to stop in America. We are supposed to be dreamers in America and our young people especially but instead we are having nightmares.

I will take away one thing in particular, young people are the future and if pressures from the media, school, or our parents don’t kill us we will kill ourselves.

Thank you for reading!

Bibliography

 All answers to the notes are on a private Google Doc located here you have to request access and be approved to see the answers to the notes.

What is one thing that your learned specifically that you did not know before?

I learned many things through this project and one thing that will stick with me is how you have to work hard and go through trial and error to get the best product of your work. This piece of art is not my best but I know what I could do to make that so and that involves a great deal of work and perseverance. 

How did leaning this thing make your drawings better?

This has made my drawings better by showing me that if it looks wrong then it is wrong because that is what art is looking seeing and observing; three synonyms that have very different meanings to an artist.

If you did this assignment again, what would you do differently?

Honestly, I would do the whole thing over and start with the color and add the lines afterwards.

What is your advice to someone who has never drawn a one-point perspective drawing before?

Just keep trying and you will get it one day and you will be very happy when you do because many people have trouble with this.

What resource helped you the most and why?

The room helped me most I think I could walk in there blindfolded and know where everything goes because of this drawing.

This canvas is the creative portion of my Macbeth essay. There are many elements that go into this creative portion, it goes through what Lady Macbeth and Macbeth both experience throughout the story together. While the killing of Duncan shook both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, they reacted to their newfound power differently, causing their relationship to shift. They both went through changes in the story and this canvas is demonstrating the shift in the relationship. The project went through many versions before getting to what it is now. I new I wanted to show that they switched roles in the relationship so I went to drawing them in quadrants and switching places on the bottom from the top. Then I wanted to add branches creeping in at the corners. The branches went from being drawn to being real quickly. Then I ditched the quadrants all together and essentially came up with this. I went through many problems with the gluing of the branches to the canvas and solved that by cutting them and gluing them back together. I am most proud of the way it turned out I didn't expect it to turn out this way and as I was putting it together I fell in love with it more and more. If I were to do this over I would use spray paint instead of brushes because I don't like the streaks that were left in the white background. I learned that this story is copied many times even now and I learned many things about my classmates from what they chose as their creative piece. I learned how many things I do subconsciously that turned out correct for what I was trying to portray. This project taught me to appreciate how everyone thinks and expresses themselves and the diverseness of our stream.

Mi nombre es Jasmin. Tengo catorce años. Soy muy artistica. Es por eso que cuando tengo tiempo libre, debug y bailo. Soy deportista . Así que a veces corro y simper como. Me encanta mi amigos. Por lo tanto despise de las clases paso un rato con amigos.

Señorita Manuel, Señorita Dunn, Señor Sanchez, y Señorita Hull son Profesores de SLA. La Señorita Manuel enseña la clase de Español. La clase es muy divertido y cómica. Ella es muy boba. Tiene hermana y grande familia. La Señora Dunn enseña la clase de Inglés. La clase es muy interesante y inteligente. Ella es simpática. Ella tiene una niña. El Señor Sanchez enseña la clase de Historia y Español. Él es bastante sociable. Él tiene una novia. La Señorita Hull enseña la clase de Arte y Tecnología. Ella es trabajadora.

Me gusta SLA porque es casi siempre lleno con estudiantes estar de vago con amigos y trabajador. Me gusta porque es bien relajar y chévere. Las estudiantes hacer una diferencia en el entorno. Lo que más me gusta de SLA es muy divertido y muy desafiante. No hay nada que no me gusta.

Since my first blog post,"You and the World" Teen Depression, I have found out that more teenagers are depressed than I thought. The statistics have sown outstanding numbers. On this site the numbers are plain and simple and that is only in the girls! Some of the things that they mention on the page are that the number of female that are depressed triples from the age 12 to 15. At 16 it still increases by almost a whole percentage. Then when the girls at different went to get help with their depression there was an ten percent difference between the girls that were 12 and the girls at the age of 17. I also found out that it takes about a month to get an appointment for help with your depression. Then when you are prescribed with depression meds it takes another month for them to work or even have any effect on you. I learned that many teens know many others or are those others that have gone through some form of depression. Most doing things such as cutting.

So, if you are listening to this then you must have picked it up in the lost and found. When you are done I want you to pass this around the people on this list on this tape.

I think that sometimes people don’t understand the difference between life and death and why someone would want death over life. Well, I have expressed thirteen of the reasons for my suicide in other tapes that thirteen people knew about and as for you the person who is listening to this all you need to know is how to mail this to the next person.

Now down to why I made this tape, I originally thought, “Oh well the people on my list know what they did and now they know how it affected me in my emotional state.” Even so I thought that maybe through these tapes I could lead someone to go through something like what I went through because I don't think that I could wish that on anyone in this world. 

So here I go…

When I was done with the thirteen reasons and already packed and mailed them I thought to myself what about me, all those thoughts I had after those events and all those choices that I made affected the outcome for my decision. 

The first thing that I did concerning the first tape was when Justin spread the word that we did a bit more than kiss. He was wrong on his part, but maybe I had something to do with it because of my reaction. One rumor isn’t so bad and after all that I went through that was just a small part. Though it was the beginning of a chain of events.

Alex, you know what you did and it wasn’t just to me it was to all the girls on that list and because of that list you are on mine. I know I could have taken being on the good side of that list optimistically but it was what happened after that list that made me upset. When you put me on there I lost what I thought was a friend because of it and my reputation didn't get any better. In high school your reputation is all you have really, because you don't have any real world experiences that you can be proud of and help you move on. That rep gets you the nods in the hallways or the shunning in the lunch room. 

Jessica, I understand your point of view and I understand that you were mad with all these rumors, that you didn't know what to believe but I needed you to believe in me and I think that is what broke me down most. Losing your first friend in a new environment takes a toll on you and I think this was the downward spiral in a snowball effect.

Tyler, no one wants a stalker. That makes you feel weird and wonder why they would want to stalk you. Once you find out you wonder what they have already seen. I don't think there really is anything much left to say after stalker outside your bedroom with a camera.

Marcus, when you reinforced the rumors I thought, “Wow people really believe this crap.” I was shocked that someone could here something with no evidence and still believe it. 

Zach, I didn't know that what I did hurt you so bad, but in my time of need and the pleading look I gave you I thought you deserved it. Then you had to take the only  encouragement in my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is I was fishing for someone to say something nice to me in the sea of bad talk going around.

Clay, why didn't I get to know you better?

Justin, I don't know why you didn't stop Bryce, but I know I was too scared to and afterwards it made me feel horrible. I didn't want that burden on me because if you know you can prevent something bad and you don't, that is basically the same thing as going up to the person and giving them permission to do it.

Bryce, I don't know if you know I used you, but I did. By that time I made up my mind. With you I let myself fall deeper into this hole that was dug for me by others.

Mr Porter, you didn't stop me and I don't think I could have stopped me either especially at that point. I am sorry for putting you in such a difficult position in my decision.

One final goodbye to all of you.

“Th1rteen R3asons Why” by Jay Asher tells the story of Hannah Baker a girl who killed herself. Clay Jensen is one of Hannah’s classmates and co-workers. He is on the audio tapes Hannah recorded and is listening to them throughout the book. I loved Jay asher portrayed Clay and his thoughts in the book when he was listening. Jay made some really great points about many suicide cases that I have heard about and he was so sincere through the whole book. You could tell Clay really cared for Hannah and wanted more of a relationship with her. You can tell clay is battling some conflict within himself and with Hannah. Hannah on the other hand was dealing with every type of conflict. She would have conflict with society that she would then reflect on inwardly. Additionally contrast was displayed when Hannah would face these situations. It was this vicious cycle that wore away at her emotions and I think the author did a good job of showing those emotions through the text.

Though the author was very good at conveying the emotions through the text, the format of the writing was hard to read. Going back and fourth from one person’s thoughts to another person’s thoughts was hard for my brain to differentiate. When I finished the novel I wanted a guide so I knew how to read the book. I wanted to get my mind ready to switch quickly from one persons’ train of thought, to the other’s, to the conversation one is having, to a conversation that the other had. Other than that the book was very well written and I cant wait to see if the movie that is rumored to happen will ruin the novel or hold ute to the characters jay has created.

The book hit me hard because I have struggled with some of the things that Hannah went through and I know others that have also. Hannah was the character that I could relate to, but Clay is the one that I understood the most. I could easily follow Clay’s train of thought and why he would ask the questions he did. When I first picked the novel up I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. The book is very deep and it took me on an emotional roller coaster. The reader can take away that everything can effect any situation a person is going through.

Many of us as teens have heard the stereotype that all we care about is what we look like who we talk to and what is going to happen next for us. Essentially the adults in the world put us in one big box labeled teenagers and let us fight for ourselves through the 3 years of middle school and the 4 years of high school. These seven years in our lives are the ones that shape and mold us. We are transitioning in our lives from children to adults. We also are experiencing many new things that stick with us for the rest of our lives. Whether it is good or bad it stays with you and affects you in some way. Sometimes it affects you in the short term and you make some decisions that aren't the best for you or the people around you. Those decisions are made based on many things that happen in these seven years or even earlier. The decision may also be based on depression and teen depression is a little special compared to other depressions.

The things that influence our decisions in life can be from something so small like someone telling you that they think you should do this or that to something as a person who is very close to you dying. The decisions make us the way we are and when you are depressed your mind isn't in the correct mindset for you to be making big decisions. If you are depressed and you are a teen it can make your decisions a little more rash than one of an adult. The Facts say that self harm is most common in Girls From ages 15 to 24. Thats is what makes it interesting though because if you just search Anything with self harm in teens the search automatically goes to teen depression in girls and those are all the suggestions too. One statistic on teen suicide, I found that is very interesting is that boys are 4x more likely to die from suicide than girls. However, the girls are more likely to attempt suicide. So the boys are more likely to complete a “successful” suicide than girls but the girls attempt more times than the guys.