Wednesday, March 26, 2008

3/26 (Week 6), Post B

Dear Arnold,

I am so sorry about your sisters tragic death, and from reading the book I could almost tell something like this was going to happen in the near future. You talk so much about how indians on the rez drink way too much and that they die at an extremely rapid rate due to alcohol. I could see a tragedy due to alcohol coming in your life. I was exremely impressed though at your recovery. You took it hard, but not hard to the extent in which you can't bear to live anymore. I know how much you loved your sister, but life doesn't slow down for you. When you think about it, your sister ran away to start her own life and be succesful, you need to do the same to cover for what she can no longer do. True she left mainly because she saw you go to Reardan and decided to take action herself, but in no way should you ever even think about putting the blame upon yourself for her leaving and death. It Was HER CHOICE and you just set an example ahead of time. Drinking was completely her decision, and i am terrily sorry for that loss. As I was saying, she left to do the same thing you have in mind, to get a decent life away from the rez and poverty. You must set your heart at going to school and getting the grades you need to go to a good college, and from there the path is paved for you. I saw your freshman report card and it was quite impressive, a couple A's, A-'s and a few B's, but its no big problem, the important thing is you keep improving every day and graduate as a confident man ready to overcome his lifestyle on the rez and live decent life with a decent or great income, all depending on how you go about everything now. Hope you do well Arnold, and all the best to you.

Sincerely, Goodbye

Arman Shahriar

3/26 (Week 6), Post A

Quote and Significance:

"Don't you ever drink, my mother said to me. She slapped me. Once, twice, three times. She slapped me HARD. (pg208)" This is an extremely significant quote because when Arnolds sister died, his mother was quite upset and so was the rest of the character list in the book that knows Arnold. These last 30 pages were mainly set around mourning his sister and the rebirth of his friendship with Rowdy. This quote though stands for the characters as a whole, very upset about Mary's death.

Emerging/ Last Theme:

The last theme that I see in this book is companionship leads to success. When one has friends, one can suceed. WIthout Rowdy Arnold would really be nothing. Rowdy brightens up his day when he's down and cracks him up a bit. Rowdy deserves full credit for Arnold's recovery of his sisters death and Rowdy seems to really be letting go of his jealousy and bieng proud of Arnold for once, which is going to clear up one more roadblock for Arnold and will push him to success.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

3/19 (Week 5), Post B

Dear Arnold,

I am really quite impressed with all of your newest achievements at Reardan high school ever since you transferred there. First off, id like to mention your amazig basketball achievements. I know you were never the star athelete, but really, you've come a long way at Reardan. You are starting on varsity for goodness sakes, and you are scoring 12 points a game, all as a freshman. I think your coach is right saying you might achieve all state honors in a few years. Just keep up the hard work and keep shooting from the perimeter is all i have to say. You seem to have a knack for the jump shot, so work to your advantage, keep taking it. By the way, just to comment on your performance against Rowdy in the rematch between Reardan and Wellpinit, you really pulled it off. It doesn't matter how many points you scored, you held a player who's virtually been unstoppable this year (averaging 25 points per game), to only four points. That is nothing for Rowdy, and i think you both know that. I was going to say though, and I know you noticed too, you are beginning to lose your friendship with the kid. You really have to make a move soon and try to get Rowdy back, otherwise, I'm just getting the feeling that the next 3 years in high school are going to be hell for you. You're going to be going to Reardan every day, leaving your old best bud behind, and on top of that, kicking his butt in basketball. My advice to you is (if this isn't too out of the park); try to get Rowdy to join you in your journey to the outside world (Reardan). Persuade him or his parents to let him come to Reardan so he can meet new kids and be the sport star he was meant to be, and better yet, you'll be playing ball with him for years to come. Just throwing it out there. I have about 40 pages left and i'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks, Sincerely,

Arman

3/19 (Week 5), Post A

Quote and Significance:

"Im guarding you tonight, it's my night." (pg191). This quote is very significant in this part of the book because Arnold is finally stepping up to his jerk "old best friend" in the basketball game and showing him that he is not scared of standing up to him anymore and that he has become a totally new person ever since he started attending Reardan.

Emerging Theme:

An emerging theme/existing through the chapters i just read, is toughening out the hard times in life and moving on. Arnold's grandmother just died and it is extremely sad that he has to deal with that and the new school at once, but his friends are supportive in school and help put the asshole teacher that makes fun of him in her place. He needs to learn to move on, because im sure that his grandmother wanted him to be sucessful and leave the rez just as he did, and i'll see what he is going to do with his life from here on out.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

3/12 (Week 4), Post B

Dear Arnold,

You are a real trooper man, stepping out onto that basketball court and taking all that crap from those people who have already messed up their lives on the rez. You even ended up with a concussion and you told coach you'd step out there and play at any minute against those guys. I thought that was very mature of you not to fight back at the indians on the rez for abusing you in that way, you simply left, got 3 stitches and came back, only to get pummeled to the floor by your old best friend. I have some advice for you Arnold, you should really try to gain Rowdy's friendship back, because if you do, he can manipulate the kids in school to like you again, and like you said, the whole rez is connected together, all those kids will tell their parents and all will be good again. The way i reccomend you do this is by doing something dangerous with Rowdy, something you know he can't resist. Something that takes alot of gut that will get him thinking more about the dangers and less about hating you. I'd say if you lived in my neighborhood time take him skydiving, but that is probobly unavailable to you, so maybe try something like rock climbing or of that risky nature. You are really going to need this kid to be on your side again, and i can tell he can be easilly manipulated. He's just under the impression right now that you don't want to be around him/look down on him, and the day he realizes that this isn't true is the day you will be buds again. I really enjoyed those last 40 pages, and until next time.

Sincerely,

Arman

3/12 (Week 4), Post A

Quote and Significance:

"Penelope and I became a hot topic in Reardan.(pg156)" This quote is extremely significant because it really outlines the whole section that i just read. Arnold begins to almost "date" Penelope, the most popular girl in school, and bieng a kid who started with no friends, he really rises up in the social chart, and above all, Roger, the huge stud of the school, who he punched in the face earlier, becomes friends with him.



Emerging theme:

An emerging theme through this section is Learning to choose the right friends. Arnold has Roger and the whole white Reardan kids on his right, and old pal Rowdy on his left. He is going to either have to adjust to both or drop one or the other. It's going to be a close call for him but it is a theme because friendship in generall is key in this book for Arnold.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

3/5 (Week 3), Post B

Dear Junior,

I see that you are beginning to realize that there are many differences between life on your rez and life in the "rich community." I think that punching Roger was a great learning lesson for you and that you have actually, believe it or not, benefited from that experience. Im glad you've found Gordy to be a good friend, and although he is a little bit stuck up, you are going to have to adapt to "high culture." School seems to be coming along easier for you now that you've been going to Reardan for awhile, but you cannot give up. You must keep up the work and as Gordy is telling you, continue to add to your knowledge by reading, writing, and paying extra attention in class. I have some advice for you though, try to chat a little bit more with Roger, he seems to like you, and if you can get him on your side i can almost guarantee that you will have half of the school's population of boys on your side as well. Roger seems to have realized after that little "incident" you had with him that some kids really aren't scared of him and he seems to appreciate you and your background. Penelope also seems to like you, even though you lied a little bit with her. Getting more friends isn't too hard when the two most popular kids in school like you, and knowing at this point in time that Roger and Penelope do, you should be able to get on the right social track (if that's something you're concerned about). All in all, keep up the good schoolwork and congrats on your sucessful transfer to Reardan, you seem to be on the right track.

Sincerely,

~Arman

3/5 (Week 3), Post A

Quote and significance:

" 'You punched me,' Roger said. His voice thick with blood. 'I cant believe you punched me.'(pg 102) " This quote is extremely significant to this section of the book because Junior is just getting adapted to his new school in Reardan when he gets into a brawl with one of the toughest boys in school. The boy was making fun of Junior when all of the sudden Junior punched him smack in the face and made him bleed. The boy (Roger) showed great fear of Junior because at this all white school, violence is hardly ever brought up in fights and it was unusual for someone to punch.

Emerging Theme:

One Emerging theme thus far is Learning to adapt. Junior punched Roger in the face and although he was scared to death even asked Roger to finish the fight, simply because thats how it was done on the rez. But junior has come to realize that violence is not how they solve problems in a white school like Reardan and he's going to have to adapt to the culture there.