What Opinions About Goverment Are Books Giving To Teens

      As children become teens and then adults they need to understand the world around them and government is a huge part of that. How they were brought up will have the biggest effect on their decisions and opinions but what they hear and read will have some effect as well. Therefore it is important to know how authors are portraying the government and people in power.

      In the book Allegiant by Veronica Roth I've noticed that the power keeps shifting. Uprising after uprising occurs. Once the people who rebelled get into power there is a rebellion against them. They can never settle for a leader or even a democracy. The people who are in power usually have a dark secret or an alternate motive for good doing. This is what causes the uprisings. Is this a good message to teach children. That first of all the government has secret plots and isn't trust worthy. And secondly that rising up (and usually causing a war) is the answer. This isnt just in Allegiant. Many science fiction books portray a crooked dystopian society that needs fixing. And the reason it is so disfunctional is because of the people running it.

      I also noticed that the people in charge were portrayed as cruel and violent. In Allegiant when soldiers from the government go to the corrupt poor areas the people are afraid of them and their guns. However in that pacticular scene from the book their is also the opinion of the soldiers. To them the people are the violent ones. However you as a reader dont take the soldiers side because they think that they are better than the poor citizens.they think they are scum. Does that show that the government doesn't care for the people? This book doesn't seem like a government promoting book. You could spin it and take the side of the soldiers if you really wanted to but the way it's written doesn't make you want to. The main characters are against the power figures so that makes you want to be too.

      Basically the people in power are always the villian. Being portrayed as heartless people who don't have feelings. Like they are playing a game of peoples lives and they can't feel the effects.Do we want our children thinking that that government is bad and that authority figures can't be truly good. The government isn't perfect but it isn't our enemy either.

Death=?

     Death is a mysterious and complex thing. Yet in many science fiction books it is tossed aside as worthless. In The Hunger Games shows it as a game and as something so easy to lose. These books mention the deaths of main characters but if you read closer you'll notice the tons of lives lost. Whether from wars or revenge thousands of people die in each book. I think that it conveys that life isn't precious or that life is so little that it could be used as a punishment.
     In the book I'm currently reading Allegiant by Veronica Roth I noticed something in this futuristic world that relates to the death penalty that we have today. After a war that killed hundreds of innocents there is trials for the leaders of armies and the rebels. It brought up a question that is a current debate in the world: is death a valid punishment. Also, if you killed someone is it worth your own life? That brings up the question of what is equal to what. Death to death or death to jail. I've noticed that a lot of sci-fi books have the question of what is death worth. And is there a time where death is the better option?
     I concluded that in most books death is what the punishment ends up being. For example, in The Hunger Games President Snow has an execution date. I'm not sure if this portrays the authors opinion on the death penalty or if she only thinks it was a good punishment for this character in particular. In Allegiant People are sentenced to death but are rescued so that the only ones who died were the innocent citizens. This shows the opposite perspective that no matter how many you kill death is not the answer. Overall I do not think anyone should be sentenced to death. Rotting in a cell seems worst to me. However I disagree about how death is portrayed in many books for teens. Instead these books should show how valuable life is.
     

"Age-rated Books: Right or Wrong" Reading Response

The article "Age-rated Books: Right or Wrong?" by BBC news deals with a topic of major controversy. If YA literature is appropriate for teens/kids or if it deals with topics too extreme for that age. It shows one aspect of this argument by portraying the proposal of age-rating stickers. These are basically small sticker you can put on the back of books to say what age/ages it is appropriate for. She then states the argument against this proposal. Quoting real people who disagree and why.
     She then shows the side that is for these age-ratings. She puts out arguments that when you read the same book at a different age you can get a totally different message. Also poll results like 86%of adults  "would welcome age guidance on children's books as one of several tools to help them choose fiction". She uses craft moves like showing both sides opinion. I like that she did this because it gives readers the entire story not just one side. Also it lets the reader choose which side they're on without getting persuaded by the authors opinion.
     I personally think that the age-rating is a great idea. It doesn't stop kids from reading emotionally challenging books, but it can let them know what they're getting into and prepare them. Like it said in the article: its helps you choose fiction. Just a helping hand so that you don't read something that you're not ready for. In the article it says that people are opposed to this concept because children differ in reading skills and interests. I understand this but like I said before. There is no forcing just advising. For example a fifth grader picks up a book to read. Having no idea that it deals with rape and child abuse. If that child saw a teen+ rating they would know it deals with topics that are for teenagers and maybe too extreme and not read it because they know it might upset them. Overall age-rating seems like a great idea. It would solve lots of fights over who is allowed to read what. And everyone can have a happy and healthy reading life with the books that they will enjoy the most.

Try to Float

     Are you a good person? Really think about it. Are you kind to others? Do you give not take? Do you go out of your way to make others happy and comfortable? Hazel, the protagonist in The Fault in our Stars by John Green certainly does. She has lung cancer so she has to carry around a oxygen tank everywhere and she can't get too much physical exertion. Even with all these complications in her life she is kind and caring towards others. This made me think that everyone should reflect on themselves more. If Hazel, who could die at any moment, can be selfless and caring, then so can I.
    The main action she does that shows selflessness is when she tells Augustus that she can't be with him. She does love him but doesn't want him to have to suffer if she dies. This is a extreme choice for Hazel. It shows that she will give up what she loves so that someone else won't get hurt. I think the author included this part of the conflict to stress an important message. That the right thing might not always feel right, and that it also might not always be what you, personally, want it to be. This really pushed me to reflect. Am I as selfless as Hazel? Can I change? Would I have given up my emotions like that? Stop and think about it for yourself. Think of a time you did something solely for someone else. If you can't think of one, its really time to self reflect. I remember after Hurricane Sandy me and my mom went out to the rockaways and helped sort food and clothing. Bringing things to people in need. Knowing that you did something good is a great feeling. Its uplifting and makes you feel elated. Like floating. That bouncy, floaty, happy feeling. Happy that you made someone else happy.
    After reading this book I realized how lucky I was. I have hardly any problems in my life and I can definitely afford to care more about others. I think that having cancer made Hazel value things more in life. Most of what she values is her friends and family so she is caring and kind towards them. She could die at any given time so she preserves small moments. I think everyone should see the world like Hazel. . Know that everything you do has an effect on others and that every second counts so be kind whenever you can.

Reading Response: An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green

The book "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green is about a teenager named Colin who has only ever dated girls named Katherine. He goes on a road trip with his friend and it becomes a very eventful summer. I think that an important theme or message in this book is that it is good to try new things because you might be surprised by what you find.
    One example of this theme in the book is when Colin agrees to go on a road trip. After Katherine number 19 dumped him, all he wanted to do was nothing. However he opened up and tried something new, for example a road trip, which actually let him discovering some amazing things and having unforgettable summer. This shows that when you feel that absolutely nothing could make you feel better should try something new and exciting and maybe it'll raise your spirits.
         Another example of this theme or message is when Colin learns  how to shoot a gun. He has no idea how to shoot a gun or even hunt. And it's not that he even likes shooting a gun, but just the act of going outside with Lindsey (a girl whose house he ends up staying at) and being in the forest and doing something new made him say, later on, that he had a great day.
        My final example of trying something new and liking it, is when Colin dates a girl other than a Katherine. He finds that he can be just as in love with a girl named Lindsey as he can be with a girl named Katherine. Maybe even more so. This shows that you don't have to stick with the same thing every time spicing up  your life can maybe result in a miracle.
    All in all this theme that trying new things is good follows us throughout the book. When Colin was depressed he tried a new thing and it made his life so much better. He ended up being with totally new people in a totally new place and doing totally new things but, in the end, he was up happy. I think that we can all learn from Colin and not be a afraid to try new things because we just might be surprised what good will come of them.