"Stronger" Essay

Everyone knows what it means to be human, but if you're Gethin Rao from "Stronger" by Michael Carroll, you also know what it to be "superhuman." When Gethin turned twelve, an accident at church transformed him from normal Gethin to Brawn: a thirteen foot tall, blue, and about fourteen hundred pound hulk. All he wants is to be understood and not have everyone scream in terror when they see him. His wish is granted when he meets people like him who open up to him. Throughout the story, the reader is presented with the idea that it's what's inside that counts.
   The first person who sees Brawn for who he really is on the inside is Abigail, who is another superhuman like Brawn. Abby broke him out of prison during their first battle with Krodin. When she called him Brawn, he said "For once I didn't hate that name. Not when she said it." This is showing his affection for Abby. It also hints to the fact that the two will be great friends. It also shows how deep their trust for each other is. After Brawn joined Ragnarok and attempted to flee, Abby begged for him to come back to them so they could sort this out. "When I freed you from Oak Grove, I took a chance on you. Now you have to do the same. It's not too late." This quote shows that Abby is still willing to be Brawn's friend. Unfortunately, Abby dies, so Brawn never gets that chance again. But Abby did affect his life more than any of his other friends.
 Another person who sees him on the inside is Lance. Lance was very childish and he jinxed Brawn. Brawn smiled at this, because he had missed out on teenage humor for while. This shows that Lance helps Brawn experience the life he missed out on for four years. Lance also shares Brawn's ideas. When the team captured Casey Duval and Brawn thought it was wrong, Lance said "And I agree with you." This shows that he and Brawn are alike in many ways. While Lance's affect was not as large as Abby's, it was significant, and it made Brawn better.
 Another person who affected his life was Harmony Yuan. Harmony kept him in captivity for a year after he first turned into Brawn, and she underestimated him. When she threatened to kill his parents, she said, "You wouldn't kill me." Harmony affected Brawn by making him a bit more merciless than he normally was. Harmony also was the warden for his prison, and she punished him. Harmony said to him that, "You deserve to be here. You sided with Ragnarok when you knew he was evil. Harmony made Brawn suffer throughout his life, saying he deserved it. Harmony went even further by saying that he was an aberration along with the other super-humans, saying that he should never have even existed. She said "The age of the super-human is over," stating that people like him were mistakes, flaws. Brawn's life was impacted most by Harmony.
Harmony, Abby, and Lance were the three people who had the biggest effects on Gethin. Abby and Lance had a positive effect, and Harmony had a negative impact. But all of them made him the Brawn he is today. Not saying that's a good thing, because he's in prison for the rest of his life, forced to mine ore for the prison. But he still had an okay life while Abby and Lance were his friends.

Essay for "Ashes"

Many people have a hard time keeping up with relationships can be difficult at times. And if you are the girl from "Ashes" by Susan Beth Pfeffer, that fact is established throughout your life. Ashes' parents are divorced and she has trouble deciding who she is closer to: the mother or the father. Throughout her relationships with her parents, the reader is shown that relationships are demanding and deceptive, especially if they are with people you love.

  Ashes' relationship with her dad may be important to her, but it doesn't feel sincere or real at all to the reader. Her dad once said that he was a dreamer in the story. But he never keep his promises to Ashes. Ashes states that "When I was little, Dad used to promise me the stars for a necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never happened." She is clearly stating that he never acts on his promises and never keeps his promises to her. This already gives the reader an idea that her dad cannot be relied to keep any of his promises. Another thing about the relationship with the dad is that it's not sincere. Her dad manipulated Ashes to get money from her mother. His technique is honeying Ashes. "'You're one in a million,' he said. 'The best daughter a man could dream of.'" This is an example of how he uses Ashes to get the money. He thinks that he can manipulate his daughter to do what he wants. Throughout Ashes' relationship with her father, the reader is introduced to the idea that relationships can be complicated, heartbreaking, and built on a foundation of lies, especially with people you love.

  While her dad's relationship with her actually makes her happy, Ashes' relationship with her mother is restrained by the fact that she does not really take the time to get acquainted with Ashes. The mom is always prepared for anything that could come her way. Her mom calls her by her real name, and she doesn't even like it; and she hates Ashes' nickname. "'You just call her that to annoy me!' mom yelled." Her mom doesn't like either of her daughter's names. It might not be easy for Ashes, having a mom who calls you a name she doesn't like. But the mom can still take care of her while her dad is unable to. But Ashes has no idea if her mom loves her the way her dad says he does.

  Ashes is stuck in the middle of two conflicting sides. Both relationships with her parents are forcing her to decide who she feels more passion towards. The dad or the mom? The mom does not really connect with Ashes and calls her by a name she does not like. Not only that, but she does not promise Ashes anything, simply saying "'I can't promise you that'." This shows how she can't promise Ashes what she wants. The dad on the other hand, is much more manipulative. He calls her "special" and the one in the million girl", even though he's lying about his feelings to get what he wants. I feel sorry for Ashes because she is blind and does not realize the father's deceptive game. The father's failures affected the mother, and that is the reason she never promises Ashes anything. Throughout the story, Ashes has to realize the affects her decisions will have on her relationships with her parents, and that is something she does not want to happen.

  While Ashes decides what path she is going to pursue, she has to overlook the consequences of her choices. Her story lets the reader know that relationships are deceptive and demanding, especially if those relationships are with people you love.

Books Finished

Half Magic
Divergent
Insurgent
Allegiant
The Fault in Our Stars
Halo: First Strike
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Stronger
The Ascension
1984
Camp Concentration
The Maze Runner
Inkheart
Deadman Wonderland Volumes 6,7,8
Legend
Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour

3 NEW BOOKS FINISHED

New Books Finished
Divergent
Insurgent
Allegiant