Esperanza Rising was easy to read because the text size was big compared to other literature books. I can know that Esperanza Rising was translated or written by a Spanish speaking author because there are some of Spanish words in the sentences.
I was really sad when I read about the death of Esperanza’s father on Esperanza’s birthday. The death of Esperanza’s father must be a trick of her greedy uncle, Tio Louis. I was so proud of Esperanza and her mother for deciding not to marry Tio Louis just to get money and continue living in a luxury life. Esperanza and her mother chose to live together even though they do not have enough money and do not have a luxury life.
I do not like the ending line. I wished the happy ending was longer. Esperanza and her mother all struggle so hard and spent almost their time for working hard and overcoming the fatal illness. It was really long line. Ryan described their hardships for about 250 pages. However, the happy ending was only 30 to 50 pages. I feel so bad about Ryan finishing the end so quickly with a simple words, not describing how happy they are and how happily they lived from that time. I was so sad while reading the book, the 30 pages happy ending could not change my sad feeling to happy so suddenly.
Esperanza Rising reminds me of Mexico’s revolt and immigrant situation in United States. I heard about the revolt of Mexico in world history with another countries revolt because of politician’s corruption, famine, or confusing economy. As far as immigration is concerned, I now know that there are lots of immigrants in United States from Mexico. They were treated very badly and received low wages, even though they worked the same number of hours, and they had a poor reside system. Although it is fiction, I think that mistreatment of immigrant from Mexico might happen and can happen even now for any immigrant in America.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Three Book Review
Copper Sun is worth teaching in class because it deals with the matter of skin consciousness and slavery which is a main problem in history and now as well. This book will help students understand the history of slavery better through fiction. Additionally, it will let students see the different aspects of slavery through the views of Amari and Polly.
Harry Potter is widely popular book all over the world. Even though it is fantasy fiction, it shows deep friendships. Harry, Hermione, and Ron develop their friendship fighting against Voldemort, the worst vice in wizard world. They help each other when they are in trouble, which develops their relationship better. Although, in reality, we do not experience the same hardships as Harry, this book can be an example for students to be more cooperative with each other.
Twilight is another famous book in the world. I do not think this book is of much value to use in class. First of all, Twilight is just a love story. It mostly shows the feelings of Bella towards Edward. I do not want my students to absorb too much in romance because I want my students to focus on their studies. This book is not a normal love story but a love story about a vampire, which does not apply in real life.
Harry Potter is widely popular book all over the world. Even though it is fantasy fiction, it shows deep friendships. Harry, Hermione, and Ron develop their friendship fighting against Voldemort, the worst vice in wizard world. They help each other when they are in trouble, which develops their relationship better. Although, in reality, we do not experience the same hardships as Harry, this book can be an example for students to be more cooperative with each other.
Twilight is another famous book in the world. I do not think this book is of much value to use in class. First of all, Twilight is just a love story. It mostly shows the feelings of Bella towards Edward. I do not want my students to absorb too much in romance because I want my students to focus on their studies. This book is not a normal love story but a love story about a vampire, which does not apply in real life.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Review for Copper Sun
When I began to read the book, I did not understand why the author entitled it Copper Sun. However, upon further reflection about the meaning of the words Copper Sun, I began to understand. One fellow student said that is because sun does not always look the same color. Copper sun implies that the sun is viewed during a certain time of day such as sunrise or sunset. I agreed with this idea. Symbolically, sunset represents the hardest or lowest time in life. Amari experienced the hardest moment when she was captured by American slave traders and treated not as a human but as property or an animal. As far as sunrise is concerned, sunrise is a good moment as there is light in the sky. When Amari and Polly reached the St. Augustine, they experience a time which for them was equivalent to sunrise. Amari and Polly could see some hope in the new land.
On the other hand, sunset could be viewed in an opposite way. Sunset brings the promise of rest at the end of the day. Draper brings this idea into the book towards its conclusion. She writes, “Amari glanced toward the west and watched the sun set. It glowed a bright metallic copper- the same sun that set each evening upon her homeland. She knew that she had found a home once more” (pp 302). In this context, sunset is a very positive idea. For Amari, sunset corresponds to her freedom when she gets a new life and is able to relax. Similarly, Draper may portray sunrise as a beginning of Amari’s hardships. Amari was captured in the morning. Her journey of servitude began with the rising of the sun. In this sense, sunrise is not a hopeful symbol. It only signifies a beginning.
When I began to read, I did not know very much about the slave trade. Through the first part of the book, I felt so sorry for Africans being betrayed by people whom they welcomed. It was a horrible. When Besa said that there are some people whom they have not seen coming, I hoped Besa would not welcome them and that he would fight against them. However, the Africans welcome the new people, and they were betrayed and sold as slaves.
The process of being shipped in the boat was terrible. It is unthinkable that humans mistreat their fellow beings in that way. Draper described well how they treated slaves—not as humans but as animals (pp 17). After they were shipped in a boat, Amari could meet Afi who had already been sold twice. I really could not understand when Afi told Amari that she had a hope to live and should live for the future. I could see foreshadowing that Amari would someday be truly free.
This book contains some religious points, but I could not match it with the bible. This story bears much similarity to the biblical story of Moses and the Egyptian Captivity. There is one large discrepancy. Fort Mose was not the perfect place like Canaan. Furthermore, there is not a leader akin to Moses nor is there an Israelite people which he leads. The slavery which Amari and Polly experienced is the same as that which the Israeli people felt at the hand of Pharaoh. As the book said, Polly continues to pray to the God not to be captured. The fact that they prayed to God is the same as Moses praying to God while escaping from Egypt.
At the end of the book, Draper says that the content of the book is almost true. She said that she used a lot of materials regarding to the slavery. It seems to me that the first half of the book which described slavery as harsh is real but the other half detailing Amari’s escape is unrealistic. Draper probably wrote it to please her target audience of adolescents so they will not be disappointed. She made the ending unrealistically happy. I do not complain. I enjoyed walking away from the book with a smile on my face regardless of the doubts in my head.
On the other hand, sunset could be viewed in an opposite way. Sunset brings the promise of rest at the end of the day. Draper brings this idea into the book towards its conclusion. She writes, “Amari glanced toward the west and watched the sun set. It glowed a bright metallic copper- the same sun that set each evening upon her homeland. She knew that she had found a home once more” (pp 302). In this context, sunset is a very positive idea. For Amari, sunset corresponds to her freedom when she gets a new life and is able to relax. Similarly, Draper may portray sunrise as a beginning of Amari’s hardships. Amari was captured in the morning. Her journey of servitude began with the rising of the sun. In this sense, sunrise is not a hopeful symbol. It only signifies a beginning.
When I began to read, I did not know very much about the slave trade. Through the first part of the book, I felt so sorry for Africans being betrayed by people whom they welcomed. It was a horrible. When Besa said that there are some people whom they have not seen coming, I hoped Besa would not welcome them and that he would fight against them. However, the Africans welcome the new people, and they were betrayed and sold as slaves.
The process of being shipped in the boat was terrible. It is unthinkable that humans mistreat their fellow beings in that way. Draper described well how they treated slaves—not as humans but as animals (pp 17). After they were shipped in a boat, Amari could meet Afi who had already been sold twice. I really could not understand when Afi told Amari that she had a hope to live and should live for the future. I could see foreshadowing that Amari would someday be truly free.
This book contains some religious points, but I could not match it with the bible. This story bears much similarity to the biblical story of Moses and the Egyptian Captivity. There is one large discrepancy. Fort Mose was not the perfect place like Canaan. Furthermore, there is not a leader akin to Moses nor is there an Israelite people which he leads. The slavery which Amari and Polly experienced is the same as that which the Israeli people felt at the hand of Pharaoh. As the book said, Polly continues to pray to the God not to be captured. The fact that they prayed to God is the same as Moses praying to God while escaping from Egypt.
At the end of the book, Draper says that the content of the book is almost true. She said that she used a lot of materials regarding to the slavery. It seems to me that the first half of the book which described slavery as harsh is real but the other half detailing Amari’s escape is unrealistic. Draper probably wrote it to please her target audience of adolescents so they will not be disappointed. She made the ending unrealistically happy. I do not complain. I enjoyed walking away from the book with a smile on my face regardless of the doubts in my head.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
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