In Search Of Honor - a book review

by Gloria

In Search of Honor is a book about a man who is involved in the start of the French Revolution. He's really angry at the king because his father broke the law and got killed for it. It's really a bit stupid, his outlook. But by the end of the book, he realizes his errors and finds peace in God.

I enjoyed this book a little bit. It wasn't completely engaging, and at the beginning it was downright boring. It ended well, though, and it was worth my time. I'd give this book a 5/10

Metaphors

By Gloria

I have three sisters. In a way, they are my three closest friends. So when I recieved an assignment to put three metaphors to three of my friends, I chose my sisters, because I know them best of all.

First, my sister Hannah, who is seven years old. First, she has the temperament and attitude of an an angel, but, only if that Angel is from Maximum Ride. If you haven't read the Maximum Ride series, there is a character named Angel that seems to be Hannah's clone. Angel is a very sweet girl, but also a bit used to getting what she wants, and finding ways to get what she wants. Second, she has the cuteness of a newborn kitty. Newborn kitties are really cute and I love cats! Third, Hannah has the personality of a dolphin. She's has a very playful personality.

My second sister is Christina, who is 11 years old. First, Christina has the energy of a Jack Russel Terrier. She bounces off walls, and is really hyper. Second, she has the hand of Jane Cahill. This is from the series, The 39 Clues. In this series, Jane Cahill is the ancestor of every famous artist since 1501: Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and anybody else that you can think of. Third, she has the laziness of our cat, Joy. Joy is a lazy cat, but I still love her. Still, just like Christina, Joy only works when she has to, and if it was up to her, she'd spend all day laying around.

I would say that I have saved the best for last, but I'm not supposed to be partial with my siblings. Just pretend that last sentence doesn't exist, if it offends you. The last one, is my sister Danielle, age 10. First off, she has the face of an angel. In my opinion, she's the prettiest of us girls. Second, she has my brain and personality. She always seems to do exactly what I would have done at her age. Third, she has the sneakiness of a fox, or, a Lucian. Another 39 clues reference! 

These are the metaphors for my sisters, my closest friends, I hope that you like this, and that Christina an Hannah won't try to get mad at me.

Perspectives

by GCG

In The Arrow Over The Door, there are two boys narrating who come from very different backgrounds and together make an interesting narrative. Stands Straight is an Indian boy whose family was told the protestant faith by a French priest. But, he still is superstitious. Samuel, is the oldest of two boys in a Quaker family. Even though his entire family is pro-peace, he still wonders. Can prayer and peace stop a gun? These boys may be very different, but they have a couple similarities.

For clarification, I will provide three examples of both their similarities and differences. First, both Samuel and Stands Straight are scared of the impending war and what it's effect will have on their families, friends and communities. But, at the same time, the involvement their families have in the war are very different. Samuel's family is not going to take part in the war, but Samuel wants to fight away the British. Stands Straight's family wants to fight, but Stands Straight doesn't want to take part in the “white man's war”.

That leads me to my second point on how they're alike: Both boys are questioning whether or not their families are making the right decision. Of course, the way they want to act goes against the way they were raised. Samuel was raised pro-peace, and Stands Straight is raised in a, not necessarily bloodthirsty, but, slightly cruel, 'killing is easy' home (stereotypical Indian style).

But, even though they were raised in drastically different settings, their morals are very similar, like the qualms of killing, a big world wariness and the basic desire to protect their family. But however similar their morals are, some of their beliefs are different. Stands Straight is superstitious, seeing 'spirits' and other stereotypical Indian beliefs. But Samuel's beliefs sound a lot like those at my church: go where the Holy Spirit leads and trust God, added to the traditional Quaker belief of peace.

Hopefully, I have explained to you that two individuals can be so alike and so different at the same time. God made us all different. If you want to know more, see The Arrow Over The Door by Joseph Bruchac.

Who Controls Your Destiny?

by GCG

What are you going to be doing 5 years from now? 10 years? 15 years? It all 

depends on your destiny. Destiny is your future. Some people say that your destiny is 

set and there's no way to change it. Other people believe that there are a lot of ways 

things could turn out. The question I was told to answer by my Language Arts curriculum

 is: Who controls your destiny? To do that, I'll take the book series, Harry Potter. Then, I'll talk a little about my own life.

The author of  Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling admitted that she used the “Macbeth 

effect”  in her work. In the play Macbeth, by Shakespeare, this man Macbeth hears a 

prophecy that's really weird, decides to act on it, and, like in almost all Shakespeare 

plays, ends up dead. But the important part was, what if Macbeth had never heard the 

prophecy? What if, in Harry Potter, Voldemort never heard the prophecy:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches 

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies 

The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not 

And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives 

If Voldemort hadn't heard the prophecy and tried to kill Harry, or heard the 

prophecy and went to kill Neville (the only other person who fit the prophecy)

 instead? What would have happened? There have actually been a couple of 

fan-fictions discussing this idea. There was this REALLY weird one where 

Hermione (?) traveled back in to time to kill Voldemort before he has a chance to kill

 Harry's family. She then ends up in this love triangle between her, Sirius Black, and

 Remus Lupin. But the point of these fan-fictions, is, what if Harry was destined for

 something else? Would he fall in love with Slytherin Tracey Davis if he killed Voldemort

 that night in the graveyard? Who controls HIS destiny?

Maybe it's different in real life. What is MY destiny? Personally, I think that your destiny could be anything. It's not set, your choices set it. But no matter what choices we make, God knows and it fits into His plan perfectly, and he will help us on to the destiny he has for us, if we let him. If we let God help us make decisions, He can help us through life. Will you let Him control your destiny?