Blog Post on YA Book

"The Geography of You and Me," by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me, by Jennifer E. Smith, is young adult classic love story. Lucy and Owen meet each other on the night of a New York City black out. They enjoy the time they have spend together. But, when the power returns to the city, they realize their time together is no longer there. Lucy is moving to Europe with her parents, and Own heads out west with his dad in search for college. Even though they are apart they find ways to stay connected, and I think they are important symbols, and help move the story along. 

One important symbol is the stars in the sky, because they symbolize the first night they spend together on the roof during the blackout. For example, “Like, Orion's belt?” Owen asked Lucy. Lucy knows a lot about the constellations, so Owen was asking her about all the ones they could see. On the roof together they have a picnic and they stargaze for hours. Another example, when they have to part ways, Lucy goes to the roof before she leaves. Up there on the roof at night, “high above the buildings. The stars, every single one of them, had disappeared. Just like their time together.” I think the stars is an important symbol between Owen and Lucy’s relationship. 

Another symbol I think is important are postcards. The postcards help keep Lucy and Owen connected while they are thousands of miles apart. For example, on their first night, with the blackout Lucy shows Owen her apartment she grew up in. One thing Owen notices are the postcards on her refrigerator, from her parents. When they go to different parts of the world they decide to send each other postcards as a little “remember me, inside joke.” But neither of them knew the other was going to send one. For example, “The River Thames woven through it like a gray ribbon, and there written at the top were: Wish You Were Here.” She thinks of Owen and sends it to him. “Inside a crowded shop, Owen sees an enormous rack rack of postcards with the words: Wish You Were Here.” He thinks of Lucy and sends it to her. This symbol is important  to help keep the two people connected and way to keep the reader connected to the book. 

I think both of these symbols are important because they help the reader stay connected to the characters more. In addition it helps the reader keep up with the character’s complicated relationship. I also think the symbols don’t just move the story along but they symbolize Lucy and Owen’s relationship. For example, the stars are far apart just like they are, yet you can see them anywhere no matter where you are. And the postcards help them stay closer together.

My Synthesis Page For my YA Book

Argument Essay

"Is China a Threat to the U.S.?" The New York Times Upfront

China's economy and population is growing faster than the U.S. Many people think that China might be a threat to the U.S., because they are gaining power with their economic growth, could they? But this may not be the case. China's quick growth in economics, may be larger than the U.S., but isn't a threat. 

The U.S. and China's economy are very different. We excel in different categories in economy. For example, The World Fact Book 2013 (C.I.A.) states, for population China has 1.4 billion people, and the U.S. is 313 million people. Active Military Personnel, China has 2.3, and the U.S. is 1.5 million. While Chine has 13 million  GDP (or gross domestic products) the U.S. makes 17 trillion. The U.S. has 13,683 military and China only has 2,788. The economies are run the same way with people working, working minimum wage, but the numbers are different with different things, and they might not be good or bad things. 

Seemingly people think China's a threat. But really we have nothing to be afraid of. "The goal of China's leaders is to raise its per capita GDP- currently it's just $9,100 to the level of the a middle income European country by 2049," J. Stapleton Roy, U.S. Ambassador to China (1991-95). The theory that they would gain power is soon is not very likely. If China were to try and strike because they think they have more power over any other country, would be unlikely. The 14 states that it boarders have nuclear power. "The U.S. will remain a super power country for a long time to come," Roy said.  If anything does happen with China against to U.S., the U.S. has more allies in the world than other county, so we are safe. 

On the other hand, many people do think China is a big threat to the U.S. The rise of China's economy and population can be considered a threat to the U.S. and many other countries over land and power. For example, Patrick J. Buchanan, Former White House Senior Staffer and Presidential Candidate said, "China's long term goal, is to drive the U.S. power out of the western Pacific." Essentially, the U.S. has helped Beijing's economic growth so much. "For the past 25 years, U.S. companies have been moving manufacturing and jobs to China," Buchanan said. The U.S. buys more from China than China buys from the U.S. Thats when China thinks they have more power over others. 

Could China's growing economy be a threat to the U.S.? No I do no think they are a threat. Many people think they are because they are "power hungry." I wouldn't say either country is a threat to each other. And China isn't a threat to the U.S. Even though China's economy is growing fast, it's so far not been a threat to the U.S. and isn't going to be a threat is the U.S. or any other county. 

Reading Response for Faithful Elephants

"Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War," By Yukio Tsuchiya Response

It’s hard to let go of something you love, is an important life message Yukio Tsuchiya is trying to convey in the short story “Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People and War.”  

Faithful Elephants is a story about three elephants, John, Tonky, and Wanly in the Ueno Zoo in Japan. The story takes place at the time of World War II. “Bombs were dropped on Tokyo everyday and night, like falling rain.” They had killed all the animals slowly because the thought if a bomb dropped on the zoo it was a dangerous threat to the people of Japan. Having bombs drop on the zoo, would mean cages would break and there would be poisonous animals running around Tokyo. Day by day they killed the animals until just the three elephants were left. They killed John by starving him and it was over fast. But Tonky and Wanly were also starved but the zoo keeper loved them very much. And for him it was hard to see them starving to death. So he gave in and fed them. But eventually they died just like John. The war caused the animals to die, when they shouldn’t have. 

This message: It’s hard to let go of something you love, is really shown in the story about animals. The part of the message that says: its hard to let go, relates to the story because at first when the zoo keeper sees the elephants suffering he gives them food because he doesn’t want them to die. He gives them food when he wasn’t supposed to because he loves them too much. “‘Oh, Tonky! Oh, Wanly!…. Eat your food! Please drink. Drink your water!’” He loves them too much to lose them. It is really hard to let go, and the zoo keeper had to learn that the hard way with Tonky and Wanly. 

Everyone misses them because they loved them. They care a lot about the animals that died in World War II, because there is a sacred place for the animals. People go there to remember the animals in a safe peaceful place. And the story helps convey the message really well, the zoo keeper has a lot of difficulty letting go. But, in the end he does, and he misses them but he is ok in the end, because they have a secure place where they can be remembered.