Summary:
So this was the end. Halley and Scarlett getting ready for prom. Scarlett wore a dress Cameron's mom hand sewn for her. He was her date. Halley was going to prom with Noah Vaughn, her ex boyfriend from 2 years ago, whose family was close with hers. Halley didn;t have a choice, she was forced to go with him by her parents. Noah was completely drunk before they even arrived at the prom, and he accidentallly ripped Halley's dress in the back. Halley ran into the bathroom and a girl helped her put it together using bobby pins. Elizabeth Gunderson and Macon were back to dating. She came into the bathroom to check up on herself when she told Halley that Macon still loves her. He doesnt admitt to it, but she knows he does. She asked Halley if she still loved Macon, and Halley said no.
While they were in the bathroom, Ginny Taylor ran in the bathroom and told them Scarlett went into labor. Halley rushed out the bathroom and guided her outside, Scarlett refused to be in an ambulance. Macon ended up giving them a ride to the hospital. While they were in the delivery room, halley had never seen scarlett in so much pain before. She couldn't take it. She had to get out. Scarlett shouted "dont leave me!" but halley ran out. She was so ashamed. And just when she felt like giving up, she saw her mom walking down the hallway. She told her she couldn't do it, it was all too much. But her mom told her scarlett needed her and she had to be there for her. Her mother gave her strength. She went in there with her mother and scarlett gave birth to a baby girl, whom she named Grace Halley Thomas.
Quote:
"I watched my mother do what she did best, and realized there would never be a way to cut myself from her entirely. No matter how strong or weak I was, she was a part of me, as crucial as my own heart. I would never be strong enough, in all my life, to do without her" (Dessen 275)
Reaction:
This quote really touched me. I can relate to Halley so much, and that quote was one of the reason's why. Sure teens and their parents argue, and they dont always get along, but at the end of the day, they need to realize that their parents are their backbones. No one in this world is going to love them like their parents do, and even if they think they'll be better off without them, in the end they're going to need them. I loved the ending of this book because it showed how Halleys mother gave her strength when she was weak, how no matter what, her mom was going to be there for her. It was a very inspirational and touching ending.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Someone Like You (Pages 170-245)
Summary: Halley's mother decided to take her out for lunch at a little restaurant. Her mother started talking to her about Macon, which led to an argument. Her mother tried to explained to her that she only wanted what was best for her but Halley refused to listen. Her mother always thought she knew everything. They left the restaurant in shame and began their long car ride in silence. When they walked into the house, their father was on the phone and had a worried look on his face. Something was wrong. Her mother later told her that her grandmother fell and she was badly hurt. This put all the arguments between her and her mother on hold. Her mother left to visit and take care of her grandmother and her father was busy with his radio show, so Halley was able to basically do whatever she wanted.
Halley and Macon were becoming more distant. Every time they did see each other, they ended up kissing and Macon would try to put his hand lower towards her waistband, but Halley always stopped him. Macon was getting frustrated and wondered why it was such a big deal to Halley. She felt pressured to do something with Macon in order to keep him. She wanted to show him that she was capable of hanging around with his crowd. So on new years, Macon invited Halley to a party. She began drinking A LOT and even used a bong to take a couple hits of weed. She was turning into someone completely different. Someone her own grandmother didn't even recognize. At the partying, she had already planned to lose her virginity to Macon, but when he tried to unbutton her pants, she stopped him. She told him she felt really sick from drinking but Macon didn't wanna hear it. He was still trying to convince her to do it but Halley couldn't take it anymore. She ran out of the house and into the woods. Apparently she passed out and Macon carried her to the car. He was furious, and while they started arguing, he began to drive faster and faster, avoiding the red light he was approaching. The car crashed, Halley was injured. She had a sprained wrist, lacerations on her back, stitches to bind the cut by her eye and two bruised ribs. She finally realized what was happening to her and the results of her actions.
Quote: " 'Halley, you don't always know what's at stake, and I do'
'I will never learn,' I said to her slowly, 'until you let me' " (Dessen, 245).
Reaction: I really love this quote because I can relate to how Halley felt. Parents, including my own, always try to tell their kids whats best for them and they try to prevent them from making mistakes. Although their intentions are good, they need to realize that their kids are not going to learn if they dont let them. If they never give them the chance to make mistakes, they'll never have the chance to learn from them, and when the parents are gone, they wont know how to handle things because they won't have experiences to look back on.
Halley and Macon were becoming more distant. Every time they did see each other, they ended up kissing and Macon would try to put his hand lower towards her waistband, but Halley always stopped him. Macon was getting frustrated and wondered why it was such a big deal to Halley. She felt pressured to do something with Macon in order to keep him. She wanted to show him that she was capable of hanging around with his crowd. So on new years, Macon invited Halley to a party. She began drinking A LOT and even used a bong to take a couple hits of weed. She was turning into someone completely different. Someone her own grandmother didn't even recognize. At the partying, she had already planned to lose her virginity to Macon, but when he tried to unbutton her pants, she stopped him. She told him she felt really sick from drinking but Macon didn't wanna hear it. He was still trying to convince her to do it but Halley couldn't take it anymore. She ran out of the house and into the woods. Apparently she passed out and Macon carried her to the car. He was furious, and while they started arguing, he began to drive faster and faster, avoiding the red light he was approaching. The car crashed, Halley was injured. She had a sprained wrist, lacerations on her back, stitches to bind the cut by her eye and two bruised ribs. She finally realized what was happening to her and the results of her actions.
Quote: " 'Halley, you don't always know what's at stake, and I do'
'I will never learn,' I said to her slowly, 'until you let me' " (Dessen, 245).
Reaction: I really love this quote because I can relate to how Halley felt. Parents, including my own, always try to tell their kids whats best for them and they try to prevent them from making mistakes. Although their intentions are good, they need to realize that their kids are not going to learn if they dont let them. If they never give them the chance to make mistakes, they'll never have the chance to learn from them, and when the parents are gone, they wont know how to handle things because they won't have experiences to look back on.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Someone Like You (pages 120-170)
Summary:
Halley got grounded for sneaking around with Macon, but she was allowed to have a little fun on her birthday. She, her family, Scarlett, and the Vaughns (the family of Halley's ex boyfriend, who are close with her mom and dad). Afterwards, Macon stopped by and picked Halley up, she snuck out for her birthday. After all, she was entitled to have a little fun right? He drove her all the way to Topper Lake and they sat on the edge of a sort of dock. Halley couldn't really see anything because of how dark the night was. Then, out of nowhere, there was a big BOOM! A burst of light came out of nowhere and Halley saw the "DANGER DO NOT ENTER" signs. She realized she was sitting on a thin strip of concrete, looking over at the massive dam with roaring waters beneath her. She felt like she was falling in midair, it was beautiful.
At school, in art class, Halley went to the supply closet and the head cheerleader Elizabeth Gunderson approached her. She told Halley to watch out for Macon because he has a past of mistreating girls. She said he called used to talk to her friend Rachel and then never called her back. Halley just tried to brush it off. Then in the middle of class, Scarlett ran out of the room because she had to throw up. She and Halley THOUGHT they were alone in the bathroom, but sneaky Ginny Tabor was hiding in one of the stalls and overheard the whole conversation. She promised not to tell anyone but as soon as 3rd period ended, the whole school knew Scarlett was pregnant. Scarlett didn't really care and she made a new friend named Cameron who was from france.
Halley missed curfew again. She went over Macon's house, which he really doesnt spend much time at. He lived in a pent house and he never really talked about his mom or his family at all. Halley's mother and father were really upset about the fact that ever since Macon came around, Halley has been acting differently and misbehaving. They came to the conclusion that Halley can no longer see Macon anymore.
Quote:
"So i went, up to my room, my heart thumping. As I passed the mirror in the hallway I glanced at myself, at a girl with her hair tumbling over her shoulders, in a faded jeans jacket, lips red from kissing. I faced my reflection and committed this girl to memory: the girl who had risen out of that night at Topper Lake, the girl who belonged with Macon Faulkner, the girl who broke her mother's heart, never looking back. The girl I was" (Dessen 161)
Reaction:
This quote stuck out to me because I think that it shows Halley maturing, maybe not in the best way but she is maturing and growing up from the girl she used to be. That can be proof that this book is a bildungsroman. Also, this represents the life of a typical teenage girl growing up and giving to the temptations of what girls are doing around her and what is "cool".
Halley got grounded for sneaking around with Macon, but she was allowed to have a little fun on her birthday. She, her family, Scarlett, and the Vaughns (the family of Halley's ex boyfriend, who are close with her mom and dad). Afterwards, Macon stopped by and picked Halley up, she snuck out for her birthday. After all, she was entitled to have a little fun right? He drove her all the way to Topper Lake and they sat on the edge of a sort of dock. Halley couldn't really see anything because of how dark the night was. Then, out of nowhere, there was a big BOOM! A burst of light came out of nowhere and Halley saw the "DANGER DO NOT ENTER" signs. She realized she was sitting on a thin strip of concrete, looking over at the massive dam with roaring waters beneath her. She felt like she was falling in midair, it was beautiful.
At school, in art class, Halley went to the supply closet and the head cheerleader Elizabeth Gunderson approached her. She told Halley to watch out for Macon because he has a past of mistreating girls. She said he called used to talk to her friend Rachel and then never called her back. Halley just tried to brush it off. Then in the middle of class, Scarlett ran out of the room because she had to throw up. She and Halley THOUGHT they were alone in the bathroom, but sneaky Ginny Tabor was hiding in one of the stalls and overheard the whole conversation. She promised not to tell anyone but as soon as 3rd period ended, the whole school knew Scarlett was pregnant. Scarlett didn't really care and she made a new friend named Cameron who was from france.
Halley missed curfew again. She went over Macon's house, which he really doesnt spend much time at. He lived in a pent house and he never really talked about his mom or his family at all. Halley's mother and father were really upset about the fact that ever since Macon came around, Halley has been acting differently and misbehaving. They came to the conclusion that Halley can no longer see Macon anymore.
Quote:
"So i went, up to my room, my heart thumping. As I passed the mirror in the hallway I glanced at myself, at a girl with her hair tumbling over her shoulders, in a faded jeans jacket, lips red from kissing. I faced my reflection and committed this girl to memory: the girl who had risen out of that night at Topper Lake, the girl who belonged with Macon Faulkner, the girl who broke her mother's heart, never looking back. The girl I was" (Dessen 161)
Reaction:
This quote stuck out to me because I think that it shows Halley maturing, maybe not in the best way but she is maturing and growing up from the girl she used to be. That can be proof that this book is a bildungsroman. Also, this represents the life of a typical teenage girl growing up and giving to the temptations of what girls are doing around her and what is "cool".
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