Outside Reading: Top 10 List

Ali
English 10
Hatten
Period 4

Outside Reading: Quarter 2
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Top 10 List

1. When Annabel met Sophie- It was the summer after 6th grade and Sophie had just moved to Annabel’s town. They first gained eye contact in the snack bar line at the local pool. Annabel began to look intently at her unfamiliar face, so Sophie rudely asked, “What are you looking are?” With that said, Annabel did not approach her again that day. Seeing that Annabel’s sister, Kirsten, was a popular one, Sophie tries to get in her group of friends, who are all at least 6 years older. Kirsten confronts her and calls her a “stalker.” Later that week, Annabel’s mother mentions they have new neighbors in which there is a girl Annabel’s age. Forced by her mother, Annabel approaches Sophie again asking if she wants to hang out. Disgusted by this invitation, Sophie denies the request. Kirsten hears this and sets Sophie straight. Sophie runs away, leaving her stuff at the pool. At the end of the day, her stuff is still there, so Annabel and her best friend, Clarke, give it another shot and bring Sophie’s stuff to her house. When they got there, Sophie opens door. She’s been crying. Annabel apologizes for her sister. After shedding a few more tears, Sophie introduces herself. After this Sophie is kind of Annabel’s leader. Without her, nothing would have ever gone wrong.

2. Annabel’s first night out- One Saturday night, the summer before 7th grade, Clarke, Annabel, and their new friend, Sophie, were all spending the night at Clarke’s while her parents were at a symphony concert. Their plan was to make a frozen pizza and watch movies- just like always. Then Sophie walked in all dressed up, suggesting they go meet some boys around the pool area. Clarke, being a stickler for principles, did not go for this idea. Annabel had also decided she didn’t want to go until Sophie announced that Annabel’s crush, Chris Pennington, was specifically asking to see her. Now, Annabel was really excited to go, but she was torn between two friends and two ideas; one being familiar, the other exciting and new. It ended up that Clarke stayed home while Annabel and Sophie went to the pool. That night, Annabel had her first beer along with her first kiss. But the image she remembers the most was a small girl with dark hair and no makeup telling her it was time to go. While confusion fluttered around the boys, Sophie clarified that it was just Ca-larke. Annabel thought about leaving, but the fear of standing up to Sophie kept her there. Later that night, she went back to Clarke’s, but there was no response. The next day, Clarke wouldn’t even speak to her. Although Annabel was upset, that was that and her and Clarke’s 7-year-long friendship had ended. This event is significant to the book because it serves as an excellent example of Annabel’s fear of confrontation, which is a main conflict in the book. It shows that even when she was younger, she had the same issues with herself. Had this particular event not occurred, Annabel would have been “safe”, but also with a true best friend.

3. Owen Armstrong- Owen was the new kid at school sophmore year. He looks big and strong, some say he looks scary. This image intensified when he got into a fight a month into school for which he got suspended. On the first day of school junior year, Annabel became intrigued with him, as it was only him and her who were eating lunch alone on the wall. She saw he was never without an ipod, his head constantly bobbing to his music, and that he wore two identical, flat, wide, and silver rings on the middle finger of each hand. One day, after he sees Annabel has had a rough day, he offers to drive her home, and then, their relationship begins. She realizes that his looks are deceiving; in reality, he is calm, caring, and above all, honest. Throughout the book, Owen teaches Annabel countless lessons about life. The most important lesson he taught her was to be direct and focused on what she is trying to tell someone instead of being afraid of confrontation. Without Owen, Annabel might have continued to live a miserable life because she would have been afraid to tell her friends and family that she was miserable.

4. Enlightened listeners- As he is nearing insanity through his obsession of music, Owen believes his taste in music is only appreciated by the “enlightened.” In an effort to please and relate to these “enlightened” people, Owen has his own radio show “Anger Management” on a local community radio station WRUS. Since this show is on at 7 am on Sunday morning, Owen believes only the real “enlightened” listeners will actually listen to his show as they are obsessed with music to the extent that they will hinder their sleep in order to listen to it. On his radio station, Owen is known to play music no one would have ever heard of before without some serious research. However, there is variety in his musical choices: he plays anything from bird chirping to shrieking heavy metal to upbeat techno. Although Annabel is not fond of his music, she continues to listen to his radio show. Through listening to his show, she realizes she needs to open her mind to new ideas in order to broaden her understanding of the world and, most importantly, understand herself.

5. Confrontation- Throughout her entire life up to this point, Annabel has had an extreme fear of confrontation. For example, she had difficulty telling her mother that she no longer wished to pursue modeling. She had been involved with modeling since she was little, as had her two older sisters, Whitney and Kirsten. Once her sisters had stopped modeling, Annabel was the only connection her mother had to the modeling world; and her mother loved that world. She loved talking with agents, she loved the makeup, and she loved the time she got to spend with her daughters. So when Annabel came to the conclusion that she did not want to model anymore, she could not come to tell her mother. And so she sacrificed her own happiness for the happiness of her mother. Though a courteous gesture, Owen explains to Annabel that it is unhealthy to keep feelings bottled up inside. Through his assistance, Annabel finally confronted her mother about quitting modeling. Though a few tears were shed, her mother compensated by becoming the receptionist at Annabel’s former agent’s office. Everything always works out for the best.

6. Honesty- Along with a fear of confrontation, Annabel, of course, has an issue with remaining honest. As in the example of modeling, Annabel was neither honest with her mother, nor herself. She should have told her mother that she wanted to quit modeling at the moment when she realized it. Unfortunately, she didn’t causing her to suffer through the unhappiness her dishonesty brought her. When Annabel first begins to talk to Owen, she finds him fascinating. One particular trait that differs Owen from every other person Annabel knows is that he is always honest. He does not spit the truth out uninvited, but he will reply to you in thorough honesty if you ask him his opinion. This is fascinating to Annabel because she cannot help but lie. Luckily, meeting him changes her ways; she was always entirely honest with him: about her dislike of his music or about her problems. In becoming honest with Owen, Annabel learns to apply this quality to her everyday life. As a result, Annabel seems to be much happier and much more satisfied with her life.

7. Annabel’s Assault- At an end of school party sophomore year, a terrible event scarred Annabel’s life. Because they was in a minor disagreement with Sophie, Annabel and Emily decided to hang out with two guys, Nick and Michael, Annabel knew from her art history class. Emily played pool with Michael while Annabel talked to Nick. As he was extremely drunk, Annabel offered to get Nick some water. Upon returning to game room, Annabel hears someone whispering her name from a nearby bedroom. Assuming it is Nick, Annabel enters the room to give him his water. Immediately realizing something was not right, Annabel reaches for the knob to leave the room. A hand closed over her wrist and she knew it wasn’t Nick. The person grabbed her, threw her on the bed, and began to unbutton her pants. Although she put up a strong fight, she could not push him off of her. Fortunately, someone heard something. But unfortunately that person was Sophie. And the rapist was Sophie’s boyfriend, Will Cash. Will quickly made up a story and Sophie believed him. What a friend! Soon everyone was calling Annabel a slut, but since she had a problem with being honest, she kept quiet about her side of the story. These feelings inside her led to her leprosy that summer and the following year.

8. Emily’s Assault- Due to the fact that Will Cash raped Annabel, one can assume that his heart is so cold and small that he would be a repeat offender. And he was. About 7 months after assaulting Annabel, Will assaulted Emily, Annabel’s former friend and co-model. The difference between the two assaults, however, was that Emily told. Emily spoke up. Everyone believed Emily’s story, and she was taking the case to court. Emily also realized that the same thing happened to Annabel, and so she asked her to appear in court with her. However, Annabel was reluctant, until she listened to a CD Owen made her, Just Listen. After listening to that, Annabel told her story to Owen, who encouraged her to tell the story to her family. Then, she agreed to go to court. They won, and Will was sentenced to jail. Without the assaulting of Emily, Annabel probably would not have spoken up and would have continued to be aching inside.

9. Just Listen- Along with being the book’s title, it was the CD Owen made Annabel that pretty changed her life by taking her out of her misery. Expecting something soothing or extremely out of the ordinary, Annabel was shocked when she found out that the CD was actually blank. Confused at first, she soon realized how genius this idea was. Many times before, Owen had mentioned that silence to him was “so freaking loud”. Annabel had not really understood why though until she listened to this CD. Although the CD was silent, she heard a voice when she listened to the CD. It was then that she came to the realization that the voice inside her head, the one constantly begging for her attention, was not Will Cash’s but her own. It was trying to tell her that it needed to be let out. The next day, when it was released, it seized to exist. The voice had been pestering her for longtime after the assault explaining her lack of enthusiasm for life and for relationships. Once it was released, she was free to be herself again while being more honest and less afraid of confrontation.

10. New Year’s- After everything was let out and the court case ended, it was finally New Year’s, a time to celebrate the past and move on forward to the brilliant future. Everything was looking up for Annabel. She was free of her fears, she was honest, she had a boyfriend, Owen, and most importantly she had a family. At the New Year’s party, Kirsten’s boyfriend Brian snapped a shot of the family. It was not perfect by any means- no magnificent background, no fake smiles, no formal poses, unexpected. But Annabel loved it because it was what everyone looked like. It reminded her of her new life and her new self. She no longer had secrets locked up in her heart. She had a fresh start and she was going to make it as enjoyable and honest as possible.

Outside Reading- Week 7- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 7: Pages 334-371

Reaction: Anticipating since the beginning of the book what was on the disc Just Listen that Owen made for Annabel, I was ecstatic when in pages 339-340 Annabel finally listened to it as I was curious as to why that was the title of the book. Expecting some weird “spiritual” music full of pig calls or something odd like that, I was shocked, as was Annabel, when I found out that the CD was actually blank. Confused at first, I soon realized how genius this idea was. Many times before, Owen had mentioned that silence to him was “so freaking loud”. I had not really understood why though until Annabel understood why and sort of explained it to the reader. When she listened to the CD, she finally realized that the voice inside her head, the one constantly begging for her attention, was not Will Cash’s but her own. It was trying to tell her that it needed to be let out. The next day, when it was released, it seized to exist. The next time I am going through a difficult situation, I want to try this technique. I will go into a dark quiet corner of my house, put on a pair of earmuffs, and just listen; listen to that voice inside my head and I will get through anything. On the whole, this book taught me a lot about self-actualization; the things that are most common knowledge are often also the most forgotten. I would recommend this book to everyone looking for some good life lessons learned. I am glad this was the book at the bookstore that caught my attention.

Outside Reading- Week 7- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 7: Pages 334-371

2 Vocabulary Words

immersed (p. 353)- adj. or in other cases a v.
A) Plunged into or placed under a liquid.
B) Involved deeply; absorbed.
Example from the book: “All I had to do really was ask, and I, too, would be easily brought back, surrounded and immersed, finding myself safe, somewhere in between.”
My example: I slowly immersed the pasta into the boiling water so that it would not splash.

cathartic (p. 359)- adj.
Emotionally purging.
Example from the book: “the entire experience had been so overwhelming- although cathartic- that I’d kind of forgotten about it once I got up on the stand.”
My example: I find it very cathartic to scream at the top of my lungs when I am stressed.

One significant Quote
“You about ready? she’d asked me earlier, and then, I hadn’t been. Maybe I never would be. But there was no way around it now. So as I got ready to tell my story again, I did what Owen had done for me so many times: I reached out a hand, to my mother and my family. And this time, I pulled them through with me” (354). Throughout the entire book, it seems as though Annabel’s family is related, yet not all that connected. One sister was moody, the other outspoken; and the mother paranoid, the father just kind of there, avoiding the emotional lives of the women of his family. But when Annabel finally speaks up, she acts as a knot, therefore connecting her family in an entirely new way. This quote is significant because it exhibits the realization of this result by Annabel. It shows that she learned that family would always remain on her side.

Outside Reading- Week 6- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 6: Pages 275- 333

Reaction: “I wondered which was harder, in the end. The act of telling, or who you told it to. Or maybe if, when you finally got it out, the story was really all that mattered” (333). In the many pages I have read so far, this aforementioned quote proves to be the most significant yet. It phrases exactly the realization Annabel has needed to make for quite a long while. She finally realizes that while it is hard to get your deepest thoughts, feelings, and memories out of your head, getting them out is way better than keeping them to ourselves where they will remain continually haunting us. In what concerns me, the only way to move past the stuff that has been haunting us is to purge them from our mind, get them out into the open; whether we write a letter or a poem or simply, we just talk to a person we trust. Whatever the way you do it, you must tell someone in order to survive. Although it is a scary thought, it is usually not ourselves that we trust the most; it may be a parent, a neighbor, or a friend that we trust more than ourselves. And those people we trust will always be willing to help, no matter what; that is why we trust them- to have the ability to put our faith in them. Hopefully in this next and final section of the book Just Listen, Annabel will tell her sad story to her family and to Owen because only then will her life turn back to the happiness and worry-free world in which she lived before her rape incident. In my experience, it is a hard duty to accomplish, but once it is done, there are no regrets; you’re finally free!

Outside Reading- Week 6- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 6: Pages 275- 333

2 Vocabulary Words

loom (p. 283)- v.
A) To come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image
B) To appear to the mind in a magnified and threatening form
C) To seem imminent; impend
Example from the book: “On a night when what I’d done, or not done, was suddenly looming large, this seemed like a tiny way to somehow, in some distant way, make up for it.”
My example: Monsters seem to loom children’s nightmares.

ostensible (p. 304)- adj.
Represented or appearing as such
Example from the book: “While Kirsten had talked about coming for Thanksgiving, she’d opted instead to stay in the city, ostensibly to work some extra shifts and catch up on schoolwork.”
My example: With a pout on her face, it was ostensible that she was upset.

3 examples of figurative language

1. Irony: “I saw that there was a girl behind him. She had shiny black hair and was wearing little retro glasses, a red sweater and jeans, a beaded bag pulled across her. But I didn’t need to see any of these things, really; I knew her with one glance. ‘Wait,’ I said, turning back to Rolly. ‘The girl… it’s Clarke?’” (281). I know that this is the literary element irony as it was completely unexpected to both the reader and the main character, Annabel, that the girl Ronny was “in-love” with was Clarke, who happened to be Annabel’s ex-best friend from when they were in kindergarten to 6th grade.

2. Simile: “the cold air hit me like a smack” (295). I know that this is the literary element simile because Annabel compared two unlike objects, cold air and a smack, using the word “like” to show how they relate in her story.

3. Imagery: “When my mom and I finally headed out into the Mayor’s Market parking lot, I was surprised to see it was snowing. The flakes were the big, fat kind, too pretty to stick or last, but we both stopped still for a moment, looking up at them as they fell. By the time we got in the car and pulled out of the lot, they were already slowing, some catching the wind, blowing in circles. My mom turned on the wipers as we sat at a stoplight, watching the flakes hit the windshield” (311). I know that this is the literary element imagery because it uses descriptive words, like big, fat, and pretty, to describe the beautiful, fluffy snowflakes. In my head, I can picture the image of a mother and daughter sitting in their car, looking up into the winter sky, amazed by the beauty of the snow.

Outside Reading- Week 5- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 5: Pages 229- 274

Reaction: In pages 263 through 265, the reader learns of a horrible event that occurred in Annabel’s past, although due to previous foreshadowing that the author wrote, it was expected. At an end-of-school school party the June of her sophomore year, Annabel was sexually assaulted. Although not fully raped by definition, the effect the attack had on Annabel was just as severe; she remained speechless for a few days and way too scared to ever discuss what happened. In our world today, it is so sad that awful events like this happen everyday. It makes me angry and sad just thinking about it. I cannot believe that someone can do that to someone else; how can they just attack someone and ruin that someone’s life and feel not guilt, but pleasure from what they had just done? It’s absolutely disgusting. It seriously ticks me off; I wish people could just stop being so selfish. Also, I cannot believe the strength it takes for the assaultees to live past the terrible actions thrown onto them, literally. I envy those people who can actually tell their story to the world, speak up, be heard. They have so much courage and self-confidence, it is as if nothing happened. I wish the world could be a better place where everyone could just learn to accept and respect each other. But since I am dubious that my wish will ever come true, I guess we must live in fear everyday of those selfish people who do not choose to be accepting and respectful.

Outside Reading- Week 5- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 5: Pages 229- 274

2 Vocabulary Words

Latter (p. 239)- adj.
A) Being the second mentioned of two
B) More advanced in time; later
C) Near or comparatively near to the end
D) Last; final
Example from the book: “Judging by the look on his face- a mix of horrified and offended- I had a feeling it was probably the latter.”
My Example: While eating 3 slices of pie seems good at the time, the latter effect is that you gain a few pounds.

Dubious (p.241)- adj.
Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; undecided.
Example from the book: “He looked dubious, however, as he pushed quarters into the cashier station, and I had to wonder if my theory was about to be debunked.”
My Example: Although he believed the house of cards would stand up, I was quite dubious, expecting them to fall any second.

One emerging theme
One important theme in this book happens to be that one small event can change a person’s whole life as with Annabel’s rape and Whitney’s broken arm, which on the outside may not seem very significant, but in fact, both sisters act very differently due to these terrible events.

Types of Debates Blog

Political Debate (For a future election)
- we see it on television
-it serves to better understand a candidate's view on a certain issue
-it helps the viewer/voter decide the candidate whose views matched up best with their own
-it is structured
-its structure gives each candidate an equal chance to speak about their views and goals which effect the decision making process for the voter

Teacher/ Student Debate
- it occurs in the classroom
- it serves to either change or not change a grade that the student believes is unfair
- It helps arrive at a better decision as both the student and the teacher's point of views are heard
- it is unstructured
- its disorganization leads to one person, usually the teacher, dominating the debate, and therefore overruling the student in the decision making process.

Class Discussion/Debate
-it occurs in the classroom
-it serves to hear students' point of views on various issues regarding the world
-it can help to arrive at a better decision if the majority of the class has about the same opinion on an issue
- the debate is unstructured
- It makes it sort of a first raise your hand, first speak situation. A few people could dominate by continually stating their opinion while others might not debate at all

Debate Team Competition
-it occurs at a hosting high school
- it serves to hear students' point of views on various issues regarding the world
-it can help originate new ideas to decide from because debators are convincing
-it is structured
- its structure lets every debator have a fair and equal chance at winning the competition.

Debate between friends (For example: deciding which kind of pizza to order)
-it occurs at one of the friends' houses
-it serves to decide what pizza to order on the phone
-it helps arrive at a better decision because there is eventually a compromise, so both are happy
-it is unstructured
-One friend could persuade the other to get the kind of pizza he/she wanted in exchange for something else without the other even giving his/her opinion

Parent/ Child Debate (For example: the issue of extending a curfew)
-it occurs at home
-it serves to either change a curfew or keep it the same
-it only helps arrive at a better decision if there is a compromise made
-it is unstructured
-it could lead to an extreme argument and eventually to slamming doors, and then no decision would really have been made.

Teacher/ Teacher Debate (For example: what units/skills are most important for students to learn)
- it occurs in the teachers' lounge
- it serves to decide what to teach each year
- it helps arrive at a decision that everyone can agree with
-it is unstructured
- as in other situtations, one teacher could dominate the discussion, basically deciding that year's plan, while others do not get a change to say anything

"Last Word" Debate
- it occurs in the classroom
-it serves to hear students' point of views on various issues regarding the world and it helps students better understand their peers' views
-it could help arrive at a better decision if everyone agrees
-it is structured
- everyone has an equal change to state their opinion and have their voice count in the decision making process

Court Case (For example: a trial by jury)
-it occurs in the courtroom
-it serves to prove someone guilty or not
-it doesn't really help arrive at a better decision because the truth is not always factored in, or even known for that matter
-it is structured
- everyone has an equal change to state their opinion and have their voice count in the decision making process by the jury. Also, all the jury have one vote that each have the same value

Business Meeting Debate (For example: which slogan should we use for our new product)
- it occurs in a conference room
- it serves to decide which slogan should be used
-it helps arrive at a better decision because with a resulting compromise, everyone will be happy
-it is unstructured
- one businessman, usually the manager, can overrule their coworkers opinion because they have the authority in making the decision.

Outside Reading- Week 4- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 4: Pages 179- 228

Reaction: In chapter ten, one Sunday morning after his 7 a.m. radio show, Anger Management, on the community radio station WRUS, Owen invited Annabel out to breakfast. She agreed to go, and about twenty minutes later, Owen showed up at her front door. After some good music discussion in the car, they arrive at the World of Waffles. Realizing it was a bit chilly in the restaurant, Owen offered Annabel his coat. They enjoyed a nice, hearty breakfast together, and soon, Owen dropped Annabel back to her house. Right after he drove off, Annabel realized she was still wearing Owen’s coat, but most importantly that his ipod was in the coat’s pocket. In pages 202-203, although she knew she shouldn’t, her curiosity led to temptations that caused her to turn on the beloved ipod. In life, many people’s curiosity leads them to act in a way they feel is wrong; it is human nature. For instance, once when I was younger, I had a friend who kept a journal in which she wrote down all of her “secrets”. When I was at her house one day, I saw this “sacred” journal sitting keyless smack down in the middle of her wooden dresser as if it was on display. We ordered pizza and talked for a little while, and soon enough, she left the room to go pay the delivery boy and get our food. So, there I sit, just me and that journal. Normally, I would refrain from doing such a thing, but after hearing all the hype about that journal, my curiosity got the best of me, and within seconds, I was diving into the journal. I think many people are tempted to do things they shouldn’t because it adds excitement to their lives as it did with me that one day.

Outside Reading- Week 4- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 4: Pages 179- 228

2 Vocabulary Words

1. abhorrent (p.182)- adj.
causing repugnance; detestable; loathsome
utterly opposed, or contrary, or in conflict
Example from the book: “It’s so abhorrent that anyone could consider themselves an artist and then sell out so completely to the corporate machine”
My Example: As I care about the environment, I find the pollution surrounding big cities abhorrent.

2. Pensive (p.226)- adj.
Deeply, often wistfully or dreamily thoughtful.
Example from the book: “There were a few more [pictures] of Mallory as well, doing a full range of looks: pensive, dreamy, and, perhaps due to something Owen had just said, annoyed.”
My example: Philosophers are usually in a pensive mood while they think up new ideas to explain the world.

1 Quote and its significance

“Even though our rooms were adjacent, her view of the golf course, where a man in checked pants was now taking a practice swing, looked totally different to me, like it might have been another place altogether” (201).
This quote is significant to the story as it symbolizes the difference between the lives and views of the two sisters by comparing them with the very different views of both of their rooms’ windows. Although they were both raised in the same house by the same parents within the same environment, they act and understand the world completely differently. While Whitney is quieter and to herself, exhibited by writing in her journal, Annabel is more social, displays by her circle of good friends. This quote explains how their different personalities erupted so that they could become who they are today.

Outside Reading- Week 3- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 3: Pages 115- 178

Reaction: As Annabel gets to know Owen better, she learns more about his family life. Just as many children and teenagers have to face, in pages 159-160 we learn that Owen had to live through his parent’s brutal divorce. He describes angrily to Annabel how there was constant screaming and incessant hatred between his parents. On one hand, I feel so sorry that Owen had to endure this. I don’t think I personally could ever deal with such a situation although like most married couples, my parents often bicker. On the other hand, my personal opinion of divorce, although I understand they are messy, is that they are necessary. If I was in a marriage and was extremely unhappy and unsatisfied, I too would seek a better husband, a better life. From the parent’s point of view, divorce is evidently a good thing in the end. They no longer have to live their life with regret and major unhappiness. I also feel it is advantageous to their children because they will not have to consistently survive their parent’s arguments. However, this is not how most children view the situation. Many feel like they are to blame, or they feel worthless. I believe this is due to the fact that they had to come to the realization that their parents, who most view as heroes or idols, cannot always make the right decision. In this world, nothing and nobody is perfect. That’s what I love about it- it is our flaws that make us unique and interesting.

Outsside Reading- Week 3- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 3: Pages 115- 178

Vocabulary

Indecipherable ( p.128)- adj.
not understandable; incomprehensible.
Example from the book: “-the song was still going, the words the singer was saying (or screeching, really) indecipherable.
My example: Because it is not from their generation, the computer, to my parents, is absolutely indecipherable.

Semantic (p. 150)- adj.
of, pertaining to, or arising from the different meanings of words or other symbols
Example from the book: “[The definition of freaking out] is just a semantic issue, I guess.”
My example: America is viewed semantically by different countries; some view it as a place of freedom while others see it more as a place of greed.

3 examples of figurative language

Foreshadowing: “I thought of something else, the thing I could never admit, the biggest secret of all. The one I could never tell, because if the tiniest bit of light was shed upon it, I’d never be able to shut it away again” (143). I know that this is the literary element foreshadowing as it indicates that further on in the story, this secret will finally by let out and the truth will unfold. Judging by the way the author stated this, it seems as though Annabel is very reluctant for this to happen.

Metaphor: “Silence is so freaking loud” (147). I know this is the literary element metaphor because it directly relates and compares two unlike sounds. Silence is obviously not loud to most, yet metaphorically it could be perceived as so because it too is technically a sound.

Imagery: “The house was beautiful, with a wide front porch with a swing, and bright pink flowers in pots lining the steps. A yellow cat was lying on the front walk, stretched out in the sunshine” (150). I know this is the literary element imagery as it thoroughly describes Owen’s nice house using visual words such as “stretched” and “bright pink”. In my head, I can actually picture his house as if I was Annabel, observing it from my car window.

Outside Reading- Week 2- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 2: pages 64- 114

Reaction: Honesty is always the answer. But somehow, it is rarely the response. In pages 109-110 as Owen, a giant who has the reputation as a tough guy, drives Annabel home from school after she had had a rough day, Annabel realizes that he is not as scary as he is made out to be. Actually, she finds him fascinating. Even more so when he claims that he never lies, as she herself cannot help but to lie. So many people in the world continually lie. It is probably our worst habit. Although everyone knows it is not right, it is inevitable. It seems to be the easy way out at the moment, but in the long scheme of events, it becomes complicated; instead of its immediate effect of relaxing a person, lying will always end up hurting people more than helping them. I, myself, try my hardest to remain a completely honest person, and most of the time, I am. But sometimes, I just can’t bear to tell the truth, especially about my feelings. I sometimes force myself to be happy and cheery when in reality, I feel just the opposite. Although it may help me in situations where being sad or tired makes me out to be a party pooper, at the end of the day, I will still be sad or tired, but also angry because I would not let myself purge my true emotions. This realization makes me wonder that if the world could commit to being honest to others and themselves, how much easier our lives could be lived.

Outside Reading- Week 2- Post A

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 2: pages 64- 114

Vocabulary

Stoic (p. 72)- n.
One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain.
Example from the book: “Clarke wasn’t an emotional person. She was instead a born stoic.”
Other example (from me): As his sister cried and cried, he was stood there, a complete stoic, unaffected.

Visceral (p.96)- adj
characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect
characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude
Example from the book: “music is a total constant. That’s why we have such a strong visceral connection to it”
Other example (from me): I was visceral in figuring out that I needed to move back.

One emerging theme
One emerging theme in Just Listen is the honesty as it displays itself as a quality that many characters try hard to possess, yet somehow they are not capable of doing so leading them to continue to lie to everyone, especially themselves.

Outside Reading- Week 1- Post B

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Section 1: Pages 1-63

Reaction- The ability, or disability, to cope with death really fascinates me. In pages 30-34, a horrible event strikes the Greene family: Annabel’s maternal grandmother dies. Before her death, although they lived on opposite coasts of the United States, Annabel’s mother, Grace, and her mother were extremely close. Every morning, they would talk on the phone about things that didn’t seem important, but in essence they meant everything to Grace. Upon the death of her mother, Grace began to look more tired and less perky as usual. Gradually, she got worse; some days, she would not even get out of bed. This sort of response to death occurs a lot in the world today; especially if it is the parent who dies. Many people go into extreme depression, becoming a completely different person than they had previously been- a sadder person. Many do not sleep and try to occupy their minds with structured activities, while others, like Grace, sleep all day. Both help the “victim” attempt to forget about the past. But this is, in my opinion, unhealthy. One must face the fact that their parent is gone straight on in order to cope with the death and eventually move on with their lives, as difficult as it may be. To relate to my own life, both my paternal grandparents died in the same year when I was in 7th grade. Although my father seemed fine and unmoved, you could see the sadness in his eyes and the slight croaking in his voice. My mom told me he did not sleep for days. Every time I saw him, he had a crossword puzzle in his lap and a cup of coffee in his hand. He did not cope well with the death of his parents very quickly until he finally faced the facts and stopped trying to be in denial of their absence. In the book, too, Grace eventually begins to go to therapy and gradually, her life goes back to normal.