YA Reading Response

          Will Grayson, will grayson is a novel written by John Green and David Levithan, which alternates between the life of two boys named Will Grayson with completely different life. The first Will, whose name is always correctly capitalized, is described by living life without being noticed by following the rules of not caring much and shut up. Yet it becomes complicated because his best friend Tiny Cooper isn't the type to go around unnoticed.  Meanwhile, the lower-case will grayson written by David Levithan goes through his life without much friends except an online relationship with someone who goes by the name Isaac. Important themes and lessons in life are portrayed throughout the story for readers to relate better to the novel.

        One of the most important themes being portrayed is accepting who you are. In the story, Tiny Cooper is discriminated for being gay and because of his heavy body. However, throughout the book Tiny says he loves the fact that he's fat and that he is full of love. Also, Will Grayson finally throws out his rules with not caring much for accepting his love and appreciation toward Tiny Cooper and Jane. “We kiss. Her hands are freezing on my face, and she tastes like coffee and the smell of the onion is still stuck in my nose, and my lips are all dry from the endless winter. And it's awesome.” The other will grayson accepts himself being homosexual and allows Tiny into his love life. 

       Another theme interpreted in the book is relationships. Whether it is friendship or love interests, family or peer acquaintances, relationship is a continuing theme from the very beginning to the end. The book revolves around the friendship Will Grayson with his best friend Tiny Cooper, and also his love interest Jane. Even though Will Grayson is embarrassed to be friends and best friends with Tiny Cooper, who is gay. "Being in a relationship, that's something you choose. Being friends, that's just something you are. [But] I do pick you. We've been friends too long to pick, but if we could pick, I'd pick you.” He realized how important how much his friendship means. The other will grayson focused on his love interest with Isaac and Tiny Cooper, but also with his mother.

     In conclusion, John Green and David Levithan included themes in the novel in order to teach reader lessons through the story of different characters. These are important life lessons some might find hard to learn, but actually matters a lot. The book deals with different issues that happens in life which helps readers relate better to the book.

Baseline Essay: Guess who's Looking at your Facebook Page?

         In the article, "Guess Who's Looking at Your Facebook Page?" the author Alessandra Potenza raised concern to the issue of whether should school admission officers and employers Google applicants for background checks. More and more college admission officers are checking applicants' online trails, claimed wanting to know more about applicants. Statistics and examples of applicants reveal the consequences for posting online. The article reflect on how students/workers' privacy and outside lives are being invaded without permission.

        According to the article, "Guess Who's Looking at Your Facebook Page?" college admission officers has started conducting background checks on applicants since 2011. Background checks include googling applicants online, and investigating them on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Yet many young people share personal information and post parts of their life online. "In a recent survey, over a quarter of admissions officers at hundreds of top ranked U.S colleges said they'd used Facebook and Google to vet applicants." A background check means invasion of privacy toward applicants. Officers conducting unreasonable searches on students' private life is just not ethical.

       Not only school admission officers are checking students online trails, many employers are also searching on workers in order to make sure they are behaving properly. In the job market, checking on applicants on social media appears to be spreading. According to the article, " more than 90 percent of recruiters check candidates' social media profiles." This means workers are technically not allowed to have fun because they are being restricted. Workers has to behave on a  professionally
manner to present themselves better to employers. Therefore in order to get a job or obtain their jobs, workers are forced to conceal themselves.

    However, the author also provides a counterclaim. College admission officers and employers claim they are only checking how responsible their students and workers are behaving. "...even "friends" her students on Facebook to check- beyond the privacy wall- that they're behaving responsibly." Even though it is okay for counselors to make sure students are behaving properly, it is not their business to check beyond the privacy wall.

    In conclusion, students and workers privacy and fun should not be invaded by college officers and employers, People should be allowed to maintain their own private life while doing school work or regular work. It is not their business of others life.

The Faithful Elephants

  The Faithful elephants written by Yukio Tsuchiya is a heartbreaking story of three elephants residing in a zoo during a war in Japan. Zookeepers are ordered by the army to execute the poor animals inhabiting inside the zoo. However, the zookeepers considered the animals and the three elephants as their own children, and the unfortunate sacrifice of them shows the cruelty of the past and war. The author of the Faithful Elephants established multiple different setting descriptions to reflect on the emotional feeling of the story, and to create contrasts between emotions displayed throughout settings so readers can understand the story better.

              The author of the Faithful Elephants immerses readers "gently" into the story. The lighthearted description of the Ueno Zoo provides a peaceful setting for readers as they slowly settle into the story. For instance, the author describes, "the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the Ueno Zoo. Their petals are falling in the soft breeze and sparking in the sun." The image portrayed a beautiful and loving place which everyone enjoys.  Also, the cherry blossoms fully depicted the symptoms of spring, which represents rebirth. 
    
               Another example of how the author uses setting descriptions to reflect on the emotional feelings is when she zooms into the war. The war is the cause of the conflict, and therefore a close description of it shows how frightening and scary it is. " Bombs were dropped on Tokyo every day and night, like falling rain." The author creates a violent scene which is a huge contrast from the image created before.
        
               Lastly, the lonely image presented at the end adds on to the description before. " He was still patting the tombstone tenderly as the cherry blossoms fell on the grave, like snowflakes." This image brings a chill as the story ends. The author is like reminding readers to remember the sacrifice of the three elephants. Also, the falling cherry blossoms are like telling the elephants to rest in peace which brings a sadness to it.

               In conclusion, Yukio Tsuchiya presents different emotions in parts of the story to show the difference in settings by creating contrasts. She uses gentle and peaceful wordings to introduce readers into the story while using violence and frightening images to show the climax of it.  As a reader, I feel I can read better into the story, and analyze better about it by using the descriptions. A excellent writing piece with detailed descriptions can always insert readers right into the story.