The House on Mango Street, was a very interesting book in my opinion. After reading it, it gives you a different perspective on the way you view things. There were also many parts in the book where you could actually relate to the characters. Having that effect helped me become more engaged in that book, because it made me realize that I wasn't the only one feeling that way. The structure of the book is rather different than any other typical book you'd read. It has many little stories that add up to one huge story, and throughout it you can see the character(s) developing. The book starts out with Esperanza wanting to depend on others and concerned of what others thought of her. But as you read on, you'll begin to notice that Esperanza has grown to be independent, and isn't ashamed of where she comes from. She learns to become strong and confident throughout the experiences the people around her were having, and the ones she had her own.
Sammy and Juliana In Hollywood, by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, was about a boy , Sammy, who became stronger after his girlfriend's death. There were many tragic events that occurred in his life, which were painful at first, but they also taught him something in a way. I personally thought that this book was sad to read. There were many parts in this book where one of the characters would just leave, either by dying or moving away. As the reader, it sorta affects you, because you begin to get attached to certain characters. But there was also a lesson to be learned based off of the experiences that Sammy had. The lesson I got from the book was that no matter how harsh life seems at the moment, it will somehow make you a stronger person. Things will also brighten up after all of the painful stuff have gone away.
Antigone, by Sophocles
Antigone, was about a young girl that was willing to sacrifice her life, to fight for what she thought was right. She wanted her brother to have a proper burial, but her uncle would not allow it. For disobeying her uncle, she is sent to die in a cave, which the son of the uncle disagrees with. I thought that this tragic story had a very good moral behind it. Which was to stand for your beliefs, no matter what.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, was about a young boy who endured many traumatizing events in his childhood. Many of those events consisted of violence and goriness. Ishmael ran from his town to avoid being captured from the rebels and the soldiers. He didn't want anything to do that involved harming others. Unfortunately, Ishmael gets captured and brainwashed by the soldiers. Reading this story was kind of hard for me. I knew that i was reading a book that was based on real events. If you read this book yourself you'll realize that these tragic events actually occurred to a child. The message I got from reading this was that you must not give up hope, and to keep on trying. Why? Well because it'll pay off someday.
Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Kite Runner, starts out with Amir and his friendship with Hassan. As you read you can see that they have a pretty strong bond. Sadly that's not the same with Amir's and his father's relationship. Amir's father seems to favor Hassan more, which causes Amir to get jealous. Amir's jealousy drives him to wreck his friendship with Hassan, which he later regrets. One of the many reasons Amir's father is disappointed with his son, is because Amir doesn't stand up for himself or others. The lesson I received from this book was that you should appreciate what you have. You should also think things thoroughly, before making a grand decision, because you might regret it someday.
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet, was a story about a young boy that was stranded in the wild due to an airplane incident, when he was on his way to his fathers place. He doesn't have any experience with the wilderness, but he does seem to recall events that help him out. He learns to care for himself, as nature throws obstacles at him. I personally thought that this was a good book, because it really exemplified how much a person can grow. It also shows that giving up isn't a choice if you want to achieve something in life.
Into the wild, by Jon Krakauer
This book talks about the adventures of a young man by the name of, Chris McCandless. Still in his early twenties, he decides to cut off all ties with society. He leaves his old life behind in terms for searching for something much greater: happiness. This book made me realize, that I shouldn't dedicate my whole life to please others. I also learned that if you really want something in life, you should go out and make it happen yourself.