Jem's Journal Entry

Yesterday was the trial that I went to watch with Scout and Dill. Even though Atticus was defending Tom Robinson, he was still found guilty. The trial wasn’t fair! I thought that we would’ve won, but unfortunately we lost. I’ve noticed that there seems to be a caste system in Maycomb County. The top are the Finches, the next ones are the Cunninghams, after the Cunninghams are the Ewells, and lastly are the blacks. Each one of these groups looks down on the blacks and would rather believe a white person.

Something else happened yesterday too. Mr. Ewells spat in Atticus’ face. He threatened to kill him…Now I’m really scared for Atticus. Atticus told Scout and me not to be scared, but I still am. I’m scared of what is going to happen in the future, I’m scared of what Mr. Ewells will do.

Then this morning the blacks showed their appreciation in a really nice way. They left us hunks of salt meat and other foods. They really appreciated what Atticus did during the trial. I don’t understand why the jury decided he was guilty. I am very disappointed in the trial because it isn’t right. They would rather listen to a white person instead of a black person.

I can’t see this type of thing without being disappointed. It’s not right and it’s not fair. I’ll be a lawyer like Atticus. I know I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m sure I can do this. I know Atticus might not be here the day things change, but I’m determined to change the fairness.

To Kill a Mockingbird Cover

I chose to make my cover like this because I wanted the feathers and tree to symbolize and mean something. The feathers symbolize the innocence of mockingbirds, and also the sin of killing one. The tree represents the tree near the Radley's place, and how the tree played its part, but the color adds drama to the heart of the story. The cover really shows the heart of the story, and shows the sin of killing a mockingbird.

Maycomb's Daily

Silver Screens and Emerald Green Trees

The book Lord of the Flies by William Golding and the movie directed by Harry Hook, differ because the movie skipped the scene where they vote chief. Also the movie includes a pilot in the story, and having the boys being American instead of British in the movie.

The movie skipped one of the most crucial scenes in the book. One of them is when Ralph is elected chief, the author means to say that the boys need parental guidance because they need order and they are stranded. Without the scene in the movie it doesn't show the rivalry between him and Jack as well as in the book. The rivalry between Ralph and Jack doesn't really develop in the movie, but in the book you can see that the tension gather until the groups separate.

Another character was added into the movie and made it different from the book; the movie added a pilot to the story. Having a pilot in the movie shows that there is an adult figure, but he isn’t acknowledged as a parental figure. The director kills the pilot off in the movie because it shows that when people are terrified they do crazy things. Adding the pilot and then killing him off shows their fear and the developing savagery.

The book has the boys being British but in the movie they are American. This changes the story because it takes away from the meaning of what the author was trying to say. In the book, the British boys were more civilized than the Americans. Changing their nationality took away from the significance of from being civilized to turning into savages. Because the movie changed their nationality to being American, you can’t see the development of the boys becoming savages.

The movie Lord of the Flies directed by Harry Hook is unlike the book by William Golding because of many reasons. In the book there was a scene where the boys elect the chief, but in the movie there was no election. In the movie there was another character added but not in the book and from the boys being British in the book the movie changed the boys to being American. Although the movie was acted well, I believe that the book was better than the movie because it had all the necessary scenes to make the story flow.

Lord of the Flies Tanka

There were snarls, crashes.

There were flying limbs and fists.

Jack and his hunters

are vicious and merciless

just like the devil.

You Can't Have It All

But you can have sweet, sticky, strawberry lollipops like a dream of new white leather in a sedan.

You can have the soft, smooth petals of a peony blow across your face as it takes flight like a new born fledgling.

You can have the command of your older brother to make him a five star meal in less than 30 minutes.

You can have a fun day that turned cold to the bone after you make your brother's nose bleed. When you're dad looks at you with a face that says "Look what you did, don't even think about coming in here."

You can think love is just holding hands and sharing sodas, but sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less.

You can have those days where your house is like a blank piece of paper but a single box in the center of the room.

You can't have that boy that every girl dreams of, but you can have the best friend to share everything with. The one who will always come first.

You can have the little park where you're all alone in front of your house to drown in tears for a couple of hours.

You can't have the get out of jail free card, but you can go around the board like everyone else.

You can have the dream of California, the Golden Gate Bridge, and beeping cars in the middle of rush hour.

You can have your friend squeezing fresh limes on a Sunday afternoon, for sweet key lime pie.

You can have your friend tackle and knock you down as we both playfully fight over the TV remote.

You can have your grandma flood the cemetery with sorrow, just like when Harriet Tubman led the slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

You can have that friend that spins threads into gold to make wishes come true.

You can have the steaming, strained brain of too much homework but not enough time.

You can't be friends with the most popular girl, but you can be close to the girl who'll paint your nails even when you've caught the flu.

You can be grateful for windows to let you hear the bird's song, even early Saturday morning.

You can have the warmth of the sun on your back slowly roasting you as if you were sunbathing a grill.

You can have the annoying big brother that won't listen to anything you ask, but you will miss when he leaves to start his life.

You can't have that shining smile anymore, that kind hand that will always reach out to you, and that welcome that can't even be competed with. But you can have the same face watching over you like your guardian angel.

You can think you can do it, but soon realize even a sapling needs support.

You can have 15 minutes before school to look for your imperfections, the ones that you know will always bring you down.

You can mix and match the colors of clay, make a butter-fish, and an angel-fly.

You can have all of your friends guiding you, holding their hands and following them.

You can have eye bags under your eyes stuck alone with a can of Nutella and an abused laptop, the things a girl would do for her father.

You can sit there on the steps while the sun shone brightly; it dimmed to the beautiful orange sunset. Are they ever coming back?

You can't cross the bridge without meeting the troll. But you can meet the fairy godmother that will grant your wish for everything you can't have.

Poetry Notebook

The Angel Within You

selected by Stephanie Huie

Theme: Angels

Description: When I'm feeling down in the dumps I read these poems. They help me get back on my feet and makes me feel like I can actually do something. The ones that will look out for you and guide you to the right path. They'll be the ones who save you from the dark. Poems can bring back what you think you've lost, but what you've hidden within.

Synopsis: You can't see them, you can't feel them, you can't hear them, but angels will be there.

My Guardian Angel by Robert William Service

Do You Hear The Angel Speaking? by Faye Diane Kilday

Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou

Sleeping Angel by Raymond A. Foss

Sing Softly the Songs of Your Angel by Timothy Venard

They Are Always With You by Crystal Bell

Your Angel by Bobby Dinev

Our Precious Angels by America Diane Davidson

You're My Angel by Dr Nihar Ranjan Ray