Blog Post #5

"Stir it up!" a novel by Ramin Ganeshram
This story is about a 13 year old girl named Anjali, who has a strong passion for cooking. She works in her family's restaurant called "Island Spice" when i read the book, i realized that she loved cooking in the restaraunt, but she is in such a rush, she doesn't enjoy it as much. Anjali's dad wants Anjali to go to a really good school in Manhattan called "Stuyvasent high school" Angali is quite smart and does want to go, but on the same day of the test an important cooking competition, and she is more passionate about that than she is of the Stuyvasent high school test. Anjali's dad does not approve, how does Anjali's dad change from the beginning to the end about Anjali's passion for cooking?

In the beginning of the book, Anjali's dad was strong about his shop, and did not notice her passion, and how much she loves to cook, he just had her cooking for his restaurant, Anjali's dad does know that Anjali is really smart, and he has high hopes for her, he wants her to be successful, with business, not with standing in a kitchen, little does he know, that all Anjali wants to do when she grows up, is to run a TV show, starring herself.

When Anjali gets an envelope, saying that her audition to a TV show called "Super Chef Kids" she is over whelmed with joy, because she has been worrying for months about getting through. She also gets her Stuyvasent letter, and the finals, is on the same day as her Stuyvasent test. This was the main problem in the book. Anjali showed her dad the letter, and he was pretty excited, but when he found out that it was on the same day as the Stuyvasent test, he was mad, and did not want Anjali to try out, no exceptions.

Anjali is determined to try out for the TV show, so she sends her best friend to take the Stuyvasent, test, and she wont even try. Anjali does not win the TV show, and her father finds out and he is angry as ever, taking away all her privileges. At the last show, when Anjali was going to be sent home, her dad had changed his mind and realized Anjali's passion for cooking, and respected that fact

I guess that Anjali's dad was too worked up with working to not realize that his daughter loved cooking. When the author described the restaurant in the story, it seemed like a very busy place. I guess that Anjali's dad was a bit too hard on Anjali and he realized it.

Essay On "The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh"

The book "The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh" Is a book about this boy, named Joby, Who is 14 years old, and is to be the drummer boy of Shiloh. Joby is afraid to be the drummer boy, and he also feels like he is useless and he won't help the soldiers of the war at all even though he will. I guess thats the two main things that worry Joby throughout the whole story. But something i focused on was how Joby changed from the beginning of the story to the end of the story, to me, Joby changed quite alot.

Joby had thought that he was a useless part of the war, and he wouldn't have came to use, he thought that he wouldn't have helped the war or the soldiers in anyway, being in the war joby didn't have any confidence in himself, Joby was also worried about not surviving in the war, he thought that he might be the only one that might not survive. "Me, thought the boy, i got only a drum and 2 sticks to beat it, and no shield" That proves that Joby was afraid if he got hurt in the war, he wouldn't have a shield to protect himself, and he would be unprotected. he could get hurt at any time.

Joby was crying over the fact that he isn't protected and over the fact that he wouldn't be any use in the war, made him cry. I guess like any normal teenage boy, wanted to go home to his family and not be a part of the war. Joby has no confidence in himself at all about the war. "You want to cry some more? Go ahead, i did the same last night" This sentence that the general had said in the story proves that the general could relate to Joby in some way. He knew how Joby felt about being the drummer boy.

"You'll run them through from me then, boy?" the general asked "Yes Sir" Joby replied, full of confidence, by the end of the book, Joby was happy to be the drummer boy, in fact he seemed excited. I guess it was normal for him to be excited, he got a really nice talk complimenting him and stating how important he is to the army, and how his effort and spirit beating the drums, will keep the army going, and if they win it will all be due to Joby.

"You are the heart of the army, think about that" the general spoke making Joby feel better. Joby was listening to the general carefully, the general made Joby feel confident, special and useful. The general made Joby realized that he will be safe with the soldiers  as long as he beats his drums, the soldiers will keep moving and that will keep Joby safe. In the first two paragraphs, Joby was afraid but he changed throughout the story, and was more confident about who he is.