Peeta's view

The Third book in the “Hunger Game series: Mockingjay” written by Suzanne Collins, the character Peeta has his perspective of Katniss has been changed by the capital. After his kidnapping from the third quarter quell, he was tortured by the capital. After the torturing, every time he saw Katniss he relived his pain.  This changed his view of Katniss, as a monster. His opinion of katniss changed again, later in the book.  

When Peeta first came to district thirteen, he attempted to choke Katniss to death, which failed. In Peeta’s view, all the torturing was because of her. For everything Katniss said, they punished Peeta for it. Making Peeta wanting revenge for all the beatings, when he knew nothing.

When Peeta, Katniss, Gale, and other rebels were hiding in the inner capitol. Peeta’s relationship with Katniss changes from close friends to strangers. Rarely talking to each other, keeping distance, refusing to move, those are actions Peeta is having. He still does not fully trust the rebels, but he has no one to turn to.

Peeta and Katniss may still be strangers, but they went through a tragic common experience, which made them closer in the end. Peeta’s view of Katniss from, monster to loving her.

Adam's Conflict

In “April Morning” by Howard Fast, set in Lexington, Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary war. The main character, Adam Cooper, struggles with an internal conflict about shooting other people in battle.

As an average teenage boy, Adam was excited to fight the British. When the time came, the battle wasn’t what he fantasized war would be like. The reality was that his father was shot and killed, along with a multitude of other colonists. Frighten and alone, he hid in smokeshack under some bacon.

After hiding in the smokeshack, he decides to run away from Lexington and the British. Then he literally runs into Solomon Chandler, who escorts him to his cousin’s house. On the way to the cousin’s house, Solomon talks about how troops in the British are either felons or “poor, ignorant devils.” I think that makes Adam think that British are less than human, making them easier to shoot.  A little awhile later Adam and his cousin Joshua Dover, in a fight with the British. Joshua talks to Adam about his father and tells him nothing can replace him. I think that helped Adam to be at peace with his father death. During the battle of Concord, Adam overcomes his fears and shoots at the British soldiers; although he did not kill any of them.

Adam over came his fear of shooting someone during the bloody battle of Concord. After the battle of Concord, Adam goes home and gets a hero’s welcome.

Underdog

An underdog is a person or team who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict. Though they are expected to lose, some time they will pull off the upset. In all three of the books I just read, there is a common theme of an underdogs being successful because they are determined to win.

In the book “Moneyball” by Michael Lewis, the theme of being an underdog is really demonstrated. The Oakland A’s had baseball’s second lowest payroll in the league, compared to the New York Yankee’s having the highest payroll in 2001. However, the A’s had 102 wins and 60 loses in contrast to the Yankee’s 95 wins and 65 loses. They were able to do this by signing up-coming rookies and under rated older players. That way the A’s were able to manage their payroll without having a superstar. The A’s payroll to wins ratio was half a million dollars, which is lower than any other team in major league baseball, and proved that with good money management you can win lots of games on a budget.

The “Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins is another underdog story. The Series tells the story of Katniss, Peeta, and the thirteen districts fighting against the capital for their freedom.  The capital has better trained men, more money, and the position of power. Katniss and company are fighting with a poorly trained and lesser equipped district. What the districts do have is the will to fight for freedom, like the colonist in the American Revolutionary War.

“April Morning” by Howard Fast, is a novel about the American Revolutionary War. The main character is a teenager named Adam Cooper who lived in Lexington, Massachusetts. When the British wanted to destroy supplies and stop the training of militia in concord. They marched though Lexington, until they met armed resistance. Adam cooper fought on the side of the militia against the British. The militias were the clear underdog in conflict, fighting with few supplies and lacking military training.

                                                                   

“April Morning” is just like the “Hunger Games” series and “Moneyball”, in that the underdog can defeat a wealthier, well equipped, and better trained opponent. What the underdogs do have in common is the determination to succeed. 

Monster vs. Black and White

African Americans are seven times more likely to commit crimes than any other race, and eight times more likely to commit robbery per New century Foundation. This is a shocking fact! In the books “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers and “Black and White” by Mike Volponi, main teenage characters commit crimes that lead to deadly shooting and change their lives forever. 

There are many similarities between the books main characters, “Black and White’s” Marcus and “Monster’s” Steve. Like, both live in the New York City area. They both commit robberies that led to fatal shootings. “Eddie gave me a nod, and I nodded right back. I didn’t even know the man was black until we walked up to him, and Eddie told him it was a stickup.” They both have loving families that were involved in their lives. That one choice of committing the robberies altered their lives forever.

Even though there are numerous similarities, there are differences too. Marcus from “Black and White” had very promising futures, was a division one college basketball prospect. Steve from “Monster” was in a gang, without a bright future. Their motives were different too, Steve was asked to commit robbery by the gang “I’ll withdraw the question as framed. Mr. Harmon, do you remember Osvaldo saying that he understood you to be the lookout?” Were as, Marcus needed money for a senior trip to six flags.

Although Marcus and Steve had different motives, their choice to commit robbery, has ended up with  both of  them going to jail. By not stopping and thinking, the teenage boys have altered their live forever.