Dear Melinda

Dear Melinda,

            I wish you would have had a better life; living up to expectations of everyone but yourself. Trying to take one day at time but not being able to speak. You never have been one to speak your voice, though I know you have a lot to say about the world around you. Especially about what happened during the summer.

            Have you ever wished you would speak your voice more? I wish I could. When we have to speak in class my face gets red and hot, including my ears. I look like and elf on fire. You and David came up with the plan to not have you speak in class, making the poster saying that you have the right not to. You have some guts to do that, I wish that I could make myself do that. I’m so particular of my grades and not getting in detention; haven’t ever had one.

            You probably would have spoken up if you knew what he was going to do to you at that party. It’s disgusting that men think that they can force into things you don’t want to do; not even letting you make up your mind. Nothing is ever planned in life to the fullest extent, especially that.

            One thing I wish I could do over is to know exactly what I want to say before I say it, because when it comes out, there is no way of pushing those words back in. I have a lot to say, many of it has anger behind it from my home life, so when it comes out it can be offensive.

When you stereotype the kids at your school I know that must be one way you take out your anger, but you don’t know those people and what there like. I understand if you don’t like peppy cheerleaders, because I don’t either, but you got to focus on the positives.

             

Sincerely,

Melanie

Hunger Games Premiere

            Imagine the one thing that you care most in your life. What is it? If it is the Hunger Games movie or the Hunger Games book, you have amazing taste in entertainment. On March 23^rd, the Hunger Games movie will be premiering at midnight, the only movie in the world that actually makes me feel tingly when I watch the trailer. Attending this midnight premiere is a dream for any fan of the book.

            There are many things to do before actually seeing the movie. I will be up all night on the February 21st waiting as the clock ticks away a minute at a time, waiting until the tickets go on sale for the Hunger Games premiere. Once March 23^rd comes along, I won’t have to stand in line for hours on end with a bunch hysterical screaming fans waiting unnervingly for the miraculous movie to show.

            Although waiting for the movie is a battle, watching the movie surrounded by other people who love and understand the Hunger Games is just as exciting as seeing it. I’m reading the series over again now and plan on reading the first book one more time before it premieres, just as all those other fans have too. Knowing when the emotional or cheerful moment comes along you won’t be the only one laughing or crying. For example, when Rue dies or when Cato falls out of the tree, you won’t be alone.

The “Hunger Games” series is hanging on the edge of life and death, taking what could be, and making it possible. I have never read a book quite like this one, with action, puzzlement, and sensitivity all in one amazing book and now on a big screen. Waiting anxiously for the premiere and finally having it just within reach is the one thing any Hunger Game’s reader could ever ask for.

Conflicting Hunger Games

            Life is a difficult and scary path that can change at any second; especially in the life of citizen in Panem. Panem is under a strong reigning capital that starves and punishes the people who are only trying to make a living. When love and danger are mixed together nothing good can come out of it. The “Hunger Games Series” by Suzanne Collins tells of a teenager fighting for her life from the capital and two awkward loving friends that always end up getting in the way of things.

            Katniss is a 16 year old girl living in the controlling country of Panem. Once entered in the Hunger Games, the occurrences of life, death, and love started popping up in unwanted places of her life. Gale and Peeta, the two unwanted lovers of Katniss get in the way of what she really wants to accomplish, which is overriding the capital and freeing the ever so hard working people. I detest both Peeta and Gale for getting in the way and caring of what does not really matter in a time like that. If Gale and Peeta were more understanding throughout the series Katniss would be able to concentrate on the things that matter.

Unless Peeta and Gale ever realize how ignorant they are, life in Panem will keep on going downhill. Such as how Peeta reacts when he finds out that the love between him and Katniss is just for show and he is only worrying about himself, when the capital is just hair stand thick from destroying her, along with Panem. If Peeta was not self centered or if he wasn’t the other tribute from district twelve, she would be able to win the Hunger Games herself and wouldn’t have to pick up the pieces for Peeta. Another is when Gale realizes all of a sudden that he loves her and wants to go off and live out of the woods. When he does realize it, he tells her just hours before the reaping for the Hunger Games. If Gale were to be less of a lover and more of a friend, Katniss would be able continue life without getting stuck in the middle of the love spree.

Other than Gale and Peeta getting in the way, the Capital is the one who throws gasoline on it. President Snow and the Capital like to have everything in their favor, though the quote they say to the teenagers before the deathly Hunger Games is “May the odds ever be in your favor.” After the first Hunger Games Katniss participated in, she and Peeta were left as the last two and there was only one way both could survive: kill each other so no one would win. This is when the blood and rose smelling President stepped in and threatened to kill the people she loved for tricking the Capital into thinking that they were doing it to show the Capital off. Though Katniss and Peeta did show them off, the President himself told her to marry Peeta and all would be well between her and the Capital. But she didn’t know that it would back fire and go down the toilet. It made it worse for Katniss to be taunted and manipulated to fix something for the Capital that could not be fixed. One resolution for this would be for the Capital to back down and take in that they lost the battle from the girl who was on fire and her unknown rebels.

Katniss’ obstacles have always been the ones that truly love or detest her and there are very few ways around it. The only way for Katniss to wiggle her way through the mess is to defeat the Capital and pick between two love-sick puppies that never can be realistic when Katniss needs them the most. To make life enjoyable is to cherish the moments with people that cherish you and not the ones who want to get rid of you in one way or another. Life is only so long. 

  

        

Unspoken Conflict

Author's Note: This piece is based off of the book "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson on the conflict between Melinda and herself. I would like you to comment on whether or not I had enough or too much information on the book and if I got across the theme of the piece.

I did the conflict for the book speak. The main character is Melinda, who is trying to fit in after what happened over the summer. The main conflict is caused by her calling the police on a high school party and now everyone hates her because of it, even her old friends. Melinda fights herself to do better at life but her parents and Heather want her to be who they want her to be. Nothing anyone could ever say to Melinda would make her change. Since she is fighting herself it would be person vs. self. One resolution is for Melinda to start believing in herself which could lead to her overcome what happened at the party. Another resolution would be for her to continue digging a deeper hole for herself which it would unlikely for her to ever would get out of.