Amazing article by Ellen Hopkins!!

The interesting article Banned Books Week 2010: An Anti-Censorship Manifesto by Ellen Hopkins is about how many people “dis-invited” and hated on Ellen Hopkins and her book “Crank” because they thought there was inappropriate (drugs, cursing etc.) content. Ellen Hopkins starts off her article by giving a small moment -- Ellen Hopkins was signing books and at the end, a woman came up to her and shared her story: “How she started getting high in middle school… she found that book (referring to Crank)... She saw herself in those pages, and suddenly knew she didn't want to be there. That book turned her around. Today she's been sober two years, is graduating high school and has embarked on a modeling career.” Showing that books about drugs can help you. Then, Ellen Hopkins gives examples of how, when and where she was “dis-invited” from schools, libraries and other public places. Some of the dis-invitations were from parents while others were from the faculty of the area. In the end, Ellen Hopkins speaks directly to the reader saying that if you should or shouldn’t read a book about tough situations depends on the reader and can help some people, but that someone can’t decide for others what should or shouldn’t be in libraries.

In her article about banning books, Ellen Hopkins uses craft moves that evoke emotions. One craft move she uses is loaded words like “apparently, cannot, do not, and valuable”. These loaded words can evoke emotion because they can cause you to think something you didn’t before, or make you think something is supposed to be a certain way or you have to think a certain thought. I think Ellen Hopkins used this craft move in her article because she wanted to make a statement and wanted people to believe her point of view, and this craft move can be very persuasive. Another craft move that Ellen Hopkins used in her article was imagery. Imagery, like loaded words, evoke emotions. Imagery like small moments or descriptions can cause you to feel something towards what happened or could happen. The small moment at the beginning of the article evoked emotion because it made you feel sad for the woman, and a bit proud of her, too, even if you didn’t know her personally. I believe that Ellen Hopkins used this craft move because she wanted you to feel these emotions and see that what she believes (books about drugs can help you) really can happen.

I agree with Ellen Hopkins’ claim because I believe as well that books about drugs shouldn’t be banned from school libraries because they can influence people to stop/not start using drugs because they see how terrible it is in the book(s). A few lines that really stood out to me from the article were “If you don't like content in a book, don't read it. If you don't want your child to read a book, take it away. But you do not have the right to decide "appropriateness" for everyone. What's perhaps not right for one child is necessary to another. Ignorance is no armor. And those whose lives are touched by the issues I write about deserve to know they are not alone.” I love these lines because they speak the truth and I feel that everyone can use books about tough things like drugs to relate to or lead them threw a confusing time. I really liked reading this article because I’m a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins and agree with what she has to say about books with drugs -- or even just tough situations.

Loneliness

Have you ever felt like no one was there to help you through hard times?

I know I have.

            The book How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr is about two 17 year old girls, Jill and Mandy, with no one in their lives to help or support them and how they struggle together. Mandy is pregnant and Jill’s dad is dead. Jill’s mom, Robin, wants to adopt Mandy’s baby. One of the themes in the book is loneliness can always be ‘fixed’.

            A reason for Jill’s loneliness is her dad dying. Jill shuts everyone out and when she wants company and a friend, no one’s there for her. Although she is lonely, Jill is able to put an end to (or fix) her loneliness. For example, Jill reaches out to the people she had previously shut out. Slowly, Jill and her ‘ex-friends’ move forward towards friendship. “It’s the third time in about a week I've had lunch with Laurel and Cinders. They’re warming up to me again. It feels mostly good…” This shows that Jill moved forward and tried to be more with the people who were once her friends and hopefully will be again, because they’re eating lunch together and talking again.

            A reason for Mandy’s loneliness is because her mom shuts her out from the real world. Also, her being pregnant and having a baby at a young age, gives people bad assumptions, and makes them act unfriendly towards her. “my mother took me out for ice cream…”Eat up, Mandy, while you can,” she said… she said from then on I had to watch my weight… I couldn't be friends with boys… I should never come out of my room fully dressed… I had to use deodorant and wash my hair every day and not sit cross-legged or run around the schoolyard... “Your childhood is over.” I was only just eleven.” This shows that Mandy’s mom is the reason that Mandy’s lonely because she doesn't give her the time to be a kid, even at eleven. Although, Mandy faces these problems, other people end (or fix) her loneliness. Thanks to Robin and Jill, they make her feel like she has a home, support and friends who care about her. They also adopt Mandy, instead of the baby in the end.

            This connects to my 6^th grade year. Moving to a new middle school there wasn't anyone I knew. For the 1^st two weeks, I only focused on my schoolwork which caused me to have no friends in my class. I decided it had to change. So I walked up so someone and said hi… all leading to a new friendship and an end to loneliness.

            All in all, what I’m really trying to say is that teens tend to feel like no one is there to help them with tough situations, but there’s always some way to end or ‘fix’ their loneliness. Either they can ‘fix’ it themselves, or someone might come along and help you ‘fix’ it. Everyone can end their loneliness and/or help others end theirs.