My Batman

The person in my life that I could most relate to Batman is my Uncle Ba. He shares a lot of qualities with Batman like his beliefs of public service and giving back to the community. Mainly my Uncle gained these beliefs after he began following a new religion after my grandfather’s death. He tries to help whoever whenever he can and like Batman doesn’t care about social class or wealth. Every weekend he goes out and volunteers at our temple to help give food for the poor and he takes me along every week so he can help teach me those traits. So another comparison could be drawn between my uncle and Batman trying to influence the youth with their traits. My Uncle however doesn’t share the same courage as Batman but I think it could b said that h shares the same compassion and love of others as Bruce but also the same ideals becaus both want to make the world a better place.

My Batman

A person that is my Batman is a rapper named NF (Nathan Feuerstein). NF is a new white rapper that raps about his life and tries to tell youth that life isn't always what it looks like. In his song, "Beautiful", he is rapping about a girl that feels lost and is always torn to pieces by her long gone dad and torn away life. His message in the song is that she's beautiful on the inside and that he thinks all girls are beautiful, no matter what they are going through. He goes through these messages in all his songs by talking about his past life that was filled with depression and death and anxiety. He talks to the people that listens to his songs and shows them that we can get through the hard times as long as we don't focus on the past. NF relates to Batman because he wants to help the future kids out of this pit that they are in and doesn't want them to fall victim to others opinions or feelings. He shows people to focus on their own opinions and their own life. Although he likes rapping, it's more like a therapy for himself and he wishes that he didn't have to tell young people that their life is not thrown away. NF isn't very well kn own, but his most popular songs "Let You Down", is about him feeling that his parents are disappointed about him, but he chose his own path. He expresses to people that he chose what he wanted to do and succeeded in it, even when he went through all these traumatizing experiences.

My Batman

                   

The person that I would consider to be my Batman would be my mom. She’s my Batman because she would do anything for me and others even if she is not feeling up to it. She always saves the day for me even if I haven’t been the best behaving lately. She is the biggest help to everyone especially to me and I am very greatful. She reminds me of Batman because of how caring she is especially to me. Every time I’m hungry she always fixes me something to eat or let’s me order something from Uber eats. Or if I want to go out with friends and my dad says no she will convince or just finding a way for me to go. If my friends need a ride anywhere she would pick them up even if it’s like 3 people in one day.  I wanted to go to my friend’s band competition and it was like an hour away. She picked up me up from my grandma’s and two other of my friends. She then sat there for about 7 hours waiting for us and if she didn’t do that I definitely would not have been going. Batman faces many obstacles and so does my mom. She is definitely my hero for everything and would be my Batman.

Who is my Batman?

One person that exemplifies "Batman" to me would be Ashton Kutcher. He is mainly known for his acting jobs, however, he also is involved in many humanitarian movements. One of the biggest organizations he is involved in is called "Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children." It is a non-profit organization that he co-started with Demi Moore in 2012 to help save the children in the sex trafficking "industry." As of Thorn's 2018 report, Kutcher's tool (a device that helps track down victims) and the law enforcement have identified over 10,000 victims and exposed sex traffickers. He's been part of this organization for years and not many people know about it.
He is like Batman because he's made a huge impact on the world by trying to save current victims and prevent future victims behind the scenes as Bruce Wayne does. Batman did the same for Gotham as he tries to stop the huge amounts of crime and brutality with his tools. Kutcher once said, "You can roll up your sleeves and go try to be like a hero and go save one person, or you can build a tool that allows one person to save a lot of people." I think this quote epitomizes Batman because Bruce, Arthur, and Robin (whomever it may be) team up to build tools that help Gotham. I also think that Kutcher is like Batman in the fact that he most likely wishes that he didn't have to even build this tool to save thousands of children every year. He wishes that there wasn't a human trafficking issue like this. And, according to Frank Miller, Batman is a hero that wishes he didn't have to exist. Batman wishes Gotham wasn't so engulfed in crime. He wishes that Batman didn't have to exist, but he knows Batman is a necessity to saving the citizens of Gotham.

Who is my Batman?

     Batman is a man of strong character, fierce and will stand up for what he believes in. He also doesn’t care about others opinion, able to stand strong and do what he knows is right even if others don’t think so. One person I would have to say that I see this very way is actually my boyfriend. He is fierce and doesn’t care about what others think about him. Able to distinguish right from wrong and have a really good moral compass such as Batman. Both are self sacrificing and care about the greater good of any situation. Sometimes this need for peace can get to both of them, bringing them down to low points or higher expectations of themselves. However, both are hard working and don’t need superpowers to make a difference. They are efficient, hard workers that can handle their own. They also both depend on others in their life to get them through the harder times. For example, how Batman depends on Robin to get through the trouble and make it easier my boyfriend depends on me. Able to simply call me over and have me helping him through anything. These two people/ characters and both strong enough  that they know that needing help is not a sign of weakness. They are able to call and depend on these loved ones by their side, pulling motivation by even their sidekicks very spirit to get through all bad. Both are seen as the hero’s of others, although both have difficulty being understood by others, able to defend and protect what they stand and believe in no matter what the cost or plan they have to go through.

My Batman

            In my life there are few people who I  say are true heroes.  One easy example I can think of is my father.  Every time I am in trouble he seems to swoop in and help me; wether I need a hand with my homework, or I forget Mother's day is coming, he is there to lend a hand.   Now, Batman is known for his ability to provide aid to those in need.  My dad seems to always be looking out for others before himself.  Much like Batman, my father devotes his life to doing good in the world. He spends every day teaching students who often find school challenging because they are from impoverished homes.  Another trait Batman displays is his willingness to do what is right even when not doing anything, or doing the wrong thing, is easier.  When my father is off work, his dedication to helping others continues. You often will find him rebuilding fences, helping a friend with home repairs, or preparing for his next lesson with his students.  For these reasons, I believe my father is a real life hero. 

Who is your batman

Someone who epitomizes Batman in my life would be my mom. There are multiple reasons why she would be compare to Batman in the good and bad things he does stuff and how its done. As any person she would do stuff that were good in her eyes even if it was misunderstood by others because others won't do anything. There has been many acts that she has done in the life that I have been present to see such as doing more than others because many people will be satisfied with the requirements needed but she always wanted to do more than just by herself. To add on her morals was something that was never forgotten even when everything was against her such as Batman. Such as Batman his morals no matter in what it is his morals isn't forgotten even in combat with villains like how she is very frustrated or stressed on a difficult accomplishment or task of some sort she might get mad but doesn't over react to lose herself. Although Batman tends to do actions in a way that many wouldn't do she will also have those times. There are times that there is an extent of doing some stuff that aren't necessary, but it always help others like the city of the Gotham. There are many positive things with Batman and his choices but there is also some negative parts of him, but he always wants to do the correct thing.

Who is my batman?

Batman is indeed an interesting and confusing character. Yes he fights crime to keep his city safe but he seems rather cold and distant at first appearance, also his motives and morals are often questioned. However we see that he genuinely wants to help the people of Gotham and he's determined to go to almost any extent to do so. He's also a superhero with no powers therefore doing his job requires much strength and bravery. The person I would say is my Batman is my dad.


My dad works long hours driving all over southern California essentially helping people and some nights has to spend the night out of town. When he does get home he seems tired and unapproachable at first however when you give him some time to settle in he's actually funny and loving. I would say the same goes for Batman he's cold to anyone who first comes into his life but he quickly forms a bond with that person and is willing to do anything for them, in his case Robyn. Also my dad works long hours to provide as much as he can for my family the same way Batman dedicates himself to the citizens of Gotham. My dad not only works for the money he actually genuinely loves his job, he's always on his phone regarding work, and he sometimes goes in on his off days because "something always needs to be fixed or touched up on" but we all know it's just because he can't stay away from his job. Batman is the same way no matter how hard he tries he's drawn to fighting crime and being Batman. Finally my dad is my Batman because he's goes out everyday and does the work no one else wants to do or can handle so he can help people fix their problems and he comes home making sure his family is happy, loved, and secured.

Who is your Batman

I believe that an interesting real-life comparison to Batman would be Elon Musk. It sounds stupid, but after putting some thought into it I think I may be able to back this up. Many of Musk's business ventures have always had some sort of positive twist on them while using unconventional and sometimes even controversial twists on them. Musk had a large hand in the early days of Paypal, which became one of the largest electronic payment systems; Tesla, his car company is focused on helping the environment yet being luxury cars which made them very expensive; and Spacex, his space-exploring company has been conducting experiments and stunts that many people have questioned in a negative aspect. Batman also uses unconventional and controversial methods of achieving his goals, such as extreme brutality and disregard for the law against criminals. Both of them aim to do positive things while using methods that are not expected. Elon is trying to advance humanity yet is also very rich, and Batman tries to clean up the streets by being violent. Another way they are similar is how much the break the mold of their respective roles in society. Batman, a superhero, is very dark and violent, and doesn't typically resemble the traditional superhero mold, which is evident in his violent means, disregard for the law, and the way he causes high tensions with other superheroes. Elon Musk definitely breaks the mold of massive billionaires who try and seem "hip and cool like them there kids." Some of them, i.e. Mark Zuckerburg, feel so plastic and fake. Elon seems very down-to-Earth and in-touch with modern day culture. His dark sense of humor and overall "I don't care what other's say" attitude are a reflection of how unique he is when compared to his fellow billionaire personalities. However, he does have balance and hasn't ended up like Martin Skrelli who ended up throwing his career away by fully embracing his role as a villain who disregarded others. However, what makes him stand out the most is that in my opinion he seems to genuinely care about advancing the human race technologically (i.e. his environmental-consciousness and projects towards space exploration) and not completely focused on maximizing his profits.

Who is your Batman?

    My cousin to me is like Batman and shares many qualities like him . My cousin is really determined in what she believes in and will stand up for what she thinks is right. She does a lot of protests for example when Laud district teachers weren't getting paid enough she was there supporting them.She helps her community and Batman helps Gotham city. She is very stubborn especially if she truly believes that what she's doing is the best decision. She sticks to her beliefs and wont give up. Like Batman who fights for his people of Gotham city and wants to protect them in anyway he can.She hates when she hears about all the bad things happening in the world thats why she tells me that doing protests makes her feel like she's helping in some way. She wants to make things better and protests for her is a non violence fight but her message still gets heard. She doesnt agree with the way government completely handles situations. Which is an example of Batman refusing to work for the government even though Superman does he likes to do things on his own. Once she hears something happening and can help in anyway she does it. She likes to make change in our world and loves helping others. To me she posses many characteristics like Batman.

Who Is My Batman?

When reading throughout the novel, we see many different sides to Batman.  One person in my life that exemplifies Batman, would be my auntie.  My auntie alone has already faced some pretty tough times regarding her parents, which forced her to grow up early at a young age.  Although Bruce did have Alfred to raise him, my auntie learned to be self-dependant.  Flash forward to adult years, my auntie is prospering without anyone's help and I admire her for that.  Just like Batman, I mean sure he has Robin as his sidekick, but he prospered in his crime-fighting without Robin just as well as he did with her.  He was able to defeat the Mutant Gang leader without much of Robin's help.  This is because he loses his sense of morality and starts losing control over his actions.  My auntie is similar in a somewhat way. She would be doing so many things at once that she would get mentally stressed out, but then she pulls herself together and pulls herself out of that weak mindset and gets the job done.  Similarly, when Batman starts to get too deep into his fighting he goes through that weak mindset for a small period of time, but then we see him pull himself out of it before he ends up killing someone.  My auntie is someone who I will always look up to in my life because of her work mentality and words of wisdom LOL

Who is Your Batman?

For me, personally, my Batman is my older brother. Though he only stayed until I was ten, (he moved away when I was eleven), the years he took me under his 'wing' as his Robin were really great years. I think my brother is my Batman because he doesn't like to work with other people, he doesn't follow rules that much, is very protective,  tries hard to do what's right, strong-willed and very stubborn like Batman. I always looked up to him because he took me everywhere to participate in his shenanigans that ends up with the both of us getting in trouble with our mom because of all the things we caused but it was for a good reason. A story I have was when our cousin got in trouble for something she didn't do, my brother immediately talked back and I was so hyped I joined in to prove our point and we were yelled at for being disrespectful. Whether we got in trouble or not, my brother didn't care as much as I did because, as he said, "If i'm doing something bad, then it'll end up good." I aspired to be as brave and good as he was when I grow up- even though we were only two years apart- so I was his Kid Wonder that followed him around everywhere. My brother never gave up when he aspired to do something and tried his best to achieve anything and does what he thinks is right even if it means he has to fight, which he didn't mind. If anything tries to bring him down, he stands back up, motivates himself and tries to do better.When I also got in trouble, he'd swoop in and fight, tell me to fight, and I would fight alongside him. He influenced lot of events in my childhood and he often told me that I should stand on my own feet because at one point we'd eventually grow apart and be annoyed at each other but he told me he's going to fight with me to the end if there was gonna be any other villain that got in his way. He is my Batman because even though his ways of giving a helping hand causes chaos along the way, it's still a good way to make the world a little better.

Who is your Batman?

The person who epitomizes Batman the most would definitely have to be my mom. Like Batman, my mom always is there to help anyone in need without expecting nothing in return. She just loves to help out anyone because she likes to see others being happy. Although, the main thing that I saw as similar between Batman and my Mom is that both of them have some bad moments in life. Of course, Batman seems to be more in that depressive state in the beginning, but my mom also went through some tough times. Even through that they both want to see others at their best, so that they can be happy themselves. No matter how many times something unfortunate might happen they always get better in order to be there for others. Both care deeply about their loved ones well being over their own. The main reason for them to continue with what they do is not much for themselves but for those around them. My mom is one of the strongest people I have ever met, and I don’t say that just because she is my mom but because I do see how hard she tries at everything she does. Also, how she puts all bad experiences behind her to make the best of the good ones that come. Of course there is that big difference that Batman actually is out on the streets fighting crime and maybe risking his life on the daily, and my mom is not fighting crime but she still is a very strong woman who does the best she can for everyone else.

Who is your "Batman?"

In my life, a person who epitomizes Batman is my father.  Batman's parents died when he was relatively young, and he had to grow up without help from a mother and father.  My dad's parents did not die when he was young like Batman, but escaping from a war torn country to America was hard.  His parents (my grandparents) knew practically nothing about American culture, how things were done, and even the language.  My dad also had to grow up with almost little to no guidance from his parents.  That's why my dad always tells my brother and I to be grateful when he advises us on things because he didn't have the luxury of that when he was our age.  Furthermore, my dad has a strong sense of doing the right things just like Batman.  Sometimes, my dad's way of doing the right things may not be the best, just like Batman, but he's determined.  Both Batman and my dad stick to their beliefs and don't back down, even when there is a blurred line between wrong and right in certain situations.  Batman won't listen to people like Dr. Wolper and others about the controversy of his return.  Batman doesn't listen to the police when they want to arrest him because he wants to stick to his beliefs and help others.  My father doesn't care as well what others say about him, he just continues on to do what he thinks is right.  My brother and I are always told by our dad that it doesn't matter what others say or do to us, what matters is that we know we are better than that and are doing what we believe is the right thing to do.  As stated earlier, I believe that my dad is a person in my life that epitomizes Batman well, and I'm thankful to have him in my life as a "Batman-like" figure.

WhO iS yOuR bAtMaN?

One person in my life that epitomizes Batman would be Leo Roth in a way, but not to the extent of Batman's extreme actions. I believe they share similar thoughts and behaviors in some ways. I consider this 12-foot tall giant a Batman-like figure because Leo stays true to his morals, even in the toughest situations. In all my life that I have known Leo, not once has he tried to hurt me intentionally. This relates to Batman when he confronted the Joker, he was about to kill him but decided that he would be the same scum as Joker, and he would lose his morality which was ultimately Joker's goal. Both of these guys are able to follow their morals as a citizen of the world even when life gives them the hardest decisions. One similar characteristic that they both show is grit. In the graphic novel, no matter the danger, Batman shows his determination and grit in his action scenes, whether it be criminals or death. This kinda reminds me of Leo because whenever he faces a challenging opponent, like in tennis he pushes through his disadvantages, zealous all the way. And that type of mindset is what I believe both people have, being able to pursue an objective despite any disadvantages or problems that arise.

Who is a Batman?

Not everyone has to experience the loss of their parents, dress like a bat, talk in a very deep voice and go around beating up criminals to be Batman.  But Batman does display certain qualities that can be found in people today such as selflessness, intelligence and is very wealthy to some extent.  So in my eyes, one of the people who I see as a Batman like figure in the world is none other than Bill Gates.  Bill Gates as most of you would know was the man who founded Microsoft and donated large amounts of his money to charity and scientific research.  Bill Gates is a Batman like figure in that both invest their money in helping society.  Batman invests his money in his science to develop his weapons, such as the gas he uses to make criminals relive their worst nightmare.  Similar to Bill Gates investing his money to charities that help people in need as well as to help scientists push the knowledge of man and woman kind farther.  Both Batman and Bill Gates could have kept all their money to themselves but they chose to use parts of their money to making the world or Gotham City a better place.  Another example is that both Batman and Bill Gates use their intelligences to benefit the people around them.  Bill Gates used his intelligence to found an create Microsoft which would go on to be widely used in the world.  Likewise Batman uses his intelligence to create gadgets such as his bat-mobile, bat-a -rangs, gas pellets and so much more.  Because of Bill Gates' intelligence Microsoft allows for media and news coverages to spread world wide and Batman is able to use his gadgets to cut down on crime in Gotham City.  Batman and Bill Gates are not the same people but they have both demonstrated their intelligent and selfless acts to making their respective societies safer.

My Batman Is....

My Batman is my eldest brother. Like Batman he refuses to conform to the ways of others around him. Batman refuses to align with the government such as Superman does and my brother refuses to conform to the ideals of others around him. In addition to this both my brother and Batman will do anything to help out. Batman risks his life daily to ensure the safety of the people in his city. My brother will do anything to make sure that the people in his family are safe and well taken care of. Batman takes in Robin and trains her. In a similar way my brother took in my nephew and his brothers and is helping to raise them. Everyday he works long hours to ensure the happiness of his children and the rest of his family. Batman was looked down on by many in Gotham. However, he continued to work hard therefore saving many lives. My brother was looked down on as a student but he managed to not only graduate high school but also support a family of his own. The similarities that my brother and Bat,an share are mainly based on the love and compassion they have for the people around them. For these reasons Batman is Gotham’s hero and my brother is mine.

Who is your Batman?

Someone that I know who epitomizes Batman would be my dad.  My dad does what he believes to be right, even if he is mistaken and it's not particularly right.  Batman also does what he believes to be right, like  punishing criminals to make the city a better place for everyone (especially for little kids so they don't end up like him) even though he takes it too far sometimes.  Also, he gets to the point, as in, he doesn't wait for someone to take action, he goes at it himself.  This is like Batman because he doesn't wait for someone else to go save a person or do what he has to do, he goes and does it as soon as he hears of something that doesn't seem right.  My dad, like Batman, is also stubborn in his beliefs and what he follows.  For Batman, he won't obey the government or Superman, he sticks to what he does adamantly.  For my dad, he sticks to his beliefs on certain topics and even if my family provides a valid point he may still deny it and keep believing what he believes.  My dad cares about people a lot, it upsets him to hear about shootings or violence going on, so he constantly tells us to do the right thing, to not hurt and to not get into trouble.  I would say that this is a Batman-like characteristic because Batman, even though Batman hurts criminals, he does the right thing in the sense of taking down criminals and helping the city to be safer.

Who is your Batman?

The Batman in my life has to be my youth group leader, because she is always looking to lead the youth to the right path whilst being very humble about her actions.  Like Batman, her intention is not to gain fame or money, but to make a positive impact on the lives of the younger generations.  Bruce Wayne only came back to being Batman because he doesn't want the juveniles of Gotham to become a victim like he was.  Similarly, my leader had taken a break from the group where she had fallen into the wrong crowd, but came back to guide us away from the path she had taken.  They both are motivated to help others even if, they do not receive the amount of recognition they deserve.  She really is "Batman like" because her actions always have our best interest in mind.  Batman shows this in the comic by not conforming to the commands of the police, but instead follow his instinct even if it is controversial.  People with Batman like characteristics do more than what they are asked of, and are genuine people.  I am very grateful to have a Batman in my life, because these types of people are who work to help others reach their optimal potential, and are consistently there to lend a helping hand.

Who Is Your Batman?

The person whom I believe epitomizes Batman is my mom, referring to his positive qualities of course. Like Batman, my mom always tries her best to put other people first and help them in any way she can even if it means that she stops taking care of herself at times. One of the main reasons why I liked the character of Batman so much was because of the fact that he reminds me of my mom in this was as well as having a strong moral compass. While Batman tends to turn towards madness at times, that never gets in the way of his morals, like my mom. There are certain things my mom stands by and she always ends up sticking to it no matter how hard things may get, she never breaks her morals. Another one of Batman's aspects that reminds me of my mom is the way he looks to Robin as an anchor to reality whenever he feels like he is about to lose to his darkness. There have been many times when my mom has told me that I am her anchor and that I am the only thing keeping her from unraveling when life gets tough, I give her the will-power to believe in herself. Batman also sees Robin in that way, she represents the youth and enthusiasm, to save the lives of Gotham, he sometimes lacks when he feels too weak, she represents the reason why Batman does what he does. In the end, Batman was a good person who, like my mom, had many personal problems but in the end managed to take the good out of it and helped others who needed more help than themselves!

Who is your Batman?

The person in my life that epitomizes Batman is my big brother. My brother seems "Batman-like" to me because he is stubborn, wise, and takes action. My brother is stubborn like Batman because he will do anything that is right even if people tell him not too. My brother embodies the quality of wisdom because he has a lot of experience and knows what's best for people when they don't even know themselves. Also, my brother takes action because when he sees something that needs changing he will act upon his words and thoughts. My brother shows this by being an activist and is always speaking out whenever he feels it's right. He reminds me of Batman because he is always doing what he thinks is right for the people around him. He doesn't ask for permission or ask he just takes action. Some of the actions my brother has taken include: helping the homeless, going to animal violence rallies, and speaking up to strangers when they are not being kind. My brother helps the homeless and less fortunate everyday when walking down the streets. My brother also goes to animal violence rallies because he is a vegan and does all he can to support and help animals who can't fight for themselves. Also, my brother has stood up to people in public because he never let's go of his morals and holds other people up to the same standards. In conclusion, even though "Batman-like" figures like my brother can be a handful, they benefit the world.

Who Is Your Batman?

My second cousin epitomizes Batman in a way. I am not very close to her because she does not live near me, and she is not my age. What I mean by that is she is in her late thirties, and she has a whole family (kids and a husband). However, I do know that among her high school and college years she has worked so hard for what she wanted to be, a lawyer. She has been very passionate and had devoted herself to become a lawyer and she achieved it. I also knew that she was very intelligent. She took AP classes, was involved in clubs and extracurricular activities, just like many of my friends and I are doing. Her hard work earned herself a spot at UCLA. She has actually followed the same footsteps as my other cousins, and I would love to go there as well. Anyways, she has inspired me to keep working hard throughout the numerous amount of school years I have left. She might not be an inspiration to thousands of people, but she sure does inspire me to never give up and to become self-determined. Her personal drive, admiration and faith in other people, and her mentality to always believe in the good of others is the most important qualities that have inspired me. For all these reasons, I believe she is ¨Batman-like.¨

Who Is Your Batman?

A person I know who epitomizes Batman would be my cousin, an individual that dedicates himself towards giving back to the public. As a former soldier and now dedicated doctor, my cousin exhibits "Batman-like" traits such as assisting those in need or being charitable; however, all are done inconspicuously and under the radar. His sole purpose in life is to help those who need it most, negating from the attention, since my cousin views any praise as arbitrary and often unnecessary. Batman functions without the prying eyes of the media as well, performing as a hero the best when it's just him and the perpetrator, just like my cousin. With his desire to serve justice, my cousin parallels the realistic aspects of Batman and his persona, such as putting all of his efforts towards aiding the masses as a respected soldier and doctor. The quiet but intelligent characteristics of my cousin emulate Batman as well, since both men keep to themselves and their immense intellect. Batman, while violent, is also guided by his strong moral compass, distinguished by a boundary he drew to never kill. Retaining the same ethical mindset, my cousin also exhibits the incredible amount of courage like Batman, where nothing stops him from saving civilians from harm. The level of grit, will, and ambition that my cousin exhibited in the hospital and battlefield is unfathomable. He's Batman like in nature, with the same morality, ambition, and innate sense of justice, but would never push the limits of violence like Batman, let alone relish the pain of criminals or perpetrators.

[KC]: Who is your "Batman?"

Hi all!

We tend to feel invested in fictional characters because of qualities they hold that are universal and can be found in real world people. For this blog, I want you to write about a person who you feel epitomizes BATMAN. Why would you consider this person a "Batman-like" figure? What actions do they take? What characteristics do they display? This can be someone you know personally or a famous figure in our world. For the sake of conversation, I would like you to try to keep this particular comparison to a currently living person, no stiffs.

As always, you probably cannot provide a good explanation with anything less than 200-250 words.
Also, make sure you comment on two other people's posts with a response of more than a couple of sentences. Engage in a conversation. Share your thoughts. Talk to each other through writing.

DEADLINES: One post by Thursday, May 9th at 10:17pm and two comments by Friday, May 10th at 11:53pm.

Enjoy! :]

Third Quarter SSR

For my third quarter SSR book, I read the novel Delirium which takes place a little while into the future.  In this dystopian society, the most common feeling any human could experience: love, is a disease.  At the age of 18, the government forces every man and woman to go through a procedure to remove a part of their brain that makes them believe that feeling certain feelings for someone that you may or may not be compatible with, are completely and utterly wrong and could destroy the world.  After the given procedure, you are to be matched up (by the government) with someone who is 100% compatible with you based on your test results.

Because this book was meant to be written years into the future, I do not think that this novel will be read 100 years from now.  Although at the same time I feel as if it would be read just because maybe people in the future would wonder how people in the past (really the present) thought the future would be like.  But at the same time, I feel as though "the people in the past" thoughts would be long forgotten because of the century time gap.  A century from now, books may or may not even exist anymore which further explains how this book may not be read in the future.  Although the story behind the story of the power of love and what it can do to people is very powerful, and it shows when the main character, Magdalena (Lena), runs away and escapes the government's forces to be with a boy named Alex that she so forbiddingly loved.

3rd Qrt SSR

The book I read for my 3rd quarter SSR was Catching Fire, from the Hunger Game series, by Suzanne Collins. This book will be read 100 years from now because it's a very interesting, thrilling, thought-provoking read that leaves the reader wanting more. Also the main character Katniss is not only admirable and inspirational but also very relatable and a symbol of overthrowing corruption. This world seems to continue to fall back into the pits of destruction so it's very possible something just as cruel as the Hunger Games could occur in the far future. Therefore for people to be reminded that they have a voice and have the power to take action against unjust rulings the government it's essential to read this book and follow Katniss' journey. Additionally, as a woman reader I definitely feel empowered when Katniss rebels against almost everything, she's assertive and passionate when she need to be not caring who it is, she lays her life down and exerts the most compassion for some boy she hardly knows, and she's not the conventional leader.


Even though this is a fictional book with an outrageous conflict and storyline it still symbolizes so much more than just an action packed series. We often confine and abide to unlawful ruling because we believe we're hopeless, that we're the weak ones. However that misconception is very untrue we see this when it goes from small groups to large groups of citizens uniting and revolting against the powerful government, it exemplifies that we're much stronger when together. Another reason the main character is accepted so much is because everyone loves an underdog story, she came from literally nothing struggling all her life to being the one to create a shift in the not only the government but also the society. Also Katniss being very indecisive and uncertain about her identity is something numerous people can empathize with, we see her struggle to pick a boy while at the same time claim she isn't the leader everyone has established her to be but deep down knows she has to be. It's the contrast between petite, typical teenager problems and monumental political and social issues that makes this novel so memorable and fascinating. An adventurous, heartbreaking, and empowering action/sci-fi/romance book like this is sure to be discussed and read by mainly young adults for several years in the future.

3rd Quarter SSR: Firestorm

The book that I read during the 3rd quarter is called Firestorm, by David Klass.  It is a science fiction book, so it has ideas about time travel and advanced technology.  For these reasons, I believe this book may be read 100 years in the future.  The main character, Jack, is being chased by an evil and advanced army from 1000 years in the future because he is supposedly, from prophecies, the person to save the future from this dark army.  The army has advanced weaponry and technology, like advanced submarines and cars, which may be developed in the future.  Thus, the book may be helpful in the future for people reading, so that it may spark their interest and it may be made because maybe in 100 years we will have the technology to make such equipment or cars.  Also, involving time, this book has theories about paradoxes such as the grandfather paradox, which says if you go into the past and kill your grandfather would you cease to exist since you would therefore not be born.  The characters talk about time to understand the time travel in the book and such, for example, they discuss the multiverse theory, but one character disagrees and says time is like a flowing river, that any changes in the past will eventually catch up to the future so there is only 1 continuous universe.  These theories may be discussed in the future so this book may be read for this reason also.

Paper Towns

For my third quarter SSR book I read Paper Towns.  Paper Towns is a romantic, young adult novel written by John Green.  I would say yes, this book will be read in 100 years because more famously known John Green is also the author of The Fault In Our Stars, so I would guess people would like to read his other novels.  However, I believe the story it self is very interesting and relatable to teens.  For example, Margo is a senior in high school on the verge of graduating; who doesn't want to follow the expectations and assumptions everyone has of her.  Therefore, she runs away to a place where she can live life how she wants to live without the worry of meeting others' expectations.  This is a conflict many teens have and will continue to have 100 years from now, so this story will not go out of date as long as society constantly stereotypes people.  Throughout the novel, I felt like I was in Margo's shoes even though the story follows Quentin, her childhood friend, in his search for her.  Reading the novel, in a way let me live a wish of mine to get up and leave everyone's opinions, expectations, and assumptions of me, which I enjoyed very much.  Also, the novel wasn't the cliche love story I was expecting, but in fact one of the few novels that had kept me on my feet.  Therefore, people 100 years from now will enjoy the novel since it isn't a spin off of "Romeo and Juliet" or follow the same storyline as a damsel in distress.  Overall, Paper Towns was very unique and not like every other love story but rather focused more on suspense and character development, which I wasn't expecting.

The Automatic Millionaire

For my third quarter book I chose to read The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach. 100 years from now I feel like this book will still be read. I found that this is kind of a self-help book. It goes through a bunch of different ways on how to be successful in real estate. David Bach explains the approach on making your financial life automatic and different ways on how to become rich slowly but surely. He talks about his journey on becoming an automatic millionaire and all that he has learned along the way. Bach’s book has appeared on New York Times bestseller list, The Oprah Winfrey show, The View, NBC’s Today show, CNBC, and CNN sharing his strategies for living and finishing rich. He also teaches many leading seminars around North America. One of the small simple tips he gives is to find your “latte factor.” This simply means to find the things that you are spending money on that is not necessary and limit it. For example, if you buy a cup of coffee everyday from Starbucks maybe a muffin or breakfast sandwich with that. Then say you buy something to drink or a snack a little bit into the day. So,basically you already spent over $10 and it’s not even lunch time yet. It’s good just to think through your day and see what kind of changes can be made to saving your money because that can be costing you almost 2 million dollars in the long run. But see, I’m not even talking about his real estate part yet. This isn’t the plot twister novel I would usually read, but I am glad I did because I really enjoyed it. It was very interesting learning others stories on how they started off with just being financially okay to now rich. I learned a lot on how to manage my finances, so yes, I believe this book will still be read for a long time especially for people like me who is interested in business, real estate, or making money.

Traveling Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood

For my third quarter SSR Book, I read The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Anne Brashares. The book and series are revolved around a pair of pants that all fit each other and keep a tight friendship between four girls: Tibby, Lena, Bee, and Carmen. This book starts off with Lena in depression and is isolated from her friends and her family. Carmen finds out that her mom is pregnant with her new husband and that there would be an addition to her family, this will ultimately force Carmen to find a new pathway in College. Each book from the series has an interesting storyline and the conflict is always different and ties in from the previous books in the series. However I doubt this book or series will be read in one hundred years from now, currently in my opinion, there are just far more interesting novels that I have read and are decades older than this one. Sure, this one can get the attention of some readers who are willing to find it and read it, but I just doubt that this book will be read in 100 years.

3rd Quarter SSR

This past quarter I read the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen. Its main focus was to point out the faults and inaccuracies within American textbooks that the author believes is designed to reinforce common myths told to the American public. The topics that are discussed within the book range from the fictional myth of Columbus first "discovering" America to more modern topics such as the flaws of the war in Iraq and the Middle East in general that remain relatively undiscussed. The Preface of the newest edition talks about the rise of alternative fact to the American Political scene and how they have negatively impacted the news scene. Loewen discusses how the rise of these alternative facts has not only spread lies to the American public but actual networks that do dispense the truth are now being overshadowed by the conspiracy theorists and Trump aides who only seek to further their own agenda by dispensing these falsehoods. By continually updating and revising his novel Loewen continues to make the novel relevant with the ever-changing political landscape. However, the content that remains relatively unchanged from the first edition revolving around the original Americans lies such as those about the Pilgrims and Columbus are still very much as relevant today as they were thirty years ago because American History textbooks still continue to subvert the truth by teaching the American children lies. That's why I believe even 100 years from now Lies My Teacher Told Me will still be read.

Always and Forever Lara Jean

Always and Forever Lara Jean by Jenny Han a romance and comedy story. This book is all about romance and the journey with it. It's a sequel that has 2 other books that are part of it. Anyone looking for a girly romance love story it's the perfect book for them. Lara Jean is a senior in high school who ends up getting a boyfriend that was not expected even for herself. She goes through some many different obstacles with him and deals with a lot of things along the was. Sometimes feels a little pressured not because of him but her peers. Peter her boyfriend who is popular and a jock and Lara who is smart quiet and likes to keep to herself ends up with him even though their complete opposites they're perfect for each other. Lara doesn't have a mother to help with boyfriend things even though she has a great father it's not the same but her older sister Margot gives her advice. Peter and Lara have the purest relationship you just know they're perfect for each other. Lara and Peter go through rumors about what they did together, people talking bad about them taking a break, leaving to a university, and seeing if they will stay together forever or it won't work out. To find out if they stay together forever you would have to read the book. I don't think this book will be read in 100 years because yes it's a great book catches the readers attention and I recommend it but it's not one of kind it's not a book that has would have a big impact on people. It's more of a book that just for entertainment. There is a lot of other books very similar to this one which is why I think it won't be read.

3rd Quarter ssr: Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls

     The novel I read for the third quarter was Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten. This thriller/young adult novel describes the life of June and her best friend, Delia. They loved each other and shared an infinite number of secrets that tied them together. It is really funny how one night can change everything for the worse or the better...This story happened to be about the worse. When Delia commits suicide, nothing is ever the same, and June is determined to find out the truth. I have got to say that I have mixed feelings about this novel. It started off great, building up a more suspenseful plot. However, the middle to the end of the novel made me confused and left me with numerous questions that I will never get the answer to. Also, I totally predicted the not-so-unexpected twist that Delia was not actually dead. There are thousands of thriller and/or suspenseful novels, and I believe that this book will not be read in 100 years.
     This novel is actually really captivating and intriguing though. I would never want to discourage people to not read this because it is unlike any books I have read before. The novel is consisted of the different points of views between the characters, such as June and Delia. I really like how the reader will get an explanation from Delia about her decision to fake her death. I am not trying to give away too much information in case anyone wanted to read it, but the way the author designs each character in this novel is outstanding. Each character has some kind of influence on each other, and the ending blows my mind. The readers will be able to connect to many things in the novel, whether it be the characters and their decisions, the plot, or maybe even the riveting development of the characters. I know that I felt so surprised and angry for some of the decisions made by the characters (yes I got very into the book at one point while reading). Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls is very interesting, and it is a great book to read in the mean time. However, I do not believe that this is more so sophisticated to intrigue and compel thousands of readers to read 100 years from now.

The Lord of Opium

For my 3rd Quarter SSR, I read The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer. The Lord of Opium is a sequel of The House of the Scorpion, in which both books feature a clone named Matt who is treated less than a human by everyone except El Patron, the original Matt. In The Lord of Opium, Matt is the new drug lord and the owner of Opium, the land that was once called Mexico. The book is very science fictional and takes place at least 100 years from now and yes, I think it would be a type of book that could spark the interest of any reader 100 years in the future. Matt is conflicted because there are so many reforms he wants to make, so many impossible tasks he want to do to better humanity, and there are so many adults telling him what to do, all of this at fourteen. While Matt is figuring out how he's going to run a worldwide drug cartel, he is battling with himself after carrying the weight of all the people killed in El Patron's funeral via poisoned wine, including one of his closest friends and bodyguard, Tam Lin. While the adults are barking at him to make decisions on what to do about the overproduction of opium, Matt is devising another plan on how to awaken the eejits, or microchip controlled slaves, after he encountered a young eejit he named Mirasol. The story jumps between Matt making adult decisions that the adults in the story think is irrational, and doing things young boys do which the adults think is also irrational. Matt feels alone because he is seen as a God, which he likes, but he only wanted to be treated like every other human and even tries to be empathetic with the others even when they treated him like dirt when he was still a clone. The only person who ever treated him nicely were his caretaker Celia, his piano teacher Mr. Ortega, His bodyguard Tam Lin, his friend Maria, and of course El Patron- but he hates thinking about El Patron. After his death, Matt realized how evil El Patron truly was and now he's dealing with the people he cares about comparing him to El Patron even though Matt knows he's a clone of him. Well, Matt's focus is to stop distributing drugs, to make the world cleaner and safer, and to open the borders of Opium because it was the only dafe space left on earth with non-toxic air. In the end, Matt succeeds to awaken all the eejits, open the borders, grow better crops instead of opium, and make good alliances with other drug lords who, of course, stopped distributing drugs. In my opinion, it was a really good book with a really nice ending and I think it would peak the interest of a reader far into the future because it's very accurate when talking about science and future. It also features teleportation and real life hovercrafts which really sold me into the hundred years into the future book.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

One of my third quarter books was Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. It is a new take on how to find love, when sixteen year-old Lily leaves a red notebook with clues on how to get into touch with her. Dash finds it and responds with a dare for her, their continued correspondence leads to adventures and romance all around New York City. The novel does have an interesting plot and characters, but I do not believe it will be read one-hundred years from now. Although, teenage romance books will never go out of style, this particular one does not have the je ne sais quoi that it takes to go the distance. It's main problem is that it lacks substance, it does not form strong enough connections with reader, and it has many unrealistic elements. Not to say that it isn’t an enjoyable read, the story is very light and heart-felt. The characters are also quite peculiar and erratic, it is entertaining to see how they will react to challenges. Despite all these good attributes, I believe for a book to grasp people’s attention generation after generation, it needs to make people think. The book needs to have people on the edge of their seats, analyzing not just the characters, but themselves and the lives they lead. Otherwise, you end up forgetting about, but it more difficult to forget if the book taught you a lesson or made you feel something. Unfortunately, this novel lacks that important quality so, if in a hundred years this book is still read, it will be because of it's accomplished authors.

3rd Quarter SSR

           The book that I read for my 3rd quarter SSR was Prophecy Girl by Cecily White. 100 years from now, I believe that this book will not be read. I found that this science fiction novel was too similar to a lot of the books I've read in the past, and the plot seemed a bit confusing at times. For example, a sudden jump in time and events that wouldn't connect, even further in the book it was never explained. One instance of this happening was when the protagonist, Amelie Bennett, used her channeling powers to teleport out of danger on multiple occasions, whether it was a demon attack, a villain attack or she just wanted to run away. She is a very rambunctious teen, struggling to keep her love and her sanity throughout the book and her powers of teleporting was a bit repetitive and overused. Because of the constant changing of the setting, I believe that the book didn't give a chance to develop Amelie's personality and traits, as well as her place in the plot. Therefore, Amelie's character wasn't as strong and important as the book intended her to be and personally ruined the book for me. With not a dynamic protagonist I felt that the storyline wasn't as enticing and interesting I had expected it to be.
             In 100 years this book won't be read by people in the future due to the lack of character development and overall awkward transitions in the plot. Although the book did focus on strong character emotions, which furthered bonds between Amelie and her comrades. However, as time changes, this lowkey popular book probably won't be read by people 100 years from now because as time changes so do people and their ideas. The society would probably read more modern books or well-known books such as the Bible and Shakespeare's writings. The book itself doesn't teach and strong morals or themes and I just felt like the book was a bit unclear at discussing important plot points.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

During the past quarter I’ve read several books. The one that I believe will last another century and continue to be read is Hate List by Jennifer Brown. The novel tells the story of Valerie Leftman and her return to school for her senior year after a school shooting. A shooting which had been orchestrated by her boyfriend, Nick. She goes through scrutiny and judgement from some while others work to try and understand her. Although the plot isn’t something that you will experience through your day to day life there are many key points that young readers can relate with. Valerie has to learn to except her role in the shooting and deal with the consequences. This is an example to readers that even though you may not think it you play a large role in the lives of others. This books plot of violence and social issues is a topic that will be dealt with through the years. The message shows how one can overcome and prevent tragedies by acknowledging the power that one possesses. Along with themes of how you should treat others the book illustrates the idea of forgiveness for yourself and how to deal with tough situations. Both ideas can be applied to many different aspects of the reader’s own life. Overall the book was really good. As I read it I was unable to put it down. I was  recommended this book by a friend and from there I recommended the book to someone else. Of the people that I know that have read the book it has not only been a book that they enjoy reading but a book that they enjoy conversing about.

Thursday Night Lights

One hundred years from now, will Thursday Night Lights by Michael Hurd be read?  Debates can happen but this is a book that will be read one hundred years from now.  Thursday Night Lights is a non fiction book describing the history of black high school football in Texas and some of the experiences from players themselves who played, some of which would end up in the nfl.  One of the main reasons as to why Thursday Nigh Lights will be read is that it can help people understand racism in the 1900s.  One of the players recounts of the players recounts of his experience of being homeless in the 1950s.  He describes of how a white family would help him get to games during football season, but when that ended, they dis regarded him for the rest of the year.  As time has moved forward, racism has gotten less frequent and it will continue to do so one hundred years from now, that said, it might be hard to comprehend or to understand what racism is when it isn't and will not be that frequent.  Therefore, by having a book to read about that topic, that is when someone can get a better understanding of what racism is and was.   Aside from racism but on a similar topic are Jim Crow laws which were laws that segregated whites from coloreds.  The book gives a detailed description of the Jim Crow laws and it helps to further to understand some of the instances that the book talks about.  Also, to gain more of an understanding of racism, one should understand what the Jim Crow laws were and how they had an influence on racism.  Aside from race, people who have a high interest in football might care to see how the nfl may have came a long.  While the book discuses high school some of the players like Cliff Branch or Warren Moon, it does discus their experiences and how this affected the in nfl and how they got were they needed to be athletically in order to play in the nfl.  All in all, the sport of football might not be popular one hundred years from now but the topics of racism are parts of human history that will never be erased and this book has first hand accounts from athletic perspectives.

The Thief

The Thief is a fantasy novel that was written by Megan Whalen Turner, and follows the point of view of Eugenides, who is a thief that was thrown in jail because he was caught bragging about how he stole the Kings seal, which he had. He was immediately thrown in jail and imprisoned for months before the kings magus, who was in need of his expertise, freed him and forced him to go on a journey to collect a hidden treasure that had been lost for hundreds of years. I believe that this book will be read 100 years from now because of its ability to engage with the reader and pull the reader into the setting and circumstance of the book. The book was written in first person point of view, allowing the reader to see it more from Eugenides point of view, and less of an omnipotent person who sees all and knows all. It allows the reader to feel more of a down to Earth when reading because we see more it from a human perspective, so when we read the problems that Gen, as he is called in the book, is facing, we see and connect with them better then other books. Another reason it will be read 100 years from now is because it is a human character that is fallible and messes up. It is shown in the beginning of the novel when he is thrown in jail because of his inability to have the foresight to think that people will arrest him for stealing the kings seal. It just shows how human Eugenides is in the book, because of all of his mistakes he makes over the course of the book. Even simple mistakes, like tripping over a log helps show how human and real he is. All of these things show how The Thief will be read in 100 years.

3rd Quarter SSR (A World Without You)

     A World Without You by Beth Revis is a book that will be read long past it’s years. Everyone, no matter what age you are loves a good plot twist. Whether it be a plot twist or the simple act of not knowing what to expect these type of books are books that are truly remembered. This book is an amazing example of the exciting feeling of not knowing what to believe or expect. Going through the persecute of the main character, Bo, you follow him and his journey to depict what is reality within a school for the “specially gifted.” It is a heart wrenching tale that keeps you on your toes the whole read. With amazing characters and a new spin to the riveting tale this book will be one continuously read within the future. I, personally, don’t like reading as I find it very hard to stay captivated within a novel. However, this book would be a definite book I would reread again in the future. With great character development and exciting moments between all characters this will be a book passed down to readers of all kinds. From the young to old this story of power, preserverance, and love will keep the reader flying through the chapters. For anyone that is like me and loves stories with great characters and their moments of surprising interaction this story will definitely keep you interested through every struggle of the main characters. Feeling the anger, sadness, and confusion through the pages of such read will always keep people captivated. Good writing is priceless, something that can last till the end of time. This book is a great example of that, a well written story that will last through time and it’s changing ways. This book can and will last through the future, for anyone who apprecites a good story and the perspective of two characters in opposite worlds it will be a captivating read. This author surely know how to write a good story as she plays with the perspectives of teenagers thrown into an ever changing world. A world for the “specially gifted” or so one can question.

Third Quarter SSR

The novel that I read for the third quarter was We Were Liars by Emily Jenkins. The novel was a love and drama that there will be a chance that it might not be read read in 100 years. Overall the book was well put with its point of view of a teenager in their supposedly romantic love life. The beginning it show how Cadence (the narrator in first person) and her other cousins also with a friend named Gat met and grew over the summers on an island. Summer roll around every year and they all met over and over again, but Cadence started to have feelings for Gat. Something tragic happen to Cadence, and it began to go downhill.
I said enough from this novel, but I believe this novel will not be read in a 100 years from now. The few reasons are it relates to many others novels. It shows how one grows with one another no matter the time that they met. To add on it contributes the idea of loving someone else and how it can be good or bad and if it goes in your favor for the results. There are multiple novels that show how people fall in love and be friends with family then something tragic happens. In conclusion it did have some cliff hangers and relatable just it had to much drama for me, but it will be read in a 100 years.

3rd quarter ssr: Animal farm

          Animal Farm, it's a classic work of literature by George Orwell it tells of how greed and human nature (or in this case animal nature) can ruin a good idea. Animal farm describes the birth of a new idea similar to Communism. The animals on the Manor farm have had it with their abusive owner and through him out. Once the farmer is dethroned the animals begin to implement their ideas. They follow ten commandments each with a specific purpose. Their leader, Snowball, strictly follows the rules and tries to do best for the farm. After many months of functioning normally, in a tense standoff Snowball is overthrown by the fierce boar Napoleon.  Slowly but surely Napoleon begins to change the rules and begins to warp them in his favor.  Eventually the other animals begin to protest these changes but are silenced. The farm becomes worse off due to Napoleon's greed and eventually the farm completely dissolves. The reason I argue 100 years from now that Animal Farm will still be read is because the core cause of the farms problems, greed has ruined many things and will continue to do so even in the future. Those who do not understand greed are doomed to fall victim to it and greed is sometimes hard to understand. Animal Farm provides a benchmark in both storytelling and representation of human nature specifically greed so I believe that it will still be read in the future.

Gone Girl

     My 3rd Quarter novel is titled Gone Girl and it is written by Gillian Flynn. It is the story about a man who desperately goes on the lookout after his wife has mysteriously disappeared. After being together for a few years, marriage seems to take things on the wrong path. Now, there is no denying that the book keeps you on the edge of your seat as you see the story progress. There is a twist around the middle to the near ending of the book that for sure was my favorite part( but no spoilers teeehehe). It came as something unexpected, because as you read the book your constantly making up ideas as to what might have happened to the disappeared wife. Personally, I think the book is very interesting, but I must say that I do not think it will be read 100 years from now. The novel is suspenseful and a good read, but it seems to me that it is very typical and common to many other books out there. Suspenseful stories about kidnapping and disappearances are very wide known, so I would not think that this specific one would be read for so long. Many more novels with the same type of story can be made and read by new people. In my opinion it is just a good novel for the mean time but it shouldn’t necessarily last that long. There are many more novels that are truly impacting and that do have a certain amount of importance to our world.

Rocks

Rocks is the auto-biographical novel by legendary lead guitarist Joe Perry of my favorite band Aerosmith. It follows the adventures of his whole life, from his early childhood to the publishing of the book in 2015 as he battles with heavy drug problems and perpetual band drama. Sadly, I don't think that this book will be read much, if at all in 100 years. I do believe that the music of Aerosmith is timeless and can be enjoyed by almost everyone, yet that doesn't mean that it is. Even some people who lived during the different commercial peaks of Aerosmith's career (and there were several) continue today to discredit them artistically for being not unique enough or being to similar to other bands, such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin (particularly the Stones). Joe Perry also outlines in Rocks that their last 4 albums have not met the normal Aerosmith standard either artistically or commercially. This lack of excellent albums has failed to keep the band very relevant, with the exception of several of their famous classics maintaining a presence in classic rock circles. There is definitely not much of a young audience to continue to spread the music and interest of the Bad Boys from Boston. Because of the massive dip in interest in Aerosmith now, I cannot say that there will be enough interest for many people in a hundred years to read the biography of its lead guitarist, especially considering that he has never been one to personally grab much attention and interest of the general public. None of his solo albums ever did extremely well, and Aerosmith sadly for some reason does not get the respect that it deserves when compared to other bands of their era and genre despite them being as good.
It is cruelly ironic that one of the messages of the title track off of what many consider to be Aerosmith's magnum opus album Toys in the Attic states that the music of Aerosmith will be timeless and never forgotten.

3rd Quarter SSR (I Am The Messenger)

The fictional novel entitled I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak enraptured me within the first few pages, as its enthralling plot and rather blunt characters invigorated my sense of empathy, so much so that I believe this novel will be read 100 years from now. The stark contrasts between an audience's initial impression of a character versus our encounter with a character's often hidden, tumultuous pasts puts us on the edge of our seat. Ed Kennedy, an ordinary and dead beat cab driver, lacks motivation in his life, perceived as a disappointment by his family, friends, and even himself. However, with the introduction of mysterious playing cards that send him on missions to help people, Ed Kennedy seems reborn, alive with a renewed sense of purpose. Numerous missions that deal with Ed's morality, such as his contemplation of killing a man who he witnessed raping his wife, are not only riveting for readers, but allow audiences to empathize with the inner war that is waged within Ed. Readers, regardless if they're from 100 years or 1 day from now, can resonate with this common inner conflict that every individual faces, allowing readers to question their own decisions and what they'd do in his position. The relatability that Ed poses, mainly through being an ordinary, unmotivated individual, enables readers to connect with his difficult decisions and refound sense of purpose. The fact that he was randomly and mysteriously picked for such life altering missions culminates into a larger lesson for audiences: no matter who you are, or how mundane life may seem, there will be a reason to keep going on. Events such as learning his mother has a secret boyfriend after his father's death, and discovering that his quiet friend of 10 years, Marv, has an illegitimate child not only envelops readers in such interesting plots, brings an aspect of realism towards the audience. Everyone has their secrets and sides unknown to the rest of the world, kept behind a curtain to even those closest to them. Whether it's 100 years from now, or it's the past, present, or future, I Am The Messenger will be read, as it adds an element of applicability to readers' lives, grounding them through its two dimensional characters and touching story arc.

The Retribution of Mara Dyer

    This quarter I was able to finish the trilogy of Mara Dyer with The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I really believe that this novel will be read 100 years from now. The first reason why is just that it is simply a great sci-fi novel with a terrific romance story behind it. The main character is very relatable in the sense that she was forced to become the strongest version of herself by the events that went down in her life. In this novel, Mara Dyer is finally close enough to figure out the real cause of the terrible things happening to her and her friends. Once she wakes up trapped in her own body with a message from who she thought was her worst enemy, she is once more motivated to survive and find Noah, the boy she loves, as well as the rest of the answers to who she is and why she can kill people with her mind. She manages to escape to the room with a little help from Jude, she so thought enemy and ex-boyfriend. She waders to find her two friends Jamie,  who can make people do what he wants them to, and Stella, who can read people's thoughts. Once they manage to find their way off the island holding them captive, they believe that they were able to escape from the organization holding them captive but they later find out that while they were on their way to finding Noah and the answers they all desired, the organization had been tracking their every move. On their journey, they were able to make connections between the people responsible for their capture and they realize something unexpected, but when it was too late.
    The novel is always at an intense level with all the events that go on and that is something I liked most from it. An instance would be the time when Mara, Jamie, and Stella had to hitch-hike to get home with a creep who turned out to be a murderer. From the beginning of the ride, Mara could pick up something that wasn't right about this guy so the whole scene of the car ride had me on the edge of my seat. When they took a pit-stop to use the restroom, Mara walks in on the man attempting to rape Stella so she volunteers herself instead with the intrusion of killing him instead. She does indeed succeed in the act of taking his life but it only makes her feel worse. I really liked this scene even though some may see it as disturbing. What I saw was the bravery and the strength she had developed all throughout this novel and the two novels before, it really showed the changes she made and although what she did was morally wrong, those changes were for better in the end. Another occasion where the intensity levels were high was when Mara finally found Noah but had to choose between him and her brother Joseph. This scene really showed the inner turmoil a person can have when they feel obligated to choose between one thing or another. After a very long time of her debating what to do, she finally reached a decision that ended up killing her, literally. At that moment, I myself lost all hope to finish the novel but I pushed myself to read on and a couple of pages later, my suffering was put to rest with the plot twist that almost gave me a heart attack, in a good way. I guess what I am trying to say is that this novel is worth reading and with all the elements that make it up, I truly believe that it will be read 100 years from now by someone who, like me, appreciates a genuinely good book.

The Good Girl

The novel I read for the third quarter was The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. This novel was a suspense thriller that I think will not be read 100 years from now. Personally, this book did not intrigue me as much as I thought it would. The beginning was very confusing and throughout the book the story line was hard to catch onto. The novel is about Mia, a young, female teacher who was kidnapped by a man at a bar. The man was supposed to hand her over to his superiors but instead sent her to a safe house in Minnesota. Since Mia comes from a wealthy family everybody is instantly suspicious why she has gone missing. While detectives stop at nothing to find her, the secrets of the seemingly "perfect" family are revealed

.

"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will." This quote is in the beginning of the book and it when Mia's stalker is planning to get her. At this point I was uninterested and thought that the book was very predictable. This didn't give me any sense of thrill or suspense. I was searching for cliffhangers and major surprises but I didn't get that. I was unresponsive to all the characters and events in the book. In conclusion, this book will not be read in 100 years because of the disappointment caused by this weak novel.

Fly Away

      The novel I read this quarter was Fly Away by Kristin Hannah.  I believe that that Fly Away will be a book that will be read 100 years later.  For starters, the story line can be easily understood and readers can easily empathize with certain characters in the novel.  The main character is Tully Hart, once a famous celebrity before stepping down from her own show to focus on her best friend's health.  Her best friend, Katie, soon passed away from cancer, leaving behind a husband, daughter, and twin sons.  Tully is the godmother of Katie's daughter Marah.  Both of them were very close and when Katie passed, Tully struggled with guiding Marah since Tully was never close to her own mother.  This resulted in Marah running away with a guy and taking up doing drugs to feel free.  Throughout the novel, there are major scenes and events where the characters are depressed and high off of drugs.  At times, it can get very upsetting for those who are light at heart, but I enjoyed the book's style and way of putting words.
         An example of this would be when Marah found her mother's diary that she wrote in leading up to her death.  Tully was currently in a coma and Marah came back in hopes to see her godmother would wake up alright.  Previously Marah had told Tully that she couldn't remember Katie's face and voice anymore, and Marah cast Tully aside in the midst of brooding.  As Marah read her mother's diary, slowly her mother's voice began to ring through her ears, and she remembered her mother would often say to her, "Always baby girl."  Marah cried and visited Tully, who was still in a coma, and told her, "I remember her Tully."  Fly Away showed the lows and struggles of life in some of the most beautiful ways.  That particular scene had me tearing up because all of the characters had gone through so much, and finally some of the turmoil was going away.  Even though, my life has never been as hard and chaotic as Tully's and Marah's, I could still connect and understand everything the characters were going through.  Many people in the world have lives worse than theirs, so I'm sure Fly Away will be a novel that will be read 100 years later.  People can empathize with sad times and lows in life, because it happens to everyone at least a couple times in their lives.  Everyone in this world can empathize with a loved one passing from cancer, losing touch with those you love amidst a loss, turning towards something bad as a means to forget, and so much more.  All of these things happened within this book, and it would not take much for anyone to relate to any of these situations.  Fly Away by Kristin Hannah will most definitely be read 100 years later into the future.

[KC]: SSR Quarter 3 Blog Assignment

Hi kids,

Here's your Quarter 3 SSR assignment. As always, you can discuss any of the novels you read during the third quarter. Share your reading with each other!

Step 1: Create a new POST in which you explain why this book will or will not be read 100 years from now. Support your opinion by stating specific events from the story. Also, be sure to state the title, author, and genre of your novel.
- Feel free to discuss the inferences you made while reading. Oftentimes, your simple engagement will a novel will tell a lot about its potential for lasting popularity. When forming your opinion, consider this level of engagement as well as the book's ability to connect to a reader's life.
Step 2: Once other classmates have posted their opinions/reviews, COMMENT on two other reviews. (Be sure to read the comments on your review as well and engage in conversations as necessary.)

** Reminder: Your post should be around 250 words and your comments should be more than one line.

POST Due: Monday, April 8th by 11:34pm

COMMENTS Due: Tuesday, April 9th by 10:53pm

CONVERSE! EXPLORE! BLOG AUTHENTICALLY!

Steelheart

The book I chose for second semester SSR is Steelheart by Brandon Anderson. This is a science fiction book that talks about Earth in the mere future. My favorite character easily has to be the main protagonist, David. David is a normal man trying to get revenge for his father that was killed by an Epic. Epic's are people with extraordinary powers that hold themselves above the law. The Epic, Steelheart, killed his father because his father stood up to him. The main reason I like David is because he won't give up. He does ten years of research on every Epic to find their weaknesses. He eventually tries to join a group that could kill him at any moment, but he wants to take the risk. As long as he gets his revenge, he will die happy.

Fault in Our Stars

For second semester SSR I read the book The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I’m the kind of person who will wait to read or watch something when it is popular so that my expectations aren’t to high. This is exactly what I did with this book. The story follows a teen girl, Hazel, who suffers from cancer as she begins to open her self up to knew ideas and experiences. Throughout the book she faces some of the normal challenges and circumstances many teens face. At the same time she experiences horrible sickness, a dying boyfriend, and many other unforeseen difficulties. The book shows how when we fear death we can’t enjoy living. Through the book Hazel must learn this and as time passes her perception of live begins to change. One of the subtle things the book shows is that it’s not how the story ends and what becomes of the characters but about what they experience and learned and how they changed accordingly.

Mountain Man

Gus, or Gustefer, as he is affectionally known by as his friends, was a painter turned Canadian samurai bat wielding warrior in the zombie outbreak.  He is the main character in the novel series Mountain Man by Keith C Blackmore. Gus is a dynamic character who changes throughout the series  of novels. He starts out as someone with very little confidence in himself who thinks he is only good at watching movies and painting. The outbreak makes him adapt and put the skills he learned in movies to the test. He goes through bouts of depression, alcoholism, and eventually insanity.  Various other charters promote change in Gus that ranges from positive influence to making him literally burn down the city.  In the end Gus turns out to be a reliable friend and someone willing to go great lengths to do the right thing, even if it means harming himself.

Mistborn Final Empire

Mistborn Final Empire is the book that I chose to read for my 2nd quarter SSR, it is a the first book in a series and follows a timeline where the main character, Vin, is a citizen under The Lord Ruler, who is known as such because he is said to have a "Sliver of Infinity", which is a piece of God, making him divine. Vin is taken in by a thieve crew, who treat her better than any other crew she has been in. My favorite character of the book, Sazed, is a friend of the thieve crew leader who acts as their servant at times. He is a scholar who knows hundreds of religions that he preaches to the main characters at every possible moment. He is very humble and doesn't like having attention drawn to him, but also has much latent ability not explored in depth until later books. His mysteriousness and politeness is what draws me to him at first, and how they hint at his powers as well. He is a static character in this book but in the later books he changes dramatically and questions who he is. This also attracts me to him because he seems like an unchanging person amid a changing world but he also goes through these changes, just later then everyone else, in the last book in the trilogy. Just showing how complicated a character he is because of his originally static character to the most dynamic person in the series.

The Hobbit

My favorite character in The Hobbit was Gandalf, the wizard. I wouldn't say he's the typical wizard, he has more to bring to the table than just his magic. He is very wise and resourceful compared to everyone else in the book. Gandalf is an interesting character because even though he is clearly there to protect Bilbo and the Dwarves it seems as though he leaves them to figure out difficult situation on their own from time to time. His intentions, besides defeating evil, aren't very distinct when it comes to this mission, the mystery that this character possesses is quite compelling. When it comes to his powers there's no doubt that he's the most powerful character, this is especially shown when he helps the Dwarves escape the clutches of the goblins. Gandalf is crucial to the story because ultimately he's their leader and protector, without him the Dwarves wouldn't of even been able to recruit Bilbo for the journey. This character stood out to me because he's the glue that keeps this odd group of misfits together and functioning, and he proves that the almighty, wise wizard shouldn't be questioned because he indeed knows what he's talking about. I'm sure I'll see just how dynamic Gandalf is when I begin the Lord of the Rings series but for now I can already assume he's the most thought-provoking character.

Paper Towns

My second quarter SSR book was Paper Towns by John Green.  This thrilling and hilarious book is one of a kind. My favorite character in the book was Margo Roth Speigelman. Margo was a major part of the storyline because her adventurous spirit lead the story. Margo is a risk-taker, rebellious, and intelligent. Margo was a dynamic character and this hurt and helped the story in different ways. She sometimes would be disrespectful to people who had hurt her and would be forceful at times. But Margo’s dynamic personality is also a plus because she influences Quentin into being more brave and fearless. Margo develops tremendously through the story because she is first seen as a fun, popular girl at school but as the story unfolds people start to see her more deeply and find she is different than they thought. A hilarious interaction Margo has is with Quentin (her next door neighbor). Through the book they are partners in crime and achieve heart racing activities. Quentin would always be weary but Margo was always assuring him that everything would be fine. In conclusion the book Paper Towns is an awesome read because it will feel as if you are right there experiencing the journey with them. It is also incredible to see how these characters grow throughout the story.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

   One of my second quarter SSR books was Wither by Lauren DeStefano. It is the first book of the Chemical Garden Trilogy and science fiction. This book follows the life of Rhine a sixteen year-old girl living in a dystopian society where no female lives past the age of twenty and males only live to twenty-five. In the beginning, Rhine is in survival mode, she is quiet, calm, but observant. When she is stolen by a group called the Gathers and married to governor along with two other teens these skills come in handy. The longer she stays in the governor's mansion the more she changes. She is now more confident, outspoken and dangerous. She has become accustomed to the opulent lifestyle of being a wife, she enjoys her sister wives, and even the company of her husband. Yet, she is still always searching for a way out of this lavish prison. She craves freedom and this creates a dangerous curiosity, that often leaves her in harm's way. Sneaking around the mansion, she finds many dark surprises, that make clear she is not as safe as she believed. This fear grows inside of her and is watered by the presence of her father-in-law, a scientist determined to find the cure to their virus. It is because of him that Rhine creates a new persona, of the happy submissive wife, that allows not only for her to survive, but to thrive. Using her quick wit, Rhine just might be able to escape with her life and her lover.

Recruits

Recruits

Thomas Locke was brilliant in the way tells this story. A pair of brothers are in a regular city with parents that are barely at home due to work going to school everyday until one day they find themselves entering a whole new of adventure and unlocking powers within them they had no idea they had. I was cool seeing how different these twins were but also a lot alike. One was sarcastic and thinking ahead while the other was very violent and active, but somehow they maintained the same morals as to finding the threat to their people. Their trainer was badly wounded before they met him and somewhat became a father figure and protector to them. It was a more of a brotherly love brought closer together.

Second Summer of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

The book I read for the second semester was the Second Summer of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares. This book is a continuation of the previous book which is from the previous summer and yet talks about the adventures of the girls while they are split up during the summer. My favorite character out of the four girls would have to be Carmen Lowell. Carmen realizes how fragile friendships can be which makes her a good friend compared to the other girls. Her passion for friendship shows how valuable friendships really are. Carmen is also the most introspective of all four girls, she always struggles where she fits and how she feels which I can relate to. Carmen stays the same throughout the story and is not seen as a dynamic character. The traits of these characters change up the story making it really fun to read, so maybe y'all should read these series because I would recommend it.

A Wrinkle In Time

Madeleine L'engle tells the story of Meg Murray, protagonist, as she embarks on a quest to find her father after he went missing a long time ago.  Meg struggles with the fact that she is different from everyone else.  She sees that there is a definite solution to everything and when no one gives her a thorough answer, she struggles to accept.  For example, when she meets with Calvin, she asks her mother for an opinion of him, instead she does not get an answer that answers her question but and it upsets her.  Reading her like this, reminded me of Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart.  This is because both Meg and Okonkwo both share a desire that they expect from people.  For Meg it is a direct answer when she asks one.  For Okonkwo, it is a demonstration of strength and doing what is meant to be done.  While Okonkwo gets himself into more trouble when he does not get what he wants than Meg but both are not pleased when they don't get what is right.

Meg eventually learns though that not all knowledge can be known or learned and she finds a way to accept this.  Like me, I thought that there was a way to know everything, but then I learned that nobody likes a know it all.  It might not have gotten me sent to the principal's office like Meg but, I've taken to learning rather than to soak in information all at once.  Overall, Meg is a person in that she is unique her own ways and different from everybody else and while she may not have liked it at first, it is useful when she needs it the most.

All the Bright Places

My book is titled All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. The story revolves around two characters named Finch and Violet who one day meets up on the school's clock tower. The book discusses sensitive topics like, mourning, suicide, depression, bullying, abuse, ect. and story itself really heart-wrenching. It starts off in the clock tower where Finch originally planned to jump off of until he saw Violet, the schools' star girl, standing at the edge. Both protagonists are suffering from depression from Finch being bullied and unwanted at home to the death of Violets sister. When Violet topples off the edge and Finch saves her from death she had been thinking of, she feels grateful but also embarrassed because she didn't want to be associated with the school delinquent. During this first encounter, I already knew that a cliche teen romance type of love would ensue between the two and boy was I both right and wrong. Finch and Violet start off fresh and it turns into something explosive and then dies down into a pile of ashes. At the end when I felt my soul get crushed, Finch commits suicide at the lake where he and Violet had their first date. The end and the continuing story kept toying with my emotions and how the author deals with mental illness and having everything hold you back from the world hit a little too close to home. Niven showed the true painfully dull colors of depression and how adding a love interest won't make it go away, because you don't romanticize mental illnesses. There was one point in the book where I could feel myself be pulled in and empathize with Finch. This was when he was dating Violet and throughout their time while he was still alive, he gave her the reasons and encouragement on why she still needs to live and in turn pushing away all his problems just so he could keep her long enough and to make sure she was stable enough to handle his death. The love, the gloomy aura, the story,the handling of sensitive topics and placing them in a light where I can feel it correctly is what made me so intrigued and so angry at this book. I love and I you will too.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

For my second semester book I read the amazing book of Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. This book was absolutely amazing and though not a particular writing style I am used to reading I still enjoyed the story and characters within this novel. I absolutely loved all the characters within the novel but if I had to choose a favorite character I would have to choose Will Grayson from Naperville. I found this character very caring and relatable within the span of the story. With this character suffering from depression and the impacts it has on his life I, personally, relate to this a lot. With being officially diagnosed with moderate to severe depression I can relate to the characters struggle within the novel and how it effects his life and relationships within the novel. With this characters Illness and struggle interfering with his relationships and even confidence it is cool to see by the end of the novel this change. Will is able to grow as a character and help appreciate characters more that are around him. Instead of being focused more on him and his shame he is able to focus less on himself and more on the people he loves, such as his partners and showing his appreciation towards them. Even though I loved this character I just overall loved all the characters within the novel and their different personalities. Seeing these characters change and be able to progress through their crazy lives together was very fun to read and kept me interested within the story.

Delirium

My second quarter book was Delirium. There was multiple characters as any other book, but the character that interest me the most was Alex. The reasons why Alex is my favorite character is because he at first acted as if he was cured from the disease that existed in his time period (love, empathy etc.),but he actually isn't cured and opens up to Lena which is hard to many guys.The traits that Lena described him as constantly smiling or laughing or both. Despite this he does have a serious side; showing empathy and anger when Lena revealed what happened to her mother and sadness when talking about his own backstory. He is also a proficient liar, lying to authorities, and even on occasion, Lena, without suspicion or detection. Mostly the biggest change for Alex was trusting a person which he haven't done in a while, The ways that I connected to this character was by being so uptight and always being cautious who I talk to and who to open up to ever since I was young due to some occurrences in the past; maybe not as bad what Alex went through but understandable.