Neecey's Lullaby by Cris Burks

Significance-
"Neecey's Lullaby" tells a story about a girl and how her life falls apart after her father, Jesse, left her, her siblings, and her mother for another woman. From the start, Ruby, Neecey's mother, is already known for being a high-tempered woman. After Jesse leaves, Ruby's actions become worse, hitting and yelling at her children. Not long after Jesse leaves, Ruby and the children end up living in poverty in a housing project. She ends up bringing suitors into her home, giving them all her time, leaving Neecey to learn how to take care of herself, as well as her siblings in such an early age. She learned how to endure her mother's physical and emotional abuse.
Neecey's Lullaby is a story that proves how much love can do. With Neecey's love for her siblings, she struggles to find the inner strength to succeed and go through her everyday life.

Perspective-
The book had plenty of characters coming in on every other chapter. However, most of the book is mostly told from the perspective of Neecey, a poor, young, African-American girl. A sister that took on the role of a father and a mother to her siblings, and follows her life as a coming of age story about a young girl who is forced into dealing with adult responsibilities.

Evidence-
Along with school, responsibilities, and Ruby's abusive ways, Neecey's struggle to remain strong and "undefeated" causes her to deal with everything on her own. With her undying character, she is able to give everything they're own mother cant provide them.

Connections-
Though I find that several events in the book, dont exactly occur in real life as much, I believe Neecey's unconditional love is something that is very much related to the real world. A lot of us surround AND are surrounded by people with the same love as Neecey to her family. That unconditional love causes us to be selfless and make sacrifices.

Supposition-
I believe this novel was well written, but could be VERY graphic for young readers, due to its brutal scenes. Nowadays, Neecey's experiences still occur to many people. I think about 3 or more happy scenes in the book would make the novel better. I think these "happy scenes" will elaborate the strong bond that the siblings have.

A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer

Significance-
A Child Called "It," portrays a common conflict of abused children: Having to deal with everything on their own. Having to go through rough times as a child, Pelzer learned how to depend on no one but himself. Despite all the hardships that he went through, he always walked away with his head held high, due to the dreams that he had- the dream of belonging to a family. He became emotionally undefeated, and was able to handle his mother's abusive ways. He learned how to conquer many fears, hits, and battles inside the house, as well as the taunts of many children outside his home.
A Child Called "It" is one of the many great stories that proves that dreams, as well as the human spirit can endure anything, and remain whole at the end.

Perspective-
The story is told from the perspective of David Pelzer. He talks about several, horrific events that represented his daily life under the care of his mother.

Evidence-
In my opinion, I think what the author is trying to prove is that no matter what situation in life you are in, you must always be positive. Be a fighter, never give up, and always hold your head high, because this helps you, and pushes you to survive, and reach your dream. The author proves this by showing Pelzer's response to his mother's beatings;
"Hah ! You didnt kill me this time, and you wont kill me next time either!"
Instead of crying, and feeling sorry for himself, he gets up and shows his undefeatable side of him.

Connection-
The real world is always filled with numerous news about child abuse cases. This book portrays similar experiences that abused children go through. Pelzer's story still affects our world, and I believe that it always will. It helpsus reevaluate our lives, as well as the world around, us in many different angles.


Supposition-
Although this book was very simply written, I still think that it was well written. There may have not been "big" or "fancy" words, but the overall purpose of the book made up for it. I believe that Dave Pelzer's writing style is at its best in its simplest. It allows readers to understand him more and have more emotional responses to what they are reading.

When Jeff Comes Home- by Catherine Atkins

Significance-

When Jeff Comes Home is a novel about a 16 year old boy that was kidnapped during his preteen years. After 2 and half years of suffering; being physically and sexually assaulted, his kidnapper decides to take him home, and sets him free. Although he is back home, the fear remains with him. From the moment he got back home, he knew his life will never be the same again. With this book being filled with such intense and brutal scenes, I wasn't all that sure that this book had any sort of significance. However, it wasn't until after I finished the book when I realized it did.

Though most scenes in the book were very brutal, it was the fact that it related so much to the real world that made it significant. We often watch the news and hear about situations very much like Jeff's. He was kidnapped, molested, and was used for money. Though we do feel sorry for those who experience such things, there isn't a way for us to exactly know they've gone through. This book illustrates certain events that occur in situations like this. It helps us imagine what people have experienced such things have gone through, causing us to have more care for them. Another thing that makes it significant is seeing how it greatly affected and damaged Jeff's life.
He was a normal 13 year old before he got kidnapped. He was a star athlete, as well as a bright student. Jeff was surrounded by many friends and family. And within a flash, everything changes. After the kidnapping, Jeff's attitude changed drastically. He felt like a stranger to his own home, his own family. For quite sometime, he lived through day to day with fear that Ray, his kidnapper would hunt him down, and go back for him. He no longer had the strength, or motivation for school, as well as sports. Jeff was ashamed of everything he'd been through, causing him to deal with his thoughts, and his problems on his own. This teaches us about the unpredictable world that we live in: How we can go from everything to nothing, from pride, to shame.

Perspective-

The novel is told/narrated by Jeff. A 16 year old troubled teenager, who was recently liberated from his kidnapper, Ray Slaight. He talks about his painful memories from the kidnapping, and his thoughts on other people's perspectives.

Evidence-

Jeff being released from his kidnapper after 2 and a half years, causes him to live in a world of shame and fear. Ashamed of his physical and sexual relationship with Ray, he chooses to keep his painful memories as a secret, causing him to deal with his emotional states on his own; his loss of self-esteem, his fear of being judged, and his fear of no longer having the chance to be a regular teenager again. This incident teaches us how any event can deeply cut our lives. It shows us the effects of the unpredictable world from many, different angles.

Connections-

This connects to the real world, because a numerous amount of teenagers have gone through what Jeff has. We see it on the news, hear about it on the radio, and read it on newspapers. It also connects to us, because there have been situations in our lives, that really moved and changed us. We also all experience the unpredictable things that life throws at us,

Supposition-

The book ends with Jeff being comforted by his dad, which leads him to finally have the courage to speak up, and let his family know what he'd gone through. Because of this, I assume that he'll have better ways on how to cope with his problems. I think will become more eager to get his life back together again.

I Am David by Anne Holm

Significance-
First off, I chose this book, because of I the line that I read on the back of the book-
" Hope shines brightest in the darkest of times. " When I read that line, automatically, I thought of this book being filled with adventure, pain, and success.
This book is significant, because it in someway, illustrates the life of a "prisoner." David, a boy from Eastern Europe, spent his entire 12 year life in camp. He knows nothing about the outside world, and how it is to be free. When he was given the chance to escape, he takes the opportunity and goes on a journey. Being completely innocent on what lies in the outside world, and what it has to offer him, David struggles to make it through his everyday life.
This book is valuable, because it demonstrates great leadership for ones' self. It shows you what its like to have a sense of direction, courage, and hope. It teaches us that once you put your mind to something, once you keep your hope and faith along with you, as long as you have the determination to succeed, you will do so.

Perspective-
After reading this book, I would want reader to walk away with several new perspectives in life. I would want readers to walk away with more appriciation for the freedom that they have. The freedom that they have at their school, their home, their country, and in our world. As for the other perpectives, I would want readers, students specifically, to make a goal for themselves, and create a "path" for them to follow. I would want them to choose and make the direction that they will choose to take and folllow in life.
My personal thoughts/experiences affected my interpretation of this book. I have always thought of the goals that I had for myself. I thought about having a whole life that's ahead of me. Ive had several experiences, where I chose to stick to one goal. Just like David, I gave it my best shot, I gave it everything I got. I strived to reach that goal, and I did. These experiences made me relate and understand David's ways. His ways of perseverance, his ways of not giving up, and his ways of hope.

Evidence-
What's already proven is that anything that is impossible can happen if you just put your mind to it. Another thing that I think was proven in this book, is that happy endings do exist. In then end, David successfully made it to where he wanted to be. He survived, experienced the real world, and finally got the chance to be liberated.

Connection-
I think this book connects to the real world, because it is part of the real world. Back then, people were imprisoned in camps. Back then, people had no idea what its like to be free. Also, this relates to everyone. Everyone has a certain goal for themselves. Whatever goal that may be, people will strive, and work hard to get to their goal, just like David did.

Supposition-
If I hadnt read this book, I probably wouldnt be as inspired as I am now. Though from the start, I have already had the determination to succeed, I wasnt as proactive on achieving the things that I wanted to achieve and excell on. Now that I have read the book, it sort of gave me a big "push." Plus, if I hadn't read this, I would probably be just a typical student, with typical goals, and typical ways on how to achieve that certain goal. After reading this book, I am inspired to do more, and go beyond what is "typical."