Book Review

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne

 

It is very difficult to comprehend the torment and suffering that the Germans had to go through. Bruno, a young boy who lives inGermany with his family, begins to explore around his house and is led to a concentration camp where he meets Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the camp fence. Bruno’s friendship with his Jewish friend is forbidden, and ends up with unexpected consequences. John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas intrigued me with its emotional twist and brutal ending.

 

To start with, there are many very important themes in the novel, one of them being the innocence of children. Bruno and Shmuel are both similar because there is a lot they are unaware of. Bruno does not realize that his father is a Nazi commandant of the concentration camp that lies directly behind their home in Auschwitz. Shmuel does not realize how severe and dangerous his circumstances are and also does not comprehend that when his father disappears, he was sent to the gas chambers. The innocence of childhood plays a very important role in this story.

 

Indeed, the main character is Bruno. I believe the author does make him seem real because I felt like I was similar to Bruno when I was a little boy. I liked Bruno’s character, and I think that is why I really enjoyed reading this book. Bruno loved to explore new things and loves to play outside with his friends. In my opinion, Bruno is like any other kid who loves to explore new things, and he is a friendly boy.

 

Considering the setting takes place inGermany and their home lies right beside a concentration camp in Auschwitz, this brings about many conflicts. If they wouldn’t have lived so close to the camp, Bruno would not have managed to explore his way to his death. He also would not have met Shmuel who unknowingly lured him into the camp. The setting of this novel gives an overall depressing feeling and remembrance of the awful times that the Germans went through.

 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an excellent book that showed me how the innocent Germans were so mistreated. I definitely recommend this book for people of all ages to read. It will keep you on the edge of your seat with its intensity.

Current Connection 2

Current Connection

In the descriptive essay “How Does Football Success Affect Males Performances?” Brad Wolverton explains how a winning high school football team is more likely to party and be involved with alcohol which “significantly reduces the grades of male students.”

According to Wolverton, “forty-seven percent of males reported increased partying when the team won.” It is very common for high school students to celebrate after a great football victory. However, football games can lead to excessive partying, not only after a game, but throughout the week, which can ultimately effect your education in high school.

Another important point that Wolverton brings up in his article is that on game days, males tend to not focus and this overall “decreases their study time.” Their lack of focus on game days can also affect other students in their class because they are being distracted. Girls, however, are more focused in their classes and ready to learn.

Wolverton explains that male students are more likely to “study less and party more.” Drinking alcohol could be yet another factor that has to do with why males are not doing as well in high school as females. It can give them an attitude of “not caring about anything but partying and football,” which is decreasing their study time and GPAs.

I am a male student at Batesville High School, and football has been a huge part of all three of my high school years. I would definitely agree with Wolverton that after winning a football game the first thing you want to do is go party with your team. On game days, I am very distracted and cannot focus on my school work all day. I also agree that football and partying can become the main focus, which will decrease your study time.

There have been some very successful males that have been a great high school, maybe even college football player; you just can not let partying come before your education.    

Works Cited

Wolverton, Brad. “How Does Football Success Affect Males Performances?” 2 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

Current Connection

Current Connection

In the descriptive article entitled “Does Football Affect Boys’ Education?” Gregg Easterbrook claims that while boys are devoting so much of their time to football, girls are doing well in high school, which is ultimately “decreasing their chance of college admission.”

According to Easterbrook, the reason boys are not succeeding as well as girls is simply because “the gender that plays football is falling behind…and the gender that does not play football is excelling.” Athletics, especially football, do tend to play a major role in high school boys life. However, some boys get caught up in the idea that their future education will rely on their football intelligence, but that might not always be the case.

There is another point that Easterbrook brings up about how playing football can cause brain injuries and “suffering two or more concussions during high school days is associated with neurological problems later in life.” This could also be a factor that overall negatively affects boys education. Their brains are at risk of being damaged, whereas girls, who don’t play a contact sport, are not getting that brain damage.

Easterbrook explains that there is a “rising popularity of football” and not as much emphasis on education. Parents and coaches, sometimes even teachers, usually only pay attention to their male student’s athletic abilities instead of encouraging and congratulating them for their school work. This teaches guys that football is the most important thing; however, their education should be the first priority.

I am a senior in high school, and all through high school I played football. It was always my first priority and now that football is over, I wish I would have focused more in school. I spent so much time and dedication to football, and I believe if I would have spent that same amount of time and dedication to school, I would be much more successful and prepared for college.

There have been many successful men that have also played high school football, just remember to make education the first priority!

Work Cited

Easterbrook, Gregg. “Does Football Affect Boys’ Education?” 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

Current Connection 2.1

Current Connection 2.1

In an article entitled "Teens and Sleep,” posted from The National Sleep Foundation, the writer explains about the importance that sleep has in our lives, and how we need to make it a priority.

The author of this article, helping further his argument, tells the reader how sleep can “limit your ability to learn, listen, concentrate, and solve problems….contribute to acne and other skin problems…lead to aggressive and inappropriate behavior… and cause you to eat too much or eat unhealthy foods...” Most teens who aren’t getting enough sleep each night, suffering from these negative effects, are especially having trouble in school and sports. I can relate to these effects. On the nights where I stay up too late, the next day at school I can barely keep my eyes open, much less pay attention to my teacher.

The author, a very intelligent person, goes on to explain that most teens, including me, need to “make sleep a priority.” Most teens need "about 9 1/4 hours of sleep each night to function best." However, they do not get enough sleep each night. That is why so many teens are suffering from not being able to stay awake in class, getting sick from lack of sleep, and not performing to the best of their ability.

The author, stating a fact, says that “when you are sleep deprived, you are as impaired as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08%, which is illegal for drivers in many states.” It was researched that "falling asleep at the wheel cause more than 100,000 car crashes every year." This is a very dangerous and scary thought. Teens need to increase the amount of sleep they get by going to bed earlier and having a consistent sleep schedule. This will overall increase their ability to perform in sports and concentrate in school, and it will also help you be in a more positive mood throughout the day.

I have heard the question asked by teachers many times, "Did you get enough sleep?" Most of the time the answer is no. We definitely need to get more sleep every single night. Sleep is a peaceful cloud that revives the body much like happiness revives the soul. I can't remember the last time I got a full 9 1/4 hours of sleep, and I'm sure many other teens never get a full night of rest either. I strongly believe we need to encourage teens to get more sleep and that will benefit us in numerous different ways.

Skipping sleep can be very harmful, even deadly, if you're behind the wheel, so it is imperative to make sleep a priority.

Works Cited

Unknown. "Teens and Sleep." National Sleep Foundation. 4 Jan. 2013. Web. 9 Oct. 2013.

Current Connection 1.2

In the article written by a group of teens from Centennial, Colorado titled "Is Too Much Homework a Problem?" students recommend that teachers reevaluate the amount of homework they are assigning to their students because it could possibly be causing stress, lack of sleep, and overall decreasing their love for school.

One student asks a rhetorical question, "How would you like to go to school five days a week and then come home and do homework all night long?" I can completely relate and agree with this question. Obviously no one wants to work all day then go home to more work. Students are being required to sit in class to learn, and then go home to continue to do ample amounts of homework assigned by 5 or 6 different teachers.

Another student researched that "more and more kids are getting stressed because they are getting double or even triple the amounts of homework they need, which can result in staying up later." Sleep deprivation is a huge conflict, especially with high school students. They have to stay up so late finishing assignments, and begin to get frustrated because they're so exhausted, which causes so much stress.

One of the teens brought up the fact that "some kids have after school sports or activities then come home to loads of homework." I can really relate to this because, like me, most high school students play sports. Any athlete that plays sports knows that they're very time consuming. Also some students may have a job that they have to help provide for their family. After going to school, then going to practice, and then working, the last thing a student wants to think about is homework. This also adds a great amount of stress.

Many students, including me, can relate to the pressure, worry, and stress that one feels trying to manage a social life outside of school, and also manage to get all our homework completed. I strongly believe teachers need to decrease the amount of homework that they assign.

Too much homework is definitely a problem and should be reconsidered. It's causing stress and a lack of sleep from students all over the United States, which is ultimately ruining their passion for school and making getting an education less enjoyable.

Current Connection 1.1

In an article by College Professor Raymond Gerson titled “Is Standardized Testing Overvalued?” Gerson demands that elementary, middle and high schools in the U.S. reevaluate how much importance teachers put into standardized testing because they are ultimately not preparing students to be “critical and creative thinkers.”

Gerson explains that “there is nothing wrong with some standardized testing.” However, he describes how teachers spend most of their time teaching for one standardized test and are missing the concept of helping students to apply that knowledge to every day work and life problems. I strongly agree with Gerson on this concept because sometimes we spend all our time in class focusing on one big test that does very little for our education in the long run.

These standardized scores are used to determine student success and also if a school gets a passing or failing grade. This puts lots of pressure on not only students, but also the teachers and school districts. I don’t think having standardized testing is an efficient way to evaluate students because having a good education “cannot be measured only by standardized test scores.

Standardized testing is not allowing teachers to simply just teach, but instead they’re being forced to spend most of their time doing basic skills and drilling students to prepare for a standardized test. Being drilled or forced to memorize certain material for a specific test is less motivating for a student and does not encourage them to take that “crammed” information on with them throughout their life.

Many students, including me, can relate to the pressure and stress that one feels throughout the school year preparing for a standardized test. I think that we should decrease the importance in these tests and it will increase the amount of well educated students.

The emphasis schools are putting on standardized testing should definitely be reconsidered and reevaluated because it could overall be affecting the success students are having with their education and learning strategies.

 

How Sports Nutrition Can Affect Health

                                                How Sports Nutrition Can Affect Health

     The nutrition that an athlete consumes is very important, not only for your health, but also for your performance in the sport you play. In today's world, there are many great, competitive athletes. One must be better than the rest to be able to compete, and in that, they will have to live a healthy lifestyle. 

     In the article "How Sports Nutrition Can Affect Health," by Michael Grants, Grants explains how having a good nutrition can be good for your health, and good for your performance in the sport you play as well. He says, "Sports nutrition experts break the nutrition into the basic three types that the food basically is made up of. That is protein, carbohydrates and fats." I agree with Grant on that. It is important to keep a good balance of these three things, without a good balance of them, it could lead to a "nutritional downfall."

     He informs you in his article that without a healthy nutrition, your performance in the sport you play won't be as good. "Your sports nutrition health should always come first," says Grant. I also agree with him on this concept. I play football, and a huge part of playing well is making sure I have a healthy food nutrition. I have to make sure I am drinking plenty of water, and taking in proteins, that "give energy to the body." I know that whenever I don't drink as much water or eat unhealthy foods before football games, it usually affects the way I play. It causes me to get tired faster and not have as much energy. 

     Maintaining a good nutrition can affect your life in so many positive ways. If you eat and drink healthy, and take in the right amounts, it can make you a healthier person and improve your performance in sports. Grant suggests that you "carefully follow the guidance about sports nutrition and ponder over the tips given in this article." It's so important to have a healthy nutrition, and it'll make you a successful athlete.

Works Cited:

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Sports-Nutrition-Can-Affect-Health&id=460571