The Namesake (Pages 1-72)

Title: The Namesake
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Pages: 1-72
Chapters: 1-4

SUMMARY: The setting takes place in 1968. Ashima Ganguli was close to her due date and her husband Ashoke was expecting a new family member. They are both from Bengali family in India. Ashoke was a student in MIT and Ashima was taken to the hospital. Ashoke had to go to MIT so Ashima felt lonely in the hospital surrounded by complete strangers although they are there to help her. Ashima starts to have flashback to how she first met Ashoke when their parents were arranging their marriage. In India, almost all of the families live upon the belief of arranged marriage. They were married in Bengali style traditional wedding where the bride is decorated by her aunts and female relatives as she leaves her father's house. At that time Ashoke was in B.E. Institutional college where he was the top of his class. As Ashima was lying on the hospital bed, she thought of how nothing distracted Ashoke. He could read and walk at the same time and spent his childhood with his Grandfather reading books. He was different from his siblings. In October 20, 1961, Ashoke left to see his grandfather who became blind so he was to inherit all of his books. He got into a huge train accident which still haunted him. His traveling partner Ghosh was killed. A baby boy was born and he was given the name Gogol due to the hospitals requirement for a birth certificate name. The name was supposed to be decided by Ashima's grandmother but the letter never came. Gogol was named after Ashoke's favorite Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. Ashoke gets his dream job as a professor and they do a traditional rice feeding for Gogol with other Bengalis. Ashima was strucked by the news that her father recently died after her grandmother was permanently paralyzed in her right side. They go to India and after a while they move to a University area in the suburbs. Surprisingly, Ashima found out that she was pregnant again when Gogol was five years old. Gogol's new name becomes Nikhil, the one who conquers all, according to Ashoke but the school teachers call him Gogol as it was on his birth certificate and he prefers the name.

QUOTATION: "Ashoke's mother was always convinced that her eldest son would be hit by a bus or a train, his nose deep into War and Peace. That he would be reading a book the moment he died" (Lahiri 13).


REACTION: This is definitely a horrid foreshadowing. The writer's style is amazing how she can shift her writing from one time period to another by giving vivid yet very descriptive explanations of characters, objects and situations. It was foreshadowing because the reader knows that Ashoke is the eldest son and he is the only character in the book who loves reading and is very passionate about it. It is going to lead up to the train accident which his mother was aware of. There is another element there, Dramatic Irony.

The Chocolate War (Pages 216-263)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 216-263
Chapters: 32-39

SUMMARY: After the harsh beating, Janza was asked by Archie why he involved other kids. According to Janza, he wanted to psychologically hurt Jerry by calling him "Queer" and gang bang him by kids who would beat their grandmothers for quarters. That was very pathetic. Janza worked for Archie because of his black mail picture but Archie divulged that there was no picture. Janza was relieved and proud that he might be recruited to The Vigils. Jerry became invisible and the only friend he had, Goober, was absent. He felt relaxed, as he wasn't bothered by anyone. Nineteen thousand nine hundred fifty boxes of chocolates out of twenty thousand had been sold and the remaining fifty belongs to Jerry. Brother Leon only cared about the result and was looking forward to be the headmaster. Archie sets up a raffle in the school announcing Jerry vs. Janza in the boxing ring. The raffle tickets are all sold out and everyone attended except the Brothers. The raffle shows where Jerry is going to hit and how, same for where Janza will hit Jerry. The fight began and the crowd cheered. Goober was there to see Jerry although he was sick. Janza hit Jerry several times but he lost the bet as Jerry blocked the last punch so Janza knocked Jerry out in anger. Brother Leon had been watching this for the whole time because Archie kept him for The Vigil's protection if the situation gets worse. The Vigils were in the clear as Jerry was sent to the hospital.

QUOTATION: "Of course not. That's why he blew up. If you want to get under a guy's skin, accuse him of being something he isn't. Otherwise, you're only telling him something he knows" (Cormier 222)

REACTION: There you go, one of Archie's genius plans. Archie is real smart in terms of beating people psychologically. He told Janza to call Jerry a "queer," which Jerry was not, so that Jerry would be furious and try to fight Janza. Archie planned this out the whole time. Now it came to my mind that Jerry didn't sell those chocolates so Archie was trying to make him pay for it. First of all, After Archie was challenged by Renault, he sent Janza to beat him up both mentally and physically. Secondly, Jerry was angered so he agreed to fight Janza while Archie took profit of the raffle tickets and added it to the chocolate sale. Thirdly, Archie got Leon in his side so that if Jerry was hurt extremely, Leon will cover for The Vigils because Archie assisted him with the sales. Lastly, Archie reigned supreme simply giving out another message of "Don't mess with Archie Costello." This was a great book, especially for boys because there is a lot of drama and violence that can relate to daily life of teenage students. Mr. Robert Cormier deserves a true Bravo.

The Chocolate War (Pages 172-216)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 172-216
Chapters: 25-32

SUMMARY: The Vigils surrounded Jerry as they asked him why he wasn't selling chocolates anymore. Archie tried to intimidate Jerry by calling out random Vigils asking them how many they sold. The numbers were great but it was just a lie to frighten Jerry that there is no secret in the Vigils. The great Archie Costello had to "ask" Jerry to take the assignment. He had never "asked" anyone. Obie was extremely elated inside to see Archie Costello fall down for the first time. A skinny freshman kid has challenged the great Archie Costello. Archie kept cool so he let things pass by. Jerry constantly received prank calls at home. Next day, someone raided his locker and messed up his sneakers. Jerry was in awe that this activity was so immature. He was also attacked in the football field but he didn't know who it was. Brian was the student who kept records of the chocolate sale. Carter bullied him into giving credit to Vigil's members who didn't even sell chocolates. Fifteen thousand chocolates had been sold and Brother Leon was jovial. During roll call, Darcy asked Leon why Jerry wasn't selling any chocolates then the Great Debate occurred and the class went back and forth about Jerry's decision. Surprisingly, Goober stopped selling chocolates as well. He sided up with Jerry's existentialism but his sales record said he sold his fifty boxes. Goober was flabbergasted. Emile Janza and some six kids attacked Jerry until he vomited. They wanted him to sell chocolates but beating wasn't enough to stop Jerry Renault.

QUOTATION: "Blood stung Archie's cheeks and a pulse throbbed dangerously in his temple. No one had ever talked to him that way before" (Cormier 187).

REACTION: While reading this quote, my blood was rushing up and down. To see the great Archie Costello fall down was the ultimate scene. I had a feeling that Jerry's action will stir up the Vigils. People began to question Archie about Jerry, freshman kid who challenged the vigils. Carter had to take action and beat up to guys who asked those questions. Suddenly, Carter became in charge and the guys applauded for him. Archie faded in darkness for a while. Even Carter challenged him that if Archie doesn't do anything about this chocolate sale and Jerry, he is going to collapse. It was the moment of success for Obie to see Archie under pressure but Archie soon took control of the Vigils because he worked faster when he was under pressure. This part was the most intensifying scene so far.

The Chocolate War (Pages 120-172)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 120-172
Chapters: 18-25

SUMMARY: The Goober along with everyone else thinks that Jerry is carrying out a Vigil's assignment. However, they were all wrong. Jerry is refusing to sell chocolates because of his own little reason, not that anyone was coercing him to rebel. His actions were affecting many others in Trinity. Soon, most kids began to applaud for Jerry's rebelliousness and admired him. Even some of the seniors extolled him, astonished by his actions. Jerry exerted this young defiant vibe that began catching up to most of the students like a chain reaction. Archie's assignments now seem to be clear and patterned. He wants to ruin the brothers (teachers) and make them miserable. Brother Jacques' room faced almost the similar fate, students jumping on top of the table. It was all Archie's plan. He wanted everyone to be wild when Brother Jacques said the word "environment." The plan was to cross off that vocabulary word but Brother Jacques was aware of the plan so he turned the tables and kept saying the word until the students were exhausted. That was pretty amazing. The words had spread around the school. The seniors have started to follow Jerry Renault's idea. No one had thought about the idea of refusing to sell chocolates even though they were all exhausted of selling chocolates.

QUOTATION: "I'm getting sick of selling stuff. Jeez, my father's starting to call me 'my son, the salesman'" (Cormier 140).

REACTION: This quote is humorous and ironic. Trinity is the college prep school around New England according to the book. Trinity's annual chocolate sales have begun to turn the students to 'salesman' rather than preparing them for college and higher level of education. That is the irony. On the other hand, its funny how the parents go along with the school's tradition rather than questioning the school officials. This quote was said by Danny, a senior who is in agreement with most other seniors that are in the movement to use the idea of Jerry Renault. They are all sick and tired of selling chocolates, running up to people and beseeching them to buy their candies like beggars. Who would like that? Certainly, not me. This book is about to take a huge turn and who knows what’s going to happen. It is going to be exciting.

The Cholate War (Pages 66-120)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 66-120
Chapters: 9-18

SUMMARY: As Archie had planned, Brother Eugene's room collapsed as every chair and desks fell down. Brother Eugene felt miserable, gaping at his diminished room. Brother Leon rushed to the room and pushed Archie to the wall and admonished and yelled at Archie for all the damage he provided to the room. Leon couldn't do anything more because he had a deal with the Vigils in selling his chocolate boxes. Archie was smirking at his opus of destruction. At the football field, Jerry received a chance to prove to the coach his capability of making the team. Jerry snapped the ball and looked for a receiver. Carter jumped at him but was tackled by a defender. Jerry approached back, feeling the freedom, passed the ball to The Goober. Jerry was tackled but the pass was successful. The coach complimented Jerry and called him a "skinny son of a -----." This was how the coach appreciated a player into the team, calling them by the name. The Goober maintained a high rapport with the senior football players. It was time for accepting the chocolate boxes. Every kid replied as yes where as Jerry said No, rebelling against it. Jerry kept doing this for a week giving everyone a fear when Brother Leon will rage at the whole class. The story shifts to different characters. Tubs, a chubby kid with a beautiful girlfriend, was striving to maintain a financial level in order to buy his girlfriend Rita a necklace that she wanted so badly. He saved every cent from his allowance, slipping greasy dollars from his father’s pocket and the chocolate box money. Rita actually loved him for who he was. He bought her the gift counting the money plus tax. They went out on a picnic and she let him get closer to her. He received the ultimate chance to touch her body parts although he was shy. Now, panic strikes Tubs. How is he going to pay for the chocolate box money that he used to buy Rita a necklace?

QUOTATION: "Suddenly Jerry spotted Goober's waving hand. Jerry avoided fingers that tore at his sleeve and he unloosed the ball. Someone brushed his hip but he shrugged off the blow. The pass was beautiful" (Cormier 77).

REACTION: My ultimate reaction was very exciting with intense emotions. Personally, I have never read a book that actually intensified my emotions until The Chocolate War. While reading this quote, I felt like I was in a football field right next to Jerry watching the beautiful pass fly by. Recently, I have developed an interest in football and this quote elated me from my bed. It's amazing how books can actually drill a hole into the reader's mind so furtively prowling inside until you strike back to reality. Now that Jerry is executing a rebellious side, the book will be even better.

The Chocolate War (Pages 1-66)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 1-66
Chapters: 1-9

SUMMARY: The book is narrated in a third person omniscient viewpoint. Jerry Renault is the protagonist in the story. The story starts off in a football field setting where Jerry is crushed by the game. Jerry wants to play football but he is not so good at it so the coach tells him to practice more. The school (Trinity) is literally ran by a group called 'The Vigils.' They are supposed to be unknown/under cover and no one dares to even whisper their name although every one knows about them. The president is Carter who is in the football team but he doesn't control the group. The assigner's name is Archie Costello and he controls the whole group. Everyone is afraid of him and exalt him of his wisdom and quickness. The school has teachers who are also afraid of Archie. Brother Leon is one of the ignorant teachers who always trick his students into a trap. Brother Leon implored Archie
in helping him sell twenty thousand boxes of candies. By Archie's help, he meant 'The Vigils' help but he couldn't say the word. Jerry's mom had passed away and he is alone with his dad who works overnight shifts and doesn't have so much to talk to Jerry. Jerry thinks that his dad's life should be very insipid because there is no excitement. Archie has an assistant whose name is Obie. As Archie picks a boy from the football team, Obie writes down the person's name and his information. Archie then assigns the job. The Vigil's notebook has more information from family history to medical records compared to the school's record book. Archie assigns 'The Goober’ who is a new boy in the football team to loosen all the screws in Brother Leon's room overnight. When Archie assigns an assignment, there is a pin drop silence and the vigils surround the person who takes the assignment. There is a black box which contains six marbles: five of them white and one of them black. If the assigner picks the black marble, he has to carry out the assignment but Archie had always beaten the box for 3 straight years.

QUOTATION: "But everyone knew that the head of The Vigils was The Assigner, Archie Costello, who was always one step ahead of them all" (Cormier 32).

REACTION: My reaction was that Archie is beautiful. His wisdom shakes the knees of the whole Vigils with ease. Wisdom is stronger than strength. The president was Carter, the muscle Archie needed to keep things in order. His errand boy was Obie who followed his instructions although he hated him. The ways Archie responds and assigns things are amazing. This quote alone proves how strong Archie is. He is just a skinny guy but mentally he is the strongest and smartest. You cannot defeat the power of wisdom with physical strength. The book is written in a third narrator omniscient view so it feels like the reader is in the story spying over all the characters. The tense situation brings out the chills. Comparing it to the film To Kill A Mockingbird, it is almost as if the reader is Boo Radley, viewing things in his perspective.

Warriors Don't Cry (Page 204-312)

Title: Warriors Don't Cry
Author: Melba Pattillo Beals
Pages: 204-312
Chapters: 19-28

SUMMARY: Many things have happened so far. Melba and her friends go back to Central High for the winter. Melba turns sixteen and throws a sweet sixteen party so she can have her friends back but her friends alienate her by going to a huge Christmas party of the year. Only Vince attends her birthday. Melba doesn't invite her Little Rock 9 friends because her friends might be afraid of the mobs approaching them too. Melba is being bullied in school and there are no witness or adults. Things get worse when Minnijean accidentally drops hot chili soup all over two boys and a sudden silence strikes in the cafeteria. Later she gets suspended but is brought back through the help of NAACP. Segregationists gather up and create ideas to expel the Little Rock 9, which is why all the white kids in Central try to rage the Little Rock 9 for their reward, which is money. Christmas time arrives and the family has dinner with relatives but the superintended finally expels Minnijean who is sent off to Lincoln High in New York, a private school. Melba looses her best friend but she tries not to be jealous of her not having to deal with intolerable pain all day. The Little Rock 9 becomes Little Rock 8. The National Organization of Delta Sigma Theta honor the Little Rock 9 girls for what they have stood up for. Finally, Melba realizes that there are many of her people who support her. They receive gifts and notes from various people all over the nation. The harassing continues and one night a white boy named Link saves her from Andy and his group. Link calls her and informs her of the Segregationist team and how they come up with plans to attack Melba. Melba is admonished by Link early hand so she can evade their attacks although she has doubts about Link. Melba learns patience and smiling back through her grandmothers teaching of Mahatma Gandhi. She begins to smile and thank even though they deliver pain to her. The news reporters approach Melba and publish her story and win Pulitzer prizes. Many bomb threats occur at Central, some hoax and some real. At graduation, guards come to see if there are any bombs. As the story comes to end, Integration is successful and Melba meets a soldier named John and marries him. Link receives many awards but is angry because he couldn't date Melba due to his skin color. Melba also integrates the dorms and attends Columbia University and achieves her dream of becoming a reporter. She is truly a hero!

QUOTATION: "Please, God, let me learn how to stop being a warrior. Sometimes I just need to be a girl" (Beals 217).

REACTION: Ms. Beals goes through a horrid time in her life. This quote is a strong resemblance to the book's title. For a long period of time she has been a warrior who their suffered intolerable pain (physical and mental). I cannot imagine how someone would feel when friends alienate them and break the bonds of friendship especially on their birthday. The situation has reached a point where Ms. Beals loses her sense of being a normal girl. It was snatched away from her. She knew what she was doing was right for the future and she sacrificed so much for it that she lost her friends that she grew up with, went to school with and basically spent most of her childhood with. She doesn't want to be a warrior anymore but what else can she do? She cannot turn the clock back. This is a strong quote and it is very emotional to watch someone loose his or her friends and normality. On top of that, Ms. Beals had to face the unbearable pain everyday until integration. This is an amazing memoir and an ultimate kudos to Ms. Beals and Little Rock 9 for integrating the schools. The book also relates to what my ELA 10 class will be reading. Books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is used to put an emphasis on "Jim" who symbolizes Melba and black people in Arkansas. Without the Little Rock 9 the course of history would have taken a dark path. I recommend this book to everyone especially students of color because due to the help of Little Rock 9 we can receive education in a peaceful, non-riotous environment and we can "Kum Ba Yah" (Come together and join hands) as Mr. Doreian says.

Warriors Don't Cry (Page 147-204)

Title: Warriors Don't Cry
Author: Melba Pattillo Beals
Pages: 147-229
Chapters: 14-19

SUMMARY: The Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne Division followed the Little Rock 9 from a distance and protected them from the danger. The problem was that they couldn't get into verbal or physical affair with students at Central. Melba's protector (guard) Danny has good bonds with her and he told her that he's duty is to keep her alive. The guys who protect the Little Rock 9 are very generous. The Little Rock 9 are escorted everyday to school via Station Wagon, which is driven by Sarge who keeps the crew entertained through conversations. Melba was pushed around and Danny couldn't do anything about it but be concerned and the teachers simply ignored it even when she was bleeding. Melba begins to think about her past normal life that she struggled to cling to it because of the integration movement. Melba's old friends call her "The Chosen One" and stop calling her and treat her differently. The first three days at Central was tough and Melba had plans for weekends but she couldn't get her mind off from all the media and integration. Things get serious when Melba was spread acid in her eyes but Danny saved her by washing it off immediately. Rumors scatters that 101st Airborne Division members were in girls' locker room. The memoir continues like an ECG machine reading with constant ups and downs. Another simile: Like a roller coaster.

QUOTATION: " I told myself I had to be like a soldier in battle. I couldn't imagine a 101st trooper crying or moping when he got hurt" (Beals 149).

REACTION: This quote is packed with power, emotions, and simile. I found that it has an ironic side to it because Ms. Beals looks at a soldier/warrior as someone who can bear the pain and hold their tears but isn't a soldier supposed to fight back (especially when he/she is on a battlefield)? Despite my point of irony, the quote holds a strong resemblance to the memoirs' name "Warriors Don't Cry" and Ms. Beals compares herself to a warrior/soldier who shouldn't be sniveling even when she is being pushed, choked or kicked. Personally, I call her a true warrior because she contains a warrior side in her. Being able to hold back even when being bullied by other students and on top of that the mental pain she bore with her is truly imbuing. She has the right to call herself a warrior by using simile or anything. There is a second comparison in the quote; it is when Ms. Beals compares herself to one of the 101st Airborne Division stating that they are true warriors who do not cry.

Warriors Don't Cry (Page 85-147)

Title: Warriors Don't Cry
Author: Melba Pattillo Beals
Pages: 85-147
Chapters: 8-14

SUMMARY:
The hope of integration worsens. Normality is snatched away form the Little Rock 9. Even neighbors are scared of seen together with the Little Rock 9 kids due to the fear of losing their jobs or segregationists attacking their houses at nights. Their old friends are alienating them. The Little Rock 9 are exposed to media and they are asked questions about the integration. They answer without thinking because of all the pressure caused by flashes of cameras and news crowd. Every time in the news Governor Faubus is reported to halt integration causing the Little Rock 9 more nervous as they return back to Central High. They at least have police to secure them but whites are still trying to attack them calling them names. The Little Rock 9 are true heroes because they were able to hold back and be patience even when they were attacked, hated and called names. They were very brave and prayed for the attackers so that God will forgive them. This patience was the source that her grandmother provided through her teachings. President Ike's representatives protected Melba and her friends by sending the most elite armed division, the 101st Airborne Division. This foreshadows that things will turn be serious but soon it will cool down. The searing memoir intensifies every moment. Due to the integration movement, Melba has conflicts with her family and old friends. Her father leaves the family and he lost his job. Melba couldn't go to wrestling matches with grandmother or have a sleepover with her friends because her friends are too scared of mobs that will attack them also.

QUOTATION:
" 'Miss Pattillo, how do you feel about going back to Central High?' "

" 'Miss,' I whispered as my hands perspired and my knees shook" (Beals 88).

REACTION:
I chose this quote because it divulges the manner of the media when it comes to knowing what they want to know. This quote is very broad and it covers media, racism, respect, realization and integration. As a news reporter asks Melba a question by addressing her as "Miss," she is stunned that a white man would ever call her a miss. Media people will dive into anything just to find out what they want. They showed respect to Melba, which made her talk and give her opinion because she felt strong and respected. Although her grandmother didn't want her to talk about family matters and mob attacks, she talked and felt proud. This quote is very powerful because Melba thought that she was important because the news people wrote down whatever she said. That was the moment when she felt that whatever she was doing was right. She was there to integrate for good and for the future and she felt like a true hero. For me, she is a true hero because without her and Little Rock 9 crew, there would be no integration till this day. They suffered pain internally and externally while going through integration and no one would have had so much patience as they did.

Warriors Don't Cry (Page 40-85)

SUMMARY: The story continues with more thrill and intensity. The governor of Arkansas has officially forbidden the Little Rock 9 from going to Central High. This brought relief to Grandma because she though there was no rush for this situation and Melba won't have top suffer. Many black people were afraid of the outcome so they discouraged her to go to the school. She wasn't receiving enough support from her family and friends but her main advocate was her grandmother who gave her hope through her powerful symbolic and religious words which impelled Melba to fight against the situation. September 3, 1957, Little Rock 9 were supposed to be gathering in the school so Melba prepared during the morning and headed out with her mom passing the stares and silent awkwardness of the neighbors. As they parked their car in the corner, there was a huge uproar. A crowd of white students encircled around Elizabeth Eckford as she was trying to make her way to the school. Melba and her mom saw Elizabeth's braveness but they were soon caught up in the crowd and they fought back too. They ran as hard as they could barely making it to the car. Melba drove the car even though she didn't have a license and they get home torn up. After that things get worse as phone callers stalk Melba's home and attack them at night giving them a daunting time.

QUOTATION: "We're told people have come from as far away as Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia to join forces to halt integration" (Beals 44).

REACTION: There were several other quotes but I picked this quote due to its relationship between "To Kill A Mockingbird" book that we're reading in ELA 10 class. This focuses on a certain time period when people down south were very hypocritical and they were racist. This shares similarity with the people down south in "To Kill a Mockingbird" due to racism. This symbolizes how people down south didn't think that integration was the right thing because of their dogmatic beliefs and opinions on black people and various other races. The black people were told not to look white people directly in their eyes including Melba who was also admonished by her little brother Conrad. He gave her an imagery of what happened to Emmet till when he looked in a white person's eye. Historical daunting events are brought up to frighten Melba about Central High and this is not what some one anticipates from a family member or a friend. She is a true warrior to survive this situation even when the odds are on her.

Warriors Don't Cry (Page 1 - 45)

Title: Warriors Don't Cry
Author: Melba Pattillo Beals
Pages: 1-45
Chapters: 1-4

SUMMARY:
The searing memoir Warriors Don't Cry follows through the eye of protagonist Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the Little Rock 9 students. For the first four chapters, the setting varies due to the author’s great use of flashbacks and description of different events. It is mostly around 1954-1957 when segregation was still active. This memoir is told in dual-narrative voice from a younger Melba Beals' viewpoint and an adult Ms. Beals' viewpoint. While other teenagers were enjoying and listening to the current music, Melba was evading the slashes of lynch mobs. At the time of segregation, Melba and eight other black students were chosen to attend Little Rock's Central High School, a high school where only rich white kids go. Those students came to be known as the "Little Rock 9". Their security was their main priority because all the other students tried to harm them and the white student's parents' didn't like the idea of their kids attending to high school with the black students. The Government’s most elite 101st Airborne Division who were known for being Korean War heroes protected the Little Rock 9. The 101st Airborne Division sacrificed their life to body guard the Little Rock 9 and escort them to school. As a 3 year old, Melba isn't aware of the term "colored" but she is afraid of white people as she heard about them when elderly people converse. Some of her relatives are fair skin and she is also scared of them. Places. She is not aware of the signs that describe "colored" people and "whites" only. She begins to realize white people are in charge and people of color don't have the power to do anything, which is why they have dusty restrooms and water-fountains. She experiences her first test of segregation at the age of 5 when she escapes a family picnic to ride the merry-go-round but the conductor yells at her telling that there's no place for her even though there is an empty saddle and as she looks around she sees faces that indicate her of doing something wrong so she flees crying. The house that Melba and her family live in is described using strong imagery. They are middle-class family just because her mother is a teacher. Her mother and dad are divorced and her grand mother is her greatest advocate who tells her to believe in God. Brown v. Board of Education is a huge part of the story because it strikes the story when Melba was in school at a young age. She isn't aware of it because she doesn't know it in detail. Due to Brown v. Board of Education. Melba is chased by a tall white man who almost rapes her but is stopped by her friend Marissa. There's a dramatic irony because Melba doesn't know what the word rape means as Marissa explains what had happened to Melba's grandmother. She washes her body and prays to the lord in order to be pure. Melba decides to sign up for Central High School but doesn't inform her family about it.

QUOTATION:
"It transformed us into warriors who dared not cry even when we suffered intolerable pain. I became an instant adult, forced to take stock of what I believed and what I was willing to sacrifice to back up my beliefs" (Beals 2).

REACTION:
This quote is very powerful. As I was reading the memoir, Ms. Beals uses dual-narrative voice to give a viewpoint of both younger and adult version of her. This quote is a combination of both versions because the young Melba Beals has just became an adult by suffering intolerable pains and harassment by the students of Central High. When Melba was a child, she was told by her grandmother to have patience. Her grandmother also told her that God had blessed her with good brains and health. As she transformed into adult through her will power, this creates a connection to a "coming of age theme" in our ELA 10 class. Melba also raised a statement that sparked in my brain. She believed that black folks aren't born expecting segregation, prepared from day one to follow its confining rules. Segregation was daunting and it was what made other students harm the Little Rock 9. Even though it was extreme hatred and pain, they bore within themsleves and became warriors!

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