Noah’s Blog

  In March, I enjoyed reading Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. This historical fiction novel features a Jewish boy named Yanek Gruner, set during World War II in Kraków, Poland. As the Nazis started invading Kraków, Life just went downhill for him and his family. It’s so bad that they must sneak out at night to get food at a local bakery. One day, he gets put into a concentration camp. He thought this was the only camp he would be at. However, he was at ten different concentration camps. Yanek thinks multiple times to commit suicide, but he keeps reminding himself he made it this far, so he has to keep going. 

I recommend Prisoner B-3087. One reason is that I was immediately drawn to the book. This book wasn’t like some books where the climax is the only exciting part, this book had me hooked from the beginning. The vivid descriptions and a lot of details made me feel like I was on Yanek’s journey with him, which made the book all the more enjoyable. As a result, I have found myself eager to read every night. Furthermore, this book teaches us about the dark chapter of history, this serves as a reminder to be grateful for what we have.

My favorite character was Yanek. He had many admirable traits, such as determination, bravery, and resilience, but his caringness stood out to me. An example is on page 19, when Yanek tells his dad, “‘I want to go with you!” This shows Yanek’s compassion, as he wants to accompany his dad to get bread during curfew. It also demonstrates his loyalty to his family. Lastly, Yanek’s decision to go with his dad illustrates his empathy for others, because he wouldn’t have gone if he didn’t care about his dad’s health.

There were many quotes that I loved, but my favorite was on page 256. The author states, “Now it was time to live.” I love this quote, because it is another reminder for us to be grateful for our lives. Plus, when I think about this quote, it reminds me of the theme of never giving up. This message resonates with me, and it inspires me to keep pushing forward even when it gets tough. This quote can be a perfect way to conclude a book, and it left me with a good impression. Also, I learned that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. When I think about this quote, it leaves me feeling motivated and uplifted. Overall, this is a remarkable quote. 

If I could have any job in the entire world, it would be a pediatrician. One reason is that I want to improve the future. It makes me sad when I see kids be stop from doing stuff that that other people can’t do, because of illnesses. Every child should have a fair shot at chasing their dreams without being held back by health issues. I want to remove their pain and help them live healthy lives. Another major reason I want to become a pediatrician is that it allows me to be an excellent role model for the children that I will work with. As a pediatrician, I will be responsible for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions, however, I will have the opportunity to teach my young patients on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make good choices. Lastly, in order to be a pediatrician, I will have to have a great amount of knowledge of the human body, and how to cure people. Because of this reason, if one of my family members gets sick or ill, I will know how to treat it. It will save a lot of time, and money.

In February, I enjoyed reading a captivating book called The Finest Hours by Micheal J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. This book is historical fiction, and it retells an incredible true story. The story revolves around the U.S. Coast Guard’s most daring rescue mission, which took place on the night of February 18, 1952. A terrible storm hit Cape Cod, and two oil tankers, Pendleton and Fort Mercer, were caught in the middle, causing them to be torn in half. This disaster left thirty stranded sailors left on boats that could sink any minute. It was up to four brave coast guardsmen to come to their rescue, navigating through the stormy waters in a tiny lifeboat. The waves were as high as seventy-five feet, but they were determined to save the stranded sailors, who had no other hope.

I recommend The Finest Hours by Micheal J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. One reason is that you get hooked on the book from the beginning. Additionally, both authors did a good job of adding details and vivid descriptions. This makes you effortlessly visualize the story and feel like you are one of the characters in the book. Another thing the authors did well is that they build and maintain the suspense throughout the story. Also, you can learn many life lessons from this book. One lesson I learned is to be brave. In addition, if you like to read books with the theme of resilience, this is the book for you. 

My favorite character in the book is Bernie Webber. He has many admirable traits, such as resilience, courage, and bravery, but his caring for others stood out. An example of him being caring is on page 132, when Bernie states, “They were there, the same as me, and did all the heavy rescuing. If they can’t get the gold, then I don’t want it.” This shows that he is aware of what his crew did. In addition, it shows he values the significant contributions the crew made to the rescue. Also, he prioritizes others over himself. 

The quote that stood out to me the most in the story is on page 153, when the book states, “Determination heeds no interference.” I love this quote since it highlights the internal strength you can possess when you have a lot of determination. I can use this quote during times of struggle, because it will help me to stay motivated and focused on my goal. Another reason I love this quote is because it is the ship’s motto in the name of Bernie Webber.

The possibilities are endless when you are invisible for twenty-four hours! The first thing I would do is attend exclusive events. What I mean by this is sneak into VIP parties, red carpet events, or exclusive gatherings that you wouldn’t typically have access to. You can experience the glitz and glamour without being on the guest list. I would want to do this, since I can see how celebrities act without the cameras. Also, I want to see the atmosphere. This will be a memory that I always will remember. In addition, I would want to play pranks on my friends and family. One of the pranks I would do is move their things around. It will be funny when they go to their things to see that it is not there. After playing pranks on my friends and family, I am sure I will realize that I need to make things right. To show my regret, I will assist them with their daily activities. For instance, if they lose something, I would get it for them and place it somewhere nearby. These are the things I would do if I were invisible for 24 hours.

It’s another day in my paradise on my abandoned island. That is my life! Before we get to work, let me tell you the intriguing story of how I got on this island. It was a gloomy day, and the sea was roiling, because of a thunderous storm. I was aboard the Fishful Thinking, and the dangerous waters made it the worst day to be on any vessel. All of a sudden, I heard screaming, I jumped up and ran to the deck, only to see that the vessel had spit in half. Panic started to hit me as I realized we were in grave danger. We quickly started to deploy the lifeboats, but to my horror, I was the only one in my lifeboat. I tried to turn on my engine, but it was not turning on. I tried to remain calm, but I got really irritated, knowing I would have to paddle my way to safety. I paddled for hours, hoping to find any island within an hour or so. Well, I did find an island, but it was 4 hours later. My first impression of the island was alright. I got a better impression of it when the sun came out and when the storm went away. The island was surrounded by the crystal-clear waters that shone in the bright light. The beach had soft, powdery sand, and many palm trees swayed in the light breeze. The island was lush with greenery, and the air smelled like a mix of fresh ocean breeze and tropical flowers. The soothing ocean waves helped calm me down. Now, let me share with you my daily routine on the island. Every morning, I start my day by taking a refreshing shower in the ocean. As I wash up, I check to make sure my SOS sign is still up, just in case a passing plane or ship might see it. After my shower, I set out on a journey around the island. I search for resources such as fresh water and edible plants to add to my daily diet. Those edible plants will be my breakfast and lunch. I also gather wood that I can use to build a fire and construct a shelter. Once I have collected enough resources, I return to where I have been staying and start to fix any damages to my shelter. Later on, I go back to the ocean again to find fish to have my meal. After that, I went and had my meal. When the sun starts to set down, I get ready to sleep. This is my daily life on a deserted island.

If I won the lottery, and it was a billion dollars, I could do a lot. I would allocate around about thirty percent of the billion dollars to invest in stocks. The success of the stocks could potentially double or even triple my investment. However, if the stocks did not perform well, I would lose a significant amount of money. In addition, I would buy multiple cars, like, a nice Jeep, a Rolls Royce, a Lambo, a Ferrari, a Rivan, and a Range Rover. Additionally, I would use some of the money to purchase a luxurious and modern mansion situated on a beach. This mansion would feature several amenities, such as, a movie theater, basketball, soccer, tennis court, a gym, an arcade, a bowling alley, a sauna, a cryotherapy room, a pool, and a water slide. The entire house would be equipped with futuristic technology. One of the things I would do with this technology is to control the house through voice commands. For instance, I could say, “Fireplace on,” and the fireplace would turn on automatically. I would also share some of my wealth with my parents to help them retire comfortably. Also, I will give some money back to the world. Some ways I can do this is by establishing few charites. Lastly, I would save all the remaining money and maybe invest some more in the future.

I had the opportunity to read Lu by Jason Reynolds in January. This book is realistic fiction and revolves around Lu Richardson, A teenage boy with albinism. Lu is known for his swagger, and he always wears his gold chain and diamond earrings wherever he goes. Lu is the co-captain of his team, Defenders. Yet, he does not have a good relationship with the other co-captain, Aaron. Lu shares an unbreakable bond with his friends, Ghost, Sunny, and Patina. Moreover, he is confident he can lead the team to victory in the upcoming track and field championship. However, Lu’s life right now is like a rollercoaster since he has many obstacles to overcome. One is that Lu has to participate in another event, the hurdles. Furthermore, he learns that his mom is pregnant. 

I recommend reading Lu by Jason Reynolds. One reason is that Jason Reynolds does a great job hooking you to the story from the beginning. Plus, All the characters in the book have their struggles, and they can be relatable to you. Therefore, they are realistic characters. In addition, the author’s detailed and vivid descriptions make you effortlessly visualize the story and make you feel like you are one of the characters in the book. Also, you can learn a lot of life lessons from this book. One of them is never giving up. Lastly, if you like to read books about sports, this is the book for you. Overall, Lu is a must-read book that I highly recommend to anybody. 

My favorite character was Lu. He had many admirable character traits, such as ambitious, brave, and hardworking, but his resilience stood out to me. An example of this is on page 127 when the author states, “I ran it again, hurdling the wooden planks, faster and faster, leading with the knee, kicking in the air, seeing nothing but what’s down the line.” This shows he has perseverance, since despite the difficulty of the curse, he refuses to give up. Also, he is focusing on improving his form. He wouldn’t try to work on his form if he didn’t have determination. He is also keeping a positive mindset.

My favorite quote is on page 204, when Coach Whit asks the team, “If you wanna go see Coach, and . . . forfeit the championship, put a hand up.” I like this quote, since the characters have to think about the consequences, which creates tensions. In addition, it can create a lot of suspense. Lastly, it reminds us of the importance of supporting someone who is going through a tough time. Because of all these reasons, it made it an enjoyable ending. Also, all these reasons make it a remarkable quote. 

“We all must face the choice between what is right and what is easy,” by Albus Dumbledore. My interpretation of this quote is that there may be a simple or effortless approach to accomplishing tasks; however, it may not necessarily be the most ethical way. It also tells me the importance of keeping your moral integrity. This quote serves as a reminder that the other side of the easy path might not be as green as the side of the right path. An example of taking the easy path is that you could cut some corners in order to achieve a mission. Another example, when you are running around the track at soccer practice, you can run inside of the track, so it is a short run. But, is that right? In the short-term it might help you, but in the long-term it will show you that going the easy path is not always the best path. Ultimately, it can hurt you eventually. This quote by Albus Dumbledore relates to me, since sometimes when I am folding my clothes, I feel lazy, and decide to take the easy path by putting the clothes beneath my bed. I think my mom won’t catch me, but to my dismay, she does. I have to get my clothes, and fold them properly. Due to this act of carelessness, and easy way out, I always get rewarded by having to do more tasks around the house.

I greatly admire my dad for several reasons. He has taught me the value of honesty, compassion, empathy, and last but not least he has taught me resilience. These are all necessary traits to have with me throughout my life. For example, he has taught me that no matter what it’s very important to be honest and authentic. He is also taught me to be compassionate towards others, because you never know what are other people’s situations in life. Whenever I struggle with something, or personal challenge, I try to remember my dad’s advice and keep going. Second, my dad is always willing to lend a hand with homework, especially in math. He always tackles these complex problems and then has an easy explanation for it. Through his guidance, I can apply these concepts to practice problems, which helps me and prepares me for upcoming tests. Lastly, he sacrifices a lot and is always there for me, whether to cheer me on at a soccer game or help me out when I am at my lowest. He goes above and beyond with that. In addition, he encourages me to try a lot of new things.

This year I am going to focus on the word perseverance.

I picked this, because it can be applied to all aspects of life. For instance, let’s take the game of soccer, where perseverance is a crucial element. Consider a scenario where you are tired during the last few minutes of a closely contested match. You can’t give up, because if you become lazy, the other team will take advantage of it and score, therefore, giving up is not an option. Similarly, after a bad game where the luck is not on your side, you cannot afford to give up, you must keep trying.

Perseverance can be applied to all aspects of life. Life is like an adventure, there will be ups and downs, and you will have to persevere. In addition, society is changing daily, so you will have to adapt and overcome challenges. In other words, you will have to persevere. Lastly, perseverance helps me learn from my mistakes. Learning from mistakes can help me improve myself as a human being.

Perseverance can also be applied to education. Perseverance will help adapt to changes in school. For example, during COVID-19, we all had to go online and persevere. In addition, perseverance will help me get through assignments and projects that could be challenging. Plus, it will help me when I doubt myself in a subject.

It looks like Perseverance will help me out a lot this year.