What is a short story?

For me a short story is about one thing instead of many thing s like a novel.Short stories have the same elements that a novel have except telling in basic words .Short stories usually go straight to the point and they are easy  to read because most of them are under 80pg. In this short stories there is not a lot of description and because of that emotions and problems are fast to solve.And for that is easy to read it.
 

Statement after reading

After reading  the book i pick the statement "students should not tell teachers about their personal problems, no matter how serious". I am disagree  with this because the teachers may help you to find a solution a help you passing through and specially if it is a big problem they have much more experience then we have.
My  first example shows how Mr.Freeman,the art teacher, motivate Melinda to express her feeling through art .At first Melinda is interesting to do well in draw but she is not very convince that her art express any emotion so she said "I draw a horizontal line for the ground and a daisy popping up next to the tree.Somehow i don't think so Mr. Freeman is going to find much emotion in it".
My second example it shows how  a teacher knows when a kid is passing through something .After thanksgiving (a bad holy day for Melinda) Mr. Freeman see her depression through her art and Mr.Freeman understand this feeling encouraging  Melinda to express more emotions.He said "I see a girl caught int he remains of holy days gone bad ,with her flesh picked off day after day as the carcass dries out...The palm tree is a nice touch .A broken dream ,perhaps?". Then when Melinda totally finish  the project Mr.Freeman see the sculpture very serious and he said "This has meaning.Pain."He may not said "you need or how can i help you" but he tries to say to Melinda that he feels that she is sad or depress and that she don't need to tell her what is happening he understand.
My third and finally example it shows how the teacher comprise and understand a student ,trying finally talk with Melinda about her problems. When Melinda feel that she have a connection with Mr. Freeman and that he is the only one who understand her feelings.Melinda draw finally a very good in which she really express her feeling drawing a beautiful green tree with birds around it ,after drawing  this Melinda begins to cry then Mr.Freeman begin to talk and say " 'You get an A+.You worked hard at this.' He hands me a box of tissues.'You've been through a lot ,haven't you?' " . After all this Melinda decides to speak finally about what happened that day when she was raped.
Because i believe that the teachers are the most experience and they know when something is happening to a student ,and they also understand because they have more experience  .You should tell to a teacher if you have big problems they she or he  can help you .

Context /Intertex

It  puts the dialogue between Melinda and Andy.And also it describe from Melinda's  view  what it  happened when Andy threat Melinda and try to rape her again.In another books they never describe a lot what is happening  but in this books specify exactly what Andy is doing and what is Melinda try to do to scape from Andy.For example when Melinda take one bone from her sculpture   and break the mirror and with a piece of mirror try to used like a knife against Andy ,where she stand up for herself.

Diction

This particular words or phrase seem most significant.When Melinda said "The world is a dangerous place.You don't know what would have happened ".Because Melinda never thought that she will get raped.So now she is scared that if she go to the party with David it will happened again ,affected her social life and her love to David, don't knowing what to do.

Observation

In this Marking period we see a lot how really silly this school system is. Melinda resorts to sarcasm to show how silly the authority figures around her really are. Her commentary is reflective of her feeling that adults don’t understand kids her age, nor do they seem to care.We can also see how This marking period is also a good example of how those in authority(teachers) can misuse their power and impact on those younger and more impressionable in an unacceptable way.

Character analysis

Melinda is a character that just pass to high school  where she is outcast  for everybody in her grade. Rachel her best friend  in middle school is not anymore her friend. Then Melinda tired of been alone she became friend with Heather anew girl from Ohio .She seems very depress and that nobody can understand her even though she has Heather "her friend",she seems immerse in a world of silence.The only way that she express her feelings is through the art and is the only subject that she has an A.She wants to speak and to say thing that she likes or don't like but for some reason she is not able to say something.

Statement

I choose the statement "there is a difference between  being quiet and and being withdrawn". I am agree with this statement because people that is quiet is shy to talk or to  know new  people and they still interacting with people. But people that are withdrawn  don't  interact or  talk  with another person ,they are distant ,and some depress.
     The following example shows what quiet means . When i came to here , U.S, i couldn't  speak well English . I was very shy to talk  in English,well I've  always been  a little shy to talk to new people or to talk  in public but I still have friends , which the majority of them where quiet in school  or in another parts like me but when where together we really talk a lot  and interact with people like normal people. But  when i came here there was a totally new culture ,new people and a totally different language , that makes me very nervous  because i thought  that when  i was going to talk i will  make a mistake and nobody could understand me , which happened a lot ,but I still try to make friends and to talk to somebody that could understand me  and even if they dont , i just try to practice my english. And even right now i dont talk that much just with my friends because i am not a person that expressive.
    My second following example shows what is a withdrawn person.I would say that  a withdrawn person will appear uninterested in what is going on around him/her and not alert, not a part of the environment and overall very stuck in his/herself .

Withdrawing from other people can be a way of dealing with difficult emotions such as anger, sadness or fear. These sorts of feelings can be triggered by negative experiences, such as being undermined or patronised. If we identify and then avoid the triggers to a person's difficult feelings, the person may well become more engaged with others around them.Withdrawal may be a sign that someone is depressed.
Like Melinda she is passing through  depression in her life she is not able to talk and she don't really want to interact with people.
And for all this i think being quiet it means just to be shy and not to talk that much in public o with new people and withdraw is be in another world and don't know what is going on with the people that is around you  is why i say that they are totally different .

JUST LISTEN captures getting out from problems is easier while you have someone at your side

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.Penguin Book,2006.               Genre:Novel

Annabel Greene is a girl who has it all- at least, that's how it seems on TV commercials. Annabel's life is far from perfect. Though some thought that Annabel had everything people often forgot that what she wanted most was to live a normal life. Her friendship with cruel, dramatic Sophie ended on a night she can't bear to remember; her sister Whitney moves back home because of her eating disorder, making her moody and distant, she wants to quit modeling, but can't bear to tell her mom, and she is now an outsider at her school. Then, she meets Owen Armstrong, a boy who has anger management problems and is obsessed with music. He always tells the truth no matter what, and Annabel starts developing a close bond with him, even though they are nothing alike. With his help, Annabel may start facing her fears - and more importantly, speaking the truth.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
“Dessen weaves a sometimes funny mostly emotional ,and very satisfying story”.
-Voya

Just Listen was the first book i read by Sarah Dessen i which you can see all from Annabel perspective and know what she thinks and all her problems she is passing through.For me it was a real good book at first i didn't like it a lot because she had many problems and it was depressing but then when it looks she is solving her problems i couldn't stop  reading  the book.
This book from another book that i read is totally different the truth is that i never read a novel quite like this.



My Favorite quote:
“The people who know  you best can be riskier ,because the words they say and the things they think have the potential to be not only scary but true ,as well”.

Just Listen was the first book i read by Sarah Dessen. This book made me want to read another books for this author ,because i fell she have an strong connection with the teenagers (how thy think,their problem, how they feel) . I fell in love in the way Sarah characterized Owen Armstrong. He became like my dream guy.

I will that i give to this book 4 paws=Pounce on it .