Wednesday, January 16, 2008

top ten list due 1/18

Maggie Nelson

Mr.Hatten

English 10

18 January 2008

Top Ten List for Lock and Key

Here is my top ten list on Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. The top ten list is not in specific order.

  1. One main motif in Lock and Key is Family.

I think family is a big motif in Lock and Key because the main character, Ruby, throughout the book is trying to figure out what exactly family means. To some it may mean the people you love but it also might just mean the people you live with and are stuck with for the rest of your life. At the end of the book Ruby decides that family, to her, is many familes created over time. Family of origin, the family we created, as well as the groups you moved through while all of this was happening: friends, lovers, sometimes even strangers.

  1. ˝Even if you do make tons of new friends, try not to forget where you came from˝ is a very important quote in this book.

I think that the quote above is very important in this book because in the book some of the main characters leave, come into new lives and they need to remember where they came from. It can also be a very important quote in life to remember if you’re ever leaving for a new start, don’t forget where you came from and who helped you to get to where you are now.

  1. The plot of the book is very important.

I think the plot of this book is important because it sounds like realistic life for a teenager. In the beginning, Ruby’s mother has many drinking problems and finally leaves without a word. When Ruby is found living alone she is sent to live with her sister and husband. She lives life with them and learns many things about life that she could have never have thought of with her old life.

  1. “Ruby,” he said. “What are you doing here?” I think is a very important quote in the book.

I think this quote is very important in this book because it is showing you how unexpected life can be. For Ruby, her mother leaving and moving in with her sister was something she did not have for her future plans. Even if your plans for the future do not go as planned, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make the best of it and that’s what Ruby did. I think it’s important because people who read this book need to know that life can be unexpected and they should not give up on their future.

  1. One main motif of the book is the past.

I think that the past is one of the main motifs of the book because they keep relating back to that subject many times. For some of the main characters, Nate and Ruby, the past is a harsh word for them to hear. They had had a very cruel past and throughout the book they are trying to make up for all of the childhood memories they missed as a kid. I think the word past is very important because the past affects you in how you deal and do things in your future.

  1. The word infamous is repeated many times throught the book.

I think the word, infamous, is a very important word used in the book because it describes many of the characters past. The word infamous means having a reputation of the worst kind. Ruby’s old reputation at school was not one that was worth braging about. She didn’t do well in school and she used to drink all the time. In the book, many of the characters wanted to forget their infamous pasts. I can use this in real life if I wanted to say to one of my friends, ˝You don’t want to have an infamous past, do you ?˝.

  1. One main motif in Lock and Key is Trust.

I think trust is a main motif in the book, Lock and Key, because the main character, Ruby, has a big trust issue. In the beginning of the book Ruby doesn’t trust anyone because of her mother drinking and her father leaving. When she starts her new life with her sister, Cora, and her husband, Jamie, she decides she is going to give her best effort in trying to start a new life. Throughout the book, Ruby’s trust grows tremendously and in the end her trust might just have saved one of her really good friends.

  1. The character, Nate, is important in the book.

I think that Nate is one of the most important characters in the book. It all started when Ruby meets Nate while she is trying to escape from her new life. Throughout the book Ruby and Nate have many flings and her love grows for him. He taught her many values of life and how to trust people better, including him, but after the incident with his dad she doesn’t know if she can trust anyone again.

  1. The main character, Ruby, is also important in the book.

I think that Ruby is a very important character in the book because she is the one the story is based on. Throughout the entire book Ruby learns many things to help her suceed in life, not just in school. She made many new friends and grew as a new family member. She learns how to suceed in everything she puts her mind too and while doing that finding a boy that cares about her very much.

  1. The character, Cora, is also very important in the book.

I think, Cora, Ruby’s older sister, is an important character in the book. Cora and Jamie married young and just after a few months living together they took in her little sister, whom she hasn’t seen for ten years. She helped Ruby settle in their house and she helped her with any problems Ruby was willing to share. I thought Cora was a great role model for her younger sister when she needed her most.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Post B, 1/16

Dear Ruby,


So much has happened to you the past year and it sounds so overwhelming to me, I don’t know if I could have handled what you did. To me it sounds like you and Nate might get back together but it also sounds like its going to take a lot of work to show him that you truly care about him and that you want to help him out. Gervais seems to be a good tutor and hopefully all goes well on your test. Finding these things out about your mother must have been very difficult for you to hear. Having to hear that your mom is in rehab for treatment would be devastating to me but also I would have hope for her because she is getting help for her past. Nate running away from home was very scary to read but if I were you I would have an inkling about where he was. You two just have a huge past together filled with memories and friendship he couldn’t just disappear on you like that. I'm glad to hear that Olivia's sister did well on the race. Even thought she was last, she finished the race and to me that means I won. The calculus test went very well for you, im glad. Gervais was right about his technique. He is a friend to keep. Getting into the U, congratulations! I wouldn’t have expected that from you considering your past. I think Throwing away your key was a good idea because to me that means your throwing away your past you had with that key and you want to start a new life.

Post A, 1/16

Vocab:
Leeway(p.377)-an allowable margin of freedom or variation
Begets(p.379)-To produce especially as an effect or outgrowth

Quote:
"Even if you do make tons of new friends, try not to forget where you came from, okay?". This quotes is significant because it says alot about life and growing up, not to forget where you came from and what your past is.

summary 1/16

Harriet is getting interview by some reporter for the key necklaces. Reggie told Harriet how he felt but she said shes not in a relationship place right now. Nate and Ruby were still fighting and it didn't look like things were gonna get better soon. Gervais was helping her with her Calculus and she was finally getting it a bit more than usual. The KeyChain business was going very well. Cora had a talk with Ruby about her mother. Cora said that she was in treatment, rehab. For the past few days thats all she could think about. Jamie and Ruby has been working on the pond. Olivia and Jamie started talking about his job and how he could improve it. Nate hadn't shown up to help harriet?? Her calculus test is on Monday, it is the weekend right now. She couldn't stop thinking about Nate. At the mall to pick up her pay check, olivias sister was running in the 5 K. She got an extra bonus from Harriet. Reggie and Harriet are going to dinner together. Olivia's sister was last in the race but she did make it across the finish line. Nate had run away from home. Ruby feels like she did really good on the calculus test. After the test she went to find Nate and there he was, at the cat ladys house. He is going to live with his mom in Arizona. She got into the U. she is graduating. She gave him a keynecklace just like hers. in the end she threw hers in the new pond.

Post B, 1/9

Dear ruby,

It sounded like you had a great Christmas! With all your new gifts I wouldn’t know how to start the New Year off in a bad way. Too bad for Cora, I know she really wanted to have a baby but if it was meant to be im sure it will happen soon enough. Another party at your house? Im sure your alittle overwelemed by all of these people, I mean I would be since you didn’t have many people before yo moved into the new house with Cora and Jamie. It was very nice of Nate to come to the party and you and he kissing again must have been very nice considering you and he have been dating for around a month now. He seems like a very nice guy but it seems like he is hiding too much from you. It is nice of your sister to bring you shopping. You should really just take the money and spend it, that’s what I would do but im also a teenager with that kind of interest. Valentines Day must be very stressful for you considering you have no idea what to get Nate. I would think that choosing a gift for that kind of holiday would be hard but im sure you will think of something. What has happened with you and Nate? It seems like he has a really big problem with his dad. He has random buses on his body that you don’t know where they came from. I think you should try and help him out because hey you owe him a lot.

Post A, 1/9

Vocabulary:
primer(p.341)-a small book for teaching children to read
door jamb(p.342)-
an upright piece forming the side of a door opening

Quote:
"Just remember. The heart! Start there and you can't go wrong".p.361 i think this is important for choosing valentines gifts because it doesn't really madder what you get them as long as it comes from the heart.

summary, 1/9

It's christmas today. Cora isn't pregnant. Gervais is going to help her study for calculus. Cora and Jamie are having a post-christmas open house party.Nate is there and they kiss again. Cora is taking Ruby shopping for clothes at the mall. Valentines day is near and Nate and Ruby are planning an afternoon together. Ruby doesn't know what to give Nate for Valentines day. Nate hadn't shown up and she was worried. Nate had given her a gift but she didn't open it. Nate was home all that time she waited for him. Something was going on between him and his dad. She and Nate got in a huge fight and he left.