Everybody
Literary Corner
The Wave , by Todd Strasser under the name of Morton Rue , is a captivating novel based on a real experiment
carried by a High School teacher , Jon Rones , in Palo Alto , California in 1979 . The experiment is described by him as one of the most frightening event he has ever experienced in the classroom .
The book is set in the same context that the real experiment , but the names of the characters and the places have been changed . The novel describes the development of a class at Gordon ’ s
High School from the moment his history teacher , Ben Ross starts an unplanned experiment in which students become part of a group named “ The Wave ”. This experiment starts because Mr . Ross is trying to explain how Nazi Germany worked and why people followed Hitler until the end .
The experiment starts off as a game , but quickly turns into a living thing that nobody is able to control . Laurie Sanders , a very popular and top student is the only one to realize that the experiment is going too far , and tries to stop it in a million different
The Wave
ways . Students get really involved with it because it makes them feel better , be part of something , make more friends , win matches ... and of course , nobody wants “ The Wave ” to come to an end .
The book exposes many important themes , such as the loss of individuality , bullying , peer pressure and leadership . It helps to realize how one can rapidly lose his independence and freedom by getting involved in something bigger than oneself , something that one cannot stop . Moreover , it deals with a very important topic in society ; Fascism and its characteristics .
“ T he Wave ” is a fascinating , unputdownable book . Despite some people argue it is poorly written , it is an absorbing and easy to read novel . I thoroughly recommend it to everybody , from parents , through students to teachers because of his excellent and interesting ideas and themes and because from my point of view , everybody can learn something new by reading it .
By : Estela Illardia ( 11 th Grade )
Everybody
Everybody wants What they can never have . Everybody loves Those who love them back . Everybody sees What nobody else can see . Everybody wishes To have what they think they need . But nobody Can find out What that really is . Everybody needs Someone near them . Everybody cries When that someone turns out to be hidden . Everybody looks But forgets to open their eyes . Everybody feels As if they ’ re wearing a disguise . But nobody Can really tell What ’ s going on inside . Everybody says Things they don ’ t mean . Everybody repeats Things they have seen . Everybody dreams With movies becoming true . Everybody has Days when they ’ re just not in the mood . But nobody Can ever know What ’ s going on Inside of you .
By : Gema Sacanell ( 10 th Grade )
Ransom my Heart
This book is set in the medieval 1me , in Stephensgate manor . Finnula Crais is a miller ’ s daughter , one of six , but is very different to the rest of her sisters . Actually , she ’ s very different to any girl in Stephensgate . She wears pants , something unheard of at that 1me , and is the best archer in the area . She ’ s quite proud of her abili1es but starts to regret having them when her sister asks her for a huge favor . She is pregnant , but doesn ’ t have the money she needs to marry the baby ’ s father . So , she asks her brave sister Finnula to kidnap a rich man and ransom him back to his family . I know ; it ’ s not the first thing that goes into your mind when you need some money , but then again you don ’ t live in the medieval age . This novel has romance , mystery and adventure . However , it probably would be considered mainly a romance , although it is not the typical romance novel , for it has some interes1ng twists in it . I would recommend this book to girls above 15 , more or less . If , when you were younger , you read the princess diaries or any other Meg Cabot books , and liked them , this will be perfect for you .
By : Gema Sacanell ( 10 th Grade )