This month I read the novel 1984 by George Orwell. I am not currently done with this book, I am on page 205. 1984 is a dystopian novel about a man named Winston Smith, who works for an organization known as the Party. As a member of the Records Department in the Ministry of Truth, Winston’s job is to rewrite history to make it satisfactory for the Party. However, he begins to hate the organization which he works for, making small yet impactful rebellions against the Party. He soon meets Julia, a woman who shares his same values.

I enjoyed this book because of the dystopian aspect of it. A lot of the plot is based off of the fictional objects and factors of the universe, and the author does an amazing job of telling it. He does a great job at describing everything in the book, even if it is confusing sometimes. The book is sometimes a higher reading level, which I don’t mind, but it makes me look up a few words sometimes. The characters have obvious individual personalities, and their own beliefs and struggles, which makes them feel even more real.

My favorite character from the book is Winston. Even though he has faults and opinions that are obviously wrong and immoral at times, it shows that he’s a product of his corrupt environment, and has grown to think that some very wrong things are okay. However, he has many times where he is a good person, doing what is necessary to help others and make sure that the Party doesn’t grow its reach even further than it already is. One character trait he possesses is his rebellious nature. He is very defiant and a free thinker, unlike many other characters in the novel. “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” is one quote that shows this. Big Brother is a figure in this book that is seen as their ruler, controlling everything in their superstate known as Oceania. Winston wrote that phrase down in his diary, which may be seen as small, but it is still extremely dangerous to do. However, his need to rebel against his dishonorable leaders compels him to defy them anyway.

My favorite quote from this book is “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” The quote is the Party’s widely known slogan, and arguably the most popular phrases from the novel. I like it because it is referred to several times, and shows an example of how contradictory the characters can be while still believing it makes perfect sense. In my opinion, it perfectly depicts just how much the Party can get away with without the majority of people complaining.

There are a lot of people I’d like to dinner, but my top three are my friends Sydney and Nina, and my band teacher from school. First of all, I’d invite Sydney because she always lets us have some of her food whenever we eat. She’s also very fun to be around, and would make us all laugh. I would invite Nina because she’s my best friend out of anyone, but I haven’t had the opportunity to spend much time with her. I would love to hang out with her outside of school, even if it was just for dinner. I would also invite my band teacher, Ms. Hua, because she’s my favorite teacher. She’s really relaxed around us, and it would be fun to have her at dinner with my friends.

If I could have any job in the world, it would be an archeologist. First of all, I would choose this job because I love history. Having a job where I can help educate other people about history from my findings would be amazing! It is so exciting to me to find more information about things that happened way before humans, and even when humans were still starting to emerge in the world. We can learn so much from history, especially archeological findings, and I would love to contribute to it. Another reason I’d want this job is the amount of time you get to spend outdoors. A lot of archeology is spent outside, traveling, and doing a lot of hands-on activities. I’m a much better learner and listener when I get to do physical stuff and not just sit inside. It would be interesting for a majority of my work to be actually doing what I like to do. The last reason for wanting this job is getting to meet other people who also care about history and learning more about it. A lot of people I know don’t share the same interest I do in this topic, so it would be refreshing to meet and talk to people who have a passion for archeology and history too.

Someone has made me invisible for twenty-four hours! I wouldn’t go to school, because who would go to school on a day like this? One of the things I would do first now that I’m invisible is the most stereotypical thing to do, which is somehow take money from a bank. Although it’s unlawful, I would give it to my parents so we would have extra money left aside after paying bills and taxes. I would also use the money to put into investments, so I have more money when I need it. I would also sneak into a movie theater to watch as many movies as I want for free! I would get to watch movies that would’ve been sold out, or movies my parents didn’t want to take me to. Another thing I would do that day is go into a fancy restaurant and take food from the kitchen. After that long day, I would definitely want a dinner like that!

One day, as I was on my phone, I suddenly got a text from my mom. The message said “Just so you know, your Dad and I are planning a surprise for your birthday.” I was both confused and excited. Why was she telling me about this now? My birthday is months away! I eagerly replied to the message, asking her what it is. However, she refused to tell me. “I can’t tell you, then it won’t be a surprise anymore!” She responded. One of the only hints she gave me was that they were renewing my passport. I immediately knew it would have to do with traveling! No matter how many times I asked her where we were going, or tried to guess the destination, she wouldn’t give me any more hints. Still, I wouldn’t give up that easily. I finally got her to give me another hint! She sent one hint: the cruise ship emoji. I was shocked! We were going on a cruise for my birthday? I started texting her even faster, asking her which one it was and a bunch of other questions, but she again refused to tell me. All I knew was that my birthday plans just got much more exciting!

I live on an abandoned tropical island. I got there by a boat. I wake up everyday at around 8 AM, in my house a short distance from the shore. My house isn’t too big, but it’s not a hut either. On the island, I usually eat fish, other sea creatures I can find, different fruit from the trees there, coconuts, and other items I can find. I eat breakfast, and then take a walk around the island. Sometimes I fish in different areas in my island, and other times I go further into the trees around my house and look for things I can forage. Sometimes I come across berries, fruit, and occasionally, I’m able to knock down a coconut. There are other animals there too, like a couple birds and lizards. When the weather is warm I can swim in the ocean around my island. Most of the time the water is nice and cool, which feels like an ice pack on those hot days. At night I watch the sun set over the horizon, the pastel colors painting a beautiful landscape on the beach. When I finally go to bed, the sound of waves crashing on the beach and a soft breeze through the leaved of the trees sends me to sleep.

“We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” This is a quote said by the character Dumbledore in the book series Harry Potter. I believe this quote means that choosing the easy thing, however it may impact your life or the others around you, can be done quickly and, well, easily. However, that decision may not be beneficial, or the right thing to do. I can relate myself to this quote because sometimes I find myself wanting to choose to do something that may be cutting corners, or not benefiting anyone, but I realize that I need to do the thing that is right. It may be harder, more difficult than the other option, but it’s better in the long run.

Someone I admire is my friend Nora. My first reason is that she always looks out for me whenever I’m lonely, and always makes sure I’m okay. We first met by being put in the same team for P.E., and she was the first to talk to me. I really admire her for including me, and we were best friends ever since. The second reason is that she inspires me to do things I would’ve previously been to intimidated to do. Without her, I might never have dressed how I wanted, joined band for my elective this year, and so much more. She has helped me through so much, and is an amazing friend.

This year I am going to focus on the word caring. There are a few different reason why I’m choosing this word. I want to help my friends if they are struggling with something, and I can do that by being caring. I want to be able to stick up for them, help them with homework, and make sure they’re okay. It can help me become closer friends with them, too. Another reason is that I want to care for potential new friends. If I can tell someone doesn’t have a partner for a school project, or is stuck on a question, or even just doesn’t have anyone to sit with at lunch, I want to make sure they will feel welcome. The last reason is that I want people to always feel comfortable around me. If I am caring and reliable, then I can help bond with other people.

In November, I read the book Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. Red Dragon is a crime fiction book following an FBI agent named Will Graham, who is pulled out of retirement to investigate a series of murders by someone the press has named the “Tooth Fairy,” later given the title the “Red Dragon.” He reluctantly turns to the serial killer Hannibal Lecter, whom he apprehended years ago, for help.

I enjoyed this book because the characters felt real, and the book itself was suspenseful. Thomas Harris did an amazing job at giving these characters different personalities, traits, and making them feel like real people. There are twists all throughout this book, and will always have you on the edge of your seat. The characters change through the story, and you can see how much they’ve learned and changes not only physically, but mentally, too.

My favorite character is Will Graham. I say that because he cares a lot for his wife and son, and doesn’t let anything bad happen to them. He is also committed to what he does, and doesn’t let himself give up even when things don’t seem hopeful. He is always careful to make sure he does everything as it should go, and never lets anyone he cares for get hurt in the process, and I can prove this by the quote “‘Will, is there any stuff I need to know to see about Mom?’
‘You’re both safe here, Willy. Remember the car that followed us from the airport making sure nobody saw where we went? Nobody can find out where you are your mother are.’”  It shows how Will was extra careful with making sure his family was safe during the murders, and with people that might be after them.

My favorite quote is “‘Do you know how you caught me, Will?’ ‘Goodbye, Dr. Lecter. You can leave messages for me at the number on the file.’ Graham walked away. ‘Do you know how you caught me?’ Graham was out of Lester’s sight now and he walked faster toward the far steel door. ‘The reason you caught me is that WE’RE JUST ALIKE,’ was the last thing Graham heard as the steel door closed behind him.” I like this quote because it shows how Will is aware of how similar he is to Hannibal, but never wants to admit it, and how Hannibal wants to make sure Will knows.