Rita's journal touched my heart the most. She loved the house she used to live in with her mami and father. She even remembered exactly how it looked. "Our house, which was an apartment, was full of beautiful stuff-velvet couch, lace curtain, virgin statues, candles, and chandeliers" (146). Rita also looked up to her mother in every way possible, she loved her. This is very important because this is the first character in the book that we can truly say experienced the feeling of love. Imagine seeing someone you love, like your mother, die right in front of you? "And me pull gun from his pants, shoot Mami-bang bang bang. Her brains fly out her head her mouth open blood blood blood everywhere, it look like one olive is hanging out her head like a man off a cliff. She never speak nothing, fall out chair, go gurgle sound, more blood fall out her mouth. Her dress, hair, the carpet is red"(149). After this happened to Rita, it is kind of expected that she would have a long rocky road ahead of her for the rest of her life, especially because she didn't have any healthy relationships or friendships to help get her through this hard time.
Rhonda's story can relate to Precious' story in which they both got raped by a family member. Precious raped by her father and Rhonda by her brother, Kimberton. Each "rapist"also told each young girl that they both enjoyed it and to stop lying that they didn't. For example, Kimberton says to Rhonda "You wanted it as much as I did!"(162). Jermaine's story was also very touching. Jermaine expresses in her journal that she has found love with Mary-Mae. She wants to be in a relationship with her but their parents always get in the way. At the end of her journal, Jermaine even states, "It's not over yet!"(174). Jermaine is still waiting for her happy ending.
Each story in the journal is touching in it's own way. I felt like I was living their life while reading this. I am happy each of them found a place they can go to be happy and to most of all, learn. As Rhonda states at the end of her journal, "It's at rooming place I meet Rita Romero, who is in class, who tell me about school which is how I get in this book. the end, no the BEGINNING" (163). This line put a huge smile on my face because Each One Teach One school is a new beginning for Precious, Jermaine, Rita, and Rhonda. They each are getting a second chance to live their lives. Do you ever wish you could get a second chance at something?
-Alexa Faiella
This too brought a tear to my eye! I agree with the way Alexa interpreted the chapter. The readers can get a glimpse on how Precious’s classmates are going through similar experiences as Precious with their own personal challenges they are going through themselves. Relationships between Rhoda, Rita, and Jeramine’s families have similar issues in regarding to parents, and siblings. All four of them experienced the feeling of being secluded emotionally from their own families. Because of this, with the help of Ms. Rain, they found each other and formed not only stable relationships with each other, but also the courage to go out and be a independent member of society. There are times in my life too I wish I could make things different, but I came to realize (just as Precious and the others did) that its the hurtful situations can make us stronger- if we just push ourselves to be stronger.
ReplyDeleteI also found Rita's story to be the most touching and also the hardest to read. Alexa asked the question, Imagine seeing someone you love, like your mother, die right in front of you? I truly can not imagine going through something as terrible as that. Rita's mother was the most important person in her life. She loved her so much and truly cherished her. To watch your mother be shot by your own father must be the most heart paining experience for a child to have to go through. I also agree with Alexa in that Each One Teach One school brought a new beginning and a positive chapter to each characters life. Both the reader and the characters in the book have an appreciation for this school. Each One Teach One and Ms. Rain bring a sense of hope, belonging, and a positive outlook for each characters future, something their own families never gave them to opportunity to have.
ReplyDelete- Stephanie
I also agree with the way Alexa interpreted the stories; it gave me a clearer understanding of the other characters in the novel. Before reading this section, I didn’t really sympathize much for Rita, Rhonda, and Jermaine because I knew nothing about their past and Precious’s story was overwhelming as it is. It was interesting to see the other girl’s relationships they encountered throughout their life. Rita was really the only one who had a loving mother when she was younger, so it was heartbreaking to find out she was murdered. I also have so much more respect for Jermaine. She is rebellious, and she fought for her love for Mary-Mae throughout her years living at home. All of these girls had horrible pasts, but they want to move on, and now that they have each other, they’ll always have a home.
ReplyDeleteAlthough no tears were brought to my eyes i still feel a lot of compassion for the characters through this last chapter. This chapter takes us deep into the lives of Precious class mates and the hardships they've endured. Rhonda was also raped by her brother and Precious was raped by her father. I think the fact that Rhonda was also a victim of rape by another family member will help Precious feel more at home in her Alternative school because there is another girl who has experienced the same thing as her. Rita's story also is extremely sad because nobody should see there mother's life taken away by such a violent especially by their own father. It is obvious to me that all of the girls in the class all have experienced trauma during there childhood and this school is the symbol of them overcoming it.
ReplyDeletewhoes turn is it to post, and if its mine how do i write the blog I dont know how to do it.
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