Deep Breath

Take my hand as we walk across

The breaking bridge as one
We took a chance that this journey wouldn’t be a loss
Hopefully on the other side will be the shining sun.

Fourth Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir by: Cylin Busby and John Busby, Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books, 2008 Genre: Non-Fiction

The Year We Disappeared is about a Falmouth, Massachusetts cop named John Busby and his family, who live in Falmouth. One night while driving to the police station to begin his shift, he was shot in the face by a person in another car as it drove by. John Busby nearly died from loss of blood, but reached Mass General Hospital in time. The doctors had to wire-shut his mouth because half of his jaw was blown off and feed his through a tube that went into his stomach since he couldn’t chew food. He also had to breathe through a hole in his trachea. He was very lucky to survive the shooting with the amount of damage to his face. However, the shooter wanted him dead, so his family; wife Polly, two sons Eric and Shawn, and his daughter Cylin, are put under 24-hour police protection. This book is about John Busby’s struggle to recover and the family’s struggle to hopefully live a normal life one day.

“The book flows seamlessly back and forth from father's to daughter's perspective, each jump between narrators providing further explanation and insight and pulling readers deeper into the story.” -- VOYA (Teen Reviewer)

The Year We Disappeared is told by both father and daughter, alternating their perspectives with each chapter. This writing style helps the reader to understand what it was like for John Busby personally to go through the pain of the shooting and wanting revenge. In addition, this writing style allows the reader to learn what it was like on the outside from his daughter’s point of view and how the “accident” affected everyone around John as well.

I have not read any other books by Cylin Busby even though she is a non-fiction author. Also, I do not typically read non-fiction books because they usually do not interest me. However, this book really opened my eyes to see that non-fiction books can be as intriguing as fiction. This even makes it more intriguing because I know that these events actually did happen.

John: “If I couldn’t keep pressure on my face, I was definitely going to bleed out. But this was more important. Somehow, I scrawled words “not an accident” on the paper, smearing blood on it as I wrote.”(23)
Cylin: “We could see in the streetlight as a guy got out. He was not in a uniform. Then he reached back in the car and pulled something out. It was a long gun—a rifle.”(34)

At first I was a little unsure about reading a non-fiction book because I typically don’t like them. However, when I saw this book, I knew I should read it because I love CSI and like criminal mysteries. As soon as I read the summary, I wanted to read more. This book was amazing. The two different perspectives really helped me to understand the story better and how the incident affected everyone. I felt like I was in the story, experiencing what the Busby family had to go through. After reading this book, I am truly thankful for all the police officers who risk their lives for others every day.

Choices for Life

Life; what is there to make of it? Everyday is different than the next and as unpredictable as the weather. One choice can influence the events that will occur the next day and ultimately the meaning of your life. Some choices may be simple, whereas others may be complex or even life-threatening. However, every choice is important. One choice can determine the rest of your life, such as deciding what you want to major in for a job. Whereas, other choices may be as simple as deciding what to wear for the day. In the book The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, wrote about a protagonist who had to make an important decision that the book revolved around. Santiago, the protagonist, faced the seas by himself. He went 84 days without catching a single fish and he was getting anxious. When he sailed out to sea in his skiff, the old man, Santiago, decided to go further out in the ocean to try and catch a big fish. However, when he made this decision there were many consequences that result from his choice. By deciding to sail farther out to sea, the old man hooked a huge marlin, then decided to remain with the marlin until he could harpoon it, and unfortunately sharks attack the dead marlin.

In the beginning of the story, Santiago was determined to catch a fish. When he hooked one, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. By going far out into the ocean, the old man took a chance at catching anything and everything. He didn't know whether it was going to be a large fish or a small fish he would reel in, but the old man knew he needed a fish to prove himself and provide for himself. When the bait was taken, the old man had hope once again. The wise old man believed that being precise was more important than being lucky because if you are suddenly lucky, then you will be prepared for anything. After feeling the strength of the fish on the fishing line, the old man assumed it was a large fish, perhaps a marlin or a shark. The old man spoke aloud "[The fish's] choice had been to stay in the deep dark water far out beyond all snares and traps and treacheries. My choice was to go there to find him beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world. Now we are joined together and have been since noon."(50). This reflective moment showed the consequences of Santiago's choice both on the fish and himself. Santiago often talked to himself of to the fish he was catching because the boy no longer fishes with him so he is very lonely.

After Santiago realized that this fish was not going to be an easy catch, he made another decision to stay with the marlin until the marlin is weak enough for him to reel it in. However, the marlin is in no way ready to give up either. In fact, the fish seems very confident he is going to win this battle. Santiago battles with the fish for four days with little food and only one water bottle. This choice could have been life-threatening for Santiago. Since he had little food or water, he became dehydrated and fatigued, but not once detached or delirious from his surroundings. In fact, he had seen black spots before his eyes, along with "he had felt faint and dizzy and that had worried him."(87). Although Santiago was exhausted, he did not going to give up on his endeavor to catch the fish. He knew he must remain optimistic in order to catch this marlin. Santiago really wanted to catch it and he was going to do anything to accomplish it, even if it meant risking his own life. This just goes to show how dedicated and devoted Santiago was to fulfilling his quest.

Finally, after struggling for so long with the fascinating marlin, Santiago harpooned it and tied it to the side of the boat since it was two feet longer than his skiff. However, killing the fish this way attracted many sharks, which Santiago was aware of from his blood trail. Overall, the old man fought off about ten sharks, each escaping with some part of the marlin, but not their own life. Santiago fought until he could fight no more. He was willing to do anything to salvage the fish he had worked so hard to catch. However when the sharks attacked, there was nothing else for him to do but to sit there as "...sharks hit the carcass as someone might pick up crumbs form the table. The old man paid no attention to them and did not pay any attention to anything except steering."(119). This simile really helped me to picture the action of the sharks on the leftover marlin meat. After working so hard to catch the terrific marlin, Santiago lost almost all of its meat because of greedy, aggressive sharks. However, he did not let that get to him or his spirit. He was determined to make something of it and proud to have caught the tremendous fish.

The choice Santiago made was very important to the story. When he decided to go far out into the ocean, he caught a big fish that was two feet longer than his skiff, he decided to stay with the fish threatening his health and life, and when he reeled in the marlin, multiple sharks eat the majority of the marlin. However, I believe that Ernest Hemingway was trying to make a point throughout the whole story. I think his point was if you are really compassionate about something, stick with it until the end. There will be hardships along the way, but they will only make you stronger. The choices you make everyday shape the person you become. By facing and accomplishing the inner challenges, the realization of personal strength is soon to come.

Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Penguin Books, 2007. Genre: Fiction

Thirteen Reasons Why is about a high school boy Clay Jenson, who discovers a box of tapes on his front porch one day. The tapes are recordings of Hannah Baker, a classmate who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Clay listens to the first tape and discovers that there are thirteen reasons why Hannah decided to commit suicide and he is one of them. As he listens to the tapes, he follows the map of the town and spends the whole night learning about Hannah and her life. Most importantly, he learns who and what each person did that influenced her to end her life.

“If you have the chance to read only one novel this year, Thirteen Reasons Why should be that book. It’s sad, amazing, heartbreaking, and hopeful, all at the same time…” says Teen Read Too.

In Thirteen Reasons Why, the book is told in first person because Clay is telling the story as well as listening to Hannah talk about herself. The reader knows the thirteen reasons why Hannah committed suicide as Jay Asher reveals them to Clay as he listens to the tapes. You know exactly what Hannah recorded and what Clay is listening to.

This is Jay Asher’s first book and it was terrific. I am looking forward to his upcoming books. Thirteen Reasons Why is so different than any other book I have read. This is the first book with a conflict like this and told from this creative point of view. It was very captivating and although it was a depressing book, I never wanted to put it down.

“You don’t belong in the same way as the others. It’s like that song: One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong. And that’s you Clay. But you need to be here if I’m going to tell my story. To tell it more completely.”(200).

I love reading books about things that I can connect with and when the characters are around my age. This book was one that popped out from the others because it was about something I had never read before. I wanted to learn the thirteen reasons why Hannah ended her life. For being Jay Asher’s first book, he has blown me away. I was left speechless at the end of the book. I was so mesmerized at the detail and the thought that went into the book.

Although something like this hasn’t happened to me, I felt as if it actually did after reading the book. The book drew me in and I felt as if I was with Clay discovering Hannah’s life and her emotional rollercoaster. I truly felt sorry for Hannah Baker, I realized that the slightest things that some people do to others may not seem like a big deal, but as they build up, sooner or later the person is going to break. After reading this book, I am more aware of how I treat other people and what I say to them because you never know what one nice thing will do to them. It could literally save their life.

Through the Thick and Thin: There, Until the End

We have been waiting for this day since the beginning of high school. Everything is planned out and our bags have been packed since the beginning of the week. We are all excited because it is our big trip before we part separate ways and leave for college. For the past days I could hear my plane ticket on my dresser calling my name, anxious to fly to St. Johns, just like me. My phone rang on my dresser and I rushed to pick it up.
“Hello!” I answered and I knew exactly who was on the other line.
“Hey” said Bailey and Callie in-sink.
“Today’s the day!” I replied excitedly.
“Hurry up we only have 2 hours until our flight!” yelled Callie.
“Alright, alright. I’m going. I’ll call you back when I am leaving my house,” I sighed.
“Bye!” they both screamed into the phone again.
“Bye,” I laughed and hung up my phone. Everything was already packed except my toiletries. So, I put the rest of my necessities in the suitcase. Finally when I am done packing and have triple checked everything on my list, I pick up my phone and call Bailey back to tell her and Callie I am about to leave. After hanging up with them, I lug my suitcases down the stairs, along with my carry-on. I give one last hug and kiss to my family and head out the door, into the hot sticky summer morning. The air conditioning in my car is on high as usual, I pull out of the garage, down the driveway, and turn right, heading to Bailey’s house.

* * * * *

We boarded the plane, the three of us in one row. Bailey could barely stay in her seat because it was her first time on a plane and we were about to take off on the trip that would change our lives forever. The flight attendant announced for everyone to buckle up because we would be taking off in 5 minutes. “Click, click, click” was all we heard as everyone buckled their seat belts. Once again, the flight attendant appeared in the front of the plane and showed us how to correctly use the air bags above our heads and the emergency exits located throughout the plane. I had been on a plane before and heard this speech more than enough times, but for some reason I paid closer attention this time than the previous flights.
“Thank you and have an enjoyable flight.” said the flight attendant.
“We will be reaching Florida in approximately 3 hours and the weather is looking great. Enjoy the flight!” announced the pilot over the intercom. “”Ding”, the seat belt sign flashed on as we rolled down the runway. Slowly, we picked up speed. Just as we were nearing the end of the runway, the airplane’s wheels lifted off the ground and we were pushed back into our seats as the plane went higher into the sky. We went through the clouds and every so often I would have to pop my ears from the increasing air pressure. Finally we reached the designated height, just above the clouds. Bailey looked out the window and all she said was “OH MY GOD! The clouds look just like giant cotton balls!!”
“Wow! They do!” agreed Callie. “This is the prettiest sky I have ever seen. The clouds look so soft and comfortable I just want to sleep on them.”
“Good luck with that,” I laughed. The two of them stared out the window for the majority of the plane ride to Florida, while I listened to my iPod. For the most part, the plane ride was smooth and we landed successfully in the Florida airport. After gathering all of our luggage, we headed for our connecting flight to St. John’s. When we saw the plane we were taking, our mouths dropped to the floor. It was extremely small and only carried 10 passengers.

Cautiously and nervously, we step onto the plane. My hands are shaking uncontrollably, but I try not to let it show because I want to show Callie and Bailey that everything is going to be fine. Inside the plane, there are only 5 rows of 2 seats. To prevent arguing who will sit where, I voluntarily sit by myself behind them. It is not long before we take off. I close my eyes as we ascend higher into the sky. This flight is going to be about 2 hours, which isn’t that long. I have to keep reminding myself that because my gut feeling is telling me something is up. About an hour into the flight, the pilot announces that there is a storm approaching, but it is nothing to worry about. It’s not even 10 minutes after the pilot announces were heading into a storm, that our plane begins to shake. At first it isn’t bad, just a few small ones here and there, but soon it became much worse. As I looked up from the floor, I could see everyone’s heads jerking back and forth about their seats. Bailey and Callie had their heads between their legs, trying to stabilize themselves. I realized I should probably do the same thing. Suddenly a lighting bolt hit one of the planes wings and the pilot yelled back to us, “Get the life jackets on from under your seats! Get the air bags from over your heads! NOW!” I rushed making sure I did everything he said to do at the beginning of the flight if we ever needed to use them. My hands, shaking now more than ever and I began to hyperventilate. I buckle on the safety seat belts on the chair. I could feel the plane descending faster and faster. All I saw out of the window was the black smoke from where the wing used to be. Over the screams of the passengers I heard the pilot yell “BRACE YOURSELFS!” Crash! The plane hit something hard, head-on and my head smashed into the seat in front of me. Everything went black and silent.

* * * *

“Madeline, Madeline can you hear me?” someone whispered. I tried to open my eyes but I was so weak.
“I think she’s awake,” said another girl with dark hair. She sounds so far away. I don’t know where I am. Why am I laying on dirt? I slowly opened my eyes and there standing over me were people I had never seen before. Why is everyone staring at me?
“Madeline, how are you feeling?”
“What happened?” I tried to ask, but all that came out was mumbles of jumbled words. Apparently the girl with dark hair understood what I said and she explained how the plane was struck by lightening and we crashed onto this deserted island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. On our descend down, I hit my head on the seat in front of me and passed out cold. Luckily the pilot pulled me out of the plane, but I have been unconscious for a half an hour. There is no radio signal so far, she explained, but the pilot is trying to find one.
“Wait,” I mumbled lethargically. “Who are you and why were we in a plane?”
“We are your best friends Madeline,” explained the girl with long blonde hair who gestured to the girl with dark hair.
“What are your names?” I questioned.
The tall girl with blonde hair replied, “I’m Callie.”
“and I’m Bailey,” chimed in the short, dark haired girl. “Don’t you remember us, Madeline? We have been friends since we were 5.” A confused countenance appeared on her. The girl whose name was Callie began to tear up.
“Why doesn’t she remember?” she sobbed. A slender man with gray hair walked over to me.
“She is showing signs of amnesia. I am a doctor and I was on my way to St John’s for a patient in need of special medical help. As you can see, this girl needs my attention now and I’m going to need you girls to help me,” said the man. “Since we don’t know how long we are going to be stuck on this island, I am going to need you girls to tell me everything about Madeline in order to hopefully help her remember what has happened.” He applied poultices to my forehead and arms to help alleviate the pain from my contusions. I closed my eyes and listened to everyone talk around me.

The two girls told me almost everything they knew about me to hopefully help me remember. They started with my family and where I live. I have a mom Kathy and a father Dave, along with an older brother Michael who just finished his sophomore year of college. My family and I live in a two-story white house on a side street in the middle of town. After learning about my family, the two girls told me about our friendship. We get together at one of our houses and watch a movie every Friday. While watching these movies we eat popcorn, Oreos with peanut butter, and drink milk. They inform me that we have been friends since we were 5 where we met in our kindergarten classroom. Cassie began explaining how Bailey came up to her and I when we were playing with our building blocks on the carpet in total silence. Bailey, being the outgoing one, walked right up to us and asked if she could play with us. After that, she told me, we have been friends ever since. The girls continue to tell me stories and facts about my life, that they know so well, but I don’t have any memory of any of them. Passengers from the plane gather large sticks from the woods and the blankets that survived the crash from the plane, to build a tent for us to sleep in. No one knows how long we are going to be stuck on this island. When the tent is pitched, the pilot starts a fire in the sand because the sun is setting fast. We ration out the little sustenance we have and talk around the fire, while one man cooks the albacore he caught. I squint at the phosphorescence from the fire as I watch him. Everyone is laughing and having fun, but I can not stop thinking about my situation. Every possible question comes into my mind about why this happened to me and will I ever get better. Since today has been long and dreadful, I walk into the tent and fall asleep on the “beds” the other passengers made.

Today is our second day on the island and I still don’t remember a thing, other than what the people here have told me. Everything is so confusing, it is so overwhelming. The doctor says I am slowly getting better by what I remember from what people have told me, but I don’t see any progress. The pilot is still working on getting a signal to the closest airport from his radio, but he hasn’t had any luck yet. We have little food and water, just what was on the plane and what fish and berries we can retrieve from the island. Today I learned personal things about me. My favorite color is plum and I love pizza and popcorn. Along with this, I learned I am an athlete who plays three sports soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I am an A student and got accepted to one of the top 20 schools in the country, Northwestern. Cassie informed me that I love starburst and whenever I eat them I unwrap the candy perfectly making sure not to tear the wrapper and I tape it onto a piece of paper with the hundreds of other starburst wrappers. When I heard this I started laughing because it was so silly. After they were done with the story, we decided to take a break. So, I decided to go swimming in the ocean. As I walk towards it, the sun creates a glare on the water, but it is a clear, turquoise, tropical ocean. Its placid, cool water extends all the way to the horizon on all sides of the island. As I walk into the ocean, the seashells jab the bottom of my feet and the smooth sand seeps its way between my toes. The small waves undulate against my legs. As I look up to the sky, I wonder if I will ever remember anything. I know those two girls who are apparently my friends will try to help, but I don’t know how much of a help they will be. The sun is going down and it’s getting chilly from a zephyr from the ocean. So, I wade out of the water and grab my clothes from underneath the mangroves. Suddenly, the pilot comes running out of the tent screaming “I GOT IT! I GOT IT!” Everyone ran to him practically trampling the poor man.
“I got a signal!” he announced. “The airport in Florida is going to send an airplane tomorrow for us all!”
“Thank goodness!” we all yelled together. Everyone ran to get together anything and everything that was left of theirs. I went to bed somewhat hopeful of returning to a “normal” life again.

Morning finally came and we cleaned up what mess we could, trying to leave the peaceful island the way it was before, but that wasn’t possible with an airplane on it. The rescue airplane came around noon. However, it wasn’t a large airplane because the it wouldn’t be able to land on the island. The airplane roared overhead and a basket came down and hit the sand with a thud. Callie, Bailey and I climbed in and were slowly lifted to the airplane. Eventually everyone was lifted up to the airplane and we left the island for good.
“Madeline, you know we will help you through this no matter how long it takes. We are your best friends and nothing is going to change that.”
“Thanks,” I smiled.
“Madeline, I know a doctor’s office that specializes in these types of situations. He could really help you to get better,” explained the doctor. “From watching you over the past two days, I can see you have potential to fully recover. However, it will take the patience and help of your loved ones and friends, along with a professional.”
“Okay. Thank you for all your help,” I answered. The plane ride was only about an hour and we landed back in Florida where everyone on the plane said good-bye to me and wished me luck with my recovery. Callie, Bailey and I walk through the mobs of people in the airport to where our parents are waiting. Eventually we reach the elevator that will lead us out of the airport. Before pressing the button on the elevator, we hear our names screamed from down the walkway. Three couples come running at us, who Cassie whispers to me are our parents. My two parents embrace me in a hug and I just stand there because I don’t know who they are. Bailey clears her throat and says she has something to say so I am released from the hug.
“Mr. and Mrs. Brown, there’s something you should know about Madeline.”
“What is it sweetie,” questions the woman.
“When we crashed on the island, Madeline hit her head on the seat in front of her really hard and she was knocked out. We she awoke, she didn’t know who she was or who anyone was. Madeline has amnesia.”
“Oh my,” said the woman who was beginning to lament.
“Luckily there was a doctor on the flight and he said it can be fixed. He gave Cassie and I the number to a specialist. We have told her almost everything we know about her life. The doctor said that with the help of her close relatives and friends, we can hopefully help her recover and remember, but it is going to take a while.”
“Wow,” exclaimed the man who also had tears rolling down his cheeks.
Everyone decided this specialist is the best shot of recovering me, so we are going to see him as soon as possible. I have realized that even though I have no clue who any of these people are and they know it, they are still going to help me recover. It shows me I must have a great family and these two girls really are my true friends. For the first time, I truly believe everything is going to be okay.

Through the Thick and Thin: There, Until the End: Draft 1

We have been waiting for this day since the beginning of high school. Everything is planned out and our bags have been packed since the beginning of the week. We are all excited because it is our big trip before we part separate ways and leave for college. For the past days I could hear my plane ticket on my dresser calling my name, anxious to fly to St. Johns, just like me. My phone rang on my dresser and I rushed to pick it up.

“Hello!” I answered and I knew exactly who was on the other line.

“Hey” said Bailey and Callie in-sink.

“Today’s the day!” I excitedly replied.

“Hurry up we only have 2 hours until our flight!” yelled Callie

“Alright, alright. I’m going. I’ll call you back when I am leaving my house,” I sighed.

“Bye!” they both screamed into the phone again.

“Bye,” I laughed and hung up my phone. Everything was already packed except my toiletries. So, I put the rest of my necessities in the suitcase. Finally when I am done packing and have triple checked everything on my list, I pick up my phone and call Bailey back to tell her and Callie I am about to leave. After hanging up with them, I lug my suitcases down the stairs, along with my carry-on. I give one last hug and kiss to my family and head out the door, into the hot sticky summer morning. The air conditioning in my car is on high as usual, I pull out of the garage, down the driveway, and turn right, heading to Bailey’s house.

* * * * *

We boarded the plane, the three of us in one row. Bailey could barely stay in her seat because it was her first time on a plane and we were about to take off on the trip that would change our lives forever. The flight attendant announced for everyone to buckle up because we would be taking off in 5 minutes. Click, click, click was all we heard as everyone buckled their seat belts. Once again, the flight attendant appeared in the front of the plane and showed us how to correctly use the air bags above our heads and the emergency exits located through out the plane. I had been on a plane before and heard this speech more than enough times, but for some reason I paid closer attention this time than the previous flights.

“Thank you and have an enjoyable flight.” said the flight attendant.

“We will be reaching Florida in approximately 3 hours and the weather is looking great. Enjoy the flight” announced the pilot over the intercom. Ding, the seat belt sign flashed on and we rolled down the runway. Slowly, we picked up speed, just as we were nearing the end of the runway, the airplane’s wheels lifted off the ground and we were pushed back into our seats as the plane went higher into the sky. We went through the clouds and every so often I would have to pop my ears from the increasing air pressure. Finally we reached the designated height, just above the clouds. Bailey looked out the window and all she said was “OH MY GOD! The clouds look just like giant cotton balls!!”

“Wow they do,” agreed Callie. “This is the prettiest sky I have ever seen. The clouds look so comfortable I just want to sleep on them.”

“Good luck with that,” I laughed. The two of them stared out the window for the majority of the plane ride to Florida, while I listened to my iPOD. For the most part, the plane ride was smooth and we landed successfully in the Florida airport. After gathering all of our luggage, we headed for our connecting flight to St. John’s. When we saw the plane we were taking, our mouths dropped to the floor. It was extremely small and only carried 10 passengers.

Cautiously and nervously, we step onto the plane. My hands are shaking so much, but I try not to let it show because I want to show Callie and Bailey that everything is going to be fine. Inside the plane there is only 5 rows of 2 seats. To prevent arguing who will sit where, I voluntarily sit by myself behind them. It is not long before we take off. I close my eyes as we ascend higher into the sky. This flight is going to be about 2 hours, which isn’t that long. I have to keep reminding myself that because my gut feeling is telling me something is up. About an hour into the flight, the pilot announces that there is a storm approaching, but it is nothing to worry about. It’s not even 10 minutes after the pilot said we were hating a storm, that our plane began to shake. At first it wasn’t bad, just a few small ones here and there, but soon it became much worse. As I looked up from the floor, I could see everyone’s heads jerking back and forth about their seats. Bailey and Callie had their heads between their legs, trying to stabilize themselves. I realized I should probably do the same thing. Suddenly a lighting bolt hit one of the planes wings and the pilot yelled back to us, “Get the life jackets on from under your seats! Get the air bags from over your head! NOW!” I rushed making sure I did everything he said to do at the beginning of the flight if we ever needed to use them. My hands shaking now more than ever I buckled on the safety seat belts on the chair. I could feel the plane descending faster and faster. All I saw out of the window was the black smoke from where the wing used to be. Over the screams of the passengers I heard the pilot yell “BARE YOURSELFS!” Crash! The plane hit something hard, head-on and I smashed my head forward hitting the seat in front of me. Suddenly, everything went black and it became extremely quiet.

“Madeline, Madeline can you hear me?” someone whispered. I tried to open my eyes but I was so weak.

“I think she’s awake,” said another girl with dark hair. She sounds so far away. I don’t know where I am. Why am I laying on dirt? I slowly opened my eyes and there standing over me were people I had never seen before. Why is everyone stairing at me?

“Madeline, how are you feeling?”

“What happened?” I tried to ask, but all that came out was mumbles of jumbled words. Apparently the girl with dark hair understood what I said and she explained how the plane was struck by lightening and we crashed into this deserted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On our descend down, I hit my head on the seat in front of me and passed out cold. Luckily the pilot pulled me out of the plane and I have been out for a half an hour. There is no radio signal so far, she explained, but the pilot is trying to find one.

“Wait,” I mumbled. “Who are you and why were we in a plane?”

“We are your best friends Madeline,” explained the girl with long blonde hair who gestured to the girl with dark hair.

“What are your names?” I questioned.

The tall girl with blonde hair replied, “I’m Callie.”

“and I’m Bailey,” chimed in the short, dark haired girl. “Don’t you remember us, Madeline? We have been friends since we were 5.” The girl whose name was Callie began to tear up.

“Why doesn’t she remember?” she sobbed. A slender man with gray hair walked over to me.

“She is showing signs of amnesia. I am a doctor and I was on my way to St John’s for a patient in need of special medical help. As you can see, this girl here, needs my attention now and I’m going to need you girls to help me,” said the man. “Since we don’t know how long we are going to be stuck on this island, I am going to need you girls to tell me everything about Madeline in order to hopefully help her remember what has happened.”

Today is our second day on the island and I still don’t remember a thing, other than what the people here have told me. Everything is so confusing, it is so overwhelming. The doctor says I am slowly getting better by what I remember from what people have told me, but I don’t see any progress. The pilot is still working on getting a signal to the closest airport from his radio, but he hasn’t had any luck yet. We have little food and water, just what was on the plane and what fish and berries we can retrieve from the island. The ocean is a turquoise blue that is the clearest water. Its calm, cool water, extends all the way to the horizon on all sides of the island. As I walk into the ocean, the seashells jab the bottom of my feet and the smooth sand seeps its way between my toes. As I look up to the sky, I wonder if I will ever remember anything. I know those two girls who are apparently my friends will try to help, but I don’t know how much of a help they will be. The sun is going down and it’s getting chilly, so I wade out of the water and dress into my clothes. Suddenly, the pilot came running out of the tent we made screaming “I GOT IT! I GOT IT!” Everyone ran to him.

“I got a signal!” he announced. “The airport in Florida is going to send an airplane tomorrow for us all!”

“Thank goodness!” we all yelled together. Everyone ran to get together anything and everything that was left of theirs. I went to bed somewhat hopeful of going back so a somewhat normal life again.

Morning finally came and the airplane came around noon. However, it wasn’t a normal airplane it was a rescue one because the airplane wouldn’t be able to land on the island. The airplane roared overhead and a basket came down and hit the sand with a thud. Callie, Bailey and I climed in and slowly reached the airplane. Eventually everyone was lifted up to the airplane and we left the island for good.

“Madeline, you know we will help through this no matter how long it takes. We are your best friends and nothing is going to change that.”

“Thanks,” I smiled.

“Madeline, I know a doctor’s office that specializes in these types of situations. He could really help you to get better,” explained the doctor.

“Alright. Thank you,” I answered. The plane ride was only about an hour and we landed back in Florida where everyone on the plane said good-bye to me and wished me luck with my recovery. I now know that even people you have just met, will always help through difficult times. Also, true friends will be by your side no matter what happens.

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Essay

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, Penguin Books, 2005 Genre: Fiction

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is about a doctor, David Henry, who delivers his wife’s twins during the middle of a blizzard and faces a life changing decision. When the first twin is born, it is a healthy baby boy named Paul. However, when his daughter is born, he discovers that she has Down’s syndrome. Immediately Doctor Henry tells the nurse to take the daughter away and bring her to an institution because babies with Down’s syndrome do not live long and he wants to spare his wife the heartache of loving her then loosing her. However, Caroline Gill, the nurse, decides to raise the baby girl on her own. David Henry’s decision to give his daughter away becomes a “secret” that haunts him and changes his family’s life forever. Throughout the book, David Henry continues to struggle with his decision and whether or not to tell his wife, Norah, the truth. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter takes place in Lexington, Kentucky where Norah, Paul, and David live, as well as Pittsburgh, Kentucky where Caroline Gill and Phoebe, David and Norah’s daughter, live.

“In The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption…of characters haunted by their past. Crafted with language so lovely you have to reread the passages just to be captivated all over again…simply a beautiful book.” – says Jodi Picoult on the book jacket.

Kim Edwards, wrote this book in third person omniscient, which allows you to experience the book as an outsider. However, you know what every character is thinking and feeling, so you are able to read deeper into the story and get to know each character in great detail. As both Phoebe and Paul grow up in different environments and with different parents, you learn how they mature and what they enjoy doing. In addition, you learn and experience each character’s struggles and secrets.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was the first book I read by Kim Edwards. However, after reading it, I would love to read some other books by her because I enjoyed her writing style and how she based her plot on real-life struggles. Another book I read with a similar plot was Things Not Seen by For example, in the book Things Not Seen, the main character becomes invisible and has to learn to accept his new life and the daily challenges he endures.

“How he had woken up every morning of his life for eighteen years thinking maybe today, maybe this was the day he would put things right. But Phoebe was gone and couldn’t find her, so how could he possibly tell Norah? The secret had worked its way through their marriage, an insidious vine, twisting; she drank too much and then she began to have affairs, that sleazy realtor at the beach and then others; he’d tried not to notice, to forgive her, for he knew that in some real sense the fault was his. Photo after photo, as if he could stop time or make an image powerful enough to obscure the moment when he turned and handed his daughter to Caroline Gill.” Pg 274.

I really liked this book because it was very detailed and suspenseful. Once the plot began to evolve, I could not put it down. The theme of this book was really an eye opener for me. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter made me think about how later in life I might have to make a decision that could change my life forever. I believe everyone can relate to David Henry and his internal struggle because most people will make a decision they may live to regret. It made me reflect on how he had to deal with his decision every day. His choice also taught me that you should be honest with the people you care about because if you are not, then it can ruin your relationship. Telling the truth may not always be what others want to hear, but at least they will know you are being honest. Keeping secrets and not being honest with yourself and others, often consumes you with guilt and life-long regrets.