Graditude

Authors Note: I really think that Hatchet’s author Gary Paulsen does a good job of teaching appreciation, selflessness and consequences. He does so through the character Brian and his problems. I think that learning appreciation and selflessness are very important to know about.

Many people wouldn't ever think that they would ever be face to face with death. Brian thought the same thing, but when that pilot had a heart attack and the plane went down all sense of security was lost. Hatchet's author, Gary Paulsen, teaches lessons on not taking things for granted.

One message that the author Gary Paulsen seemed to be trying to get across throughout the book was appreciation. He really focused on how the main character, Brian, should appreciate what he has because one day it may be gone. Many people would probably think that won’t happen to me it’s too slim of a chance, but that’s exactly what Brian thought and he ended up stranded in the wilderness with only a hatchet and the clothes on his back. Not only was the author trying to send a message about appreciation he was also trying to talk about consequences.

Bad actions and bad thoughts come with consequences. Some consequences are larger than others. The author really tries to push this message throughout this book. Like when Brian was rude and disrespected his parents he ended up missing them and wanting his old life back when he got stranded. Younger children know that when you misbehave there are consequences, but why is it that once you get older you think that you don’t have to do the right thing anymore? Brian, the main character, learns a lesson on consequences and learns to appreciate the good things he has in life. I remember when I didn’t want my sister’s help with something but once she didn’t help I realized that I really needed her, which is like the lesson Brian learns in the book.

While Brian learned about consequences and appreciation, he also learned how to be less selfish. He came into the book thinking only about how much he hated his life and how moving between homes was a huge inconvenience for him; but while he was stranded in the Canadian wilderness he realized that he had to think about surviving verses how hard life is for him.

Hatchet’s author, Gary Paulsen’s theme for the book was life lessons. Next time you read a book see if you can pick out the theme the author tried to push. Everyone really needs to be careful and to try not to take things for granted because someday, you may regret it.

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Authors Note: Middle school is full of different groups and clubs. This essay addresses all the different kinds of people and groups you’ll see in middle school. Also notice how that connects to the book Clarie by Lisi Harrison.

Imagine going back to see your friends completely changed. It’s like you aren’t even the same person anymore. If this has ever happened to you, you and Claire from the clique series, by Lisi Harrison have a lot in common. In the book Claire, the main character, Claire, learns a valuable lesson on lying, cheating and pretending to be someone your not. Middle school students can relate to the book, because it deals with cliques, outcasts and people just trying to find their place in middle school.

Most people are in a clique one way or another. Take this for example, if you love sports you are typically considered a jock, girls who are into fashion are preps or popular people and then there are the geeks or nerds, they are the people who get straight A’s or are in advanced classes and have dreams of Harvard or Yale.There are many more groups but those are just the basic most common groups, and I promise you that every school has those cliques. You may not realize it, but the next time you look in the cafeteria, or you are walking through the halls look and you will see all the different cliques.

Although there are many cliques, there are still the few people who are considered the outcasts. Outcasts are people who don’t fit in with any cliques or groups. Those kinds of people never really have any friends or hobbies. They just do their own thing and they don’t seem to mind doing things alone. Usually there aren’t very many outcasts in a school, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.
   
There is one type of person left. That type is the people who are just trying to find a place to fit in and have friends. They are usually new kids or people who’ve changed interests. Although the majority are new kids, they can also be very shy kids who are afraid to talk to anyone. Many times these people try a lot of different clubs and groups until they find one that they feel comfortable in. Sometimes this does take some time but they usually find a group of good friends and interests and move on to the next step, a clique.
   
Middle school consists of three main types of people and social groups, the cliques, outcasts and finally the kids just trying to find where to go, just like in the book Claire by Lisi Harrison. Next time you are walking through the hallways look around and see all the different types of groups there are, I guarantee you will see people you never even looked twice at. Middle school is made up of many different people and you’ll be surprised at what you see when you look hard enough.