The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

In the short story 'The Drummer Boy of Shiloh' by Ray Bradbury, the main character, a 13ish year old boy called Joby, goes through a lot of internal changes. He starts out scared and doubting his position in the army and ends up brave and ready to go into battle as a drummer boy.

Joby ran away to join the Union army at a young age. He probably wanted to be admired, honored, and important, which he probably wasn't at home. Many people ran away to fight in the Civil War at that age or older because they thought the war would be short and that they wouldn't be harmed plowing a path for victory. They thought that it would bring them glory and fame in their small towns, but many of them ended up dead. Now, Joby is terrified and is regretting joining as he realized that he ran away from home and safety into a scary, dangerous war. He knows that there is a very big possibility that death will claim him, especially with just a drum and two drumsticks to protect him. He knows, unlike many other soldiers, that the war is unpredictable and they aren't granted immortality because of their youth.

When the General spots Joby crying, he goes over and starts talking to him. He tells Joby that it's alright to cry, he did too. He says that Joby can make the soldiers strong and brave going into battle, or he can let them admit defeat. As Joby listens to him, he realizes that he is important. There is still the very real possibility of death, but he realizes that he is needed by the general and running away wasn't completely useless. He knows that he will be respected as the Drummer Boy of Shiloh.

When people realize what the worst that can happen in a situation is, they end up regretting doing whatever got them into that situation. But once they realize that the situation isn't hopeless, they start having hope again, like Joby did.

House Rules

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

     In 'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult, there are a few themes. One of the biggest ones is don't judge a book by it's cover. this theme shows when you see Jacob and how people treat him because he has a disease called Aspergers.

     When people see Jacob, they probably think at first that he is normal, because you can't see that someone has Aspergers unless you get to know them.this is the first time people judge him incorrectly. The second time is when they listen to him talk or start having a huge tantrum or sitting in the backseat even though he's 18. Now that they realize that he isn't normal, they call him retarded, which he isn't, or stupid, which he also isn't. Both of these accusations hurt Jacob because he isn't normal or retarded. This gets him even madder and he doesn't realize why they think that.

     Another time people judge him is when he's in court and they think that he's acting guilty. They think that because he won't look them in the eye, which is a common trait of Aspergers, he is guilty and murdered Jess Ogilvy, his tutor. They don't realize that Jess was the only person outside his family who really cares for him and he would never hurt her. He tried to set up a crime scene pointing the evidence away from his brother, but it pointed towards him instead.

     This relates to the real world because a lot of people judge strangers without getting to know them, and that will end up hurting both the accused and the accuser. When people act strangely, there is usually a good reason for that and no one cares to learn it. This was the biggest theme in 'House Rules'.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

     Over the summer, I read 'The Memory Keepers Daughter' by Kim Edwards. It is about a girl with Down Syndrome who was given away by her father without the mother knowing and how it affected all their lives. One character that changed a lot throughout the course of the story was Caroline, the lady who took Phoebe, the daughter. She went from being the father's assistant in the doctors office to a mother who would do anything for her adopted daughter.

     In the beginning, when the father tells Caroline to give his daughter to and adoption agency that was recommended to him, she obeys. When she drives to the agency, she realizes that it is not a good place, but doesn't want to be stuck with an hours old baby. But she realizes she has no choice and takes her in. I don't think that the Caroline that had just been an assistant in his office would have done that if she hadn't seen him glance at the baby that deserved a chance and didn't get one. She probably thought that the mother wouldn't have wanted her baby to be put in a foster home, because Caroline wouldn't have wanted that either. she starts to fall in love with the baby probably at that moment.

     When Caroline starts to base her life around Phoebe, you can tell that she really loves her. I don't think that she would've married Al if Phoebe didn't agree. She probably got a husband partly so that Phoebe could have a dad. Also, she found a whole new place to live probably so that Phoebe wouldn't have to deal with her father rejecting her at birth. I know that life would have been a lot harder for everyone involved, especially Phoebe's mother, if they saw Phoebe walking with Caroline one day and Caroline realized that the mom didn't know who Phoebe was and Caroline told her.

     these are some reasons that show how Caroline has changed and how much she cares for Phoebe.