In the last 4 chapters many things have
happened. In chapter 1, the author presents the characters which are: Jonas
(main character), Lily (Jonas' sister), father (Jonas' father), mother (Jonas'
mother) and Asher (Jonas' best friend). Also they talk about some special
ceremonies that happened every December. The ceremonies consisted in every
child turning a certain number according to their age and in every ceremony
something happens for example in the ceremony of 9 the kids revive their
bicycle. The ceremony of 12 was the most important of them all, they receive
their assignments. Jonas is feeling apprehensive because he will be 12 soon and
he doesn't even have a clue of what will his assignment be.
In the second chapter they continue talking of
the ceremonies. Also father and Jonas were talking of how he got his assignment
of Nurture. He also told Jonas how the elders choose the assignments for every
kid. The Elders watch every kid that is 11 very carefully to see what they like
so they will choose a better job for the kid.
In chapter 3, Jonas' father brought a baby from work
that may be released (we don't know what release means or if it is good or not)
and he found out his name even though it was against the rules. The babies name
was Gabriel and he had deep blue eyes just like Jonas. Also Jonas was
remembering what happened once he stole an apple from the recreation area and
he was playing with Asher throw and catch. Jonas view the apple change several
times so he took it home to examine it. Then, there was an announcement that
reminded all the 11s that they can't take objects from the recreation area,
this announcement was specifically for Jonas.
In chapter 4, Jonas is looking for Asher who
was doing volunteer hours. If they didn't complete their volunteer hours they
will not get their assignments. Jonas found Asher's bicycle at the House of the
Old. He went in to complete his volunteer hours and to be with Asher. Asher was
helping the old to take a bath. Jonas joined him and when he was cleaning
Larissa (an old lady that lived there) she told Jonas that today they cerebrate
the release of Roberto, he had a great life and he told his life before being
released. Also she told him when they released Edna, she wasn't very smart, she
was a birth mother and she didn't had a family unit. Jonas asked Larissa where
did they go when they are released but she didn't know.
"We celebrate a release this morning, that always throws the schedule off a little, so things get backed up."(28). This a very interesting quote that caught my attention while reading. It also left me with some questions. One of those questions is if being released is a good thing or bad thing? because they talk in the book of both ways. For example in the first chapters Jonas said to Asher that he will be released and then he had to apologies to Asher for saying that but in chapter 4 they are celebrating the release of Roberto and it seems that they are happy for that. Another question I have is where do they go when they are released? do they kill them? or they set them free? I think that when we keep on reading the book we will have more answers.
To conclude, I want to tell you that this is a great book that I look forward to finishing as soon as possible. Even though I'm still in chapter 4 I am having a lot of fun reading it in class with my teacher and classmates. A prediction I have is that Jonas' father is keeping a secret about baby Gabe because he looks very worried about the release of this baby and the rest of babies the have been released he has not worried so much about. Maybe the secret is about the relationship between Gabe and Jonas because both have deep blue eyes and that is very strange in that community. Also I predict that something will happen in the ceremony that will change his life forever (besides his new assignment). This event will make him get away from the ones he love like this family and Asher. Those are some of my predictions of what will happen next in the book.
I like your quote and I also had several questions that came to my mind about the word release and its meaning. I also like your summary of the story because you wrote it with many details and made me picture what I was reading in my head.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I also liked you blog very much!
DeleteClau, I had read your blog and I think that is really truth what you say about release. They say a lot of times that’s bad, but for old people is good because they already live everything. To answer your questions sometimes seems that they send them free like with Roberto but also can be to be killed and that why the punishment of braking a rule is to be release but we will only know when we finish reading.
ReplyDeleteBut when they are set free where do they go? I think that maybe they kill them or if it is punishment they may keep them alive but working as slaves.
DeleteClau, your summary was very detailed and specific; I enjoyed reading your conclusion paragraph because I have the same feelings of finishing the book as soon as possible. In your summary, you mentioned about Edna and her live, at this point I remembered my thoughts when I was reading the page 31 where Larissa was talking about Edna’s life and her assignment of being a birthmother, and how it was a job that the citizens of the place didn’t respected. An example is when Larissa says ꞌBut Edna. My goodness. She was a Birthmother…ꞌ she makes a birthmother sound like a woman treated like an object. Even in the book the woman is treated as an object, the same as what is happening today in other countries like, in India, Middle East…. We should be treated the same as any human being.
ReplyDeletei agree with you Isa, sometimes people treat women as objects and that isn't good. Woman need more respect. But in the book they only say that to the birth mothers but I think every one is treated the same, or at least the rest of people.
DeleteClau, I really enjoyed your blog. I find it interesting how you made your point with the whole "beign released" thing. It is actually a big deal. But, no one is not quit sure what really happens after your are released. I believe that, as the we keep reading this book the relesing thing will get more and more interesting and important.
ReplyDeleteI hope that soon we will start learning what is release and where do you go when you are released and all the other questions you or the rest of our classmates have about this.
DeleteI like how you explain every chapter very good, if anyone who never had read this book before read your blog they will understand very well every chapter.
ReplyDelete