DUB-C Bookwomen

by Peter Hedges

reviewed by Crystal Pomeroy

A good book is filled with moments of joy that makes a person smile or sigh of relief as he or she reads it. It is also filled with sparks of pain or heartbreak that every soul can relate to. Every story has to have challenges or feelings that the characters try to conquer, but a good story takes the challenges and supports them with inspirational lessons or messages that one could use later in life. I have found only a couple of novels that share such qualities, and one has struck me as most effective. The name of the novel is somewhat of an understatement of the great story that lies inside of it. Yet, that seems to be the beauty of it; the story is defined by this modest title, but it is so much more. The name of the book is What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, a story of the coming-of-age of a young man who seems to be trapped by the overruling walls of his family, friends, and the society of Endora, a small town in Iowa. Yes, the story is told by Gilbert Grape, a twenty-four year old man who struggles with his life in ways that I could relate to. I think it is beautiful that I, a fifteen year old girl, can relate to this man-child. It is very different to see a man’s point of view of his small town life, but in some ways it is so similar. Living in the forever-growing town of Mt. Juliet, there are still hidden corners of the place where everyone knows my name. This can help a person out at times, but it could also haunt him or her, as if people may know too much about one’s life.

            The book is based upon the Grape family, a very dysfunctional bunch that has its quirks and qualities about it. The family lives in an old, beaten house that seems a little more unstable as the story progresses. It holds five people: Gilbert, Amy (the cook of the family), Ellen (the typical teenage girl), Arnie (a mentally challenged eighteen year old), and Mama, the woman who looked so beautiful a few years back, until her husband committed suicide. After that tragic incident, Mama let herself go and gained more than four hundred pounds within years. Yes, I would say that the Grape family is quite unique, but that is what keeps them tugging at the heartstrings of many readers.

          Gilbert’s ways of coping with problems was getting out of hand, until a new girl named Becky came to Endora and changed his life forever. Becky is one of my favorite characters because she is a gorgeous young girl who is inspirational with her ways of thinking. For example, she hates it when guys fall in love with her because of her looks. She wants to be more than a Barbie doll, and I admire her morals. Throughout the book, she always says, “Insides count,” implying that a person should not be defined by his/her outer beauty because a person’s inner soul is what really matters most. She is a deep, meaningful character who expresses herself openly, much different from Gilbert, who shies away from any feelings he has.

          This novel let me escape the noisy classrooms and busy places and reminded me of the possibilities that could occur in my life. It has encouraged me to never give up hope, even when things are down-right ugly or intimidating. A book like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape shows more than a lesson learned, but a heart that has been lifted from an uneasy life. It brings pain as well as peace within readers, and an author who writes books like that should definitely receive recognition for his/her phenomenal piece of work. Thank you, Peter Hedges, for a wonderful adventure that I got to become a part of!

We sponsored a bookmark contest for Read Across America.  The winner was Chance Howell.   Jacob Hooper, Tony Copley and Oscar Caldera received Honorable Mention. Here is a link to our winners and their bookmarks:

http://www.wcschools.com/wch/Library/Bookmark%20Contest.html

Here is a link to some awesome book trailers created by Wilson Central students and teachers in honor of Teen Read Week.  Student winners were Darren LaPorte and Rebekah Patton, and the teacher winner was Ms. Shannon Coble. 

http://www.wcschools.com/wch/Library/Book%20Trailer%20Contest/Book%20Trailer.html

Thanks to Mrs. Shannon Carney, English teacher at Wilson Central, for introducing us to a great tool–Worldle.net. After helping many students print out their creations today, I was inspired to try it out for myself. Below is a link to what I created:

http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/225295/Vampire_Books_with_Bite

Banned Books Week:  Celebrating the Freedom to Read is an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association and several other groups.  This week reminds Americans not to take the freedom to read for granted.  In 2007 alone, 420 books were reported to the ALA as having been challenged or banned in U.S. public libraries and schools.  You can read more about it at:  www.ala.org/bbooks. 

We are celebrating National Poetry Month by having a poetry contest which is open to all students, faculty, and staff at Wilson Central High School.  The deadline to submit poetry is Friday, May 2.  There will be prizes!!!

 A cool website is http://www.magpo.com/magnet/.  You can create magnetic poetry online! 

Here’s a fun music video Ann found online.
  http://www.cheekybeef.co.uk/library.html

someone-like-you.mp3 This is a podcast by Stephanie T.  She is reviewing Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen.

twilight1.mp3 This podcast is a book review of Stephenie Meyer’s book, Twilight recorded by WCHS Senior, Tiffany T.

Write your name
On a paper.
Write a letter
To a friend.
Take some money
From a bank.
Give some money
To a store.
Write a story,
I don’t care.
Write a poem
Or two or three.
Start a war
With a country.
End a war
With another.
Sign a contract.
Draw a picture.
Write a note.
I’m out of Ink,
Throw me away.
After all,
I’m just a pen.