The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

          “Maybe, many nights from tonight,  many years from now, when you’re as old as or far much older then me, when they ask you what you did in this awful time, you will tell them- one part humble and one part proud- I was the drummer boy at the battloe of Ow l Creek or the Tennesse River, or maybe they’ll  just name it after the church there.  I was the drummer boy at Shiloh.  Good grief, that has a beat and  sound to it fitting for Mr. Longfellow.  ‘I was the drummer boy at Shiloh.’  Who wil lever hear those words and not know you, boy, or what you thought this night, or what you’ll think tomorrow or the next day when we must get up on our legs and move.”  This is a quote from pages 53-54 of The Drummer Boy of Shiloh by Ray Bradbury.  The general is talking to 14 year old Joby, when he stated this quote and I think it is a very important one.

          I think this because it seems to be the definite point in which Joby’s sides seem to change from bad views about his stance to good, positive views about his stance in the army.  One reasonm I know this is because the general is using positive language to convince Joby that he really does belong in the regiment and that he plays an iimportant role.  He plays an important role because he has the role to lead other soldiers and other parts of the regiment.  I know that Joby did not feel like he belonged before the general started talking to him because on page 50 Joby says “ I got only a drum, two sticks to beat it, and no shield.”  This really shows and proves Joby’s doubt that he can survive through the battle.  This quote is also showing Joby’s laco of self-confidence because he is already under estimating his importance and over estimating his probability of getting shot.  Technically, Joby does not believe in himself. 

          Another reason I think this quote is very important and being the turning point is because in the beginning of the story, Joby gets scared by a peach blossom that awoke him bdcause the peach blossom fell onto Joby’s drum.  In the next paragraph, Joby turns his drum to face him so that if a nother blossom falls or something else the percussion of the drum will not awaken Joby.  After the general’s speech Joby turns his drum back facing upwards.  Even though Ray Bradbury didn’t say anything, I think it symbolizes that Joby is no longer afraid and that he is ready for whenever the battle occurs. 

          In conclusion, the general really helped boost Joby’s self confidence and helped Joby realize that he should beqat his drum proudly in the battle and that he shouldn’t doubt himself because there is no way that Joby know’s that he will deffinetly be shot at the battle.  This is why I think that the quote “Maybe, many nights from tonight,  many years from now, when you’re as old as or far much older then me, when they ask you what you did in this awful time, you will tell them- one part humble and one part proud- I was the drummer boy at the battloe of Ow l Creek or the Tennesse River, or maybe they’ll  just name it after the church there.  I was the drummer boy at Shiloh.  Good grief, that has a beat and  sound to it fitting for Mr. Longfellow.  ‘I was the drummer boy at Shiloh.’  Who wil lever hear those words and not know you, boy, or what you thought this night, or what you’ll think tomorrow or the next day when we must get up on our legs and move.”  Is the most important quote in this story.  

My Life In Black And White -- Finished July 8th

In the book "My Life In Black & White"   Ryan seemed like the perfect boyfriend.  Alexa loved him SO much.  She trusted him.   One way I know she trusted him is because when she was scared of riding his bike down a fast hill, Ryan rode with her.  He made her feel better when she was crying at the end.

Alexa trusts Theo and likes him because he went through a similar traumatic experience and doesn't care that "her butt is stapled to her face".

In the book, Alexa caught Ryan cheating on her with her best friend, Taylor. She freaked out and just wanted to leave, getting in a car with Taylor's drunk brother, Jarrod.  Jarrod tried to kiss her, causing Alexa to freak out causing Jarrod to ram into a tree at 55 MPH.  Alexa only remembers flying through the windshield and blood pouring down her face.  When she wakes up in the hospital she finds that her beautiful face is torn to shreds and she has to get a graft, from her butt.  

During her recovery, Alexa decides that she is super mad at Taylor and Ryan and will never forgive them.  Alexa feels that her life is over because her looks are gone.  She doesn't want to attend parties, school, or see her friends.  She feels that she can no longer presume her life as a normal, pretty teenager who plays field hockey with her best friend and has make out sessions after school with her boyfriend.  Alexa no longer cares about her weight or looks because she feels she can never be pretty again so she starts borrowing her older sisters (no-fashionable) clothes, eats junk food more 3X more than she used to, and basically spends her life as a hermit. 

Finally, her sister, Ruthie, connects to her and persuades her to get back to school.  Kids constantly make fun of her and she tries her best to ignore it.  One day it just got to be too much and she found herself busting into the Darkroom, meeting this kid named Theo.  Alexa lurns a lot about Theo and they hang out a lot and go boxing together after school.

One night, at a school dance, Taylor got drunk and allowed boys to take off her clothing and photograph her.  Alexa stopped them and took care of Taylor bringing her home to her father.  Alexa thought she did the right thing but Taylor got mad because her father grounded her for 4 months.  Taylor, refused to return to school because someone posted the picturess online. 

Eventually Taylor, Ryan, and Alexa work out there issues and all become friends even though Ryan and Alexa don't go out any more.

I think that Theo really helped Alexa.  I think this because he did a couple of things.  One thing he did was constantly compliment her and never be mean to her.

Another thing he did was comfort her and talk to her about his sister who died from an eating disorder.  They found a common hobby through boxing and Alexa's sister, Ruthie.  (Theo and Ruthie were both seniors)


On the back of the blurb the author wrote "If you lost the one thing that defined you, who would you be?" and right now I am going to try and answer that question.

First things first, what defines me as me anyway?  Well, I think everything defines me.  My personality and my looks.  The way I dress to what I like to eat.  My likes and dislikes, EVERYTHING.  Majorly though it's a tie between my personality and my looks.  For this example lets go with personality, an opposite of what Alexa lost.

If I lost my personality, I would have no definition.  At first I would be lost, and not know where I stand.  I would feel misplaced.  I would not be me anymore.  If I lost my personality, I think I would confused as to what I would do.  I would be different.  But I think I would work to overcome my loss, and find a new me.