25 facts

1. My oldest sister is my best friend.
2. I have three dogs
3. I have never been out of the country
4. I want to live in Tennessee when i'm older.
5. My favorite movie is A Beautiful Mind
6. I've lived in forest hill since 1st grade
7. I went to public school all the way up until 9th grade
8. I talk to God every night
9. I made John Carroll Varsity Cheerleading as a freshman
10. My favorite treat is strawberries & chocolate
11. I've been a cheerleader since I was three
12. I've been playing softball ever since I can remember
13. My grandparents are in their mid 50s and have been together since my grandma was 14.
14. I watch movies with my mom all the time
15. My sister works at red robin and we go to see her a lot
16. Kelly McCloskey and Gianna Langrehr are my best friends
18. I'm obsessed with country music
19. I'm a neat freak
20. I'm extremely close with my family
21. I want to go to college at Towson University                    
22. I love fishing and crabbing
23. I'm addicted to my phone
24. My parents are very supportive
25. I drink coffee every morning

Campbell Alexander

Campbell Alexander

Lawyer for Anna's trial 


mid 30s


Moody, greedy, doesn't like kids, self-absorbed


Lying about service dog, tells different stories


Closest to Anna and Julia


"It is exactly the kind of case i avoid like the black plague-one which requires far too much effort and client baby-sitting." 


Interesting: Ended up working with his ex girlfriend, Julia, and has a service dog. 

A simile is a figure of speech comparing two things using like or as. A metaphor is a figure of speech comparing two things without using like or as.


Simile: "Instigating a lawsuit because your parents won't let you get birth control pills or go to an abortion clinic is like using a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito." (21) 


"It smells like the sweaty tongue of a hockey skate." (14) 


"Actually, that's not quite true-right now she doesn't have it, but it's hibernating under her skin like a bear, until she decides to roar again." (10) 


"Anger glows around this kid like electricity." (21)


"It sits on the table like a sleeping infant as she calls us for supper." (38)


"It comes out in a think clump, drifts down to the carpet like a small blizzard." (67)



Metaphor: "it's not that i'm a particularly charitable man, but rather that legally, this case is a lock:" (23)


"The room is a sea of dirty clothes and magazines and leftover Chinese take-out cartons."


"I image a great battle going on inside her." (64)


"Is this coldhearted man the one who will lead us through this war, our general, our white knight? (60) 


"My dad also says that when flames are licking at your heels you've got to break a wall or two if you want to escape." (13)

Somebody's Keeper

I would consider myself a "keeper" for my siblings. I have two older sisters, and a younger brother. We are all extremely close and if I was in Anna's situation, I would defiantly be willing to give up parts of my body or blood for my family. My sisters are always there for me, and I know that they would do the same. I think that because I have a good relationship with my siblings, I wouldn't think twice about my decision if any of them were sick. I would also be willing to be a "keeper" for either one of my parents. We also have a good relationship and I would want them to be healthy. My family and I are all very close and I would do anything for them!

Intro to My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult was born May 19, 1966. She wrote her first story at age five, studied writing at Princeton University, and graduated in 1987. Immediately after graduating college, she landed a variety of jobs, but mastered a degree  in education from Harvard University. She is married and has three children. Jodi Picoult lives in New Hampshire with her family. Most of her novels are centered around family, and relationships. My Sister's Keeper, is a story about a young girl named Anna who has a sister named Kate who is diagnosed with cancer. All of Anna's life she has been Kate's backup for surgeries, transfusions and shots. Anna has to decide whether or not she wants full say of what she does with her body, even if her sister is at risk of death. 

Chris McCandless Article

Alena Stoots

Mrs. Zurkowski

Greens

4/11/11

Chris McCandless: Man in search of his own soul.

Alena N. Stoots

            “He was smart. He’d figured out how to paddle a canoe down to Mexico, how to hop freight trains, how to score a bed at inner-city missions. He figured all of that out on his own, and I felt sure he’d figure out Alaska too.” (Krakauer, 46). Giving every last dime of money you have to a charity would be a life decision that most people wouldn’t think of risking! For Christopher McCandless, giving to charity was one of the easiest things he’s ever done. In the story, “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer, a young man named Chris from Annandale, Virginia, embarks on a life journey after graduating college at 22 years old. Traveling far and wide to the beautiful landscape of Alaska, Chris risked it all. His mother, Billie, and his father, Walt McCandless, weren’t aware of his journey or ware abouts, until they received a letter from him a couple months after he left. Chris never told his parent where he was going, so neither of them could stop him from following his dreams. Christopher McCandless’s determined and positive attitude clearly inspires me and so many more people who were touched by his story.

            Chris’s courage is 100% inspiring; he had a dream, a life goal, and he went out to achieve it. Most people never reach their dreams, because they don’t set their mind to it, but that’s exactly what McCandless did. He was determined to live on his own and travel through the wild with the least amount of supplies. He was brave until the very end, and never gave up. Chris’s father Walt, "Chris was fearless even when he was little...he didn't think the odds applied to him. We were always trying to pull him back from the edge." (109)

            Chris knew what he wanted. Even though he was young, he was determined. He could have completed his trip in a breeze with all the money he had, but instead, he knew someone could benefit more out of it then he could. Chris McCandless left everything, his home, his family, his education, and his big shot at life. Chris had a great future in school, and had his next step at life ready for him. Giving up everything to go out into the nature and live a free life, was a huge decision. The fact that Chris gave all of his money to charity shows that he is truly a caring and thoughtful person. “He would be generous and caring to a fault, but he had a darker side as well, characterized by monomania, impatience, and unwavering self-absorption, quantities that seemed to intensify through his college years,” (120). Chris’s personality varied often, but he always stuck to his own opinions, never let anyone boss him around, and he did what he wanted. 

            “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own,” (6). Chris McCandless knew he could handle this adventure. He didn’t want anyone to tell him he couldn’t, so he didn’t tell anyone where he was going. When Chris was growing up, he didn’t have a great amount of friends, but people always loved him. He was really good at first impressions, so when people met him on the road they immediately liked him and didn’t think he should continue on his journey. Chris’s sister, Carine, says “Even when we were little, he was very to himself. He wasn’t antisocial, he always had friends, and everybody liked him-but he could go off and entertain himself for hours. He didn’t seem to need toys or friends. He could be alone without being lonely” (107).This quote states that Chris didn’t need other people around him to make him happy; he could be alone in the wild and not be lonely. The main reason why McCandless left home to travel to Alaska was because he wanted to be free. Chris and his parents never really had a good relationship after he found out that his father, Walt, was married to another woman before Chris’s mom, and had a child with her. Some people say this may be one of the reasons why Chris left home, but only he knows the real reason why he left.

            Many people believe that Chris was an amateur and a fool, because they never thought to realize that Chris did what they could never do. Chris’s journey wasn’t all about the nature; it was about him finding himself and who he was. He was considered a hero all along to his family and friends and the majority of people who knew him and his story. The other half of the audience, doesn’t agree. Chris didn’t have any money, food, or shelter. “Entering the wilderness purposefully ill-prepared, and surviving a near-death experience does not make you a better human, it makes you damn lucky.” (71) Clearly, people were harsh about the way they felt towards Chris, especially the Alaskans. However, I strongly believe that Chris was a brave man and a wonderful person.

            As you can see I support Chris’s journey and search for him-self, even though half of the people who know his story don’t. Chris achieved his dreams, gave all of his money to charity, and left everything he had. To me, Chris is an absolute hero. He was brave and courageous until the moment he died. Shortly after Chris spent his 100^th day in the wild, he ate a moldy potato seed. Because the seed had mold on it, it poisoned Chris’s body didn’t have enough nutrition in it to tolerate the potato root. A couple months after Chris died his parents came up to the bus to see where he had been living before he passed. Everyone missed him deeply and supported his trip. I am truly inspired by Chris McCandless’s story and more people should learn to respect him and appreciate how courageous he really was. 

Chapter 7, page 62	“During those four weeks in Carthage, McCandless worked hard, doing dirty, tedious jobs that nobody else wanted to tackle: exterminating vermin, painting, scything weeds.”	Chris didn’t mind doing jobs that other people would never want to do, he has a positive attitude towards the work.
Chapter 7, page 64	Both father[Walt] and son[Chris] were stubborn and high-strung.	Chris and his father were alike in some ways
Chapter 8, page 71	“Why would anyone intending to ‘live off the land for a few months’ forget Boy Scout rule number: Be Prepared? Why would any son cause his parents and family such permanent and perplexing pain?”
Chapter 9, page 96	"...it sounds like this McCandless kid was like that: We like companionship, but we can't stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again." (Ken Sleight)	Chris wanted company every now and then, but at the same time he would just as much rather be on his own.
Chapter 10, page 102	"Chris almost always had short hair and was clean shaven." (Sam McCandless)	Chris was better taken care of when he was back home with his family rather than when he was out traveling.
Chapter 11, page 107	"Even when we were little, he was very to himself. He wasn't antisocial -- he always had friends, and everybody liked him -- but he could go off and entertain himself for hours. He didn't seem to need toys or friends. He could be alone without being lonely."-Carine McCandless	The quote is self-explanatory.
Chapter 11, page 109	"Chris was fearless even when he was little...he didn't think the odds applied to him. We were always trying to pull him back from the edge." (Walt McCandless)	Even from an early age, Chris wasn’t afraid to take risks.
Chapter 12, 118-119 Chapter 12, page 120 Chapter 13, 128 Chapter 13, 131   Chapter 16, page 159   Chapter 17, page	"If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn't argue. He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted."-Walt "He would be generous and caring to a fault, but he had a darker side as well, characterized by monomania, impatience, and unwavering self-absorption, qualities that seemed to intensify through his college years." "Chris didn't think twice about risking his own life, but he never would have put Buckley in any kind of danger."-Carine “His name was printed wrong. The label said CHRISTOPHER R. MCCANDLESS. His middle initial is really J. It ticked me off that they didn't get it right. I was mad. Then I thought, 'Chris wouldn't care. He'd think it was funny.” "He was a dandy kid. Real courteous, and he didn't cuss or use a lot of that there slang. You could tell he came from a nice family."-Gaylord Stuckey "McCandless went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large but rather, to explore the inner country of his own soul."	Chris didn’t care about what other people thought, he’d stick with his own opinion. Chris’ personality changed often, he could be really sweet one moment, and change to his “darker side” Chris never wanted any harm towards someone else, and respected life a great deal. Chris didn’t care about little things like name mistakes, he focused more on the big picture. Chris gave good first impressions to people, they liked him. Chris didn’t travel into the wilderness for the beauty of it, he went to try to find & discover himself.

Characterization of Chris McCandless

Chapter and page #	Description/quote from novel	What impression you get about Chris with this character trait or description?
Chapter 1, page 4	“Five feet seven or eight with a wiry build, he claimed to be 24 years old and said he was from South Dakota.  He explained that he wanted a ride as far as the edge of Denali National Park, where he intended to walk deep into the bush and ‘live off the land for a few month.’”	Chris is not physically fit for walking into such a dangerous environment.  He seems a little crazy.
Chapter 1, page 6	“I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own.” –Chris McCandless	Chris thinks he is prepared to handle anything and doesn’t want help
Chapter 2, page 12	A peek through a window revealed a Remington rifle, a plastic box of shells, eight or nine paperback books, some torn jeans, cooking utensils, and an expensive backpack.	Chris was interested in a lot of other things beside hiking.
Chapter 3	“There was something arresting about the youngsters eyes. Dark and emotive, they suggested a trace of exotic blood in his heritage greek maybe or Chipew- and conveyed a vulnerability that made Westerburg want to take thr kid under his wing”	This makes me picture Chris not as dirty and scruffy that you would think he would be by now.
Chapter 3, page 21	"I'm going to have to be real careful not to accept any gifts from them[his parents] in the future because they will think they have bought my respect."- Chris McCandless	Chris wants people to earn his respect, not buy it.
Chapter 4, page 28	“He could simply abandon the Datsun and continue his journey on foot. And that’s what he decided to do. Instead of feeling distraught over the events, McCandless felt exhilarated.”	This shows that Chris focuses more on the positive and is very adaptable to his situation.
Chapter 5, page 46 Chapter 5, page 38 Chapter 6, page 52 Chapter 6, page 55	“He was smart. He’d figured out how to paddle a canoe down to Mexico, how to hop freight trains, how to score a bed at inner-city missions. He figured all of that out on his own, and I felt sure he’d figure out Alaska too.” –Jan Burres. When his camera was ruined and McCandless stopped taking photographs, he also stopped keeping a journal, a practice he didn’t resume until he went to Alaska the next year.”  “Not infrequently during their visits, Franz recalls, McCandless’s face would darken with anger and he’d fulminate about his parents or politicians or the endemic idiocy of mainstream American life.” McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well--relieved that he had again evaded the impeding threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy emotional baggage that comes with it.	Chris knew how to deal with the negatives while living in the wilderness but still found out a lot on his own.  I don’t understand why he does this because even though his camera broke he could still write his feelings and such on paper. Chris wasn’t close with his family except Carine because of what happened in the past. Chris loved being around people but he didn’t want to become attached with a relationship because in his eyes they cause too many problems.