“The idea of voluntary segregation went against every value I had been taught. What did being born black have to do with excellence?”

For 100 pages thus far, this book is a pretty short read. I am not sure how i feel about it at this point, actually.  I really enjoy the pre-civil rights setting in Harlem, I think it is such a detrimental time period that needs to be looked at, and this book paints a decent image of what it may have been like.  I also enjoy the, so far, overall tone of the book.  Myers use of humor is pretty on point and has fair timing which definitely keeps me interested.

I also think he does a fair job of characterizing himself. Naturally, I do not read him as too much of a reliable implied-author because when writing of oneself, we often amend the historic past to how we viewed it, which may be slightly different than what actually happened. That being noted, I do believe certain dialogues between him and other characters, such as his adoptive parents, did happen; maybe just not quite how it was in this book.  I also enjoyed how his younger-self enjoyed things different than the kids around him, like his books.  Explaining how he puts them into a paper bag to hide them from other kids really spoke to me.  That era is similar to the era's after it, where kids are bullied for intelligence, or for simply enjoying a good read. 

His need to be an author and writer is powerful to me, as well.  I think a young boy his age, in that time era, and being a person of color, what a feat it must have been to even have that dream.  

I am curious to see where this book goes and what it's climax will be, despite my slight less interest in it in comparison to the others we have read in class. 

So far, I give it a C+

I found Wintergirls to be both captivating and difficult to read.  Looking back to my high school days, the topic of anorexia and self-harm seems all too familiar. Having a once good friend who became anorexic over time, this book hit a lot of notes that I felt resembled the situation I had been a part of.

This book, more than anything -I feel, deals with guilt and control as main drives for its story.  The aspect of guilt is obvious as Lia must deal with the loss of her friend, especially if the possibility of Lia saving her at one time existed. But, control... that's where the reality lays. My friend from high school had the same issue. Parents divorced, everyone telling her she was unhealthy, everyone telling her what she should do, how she should study, etc.  I think being able to control her weight was a way to break that cycle of control.  It was a way for her to still be in charge of something in her life. Unfortunately, anorexia is just as much a mental illness as it is a physical (or so my understanding).  It is a helpless way of seeking some kind of resolution, some kind of way out of the bullshit that is life as a young adult.  Lia feels out of control emotionally, and Cassies death spirals that out of control.

This being said, I'll admit the ghost aspect came out of no where for me.  It is arguable whether or not it was actually Cassies ghost or Lia hallucinating due to the lack of substance to her body as well as loss of blood time and time again by the cutting.  Either way, that was a very unique element for me when reading this book. I thought that giving a physical embodiment or representation to Lia's constant struggle with emotion, Cassie, and her weight was a brilliant way to convey the internal struggle that Lia must adhere to constantly.

Additionally, it was nice to see a nice ending for the lead character (albeit a difficult one).  I think her spiraling to the brink of death and, once face to face with it, realizing she wants to live, is both great and fundamental when dealing with such issues. I believe most people when they say they don't fear death because I don't think we as humans necessarily do.  We fear what comes after, or lack there of. We fear it because we don't understand it, we don't know it. And you always fear what you don't understand.  Lia realized she wanted to live. She wanted to be better and stop the suffering.  She fought her urges, and she fought the inner problems. This is what makes the book worth the read.

I would teach this book in class. I feel the themes are strong and relevant in todays classrooms. I also feel that the "ghost" element makes it more of a fiction which may help students when reading.

I give this book a B.

Legend

“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time." -Day.

Thus far I have enjoyed this story despite certain undesired plot points.  I find Day to be an intriguing enough character, especially as a sort of anti-hero, for all intended purposes of the book. I think his character is better used as a plot driver for the over all story concerning the Republic and their goals, over development as him as a character. The "imperfection" in his eye being the main point there.  Despite, arguably, being the main character, I find I am more interested in Day than I am June.  There is obviously something to be said about her privilege in the Republic and how that affects her view of it all, but her reasoning for asking the right questions stem from an overdone, somewhat redundant story line concerning parental death, "mysterious" parental death that is.  Overdone story is what brings me to Thomas. I don't care for Thomas at this point. We get it, you like your friend. Your friend likes the bad boy; life sucks homie. 

I think there is also something to be said about June and Day's relationship and how it relies, early on, on there unknown identities towards each other.  It brings in the argument of can two people love each other despite not even knowing each other?  This seems to be the drive of their character dichotomy. 

I will say that the scene in which Day and his family are surrounded by Republic officials was particularity good.  Such a heavy seen and with Thomas killing Day's Mother?? Holy crap, can you say tipping point? I knew I didn't like Thomas. Of course, none of that would have even of happened had June not betrayed Day by turning him over. Super messed up. 

My biggest issue is with the similarities to so many other stories. "The Republic" keeps making me think that, while reading, I should be reading this in a galaxy far, far away.  Not to mention the dystopian arch is tough to do and not be redundant. Different classes, imperial officers working for a dictating government, class warfare, etc. all fairly similar to Hunger Games or even Handmaidens Tale. 

Thus far, I give this story a solid C for effort.