NON FICTION

"The Bravest Girl in the World" in the Upfront magazine is an article about a really brave girl named Malala Yousafzai. Malala is a teenage girl that isn't afraid of the Taliban. She believes in education for girls which brought her extreme troubles with the taliban. So much that the Taliban decided to end her life by shooting her in the head. They failed, Malala was still alive. She wasn't afraid of anyone because she knew that her idea was the right one. The author chose for this article to be an excerpt from Malala's book. The author of this article wanted us to know that Malala is inspirational and that we should look up to her. He does this by using quotes like "... the Taliban had never come for a girl..." and "I wasn't scared. She also tells a story about her life at school to prove the point. She talks about how she rides the bus, and how she was afraid for her dad. She was always proud of speaking against the Taliban. She was never afraid of what they might do. She also talks deeply about what happened when she was shot. All these point make us believe that she is inspirational. A teenage girl that said something had the Taliban so afraid that they had to shoot her. On top of that she continued to speak out after she recovered. This all makes us believe she is inspirational.

I believe that the author wants us to feel and think that Malala's message should be heard.  he does this by including the huge excerpt from malala's book and by talking about her many experiences. For example they talked about how Malala's dad was talking about the Taliban negatively. he made this point because we all would think they would shoot the man but they ended up shooting Malala. Another story was from when she went to the U.N. to speak publicly. She talked about how the Taliban's mission to silence her failed. Also that she wouldn't silenced. That they are afraid of knowledge,books, and learning.

Some of the craft moves that the author uses is trying to sympathize with you. The whole article starts off with a teenage girl going to school and being normal. I fell that this was out in to sympathize with teenagers. we all go to school, and have friends. Malala is just like us. But then it changes the mood when she starts talking about what she and her family believe. Then they say "His (father) close friend, and fellow campaigner, Zahid Khan, had just been shot in the face..." Then we are lefty thinking why are they shot for speaking their minds and ideas? In addition this is a very effective tool.

I agree with the author. Malala is truly incredible. For a girl so young she has done so much. She is an inspiration for all. Her ideas are spot on. this changed my mind on how the world works. On how some countires were able to pass on new ideas to others while some refused to accept them.

Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu

The books Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu are a good series of dystopian novels. The first book is Legend then comes Prodigy. They both have the same continuing characters June and Day. In the new book June and Day get separated for different Patriot missions. They are balancing their relationship at the same time. While also trying to get revenge on the Republic for what they did to Day in the first book.  I felt that these books were extremely addicting and left you with so many unanswered questions. these two books are similar. Both of these books answer the justice social action questions which are is justice served, and who blocks justice.

The question in both books is if justice is served. It's not. I also think it will never be served. It would take so much for June and Day to receive justice. For starters the Republic would have to be destroyed. They were the ones that killed Day's mom and brother. They made Day's little brother Eden a guinea pig by infecting him with a new strain of their biological weapon the plague. Also, they were the ones that murdered June's brother. Then they would have to do something about the fact that the kids who fail their trials get sent to be experimented on and die. I think that Day has too much anger in his heart now and won't ever forgive the Republic. June and Day are on the same level. They are both the republic's prodigies.

The other question, is who blocks justice. The thing that blocks justice is the republic government. They made Day hate them. they tested on him and took him away from his family. They are the reason that Day is so angry. They are also the ones that are preventing Day from bringing them down. Also June isn't so fond of the Republic. The republic government are the one who committed the injustice first. They are trying to prevent their downfall which I think will ultimately fail because we learn that Day and June are continuing with the Patriots.

In conclusion justice isn't served. it will take a lot for it to be served. Also, the thing that blocks justice is the Republic. Maybe in the third book June and Day find closure and actually get justice from them.