Reading Journal #3

Hey everyone! This week I'm going to do a reading journal on Breaking Through and a book I just finished call Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. I thought it was a really good book. I recommend for music lovers because this book is all about music and how to deal with everything from the past. The main character, Anabelle, is a model, but everything in her life went wrong after ending her friendship wih Sophie and her family trying to get by because of her sister's eating disorder. Then, she meets Owen. People usually fear him when he's at school, but he doesn't really mind. Owen's really music obssessed, but it's not the regular music people listen to like rock, hip hop, rap, and country. He listens to ancient chantings, techno, and even a water faucet dripping. Weird, right? But to him, that kind of music helped him go through some really tough times. He used music to block out the world and not worry about anything. There were some parts in the book that really got to me. One of them was Owen using music to help him through tough times. I also use music to help me if i'm having a really bad day or I'm sad. Throughout the book, Owen always mentions that the quiet is way too loud. I can relate to that. Can you? For example, I was reading this book a couple days ago and it was really really quiet. I couldn't concentrate on the story that much because it was way too quiet (for me). I'm really used to noises or music around me whenever I'm doing something. I hope I'm not the only one that feels this way. :/ There was one part of the book, when Whitney, Anabelle's sister, talks to Owen (because he delivers their pizza) and Owen finds out that Whitney also likes some of he music that Owen listens to. That really got me thinking because music is like a universal language. You can travel anywhere in the world and meet people who like the same music as you. For example, I've been to many places before and met people who also likes the Jonas Brothers. Another example of music being universal is musical notes. Beethoven wrote most of his classical masterpieces in Vienna, Austria and people all over the world can play his pieces, just as long as they know how to read music. I also finished Breaking Through today. I can kinda relate to how Panchito felt when he was about to perform at Junior Scandals. When I was in orchestra, I used to get nervous too becuse there is a ton of people watching. I was really happy for Panchito when he won student body president. His and Paul's campaign kind of reminded me of my brother's recent school election. He ran for treasurer; but unfortunately, he lost. :( I felt sorry for Panchito when he heard that he had mononucleosis. It's pretty sad because he still had to go to school and work even if his whole body is aching. He eventually got better though after praying to God that he'll get better. It's good to know that he had a really strong belief in Jesus. I was so glad to hear that Panchito got a scholarships to attend a good college. Hopefully, I could get some scholarships and get in a good college, too. :D I was also glad to hear that his parents were able to attend Panchito's graduation. It was a really big day for him and it was good to know he was able to spend it with his parents. After that, Panchito was on his way to college in Santa Maria. I really like this book because you can read what it's like of an actual person living back then with all the hardships with immigration and racial discrimination. Well, I guess that's it!
~Denise :)