Vocabulary #2 =)

frugal: not costing very much

sodden: very wet

forlorn: lonely and unhappy

dour: gloomy, sullen

riffling: to turn hastily

The Book Thief =) - Stealing

When we think about stealing, we automatically say it is completely wrong, that nobody should do that. But look at who we are. We are kids with probably the best education in the country, we live in beautiful and strong houses, we get to eat as much as we want, whenever we want and whatever we want. We know the hard work that our parents have done to get to this kind of life, and that is why we think stealing is completely unfair and wrong. But imagine if you were Leisel, a girl that barely has to eat, who loves reading, but cant buy any books, a girl with a very bad education. She looks at all these people who have a huge tree full of apples ready to eat, and then, people who are BURNING books, when she can't even afford one. And then that is unfair too. She has nothing to eat or read and others have too much, and won't share. I think a person in this situation stands in a very confusing place. Life isn't fair, and while one has too much the other has none, but when somebody takes something away it isn't fair. So then you think if stealing is right or wrong, but it depends on who you are.
A solution could be if the people with more money and food shared with the people who didn't have anything. Maybe if the government payed for a better education, then people would be capable of working on better jobs an making more money to have what they need without stealing.

Vocabulary =)

Touted: to slolicit or importune

Uproarius: making uproar; confused and noisy, as an assembly, person, etc.

Prelude: a preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance.

Spurred: anything that goads, impels or urges, as an action, speed, or achievement.

Contorted: twisted in a violent manner; distorted.

The Book Thief Prediction =)

My prediction of what will happen to Leisel is that she is going to fight for her freedom. I think she will try to get back to her mother, and fight for it. This will put her in grave danger, and those will be the other times death sees Leisel. Hans Hubermann will help her with this, but he will die. When she learns to read, she will be eager to continue, and she will read things that will help her in her adventure looking for her mom. She will also learn about "communism" and understand why she was sent to a foster home and what is going on with her country.

Before We Were Free =) #2

I think that what the Mancinis are doing to help Anita and her mom is correct. First of all, Mr. Mancini was part of the plan to get rid of El Jefe. Also, Anita and her mom are now alone, and they could get killed, if they risked everything to kill el jefe, then they MUST keep on risking to stay safe. Also the Macinis live next to the Italian embassy, so if anything happens, they could go there, and since it is Italian, the SIM can't bother them.
My opinion doesn't change, because if Don.Mundo hadn't risked his family so much, then they would be in so much trouble. If he had thought things better, then he wouldn't be who knows where, and his children and wife wouldnt be hiding.

Anita's Diary Summaries! =)

*July 4th 1961
Tuesday early morning.

Before breakfast Anita heard pebbles striking the bathroom window. When she peeked out, she saw Oscar looking up. She wondered the whole day if Oscar had seen her, so she slipped the Queen of Hearts out the window.

*July 5th 1961
Wednesday after siesta.

The day before had been the U.S independence day. The Mancinis went to Wimpy's to a barbecue. Tia Mari told Anita that Chucha and Oscar wouldn't stop talking. She thought that they might have been talking about her. That morning, Oscar had been looking up again.

*July 6th 1961
Thursday evening news.

Tia Mari brought Anita "The Arabian Nights" her favorite book. Oscar was the one who chose it. When Anita opened the book she saw the queen of hearts as a bookmark.

Before We Were Free =)

I think that what Tio Toni and Anita's dad are doing is VERY risky. I understand that they want to make their country a better place, and that they can't stand El Jefe, but their family is in danger. They should think on what would happen if their plan doesn't work, or if they get caught, the SIM could put them on jail, or even kill them. Anita's dad should think about how he is making his daughter suffer, she has to stand this life full of secrets and mysteries, while she has her own problems, like growing up and becoming a "señorita", which is a very confusing change in life.
Running away might not be the right thing, because if everyone runs away then nothing will be solved. But Anita is going through a very hard part on life, and living like this makes it even harder, she doesn't know when something wrong could happen.