Illustrator - SOPHIA CHRONOPOULOS

Illustrator - SOPHIA CHRONOPOULOS

Researcher - Little Shirley Beans

The record, "Little Shirley Beans", is symbolic of childhood and the sense of innocence of which Holden is afraid to let go. Fittingly, the song is "about a little kid that wouldn't go out of the house because two of her front teeth were out and she was ashamed to". Like Holden, the little girl in the song is afraid of the changes that accompany growing older, in her case, the loss of her baby teeth. Holden pays five dollars for the record, which is a lot of money. Symbolically, he would pay dearly to be able to avoid the reality of growing up (Chapter 16).

When the record breaks "into about fifty pieces", it represents the dissolution of Holden's dream of being able to avoid entering the world of adulthood. Holden had tried to protect his dream of childhood and innocence, keeping it carefully "in a big envelope and all", but despite his best efforts, the record still shatters. This indicates that, try as he might, Holden is going to be forced to let go of the past and face the future, leaving the security of childhood behind (Chapter 20).

found from: http://www.enotes.com/catcher-in-the-rye/q-and-a/what-significance-quot-little-shirley-beans-quot-41123

I researched this because it was the music Holden was discussing. With the details on top about how Holden wants to keep his childhood forever it help explains why he acts certain ways.

The question directed towards you guys is, what part of your childhood do you think was the hardest to let go?

Literary Luminary

"Look, I said. Here's my idea. How would you like to get the hell out of here? Here's my idea. I know this guy down in Greenwich Village that we can borrow his car for a couple of weeks. He used to go to the same school I did and he still owes me ten bucks. What we could do is, tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont, and all around there see. It's beautiful as hell up there. It really is. I was getting excited as hell the more I thought of it, and I sort of reached over and took old Sally's goddam hand. What a goddam fool I was." pg. 132

I chose this passage because Holden is just extremely excited. I didn't fully understand why he was so excited, but he was and I think that Sally was kind of freaking out because he is never like this. He also doesn't really like Sally ad I was surprised that he was even mentioning something like this to Sally.

Literary Luminary

"You should see her. You never saw a little kid so pretty and smart in your whole life. She's really smart. I mean she's had all A's ever since she started school. As a matter of fact, I'm the only dumb one in the family. My brother D.B.'s a writer and all, and my brother Allie, the one that died, that I told you about, was a wizard." pg. 67

The only thing that Holden really loves, and will do anything for is his family. He loves them so much. When he talks about Phoebe, he gets so happy and excited and the same thing with Allie and D.B. Even though Allie has passed, and D.B. doesn't live with them anymore, he still talks about them so much. I truly think that he would do anything for Phoebe because he loves her so much.

Literary Luminary

"...I can even see how it might be quite a lot of fun, in a crumby way, and if you were both sort of drunk and all, to get a girl and squirt water or something all over each other's face. The thing is, I don't like the idea. It stinks, if you analyze it. I think if you don't really like a girl, you shouldn't horse around with her at all, and if you do like her, then you're supposed to like her face and if you like her face, you ought to be careful about doing crumby stuff to it, like squirting water all over it. It's really too bad that so much crumby stuff is a lot of fun sometimes." pg. 62

I chose this passage because again, this is another side to Holden. To me, the way that he acts I think that he would be all for doing things with girls and not caring about their feelings. I think that he would be the main person to do "crumby" things with girls because of the attitude that he has about everything.

Literary Luminary

"When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor, I was sort of crying. I don't know why. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, 'Sleep tight, ya morons!' I'll bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. Then I got the hell out. Some stupid guy had thrown peanut shells all over the stairs, and I damn near broke my crazy neck." pg. 52

I chose this passage because Holden said he was sort of crying. When reading this part, I had to read it again because I was shocked that Holden actually said he was sort of crying. Holden is a person that never shows any emotion besides anger, and here he is showing signs of remorse, but then obviously goes back to his old self of hating everything.

Literary Luminary

"This next part I don't remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddamn throat open. Only, I missed. I didn't connect. All I did was sort of get him on the side of the head or something. It probably would've hurt him a lot, but I did it with my right hand, and I can't make a good fist with that hand. On account of that injury I told you about." pg. 43

I think that this is an important passage because this is when he is talking to Stradlater about Jane. To me, he sounds very jealous that Stradlater for her and he didn't. I think that this is another important quality about Holden. I think that there is so much anger inside of him and he just doesn't know how to express it, and he saw this as an open opportunity and went for it.

Closing of the Novel- Effective Language/Word Watcher

Chapter 26

• In Chapter 26, although he refuses to talk any more about his story, Holden fills in a few key missing details-- he went home; he was sent to a rest home to recover from the breakdown; he’s in psychotherapy; and he’ll go to a new school in the fall. Holden’s defensive tone continues throughout the chapter, which raises the question of whether the novel’s ending will be tragic or not. Holden says he plans to apply himself in school next year and seems contemplative, but he is unable to express his feelings and says that he wishes he hadn’t told so many people his personal story.

Holden’s final statement, “Don’t tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody” clearly suggests that he is still overwhelmed by the same problems he has dealt with throughout the entire novel. His tone suggests that Holden seems scared and alone, and he continues to dread on the troubles of communication. However, towards his final words, Holden states “missing everybody”— as he obviously has begun to value and honor, rather than dismiss and ignore, the people surrounding him.

While finding out that Holden attends psychotherapy sessions, I was eager to know the full definition behind the term...

• Psychoanalysis (Pg. 213) - noun pl. psy·cho·a·nal·y·ses
a. The method of psychological therapy originated by Sigmund Freud in which free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of resistance and transference are used to explore repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts, in order to free psychic energy for mature love and work.
b. The theory of personality developed by Freud that focuses on repression and unconscious forces and includes the concepts of infantile sexuality, resistance, transference, and division of the psyche into the id, ego, and superego.

Jenna S.

Word Watcher/Effective Language - Moving Towards the Ending

Chapter 24

• While reading Chapter 24, at first, Mr. Antolini seems to offer Holden his only chance of making a sympathetic connection with an adult. Holden respects his teacher’s intelligence and seems truly interested in Mr. Antolini’s lecture about finding “what size mind you have.” It is significant that Holden consistently refers to his former teacher as “Mr. Antolini,” whereas he refers to Mr. Spencer as “old Spencer” or “Spencer.” Through my eyes, the fact that Mr. Antolini is trying to prevent Holden from “a fall” obviously matches up with Holden’s image of the “catcher in the rye.” Yet, Mr. Antolini is a very different kind of catcher from the one Holden envisioned, and the type of fall he describes is different from the one Holden truly imagines.

“I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of terrible, terrible fall....The whole arrangement’s designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn’t supply them with....So they gave up looking.”


Holden has just left his parents’ apartment, following his conversation with Phoebe, and he is reaching a point of critical instability, as he soon bursts into tears. He goes to Mr. Antolini’s because he feels he can trust and confide in him; it seems to be his final chance to save himself. However, Holden’s interaction with Mr. Antolini is the event that begins his full-blown breakdown. It completely unsettles him, and leaves him feeling confused and unsure. Through effective choice of tone, Holden envisions himself as the protector rather than the one to be protected; he is the one who really needs to be caught. Mr. Antolini tone allows me, as the reader, to guess that Holden feels disconnected from his environment. Holden has isolated himself in an attempt to be his own savior.

Jenna S.

Word Watcher/Effective Language

Chapters 22-23

• While reading this week, I felt as though one of the most important passages in the novel comes when Holden tells Phoebe he would like to be the catcher in the rye, saving little children from falling off the cliff. This passage emphasizes the novel’s metaphoric title; as the rye field is a symbol of childhood, because the rye is so high that the children cannot see over it- just as children are unable to see beyond the boundaries/borders of their own imaginative childhood. Clearly, Holden wants to protect childhood innocence from the fall into issues that usually accompany adulthood. Trapped between states, with his innocence in jeopardy, Holden wants to be a “catcher in the rye,” or a savior of the innocence missing in the world surrounding him.

"...I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all." (Pg. 173)

This passage occurs after Holden has went quietly back into his apartment and is speaking with Phoebe. They talk, argue, and then reconcile, and Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to do with his life in the future. Holden responds with this image, which reveals his fantasy of idealistic childhood. His response also re-visits Holden's most known character quality: he prefers to retreat into his own imaginary view of the world rather than deal with the complexities of the world around him. Through the use of metaphoric effective language, Holden's catcher in the rye fantasy reflects his innocence, his belief in the benefits of uncorrupted youth, and his extreme disconnection from reality.


Jenna S.

Continuing Observations - Word Watcher/Effective Language

Throughout Chapters 10-16...

• I have noticed that Holden’s self-delusion and unreliability as a narrator continue to grow. When he enters the Lavender Room, he depicts himself as a wise,beyond-his-years, playboy. However, but because the waiter refuses to serve him alcohol, and because the girls laugh at his advances, we doubt that Holden’s self-description is accurate. Holden rationalizes the girls’ dismissal of him by saying that they are "silly tourist hicks." Holden likes to imagine that he is a mature individual who perceptively sees all the hidden details around him, but in actuality he’s just a kid. Once again, Holden’s inability to understand the world around him--or, perhaps, his unwillingness to acknowledge the world around him, reveals his profound isolation with his surroundings.

"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move.... Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you."

This excerpt, in which Holden explains why he loves the Museum of Natural History, is located in Chapter 16. As he's killing time before his date with Sally, Holden decides to walk from Central Park to the Museum of Natural History. Along the way, he remembers in detail his school trips to the museum. Holden has already demonstrated throughout the novel that he fears and does not know how to deal with conflict, confusion, and change. through this effective use of language, the museum somehow presents him with a vision of life he can understand; as the museum is frozen, silent, and always the same.

Moreover, it is significant that in the final sentence Holden uses the second-person pronoun “you” instead of the first-person “me.” It seems to be an attempt to distance himself from the continuous process of change. However, the impossibility of such a fantasy is the tragedy of Holden’s situation; because rather than face the challenges around him, he retreats to a fantasy world of his own. When he actually gets to the museum, he decides not to go in; because this would disturb his imaginative construction by making it encounter the real world. Clearly through his tone, word-choice, and metaphoric language, Holden wants life to remain frozen like the display cases in the museum.


Jenna S.

Observations - Word Watcher/Effective Language

Chapters 7-10

• As soon as Holden gets off the train in New York in Chapter 9, he wants to call someone and seems eager to want to call Jane, but he is apparently too nervous (he suspiciously claims not to “feel like it.”) This seems particularly strange given Holden’s cynicism and evident dislike for most people; in Chapter 8, for instance, he describes enjoying the solitude of late-night train rides. His desire for human contact becomes even more intense as the novel progresses; he begins to feel sexually engaged and tries to make a date with a stranger whose number he was given at a party, then goes to a nightclub to flirt with older women. Holden’s constant lying, in this section and throughout the entire novel, is a mark of immaturity and imbalance. As soon as he meets Mrs. Morrow on the train, Holden begins telling ridiculous lies, claiming to be named Rudolph Schmidt and to be going to New York for a brain tumor operation. He feels guilty for lying, but the only way he can stop is to stop talking altogether. There is no particular reason for the lies he tells Mrs. Morrow; his intentions toward her may be kind, or cruel, or simply careless.

Through my eyes, the way in which Holden acts during this point in the novel seems as an effective use of ironic character traits/dialogues; as what does seem clear is that Holden lies to deflect attention from himself and what he is doing. However, Holden still claims to be one who speaks of intimidating words and seems to think he is better than everyone else. Although he may keep his delicate/average teen personality shelled inside of him, Holden continues to act as one who is tough and more overpowering then all other - though, the truth may be told, that Holden really can't portray himself as an overpowering individual in reality, as he states phrases in which clearly want attention to be deflected away from him.


While reading, I came across this unknown vocabulary word...

• Matinee (Pg. 58) - mat·i·née [mat-n-ey] -noun- an entertainment, esp. a dramatic or musical performance, held in the daytime, usually in the afternoon.
Ex) These screenings are also open to everyone else at normal weekday matinee ticket prices.


Jenna S.

Effective Language

Chapters 5-6

• Throughout Chapter 5, Holden continues to complain about Ackley; however, the sympathy he feels for his next-door neighbor is evident when he convinces Mal Brossard to let Ackley join them at the movies. It is clear that Holden’s actions are inconsistent with his opinions, but instead of making him seem like a hypocrite, this makes him more likable: for example, he is kind to Ackley without commenting on it, and he shows himself capable of going to the movies with his friends like a normal teenager.

• In the following chapter, Holden says that he slept in the garage on the night of Allie’s death and broke all the windows with his bare hands, “just for the hell of it.” He tried to break the car windows as well, but could not because his hand was already fractured from smashing the garage windows. Throughout the novel, it becomes increasingly clear that Allie’s death was one of the most traumatic experiences of Holden’s life and may play a major role in his current "mental" breakdown.

I have observed that the structure of Chapter 6 is based off of an Angered side of Holden; as every other sentence, uses the word "Hell" in it-- I don't believe this is full anger caused, however, but possibly one of the strategies Holden uses to come off as one with a strong armor on the outside. Sentences such as "Cold as hell," Sore as hell," How the hell...," Who the hell...," "My chest hurt like hell..." were used frequently within the structure of pages 40-45.

Secondly, when Holden states “just for the hell of it,” through effective use of tone, it is clear that Holden seems to feel increasing pressure as he moves toward leaving school; and Salinger manipulates the details of Holden’s physical environment to match his protagonist’s feelings. Therefore, through Holden's tone, I can state that the cynicism in which Holden uses to avoid expressing his feelings may result from the effects of Allie’s death. Most importantly, though, Holden's voice clearly tries to hide the soft/delicate interior of himself which is constantly overshadowed by his hard-cover exterior. This quotation attempts to hide the sympathetic, hurt character of Holden with one whose "rough" and "tough."

While reading this week, I came across an unfamiliar word...

• Unscrupulous (Pg. 40) - adj. - Devoid of scruples; oblivious to or contemptuous of what is right or honorable.
Ex) Thieves are always unscrupulous characters.


Jenna S.

Group Discussion

Discuss where you are at and prevailing themes-

How do these themes apply to when the novel was written? (researcher)

How is it still relevant now? Give examples/ connections

Themes:

Alienation

Loneliness- Depression

Hardships of being a teenager

Growing up

Coming of age

Retaliation

Lies

Rebellion (school)

Coming of age:

its overwhelming him, and he's becoming obsessed with wanting to grow up so quickly

alway assumes that at club, they will give him alcohol.

The themes apply to when the novel was written because 1951 was a time period where things were changing. Teenagers were pushing boundaries and in this story especially, the characters are being faced with new experiences that they wouldn't have faced at any other point in their lives. For example, smoking, alcohol, going out to clubs, and dealing with school all are important new experiences that Holden deals with.

Literary Luminary

"I didn't say it nasty, though. I felt sort of sorry for him, in a way. I mean it isn't too nice naturally, if somebody tells you you don't brush your teeth." pg. 24

I chose this because it shows a different side to Holden. So far we have heard about everything that makes him depressed and things that he hates, but here he shows signs of remorse, and I never thought he would show this side. Even though it isn't a big topic, he still shows some sign of guilt.

Literary Luminary

"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going , I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." pg. 16

I chose this passage because I think that it describes Holden very well. This gives us another character trait about Holden and we see throughout the story that he does lie a lot. He also seems to be very proud of his lying skills, and me personally, it is not a trait in my life that I am pleased with.

Researcher - The Great Gatsby

"I don't see how D.b could hate the Army and war and all so much and still like a phony like that. I mean, for instance, I don't see how he could like a phony book like that and still like that one by Ring Lardner, or that other one that he's so crazy about, The Great Gatsby. D.B got sore when I said that, and said I was too young and all too appreciate it, but i don't think so. I told him, I liked Ring Lardner and The Great Gatsby and all. I did, too. I was crazy about The Great Gatsby Old Gatsby. Old Sport. That killed me. Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will."

Page 141.

The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published on April 10, 1925, it is set on Long Island's North Shore and in New York City during the summer of 1922 and is a critique of the American Dream. The novel chronicles the chaos of World War I, American society enjoyed unprecedented levels of prosperity during the "roaring" 1920s as the economy soared. At the same time, Prohibition, the ban on the sale and manufacture of alcohol as mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment, made millionaires out of bootleggers and led to an increase in organized crime. Although Fitzgerald, like Nick Carraway in his novel, idolized the riches and glamor of the age, he was uncomfortable with the unrestrainedmaterialism and the lack of morality that went with it, a kind of decadence.

The information above was taken from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gatsby

I selected this because it shows some connection that D.B and share with each other although D.B is much older then Holden is.

Therefore, I am posting this question to everyone, what kind of books do you like? Do you think your siblings ( if you have any) will someday enjoy it too? Why or Why not?

Group Discussion

Topic: To focus on setting and author's craft.

Holden lives in NYC

he doesn't actually like it

they're all "phonies" , hates taking cabs & buses.

He seems to only like central park because he seems to find his happy medium there.

he knows it "backwards & forwards"

Amanda found a quote relating to our discussion & noted it down:

"Well, I hate it. Body, do I hate it" I said. "But it isn't just that. It's everything. I hate living in New York and all. Taxicabs, and Madison Avenue buses, with the drivers and all always yelling at you to get out at the rear door and be introduced to phony guys that call the Lunts angel and going up and down in elevators when you just want to go outside, and guys fitting your pants all the time at Brooks, and people always-" pg. 130

Jenna- Thinks that living in NYC effects his personality; he's rough and tough, he smokes, and in school, he acts as a bully. The only reason he lives in New York right now is because he got kicked out of school.

Jessye- I think it's interesting how at school, Holden seemed to act so tough and as if he was amazing and higher then everyone. At this point he is now hating everyone and everything around him. He can never live in a place that makes him happy, his utopia doesn't exist.

hi sophia, if you check this , this is what we discussed today in class - 3/26/10..

we miss youuu !

Moving Forward

Chapters 3-4

• These few chapters establish the way Holden interacts with his peers. Holden despises “phonies;” or people whose outer behavior disguises their inner feelings. Even his brother D. B. sustains his displeasure by accepting a big paycheck to write for the movies; therefore, Holden considers the movies to be the phoniest of the phony and emphasizes throughout the book the loath in which he feels for hollywood.

• Later, Olden’s interactions also reveal how lonely he is. He describes Ackley as isolated and ostracized, but it’s easy to see similarities between Ackley’s and Holden’s situations. Holden notes that he and Ackley are the only two guys not at the football game. In addition, both are isolated, and both maintain a rough exterior in order to shield themselves from the world that surrounds them. In Ackley especially, we can see the cruelty of the situation. Ackley’s isolation is perpetuated by his annoying habits, but his annoying habits protect him from the dangers of interaction/communication.

“Up home we wear a hat like that to shoot deer in, for Chrissake,” he said. “That’s a deer shooting hat.”
“Like hell it is.” I took it off and looked at it. I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. “This is a people shooting hat,” I said. “I shoot people in this hat.” (Chapter 3)

Through this use of effective language, Holden's tone of voice shows a large value of redeemed strength. It is obvious from the start that Holden uses the hat as a mark of individuality and independence. Moreover, here we see how deeply his desire for independence is connected to his feeling of alienation, and to the bitterness he has for the rest of the world. Surely, Holden will not really shoot people in this hat, but it remains a symbol of his search for strength. Holden nevertheless does “shoot people” in his own way; as he is in this "powerful" frame of mind, he expends all of his mental energy into the people around him. Through my eyes, he desires independence because he feels that the world is an "ugly" place that, he feels, deserves only contempt individuals.


Jenna S.

Beginning Thoughts

Beginning Chapters

• First off, Holden Caulfield writes his story from a home to which he has been sent for therapy. He refuses to talk about his early life, mentioning only that his brother D. B. is a Hollywood writer. Holden’s career at Pencey Prep has been marred by his refusal to apply himself, and after failing four of his five subjects.

• In the following chapter, Holden greets Mr. Spencer and his wife in a manner that suggests he is personally close to them. He is put off by his teacher’s rather strict/cold condition but seems otherwise to respect him. In his sickroom, Spencer tries to lecture Holden about his academic failures. He confirms Pencey’s headmaster’s assertion that “life is a game” and tells Holden that he must learn to play by the rules; clearly, although Spencer clearly feels affection for Holden, he somewhat reminds him that he flunked him, and even forces him to listen to the terrible essay he handed in about the Egyptians.

“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules." "Game, my a**. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s a game, all right—I’ll admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s a game about it? Nothing. No game.” (8, Salinger.)

Through this use of effective language, as the word "life" is repeated, the statement is truly emphasizing the meaning behind life; in a way in which Holden would care for, and comprehend. Moreover, Holden's former teacher is truly advising him about his failures at Pencey; at this point, he lectures Holden about the importance of playing by the rules. in addition, through Holden's tone of voice, we see how alienated he feels. He clearly identifies with those on the “other side” of the game, and he feels alone and victimized; as though the world is against him. At this point in the novel, Holden’s sense of disadvantage and bitterness show his split person, in a way, given his circumstances: he’s clearly a bright boy, but thinks differently of his place in the world, and lacks the application of his knowledge.

-Representing Holden's feeling of separation/division from the world.-

Jenna S.

Researcher - David Copperfield

The story deals with the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David is born in England in about 1820. David's father had died six months before he was born, and seven years later, his mother marries Mr Edward Murderstone David is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Mr Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards. Mr Murdstone thrashes David for falling behind with his studies. Following one of these thrashings, David bites him and is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, with a ruthless headmaster, Mr. Creakle. Here he befriends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles, both of whom he meets again later on.

It is written in the first person just like Holden's story. I researched this because Holden compares his life to David Copperfield's even though they are similar. The loss a family member, and dealing with their childhood maturity. They both lived at a boarding / prep school far away from home. Where they both befriend people from the new school

Week 1 Discussion

Amanda Brandell: Literary Luminary

Personality of Holden

- blunt

- sarcastic

- Nonchalant

- Doesn't take life seriously

- Got kicked out of Pencey Prep ( around Christmas )

- He is close to his younger brother Allie.

- Pencey Prep is the 4th school he went to

- Failed 4 out of 5 classes.

- eccentric

- rebellious

- has softer side (like able)

Ackley (dorm mate)

- sympathetic

- uses rebellious attitude as a cover for ; hurt? all emotions? weakness?

- pathological liar?? ("I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.. I don't even keep my goddam equipment in the gym.")

THIS WEEKS DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Who is David Copperfield and how does this tie into Holdens life?

- David Copperfield- illusionist

"If you really want me to hear about it, the first thing you probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth"

- Using this quote to say that he isn't going to give the "illusion" of a perfect and good childhood to everyone else. That is the comparison to David Copperfield.

We then noticed that David Copperfield is not the illusionist but is the novel created by Charles Dickens. It deals with his childhood and the death of a family member.

Jenna and Sophia contributed to the groups discussion about his childhood.

Jenna stated that he has a rough exterior, which we all agreed upon.

Jessye : Spoke about Allie's leukemia and researched it, found out how it's formed and can be solved etc. Everyone said that it was well written and really well researched.

Researcher - Leukemia

I chose to research leukemia because Holdens younger brother Allie was diagnosed with cancer.

Leukemia is cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood. To understand cancer, it helps to know how normal blood cells form.

Normal Blood Cells

Most blood cells develop from cells in the bone marrow called stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones.

Stem cells mature into different kinds of blood cells. Each kind has a special job:

White blood cells help fight infection. There are several types of white blood cells.

Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

Platelets help form blood clots that control bleeding.

White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are made from stem cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

The picture below shows how stem cells can mature into different types of white blood cells. First, a stem cell matures into either a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell:

• A myeloid stem cell matures into a myeloid blast. The blast can form a red blood cell, platelets, or one of several types of white blood cells.



• A lymphoid stem cell matures into a lymphoid blast. The blast can form one of several types of white blood cells, such as B cells or T cells.

The white blood cells that form from myeloid blasts are different from the white blood cells that form from lymphoid blasts.

In a person with leukemia, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells are leukemia cells.

Unlike normal blood cells, leukemia cells don't die when they should. They may crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This makes it hard for normal blood cells to do their work.

Types of Leukemia

The types of leukemia can be grouped based on how quickly the disease develops and gets worse. Leukemia is either chronic (which usually gets worse slowly) or acute (which usually gets worse quickly):

• Chronic leukemia: Early in the disease, the leukemia cells can still do some of the work of normal white blood cells. People may not have any symptoms at first. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a routine checkup - before there are any symptoms.

  Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse. As the number of leukemia cells in the blood increases, people get symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes or infections. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild at first and get worse gradually.




• Acute leukemia: The leukemia cells can't do any of the work of normal white blood cells. The number of leukemia cells increases rapidly. Acute leukemia usually worsens quickly.

The types of leukemia also can be grouped based on the type of white blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can start in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. See the picture of these cells. Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphoid, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid, myelogenous, or myeloblastic leukemia.

There are four common types of leukemia:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL affects lymphoid cells and usually grows slowly. It accounts for more than 15,000 new cases of leukemia each year. Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55. It almost never affects children.

• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): CML affects myeloid cells and usually grows slowly at first. It accounts for nearly 5,000 new cases of leukemia each year. It mainly affects adults.

• Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL): ALL affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly. It accounts for more than 5,000 new cases of leukemia each year. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): AML affects myeloid cells and grows quickly. It accounts for more than 13,000 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.

The risk factors may be different for the different types of leukemia:

• Radiation: People exposed to very high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to get acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• Radiation therapy: Another source of exposure to high levels of radiation is medical treatment for cancer and other conditions. Radiation therapy can increase the risk of leukemia.
• Chemotherapy: Cancer patients treated with certain types of cancer-fighting drugs sometimes later get acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia. For example, being treated with drugs known as alkylating agents or topoisomerase inhibitors is linked with a small chance of later developing acute leukemia.

Symptoms

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. The symptoms of leukemia depend on the number of leukemia cells and where these cells collect in the body.

People with chronic leukemia may not have symptoms. The doctor may find the disease during a routine blood test.

People with acute leukemia usually go to their doctor because they feel sick. If the brain is affected, they may have headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, or seizures. Leukemia also can affect other parts of the body such as the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, heart, or testes.

Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia may include:

• Swollen lymph nodes that usually don't hurt (especially lymph nodes in the neck or armpit)



• fevers or night sweats



• Frequent infections



• Feeling weak or tired



• Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)


• Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from a swollen spleen or liver)



• weight loss for no known reason



• Pain in the bones or joints

Literary Luminary

pages 1-60

" 'They really will. This is about the fourth school I've gone to.' I shook my head. I shake my head quite a lot 'Boy!' I said. I also say 'Boy!' quite a lot. Partly because I act quite young for my age sometimes. I was sixteen then , and I'm seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I'm about thirteen. It's really ironical, because I'm six foot two and a half and I have gray hair. I really do. The one side of my head-the right side-is full of millions of gray hairs. I've had them ever since I was a kid. And yet I still act sometimes like I was only about twelve. Everybody says that, especially my father. It's partly true, too, but it isn't all true. People always think something's all true. I don't give a damn, except that I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age. Sometimes I act a lot older than I am-I really do-but people never notice it. People never notice anything." pg. 9

I picked this passage because, again it tells us what type of person Holden is. He tells us about his physical appearances and also about how he acts. He is going to be going to his fifth school pretty soon and is seventeen years old but acts like a thirteen year old. He sounds pretty carefree to me. I think that he just doesn't want to obey any rules because he thinks that people are annoying.

-Do you think that Holden will mature throughout the book?

Amanda Brandell

Literary Luminary

pages 1-60

"I forgot to tell you about that. They kicked me out. I wasn't supposed to come back after Christmas vacation, on account of I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself at all. They gave me frequent warning to start applying myself-especially around midterms, when my parents came up for a conference with old Thurmer-but I didn't do it. So I got the ax. They give guys the ax quite frequently at Pencey. It has a very good academic rating, Pencey. It really does." pg. 4

I chose this passage because it gives us a lot of information. It tells us that Holden got kicked out of his school because he was failing a lot of his classes. It also tells us where he goes to school. I think that this is good because again it gives us an idea of the type of person Holden is and I think that if we grasp the personality of Holden then we can get a better understanding of the story.

-If you were Holden and got kicked out of school, how would you feel?

Amanda Brandell