Into the Mind of Sarah

For my last blog post, I wanted to end this semester on a light-hearted note and create a meme representative of one of the main themes outlined in Cemetery Boys. The meme I’ve selected for my discussion post originated from Despicable Me, wherein the film, Gru (the main character) presents his plan to steal the moon. He failed to realize, until that moment, that his children included a drawing of him sitting on the toilet in one of the presentation pages, leading to him being flabbergasted. Since the movie’s conception, the meme community has created various versions of Gru’s Plan by editing the four-panel comic. Most of the edits feature an unexpected fact in the third panel and Gru doing a double-take after seeing it, as demonstrated with the meme I've created.

In light of just finishing the book, Akata Witch, I wanted to explore why people have dubbed this series as the "Nigerian Harry Potter." Growing up, I read the Harry Potter franchise, including the dreaded Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and have always admired J. K. Rowling's ability to integrate magical realism into her fictitious world seamlessly. Because Harry Potter is one of the most well-known fantasy series, it has become the standard for this genre, despite the books not being the first of its kind to be written. When we compare Nnedi Okorafor’s books to the franchise, we as the audience are discrediting her influences for writing the Akata Witch series. 

Dr. Okorafor took to Twitter to dispel the label by honoring her inspirations: her family trips to Arondizugogu, Sandra Marume (an albino and Igbo girl who she based Sunny off of), Famished Road by Ben Okri, and The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola. 

While both series involve a similar theme of introducing the main character being oblivious to a magical world in the beginning, leading up to them fulfilling their prophecy as a savior, there are key differences in how each author tackles this idea. In my opinion, Okorafor does more to emphasize Nigerian culture than J. K. Rowling does, in general, for any culture. It truly felt like the audience went through an immersion of Nigerian culture from being exposed to their language, clothing, foods, and customs. Not only is Nigerian culture highlighted traditionally, but it carries over into the ways of the Leopard people too. Like many Nigerian families, the Leopard people also emphasize the importance of familial bonds and hierarchy by working together as one unit (the Oha coven) and valuing the wisdom and experiences of elders, respectively. With the Harry Potter books, being part of the Wizarding World was a lifestyle rather than it being influenced by customs like it is in Akata Witch.

For my blog post for Tyler Johnson Was Here, I thought it would be interesting to write a piece of flash fiction from the perspective of Tyler Johnson if he was still alive after his encounter with the police officer. Too often, the news highlights black folks dying at the hands of police brutality or killed due to the color of their skin. It's unfair for the black community to experience this level of violence at disproportionate rates. In response to the text, I've decided to write flash fiction, not to erase the trauma families endure as a result of systemic racism, but rather to raise awareness of these issues in a way that uplifts black lives.

Johntae's grip still lingers around my neck as I take one last look at him and Marvin before storming away. I could've handled myself without Marvin, even if I appreciated his help deep down. Seething with anger, I make a beeline towards the back door, but not before making my way through the crowd, who's currently dancing to an overplayed Drake song. 

A sigh escapes my lips when I make it outside. The thought of ditching this lame party and just going home to forget about everything crosses my mind when sirens and screams start ringing in my ear.

Pow! Pow! Pop!

I take off running. I'm all too familiar with what gunshots mean for black folks, aka me, and I'm not dumb enough to wait around to see what happens. Once I'm far enough away from the party, I steadily walk beneath the fluorescent streetlights, hoping I'm far enough away from the party the cops are about to bust.

"Put your hands in the air where I can see them!" a booming voice yells.

I instinctively throw my hands up and slowly turn around. It's just my luck. It couldn't be any clearer under the streetlights that it's another run-of-the-mill white guy in a cop's uniform who's about to give me shit for doing nothing. Marvin, let alone Mama, definitely will not let me hear the end of this when they find out. 

 "Leave me alone. I'm just going home." I blurt out. Both me and Officer Caucasian, as I've named him in my head, have the ultimate staring contest while sirens are faintly sound off in the background. I take a step back but still keep my hands in plain view. 

"I'm only going to fucking ask you once. Don't make me arrest you for resisting, boy." he threatens as he reaches for his holstered gun.

I repeat what I said earlier with more vibrato, standing my ground. I'm not about to let some middle-aged white guy hold any power over me because he can. Just as Officer Meredith, his name gleaming off his tacky badge, approaches closer to me, I lightly push my hand forward, barely skimming the buttons of his shirt.

 "Leave me alone. I'm just going home." I say once more before turning around

Pop! Pop! Pop!

I felt a sharp pain in my chest area before falling over on the sidewalk. Steadying my breathing, I try to focus on anything to distract me from reality, namely how Mama would beat me when I got home. If I even got home. The thought haunts me as much as Pop's wrongful conviction while the pain continues to sear through my chest.

I hear Officer Caucasian mutter a string of curse words and an unfamiliar female voice. "Don't bother trying to deny what happened. I already called the ambulance and shared this video on Twitter."

I see a young girl with a dark complexion looming over me. Her reassurance that help is on the way is the last thing I hear before my world turns black.

...

My eyes flutter open and adjust to the dingy, speckled ceiling, and dimly lit room. I turn my head to see Mama's eyes welling up, overwhelmed that I'm alive, I’m sure. Marvin is in the room too, but he doesn't say anything. He just stares at me while Mama praises the Lord that I'm still here with her.

While Mama hollers at the nearest nurse that I'm awake, I sit up processing, how I nearly died. I expected to be another black kid who got shot by a cop, but instead, I get to live. Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland-- they will never know this "privilege."

Before taking Literature for Adolescents, I had read The Hunger Games trilogy in middle school and hadn’t watched the movies (except for Catching Fire). After revisiting the trilogy by watching the movies for the first time, I wanted to highlight some characters that I consider to be unsung heroes, people receiving little recognition for their great deeds. Main characters such as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are heavily praised for their honorable deeds throughout the entire series, leaving little room to recognize characters who help advance the plot. Of course, there are many standout characters, but this post will highlight three people (one from each book/movie) who I thought deserved more recognition for their efforts leading to Katniss’ success in overthrowing the government.

Thresh (The Hunger Games)

Thresh, a male tribute from District 11, the same district Rue was from, fought valiantly during the 74th annual Hunger Games, and most notably, spared Katniss during the games. This act of heroism was acknowledged after his death in Katniss’ and Peeta’s speech when they visited District 11 in a later movie. However, it wasn't evident, at the time of his sacrifice, how significant it would be to the rebellion. When Katniss was retrieving medicine for Peeta, she was ambushed by Clove, who had the upper-hand until Thresh overheard her bragging about Rue’s death. In response to her insensitive comments, Thresh killed her and spared Katniss as a token of appreciation for the kindness she showed Rue. Though Katniss’s relationship with Thresh isn’t the same as with Rue's, the two have a mutual understanding of how devastating her death is, considering she was very young in comparison to the other tributes. His one act of compassion helped Katniss and Peeta survive the Hunger Games and motivated Katniss to seek justice for everyone victimized by the games.

Johanna Mason (Catching Fire)

When the audience first gets introduced to Johanna Mason, we see her strip in front of Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch, solidifying her character from that point as a bold and tenacious woman. Not only did Johanna vocally show her disdain for the atrocities of having a Hunger Games, but she also played a crucial role in Katniss' survival during the Quarter Quell. Even with her awareness of Plutarch Heavensbee's plan to rebel against President Snow, she made sure Katniss remained safe during the games, even going as far as pretending to kill her so she can remove the tracker placed by the Capitol. Johanna was also one of the people, among Peeta and Annie, who was captured and tortured by the Capitol. The movies don't focus on her torture as much as the books do, but from what the audience can gather, it's undeniable that Johanna is an asset to the rebellion. One of the most remarkable qualities about her is the way she carries herself as she doesn't let anyone sway her from her beliefs, cementing her value as a hero.

Finnick Odair (Mockingjay)

Perhaps one of my favorite characters, aside from Cinna and Rue, Finnick Odair, comes off as arrogant at first but shows his softer side when he cares for Mags, his mentor, as best as he can during the games. Like Johanna, he was aware of the brewing plan to rebel against President Snow, so he made sure to become an ally for Katniss and Peeta. He remains a faithful ally throughout Mockingjay by fighting for the rights of Panem's citizens. Although Plutarch made Katniss the face of the rebellion, Finnick exhibits the same leadership qualities as Katniss, which is why it doesn't come as a surprise when he steps in for Katniss to send a message to the districts. It was also pleasant to see him marrying Annie as it juxtaposes the gruesome nature of the Capitol and the rebels fighting. Finnick sacrificing his safety, despite having a "happy ending," made his death, being ambushed by the Capitol's mutts, in Mockingjay, even more tragic. Death or not, Finnick's efforts shouldn't go unnoticed as he fuels others to continue fighting for the rebels' cause.

A prominent class discussion topic for the book Holes by Louis Sachar was how it highlights the school-to-prison pipeline theory, a process where pushing students out of school results in them likely entering the criminal justice system. The main "selling point" of Camp Green Lake, the juvenile detention camp boys go to instead of going to jail for their crime, is that they teach boys discipline by digging holes. Though this form of punishment is, in theory, better than having a juvenile serve time in jail, the boys at this camp become institutionalized and aren't taught any life skills for when they're eventually released. This systemic issue prompted me to consider a few criminology theories that I've learned about in my Criminological Theory class last semester, in which the main characters of this novel demonstrate time and time again.

1. Labeling Theory

Definition: Individuals are likely to engage in criminal behavior if society labels them as criminals.

Application: Early in the novel, Sachar states that "Camp Green Lake is a camp for bad boys." This label gets used throughout the entire book and has an impact on the boys who reside there, particularly, Stanley Yelnats, who before coming to Camp Green Lake, had no history of criminal behavior. While he's at the juvenile detention camp, Stanley receives help in digging his hole in exchange for teaching Hector and steals a truck from the camp to escape. Although readers could argue Stanley's actions were for the greater good, his actions reaffirmed to the counselors and warden that he's a "bad boy." There's no telling if Stanley will be part of the group of juveniles who recidivate after being institutionalized but he stands to have a good chance of being deterred from crime due to being surrounded by loving and caring individuals.

2. Self-Control Theory

Definition: Environmental factors such as parents or caregivers, influence self-control, and people with high self-control are more likely to be deterred from crime and better outcomes (health, relationships, etc.).

Application: A prime example of someone who has low self-control is Zero, or his legal name Hector Zeroni. Growing up, Hector was homeless after his mother abandoned him at the park from a young age. His mother taught him to take what he needed, and he assumed that that's how the world operated. This "life lesson" carried on with him throughout a critical developmental life stage and resulted in him stealing the shoes that Stanley's accused of stealing. If Hector had a positive role model or caregiver in his life before he got caught shoplifting, he would've had the opportunity to succeed in life like every other kid who grew up in a stable environment.

3. General Strain Theory (GST)

Definition: Crime and delinquency are an adaption to stress, no matter the source. In this theory, Robert Agnew (the theorist who developed GST), outlines three types of deviance-producing strain: failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, and confrontation with negative stimuli.

Application: Most of the boys at Camp Green Lake are a product of general strain theory. The main type of deviance-producing strain we see fleshed out in the novel is the failure to achieve positively valued goals. Agnew further specified this strain by including three subtypes: disjuncture between aspirations and expectations, the gap between expectations and achievement, and the discrepancy between what one views as fair or just and the actual outcome. It's mentioned in the book that Hector loves digging holes when he's asked what he likes to do. There's a disconnect for Hector in that he associates digging holes as an aspiration rather than a duty that's expected of him by the camp counselors. The gap between expectations and achievements applies to the novel when Stanley discovers something valuable in his hole but doesn't get the day off despite Mr. Pendanski claiming his fossil was interesting, leading Stanley to stew inside. The last subtype of the deviance-producing strain, failure to achieve positively valued goals, is depicted through the conflict between Stanley and the other boys when they find out Hector has helped him dig his holes. Most of the boys find it unfair that Stanley gets out of doing his job, while they're stuck digging holes, without considering that he's teaching Zero how to read and write. All of these underlying issues work in tandem to show that Camp Green Lake's philosophies breed conflict rather than teach "valuable" skills.

Overall, I would say Louis Sachar does an excellent job of defining what it means to be a juvenile delinquent within the space he's allotted. I thought it was clever for Sachar to have three separate stories intertwine with one another to create a cohesive story, showcasing how past actions can affect future circumstances. Sachar's inclusion of magical realism (i.e., Stanley's family curse) provides the story with more depth and keeps readers wondering if Stanley will break free of the curse, which is to say that this book is one of many reasons why I like to revisit books or films I've read or watched before.

Sources

Holes: Sachar, Louis. Holes. Random House Children’s Books, 1998.

In the film, Sixteen Candles, one of the central themes emphasized was how revolutionizing turning 16 was going to be for the protagonist, Sam Baker. It comes as no surprise to the audience when Sam ends up getting together with her crush, Jake Ryan, by the end of the movie; after all, teenage romantic films tend to end on a high note for the main character. Not only does this movie contain derogatory statements that are harmful to the Asian and LGBTQIA+ community, but it gives a false impression to young people on what it means to be in love. In an ideal world, where Sam matures into a responsible adult, she could use her wisdom acquired from her lifetime to advise her younger self to condemn toxic behaviors like using racial slurs and tolerating misogyny, amongst other things. In doing so, she’d likely advise her younger self the following:

Dear Sam,

Dad once said, “when [love] happens to you, Samantha, it’ll be forever.” This was his response after you confided in him about your crush for Jake Ryan. Hopefully, you’ve realized by now that Jake took a liking to you quickly because he knew you wanted to have sex with him. I don’t fault you for wanting to be with a “mature and hot senior.” You don’t know this yet, but a guy who infantilizes you and disposes of women when they’re no longer interested is not ready for a long term relationship; nor is he prepared to put in the effort to make that relationship meaningful. Be wary of boys like Jake and Farmer Ted, who don’t respect your boundaries, but don’t let them ruin your fun while you’re still young.

When your family forgot your 16th birthday, it stung like hell, but that instance showed you the true meaning of life-- making the most out of discouraging situations. Soon enough, you’ll be 18 and ready to attend college as far as you can from your family. But before you do that, finish high school with dignity and intelligence, so you can be the person that holds themselves and others around them accountable when they’re perpetuating negative stereotypes of marginalized groups. It may not seem so bad to let mistakes be what they are; however, ignoring your past will only hinder the chances of being a decent person. 

I sincerely hope this letter provided some insight into the reality of life when you turn 16. It’s not easy living in a world that dictates your every move, especially one that continuously patronizes you for not having an “ideal” body type. All of this seriousness is to say that life is what you make it out to be, so don’t blow it  just kidding, be true to yourself.

With much love,

When I was halfway into reading Blanca & Roja, I was envisioning what song in my current playlist could represent an overarching theme in the novel. After finishing the book, I’ve concluded that “ocean eyes” by Billie Eilish is representative of a “prophecy” one of the señoras told Blanca, “if you can get a blue-eyed boy, then you will save yourself.” This idea of “getting the blue-eyed boy” was an influential concept in the novel as it drove the two sisters, Blanca and Roja del Cisne, to stop communicating with each other. They thought keeping secrets would be conducive to preventing either sister to turn into a swan. The swans wanted to stir up trouble between Blanca and Roja by making Blanca make the boy her sister is in love with, Yearling or Barclay Holt (the blue-eyed boy), fall in love with her despite having a strong emotional connection with Page. Like all secrets, the truth eventually came out, and somehow the sisters were able to avoid their fate by willingly turning themselves into swans before being transformed back into girls.

In the context of “ocean eyes,” Billie wrote it to reflect how it feels to be hurt by someone a loved one. Although the primary focus of the novel is on the del Cisne sisters’ family curse, I imagined the song depicts Roja’s relationship with Yearling. In the first verse, Billie compares her lover’s eyes to explosions while still associating their eyes with the ocean (usually described as blue). Readers of Blanca & Roja know that Yearling’s eyes are blue, but since his return from the forest, one of his eyes is difficult to see out. As a result, this causes Yearling to be frustrated despite his grandmother’s reassurance that he’ll gradually become used to his eyes. We can interpret Yearling’s inner turmoil about his eyes to be similar to the ‘explosions’ Billie refers to in her song. In the second verse, Billie talks about how this relationship has consumed her but made her stronger in the end, which accurately reflects how Roja and Yearling helped each other become better versions of themselves within a short time of knowing one another.

Personally, I believe the chorus of “ocean eyes” summarizes the last section of the book well. Billie’s lyrics reference how she’s scared of falling in love, mainly because she knows how much heartbreak the person can cause her if she loses them. Similarly, this is how Roja feels when Yearling assumes she has betrayed him by being friendly towards his cousin, who despises Yearling over attempting to expose their family of scamming innocent folks into buying worthless land. It pushes Roja to sacrifice herself (turning into a swan) so that her sister and friends have a chance of living happy lives. Although the lyrics, “I’ve never fallen from quite this high... those ocean eyes,” was a metaphor for falling in love, I thought it was quite ironic that this occurred in Blanca & Roja. The del Cisne sisters fell from the sky, transforming from swans back to girls, into the ocean. Yearling ends up being the person to find Roja in the ocean, further solidifying their feelings for one another, even though their last conversation was an argument.

Archetypes are a set of specific and identifiable traits that helps an audience pinpoint why they’re able to relate to a character from a book or movie- though they don’t always have to be relatable. In the novel, Every Heart a Doorway, readers get introduced to a multitude of unique characters. They all share a sense of otherness that people in their lives can’t comprehend, hence why their parents sent them to a boarding school in hopes that it would normalize them, but in actuality, the school helps them embrace their individuality. Because the book emphasizes how different each student’s world are from one another, I thought it would be interesting to explore what archetype suits a few of the main characters’ personality and why I’ve selected the archetype for them. By simplifying the characters' personas into the 12 possible archetypes, it’ll be easier to understand their motivations and goals in life.

Nancy (The Everyman)

As the protagonist of the story, Nancy resonates with readers as she's figuring out her new life at Eleanor's boarding school, similar to how readers are navigating the new world the author has introduced. For most of the story, she goes along with whatever is occurring at the school to fit in and feel less like an outsider. Before discovering the real murderer at the school, Nancy was afraid of her schoolmates and the administrators blaming her for the recent deaths as she's the new girl with an eerie background. Despite having those suspicions running through her head, Nancy remains grounded and does her best to be helpful by burying and disposing of the bodies of her ex-schoolmates.

Kade (The Sage)

The Sage is someone who others seek knowledge from and often referred to as a mother figure or mentor. From the beginning of the novel, Kade distinguishes himself as this archetype by guiding students at Eleanor’s boarding school. For instance, when Nancy first arrived, Sumi introduced her to Kade so that he can fix the clothes her parents packed for her. As the story progresses and students at the boarding school begin to die mysteriously, Kade remained level-headed and was able to console Eleanor and Nancy when they became overwhelmed. Kade’s calm demeanor, along with his natural leadership abilities, makes it more plausible that he’ll be a phenomenal headmaster of Eleanor’s school when he inherits it.

Jack (The Explorer)

Jack embodies the personality traits of the explorer as she’s someone who doesn’t stick to the status quo and likes to explore the unknown. She labels herself as a mad scientist and was in her element when she was disposing of Loriel's body. Throughout the book, Jack remains confident of her innocence and didn't let her classmates' comments get to her. In fact, it fueled her to find out the cause of Loriel's death. Additionally, Jack's experience with being Dr. Bleak's apprentice motivates her to continue satiating her love for science.

Jill (The Lover)

Unlike her twin sister, Jack, Jill remains hopeful that she'll be reunited with her Master, so much so that she's driven to kill her classmates. Jill believes that building "the perfect girl" will allow her to make the skeleton key that unlocks her door, not realizing how irrational it is to kill others for her benefit. Despite everyone pleading with her on how illogical her plan to return to her Master is, she still proceeds to kill Seraphina, but luckily her sister intervened before she could. Jill's main downfall is letting her emotion guide her decisions, not realizing her Master is using her naivety against her.

Sumi (The Jester)

Although we don't get to see much of Sumi due to her death in Chapter 4, from what readers do get to see, she is a free-spirited girl who could care less about what others think of her. In a way, she provides comedic relief, especially during Nancy's transition living in the boarding school, by being extremely blunt. She asks all sorts of questions like if Nancy wants to do the "bing-bang" with Kade or if it was ok if she masturbates in their bedroom. It's the kind of joking banter that two friends would have. Although Sumi doesn't get to live out her dream of living in Eleanor's attic for the rest of her life, her letter (later discovered at the end of the book) does provide insight (like the jester) for Nancy before she walks through her door. 

To wrap up my analysis on the archetypes, Every Heart a Doorway is a light-hearted book that presents darker themes, like death, which make it easy for readers, like myself, to read without feeling there’s a hidden message I’m not grasping. I also appreciate how the author introduces LGBTQIA+ characters seamlessly and conveys it through interesting dialogue. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would like to continue reading the series to learn more about these character's personalities.