Chapter 2 Reading Assignment "A Child Called It"

Summary

The second chapter in A Child Called "It" basically talks about what the years were like for the boy and his family before the abuse started. Before all the abuse started, the boy seemed to live with a happy family in a modest two-bedroom house located in what was considered a good neighborhood in Daly City. His mother, Catherine Roerva was a good mom who did the typical house wife duties, cook and clean while his dad was at work. Beyond that, his mom would take the kids on sight-seeing tours around the city, cook exotic meals, and did everything she could to make the kids' lives more fun. Then things took a sudden turn, and his mom wasn't the same person anymore. That's when the abuse started.

Important Phrase

An important phrase on page 18 says "Mom was once a woman who glowed with love for her children." 

The phrase is important because it lets the readers know that his mom wasn't always abusive and that she was once a good mom. She did everything a mom was supposed to do, and always taught them important lessons. The kids never knew what was coming towards them in the future. 

Pulling It Together
Why did his mom turn bipolar?

I see that the main character David and his two siblings were once normal kids who were just like everyone else and lived in a good family. I wonder why his mom suddenly turned abusive towards the whole family.

Gang vs Club

The gang is a negative connotation because gangs go around shooting and killing people. The club is a positive connotation because it's a place where you have a lot of fun and meet/dance with fine lookin girls.

Connotation/Denotation 2

 Part 1

The natural routine got old and boring
The old couple still lived together after 80 years
They weren't committed to putting in work so there were never any results
The free items at the store were the ones that broke easily
The chemical reaction had a positive outcome
Being lazy allows you to stay in bed all day

Part 2

d.) The fact that I had to go to extended school for 9 days was bizarre.
In this sentence, strange would not work because strange doesn't have the same connotation. Remarkable is closer but it doesn't connote the idea as well as the word bizarre does.
a.) The old lady had to be careful to not slip on the ice because her bones were very fragile. In this sentence hard wouldn't work because if the bones were hard, then she wouldn't have to be cautious. Brittle is closer but it doesn't connote as well as the word fragile does.
b.) The kid that always sat in the back of the class alone was very withdrawn. In this sentence glum wouldn't work because it doesn't have the same connotation. Quiet could work, but it doesn't have as strong of a connotation as withdrawn does.
c.) The thief was very clever when it came to stealing. In this sentence, shrewd wouldn't work because it does not have the same connotation. Shrewd has a similar connotation, but the word clever would be the best choice to use in the sentence.
e.) The family of 3 purchased an economical Ford. In this sentence miserly wouldn't work because the connotation is completely different. Thrifty has a closer connotation, but since the sentence is talking about a car, the word economical has the best connotation.

A nerd connotes to me a person who knows everything and does nothing but study all day. Many times, the nerds think they're better than everyone else. Those kids are usually good at things like band and orchestra as well as science olympiad, debate, key club, AP Calc, and every other academic class. Nerds usually wear different clothes from everyone else and get picked on often by others. They spend a lot of time in the library during lunch and after school studying even more.I've had personal experience with nerds in many of my classes Freshmen year because many times, I was assigned to sit right next to one. Some of them can be cool if you get to know them.

Chapter 1 Reading Assignment

Summary

The first chapter in A Child Called "It" is about a boy who gets abused my his mom on a regular basis. At times she would not even feed him. The boy arrives at his school where he is taken into the nurses office to go through the normal routine, but she discovers marks and bruises all over the boy's body. He tries to make up a story to protect his mom, but the nurse knows that he is not telling the truth. She then goes on to discover chipped teeth and a stab mark. The nurse returns with Mr. Hansen the principal, and two other teachers, Miss Woods and Mr. Ziegler. They all have a meeting together, and get the police involved. The police officer takes the boy to the Daly City Police Station and calls his mom to tell her that her son David will not be coming home and that he is now in the custody of the San Mateo Juvenile Department. The officer then announces to the boy that he is finally free and that his mother will never hurt him again. 

Important Phrase

An important phrase on page 4 says "Please, just let me eat. Hit me again, but I have to have food." This phrase is important because he knows that he has to be careful to not anger his mother any further or he might not be able to eat at all. He doesn't care how much his mother hits him as long as he's able to have some food. His only way of surviving is to at least eat the leftovers.

  "Pulling It Together"

I see that the main character always fears that he is in trouble with his teachers and principal because he is always in trouble at home and he fears that he's gonna get hit.

I wonder if he has a dad at home and if his dad does the same thing his mom does to him.

Reading Schedule

Reading Schedule
Monday: Chapters 1 and 2
Tuesday: Chapters 3 and 4
Wednesday: Chapters 5 and 6
Thursday: Chapter 7/Epilogue