Journal Three: Brittani Velazco

      So far I feel my active reading is going well. I think I do fine understanding vocabulary, what to highlight, and putting characters in the margins. I need to improve on being better able to find and put the plot points in the margins and how to research. 
      I honestly love both books and though I'm not much of a reader I feel both books are very strong in language and context. So far I don't see any weakness in either of the books nor do I have a preference between the two at this point. I find both of these amazing books to be very interesting and intriguing they draw me in and keep me wanting to read more.
      I had a pretty difficult time coming up with a theme. I decided to read chapter seven again. I choose fear as my theme. I feel it is very important to understand fear because it is there to keep you safe and on your toes, alert, and aware of your surroundings. I know fear very well because I am a mother. In our book A Long Way Gone Beah writes, "I became frustrated with living in fear. I felt as if I was always waiting for death to come to me. So I decided to go somewhere where at least there was some peace." (46) This shows how much fear can hold you back if you let it. Beah decided to stay in the swamp for awhile. When he was ready to go he said, "maybe it was because I was afraid of what might lie ahead." Once he stopped crying he decided not to let fear hold him back and made the choice to move on. This stood out to me because I have panic and anxiety attacks a lot. Even though fear can be a good thing sometimes to help keep you out of harms way it is good to keep a handle on it and not to allow it to control your life because it can hold you back. I know because I have let it consume me. I have learned to let go and I'm trying to gain back control by finding peace in God.