Orphan Train - Post Reading

       “The things that matter stay with you, seep into your skin.” This is a quote from the book that I read, called “Orphan Train”. What it is basically saying, is “even if you lose something or someone that is really important to you, you still think and care about them (or it), even if you don’t realize it”. This might seem strange, but I think that it is true. If someone that you care about dies, you might think that you now have no connection to them. However, you still have your memories of them. These memories are important and cannot be taken away.

This was very important to Niamh, who lost so many things that she cared about. She lost her mother and father, her grandparents, her home, and her second home. She thought she lost her sister, and, in a way, she did lose her. She lost her friend, Dutchy, and she lost the baby that she was taking care of. She lost her friends at the first foster home where she worked, and the same at another. She couldn’t even stay at the boarding house where her teacher lived for long, even though she made two friends there (her teacher and the owner). For most of her young life, she was moving to different places and leaving things behind.

Still, she kept the necklace that her grandmother gave her. Even though it was only a small trinket, it reminded her of many things: her family, and her home, and better times. She kept this necklace to remember these things, and to have something to hold onto, wherever she was and whoever she was with at the time. As she grew up and had a more permanent home, she still wore the necklace to remember these things, even though the memories grew dim. Perhaps now, though, she wore the necklace simply out of habit, but I don’t think so.

This is also true of Molly. She has the necklace that her dad gave her. She also has the turtle tattoo. Even though she doesn’t seem like the type of person to care about much, these things prove she does.

In a way, it can be both good and bad for this quote to be true for you. You remember things you care about, but it can also grow painful if you do not have them anymore.

Orphan Train - Pre Reading

Lana Sue Grace

January 13, 1929

The orphan trains are supposed to take you to a better place. That’s what we were told. I guess that might be true, but they sure make the trip there as hard as possible. We don’t have a change of clothes, and food is limited. The whole atmosphere is dismal. Still, I suppose I have it better than some: I do have a friend. We all call her Willie, but her actual name is Oda Wilma Ingram. That’s a big name for an orphaned kid of German immigrants, especially seeing as how it means “wealthy”, which is ironic. We found that out when someone stole a magazine and passed it around. Near the back there was a page that listed the meanings of names, and since, it’s become a bit of a joke.

I don’t see how anyone will want to adopt me: I’m rather plain-looking. I’ve been told that people want a younger child than my 14 years to raise, or else a boy to work. I’ll just have to try my best and hope to get picked by someone nice.

The train itself looks nice. It has seats, but there are more of us than can fit, so the older children stand or sit on the floor. Inside, everyone argues, but that’s nothing new. We were only told a day before we left, so everyone’s nervous. Willie and I just look out the windows at the countryside. It’s rather pretty, you know. I almost hope the people who adopt me have a farm, just for the peaceful view.

It looks like we’re coming to a stop now. This is about the third one, I think. We all file off the train behind our matron, and follow her towards a little general store, where I see families gathered. The families approach us. It looks a little like a cattle auction we saw at the last stop. They poke and prod us. The first orphan to be chosen is a little red-haired boy who looks about ten or so. The people who pick him look sour and ill-tempered, and I start getting nervous. Willie is picked next, but the couple who pick her look nice. Then some people approach me. I get so nervous, I can hardly remember what happens. I end up going home with them in a rusty truck with hay in the back. I think, they must have a farm, or something. The woman wears a plain dress, but she is pretty, with red hair. The man has dark blonde hair, and would’ve looked rather intimidating but for kind eyes and the way he keeps smiling.

January 26, 1929

In the end, the couple who adopted me did have a farm, and they are nice. They live close to the people who adopted Willie, so I get to see her. I am expected to help them around the farm, but I don’t mind. I guess it ended up okay in the end.

My Sister's Keeper - Post Reading

“Darkness, you know, is relative,” is a quote from the novel My Sister’s Keeper. At first, this quote might seem to be talking about actual, physical darkness. However, this is not the case. It means, “the problem you’re going through could pale in comparison to something else that you or someone else is going through”. 

In My Sister’s Keeper, this is true of Anna. Even though her problem seemed dire at the time, and it was (to her), it was nothing compared to what Kate was constantly going through, or even to Jesse’s problems, including drugs, arson, and making contraband whiskey. The stress that her mom and dad are constantly dealing with also far surpasses any problem she could have. All that she has to deal with is worrying about the other members of her family - not worrying about herself. She files a lawsuit against her parents, but not because she really doesn’t want be a donor for her sister, I don’t think. She just wants her parents to notice her for who she really is, not for who she is in relation to someone else: Kate. Anna thought that being ignored was the worst thing that could happen, because her problems - her darkness - was the most relevant darkness to her, and seemed the most important. Obviously, the threat of death or of imprisonment is far more serious than being ignored. Anna got so caught up in the problem that she was going through that she forgot to think of the other four members of her family.

Have you ever been having a bad day, simply because of a bad grade or because of an argument that you had with a friend, but then you looked up and noticed someone else who was going something far worse - something that dwarfed your problems? This is what the quote “Darkness, you know, is relative,” means in your everyday life. You thought that whatever you were going through at the time was hugely important, but then something else puts it in its place.

If you remember that there is ALWAYS someone with problems far worse than yours, you might have a chance to help them fix their problems.

My Sister's Keeper - Pre Reading

Most people have heard of the cloned sheep, Dolly. However, not many know that the same research is being applied to humans themselves, though possibly for different reasons. Dolly the sheep was cloned so that scientists should prove that it was possible to clone a mammal. However, there are different reasons for wanting to clone or genetically engineer a human, and this is why the debate about whether it is right or not is so confusing. For example, some might want to genetically engineer humans to produce so-called “designer babies”, who have certain physical characteristics. This may seem morally wrong to many. There is another reason for cloning or genetically engineering humans that often comes up in debates. This reason is the topic of the book “My Sister’s Keeper”. When one child is diagnosed with a disease such as leukemia and needs transplants from a matching donor, it may be very difficult to find that donor. In that case, the parents may choose to have another child who is genetically engineered - not necessarily for looks, but for other things: the same blood type, for example, as well as other similar chromosomes, though these may also help determine the child’s looks.

Is it right to genetically modify people? Or should we just let nature take it’s course? Obviously, there are both pros and cons to this subject. If there were simply the matter of curing one child, it would be right. If there were simply the matter of harming the second child, the answer would be no. However, when these are combined, it becomes more confusing. Should genetic engineering be wrong all together, or should it only be wrong in certain circumstances. If so, where do we draw the line? Who decides what is right? 

In my opinion, if it is necessary to genetically modify a child (such as in My Sister’s Keeper), then it should be done. If it is simply to create a “designer baby”, then it should not be done. This is not a simple yes or no answer, because this problem cannot be answered by such.