Mrs. Abrams' Virtual Language Arts Class

Response to Literature #1
Have you ever read a book about someone who is afraid of everything and then decides to go out for the soccer team and is the goalie? Well if you are interested in those kinds of books this is the right book for you. Keeper is the book I am reading and the authors is Holly Goldberg Sloan. Sasha is the main character in this book, she is the girl who is afraid of everything and somehow her best friend Courtney changes that. First, they were in there first real fight which led to a promise. Then on their way home from school Courtney would secretly get Sasha into training. When she went to school one day the promise led to soccer tryouts. After the tryouts they were at the first game she played she was amazing and got to be goalie and went for it totally and then as soon as she new it, it was all over and she had a sad surprise when she got home. An African American girl named Sasha was afraid of everything learns that people may say you can overcome every fear but Sasha learned that you can overcome some but not all.
Hear it goes, a disadvantage, in the beginning The First Real Fight, Sasha called it the Ice Age and before they new it Courtney came and started to talk to Sasha. She said how she would forgive her if she would try out for an athletic team with her once, Sasha agreed. I bet you are wondering how it all started, right? Courtney was trying to make Sasha try out for the swimming team and Sasha would not. That’s how Courtney got the idea for her to promise to tryout for at least one team. This event has changed Sasha’s life now because she has to try out for a team and she doesn’t have a choice anymore because she promised. Members got into the fight/promise which led to a new part to the book, now the reader won’t think this book will be about two opposite girls now they could somehow change and it would be a fun book.
There has to be many different ways that Courtney could get Sasha to actually learn how to play without her knowing it. Oh wait there is she could trick her. It was her best friend that thought of pretending to get scared and make Sasha run home with her. Also Courtney would kick the ball and it would somehow go to Sasha and she would have to be able to kick the ball and that’s how she learned how to kick the ball. Nets, she taught her the rules by pretending it was hockey and it would tell her about offsides and those rules. At the end of the training Courtney asked Sasha if she would try out for soccer and she said yes. Lastly this event has definitely changing the character because in the beginning she could not do anything and wouldn’t and now she can and will. What do you think will happen next, do you think she will try out for the team or is she just saying that?
At the tryouts, will they be a drag, or will she do good. Will Courtney bail on her and not want her to make it, Will she be good? While Courtney was at the store before practice she bought Sasha some cleats for the try outs. In the beginning, Sasha shows up at the tryouts all the girls thinks she weird until the watch her play and she’s not considered a loser on the field. Otto thinks she will make the team and would be a good goalie. Many people, including me thought at this point that she would have made the team but I’m not giving away any secrets because you need to read the book.
Most people would not expect her to actually play on the field in the most important game ever. Real goalie’s knee broke then the back up goalie got sick so that left Sasha and they won because she blocked a ball. Then the next game, the last one of the season is was the most competitive game, she had to be the goalie again and the game was up to her and she was so scared but just jumped right into the ball. Then when she went home something tragic happens. Now Sasha loves the game and would die without it. This book was so much fun to read it had a lot of things that I am interested in and I thought it was a good book. Is that how you thought it would end?
The book Keeper is an awesome book and is written like it could actually happen.
As you can tell this book was about a girl that was afraid of everything and all the sudden her life changes into something better. The life lesson learned from the character was that you need to live freely and not to be afraid just having fun. The lesson learned the book gave me was to never have to many fears it may become bad just have fun with yourself. I have never enjoyed a book like this before I like reading, but this book I loved to read.

Response to Literature #2
In the book Keeper, by Holly Sloan, Sasha Beckdell Lewis is featured as the main character. 8th grade Sasha is a girl trying to figure out who she is in life without a real family. Sasha is afraid of many things such as clowns, cats, knives, forks, car wash places, sprinkler heads, men in beards, blood, and much more. Throughout the book Sasha is always trying to avoid the things she is afraid of. She learns to overcome her fears by the love and encouragement of several people in her life.
Although Sasha does not have a traditional family, she has many people that care for her. The father of Sasha left her mother before she was born. Her mother was tragically killed in a car accident so now Sasha lives with her grandmother, Nammy. Eighty-five year old Nammy spends most of her days sitting around the house watching the weather channel. Courtney Bilsesser is Sashas best friend and has been since kindergarten. Even though Courtney knows about Sasha’s fears, she just jokes and laughs about them. Another important person in Sashas life is her soccer coach, Otto. All of these characters play a big role in helping Sasha face her fears.
During the story Courtney who is a great athlete, tries to get Sasha to try out for many different sports. Do to Sasha’s fears, she is afraid to play a sport because she might get hurt or the germs she might catch from other people. First, Sasha tries out for the basketball team and doesn’t make it. Next, she tries out for the soccer team and actually makes it! Without Courtney making a deal with the coach, Sasha would have never been apart of the team. Surprised by making the team, this causes Sasha to feel both nervous and a little excited about being a part of a team.
Otto, the soccer coach, has to make a difficult decision in choosing what position Sasha will play that will not effect the whole team. He decided to make Sasha the back-up to the back-up goalie. After hearing what her position would be, Sasha became more excited because she might not ever have to play in a real game. Soccer season started out great with their team winning every game. Sadly, the main goalie Madeline, broke her leg during a game so now Shawana, the first back-up goalie had to take Madeline’s place. During a game against the teams biggest rival, Shawana had an asthma attack causing Sasha to become the goalie. Nammy started coming to the soccer games which made Sasha feel good inside because her grandmother was there supporting her. At the end of every game Otto huddled the girls in a circle and told each girl what they contributed to the game. Surprisingly, Otto told Sasha that he was proud of how courageous she was to become the goalie after the other girls had to step down from their position. Nobody had ever called her courageous and it gave her a number of feelings she had never felt before.
Since Otto told Sasha that she was courageous, it made her become more outgoing in a variety of ways. Playing goalie at the next game, Sasha overcame her fear of the ball hitting her by blocking a shot. When she made the save the crowd went wild and she realized she didn’t need to be afraid to be part of the team. Looking up in the stands Sasha realized that Nammy wasn’t there. Finally when the game was over Sasha went home and found Nammy had a heart attack and died. Once Nammy had died Sasha had to find a place to live. Many people offered to let Sasha live with them but Sasha choose to go to boarding school. Overcoming many types of fears allowed Sasha to be successful in soccer throughout high school and college.
Facing, your fears in life is one of the hardest things to do. With the help of others Sasha was able to face her fears. Had it not been for Courtney Sasha might not have had the opportunity to find enough courage to overcome her fears. Hopefully Sasha will have enough courage to face any fears she might have later in life. I believe that having various people who love and support you can give you the courage to face your fears and reach your goals.