"The Quinceañera Text" Tone & Mood

This story is about a girl named Ana that wishes for a cell phone as her birthday present during her Quinceañera. It is written in first person, from Ana's perspective.

Tone: It's the way the author feels (word choice). In this particular case She's nostalgic about her story "She sank into the shadows, and her face disappeared into a streaky gray smudge, as if it were being erased" she says about her grandmother. It's also informal. 

Mood: The way the reader feels about the story, involving setting, characters and actions. There are different moods all through the text. One of them is disappointment "All eyes watched me -turquoise earrings, cowboy boots, lip gloss- but no cell phone. I tried to push away my disappointment". It's algo emotional and happy "She smiled, her black eyes disappearing into the wrinkles lining her face" "It may not have been a cell phone but it spoke to me all the same"

About "The Quinceañera Text" by Erin Fanning

Ana is turning fifteen. Most girls dream about a huge birthday party at this age, it’s supposed to be a transition from a girl to a young woman, a special occasion. Unfortunately, due to issues and lack of money, Ana wasn’t able to get the party she wanted. She was jealous of her cousin because she got a phone and when Ana opened her presents there wasn’t a phone for her. She gets disappointed, misbehaves and hurts her grandmother’s feelings when she gives her a recipe book. She hoped her birthday would be just about her and that everyone would provide her with what she wanted. All she cared about were presents and material things, she didn’t even seem to be enjoying the party at all. But later on realizes what her grandmother gave her was so much more important and meaningful than a phone and finally thanks her for everything.

Replying To Stories

I read and replied to Luis's story of how the Kabyles helped him scape here:
https://englishcopol.blogspot.com/2016/08/sumative-test-part-2.html?showComment=1471840737027#c6514594334451780149

I did the same thing on Gabriel's story:
http://englishblogvalverde.blogspot.com/2016/08/i-remember-how-i-could-play-freely-when.html#comment-form

A Tunnel To Freedom

That day I was alone. I never fully understood what happened to my brothers, I had no idea where my parents were either. Even though I was just a little girl, the definition of hiding was different in my head than what it was supposed to be on any other kid. At a young age I was able to know what death was and that to me, it was something that could happen if I wasn’t careful enough. Then I came across a group of people talking about my kind and I followed them. When I entered the Mosque I had no expectations, I realize now that those people saved my life. A couple took me and pretended that I was their daughter but they knew it wasn’t possible that everyone would believe them. That’s how I convinced them to let me take the route out to the river Seine, of course I was never alone. The group of Kabyles and Jews walked for long periods of time through the tunnels, it was exhausting but worth it. Then we saw the river and as they hid us on barges there were transporting wine barrels I smiled, I knew that from that day on, I wouldn’t have to hide anymore.

"The Grand Mosque of Paris" & Key Concepts

This story takes place in Paris, during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The Muslim community had some sort of strong connection with Jews, so they helped to protect them during this period of time, risking their lives trying to save them from being harmed. The mosque was built upon a labyrinth of subterranean tunnels or rooms and had enough space to keep people hidden. Other characteristic of this particular place was that it included an escape route that could be used for those hunted by the French police and would get them out right next to the banks of the river seine.

Why on earth would someone put their life on the line for people that were wanted dead by a powerful person? It was just their way of being, imposed on their culture and at the same time of their own choosing. To do what they thought was the right thing, help the ones in need without expecting anything in return. That’s how strong the connection between Jews and Muslims was. They gave everything they could and discovered in the most brilliant and creative way how to get them out of sight so they wouldn’t be threatened anymore.