CAndice


 * Book: ** __Along for the Ride__


 * Pages Read: ** 1-128


 * Title I have chosen: ** __Realizing What Has Been Right In Front of You__


 * Date: ** 4/26/10


 * Significant Quote: ** "I literally felt like I'd been slapped: my reaction was that visceral, blood rushing to my face.”I didn't invite Auden so she'd baby sit," she said. "Then why is she here?" (Page 69)


 * Explanation of the quote: ** I have chosen this quote because it goes with the title I have chosen for this section. The title I have chosen is __Realizing What Has Been Right In front of You__ and it represents Auden, the main character, realizing for the first time what her father is really like. For the summer Auden decides to spend the summer at her fathers (her parents are divorced). Here her dad, who is a writer, and step mother are trying to raise their new born baby but the father isn't much help because he is too busy writing his novel. The quote above is part of a conversation between Auden's dad and step mother, Heidi. In the quote Heidi tells the father Auden is not here to help with the baby and then the father replies with then why is she here? The whole time this conversation is going on Auden is right outside the door listening in. When her father says this it really hurts her because she really wanted to just spend time with her father over the summer and he seems like he doesn’t even care that she is there, he only cares about finishing his book. This can relate to the title because Auden’s father has always been this way and he only cares about himself, but only now Auden is realizing it.


 * Higher order thinking question: ** What is your opinion of Auden’s father?


 * Answer to the higher order thinking question: ** I do not like Auden’s father at all. He seems like a very selfish person who only cares about his latest novel. Just a few reasons why I believe that are he will not help out with his new born baby, and his daughter came to visit for the summer to hang out with him and he never pays attention to her because he is always working on this new book he is writing. One very good example of the father’s selfishness is when the whole family went out to dinner. Heidi, his wife, had to take care of a few things at her store so Auden and her father took the baby and went to go get a table at the restaurant. When they were just about to be seated the baby started screaming and crying and the dad just freaked out and told Auden to go outside and take care of it. Once outside Auden looked back and saw her father ordering already without the rest of the family even there. By time Heidi and Auden went back inside he was already eating. This is very selfish because instead of taking care of his own baby he made his daughter, and he didn't wait for anyone else to order he just did it without them.


 * Connection: ** I can make a text-to-self connection to the novel __Along for the Ride__ by Sarah Dessen. In the story the main character Auden strives for good grades. Her parents are so proud of her and she doesn't want to let them down. For me it is the same way. I do not want to let my parents down and I will try my hardest to do well in my classes so that my parents will not get disappointed.