final reflection

after reading the Five People You Meet in Heaven, I have decided that it is a book everyone should read. I really enjoyed it because I was able to relate it to my own life. When Eddie dies and meets each person with a lesson I was able to connect those lessons with other books, TV shows, or events I have seen. Throughout the book I kept wondering if Eddie saved the little girl or if he would reunite with his father and Margurite. This book kept me on my toes every time I truned a page and read about the next person Eddie would meet in heaven. I would deffinately reccomend this book to anyone looking for a good summer novel.

Reflection

The novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom is very inspiring. I liked the lessons that Eddie learns, and how it can connect to other people's lives as well. I also like how it shows that no life is unimportant. Everyone impacts each other, and although some people may seem to play insignificant roles each person has a reason for meeting you. I loved how in the ending Eddie's fifth person was a little girl, who he burned in the fire. I also love how Eddie finally realized where his home was, which became his heaven. And his home was Ruby Pier. I think that it is a great book, and would recommend it to everyone.

Final Reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom was a really good book. I really liked how the book went to his life in heaven and flashbacked to his birthdays. I thouhgt this book was really inspiring and shows people that no matter how small of a life they think they live, they really are impacting lives. It also wasn't a predictable book. I thought i knew who Eddie was going to meet in heaven and I was wrong. I thought the end of this book was amazing. I had no clue about the girl in the fire and I never made the connection until I kept reading the book. I thought this book was sad but also inspiring and I was happy that in the end of it Eddie found his heaven and it was ironic how his heaven was in Ruby Pier. This was one of my favorite books and I really enjoyed reading it.

Reflection

The novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom, was an great book. This was a good book because it wasn't about the same thing threw out the whole book. The scenery, characters, and emotion of the story changed every time Eddie would go meet a new person in heaven, or when it would flash back to his past. Because Mitch Albom didn't have the whole book take place in one place, it made the book more interesting. This book makes you think about the littlest thing you do for someone, could mean so much more then you could ever think to them, and one day it will all come back to you. Eddies "meaningless" life really turned out to mean a lot to other people. Even the little things he did for people had a big impact on their lives.

Final Reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, for me, was unlike any book I have ever read. This book was interesting, inspirational, and really changes your outlook on life. Eddie was the type of ordinary guy who thought his role in life was meaningless. A lot of people today could feel this way, but finally when he had died and gone onto heaven, he had finally figured out his role and how he really had effected others. Before I had read this book, I really thought I hadn't effected many people in a big way, but after it makes me wonder what the little things I have done to effect other people. When Eddie had arrived in heaven, he had finally learned how many lives he had impacted. His journey through heaven had relieved all his regrets, grudges, and anger because heaven is a place where you let everything go and just enjoy yourself. Everyone always told me, before I read this book, how good it is, but I really never thought it would be as good as it was. From now on in life, I will appreciate the little things that people do for me, and I hope the little things I do will impact other peoples lives as well.

Final Reflection

I think that The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a great novel that teaches the reader many lessons. It teaches us the lessons of sacrifice and forgiveness. It also left us with many questions regarding heaven. It puts our lives into perspective and shows the readers that you can still live and love, way beyond life and death. It makes you realize that you should live the life that you have now to the fullest and do as many things as you can, and not to let regret build up inside of you, because it can destroy you. Eddie learned that forgiving someone takes a lot more strength and courage, then hating them. I also learned that in order to move forward in life, sometimes you have to forgive yourself and take some blame. This is a short novel with so many lessons packed into it. I really enjoyed reading it.

Final Reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom was a great novel on how the simplest things can affect your life.  This novel was an an easy read because it kept me want to read because of all the cliffhangers after each chapter.   This was overall a good book to read because of it's very interesting plot and vast settings. 

This was an inspiring book because it showed changes create for different opportunities. It also portrays the domino affect of life and how with littlest action someone's life can change forever.  Also this book was a great example of how just because something ends doesn't mean it's all over.  Because of this it made me take a different perspective on life and how something bad can eventually turn into something good.  I believe people who read this book too will see things differently in there life even if it make them change just a little bit. 

reflection

The novel The Five People You Meet in Heaven was an excellent novel. It opened my mind to many things that I never thought about. What is heaven really like? Will I have five people? Who will they be? The novel raised many questions and the lessons are life lessons that many people need. The novel put thoughts in your mind and opened up your eyes. As I was reading the book I thought of all the lessons and implied them to my life. The novel made you think. It made you think about your life and how little things impact it, how love and forgiveness is needed, and sacrifice. It made me realize how many things pass me by, like the girl in the burning hut that Eddie didn’t save. I would recommend this novel to anyone that asks. It is inspiring novels that opens your eyes to the world

Final Reflection

I enjoyed really the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven because it was one of those kinds of books that you just can't put down. It taught me many good lessons that can be related to life today. One big lesson it taught me was forgiveness. He had to forgive a lot of people that he made lead to their deaths. This book also really makes you think about what you could have an affect on or things that happened before you that you affected coming into this world. I recommend this book to basically anyone because it doesn't matter if you like to read or not. It's a short, easy to read book but it has so much meaning behind it.

Reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom was defiantly one of the most inspirational and best books I have ever read. It not only taught me life lessons but it actually gave me a better outlook on life. It taught to me to not only enjoy each day like it was my last one but to live each and everyday to my fullest. This novel gave me a great perspective, and positive view of “heaven” and the after life. I could only hope that everyone really does meet the five people who have most profoundly influenced their life and that we all ultimately wind up with the one person who truly makes us happy for all eternity. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to enjoy a good read and learn about what life has to offer.

Summary of The Five People You Meet In Heavenn!

The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a book written by Mitch Albom. It was such an interesting book. It has a different view about heaven and the after life. Eddie once a strong soldier, died a weak, unhappy man. Eddie met five people through out his life that shaped his life or saved it. When Eddie died, he met all of those people and they showed him how they made his life different. Eddie risked his life to save the little girl, just like one of the people Eddie meets saved his life for Eddie. " It wasn't your time" The Five People You Meet is an excellent book and i would recommend it to anyone

Final Reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom is defiantly one of the greatest books I have ever read. This novel has taught many lessons that actually relate to real life. It is one of the books that stays in the back of your mind and is not easily forgotten. I really enjoyed reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven because it is a quick and easy read and keeps my attention. I actually found myself reading it while i was watching television. It is one of the books that sucks you in and lets you escape from your world for awhile. I really appreciate Mitch Albom's writing, I suggest reading Tuesdays with Morrie also written by him because it is also life changing and has the same effect as The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Both of his books teach the important lessons in life that apply to everyone and are great at opening the reader's eye to what is going on around them.

Final Reflection

This book was definitely the best book I have ever read. Mitch Albom did a great job in turning a simple story of an old man into a miracle web of all different endings and lessons. He intertwined each person Eddie met with a specific life lesson that Eddie had learned from them. this book is outstanding and by far is the book that will keep you wanting to read. You never know whats going to happen next or who Eddie will encounter, but in the end they all come together to share the story of one man named Eddie. This book teaches you that everything that happens in your life occurs for some sort of reason. I highly recommend this book to anyone because it doesn't matter if you like to read or not. The way in which Mitch Albom writes will gather your attention and make you open your eyes to different perspectives and different views. This is the book to read. After reading it your sure to realize something and know that what your doing now is having an impact on others.

Reflection

I felt that the book The Five People you Meet in Heaven was very interesting and different. The book had a lot of feeling and it was a book that made you think about life and how you live your own. I enjoyed the book very much, it was very good and inspiring. It inspires me to think about my life and my day to day actions. I feel this way because you never know when it could be the end. I felt that this view of heaven in the book was very different and charming.

reflection

I really liked the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven because it really grabbed my attention and made me want to keep reading. I think that it teaches really good lessons throughout the book, things that can be related to like forgiveness. Also that it really makes you think about what you could have had an affect on or things that happened before you that you affected coming into this world.

Final Post

I think this book was a very good book. It kept me on my toes and made me want to read ahead to see who Eddie would meet in heaven. This book made me open my eyes and realize everything happens for a reason. The people you meet, the things you do, they all impact your life. You may not know or understand at the time but, Mitch Albom made me understand that you will eventually understand the reasoning when you go to heaven. I think this book can relate to everyones life and they can take it in all different perspectives. I highly suggest everyone reads this book.

Final Post

I liked the book, The Five People You Meet In Heaven because it kept you wanting to read. The book also taught you many things. Every person Eddie met in heaven was there for one reason and they taught him something, but they were also there to help him along his journey. As he met each person he began to understand the importance of his life and why they were there, but at the beginning he wasn't sure what the point of meeting these people was but as the time went on he grew to understand that they were there to teach him something.

Final Post

I enjoyed The Five People You Meet In Heaven because it taught me many life lessons. I think the book is about trying to make sense of your life when you don't understand what is happening. Eddie met people in heaven that he thought had no importance to him. The people that Eddie met actually had a great impact on his life. he just didn't know until now. This book teaches you that even though people may be different, they can teach you things and change the way you think about your life.

Reflection

I enjoyed The Five People you Meet in Heaven very much. It's a story about a man's life and his death, going to heaven, and learning that everything happens for a reason. I found this book to be very interesting because it made me think a lot about life. It also made me realize how you can look at different situations from other peoples views. I feel like this book can relate to anyone so I encourage everyone to read this book.

reflection

I really enjoyed the book The five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom. This book really have a lot of great life lessons in it. Eddie thought he was just a normal guy with a normal life with nothing really special happen to him. he never understood why he never left ruby Pier but when he died the 5 people in his after life explained everything to him. My favorite part of this book is in the end when he meets Tala and she tells him that he saved the girl at the park but unfortunately he killed her. Then she had explained to him that it was okay that he killed her cause he didn't know and he saved the girl, then she taught him about forgiveness.

reflection

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom is a book that really makes you think about your life and how you appreciate the things you have. I liked this book because the structure kept it very interesting. There were many flashbacks to Eddie's past birthdays and excerpts from the world without Eddie. It also showed the importance of forgiving, because Eddie never forgave his father and he never really spoke to him. He then realized it was too late to talk to him. Even though the book was sad, it showed the importance of sacrifice and love. He realized in heaven how important it is to appreciate what you have. It makes you think about your own life and how you treat everything you have, and everyone you have in your life.

Luminary

1." but the figure inside the booth remained hunched over, oblivious, ong hand resting on the table, the other holding a cigar, never looking up, no matter how many times Eddie howled it, over and ocer again: "Dad! Dad! Dad!'"
2. "he looks concerned. 'Eddie,' he says. 'come down. there's a phone call. I think something happened to your father."
3. "Eddie has once hoped death would mean reunion with those who went before him."

Summarizer

Key Points:
1. Eddie was neglected by his father and wasnt paid any attention by him.
2.Eddie and his brother got the violent side of their father as well, and there mother wasnt allowed to help them.
3. When Eddie blocked his fathers punch, and finally got the courage to stick up for himself his father punished him and never talked to him again. I think that this greatly effected Eddie.

Illustrator

Connector

Eddie's father gave out the discipline, and Eddie's mother gave out the tenderness and love. This can relate to society today because men are often looked at as the ones who do all the work and make time for the kids when it is good for them. Women are often looked at as the ones who should stay home and take care of the kids. Therefore this relates because Eddie is saying how this was the case in his life. His mom took care of him and his brother, and his dad worked and drank; spending small amounts of time with Eddie.

"All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped." This connects to life today because parents damage their children throughout their whole childhood; from the younger years to teenage years. Some parents damage them emotionally, while other parents damage them physically. The damage inflicted on children by their parents is always present. It is an unavoidable factor in all children's lives.

Discussion Director

1. Who else do you think Eddie might meet in Heaven?

2. What effect did Eddie's father have on his life that he would be one of the people Eddie meets in Heaven?

3. What do you think Eddie would say to his father after all those years of not talking?

Connector

On Saturdays, Eddie's father took him to the pier. Eddie would leave the apartment with visions of carousels and globs of cotton candy, but after an hour or so, his father would find a familiar face and say, "Watch the kid for me, will ya?" Until his father returned, usually late in the afternoon, often drunk, Eddie stayed in the custody of an acrobat or an animal trainer.

-This can connect to every little kid. When you think of something fun you like to do, you think of the positive things. When Eddie thinks about the pier, he thinks about cotton candy and rides. However, sometimes the plans doesn't go the way you want it to. The part where Eddie's father leaves him for the day and doesn't come back until the late afternoon because he was getting drunk all night might not happen to you. You could of gone to a circus with your family and your little brother gets sick so you have to go home. There are a lot of things that may stop you from having the fun day that you dreamed about.

summarizer

1.When Eddie notices his dad looking at him his dad looks away quickly. This shows how Eddie and his fathers realationship is. They do not have a good realationship. 2.When Eddies Dad would come home drunk after playing cards he would sometimes beat Eddie. If he lost his card games he would get angry and beat Eddie and Eddies mom had to watch in horror. 3. When Eddie finally stood up for himself and blocked his fathers punch. His Father never talked to him again.

connector

"Still for countless hours of his boardwalk youth, Eddie waited for his father's attention, sitting on railings or squatting in his short pants atop tool chests in the repair shop. " I think this is a very important aspect of the book that can be related to. Many children are constantly trying to get their parents attention and/or approval. Kids can relate to not meeting up to their parents standards. I think this is something many people can relate to especially during teenage years since its a lot harder to receive their parents attention and the standards could be raised in some situations just like Eddie.

Literary Luminary

"No!" Eddie yelled. "No! No!" He banged until he was sure the glass would break. "No!" He kept yelling until he word he hadn't spoken in decades finally formed in this throat. He screamed that word then---He screamed it so loudly that his head throbbed. But the figure hunched over oblivious, one hand resting on the table, the other holding a cigar, never looking up, not matter how many times Eddie howled it,
"Dad! Dad! Dad!"

"The soldier in the next bed wakes up yelling, "What the hell?" He realizes where he is and drops back down, embarrassed."

"Eddie cathces his eye. His father looks down and runs his hand over the windowsill. Eddie tightens every muscle in his body and attempts, by sheer will, to force the trears back into his ducts."

literary luminary

1.They sat quietly for a while, shifting their postures as if taking turns. Dominguez sighed. Willie reached inside his shirt pocket, fishing for a stick of gum. It was Monday. It was morning. They were waiting for the old man to come in and get the workday started.

2. "Dad! Dad! Dad!"

3. other nights, when the cards went bad and the bottles had been emptied and his mother was already asleep, his father brought his thunder into Eddie and Joe's bedroom.

summarizer

1) Eddie is outside a diner and he looks in and see many people , but he also sees his father and starts to scream.
2)Eddie was never really loved by his father and offten neglected.
3)We learned that Eddie did adore his father and thought he had to devote himself to him.
4)Eddie and his father had a falling out after Eddie had come back from war. His father didn;t understand everything Eddie had gone through and wanted him to get up and move on with his life.

Discussion Director

1. Do you believe that all parents damage their children?

2. Why is Eddie's father one of the people he meets in heaven after the way he has treated Eddie?

3. Who do you think the next person Eddie will meet is?

discusion director

1. In what why did Ruby, the third person Eddie meets in heaven, impact Eddie's life? Does she directly or indirectly cause the outcome of Eddie's life?
2. What do you think Eddie will say to his father if he speaks to him? Will it be an apology, question or will he even talk to him?
3. Do you think Eddie's father will react if Eddie speaks to him. If he does will he just listen, become angry, happy, sad, ect.?

Discussion Director

1. Who was Eddie's 3rd person he met in heaven? Whats so important about her that helped shape Eddie's life? (pg116)

2. What did Ruby tell Eddie about his dad? How did that end up? (pg 124)

3. How would you feel if you never spoke to your parents and when you wanted to it was to late?

Illustrator

Luminary

1. "He turned back from the door. He drew deep breaths. His heart pounded. He spun around again, then banged wildly on the windowpanes." page 100

2. .."Eddie privately adored his old man, because sons will adore their fathers through even the worst behaviour. It is how they learn devotion. Before he can devote himself to God or a woman, a boy will devote himself to his father, even foolishly, even beyond explanation." page 106

3. "Unbeknownst to him, he had befun the ritual of semaphore with his father, forsaking words or physical affection. It was to be done internally. You were just supposed to know it, that's all. Denial of affection. The damage done." page 108

Discussion Director

1. Why do you think as Eddie learns more lessons he starts to become more of the man he was on Earth, "scars, fat and all?"

2. How do you think Eddie's father taking him to Ruby Pier and telling someone to, "Watch the kid for me," made Eddie feel about Ruby Pier? Do you think it had anything to do with him getting a job there when he was older?

3. What do you think will happen if Eddie talks with his father in heaven?

Summarizer

Key Points:

• The third person Eddie meets in heaven is his dad


• He sees his dad for the first time at a diner


• Eddie can't here his dad when his is talking
• Eddie's father wasn't really a father to Eddie when he was younger

Picture

Literary Luminary pg:86-97

1."There was nobody in that hut. What was i thinking? If only i didn't go in there..."His voice dropped to a whisper."Why didn't i just die?" (pg:88)


2."I figure it's like in the bible, the Adam and Eve deal" the captin said. "Adam's first night on earth? When he lays down to sleep? He thinks it;s all over, right? He doesnt know what sleep is. His eyes are closing and he thinks he's leaving this world, right? "only he isn't. He wakes up the next morning and he has a fresh new world to work with, but he has something else too. He has his yesterday" (pg92)

3. "Time," the Captin said, "is not what you think." he sat down next to Eddie. "Dying? not the end of everything. we think it is. But what happens on earth is only the beginning."

4.i Shoot you, all right," he said, "and you lost something, but you gained something as well. you just dont knwo it yet. i gained something, too"
"What?"
"I got to keep my promise. i didnt leave you behind"(pg:94)

5."by the way i dont smoke anymore. That was all in your eyes, too" He chuckeled. "Why would i smoke in heaven?"

illustrator

Discussion director pg:77-86

1.On page 76 What was Eddie going to ask Margverite before he left to war?
2.Was there anything in the fire or was it his mind playing tricks on him?
3.Who saved Eddie from beeing burned to death?
4.What did the captin do and why?
5.Who do you think Eddie's next person wil be?

Illustrator

Illustrator

Summarizer

1) The Captain told Eddie he was the one who shot him in the leg in order to save his life.
2) Eddie is told that the Captain died from a land mine during their escape.
3) Eddie learns his second lesson about sacrifice being a part of life and that he must accept that the Captain shot him for a good reason.
4) All Eddie can think about is whether he saved the girl or not. He asks the Captain, but he can not give him the asnwer.

Discussion Director

1) Why do you think that Eddie chose to forgive the captain after he ruined his life?

2) Why do you think the captain compares his situation with Adam's first night on earth?

3) Why do you think that Eddie met his second person, the captain, in the battlefield?

Connector

In the novel it says, "All parents damage their children."  I think this is true and easy for teenagers like us to connect to.  This is because there can be a lot of things that we disagree with our parents that we think aren't right.  Even though we might not be hurt by our parents like Eddie is, they can still hurt us emotionally, mentally, and socially. This statement is something that everyone can relate to at least once in their life.

One of the biggest issues in the novel is when Eddie's family has to go through get used to him not being able to use his leg anymore.  In today's society it is very common for someone with a disability to be avoided.  For example most people would try to ignore from someone with a missing limb.  This is shown in society and the book because people are insecure of how to act or what to say to someone disabled.

ryan montvydas

Discussion Director

Question- How does Eddie react to the news from the Captian?

Question- Describe Eddies realationship with his father.

Question- How does Eddie feel about his life on earth.

Question- Why might someone say he is over reacting?

Question- What would Eddie do if he could go back?

Summarizer

Key Points:

1. The Captain explains to Eddie how he "took his leg to save his life."
2. The second lesson Eddie learned was about sacrifice, and how it is a part of life is not something to regret.
3. We learn the captain had been waiting for Eddie to accept the fact that he had shot him and for a good reason.
4. Eddie wants to learn what had happened to the little girl but the Captain says he can't tell him.

Discussion Director

1. Who do you think the 3rd person Eddie meets in heaven will be? Why?

2. Why can't Eddies father hear him?

3. What do you think the next lesson will be and how will this help Eddie in his journey meeting the five people?

Connector

The Captain tells Eddie that the blue man was a part of his life, part of why he lived and how he lived. I think this could be related to everyones life because even if you dont notice it, there are many people that affect your life in different ways. You may not realize it yet but later on in life you might figure out how they really helped you.

The Captain talks a lot about sacrifice. He says "Sacrifice is a part of life. Its supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to." I believe sacrifices are made by most people so i can relate this quote to everyones life. This is because they should make sacrifices for others and realize the good side of it, not the negative sides of the sacrifice.

disscussion director

1. What emotions does Eddie show when he finds the old picture in his helmet? 2. What does Eddie realize about the way he lived hiw own life, when he finds out that the captain was killed? 3. Why do you think that Eddie forgave the captain?

Connector

In the novel the Captain had scarificed him self for his other men. He tells Eddie that everbody has to make scarifices and some people get anrgy becuase they relize what the lost, like Eddie had. I related this to my self. I remeber all thoes times i didn't want to go places with my family becuas I wanted to go out with my firends. I thought that everyone was hving a good time but me becuase I stuck at home. When I read this it made me relize that alot of people are doing things that they don't want to be doing, but its scarifce. Some scrifces are bug like losing a life and others are small, but if means saving a life or seeing a person smile becuase your spending time with them, it is worth it.


The Captain had a promise, and that was to leave no man behinde. when Eddie was going into the fire the captain had shot him in the leg, but it saved his life. The Captain kept his promise that he made and in the world to day you don't tend to see that very offten. People say lots of things, but no action occurs. I can recall many times a promise made had been broken in my life. It takes someone strong to keep a promise, even stronger to keep a promise. People that say something and put it in to action are the people I admire, becuase today that doesn;t happen to offten.

Discussion Director

1. If you had to choose your heaven what would it be? Why?

2. What do you think Eddies final heaven will be like?

3. If you could take one thing to war with you [ex. a picture], what would you bring?

The Connector

Before the Caption shot Eddie, he tried to just talk to him and convince him not to try to save the people and just walk away like all the other soldiers were doing. Eddie was convinced nothing could hurt him and didn't even think about himself being hurt, or killed. People sometimes are very stubborn and wont just listen to others who are trying to help until they can prove it, or they find out there self. This connects to my life because last summer my parents would tell me every day not to drive or get in cars with teenagers or kids without experience. I was just like Eddie, I knew bad things had happened to other people, but I thought it would never, and could never happen to me.

Sometimes people need to sacrifice them selfs, parts of them selfs, others, ect., in order to protect someone else, or them self. The Caption sacrificed Eddie's leg by shooting him so he wouldn't go into the fire to try to save the people, and Eddie would have died if he went in. This is ironic because he wanted to go in to save other people meanwhile he would be sacrificing himself. I've never had to sacrifice something as big as the things that are sacrificed in this book, but I've had to sacrifice things such as, going out with my friends, for a soccer, basketball, lacrosse game or practice. Most people have had to sacrifice doing something they've wanted to for something they committed to or was just the right thing to do.

discussion director

1. Why would Eddie not want to open the envelope with his medal, or find any details about his captain?

2. What feelings does Eddie have when he sees the crumpled up picture in his helmet?

3. Why does the captain chose to wait in heaven in the spot where he was killed?

Literary Luminary

• "My...leggggg!" Eddie seethed. "My life!" page 88
• "I took your leg," the Captain said, quietly, "to save your life."
• "Time," the Captain said, "is not what you think." He sat down next to Eddie. "Dying? Not the end of everything. We think it is. But what happens on earht is only the beginning. " page 91
• Eddie loked around. "But this is war." "To you. But our eyes are different," the Captain said. "What you see ain't what I see."

Literary Luminary

1. "I took your leg," the captain said, quietly, "to save your life." (page 88 paragraph 2)
2. "I got to leep my promise. I didn't leave you behind." (page 94 paragraph 4)
3. "Wait," Eddie yellwed. "I gotta knwo something. My death. At the pier. Did i save that girl? I felt hand, but i can't remember- " (page 96 paragraph 2)
4. Eddie looked down. Inside the helmet flap was a crumpled photo of a woman that made his heart ache all over again. When he looked up, the captain was gone. (page 96 last paragraph)
5. They sat quitley for a while, shifting their postures as if taking turns. Domnigue sighed. Willie reached inside his shirt pocket, fishing for a stick of gum. It was Monday. It was morning. They were waiting for the old man to come in and get the workday started.

Literary Luminary

1. "Eddie would leave the apartment with visions of carousels and globs of cotton candy, but after an hour or so, his father would find a familiar face and say, "Watch the kid for me, will ya?" Until his father returned, usually late in the afternoon, often drunk, Eddie stayed in the custody of an acrobat or animal trainer." (pg. 104)

2. "Other nights, when the cards went bad and the bottles had been emptied and his mother was already asleep, his father brought his thunder into Eddie and Joe's bedroom. He raked through the meager toys, hurling them against the wall. Then he made his sons lie facedown on the mattress while he pulled off his belt and lashed their rear ends, screaming that they were wasting his money on junk." (pg. 105)

3. "Eddie's fingernails, like his father's were stained with grease, and at the dinner table Eddie would flick them with his thumbnail, trying to get the dirt out. He caught his father watching him once and the old man grinned. "Shows you did a hard day's work," he said, and he held up his own dirty fingernails." (pg. 107)

Summarizer

1. The 3rd Person Eddie Meets in Hevan is his father

2. When he was younger he feared his father.

3. But As Eddie got older he followed in his father's foot steps.

4. His brother Joe beilved that Eddie and their Father got along better because Eddie Followed in his fathers foot steps and Joe didn't.

Literary Lumminary

1. "Eddie looked down. Inside the helmet flap was a crumpled photo of a women who made his heart ache all over again." page 96
2. "The captian walked over to the helmaet, rife, and dog tags, the symbloic grave, still stuck in the ground. He placed the helmet and tags under one arm.." Page 94
3. "It was monday, It was morning. They were waiting for the old man to come in and get the work day started." Page 97

illustrator

The Connector

The part of the book on p.93 when the captian is talking about sacrifices and how they are a part of life and everybody makes them. He says sometimes people regret them, and sometimes they know it is the right thing to do. In my life time I did not yet have to make many sacrifices, but one I made was when I didnt go out to west point the vacation spot wiht my friend and her family. Instead, I stayed home and took care of my grandpa after he got out of tripple bi base surgery. This was a sacarfice that I did not regret because I know that this was the right thing to do. Making this decsion actually made me closer with my grandpa. Could you relate to a situation like this ?

On p. 85 the Captian is talking about how he comes from three generations of military, and how his father would treat him like he was always in war. My grandpa had been in a family that was always going into the military and his father would always bounce a quater off his bed just like the captians dad did. Is anyone in your family in the military?

Summarizer

1. Eddie enters the barn thinking that someone is trapped in there
2. The captain shots Eddie in the leg.
3. Eddie learns the captains reason for shooting him in the leg
4. The captain tells Eddie how he died.
5. The captain asks Eddies forgiveness.

Literary Luminary

1."A freed soldier is often furious. The days and nights he lost, the torture and humiliation he suffered-it all demands a fierce revenge, a balancing of the accounts." pg 81 I like the way the author describes how war can make you feel as a soldier.
2. "For me that little idea was what I told you guys every day. No one gets left behind." pg 86 The way the author showed how sometimes the little things you say or do, have a big impact on other people.
3. "His running was over. His dancing was over. Worse for some reason, the way he thought about things was over, too.... He came home a different man." pg 88 This description shows how deeply things effect you and how one thing really can change your life.
4."In that instant the whole of the war came surging out of him like bile.... madly convinced that there was a soul inside every black shadow." pg 83 This quote explains how looking back you can see how your opinions of things change especially when the reality of something hits you.
5."And there she is in the kitchen doorway looking wonderful... Eddie mostly wants to freeze time." pg 77-78 This shows another side of Eddie. A softer side where he feels something other than anger and bitterness, which are the emotions we often see in Eddie.

Connector

Alot of men go to war because they believe it helps them reach their manhood. They also usually have to leave something behind, be it their familiers, friends, or lovers.

The captain tells Eddie that he has to make sacrifices and this is true, he like other soldiers in the war had to leave his loved ones behind him. Unfortunately, he is putting his life at home on hold because of leaving for the war. A majority of soldiers do this today as well, putting their life on hold at home so they can concentrate on the war/fight in it.

Other sacrifices are done during the war, such as people dying for other people or even injuring a fellow soldier in order to save them. The captain did this to Eddie, shooting him in the leg in order to save Eddie from actually dying (by burning in the flames), and Eddie was only finding out now. "...A leg wound would heal..." While his other injury would have been fatal.

Summarizer

There is a flashback to Eddie's Birthday party and going off to the war. Eddie and Marguerite must say good bye for now, until he returns. Eddie, Morton, Smitty, and the Captain burn the mine and it's surrounding buildings. They also manage to get an escape vehicle. Eddie goes into a burning barn to save what he thinks is an innocent person, but in fact just his imagination. He is saved from the fire; however he gets shot in the leg. The captain reminds Eddie of the hope the men had, and the promise that no one gets left behind. The captain then tells Eddie that he was the one who shot him in the leg. Eddie is outraged and confused.

Key points:
1) Marguerite goes over Eddie's house for his birthday, and they say good bye.
2) Soldiers burn down the mine and its surroundings.
3) Eddie goes into the burning building.
4) Eddie is saved, but gets shot in his leg.
5) Eddie learns that the Captain was the one that shot him in the leg, Eddie is outraged with the Captain

Literay Luminary- The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Page 77 paragraph 4
"The front door opens and Eddie hears a voice that makes his heart jump, even now. He wonders if this is a weakness he shouldn't be taking off to war. "Hiya, Eddie," Marguerite says."
Eddie loves Marguerite so much that she makes him nervous and jumpy every time he sees her. this passage is showing his great love for her.
Page 78 paragraph 2
"She laughs. "You haven't opened it yet." "Listen." He moves closer. "Do you---" "Eddie!" someone yells from the other room. "Come on and blow out the candles."
Eddie was trying to think of the right words to say to Marguerite but he can't think of them then gets interupted.
What do you think he was trying to say to her?
Page 80
"A freed soldier is often furious. The days and nights he lost, the torture and humiliation he suffered--- it all demands a fierce revenge, a balancing of the accounts."
Eddie is acting in a very rash way, by thinking of burning down their camp. He is angry over the months he spent in captivity away from his family.
Page 81
"This was over," he said to himself. Over. All these weeks and months in the hands of those bastards, those subhuman guards with their bad teeth and bony faces and the dead hornets in their soup."
He is going over again and again the horrors that he had to endure in his head. This passage is displaying his extreme hatred towards his captors.
"Why do you say that?" Eddie asked. The captain blew smoke, then mentioned with the end if the cigarette toward Eddie's leg. "Because I was on the one," he said, "who shot you."
Eddie is finally getting some answers as to who injured him and what happened to his leg all of those years ago.

Connector

In the scene were Eddie learns his 2nd lesson, his captain tell him about sacrifices. I had made a few sacrifices from being with my friends during vacations and breaks to stay home to watch my blind grandfather. In the end I realized me staying home with him isn't a sacrifice but a chance to spend time with him. Just like Eddie realized it wasn't a sacrifice he made but passing it on to others.

Discussion Director

1. How did you feel when you read that Eddie's captain was the one who shot him?

2. Why do you think Eddie wanted to go into the burning hut to see if someone was in there?

3. Why do you think the author tells us so much about Eddie when he was in the war?

4. How would you feel if someone you cared about was very ill and died right next to you?

5. What do you predict the second lesson is?

Summarizer

Summary: After showing the crazies how to juggle and then beating them to death, Eddie and his army buddies are finally free. While on the escape they burn the place that has held them captive for the longst time. While watching the blaze Eddie suddenly sees what e thinks is a person, buring along with the building. Eddie being the brave character he is, tried his hardest to save a life. The captian, not wanting eddie to risk his life shot eddie in the leg.

Key Points:
1. Eddie and his crew escape
2. They burn the place down
3. Eddie sees someone burning
4. Eddie goes to save them
5. The captian shoots Eddie
6. Eddie Gets mad @ the captian

Discussion Director

1. How do you feel about Eddie and Marguerites "relationship"?
2. What did you think of the line "for the first time he was ready to die"?
3. What do you think it means when the author says "war has crawled inside of Eddie"?
4. How did you react/feel when the captian told eddie he was the one that shot him?
5. What do you think the caption meant by "I took your leg to save your life"?

Summarizer

Summary:
Eddie and his friends in the army finally get out of being held captive. They decide to burn the place down and Eddie is told to burn the barn down. While the barn is on fire, Eddie thinks he sees someone trapped inside the barn and he starts running in to save the person. The rest of his friends try to get him out but Eddies too strong to be held back. Eddie learns that the captain had actually shot him in his leg to be pulled out of the fire. He's mad at the captain and didn't realize it was the only way to save his life.

Key Points:
1. Eddie escapes from being held captive.
2. Eddie trys to save a person in a fire.
3. Eddies too strong to be held back from the fire.
4. Captain shoots Eddie in the leg.
5. Eddies mad at the captain.

Connector

connection #1:
Part of book- pg. 77-79, It is Eddie's birthday and his friends and family are over his house to wish him goodbye because he is going to war. In this scene Eddie and Marguerite walk along the promenade to say their goodbyes.
Connection- The connection I have made from this scene was that it is similar in what is going on today with the war. Everyday people are being called in to fight and have to say their goodbyes to their loved ones sooner than they had hoped. I loved reading the part where Eddie and Marguerite walk along the promenade to say their goodbyes and promise to stay with eachother. Soldiers today, like Eddie, may have had a plans on getting married or starting a relationship and unfortunately these soldier just have to put their lives on hold to go fight in the war.

connection #2:
Part of book- p.82-83, Eddie is convinced that something/someone ran into the burning barn.
Connection- When soldiers go to war, many of them come back paranoid by the horrible things they have seen there. This part reminds me of that because after being at war for such a long time and seeing people being killed, you could start to go crazy and Eddie starts to do that here.

Discussion Director

1. Do you think Eddie going back into to the burning hut had any affect on his attempt to save the little girl from the ride.  
2. How might this foreshadow what has happened to the little girl from the ride.
3. What part of this section has affected Eddie the most.
4. What were you thinking and feeling when you found out Eddie was shot by his own captain. What do you think someone who is a veteran solider may feel differently about this.
5. How would you feel if someone you were close to was killed right next to you and how this would affect you.

ryan montvydas

Discussion Director

1. Why do you think Eddie wanted to go into the burning hut to see if someone was stuck in there?
2. What do you think his emotions were at that time?
3. Why do you think there is a lot of information about Eddie fighting in the war?
4. What do you think the author is trying to say by adding different lessons within the book?
5. What is your prediction about the second lesson?

connector

Part of book: The soldiers are freed from the captivity, they all want revenge. They steal as many weapons and want to burn down the camp they were held captive.
connection : People everyday have feelings of revenge, even for the smallest things. Although Eddie's feeling was much stronger, anyone can relate to being oppressed and wanting to retaliate or get back at the person or situation they are faced with. For example, with an event like September 11Th, many people felt feelings of revenge wanting to retaliate against the terrorists. If some people had the chance like Eddie and the other soldiers, i believe people would want to do something to them because of the strong feeling of vengeance within some people in our country.

Part of book: Eddie thinks he seems someone in the burning barn, so he goes back into the barn to try and save whoever or whatever it is.
connection: Everyday people have to decipher whether to do the right thing, even if it may not benefit them in any way. Eddie chose to do what he could to save someone or something, because he thought it was the right thing to do. People face this same situation in everyday life and it could potentially greatly change the course of someones life. Just like Eddie tried to do the right thing by saving this person, even though he can no longer run and has a permanent limp.

Part of book: After Eddie is in the burning fire, someone goes in to save him.
connection: Eddies captain uses the motto, "no one gets left behind." Eddie and the other soldiers found comfort in this throughout the war. One of the soldiers saves Eddie from burning to death, following his captains motto. This shows a loyalty and bond between a group of soldiers that were complete strangers outside of the war. This is much like another tragedy our country faced, hurricane Katrina. Complete strangers were giving out a helping hand, in this time of need. This shows that friends and even strangers show loyalty and come together in stressful and scary situations, leaving no one behind.

Illustrator