Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie: Blog #2
Describe how each of the Alper's (mom, dad, Steven, and Jeffrey) are handling Jeffrey's illness. Give specific examples from the story that show each character's reaction to Jeffrey's leukemia. Also, discuss how his brother's disease has affected Steven's attitude toward his mom and dad. Finally, explain who you believe is handling the disease the best and why.
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Mom is devastated about her son’s illness. She starts to cry after she here’s the details that Jeffrey is telling Steven. Stevens’s dad doesn’t even know what to say about it. He doesn’t even talk to Steven for a whole week and doesn’t tell him anything about Jeffrey’s illness. Steven is very worried about his younger brother. He is worrying about it all the time and he cares for Jeffrey. Jeffrey is trying to be strong and positive. He tries to tell what happened to him in a positive way and with all the stuff he had been through he thought of Steven and got him some tic-tacs. I think Jeffrey is handling the illness the best because he is trying to be strong and care for others. He also acts positive around his family to try to make them feel better. Mom is devastated about her son’s illness. She starts to cry after she here’s the details that Jeffrey is telling Steven. Stevens’s dad doesn’t even know what to say about it. He doesn’t even talk to Steven for a whole week and doesn’t tell him anything about Jeffrey’s illness. Steven is very worried about his younger brother. He is worrying about it all the time and he cares for Jeffrey. Jeffrey is trying to be strong and positive. He tries to tell what happened to him in a positive way and with all the stuff he had been through he thought of Steven and got him some tic-tacs. I think Jeffrey is handling the illness the best because he is trying to be strong and care for others. He also acts positive around his family to try to make them feel better.
Mrs. Alper is very depressed about her son's illness. She feels as if it's her fault and she could have stopped it, even though that is completely impossible. She also has trouble telling people what is wrong with her son, because it is just to much for her to handle. For example, when Mrs. Alper and Jeffrey get home from Philidelphia Jeffrey tells Steven about what had happened while he was down there and Steven's mom started to cry.
Mr. Alper isn't really the emotional type. He barely says a word when he finds out about his son's illness and barely talks to Steven about the whole situation. Mrs. Alper had been calling every night but Mr. Alper hadn't said anything to Steven.
Steven thinks he should have been able to protect Jeffrey from his cancer just like he has been protecting him from things his whole life. Steven blames himself just like his mom did for what has happened to Jeffrey. When they got home from Philidelphia Steven gets very frustrated and then breaks down in his moms arm. He also says he will do everything he can to help his brother.
Jeffrey doesn't fully understand that he has been diagnosed with cancer and what it is. He thought the hospital was fun even though they had to remove bone marrow from his hip and spine. He is even generous enough to get his older brother a souveneir while he had been going through all this.
Steven has been very short with his parents after finding out about Jeffrey's illness. Then he tends to break down and cry, but he stills trys to keep his parents and Jeffrey happy.
I think Jeffrey is handling the disease best. He acts just as happy as he was when he left and makes it seem like everything is ok. Which probably makes his family happy but sad, because he doesn't fully understand his diagnosis.
Mom is very upset because of her son's illness. When Jeffrey tells Steven about what happened at the hospital she started to cry. She did not want people to visit until she and Jeffrey were back from Philadelphia. She blames herself for Jeffrey having leukemia.
Mr. Alper has stopped showing any emotion. He has hardly even looked at Steven the whole time Jeffrey was in Philadelphia. He couldn't even tell Steven about the phone call's from his mother.
Steven blames himself just like his mother and father. He starts making bargains with god to help Jeffrey get better. He is so upset that he starts crying when his mother mentions counseling for him, so that he can handle the situation better.
I don't think that Jeffrey knows much abouth what is happening to him. Some parts he thinks are cool(the moving hopital bed)and other parts are not(the needles).
Steven has been taking out all his frustration on his mom.I think that Jefftey handles the situation the best. He is still happy and acts just as normal as before. Probably because he doesn,t know much about what is happening to him.
Steven’s mom takes Jeffery’s illness very hard. She starts to cry as Jeffery tells Steven about his experiences in the hospital. She also blames herself for not noticing that Jeffery was sick earlier. Steven’s dad stays quiet the whole time Jeffery and his mom are away in Philadelphia. He doesn’t talk to Steven or even tell him that his mom had been calling every night. I think he doesn’t know how to express his feels about the illness or know how to talk about it. Steven has a hard time wrapping his mind around the fact that Jeffery has cancer. During the time Jeffery and his mom were gone, Steven tried to convince himself that the diagnosis of his little brother’s cancer was all a mistake. That shows that he doesn’t want to believe Jeffery has cancer. Jeffery, on the other hand, goes on thinking about his family before himself even though he is very sick. For example, while he was away, he got Steven a box of tic tacs. Also after he got sick, he wasn’t sorry for himself, he was worried about his big brother being mad at him.
Steven takes all his frustration out on his mom. He even thinks to himself, “… and completely horrible and sarcastic to my mom.” Meanwhile he tries to be the perfect big brother for Jeffery and his dad wasn’t talking to him so he was quiet around him. I think he takes everything out on his mom because if his dad isn’t talking and he is trying to be nice to Jeffery, his mom is the only one left in the family.
I think Jeffery is taking his disease the best because even though he has bruises and is very sick, he acts like a little boy should. For example, he still finds time to tease his brother. Jeffery’s mom is very emotional, his dad isn’t talk about it, and Steven doesn’t know how to handle dealing with the illness. Jeffery is the only person in the family who is acting like they were before the diagnosis. I also think he doesn’t quite know what’s going on.
Mrs. Alper is very uspset about Jeffery's illness. For example, while Jeffery is describing what happened while they were at the hospital, his mom is crying. She think's that she could of done something to stop him from getting this disease. Also, it is hard for his mom to tell people at first, because it is hard for her to accept what is happening.
Mr. Alpher keeps all of his feelings inside. He doesn't talk about the illness to anyone.
Steven think's that he could of "protected" Jeffery from this illness because according to his Grandpa, he is his protector. Even though there is nothing that could change what is happening, Steven think's that it is his fault. When his mom tries to help him, Steven takes all his anger out on her. Then he cries in her arms because he doesn't know what to do. In addition, he is very sad about what is going on with Jeffery, but he also know's how to make Jeffery and his parent's feel better when they need cheered up!
I think Jeffery is taking his illness the best. He is the same old Jeffy! He still wants to play and have fun, and not sit on the couch and do nothing all day. His family is haplpy but also sad at the same time. They are happy because he is happy, but they are sad because he doesn't completly know what he is going through and doesn't understand how serious it is.
Steven's mother is doing the worst of all of them. She cries just thinking of Jeffrey's leukemia. She is also infuriated just about the fact that Steven's father didn't tell Steven anything about Jeffrey's leukemia. Steven's father is also doing pretty bad, but not as bad as his mother. He had a good reason not to tell Steven about Jeffrey, but Steven needed to know. Also, his father is really not the same after Jeffrey is diagnosed. He talks less and does not seem to be as easy going as he used to be. Steven seems to be very confused about his brother’s leukemia. He has stopped doing his homework, pushed away one of his only friends who tried to help, and he has started being outraged at his mother. He doesn't know why his mother is making him so angry, but she was. He didn't really talk to his father much, but his father was being quieter to him too. Finally, I believe that Jeffrey is having the best reaction to his leukemia, mostly because of how he doesn't know anything is wrong with him. Jeffrey is a lot more tired than normal, doesn't feel as well, and is starting to not want to play with Steven, which he used to never do since Jeffrey idolizes Steven.
I agree with everyone so far with the fact that Jeffrey is taking his illness the best.
Mom is really upset by Jeffery's illness. Any time someone talks about his illness, she gets upset and cries. She cried when Jeffery was telling Steven what all he did at the hospital. Dad is really quiet about it. I think he is trying to ignore it most of the time because he doesn't want to think about it. He didn't tell Steven anything while they were gone and he still doesn't really talk about Jeffery's sickness in the book. Steven thinks it is all his fault. He worries about Jeffery all of the time. Jeffery knows that he is sick, but I don't think he really knows how serious it really is.
Steven's attitude toward his mom and dad has changed a lot. He doesn't tell them nearly as much as he did before because he dosn't want to have to go to a therapist. He also takes out his anger on his mom when she is explaining what is going on with Jeffery's leukemia.
I think that Jeffery is handeling the diesase the best because he isn't really scared about it. That may be because he doesn't know all of the details about his condition. He still wants to play and have fun, though, when he is not tired.
Mom is very upset about Jeffery's illness. She is always on the verge of crying. When they come back from the treat ment in Philly Jeffery tells Steven what happened to him. She starts to cry as she hears her son go into deatail
Steven's dad doesn't really act like he knows what to do. When Jeffery and Steven's mom are in Philly, she calls every night and talks to Steven's dad. Steven's dad with holds the information about Jeffery. "You didn't tell him I callled? Didn't you tell him anything? He atleast knows about Jeffery's condition, doesn't he?"
Steven seems very upset about Jeffery's illness. He is always comparing how he is now to how he was before he got the disease. "This is the kid who made me play hungry hippos untill I thought my hands were going to fall of, and now he is to sick to play with me.Steven is worried about Jeffery and shows it alot. Also Steven often takes his frustration out on his mother.
Jeffery is handling is disease well. He is trying to be the same cheery boy. He is postive in most situations. He is also very caring.
I think Jeffery is handling his disease the best. He remains positive and cheerful when optimism is needed most. He is loving and caring. He always thinks about his family. I feel that Jeffery is a strong person and his optimism and cheery personality makes his family feel better in the worst of times.
I agree with everyone that has posted so far that Jeffery is handling his illness the best so far in the story.
I agree with people so far that Steven is taking all of his anger and pain out on his mom. Hopefully he gets better about that.
I think Mom is taking Jeffrey’s illness the hardest. For example, when she and Jeffrey arrived back from the big city, she was crying. She was showing how she copes with the fact her son has cancer. Also, when she arrived home, Steven noticed how “old and tired she looked.” This shows that she hadn’t gotten much sleep because she had been up worrying about what would happen to Jeffrey.
Dad is very quiet about Jeffrey’s illness. For instance, while Mom and Jeffrey were at Philadelphia, Dad never told Steven what was going on. He is trying to keep all his feelings inside to help him feel better about what is going on with his youngest son. Also, when Dad and Steven are in the car, they ride “without one word being spoken.”
Steven hasn’t handled Jeffrey’s illness very well. For example, he was only thinking about himself during the week when his mom and Jeffrey were gone, when he should have been thinking about his sick brother. He also felt like he was almost forgotten during this week. For instance, his dad didn’t pay hardly any attention to him, and nobody told him what was going on with Jeffrey while he was away. He was very lonely during that week.
I think Jeffrey has taken his illness the easiest because he is very young. I don’t think he really understands what his illness is and how serious leukemia can be. In addition, Jeffrey brought Steven tic-tacs when he came back from his “vacation.” I think that shows that he is trying not to let this illness bring him down.
Jeffrey’s illness has changed Steven’s attitude toward his parents. I think Steven knows that his mom and dad have a lot to deal with considering his brother’s illness. I believe that Steven feels like he isn’t good enough to get much attention. He feels like an outsider to the family until his parents explain everything to him.
I believe that Jeffrey has handled the disease the best because he has acted like himself through everything so far. He hasn’t let this disease get the best of him. Even though his has bruises and gets sick, he still acts like the same kid before he was diagnosed with leukemia.
I agree with Emilie E. on how Steven's dad "doesn’t know how to express his feels about the illness or know how to talk about it." I think that didn't help Steven's mood during the week his brother and mom were gone.
The members of the Arper family all take Jeffrey's illness in different ways. Mom is very devastaed that her son has gotten sick. She starts to cry when someone starts talking about it. She thinks that she could have done something sooner to help Jeffrey. Mom also doesn't like to tell people about her son's illness. She does not handle Jeffrey's illness well.
Dad does not no what to think about Jeffrey's illness. He recieves calls from Mrs. Arper but does not tell Steven about them. I think htat he is a little scared about what will happen to Jeffrey.
Steven believes that he is Jeffrey's protector. He thinks that he could have done something more to help Jeffrey to not have become sick. He is very worried about Jeffrey. He ended up crying in his mothers arms because he felt that the illness was all his fault.
Jeffrey does not know what to think of his illness. He is just a little boy so it does not mean a whole lot to him. All he knows that he is sick. Jeffrey also has this amazing look on life. Even though he is sick he is positive and wants to be just like a normal eight year old boy. He even ends up getting Steven Tic-Tacks at the hospital. This shows that Jeffrey is a kind hearted person.
I think that Jeffrey is handling his illness the best. Even though he is sick he is looking at the good in his life. He is always positive and he cares for others. He is being a very strong little boy.
I agree with everyone that Jeffrey is handling his illnes the best out of the family. Everyone seems to think that Steven and Mrs. Arper both think that Jeffrey's illness is their fault and that Mr. Arper does not know what to think about Jeffery's illness. I agree with this as well.
All of the Alper's think they could have done something sooner to prevent Jeffrey's cancer and are blameing themseleves for it.
They all react to it in different ways though.
Mother is deavastated that something that serious could have happened to him while she wasn't looking. She spends every second of the day with Jeffrey and is being as protective as she can be and does everything she can do to make Jeffrey better.
Dad doesn't know what to think of Jeffrey's sickness. He is still in a daze and does nothing about it.
Steven feels as though he is being comepletely left out of whats going on. He feels like he is getting the bad end off the deal and is forgotten. The only thing that he wants is to have a healthy brother.
Jeffrey doesn't know whats going on. He go's on with his normal life.
Steven has buried his mother with his problems. This makes her think that Steven needs help while Steven thinks she is crazy for mentioning that. Steven thinks that his Dad has forgoten he is there and doesn't know how to react to it.
Overall I think Jeffrey is taking his own sickness the best. He is not as stressed and nervous about it like the rest of his family is.
I agree with everyone in that there is strong tention in the family. They are blameing themselves for not seeing it sooner.
Steven and Jeffrey's mother is vary worried about Jeffrey's illness. For obvious reasons she is mostly worried about her son but also fears for the family's finacial problems. On the other hand there mother does not panic under pressure when something bad happens to Jeffrey. She may still be scared but she tries to hide it.
Steven and Jeffrey's dad is somewhat drifting away. He keeps to himself as if he has already given up. The strangest thing is he dosen't seem to show any emotions, not sadness or anger, it's as if nothing can phase him when the topic of Jeffry comes up or Jeffry comes into the room.
Steven is taking this worst of all. He acks like nothing is wrong at school even though he has given up on homework and drifts off constantly. At home though, he takes all of his pain out on his mom and dad (mainly his mom). He treats them terribly most of the time.
Jeffry, surprisingly, is taking this the best out of everyone. Even though he is definatly showing signs of tiredness he tries to stay as perky as possible. Even when his life is terrible he trys to help someone with their problems.
In my opinion Steven needs to stop taking it out on his parents and start venting to his friends and family instead of botteling it up until he sees his parents.
It seems consistent throughout the comments that Jeffry is taking it the best, and Steven is taking it the worst. Personally, a agree.
I agree with Kayla F. when she says, "Jeffery remains positive and cheerful when optimism is needed most." Even though Jeffery has cancer, he remains strong and positive in the situation.
Sveven's mom is so devastated about Jeffrey's illness. When Jeffery started to tell Steven about the whole thing she starts to cry. Steven's dad is so upset he won't even talk about it. When Jeffrey and his mom go to the doctors in Philadelphia, his mom calls home every night and tells Steven's dad but he wouldn't even tell Steven about it because he is so devastated by it. Steven is also sad about this whole thing. He tries to convense himslef that Jeffrey is fine when he really isn't.He stopped doing his homework because of all of this. He also feels really bad now and he is trying to keep him happy because he is always sad now because of all the medicines he has to take, they make him tired. Jeffrey's disease is also affecting Steven's attitude towards his mom and dad. He is always mouthing off to them just because he feels sorry for Jeffrey.
Out of all the Alper's Jeffrey is handling this the best. I think that he is handleing this the best because he doesn't fully understand what is going on. Even though he has to take mediceine and be careful of what he eats, he still has a smile on his face. I think if he was a little bit older he would be acting the same as everyone else.
I totally agree with everyone. We all think that Jeffrey is handling the illness the best. I think that everyone did a really good job explaning the Alper's feelings.
The mom is very sad about Jeffery's illness. One way that this shows is when she crys while Jeffery is telling Steven his story. Also, she is very percautious about what Jeffery does and she is always ready to go to the hospital if needed.
The dad is not really reacting to the illness. You can tell that he is kind of in shock because he doesn't talk much, and he didn't tell Steven anything that was going on. You can also tell that he is sad, but not as well as any of the other characters.
Steven is not taking it very well. He completely stoped doing all his homework, just because he didn't feel like he should have to do it. Also, he has been making deals with himself. An example would be, if he doesn't think about Renee, then Jeffy will be okay. I think Steven has in his head that everything is going to go away and all the doctors have been wrong.
Jeffery, out of all people, is taking the Leukemia the best. He does get a lot more tired then usual, but he is still in a good mood a lot of the time. He does't like when people come to his house that are quiet and boring. He always wants action and everyone to be happy.
Steven is very rude to his parents since Jeffery's Leukemia, more his mom though. I think he takes out his anger on them, and he hates that his dad didn't tell him anything that was going on. Also, making a scene helps Steven get attention because Jeffery has been getting a lot of it latley.
Jeffery is handling the Leukemia best in my oppinion. He tries to be in a good mood all the time and he doesn't look at things the way other people do. He looks more on the good side rather than the bad.
I agree with everyone who said Jeffery is handling the disease best. He is always in a good mood, unlike the other characters in the story.
I agree with everyone who thinks Jeffrey is handling his illness the best.
Jeffery's illness is leaving everyone devistated. I think that dad is handeling it the worst though. So far, he has tried to lock himself away and not talk to anyone. He can't even talk to his own son and tell him how his little brother is.
Mrs. Alper is basically Jeffy's hero right now. She takes him every where, is like his personal nurse, and really cares about how her son is dealing with leukemia.
Steven is a real trooper. Yes, he's scared for his brother and doesn't want him to be sick but he's not letting it control his life. And, since Steven has seen both his parents dealing with this and the way they're dealing with it, he has a different look at both of them. Personally, I think he looks at his dad as a coward right now, even though he isn't. I also belive that he looks up to his mom and has a lot more respect for her.
I think Jeffy is handeling this disease very well. Maybe it's because he doesn't know what's going on or maybe it's because it's happening to him. Jeffy is scared but he's still very strong for a young kid.
I agree with almost everyone so far. I think we all are getting the basis of the book and are feeling what the characters feel.
I think Brianna B. has a good point when she says that Jeffy still acts like the same kid dispite everything that's happened to him. Good job Brianna B. :)
Jeffreys mom is taking it kind of harshly. She is the one who had to quit her job and she is the one who always taks Jeffrey to Philidelphia, So with Jefferys illness i think that she is taking it better than most; but yet she is always going to be stressed out.
I think that Jeffery's dad is taking Jefferys illness terribly. He never talks to anyone, and he never pays attention to anyone. I think that he just is so upset about Jefferys illness that he can't display any affections. I think that inside he just wants to break down and cry he just doesn't want the other family members to see him being "weak".
Steven is slacking in school work; and social skills because of Jeffery's cancer. He has not done homework in forever; and whenever somone like Annette asks him how he is, he is kind of rude to them like he could really care less about anyone else, he just kind of wants his brother to be better. Like for example in the chapter titled "Take Me" he thinks of things to offer to God so that Jeffery would be better; so i think that with Jeffery's illness that Steven is devastated.
Jeffery is scared. I mean think about it if you were that young and you had cancer; and people were constantly swarming you; giving you IV's left and right, wouldn't you be scared too? So i think that with Jeffery's cancer he doesn't know how to take it; and thats what makes it so devastating to the other members of the family.
Jeffreys mom is taking it kind of harshly. She is the one who had to quit her job and she is the one who always taks Jeffrey to Philidelphia, So with Jefferys illness i think that she is taking it better than most; but yet she is always going to be stressed out.
I think that Jeffery's dad is taking Jefferys illness terribly. He never talks to anyone, and he never pays attention to anyone. I think that he just is so upset about Jefferys illness that he can't display any affections. I think that inside he just wants to break down and cry he just doesn't want the other family members to see him being "weak".
Steven is slacking in school work; and social skills because of Jeffery's cancer. He has not done homework in forever; and whenever somone like Annette asks him how he is, he is kind of rude to them like he could really care less about anyone else, he just kind of wants his brother to be better. Like for example in the chapter titled "Take Me" he thinks of things to offer to God so that Jeffery would be better; so i think that with Jeffery's illness that Steven is devastated.
Jeffery is scared. I mean think about it if you were that young and you had cancer; and people were constantly swarming you; giving you IV's left and right, wouldn't you be scared too? So i think that with Jeffery's cancer he doesn't know how to take it; and thats what makes it so devastating to the other members of the family.
I agree with mostly everyone. Especially Xavier and Madeline, because they made a point that Jeffery IS taking his illness better. This is a point that i really never would have thought of saying.
Good job you two! :]
Steven has been acting like nothing is wrong. He thinks that if he acts likes nothing is wrong,nothing will be wrong. This event has distracted him in school. He never does his homework. He hasn't been paying attention in class. The only thing that calms him is playing the drums.When he is playing the drums, he is only concentrating on what he is playing.Its like he is in his own world.
Jeffery is trying to find the good things in life.For example, when he is at the hostipal, he buys Steven a box of tic-tacs.He does not complain to his family members about his problems.
Jeffery's mom cares for Jeffery and doesn't let it affect her.She tries to help Jeffery in ever way she can.
Jeffery's dad is showing no emotion. He does not want the rest of the family to know how he feel.Steven has more respect for his mom but not his dad
Hello to Mrs. Jones' 8th Literature Class,
I was very impressed with your comments on the blog for your literature selection. I am not familiar with the book, but your comments have peaked an interest in reading the book. I will be following this blog.
Mrs. R.
Your right. Jeffery is trying to act happy and be strong.
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