My+Thirteenth+Winter,+1

=My Thirteenth Winter, 1= toc

Wiki Post 3:
 Why do you think memoir is important for us to read? What does memoir offer us as readers and human beings?

Memoir's are important because it lets us connect someone else's life to our life and see the differences and/or similarities. Sometimes, one can realize they have a better life than others and sometimes people will read a memoir and be left inspired to be more like that person. Also, it is important because we can see how others live and react in situations and we can take their mistakes and/or good deeds and learn from them. Furthermore, it is important to remember our past and what happened to others so we can change the future. Finally, it's important because without memoirs, we'd have no idea of what the past was like or what is happening to others out in the world. We wouldn't know about children with rare diseases and what helped them, we wouldn't know about children being emotionally abused or being hurt in some way. We would be completely disconnected from a whole nother world. A world where people can connect their pasts and urge on others to shaire theirs. -Ashlyn P. I agree with you. A memior is important to read so we can conncet with the outside world, instead of staying in our own personal vaccum. Most people can be inspired from a memior and then decide to help, such as finding a cure for breast cancer. I i hadnt read **My Thirteenth Winter,**I would have never heard of dyscalculia probably**.** -Elana A. In my opinion a memior is important to read since we can connect with others personal experiences. After reading a memior, othwers can see how priviledge they are, or how than can preform and action to help. People can be left in shock after reading a memior, seeing how hard life was for that person. A memior offers another way for us to see the world, an become connected to real time, and not just stay in our vaccum.

-Elana A. Memoirs, in general, are important for us to read because the offer us many things as human beings and readers. They give us the knowledge of things that we had never heard of, or thought could ever happen. By reading memoirs we learn about different cultures, diseases, experiences, situations, and more. Memoirs are also great to read considering it gives us someone else’s prospective on a certain situation or a specific time period. This is important because we can get educated on a subject we didn’t know about, and this can help us for the future. Memoirs can also be very inspirational, and encouraging. Meaning, I might not have the courage to face my fears, but if I read a book about a child who faced their fears, I'd be inspired, and have the courage to face my fears. Memoir can help us find out about ourselves as well as well as others, and they can also make us realize how fortunate we are. -Audrey A.

Wiki Post 2:
There was a certain part in the story that made me very sad. It was the part where the mother was trying to teach her math and was working the problem 5-2=?. This is sad to me because when she took the two away, Samantha didn't understand why. It bothered me because while problems like these come so easy to me and i'm sure the rest of us, for her, it is very difficult and it is literally impossible for her to understand it like we do. It's upsetting to see children with learning disabilities becuase it makes me realize, what if that was me?, what if i had a learning disability? Would I be made fun of? Would I still have the friends I do today? The idea of this just really makes me think. -Ashlyn P.        I agree with you. I think that the part where Samantha’s mom tries to help her with math was very sad, but there was also a part that really surprised me. I though it was shocking that Samantha’s mom could not understand that her daughter was disabled for many years. She kept trying to help her multiply, remember locker combinations and memorize her schedule, but she never accepted that her child could ever be disabled. I understand that it is hard to let yourself know for sure that your child is disabled, but you should still get them help so they can improve or learn differently so they are able to understand. -Ariel S.     I agree with the both of you. That part of the story was almost depressing, and it is kind of scarry that a child can get so confused from souch a simple problem, like 5-3=?. It made me think about how lucky I am, and most of us, to be able to solve such a simple problem like 5-3=?, in just a matter of seconds. It is also very sad that Samantha felt so left out because she didn't understand many of the things that her classmates did. She also did not have many friends because she felt like an outsider, or a loner. There was no one else like Samantha in her class. It is so upsetting also to know that at a very young age you almost get accepted into the tallented and gifted program as a child genious, and then by the age of 9 or 10, you are told that you need extra help in a certain subject. I would hate to be in Samantha's position, and I am so fortunate that I am a perfectly healthy young lady. -Audrey A.

Wiki Post 1: Conflict
April 16, 2008 I think a big problem was her night attacks. It is unfortunate how it takes over her whenever they occur. At one point it even affects her friendships when it happens during a sleepover and she has to go home. She had to leave sleepovers every time at that person's house which gave the impression that she was trying to get away from her. It made the friend feel like after leaving every sleepover they have, she was just having these "attacks" at her house. This is sad because Samantha can't help her stomachaches and she is losing relationships because she has a problem she can't understand and fix. This is a big problem because without friends it makes it A LOT harder to get through problems. It would make it much easier to get through her disability if she had friends by her side throughout everything. -Ashlyn P. I do not agree with you. I think the main conflict is Samantha hiding her secret, leading to the stomach aces. I can see how you thought that was the main conflict, but you have to look at the bigger picture.

-Elana A. April 16, 08 In my opinion the main conflict is Samantha hiding her huge secret. Her anxiety and stress of keeping the secret give her stomach aces. I feel bad for Samantha, she can’t control the frequent pains, causing her friendships and trust. At one point her stomach aces get so bad she has to leave her best friends sleep over. Her friend then thinks Samantha is trying to avoid her, which hurts Samantha even more. I think Samantha should let out everything, come clean to the world and maybe then life will go back to normal. -Elana A.

Initial Reactions
April 4, 2008 I think the book, __My Thirteenth Winter__, is very interesting. Written with much sorrow and care. This is coming from someone who grew up having many problems in school and growing up. She faces her problems many times in the story but tries to stay strong throughout these troubles. I think she is very brave and her stories are unbelievable. I'm very fascinated by this book and look forward to finishing it. -Ashlyn P.

April 4, 2008 **In my opinion, I think the book __My Thirteenth Winter__, is and incredible story. The book is written in sorrow and embarassment, as the author grew up with exceptional problems in school. The author faces many problems during the book, yet still has hope for herself. I think she is a very infamulous girl, staying strong at all times. I am astounded by this book, and look forward to continuing it.** -Elana A.

April 4, 2008 In my opinion, I think the book __The Thirteenth Winter__ by, Samantha Abeel is a very fascinating book.The narrator of the book states everything in a very depressing way. The narrator faces many problems during the memoir, but still has many expectations for the future. She is a very strong insecure girl. I look forward to reading the rest of the book. -Ariel S.