Building Bridges Essay

It is normal for teens and their families to fight because they’re at that age. When reading the short story “Building Bridges” by Andrea Pinkney the author shows us that family relationships are complicated, but they always get better. Mama Lil, the grandmother, says she won’t sign the permission slip, for her granddaughter, Bebe to work on the Brooklyn Bridge. Throughout the story their relationship grows stronger because of this obstacle.

Mama Lil and Bebe’s relationship is lacking strength. They fought and insulted each other all the time. In the story Bebe was telling the reader what Mama Lil thinks of her.For example, on page 18  it said “ she thought I weighed to much and dressed badly, I thought she smoked too much and overdid it with her fake chains.” I understand family members fight, all family’s fight, but not all family’s insult each other the way Mama Lil and Bebe do. Another example  on page 18, when  Mama Lil says, “ I ain’t going to be the one who allows you to take part in such foolishness.” This shows that Mama Lil really doesn’t support the idea of Bebe’s dreams and wishes. Bebe enjoys drawing and engineering but Mama Lil thinks its a waste of time.

In the middle of the story Mama Lil and Bebe’s relationship grew stronger. For example Mama Lil said on page 29, “What little bit of dreaming I got left in me I’m putting to you.” This reveals that Mama Lil truly cares about Bebe. This also shows that Mama Lil is trying to have Bebe follow her dreams instead of her grandmothers  own. On page 23 Mama Lil says, “ All those pretty pictures you draw in that tablet of yours are real nice.” This shows that Mama Lil admires her drawings but that is something to say to avoid the subject about the Bridge project. Mama Lil wants Bebe to work at the beauty parlor. Bebe doesn’t want to. She still wants to follow her dreams.  

At the end of the short  story Mama Lil  and Bebes relationship is more profound than it had been before. For example on page 34 Bebe said “i hugged  Mama Lil good and hard”. This shows that Bebe cares about Mama Lil and that Mama Lil did something that Bebe was happy about. Furthermore on page 34 when Mam Lil said “ Bebe, the bridge is lucky to have you.” This quote shows that Mama Lil is finally realizing Bebes talent with engineering.

In conclusion, Bebe and Mama Lils relationship has grown stronger from the beginning to the end. Many parents put their dreams in their kids, some parents let their kids dream for themselves. After the story ends Mama Lil lets Bebe go to achieve her dream, their relationship( that has  progressed throughout the story) is now very close. I predict that now Mama Lil and Bebes relationship will be well built and powerful.

My Name

              I think my name is the color purple. Whenever I say my name I think of the color purple. Purple is a crazy color, just like me. 

              My favorite number is twenty four . My identical twin sister and I are both twelve- put us together and u get twenty four. She is my best friend. 

              I am definitely a dolphin. I may be purple but I'm still a little blue, but not sad. I'm jumpy and dancey like a dolphin. Their call is just spectacular, it's being different that makes them special.

             

              Swimming is my favorite thing to do, dolphins swim in water like me. I love the yellow glare of the sun, it's bright and stands out like me. When the clouds come over I hide (bullies, bad grades, older kids).

             

               In Spanish my name means beautiful. It also means pledged to god. I go to CCD and church every Sunday with my family. I've been told I am beautiful(by my parents) but I don't always feel close to god. I do turn to god in times for help or support but i don't spend a long time spend praying. I am a good catholic and I do like my name, I feel that no other name would fit me best, but what I don't like about my name is how common it is. I still feel SPECIAL.

                  

              The Silver Bowl  

 

 

 

 

           The theme of The silver bowl is bravery is the key to success. One reason why this is the theme is because Molly (the main character and hero) overcame her terrible family, survived her fathers beatings and his abandoning her. Another reason why this is the theme is because Molly can see visions of things that are going to happen in the future. That makes it easier for her to see when the royal family is in trouble. Lastly, the theme is bravery is the key to success because, at the end of the book Molly saved the king from 100 curses, with the help of two friends. She overcame the curses

and saved the last member of the royal family

          One reason why the theme of the book is bravery is the key to success is because Molly overcame her terrible family, survived her fathers beatings and his abandoning her. Not a regular seven year old could do all of that. After Molly was left at Dethemere's castle, she became a maid. The staff wasn't an nicer to her there than at home. The cook beat her and made Molly and the other maids do endless work for the king and queen. Instead of Molly getting down, it  made her work harder. 

         Another reason why the theme of the book is bravery is the key to success is because Molly can see visions of things that are going to say in the future. this made it easier for Molly to know when the royal family was in trouble. Molly's mother wasn't as bad as her father. The mother was just like Molly, she could see visions too. So before Molly went to Dethemere's castle the Mother told Molly to not let anyone know about her ability. In the middle of the book wolfs attack the castle. Molly already knows this is going to happen because she saw it in a vision. Molly couldn't save king Edmund, the Queen or the poor princess, but molly and her friend Tobias bravely killed a wolf and saved prince Alaric.

         Lastly, the theme of the book is bravery is the key to success because at the end of the book Molly saved the last member of the royal family. Prince Alaric had been injured on the shoulder by the bite of a wolf. Tobias and Molly sheltered Alaric from whatever came their way and finally when the day came that Alaric was all better he reclaimed his thrown from his cousin. This wouldn't be possible if it weren't for Molly's quick thinking.