THE CLIMB is the uplifting coming-out-gone-wrong story of sixteen-year-old Skyler Phoenix and his journey to find love and acceptance after his devout foster family kicks him out for being gay.
Skyler's athletic good looks and charisma make him a sought-after prize among the girls at Cornerstone Christian Academy. There's just one problem: Skyler and Cameron, his best friend, fell in love months ago and they enjoy spending as much time as possible together. Since their parents and their conservative churches vehemently disapprove of homosexuality, the boys agree to become secret boyfriends until they can find the courage to come out to the world.
Life is great until their parents accidentally discover their dirty little secret and all
The book "Within Reach: My Everest Story" by Mark Pfetzer wand Jack Galvin is an autobiography written by Mark Pfestzer at the age of 16. Mark writes about his mountain climbing adventures over a 4 year period that started at the age of 12. The book covers the years of Mark's life mountain climbing from 1992 all the way up to 1996 when Mark is actually climbing on Mount Everest. The chapters in the book are written in a first person narrative with a dated diary format. Each one of Mark's entries talks about his struggles, adventures and personal experiences with the challenges of climbing a mountain.
Unable to come out for fear of losing everyone and everything, Jesse satisfies his need for intimate male companionship with nameless strangers in a series of anonymous one-night stands. But that all changes when Detective Scott Griffin, a fourteen-year police veteran, winds up at a gay club on an eighteen-and-over night to douse the pain of a tragic loss. Their fateful meeting leads them both into the dark recesses of the cultish "ex-gay" culture of Reclaiming
Brief History of My Thumb by Lucia Perillo is a recounting of the author’s history as a young female hitchhiker in the seventies and eighties and how both she and hitchhiking have changed. Perillo writes this in her older age as a retrospective on her youth. She writes this with no immediately apparent audience but it serves as advice for young adults and teenagers. Perillo primarily focuses on comparing the risks and rewards inherent in hitchhiking. Through use of imagery and metaphor Perillo attempts to motivate the reader to take more risks in life because of the fulfilling rewards that those risks can reap.
Being from El Paso Texas I always felt like there was more for me in other cities, but I never really got the chance to see what even my own state had to offer, but that all changed when I got accepted into Upward Math and Science. It gave me the push I needed in order to embark on my journey of becoming a well-rounded person. It gave me the real life experience I needed to determine if I would make it on my own when I go to college. Now I am able to see myself living far away from my parents which is something I cannot say for many of my peers. Upward bound also awakened something inside me. Before the program I was filled with self doubt when it came to many things, but spending my summer in Arlington with fellow students and mentors all
Hearing Jay Erskine Leutze speak at the convocation helped me to further understand his book Stand Up That Mountain. I was able to understand why he had written the book and what led him to be passionate about conservation. It also helped me understand the importance of the Appalachian Trail and what a true beauty it is and that it was worth the fight for the people that call it home.
Phoenix Jackson faces numerous obstacles from dense forest and wild animals, to a barbed wire fence and a big black dog. Through every barrier she makes a way to continue her journey she continues to rise. The Phoenix is known to rise from the ashes of its predecessors. Like her ancestors, before she took this same trip for freedom, Phoenix takes the path for her grandson whom she truly loves and will make this trip for his medications whenever it is needed. Phoenix’s rising out of the over-determination of this culture, as her name implies, is what the reader comes to appreciate (Dilgen, 2014).
As mentioned above, while walking up hill, Phoenix feels imaginary chains around her legs-one of the hidden clues about Phoenix' social status and financial situation. They can also indicate that she is getting close to the end of her own worn path, her life. The readers get a better understanding about her social status, when she meets a young man. Although he seems to be nice, he will point a gun towards Phoenix, trying to
In religious contexts, sin is the act of violating God 's will. Sin can also be viewed as “anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual and God, leading to a period of estrangement between the two”. This is not necessarily a permanent separation, but if one dies without correcting such problem, then the separation does become permanent. In order to atone for one’s transgressions, salvation –deliverance by redemption from the power of sin and from the penalties ensuing from it – is necessary. This entails sorrow for one’s sins and a fundamental change in attitude as well as a confession of sin to God. Following this repentance, one may again seek a personal relationship with God. The nature of sin is explored in Dante’s Inferno where the main character travels through Hell, where sinners receive punishment according to God’s justice. Dante Alighieri portrays himself as the “Everyman” in order for the reader to easily identify with him. In addition, the characterization of Virgil, the setting depicted in the Inferno and the story of Ulysses enhance the substance of the poem and contribute to its allegorical interpretation. However, allegorical interpretation does not detract from the original story as told but contains an added significance intended to represent not only Dante’s life but also what Dante the poet perceived to be the universal Christian quest for God.
Dibby Blackwell is your typical fourteen -year-old middle school girl. This usually means the littlest problem becomes the end of the world. Dibby has long brown hair that is usually in a braid, a forehead dotted with traces of acne, and braces the color of pink cotton candy. About 2 hours of school has passed. At Westwick middle school students always eat lunch with their grade. Later that night there was a seventh-grade dance, so tickets are sold during lunch. Lunch time arrives. Everyone left class early trying to get a good spot in line. Dibby walks to the lunchroom door to see her crush, Mark Angelman standing in line waiting to purchase his ticket to the dance. Mark Angelman is the captain of the bowling team. He has dark chocolate brown hair, olive skin and a smile that could stop traffic. He was beyond dreamy and out of her league at least Dibby thought so.
On September 11, 2001 my mom had just found out she was pregnant with me. She and my dad, told me their story. My dad was on his way to work, with his friend in his car, and they heard a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. They did not really react, because they figured that it was a minor plane, or maybe a helicopter, or a privately owned plane. My dad and his friend went to work that day like normal, and when they got home, they had been introduced to the fact that the towers had fell and it had been terrorists. My mom was fearful that the country was no longer safe, and feared for what kind of person it would shape me to be.
Finally at last getting their deepest wish granted, having a daughter was a wonderful dream come true for Luke and Jocelyn. They had long and wished for a child for many, many years, and finally at last Clary had arrived. Life around the Garrroway household was brighter and happier than ever. Luke couldn't help but notice a change in his wife's
Jason, a 22-year old, white, Agnostic, gay male is presently facing anxiety and depression over his sexual orientation and gender identity. Because he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, he feels much shame about himself as a person today, even though he left the religion 3 years ago. Furthermore, the influence of his bi-polar mother and emotionally distant father has created a thirst for emotional intimacy that is less than appropriate. He seeks out friendships with past female teachers and authority figures who were supportive of Jason when he was younger in order to fulfill his need to be “special,” a feeling that was not fulfilled by his parents. The loving and feminine energy he receives from his older adult friends quenches Jason’s thirst for maternal love.
when she felt like the journey was to much to bare. Even though Phoenix is a strong individual, the hills seemed like mountains trying to break her down. Once she reaches the top of the hill she rests only a moment to look at what is spread out before her. Eudora Welty show how Phoenix undergo the hardship of pain when she climbs the hill and does not let it keep her from making the trip. Even when she is in pain she keep climbing the mountain hill because for her love for her grandson. Eudora Welty emphasized on Phoenix’s capacity to love in spite of the many elements of nature holding her back and her incurring troubles. Despite the hardship Phoenix faces through her journey to town she will overcome her troubles.Welty highlight the idea
Although Phoenix is an elderly woman, she does not let her age get in the way of her grandson’s needs. She walks across logs, climb up hills, and climbs under a barbed wire fence.
AJ (19) a new gay girl, whose parents don’t approve of her choices, arrives at school. Sinead is impressed with AJ’s openness about her lifestyle. Sinead is also smitten with