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Although Maria could be seen as a boy crazy, terrible friend, I was able to understand. I feel that the more of Tash's life she engrossed herself in, the more she realized how unfair her life was and how broken her family was. As a young eighth grade girl, it is very difficult to understand why things are the way they are. Instead of tackling the situation, it is easier for girls her age to find ways to escape. This escape is through trying to keep up with Tash's life style. However this led her to push her mother aside and see her mother as a bother, rather than a priority. This can be seen when she pushed back her mother's interview. Rather than trying to escape her reality through someone else's reality, it is important for her to try to be present in her own. I feel that trying to be friends with Tash and his friends is causing her to to stumble in her identity. It also makes her more insecure of who she is rather than being a stronger, secure person.

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After reading this chapter and reading everyones thoughts on it, I cant help but wonder: Are the girls changing? Or is this how they were before they entered each other's lives in the story? Also, I do not like Maria's story right now because I feel like she is changing who she is all for a boy. I 1) feel like Tash is not that into her and 2) even if he is, he is not worth all of the work she is putting into him. Jaya's situation is making me sad. I feel like she is growing up too quickly and is having too much responsibility thrown on her. Lastly, Lola's character is constantly surprising me. I feel like we are seeing her become more and more vulnerable, and less confident through out the book. Which takes me back to my initial question: Are the girls changing or just going back to how they were?

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TUWH ch 24-27

I really don’t like that the girls are all separated and living their own lives. I know exactly what this feels like because it’s been happening to me recently where my friends and I have a lot of stuff going on in our own lives and we’ve kind of just been avoiding each other because there is no way for the other to understand because they are not going through it. We all have our own lives; I understand separating to take time for yourself. However, I really felt the girls were their most self when they were together. Now Maria is turning into something she is completely not. It really infuriated me that she is changing all for a boy. She is spending time, money, and effort trying to get this guy to like her and all I can think is, “honey, he’s really not worth it.” The way I see it, Tash doesn’t really seem to express any feelings of attraction towards Maria, at least in my opinion. So seeing Maria chase after this guy really makes me angry because it’s turning Maria into this person who values superficial qualities over real things. Honestly, Tash’s friends live such a privileged lifestyle that Maria doesn’t have the luxury to afford. Not everyone can sit at the park and just talk about how ridiculous the teachers are or what to eat for your next meal (which also made me angry; “teacher school”). Jaya seems more of the same because she is just caught up in her own life. Her life seems empty and her mother isn’t there. At least she is picking up art which could be something that fills the void she feels in her life. I think she is going to draw the jewelry next, but I honestly don’t know where it could have gone at this point. Lastly: Lola. We finally got to see another side of Lola. This whole time, I thought she was sassy and liked to fight because her dad continually failed to. However, we learn that she is trying to impress people or move forward, up, but is constantly blocked. She fights because she wants to be more but she is constantly pushed down, which isn’t fair in her eyes. The way Lola sees it, if she works hard, she should get to be “on top. But she’s not because the world isn’t that simple. She might never make it to the top. She might never be “one of them.”

(Also Lola and Rachel remind me of Mitchie and Tess from Camp Rock)

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Like a lot of other people, reading these chapters made me kind of sad. Lola and Maria are so caught up in feeling disconnected with the people around them and feeling like outsiders. They both seem to understand that this is unfair and wrong, but they haven’t gotten to a place where they feel that this awareness gives them any power of the situation. I wonder if they can realize this at their age, or if this is something that will come later for them?
For Jaya, I feel like her problems are much more focused on relationships and family. She seems to be thrown into “adult problems” already - problems with jobs, loved ones being sick, and it is interesting to watch her process these things from her perspective. I was also shocked that Mrs. Lal said there was no mistake about her job, was this her admitting she stole the jewelry?
I want to see how the author brings the three girls back together because I feel like that is where the book is going. I think that the girls need each other to navigate their lives because they all have different strengths and weaknesses that seem to balance each other out. Right now these differences are just making each other angry, but I hope they will come to realize that they can actually support one another better because they are different.

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I just get sad every time I start reading now. In the beginning the book seemed so happy and the girls finally found someone like them. But as the chapters go on they drift more and more apart.

Something that confused me this week was the whole chapter 26. I didn't understand why Maria stayed with Tash after walking him to his friends. I feel like she kinda overstayed her welcome, so she shouldn't be surprised that she felt like she had to be extra to gain people's attention. Tash agreed that Maria could walk him there and then somehow she ended up staying even though no one really invited her. Maybe it was becuase that was the scheduled time that Tash and Maria had, but i don't know. She was even late with the interview thing for her mom which was completely avoidable.

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Seeing Lola and Anthony interact helped me finally articulate what I was trying to say to my book club last week about Tash and Maria. Lola and Anthony see themselves as equals. It's a very balanced relationship and I feel like everyone involved is on the same page. Having seen their interactions, it's that much easier to actually identify what was bothering me about Maria and Tash. We talked about whether or not Tash is just a "clueless boy" and while I agreed that tash didn't seem to be intentionally   cruel to Maria, their interactions just didn't sit right with me. I think "equals" really describes what I was trying to explain. Whether consciously or subconsciously, I think Tash does not see himself as Maria's equal. She has a spot in his life, Spanish tutoring,  and shows discomfort when she steps outside of this.

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Within these chapters, it seems that both Maria and Lola are now getting wrapped up in another reality and they want to so desperately live it. Jaya is isolating herself from her friends and her mother and the only person she is focused on now is Mrs. Harmon. It's interesting to see this because I'm wondering if Jaya is doing this to "convince" Mrs. Harmon that Ms. Lal didn't steal the jewelry or if she's doing it because Mrs. Harmon makes her feel wanted. Lola's interactions with Rachel reminds me of Mean Girls. The way they all act seems dramatized and unlikely. At the end of the chapters, it's clear that there is still tension between the girls. Lola is struggling with her stubborn personality and the lust for trying to change things for the better (in her mind). Maria is struggling trying to get Tash's full attention and become a more permanent member of his life. And Jaya is struggling with the theft incident still and the way her mother acts with other children, treating them like they are her own.

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These chapters were kinda sad and all around negative surrounding all the girls. For one, Jaya, Maria, and Lola's friendships are not in good places, but now things are individually happening to them. At first I was excited about Tash and Maria, but now I am not sure where it is going, and how it may be affecting Maria and her self confidence. Lola was more of a character in these chapters. I am confused about her and Rachel, and the end comments about Lola not being a leader but Rachel being one. This made sense after I thought about it, but I feel like Lola's characterizations would put her in a place of being a leader if she was able to get rid of her snappiness and ability to hurt others. I was confused about her being mean to her, but then wanting to be in her group? I liked seeing Jaya return to Ms. Harmon's place and seeing her again. I am curious as to if Jaya will ever be honest with her and tell her what happened. I am also curious about whats going to happen between the three girls and how they will resolve their friendships. The book says they are fighting, but I feel like its more of a growing of distance and they are all living their own separate stories now.

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TUWH Ch. 24 - 27          Savannah Werner Rice 

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TUWH Ch. 24 - 27          Savannah Werner Rice 

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A pattern has unfortunately emerged between two of the girls: Maria and Lola. They are experiencing and observing the life of other characters in the book (Tash’s family/friends for Maria and Rachel and her girl group for Lola), and they have started a desire to want to be like them. This desire is causing both of the girls to begin to resent their own lifestyle in Meadowbrook. Instead of being proud of who they are and the family they come from, they are secretly wishing they could take on the lives of these other people. It’s disheartening to read about Maria and Lola experiencing this feelings of bitterness, especially because these other characters either have malicious qualities (Rachel) or they aren’t aware of the privilege they are given in life (Tash and his family). Any reader can see the transition that these girls are going through from the beginning of the book and up until this point. If I were using this novel inside an elementary classroom, this would be a great way to start a conversation with my students about how the actions of others physically and emotionally impact each other, especially when differing SES plays a role.

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Initially, I thought that Lola was aggressive in nature because of all the discrimination and cruelties her friends and family faced. After reading a couple of more chapters and understanding her on a deeper level, I realized that she feels like she deserves to be on top because she works hard and she is smart and pretty. The more she sees Rachel or other people on top, the more aggressive she becomes. But, Lola finally realizes that she can be very harsh at times and that is what is keeping her from rising to the top. Often enough, she compares herself to Rachel. Through that comparison, she came to the realization that Rachel is a leader because she encompassed the essential qualities of a leader. Whereas, Lola “tried too hard” and “shouted too much”. I wonder if Lola will work on aspects of her personality hindering her from becoming a leader or get more aggressive as she fails to rise to the top.

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These chapters, again, made me so sad for the girls. First of all, the fact that they felt like such outsiders in their community, but then we're able to come together was such a powerful thing; but now that their interactions are awkward and slightly uncomfortable, like the meeting between Maria and Jaya even is really heartbreaking. They have all kind of found things that interest them, and taken off on those interests, but they have come to realize that it is not really enough. I was glad we got to hear more about Lola this week, because she had not really been talked about a lot in last weeks readings. Her recalling her interaction with Rachel and her friends when she first moved was really sad, because she just so desperately wanted to fit in, and her trying so hard to fit in made her not actually fit in. I think that when Maria was walking with Tash and his friends was also really eye opening, and I wonder if Maria will continue to hang around them. I am really interested to see how the next few chapters of the book plays out, and learn more about the girls and their families.

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Throughout these four chapters, I noticed that the girls are continuing to realize more about themselves as well as making assumptions of what their "place" is in Meadowbrook. When Anthony confronted Lola about how she can be too harsh sometimes, I wondered if this was the first time someone had stood up to Lola because for once, Lola apologized and seemed to become aware of the weight of her words. In addition, Jaya began to practice drawing which seems to be an important connection with her father. Even though the girls are still in a fight, I feel as though they are all realizing more and more about themselves. Also, it seems like they all are feeling the same confusing or unknown feelings about where they "belong" which I think it something that I hope they can all come together about later in the future. I want this to happen because at the beginning of the book, they had each other to encourage one another to be better then the stereotypes and to be confident in themselves. However, without each other's help, all three girls have been struggling. I am excited to read more this week!

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The meeting between Maria and Tash's friends stood out to me the most during this week reading. As I was reading, I realized how Maria want to fit in with the group, however, her sense of identity is pulling her back because she knows that she and them are so different and she can never belong in the group. It breaks my heart when I read the part where she said she found herself constantly trying to catch up and wanting them to speak just a little bit slower and how at that moment, she realized how she reminds herself of her mom. It was heartbreaking for me because she came to the U.S to be safe, to find a safe home for her and her family. However, even in her home in the U.S, she did not feel a sense of belonging and her home in Mexico, she also could not feel a sense of belonging. It's like she wants to belong somewhere but society is not letting her.
In this week reading, I also get to learn a little bit more about Lola and why she is the way she is, which helped me understand her more and dislike her less. I hope I get to learn and understand more about her.

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I have so many questions after reading these chapters!
What is Lola's Dad doing all day long? Why does he not want to clean his suit? Why is he so rude to Nadia? Did Mrs. Lal steal the jewelry? Is the girl with the short hair Tash's girlfriend?
I don't think I can wait until next week to find out. What I found most interesting this week was Lola's internal struggle. She wants to fit in so badly and she hates those that do. I think that see is beginning to see that "America" isn't all that it's selling to it's immigrants/public. If things were as black and white as they say they are Lola would be on top of the game. Additionally, as much as Lola wants to be seen only as her achievement she does not see others in this light. She really likes to put people in specific categories.
Lastly, why does Jaya think her friendships with Maria and Lola are totally over because of one fight?

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These chapters to me really showed how outcasted the girls feel and what they are starting to recognize about themselves. With Lola, we are seeing that no matter how much she tries to fit in, nobody wants to accept her and part of it has to do with her realization of being mean to people and saying whatever she is thinking at the time even if it hurts others. With Jaya, we are seeing that she feels outcasted to the point that she won't even sit next to her mother out of embarrassment. Lola is starting to recognize her love for art that her father had and than she has talent that she never noticed before. With Maria, we see that she feels outcasted for speaking spanish and not fitting in with Tash's friend groups. We are noticing that it seems like she will do/change anything about herself in order to get a boy to notice her and like her instead of being her wonderful and amazing self. I wonder when these girls are finally going to realize that being who you are is great and that they shouldn't have to change for anyone else, especially boys. I also wonder when these girls are going to stop being mad at each other because I think that they could really use each others support right now.

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The relationship between Anthony and Lola is so interesting to me. They are both so different, yet kind of similar in small ways. Anthony is bathed in money and privilege. He gets what he wants and has this whole future planned out for him. In contrast, Lola isn't privileged in those ways and has to fight for things in her life. Yet, they both find comfort in each other. I think they both feel like they don't "fit in" - Anthony not being able to raise his grades and being labeled a certain way, and Lola being an immigrant and not having money - they both are isolated in a different way, but can reach an unspoken solace with one another. I like how, as we see at the end of chapter 24, Anthony seems to be one of the few that can break down Lola's walls. He says, "That. It's like you...go too far Lola. It make people...not like you." I thought it was so interesting how Lola didn't even retaliate back. She got confronted and felt ashamed. The boy who was her enemy made her feel...he opened her eyes and let her suddenly feel something other than anger.

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"Inside herself everything was getting muddled...No one was behaving the way she'd expected. Here she had come, right into the belly of the enemy, and nothing was as it had seemed"  (147).

What stood out to me this week what the information we gained about Lola and her perception of herself. Initially in the first chapter, I noticed a shift in Lola as it seemed that her heart was maybe softening when it came to the opinions of those around her. She was starting to sympathize with her sister and she was beginning to enjoy spending time with the Vitales, who were her perceived enemies. I think the reader was also given the reason why Lola has this bold and aggressive behavior towards others in these chapters. I believe it is cause deep down she truly did want to fit in with her peers and now she speaks in the way she does as a defense mechanism. I was surprised to read that Lola doesn't view herself as someone who is a leader at all. The reason for this is because it seems that in the group of Jaya, Maria, and herself, she seemed to be the ring-leader or the one that took charge. I am interested to see how her character continues to evolve.

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It was interesting to read the chapters that came from Lola's point of view this week. She is starting to realize how unfair life is, but she also is starting to realize not to judge people based on what she previously knew about them. In Chapter 24, we begin to see Lola's view of the upper-class world shift. It puts her in an almost uncomfortable position as she realizes that the Vitales are just people, too. It was definitely easier for her to go on through her life hating them and believing they were cold-hearted people who only cared about their money. I believed the reason Lola snapped at Anthony at the end of Chapter 24 is because she is feeling confused and out of place. She wants to act like she knows how life is supposed to go. In this instance, Lola naturally responds in an aggressive way because she has felt like all her life, she has had to fight to get to the top. As she self-reflects in Chapters 24-27, it is hard for her to see that this might not be the best way to act, but that it is true. Now, Lola must figure out a way to stick to her morals and defend herself while also figuring out how to do so in a calm and effective way.

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I really liked the development of each of the characters throughout these chapters. You could tell that they were each maturing and learning more about themselves as time progressed. Lola and Anthony discussed Lola's mannerisms and how she "put it in everyone's face. Not everyone is as smart as you at school." which I felt was a big moment in Lola's character. She apologized for her actions and was told the truth about the way she comes off to others by Anthony. Jaya's passion and talent of art has been a bigger focus throughout these chapters. She was able to get through her day by "touching the spiral pad tucked into her satchel"(149) and remembering her fathers words when she felt discouraged by her work. We also see a shift in how Jaya views Maria, she was bothered by her presence and her comforting words which were "too simple" (151).  Something else that really stuck out to me was Lola's jealousy of Rachel and her privilege. "Rachel could be mean and cruel, and everyone would think, Well , that;s what smart girls do. She'll go to some arty college and write lots of angry poetry, and her teachers will give her prizes."(168) I have seen people like Rachel in my own education and unfortunately Lola is right, this does tend to happen often in our society.