paper things by jennifer richard jacobson

Other times, you will feel frustrated with her brother or angry at the people who are being mean to her. Other times, you will feel your stomach ache for her to stay strong and never give in again. Sometimes you will feel yourself cheering Arianna on, supporting her as you read. Paper Things is an amazing story full of happiness and sadness balanced like a seesaw. Sometimes, as a child, you don’t know about poverty and homelessness all you really think about is happiness. Even in my own town and in my own school there are kids that are homeless. This situation is all around the world, even in places where you might not expect to see it, and this book made me aware of this. They get bullied and made fun of, like Ari did for her dirty clothes and “greasy hair.” Being homeless can also make it hard to do homework if you don’t have a desk to write on. When children are homeless, they are often embarrassed at the fact and try to keep it hidden as they struggle to concentrate at school. I did some research and found out that homelessness is a hidden problem in many towns. At the same time, Ari feels ashamed about being homeless, so she decides to keep it a secret from everyone else. As the application deadline draws closer, Arianna worries more and more.

Both of her parents and even Gage had gotten into Carter so this places a whole lot more pressure on Arianna. Adding to her problems is a second promise Ari made to her mother that she would get into Carter Junior High School, a very selective school. Tired of people making fun of her, Ari doesn’t know what to do. Worse than that, her teachers now have low expectations of her and even her best friend joins with others that stare at Arianna’s greasy hair all day. Showers are no longer available, and her class now looks at her as a dirty child. Ari didn’t really want to leave Janna, but felt that she needed to because of a promise she had made to her mother that Ari and Gage would “always stick together.”Īrianna and Gage go from house to house to avoid frigid nights in Maine. When Gage, Ari’s brother decides he can’t live with Janna, their guardian, anymore, Ari goes with him to live in his “new apartment.” But it turns out that Gage doesn’t really have a new apartment, and they start crashing at different friends’ houses. Do you ever worry about anything when you are in school? About your grade on a test? About who your new lab partner will be? Arianna Hazard worries too, but her worry is where she will sleep at night.

Paper things by jennifer richard jacobson