The book "Keeper" by Mal Peet is about a 13 year old boy from a small town in South America where all the males grow up to be lumber jacks. Keeper is told in pass-tense from "El Gato" ,the best goalie in the world, who is being interviewed by Paul Faustino, the top soccer writer in South America, about how El Gato got to where he is today. From what El Gato has said it would be fair to say that theres a special place for soccer in his heart.

                         An example that El Gato loves soccer is when he says "we had games that started as soon as we were let out of school and didn't end until our fathers came back in the trucks and darkness was falling". Also he says "after a big match, even if it was dark, even if it was raining, we would run into the plaza to replay the action, calling ourselves by names and nicknames of the great stars: Pelé, the Gray Ghost, Little Bird, Maradona, whatever". This shows how much El Gato is into the game and how he adores soccer and what comes with it.

                              El Gato explains to Paul he imagined wining the World Cup along with the trophy that comes with it,"I used to imagine winning this, and taking it home with me. At night, secretly. Unannounced. My father would be asleep in his hammock. I would lay the Cup gently on his chest and put his hands around it. So when he woke up he would find himself holding the greatest prize in the world. And I would watch his face". This captures the strong compelling emotion that he has and that he loves soccer so much he thinks that if you win a soccer tournament it would be the greatest prize in the world.

                          In conclusion it is quite clear to see the passion and devotion for soccer that El Gato has. I think that love for soccer and of corse persistence is was got him to where he is today.

                  The book "Looking for Alaska" by John Green is about a boy named Miles
Halters soon to be nicknamed "Pudge" who is now going off a high school called Culver Creek. As soon as he gets there he is pulled in to the madness of "the Colonel, Alaska Young, and Takumi" his new and first friends. When "Pudge" sees Alaska he immediately falls in love with her. Alaska is a very unstable and emotional girl, she smokes, drinks, and has had a lot of boyfriends. She does have a boyfriend named Jake that goes to another high school, so she thinks she has the right to always flirt with Pudge but not make any sexual contact. There are times in the book when Alaska has a break down in front of Pudge about something she has done wrong in her life, and Pudge has to put up with it because he loves her. Throughout the book Alaska likes to drag the gang (the Colonel, Pudge, and Takumi) out into the woods far away from "the Eagle" to smoke and drink. The Eagle is the nickname they gave a teacher at Culver Creek who is famous for keeping a close watch on students making sure they're not doing anything bad. He has expelled students before including Alaska's old roommate for being caught making love with her boyfriend in their dorm. Many times in the book the Colonel and Alaska like to do pranks. One night the Colonel and Alaska decided to get back at some kids for pranking Alaska, so the two of them involve Pudge and Takumi into this one. Since it was spring brake most of the school had gone away which meant their was going to be less suspects for who pulled the prank, so they all told the Eagle that they were going back home for the brake. The plan was that the Colonel and Alaska would go and send out emails to the parents of kids that their child was doing poorly in school while Pudge and Takumi distracted the Eagle by running through the woods shooting off fireworks. Then they would all meet up at the barn that they were going to stay at for that week. In the end the prank was successful and the Eagle never found out who did it. On the last night Pudge saw Alaska it was in their hideout in the woods with the Colonel. Alaska and the Colonel were drunk and Alaska wanted to play Truth or Dare, Pudge then said "Dare" to Alaska's question then Alaska said "Hook up with me", so they started to make out. When they were finished kissing Alaska said "To be continued" then they all fell asleep. In the middle of the night Alaska goes to talk to Jake on the phone, then comes back sobbing saying that she needed to get off campus. Without saying anything Pudge and the Colonel help Alaska get to her car by again distracting the Eagle with fireworks.


                          The next morning the Eagle comes to Pudge and the Colonel's dorm to tell them to go to the gym. When the whole school arrived at the gym the Eagle announced Alaska's death by car accident. The Colonel went crazy and was sobbing with his knees tucked in screaming "I'm sorry!" while Pudge was in shock. At first he thought it was one of her pranks. The rest of the book shows the arguments between the Colonel and Pudge because the Colonel wanted to find out why Alaska needed to leave campus that night and Pudge thought it best to leave her be in peace. After awhile Pudge decides to help the Colonel. They both find lots of clues together including talking to the police officer who saw the accident. Pudge goes through a lot of grieving and second guesses     continuing to help the Colonel. For a while they take a brake from this and focus on a new task, a huge prank in memory of Alaska. The prank was that at one of  Culver Creek's functions the students would hire a guy who would strip down to his under ware and start dancing. Towards the end of the book the Colonel, Pudge, and Takumi find out that Alaska had forgotten about her annual trip to her moms grave to put flowers on it, so that night she was freaky out and had to get there as fast as she could resulting in a car accident. All in all Looking for Alaska was a memorable book with an emotional roller coaster journey that kept you wondering what they were going to do next.