Directions: Read "Freaky Freedom" by Denice Yao Pomary, Pages 1-94. Next, compose a blog response attending to the following questions: 1) . Identify any sentences, paragraphs, and/or chapters that particularly speak to you. Offer your opinions on the text. 2) Take note of similarities and differences between the plot line of the novel and your own experiences as a student in the United States. 3) Identify a favorite character and why you like (or dislike) the character.
I'm 41 pages in, and a lot has happened. I've recognized Keziah as the protagonist, because we seem to follow her all the time. At the moment, I can draw far more contrasts than parallels. For one thing, Keziah goes to a boarding school, whereas at our school, we all commute from home. I have gathered that her options were very limited in the presence of her parents, a problem I've never had in my life, but can understand, nonetheless. Well, this is it for tonight, I will say more as I continue.
ReplyDeleteNow up to page 63, and Keziah's money for her school fees has been stolen, and she's taken it upon herself to find them, like a true inspector.
DeleteThough in our school, we report such things to the staff, but I congratulate her anyway.
DeleteThe remark on pages 19-20 about seniors breaking the rules confuses me. Why would they do that when they should be setting a good example for the underclassmen? In any case, I've read through page 94, and the case has been solved, and I'm standing by until further notice.
DeleteFor the remark on pgs. 19-20, the way I interpreted it was almost like a Ghanian version of the senior slide. However, instead of it being brought on by college acceptances, I thought it was a combination of being the ones with the most authority and knowing they only had a year to go, which made them more likely to break the rules.
DeleteThis is a very interesting storyline describing a school system that differs greatly from ours at Andover High School. The school described in the book is a boarding school with a capacity of 1000 students and had some very strict rules. One was that it was mandatory for the kids to wear their natural hair, unlike here in the U.S. where kids can curl or straighten their hair or even dye it. Another difference is that the students are not allowed to share food and everything on their plate must be finished and eaten. Here, more often than not, a tray with some leftover food is simply tossed away in the trash. Furthermore, students like to share food with each other in the U.S. The school described differs greatly with Andover High School.
ReplyDeleteA quote that I found to be meaningful was a line spoken by Lillian, Kaziah's first friend: "‘Don’t let anyone talk you out of what you deeply believe in. Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively.’” (pg. 7). This certainly seems to be a very philosophical comment by Lillian. It's like something parents always tell their kids when they are young to keep up or even boost their confidence. However, I always believe that it is one of the most difficult things to do: keep your own stance and personality even when it contrasts with the majority. Yet this quote seems to have done its job and boosted Keziah's confidence back up again.
My favorite character in this book is Lillian. Since the beginning where she comforted Keziah when everyone else made fun of her, Lillian continued to be at Keziah's side, almost guiding her through the school. To me, this took a lot of guts and bravery to do. It's always hard standing up for someone when it goes against the majority of people she knows.
A topic that the novel comments on frequently is the nature of the adolescent mind, and the tendency of the group to be “ungovernable.” The school principal relates the students’ rebellious acts saying, “The rules were meant for their own safety, but unfortunately, like typical adolescent babies, they would always break them.” Adults in the United States typically have the same perception of the teenager. For the individual teenager, however, this seems to be an unfair generalization.
ReplyDeleteLilian as a character is quick witted, with dry humor. Yet she speaks honest truth, with wisdom that belies her age. My favorite comment she makes is, “I think it is how the world is built. The world is built on hypocrisy and pretense” (5). I find her words to be pertinent to the political and cultural climate of the society in which I live. The final year student takes the role of the “mother hen” within the dormitory—defending Keziah, comforting her, and freely giving encouragement and advice. We are meant to, as Keziah, become closest to Lilian, despite her tendency toward frivolity and contrast with Keziah’s innocent nature. I feel the author purposefully crafted the differences between the two to make a statement about relationships between people in different stages of life. I find versions of their relationship in American schools particularly in sports and clubs in which older students act as mentors to freshmen, or first year students.
Lilian was my favorite character as well, and that quote about hypocrisy really stood out to me. I really like how well written your description of her was. It underscored everything I liked most about her.
DeleteI also like your statement about how adults' perception of teenagers are the same in the US and in Ghana. I think it's really interesting how although all the cultures of the world seem so different, there are universal themes, such as the inter-generational relationships, that are the same throughout.
While reading Freaky Freedom, one chapter that spoke to me was the one in which there was a person who came to Keziah’s school to talk about reproductive health. I think it really showed how in many places in the world, including the United States, there is a lot of stigma surrounding talking about sexuality and a lot of misinformation due to the fear that teaching children about sex will cause them to have sex. This is obviously not true considering the school’s abstinence-only teachings caused their students to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in comparison to other schools in the area. I like that Mr. Pomary brought up this topic in Freaky Freedom because not all teenagers have access to good health education like we do in Andover.
ReplyDeleteFreaky Freedom does not take place in the United States and there are many differences between Keziah’s school and Andover High School. Despite the fact that many students at Andover High complain about the administration’s strict rules here, Keziah’s school seems to be far more strict. Students must wear uniforms and their natural hair, not take food out of the dining hall, and have a strict curfew. Even visits off campus are limited and students must return by a certain time or be disciplined. I think as a student in the United States I have been granted more ability to do as I wish when I am at school, as long as I attend class and complete my homework, since our school does not have strict rules about dress codes or anything like that.
My favorite character in the book has to be Shaftiya. Even though she does not have to, she does everything she can to help Keziah get her money back when it has been stolen and even introduces her to a person who ends up paying her school fees for her so she can still attend school. She seems like a genuinely kind person, which is why she is my favorite character.
Only one page in I had come across an idea that particularly spoke to me. “But how can an adolescent truly live when s/he has her kind of parents kneading her every time into a shape that existed in their minds?” (1). I feel as though every teenager wonders and experiences this at one point. In a way, our parents almost live through us. They try to shape us into their ideal self that often restricts us from truly living. I feel that with this first touch of freedom, Keziah is going to discover that her parents will still be there and will influence the decisions she makes, whether or not they are literally there.
ReplyDeleteI thought the text is really interesting so far, especially the differences between the types of schools. For example, I’m not entirely sure what a Basic Education Certificate Examination is, but it sounds similar to the MCAS. And the Ordinary Level School Certificate sounds similar to a diploma. But since I don’t know these things, it’s difficult to determine what age Keziah is and what level of education she is referring to. In addition, some of the class names are different, along with the way they refer to lunch. I think the biggest difference, however, is the school fee that is part of a key plot point. What is the school fee? How often do they have to pay it? Is it expensive? I wish some of these things were slightly more explained so an outside perspective could understand what’s happening better.
So far I think my favorite character is Keziah. I can relate to her mindset because it’s apparent she was very sheltered as a child and is really taking this new freedom as a big deal. I acknowledge I was pretty sheltered as a kid and it’s interesting to see the parallels and the differences between what was sheltered. It’s ‘freaky’ when you get all this new freedom thrown at you and you start to hear these things so commonly talked about yet you don’t know what it is.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo far I like this story. I'm not usually that interested in realistic fiction, but I think this story is so different from what we are usually exposed to in the US that it makes it really interesting. I like how it provides a window into another culture that we don't get to learn about as much in the United States. One major difference I found between the plot line of this book and my experience as a student is the attitudes towards the student fees. Here, if a student chose not to pay required fees, the school would probably still allow the student to access whatever it is the fees were required for, but then contact the parents to get the fees from them. It seems to be different in Ghana, where students themselves face the consequences for not paying. I was also very surprised at Keziah's reaction when her money got stolen. I'm not sure if this is an upbringing thing that's only applicable to Keziah, or a culture thing, but I could never imagine a student hiding from all adults that money was stolen from them. I completely understand Keziah's concerns about her parents thinking this was proof she couldn't handle things, but I think that here, students would expect that the help they would get from the adults, either help in getting the money back, or help in the form of a fee waiver, is greater than the cost of their parents finding out.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character so far is Lilian, because she is the one who stands up for Keziah on the first day and takes her under her wing. So far, Lilian seems to be a nice person, as well as a brave person, both of which I admire in her. I don't have any major characters that I dislike yet, but I am a little creeped out by Sam Moore. In one of the scenes, it mentions that someone who looks the same age as Sam is about 30, while Keziah and Lilian seem to be somewhere around the age of high school, which in itself is a little awkward. Furthermore, the way Sam spends so much on Keziah at the mall, and gives her so much money at the end of her visit, along with Keziah's innocence in general, gives me a bad feeling. I'm looking forward to finding out whether or not this actually foreshadows a problem or whether I'm just reading too much into it.
Passages:
ReplyDelete“Gate that would confine her” is contradictory to her excitement -- if she is excited why does school make her feel confined?
“Come and polish my show” isn’t a usual cruelty in American schools, I hate that it is at Keziah’s school
Keziah and Moore’s phone call seems odd like I wouldn’t actually hear two people talk this way, I understand the significance storyline, but the structure sounds odd when I read it
“To Keziah her mum was her definition of a beautiful woman; strong and resolute at heart” (pg. 54) I think this is my favorite passage because every person can relate to feeling this way about their mother
Differences and Similarities
- Something as simple as the rice and chicken stew that is referenced within the first chapter help showcase that this novel is set somewhere other than the US
- People’s first instinct wouldn’t be to use the bible as an argument for why someone can’t be somewhere in America (pg 16-17)
- I can’t believe he wouldn’t allow those who didn’t pay their fees to eat, it isn’t their fault and they’ll go hungry! (pg 19)
- I don’t think a girl the age of a “fresher” would be dating someone old enough to pay her tuition? I’m a little confused on the age of Moore (73)
Favorite character
- I like Keziah because she’s a good person and all she wants is to learn. I connect to her want for knowledge and the desire to just get through school learning as much as she can
- I don’t trust Moore, maybe I’m overthinking this but it seems to me that no man who is old enough to pay school fees can be a good guy when he is dating someone as young as Keziah… something just seems off with him when I’m reading
I like the story so far and I think it would be good for an American audience because they would be exposed to another world and isn’t that what literature is suppose to do?
Literature does expose you to times, places, and experiences very unlike your own, from excitement and sport, to impatience and pain.
DeleteI have personally experienced the cultural shock within the school system here and Nigeria. It was interesting to be able to see the similarities in the Ghanaian school system. When reading the comments above, many have pointed out the strictness in the rules enforced such as maintaining hair in its natural state. I personally believe it teaching young black students to love their blackness and embrace it. With a country formally colonized by the British, the idea to embrace the beauty of what it means to be black is truly commendable. I think the character that truly resonated with me would have to be Lillian, Kazaiah first friend. Although she had attended the school longer than Kaziah, she provides a comforting guidance that assists Kazaiah in maintaining her love of learning. I have always heard that upperclassmen in boarding schools can make it quite difficult for those younger than themselves, but that proved not to be the case for Kazaiah. Statements such as “Don’t let anyone talk you out of what you deeply believe in. Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively.” show the power of words especially towards someone such as Kazaiah.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the novel, I noticed some immediate differences in our school system compared to the boarding school in which Keziah attends. The strict rules constrict the student’s freedom to dress/present themselves as they please and even restrict how/what they eat. At our school, we have more freedom and control over these types of things and the thought of not having these things is absurd to many of us.
ReplyDeleteRight from the beginning of the novel, one line that stuck out to me was, “she was glad she wasn’t going to be under the eagle eyes of her parents.” I thought this line was similar to some our own thoughts here in the U.S when going to college, as kids with stricter parents, such as Keziah’s, crave the independence and freedom that comes with college, or in Keziah’s case, boarding school.
My favorite character in the novel is Lilian, as she offers her friendship and guidance to Keziah immediately. Compared to the other girls around her, Lilian seems much more mature and outspoken. I liked how she defended Keziah right from the beginning when the girls were teasing her about studying, stating, “is it a crime to learn? Is that not why we are here?” From this first interaction, it is clear that Lilian isn't afraid to speak her own opinion and she cares about helping others/acts as a mentor for others.
1. “Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively.” (7)
ReplyDelete“If money was the root of all evil, as her dad had always preached in church, then being broke was not holy either.” (75)
“She hated telling lies because once you told a lie; you needed more lies to support the first.” (83)
I liked how this story was something that I could relate to but also had aspects of a culture that I haven’t experienced before. It is nice to get a look into another culture while still seeing some of my own experiences in it.
2. I definitely see some similarities between this story and my own experiences. I think that especially the social dynamics are very similar. I can relate to the character’s excitement to escape the watchful eyes of their parents in school. On the other hand, in my life I feel like I have more opportunities than these characters. They are very restricted where here I experience more freedoms.
3. My favorite character was Lilian because she is very strong and determined. I really liked how she stood up for Keziah and encouraged her to keep her passion for learning. She also was fearless and did not bend to bullies like Jezebel, but instead held her ground.
-Kathleen
1.) Something that I really liked about this book is that the title gets brought into the writing every once in a while. For example on page 11 Pomary writes, “She missed home but she loved the freedom of being alone here and making personal decisions concerning her life. It is kind of freaky but she loved it” . Here, the words freedom and freaky were brought up in just two sentences. I liked this because it reminds us of what the book really is about; a girl who gains her freedom and enjoys it a lot, and is a little lost at first but she finds her way. Overall the text was very captivating. Keziah is an interesting main character who is very relatable and as you read you just want to learn more about her journey.
ReplyDelete2.) I think that her school and the atmosphere around it is very different from ours. Her school seems to be a lot more strict, especially the teacher Mr. Gonjor. But the reason that it is so strict, I think, is because it is a boarding school, so the school is responsible for the students. Another big difference is the cafeteria. Everyone at her school seems to eat everything on their plate to be respectful, meanwhile at our school a lot of food is thrown out. I just thought that was interesting and an important thing to think about.
3.) One character that I really liked was Shaftiya. She seems like a sweet kind person who just wanted to help Keziah. I also sympathized with her a lot. Keziah always seemed to be blaming her for things even though she wasn’t in the wrong. For example Keziah blamed her at one point for stealing her money, and later she blames her for the awkward situation with Mr. Gonjor questioning her about the money. I do think it was a little weird how badly Shaftiya wanted to find the thief, but at the same time I think she was just trying to be a good friend and help Keziah.
Shaftiya and Keziah took the case into their own hands, probably because there wasn't really anyone to report to, unlike in our school. Maybe they will become detectives eventually.
DeleteSo far my experience reading “Freaky Freedom” is like the one time I watched Boston's professional lacrosse team in that I know who to root for, but I don't really know the rules. Part of the intrigue of this book is how little I shared with Keziah as students. Of course the basic concept of a school mandates we shared some things, but everything from the concept of boarding at school, to the unique cultural expectations of a woman in Ghana, to little things like having class prefects are completely foreign. That being said, Keziah is still my favorite character, as she demonstrates a certain respectability and work ethic that can be appreciated in any culture. I find the effect of this foreign setting to be engaging and reflected in other aspects of the text.
ReplyDeleteFrom an overall perspective, I found this book to have fewer prose than would be found in western literature and the style to be much more blunt. The direct statements of character’s emotions and quick back and forth in the long sections of dialogue are the main contributors to this effect and make for a fast and somewhat unique reading experience. Considering writers such as Shakespeare and Dickens, who are famous for their intricacy and prose, either wrote or inspired much of the literature we learn about in class as good literature, I personally have grown used to reading and writing work in this style. As such, it becomes very noticeable when a piece deviates from this format. The same goes for the directness of the language, and the countless other small details that make this book distinct from the modern western english work we normally consume.
Content-wise, I found the different worldview expressed by Keziah to be very interesting, especially how it pertained to the concept of wealth. In the novel, the parameters for being wealthy seems to have more to do with the line between necessity and luxury than it does with pure cost, as in the United States. For example, Keziah is unfazed with many of her schoolmates carrying cellphones, which serve a useful purpose, but is astonished by the escalator she encounters at the mall, which no one really needs. Similarly, “Moore Money” disporortuntly impressed Keziah with his wealth by needlessly buying her a soda and teddy bear, not with his new car or paying her school fees, both of which had direct benefits. Conversely, needlessly buying soda is about as american as an activity can be, but handing out school fees in cash is unheard of. I found the effect of this disconnect to be one of the most impactful pieces of this book; while America is a wealthier country, it has made us complacent as a society and fumbled our priorities. One line I found particularly impactful came up when Keziah was passenger in Moore’s air-conditioned car and realized for the first time how hot the african desert is. From my perspective this moment was completely alien to me, in terms of my incredibly low tolerance for the sun, but also coming from a place where air conditioning is a basic luxury; a concept that can be found nowhere in this book. This is why I think I found the idea of wealth in particular so interesting, because this book provided insight into a society that did not prioritize “basic luxuries” like cheap soda and standard air conditioning, like we do in America.
The book is very quick and attention grabbing. I think it makes a good young adult novel. I liked chapter eight. It was set up very nicely. At first it started happily, with the main character starting to get into a grove at school. Because of this I kept feeling this sense of dread, like: what’s going to ruin this? Once she started talking about her student fees I got even more worried. The whole chapter just left me in suspense until finally confirming the suspicion and I thought it did a very good job of leaving me on edge.
ReplyDeleteThe school in the novel was so different than school in the USA. I felt uneasy while reading the novel, as though I was afraid of getting in trouble. When the book described the large gates of the school, the role call before bed, the rules about not being allowed to eat without paying your fees, I think if I went to school there I would have way too much anxiety.
I do not trust Moore. He’s creeping me out to no end. I think his character is well thought out. There’s the whole idea that nice is different than good. I think Moore represents that very well. I think he’s going to turn out to be a terrible person.
1) I know it is weird but I like when Lillan says “Take another dress to wear when we get to town. Nobody pays you to advertise the school” It connected to me because sometimes I think the same thing why where your uniform out in public they do it sometimes in movies and it bothers me because most people that go to private school have clothes they change in to out side of school because uniforms are not the most confortable things.
ReplyDelete2) The School is very different to Andover High and US schools. They are not allowed to share food kinda weird rule but in US you can. You have to where your natural hair color which reminded me of a japanese school, there you can not dye or color your hair or have your ears pierced. When I went to a school in japan I could not wear earring because I could not have my ear pierced in general but since I was only going for 2 weeks they let me have my ears pierced. The only thing that is allowed is straight perm I know because my japanese friend has one. Though I think some of theses differences are because it is a private boarding school I also think some are cultural.
3)My favorite character was Lillian, I like her dry humor and outspokeness something I wish I had the bravery to do. I really like her relationship to Keziah. She reminds me of ine of my close friends so I think in that way she is very relatable and feels very really. I also like Keziah as she was someone who grow up in a different environment but I could really connect with her.
1.) Identify any sentences, paragraphs, and/or chapters that particularly speak to you. Offer your opinions on the text.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 1, when describing her parents, you wrote “Take mum for example, she had always bragged about how intelligent she was. In her days, she had to learn under very strenuous conditions and still made it … and not under the basic comforts of life that this generation now enjoyed.” I sometimes feel the same way, my parents too grew up in much more difficult circumstances than I did, and I think you portray that feeling really well through Keziah and her family.
I loved the part of chapter 3 when Lilian said to Keziah “‘You are letting them win? Don’t let anyone talk you out of what you deeply believe in.’ Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively. You get what I mean?” Although I think that some rephrasing could help this part, I love the ideal of sisterhood and bonding that we see.
In chapter 5 I liked how the character Mr. Gonjor was introduced, that last paragraph of chapter 15 was very well-written I think: “‘All first years are welcome to this noble institution. Here, the only problem you have is, there is no problem as long as you are law abiding. Sometimes too, when you don’t have a problem, that can also be a problem.’ He paused to see if the students caught the irony in the joke. Nobody laughed so he continued. ‘Problems make you think outside the box.’”
In Chapter 6, Keziah talks about her feelings towards God, and I think it was nicely put together, and describes how kids are starting to feel more disconnected from the religion their parents stressed on themselves when they were young. I like the line: “She [Keziah], believed in hard work - working out your own success and not placing your faith in some kind of imaginary God. As far back as age seven, God was to her a complex concept gnawing at her timid mind that only her parents had spiritual answers to.”
I loved seeing the character development of Keziah, on page 50 it says “The last bit wasn’t her problem at all. She didn’t come here for the endorsement of others. People’s perception of her did not bother her anymore.” It is great for the reader to see how much she is developing as a student and as a person in her time at school.
On page 60, when Keziah is experiencing something new driving around in the car all dressed up and around nice houses she thinks to herself, “Real money looks so beautiful, she thought. If anybody said that money is the root of all evil, then that person has not tasted poverty. She wanted to have money - her own money, but not through dirty means. She wanted to study hard for it; sweat for it, and proudly use it to put an everlasting smile on her Mummy’s face.” I don’t know why this line stood out to me, but I think no matter someone's background it's a very powerful statement.
2.) Take note of similarities and differences between the plot line of the novel and your own experiences as a student in the United States.
DeleteAt the beginning of Chapter 1, Keziah talks about the pressure she feels due to part by her parents in school. I definitely think this is a topic that a lot of kids in our day can relate to. A lot of times we feel pressured to live out to our parents ideals in life, and this can be very difficult for students.
Another similarity that I saw was the way parents often try to control their kids and put them into a pre drawn box that they have created. You touched on this particularly well in that last paragraph of the first page.
I noted a difference / misconception about being a student in the United States in chapter 2. The first paragraph, the freshman are taunted and called “fresher” and told to polish the shoes of the upperclassman. I see this portrayal in media a lot of the freshman being the bottom of the food chain in high school, but I never really felt like that and thought it was somewhat exaggerated.
I think that character Jezebel became a little bit lost on me at times. I like how the girls and their friendship circle is portrayed, with drama but also bonding and sisterhood, but sometimes I think it could be a little less exaggerated. In chapter 4 especially, the dining hall scene to me felt like a little bit much.
I think the scenes with religion and the bible in the Cafe with Mr. Gonjor felt dragged out a little bit. Of course we don’t go to a private or religious school, but I felt like it didn’t really relate to me as a student.
I think the dialogue with Moore in Chapter 6 felt a little bit forced and unrealistic, but overall it definitely added some excitement to the story.
I like how chapter 7 and other parts of the book tackles the stigma of addressing reproductive health in school, I think no matter what school one goes to there always is that kind of awkwardness and feeling like it doesn’t need to be talked about, and I think it was a cool thing to bring into the book.
On page 44, Shaftiya uses the term “Insha allah” meaning hopefully (god willing) we can recover the money. I understood this terminology because I am muslim and speak arabic, but it’s not common knowledge in a country like the United States, where people don’t really have a knowledge of Islam, so I think maybe it could make it a little bit confusing.
The car ride with Moore and Keziah and Lilian I think is very relatable in a certain sense for students, everyone has that one moment when they did something for the first time and broke some boundaries!
The whole searching for money thing felt a little out of touch with what would realistically happen and cause conflict in a school. But it definitely adds a mysterious element and exciting plot! I am excited to see where the book will go next now that this conflict is somewhat resolved, and a new one has arrived!
3.) Identify a favorite character and why you like (or dislike) the character.
DeleteI like Keziah a lot, I think she’s a complex character and it is great to see her development throughout the novel. But my favorite character would probably have to be Shaftiya. She is so loyal to Keziah and so set on finding the money for her. She takes great pride in her investigation and is very loyal and justice driven throughout the whole novel. I hope we get to see more of her in the second half of the book!
I found all of the paragraphs where Keziah alludes to her home life very interesting. She often mentions how she, “loves and deeply respects,” her mother while her father tends to treat her like, “a toddler,” still. I think all of these sections help us understand Keziah’s personality and upbringing in a unique and interesting way. I found the text as a whole to be very intriguing, and I especially like how we are not specifically told everything about a character, but we rather learn more about them as the story progresses.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how different the school in the novel is from AHS and others in the United States. The characters in the book seem to be used to things like the power going out in their school, while just last week we were all shocked when the electricity went out for two minutes in our school. In addition to this, the class dynamics and the fact that students all live at the school all seem quite different than over here. However, there are some similarities in the sense that the administration take on roles of strict authority, and the upperclassmen in the novel also seem to have a sense of superiority about them, much like I feel that all of us seniors tend to have from time to time.
While I would definitely not label him as a favorite of mine, the character that intrigues me the most is definitely Mr. Gonjor. He seems like a very cruel man, though he was also entrusted to watch out for Keziah, so I am very curious as to find out more about his character and see if he has more underlying layers to him.
Throughout the novel, Keziah offers the reader insight on her relationship with her parents. At several different moments, Keziah describes how her parents seem to believe she is incapable (or at least, not independent enough) of making proper life choices, as well as living separate from them. This was an aspect of the book that really resonated with me, seeing how I’m now preparing for college. Though the situations are different between Keziah and I, my parents are also anxious to see how I’ll fare on my own. Admittedly, I’m not the most independent person and tend to rely on others to help me through certain problems. That being said, the line on page 91 that states, “...Will get to her parents, who already were under the false impression that she couldn’t take care of herself” reflected my own personal conflict.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I felt that Keziah’s experiences at her school were relatable to elements of Andover High. For instance, sexuality acts as a major aspect of our health classes. At Keziah’s school, there is a lot of discussion over similar matters as well. This is more evident towards the beginning of the book, where students continually interrupt and joke about their lecture on sex. Naturally, that topic is met with some embarrassment and humor at Andover High, too. Some components of Keziah’s school that I found different from Andover High was mainly the relationships between students and teachers. Like many other comments have mentioned, the teachers at Keziah’s school seem to be much more strict and authoritative. Their harsh reactions to Keziah’s confession demonstrates this, as well as Gongor’s “terrific oncoming speed” (page 22) when hunting down the two boys.
Like many others have mentioned, I think that Keziah is my favorite character. She seems to be very dimensional and interesting, especially when describing her home life to the reader. The comparisons she makes between her life with her parents and her life at school are captivating. In addition, I thought that her insights about money and poverty added a lot more depth to her character.
Immediately within the novel, Keziah believes that “within these ‘prison’ walls, her freedom would begin.” I think this notion widely varies from most US students as many feel the opposite way, that school limits their freedom. This line was actually really eye-opening, and made me realize that access to education is something that is often taken for granted. Furthermore, the scene where girls are discussing reproductive health education and Lilian exclaims that “the world is built on hypocrisy and pretence” is very interesting, and I like how the different girls represented different opinions regarding taboo subjects in education.
ReplyDeleteI think a universal experience referred to in the book is a child’s desire to impress their parents, whether it be academically or in some other aspect. Keziah describes herself as being “determined not to let her parents down” because of the sacrifices they made to give her certain opportunities in life, which I’m sure many students worldwide can relate to. A huge difference, however, is the atmosphere of the school in the book as compared to that of Andover High. Overall, we certainly don’t face the strictness and hazing to the same level of the school in Freaky Freedom.
While reading the novel, I grew to look forward to seeing what Lillian had to say. She was introduced with her opinion that information should still be taught to students regardless of taboo, which is a viewpoint that I strongly agree with. I also like how she later defends the shy Keziah from older students such as Jezebel multiple times, giving her the advice to “influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively.” The mother-daughter relationship that Lillian and Keziah grow to have is very touching and demonstrates the kindness of Lillian’s character to take Keziah under her wing. The part later in the novel where Lillian snuck Keziah out of the school while dressed up confused me, but I still like how she treats Keziah as part of her family. Moore Money’s character was also interesting to me, and I wonder how he will affect the plot later in the book. His character compared to the innocent Keziah creates an extremely contrasting dynamic.
The freedom the students in this novel experience is quite different to the freedom experienced in American schools like Andover High School. At the school in Ghana, students must abide to rules about things like uniforms and hairstyles. Students aren’t allowed to tamper with their natural hair texture and color whereas here in Andover it’s quite common for students to dye, curl, or straighten their hair. In Andover, we don’t have a dress code and can wear a variety of clothing styles to school. At lunch, students in the novel must finish their meals without sharing and aren’t allowed to take anything out of the dining hall. This really caught my attention because at our lunches, it’s often a rarity for people to finish every part of their meal by themselves, often sharing with friends and throwing out the leftovers. When I was younger, I often heard people say something along the lines of, “There’s people starving in Africa, finish your lunch!” Although the students in Freaky Freedom aren’t necessarily starving, they have an awareness and discipline surrounding food that I do not share. Many students in Andover feel we do not have enough freedom in school, yet compared to the school in the story, we have many freedoms they may never understand.
ReplyDeleteDespite the differences between school freedoms, the emotions characters feel in the novel are relatable to emotions teenagers feel around the world. Keziah works hard to make her parents proud yet never feels satisfied asking, “But how can an adolescent truly live when s/he has her kind of parents kneading her every time into a shape that existed in their minds?” (1). The idea of parents “kneading” their children is prevalent not only in Keziah’s world but in many cultures and societies around the globe. The pressure to live up to expectations of others can block children from reaching reaching expectations of their own. Keziah’s friend Lilian is my favorite character because she acts as a mentor to Keziah, telling her to, “[i]nfluence the world” (7) and not to “let the world influence [her] negatively” (7). Lilian is the humorous yet wise friend everyone could use in their life. The bond her and Keziah share is such a touching piece of the story and their scenes together were some of my favorites to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr. Pomary’s book and seeing the differences between his writing and the writing in typical American novels we’d read in class. I think Keziah is an extremely relatable character to teenagers such as myself and I am fascinated with the similarities between our two societies. This reiterates the common theme that we truly are all created equal in spite of race, background or religion. One paragraph that stands out to me is when Keziah was describing her mother. She stated that she didn’t mind that her mother didn’t wear makeup and truly admired her natural beauty. I loved how Keziah felt great pride when compared to her mother and describes her mother as the definition of a beautiful woman “strong and resolute at heart”. If I am not mistaken, Keziah and her friends attend a boarding school. Unlike the public school I attend, they sleep and live at school at all hours of the day- which is an obvious difference. However the characterizations made about her classmates and the rebellious actions included in the story could easily take place at our school in Andover, Massachusetts. I loved reading about the dynamic between juniors and seniors, and how seniors in the story tend to be more leintant with rule following. As a second semester senior myself, it was funny to read that the “senior slide” is a universal concept. Shatfiya is one of my favorite characters because of her level of selflessness that she puts forward to help Keziah. At first I was confused why she was so content on solving the case of the missing money, but after confirming she was not the thief, it is clear she had selfless intentions. It will be interesting to see how Shaftiya progresses as a character in the rest of the novel, now that the crime has been solved.
ReplyDeleteKeziah equates schooling with freedom, believing that she will be able to grow up now that she is without the supervision of her father. Oddly, she creates a paradox as she believes she will find bliss inside her school with prison like walls. Most American teenagers would agree partly with her statement, feeling trapped within the walls of educational institutions, but there is no recognized freedom. That belief is rather melodramatic, but accurate to the emotional teenage mind. After being introduced to the character Gonjor, I thought that Keziah would feel her freedom was being threatened, but that wasn't the case. Although she viewed him as a strong, authoritative figure, she feared the wrath of her father more, equating confinement with him.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Keziah has been sheltered her whole life, having preconceived notions as to how young women are supposed to act. It was established earlier in the book that sex is rather taboo for the students, while in the US it is unavoidable. This is shown through the character of Lilian who doesn’t shy away from the conversation of reproductive health rights, as well as dressing and behaving as she wishes. Keziah views her as unconventional, drawn to her carefree and “adult” behavior. For Keziah, something as simple as being given a nickname she associates with a bad reputation. Yet, she doesn’t judge Lilian’s actions, partly because she is overwhelmed by curiosity, but also because Lilian cares for her.
When I was first introduced to Keziah, I viewed her as rather whiny and high-strung, caring deeply about how others perceived her. Although her behavior frustrated me, it was understandable considering she has never experienced anything like this before. She is overly anxious, allowing the fear of what her father might do to her if he heard about her lost money control her. She believes that she is free because she is away from her parents, but she still lives her life worrying about what they will think of her. The yearning for approval from others and parents is universal. As the story progresses, Keziah begins to become more comfortable in her new setting, worrying less about how her peers view her and focusing more on her new experiences. I am interested to see how her character develops as the story goes on.
Although I did notice a lot of differences in our school system and Keziah’s regarding rules and their disciplinary actions, I feel as though almost all of us could relate to what Keziah went through at school. Nervousness overwhelmed Keziah after she was yelled at from behind the door to report to lunch on time, in fear of getting in trouble she “plunked the book she was packing down and sprang on to her feet in fear” (8). A quote that stood out to me was, “the hall was so noisy that it was virtually impossible to hear your own whisper. Keziah felt so lonely in the mist of the clamour” (11). I feel like the overwhelming fear of her new environment and the loneliness within the mass of people is relatable to a majority of students, specifically freshman or transfer students. Everyone craves the willingness to be accepted and adapt as easily as possible to be socially comfortable, this then pushes people to achieve academic success.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character is Lillian, as her first impression towards Keziah was she was mature and responsible which assisted Keziah in getting more comfortable with herself and her surrounding. She’s assuring and acts more of a parent towards Keziah in protecting her and being more level-headed.
To begin, I really enjoyed how the novel used indirect ways to help the readers understand things about each character. They truly perfected the method of showing instead of telling. I found this book to be very interesting, as learning about another culture can offer a rewarding wealth of knowledge and perspective on the world. In particular, I believe that the novel was made all the more intriguing as similarities with our lives and major differences were discovered as we continued to read. It was extremely noticeable that this school had varying degrees of rules compared to Andover High School. From having to wear their natural hair, finishing everything on their plate, and paying for all of their fees, there were some pretty major differences. I like how they embrace the sense of natural beauty with the rule of wearing your natural hair. Some things that I found relatable is Keziah initial feelings on the first day of school. She was nervous and excited, just how most people are when they are doing something new. At the start of the novel, Keziah discusses how she feels glad that she will not be constantly watched by her parents. I personally relate to this because I value independence and having the ability to make my own decisions. It is a learning experience to be able to do things on your own and handle things for yourself. My favorite character is definitely Lilian because she seems to hold more wisdom than anyone else. She told Keziah to not “let anyone talk you out of what you deeply believe in. Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively” (7). This is an important line to help you understand who she is as a person. She values individuality and wants Keziah to do the same. She knows that it is important to not adhere to the status quo. She is an upperclassmen yet she greatly helps keziah in her transition to this new school. I am not sure if it is an american stereotype that upperclassmen are typically mean and treat underclassmen unfairly, but Lilian truly defies this role and takes care of Keziah. The way in which she takes Keziah under her wing shows that she cares for her well being and this helps Keziah to continue her passion for learning. For example, when Keziah was being teased for studying, Lilian defends her, expressing that they are at the school to learn. This demonstrates the mature nature in which Lilian carries herself.
ReplyDeleteOne section that I felt was powerful was, “Take mum for example, she had always bragged about how intelligent she was. In her days, she had to learn under very strenuous conditions and still made it … and not under the basic comforts of life that this generation now enjoyed”. It is good sometimes to remind yourself how much easier life is now compared to the past and to not stress about small issues. One problem that I noticed is that some of the dialogue is too complex to be expected from high school students.
ReplyDeleteI found a lot of differences in the school experience compared to mine at Andover High School. Students are taught about sex starting as early as elementary school. Upperclassmen are not as hostile, if at all, towards underclassmen. The view on learning is completely opposite; People are made fun of for not learning and getting bad grades. Religion has no influence in the operation of the school. Payments are usually done online and theft is uncommon.
I like Lillian because she seems genuinely nice and supports others. She goes against the negativity of others. She guides Keziah when no one else does and helps her adjust to high school.
I really enjoyed the section of Mr. Pomary’s novel that we got to read. I found it engaging and it was a really cool experience to read about what high school is like on the other side of the world. While reading, there were several lines that stuck out to me. One was at the very beginning of the novel when Keziah is thinking to herself, “But how can an adolescent truly live when s/he has her kind of parents kneading her every time into a shape that existed in their minds?” (1). I found this quote to be extremely applicable to the lives of high schoolers in America. Parents, intentionally or unintentionally, put tremendous pressure on their kids to succeed. They have this preconceived image of their child’s future and they push their child to match this ideal. Another quote that stood out to me was when Lillian is reassuring Keziah and she says “don’t let anyone talk you out of something you deeply believe in” (7). I think this carries an important message that everyone around the world could benefit from hearing. Your thoughts are sacred and you should never let anyone make you feel bad for your personal believes. Don’t change just because others are telling you to, be confident in yourself and what you believe.
ReplyDeleteI found that there were many similarities with our school and with there’s but, there were also many differences. One immediate similarly that made me laugh was the idea that the seniors in the school were hard to control. As seniors at AHS approach our final months in school, we are all beginning to slack off and bend some rules. It was funny to see that “senior sliding” was not a concept unique to America. Additionally, the students take similar classes, they had math, science, literature and even P.E. However, their school seemed to be stricter than ares. They were not allowed to change their hair, it had to be worn natural. They were also required to wear uniforms. Here at AHS people use their hair and clothing style as a way to express themselves and have very few restrictions.
Finally, one character that stood out to me was Shatfiya. I found her character to be incredibly genuine. I was touched that she immediately stepped up to help Kenziah locate her money that had been stolen. She had no problem putting the needs of Kenziah before her own and sacrificing her time to help. I am looking forward to see how the friendship between the two girls grows in the rest of the book.
Anna Higgins
After reading the first chapter I feel like I could already relate to the story. When she says “she was glad she wasn’t going to be under the eagle eyes of her parents” it was a feeling that I and many others can relate to. I feel like part of growing up is waiting for the moment when you have more freedom than what you had had for a while. Her version was going to boarding school and being away from her parents while I think many of ours was being able to drive. And then throughout the rest of the story, the common fight between being a teenager vs an adult is brought up.
ReplyDeleteI think it is super interesting when reading about experiences of others and them comparing them to your own because it makes you realize how we take some things for granted and how different places just have different routines. I think it is eye opening how at their school, they have super strict rules. I know that we complain all the time about little things at our school but they have really different rules. For example, the fact that students must finish everything on their plates is something that I didn’t really think could be implemented as a rule at a school. That is because everyday at school, I see students throwing away trays of edible food because we take for granted.
Through the text, I feel like I was able to understand Lilian’s personality and character better. I feel like it was very evident that Lilian is straight forward in what she believes to be correct. I liked that she immediately befriended Keziah because she knew that it was the right thing to do and wasn’t worried about the consequences.
Growing up with a relatively independent nature, Freaky Freedom resonated with me as I lived vicariously through Keziah’s experience being the “new girl” and away from home. I have experienced being a new student a number of times, so the intimidation of learning the new ropes was completely relatable; it can be daunting to put yourself out there and figure out simple details. Through Keziah’s experience with making new friends, I could truly identify myself in regards to having trust issues, “Why is Shaftiya so concerned about helping her? She was the only person that stuck to her, right from the time the money was stolen. Could she be a suspect too?” (41). In that moment, Keziah’s state of mind was so frantic that she retreated into her shell and pictured everyone as the “enemy;” no one could be trusted. I personally connected this instance to many points in my life where I struggled to put my faith in other people’s hands to handle a given situation. This feeling that Keziah is experiencing comes from the lack of confidence she has in her new surroundings. While reading, I noticed that Keziah becomes to feel more comfortable when hanging around Lillian. At one point, Lillian convinces Keziah to venture with her before the scheduled roll-call. Later in the car with Moore, they are all chatting and suddenly the topic of Keziah’s stolen money is mentioned. Keziah remains calm and explains that she is waiting on a miracle; Moore, however, offers a piece of advice, ““I believe in miracles too. But I also believe that sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and make your own miracles happen” (61). This quote from Moore reveals his personal level of faith, and that sometimes trusting the situation is not always reliable; one must depend on themselves when the time calls. Surprisingly, I found that this philosophy behind the quote applied to my personal life. It was intriguing to relate and think about how this was the one of the driving reasons I challenged myself through high school— I lack a lot of confidence and trust in my abilities and would rather create the miracle than wait on it. To me, creating the miracle guarantees one rather than trying to identify it. Though I could best relate with Keziah in the story, I found Lilian to be my favorite character. Keziah refers to her as her “school mother,” as she is the older figure who guides her through the niches of her new school. I personally have a lot of older figures in my life who act alongside to Lillian; many of my older friends have learned to reach higher ropes, and give me advice to new things they have learned. Like Keziah, with my “older mother” friends, I feel safe when I am not in the house and am able to feel comfortable on the outside.
ReplyDeleteCompared to AHS, I found that the academic life was extremely different. The teachers seem less intense here and the students have more freedom with style, classes, and scheduling. However, I thought that the transition for a new student was relatively the same; new schools can be daunting and new friends can be made when it is least expected.
I found reading Denice Yao Pomary’s book to be pretty interesting. I enjoyed learning about some of the culture in Ghana, especially in this school. The school Keziah and the other students attend is vastly different from our school, with the major difference being that they live there overnight. However, the students are pretty similar to those here in Andover. While we live in very different lifestyles, our thoughts and motives are similar to each other. One difference I found interesting was how the school taught around sex-education. They emphasized abstinence-only to their students, which left the students to figure things out on their own. Keziah had never been taught about contraception in school and couldn’t recognize condoms, as Keziah tried to pack condoms, but “ Keziah wasn’t certain but it sure looked like it.” Although the students live very differently from the way we do, there are certain moments where we can see just how similar we are. Moore is one of the characters I have paid most attention to. He is very suspicious and it should be interesting to see what he does later in the book. I also enjoy the close bond that Lillian and Keziah have come to have. I noticed the contrast as Keziah has relations with both Moore and Lillian, and those two are very different from each other. Overall, I enjoyed the quick pace of this novel and I think it is very good for the young adult audience.
ReplyDelete1. The repetition of the word "angel" really stuck out. I didn't understand how religious this story would be until Mr. Gonjor had that boy repeat that verse from James. Overall, the text was a bit abnormal. This is most likely because the author is not American, but it did not feel like an American piece at all. Much of it was a bit more difficult to follow, due most likely to a sort of language barrier as English in different countries can be so various and changed. It felt like a diary of sorts, but the person writing the diary was a little lost, and unsure of the direction they were writing. But I could tell from the beginning when they made a focus on "reproductive health" that it would be an important point, about sexuality and assault.
ReplyDelete2. If that was what school was like in the US, we'd all be much different. Teens will always be teens, but just examining the behavior in the novel, if it is truly how it is, it's very jarring. The social taboo on sexuality and health in general is very upsetting. Keziah's curiosity and somewhat blissful ignorance I can tell is going to bring her unfortunate events in the future. The manipulative spirit of Lilian who she sees as a "mother" but who is actually bringing her into this adult society is near horrifying. Overall, very different from the vaping in the bathrooms and snow days at our school.
3. Shaftiya is my favorite thus far. She is backing Keziah up no matter what, and hasn't pressured her at all unlike Lilian. She went through such efforts to help someone that she wasn't that close to, and understood the weight of the money issue for Keziah. I sincerely distrust Lilian, as she's obviously grooming Keziah (in my opinion).
Often we take advantage of the freedom allowed by our parents in this country, giving us spending money and cars to have the freedom to have our own lives. I know I certainly get annoyed when my parents question where I'm going after school, knowing it's never that far, but reading this I realize how lucky we are here. Education, in particular, is something so taken for granted by American student because it's such an everyday thing for us. Particularly, reading about the way sexuality is treated in Ghana is very intriguing. While reading the section about the reproductive health assembly I was reminded so much of sitting through a junior year health class and having to deal with people's giggles and jokes. I think sex is definitely treated similarly in terms of stigma, embarrassment and reliance on abstinence. However, certainly here we treat it with the knowledge that sex happens and that, instead of fearing it there should be precautionary methods taken to prevent STI and pregnancy. I, for one, have had friend feel the fear of a pregnancy scare not to mention the media awareness and TV shows that discuss such things in detail particularly with the current controversy over abortion law. I would say the difference between the narrative from the book and from the way sex is handled in the US is that, though there is fear and shame surrounding it, we have so much information from the internet and from Health classes at our fingertips that, even in a case were something were to happen, we have the tools as young adults to handle it. It seems that the girls in the novel are relatively isolated from information like this, though Lilian did have condoms which are always a good start. I could imagine in either culture, Ghanian or American, there is still room for misinformation and manipulation. I related a great deal with Keziah because she seemed so naive to but perceptive to her surrounding. Going out with Lilian she clearly wants to have the freedom to experience life freely, but when confronted with the prospected of the missing condoms she realizes perhaps Moore’s intentions might not be so pure. I relate to her fear, I’ve certainly had “school-mother” friends in the past who have brought me along on adventures, maybe not so concerning as hanging out with a couple of 30-year-olds, but things that were out of my comfort zone. Though my adventures have never been quite so potentially predatory as Keziah’s, I understand the desire for autonomy from one’s parents. I hope Keziah learns not to be to entice by Lilian and Moore in the coming chapters and learn to find her own sense of freedom and that money isn’t always so innocent or easily acquired.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this portion of “Freaky Freedom”, I found Chapter 5 as the most notable and interesting chapter from the assignment. In this chapter, after a few references to the family friend and overseer of Keziah’s education, the reader finally gets to meet Mr. Gonjor. No matter what your opinion of Mr. Gonjor is, it is undeniable that he leaves a big impression. Through this character, you can see the similarities and differences in education between the US and Ghana. Upon his entrance, Mr. Gonjor silences the students. Like any teacher, Mr. Gonjor has authority, but the extent which it goes is far different than in the US. To enforce the rules of the cafeteria and school fees, he threatens the students. Unlike Keziah’s school, if a teacher did this at Andover High School and a parent heard, they would face punishment. However, Mr. Gonjor does not have this situation. Mr. Pomary mentioned that school administrations in Ghana tend to have more prerogative than in the United States. Through Mr. Gonjor’s entrance, I also noticed the use of religion in the classroom. He uses James 4:2 as a lesson to his students. Besides this example, there are multiple references to the Bible throughout the book. As a student at Andover High School, there are no connections to religion. You may follow your beliefs individually, but the usage of scripture does not go beyond that.
ReplyDeleteReading this book has been very interesting so far. It is amusing to see how similar schools can be despite being located in different countries or even continents. Though there are certainly differences, plenty of the dynamics between the students in Freaky Freedom are reminiscent of those from our everyday lives at Andover High School. The school in the book is in many ways more formal than our school. For example, students are required to wear school uniforms and teachers are allowed to punish students physically. However, an example of a part which felt very relatable is when all the students were rushing to catch a glance when Mr. Gonjor was chasing down the boys who snuck food out of the dining hall. It’s like at AHS, being momentarily engrossed by watching a hall monitor sprint after a student. As far as a favorite character goes, so far I have been liking Shaftiya. I thought it was admirable how she took Keziah’s money problem into her own hands and I enjoyed how seriously and creatively she approached the issue. In the second half of the book, I am interested to see how Keziah and Samuel Moore’s relationship develops. I wonder if he will try to get romantic with her or if there is perhaps something sinister going on.
ReplyDeleteI have only read about 30 pages so far, but I am enjoying this reading because I can relate to Keziah's thoughts as she is attending a new school in the first chapter. One of the sentences I related to was when Keziah first saw her new school and thought to herself that "Within these "prison" walls, her freedom would begin." I have moved around a lot as a kid and switched schools often, so Keziah's story resonated with me because I experienced many of the events in this story, like moving into a dorm and having to make new friends. My favorite character has to be Lillian, because from the first time she met Keziah, she was nice and supportive of her, even though she is an upperclassmen.
ReplyDeleteI really have enjoyed reading this book so far. I like how the plot isn’t predicatable and that you never really know what is going to happen. In the beginning of the book, Lilian said “‘You are letting them win? Don’t let anyone talk you our of what you deeply believe in’. Influence the world. Don’t let the world influence you negatively.”(page 7). This stood out to me because this was right when Keziah got to the school and the other girls were making fun of her for wanting to go to math. This quote is what made me start to like Lilian so much because she didn’t care what the other girls thought about her and she was very honest about her opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest difference is the fact that the school is a boarding school compared to our school which we attend from 7:45 am to 2:05 pm. The rules that our school inforce are quote different for example at Andover High we can bring food to most of the classes and eat pretty much anywhere and we do not have a dresscode while in the book one of school rules is about the school uniform and no food being able to leave where they eat.
In the beginning my favorite character was Lilian because right from the beginning of the book when she is first introduced she becomes an immediate ally to Keziah. She becomes a protector of Keziah as J comes into the room and begins to yell. However the more I read, the more I began to dislike the way she treated Keziah. The relationship seemed like Lilian was condescending and that she was more superior to Keziah. Keziah began to refer to Lilian as her “school mother” and looked up to her as an older, protectiver figure however I feel like Lilian will turn out to be a different character then how I first thought she would be from the beginning.
Chapter 13, which was about Moore and Keziah’s trip to the mall while Lillian and Celestine stayed at the house really spoke to me. It seems like Moore expects more out of the relationship, at least in the future, than Keziah expects. Particularly when they were in the mall, and Keziah saw the old man and young girl kissing, she was appalled, yet that is likely what will happen eventually between Keziah and Moore given Moore’s actions and his generous donation of the school fees for Keziah after hers got stolen. However, Keziah is so innocent and naive that she does not under what is happening between Celestine and Lillian when they stayed home during her and Moore’s trip. She also doesn’t seem to understand that Lillian seems to be trying to turn Keziah into herself (a sugar baby?) One quote that particularly stood out to me in this chapter is, “What she couldn’t quite figure out was why Moore was spending so much money on her cheerfully. Is that how all the guys in the city behave? Are there men on Earth who would just spend money on ladies without expecting anything in return” (72). Keziah is that girl in the horror movie who doesn’t remotely get what is going on and is going to end up hurt.
ReplyDeleteMy experience as a student in the United States in very different from that of Keziah shown in the plot line of the novel. I personally have never really felt like an outcast during school, however I have some friends who have experienced this during lives, particularly right after they moved to Andover and were new students. The school environment is also very different at the school Keziah goes to compared to the atmosphere at Andover High School. At Andover High, the principal is very friendly and acts normally, while at Keziah’s school, the headmaster is very unpredictable and no one ever knows what he is going to do. I don't really have a favorite character so far, but I do like Lillian the least. She seems to be manipulating Keziah into becoming like her, and spending a lot of time with rather sketchy men, like Celestine and Moore. It seems like Keziah may turn into a sugar baby for Moore with Lillian as her pimp.
I agree with your analysis of Moore as a character! He kind of seems unsettling to me as well.
DeleteChapter 4 in "Freaky Freedom" addresses the cafeteria, rules about hairstyles and eating, as well seemingly a school yard bully. The cafeteria at Andover High School is terrifying. One fourth of the entire school chaotically scrambling to squish in at small table and stick to the people they know. In Ghana, Keziah describes her cafeteria as "accommodating for a thousand students" with dining tables that have room for 20 people. I feel like this setup creates a much better dynamic for comradery and meeting new people.
ReplyDeleteAt Keziah's school they must "wear a natural hair". This rule is presented in such a strict way the audience could think that the audience resents it. However, I think it is very important to celebrate natural beauty and embrace your roots history and culture. Freshmen year every morning I’d straighten my hair pin straight until it smelt like it was on fire. It was neither healthy for my hair or my esteem. Beauty standards in society can be so distorted, un inclusive, and flat out false, that I can appreciate the schools efforts to preserve their pride as naturally beautiful women.
A character that intrigued me was Jezebel, an upperclassmen who is not afraid to assert some authority. She mockingly scolds a younger student who upset, questioning, "You are crying because you cannot eat this shit?" As an upperclassmen, I know I would probably taking a trip to the principles office if I treated any underclassmen this way. However this social structure in Ghana places much power and respect in the older students. While at first glance or assumption Jezebel appears mean and rigid, I think their is more to her character than the chapter allows. However, I like her confidence and attitude.
Chapter 1 talks about her overbearing parents, I feel like many teenagers can relate to overbearing parents to some respect. I particularly relate to parents who act like they were flawless when they were teenagers. Keziah is my favorite character because she is very relatable, as she seems to have all the stereotypical problems of modern teenagers. I feel like the text is good and understandable, but uses a voice that many people in the United States are not accustomed to. "Her dad always treated her as if she were always going to remain a kid!" is something I immediately thought of when thinking about the voice, many people in the U.S. would probably be more accustomed to hearing "Her dad always treated her like a child." to meaning the same thing. I feel like the plot line is very similar to the experience of a high schooler in the U.S., most likely because high school is a similar experience in most countries that I know of.
ReplyDeleteI thought this book was very wholesome. The way the characters interact with each other and how life is like in this setting felt very surreal in some ways. I did wish some of the characters had better introductions such as Moore, who didn’t have much development in the story and was there to call Keizah but they don’t have much to talk about. I really wanted Keizah to have to her rather than a girl who is defined by her parent’s expectations. I did enjoy some parts of the books like when the entire student body was talking about reproductive health. It shows a lot of the adolescent mind with the arragavated minds of adults. I’ve noticed that one differences between the education system of the US and Ghana is sex education. I think that because the topic of sex is taboo, Ghana might not be as open to talk about because, just from reading this novel, I picked up that Ghana is a conservative country with many religious belief and talking about sex education isn’t very common in most school. In contrast with the US, sex education is very important to know and it’s been advertised many times, either from the media or pop culture. I think that in the US, the topic sex isn’t very taboo and has become the social norm when talking in conversations. I think one similarity that both me and the students in the novel, especially Keizah, is having strict parents and trying hard in school. Although my parents may not be as strict as a hawk, they are concerned about my well-being and academic achievements. Because of their concern, I hope to try hard in school not only for them but for myself. I think my favorite character is Shaftiya because she takes in consideration for her friends well being and I got to see her develop as character in just a few pages.
ReplyDeleteThis book is very interesting for the fact that at first, it seems very different from our lives here in Andover MA, USA, but in reality many people of the similar age experience the same emotions towards things. Even though for Keizah starting school means moving away from home and living with new people she calls her family, we also experience that kind of leaving our home and growing up. High school is a time when people make new friends and try new activities. This means that at least for a lot of students at the high school, many people are not home for a large chunk of the day. I thought it was really interesting to compare what feels like totally different situations and find the hidden similarities. I also enjoyed reading about her morning rituals and how 3am was a normal waking time for her. One quote that was very character defining for Keizah is, "She believed in hard work- working out your own success and not placing your faith in some kind of imaginary God"(23). This allows us to understand even more of her morals. Because of this Keizah has to be my favorite character. We know the most about her, making her the most relatable character for me.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the whole time I read Freaky Freedom, I was interested in finding out where the story was going. Although it may struggle in some aspects, grammatically and in structure, the story was overall easy to read and flowed. There was one part in the beginning of the book, where Keziah was talking about her parents that really spoke to me. She said that “She knew that being the first child of her parents, she carried in her bosom the hopes and aspirations of her family”. Like Keziah, I can relate to the pressures of being the first born child and I think many people across the world would as well.
ReplyDeleteThe book highlighted many issues within the school which I think are big cultural differences between there and the schools in the US. When they ban “communal eating” and taking food back to their dorms, I thought about how different lunches in our large cafeterias are. Another piece that has been highlight by a lot of people is the differences in talks about sex education. The stigmas present in this books are something that we see in the US, although we may not see it here in Andover. Their talk on reproductive health highlights the differences in education. In Andover, since the fifth grade, we have had the choice to be educated on reproductive health with required health classes every other year. Although some people may be uncomfortable with the discussion it’s not as taboo as what is depicted in the book. Many of the people during the discussion on reproductive health attempt to make a joke out of it, one of those people being Lilian. So far, Lillian is my favorite character. I think that she is a good example for Keziah to look up to although she might not be perfect. She protects Keziah from the other girls when they’re mean to her and takes care of her as her “school mother”.
It is interesting to see how children that come from different backgrounds experience high school. At the beginning of the book, Keziah is walking into high school as a freshman and is referred to as a “Fresher”. I found that the upperclassmen seem much more brutal to the lower classmen than what I experienced in Andover. Upperclassmen when I was freshman, upperclassmen just ignored us. Lilian seems to want to protect Keziah from the beginning. I like how even though she is an upperclassman she wants to help Keziah and try to guide her. “We need these kinds of education so that we can protect ourselves from the Mr. Armstrongs in the future.” This line sparks the topic of reproductive health which does not seem to be well educated at the beginning of the book. There are both similarities and differences between Andover High School and Saints and Angels High School. This book can be relatable for many high school students, especially those who are starting off in a new school for the first time.
ReplyDeleteAs the story follows Keziah for her first few months at her new school we see her become more comfortable in her surroundings while also encountering a number of situations and choices. Reserved in the beginning, Keziah is trying to become someone more mature and capable in the eyes others. When she first appears, she is quick to obey the demands of an upperclassman until Lilian interjects. Her initial concept of maturity is someone who follows rules and engages in her studies but can also manage affairs herself. “Freedom” means the chance to prove her adulthood to her parents and peers, as someone who doesn’t need to be parented. When she has to pay for her first term, “Her dad for the first time had given her the money to pay as soon as she got to school. The pride she felt was unimaginable. It meant he trusted her.” (33) Despite being proud of her father’s trust, I found it interesting that she seems embarrassed by the state of the money. She doesn’t want the stained or ripped bills visible, adding to the irony when she loses the entire payment. Despite escaping her parents, Keziah quickly falls into the role of Lilian’s “daughter” following and trusting her in a way she briefly questions herself. When they break the school rules and leave the town, Keziah’s brief discomfort is overshadowed by the excitement of this new experience, a newfound definition of freedom. During her interactions with Moore, she appears much younger in the presence of this adult, as if reminding the reader she is not as mature as she hopes to be yet. Keziah repeatedly questions, “Are there men on earth who would just spend money on ladies without expecting anything in return?” (72) Her surprise at his kindness was reflected on the reader, as it seems there may be more to his intentions, especially paralleled with the image of the young woman kissing the older man. When Keziah’s rule-breaking and loss of the money is nearly revealed, she still manages to find a way around the situation, though it almost seems to go too smoothly. Her question in the final passage, “But how come parents have such a weird perception of the world out there? They always thought danger loomed at you once you were an adolescent outside your home.” (94) seems to foreshadow coming events that may change her viewpoint and give her an answer to this question.
ReplyDeleteAs a student in the U.S. I could notice some similarities and differences in Keziah's experience. The separation between under and upperclassmen seems more apparent here, the seniors directly asserting their authority over newer students. As a freshman I did notice that the seniors were always visibly more comfortable and experienced in the school environment, as Keziah notices in the dining hall. The experience of this school seems more connected to the experience of a boarding school with certain restrictions, though the way older students learn to get around rules or interact with the environment seems universal. I could relate to Keziah’s stress at certain points as she balanced between obeying authority figures and finding her place in the school’s culture, as well as considering how much to trust people and how to appear responsible. I found Keziah was my favorite, as I enjoyed watching her character evolve, certain experiences mirroring my own, and I am wondering what the second part of the text will reveal about her changing personality.
I very much enjoyed the reading of Freaky Freedom, going into the book I was unsure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised that I liked the text as much as I did. I think that chapter five spoke to me well, as I’m sure it can with other students. The fear that comes with being the “new person” in school is something which truly can be a shared feeling across countries, as I felt that Keziah’s initial worries about her school and her classmates mirrors my own in some ways when I was a freshman. Seniors can seem so old and menacing when you’re that young, and it's not until you get to that age yourself that you see how similar the two groups can actually be. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed the text so much was because the reading experience was different that any I’ve had for a while. I mean this in the best way possible, the differences in descriptive language and story structure kept me hook, and not bored. It felt fresh and new to read, after reading enough American and European novels you start to notice their conventions and patterns of storytelling and structure. Freaky Freedom gave me a unique reading experience because of how much I enjoyed the change from what I had considered to be standard book fare. A difference that stood out to me between Ghanan students and United States students is the amount of authority the final year students had over the third year students. In American schools, displaying that level of responsibility over peers which are younger than them would either be shrugged off and avoided, or seen as a form of bullying.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed how different the writing style of this book was in comparison to the other books I read. I think you did a good job of pinpointing exactly what made this book different from American and European books, because when I was thinking about it before reading your blog post, I couldn't figure out what exactly was different about this book.
Delete"She loved maths. Difficult equations challenged her curiosity. She knew senior high school was just a buildup of junior high school." This passage spoke to me not just because I also enjoy math, but also because of the way the narrator talks about it. The curiosity of learning and the passion that people feel towards it has always had a connection with me, and it is something that I always find similar, even in the people I never thought I could have a connection with. The plot line so far is very dramatic, but in an interesting and less cliche way. I enjoy the personality of Mr. Gonjor and the students. The text is less about the complexity of the characters, and more about how they stay true to themselves and their stark personalities. I like Lillian, but not because I connect with her, I just understand her. She has a valley girl vibe to her, and she stands out among her peers. She is a free spirit, and has her very own flare that she works confidently.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Freaky Freedom and it was very different than anything I have ever read before. I have read many stories about starting at a new school and the problems that come with it etc., but reading this type of story from the perspective of someone living halfway across the world was extremely interesting and not something I had seen before. I thought it was interesting as well to be able to compare the character’s lives to my own, and, specifically, how our school life is similar and different. One section I really connected with was when Keziah’s, “ thoughts would wander involuntarily to her home. She missed home but she loved the freedom of being alone here and making personal decisions concerning her life. It was kind of freaky but she loved it.” This reminded me about the experience most of my peers will be having next year when we go to college and leave our homes for the first time. Even though we come from completely different backgrounds and settings, Keziah can still relate to all of us through the excitement and fear that comes with leaving behind the familiarity and shelter of home.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I felt was different from what I have experienced in high school is the treatment of underclassmen at the hands of upperclassmen. From the first moment that Keziah entered her new school, she was harassed by the older students. “Hey! Fresher!...Hey Fresher! Come and polish my shoe!” they yelled at her. Although there are certain stigmas surrounding freshman at Andover High, I have never heard of any upperclassmen doing things like this to them. Similarly, at Keziah’s school, the character Jezabel is especially mean to the younger students. She treats them as if she is above them and terrorizes them until they cry, which is something that I have never heard happen at my school.
I use my phone hours everyday, whether it be texting, burning time with a game, or sending a Snapchat. In Freeky Freedom, my favorite character, Keziah, is called into Gonjor’s bungalow for what she assumes to be because of her cell phone use. Before entering the bungalow, she outlines her defense while questioning “Would Gonjor be smart enough to look through her pillow? Yes, Gonjor is really smart...Her phone will drop from the pillow like a coin.” The fact that Keziah believes that her phone use could cause such trouble speaks to the strict nature school. This is dramatically different than schools in America where you can find students on their phone during class, often not even making an effort to hide it. My favorite passage is when she enters the bungalow and discovers that she is not in any trouble at all, for Gonjor tracked down the person stole her money. I feel that the author did an effective job in building the anticipation for that moment. I particularly like Keziah because of her innocence and playful perspective on the high school. When she finds out that those girls were stealing the pageant questions, she was disturbed and alarmed. This and the varying natures of many of the students also can relate to schools in America. Although she is surrounded by a diverse group of students, Keziah’s reaction to the pageant cheating illustrates her character. Ultimately, although this school is in Ghana and there are many differences in the culture and expectations at the school, many ideas are universal, whether it be social media, cheating, first days, or stolen money.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this book. I actually missed the part where it stated that the test result was HIV negative, so until the last scene I actually believed Keziah had HIV and was really scared for her. This added a suspense that made the end all the more relieving, and once that happened, I found the situation really funny in addition to simultaneously being tragic in that Keziah may have died for no reason other than a lack of information surrounding her health. Overall, I thought the plot and timing was excellent, and I would really like to read the second book in the series.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question for Mr. Pomary. Throughout high school, we've been learning to analyze the purpose of pieces of literature, and I was wondering if maybe this had a dual purpose. I know that one reason for the book is to have something fun to read for students, in order to encourage them to read, but did you also want this book to educate others on health issues of the kind described in the book, as well as the importance of health education in general? While I was reading, it felt like this could be the case, but I also know that I could simply be reading too deep into it.
My experience while reading Freaky Freedom was one that was both profound and interesting. Throughout my high school career, we often read novels from esteemed authors, and these publications were often prominent in society. However, rarely do we get the exposure to read a story from the perspective of someone from Ghana. The differences and similarities between the characters in the novel and myself and my peers was truly eye opening. My favorite character in the novel was Keziah as I was able to relate to her. Her initial worries about school and classmates reminded me of my feelings entering my freshman year. One things I found truly fascinating is that these worries are truly universal across youth. Often times we separate ourselves from other cultures, so at times like these, we have to understand that we often share similarities such as this. Overall, I enjoyed reading Freaky Freedom as I found the diction used to be engaging and it never left me bored. It is astonishing that Mr.Pomary was able to right such a rich text with English not being his only language.
ReplyDeleteI use my phone hours everyday, whether it be texting, burning time with a game, or sending a Snapchat. In Freeky Freedom, my favorite character, Keziah, is called into Gonjor’s bungalow for what she assumes to be because of her cell phone use. Before entering the bungalow, she outlines her defense while questioning “Would Gonjor be smart enough to look through her pillow? Yes, Gonjor is really smart...Her phone will drop from the pillow like a coin.” The fact that Keziah believes that her phone use could cause such trouble speaks to the strict nature school. This is dramatically different than schools in America where you can find students on their phone during class, often not even making an effort to hide it. My favorite passage is when she enters the bungalow and discovers that she is not in any trouble at all, for Gonjor tracked down the person stole her money. I feel that the author did an effective job in building the anticipation for that moment. I am particularly drawn Keziah because of her innocence and perspective on the high school. When she finds out that those girls were stealing the pageant questions, she was disturbed and alarmed. Also, Keziah’s HIV scare illustrates her innocence and how little these girls know about sexuality. This and the varying natures of many of the students also can relate to schools in America. Although she is surrounded by a diverse group of students, Keziah’s reaction to the pageant cheating and her HIV scare illustrates her remarkable innocence. Ultimately, although this school is in Ghana and there are many differences in the culture and expectations at the school, many ideas are universal, whether it be social media, cheating, first days, or stolen money.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought that reading Freaky Freedom built up suspense. Because Keziah’s life as a high schooler is so universal it is easy to relate and live vicariously through her character. I found myself seamlessly relating to her making mistakes out of innocence (though none in particular) and could almost feel the same feelings that she was experiencing. While reading the novel I enjoyed reading her thoughts the most; the way her thoughts moved spontaneously and jumped to irrational conclusions in the heat of the moment was somewhat comforting. It is satisfying to know that we all can experience nervousness in similar ways. I loved watching Keziah mature and learn from her mistakes, and at the same time, see her take mature steps and talk to those she trusted the most. I believe we all have a “Keziah” in us and can mirror the way she handles life’s obstacles.
ReplyDeleteI too sometimes jump to irrational conclusions or tend to make mountains out of mole hills, so reading Keziah's story was a great reminder to put our conflicts in a reasonable perspective and realize that sometimes need to take the time to calm down and rationally analyze a problem.
DeleteSo far, I am enjoying Freaky Freedom it is a quick read and especially interesting to read being close in age to her. It also widens my perspective on the world and offers insight into how others live in different parts of the world. My favorite character is Shaftiya I admire how kind and good of a friend she was throughout the whole novel. I felt a connection to her more than any other character.
ReplyDeleteThis book shows the major shift when teenagers begin to form their own ideas and separate themselves from those of their parents. It also shows the progression of society as a whole that women are able to speak freely and educate themselves. The scene in which the girls' talk of learning about themselves and protecting their bodies shows this evolution in mentality. It is clear though that Keziah has been much more sheltered than these girls. Her money being stolen so easily only proves her naivety. Her new freedom is something she finds very exciting, “Today, 23rd May should be written in gold she thought. It was the day her freedom began.” (pg 74). But it will definitely come with some growing pains, which the author has made evident from the beginning. I think Keziah’s excitement for what Americans would not consider much freedom truly shows the difference in the cultures.
-Kathryn
DeleteI enjoyed this first part of Freaky Freedom. I find it interesting learning about a way of life which we have as well but within a different culture. Probably my favorite line was when Keziah told Lillian that she will not wear makeup. "You would wake up wearing make up before you make up your mind about the day's activities." I like this line because it shows that Keziah believes in things which are more valuable in life and not the artificial things which don't last. I also further enjoyed this part because she said how she never saw her mother wearing make up because she was naturally pretty and I think that people should rather stride to focus on making themselves permanently good and not covering it up for a little while. Comparing this to the way which we live our lives, it is very different. While the principles are all very similar, the outcomes of some things are different. For example, when the students had misbehaved the teacher had chased them until he got them. However, here the teachers would wait until the they get the student to come to them instead of going after them. One character which I like so far is Shaftiya. I like how she accepted Keziah and helped her out with some of her problems.
ReplyDelete"The headmaster was not listening. His mind was in a whirl. Why should such a sensitive topic be discussed so openly and blatantly before these young adolescents whose curiosity could be poked? In his days, areas like that were reserved for adults. What has the world turned into?" This passage stood out to me because of how much it differs from my experience with reproductive education in the United States. In the passage, the headmaster is extremely uncomfortable with the fact that the kids in his school are being taught anything other than abstinence, and that they are talking so openly about sex education to begin with. Despite the headmaster's demeanor, the nurse continues to educate the children. At one point the nurse says, "Reproductive health is about knowing your sexuality and making informed decisions about it." This sounds much more similar to something that health teachers would say in Andover. What surprised me the most about the passage was that the headmaster was the one who was the most uncomfortable. If anything, I would expect the children to uncomfortable and the headmaster to be excited that the students are learning and will be able to make educated decisions about their health. However, given the circumstances, I understand that the headmaster's values and beliefs differ greatly from the beliefs of most people in Andover. When the headmaster finally removes the nurse from the stage, Keziah's statement also stood out to me. "There was so much she wanted to know and so many questions on her mind that she needed answers to. Her parents were too religiously strict to provide answers that would satisfy her curiosity." One of the main reasons I believe sex education is important is simply based on what Keziah said about her curiosity. If children are not educated, their curiosity will get the best of them and they will learn when it is too late. I liked how Mr. Pomary addressed the stigma around sex education. It made for a particularly fascinating read because I could compare Keziah's experiences to the experiences of most Americans.
ReplyDeleteThis novel is quite interesting because I have never read something like this in school or ever in my freetime! It was cool how it was written from a perspective of a person born in Ghanda and to learn about the different ways of their school systems and how their way of living is just a bit distinct then ours. Their school is system is much more strict than ours and it was cool to actually hear it from someones who was living there and actually experienced it rather than making it up for the sake of the story. My favorite character is most definitely Shaftiya because she is a kindhearted person that always looks out for her friends no matter what.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the beginning to this novel, “Freaky Freedom,” I noticed many differences from their school system to ours. Growing up in Andover my whole life, I haven’t been exposed to many different cultures and the way their education works and I found it interesting to read more about the school life in Ghana. I felt as though we have more freedom to be unique and ourselves as opposed to how they restrict their clothing and how they are not even allowed to share food. Something that struck me while reading the text was when the author describes Keziah as “glad she wasn’t going to be under the eagle eyes of her parents” and that “her dad treated her as if she was always going to remain a kid.” Teenagers often times feel as though they lack independence and their parents take away their freedom but in reality, compared to the characters of this novel, we are given many more opportunities to be ourselves. Initially, A favorite character I found while reading the novel was Lilian, as she befriends Keziah and protects her, something that could have come with consequences. However, as I continued reading, the relationship between Lilian and Keziah turned more into superior and inferior as opposed to friends. This disappointed me, as Keziah looked up to Lilian as a protective figure she could look up to.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the novel. It was enjoyable to see a different perspective from a complete different place like Ghana. Something very familiar to me such as school seemed somewhat foreign to me. From the novel I gathered that life is more restricted in Ghana than it is in say a school in the US. I thought it was interesting that they were not allowed to share things like food. Something that caught my attention was that most were against educating kids about things like sex education. They are most definitely more sheltered against things like that then kids are here.
ReplyDeleteI liked that the book shows you the culture of Ghana which it fairly different from culture around the US. I thought it was kind of weird how the staff of the school went about disciplining the students. They used questionable things to describe why the what some of the things that the students were doing is wrong. For example using religion and the bible which in the US are rarely talked about in school in that way to avoid offending anyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Lot's of information to Read...Great Man Keep Posting and update to People..Thanks ghee white label
ReplyDeleter