My summer reading book paper by: Oscar Mendoza
One book I read over the summer was " A separate peace"by John Knowles. This book is about a relationship of two young man named Phineas and Gene and how World War II had a really big effect on the relationship, when they thought it was unbreakable. Phineas and Gene had many ups and downs through the story. This book taught me how war affects everyone and everything even the most strongest and beautiful things are going and to be affected by war.
One way that the book ‘A separate Peace” show me how war affects everyone and everything even the strongest and beautiful things. The mood of the school Devon(setting) before the war was very joyful and fun, but when the war came it became the opposite if fun.Phineas and Gene were always playful and laughing trying to make the mood better at the school. They were both always smiling and happy. After Phineas realized how the world really is he wasn't as happy anymore. He didn't give off that happy mood that made everyone be happy. Phineas even wanted to join the army but since he was crippled he could join which made him change inside holding secrets and pain that he would normally tell Gene. The whole schools mood went down when all of the sadness dropped onto them and there was no joy to try to lift their spirits. how hard it was to be drafted into the army and deal with camp and training. This shows that war even has an effect on a entire school.
Another way that the book “A separate Peace” taught me how the war affected Phineas a “innocent” character. Phineas used to be a very innocent young man which didn't think was anything wrong with the world. That everything was perfect, nobody was mean and everybody was a good person. For example Phineas thought that his friend Gene was the best person in the world. After Gene broke his leg permanently. Phineas realize that Gene wasn't such a great person because Gene caused the tree to shake so that he could fall. This was caused by jealousy because of how Phineas seem to be one step ahead of Gene especially on becoming a "man" to join the war. Phineas was "innocent" not knowing about the evil in the world before the war destroyed his innocence.
Another way that the book “A separate peace” showed me that war affects everyone and everything even the most strongest beautiful things was Phineas and Genes relationship. Before the war started to have an effect on their relationship they were the best of friend. When the war started to have a effect they had a vibe that was filled with mistrust. For example, Gene thought that Phineas was trying to sabotage his schoolwork so that Gene could not be as “equal” as Phineas. After they had doubts they were never the same around each other not playing games or hanging out in their dorms especially not being roommates. the war destroyed their relationship which seemed to be unbreakable.
In conclusion this is how war has an effect on everything even the most strongest beautiful things. a whole schools happy and joyful mood was destroyed, a person's innocence and the destruction of a thought to be unbreakable friendship.
