Response to Literature

        In the book Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan, Naomi is very quiet.  When she finds out that someone is doing something bad, she doesn’t know what to do.  In the end, Naomi speaks up for what is right.  I learned that if we don’t speak up, that things could go wrong. 

        An example is Naomi has been living with her grandma for a while.  She has not seen her mother since she was a baby.  Her mother stops in and Naomi’s grandmother is really worried.  Parent conferences are coming up in Naomi’s and her brother, Owen’s school.  Their mom, Skyla, wants to go to their conferences instead of Gram.  The time of conferences comes but Skyla isn’t there.  Naomi and Owen are stuck at the school waiting, until they finally call Gram to come and get them. 

        Naomi doesn’t know what to make of it.  She thinks her mom's forgotten, gotten sick, or has chosen not to come.  She doesn’t think her mom got sick because she would have contacted Gram.  She doesn’t think her mom forgot because Skyla was really excited about going to their school and meeting their teachers.  Naomi doesn’t know why Skyla wasn’t there, but she knows that it was not a good thing. 

        Another example is when Naomi is leaving school and overhears two teachers talking about Skyla.  They were saying that their mother had been drinking and wasn’t able to come to their conferences because she was in a Halfway House.  Naomi didn’t tell Gram that she knew about Skyla.  It would have been better if she had told Gram because Gram could talk to her about it. 

            An example when Naomi did say something is when Naomi and Owen were with Skyla.  Owen always wears a piece of tape on his shirt because it makes him feel comfortable.  When he doesn’t have it on, he gets really confused.  Skyla wants to take the tape off of Owen but Naomi tells Skyla about it and so she doesn’t.  If Naomi hadn’t spoken up, Skyla would of taken the tape off of Owen and there would have been some problems.   

        An example of when Naomi spoke up is when Skyla and her boyfriend Clive are going to court against Gram, Owen, and Naomi because Skyla wants to move with Clive and Naomi.  They didn't want to move with Owen.  Naomi, Owen, and Gram think they should stay together.  Also, Gram and Naomi know that it’s not that safe to be with Skyla when she is drunk and out of control.  The judge asks Naomi if she has anything to say before he makes his decision.  At first she is very quiet but then she realizes how much she does not want to be with Skyla, she speaks up.  Naomi explains to the judge all about how Skyla gave them to Gram when they were little and about Skyla drinking.  When Skyla, Owen, and Naomi were in the house together once, Skyla slapped Naomi.  Naomi told the judge about that, too.  Naomi told the judge about how Skyla missed their conferences because she was in a Halfway House. 

        The judge decided that Gram should be Naomi and Owens true guardian.

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This page last updated: 12/30/05.