Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #10

5 Comments:

• Viv and Josh get into and accident, and that is when Lopi begins to feel bad about what she did to her mom.
• Lopi thinks of the worst things that could possibly have happened to her mother.
• Josh tries to unite Viv and Lopi.
• Lopi and Viv are trying to find unity in each other once again and start new.
• Lopi wants to show her mother her appreciation of her.

4 Questions:

• Why didn't Viv talk to Lopi about Adam from before?
• Was Viv trying to avoid the subject when Lopi had mentioned it in the hospital?
• Is a therapist really need that much even after they talk about Adam?
• Why didn't Lopi invite more people?

3 Words:

• metallic(pg. 182): of, pertaining to, or consisting of metal
• linoleum (pg. 183): a hard, washable floor covering formed by coating burlap or canvas with linseed oil
• haggard (pg. 184): having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety; worn

2 Literary Terms:

• Climax (pg. 181) "There was an accident. Vivian. We're in the hospital."
• Symbolism (pg. 181) " A restricted number"

1 Sentence Summary:

• It takes the car accident that Viv gets injured in for Lopi to finally talk and settle things with her mother.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #9

5 Comments:

• Lopi instantly realizes Charley isn't the right person for her to be with.
• Toad didn't know the "accident" was so serious.
• Viv doesn't seem to be upset with the fact that Lopi snapped at her.
• Josh is being nice to Lopi as though she never came onto him.
• Tina tries to stay out of things and not cause trouble.

4 Questions:

• Why did Lopi get so emotional when the fish died?
• Why is Lopi being so hard on herself about the Adam accident?
• Why did Toad wait till now to tell Lopi how he feels about her?
• How did Lopi not see that Toad had liked her all this time?

3 Words:

• Idolized (pg. 172): to regard with blind adoration, devotion
• Scrawny (pg. 175): excessively thin; lean; scraggy
• Tendrils (pg. 165): A twisting, threadlike structure by which a twining plant

2 Literary Terms:

• Simile (pg. 164) "the golden belly heave in and out as he gasps for a way to breathe"
• Metaphor (pg. 178) "She's such a pill these days"

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi realizes that Charley isn't right for her then happens to let out her emotions and secrets to Toad. She realizes Toad was the one for her and they have sexual intercourse.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #8

5 Comments:

• Even though Lopi has been in an argument with Toad she still talks to him like nothing has happened between them.
• Lopi realized that in middle school "going out" wasn't anything real.
• Viv has ruined the dinner that Lopi and Charley were having when she returned home early.
• Lopi's emotions explode and she finally expresses her feelings towards her mother.
• Lopi goes to Charley's house to sleep because she thinks she will feel comfortable there.

4 Questions:

• Did Lopi really think she was in love with Charley?
• Why did Lopi feel so embarrassed of her mother?
• Why did Lopi just go off and leave the house?
• Why didn't Lopi stay and listen to Charley's explanation?

3 Words:

• Cynicism (pg. 145): cynical disposition, character, or belief
• Precarious (pg.146): dependent on circumstances beyond one's control
• Dickens (pg. 158): devil; deuce

2 Literary Terms:

• Simile (pg. 152) "be good enough for someone pure like Charley"
• Metaphor (pg. 149) "Not enough kissing in the world"

1 Setence Summary:

• Lopi spends a day with Charley over the weekend and becomes even closer to him, then goes to his house to sleep when Viv and her get into a fight.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #7

5 Comments:

• Lopi gets annoyed with being at home with family and being treated like a child.
• Toad tries to tell Lopi that she is missing fatherly love and that is the reason why she is looking for love so much.
• Lopi is beginning to give up, lose hope, and think about death.
• A boy in English class and Lopi are attracted to one another.
• Lopi begins to find hope again because she finds friendship in him.

4 Questions:

• Why didn't Lopi understand that she couldn't sleep over Toad's house because they were older and opposite sex?
• Is the Elwood Shrink apart of Lopi's imagination?
• How does Lopi get attracted to boys so quickly?
• Is Lopi really planning on having a party without her mom being home?

3 Words:

• Jovial (pg. 119): endowed with or characterized by a hearty
• Scrutinizes (pg. 120): To examine or observe with great care
• Campy (pg. 141): of, pertaining to, or characterized by camp

2 Literary Terms:

• Man vs. Man conflict (pg. 125) "You can't stay with me... Why not? You just can't."
• Simile & Personification (pg. 134) "the warmth of his goldness spreading through my body and enveloping me like a hug.

1 Sentence Summary:

• Just when Lopi was beginning to get discouraged and lose hope, she finds another boy that attracted her attention and begins to form a friendship with them.

***** Didn't we talk about spaghettti Westerns in class?*****

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #6

5 Comments:

• Lopi has a thing for this boy and runs off with him to see his rabbits.
• Lopi lies about everthing that has to do with being in college to impress the boy.
• This boy named Andrew had many siblings and parents who were gypsies.
• Lopi kept hearing voices in her head that were making her think about if she was doing the right thing.
• Andrew was just lying and wanted to act like a college student and attract girls.

4 Questions:

• Why is Andrew trying to encourage her to smoke?
• How could Lopi possibly think she was ready to have sex?
• Why did Andrew have a key to his sister's dorm room?
• Why did Lopi only apply to two colleges?

3 Words:

• Memoir (pg. 101): a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation
• Perplexed (pg. 109): bewildered; puzzled
• Disheveled: (pg.112): hanging loosely or in disorder

2 Literary Terms:

• Personification (pg. 114) "Tessa wags her tail, already excited at this thought."
• Metaphor (pg. 102) "The night is black"

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi meets a boy at a college party, come to find out he is only in high school. Then she finished her college applications and sends them off in the mail.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #5

5 Comments:

• A special kiss is on Lopi's mind.
• Lopi decides to tell Apple lies to make herself sound cool and to impress Apple.
• Even though Lopi is looking to find love and someone to share emotions with.
• Lopi writes how all her negative thoughts in an English paper.
• At a college party Lopi tries once again to fit in.

4 Questions:

• Does Mrs. V.O. know what Lopi is going through?
• Why does Lopi constantly think about kissing?
• Does Apple and Lopi really look like college students?
• Why would Lopi try another puff of pot even after coughing badly?

3 Words:

• Obliterated (pg. 87): to remove or destroy all traces of
• Existentialism (pg. 94): a philosophical attitude
• Jocks (pg. 96): An athletic supporter.

2 Literary Terms:

• Foreshadowing (pg. 88) 'I lie and say, "I've slept with two guys." Two seems reasonable'
• Man vs. himself Conflict (pg. 89) "I'd dug myself in this deep. Would Toad even go for Apple?"

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi begins to get close to Apple by having her over her house then was invited to go to a college party with her.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #4

5 Comments:

• Viv's 40th birthday party means a lot to her and she wants it to be a special day for her.
• Lopi wanted to feel like an adult and drink alcohol.
• Lopi was determined to get Josh to notice and fall for her even though it wasn't going to happen.
• Tina should have prevented Lopi from doing what she did to Josh the night of the party.
• Josh should have known that something wasn't right.

4 Questions:

• Why did Lopi blow off her friend Toad just for Josh?
• Does Lopi really think that everything is going to happen that easily with Josh?
• Did Josh tell Viv what happened the night of the party?
• Why didn't Toad try to change Lopi's mind about Josh?

3 Words:

• Intoxicate (pg. 61): to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance
• Frayed (pg. 67): A scuffle; a brawl
• Twinge (pg. 71): a sudden, sharp pain

2 Literary Terms:

• Onomatopoeia (pg. 69) "I hear it. Rrrrrip. My Pants."
• Hyperbole (pg. 81) "His body heaves in small waves."

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi makes a move on Josh and finally tells him how she feels however, he doesn't feel the same way and is planning on asking Viv's hand in marriage.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #3

5 Comments:

• The mistake that occurred 6 years ago has to do with cars.
• Lopi still has guilt over her brother Adam's death.
• Holly wanted Lopi to remember her so she gave Lopi the monkey.
• It is true how P.E. is required and there are still a lot of obese people in the world.
• Lopi has a strange feeling when she is around Josh.

4 Questions:

• Is the mistake the reason why Lopi's dad left?
• Why would she feel that eay towards her mother's boyfriend?
• Does Tina know about the mistake with Adam?
• Why would Holly's mother be crying when leaving the school?

3 Words:

• Stew (pg. 47): to fret, worry, or fuss
• Askew (pg. 52): to one side; out of line; in a crooked position; awry: to wear
• Juvenile (pg. 53): immature; childish; infantile

2 Litereary Terms:

• Man vs. Himself (pg. 42) "My hands are shaking, my heart is beating extra fast"
• Personification (pg. 43) "The engine hums on"

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi reveals the mistake that happened 6 years ago then has a deep talk with Josh.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #2

5 Comments:

• Lopi really wants to graduate early so she is eager to complete her physical education requirement.


• Viv takes Lopi out of school to go to the beach for a day with her and Josh.


• Tessa (the dog) and Lopi are very close and keep each other's company.


• Lopi feels most comfortable in her bed under the covers (also known as the hole).
  
• Lopi feels unwanted and as though life is complicated.

4 Questions:

• Why would Lopi want to flirt with Josh if he is much older than she is?


• Why doesnt the house have any photpgraphs of anything?


• Does Lopi hate the fact that Viv is dating Josh?


• Was it really necessary for Lopi to see a therapists and go to a shrink?

3 Words:

• Cumulus (pg. 24): a cloud of a class characterized by dense individual elements in the form of puffs, mounds, or towers, with flat bases and tops that often resemble cauliflower


• Expanse (pg 27): an uninterrupted space or area; a wide extent of anything


• Brownnoser (pg. 33): one who flatters others in an obsequious manner

2Literary Terms:

• Personification (pg. 27) "Then the vast expanse of ocean opens up before your eyes."


• Simile (pg. 36) "I can make it all work out perfectly, like a happy romantic comedy..."

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi is taken out of school to have a relaxing day on the beach, when she begins to think about love and how to tell if it is really love.

Me, Penelope by Lisa Jahn-Clough Journal Entry #1

5 Comments:

• Lopi is a teenager who has a very low self-esteem.


• Lopi is at the stage where she is going through puberty and curious about sex.


• To Lopi, school was prison and was a horrible place to be.


• Toad (Harry Zebowski) is Lopi's best friend who argues with her a lot.


• The college student who lives with Lopi and Viv (Lopi's mom) is very peacful to Lopi.

4 Questions:

• How could she go shopping on the day her brother died?


• Was Lopi afraid of her Viv's boyfriend named Josh?


• Does Viv really think that Josh would be around that long, knowing how often she has boyfriends?


• Why was the shoe shopping to Lopi the best memory of being with her mother?

3 Words:

• Hypocrisy (pg. 4): a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles


• Aptitude (pg.11): capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent


• Fiend (pg. 17): and evil spirit; a demon

2 Literary Terms:

• Introduction (pg. 1) "My name is Penelope Yeager, Lopi for short. I appear normal-normal for a sixteen-year-old American girl, this is."


• Simile (pg. 17) "You do study like a fiend."

1 Sentence Summary:

• Lopi is a teenage girl who wants to live a happy life by getting out of highschool and going through adult experiences.