Christian

Hi, my name is Christian Grade: 7th Best Holiday: Christmas Birth Month: August Career Goals: To travel the world Favorite Band(s): T.I., Bob Marley Favorite Food: Pasta Favorite Munchies: Pretzels Favorite soft drink: Sprite Favorite Subject: Math Pet Peeve: People who eat food with their hands Pets: None Siblings: One brother


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The Plantation Killer

Staring into a field of cotton is 15 year old Josiah Mashik. He is a salve on a Georgian plantation. He has lived his whole life with thier african tribe led by his father Huylani. Huylani was a great leader so Josiah knew he must do the samme. His mother, Natika is also a slave there but they work in different areas of the plantation. He spends his long afternoons in the fields picking the cotton while his mom takes the cotton then cleans and weaves it to make clothing. They were abducted from their small African village and they sadly left Josiah’s dad there. He was on a hunting expedition when the huge, grimy american men came to take his poor beloved family. Josiah and Natika were on a boat called the //Marybeth// with many other Africans for 3 months. They lived in the dirty area under the deck while handcuffed to the boat. They weren’t able to come on top due to the risk of jumping over board. When they arrived in Washington D.C. they were sold to the same person. His name was Benjamin Jackson. He didn’t know that they were mother and son until he brought them to his plantation and always saw them talking and staying with each other. When he realized he got mad and separated them so they work far apart. Since his wife Sara felt bad for them, she made him allow them to live with each other. Sara is against the idea of slavery and thinks that they should be set away. They live in a little cottage and are allowed to grow a small garden for extra food. For months Sara and Natika have been working with each other late at night plotting the escape of Natika and Josiah. It had all been worked out to the exact time and place where they would make a break for it. Its was the night before the day of the escape. Natika and Josiah had been eating dinner when somebody knocked on the door. It was Sara and she brought bad news. She said that Benjamin had found the plans of the escape but he didn’t know that when and who would be escaping. Natika showed a very depressed look on her face and Josiah got nervous. He had been told that they were going to try to escape and live in a town near-by. He was friends with Ron, Ben and Sara’s son. They were best friends and Josiah didn’t think he was going to leave him. When Sara said that they had to leave that night, Josiah got mad because he hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye. Natika told him not to be foolish, grabbed his arm and told him that they were going. The plan was that Sara was going to light a building on fire and draw the guards away. Then she would signal them to start running for the tree-line. Once they got into town they would have a carriage waiting for them to take them to a safe house far away. Sara left their house and said that the fire would be happening soon. When they started to smell smoke they heard another knock on the door. It was Sara again. She told them to follow her and stay quiet. She brought them into the burning building and told them to stand in the corner and wait. They heard yelling and guards approaching. Natika was confused and asked Sara what was happening. Sara started yelling and and screaming “Help” at the top of her lungs. The guards came rushing in and they went to Sara. She pointed at Natika and told the guards to get her. Her and Josiah dashed out of the flaming building before the guards grabbed them. They were running in an open field and they heard a loud bang. Natika saw Josiah drop next to her and screamed. She dropped next to his body and started crying. The guards were running at her and there was another bang. This time it was Sara with a gun. She put a shot into Natika and killed her. Sara was a trader the whole time and betrayed Natika and Josiah. Two months later Sara had fallen off the balcony of her house and died. They said it was an accident, but who knows.

Questions for Peer Reviewers

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?