Winning Essays

Topic: Reading changes your life

By Cassia Gravesande

          The best novels are the ones that open your mind and help you understand life and people.  Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson is one of those sensational pieces of writing.  This outstanding novel opened my eyes and helped me to appreciate life in a different, but better way.  It showed me to appreciate life and family because just like that, they can be destroyed and disappear.  Jacob Have I Loved grabs you in by the words and helps you to deal with (unwanted) emotions and conflicts that regular people experience everyday; whether it’s love, jealousy, hatred, or remorse this book shows it.  Not only did this novel teach me to view things differently, it also taught me to be true to myself, follow my dreams, and let my heart speak. 

          For example, when my sister and I have a conflict and she does something like boast and acts disdainfully toward me, I’m not afraid to speak my heart and try to understand her and her motives.  But before I do speak, I try to see it from her eyes; her point of view.  I don’t stop until all the problems are worked out.  In addition, when my sister makes herself the center of attention and I feel left out, I just think Jacob Have I Loved and realize I’m loved and no one can take that away and no one can take my place.  The novel, Jacob Have I Loved, helped me to do this and not keep my emotions bundled up inside me. When Louise kept all her emotions bundled up inside from her sister she eventually blew.  All her emotions scattered.  She didn’t know herself for who she was anymore, she practically went crazy.  All the jealousy, hatred, love, and remorse she kept inside from Caroline just left her body.  Louise’s and Caroline’s relationship never was the same after that.

          Additionally, this magnificent novel showed me to persevere and reflect on myself.  Jacob Have I Loved showed me that sometimes you’re the one stopping yourself from following your dreams.  So now anytime I’m faced with an obstacle I look back at  myself and reflect and see what I can do better.

          Anyway, I highly recommend this novel.  Even the title makes you wonder.  So think Jacob Have I Loved and you’ll always be true, open minded and reflect on yourself. 

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