when broken glass floats

When Broken Glass Floats
By Chanrithy Him
Review by: Wyatt Baquial
When Broken Glass Floats is my least favorite book out of all the books I've read. I would give it a one out of five stars. It may have had it's good parts and I do applaud the author for her amazing description throughout the book however, to me it just wasn't that interesting.
The book When Broken Glass Floats is a book written by Chanrithy Him and her journey through as she puts it “The Killing Fields” in Cambodia. That's really all you need to know about this book. To me it was very unoriginal and there are very many refugee stories like this one. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. The book is a slow read, quite boring, and very dark. Maybe if you like dark, slow stories about refugees then you would like this book. In my opinion it was nothing special and wasn't very grabbing at all. I thought the ending lacked descriptiveness. I didn't like the fact that Chanrithy put what happened to her family and her on the back of the book. If someone were to pick up the book and read the back, it might spoil the ending.
The only well written and nice things about this book are the description she used and how she talked about her culture and her family's traditions. I found it interesting that it is a normal thing in Cambodia for a cousin to join another cousin in marriage. Otherwise than those two reasons I didn't like the story at all.
I don't think that the people I had to read it with helped my opinion on the book at all because I was completely non-compatible with my partners so we never really had a real conversation about the book.
In conclusion, this book would be a good book for people that like dark descriptive refugee stories. If you are someone that is looking for an adventure story like me I would definitely not recommend this. If you are a person that has a lot of time on their hands and loves to read slowly then this is the book for you. If you're someone that wants an adventure/action thriller like me then you will not like this book. As I said before I give it a one out of five stars and do not recommend it. You can never really know if you like a book or not by a review. To get a real opinion pick up the book and try it out.

Murder x2

Lord Of The Flies

Chap. 11

Perspective: Simon

I'm dead. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe we would never have gotten saved. So maybe it was good I died. I just wish i was able to tell them that the beastie was a dead parachutist. then they wouldn't be so crazy and paranoid. But they didn't listen and that's their fault. I was the only one that understood their ways. I was probably the only one that could help. but maybe ralph will pull threw. maybe he can set things right.

Now I'm just a floating spirit. Watching them fall apart and unable to help. it breaks my already dead heart. I can see the evil in jack. it disgusts me. Ralph SamnEric made a choice to go ask jack for the glasses back and to tell them that they would have just given them fire. They decided to bring piggy but he needed to be leaded there because he couldn't see at all without his glasses. what a mistake that was. Ralph knew, everyone knew jack despises piggy and that with all these raids lately that he was going to do something that would hurt of kill piggy.

Now ralph and Jack are arguing and a fight with spears breaks out between the two. the hunters tied up SamnEric. Piggy, holding the conch was left venerable. I could tell Jack was getting Delirious again. He motioned to the kids to truculently shove rocks from the cliff down towards piggy and ralph. Piggy especially. Piggy, not being able to see was hit. He lost his balance. And fell off the cliff. Everyone knows what happened when he hit. He joined the list of deaths. All at the hands of jack. All murdered. now the two most intellectual kids were killed. The Lord Of The Flies is at fault. it is causing the deaths of the good people. i am only curious to see how this will play out.

New cheif in town.

Lord Of The Flies

chap. 10

Perspective: Jack


Finally. I am chief. I am the ruler. Ralph wasn't fit to be a leader. he only wanted to get rescued. while he was so obsessed with getting of this island and making us all help get rescued, we almost starved. then it wouldn't matter if we were saved or not. I can finally have my way. and no one could tell me other wise. I can hunt now. And feed my tribe. Something ralph couldn't do. If he was still chief he would cause us to go BARMY from starvation. And when he tried to hunt with us.. he didn't fit in.

Simon. Everyone is saying it was him who was the beast. Maybe it wasn't but it's his fault he got killed. He was stupid to walk into the middle of our chant like that. He should have known the consequences. but he is now PURGED from this island. Something we all want just a little. Sure I'd rather be home but I'm doing just fine. and now that I'm chief I may change my mind about home. Now we need to go get fire wood. this fire isn't a signal fire. this fire is to cook our meat.

We need fire would yes, but what are we going to start it with? Piggy's glasses were the only thing we can use to start the fire. he definitely wouldn't hand it over. he hates me. That is why we need to steal it. Me and a couple of the other guys are going to their camp tonight to take those glasses. We get to the camp. our first try to get piggy out side to ambush him doesn't work. So i infiltrate the camp to try to get to piggy. Everything was going good until I tripped.... someone tripped me. The fight broke out after that. everyone was fighting. I eventually got the glasses. i loved seeing Piggy's face on the ground in an angry way. We eventually escaped. come of them badly beaten. we started our fire and cooked the pig. all was well. except for ralph and his group. they needed to be eliminated.

Kill the beast

Lord Of The Flies

Perspective: Ralph


I can't believe it. I can't believe jack has his own group now. It's only me, Piggy, Simon, and some littluns. I haven't seen Simon for a while. Not since the killing of the pig. I wonder where he is. Should i go to the feast Jack invited us to? Piggy want me to go to the feast. I don't know about it, Jack hates me and it might be a trap. I don't feel right over there. They feel evil. I'm only going to go if Piggy goes. I told him I'd go. While we're walking over i can smell them cooking meat. I can't help but be anxious for some meat.

We're here. Jack is like a idol to the hunters. He's being praised. He sees us and tells his hunters to give us meat. This seems alright so far. But i still think there are other problems to be dealt with. I'm going to wait until I'm done eating first. This meat is to good to let a argument get in the way of it. Okay. Now I'm done eating. I tell jack we should start a fire for a signal. And i try to get us all as one again. He just laughs. He doesn't want a signal fire. Everyone is laughing at me now. I tell him "Well I have the Conch" But i don't. I wish i did. And once again he laughs at me for it. Now he's telling everyone to start the ritual. I don't know why but something take me over and I join in like last time.

(in a trance)

Kill the pig!! Kill the Pig!! Cut it's throat!! Kill The Pig! something is in the shadows It's on all four. IT'S THE BEAST!! KILL THE BEAST!!!. It crawls into the circle like it want to die. It's trying to growl at us. We over power it with our chant. We jump on it. We bite it, we stab it, we claw it, we rip it apart. It's little. I thought it would be big. It's rolling down the hill. We chase it. I even got a couple stabs in the stomach of it. It's dead. We killed------ Wait. It was Simon!! He was the beast? or did we make a mistake? Everyone is in shock. He's dead. It's too late. His blood is pouring out of his body. Wait! something fell on top of us. It's the real beastie. It's in the ocean now. Same with Simon. He was the only one who understood things. Maybe with out him.... We won't know right from wrong.

He's gone! He's gone! He's GONE!!!!

They still aren't here. Why not? oh.. here they come. They're at the beach. I don't feel much like walking over. Wait. It looks like jack and Ralph are arguing again. Oh man. I hate jack. If it was my wish i would wish him out of the island. I hope my wish comes true. He's not needed anymore. He's just there. Wait. Why is he calling us over here? He's calling a meeting? Why? Only Ralph can do that. Might as well attend.

Ralph is complaining again. Talk Talk Talk. that's all he does. Now he's trying to frame Ralph. I HATE HIM. He's trying to corupt our system. And change the leader ship. He asked us to vote him leader. No one raised their hand. I knew no one would. He's embaresed as always. ha..ha..ha Jack! Wait. Even better! He ran away! YES!! I can't help but jump up and down. I feel so comfident about myself. So alive. I sugested starting a fire on the beach. There's no way the fire can spread. it's sand. So now we're buliding a fire on the beach. Even though i get mad because people use my glasses i don't care anymore. I start the fire with my own glasses.

Oh man he's back. They all have blood on their hands. It's a pig. a Big one. it looks like they really killed it. Now they're putting a head on the stick for the Beastie. I hope that keep's it away.... I hope.

too scared

Lord Of The Flies

Journal Entry 7

Perspective: Piggy

Sam n' Eric woke up. They woke me up but I'm still half asleep. They're probably going to make a fire. It's cold out here at night but I don't want to get up and go sit by a fire. Too lazy, guess thats why they call me Piggy. It's still late. I can feel it. The sound of a conch. A meeting? At this time? This Late?

A BEASTIE!!!?? They saw one!? Oh boy I was hoping there wouldn't be. I hate hearing bad news. They're saying we need to hunt it down. I don't want to go over there. I wanna stay here. Im scared. Wait they need someone to stay here. I want to stay here. Good. I am. It's much more safer here. Unless the beastie likes little children. Then that is bad. I hope they kill it. I don't even want to SEE the beastie. I hope they were ust seeing things. I'm so scared I can't think right.

Okay. All i have to do is look after the littluns. That should be easy. I hope. It's morning and they havn't even come back yet. Where are they? Are the dead? I hope not. Then it will be up to me. I never wanted to be leader. Wait. I need to stop thinking like this. They're alive. I know it. The beastie is dead..... I Hope.

On The Hunt

I was awoken from my sleep at the sound of the conch. I hate hearing that. And i hate the fact that I'm not the one blowing it. It's still night time. Why are we having another meeting? I walked to the group still tired but trying not to show it. Ralph tells Sam and Eric to tell us what they told him. One word i hear... The Beastie. At first i thought they just saw a pig or something and and thought it was the Beastie. But then i thought about it. Pigs usually don't come out at night and also, there's cuts all over There faces. If this Beastie is real... I'm going to find out.

I'm too anxious to listen to Ralph and the other kids to talk. I have to let out my words. "conch, conch, we don't need the conch", I say when they look at me as if to tell me i'm talking out of turn. I say we need to go now. We need to hunt it now. We decided Piggy is going to stay with the littluns. He's a wimp. Me and my hunters grabbed spears. So did Ralph. We walked out of the assembly. On the hunt.

Ralph walked off from us. If he goes alone and this Beastie is real then it will tear him apart. Oh well. Then I can take the power. We looked and we looked. Finding nothing. I don't feel like hunting right now. We'll get the beastie sooner of later. I'm too tired for this right now. And so are my hunters. Another day I'll kill this Beastie. I Swear it.

Fianlly Taking Charge

Rules. We need rules. That is why I called the meeting. I told all of them we needed order. We needed rules. I told them they ALL have to start contributing. I told them they needed to help with the shelters. They all jumped up and started yelling. I reminded them I am their leader. They all sat down mutinously. I gave them rules like when they need to take shorts they have to do it at the rocks, when the water is out they need to be refiled, and the fire stays at the top of the mountain. I don't want another forest fire and since everyone will want food the fire will always be going. I established my minor rules. Then i let people talk. everyone got out what they wanted to say. Except for Piggy and Jack. They wouldn't stop fighting. Piggy looked at me. I looked away. I didn't want to be embroiled in their words. Jack spoke to everyone in a waxy way.

After we were done with the rule making, we talked about the beastie. no one believes in it. I don't... at least i don't think i do. Beasties don't exist. i hope. If there is one then i don't want to be talking about it at night. we can't see anything. it's too dark to see. Percival thinks it's from the water like Leviathan. The hunters are saying they will take it down. If there's a beastie then i don't think they can handle it.

The assembly is over. i don't think we'll be having anymore meetings at night. Me and piggy are sitting next to each other. A scream came from far away. It is so loud it's hard not to hear it. I think it's Percival. Oh Man! That was loud. I Hope nothing happened to Percival. If it was because of a beastie then I hope someone decides to look for him. because i'm not.

I Hate Him!

Lord Of The Flies

Journal Entry 4

Perspective: Piggy

sometimes it's fun to watch the littluns play in the sand. I remember being a littlun. I also remember being home. I want to go home so bad. I can't wait until we're saved. If we even are. I hope someone sees our signal fires we've been putting. Jack was the keeper of the fire today. It's his job to keep the smoke going. He's been hunting too much. I hope he is keeping the fire good and smoky. Simon is the only one looking after the littluns. they are all having a hard time with each other. Roger is being mean. I don't want to get that involved. Johnny is copying Roger. I hope he realizes it's not the right way to be around people.

A ship!!! there's actually a ship! we could go home if they see the signal smoke! oh gosh I hope the smoke is still up. The fire!! it went out! they need my glasses. It's so hard running up this hill. Ralph is already in the middle of the mountain. I can't run fast. I wouldn't even have to do this if Jack had kept the fire going! instead he's hunting! it's too late. we lost our chance. the ship is gone. I HATE JACK!! I can't contain it. When he gets back I'm going to let him have it!

now look. he's back from hunting. with a pig. the fire was much more important then a pig. He's so happy. wait until he finds out he messed up and took away our chances of getting off this island. as soon as he comes up to us I scream at him. I told him he took away our chances. He's messed up. I can see the guilt in his eyes. He's trying to turn the blame on me now. He hates me. Ralph told him it's not my fault. He hit my specs off and down the cliff. That bloody child! I hate him. Now he's not giving me my food I deserve. at least Simon tried to give me food. But Jack stopped him. I guess I'll just have too but up with him. Unfortunately.

My Secret Place

Lord Of The Flies

Journal Entry 3

Perspective: Simon

My Secret Place

Me. I'm the only one. The only one who is helping Ralph. It's hard to help take care of 30 kids because they can't take care of themselves. Ralph feels the same way. He's mad in fact. He's yelling at everyone that they never help. That only I am helping. Jack thinks he's too good to make shelter and he's obsessed with hunting. I have been making shelters as best I can but It's hard to make shelters. Thats why the door I opened broke down. I wish all these kids would leave their privileged lives behind. We're stranded kids on an Island not very many people if not no one knows about. This is about survival not about a vacation to an Island without adults. All these kids agreed to work but all they do is play around and swim. Sometimes these people bother me and make me mad. Sometimes I need to get away form it all. And I know exactly where to go.

Always in an argument. Ralph and Jack get heated up all the time now. It's only been about a week and one kid has already died. If they keep arguing instead of working then we won't eat and no shelters will be made, and if that happens then there is sure to be more deaths. They never even end their arguments. As soon as they are done talking they just walk off.

Ralph told me to help pick fruit with the littleuns. Fruit is all we've been eating and frankly, I'm getting sick off them. But since Jack hasn't gotten any meat and always comes back with an excuse, we eat what we can. Helping pick fruits is the perfect time to sneak away to my hide out. It's filled with butterflies and little birds. It's a hut that no one lives in. I made sure no one followed me because I don't want anyone to know I'm here or else they would all wanna live here. This is my place. My get away. And thats how it's going to stay.

Beastie?

Lord Of The Flies

Journal Entry 2

Perspective: Jack

Beastie?

I want to be leader. I hate not being able to have my way. I wish I could Pinch the leader position. I deserve to be a leader. I mean yea Hunter leader is cool but I don't get to boss anyone around except for my choir and I've been bossing them around. And this Piggy kid, who does he think he is? He can't boss me around. I don't seem to recall him being the leader. He's just that annoying kid that no one cares about. And I'm going to show it to him. "Shut up" I say every time he talks. He shows recrimination but not enough to stop me. Even when he has the conch in his hands which means only he can talk I still tell him to shut up. I don't think anyone but Ralph likes him very much. I am officious for my turn. I have things to say and I finally won't be interrupted. I wish I could just have my way. If I did I would exclude Piggy From the crowd. I don't care if I'm errant. I should have my way.

As it goes to a little kid's turn he can't talk. What a chicken. I can't help but laugh at him. When I laugh at him everyone laughs at him. He's starting to cry because he's so shy. I don't even feel bad for him. If he's too shy to talk he might as well give it to someone else. Now look at Piggy standing up for him. Now he's getting annoying. I'm getting irritated of this kid. This kid keeps telling everyone there's a monster. He keeps asking Ralph and the Hunters what we're going to do to this so called Beastie. No one believes this kid. There's no such thing as monsters. If there really is a beastie, I don't care what it does. But i know there isn't. Everyone knows there's only us and animals on this island. Piggy doesn't think the nazy is going to save us because no one knows we're here. I sort of have to agree. I think we'll be here for a while. We've come to the decision that we are going to start a fire so the smoke will rise and someone at sea might see it. We walked up to the top of the mountain. Great, we don't have a way to start a fire. Ralph should have thought of that before. Wait! Piggy's specs. We can use those to start a fire.

Good. We have a fire going. But there's no smoke. Ralph ordered all of us to find more wood. I'll leave that to the kids to do. As soon as we cam back with more wood the fire grew. This was a big mistake. Now the fires are spreading into the forest. Snakes are coming out of the bushes because of the fire. This was a stupid and bad idea. I don't think anyone would even see the smoke. Now Ralph's wondering where The Beastie kid is. He's no where to be found. Piggy and Ralph think he's somewhere in the forest and that he's dead. They think that while he was getting more wood the fire trapped him. He's probably dead. And I can't help but feel a little bit sorry for him. He really must had been Martyred.

Leader

Lord Of The Flies

Journal Entry 1

Perspective: Ralph

Leader

I could care less about his name. I only want to know where I am. He might not know I'm listening, but I am. I need Something to listen to besides the sound of my shoes hitting the ground. It's so hot out here I can't bare this heat. I need to take off my clothes. They're not suitable for this weather. I'm a little bit scared I have never been left to care for myself on my own. Wait a minute what am I thinking? This is great! No adults around here. I mean sure I feel bad for the Adults in the crash, but it's just us kids we can live our own lives how we want. I was scared to begin with but now I think.... this might not be bad.

PIGGY!!? haha! what a name for this kid! It's too funny I just have to yell it out. I can tell he is mad but hey, I'm not telling anyone like he asked... yet. now we're swimming. The water feels so good on my skin. I can feel the dryness of my lips fade away as I dip my head in the water. Wait. I see something. So does Piggy. It's some sort of shell. I can fit half of my hand in it. Piggy tells me it's a Conch Shell.. he says it can make sounds. He told me his auntie taught him how to use one. He said to put it on the side of my mouth and blow. What a funny sound. It's the least I'd expect from this shell. Wait, I know for sure there was more kids on the plain. Maybe if i keep blowing it it will catch there attention. I can't help but laugh every time I blow it. I can feel the little kids coming towards the sound.

One little kid actually showed up but I know there will be more. Johny is his name. He's got to be around 5 years old. He sat straight down as if I was a Teacher. He's looking up at me as if he's waiting for a command. More kids Are showing up, they are all sitting down like Johnny did. All looking up at me as if I'm the Leader. I will blow it a couple more times. as I'm walking threw the kids I notice a big group of kids coming towards the crowd. They look like soldiers but I guess they're the marching band. Jack is the leader of the band. I can tell the other members are scared of him.

They need a leader. I'm not entirely sure I want to be a leader. Everyone but the band voted for me? Oh man I guess I'm the leader of these 30 kids. I think I am ready To Lead. I can't help but grin when I see that all these little kids see me as a leader. They look up to me like a teacher. I can tell Jack wants my spot. I feel bad for him so I will tell the kids Jack is the leader of The Hunters. I tell him his band crew it the rest of the hunters. They will be responsible for the food. I can tell he likes it. I need to see if we're on a island. I take Jack and the quiet kid Simon with me. As we started climbing up the hill to the highest peak of the island i began my Leadership. "HEAVE!" I tell them. As we got to the top I saw Only clear water in every turn. We are on an island. after confirming it is a island I tell them we need to get back to the group. As we're running down the hill Simon Says he's hungry. That reminds me of how hungry I am. It does the same for Jack. As we're walking I hear a pig squil. Yes! Food. Jack took out his knife to kill it. I can't Watch. Jack couldn't do it. I knew none of us could. Jack is making excuses about why he couldn't kill it. He said he was picking a spot. But I know it was because he couldn't kill a living animal. But is he's going to be the hunter, he better get used to it.