Reading Response

Bria Jourdain                                                                                                    2/11/15

812                                                                                                                    ELA   

Teenagers can be easily influence by the peers around them. In graphic novel Peanut by Ayun Hailliday is about a teenage girl named Sadie who fakes a peanut allergy to fit in her new school. Throughout the story Sadie learns the battles that are faced keeping a lie from home and school. Later she learns there’s more to people than telling them what they want. Sadie's changes who she is based on the benefit to fit in with others.

Sadie's 'peanut allergy' becomes more than fitting in but influencing certain actions. Earlier in the book, Sadie had a incident where she almost ate something that contained peanut oil. Her new friends reacted anxiously while Sadie acted wary. On page 131 she's discussing the event with her friend David. The text stated, "The reason I didn't use it [Epipen] in the cafeteria is I didn't need to." Sadie is learning that there's more to keeping this 'peanut allergy' under control. It's affecting her choices and relationships with friends. In addition Sadie realized that her idea (having a peanut allergy) is more than just happening in school. The text stated, "If I'd thought things out in advance, it might have dawned on me that it's not so easy keeping home and school separate."(147) Everyday things that Sadie thought could be separate are becoming difficult. For her to lie to her mother and friends is becoming burdensome. Also being able to keep track of lies between home and school are inferiors in her life. Sadie is changing her actions based on what others aspect of her.

Sadie believes without the influences on others she won't be able to have an influence on them. Sadie talks to her mother about the equipment for having a 'peanut allergy'. Although, she is using her mother in a selfish way. The text stated, “Wait, mom do you know anything about a EE-PINE-FRINE?"(96) Here Sadie is manipulating her mother to be more impressive in school. Furthermore, she is also lying to her mother by using her for something that she would be against of. Without making the 'peanut allergy' an influence at home she wouldn't be able to make it an influence in her school. Much earlier in the text she influences her classmates with information about her 'peanut allergy'. The text stated, "…Until then, I'll live life to the fullest…Aware that any moment could be my last."(47) Again Sadie is influencing her classmates. Yet, that won't help in the future. If Sadie can’t accept herself how can she make others accept her?

Sadie learns that there is more to being who you are. Throughout the book Sadie keeps up her ‘peanut allergy’. Yet, it gets out of hand when some calls 911 because she supposedly had consumed a peanut. Her life turns dreadful once everyone finds out who she really is. The text stated, “People go out of their way to ignore me.”(188) Sadie learns that people didn’t care about her ‘peanut allergy’ until it affected them. They cared more about who she is as a person instead of having something that sets her apart from others. Furthermore, Sadie learned there’s many ways that people can notice her. The text stated, “Maybe if had it to do over again, I could try a different angle. People make friends any number of ways, right?” Sadie realized making an impact is simple as stepping inside a room. Plus she should enjoyed experiences with others than being the center of attention. She learned being yourself should be enough for others.

Peanut is a book that all students can relate to. It’s about the dangers of changing for others to fit in. Many students do crazy things to set themselves aside from others to be able to fit in. Yet, many do not understand that doesn't allow them to become the person they want to be. Do things for yourself and not for others is the way to live life. Your perspective is can be yours and not others.

Works Cited

Halliday, Ayun, and Paul Hoppe. Peanut. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2013. Print.