Newsworld

Are there any prominent symbols in the story that you read? If so, what are they and how are they used?

One of the most prominent symbols within the story is of course, the 9-11 attack on the world trade centers. The other symbol was the amusement park the kids would go to. The World Trade Center attack was one like no other; for many, it marked the end of the feeling of being safe. For a change, doors had to be locked, people could not be trusted, and you never know what's about to happen, that is what 9-11 means for most, if not all people. Newsworld reflects this symbolism by the kids world being flipped upside down, before they knew where they were in life, and felt safe, but once it happened, everything was taken away from them, including Newsworld, the park that was always there, until suddenly it was taken away due to the incident. The park, Newsworld, seemed to symbolize a time of innocence. It was disconnected from reality; the kids could go there to escape reality or problems. At the climax of the story, when the kids realize this wasn't the case anymore, that's when their eyes opened to the fact that their whole world has changed.

What connections did you make with this story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.

When 9-11 happened, I was in third grade; I didn't know what evil was back then. Once it happened, that's the day we started locking our front door, our car door, not talking to strangers, and stereotyping people for merely existing. Like the kids in the story, I had a 'Newsworld', a place to escape to whenever, but once 9-11 happened it wasn't safe to go out alone, instead I'd have to be with someone, it felt as if it was taken away, even though it wasn't. Unlike them, I wasn't old enough to feel the future being a mist of fog, but, upon reading this, the destruction of the safety bubble was the feeling it brought back.

What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium? What media would you use? What changes would you make?

If I were to adapt this to another medium, I'd make it into a picture book. Even though the subject matter is dark, it'd help those born too young or those not around when the event s happened understand the power of what actually happened. I believe this story only touched me because I was there; I even remember being forced to go inside from recess to eventually leave school to go home due to the smoke of the remains flooding the area. That's a feeling you cannot give to one through text, but you can make those remember through text. Through illustrations one can be shown what to feel. The story I'd simplify it to the point of being for children, but keep the subject matter and events the same. By making it simpler, and removing some of the flavor text, but by adding illustrations, I feel the same impact would be achieved, but, would meld itself into being another genre of book.