Have you ever lived or been to a country you are not from? The short story “Names/Nombres” is a short story I suggest reading for several reasons. The short story brings up many real issues that people from different nationalities face around the world which makes the reader more engaged due to its realism. The story “Names/Nombres” is about a girl named Julia Alvarez who is from the Dominican Republic and lives a completely different life compared to the students she goes to school with.

Julia faces multiple problems due to immigration to America. She comes from a different background compared to her classmates which leads to ignorant comments like, “Say your name in Spanish, oh, please say it!” which will eventually get tiring and can make you feel like an outcast. Julia didn’t like how people treated her due to her nationality, she mentions this in the story when she says “But I burned with shame whenever they singled me out as a Foreigner.” Julia’s parents want Julia to be proud of where she comes from which she eventually learns to achieve.

I recommend this short story to people of all ages. “Names/Nombres” is similar to the novel “Shooting Kabul” by N.H. Senzai as it is also about the main character being an immigrant in another country and getting made fun of or being picked on or being treated differently. Many people may relate to this story when reading because it discusses issues you’d face if you went to a foreign country which makes you feel for Julia even more. Small comments about your name, country, or culture could add up and make you feel very different and could even make you uncomfortable which is how Julia feels throughout the entire story. I myself have experienced similar problems as Julia as I went to a British school in a different country as a half Egyptian, half Yemeni student. I faced many problems with people mispronouncing my name and treating me as someone who doesn’t belong there. I personally believe this short story is a must-read due to the realism of the story and I think everyone should read it as it doesn’t take much time at all.

By: Ahmed Rashwan/Grade 9 2021

“The Lottery”, very dark, and is only appropriate for older readers. Yet, the story captures, and teaches us so much about how keeping old traditions can hurt a community. In the short story every year, a lottery is held, but using reverse foreshadow, the author, Shirley Jackson, tricks us into thinking that the lottery is something good, and people benefit from it. In a dramatic twist, it turns out that the lottery is something very grim.”When he arrived in the square, carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the villagers.” The black box symbolizes death... And even though it should have been stopped, people still continue to practice that tradition. "It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.” Yet the people still continued this cruel tradition.

In the classic short story, the lottery had been around for over seven years, and every year it was held. A person of the village is killed, which is quite absurd, killing a person of the village every single year, innocent people who have done nothing to deserve this fate. Even though the lottery was stopped in nearby villages, it still went on in this particular village. It is mentioned in the story by a man named old man Warner that preserving old traditions was very important for the village’s prosperity, but not when that tradition involves democide. Traditions such as this one, or similar to it are still being practiced now, and this story gives us a lesson about this and teaches us once more that we should not hold outdated and bad traditions.

In the story, it is also shown that every family must participate, children and all. Why should any child have to go through this? Some countries in the world, like North Korea, also have similar practices like this. For example, in the story, the whole family must participate, children and adults. In North Korea, if one man commits a crime, he, his father, and his children all go to prison. And all citizens must abide by old, and terrible rules and traditions that have been going on for decades. In conclusion, the lottery is a very great book, for people who are interested in a well-organized plot, with a good twist, and even though the story might not be suitable for children, it is still a very good read for a more mature audience.

By: Omar Madkour/Grade 9 2021