Kristine’s Letter Essay 6 “Chicken Soup”

I am almost finished with the book “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship,” put together by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger. This  is a 284 page memoir that is filled with inspiring stories. Hansen, Kirberger, and Canfield are all authors who have dedicated their lives to the personal and professional development of others. These three people have not been writing these stories but receiving them from others and then putting them together to create this book. What makes this book so amazing is how all the stories in it are all real. They pull a bunch of true stories together that really relate to your life so when you read it you can really make a connection to it. I read this book because my friend recommended it to me. She said she really liked it and that it was really inspiring.

 

In the book “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship,” there was not one directed plot or story but many different tales and poetry in it. There were seven sections in this book, falling in love, breaking up, friendship, tough times, family and love, acts of kindness, and growing up. All though these sections were all about different things they all seem to be connected in the way that they all are about the ups and downs in a teens life. Falling in love, the first section was about crushes that became more then that. It was really a lot of romantic stories that were like fairy tales. The second section, breaking up, was about sad times were love ended up in a painful mess. Friendship, the next section was about best friends moving away, friends coming back together, and people making new friends. Tough times, was a very sad section, it had many stories in where teens faced the hardest part of life, losing someone close to them. Family and love, are stories about times that they spent with their siblings and parents, times when they realized how much they love and need their family. Acts of kindness was about good deeds that people have done to help the world and growing up was about the times you need more space and more freedom to choose your own path. All of these sections are filled with uplifting true stories that will make you smile and cry.

 

I was surprised about how many of these stories that I can relate to. When I started reading this book I thought these tales would be nothing like my life but when I got through only a few of these narratives I realized that these stories are kind of like stories that I have and stories that I could see myself having in the future. This book really talks about things that I think not only I can but everyone else my age and up can understand and get. This book really did connect with the a teenager and with their hard life.

The genre of this book I would say is memoir/autobiography/biography because this book was put together with a bunch of stories that people wrote about themselves or another person they were close to. There was only one fake story in this book, but really it was a story that someone made up based on what they think happened when these two kids died. The story was half real and half fantasy

I picked this passage from the novel because it shows some of the amazing poetry and writing that is in this book. This is page 177 from the section Tough Times, this story is called “The Bus Stop.”

 

“As I started to tell you what it was

that was burning my mind,

You told me that you liked me, too,

but the words were hard to find.

I smiled a smile that seemed to stretch

to both of my two ears.

The smiling and the happiness

erasing all my fears.

 

And now, my friend, you’re dying

and there’s nothing I can do,

But sit with you and hold your hand

and be forever true.

Last night while you were sleeping,

your soul just slipped away,

The many words that filled my heart

were impossible to say.

As I was cleaning out the drawer

that stood beside your empty bed,

I found a letter addressed to me,

and heard your voice speak as I read…”  

I choose this passage because it showed some of the great writing that was in this book. I felt like this piece was very touching and sad, it was one of the pieces that made you stop and reread it over and over again. I would recommend this book for mostly teen girls since it was more about their problems and it was more about love. I would rate this book an 8 out of 10, it was really good. I hope you enjoyed my letter essay.  

 

Sincerely,

   Kristine Jones

 

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5 thoughts on “Kristine’s Letter Essay 6 “Chicken Soup”

  1. Kristine,
    I’ve read many of the “Chicken Soup” books and completely agree with you – they’re inspiring and brutally honest. I love how the stories come from real people because I think that so many people have interesting stories to tell and I love that this book shines light on that. I also like how although not all of the stories are necessarily “uplifting” there are a lot of truly inspiring stories and especially with so many books about teenagers murdering each other for entertainment and the like, this book was a delightfully refreshing read.
    Good job!!

  2. Dear Kristine,
    You did a great job at explaining this book in detail and describing each of the “sections”. I am definitely going to read this book sometime soon because it seems like you really enjoyed it and so would I.
    Great Essay!
    -Jenna

  3. Dear Kristine,
    I think I can ask for everyone who that friend was (wink wink) and who ever said “very inspiring??” Kidding! Good job on your letter essay I really enjoyed reading it. I especially loved the passage, deep stuff. I especially related and agreed with the part where (and I quote) you said, “All of these sections are filled with uplifting true stories that will make you smile and cry.” So true!!!! Anyways good, phenomenal, amazing,c great, magnificent, splendid, grand, awesome, majestic, sumptuous, tony, salubrious job.

    Btw, about the who would like this book you could of mentioned the other books they have gearing towards other types of people (adults, children, about love, forgiveness-I don’t even know–etc.)
    ~tabitha aime

  4. Dear Kristine,
    I really enjoyed reading your letter essay! I you did a nice job elaborating on the sections, and giving a lot of detail about the book. I’ve been thinking about reading this book for a while, and now that I know what it’s about, I might pick it up soon. Nice job!
    -Alex H.

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