November 17, 2008

Dear Mr. Coville and Mrs. Yolen,

For centuries, religion has played an important role in the lives of human beings. Some turn to it for hope and protection, yet others find ways to use it for their own gain. There are those who worship their deities faithfully, living their lives by the code of goodness that most religions hold so dear. And there are those who would take all of it out of context and end up hurting not only themselves, but other people as well. Some of the worst actions have been committed with the best intentions.

Armageddon Summer really allowed me to see the extremes people take with their religious beliefs. Loyal Marina, who struggled so hard to believe for her family, and cynical Jed, who was dragged along to protect his father, showed two completely different points of view.

Throughout my life I’ve heard various predictions about the end of the world, but I never paid much attention to it. I believe those who live in constant fear of an end that could come at any time are just missing out on, what could be, an amazing life. Wanting to believe in something is in no way wrong; however, hurting other people for it is.

Of all the characters, I related to Jed the most. His opinion about the world being set aflame was exactly how mine would have been in that situation. The love and loyalty I have for my own father would be the only reason I followed him up that mountain as well. Being around fanatics like that would completely exasperate me.

The religion I have chosen for myself has given me a certain mindset and the sheer hypocrisy that the “Believers” displayed on the mountain in the book would not have stood well with me. For example, even though there were “Angels” taking care of the little ones, they were still neglected in many ways. That alone would drive me into action against those people. The children should have been their top priority. Not some barrier to keep the Unbelievers out.

I admired the fact that despite the utter chaos surrounding them, Jed and Marina still managed to keep their heads. Marina protected her siblings and even when her own mother acted like she didn’t know her anymore, she still wanted to protect her. I’m not sure how I would have reacted if my ‘once loving’ mother suddenly treated me as though I meant absolutely nothing to her. A betrayal like that would have been hard to forgive.

I thought Jed had immense courage throughout the entire ordeal. Admitting that your father might actually be crazy would have been heartbreaking. Not to mention the fact that he kept trying to get to know Marina. With her near feral mother straight out attacking him, this really did amaze me.

Another character that intrigued me was Reverend Beelson. At first I thought he was just another fanatic. But as I read about Jed and Marina’s interactions with him I was surprised that he wasn’t so crazy. He was kind, and at least seemed like he was in his right mind. It made me wonder, what would drive him to think that the world was going to end on July 27, 2000? It was difficult for me to understand.

Additionally, what would it have felt like to believe in something so much that you created it for yourself? The twenty people who died, including the Reverend, would scar the minds of the survivors for the rest of their lives. What did Beelson feel when he finally realized that Armageddon had come, but it wasn’t from God? What did the rest of the Believers think when they realized the chaos and bloodshed their selfishness had caused? How hard must it have been for Jed and Marina to defy their parents on such a close subject?

This is a book I have read over and over and I continue to ask myself these questions. Sometimes I come up with answers that could work, but I guess I won’t really know for sure. I was glad that Jed and Marina got the other children to safety and that they called for help when they did. But the death of Jed’s father really hit me. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost my father to something that, in the end, seemed like it wasn’t really worth it.

There are people who can and will gather followers because they seem to be the only option for survival and paradise. But I think one should always consider the consequences of becoming a “Believer.” In the end, this book is one of my favorites simply for the fact that despite its insanity, there is a realistic feel to it that can serve as a warning to others.

Sincerely,

Tessa Bercier
11^th grade
AVAIL High School, Anchorage, Alaska
Teacher: Leslie Fleming