Literary thoughts from the almost 11 year old

So, I. and I, as we know often frequent (free) lectures on campus, colloquia on literature (Mexican and otherwise) and films of every sort imaginable. It makes me smile when she claims that she "loves" reading subtitles, for example, or when she has particularly poignant and insightful things to say about the talks that we have attended. I'll admit, she is as likely to snuggle up and sleep on my arm (like she did recently at the Autry Museum while three of my dear friends were panelists on stage), or read her own book (like she has done for years during conferences sponsored by my home department), but the fact of the matter is, like it or not, this is a kid who has one ear in EVERYTHING at all times.

Her adorably snarky retort (and deflection of compliments alike) would be: "Well, I am your daughter." (In fact she used this on me just today as I praised her for her valiant attempt at writing a thank you card in Spanish... yup, she's a heritage speaker, alright!)

That said, her most recent reports on books that she has read for class (and she plows through much more than one book a month; is often annoyed by having to do a report on one that takes away from her other reading) have been quite something. I shall collect them here, for posterity, or for bragging rights, or both, just a little reminding the putative audience that these are all entirely her words. She is my girl, after all.

After listening to a reading by Sandra Cisneros, she read The House on Mango Street and reports:

The House on Mango Street

By Sandra Cisneros

Esperanza is the oldest child of four that moves to an ugly home, where she finds herself friendless. She is a 10 year old girl living in Hispanic Chicago. Finding friends is a challenge that Esperanza has to learn to deal with, and it is the thing that helps her grow. She lives on a street that is anything but the dream home her mama and her papa always talked about, but at least it was not an apartment, and had no stairs.

Not long after she moved in, did she meet Rachel and Lucy. Rachel and Lucy are not well-educated and are wild, but they are the only friends that Esperanza has. The whole book is told in vignettes about people on Mango Street and how different they are from each other. Another thing the vignettes tell is how Esperanza makes friends and how her life changes as she gets older.

One particular vignette that really stood out for me was: “And some more…” which is a vignette about Esperanza, her younger sister, Nenny, Rachel and Lucy looking at clouds when they start arguing about whose mama is fatter and whose mama makes better tamales and silly stuff like that. The reason I chose that vignette is because I realized that my friends and I argue about the same sort of silly stuff.

There were other vignettes like that, and different and I felt I could connect with the character. At the end of the book, Esperanza realizes that even if in the beginning your home is not your dream home, if you try and connect with the community, if you like it or not, it will become your home.

This month's report was on a biography, and she was so excited by Annie Oakley and her proto-feminism that she talked my ear off about her for the entire week following her reading (and even while distracted by the very engaging Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

Annie Oakley: Legendary Sharpshooter by Jean Flynn

(Also consulted: Bull’s Eye: A Photobiography of Annie Oakley by Sue Macy)

Annie Oakley wasn’t always her name. Her parents named her Phoebe Ann Moses. In her childhood she was nicknamed Annie. She was the fifth child born out of seven. Annie’s mother and sisters thought her tomboyish. When Annie’s father died of pneumonia, Annie’s mother moved to a smaller farm and made a living working as a nurse, helping women who were giving birth. At age seven Annie decided to do her share by making traps her father had taught her when he was alive.

When Annie was eight she took down her father’s rifle from the fire place (which the children were forbidden to use), and went outside to shoot. After that she was her family’s hero. When she had too much for her family, she would sell it to the hotel. People always liked buying game from Annie because it was always shot in the head.

In 1867 her mother remarried and had a daughter named Emily. Sadly, soon after Emily was born, her father died. There was so little money that Annie was sent to live with Samuel and Nancy Edington. Soon after she was sent to the Edingtons, a man named Mr. Wolf came and asked for a girl to help at his home. He promised to give her good food and schooling and she would still be able to shoot. But, when she was sent there, it was nothing like the “He-Wolf” (Annie’s name for the family) had said. She was underfed and abused. She was so over-worked that she didn’t have time for riflery, or schooling. After 2 years of this, Annie ran away.

She came home finding her mother destitute and her stepfather dead. Too poor, Annie’s mother had to send her back with the Edingtons. Once Annie gave her mom enough money she came back. Annie’s mom thought she needed a proper education. She took Annie to the city. There she stayed with her sisters and brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law taught her about men’s guns clubs, and for the first time, Annie heard about pleasure shooting. When a man by the name of Frank Butler heard of Annie’s talent, he challenged her to a competition. Annie and Frank’s relationship grew as Annie, “sent notes” to Frank’s dog, “George.” After less than a year of sending notes to one another, Frank finally proposed. Annie and Frank became performing partners. Later on Annie changed her name to Oakley.

In a shooting contest in the mid-west, Annie met Sitting Bull. Annie reminded him of his daughter who had died some years before. Sitting Bull offered to adopt Annie and it was a start of a big, big friendship. A couple months after this, Annie and Frank joined the Sells Brothers’ Circus. When traveling in New Orleans, Annie and Frank liked the look of an entertainment show called “Buffalo Bil’s Wild West.” When the shooting season was over, Annie and Frank were left jobless. To show that Annie was her own person, Frank became Annie’s manager. At first Buffalo Bill was skeptical of this 110 pound shotgun. Annie proved herself a success.

Annie worked with Bill for a few years, every year more famous. They went to England and became huge there too. After that they quit for some unknown reason. They went back to the circus and after about 2 years went back to Buffalo Bill. Annie kept shooting and practicing well into her 60s. Many people think that Annie is from the West but really she was from Dark County, Ohio.

Annie died in 1926 at age 66.

The legend of Annie Oakley is well known, but her reality needs to be renewed so I had great pleasure learning about this amazing woman.