When Bluebell Sang by Lisa Campbell Ernst

When Bluebell Sang, is a story that I grew up with along with many other tales by Lisa Campbell Ernst. Her illustrations and clever dialogue between characters made reading so much fun for me. The reason I decided to write about this story today is because it has a similar theme as Ella Enchanted woven into it. This theme many not be the author's most important or intended message, but it stood out to me and can be applied to my life. Previously, I talked about how, in Ella Enchanted, I could see myself in her through her struggle to make her own choices and not always simply obey what she is told. This same theme is present in the story about Bluebell, the cow, who can sing beautifully and is taken advantage of by a mean and bossy agent out to make himself rich. Bluebell, and her farmer Swenson, learn not to trust Big Eddie, the agent, or his motives and to make the decision to go back home by themselves by cleverly tricking the agent in the end.

In my life, as I have mentioned before, I have trouble telling people no and standing up for myself. These ideas may seem completely different than the themes of the books, but the connection I am making lies in the reasons why I never say no or stand up for myself. I have to learn not to always obey or take what someone else says for truth and to make my own decisions. I also can see this connection in how college students change their views slowly throughout school. I have never been one to constantly question things, but I find that now more than ever, the professor must prove or argue why something is so. It seems that I am beginning to move away from obedience and more towards thinking independently for myself, and I believe this is part of growing up.