“Red Leaves" Persuasive Essay Draft 2
“Red Leaves” by Sita Brahmachari should be explored by IBMYP students because it provides the reader with a deeper understanding of one of the global contexts, personal and cultural expression. It highlights the struggles and perspectives of the people dealing with child abuse and foster care and why it’s significant for us to express ourselves through religious practises, multimedia art, and vocal performing to get through difficult times in our lives. Zak, Aisha and Iona, the main characters, become friends in an unlikely turn of events when they escape from their own problems and wind up living in an air raid shelter together.
Cultural expression and the importance of embracing different languages, religions and nationalities is demonstrated in the book through
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Some of the effects of child abuse on the victim are also demonstrated in “Red Leaves”. After running away from her abusive stepfather, Iona becomes subject to homelessness and hunger, she changes her identity, buries her past beneath her intimidating appearance and does her best to push people away. This shows that she was willing to do anything so that she does not have to experience heartbreak and betrayal again. The one place where she could go to reveal her old, true, vulnerable self was through her art. Even though Iona is a fictional character, “Red Leaves” shows the realities of life after experiencing child abuse and how using an outlet to help you get through something difficult in your life can play an important role through the emotional recovery. Through her art, Iona became the independent, strong and artistic person that she had always wanted to be. Her talent helped her get off the streets and do something that she previously dreaded; Iona returned home and embraced who she once was,