Justine Regan
Time Stops For No Mouse
Michael Hoeye
Mystery fiction
Just right
Pg. 190
1. Right now in my book, Hermux has discovered that Ms. Perflinger has most likely been kidnapped by the rats that he saw earlier that week. He thinks the rats are working for Mennus, a sinister plastic surgeon. Hermux has now gone to Mennus's health spa under a alias in search of Ms. Perflinger. It seems really off there and as Hermux read more of Dr. Dandiffer's journal of his exposition in the jungle, he is sure Mennus is up to no good. He also has his suspicions about who may have killed Jervutz, the man who may have also had suspicions about Mennus.
2. So far I am really enjoying this book, I think the way this mystery is unfolding is really interesting. There are so many different people involved and as the story goes on, the mystery gets more and more involved. At the beginning of the book the mystery was kind of unclear. I didn't really understand what was wrong, but as the book went on I figured out that every antagonist is looking for a youth formula. This is why Mennus sent a spy with Dr. Dandiffer on his expedition.
3. The main theme in the book so far is greed. This is because, Mennus is is so greedy in wanting the potion for the youth formula so bad that he is willing to kill for it. Tucka is also greedy in the way that she is trying to sell all her make-up products and she wants to be thought of as the best. In doing this, she has no regard for the fact that her assistant is really miserable working for Tucka because, she is really mean to her assistant. Selflessness is also a main theme in the book. When Hermux thinks it's odd that a rat would try to claim Ms. Perflinger's watch, he could have just continued with his day and never have even had to worry about her or anything that was going on as a matter of fact. But since Hermux cared enough to be worried about Ms. Perflinger, he set off to solve this mystery not really knowing what he would be getting himself into. The whole plot of the book is behind this idea that if Hermux hadn't been the caring mouse he was, he would never have even known that all of this stuff was going on.
4. My favorite character is Hermux because, I love that he is always ready for a new challenge that his adventures may lead him to. I love that he is so kind to everyone he knows, and that he is always in a bright cheery mood. Hermux is the kind of mouse that thinks of others before he thinks about himself which is what he is currently doing in an attempt to save Ms. Perflinger.
5. My least favorite character is Mennus. This is because, he doesn't care about what he has to do in order to get what he wants, he just pushes everyone aside and takes it. I also don't like Mennus because, he made a mouse loose about half of her fur and he didn't even care about her. I also don't like how secretive Mennus is and how he seems to have manipulated the employees at his health spa to think that that he is harmless. I find it to be really weird that the doors to the rooms where the guests at the health spa stay don't have locks.
6. Since there are no locks on the guest's rooms at the health spa, I think Mennus will end up looking throughout Hermux's journal and snooping around. I think I will find out who has been killing the two victims (even though I already have an idea) and I think the murderer will strike again. I also have a feeling that police officer that Hermux keeps calling for help will wind up being on the same side as Mennus. I think the same thing about Pup too. That is because, Pup kept asking Hermux where exactly he hid the secret potion information.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Emily Spence
The Lucky One
Nicholas Sparks
Romantic Fiction
45
1. So far in the book I have been introduced to two main characters Logan Thibault and Elizabeth. Logan is traveling around the country for a very specific reason. When Logan was a U.S. marine he found a photograph of a beautiful girl at a carnival. Logan kept the picture in his pocket and then suddenly lucky things always happened to him. For example for the first time in his life he won poker, and the next day he luckily survived deadly combat. The girl was wearing a shirt saying the lucky one so Logan is convinced she is his lucky charm. He is now traveling around the country looking for this girl based on clues he has from the picture. Another character that I have been introduced to is Beth. Beth is a divorced mom who has a 10 year old son and works with her mom at an animal shelter. Right now I have only learned a little bit about how her life has been going.
2. I'm not really sure how I feel about the book yet. I'm a little bit disappointed that I wasn't pulled right into the book like I was in previous Nicholas Sparks books. The book has had a slow start and I'm not exactly sure what the plot is. I'm also disappointed that this book again consists of older characters. I enjoy books with younger characters because I can relate to them more and the romances are usually more enjoyable to read about. But I'm only 45 pages into the book so I'm sure it will get much better.
3. A theme I have noticed in the book so far is companionship. Logan has been traveling the country with his german shepherd name Zeus. Zeus and and Logan are like best friends that are loyal to each other and protect each other. They also eat, sleep, and travel together like two best buds. Zeus always obeys Logan and has human like behaviors. Beth also has companionship with the animals at the shelter she works at. She trains dogs and falls in love with all of them. They always obey her and she has millions of cute dog friends. Dogs are defiantly many peoples best friends in the world. The companionship between people and their dogs has been shown so far in the book.
4. My favorite character is Logan Thibault. I like how he pursues his dreams and really does what he wants to. His mother doesn't want him to travel the country but he knows that he wants to so he does anyway. He also seem like a very friendly person who is just living his life and going with the flow. He has been walking around the country with his best friend who is a German Shepard named Zeus. He is just a calm , interesting character who is easy to enjoy reading about.
5. My least favorite character is a cop named Keith Clayton who was described in the first chapter of the book. He is a cop who was giving Logan a hard time and being rude to him just because he thought that Logan was different. Logan was just walking on the street and Clayton thought that he must have done something wrong. Logan had just been minding his own business and the cop interrogated him and tried to take away his 4th amendment right by trying to look in his backpack. He is a snooty officer who earlier on in the day has also let an attractive girl off the hook for breaking the law on a beach. This cop was just a whack job and I hope he's not mentioned again in the book.
6. I predict that Beth and Logan are going to meet and then date. I predict this because these are the main characters that have been described so far so I'm assuming their paths will meet somehow. I also think that the fact that Logan is searching for another girl will get in the way of their relationship. It will probably make some big problems arise.
Johnny Coutts
The Cherub Series: Maximum Security
Robert Muchamore
Action Fiction
Just Right
Pg. 154
1) After an action scene, Maximum Security starts off with Lauren and Kerry in what it seemed to be Antarctica. Muchamore describes them having the warmest gear that each of them could ever possibly have. In case I haven't mentioned, this is part of their training. They had one more day to reach a base that would decide if they could do highly dangerous missions. Currently, reaching the base from now could go either way. If they kept a steady pace until they reached the base they would be okay, but if they even decided to take one break they may be out to qualify for these dangerous missions. But since they've come all this way out to Antartica, they were determined to get to the base and they weren't going to let the harsh winds hold them back. Everything they've done at the CHERUB unit depended on if they made it to that base in time.
2) So far, Robert Muchamore has created an exceptional beginning to this book. Just like the other books in this series (The Dealer and The Recruit), Robert Muchamore has created another creative beginning to a book. The only thing so far that I haven't likes so much is the fact that we haven't seen James yet in the book. Since James was the main character of The Dealer, which was my favorite book out of the two I've read, I'm hoping that this one isn't about Kerry or Lauren. Of all the characters in The Dealer, James by far was my favorite and I was hoping Maximum Security would be just like it, but so far it hasn't. Other than the main character conflict, the scene in Antartica has been upbeating and extremely fun to read.
3) The most dominant theme currently in the book right now is hardships. Everything that has happened this book has evolved around the theme hardships, especially the very beginning. Kerry and Lauren trying to overcome the strength of the wind and the harsh weather conditions. Though there will be several other parts of the book that will evolve around that theme, that part is pretty much the only part that contains this theme so far in the book. I think that that theme Muchamore has thrown in there makes the book feel a whole lot different. It makes the book feel more realistic and not just like everything goes the same way the character wants it to go.
4) As of now, my favorite character is Lauren. The reason Lauren is my favorite character is because she reminds me most of James. They're both determined to get what they want, and they both try their hardest to do whatever it is they want to do. Since James is my favorite character of the series, and Lauren reminds me of him the most, that's the reason Lauren is currently my favorite character. She also has a replica of James' personality. She has a touch of kindness in her, making everyone on campus like her and want to be her friend. This touch of kindness has also made me start to like her a lot over time.
5) Currently, my least favorite character is Kerry. I don't despise Kerry, but if I had to choose who my least favorite character was it would be Kerry for a couple of reasons. One reason, is that Kerry is not the type of person that will keep going back and back to get something right like Lauren would do. Lauren had to persuade her to keep going in Antarctica because Kerry wanted to stop and give up there. With a couple of persuading and helpful words, Lauren was able to get Kerry up and running again.
6) From now, I predict that Kerry and Lauren will the reach the base with help from Lauren cheering Kerry up. But I also think when Lauren and Kerry arrive at the base, one of them will have frostbite or some other sort of illness you can get from being out in the cold for too long. I feel like most likely Kerry will have the illness because Kerry is the one that was complaining, so maybe she is the one that has the illness. If noone has an illness, then I predict Kerry and Lauren will just lead any life a normal CHERUB agent does, but they'll be able to do more dangerous mission now after completeing their tough training.
The Cherub Series: Maximum Security
Robert Muchamore
Action Fiction
Just Right
Pg. 154
1) After an action scene, Maximum Security starts off with Lauren and Kerry in what it seemed to be Antarctica. Muchamore describes them having the warmest gear that each of them could ever possibly have. In case I haven't mentioned, this is part of their training. They had one more day to reach a base that would decide if they could do highly dangerous missions. Currently, reaching the base from now could go either way. If they kept a steady pace until they reached the base they would be okay, but if they even decided to take one break they may be out to qualify for these dangerous missions. But since they've come all this way out to Antartica, they were determined to get to the base and they weren't going to let the harsh winds hold them back. Everything they've done at the CHERUB unit depended on if they made it to that base in time.
2) So far, Robert Muchamore has created an exceptional beginning to this book. Just like the other books in this series (The Dealer and The Recruit), Robert Muchamore has created another creative beginning to a book. The only thing so far that I haven't likes so much is the fact that we haven't seen James yet in the book. Since James was the main character of The Dealer, which was my favorite book out of the two I've read, I'm hoping that this one isn't about Kerry or Lauren. Of all the characters in The Dealer, James by far was my favorite and I was hoping Maximum Security would be just like it, but so far it hasn't. Other than the main character conflict, the scene in Antartica has been upbeating and extremely fun to read.
3) The most dominant theme currently in the book right now is hardships. Everything that has happened this book has evolved around the theme hardships, especially the very beginning. Kerry and Lauren trying to overcome the strength of the wind and the harsh weather conditions. Though there will be several other parts of the book that will evolve around that theme, that part is pretty much the only part that contains this theme so far in the book. I think that that theme Muchamore has thrown in there makes the book feel a whole lot different. It makes the book feel more realistic and not just like everything goes the same way the character wants it to go.
4) As of now, my favorite character is Lauren. The reason Lauren is my favorite character is because she reminds me most of James. They're both determined to get what they want, and they both try their hardest to do whatever it is they want to do. Since James is my favorite character of the series, and Lauren reminds me of him the most, that's the reason Lauren is currently my favorite character. She also has a replica of James' personality. She has a touch of kindness in her, making everyone on campus like her and want to be her friend. This touch of kindness has also made me start to like her a lot over time.
5) Currently, my least favorite character is Kerry. I don't despise Kerry, but if I had to choose who my least favorite character was it would be Kerry for a couple of reasons. One reason, is that Kerry is not the type of person that will keep going back and back to get something right like Lauren would do. Lauren had to persuade her to keep going in Antarctica because Kerry wanted to stop and give up there. With a couple of persuading and helpful words, Lauren was able to get Kerry up and running again.
6) From now, I predict that Kerry and Lauren will the reach the base with help from Lauren cheering Kerry up. But I also think when Lauren and Kerry arrive at the base, one of them will have frostbite or some other sort of illness you can get from being out in the cold for too long. I feel like most likely Kerry will have the illness because Kerry is the one that was complaining, so maybe she is the one that has the illness. If noone has an illness, then I predict Kerry and Lauren will just lead any life a normal CHERUB agent does, but they'll be able to do more dangerous mission now after completeing their tough training.
Grant Newman-The Kite Runner
Grant Newman
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction
Just Right
p. 207
1. Right now, the main character, Amir, is talking with one of his father's former friends, a man named Rahim Khan. He has not seen him for many years. Some of the events that have occurred since he left are being unfolded by Rahim. Amir finds out that his former best friend, and servant, Hassan, moved to Hazarajat after a disagreement between Amir and Hassan turned much more serious back when Amir was 13. When Rahim visited Hassan, he found out that he had a wife, and that they were expecting a child. But, sadly, Hassan's father, and another man were killed before by a land mine. Rahim asked Amir, "Is there any more Afghan way of dying?" (206). This was in reference to the land mine that killed Hassan's father, Ali, who also served Amir and Baba when they lived in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Amir is also now married to a woman in America, named Soraya. After leaving much of his former life back in Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Amir is beginning to find out what came to be of all the people that were in his life, and much of it is not happy. Death and tragedy fill Amir's life, from the loss of Hassan and Ali, to his father's death, and their departure from Afghanistan.
2. This book is very good so far. It's written very well and in good detail, like Hosseini's other book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, which I have also read. He provides a lot of detail about what life is and was like in Afghanistan. He tells a story filled with emotion, enough happiness to bring you back, but enough sadness to affect your thoughts. He leaves you with many lasting images about how different life is in Afghanistan. The way that the people there treated Hassan, is atrocious, like he was of a completely different species, and not even human. Solely for the reason that he is Hazara, a different ethnicity than Pashtun, which makes up the majority of Afghanistan, he was bullied when living in Kabul. On a happier note, I like how he uses some words from Afghanistan in his work, but lets you know what they are so they're not really a foreign language. He's an incredible writer who has done an amazing job painting a vivid and eye-opening picture of life in America and life in Afghanistan.
3. A theme I've noticed in the book is dishonesty. This theme was very present in the beginning of the novel when they were still living in Kabul, but it remains with you throughout the book because some of the events are consequences of what happened. One day, after Amir had won the kite-flying competition, a prestigious honor in Kabul, Hassan had caught the kite and was running through the streets. A bully named Assef, and two of his friends, had tried to coerce him into giving them the kite, but he wouldn't. They then took advantage of him as a punishment for what he'd done to them in the past, and Amir stood there and did nothing. When he came back home, Amir told a series of lies to cover up what had happened. He and Hassan never had the same relationship in the end, and that was what ultimately caused them to leave Kabul. Amir became very dishonest here, because he didn't want to own up to the fact that he didn't do anything while terrible things happened to Hassan. But, in the end, he shouldn't've done that, as his best friend was taken away from him.
4. My favorite character is Hassan. I like him because he has an extremely unique personality. He is willing to stand up for Amir even in times where he shouldn't. Amir tries to make him do bad things to him, but he just can't bring himself to do it. It's amazing what devotion he has to Amir, and how strong a character he is. Being a servant, he lived so much more modestly than Amir and his father did, and he just had to live being in a shack when he slept, rather than an elaborate house. He's an amazing character because he is so devoted to everyone around him, and he puts others before himself, even if sometimes he shouldn't. His morals are very good, and he deserves much better than he is given.
5. My least favorite character was Assef. When the characters were living in Kabul, Assef seemed to lurk in the background as a bully trying to beat up Amir and Hassan. Hassan got the better of him once, which was why he went to such disgusting lengths when Hassan had caught the kite. When he arrived at an elaborate and elegant birthday party for Amir when he turned 13, he seemed to be in control of his parents, physically taller, and talking more than they did. He's a classic bully character, but the things he did were so brutal that he seems not to have any judgment in regards to how other kids felt. It's sad to see this happen, but it's even worse to see Amir not do anything about it. Assef, being a mean character, and a bully to Amir and Hassan, is my least favorite character.
6. A prediction I have for the rest of the book is Amir and Hassan will finally meet again, this time in America, and they will forgive each other for the rotten end that became of them in Kabul.
Eileen H
Eileen Howard
The Color of Water
James McBride
Memoir
Just Right
Page 28
1.In my book right now James’ Mom, Ruth, is telling him about her parents and her childhood. Ruth’s parents, Tateh and Mameh, had an arranged marriage, but when Ruth was two they immigrated to America on account of WWII. In America, Ruth found living with a firm Orthodox Rabbi as a Father very restricting. The one thing she hated the most about being in an Orthodox family was how they responded to death, they ignored it. Ruth’s grandparents, Bubeh and Zaydeh, also immigrated to America with them and Ruth remembers with great fondness. When she was young her Zaydeh died which started her lifelong fear of dying.
2.So far I am really enjoying this book. I haven’t read much of it yet but what I have read so far I have thoroughly enjoyed. I like how the chapters will switch off from James telling the story to Ruth telling the story. This way you learn about both of them when they were the same age. Even though he follows this pattern of switching sometimes he doesn’t go chronologically which keeps the book from being predictable.
3.A theme I have noticed so far is racial exclusion. Both James and Ruth receive racial exclusion during their lives. Ruth is often ridiculed for being a white woman who lives and raises her children in a black community. Also she was excluded by her family when she married Andrew McBride, a black man. Throughout James’ adolescence he experiences stereotyping of being black and living in the projects. Even though they are both excluded they both learn not to exclude people because of their race.
4.My favorite character is Ruth. Ruth is a very strong woman who went against all standards in order to marry the love of her life and raise well-rounded kids. She wasn’t afraid to be ignored by her family when she married Andrew McBride and moved away. Also she does everything in her power in order to get all eleven of her children through college and lead successful lives. She reminds me a bit of Angela, from Angela’s Ashes, in how they will do whatever it takes to provide for their children.
5.My least favorite character is Tateh, Ruth’s father. He was “as hard as rock” and never let anyone express love in his family. Their conversations never were about feelings but more were to keep it from being silent all of the time. Tateh was very racist and was the main person that despised Andrew and Ruth after she married a black man.
6.I think that Ruth will talk more about her new life in America before she married Andrew and hoe much she hated her family life. James will start realizing more about the racial stereotypes that surround him.
The Color of Water
James McBride
Memoir
Just Right
Page 28
1.In my book right now James’ Mom, Ruth, is telling him about her parents and her childhood. Ruth’s parents, Tateh and Mameh, had an arranged marriage, but when Ruth was two they immigrated to America on account of WWII. In America, Ruth found living with a firm Orthodox Rabbi as a Father very restricting. The one thing she hated the most about being in an Orthodox family was how they responded to death, they ignored it. Ruth’s grandparents, Bubeh and Zaydeh, also immigrated to America with them and Ruth remembers with great fondness. When she was young her Zaydeh died which started her lifelong fear of dying.
2.So far I am really enjoying this book. I haven’t read much of it yet but what I have read so far I have thoroughly enjoyed. I like how the chapters will switch off from James telling the story to Ruth telling the story. This way you learn about both of them when they were the same age. Even though he follows this pattern of switching sometimes he doesn’t go chronologically which keeps the book from being predictable.
3.A theme I have noticed so far is racial exclusion. Both James and Ruth receive racial exclusion during their lives. Ruth is often ridiculed for being a white woman who lives and raises her children in a black community. Also she was excluded by her family when she married Andrew McBride, a black man. Throughout James’ adolescence he experiences stereotyping of being black and living in the projects. Even though they are both excluded they both learn not to exclude people because of their race.
4.My favorite character is Ruth. Ruth is a very strong woman who went against all standards in order to marry the love of her life and raise well-rounded kids. She wasn’t afraid to be ignored by her family when she married Andrew McBride and moved away. Also she does everything in her power in order to get all eleven of her children through college and lead successful lives. She reminds me a bit of Angela, from Angela’s Ashes, in how they will do whatever it takes to provide for their children.
5.My least favorite character is Tateh, Ruth’s father. He was “as hard as rock” and never let anyone express love in his family. Their conversations never were about feelings but more were to keep it from being silent all of the time. Tateh was very racist and was the main person that despised Andrew and Ruth after she married a black man.
6.I think that Ruth will talk more about her new life in America before she married Andrew and hoe much she hated her family life. James will start realizing more about the racial stereotypes that surround him.
Hannah Crowley
Two Way Street
Lauren Barnholdt
Realistic fiction
Just Right
Finished
**Please note: I abandoned my last book and wasn't very far into it and I am just starting a new one so I am writing about a book that I finished before vacation.**
1. The final chapters of my book revealed many conflicts and their solutions. Courtney and Jordan have just stopped at Jordan' brother's college for a visit. Unfortunately, to Courtney's dismay, it's also her best guy friend's college, the same guy that she made out with a few nights earlier. After walking out of Lloyd's dorm within ten minutes of her arrival, she returned to find Jordan's car missing from its parking space. Jordan had gone to his brother's dorm where not only did he find his brother hammered, but he also found his brother's angered filled eyes staring straight at him. His brother had found out about his mother's affair and was furious that Jordan did not let him in on the secret. When Jordan returned to the parking lot he found Courtney crying, also furious. Her father had just called her informing her of the affair as well. She flipped at Jordan for not telling her and after an awful night's sleep, they regathered to take the last steps of their trip in silence. In the end they realize that they are meant for each other and that their relationship can survive if they work through the ups and downs together.
2. I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I just did a book talk on it. It was really attention grabbing and never had me bored. The drama was pushed to so many extremes that I was indulged in the text throughout the novel.
3. One theme that I noticed the most often in this book was probably never ending love. I saw this between the two main characters and it was basically the roots of this story so it jumped out at me the most. Even though their parents are having a marital affair, Jordan and Courtney still have feelings for each other. At one point Jordan even says he still loves her. You would think that if your parents were getting together then you would not feel right being in a relationship anymore. However, this did not stop them, they couldn't just let their feelings pass, they wouldn't let their chance of happiness be ruined by their parents attempt to get their own. To me this showed how strongly they cared for each other and it outlined the never ending love between them.
4. My favorite character would have to be Jordan. At first he comes off as a jerk, but once you learn of the truth, you realize that he really does mean well. He seems like a really laid back, fun guy to be with.
5. My least favorite character was definitely Courtney's dad. He was just a cold hearted person. Not only did he cheat on his wife, but he did it with his daughter's boyfriend's mother! If it was a one time thing and he came out and was forthright about it and apologized continuously, then maybe I would be a little easier on my opinion of him. Did he do this? No! He made his daughter's boyfriend break his daughter's heart! He is just the opposite of a personable human being.
6. I thought the ending to this book was okay. I would have enjoyed it more if the author expanded more on how their relationship grew as they carried on with their college lives. Although, the ending wasn't really ideal, it might've been just what the book needed and I commend the author for that. It was a great read and I would recommend it to just about any teenager.
Shannon Rush
Miles to Go
Miley Cyrus
Autobiography
Just Right
Finnished
1. Miley Cyrus grew up on a fram in Franklin Tennessee, before heading to Hollywood and superstardum playing Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Chanel show. Miley Cyrus has acted, sung, and danced her way to nurmous awards including Favorite artist at the Teen Choice Awards, and Favorite TV Actress.(Just to name a few!)Her Breakout album hit the number one place and has gone on to sell 1 million copies. This book tells what it was like for Miley growing up in her Dad's spotlight and going through school untill 6th grade.
2. I really like the book. I thought that Miley Cyrus told her story from the way that she see's it todoy. It is completly different from the way that Hollywood and LA tell it. She shares on how she was the kid that got bullied at school. I think that this is a great way for Miley Cyrus to share her story.
3. I think that dominate theme in this book is passion. This theme is preasent in the book is when Miley Cyrus is involved in Cheerleading, she showed from a young age that she is very involved and passionate about the sport. Miley also shows passion for singing and acting when playing Hannah Montana on the Dinsey Chanel.
4. Since this book does not have charecter, I thought insted of favorite charecter I would describe my favorite chapter because each chapter is a differnet story. My Favorite chapter was titled "The Call". In this chapter Miley finds out that she has earned the part of Hannah Montana. She is espissialy glad because she gets to leave the terible year of 6th grade behind.
5. I was hard to pick to pick my least favorite chapter, so I thought that the saddest chapter was titled "Loosing Pappy" In this chapter Miley's beloved grandfather died of Cancer. It was his dream to see Miley sing and act on Hannah Montana. This described how hard it was for Miley to get over her grandfather's death.
6. I thought that the book would end how it did. It ended by her describing her most reacent tour. Also it was describing how the filming of the Last Song. She talked alot about the future, and that she was going to write another book, which I would like to read.
Miles to Go
Miley Cyrus
Autobiography
Just Right
Finnished
1. Miley Cyrus grew up on a fram in Franklin Tennessee, before heading to Hollywood and superstardum playing Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Chanel show. Miley Cyrus has acted, sung, and danced her way to nurmous awards including Favorite artist at the Teen Choice Awards, and Favorite TV Actress.(Just to name a few!)Her Breakout album hit the number one place and has gone on to sell 1 million copies. This book tells what it was like for Miley growing up in her Dad's spotlight and going through school untill 6th grade.
2. I really like the book. I thought that Miley Cyrus told her story from the way that she see's it todoy. It is completly different from the way that Hollywood and LA tell it. She shares on how she was the kid that got bullied at school. I think that this is a great way for Miley Cyrus to share her story.
3. I think that dominate theme in this book is passion. This theme is preasent in the book is when Miley Cyrus is involved in Cheerleading, she showed from a young age that she is very involved and passionate about the sport. Miley also shows passion for singing and acting when playing Hannah Montana on the Dinsey Chanel.
4. Since this book does not have charecter, I thought insted of favorite charecter I would describe my favorite chapter because each chapter is a differnet story. My Favorite chapter was titled "The Call". In this chapter Miley finds out that she has earned the part of Hannah Montana. She is espissialy glad because she gets to leave the terible year of 6th grade behind.
5. I was hard to pick to pick my least favorite chapter, so I thought that the saddest chapter was titled "Loosing Pappy" In this chapter Miley's beloved grandfather died of Cancer. It was his dream to see Miley sing and act on Hannah Montana. This described how hard it was for Miley to get over her grandfather's death.
6. I thought that the book would end how it did. It ended by her describing her most reacent tour. Also it was describing how the filming of the Last Song. She talked alot about the future, and that she was going to write another book, which I would like to read.
Paul Krusell
Paul Krusell
Flyboys
James Bradley
Nonfiction Historical
Challenge
Page 33.
1. Right now, Bradley is giving a background to how the Flyboys were stranded on Chichi Jima in the first place. The Americans just stepped onto Japanese land for the first time. This is also the first time in over two hundred years that any foreigner has set a foot on Japanese land. America sends some steam-powered battle ships to the Bay of Nagasaki, terrifying the Japanese, who had never seen these smoke bellowing monstrosities with great cannons on them. They demand that the Japanese give them the island of Chichi Jima, but it is against the Japanese law to give land to outsiders. President Filmore insists that America's laws apply to Japan.
2. I think that this book is a little slow to start, but is extremely captivating. I didn't realize that America had any negotiations with Japan before the Second World War. Also, I didn't know that Japan so radically cut off communications with the west as it did. It endured a two hundred year peace with no outside contact.
3. A theme I've noticed so far is expansion. America wants to expand out, and Chichi Jima is the best location for a steamboat base. I know that Japan started the Pacific War to expand their Empire of the Rising Sun.
4. I can't choose a favorite character in this book because I've just started this book today and am only into the background, where there are absolutely no characters. I am forced to choose the Shogun because he restored order to the warring counties and created a strong, dictatorial, successful government.
5. As I stated above, it is hard to find a least favorite character because none have been introduced, but I don't like the Emperor of Japan because he is a figurehead, like the English monarchy, and didn't take initiative during the Period of Warring States.
6. I predict that next in the book I will be introduced to the Flyboys and find out about their background, as well as find out how America connecting with the Japanese started WWII.
Flyboys
James Bradley
Nonfiction Historical
Challenge
Page 33.
1. Right now, Bradley is giving a background to how the Flyboys were stranded on Chichi Jima in the first place. The Americans just stepped onto Japanese land for the first time. This is also the first time in over two hundred years that any foreigner has set a foot on Japanese land. America sends some steam-powered battle ships to the Bay of Nagasaki, terrifying the Japanese, who had never seen these smoke bellowing monstrosities with great cannons on them. They demand that the Japanese give them the island of Chichi Jima, but it is against the Japanese law to give land to outsiders. President Filmore insists that America's laws apply to Japan.
2. I think that this book is a little slow to start, but is extremely captivating. I didn't realize that America had any negotiations with Japan before the Second World War. Also, I didn't know that Japan so radically cut off communications with the west as it did. It endured a two hundred year peace with no outside contact.
3. A theme I've noticed so far is expansion. America wants to expand out, and Chichi Jima is the best location for a steamboat base. I know that Japan started the Pacific War to expand their Empire of the Rising Sun.
4. I can't choose a favorite character in this book because I've just started this book today and am only into the background, where there are absolutely no characters. I am forced to choose the Shogun because he restored order to the warring counties and created a strong, dictatorial, successful government.
5. As I stated above, it is hard to find a least favorite character because none have been introduced, but I don't like the Emperor of Japan because he is a figurehead, like the English monarchy, and didn't take initiative during the Period of Warring States.
6. I predict that next in the book I will be introduced to the Flyboys and find out about their background, as well as find out how America connecting with the Japanese started WWII.
Katie McPherson
The Last Song
Nicholas Sparks
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
41
1. Right now in the book the main character, Ronnie, is forced to spend a summer with her dad who she hates. She and her mom and brother arrived at his house then decided to go to the carnival. She was watching a volleyball game and one of the players went out of bounds and ran into her which caused her to spill her soda all over herself. She met a girl named Blaze who gave her a clean shirt. They became quick friends and they snuck away from the carnival and her father.
2. I really enjoy the book except for the fact that Ronnie won't giver her dad a chance. Her parents are divorced and she won't call him dad anymore. She is not even giving him a chance even though he is trying to show her how much he loves her. She was very rude to him by running away from him at the carnival. I would not do that because i would be in huge trouble. I like the book because it is interesting to see how easily Ronnie makes new friends so quickly and fits right in.
3. A theme in this book is friendship. Ronnie creates a friendship with Blaze from the first day they met. Although her first encounter with Will was a bit awkward they too became good friends who have feelings for one another.
4. My favorite character is Blaze because she is kind and helpful. She helped Ronnie by giving her a clean shirt and she didn't even know her. She makes Ronnie feel welcome and she understands what Ronnie is going through because her parents are divorced too. She is a really good friend to Ronnie.
5. My least favorite character is Ronnie's dad. I don't like him because he moved away and just forgot about his children. He never came to see them or didn't send them birthday cards or presents. He should have cared about them more and been more present in their lives.
6. I believe that Will and Ronnie will begin to date but then he will have to leave. He will come back and Ronnie will be made but she will still take him back. Then Ronnie will have to go home and something will happen between them but I am not quite sure what yet. I think Ronnie and Blaze will become best friends.
The Last Song
Nicholas Sparks
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
41
1. Right now in the book the main character, Ronnie, is forced to spend a summer with her dad who she hates. She and her mom and brother arrived at his house then decided to go to the carnival. She was watching a volleyball game and one of the players went out of bounds and ran into her which caused her to spill her soda all over herself. She met a girl named Blaze who gave her a clean shirt. They became quick friends and they snuck away from the carnival and her father.
2. I really enjoy the book except for the fact that Ronnie won't giver her dad a chance. Her parents are divorced and she won't call him dad anymore. She is not even giving him a chance even though he is trying to show her how much he loves her. She was very rude to him by running away from him at the carnival. I would not do that because i would be in huge trouble. I like the book because it is interesting to see how easily Ronnie makes new friends so quickly and fits right in.
3. A theme in this book is friendship. Ronnie creates a friendship with Blaze from the first day they met. Although her first encounter with Will was a bit awkward they too became good friends who have feelings for one another.
4. My favorite character is Blaze because she is kind and helpful. She helped Ronnie by giving her a clean shirt and she didn't even know her. She makes Ronnie feel welcome and she understands what Ronnie is going through because her parents are divorced too. She is a really good friend to Ronnie.
5. My least favorite character is Ronnie's dad. I don't like him because he moved away and just forgot about his children. He never came to see them or didn't send them birthday cards or presents. He should have cared about them more and been more present in their lives.
6. I believe that Will and Ronnie will begin to date but then he will have to leave. He will come back and Ronnie will be made but she will still take him back. Then Ronnie will have to go home and something will happen between them but I am not quite sure what yet. I think Ronnie and Blaze will become best friends.
Charlie Friesen
Charlie Friesen
Raven's Gate
Anthony Horowitz
Fantasy
Holiday
pg. 45
1. Right now in my book, Matthew Freeman, or Matt as he calls himself is living with a foster mother in Yorkshire County in England. His own parents had died in a car crash five years ago and until a few days ago, he had been living with his aunt in Ipswich, England. He had a friend named Kelvin, who was sort of a delinquent and took Matt under his wing. Matt himself also himself became somewhat of a delinquent. One day, Kelvin had found this old warehouse that only had one security guard that was normally sleeping, and was stocked with new DVDs and video games. So they go to "take" some of the inventory from that warehouse when things go terribly wrong. The security guard was fully awake and as soon as Kelvin broke through the door, an alarm went off. The security guard had found Matt, when Kelvin threw his knife at the guard and wounded him. Both of them were almost immediately picked up by the police. Kelvin was locked up but Matt was given a second chance through the LEAF program. In this deal, he would get a foster mother, who turned out to be Mrs. Deverill, and would go live with her. Matt accepted and he moved with Mrs. Deverill to Lesser Malling. As soon as he got there , strange things began to happen. After a tour of the house Mrs. Deverill led Matt up to his room, where her cat bit Matt. He started to go dizzy and hear strange voices and I left off just as Matt fell unconscious.
2. So far, this book seems very interesting. Although I have only gotten past the introduction, where I left off seemed to be very interesting. I like the way that Horowitz writes, and after reading the Alex Rider series, I thought that reading the Gatekeepers series (the one Raven's Gate belongs to) would be a good read. So far Horowitz has not disappointed me. This is quite a bit different from the Alex Rider series, so I am interested to see how Horowitz writes this book. I am more looking forward to what Horowitz has to offer in this book, but it has also been good up to the point that I have read. This I can tell will be a good novel, and series.
3.. A theme that I have noticed so far is that Matt has been unwanted. He only had one friend when he was in Ipswich, who turned out not to really be a friend when Kelvin tried to tell the police that it was Matt who stabbed the security guard. His aunt that Matt was living with also did not really want Matt either. She said that Matt was never grateful, and that she was never close to Matt's parents. Even Mrs Deverill did not seem to want Matt, she would not really talk to him on the bus, and she and Matt had not lived with each other long enough to feel comfortable with each other. Mrs. Deverill is a strict old lady who was not going to give Matt any affection any time soon. Everywhere Matt has lived except at his parent's house he has been unwanted. No one has shown him any love in five years.
4. My favorite character so far has been Matt. I feel sorry for him that he has to go through all of the traumas that he has gone through. Also, I admire him for still having some hope left after all that he has been through. He is also the main character, so you have to like him or you will not like the book. I feel as if Matt has been cheated a bit, and so that makes me feel sorry for him, which is why he is my favorite character. I also think that because Matt seems to have this resilience, that he will be a very good character later on in the book. Also, he is my age, 14, and I can relate to him in some ways. All these reasons make his my favorite character.
5. My least favorite character is Kelvin. He never really was a close friend, and it took the incident in the warehouse for Matt to fully realize that. Kelvin was a bad influence on Matt, and caused him to get into a lot of trouble that he would not have gotten into on his own. At the warehouse, after Kelvin was caught, he tried to convince the police that it was Matt that had stabbed the police officer. It was outright lying, and a breech of their friendship, a friendship they never had. Kelvin was almost like the False Prophet, he offered friendship, trust and caring, but all he gave was selfishness, and got Matt into a huge amount of trouble.
6. A prediction about what will happen next is based off mainly the title. When Matt wakes up from being unconscious, he will probably find himself with Mrs. Deverill and maybe one other person. Mrs. Deverill will have something to do with the "Gatekeepers", and Matt is probably one of them too. Just before Matt went unconscious, a voice said "'One of the five!'", so there are probably four other gatekeepers that he might meet. The way Mrs. Deverill might be acting suspicious could mean that she is someone who is against the gatekeepers. But either way, Mrs. Deverill will play a big par in the rest of the book.
Raven's Gate
Anthony Horowitz
Fantasy
Holiday
pg. 45
1. Right now in my book, Matthew Freeman, or Matt as he calls himself is living with a foster mother in Yorkshire County in England. His own parents had died in a car crash five years ago and until a few days ago, he had been living with his aunt in Ipswich, England. He had a friend named Kelvin, who was sort of a delinquent and took Matt under his wing. Matt himself also himself became somewhat of a delinquent. One day, Kelvin had found this old warehouse that only had one security guard that was normally sleeping, and was stocked with new DVDs and video games. So they go to "take" some of the inventory from that warehouse when things go terribly wrong. The security guard was fully awake and as soon as Kelvin broke through the door, an alarm went off. The security guard had found Matt, when Kelvin threw his knife at the guard and wounded him. Both of them were almost immediately picked up by the police. Kelvin was locked up but Matt was given a second chance through the LEAF program. In this deal, he would get a foster mother, who turned out to be Mrs. Deverill, and would go live with her. Matt accepted and he moved with Mrs. Deverill to Lesser Malling. As soon as he got there , strange things began to happen. After a tour of the house Mrs. Deverill led Matt up to his room, where her cat bit Matt. He started to go dizzy and hear strange voices and I left off just as Matt fell unconscious.
2. So far, this book seems very interesting. Although I have only gotten past the introduction, where I left off seemed to be very interesting. I like the way that Horowitz writes, and after reading the Alex Rider series, I thought that reading the Gatekeepers series (the one Raven's Gate belongs to) would be a good read. So far Horowitz has not disappointed me. This is quite a bit different from the Alex Rider series, so I am interested to see how Horowitz writes this book. I am more looking forward to what Horowitz has to offer in this book, but it has also been good up to the point that I have read. This I can tell will be a good novel, and series.
3.. A theme that I have noticed so far is that Matt has been unwanted. He only had one friend when he was in Ipswich, who turned out not to really be a friend when Kelvin tried to tell the police that it was Matt who stabbed the security guard. His aunt that Matt was living with also did not really want Matt either. She said that Matt was never grateful, and that she was never close to Matt's parents. Even Mrs Deverill did not seem to want Matt, she would not really talk to him on the bus, and she and Matt had not lived with each other long enough to feel comfortable with each other. Mrs. Deverill is a strict old lady who was not going to give Matt any affection any time soon. Everywhere Matt has lived except at his parent's house he has been unwanted. No one has shown him any love in five years.
4. My favorite character so far has been Matt. I feel sorry for him that he has to go through all of the traumas that he has gone through. Also, I admire him for still having some hope left after all that he has been through. He is also the main character, so you have to like him or you will not like the book. I feel as if Matt has been cheated a bit, and so that makes me feel sorry for him, which is why he is my favorite character. I also think that because Matt seems to have this resilience, that he will be a very good character later on in the book. Also, he is my age, 14, and I can relate to him in some ways. All these reasons make his my favorite character.
5. My least favorite character is Kelvin. He never really was a close friend, and it took the incident in the warehouse for Matt to fully realize that. Kelvin was a bad influence on Matt, and caused him to get into a lot of trouble that he would not have gotten into on his own. At the warehouse, after Kelvin was caught, he tried to convince the police that it was Matt that had stabbed the police officer. It was outright lying, and a breech of their friendship, a friendship they never had. Kelvin was almost like the False Prophet, he offered friendship, trust and caring, but all he gave was selfishness, and got Matt into a huge amount of trouble.
6. A prediction about what will happen next is based off mainly the title. When Matt wakes up from being unconscious, he will probably find himself with Mrs. Deverill and maybe one other person. Mrs. Deverill will have something to do with the "Gatekeepers", and Matt is probably one of them too. Just before Matt went unconscious, a voice said "'One of the five!'", so there are probably four other gatekeepers that he might meet. The way Mrs. Deverill might be acting suspicious could mean that she is someone who is against the gatekeepers. But either way, Mrs. Deverill will play a big par in the rest of the book.
Rebecca Freeman
Rebecca Freeman
The Color of Water
James McBride
Autobiography
Just Right
253
1. In my book, Ruth just met her second husband-to-be. She didn't want to marry him at first because she was so devastated about the death of Dennis, her first husband. Finally she began to consider marrying him so she went to visit her first husband's relatives and they told her to go on and marry him, so she did. She loved him, but not as much as she loved Dennis. Then it becomes a new chapter and it switches to James' point of view. His mother was older, probably in her sixties. They are at a dinner celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the New Brown Memorial Church, which Ruth founded with Dennis. Unfortunately, the new minister did not know Ruth and treated her distantly because she was white- the only white person at the dinner. He didn't mention her at all during his speech and Ruth got so angry she said that she'd never go back, but she did every Sunday anyway.
2. So far I like this book. It is very interesting and it is very different from most books that I've read. I usually only read fiction because in general I find nonfiction boring and dry but this isn't at all. This book is very fast paced- it covers about 70 years- half of them in Ruth's perspective and half of them in James'. Their lives are fascinating and very different from mine. I also think that it is interesting to see how racism changes from decade to decade throughout the book- from Ruth being afraid her black boyfriend would be killed in the 30's if they were found together to people calling her names on the subways for having mixed race kids to James just preferring hanging around blacks- but still having white friends.
3. A noticeable theme in this book is staying strong. By that I don't mean literally but instead being able to continue to do what you want to do and being able to block out what people are saying about you. I see this in the many times where it mentions that Ruth never retaliated when someone insulted her for marrying a black man and having children unless they threatened her children. She always told her children to do the same- focus on school, go to church and ignore what people say about you.
4. My favorite character is definitely Ruth. She is my favorite because she does what she wants to do and doesn't let anybody bug her about it. She has the courage to run away from her only home where she was never happy and live the life she wanted to. The life she wanted to live also is a reason why she is my favorite character. No one wanted her to do what she did, but she did it anyway (Marry a black man). She loved him, and that's all that mattered to her. She didn't care about race and didn't think of people as being one color or another.
5. My least favorite character is Ruth's father her Tateh. He didn't care for his family in anyway, they were just there to cook, clean and help him with the store. I hated how he abused his wife. She was kind and always was a good wife but he made fun of her, hit her and cheated on her, ultimately getting divorced and marrying some fat woman (at least, that's how she is described) . She was also crippled but he never helped her, instead he made her situation worse. The products in his store were always way overpriced. He hated black people and was completely intolerant of everyone unless they were a Jew. He wouldn't let his children befriend gentiles or even go into a church for their graduation ceremony.
6. I think that the book will end when Ruth dies. I think that she will be very old. By then James will have a good reporting job and will be married with children (or maybe he'd have them after her death). I think that he will either come in contact with his aunt Dee Dee after his mother's death or some other long lost relative or friend of hers. I think that before she dies she will write to him about her past (the chapters that are in this book) and then he will finally understand who she is and who he is.
The Color of Water
James McBride
Autobiography
Just Right
253
1. In my book, Ruth just met her second husband-to-be. She didn't want to marry him at first because she was so devastated about the death of Dennis, her first husband. Finally she began to consider marrying him so she went to visit her first husband's relatives and they told her to go on and marry him, so she did. She loved him, but not as much as she loved Dennis. Then it becomes a new chapter and it switches to James' point of view. His mother was older, probably in her sixties. They are at a dinner celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the New Brown Memorial Church, which Ruth founded with Dennis. Unfortunately, the new minister did not know Ruth and treated her distantly because she was white- the only white person at the dinner. He didn't mention her at all during his speech and Ruth got so angry she said that she'd never go back, but she did every Sunday anyway.
2. So far I like this book. It is very interesting and it is very different from most books that I've read. I usually only read fiction because in general I find nonfiction boring and dry but this isn't at all. This book is very fast paced- it covers about 70 years- half of them in Ruth's perspective and half of them in James'. Their lives are fascinating and very different from mine. I also think that it is interesting to see how racism changes from decade to decade throughout the book- from Ruth being afraid her black boyfriend would be killed in the 30's if they were found together to people calling her names on the subways for having mixed race kids to James just preferring hanging around blacks- but still having white friends.
3. A noticeable theme in this book is staying strong. By that I don't mean literally but instead being able to continue to do what you want to do and being able to block out what people are saying about you. I see this in the many times where it mentions that Ruth never retaliated when someone insulted her for marrying a black man and having children unless they threatened her children. She always told her children to do the same- focus on school, go to church and ignore what people say about you.
4. My favorite character is definitely Ruth. She is my favorite because she does what she wants to do and doesn't let anybody bug her about it. She has the courage to run away from her only home where she was never happy and live the life she wanted to. The life she wanted to live also is a reason why she is my favorite character. No one wanted her to do what she did, but she did it anyway (Marry a black man). She loved him, and that's all that mattered to her. She didn't care about race and didn't think of people as being one color or another.
5. My least favorite character is Ruth's father her Tateh. He didn't care for his family in anyway, they were just there to cook, clean and help him with the store. I hated how he abused his wife. She was kind and always was a good wife but he made fun of her, hit her and cheated on her, ultimately getting divorced and marrying some fat woman (at least, that's how she is described) . She was also crippled but he never helped her, instead he made her situation worse. The products in his store were always way overpriced. He hated black people and was completely intolerant of everyone unless they were a Jew. He wouldn't let his children befriend gentiles or even go into a church for their graduation ceremony.
6. I think that the book will end when Ruth dies. I think that she will be very old. By then James will have a good reporting job and will be married with children (or maybe he'd have them after her death). I think that he will either come in contact with his aunt Dee Dee after his mother's death or some other long lost relative or friend of hers. I think that before she dies she will write to him about her past (the chapters that are in this book) and then he will finally understand who she is and who he is.
Devil in the White City
Jake Frankenfield
Devil in the White City
Erik Larson
Historical Fiction
Challenge
Page 320
1. Right now in the book, the World's Fair has turned out to be the ultimate success, shattering the attendance record of the World's Fair in Paris of 397,000. Now there is great celebration in Burnham's shanty in the World's Fair premises. Meanwhile, Holmes has met yet another woman and successfully seduced her and asked her to marry her and she has accepted excitedly.
2. So far this book is great, the facts are interesting and I love to realize the process from making the fair to watching it become a huge success. I also think the Holmes plot line is amazing to watch and to see how naive people can be. The only part if this book I dislike is the pace, which is painfully slow and the seemingly useless information and how often it comes into play.
3. The theme I 've noticed is determination, and how hard work pays off. The fair as a perfect example, for a few tears they worked tirelessly and plugged away at it and even though the finishing touches were put on it while the fair was in session, it became a huge success. This was only possible because great minds worked for unending days and laborers worked equally as hard in building the structures. Another example is Holmes as he is, on the outside, an extremely successful entrepreneur with a number of his own businesses and a hotel. He has so many successful endeavors because, as it seems, he worked hard to get to the top, when in actuality he 's spending ridiculous amounts of money he doesn't have while murdering women for their money or pleasure on the side.
4. My favorite character is most likely Daniel Burnham. He is an incredibly brilliant and hard working man and I feel everything that has come to him, came because he earned it and I find it hard not to share his joy for success when he's done so much to ensure this of happening. Also I think he was pretty brave to take on the task of building basically the grandest exposition the world had ever seen and to achieve it is incredible.
5. My least favorite character to this point is Holmes because of his ability to use people and then literally dispose of them, without giving it a second thought. He and his assistance basically income without paying people back and he's murdered multiple women to this point, all for a. their money and property or b. he's grown bored of them.
6. I believe the plots are bound to have a major collide and Holmes may affect the fair's ceremonies. I believe Holmes will end up in major trouble with those he took loans from and will come up with some elaborate plan to pay it off, no doubt involving women and their murders. As for Mr. Burnham, things could not be going better it seems and I hope that continues for him.
Shelby Phelan
Shelby Phelan
A Bend in the Road
Nicholas Sparks
Romance Fiction
Just Right
Page 20
1. In my book right now, Miles Ryan is thinking about how his son, Jonah, is having trouble in school. His wife, Missy, died a few years previous to the start of the book, and he misses her terribly. He feels he is doing a horrible job as a parent because he thinks that Missy would have known about Jonah's acedemic troubles long before he found out by a note from Sarah Andrew's, Jonah's school teacher. Darah teaches second grade at the local elemantary school, and moved to New Bern a few months ago after finalizing her divorce with her ex-husband Michael. Sarah and Miles are scheduled to meet later on that day to discuss the problems Jonah is having in class.
2. I am liking this book so far, but I don't think I am far enough into it to really know yet. It seems to be very similar to the last Nicholas Sparks book I read, Message in a Bottle. In that book, the main characters were a woman who was recently divorced, and a man who's wife had died by being hit by a car. In that book, it is the woan who has a son, and in this one, it is Miles. I think that this book is really sad allready, and that it talks about a lot of the problems that single and widowed parents face on a daily basis, and it helps you better understand the hurt people experience at the death of a loved one.
3. The theme I have noticed in this book so far is loss. Miles lost his wife, Jonah lost his mother, and Sarah got a divorce from her husband. These are the only three characters that have so far been introduced into the plot, which shows that a lot of this book is going to be about people trying to get over their feelings and move on. I think that it's really beautiful for people to be able to love someone even after that person has passed, but also think it is important for people to be able to cope with their loss in ways that are for the good of themselves and others so that eventually they can move on and lead a happy life. Miles has the most loss of all, because his wife was so important to him, and they had known eachother all their lives. Jonah was only five at the time of his mother's death, so his loss is still great, but he nevere got to know Missy the way his father did. In th book, it says he has had horrible nightmares since the accident, and he is having a very tough time dealing with this loss although he is young and does not know as well what a mother means in a childs life.
4. My favorite character is Jonah because he is a very sweet little kid who has had to go through more than any kid should ever have to. I feel really bad for him because he is getting horrible nightmares that were triggered by his mother's death. As I am only twenty pages into the book, these are the only other things I know about Jonah other than that he is having problems with school. He said to his dad that he was trying as hard as he possibly could, but the material was too hard, and he couldnt't concentrate in it or understand what the teacher talks about.
5. My least favorite character is Michael, Sarah's ex-husband. He is my least favorite because he put on an act and pretended he loved her for three years while he was only using her. Before they got married, he had her sign a contract, but I have not yet read about what was in it. It is implied that Michael's family is the snobby, filthy rich type, who are ashamed of Michael for marrying who he did. Because of this, I think that the contract had something to do with money, and also that Sarah didn't knwo what she was getting into by signing it.
6. I think that Sarah and Miles will fall in love when they meet eachother at Jonah's conference. I think that Miles will be very hesitant at forming a relationship after all he has beent though, but Sarah will be eager to make it work, as her last did not. I think that one of them will probably die, because that i what has happened in most of the books I have read by Nicholas Sparks. I have found he is a bit predictable as an author, but I still like his books.
A Bend in the Road
Nicholas Sparks
Romance Fiction
Just Right
Page 20
1. In my book right now, Miles Ryan is thinking about how his son, Jonah, is having trouble in school. His wife, Missy, died a few years previous to the start of the book, and he misses her terribly. He feels he is doing a horrible job as a parent because he thinks that Missy would have known about Jonah's acedemic troubles long before he found out by a note from Sarah Andrew's, Jonah's school teacher. Darah teaches second grade at the local elemantary school, and moved to New Bern a few months ago after finalizing her divorce with her ex-husband Michael. Sarah and Miles are scheduled to meet later on that day to discuss the problems Jonah is having in class.
2. I am liking this book so far, but I don't think I am far enough into it to really know yet. It seems to be very similar to the last Nicholas Sparks book I read, Message in a Bottle. In that book, the main characters were a woman who was recently divorced, and a man who's wife had died by being hit by a car. In that book, it is the woan who has a son, and in this one, it is Miles. I think that this book is really sad allready, and that it talks about a lot of the problems that single and widowed parents face on a daily basis, and it helps you better understand the hurt people experience at the death of a loved one.
3. The theme I have noticed in this book so far is loss. Miles lost his wife, Jonah lost his mother, and Sarah got a divorce from her husband. These are the only three characters that have so far been introduced into the plot, which shows that a lot of this book is going to be about people trying to get over their feelings and move on. I think that it's really beautiful for people to be able to love someone even after that person has passed, but also think it is important for people to be able to cope with their loss in ways that are for the good of themselves and others so that eventually they can move on and lead a happy life. Miles has the most loss of all, because his wife was so important to him, and they had known eachother all their lives. Jonah was only five at the time of his mother's death, so his loss is still great, but he nevere got to know Missy the way his father did. In th book, it says he has had horrible nightmares since the accident, and he is having a very tough time dealing with this loss although he is young and does not know as well what a mother means in a childs life.
4. My favorite character is Jonah because he is a very sweet little kid who has had to go through more than any kid should ever have to. I feel really bad for him because he is getting horrible nightmares that were triggered by his mother's death. As I am only twenty pages into the book, these are the only other things I know about Jonah other than that he is having problems with school. He said to his dad that he was trying as hard as he possibly could, but the material was too hard, and he couldnt't concentrate in it or understand what the teacher talks about.
5. My least favorite character is Michael, Sarah's ex-husband. He is my least favorite because he put on an act and pretended he loved her for three years while he was only using her. Before they got married, he had her sign a contract, but I have not yet read about what was in it. It is implied that Michael's family is the snobby, filthy rich type, who are ashamed of Michael for marrying who he did. Because of this, I think that the contract had something to do with money, and also that Sarah didn't knwo what she was getting into by signing it.
6. I think that Sarah and Miles will fall in love when they meet eachother at Jonah's conference. I think that Miles will be very hesitant at forming a relationship after all he has beent though, but Sarah will be eager to make it work, as her last did not. I think that one of them will probably die, because that i what has happened in most of the books I have read by Nicholas Sparks. I have found he is a bit predictable as an author, but I still like his books.
Simone Chen
Simone Chen
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just right
Pg. 48
1. Ruby and her mom had lived together in a small yellow house, and everything was going fine. Ruby's mom drank a lot and often just left Ruby by herself for days to take care of herself. Her mom's absences grow longer and longer, and one day she just doesn't come back. Ruby knows that if the officials find out they'll send her away, and Ruby doesn't want that at all. So she lives by herself for a few months, thinking that everything will be fine because in only 6 months she'll be 18. But then one day the landlords come visit the house, and realizes that Ruby has been living alone for a while. They report this to the police, and Ruby is sent to live with her older sister Cora and Cora's husband, Jamie. Ruby never really knew Cora that well. Cora's house and life is completely different from what Ruby is used to- Cora has a huge, expensive, and neat house and an organized life. In addition, Ruby now has to go to a fancy private school, and she's nervous about this because she knows she won't fit in.
2. I'm enjoying this book so far because the beginning immediately got my attention and was interesting, unlike some other books where it takes a few chapters for the plot to start to seem exciting. The author so far has done a good job showing Ruby's reaction to this new environment. Ruby is scared, nervous, anxious and mad all at the same time, and I feel much sympathy towards her. I like the author's writing style, also. One line I particularly liked is (talking about her key-shaped necklace): "...I'd just lift it up gently, reassured to see that the outline of that key remained on my skin, the one that fit the door to everything I'd left behind". I thought this metaphor was a great way to show that Ruby is longing for her old life, and the necklace with the key is the only thing she has left.
3. A theme I see in the book so far is acceptance. First, Ruby thought she would have a really hard time fitting in with the other students in her prestigious private school, because they came from completely different worlds. All she wants is for the other kids to accept her as "one of them", never mind the differences they have. Also, it is important that Ruby accept the fact that her mom is gone, and her new life will be with her sister Cora and Jamie. You can see that Ruby is having a hard time doing so, because on the first night with Cora and Jamie Ruby tried to escape and run away- back to her old town, back to her old life. Even though it will be hard, she has to accept her new life and make the best out of it.
4. My favorite character is Jamie, Cora's husband. He welcomes Ruby into the family with open arms, even when Cora wasn't so thrilled with the idea (or at least she didn't show it). He is a good-hearted and humorous guy. He tries, unfortunately unsuccessfully, to break the tension between Ruby and Cora when they all first meet. Jamie is very kind to Ruby, and also understanding. He knows that she doesn't want to go to a new school, and he tries to make her feel better by telling her that he had to go to 8 different schools over a course of 12 years and that he knows exactly how Ruby is feeling.
5. My least favorite character would be Cora, Ruby's sister. She's not a completely bad person, but she wasn't very friendly and welcoming towards Ruby when she moved into their house. She just sort of stood off to the side and let Jamie introduce Ruby to the house, with her hands crossed and mouth closed. It's surprising that Jamie was more hospitable towards Ruby than Cora was, because Ruby should know Cora better than Jamie because Cora is her own sister. I thought it Cora didn't make a good first impression to Ruby, and this may affect the sisters' relationship later (and probably for the worse).
6. I predict Ruby is going to meet some nice kids and make friends at her new private school and realize that the school is not as bad as it had seemed. I think Ruby will get closer to Cora, and meet her neighbor Nate whom she met briefly the first night when she tried to run away. Ruby will also find out why her mother abandoned her, and where her mother went. Ruby might go back and visit the little yellow house she had lived in with her mother, because once she mentioned that she wanted to. I think Ruby's key necklace will be important later on because the title is "Lock and Key", and she mentions it a lot.
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just right
Pg. 48
1. Ruby and her mom had lived together in a small yellow house, and everything was going fine. Ruby's mom drank a lot and often just left Ruby by herself for days to take care of herself. Her mom's absences grow longer and longer, and one day she just doesn't come back. Ruby knows that if the officials find out they'll send her away, and Ruby doesn't want that at all. So she lives by herself for a few months, thinking that everything will be fine because in only 6 months she'll be 18. But then one day the landlords come visit the house, and realizes that Ruby has been living alone for a while. They report this to the police, and Ruby is sent to live with her older sister Cora and Cora's husband, Jamie. Ruby never really knew Cora that well. Cora's house and life is completely different from what Ruby is used to- Cora has a huge, expensive, and neat house and an organized life. In addition, Ruby now has to go to a fancy private school, and she's nervous about this because she knows she won't fit in.
2. I'm enjoying this book so far because the beginning immediately got my attention and was interesting, unlike some other books where it takes a few chapters for the plot to start to seem exciting. The author so far has done a good job showing Ruby's reaction to this new environment. Ruby is scared, nervous, anxious and mad all at the same time, and I feel much sympathy towards her. I like the author's writing style, also. One line I particularly liked is (talking about her key-shaped necklace): "...I'd just lift it up gently, reassured to see that the outline of that key remained on my skin, the one that fit the door to everything I'd left behind". I thought this metaphor was a great way to show that Ruby is longing for her old life, and the necklace with the key is the only thing she has left.
3. A theme I see in the book so far is acceptance. First, Ruby thought she would have a really hard time fitting in with the other students in her prestigious private school, because they came from completely different worlds. All she wants is for the other kids to accept her as "one of them", never mind the differences they have. Also, it is important that Ruby accept the fact that her mom is gone, and her new life will be with her sister Cora and Jamie. You can see that Ruby is having a hard time doing so, because on the first night with Cora and Jamie Ruby tried to escape and run away- back to her old town, back to her old life. Even though it will be hard, she has to accept her new life and make the best out of it.
4. My favorite character is Jamie, Cora's husband. He welcomes Ruby into the family with open arms, even when Cora wasn't so thrilled with the idea (or at least she didn't show it). He is a good-hearted and humorous guy. He tries, unfortunately unsuccessfully, to break the tension between Ruby and Cora when they all first meet. Jamie is very kind to Ruby, and also understanding. He knows that she doesn't want to go to a new school, and he tries to make her feel better by telling her that he had to go to 8 different schools over a course of 12 years and that he knows exactly how Ruby is feeling.
5. My least favorite character would be Cora, Ruby's sister. She's not a completely bad person, but she wasn't very friendly and welcoming towards Ruby when she moved into their house. She just sort of stood off to the side and let Jamie introduce Ruby to the house, with her hands crossed and mouth closed. It's surprising that Jamie was more hospitable towards Ruby than Cora was, because Ruby should know Cora better than Jamie because Cora is her own sister. I thought it Cora didn't make a good first impression to Ruby, and this may affect the sisters' relationship later (and probably for the worse).
6. I predict Ruby is going to meet some nice kids and make friends at her new private school and realize that the school is not as bad as it had seemed. I think Ruby will get closer to Cora, and meet her neighbor Nate whom she met briefly the first night when she tried to run away. Ruby will also find out why her mother abandoned her, and where her mother went. Ruby might go back and visit the little yellow house she had lived in with her mother, because once she mentioned that she wanted to. I think Ruby's key necklace will be important later on because the title is "Lock and Key", and she mentions it a lot.
Timmy Jaung
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling
Pg. 219
Just Right
1. Right now, Harry is taking private lessons with Dumbledore in hopes that they will find a weakness to defeat Voldemort. This is one of their first lessons. Harry and Dumbledore go into the Pensive, which is basically your memories in liquid form that you can re-live. Harry and Dumbledore see a man named Bob Odgen, who works for the Ministry of Magic going to a man's house that has a snake nailed to the front of the door. He knocks on the door and someone jinxes him.
2. I really enjoy this book as well as the others in the series. It is very descriptive, like all the other books in the series, but the plot in this one is a little strange. Kind of like they get sidetracked a little, and start to drift away from the main plot, like when they go to Hogsmeade, the wizard town they get privalege to go to once in a while.
doing
3. I don't see much of a theme in this book, but I can still see trust as a major theme. Harry trust Ron and Hermionie more than anyone he knows, except maybe Dumbledore. Harry tells his friends everything. He relies on them, and they rely on him back. Also, Harry trusts Dumbledore that they will find out Voldemort's weakness, and destroy him for good.
4. My favorite character is Harry. He is noble, loyal, smart, and nice. He is noble because he would be willing to sacrifice himself for another person. He is loyal to Dumbledore because he does what he tells him, no matter what the command is.
5. My least favorite character is Rufus Schrimager, the new Minister of Magic. He tries to get information out of Harry when he goes on christmas break. Also, he wants to use Harry as a tool to make the Ministry of Magic look like they know what they're doing when really, they don't.
6. I think the house that was in the pensive blongs to Voldemort when he was younger because the memory is old, and there is a snake on the door to the house. Voldemort was the heir of Salazar Slytherin, the co-founder of Hogwarts, and was also the maker of Slytherin house, which likes snakes.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling
Pg. 219
Just Right
1. Right now, Harry is taking private lessons with Dumbledore in hopes that they will find a weakness to defeat Voldemort. This is one of their first lessons. Harry and Dumbledore go into the Pensive, which is basically your memories in liquid form that you can re-live. Harry and Dumbledore see a man named Bob Odgen, who works for the Ministry of Magic going to a man's house that has a snake nailed to the front of the door. He knocks on the door and someone jinxes him.
2. I really enjoy this book as well as the others in the series. It is very descriptive, like all the other books in the series, but the plot in this one is a little strange. Kind of like they get sidetracked a little, and start to drift away from the main plot, like when they go to Hogsmeade, the wizard town they get privalege to go to once in a while.
doing
3. I don't see much of a theme in this book, but I can still see trust as a major theme. Harry trust Ron and Hermionie more than anyone he knows, except maybe Dumbledore. Harry tells his friends everything. He relies on them, and they rely on him back. Also, Harry trusts Dumbledore that they will find out Voldemort's weakness, and destroy him for good.
4. My favorite character is Harry. He is noble, loyal, smart, and nice. He is noble because he would be willing to sacrifice himself for another person. He is loyal to Dumbledore because he does what he tells him, no matter what the command is.
5. My least favorite character is Rufus Schrimager, the new Minister of Magic. He tries to get information out of Harry when he goes on christmas break. Also, he wants to use Harry as a tool to make the Ministry of Magic look like they know what they're doing when really, they don't.
6. I think the house that was in the pensive blongs to Voldemort when he was younger because the memory is old, and there is a snake on the door to the house. Voldemort was the heir of Salazar Slytherin, the co-founder of Hogwarts, and was also the maker of Slytherin house, which likes snakes.
Tommy Hynes
Tommy Hynes
The Sleepwalker
Robert Muchamore
Action/Adventure
Holiday
Pg 33
This is what is happening in my book right now. Right now a character in my book named Angus and his family were in a plane crash. As far as I know no one survived. This seemed to happen because of a technical malfunction. This scene was really sad because their was lots of young kids on board. That is what happened so far.
I like this book so far. I like this book because this scene of the plane crash was sad but yet enlightening on the true facts about plane crashes. I also like this book because there was a race scene on Campus that was really cool because of how fast the cars could go. That is why I like this book so far.
The theme I have noticed so far is overcoming obstacles. I think this is the theme because the kids on the Cherub campus have to overcome missions that put them in dangerous situations. also the kids on Campus made there own race cars and that was probably very difficult even for them. That is where I have noticed my theme.
My favorite character so far is Bethany Parker. She is my favorite character because she is very outgoing and will always stand up for what she believes in. I also like her because she gets into a fight with a girl who says something about her. That is why she is my favorite character.
My least favorite character so far is Coral. Coral is my least favorite character because she is a annoying little kid. She always holds onto Lauren and does not play with other kids. She is only looking out for herself. That is why Coral is my least favorite character.
I predict that James Adams will be sent on a mission relevant to the crashed pane. I predict this because this plane crash seems like to much of a coincidence. i also think this because it seems like a mechanical type mission will be the type in this book because of the foreshadowing the race brings in. That is what I think will happen next.
The Sleepwalker
Robert Muchamore
Action/Adventure
Holiday
Pg 33
This is what is happening in my book right now. Right now a character in my book named Angus and his family were in a plane crash. As far as I know no one survived. This seemed to happen because of a technical malfunction. This scene was really sad because their was lots of young kids on board. That is what happened so far.
I like this book so far. I like this book because this scene of the plane crash was sad but yet enlightening on the true facts about plane crashes. I also like this book because there was a race scene on Campus that was really cool because of how fast the cars could go. That is why I like this book so far.
The theme I have noticed so far is overcoming obstacles. I think this is the theme because the kids on the Cherub campus have to overcome missions that put them in dangerous situations. also the kids on Campus made there own race cars and that was probably very difficult even for them. That is where I have noticed my theme.
My favorite character so far is Bethany Parker. She is my favorite character because she is very outgoing and will always stand up for what she believes in. I also like her because she gets into a fight with a girl who says something about her. That is why she is my favorite character.
My least favorite character so far is Coral. Coral is my least favorite character because she is a annoying little kid. She always holds onto Lauren and does not play with other kids. She is only looking out for herself. That is why Coral is my least favorite character.
I predict that James Adams will be sent on a mission relevant to the crashed pane. I predict this because this plane crash seems like to much of a coincidence. i also think this because it seems like a mechanical type mission will be the type in this book because of the foreshadowing the race brings in. That is what I think will happen next.
Ark Angel
Anthony Horowitz
Adventure
Just Right
p. 39
1. I don't have much to say about my book so far because I am only a very short ways through it. Right now Alex is recovering from a gun-shot wound that hit him right above the heart. He was shot by a sniper that works for Scorpia who is a large criminal organization. The sniper would have killed Alex if Alex hadn't stepped off of the curb right before the bullet hit him. He is now staying at a hospital that is specifically for the rich and famous. Alex is there because he is working for MI6 and they wanted him to be safe. While he is staying at the hotel Alex meets Paul Drevin who is the son of a Russian billionaire named Nikolai Drevin whose currently revolutionizing a hotel in space known as "Ark Angel".
2. As I have already read this book before I already know that I really enjoy it. Ark Angel has followed the same path of every other Alex Rider novel. The whole thing is filled with adventure and is about Alex fighting crime all around the world. this is one of the reasons that I love this and all of the others in the Ale Rider Series.
3. There really isn't much of a theme right now because of the short amount that I have read. Although, because I already have read it I will say the theme that I believe takes place throughout a large amount in this story. It is most likely deceit. Of coarse this is my own opinion. This is shown when Nikolai deceives Alex while Alex is living with him. Alex ends up staying with them because he saves Paul's life while he is staying at the hospital.
4. My favorite character is Alex Rider, of course. Getting shot is probably the hardest thing that he has had to pull through so far. He can get shot, go through a several hour long surgery, and is still able to deal with the many other things he will go through in this book. Sorry to be so broad but I don't want to be to specific and give something away.
5. My least favorite character is Nikolai Drevin. You know when you meet someone and they seem a little bit to good to be true. That is what Nikolai's first impression on me was. While Alex was in the hospital a group of men ran in, shot the receptionist and attempted to capture Paul Drevin. If it weren't for Alex Paul would have been captured by the mysterious men. Nikolai was so grateful that he let Alex come stay at his mansion which was out in the middle of nowhere. A little strange, I know.
6. The end of this book actually turns out exactly as I expected it to. Alex gets out alive and the bad guy is defeated. I already knew this would happen because I knew about Snakehead which is the next book and there can't be a next book without Alex Rider.
Shelby Robin
Generation Dead
Daniel Waters
Fantasy
Just Right
169
1. Right now in my book, the main character, Phoebe, and her friends Adam, Tommy, and Evan, are going to a dance club haunted house. It is where some of the dead or differently biotic, kids hang out. Tommy and Evan are biologically different. Tommy invited Phoebe to go on a date with him and Evan and Adam tagged along. The have just arrived at the club and the music is very loud, Tommy says this is because it is hard for the dead to "feel".
2. I think the book is really good. It is a unique idea to write a book about a phenomenon where teenagers die but don't stay dead. I like how the dead kids are trying to integrate back into their old way of life and don't care what people think. I also like how it shows the different views on what people think of the dead people by switching the narration between the three main characters. It gives you different angles of the story.
3. The theme of this book is don't judge a book by its cover. Many people are racist towards the differently biotic kids and see them as zombies that should be isolated from the living. They think they represent the end of the world and be shouldn't help them. The aren't taking the time to realize that in some ways the differently biotic kids are alive, they have emotions and feelings like normal people and can be offended. Phoebe and some of her friends don't care that they are dead and want to help them become respected in society.
4. My favorite character is a girl named Karen. She is a differently biotic girl who doesn't care what people think of her and is continuing to live her life the way she did before and not changing who she is because what others want to see her doing. She is faster then more differently biotic people and walks and talks more like an alive human. I find it interesting how some of them are able to move around faster then other differently biotic kids.
5. My least favorite character is a boy named Pete, who is on the football team. He has a crush on Phoebe and hates all biologically different people. Especially Tommy, who is also on the football team and is friends with Phoebe. Pete hates the differently biotic people so much that he is going to try and kill them for good with the help of two of his friends. He thinks the differently biotic people are dead and should stay dead, aren't alive, aren't human, aren't American citizens, and so, thinks they are allowed to murder them.
6. I predict that they are all going to go into the haunted house and at the party they are all going to become better friends and Phoebe is going to realize she might like Tommy as more the just a friend. I also think that Pete is going to start acting out his plan to kill the differently biotic wit his friends.
Jackie G.
Jackie Goudreault
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
finished
1. The whole book was about Hannah Baker, and the thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay was the other main character who told you the story of himself, and Hannah Baker as he listened to the tapes that she left which the reasons on it. Clay turned out to be the only good one that was on the tape. The other 12 people were the people that made her want to kill herself even more by each thing they did.
2. I liked the book because it was kind of a mystery until the end. I could never put it down because I would always want to know what would happen next. I found a lot of things throughout the book really surprising. I liked the shock I felt when ever something new came up. I would like to read another book like this again.
3. The theme in the book is forgiveness because the whole point of Hannah's tapes are to forgive the people that did all of the bad stuff to her. Also, Clay has to forgive himself for letting Hannah go, and move on with his life.
4. My favorite character in the book was Clay because in the tapes, Hannah described him as perfect. But, the truth was, he really was perfect in every way. He was very nice. I also liked him because he helped Hannah in a positive way even though she pushed him away. He could never hurt a fly.
5. My least favorite character was Jason because he was the whole reason that Hannah began thinking about suicide. The things he did in the beginning of the book led up to more things. She called it the "snowball effect". Without him in the book, Hannah would have been still alive.
6. The ending was kind of predictable, but it also surprised me as well. I would have liked if it told more chapters about Clay after he listened to the tapes because it only shows how he is a day before. I wanted to see how it effected his whole life. However, this was one of my favorite books to read and I enjoyed it greatly.
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
finished
1. The whole book was about Hannah Baker, and the thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay was the other main character who told you the story of himself, and Hannah Baker as he listened to the tapes that she left which the reasons on it. Clay turned out to be the only good one that was on the tape. The other 12 people were the people that made her want to kill herself even more by each thing they did.
2. I liked the book because it was kind of a mystery until the end. I could never put it down because I would always want to know what would happen next. I found a lot of things throughout the book really surprising. I liked the shock I felt when ever something new came up. I would like to read another book like this again.
3. The theme in the book is forgiveness because the whole point of Hannah's tapes are to forgive the people that did all of the bad stuff to her. Also, Clay has to forgive himself for letting Hannah go, and move on with his life.
4. My favorite character in the book was Clay because in the tapes, Hannah described him as perfect. But, the truth was, he really was perfect in every way. He was very nice. I also liked him because he helped Hannah in a positive way even though she pushed him away. He could never hurt a fly.
5. My least favorite character was Jason because he was the whole reason that Hannah began thinking about suicide. The things he did in the beginning of the book led up to more things. She called it the "snowball effect". Without him in the book, Hannah would have been still alive.
6. The ending was kind of predictable, but it also surprised me as well. I would have liked if it told more chapters about Clay after he listened to the tapes because it only shows how he is a day before. I wanted to see how it effected his whole life. However, this was one of my favorite books to read and I enjoyed it greatly.
Jessica N.
Jessica Nar
When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
P. 30
1. In this book right now, not much is happening. It is about a young girl named Miranda in sixth grade who lives in a strange neighborhood. She has a best friend named Sal who she has known for a long time, but things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and she shut Miranda out of her life. Miranda doesn't know why Sal has done this, so things start to change start to change. Sal leaves Miranda and doesn't communicate with her, so Miranda has to get past the laughing man right on the corner of her street. She calls him the laughing man, because he is always randomly laughing on the streets, and he sleeps under a mailbox. Every time Miranda walks from school, she passes by him and she tries not to wake him up. One day, when Miranda was walking back from school all alone, the army jacket boy that punched Sal approaches Miranda, and Miranda doesn't know why. Miranda starts having a conversation with him, but then the man leaves, and Miranda walks back home. That is what is happening in my book right now. Also, Miranda's mom is entering a show called the $20,000 Pyramid where Miranda's mom plays charades with celebrities.
2. So far into this book, I am liking it. I'm not very far into this book, but I predict that it will be interesting. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper. I am very curious about what this is all about, and that is what is making me continue reading this book. That is what I feel so far into this book.
3. In this book, the theme that I have noticed is friendship. Miranda and Sal have been best friends for a long time, and when Sal gets punched on the street walking with Miranda. That punch separates Sal and Miranda for a long time, and I don't know when they are going to get back together, or even if they are. That is an example of friendship, because they have been really close friends for a long time, and a sudden thing destroys their friendship. Sal's mom and Miranda's mom are really close friends, and they would be really upset if their kids separate, which would mean that the parents would have to separate too.
4. My favorite character so far into this book is Miranda. She is my favorite character, because she is thoughtful. She doesn't only care about herself, she cares about others too. When Sal suddenly blocks Miranda out of her life, Miranda becomes confused on why Sal did that, because the punch that Sal got was not Miranda's fault. She is my favorite character, because Miranda didn't let the confusion sit in her mind, she approached Sal and asked her why she is mad at Miranda, and that makes her my favorite character. She is brave, and always approaches what she believes in.
5. My least favorite character is the boy in the army jacket that punched Sal in the stomach. He is my least favorite character, because he just went to Sal and punched him when he was on the sidewalk randomly, and he didn't even tell anyone why he did that. That makes him my least favorite character, because he doesn't care about others, and he did the wrong thing. He was violent towards others, and that was not good. Also, he is my least favorite character because the next day, he approaches Miranda for no reason, and that is what makes him my least favorite character.
6. Next in the book, I think that Miranda's life is going to fall apart. There will be many problems causing it to be in danger. This is my prediction, because many things are already happening , and I think that more things will come in Miranda's life, and there will be more problems. For Miranda's mom, I think that she will be well prepared for the $20,000 Pyramid show, and I think that she is going to win. She has been preparing a lot, and I think that it will pay off in the end. That is what I think is going to happen.
When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
P. 30
1. In this book right now, not much is happening. It is about a young girl named Miranda in sixth grade who lives in a strange neighborhood. She has a best friend named Sal who she has known for a long time, but things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and she shut Miranda out of her life. Miranda doesn't know why Sal has done this, so things start to change start to change. Sal leaves Miranda and doesn't communicate with her, so Miranda has to get past the laughing man right on the corner of her street. She calls him the laughing man, because he is always randomly laughing on the streets, and he sleeps under a mailbox. Every time Miranda walks from school, she passes by him and she tries not to wake him up. One day, when Miranda was walking back from school all alone, the army jacket boy that punched Sal approaches Miranda, and Miranda doesn't know why. Miranda starts having a conversation with him, but then the man leaves, and Miranda walks back home. That is what is happening in my book right now. Also, Miranda's mom is entering a show called the $20,000 Pyramid where Miranda's mom plays charades with celebrities.
2. So far into this book, I am liking it. I'm not very far into this book, but I predict that it will be interesting. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper. I am very curious about what this is all about, and that is what is making me continue reading this book. That is what I feel so far into this book.
3. In this book, the theme that I have noticed is friendship. Miranda and Sal have been best friends for a long time, and when Sal gets punched on the street walking with Miranda. That punch separates Sal and Miranda for a long time, and I don't know when they are going to get back together, or even if they are. That is an example of friendship, because they have been really close friends for a long time, and a sudden thing destroys their friendship. Sal's mom and Miranda's mom are really close friends, and they would be really upset if their kids separate, which would mean that the parents would have to separate too.
4. My favorite character so far into this book is Miranda. She is my favorite character, because she is thoughtful. She doesn't only care about herself, she cares about others too. When Sal suddenly blocks Miranda out of her life, Miranda becomes confused on why Sal did that, because the punch that Sal got was not Miranda's fault. She is my favorite character, because Miranda didn't let the confusion sit in her mind, she approached Sal and asked her why she is mad at Miranda, and that makes her my favorite character. She is brave, and always approaches what she believes in.
5. My least favorite character is the boy in the army jacket that punched Sal in the stomach. He is my least favorite character, because he just went to Sal and punched him when he was on the sidewalk randomly, and he didn't even tell anyone why he did that. That makes him my least favorite character, because he doesn't care about others, and he did the wrong thing. He was violent towards others, and that was not good. Also, he is my least favorite character because the next day, he approaches Miranda for no reason, and that is what makes him my least favorite character.
6. Next in the book, I think that Miranda's life is going to fall apart. There will be many problems causing it to be in danger. This is my prediction, because many things are already happening , and I think that more things will come in Miranda's life, and there will be more problems. For Miranda's mom, I think that she will be well prepared for the $20,000 Pyramid show, and I think that she is going to win. She has been preparing a lot, and I think that it will pay off in the end. That is what I think is going to happen.
East
Julia Pearson
East
Edith Pattou
retold classic tale/fantasy
Holiday
pg. 38
1. Right now, all the characters are giving background information. The point of view keeps switching from the main character to her siblings and parents. They are telling the story of the protagonist's, Rose's, early life. Rose's mother, Eugenia, is very superstitious and believes in all sorts of crazy things. She went to a skjebne-soke (a sort of fortune teller) and found out that she would have a girl who would die a terrible death by ice an snow. The child would be a north born child, which means that she would be born facing north. Eugenia has been paranoid of this, and then Rose was born. Rose was facing North, unlike the other seven children. Eugenia would not accept the fact and named her as a East baby, called Ebba Rose (all the children were named after their compass points). Rose grows older and is always exploring and can never sit still. Her family is worried that she will become an explorer and leave, or get into trouble. The novel takes place in an Icelandic country, like Norway or Finland, along time ago, possibly medieval.
2. I enjoy this book so far, though it is not amazing. There is a lot of mystery to it, like what journey Rose will face and if the prediction of her death will really come true. The setting of the story is also intriguing, because I have not read a lot of books about Norway or Finland in ancient times. It is a fantasy book, so it also has that fairytale-ish feeling to it. I enjoy having the story told in the different characters as well, even though it all centers around Rose. So far, the plot is just getting started, so it is not gripping.
3. The theme I have noticed is superstition. This is because Rose's mother is very superstitious about everything, and Rose's fate is pinpointed by the prophet the skjebne-soke made. Also, Rose is so very different from her family, "wild" as her brother Ned calls her, and she is treated by her mother like a dog that will run away from home the first chance she gets. Her mother is worried about the prophet and is trying hard to keep it from happening.
4. My favorite character is Rose. This is because she is so spirited and lively, and is constantly curious. She follows what she wants to do, and does not try to be someone she is not. She is wild, and reminds me of an animal. A reader can't help but like her and wonder what will happen to her in the future, and if her fate will come true. I also wonder what she will do when she finds out that she is not an East baby, but was born North.
5. My least favorite character is the mother, Eugenia. This is because she is too superstitious and to stubborn in her annoying ways to realize that it is not all true. It is definitely annoying to have her worrying all the time about a prophecy that might not happen. She is also rather stuck in the past and is always talking about her other daughter, Elise, who died. Elise was the perfect child, and Eugenia will not stop thinking about her.
6. I predict that Rose will start her journey, and go with the polar bear that is supposed to bring her to her fate. I also think that she will come close to dieing in snow and ice, but will not and will be saved by the bear (I read about the bear in the front flap, but it did not happen yet).
East
Edith Pattou
retold classic tale/fantasy
Holiday
pg. 38
1. Right now, all the characters are giving background information. The point of view keeps switching from the main character to her siblings and parents. They are telling the story of the protagonist's, Rose's, early life. Rose's mother, Eugenia, is very superstitious and believes in all sorts of crazy things. She went to a skjebne-soke (a sort of fortune teller) and found out that she would have a girl who would die a terrible death by ice an snow. The child would be a north born child, which means that she would be born facing north. Eugenia has been paranoid of this, and then Rose was born. Rose was facing North, unlike the other seven children. Eugenia would not accept the fact and named her as a East baby, called Ebba Rose (all the children were named after their compass points). Rose grows older and is always exploring and can never sit still. Her family is worried that she will become an explorer and leave, or get into trouble. The novel takes place in an Icelandic country, like Norway or Finland, along time ago, possibly medieval.
2. I enjoy this book so far, though it is not amazing. There is a lot of mystery to it, like what journey Rose will face and if the prediction of her death will really come true. The setting of the story is also intriguing, because I have not read a lot of books about Norway or Finland in ancient times. It is a fantasy book, so it also has that fairytale-ish feeling to it. I enjoy having the story told in the different characters as well, even though it all centers around Rose. So far, the plot is just getting started, so it is not gripping.
3. The theme I have noticed is superstition. This is because Rose's mother is very superstitious about everything, and Rose's fate is pinpointed by the prophet the skjebne-soke made. Also, Rose is so very different from her family, "wild" as her brother Ned calls her, and she is treated by her mother like a dog that will run away from home the first chance she gets. Her mother is worried about the prophet and is trying hard to keep it from happening.
4. My favorite character is Rose. This is because she is so spirited and lively, and is constantly curious. She follows what she wants to do, and does not try to be someone she is not. She is wild, and reminds me of an animal. A reader can't help but like her and wonder what will happen to her in the future, and if her fate will come true. I also wonder what she will do when she finds out that she is not an East baby, but was born North.
5. My least favorite character is the mother, Eugenia. This is because she is too superstitious and to stubborn in her annoying ways to realize that it is not all true. It is definitely annoying to have her worrying all the time about a prophecy that might not happen. She is also rather stuck in the past and is always talking about her other daughter, Elise, who died. Elise was the perfect child, and Eugenia will not stop thinking about her.
6. I predict that Rose will start her journey, and go with the polar bear that is supposed to bring her to her fate. I also think that she will come close to dieing in snow and ice, but will not and will be saved by the bear (I read about the bear in the front flap, but it did not happen yet).
Eli Dershwitz
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction
Challenge
Page 261
1. Right now in the book Liesel and Rudy are stealing from local farms with the new group of stealers. After the old leader moved, a rich kid whose name is Viktor. He doesn't need the food because he is so rich, he just enjoys the sensation of stealing. After walking ten miles and going from farm to farm, Rudy and Liesel get one apple from the leader. They get mad and Rudy gets beat up. They decide to steal by themselves from then on. Rudy is also having a lot of trouble in his Hitler Youth Program. His instructor is really mean and Rudy has to take the blame for his friend that can not hear. Lastly, Liesel gets back at the mayor's wife by stealing the book from her house. She didn't want the book when it was given to her, only if she could steal it.
2. So far in this book I feel that it is really good. It is very different than any other book I have read. Most books just have a lot of action throughout the book that never stops. In this book, the action is very spread out. In between these action scenes, there is more detail than I have ever seen in any other book. That is the reason that I really like this book. From the descriptions, you can feel like you are almost in the book. You can really relate to the characters because you know exactly how they are feeling all the time. You can actually feel like you know the characters so well that you could change places with them and be fine.
3. A theme I have noticed so far in this book is friendship. Rudy and Liesel both have very hard lives. They both are living with families that don't have to much money. They know they have to stick together because they have so many things in common. Both of their families love them, but in Nazi Germany it is very hard to make a decent living. Rudy and Liesel do everything together. They play soccer in the street together, they even steal from farms together. When Rudy heard what the mayor's wife did, he decided to help her. He kept lookout while she snuck in through the window and got her revenge on the mayor's wife for firing her mom.
4. Right now my favorite character in the book is Liesel. She does everything she can to help the people around her. She helped her mom by doing her job so she could get her family some extra money. She helps out Rudy whenever he needs anything. She is helping the Jewish man in her basement by going down and talking to him. He probably gets very lonely so she is helping him out a lot. She also knows how to take care of her self. She doesn't want her dad helping her through her nightmares anymore. She saw her brother die and her mom left her and she has worked past that. She doesn't just sit around and mope, she is making the best she can of her life. I think that what she is doing is great and that's why she is my favorite character.
5. Right now my least favorite character is Viktor. He is a rich German who lives in a rich part of Munich. He took a Jewish families house and is living there. He has enough money for fruit, cigarettes, and nice clothes. Yet, he decides to steal because he thinks it is fun. He doesn't actually need the stuff he steals unlike the people he steals with. He is also very greedy. He has just joined their stealing group and has already made himself the leader. He doesn't share what most of the group makes. He keeps it mostly for himself because it amuses him to see other people suffer. I think that is sick and that is why he is my least favorite character.
6. I predict that Rudy and Liesel are going to get caught for stealing for the mayor. They also might get caught for running around with their stealing group. Rudy has been begging her for a kiss for years. I think somewhere later on he will get that kiss. To earn it though, I think he will have to do something very nice for her. Maybe he will steal her a few books for her birthday. I also think that since they are growing up they will become a little more than friends. Times are also getting harder for their families as the holocaust progresses. I think they will have to find real job and they might not be able to see each other very much.
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction
Challenge
Page 261
1. Right now in the book Liesel and Rudy are stealing from local farms with the new group of stealers. After the old leader moved, a rich kid whose name is Viktor. He doesn't need the food because he is so rich, he just enjoys the sensation of stealing. After walking ten miles and going from farm to farm, Rudy and Liesel get one apple from the leader. They get mad and Rudy gets beat up. They decide to steal by themselves from then on. Rudy is also having a lot of trouble in his Hitler Youth Program. His instructor is really mean and Rudy has to take the blame for his friend that can not hear. Lastly, Liesel gets back at the mayor's wife by stealing the book from her house. She didn't want the book when it was given to her, only if she could steal it.
2. So far in this book I feel that it is really good. It is very different than any other book I have read. Most books just have a lot of action throughout the book that never stops. In this book, the action is very spread out. In between these action scenes, there is more detail than I have ever seen in any other book. That is the reason that I really like this book. From the descriptions, you can feel like you are almost in the book. You can really relate to the characters because you know exactly how they are feeling all the time. You can actually feel like you know the characters so well that you could change places with them and be fine.
3. A theme I have noticed so far in this book is friendship. Rudy and Liesel both have very hard lives. They both are living with families that don't have to much money. They know they have to stick together because they have so many things in common. Both of their families love them, but in Nazi Germany it is very hard to make a decent living. Rudy and Liesel do everything together. They play soccer in the street together, they even steal from farms together. When Rudy heard what the mayor's wife did, he decided to help her. He kept lookout while she snuck in through the window and got her revenge on the mayor's wife for firing her mom.
4. Right now my favorite character in the book is Liesel. She does everything she can to help the people around her. She helped her mom by doing her job so she could get her family some extra money. She helps out Rudy whenever he needs anything. She is helping the Jewish man in her basement by going down and talking to him. He probably gets very lonely so she is helping him out a lot. She also knows how to take care of her self. She doesn't want her dad helping her through her nightmares anymore. She saw her brother die and her mom left her and she has worked past that. She doesn't just sit around and mope, she is making the best she can of her life. I think that what she is doing is great and that's why she is my favorite character.
5. Right now my least favorite character is Viktor. He is a rich German who lives in a rich part of Munich. He took a Jewish families house and is living there. He has enough money for fruit, cigarettes, and nice clothes. Yet, he decides to steal because he thinks it is fun. He doesn't actually need the stuff he steals unlike the people he steals with. He is also very greedy. He has just joined their stealing group and has already made himself the leader. He doesn't share what most of the group makes. He keeps it mostly for himself because it amuses him to see other people suffer. I think that is sick and that is why he is my least favorite character.
6. I predict that Rudy and Liesel are going to get caught for stealing for the mayor. They also might get caught for running around with their stealing group. Rudy has been begging her for a kiss for years. I think somewhere later on he will get that kiss. To earn it though, I think he will have to do something very nice for her. Maybe he will steal her a few books for her birthday. I also think that since they are growing up they will become a little more than friends. Times are also getting harder for their families as the holocaust progresses. I think they will have to find real job and they might not be able to see each other very much.
Cayla Condon
Mallory Goes Green
Laurie Friedman
Fiction
Holiday
Page 37
1. Right now in my book Mallory just found out that her school called Fern Falls Elementary is going green. Mallory is very excited about this, so excited she even changed her favorite color from purple to green. In class her teacher Mr. Knight told them to write down ways to go green, everyone in the class thought of good ideas like taking shorter showers, turning off lights when your leaving a room, using reusable water bottles, and more. Then Mr. Knight asked who wanted to be in the environmental committe. Mallory was the first to raise her hand and even put two hands up. She got the job. The next day she went to the first meeting dressed in all green, had a reusable water bottle, and a notebook of recicled paper. There principle ran it and said they had to anounce to there class that there was going to be a Green Festable for there school. Then Mallory got home and started writing up tickets to her mom for drinking coffee (using a filter), her dad for reading the paper and not the online one, and her brother for watching t.v. She even wrote tickets to her friends and neighbors, and she is starting to take the going green idea to far.
2. I like the book because it gives me alot of ideas to start helping the planet and it is not that hard to do, it shows that little thing can make a big difference and I am going to start doing some of the things Mallory is doing (but not writing up tickets).
3. The theme so far is friendship because she is starting to have trouble with her friends because she is writing them up tickets for watching t.v. or leaving on lights to long.
4. My favorite character is Mallory because she is really in to the going green thing and is trying very hard. I think this is good because she is setting a good example for other people and trying to get other people to go green with her.
5. My least favorite character is Winnie. She is older than Mallory and was picked out by her teacher to be on the committee with Mallory. Winnie didnt want to and she is really mean to Mallory by saying "you really need to chill, why are you so excited about going green?" and "whats up with the stupid outfit." She is really rude and not a very nice person.
6. I think Mallory is going to think of more great ideas to help save the planet, but at the same time Mallory and her friends are going to have trouble getting along because Mallory is getting alittle to obseted with going green.
Mallory Goes Green
Laurie Friedman
Fiction
Holiday
Page 37
1. Right now in my book Mallory just found out that her school called Fern Falls Elementary is going green. Mallory is very excited about this, so excited she even changed her favorite color from purple to green. In class her teacher Mr. Knight told them to write down ways to go green, everyone in the class thought of good ideas like taking shorter showers, turning off lights when your leaving a room, using reusable water bottles, and more. Then Mr. Knight asked who wanted to be in the environmental committe. Mallory was the first to raise her hand and even put two hands up. She got the job. The next day she went to the first meeting dressed in all green, had a reusable water bottle, and a notebook of recicled paper. There principle ran it and said they had to anounce to there class that there was going to be a Green Festable for there school. Then Mallory got home and started writing up tickets to her mom for drinking coffee (using a filter), her dad for reading the paper and not the online one, and her brother for watching t.v. She even wrote tickets to her friends and neighbors, and she is starting to take the going green idea to far.
2. I like the book because it gives me alot of ideas to start helping the planet and it is not that hard to do, it shows that little thing can make a big difference and I am going to start doing some of the things Mallory is doing (but not writing up tickets).
3. The theme so far is friendship because she is starting to have trouble with her friends because she is writing them up tickets for watching t.v. or leaving on lights to long.
4. My favorite character is Mallory because she is really in to the going green thing and is trying very hard. I think this is good because she is setting a good example for other people and trying to get other people to go green with her.
5. My least favorite character is Winnie. She is older than Mallory and was picked out by her teacher to be on the committee with Mallory. Winnie didnt want to and she is really mean to Mallory by saying "you really need to chill, why are you so excited about going green?" and "whats up with the stupid outfit." She is really rude and not a very nice person.
6. I think Mallory is going to think of more great ideas to help save the planet, but at the same time Mallory and her friends are going to have trouble getting along because Mallory is getting alittle to obseted with going green.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
JP Riedel
1. JP Riedel
2. The Looking Glass Wars
3. Frank Beddor
4. Fantasy
5. Just right
6. page 358
1. Right now Alice and the Rebel forces of the Alyssians have defeated Queen Redd and all of her soldiers and taken over the Kingdom of Wondertropolus. Alice has had her coronation ceremony and is the official new Queen of Wondertropolus. She has begun to undo all of the bad things that Redd has done to the Kingdom. She has begun lowering crime. Now she is wondering what lies ahead in the future for her.
2. I feel that the book is pretty good. It is very interesting and captivating. It is interesting to see what creatures there are in Wondertropolus and what adventures happen to Alice. There is plenty of action with all of the cool fight scenes.
3. The major theme that I see in this book is wonder. All of the characters seem to wonder what lies ahead. There is also a bit of mystery to some parts of the story such as when Alice tries to find the looking glass maze also many characters change throughout the book while other characters wonder what has happened to them.
4. My favorite character is Hatter Madigan. He is pretty cool and always has a lot of weapons on him. He also never gives up on his missions.
5. My least favorite character is Jack of Diamonds. He is a slimy no good trader who works for both sides of the war and always kisses up to whomever is the most powerful.
6. I predict that Redd will return and Alice will have to face her again to finally determine the ruler of Wondertropolus.
2. The Looking Glass Wars
3. Frank Beddor
4. Fantasy
5. Just right
6. page 358
1. Right now Alice and the Rebel forces of the Alyssians have defeated Queen Redd and all of her soldiers and taken over the Kingdom of Wondertropolus. Alice has had her coronation ceremony and is the official new Queen of Wondertropolus. She has begun to undo all of the bad things that Redd has done to the Kingdom. She has begun lowering crime. Now she is wondering what lies ahead in the future for her.
2. I feel that the book is pretty good. It is very interesting and captivating. It is interesting to see what creatures there are in Wondertropolus and what adventures happen to Alice. There is plenty of action with all of the cool fight scenes.
3. The major theme that I see in this book is wonder. All of the characters seem to wonder what lies ahead. There is also a bit of mystery to some parts of the story such as when Alice tries to find the looking glass maze also many characters change throughout the book while other characters wonder what has happened to them.
4. My favorite character is Hatter Madigan. He is pretty cool and always has a lot of weapons on him. He also never gives up on his missions.
5. My least favorite character is Jack of Diamonds. He is a slimy no good trader who works for both sides of the war and always kisses up to whomever is the most powerful.
6. I predict that Redd will return and Alice will have to face her again to finally determine the ruler of Wondertropolus.
Amelia Fattore
Amelia Fattore
50/50
Dean Karnazes with Matt Fitzgerald
Inspirational non-fiction
Challenge
I am on page 172
1. What is going on in your book right now?
Right now, Dean has just completed marathon number 29, Boston. On September 16, 2006, Dean Karnazes set out on the North Face Endurance 50, a challenge he set for himself. The core of the Endurance 50 is Dean running 50 marathons on 50 consecutive days in all 50 states! It is amazing one can achieve this feat as many train months for just one! He is suffering from lack of sleep (only two-three hours a night), lack of motivation and more. Unfortunately, he continues to doubt himself causing the reader to wonder if he will complete all 50.
2. How do you feel about your book?
I am really enjoying this book. My dad got it for his birthday and I just picked it up. I must say it is really fun to have someone you can discuss a great book with! This book is a combination of tips on running, stories of his experience and life lessons. I wish I had known about the Endurance 50 when it was occurring! My father has been a runner my whole life but I’ve never heard of ultra runners like Dean Karnazes.
3. What is a theme in your book?
A theme I’ve noticed in the book is motivation. One of Dean’s main incentives of undergoing this crazy challenge was to inspire children. He created a foundation, Karno’s Kids, with the motto “No Kids Left Inside”. The foundation’s goal is to get kids active! The sad fact that this generation is the first generation to have a lower life expectancy than their parents is addressed. This horrible yet true fact is due to obesity. In addition, Dean seeks motivation from many sources during the Endurance 50 including other runners, his family and himself. This factor could make or break the challenge. At the moment, Dean is not very motivated as he is in the middle of the race, with no beginning or end in sight. Only time (and miles!) will tell what happens.
4. Who is your favorite character?
My favorite character is, of course, Dean Karnazes. He is a fantastic runner, motivator, father, and activist. I praise him for undertaking two challenges; one, the 50 marathons; two, eliminating childhood obesity. Even nonrunners can find inspiration in his story that they can carry into their own lives. In addition, Karnazes rarely complained during the journey around the country as he knew everyone helping was trying their hardest. That is really kind of him considering the suffering he underwent. Overall, he is the heart and soul of the story and also dominates my interest throughout the book.
5. Who is your least favorite character?
Though I don’t particularly dislike any character in this book, I would have to say Dave, the tour manager is my least favorite character. Dave’s job was to oversee the whole challenge and assure everything went as planned. After marathon 11 he quit, leaving abruptly. This caused the other members of the challenge to scramble to find a replacement. Turns out the fill-in, Robin, brought a great, fresh mind to the team! Though it resulted in a benefit, I believe it was selfish of Dave to leave his job with no warning, disrupting the challenge’s production.
6. What do you think is going to happen next?
I believe Dean will continue to complete the marathons until a major conflict arises that jeopardizes the rest of the challenge. In addition, I believe Dean will find a new source of motivation, as he is in a “motivation slump” at the moment. Overall, I think whatever happens will be exciting and intriguing. I cannot wait to read more. J
Dan Carroll
Dan Carroll
It
Stephen King
Realistic Fiction
Horror
Challenge
p 23
1. I just started the book and so far it is extremely scary. A boy named George made his brother Bill make him a paper boat. Bill was sick with the flu so he was bored as it is. It took him a while to make and then he water-proofed it so it wouldn't sink. George then decided to take the boat out in the rain and play with it. George was running next to the boat when it slid down into the drain pipe on the side of the road. George was very sad about loosing the boat until he saw a clown show up from under the drain. The clown tried to give George a balloon but George told the clown about how his parents don't let him talk to strangers. The clown introduced himself as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Pennywise convinced George to reach his hand down to get the boat and when this happened Pennywise took George's hand and pulled him down under the drain and ate his side and George bled to death.
2. Right now this book is scaring the jeepers out of me. I can not sleep at night and I am developing a severe fear of clowns. I really like the format of the book . I really enjoy Stephen Kings novels even though he doesn't seem like he kind of guy I would want to go to dinner with. I think that the book is a bunch of mini stories all about Pennywise but about different children and how he gets to kill them.
3. I think the main theme so far is listening to your parents. I think this because George showed good instincts when he felt uncomfortable when he knew he was disobeying his parents guidance and how he should not trust strangers. George was also warned by his brother to be careful but no matter how much he resisted he could not be drawn away from Pennywise's temptations.
4. My favorite character at the moment is Bill. I like him because i kind of feel bad for him. His teachers and fellow classmates call him stuttering Bill. They call him this because he has a speech impediment. I also like that how he feels more comfortable around his brother George that when he is with him he does not stutter and Bill really needs George in his life and vise versa.
5. My least favorite character is Pennywise. I don't like him because of what he does. I like other people think that it is very mean to bring kids over to him and then kill them. I don't like him also because my voice of him is a high pitched voice that giggles a lot which is adding to my fear of clowns. He has a very serious problem that I think he should try to seek help for.
6. I think that Pennywise is going to go through the years and taking down more and more victims. I also think that the mystery of how he got down into the sewers is going to be answered later. I also think that there is going to be an investigation on him and someone who is not on the force will kill Pennywise. I think that it is going to turn out that Pennywise does not age which is how he stays alive for so many years.
Jonathan A. Rapo
Warriors: Into the Wild
Erin Hunter
Fantasy
Holiday
P. 140
1. Firepaw has begun his trek on bringing Shadowpaw to live with Barley. This is a result from the life-threatening situation Shadowpaw has found himself in. Shadowpaw saw TigerClaw kill Redtail (Deputy to the Leader of the cats) in a battle against another Clan. He then proceeded to blame the death on another cat on the other Clan. Shadowpaw however knows the truth and TigerClaw knows the Shadowpaw saw what really happened. TigerClaw is a respected cat and goes onto make all cats believe that Shadowpaw is a liar. TigerClaw has tried to set up "accidents" to kill Shadowpaw.
2. The book is very good. I like the ongoing action. It is very intense and mysterious at any given moment. Although it had a slow start, it picked itself up and has turned out to be outstanding.
3. A theme I see is trust. Trust can be a weapon used for good or evil. In this book TigerClaw uses it for his evil purposes and eliminates any belief that he is an evil traitor. Shadowpaw is deprived of all trust and the clan is suddenly against him.
4. My favorite Character is Firepaw. He is a strong character that sets goals and doesn't let the fact that he is different from the others slow him down. He is always striving to be better and never stops doing something until he has mastered it. He tries to help everyone out and always tries to get to the bottom of things.
5. My least favorite character is TigerClaw. He is a bloodthristy power-hungry villain that does not care about any one other than himself. He will kill a life for no reason whatsoever. He has scared poor Shadowpaw half to death and is plotting to kill BlueStar (Clan leader).
6. I have already read this book before and thus cannot make a prediction.
Warriors: Into the Wild
Erin Hunter
Fantasy
Holiday
P. 140
1. Firepaw has begun his trek on bringing Shadowpaw to live with Barley. This is a result from the life-threatening situation Shadowpaw has found himself in. Shadowpaw saw TigerClaw kill Redtail (Deputy to the Leader of the cats) in a battle against another Clan. He then proceeded to blame the death on another cat on the other Clan. Shadowpaw however knows the truth and TigerClaw knows the Shadowpaw saw what really happened. TigerClaw is a respected cat and goes onto make all cats believe that Shadowpaw is a liar. TigerClaw has tried to set up "accidents" to kill Shadowpaw.
2. The book is very good. I like the ongoing action. It is very intense and mysterious at any given moment. Although it had a slow start, it picked itself up and has turned out to be outstanding.
3. A theme I see is trust. Trust can be a weapon used for good or evil. In this book TigerClaw uses it for his evil purposes and eliminates any belief that he is an evil traitor. Shadowpaw is deprived of all trust and the clan is suddenly against him.
4. My favorite Character is Firepaw. He is a strong character that sets goals and doesn't let the fact that he is different from the others slow him down. He is always striving to be better and never stops doing something until he has mastered it. He tries to help everyone out and always tries to get to the bottom of things.
5. My least favorite character is TigerClaw. He is a bloodthristy power-hungry villain that does not care about any one other than himself. He will kill a life for no reason whatsoever. He has scared poor Shadowpaw half to death and is plotting to kill BlueStar (Clan leader).
6. I have already read this book before and thus cannot make a prediction.
Olivia Carr
p.3
4/28/10
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
I'm on page 99
1. Right now in the book the main character Ruby has just been shipped off to live with her sister and new husband Jamie. After not seeing her sister for 10 years this is a less than pleasant start, but now that she is there for good Ruby is trying to make the best of it. As soon as the first night Ruby tried to escape when she ended up meeting her super cute and jock neighbor Nate. Later Ruby is less that ecstatic when her sister enrolls her in private school, where just her luck is where Nate goes.
2. So far I really like this book, it has a great plot with some romance starting to blossom, and descriptive characters. Ruby is one of a kind which makes her fun to read, and because her and her sister's personalities are so different it creates a tense mood that makes you not want to put the book down.
3. The theme I notice is family love, because you really start to see Ruby warm up to Jamie, and try to have a better life that she has had so far. With her mother who knows where, and Ruby not loving school family is the only thing she has to fall back on. Which is bring her Cora, (her sister), and Jamie closer as a family.
4. Jamie is my favorite character, because her works hard. He really works hard to make an effort to get close to Ruby which most newly married men would not do to their wives sister. Also he is kind and in with all the teenager stuff so he is not like some lame, obsessed with his work type of guy.
5. My least favorite character is Ruby's mom. Even though we have not heard much about her I really don't like her. She is selfish, mean, and what kind of a mother takes off on her daughter. Ruby went along with this her whole childhood unlike Cora who left 10 years prior to Ruby leaving.
6. I think that Nick and Ruby are going to start a relationship next, and Jamie is not going to like it. I think it is going to put their family into a awkward position, and start fights.
p.3
4/28/10
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
I'm on page 99
1. Right now in the book the main character Ruby has just been shipped off to live with her sister and new husband Jamie. After not seeing her sister for 10 years this is a less than pleasant start, but now that she is there for good Ruby is trying to make the best of it. As soon as the first night Ruby tried to escape when she ended up meeting her super cute and jock neighbor Nate. Later Ruby is less that ecstatic when her sister enrolls her in private school, where just her luck is where Nate goes.
2. So far I really like this book, it has a great plot with some romance starting to blossom, and descriptive characters. Ruby is one of a kind which makes her fun to read, and because her and her sister's personalities are so different it creates a tense mood that makes you not want to put the book down.
3. The theme I notice is family love, because you really start to see Ruby warm up to Jamie, and try to have a better life that she has had so far. With her mother who knows where, and Ruby not loving school family is the only thing she has to fall back on. Which is bring her Cora, (her sister), and Jamie closer as a family.
4. Jamie is my favorite character, because her works hard. He really works hard to make an effort to get close to Ruby which most newly married men would not do to their wives sister. Also he is kind and in with all the teenager stuff so he is not like some lame, obsessed with his work type of guy.
5. My least favorite character is Ruby's mom. Even though we have not heard much about her I really don't like her. She is selfish, mean, and what kind of a mother takes off on her daughter. Ruby went along with this her whole childhood unlike Cora who left 10 years prior to Ruby leaving.
6. I think that Nick and Ruby are going to start a relationship next, and Jamie is not going to like it. I think it is going to put their family into a awkward position, and start fights.
Phoebe Willett
Phoebe Willett
The 21 Balloons
William Pene du Bois
Realistic Fiction
Holiday
Page. 90
1. Right now in my book, Professor William Waterman Sherman has landed on the island of Krakatoa. Mr. F is showing him around. They first went to the diamond mines where Professor Sherman saw the amazing abundance of diamonds on the island. Professor Sherman is getting used to the earthquakes on the island because of the volcano. He stayed at Mr. F's house for the last night and is now at breakfast with everyone from the island. Mr. F is informing the professor about everything that happens on the island of Krakatoa since Professor Sherman will never be able to leave now that he is there. No one ever leaves because they can't without everyone helping on the boat and because they would tell the world about the diamonds on Krakatoa, ruining the value of them.
2. I love this book! I love the concept of this book; that there could be an island out there that is so amazing. I also like hearing about all of the things they do with the diamonds and how they live their everyday lives. Also, the inventions that they have on the island are so creative and unimaginable. I love reading it because it makes me want to jump right into the book and live in paradise with them.
3. A theme that I've noticed in this book so far is equality. The members of Krakatoa have created a system in which everyone does an equal amount of work. Each family is named after a letter of the alphabet and cooks one day every 20 days on a cycle. They cook meals for that day according to the nationality that the family represents. This system shares the work load so that everyone is equal. Everyone also owns an equal amount of shares in the diamond mines so that no one is richer than anyone else. Everyone works the same amount of time and everyone has the same amount of money. This creates an environment where everyone respects each other because there is no need for resentment or jealousy.
4. My favorite character so far is Mr. F. He has been very kind to Professor Sherman and has hosted him in his house and has given him clothes. He has shown the professor around the island and helped him get acquainted with the islanders and the island itself. He could have just killed Professor Sherman when he saw him first so that they didn't have to worry about Krakatoa being found out or someone else getting a share of the diamonds but he didn't.
5. My least favorite character right now is Captain Simon. When Professor Sherman was found stranded in the ocean, all Captain Simon could focus on was getting the story out of the professor even though he said that he wanted to share his great adventure with his explorer club first. Captain Simon was not respecting Professor Sherman's request and even talked to a reporter about Sherman, causing the country to explode with excitement about what the amazing story could be.
6. I predict that Professor Sherman will be welcomed warmly by all of the islanders and fit in well. He has always dreamed about being by himself up in the air, and this island is as far away from normal society as you can be and still be around people. I think that they will build him a house and he will make plenty of friends. Then, Professor Sherman will stay there for a few months and then want to leave.
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