Harry Thomas

Harry Thomas

The Compound

S.A. Bodeen

Realistic Fiction

Just Right

58

1. Not much is happening in my book right now. The characters are being introduced as the author is telling us more about them. Also, more about the characters pasts are being revealed as I read further into the book. Also, a lot of mystery is being built around the father of the family, who is acting strange.

2. Since I am not very far into the book yet, it is hard to form and opinion about it. However, I would say that so far the characters are being developed very well. I can almost feel their emotions as the author is describing them to me. This is a sure sign of a good book.

3. The theme I have noticed so far in this book is boredom. The people living in the compound have to do the same old routine every day. Though they live in luxury, they can still not escape the fact that they are trapped inside the compound for six years due to the bombs. This creates a theme of a lot of dullness inside the compound.

4. My favorite character so far in this book id Eddy. Though he is presumed dead, I have heard a lot about him in flashbacks and what his family members have said about him. His younger sister tells Eli, Eddy's twin brother, how Eddy used to play with her and treat her kindly while all Eli did was be mean to her. They also say that he is the brother that everyone wants, and Eli was lucky to have him.

5. My least favorite character in this book so far is the father. He doesn't seem to be paying much attention to his family, and spends most of his time locked away in his room. also, he does not let anyone in the family question his judgment. I think this is wrong because he is acting like a tyrant and not giving anyone a say in what goes on at the compound, even though not much goes on there.

6. I predict that later in the book, Eddy will become a key character. Dead or alive, he seems to be impacting the characters in the compound's lives significantly through memories of him. Also, I think the father may do something crazy. This is because of all of his strange behavior lately. For example, he used the exercise almost obsessively, but one day he just stopped.

Ian MacDonald

Ian MacDonald
1984
George Orwell
Fantasy/Sci-fi
98
Just Right

1. Right now in my book Winston is having more and more second thoughts about the government. He is very upset about the fact that if you speak out or try to be different you "disapear". All day while he is at home he writes in his diary about how he wants to be free and not be controlled by a dictator. One time he starts writing DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER all across the diary page before he even notices what he is doing. He realizes what he is doing is against the law and that if he gets caught he will be killed. Once he realizes that he is on his own and he has to fend for himself he becomes a little more daring.

2. I think this is a great book because you can see whats going on in this book in real life. In China this same thing is going on. It is very suprising at how many predictions he got right. Not only the ones about TV and helicopters but also about how life would be like in the world and how everyone would be against eachother. This is going on now in Iraq and Korea were everyone is threatening everyone else.


3. The theme I see most often in this book so far is manipulation. You see this so often, during the two minute hate period where the government tries to influence the thinking of the citizens. The government tries to get everyone to hate the same people they do. You also see the government trying to manipulate everyone when they put the big telescreen in everyone's room, and how it streams constant propaganda to everyone, and how you can't turn it off. The signs that say BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU is also a form of manipulation. It is influencing everyone not to do anything that big brother wouldn't like.

4.My favorite character is still Winston. I love his resolve and how he still thinks differently even after years of opression. I also like how he realizes that he is going to be killed by the government because of what he has already done so in his mind he is thinking what else do I have to lose and I really like that about him.

5. My least favorite character is sill Big Brother, too. Now I don't think he is a symbol of the government. I know think that he is just an evil dictator. I really dislike how he never feels safe and how he always feels like someone is out to get him and I think he takes this out on the poor citizens. I also don't like how he has microphones in everyone's house so he can listen to everyone's conversations to make sure no one is plotting against him. If he wasn't so mean nobody would want to devise a plan to bring him down.

6. My prediction for the rest of the book is that someone will give Winston up the the goverment. I think that this will force him to run and while he is running away he will meet a group of people that share his same views. I think that he along with the other group will think of a way to turn everyone against Big Brother and I think that someone from Winston's group will lead the party and Winston will be to humble and decline the offer to lead.

Charlie Friesen

Charlie Friesen
The Red Pyramid
Rick Riordan
Fantasy
Holiday
pg. 70

1. Right now in my book, a brother and a sister named Carter and Sadie have just had their lives turned upside-down. Carter and Sadie have rarely seen each other. When their mother died, their father and their mother's parents got into a huge argument and a lawsuit followed. In the lawsuit, Sadie was to stay with her grandparents while Carter would stay with his dad. Sadie can see Carter and his father twice a year. One of those times, Carter's dad, Julius, takes both Carter and Sadie to the British Museum because that is where Sadie lives. There, Julius had a special tour arranged by the curator. But, Julius tells Carter and Sadie to lock the curator in the closet, while he goes to examine the Rosetta Stone. Julius does something strange, and this huge, fiery man appears and locks Julius in a sarcophagus, and then the Rosetta Stone explodes. So Carter and Sadie are left to the police, who believe that their father was a terrorist who wanted to destroy the museum. But in the end, the police deport them, because they are both American, back to the U.S. But, they end up traveling, by magic on a mysterious boat with Julius' brother, their uncle, back to New York, where he had this mansion. I left off just as they were getting to the mansion.

2. Right now, the book is already very interesting. I know that I have not gotten very far, but so far there has been a lot of action. Also, there have been so many questions that have been posed in this book, that I am anxious to read more and find out what this is all about. I have not even gotten far enough into the book for the plot to really appear yet, so I am still waiting for that. But I am very excited to start reading and find out all the answers to the questions that I have. Also, I like how Riordan formatted the book. The whole book is a transcription of a tape recording, and every couple of chapters, the narrators switch. So the first two chapter are told by Carter, and then the next two are told by Sadie. This is interesting because both characters have very different personalities and tell the story each in their own special way. Overall, this is very good.

3. A theme that I have noticed so far is not knowing what is going on. When Carter and Sadie were in the British Museum, and their dad was doing weird incantations and gestures around the Rosetta Stone, both had no idea what he was doing,or that even Julius would do something like that. Also, Sadie seems to have some kind of special power of being able to read hieroglyphs and this had just turned up when all this crazy stuff started happening. Sadie has no idea why or how she is able to do this. Also, when the police were talking to Carter and Sadie, the police chief had in mind to put the kids in jail. But then, all of a sudden, the apparently changes his mind to deport them, but it is very peculiar in the way he does this. He got a blank stare, and I think that their uncle was brainwashing the chief into deporting them so that he can get them, but Carter and Sadie do not know this.

4. My favorite character is Carter. He is my favorite just because of his personality. He is very smart and knows a lot about Ancient Egypt, which is something that I can relate to because Ancient Egypt interests me too. Also, Sadie picks on Carter for being a nerd and knowing everything, so I sort of feel bad for him. He is also the one who seems to be the most calm about everything that had been going on because he knows a lot about Egypt and is most comfortable with it. So later in the book, I think he will be very important in figuring what to do. Overall, he is my favorite just because there is this feeling in my gut that tells me that he will be a great and important character.

5. My least favorite character is the entity that Julius summoned when he was casting spells on the Rosetta Stone. Julius had obviously not wanted to summon this being, because that being ended up locking Julius in a sarcophagus and sending him underground. This has not only ruined Julius's plans to do what he wanted, but also caused a lot of trouble for the children. I can already tell that he will probably be the bad guy of the story. He was in one of Carter's dreams. The being was standing outside of Phoenix, Arizona, with some other Egyptian mythological creatures, discussing some ominous to build a temple and destroy the city. So is he is the bad guy, then he is my least favorite character.

6. My prediction is that Carter and Sadie will spend some time at the mansion in New York City for a while, training. Julius' brother mentioned something about the kids having to train before they can go out to do what they need to do. So Carter and Sadie will train, probably honing in some kind of supernatural power, like Sadie's power to read hieroglyphs. After that, they will probably have to go on some sort of quest in order to save the world from the wrath of the Egyptian gods, like the one that locked up Julius. Their quest will probably take them all over the Ancient Egyptian mythical world, sort of like Percy Jackson, since this is the same author.

Jonatahan A. Rapo
Outcast
Vladimir Egorov
Memoir
Challange
P.198

1. Vladimir has had enough. His father has come back home again drunken and has beaten his mom and Vladimir to the final extent. After being through broken arms, unexplained bruises and cuts. He has had enough. While still weak from treatment on his burnt arm (a result of his father) he decides that enough is enough. While his father is beating his mother, Vladmir comes up behind his father with a heavy pot and whams His father across the head. To his astonishment, Vladimirs mother, becomes outraged at this and knocks Vladimir unconcious with the pan. Luckily he wakes up before his father and runs off into a cold Russian night.
2. This book is very depressing. It takes place in a remote region in Russia. Vladmir has been living a life of despair and pain. His father has a major alcohol problem while his mom spends all the money the family has extravagating herself and on heroin. This causes the family to lose meals and to face bankruptcy. It is a very moving story and I am enjoying it.
3. A theme I am seeing in this book is dreaming. Vladimir dreamt of living a normal life and being able to leave his dreadful environment. He wanted to help his mother with her drug problems and his father with his alcoholism.
4. My favorite character is Nikolai. Nikolai is Vladimirs best friend. He met Nikolai in school. Nikolai was also beat by his parents but not to the extent of Vladimir. He joked with Vladimir, calling him a rotten banana when he came to school. Although a very awful thing to say, it was Vladimirs only escpae from his everyday depression.
5. My least favorite character is Vladmirs father. His name is never mentioned in the book andneither is his mothers. Vladimirs father always finds a new way to torment Vladimir and his mother. He makes them "entertain" him or else they get punished. Through this entertainment, Vladimir got himself a 2nd degree burn on his arm. His father is just beyond anything that deserves the chance to live.
6. I think that now that Vladimir has rnun away, that he will probably go to a orphanage and plead for them to take him far away. He will most likely not tell the police to keep his location a secret. Since he wrote the book he will probably be adopted by an American family and be sent to come live here.

Grant Newman- Summer Ball

Grant Newman
Summer Ball
Mike Lupica
Realistic Fiction
Holiday
p. 65

1. Right now, Danny, a star basketball player from Middletown, a town in Long Island, is at an elite basketball camp in Maine called Right Way. He's been thrust into a world of incredibly talented basketball players, and he is beginning to realize he's not all that tall. He, short for his age, is seeing kids who are 6 feet tall and who tower over him. He's beginning to see some adversity in the camp, as his new coach, Coach Powers, is not a kind man. He is not getting the playing time he wants, and he is not one of the coach's favorite players. Rasheed, a player from Maryland, whom Danny beat in the championship game last year, is much more appreciated by his coach. To Danny's disgust, the coach calls it "Rasheed's team". So, Danny is having some conflicts with the campers and his counselors, all well-known college coaches from around the country, and he's in a world of boys that are much taller than he is.

2. I like the book. The writing style is easy, and it's a fast book to read. Lupica really knows how to write through the eyes of a teenager, and the language he uses is easy to understand. The book's not going to win a Pulitzer Prize any time soon, but it's a fun book to read, especially for me, because I like basketball, and I play it. He really knows what he's talking about when it comes to basketball, and he describes it very well. It really seems like an awesome camp, despite Danny's dislike with it, so far. The basketball is very good, but Danny also seems to learn a couple things about himself through his roomate who is also not happy to be there.

3. A theme I've noticed in the book is adversity. Danny has had to deal with adversity ever since he got to the camp. Knowing only a couple people going to the camp, he is in a world that he is not familiar with, and also with a lot of incredibly talented basketball players. Danny knew he was talented before, but he knows he has to play even better to compete with these kids. He also has to deal with his coach's attitude, and his dislike of him as well. Danny has to settle for being the second-best point guard (a position in basketball) on the team, and he has to come off the bench, rather than starting which he is accustomed to. Dealing with all these new, hard things gives Danny trouble, but he has to deal with this new adversity throughout the novel.

4. My favorite character is Danny. Playing basketball, you can really tell all about what he is going through. Missing shots is always frustrating, and he goes through some of the same things basketball players our age go through as well. He's supposed to be our age, and he is really short for our age. He says he's 4'11". All these things go against him, but he's still incredibly good at basketball, and uses his dribbling ability as an equalizer. He's really fast as well, and he uses that as another advantage. He's a character that I can easily relate to, and you feel bad for him sometimes when he has to go through all the unfairness his coach and his surroundings present him.

5. My least-favorite character is his coach, Coach Powers. He's a really demanding coach, and he doesn't like Danny at all. I don't think that's a good way to deal with players that you don't like. He doesn't go about handling his team like a good coach should, he called the team one player's, and he really sets expectations about who he thinks is better than the others. He makes the players run, which most coaches do, but he's a mean person, especially to Danny, and he has a grudge on his family because his dad, Richie, who went on to play pro-basketball, did not go to his college, Providence. Coach Powers is my least-favorite character in Summer Ball, because of the way he treats Danny unfairly.

6. I've read the book before, so I'll comment on how well I remember the book. The book is a lot how I remember it, just a few details I didn't remember. The plot is pretty good, and I'll predict Danny somehow gets a break, and starts to play better.

A.J. Ward

A.J. Ward
Hole in my Life
Autobiography
Holiday
199

1. Right now the main character and author, Jack, has just started serving his sentence in jail. He was previously arrested for smuggling hashish into the United States from the Virgin Islands. Jack is not a hardcore drug dealer, he was offered 10,000$ to help with the smuggling and he needed money for college so he did it. Soon after he arrived in New York with the drugs he was arrested by the F.B.I. Apparently the guy who originally hired Jack was an informant. Jack will now serve anywhere between sixty days and six years depending on his behavior.

2. So far I am really liking this book. It takes place in the 1970's which is not a time period I know a lot about so that is one of the reasons I like the book. Also the main character is kind of a rebel and this makes it fun to read his thoughts. I also like this book because it is an autobiography. Everything that the author writes is completely true, and I think this is a very interesting aspect to the book.

3. A theme I see in this book is impulsiveness. Agreeing to help smuggle the drugs was obviously a very poor decision on Jack's part. He originally decided to do it because he wanted to go to college and get on with his life as a writer. However the stupid decision that he made ends up only delaying him from his dreams more.

4. My favorite character so far is Jack. Despite his really bad decision making skills he still manages to make himself a really likable character. Maybe this is because he is he author and the main character and you have to hear his point of view about everything. Also most people in his situation probably would've tried to find a scapegoat for their actions, but Jack decided to turn himself in. It was mostly so that he would do less time in prison, but it was still noble.

5. My least favorite character is Hamilton. Hamilton is an insane ex British Navy officer that captains the ship Jack smuggles drugs on. It is just a two man crew, Jack and Hamilton, and Hamilton finds every way he can to bother, haze, and scare Jack. One night when Hamilton was drunk he got his pistol and fired a few rounds at Jack. He was very drunk and missed terribly but it was still a scary moment in the book. That is why I don't like Hamilton.

6. I predict that Jack will get out of prison in under a year. He was convicted on very serious charges, but because of his age and his general kindheartedness I think he won't in jail too long. I also think this because Jack managed to get a job in the prison hospital, away from all the dangerous prisoners. This job should keep him out of trouble.

Caitlin Sheehan

Caitlin Sheehan

The Vampire Diaries- The Return: Shadow Souls

L. J. Smith

Fantasy- Fiction

Just Right

Page 179

1. Right now, Elena Gilbert is headed toward the Dark Dimension to find the two pieces of the Fox Key in order to rescue Stefan from prison. She was just joined by Bonnie and Meredith, who came to find a star ball, which is something that could control the Kitsune that is taking over their town. Kitsune means half human, half fox. Kitsunes are able to either posses, or re-create the form of any person, but each re-creation will have one small flaw. If you are able to find the flaw, then the Kitsune will be revealed, and will leave. If you do not, you could be in deadly danger. Elena just noticed that Meredith's eyes were grey, but she has always thought that they were brown. She brushes it off as her forgetfulness, but could it mean more?

2. So far in the book, I enjoy it very much. One thing that I like about the book is at the beginning when Elena recounts what has happened in previous books up until this point. This is helpful, because the book can often get confusing, because it is filled with so many mythical creatures. Also, I like how Elena keeps a diary, in which she recounts the entire day, and she adds in her emotions. Through this you are able to see how she feels about Damon at the time, and how much she misses Stefan. Another thing that I like about the book is how you enter a completely different world. You actually start to feel that the book is real when you are deeply immersed in the story. You become absorbed in the story line, and find yourself clinging to every word.

3. A theme that I notice in this book is the theme of developing love. I see this theme in many places. One of those places is when Elena has conflicting feelings for Stefan and Damon. She is very conscious about what tragedy befell Katherine when she loved both of the Salvatore brothers. She loves Stefan with all of her heart, but she is lonely while she searches for a way to save him. She gradually starts to love Damon, even though she doesn't want to. She also is trying to free his secrets from his soul. She can literally see into his soul by using the Power that she gained when she came back from 'the other side', and she wants badly to help him, as she can see that he is struggling. Also, she feels that she is being unfaithful to Stefan, because of a certain incident in a hotel.

4. My favorite character is Elena, because she is a kind and understanding person. She always tries to cheer Damon up when he is upset about Sinichi taking his memory. Also, she is determined to do what ever it takes to save her true love, Stefan.

5. My least favorite character is Misao. Even though she hasn't personally appeared in the book as a main character, she is manipulative, and enjoys playing games with peoples lives. She views humans and vampires alike as dolls, hers for the taking. She uses them for entertainment, and will destroy an entire town out of sheer boredom. She also like to gloat about her terrible deeds, which in the end gives Elena clues about how to save Stefan.

6. I predict that Meredith is not really Meredith but Misao. I think that she wants to let her little escapade go on as far as it can go without Stefan really escaping, and then killing them all. I also think that Elena will have to choose between saving Stefan, or saving Damon in the end.

Will Gooch
The Pigman
Paul Zindel
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
pg. 58

1) Right now the main character, John Conlan, is argueing with his father at the dinner table. His family is having a family dinner and most of the members have left the table except for John and his dad. John wants to go to acting school and follow that path because he feels he's good at it and all of his friends say he should. His father wants him to be a working man and find a suitable job to get money. He tells John about when he was a kid and how they had to work and not just use your imagination and act silly to get money.

2) So far I feel this is an interesting book. It is well written and I like how the author styles this novel. It is a great adventure and every page has kept me hooked and wanting to read more. It is a great book.

3) A large theme so far that I've mainly noticed would have to be bravery. Both John and his good friend Lorraine Jenson have displayed many acts of bravery and courage. They are both two adventurous youngsters in highschool who are willing to put their lifes on the line and accept a challenge.

4) My favorite character is John Conlan, who is also the main character. He's a really cool guy with a good sense of humor and an adventurous attitude. I like how he is up for anything and will stand up for what he thinks is right. Also, he is a very good friend and helps out whenever possible.

5) So far my least favorite character is John Conlans dad. He isn't a bad person but isn't always a very nice guy and mostly expects John to be just like him and live with the same morales. He can be unfair to John sometimes and just thinks of what is best for him instead of asking John what he thinks.

6) For what is going to happen next, I'm not really sure because there a few possible things. What I believe will happen is that John and Lorraine will try and find out some more things about this man named Mr. Pignata, or who they know as, the pigman.

Max Dunn

SilverFin

Charlie Higson

Action

"just right'

1. Not much has happened in the opening pages of SilverFin. James is going to Eton which is a very good private school that is attended by children all over the world. A tournament has just ended that is for the children at Eton. There are three events which are shooting, swimming, and cross country running. he won at cross country and he was lucky to. George Hellebore was very close to winning but only because he was cheating.

2. So far, this novel is kind of hard to read. The material itself isn't difficult it is the plot. It is just so boring. Although this is how the book is now I have a feeling that it will change. It must change because the main character is James Bond and anything involving him must be filled with adventure.

3. There isn't much of a theme right now because there is not much going on right now. If I could point out a theme it would most likely be fitting in. This is shown because Bond has just gotten to a new school where he knows no one and he is going to be there for a while. If he makes enemies it wouldn't be good.

4. My favorite character is presently James Bond. Not a lot has happened to show his characteristics. All I know is that he is a clever thirteen year old boy who is a great runner.

5. My least favorite character is George Hellebore. He is described as an American boy who is a bully. I have also taken note of the stereotype that Higson has laid upon Americans. He is British after all. Another reason that I have not to like him is that he cheated during the cross country portion of the tournament.

6. I believe that later in this book something will happen to James involving Hellebore and his father. I suspect these two because they now have a grudge against Bond for making George not come in first in the tournament.

Charlie Stenhouse, Hunger Games

Charlie Stenhouse
Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Action
"just right"
recently finished

1. After Katniss and Peeta find out that there can be two winners of the Hunger Games, they form an alliance. Katniss finds Peeta blending in with the mud with a giant gash on his leg from Cato's sword. Katniss takes care of Peeta for a couple of days. Then the Hunger Games are hosting a feast at the Cornucopia to get the players together to fight. At the feast, there is something that every player is going to need. In the district twelve bag, there is going to be medicine for Peeta's leg, because it is infected. Peeta won't let Katniss go without him. Haymitch sends a package to Katniss and it is a liquid that could put Peeta to sleep for about three days. Katniss gives the liquid to Peeta and goes to the feast. At the feast, Clove and Thresh almost killed Katniss, but she got back with the bag of medicine. After Peeta's leg gets better, there are only three players left-Katniss, Peeta, and Cato. The gamemakers get them close together by stopping the water flow in the rivers and streams so they would have to go to the lake for water. Katniss and Peeta arrive at the lake when they see Cato run out of the woods with armor and starts climbing for the top of the pyramid. Behind him, is a pack of muts chasing him. Katniss and Peeta start climbing the pyramid. One of the muts rips Peeta's calf off, and Cato falls. The muts take Cato into the woods and by the next morning he is dead. Then the announcer says that there can be only one Hunger Games champion. Katniss and Peeta said that they will kill themselves at the same time, but then the announcer changes his mind.

2. This book was by far the best book I have ever read. I love all of the action that is in the book and the idea of the Hunger Games in general is very cool.

3. The theme that I recognize in the book is friendship/love. I saw this theme between Katniss and Peeta. Ever since they made the alliance, they have been looking out for each other and protecting each other.

4. My favorite character is Peeta. He is my favorite character because I think he is really cool. Out of all of the kids in the Hunger Games, Peeta is the one that is always relaxed and funny.

5. My least favorite character is President Snow. He is my least favorite character because he is the one who established the Hunger Games in general. I don't see how a human being can come up with such a gruesome idea to have kids kill each other in an arena.

6. A prediction I see in the next book, Catching Fire, is maybe Prim gets chosen and Katniss has to coach her through the Hunger Games.

Johnny Coutts
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Eoin Colfer
Science Fiction
Just Right
53

1.) Right now, in my book, Artemis mother is ill. Artemis obtained some power from the fairies he had met, last month, and tried to use the remaining power to help his mother. After he had collected every once of power in his body, he touched her hand, and Artemis' mother rose about five feet above her bed with glowing blue lights entrapping her whole body. Artemis tried his hardest to cure his mothers fatal disease, but it did not seem to work. Artemis had used every ounce of power to try to cure his mother, and now it was gone and he could no longer use anymore. At this point in the book, everything has been extremely sad and depressing. Though everything has been sad and depressing, this book has been extremely amusing to read.

2) So far, I think this book is phenominal. Though I havent read any of these books in order throughout the series, Eoin Colfer has done a great job describing enough for me to understand what she is trying to explain or describe. This book started off with a catchy beginning, having a problem already established in the novel, but it seems like the problem is getting to large, so I wonder what Artemis will do to help her and her illness.

3) So far, the theme I have noticed the most is depression. Everything since the starting of the first page, has related to this theme. Eoin picked an originial way to start off the book, and in this case I think it was a good idea. He captured the readers attention from the very start of the novel. The depression of Artemis' mother dieing is the jist of what I've been reading at the start of the book this whole time. Depression has made this book extremely sad but at the same time very interesting to read, knowing that something can just popp out of the blue.

4) So far, Artemis has been my favorite character. Given that he has used all of his fairy power on trying to save his mom, it makes Artemis a generous person. It shows that he does not just care about himself, but that he is extremely unselfish. I also like Artemis because he resembles me in a way. He resembles me with his age, and the way he thinks. For example, when I predict what Artemis will do next, I always end up being correct. It seems as if Artemis and I think exactly similar.

5) So far, my least favorite character is Artemis' mom. It seems as if Artemis' mom has given up all of her hope, and stopped believing that Artemis could save her. She thinks that she wil die no matter what, which is why she has been irritating me lately. She has given up all hope for life, and has been acting like she has been living her last moments on Earth. Though I really cannot blame her because if she has been diagnosed with a deadly disease, you can't blame her for having several depressing thoughts.

6) I predict that in the future Artemis' mom will die. It seems like nothing can stop her from dieing now. Usually, the powere Artemis recieves from the fairies work, but it seems they didnt on his mother. I feel like Artemis' mom will die, but Artemis will find out she didn't die of a disease, she died of a spell a bad person casted on her. Artemis will be on a quest to find and get revenge on the person that had killed his mother.

Tommy Hynes

Tommy Hynes
Man Vs. Wild
Robert Muchamore
Action/Adventure
Just Right
Page 138


1. This is what is going on in my book right now. In my book at this moment James and Lauren are in a Zebra Alliance party. They are at this party because there temporary father had once been the leader of the Alliance and he wishes to be it again. They came here to see if he could get voted back into the presidency position. While the dad is doing this James is hanging out with friends he met at school. Lauren is serving vegetarian food to all of the guests. That is what is currently happening in my book right now.

2. I love this book so far. I love it because it has to do with big corporations and shady secrets. I also love how it is about people trying to save animals that were miss treated. The final reason I love this book is because the kids get into a lot of fights and that is always fun to read about. I also like it because it is kids beating up adults and that is not something you see everyday. That is how I feel about the book so far.

3. The theme I have noticed so far is to stand up for what you believe in. I have noticed this with all of the Animal rights activists. I have also noticed this when some people go to some pretty serious lengths to get animals treated right. I have also seen this when Lauren saves a puppy that had been left behind by a shelter. That is the theme I have noticed so far.

4. James is my favorite character. He is my favorite character for theses reasons. He is my favorite because he is some what of a smart mouth but at the same time being very smart in general. He is my favorite because he has a thirst for dangerous things that always make my heart race. The final reason he is my favorite character is because he is a kid with a checkered past. This past makes him seem more mysterious and cool. That is why he is my favorite character.

5. Lauren is my least favorite character in this particular book in the Cherub series. I dislike her because she is too much of a goody two shoes. I also dislike her because she really has no thirst for anything dangerous and always manages to do the right thing. I finally dislike her because earlier in the novel she only looked after herself when she blackmailed James into helping her.

6. This is what I predict will happen next. I think the Alliance is going to break into the Malerek Research Institute where they will try to save as many animals as possible. I think this is what will happen next because earlier in the book the Alliance was talking about a strike on Malerek to save the animals. Although that is some what unclear that is what I think will happen because the Alliance has done similar things in the past. That is what I think will happen next.

Katie McPherson
The Lovely Bones
Alice Sebold
Mystery
Challenge
59


1. What is happening in my book right now is about how Susie got murdered by a man named Mr. Harvey. Her family noticed she was missing then called the police and went looking for her. They went by the place where Susie was murdered and did not find anything. Mr. Harvey hid all of the evidence but did not do it in a very efficient way . Like he cut all of her body parts up and put them in a a potato sack so the blood leaks out. Susie's family is so close to finding her killer they have just not got that far yet. The only evidence was an arm that a dog found. Susie is just waiting for her family to figure it out.

2. I like this book it is just an odd book. It is odd because why would you want to kill an innocent child, it just does not make sense to me. This book is good because it is cool to see the death from her point of view.

3. A theme i notice is sorrow. Susie is very sad because the first thing she says when she get into heaven is that she just wants to see her family and mother. Not only is Susie sad her whole family misses her they closed the door to her room which shows how sad they were.

4. My favorite character is Susie because she is unique she talked to a stranger and got in trouble, she should have know. Stranger Danger! Wouldn't she know i just find it funny that she did not listen to what people would have said.

5. My least favorite character is Mr. Harvey. I don't like him because why would he kill a child why would someone be that messed up in the head to do that, i mean you are killing somebody who has done nothing to you.

6. I think that the family will start to find evidence and before Mr. Harvey has time to cover all of the evidence up they will figure out that he killed Susie.

Jake f, Twisted

Jake Frankenfield

Twisted

Laurie Halse Anderson

Realistic Fiction

Holiday

250, just finished

1. Tyler has left no rock unturned, he and his father are finally getting along, he has been proven innocent of charges Bethany brought against him, he is dropping the AP classes he can't take and he has made himself more stable. He no longer thinks about running away or killing himself and he threw away his fathers gun.

2. I love this book, I think the pace is perfect and never left me bored. Everything has relevance to something going on in his life which made it interesting. Tyler's interests puzzled me and challenged me to understand him and it was a constant struggle throughout the book for me, which is exactly why I liked it.

3. A theme I've noticed in this book is the ability to deal with issues in your life peacefully, and how Tyler struggles with it throughout the book. He is almost done with probation and he breaks the curfew put in place. He has to many AP classes which leave him struggling on all of them so he stops trying for a while. He even relaxes himself by thinking of death and even tries to, twice, putting a gun to his mouth and going to the roof of his school with the intention of jumping off. After a while Tyler realizes that if something is to be fixed in your life you must take responsibility for it.

4. My favorite character is Tyler because he has a sense of humor that would be find to hard with other kids in his situation. He seems too smart to do the things he does and I root for him even when I see he's going to fall. He just recently became my favorite character when he took his life into his hands.

5. My least favorite character is Bethany. I think she played Tyler and I'm not exactly sure why. I think what happened to her was awful, but I also think she allows herself to lead a detrimental lifestyle and she deserves what happens to her.

6. I think Tyler will finish this year of high school and then go on to a less than satisfactory college considering all the trouble he has gotten in and the AP classes he has dropped. I think his relationship with his family will continue to progress and he will be a happier person in general.

Hannah Crowley
Someone Like You
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
page: 146

1. My book has taken an interesting course of the past couple of weeks. Scarlett just found out that she was pregnant! Also, her boyfriend, the baby's father just died in a tragic motorcycle accident. She is in a rough situation and it doesn't help that her mother is pressing her to have an abortion. At the same time Halley is not getting along with her parents at all, she's breaking the rules whenever she can and she and her mother cannot stand being near each other. Scarlett confides in Halley to keep her secret but, as the inevitable sets in and the town "bad girl" over hears the two of them talking about it in the school bathroom. Word gets around and Scarlett is debating what to do about it all.
2. At the moment I am loving this book. It is just full of suspense and I never want to put it down. The plot is so attention grabbing and I commence the author for this great novel.
3. One theme I have noticed during this book is everlasting friendship. The bond between Scarlett and Halley is unbreakable and there are no secrets in their relationship. It's amazing how much love can be shown at such a young age, you can really tell that these two girls will always be the best of friends.
4. My favorite character so far would have to be Scarlett. She seems like such a strong, independent woman at such a young age. Even though things escalated in her relationship a little to early on in life, I think she's taking the responsibilty for every one of her own actions. I hope that she doesn't make a mistake that could ruin my appreciation for her as a character in this book.
5. My least favorite character would have to be Ginny Tabor. She is just one of the meanest girls, she tells everyone about something that she knew was not suppost to get out and she does it without even thinking about how it would affect other people. She only cares about herself and sometimes, not even, she drinks all the time and isn't thinking about her future at all. No one likes her and by the end of this book I have a feeling she will be alone all together.
6. My prediction for the next part of this book would be that everyone realizes that Scarlett needs as much support and love as possible. I think she will have a healthy beautiful baby and it might be hard but I think she will be able to get through it with the help of Halley.

Phoebe Willett

Phoebe Willett

All I Want is Everything (Gossip Girl Series)

Cecily von Ziegesar

Realistic Fiction

Holiday

pg. 205

1. Right now in my book, Jenny and Nate have just broken up and Nate is back into Blair. Blair has just decided to let go of her crush on Nate because she thinks he is too lame and careless. Everyone is at Serena's New Years party having a great time none the less. Blair and Serena just got back from St. Barts and Blair has just finished her college application essay to Yale which she has been working on for weeks. Blair is still disturbed from the news that her mother is pregnant with her new husband who Blair doesn't like. Her new step-brother Aaron likes Blair but she has no clue. Everything is a little crazy right now because things are changing so rapidly

2. I really like this series now that I am on the third book. This one is fun because it doesn't all take place in New York City. Some of it is in St. Barts and there is a small part at Nate's house in Maine. I also like how they have focused a bit more on Jenny in this book. In the first book, she almost wasn't present at all and in the second one she only had a small role. I'm glad that they included her a bit more through her relationship with Nate. I also liked how they introduced Aaron's friend Miles to make things a little bit more interesting.

3. A theme that I have noticed in this book so far is betrayal. Nate has betrayed Jenny by flirting with Blair and not caring if she saw them when Jenny thought that she really had something going with Nate. Vanessa betrayed Dan because she wasn't caring about how he fealt and only did what she wanted to do. She also betrayed herself a bit by trying to change her outfits and personality to make herself more attractive to Dan when he liked her how she was. Blair's mom has sort of betrayed her kids because she went off and married this guy that the kids don't like and is now pregnant when she should be focusing on her current kids and not putting any stress on Blair while she is trying to get into Yale.

4. My favorite character right now is Serena because she is so naive and care-free. She should be focusing on getting into college now but she is having fun and relaxing. I like how she is so nice to everyone and just wants to get along and have fun. She is partying and enjoying her freedom before she goes to college. I also like reading about her fashionable clothes and general esthetics.

5. My least favorite character is Jenny. She is trying to be something she isn't by changing herself to be more grown up like Nate. She is just a Freshman but is trying to act like a Senior. I also find it hard to believe that Jenny would believe that she had a chance with such a popular boy and actually date him. She is a little lame and uninteresting to read about.

6. I think that Blair won't stay mad at Nate for long. She has been too in love with him for so long to give him up just like that. I also think that Dan and Vanessa are going to make up after their fight. I think that Blair's mom and Cyrus are going to stay in St. Barts for a while. Serena might realize that she kind of likes Aaron but Aaron will still like Blair and might even tell her.

Margot Hahn
That Summer
Sarah Dessen
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
9

1. Right now in my book, The main character Haven was describing what the day of her father's new wedding was like. It started out with her mom hacking away the ice in her freezer getting the anger out. Her father is marrying Lorna Queen of Lorna Queen's weather scene on channel 5. She is a successful meterologist who broke up haven's parent's marriage. Haven's sister Ashley is one of those popular, beautiful sisters. Haven's mother is deciding weather to go to the wedding or not, and that is all that is going on in my book right now because i just started.

2. So far in my book i like it alot, it i think that it is already capturing even though i am within the first 10 pages.

3. I noticed the theme family so far, i noticed it between Haven's family and all of the drama and commotion it has been causing lately. Plus, the only character's involved so far are the family.

4. Haven is my favorite character so far because she isn't mean and that is a good thing. I don't know much about her yet but I intend on learning alot more but she just seems the most friendly, and caring person so far.

5. Haven's mom is my least favorite character so far because she is not even trying to go to her ex-husband's wedding. I mean the least she could do is go and put on a happy face, because after all they did have 2 kids together.

6. I think that the kid's are going to go and earlier in the book it stated, "No wedding, funeral or other family event is ever fun without a heart attack, or a grandma falling on the floor". I am considering this foreshadowing and I think something very dramatic is going to happen and change haven's life forever.

Rogers Boylan

Rogers Boylan
Heat
Mike Lupica
Sports-Fiction
Just Right
PG 152

1. Right now in my book, the coaches of opposing teams have filed a complaint against Michael Arroyo. The complaint is that he is to old to be playing in this division. Michael needs to come up with a birth certificate to prove he is 12. His father had passed away and his birth certificate is in Havana, Cuba. Michael has no way of getting his birth certificate and until he does he cant play in the playoffs.

2. This book is a great read. I really like how the author makes you think and makes you feel what the characters are feeling as well. Also the author uses a little comedy to lighten the mood which I really like.

3. The theme right now in the book is friendship. I see this because whenever someone is feeling down, his or her friend is right there to make him or her feel better. Also the friendship in this book really helps the plot and makes the book really interesting.

4. Manny is my favorite character because even though he isn't the main character, he is always integrated into the book. He always knows what to say, when to be funny and when to be serious. I like him a lot because he gets Michael out of tough situations and he always is there to help Michael.

5. My least favorite characters are the coaches trying to make Michael get a birth certificate. They know that without Michael in the playoffs they have a lot better chance at winning. I really dislike them because they are being so mean even though they know Michael is 12.

Rogers Boylan

JP Riedel

JP Riedel
Starcraft: Heaven's Devils
William C. Dietz
Science Fiction
Just right
P.285


1. Right now the Heaven's Devils are on the planet Turaxis II in the city of Darby. They had just fought on a mission to begin capturing a Kel-Morian morian refinery. During which Raynor struck a commanding officer for giving stupid orders but was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Now he has been released and returned to his team. They are having some r and r and are viewing the city of Darby. Ryk and Zander were at a resturant when there they saw Colonel Vanderspool and Mr.Bennet who is Ryk's father. Ryk and zander decided to follow them and found they will be planning to steal 1 billions credits worth in credits along with a Kel-morian officer so it will seem like an attack but will really be them having there troops unknowingly steal the money for them. After that they plan to have the soldiers resocialized. When you are resocialized you act like a mindless robot soldier. So the Heaven's Devils are deciding what to do. They are thinking of leaving the army and going AWOL.

2.I really like the book. It is very interesting. It has tons of action and suspense. It is like a good war movie in a book. There is also corruption and stopping that in the army and such. It is like a call of duty game that you read rather than play. Though it is futuristic.

3. The theme I have noticed allot is friendship. The team has formed a strong bond throughout the book but they still have some doubts.

4.My favorite character is Raynor. He is a good leader and knows what to do. Also, he can keep his cool at times and can act fast in the heat of battle.

5.My least favorite character is colonel Vanderspool. He is not a good guy and is okay with erasing people's minds and just uses them as tools in the war. He doesn't care about anyone other than himself.

6. I predict that the Heaven's Devils will make a plan to stop Colonel Vanderspool and stop the heist.

Eli Dershwitz
Tangerine
Edward Bloor
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
Page 68

1. Right now in the book There is a kid named Paul Fisher and he has glasses. He thinks he looks like an alien. But, he still notices the very weird things that are happening in his knew home in Tangerine, Florida. He sees a sinkhole swallow an entire school. He sees the fire that has been burning underground for years. Lastly, he notices that lightning strikes at the same place every day. He doesn't have an easy time adjusting to the knew life, especially with the harassment he gets. Also his football star brother picks on him. So, he has a crappy life and he doesn't know what to do about these weird things. The only thing he does that makes him feel like himself is joining the soccer team.

2. So far i feel pretty bad about this book. I don't think it is very interesting and I feel it is going to be like a lot of other books I have read in the past. I also don't like how it is so easy to guess what is about to happen. You get so many hints that it's not fun or surprising.

3. A theme I have noticed so far in the book is loneliness. Paul has no friends, and his family doesn't really pay attention to him. All they care about is his brother and his football career. He doesn't have any hobbies and only plays soccer. Even though he is good, everyone picks on him for having no friends and for having glasses. He is the definition of lonely because he has no one looking out for him and no one that he can actually talk to.

4. Right now my favorite character is Paul. He doesn't really have anything that would make his life good. Every one is mean to him, including his family, and he has no friends. When he finds something he's good at, like soccer, he sticks with it and won't let anyone put him down. He just works harder and proves them wrong. He won't let anyone get to him and he lives his life happily. I know that that was me I would be mean back to those kids and I would be depressed all the time. Paul is the exact opposite of that.

5. My least favorite character is Jack, Tangerine's older brother. He is the schools best football player and he is very full of himself. He has a lot of friends and all the girls are head-over-heels for him. His brother is a disappointment to him. He says how he would be better off without him and that he is a disgrace to the family. He is just so mean to his brother until he gets good at soccer. Then when Paul gets some friends, he starts being nice to him. I think its wrong to only be nice to him because he has friends and he doesn't want to lose his good reputation.

6. I predict that something very interesting will happen in the town. There has to be some magical reason that all this stuff keeps happening. And if no one else is paying attention to it, I think everyone else already knows. Also, I think Paul's soccer team will win the State Championships. Then Jack's football team will lose right away. Then Paul will bully his brother so he knows what it is like to be the loser in the family.

Justine Regan

Justine Regan
The sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Ann Brashares
Realistic fiction
Just Right
Pg.44





1. Right now in my book not too much is going on. The girls have already made the (really funny) rules for wearing the pants and they have also decided when each girl when get them. Now that they have this all settled, all four of them are going their separate ways for the summer. Bridget is going to a soccer camp for really serious athletes. She flew several hours just to get there! Lina is going to Greece to visit her grandparents with her sister Effie. The only problem is, Lina forgot how to speak Greek, when she was really little. Carmen is finally going to visit her dad, who she hasn't seen since Christmas. Carmen has never been to her dad's house- he's always come to her, so she is extra excited and doesn't know what to expect. While all her friends are going on exciting trips, Tibby is stuck staying home working at Wallman's all summer. She really wants to save up for a car, so she won't have to ride her bike anywhere. This is going to be one of those summers where Tibby just looks at Mimi and wishes that she could have her own little cage with a wheel to run around in.




2. I like that this book is constantly switching around from one girls summer to the next- like the pants. I feel like I am reading four separate books that all tie into each other at the same time. I also like that each of the characters are completely different in every way possible. I enjoy hearing the description of each place the girls go and reading about all their different experiences. They always seem to be thinking of each other no matter where they are.





3. The main theme is friendship. This is because, the girls all go to different schools and are completely different people but they still manage to hang out all the time. Since they are all used to always being together, they have to keep their connection by using the pants. The jeans that Lina bought will keep the girls connected to each other because, they're writing about their experiences without the jeans, and when the next girl receives the jeans it will be like she was there with her friend. The jeans let them know that they are not alone and that their friends will always be with them even if they aren't physically there.



4. Lina is my favorite character because, she seems like she would be really quiet and nice. I also think it's really great that she wants to go back to Greece to visit her grandparents and see where she's from. I like that she cares about her culture.




5. My least favorite character is Tibby because, she's always in a bad mood and she's really negative. She reminds me of a Debby Downer and no matter what you say she will find something bad or wrong with it. She takes her anger out on the people around her and brings everyone down. I wouldn't want to be around her that much because, she's never happy and doesn't seem to want anyone else to be happy.




6.

Along for the ride

Evelyn Allsopp
Along for the ride
Sarah Dessen
Fiction
Just Right
Page 75


1. In my book right now there is a girl named Auden who has been living a demanding life while living with her mother after her parents got divorced. She has missed out on all of the children aspects of life that all teenagers are supposed to enjoy. So, for eh summer she decided to go live with her Dad for the summer with his new wife, and newly born daughter. Although getting there she was not greeted exactly how she wanted, there was a baby that was crying and I crying mother, with a father that just sat in his office all day deciding to act as though he was too busy to help. After a couple of day trying to help out with the baby her father was getting more and more stubborn, and was resistant to be helpful, and “clean up” after the baby. After getting so irritated, Auden went for a walk where she meets up with a guy that she saw at a hotdog place earlier that day named Eli. They didn’t say much, but they knowledge that each other were there.

2. I like the book a lot right now, just because I relate it back to my life as well. Also it funny, and I like how she the narrator so you can hear her perspective on everything which makes things more interesting and as though it’s like your right there. Also I get sort of frustrated and I feel as though I could just start yelling at the book saying to self “Don’t do that! Go help her!” or something. I just find that each page is always really detailed and never boring.

3. A theme that I have noticed so far is abandonment, because the father in this story not only did he abandon Auden when she was younger and her mother, but he’s drifting away from the role of being a Dad to his new daughter. He makes up this lie that he needs 9 hours of sleep just so he can’t help out and take care of the baby and let the mother take a break for every once in a while.

4. I like Auden the most so far just because she’s really interesting, and she keeps the book interesting. Although, she makes so things frustrating and I always end up talking to the book out loud saying what I think she should be doing. I like how Auden knows when to help out, and how nice she is to everybody. Also how she stands up to her Dad telling him what he should be doing instead of just letting him off the hook.

5. My least character is definitely the Dad, because he’s just so obnoxious, but what really annoying is how he knows he being obnoxious but doesn’t do anything to stop it. The family was on their way to go out to dinner, and the mom had to quickly stop in the post office to drop off a check, and the Dad was getting mad at her and saying “I just stopped working, even though I was working so hard, and you decided to do this? You said I don’t spend any time with the family? Your the one who has to stop our family dinner for the POST OFFICE.” I just don’t like how mean he is, and oblivious he is to everything.

6. I think that Eli and Auden are going to somehow meet again and they’re going to decided to meet somewhere and they’re going to slowly begin to have a relationship together. Although, I think the parents are going to get divorced, and she going to have to look back on her past and try to fix all of her relationships that she lost.

Jake Heinlein

Jake Heinlein
The Battle of The Labyrinth
Rick Riordan
Fantasy
Holiday
p. 301

1. Currently in my book, Percy and his friends have been searching a large underground labyrinth to make sure the Kronos army doesn't invade their camp. The camp is a safe place for half gods, who have a parent that is mortal, and a parent that is one of the Greek gods. Monsters attack them, so there is a border around camp can protect them, but one of the titans, Kronos, has been building an army and found a way to get into the camp underground. Percy has come out at the place of awakening for the titan, but when he pushes open the coffin that holds the titan, he instead finds an old friend inside that had become his rival, and a strong enemy.

2. I really love my book right now, and find it hard to put down. I always want to know what happens next, but there are too many cliffhangers and it is really suspenseful. The storyline is also really original, an like nothing I've ever read before. When I started the series, I expected that by the fourth book, things would get a little redundant, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This could be my favorite one so far.

3. A theme that I have noticed in this book, is never give up. I see this whenever something bad is happening, which is a lot, the main characters could turn around and hide, never having to bother with any of this again. However, they know that if they did that, then they would be putting everyone else in danger so they keep going. Specifically, I see this when Percy gets stranded on a paradise island when he could have an easy life and never worry about anything, but instead he decides to get back to his friends and continue on the dangerous quest.

4. My favorite character is Nico. In my opinion, I think that his powers are the best, and the ones that I wold want to have if I were in the book. He can control the Earth, which is what I like, and he can summon the dead, which I'm not so fond of. He's also a little boy, so you feel bad for him, being pushed into the war like this and he's had a hard life. His sister also died, and he is shrouded in mystery, so you really want to know more about him and where he came from.

5. My least favorite character is Kronos. He is the big villain and I don't like him because we've never seen him and he's too manipulative. He just seems too invincible, and a coward at the same time because we haven't heard of him specifically doing too much yet, so I can't really say that I like him. He is the type of character who would never be on the front lines of an attack, so I don't think that he makes a good villain. A good villain would stir up more trouble, but all of Percy's troubles have come from mostly regular monsters.

6. Next I think that we will finally have a fight between Kronos and Percy, which we've been waiting to see for four books, and I think Percy is going to lose, and then barely escape with his life, go back to camp, only to find another battle waiting for him between Kronos' army and the camp. I think that it will be a lot of fighting and little rest for Percy.

Olivia Carr
p.3
Chicken Soup for the Girl's soul
By: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor and Patty Hansen, and Irene Dunlap
Non Fiction
Just Right
I'm on page 180

1.) This book is many girl experiences and stories, put into one. They are all about boy problems, parent problems, and just growing up as a girl. This book also gives information on how to get over tragic deaths, and even problems at school. The book also includes comics, poems, and advice from girls ages 12 to 18. I think this book is focused on helping girls get through their teen and young adult years, which are the hardest. It does that by giving true non fiction stories written by girls and woman who want to give their advice and experience to others.

2.) I am really enjoying this book so far. It has it's mix funny stories from girls with boy stalking issues, sad stories from girls who have experienced a love one or someone they know die, or girls who have honest advice that all girls can use now or later in life. I also enjoy it because it is all real and true, so you can hear stories from girls just like you.

3.) The theme in this book is defiantly girl power. Through out the book everything is linked back to this one thing, Girls Rule! Every story, every comic, and every poem is expressed in a way to show girls a reason why being a girl is so special and cool.

4.) Because this book has so many characters there is not one who is my favorite, but my favorite story is called Sleep Away Camp. In this story a girl named Kellyrose's parents get a divorce which tears her apart. All this depression finally gets to her and causes her to cut her self. Her mom later finds her doing this and hospitalized her. During all this people at school are making fun of her and when she gets out she just holds her head up high and uses that girl power.

5.) My least favorite story is called The Five Flavors, because it is just about girls growing apart and then realizing it and coming back together. There is no girls power or bam which shows you a lesson or gives you advice, because everyone knows when you don't see someone you grow apart from that person.

6.) Because there are no plots or story lines it is imposable to predict what is going to happen next, but I think there are a lot of things on crushes coming up soon.

Gone With the Wind

Julia Pearson

Gone With the Wind

Margaret Mitchell

Historical Fiction/Epic

Just Right

pg. 597

1. Right now, the main character Scarlett is at Fanny Elsing's wedding in Atlanta. The Civil War is over, and all of the South is struggling to find money (except for Rhett Butler). Scarlett is desperate for $300 to save Tara- the Yankees raised the taxes extremely high because the old overseer, Jonas Wilkerson, wants the plantation. He is now part of a Bureau that helps the freed slaves, and has power to do this. Scarlett would rather die than see him in her house, so she goes to Atlanta to try to get money from Rhett Butler, a scandalous man she hates. When that doesn't work, she by chance meets her sister's beau, Frank. Frank is doing rather well and has more than $300. Scarlett decides to make him love her so she can marry him and have money to save Tara. She does not care about her sister's feelings and lied about Suellen (the sister) already being married, because she was engaged to Frank. Right now Scarlett is pretending to love Frank.

2. I like this book a lot. I love all the historical detail that Mitchell adds in the story-about the war, the times, the clothes. I also think the plot is very exciting and engaging. It is hard to put the book down, and I don't get bored with it, which is very good because it is a big book. The characters are very interesting, and it is not similar to other books I've read because Scarlett, the protagonist, is not very nice. She is selfish, vain, and ignorant, yet you can still relate to her most of the time, (though not at this point) because she is also brave, determined, and lively.

3. The theme of the book at this point is desperation. Scarlett will do anything, even give up her pride and honor, to save Tara. She tries everything, even bargaining with Rhett Butler. She ends up stealing her sister's fiance just for his money, which is very desperate.

4. My favorite character is Melanie, Scarlett's sister in law. Melanie is very sweet and kind and just as brave and stronger mentally than Scarlett. She loves Scarlett even though Scarlett can't stand her most of the time. Melanie always finds the best in people, even Rhett. At Tara, she always does more work than everyone else, even though she is sick and in more worse condition than the others living there.

5. My least favorite character is Rhett Butler. He is a very slimy person. He is scandalous and selfish, and was a blockader just for the money, and is not patriotic at all. He joined the army much later than anyone else, and has heaps of money which he keeps to himself when he could of helped the army more. He does something only when he can benefit from it. The only good trait about him is that he admits all this and is honest about it and other things.

6. I predict that Scarlett will marry Frank and save Tara from the taxes. I also think that things are not settled between Rhett and Scarlett, and that Rhett will not be hanged but will come back to Scarlett. I think Rhett really does love Scarlett, despite the fact that he always acts indifferent around her.

Brett Crocker
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Brian Selznick
Adventure Fiction
Holiday
Page 165

1. Right now in my book Hugo the main character is in a mess of trouble. Hugo has to steal parts from a toy booth in the train station he works in order to get parts for making something that was his father's dream to make. Hugo is an orphan and used to live to with his uncle in the station where he reset the clocks every early morning. One day his uncle just didn't come back and Hugo was then alone. In order for Hugo to have any place at all to stay Hugo has to go around every morning setting the clocks so that the station doesn't not catch on to him. Hugo ends up in trouble because the owner of the toy booth catches Hugo and steals notebook which is the key to creating the thing that his dad wanted to make so much.

2. So far this book goes into great detail and it is really helping read and understand the book. Although, the amount of detail is sometimes tedious. This book's detail really helps me picture the scenes in my head which leads to me understanding the book better. So, I really enjoy the level of detail in this book.

3. A theme I have noticed so far in this book is perseverance. I notice this in the book many times with Hugo. I saw this theme after Hugo was left alone in the train station because Hugo still had to do all of his uncle's work and although the station sent checks to him in his bedroom in the station he did not know how to cash them. So, this means he was kind of working or free.

4. My favorite character in this book so far is definitely Hugo. I like hugo because he has to go through a lot and he still gets by on a daily basis. I think Hugo is very independant and that is very cool because sometimes I wish that I did not have to live with all the rules that I have.

5. So far, my least favorite character is the man at the Toy Booth. I do not really like because he is not nice to Hugo and he also stole Hugo's notebook. I do not like him because he is making Hugo work for him for free and he will get to decide when Hugo has worked enough time to get his notebook back.

6. I think that the man at the toy booth will give Hugo his notebook back after about a week of work. I also think that Hugo might get caught by the people at the station because he will be working for the toy booth man and they will be curious as to where he came from.

Will Bowser

1. Will Bowser

2. The Thief Lord

3. Cornelia Funke

4. Realistic-Fiction

5.Holiday

6.199

1. In the book right now, Victor, the detective that the Hartliebs hired to find Prosper and Bo, has just gone to meet with the Hartliebs about the whereabouts of their nephews Prosper and Bo. Since he has befriended the two, he has to lie to them and tell them that he thinks that they took a boat to Corfu. Esther Hartlieb, who's only interest in finding them is to adopt Bo, and not his older brother Prosper, refuses to believe this and vows to find Bo by herself.

2. Right now, I'm kind of on the fence with whether I like this book or not. Though I really do like the plot of the book and the whole idea of the book, there are just some parts that annoy me. Like this, "Only two warmly dressed figures were waiting for the next vaparetto." I think the author was trying to be a little to authentic. Seeing as the book was geared towards a younger middle school audience, I find that sentences like that is where she will lose a majority of young readers.

3. A theme in this book that I've noticed is the difference between want vs. need. I've seen this in how Esther Hartlieb wants Bo. She wants to adopt him, but his brother Prosper because she thinks that they will be to hard to handle as a pair. But Prosper, he needs Bo because after his mothers death because he has no family left. Prosper doesn't just want Bo, he needs him so that he can feel safe.

4. So far in this book, I feel like my favorite character has to be Prosper. I really like how smart he is and how he really looks out for his brother. He always is careful about what they do, whether it be when they are stealing from people, or when they are back at the movie theatre. I always feel like Bo is safe when he is with Prosper, which is a good thing.

5. Right now, my least favorite is Esther Hartlieb. She is so mean and wants to split up to brothers . I feel like she just wants to adopt Bo because she thinks he is cute or something really petty like that. I just can't imagine a scenario that would have her being a good person while she tries to split up two brothers that obviously don't want to be. I doubt she even likes Bo's personality. Also, her husband said that he doesn't even like kids. She'd wouldn't be bringing him into a very warm environment.

6. I predict that Esther and her husband will find all of the kids living at the movie theatre and will make them all go up for adoption. The thing is I think that she will have a change of heart and not split the two up. I predict this, but I also sort of hoping that this will occur, because I want them to stay together.

Shelby Robin

The Red Pyramid

Rick Riordan

Fantasy

Just Right

216

1. Right now in my book, the siblings Carter and Sadie are talking to Sadie's cat Muffin. But, Muffin isn't actually a cat, Muffin is the cat goddess. The goddess is telling Carter and Sadie that they are godlings- which means they are hosting gods. Gods use human bodies hold themselves. But, gods are greatly feared, so Carter and Sadie are being hunted down and people are plotting to kill them because they me a great threat. Carter and Sadie also have to defeat the god Set, save their Father and Uncle, and master their new found powers.

2. I am really enjoying this book. But, I feel that it isn't as good as Rick Riordan's previous series, Percy Jackson. Also, the book is very long so it is taking a long time to et through. But, so far I think the plot is very interesting. I think it is a unique idea having gods being able to live in human bodies. I also like how magic takes a larger role in this series then Rick Riordan's other books. The characters Carter and Sadie are really well thought out and have unique personalities. Carter wants a regular life and while Sadie has always desired to have a life more like Carter's, traveling the world with her father. I also think it is interesting to have the younger sibling the one who is more relied on.

3. The theme of this book is concurring obstacles. Carter and Sadie have to defeat the magicians who are trying to kill them for hosting gods and he god Set is trying ti take over the world. Carter and Sadie are also supposed to stop Set from getting through with it. Carter and Sadie also have to save their father and Uncle. They also have to get over the obstacle of themselves. They are not used to all of these new abilities and they have to get in control of them, and learn about what they are if they ever want to accomplish anything.

4. My favorite character is Carter. Carter is a great warrior. He can conjure up an avatar that will do as he does, like a robot he controls. I also think it is cool that Carter has been referred to as the "Good King". It makes you wonder what kinds of powers he holds and what he is going to accomplish with them. Also, I like how determined Carter is to show that he too, is powerful and that he has confidence in himself, even if he might not realize it. Carter is very brave but also thinks things through.

5. My least favorite character is the french magician, Desjardins. He is sending people off to try and kill Carter and Sadie just because they are hosting gods. He is not even explaining to them what the problem is and is not giving them a chance to prove to him that they are good. Also he is not giving the gods to prove themselves good either, he just assumes they are all not to be trusted, when some of them can be trusted.

6. I predict that Carter and Sadie are going to head off to the South to find Set, because that is where Carter dreamed he was. But, on their way there Desjardins army is going to catch up with them and Carter and Sadie are going to have to fight them off. But, i think Carter and Saide are going to realize that they have the strength to defeat them.

Clarke Murphy
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Brian Selznick
Realistic Fiction
Holiday
Page 523

1. The book just ended and after a lot of time spent, Hugo figured out the mystery of the automaton, he finds out it was Georges Melies who built it. Also he finds out that Melies made hundreds of movies and Hugo loved movies. Hugo also finally got to see the end of his dads favorite movie which was also made by Melies. After a lot of inspiration from the movies Hugo decides that he will become a magician.

2. This was a very interesting book to read. There was not a lot of text in the book it was mainly pictures but as the saying goes "a picture is wort 1000 words". The pictures in this book certainly had a lot of meaning. Also i found it kind of interesting that the end of the book has a relationship with the beginning similar to that of To Kill a Mockingbird. This book was certainly an interesting read and the pictures really did tell the story.

3.A theme I noticed in the book was trust. Hugo had to trust Isabelle when she said she could take him to the movies even though he thought it might be a bad idea. Hugo also had to trust both his father and his uncle but mainly his uncle because he had to have faith that his uncle would teach him correctly and that he wouldn't just vanish one day like he did. Also Isabelle had to trust Hugo when he said that her grandfather (George) would know about the automaton.

4. My favorite character in the book was Hugo. I thought he had the coolest job of fixing the clocks. I liked how he could do things without people seeing him and I thought it was cool that he had a secret place to live that nobody else knew about. Hugo also was able to walk up the stairs and have an entire view of Paris from the grand clock. This would have been so cool for me, I wish I could have been in Hugo's little hideout.

5. My least favorite character was George Melies. This is because he was so stuck up and stubborn about everything. I found it quite annoying that he just threw out his past like that and he refused to talk about it or anything. He was a genius and yet he refused to accept it, he should have used the gift he had and created more movies but he didn't he just stopped. He hurt a lot of other people just so he could feel good about himself even though he wasn't even feeling that good about himself.

6. After finishing the book I thought to myself that there probably will not be another book. I think that there is no reason for a sequel the book stands fine on its own. However if Selznick were to make a sequel i feel that it would be about Hugo's career as a magician and maybe even a movie maker. But I think this would be redundant because when Melies' life is explained in the book it would be pretty much the same thing as Hugo's career.

Zoe H.

Zoe Hutcher
Flight to Freedom
Ana Veciana-Suarez
First Person Fiction
Just Right
27

1. Right now in my book the main character is waiting in line for there weekly amount of soap. While they are in a man falls down. A doctor came out of the crowd and announced him dead. As the line moved people just stepped over him like nothing ever happened. They did not end up getting any soap because they ran out but on the way home the family saw an old friend but they ignored them because the main characters family is leaving the country to escape communism.

2. The book is showing how hard it was for people in Cuba. It shows the fact of having to sign up to leave the country not just being able to sell your house and leave. You actually have to sign up for it and get your name on a list for the next plane that is leaving for Florida. It shows the truth of losing your job because you want to move.

3. The theme in the book is escape and trust. This family is escaping the lives they have to make there lives better. The theme is also trust because they have to trust their that they will come back to everything they are leaving behind after the country's government changes.

4. My favorite character is the little sister Ileana because she does not understand why her friends wont talk to her anymore. It is hard not to feel bad for her because she does not know what is going on and she is very confused on why they have to move and leave all of their things behind.

5. My least favorite character is Ileana's former best friend because she is ignoring the little sister because she is moving and does not believe in the form of government they have.

6. I think that next the family is going to move and have to adjust all of there living around everything. i also think that they are not going to be able to move back to Cuba.

Lauren white

Lauren white
chicken soup for the soul teen on tough stuff
Jack canfield,mark victor hansen, kimberly kirberger
short memoir
just right
256

1) right now in one of the many short memiors, a young girl who had a life that was good until her mom just disapearred only leaving a small note behind. she looked like a normal teenage but on the inside she was hurting really badly and she couldnt take it. so she would cut her hands and wrists. she only did this because it made the pain in side her go away. since the only way she could get her emotions out was to cut, she did. until it got out of control and she almost died. since she didnt like to share what she was feeling she wouldnt talk to anyone because she didnt really have anyone. her dad finally notice the scars and took her to get help.

2) I really enjoy reading this books, i like to read about real life stories and truthful stories that girols and boys go through. i know this mught be sad to say but i like reading about the sad stoires that have happened to many people in these stories. its shows me that i take my life for granted and i should just be happy because there a plenty of girls who's life may be worse. i also like readding them because some of them are heart touching when you read them.

3) A theme i have noticed in some of the many stories i have read is courage. In many of the stories kids have faced sickness and even life changing momments. in once story a boy got sick with a virus and he had to have his legs and arms amputated which was hard for him to deal with because he was a hockey player. With out this courage he wouldnt of been able to sirvive and would of died, also with out this courage he wouldnt of been able to learn to walk again.

4) My favorite character of these stories would be the characters that help out one another. In one story the i remember reading a girl got into drugs because she felt that no one liked her and no one was there for her. this girl was a loyal freind because through out her drug problem the girl stood by herside until she quit. these are the kind of people i think are good people thats why i like them.

5) my least favorite character are the bad people. in once story a drunk driver kill this ladys daughter. the daughter happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. i dont like these people because they could totaly have prevented this.

6) i think maybe a next story i will read will be sad because i have just reached the catogory of tough stuff which may indicate that something bad will happen.

AVON Walk For Breast Cancer

AVON Walk For Breast Cancer

Justine Regan
P.S. I Loathe You
Lisi Harrison
Realistic Fiction
Holiday
Pg. 156






1. Right now in my book, Massie is still competing with Layne to get to Dempsey's heart. Both girls are expecting Kristin to help them get him because, he just moved next door to her. This puts Kristen in a hard situation because, Massie and Layne HATE each other. Dylan now likes Derrington and is trying to convince Massie to give up on him and just work on getting Dempsey. Massie is beginning to figure this out, but Dylan doesn't know this yet. Claire and Cam's Relationship is going great, they are back together again and all is well. Alicia still likes Josh and everything is going great for them too, like Claire and Cam. Recently, Dylan and Derrington started dating, without Massie's permission and since then, they have been trying to keep their relationship a secret. Massie has now started her schools first ever cheerleading squad...for soccer. Everything is going great until, she falls on Dempsey during the game when he has the ball. Not only does the ball get stolen from him and the other team scores, but Massie hurt his ankle.




2. Although I really like this book, I don't feel like the book has a focus point. In all the other books so far, The books have kind of been mostly about Massie and Claire, but this book is more about the other three girls. This just bugs me, I feel like Massie and Claire should be mentioned way more then they are. It also bugs me that the girl's families are barely in the book, usually they are mentioned at least once. I think it's really interesting though that Layne and Kristen are secretly friends. I also find it really funny that Massie and Layne are competing for the same guy the way they are. They are really obvious and they don't seem to care abou how dumb they look.




3. The main theme so far in this book is betrayal. This is because, all the girls are going behind each other's backs trying to get the boy they like to like them back. None of the girls are acting like friends because, they have so many secrets that they are constantly worrying about. In Kristen's case, the reason the theme would be this is because, she is secretly friends with Layne, the enemy. Also Kristen is hesitant to help Massie get Dempsey so, by doing this Kristen is betraying Massie and Layne at the same time because, she isn't helping Layne either.




4. My favorite character is Claire. Even though she isn't really mentioned as much in this book, Claire is always trying to be friendly, understanding and fun. When the girls are hanging out together and for whatever reason things suddenly get really tense, she's always the one that will try to change the subject, lightening the tense mood. I also love how down to earth Claire is. No matter what anyone else has, Claire is always happy to have what she has. She never really complains about anything.



5. My least character is Massie, although I can sometimes relate to her. She is really spoiled and always just assumes that she will get whatever she wants no matter what. Massie doesn't mind being mean to people in order to make herself feel better. She puts down almost anyone- including her friends. I also hate that Massie never seems to think about others and what they may be feeling .




6. Next, I think a huge fight will break out between Massie and Dylan over Derrington. In the middle of this argument I also think that Alica Will show Massie the picture she took of Dylan and Derrington kissing. This will only make the whole issue that much worse and it will get Alicia caught in the middle of the fight also. I have a feeling that in the end, none of the boys are going to end up liking any of the girls because, during the fight they are about to have they will probably get really nasty with each other. This will show the boys a side of the girls they had never seen before, I think seeing this part of the girls will shock the boys.