Narnia.. Emily Ira

I am reading Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I am more than half way done with the book and it is SO good. I just got to the part where the kids all went into the wardrobe together and go to Narnia. They are wondering through the forest and they get lost. Edmund tells them to follow him because he knows where he is going. They end up at the White Witchs castle and the other siblings are scared to go in. But Edmund does so the other kids go with. I havent got any farther but im excited to read on. I think C.S. Lewis wrote this book to show that kids can have there own imagination and they love adventures. I dont have any questions about this book because I understand everything im reading and i have ideas of whats to happen.

The Serpent's Shadow Post #3

I am currently reading the book The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan. I decided to read it because Rick Riordan was one of my favorite authors when I was younger and I wanted to see if I still liked his writing. Right now, I am on page sixty-three, which is only about an eighth of the way through.

So far, the main characters Carter and Sadie Kane have gone to Texas to try and discover a way to kill Apophis, the Egyptian god of Chaos. They were unable to discover how to overcome Apophis, and the entire Fifty Second Nome was destroyed. This book is good because Riordan is using Ancient Egyptian mythology and giving it a twist by pairing it with a modern setting. I personally love mythology and find this book a unique and interesting way to write about it.

I'm not far enough into this book to know the author's intention in writing this book or the theme, but I hope to recognize them soon. The best character so far, has been Carter. He has grown from an awkward, shy, scared, but incredibly smart kid into a confident and wise leader. Now, he doesn't let the fear he feels in combat show, and he tries to stay calm to lead the younger magicians around him. One quote that really shows Carter's growth as a character comes from Carter's sarcastic sister Sadie, "I could almost imagine him as a leader of men without laughing hysterically." Some questions I had about this book are, why did the author write it, how will Sadie grow as a character, and will more characters be introduced?

Holes post #3

I am reading the book holes by Louis Sachar. I just finished the book. Stanley Yellnats escapes from Camp Green Lake after crashing the water truck into a hole. He finds Zero under the boat in the middle of nowhere. The eat this stuff called splugnish that they found under the boat. Stanley and Zero return back to the camp at night. They dig a hole and find this barried treasure and Stanley later returns home rich because his dad found out a cure for stinky shoes. I really enjoyed reading this book and like how Stanleys dad finds a cure to his stinky shoe problem. I think the author wrote this book because he maybe has encountered something like this in his, or he really likes digging holes. The theme could be coourage because Stanley has the courage to dig all these holes for something he didn't do. I think Stanley is the best character in the book because he drove the water truck into a hole, while trying to escape. A quote from the book is, "It was all because of you no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great grand-father." I have no questions.

Of Mice and Men (Post #3)

I read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In this book, two men, George and Lennie, find work on a farm after being chased out of time. George, a short and anxious man, takes care of Lennie, a huge man with a mental disability, as they work from place to place. At this new farm, they meet their cabin-mates and also the owners son, Curley, and his beautiful and flirtatious wife. Slim, the leader of the cabin, tells George and Lennie to stay away from her. Lennie is given a puppy, which he later kills by accident by stroking him too much. Curley's wife comes in and tempts Lennie to stroke her hair, which he does. He starts to panic and his grip on her hair is unbreakable, and by doing so she starts to scream. Lennie, again by accident and fear, kills her by snapping her neck. He is then hunted and so he goes and hides in the creek, where the story first begun. George then comes and sits by Lennie and tells him a story, but lifts a gun to Lennie's head and kills him.

Steinbeck never fails to disappoint; I loved this book. It was very short, but had a lot of emotion within it. Of Mice and Men reveals the way that mentally challenged people were treated in the 1930s. We read the book next year, so I'm sure that I'll learn that there's even more meaning to the book. I also really enjoyed this book because of how realistic it was, especially at the end. George would not have been able to keep moving from place to place with Lennie as he did before; this new job was perfect with and had the best opportunity for him to make it on his own. Sooner or later, Lennie probably would have gotten himself killed, and the way the he was killed in the book is so much more emotional. George had to put the bullet it his head, but I'm sure that Lennie wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I really have no idea why Steinbeck wrote this book. Again, his life is a mystery to me; I don't know much about it. He might have possibly seen some one treated horribly as in the way Lennie was treated and wanted to make it know. He maybe had a family member who was challenged. Or he just might have been interested in a character like Lennie; I don't know. Whatever his story is, he did wonders with this book.

The theme of this book, to me, is human nature and innocence. When you think about it, Lennie was just doing what he thought was right and okay; he meant absolutely no harm, like many people do today. The world was cruel to him, and that's not right. This will never change, however. And I think that's what Steinbeck wanted us to think about; humans will never change the way different people are treated. Ever since the beginning, we have not socially accepted people who are different, and that's not right or fair. People, no matter how they look or act, should be treated the same as any other person. The reality of this situation, though, is that it's an impossible task, to treat all the same. To wish for that is like wanting the sky to rain chocolate; it's not going to happen. Steinbeck wanted us to realize this, but not try to change it because it simply cannot be changed.

The best character is George. He displayed a lot of growth throughout the novel. In the beginning, he was slightly hot-headed and probably very tired of Lennie tagging along with him. He was also frustrated that they were run out of another town because Lennie held on to a woman's dress; but still, he loves Lennie. George likes to dream; throughout the book he and Lennie dream of a ranch that they will live on. They'll have, most importantly, rabbits for Lennie to care for. Lennit loves rabbits, but he improvises with mice, which he keeps on killing. At the end, George has to kill Lennie, which is the point where George has grown the most. I think that he knew all along that this would happen some day, but he was just wishing it off and pushing it back. Now, he must face the reality and do what is best for Lennie, even though it caused so much pain.

I believe that Of Mice and Men was named the way it was because of the resemblance of mice to Lennie; not physically, of course. Lennie, as montrous as he is, is very unknowing, shy, curious, and scared. Mice, though small, are also unknowing of their surroundings, cautious and wondering, and msot of the time frightened. Also, mice are so easily killed. Do you feel any type of sorrow when you kill a mouse? The answer is no...and in the 1930s, that's the way that they treated people like Lennie. Like he was just a tiny mouse, and deserved to be killed because he was curious. It's "curiousity killed the cat," not, "curiosity killed the man."

I have just finished reading the book Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. The book continued with Kevin tracking down Katie and trying to kill her because he is so upset that she ran away from him in the first place. Katie gets Kristen and Josh out of danger before running away from himtoo. The book ends with Kevin dying and Alex and Katie ending up together. I really liked this book because it had everything from mystery to action/suspense to tender romance. I think that the author wrote this book to try to communicate that true love can last through anything, even the darkest times of life. The big themes in this are romance and probably also suspense. My favorite charecter was Carly Jo, Alex's wife who died of brain tumors. "Jo" was Katies nieghbor and best friend, but was really Carly who came a more of a figment of her imagination and helped Katie realize that she and Alex were meant to be together. She is so kind and strong to do this and she really made the book more interesting.

Stargirl

Currently, I am reading the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I am about half-way through the book, and things are just starting to get interesting. Stargirl, a very interesting character started going to a public school in Mica after being home schooled for most of her life. Mica High School is a very monotonous place and the student body lacks individuality. Stargirl on the other hand, has a crazy personality. She enjoys dressing in crazy costumes, has a pet rat that she takes everywhere, sings and plays the ukulele during lunch, and changes her name to what she feels fits her. The students are just starting to accept her personality, and they're finding their own individuality. This book is interesting because of the way the author writes. Jerry Spinelli writes in an almost abstract way that gives colorful life to the words on the page, and vividly describes his characters. I think he wrote this book because he wanted to show us how many times in every day life we lose its meaning and "conform to the norm". He showed this through one of his major themes, which seems to be individuality. The best character in the book is Stargirl because she best represents the theme. She came to a place where every one was basically the same, and she was incredibly different. When the people around her tried to change her and make her more like them she stayed true to her personality. The people around Stargirl changed opinions of her, but she never really changed herself. The quote, "Then came the boos. She did not seem to notice." represents Stargirls unwillingness to recognize other people's dislike of her and attempts to change her. One thing this story makes me wonder is how can Stargirl be so oblivious? How can she not have an ego and not react to the things people say to her?

Mockingjay (Final Post)

Right now I am reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I am almost done with the book; I have about 45 or so pages left.

After Katniss gets saved by the District 13 rebels from her second Hunger Games, she decides to be the "Mockingjay," or the leader for the rebellion against the Capitol. After Katniss sees the Capitol bomb a hospital full of helpless people in District 2, she makes a propaganda video against the Capitol and airs it for all of Panem to see. Then Peeta reveals that the Capitol is going to bomb District 13 on camera. This results in him being tortured (Katniss even sees it on camera). Peeta's early warning allows everyone to get to the bunker safely. After the bombing, no one got hurt, but District 13 has suffered some damage. The rebels get Peeta and the other tributes from the Capitol. When Katniss reunites with Peeta, he tries to kill her because the Capitol used a form of torture that distorted his memories of Katniss and made them bad. This is very hard for Katniss because she realizes that she loved Peeta all along and he may never be the same again. Katniss decides she wants to fight in battle, so she goes through training and is sent to the Capitol. Katniss' unit and her film crew is sent of to film a propaganda video, but the Capitol attacks them and they are killed off until only Katniss, Gale, Peeta, and some of her crew are left. When the Capitol attacks, they are forced not to turn back so Katniss turns the mission into one to kill President Snow. Katniss eventually gets to the president's mansion where she sees Prim who is a medic. Katniss somehow catches on fire and and her sister tries to save her, but Prim dies in the process (sad face). When she wakes up, Katniss is at the hospital and she finds out that President Snow has been captured and awaits trial and the rebels are now in charge of Panem. This is where I last left off.

I'm not getting much enjoyment out of the book right now. It almost seems like Suzanne Collins wrote Mockingjay just so everyone could find out what happens in the end. I guess she didn't even have to write a fantastic book because people will still read it just for that reason. I think a theme the author wanted us to think about when she wrote this book is society. So many people die in this book, it makes you really think about how lucky we are to live somewhere that is relatively non-violent. Other people around the world are not so lucky. I think the reason that places around the world are so different in this aspect is because of how they are raised. This brings up the point of Nature vs. Nurture, which is the question of: Does how people are raised affect how someone acts, or are they born like that? I think Finnick is a very interesting character in this book. He is really funny, but he also is just a really good friend to Katniss. He knows exactly what she is going through because they both went to the Hunger Games twice and they both had someone they loved who was being held hostage in the Capitol.

My question: Why did the author have so many of the good characters die? Is is that essential to the story?

I Robot

Hi. Right now I am reading I Robot by Isaac Asimov. I am on page 91. Not much has happened in the book besides that these scientists are discovering that robots are gaining feelings and are developing wants of their own. I don't know if it is a good book yet since I have read so little of it. I am not sure what the theme is other than robots are starting to break the rules because they are finding loop holds within the three robotics rules. There has not been any character jump out and say I am the best because there hasn't been enough character development in the story. when will the good part of the story start?

Ty Appleget Post #3

I am currently reading a book called "The Sacred Acre"" The Story of Ed Thomas". This book is filled with love and it is devistating to think that this great man was killed. This is book a very sad story of Ed's life. I am so into this book that once you get me reading there is no stopping me. This book is by Mark Tabb and I hope he continues to right books for people like this because he did a great job with this one. I am about half through the book. I am at the part where an ef5 tornado had just past through aplington parkersburg and Ed is beginning to start to see the difficulty in rebuilding. This book is not only good but it is touching to learn the life of this great man that was murderered. The author wrote this because he wanted to tell the story of this great man who did not diserve to die. The theme of the book is how great this man was and that he did not diserve to die how many people loved him. A cool quote is " God gave us one important thing and that is the ability to choose." This is important because this is a quote he made to his students after the tornado. The one question I still have is, Why did the person that killed him have the motive to kill him?

the invisible man post 2

I am reading the invisible man by H. G. Wells. I am on chapter 9. So far a strange man has come to a small town that has been doing weird things. While hes been there strange things have also been happening. Stuff has been moving around and stolen without a trace. Just really weird stuff has been happening and know body knows why. I really like the book, because it keeps the reader in suppicision. I think the author wrote this book because he likes writing these kinds of weird books. The theme of the book is wonder.The strange man in the book is the best because we dont know anything about him. I stil do not know why the man is acting so weird around the town.

Mocking Jay

I am now reading the book Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins. I am about half way through the book and right now Katniss is in District Two. She is in this district to mourn over Peeta's condition. She has just gotten shot. Right now I totally hate this book! it is so frustrating when a character you like so much gets hurt or changes. This is what happened to Peeta. He doesn't know who he is.


I think the Suzanne Collins wrote this book because it is part of a series and she needed to finish how the Capital falls. I believe the theme of the book is dedication. Katniss dedicates herself to the rebellion and she dedicates her self to help Peeta remember what he had forgotten. My favorite character is Peeta because he is so strong and he truly loves Katniss and tries to protect her even though he is being tortured. He has grown in many ways. His love for Katniss grows stronger as well as his intelligence. He learns many things when because tortured. He sees the war from a third person view and sees what the outcome may be from both sides.


"There won't be enough of us left to keep going. If everybody doesn't lay down there weapons-- and I mean, as in very soon-- its all over, anyway." This is when Peeta, who is stuck at theCapital, explains on television how with out a cease-fire everyone may die and the human race would not be able to survive. This so cool because he is so smart to say this because it is a very important thing to consider. One of the main questions I would have for the author is why she made Peeta forget he is such a great character, why destroy him. I would also like top know why she makes Gale so easy to hate?

Post #3

The book I am reading right now is Around The World In 80 Days by Jules Verne. I am now on Chapter 27. In this chapter Passepartout goes out to the platform to take air for his next trip. In Chapter 28 the train leaves Great Salt Lake at Ogden traveling around the state. Passepartout grew more and more frustrated as the went on with there journey because he didn't want to go. I think that this book is very interesting and it is just getting better. The author wrote this book to tell us all about the amazing places in the world and it gives us a lot of information. Jules Verne seems to have a passion for history and how things worked in the past. The theme of this book is bravery. Passepartout had to be very brave to go on this long and scary journey. I still think that Passepartout is the best character because he is very brave and he takes a lot of risks in life. He has grown a lot from this adventure and he will grow even more towards the end of the book. “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.” is a cool quote in this book. I just says a lot about of strong a man can be. Some questions that I have about the book is when is there journey going to end and will they survive?

Post #3 Miracle

  I am currently reading The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder. I am about a third through the book. This book is about a seventeen year old girl who has been fighting cancer for years. The doctor tells her that there is nothing he can do anymore, and that she needs a miracle. So far in the book Campbell, the main character, has told just given background information about her life. She finds out from her doctor that science can no longer save her. Her mom is desperate to try anything so her family moves to a small town in Maine where it is rumored miracles happen. Cam, as she is called in the story doesn't believe in miracles, she is strictly a person of science. But she agrees to  go anyway just so she can get out of Florida.
   This book is kinda depressing, This girl has had cancer for years and she is told that she most likely won't live to see her eighteenth birthday. However, I really like this book it is funny and interesting. My favorite part so far is her Flamingo List, which is like a bucket list. On this list are some really weird things that she wants to do like; go cow-tipping, stay out all night, do some innocent stalking, wallow in misery all Saturday after getting her heart broken, and do some shoplifting. I like how unique this book is, Cam know that she is going to die and she has accepted it. So far she has been really calm aout the whole having cancer and not having a future to look forward to.
  I think this author wrote this book for people like Cam. People who have ben told that they are going to die and there is nothing the doctors can do for them anymore. I think that she wants to make people believe in miracles, that they do happen not to everyone but they do happen every once in a while. When all these people have left is hopes of a miracle then they need to believe in one. I think she is trying to say that miracles happen.
  The main theme in this book is don't give up. Even if there looks like there is no hope, and you have lost everything, Try to believe in the unbelievable and never give up. Miracles do happen.
  Cam is by far the best character. She is strong and courageous. Cam has been fighting this cancer for years and then suddenly out of the blue the doctor says that she lost. Science can't save her anymore. So instead of moping around until she dies and crying about things. She just wants to live out the rest of her life. Cam is a truly an amazing character the way she deals with knowing about her death. She hasn't grown much yet but I'm not very far into the book. However, I think that she will start to believe in miracles after being in that town for a while.
  An important quote from this book is, "Science is just not enough this time Campbell. What you need is a miracle." This quote is important because it is the reason Cam's mom decides to move the family to the miracle town for the summer. If this hadn't happened then Cam would still be living in Florida.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

   Never in my mind would I have considered picking up this book, much less thumbing through a few pages. I have seen it perched upon a few shelves, but I didn't think much of it. However, when my second grade teacher Mrs. Hanes gave each of her students a shining copy (free of charge) I did a double-take. Next thing I knew I'm reading it right smack dab in the middle of History class. Although I am only 37 pages in, which is somewhat understandable due to the fact that the reading level is a bit over my head. I'm glad it is though, I like a challenge. If Mrs. Hanes had not informed me that the book was written from the viewpoint of Death, the book probably would be collecting dust on my bookshelf due to frustration and bewilderment. I guess that side note is what roped me in to this particular book. 

   So far, Death has managed to set up a twisted base on his/her whereabouts and what they do on a daily basis. Death has seen "The Book Thief" three times. The sky three different colors each time Death has seen them; red, white, and black. The Book Thief aka Liesel Meminger is a nine-year-old girl on a train with her six-year-old brother, Werner and her mom. The train is headed down to Munich, Germany, where Liesel and her brother will be handed over to their foster parents on Himmel Street. Unfortunately, Werner doesn't make it. 

He collapses in his seat, dead. Where Death approaches and retrieves his soul. This is the first encounter between Liesel and Death. The sky is white. The train stops and after a crude burial of the small child, they continue on to Munich. Reluctantly, Liesel is passed over to Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Liesel finds terror in her first few nights in the small, foreign house, but comfort in the arms of Hans, who is like the father that Liesel never had. Rosa, however, is rough and cruel. She spits her words and bites off her commands. 

   Sadly, that is about as far as I ventured into the book due to the fact that I recently acquired it. Normally, books based off history aren't really my forte, but how this book is written makes a large difference. If someone had told me about a book that set place in Germany in 1939 during World War II, I would have walked off without a backward glance. I guess it's the way the words sort of melt together right off the page, but in such a way that you can still understand it. It's almost as if they've manifested poetry and combat and snapped them together in such a way that it fits.  

   To be honest, I haven't gotten so far into the book that I could understand as to why the author wrote this book. I haven't had enough evidence or experience to collect my comments about the meaning behind the words. Although, I have never actually read a book that was written from the viewpoint of Death themself. 

   However, I do have a theory. It may sound ridiculous or maybe even odd, but hear me out. You don't come about many people who enjoy reading about World Wars and combat and bloodshed (This is me being stereotypical, mind you) then you look at themes like Supernatural and Mystery and the unknown and extraterrestrial beings. The topics within themselves are interesting; I am a big fan of Supernatural myself. That is probably what mostly lassoed me in to this story as I stated earlier. 

  The characters that I've read about in this book are few and far between. So it may sound morbid when I say that my favorite character would most definitely be Death. They've mostly been the spotlight of the show until Liesel came into the picture so I got a good look at who exactly Death is. I've seen many different portrayals of how Death acts, may it be TV shows, video games, other books, movies, etc. This is hands- down my favorite "Death" They do not put on a malicious, stereotypical, evil, violent facade. They are not a skeleton donning a black robe and wielding a scythe like the infamous Grim Reaper. This Death is blunt, they speak their thoughts, but they don't think of themselves as a superior being to humans. Within the first page I knew I was going to like them, how they "speak" isn't hateful or wicked, and they execute each "job" without any errors or without breaking the invisible rules they enforce.

   Another reason why I really like this portrayal of Death is the fact that they do not have a gender. Most media sees Death as male, and goes on with their life, same way as many people see God as male. Now I'm not going to wade too far into the waters of religion because I'm keeping this blog post people-friendly. I wouldn't be upset if this book portrayed Death as just male or just female, although it may alter the reading experience in some unexplainable way. 

  If every author followed the example that Markus has set up (with exceptions.) Then I probably would read quite a bit more. They use personification flawlessly, in my humble opinion. I have never read any other instances in which the author has compared the sky to a hard candy, or a soul to melting ice cream. However, how Death talks is another predominant reason as to why they have grown to be my favorite character. "Here is a small fact. You are going to die. I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I am most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me." Notice how Death mentions that they are not nice, but they are neither mean nor violent (like I stated above) and that's only the first page. 

   As of now, no queries have entered my mind since the beginning of this book, although I'm positive I will have some as I read on. I guess this is because I've had to reread certain things to pick up on what Markus is setting out. I've even had to look up a few definitions to really get what is going on, this might frustrate me in the least, but it won't hamper my efforts to finish the book. However, I do really want to know more about why Liesel's mom handed her kids off to foster parents. Also, some pieces of the dialogue are in German and for some reason, seeing the foreign words compel me to translate them somehow. So I often wonder what they are saying word for word. I am one of those readers who fears they will miss out on something and find themselves hopelessly thrown astray in the twisted plot. A significant cause of my painfully slow reading habits. 

  

The Book Thief Raiden Takeuchi

Hi. I am reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. In the book a Girl (Liesel Meminger) and her brother are traveling on a train with their mother to munich where the Liesel and her brother had been adopted to a couple named Rosa Hubermann and Hans Hubermann. On the way to munich her brother dies on the train. They stop and bury him but when the grave diggers are walking away, she sees a book called The grave diggers hand book. She keeps the book as a reminder of her brother. When she gets to the house she has a hard time adapting for a while. She has nightmares every night about her brother. She quickly comes to like Hans who stays by her bed when she gets the nighmares. Hans teachers her how to read when she cant get back to sleep and they name it the Midnight reading class, and Liesel soon calls him papa. Rosa is not as quickly called mama but it happens eventualy. She is a tough mother that Liesel is afraid of but eventually loves like a real mother.  Liesel meets a friend called Rudy Steiner. They play soccer together and quickly becomes best friends. Rudy and Liesel start stealing food with a group of older bows because there is not enough food at home. They dont share it with their family for fear of getting in trouble. Liesel Helps her mother by taking washing and ironings to costomers. Slowly as the war beginns they lose all their costomers including the mayors wife. The mayors wife is a very quiet person who has an immense library and lets Liesel read the books. Once they cancel the ironing of the clothes Liesel gets mad at the wife and with Rudy Steals a book at night. over the length of the book she steals about three books from the her house even though the mayors wife has left notes saying I dont care just come in the front door and ask for the books. In a story Liesel figures out that Hans was in WWI and that his friend in the army died and he went to the wife and told her that if you need anything just ask. She was Jewish. When they were moved into the Ghettos she sent her son away (Max) and gave him the adress. The Hubermanns take him in in secret in the basement. Liesel and Max have a akward beggining but soon come to be great friends. After Hans getts in trouble for giving a different Jew on a death march some bread, he is sent to war. He breaks his leg a couple of months later and is sent home. Max has to leave and so does Rudy's dad for not letting them take Rudy to an advanced sports and acedemic school. ( he was smart and really fast). Menwhile during the whole story , Rudy and Liesel like each other but never say anything to each other. They both go through highs and lows throughout the story.  Max is walked through Munich on a marh with other .The mayors wife stops by one day to give Liesel some paper to write a story. She is writing a story called the Book Thief it is basically her story since she was adopted. She writes in the basement during the night to remind her of good times with Max. Just as She puts a period on the last sentence of her book a bombing raid starts and the sirens are too late to warn anyone in Munich. Her street is hit the hardest. Everyone dies on the street besides Liesel because she was her basement. The Hubermanns, Rudy and his Family, and others. She is adopted by the mayor and live a long life with three kids and married someone. I think it was a great story because it is told by someone who doesnt talk much. His name was death. Death told the story of Liesel. He wrote the book because he knew about girls getting whipped for giving Jewish people food on marches and he heard of a book thief in Sydne where he lives so he combined the topic. I think the best character was Hans Hubermann because he had the bravery to house a jew in Nazi Germany, to give bread to a Jew on a death march, and to face the wife of his best friend who had died, and to be willing to adopt a child in hard times. Liesel has changed since the beginning of the book from growing up, to finally making peace with here brothers death. Why did everyone have to die? Liesel, Max and Rudy's dad live but why did the other main characters have to die?

Post #2

I am reading the book Around the World in 80 days and it is by Jules Verne. I have just started Chapter 7 and it is getting better and better. Phileas Fogg was just told that he need to travel around the world and Passepartort was to go with him. He was very surprised to know that he was going around the world when he was just suppose to be a servant. Phileas Fogg and Passespartout are now depaturing from London. This book is very interesting because we get to learn about the past and Passespartout is going on an adventure as a servant. Verne wrote this book to show how even the poor can have adventures the theme of this book is bravery and she wants us to think about how Jean is very brave for becoming a servant for Phileas Fogg. Passespartout is the best character because he is such a nice man and he is a good person for being controlled his whole life. "Unlike you and your colleagues, money does not inspire me," this quote is very strong because it shows how Fogg is actually a good person. I wonder where their next destination will be.

Narnia

I am reading a book called Narnia. Narnia was wrote by C.S. Lewis and has wrote several other books to. I am about half way threw the book and it is a really good book. I am at the part where Lucy went into the wardrobe again and Edmund followed her in and he got lost. He found the The Witch and bribed him with food and she told him the next time he comes to Narnia he has to bring all his siblings and go to her castle. When Edmund finds Lucy and leaves and goes back into the wardrobe, all the siblings asked where they were at and Edmund denied he was ever in Narnia to make Lucy look bad and then she ran off cying. Thats as far as I am right now. I think the author wrote this book to have a funa dn adventureous novel that leads into all the other books. The big idea is that you can always have an imagination but  believe someone until they are proven wrong. I like Lucy because she is so inoccent but cute at the same time. "Just like a girl" caught my eye. It shows he doesnt care about how she feels just the way she is presented. My questions are how will the witch impact all the siblings and how will the profesor take this story from the oldest sister about Lucy's "made up story".

Perception Post #2

    I am currently reading Perception by Kim Harrington. Perception is the sequel to a book I read last year,  called Clarity. Clarity "Clare" Fern's family is psychic. Her mother is a telepath, her brother  is a medium who can contact the dead, and she can touch objects and see into their past, like memories or emotions. In the sequel she is no longer the freak at her school, people want to be her fake friend. She thinks that her biggest problems are trying to figure out which friends are real and which boy to take to Homecoming. That is until a girl from her high school vanishes and her secret admirer becomes a creepy stalker. Her brother, Perry, is having a hard time coping with the fact that he was accused of murder (from previous book) and I found out that the reason he is acting strange and mean is because he has panic attacks when he leaves the house and a "ghost" is haunting him and trying to warn him about who killed the missing girl.
     I really like this book. I like how the author started the book. She starts the book with clare having some girls life in her hands and she is suppose to kill her. The first page ends with her stabbing something. When I read this it got me really interested and I wanted to finish the book right away. I also like this book because it is different than what I've read before. The author's style of writing is great and like how she builds the characters in the book.
     I think the main reason that Kim Harrington wrote this book was to continue the story. At the end of the first book there were a lot of questions that were never answered. In the sequel she answers most of the questions I had from the other book. She wanted to build the characters more, to explain why they acted a certain way in the other book.
    One of the themes that I think she put in there was what is ment to be a true friend. In Perception, Clare is adopted into the popular group and she gets to see first hand how they treat each other. Clare never really had any friends before. Now she has a tone and she has to figure out who actually like her and who just wants to use her.
     My favorite character is Perry, Clare's older brother. Perry is still dealing with the emotional trauma that he went through durring the summer. He was accused of murdering a teenage girl, when police found out that he was the last person to see her alive. Perry decides that he isn't ready to go off to college after that so he stays home. At first I didn't like the new version of Perry, he was mean, rude and sort of wacko. But later on, the author says that he has a panic attacks whenever he leaves the house. He doesn't want to tell anyone because he doesn't want to worry them. In this book I can see him start to grow stronger, he starts to confide in Clare and asks for help. He realizes that there isn't any shame in asking for help.
   

Catching Fire (Post #2)

I read the book Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which is the second book in the Hunger Games series.

After Katniss won the games, the Capitol is angry at her because she may have started a rebellion. During the Victory Tour, on which Katniss and Peeta visit all the districts, Katniss tries to make up for this to keep her family safe. Katniss and Peeta still have to pretend they are in love and Peeta proposes to her. It doesn't work, however, and several districts have rebellions. For the seventy fifth Hunger Games there is a Quarter Quell (they happen every 25 years). For the Quarter Quell, President Snow announces that two victors from each District will have to be in the Hunger Games. Katniss has to go because she is the only girl victor from District 12 and Haymitch is drawn for the other victor, but Peeta takes his place. During an interview Peeta says that Katniss is pregnant (which isn't true). When the games begin Katniss immediately becomes allies with Peeta and several other. After a couple days when over half of the victors have died, Katniss realizes that the arena is like a clock and for every hour on the "clock"  there is a different attack. They use this information to their advantage and form a plan to take out their enemies. Before they can carry out the plan, one of Katniss' allies whom she dislikes rips open her arm with a knife. Katniss manages to make it back to the rest of the allies, but everything has gone wrong. One of her allies is dying but is trying to get Katniss to shoot an arrow with special wire attached to it through a weak spot in the force field that surrounds the arena. Katniss figures it out, and when she shoots the arrow lightning strikes the tree that the wire is wrapped around destroying the force field. A rebel ship from District 13 (it turns out that District 13 wasn't actually destroyed) comes down and rescues Katniss and several of her allies, but they are too late to get to Peeta and the Capitol takes him. Katniss' friend Gale is on the ship and he tells Katniss that District 12 was destroyed. That's where the book ends.

Catching Fire is a really good book; possibly even better than The Hunger Games. I like how the ending left me in suspense to find out what happened to District 12. The themes in Catching Fire are very similar to those of The Hunger Games, which I already posted about, but I did find a motif in this book. Mockingjays are a very big part of the series. The Capitol released a genetically-engineered bird called the Jabberjay to record the words of rebels, but they figured out and sent back false rumors to confuse the Capitol. To add to that, the Jabberjay mated with the Mockingbirds. The Jabberjays died out, but a new species called a Mockingjay remained. Mockingjays are used in the book to represent rebellion and freedom because of Katniss' Mockingjay pin and what she did with the poisonous berries in The Hunger Games. I like how Suzanne incorporates this into the series. The way she does it really amazes me. One of my favorite characters in the book is Finnick. He is Katniss' new friend and ally. He has a sense of humor, but when it comes to it, he has Katniss' back. A quote from the book is: "Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, you have provided a spark, that left unattended, may grow into an inferno that destroys Panem." This was said by President Snow to Katniss talking about the berries. It is an important quote because Katniss finally realizes she could cause the whole country to rebel.

One question I have is: Does Katniss love Peeta or not? I think does deep down and I really want her to, but it's hard to tell sometimes.

Post 2 Noelle

I am reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I have read through chapter eight. So far Robinson has landed on an island where he has lived alone for 25 years. Cannibals have now inhabited the island, and an escaped prisoner is now living with Robinson as he servant (because Robinson saved him). This book is getting more and more interesting, but it has not quite grabbed my full attention. I think the author wrote this to show the challenges and loneliness people may face living alone and abandoned. The theme is overcoming obstacles. The best character is Robinson, because none of the savages nor his servant have been very explained. Robinson has grown to be a very intelligent man who has used his resources to survive. A cool quotation is "Yet, the words sounded pleasant to Robinson's ears, for they were the first sounds of a man's voice he had heard in twenty-five years." This quotation shows how lonely Robinson was on the island. One question I have is: will Robinson's servant be faithful? Another is: Will the savages find Robinson's fortress?

The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud (Post #2)

Over spring break, I read The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood. The story revolves around Charlie St. Cloud, the protagonist. In his teen years, he was involved in an accident with his younger brother, Sam, who is killed; Charlie was brought back to life. Charlie also received a gift: he can interract with the dead, specifically his brother. Years later, he meets a girl named Tess, a sailor, and ultimately falls in love with her. It is later know that Tess was involved in a boating accident and is in "limbo" (in between life and death). So, she is basically a ghost. However, Charlie does find and save her, and life for them finally returns to normal. Charlie gave up his gift and the companionship with his brother to save Tess, which was extremely hard to do.
Previously when I read A Walk to Remember, I said that I don't usually read the lovey-dovey young adult book, like this. But, a few summers ago I actually saw the movie, and since then I've always wanted to read the book. After reading it, I found out that it's so much more than a love story between Tess and Charlie; the book actually focuses on the changes that people go through. Before the accident, Charlie had planned to go to college to play baseball, after the crash, he gave up on that dream and became a keeper of the grounds is a cemetry. Throughout most of the book, Charlie is extremely passionate about meeting with Sam every night in the woods, and never once did he miss a night in fear that Sam might fade away. As Charlie starts to fall in love with Tess, he becomes less dependent on Sam to make it through the day (meaning that he's finding a new reason to live for.) This book is very good because it displays how people cannot hold on to the dead; it destroys you. At the end of the book, Charlie does finally let go of Sam, and by doing that he is able to live his life fully. And, Charlie realizes that Sam will always be there; in the wind, in the water, in his dreams...he'll never leave. I think that its' also the message that Sherwood was trying to put out there; that loved one's that die never really do leave your life. They'll always be there. they're everywhere. Somewhere in your life, you will lose a loved one. You will go through the stages of grief, but in the end you should be able to accept what has happened. If you don't, like Charlie, then your life will be taken over by the dead; you'll lose yourself in your misery and never be the same. The thing that Sherwood is trying to make us think about is letting things that you love go; they never actually leave, though.
Charlie was the best character; he goes through a hige right of passage at the end of the book that really makes you think about life and death. At the beginning, I believe that Charlie felt that he was dead because he was so connected with his dead brother. As his life starts to change as he falls in love, it's like he was coming alive again. In the book, the man that saved Charlie's life in the accident dies and comes back to Charlie to speak with him. He tells Chalrie to not waste his second chance at life, go and live it. This really makes Charlie think about his life and how he has lived it for the part 13 years. At the end of the book, Charlie can finally move on from the death of Sam and begin to live his own life, one where some one who is alive is the most important thing to him, not the dead.
“That's death and life, you see. We all shine on. You just have to release your hearts, alert your senses, and pay attention. A leaf, a star, a song, a laugh. Notice all the little things, because somebody is reaching out to you. Qualcuno ti ama. Somebody loves you " This quote, really, just makes me smile. It makes you think about the little things in life, like Sherwood said, that make us happy; the things that we live for. I like this quote because it makes me feel as though things are not as bad as they seem; that there's always some one that will help you and love you. Another quote that I really liked was: “Trust your heart if the seas catch fire and live by love though the stars walk backwards.” This was the quote that was at Tess' fater's funeral. It means that when you trust your heart, you live. When you follow your heart, things will not go wrong. In the end, the right choice was made.
The only question that I have for Sherwood is: Who did you lose in order to write this book? I feel that to write about Charlie's character you would of had to experienced what he went through. Did he? What did Sherwood go through in order to write Charlie? A character that deep can only come through empathy.

Cameron Fitzpatrick Post #2 Game

 I am reading Game by Walter Dean Myers. I finished the book. Since the last time I posted, Drew has matured more and has given even more effort.  Drew wants to drop history (and English now) and would much rather play basketball or just do nothing during that time instead.  Because Drew has worked so hard, he no longer has the F in English or History.  Drew still goes in to the history class everyday after school and does an extra credit worksheets after school, because he wants to make sure he doesn't get an F in that class ever again. Drew is starting to like the history teacher more and more when he tells stories about his high school basketball team. Drew likes this because he loves playing basketball and he loves listening to stories about basketball. 

I liked the book because I like basketball, but I still don't like when the history teacher tells his stories, but other than that I thought it was a pretty good book.  Walter Myers wrote this book because he is personally from a bigger city, and bigger cities tend to have more people go out for basketball. The theme of this book is living in a big city where there are a lot of gangs and drug dealers, and how grades matter when it comes to sports.  Another theme would be school work, because Drew talks about how his friend has a D and is barely passing in history. The best character I think in this book is Drew.  Drew is the best character because even though he now is passing in History and English, he still works hard in trying to improve both grades to A's. An interesting quote from this book is from would be from Deante, one of Drew's friends and team mates when Deante said, "You better step your game up, coach is startin' to think you like that ol' history teacher more than him."  I find this interesting because Drew is trying to improve your grade, and because Drew mentions that Deante doesn't get a lot of playing time.  I wonder if Deante is starting to get jealous of Drew because he has better grades than him and he gets more playing time as well.

         I am currently reading "New Boy" By Julian Houston. The story takes place in a town in Virginia. It is around the time of  the Civil Rights Movment. The main Character is Rob Garrett who is 15 leaves Virginia for a Connecticut boarding school. His dad who is a dentist and his mom who is a  schoolteacher m are proud of their sons but anxious because he is the first African American to go the the Connecticut school called Draper. Even though Rob is a smart African American he is still hated because he is simply "black". I am only at the further beginning of the book and currently do not have any questions for the author. So far it seems like a good book and I am guessing that there will be a surprise event that is shocking because the story has been calm for all of the beginning and.

Holes #2

I am reading the book holes by Louis Sachar. I am a little over half way through the book right now. Stanley Yelnats is at Camp Green Lake and makes a lot of new friends. He gets a new nick name by his friends, he is called Caveman. He has a lot of trouble digging holes and really hates the councilor, Mr. Sir. So far the book is really interesting. I really like how creative all the peoples names are. I think the author could have written this book because he might have encountered something like this in his life time, or he could have had shoes stolen from him. The theme could be to have courage to serve a consequence that you shouldn't even have to serve. I still think Stanley is the best character because he is a very hard working and interesting guy. A quote from the book is, "It was all because of you no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great grand-father." I have no question from this book so far.

Hunger Games

Hunger Games:


I have just finished reading Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In this book A girl named Katniss Everdeen lives in a furturistic world in which a Capital is the main government. This capital is a tyrant. They force the many districts to partcipate in games in which 24 children fight to the death in an arena. Katniss Everdeen volenteers for her little sister Prim after Prim is picked. During the fight in the arena Katniss is forced to act like she is in love with a boy named Peeta in order to stay alive, but to him it is not just pretend. When it finally comes down to it they both get out of the arena alive and win the Hunger Games.


I love this book. Hunger Games is the perfect amount of action and romance. I love all of the charcters and Collins does such a good job of building each one its own story. I believe Collins wrote this for a way to show people that in the future this what are world could come to. I also think she wrote this book because it is just a new make believe setting where she can make anything happen, there are no ground rules on how society works.


In this book I think the theme is staying who you are. Right before Petta and katniss go into the arena, Peeta talks about not wanting to be part of the Capitals game. He wants to find a way to keep being himself and to show the capital that they do not own him. This is such a good message and is actually protrayed in the book. When Peeta and Katniss are the last two left in the arena they know that they will both not kill the other, so even though the capital says there can only be one winner, Katniss pulls out some poisonious berries and they decide to both eat them so that the Capital will not have a winner. This plan ends up succeding for both of them end up winning so there is a victor.


My favorite charcter is Katniss. She is so brave and she truly cares about others. She knows that by her volunteering for her sister she will die. This is so courageous. She grows though-out the book as a person. At the beginning of the book she explains how she doesn't have any friends. Katniss doesn't like making friends and she doesn't really like talking to people, but when she is at the capital she grows to find new friends and the ablitiy to talk to people in a kind way.


A cool quote from the book is when Peeta says, "She came here with me." This is when Peeta confesses his right now fake love for Katniss in order to get sponsers and support for in the game. This is so cool because it is what starts their romance that will become real. One of the questions I have for the author is why she named the games the Hunger Games?

Ty Appleget Post #2

I am currently reading a book called "The Sacred Acre"" The Story of Ed Thomas". This book is heart filled and heart breaking. This is book a very sad and yet interesting story of Ed's life. I am very into this once you get me reading there is no stopping me. This book is by Mark Tabb and I hope to some day meet him because he is a great person for writing this book for Ed Thomas. I am about half way through the book. I am at the part where an ef5 tornado had just past through aplington parkersburg and Ed is helping rebuild he is not giving up. This book is not only good but it is touching to learn the life of this great man that was murderered. The author wrote this because he wanted to tell the story of this great man who did not diserve to die. The theme of the book is how great this man was and that he did not diserve to die how many people loved him. A cool quote is " God gave us one important thing and that is the ability to choose." This is important because this is a quote he made to his students after the tornado. The one question I have is, Why did the person that killed him have the motive to kill him?

Im reading the book The Stranger. This book is by Albert Camus. I have read around a third of the book. So far the main characters mom died and he traveled to see her after her death. She lived in a kind of nursing home and had lots of older friends. They first had a ceremony for mostly the friends of his mom and him with the caretaker and a few nurses. I like the book so far but it is kinda of confusing to me I dont really understand where the ceremony is taking place and it's sorta of awkward to me. I think Albert wrote this book to show that there is always a tomorrow and you should learn to forget what you cant fix, this is shown when he loses his mom and he also ends up losing his dog later in the book. I think that this is also the theme of the book to learn to move on through struggles. I havent really met any other characters besides the main character, Raymond. Raymond has grown because he was strong with his mothers death and learned to get through it. I would like to know why Raymond didnt spend as much time with his mother before he death.

The Hunger Games (Post #1)

This post is about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I read the whole book in five days so I decided to do a post on the entire book.

The Hunger Games is a story about a 16 year old girl named Katniss Everdeen who lives with her 12 year-old sister, Prim, and her mother in Panem. Panem is where America used to be (the book takes place in the future). It is split into twelve different districts and the Everdeens live in District 12. Every year there is a ceremony called "The Reaping" to select two "tributes," a teenage boy and a girl, from each district for the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are held in the Capitol every year to punish the districts for an uprising that was years ago. They take place in a gigantic arena that looks like the outdoors, but is controlled with computers. The 24 tributes must fight to survive, meanwhile all of Panem watches live on television. Only one tribute can win each year; all the others must die. At The Reaping, Prim is selected to be a tribute, but Katniss knows she is too weak to survive so she volunteers as a tribute. A boy, Peeta Mellark, is the second tribute. They are taken to the Capitol where they are trained, coached, and given makeovers. When Peeta is interviewed on live television he admits that he has been in love Katniss since he first saw her. This makes Katniss furious, but Peeta tells her it is only an act for the audience to earn sponsorship. The Games begin and Katniss starts out on her own. She finds out that Peeta teamed up with a group of Career Tributes (kids who trained specifically for the Games). After finding a bow and arrow, Katniss forms an alliance with a young girl from District 11 named Rue. They carry out a plan to destroy the Career Tributes' food supply. Katniss finds out that Peeta is no longer teamed up with them and wonders if he is hurt. Rue is killed by a career tribute and Katniss covers her body with flowers. An announcer tells the Tributes they may team up with someone from their district, if he or she is still alive, and that they can both win the Hunger Games. Katniss hurries to find Peeta and finds him wounded very badly. She tries to nurse him back to health while pretending that she and Peeta are in love so they can get gifts from sponsors. Eventually everyone is dead except for Peeta, Katniss, and a Career Tribute named Cato. The three tributes are driven together by genetically engineered dogs that try to kill them. After a struggle, Cato is thrown down to the dogs. He suffers for hours and finally Katniss puts him out of his misery by shooting him. Katniss and Peeta think they've won, but an announcer says there can be only one winner now. They both decide to eat poisonous berries and die together, but the Capitol allows both of them to win before they do. Katniss discovers she might be in trouble because the Capitol thinks she was too rebellious by putting flowers on Rue and coming up with the berry idea. The book ends when Peeta and Katniss return to their district. One difference between the book and the movie is that in the book, the dogs are made to look like the dead tributes. In the movie all the dogs look the same and not like the dead tributes. Also in the book Katniss is given a mockingjay pin by her friend, but in the movie it is given to her by a women she trades with.

This book was very good! The author was so creative coming up with this idea for a book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, no matter what genres you prefer. I love how independent and intelligent Katniss is. She is by far my favorite character in The Hunger Games. The Games definitely transform Katniss. By spending so much time with Peeta, who is sensitive, kind, funny, and laid-back, she becomes more like him. Power is an important theme of this book, and Panem is an example of a dystopia. The Capitol is a government that obviously has too much control and Suzanne Collins wants us to imagine the unthinkable: that America might actually have a totalitarian government someday where we aren't allowed to have the rights and freedoms that we take for granted every day. Sacrifice is another theme. Katniss sacrifices a lot when she volunteers to take her sister's place at the Games. Katniss also sacrifices a lot to help Peeta when he is wounded. He is kind of a thorn in her side, but she heals him anyway. In my opinion the best quote in the book is: "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" It is said by Effie Trinket the announcer for The Reaping in District 12. It is a very ironic quote because a) the Hunger Games definitely aren't happy and b) the odds weren't in Katniss' favor because she was chosen. Also, when you are a tribute, the odds definitely aren't in your favor because there are 23 other people trying to kill you. A question I have about my book is: "What are the other parts of the world like when this story is taking place?" I'm curious to see if the other countries are as bad as Panem.

The Grapes of Wrath (Post #1)

I was reading (and finished) The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The ending of the book consisted of, mostly, the Joad family finding work picking peaches for very low wages. All of the family goes to work, but on the first night Tom was caught in the middle of a fight and killed a police officer after they killed Casy (the preacher). So, Tom must go in hiding while the others work. Shortly after this event occurs, an enormous storm rolls in and the place where the Joads were staying is flooded out. While the water is slowly taking their home, they are running out of food and supplies. Rose of Sharon, in the midst of all of this, delivers a still-born baby. After the birth, the Joads retreat and find shelter in a barn, where Rose of Sharon does a very controversial action.

The Grapes of Wrath is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. It was so amazingly tragic that at times I felt the need to stop reading; it was that...disturbing. Disturbing is a great word to describe this book, for it holds such horrible themes and unfolds such a heartbreaking story. Also, if people didn't know, this book is banned, still today, in many schools. It is banned, first and for most, because of the action that Rose of Sharon does at the end, but also because of the horrid story of survival that it tells. This is also why I love this book so much; it shows a truly horrid story. Most books today that have a tragic theme to it seem to somehow still have a happy ending. This book, however, does not have a happy ending; I don't even think that it has any happy aspects to it. Like I've said before, this book is realistic, and that's also why many people don't enjoy the book.

Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath to show, realistically, what happened to lower class people during the depression, and overall to display pain and suffering through the eyes of one whole family.

During the time, I'm sure that there weren't many books published displaying the cruelty of the Great Depression, so Steinbeck really put his reputation on the line after writing this book; I'm so glad he did, though. He made known the pain, real horrifying pain, that average families went through...this is also the theme of the book.

The best character of the book was Ma Joad. She was incredibly strong throughout the whole book; she was actually the one that had to keep the family together when times were tough. And then, at the end of the book, she actually took over the head of the family. Pa said himself that she was taking over his spot as man of the family; that shows how strong she was and how she had to be the rock to everyone else. Throughout the whole book she was this way, but I had to finish the book to truly realize how much of a tragic inspiration she is.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." This is a quote that I really liked, but unfortunately didn't understand very well. I won't say anything more about it, but I really liked the sound of it. Another quote is: "How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other." This quote explains greatly the pain that these people had to go through as they watched not only themselves starve to death, but their children. I don't have a child, so I wouldn't know what that actually feels like, but from what I've been told, it's the worse pain imaginable.

My only question for Steinbeck remains: What truly gave you the inspiration to write this book? I only wish that he was alive so I could ask him.

Cameron F post #1

I am reading Game by Walter Dean Myers.  I am currently on about page 200.  Since the last time I posted, Drew has matured more and has given more effort in school than ever before. However, there was a really hard history exam that Drew bombed, so he has an F in history.  Drew wants to drop history and just play basketball during that time of school instead, but of course his parents don't let him.  Because Drew has an F, he is not allowed to play basketball for his team.  Drew has to then go in to the history class everyday and do extra credit worksheets after school just to make his grade go up.  Drew didn't like the history teacher, but the more he goes in after school, the more Drew likes the teacher when he tells stories about basketball.  Drew likes this of course because he loves playing basketball and wants to continue to play basketball through college. 

Right now, this book has its ups and downs, I don't like when the history teacher tells his stories, but other than that it is a pretty good book.  I think it will get better because eventually the history teacher will run out of stories.  Walter Myers wrote this book because he is personally from a bigger city, and bigger cities tend to have more people go out for basketball.  The theme of this book is living in a bad neighborhood, where there is a lot of crimes.  Another theme would be school work, because Drew talks about how his friend has a D and is barely passing in history.  The best character is Drew because even though he has a bad grade, he puts a lot of effort into trying to improve his grade.  An interesting quote from this book is from Iago, one of Drew's classmates and team mates when Iago said, "How come you spend more time with that old history teacher than you do your home boys down on the court?"  I find this interesting because you can tell Drew cares more about his grade than Iago does, and if Iago is failing one of his classes, then he should be worried about trying to get his grade up.  I wonder what Drew is actually feeling he should say to Iago about his grades.

sense and Sensibility post 1

   I am currently reading the classic, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.  I am currently at chapter eleven. So far in this book the main characters, Elinor and Marianne's father has died. They and their mother Mrs. Dashwood and younger sister Margaret we originally living with their half-brother until they found a affordable place to live. At their half-brother's house Elinor meets Edward, who is Mrs. John Dashwood's    ( the brother-in-law's wife) brother. Elinor likes Edward very much but they find a new house to live in and so she must move away from him. She does however, invite him to come and visit/stay at her new house and he says that he will, but he hasn't come yet. At the Dashwood's new house Marianne meets Mr. Willoughby who she considers the 'perfect man'. He likes all of the things that she does and he meets all of he expectations that she has for a man. Right now the book is mainly centered around Marianne and Willoughby's relationship.

   This book is interesting. I don't really like it because it is hard to understand and some of the characters have close to the same names. It is also sort of boring. This book talks a lot about what is good behavior and what isn't. The characters judge the other characters strangely and it is sometimes hard to understand what a person is saying and what it means. This book isn't entirely bad, it has some interesting things that happen but it isn't a great book that someone would want to never stop reading.

  The main themes in this book that are mentioned often are sense and sensibility, obviously because of the title. In each of the chapters I have read I've encountered at least one if not both of these words. This usually portrays to one of the characters. When Elinor or Marianne describe a person they say something to do with the person's sense or sensibility and if they have good or bad sense.

  I don't really have a favorite character , but if I had to choose then it would be Elinor. She is the smartest, level-headed, and she is kind and polite to everyone. Marianne seems a little too snobbish and judges people and first impressions to harshly. I also think that she has an unrealistic idea of what a 'suitable' man should be like, she has so high of expectations. It is to early in the book to see much of a change in the characters but I'm hoping that the author will build more on all of the characters in the book.

One question that I have about this book is the way Jane Austen writes peoples age. In the book they say "of five and twenty years of age", and I was wondering if that is how they really spoke during the Dashwood's time or if the author added it to make her book more unique or to make the readers think more about what they're reading.


 

Post #1

I am now reading Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. I finished Chapter 1 and am now starting  Chapter 2.  Right now in the book the narrator is talking about all these interesting and important people in the United Kingdom. A professional french man-also known as a monsieur- needed a servant so Jean Passepartout went to go and talk to him. Phileas Fogg, the professional french man, mad him his servant. So far the book is kind of boring because it just tells you all the history of this famous people.

The author wrote this book to tell us about the history of the world. It tells us a story about people and their journeys. I think Jules Verne liked reading about the history of the world so she thought this book would some up some of the stories of the past. The theme of this book is bravery and she wants us to think about how Jean is very brave for becoming a servant for Phileas Fogg.

So far in the book Jean Passespartout is my favorite character in the book. He is a honest man with great manners and is serviceable. Throughout is whole life he has been a servant for many masters and thats what makes him a strong person. An important quote is "Passespartout suits me" because it shows that Fogg is now the controller of Jean. Why is Jean such a nice man after being controller his whole life? I want to know if Fogg really does appreciate Passespartout.

Narnia... Emily Ira

I am reading a book called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. I am only like a couple chapters into the book. When Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy go to this mansion because there house was being bombed because of the war. Lucy went into a wardrobe and kept going back and fell into some snow. Then she met a goat/human named Tumnus. I like this book because it is adventures and you never know whats going to happen next. To show that you can be adventurous and not get in trouble for it.  I think her motivation was for her to write about what kids want to actually do instead of just sitting playing with toys, they want to be adventurous and explore the world when they are little. I don't think this book has a theme or I just don't know it yet. I like Edmund because he is so smart and always thinking ahead but I like Lucy too because she is so nice and sweet and always wondering about something. "perhaps may I have your handkerchief." I like this quote because he asked to keep it so she will come back later and get it just so he can see her again. And I thought this was cute. I wonder what is going to happen when the witch finds out that Tumnus had a human in his house.

I have been reading Precious by Sapphire. I am almost to chapter two and I am already drawn in, Claireece Precious Jones (Precious) Is a large African American 16 year old girl who lives in the ghetto of Harlem. She has been raped by her father since she could ever remember, when she was twelve years old her father got her pregnant. Her baby was born with down syndrome, Precious, showing her ignorance says "My daughter got Down Sinder. She's retarded." When her daughter was born she was very emotional about it, she didn't want it. Her mother beats her often and when she does Precious describes it as "I felt pain again." I really like this book, it is drama filled and challenging to understand because of the slang in the text. I think that maybe the author went through the same thing or knew someone who did. In depth it shows how bad the ghetto really is and shows how bad people's lives in America can be. I think the author wants us to think about acceptance, because Precious hasn't been accepted by anyone yet and I think that later in the book she will find someone to accept her or she will learn to accept herself or her babies. Precious hasn't made much change in her character yet but right now she is a very angry person, she is rude and not willing to learn. I wonder how far she will come with finding herself and if she does learn to accept herself and her children

Noelle Martin post 1

I am reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I have read to the fifth chapter. So far in the book, Robinson has gone on a voyage to get slaves for his plantation, but a huge storm hit and he was washed up onto an island where he has to make tools to survive. He has been on the island for a year and he has successfully learned the skills of hunting, baking, farming, and carpentry. The book isn't very interesting right now, because Robinson hasn't been faced with any really difficult challenges, so the book isn't very good yet. I think it will get better though. I think the author wrote this book to show how you can be thankful even if you have very little, because Robinson is thankful even though he is stranded on an island. The theme goes along with the author's motivation, be thankful for what you have. The best character is Robinson, because he is the only named character besides his dad. He has grown in his skills, but not in anything else quite yet. An interesting quote is "So for another year, Robinson could only dream of going to sea". This is ironic, because he ends up being stuck on an island in the middle of the sea for over a year. I am wondering what challenges Robinson will face on the island.

Noelle Martin post 1

I am reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I have read to the fifth chapter. So far in the book, Robinson has gone on a voyage to get slaves for his plantation, but a huge storm hit and he was washed up onto an island where he has to make tools to survive. He has been on the island for a year and he has successfully learned the skills of hunting, baking, farming, and carpentry. The book isn't very interesting right now, because Robinson hasn't been faced with any really difficult challenges, so the book isn't very good yet. I think it will get better though. I think the author wrote this book to show how you can be thankful even if you have very little, because Robinson is thankful even though he is stranded on an island. The theme goes along with the author's motivation, be thankful for what you have. The best character is Robinson, because he is the only named character besides his dad. He has grown in his skills, but not in anything else quite yet. An interesting quote is "So for another year, Robinson could only dream of going to sea". This is ironic, because he ends up being stuck on an island in the middle of the sea for over a year. I am wondering what challenges Robinson will face on the island.

     I have just finished reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. This novel is about a man named Logan Thibault who, while in the military, finds a picture of a young woman in the dirt. After a while, he keeps the photo as he begins to realize it is bringing him good luck, something he needs in the midst of war. His best friend Victor tells him its his lucky charm, which Logan thinks is completely ridiculous. But he still keeps the photo with him.
     Three years later, he sets off on foot across the country with his German Shepard, Zeus to find the woman simply because, after all that's happened since he found the photo in Kuwait, he feels like he owes her something. He just doesn't know what.
     Once he finds her, Beth, and takes a job at her Grandmother's home-run kennel, he begins to learn about her and connect with her and her family, especially her ten year-old son, Ben. Slowly but surely they begin to fall in love, however, Logan's photogragh remains a secret from Beth.
     I really enjoyed reading this book because you never knew what was going to happen next. It always kept you wondering who was going to make the next move between the three main characters (Logan, Beth, and Beth's ex-husband, Keith). The book also kept you wondering when Logan would tell Beth about the photo of her he has with him, and the real reason he came to Hampton, North Carolina, the setting of the book. I think the authors motivation for writing this book was to teach us how crazy things can happen in life and how we just have to go with them because everything could turn out for the best in time.
      I think the main theme in this book is fate and that Nicholas Sparks wants us to think about how something out-of-the-ordinary could prove to be extraordinary if given the chance. He also wants us to see that change isn't always a bad thing.
     My favorite character is Beth because she's smart and incredibly kind. She has worked hard her whole life and always put her son, Ben, before herself. She is also always there for her Grandmother, who has taken care of her almost her life. In this book she grows in how she is able to give Logan a chance in her life when she realizes that although he has a strange story about his past, he is a great person who, most importantly, treats Ben like his own son and becomes his friend.
     One quote I like from the book is "...some of the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people." I think this quote is important because it talks about realizing the simple joys in life that can make it so great to live.
One question I have about this book is: Did the photo actually bring him good luck, or did he just grasp on to anything that gave him hope because he was a soldier caught in a dangerous war?

The Iliad raiden

Hello I am reading the Iliad by homer translated by Bruce M. King and Ennis Rees. I am reading the Barnes and Noble edition. I have read to page 78 out of  528. In the book the Acheans have landed on the     Trojan beach. Right now the Acheans are just kinda hanging out on the beach waiting for the leaders to say attack. The Trojans are waiting for the Acheans to attack. Meanwhile Achilles mother, Athena visits her son and tells him that if he fight for the Acheans then he will gain honor and his demise, but if he doesn't fight he will receive a happy life. then Athena finds out that Agamemnon has taken Achilles war spoils, a women he found named and then Briseis. Now the Acheans are getting ready to attack and the Trojans are getting ready to defend. What will happen next? I think this is a good book because this is the kind of action book I like that is a lot more descriptive. I am not sure why Homer wrote the story because it was defiantly not for money so it was probably to tell historical events. I am not sure there is a theme other than a lot of people want to kill the Trojans. The best character is defiantly Achilles. He is the best Achaean fighter on the Trojan beach. I don't think he has changed at all since the beginning of the book. Is there a really easy translation because all translations I have tried area a little crazy, this one is OK but if anyone can find an easier on that would be great.

the invisible man

I am reading The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. I am on page 34 of 196. So far the book has been pretty weird. This man showed up in Bramblehurst, and stays in a motel. He is very suspicious because he is covered up from head to toe in clothing. He starts doing very strange stuff, and he has tons of luggage which ends up being bottles. Anyway when the delivery man delivers his luggage his dog bites the strange man. He runs to his room, while the manager rushes to check on him. The manager enters the room, looks around, and doesn't find the man. All of the sudden the manger is shoved out of the door by an invisible force, and the door closes. Its some pretty weird stuff. I like this book a lot. Its kind of mysterious. I think this author wrote the book because he was a writer and had a very good idea for a book. So he just made it. The theme is mystery because you don't know what all is going on. I like the strange man because you don't know very much about him, and its kind of cool. I don't get why the strange man doesn't just sneak around, because he's invisible. He could just stay at someones house without them knowing. He is invisible.

Holes #1

I am reading the book Holes by Louis Sachar. I am like a third of the way through it. Stanley Yalnats is the main character of this book and gets in trouble for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He gets hit in the head by these stolen shoes and the police convict him of stealing the shoes. He is sent to Camp Green Lake for a punishment. I really like this book, it is very interesting. So far it is pretty interesting because stanley encounters a yellow spotted lizard. The author might have written this book because he must have encountered or saw someone that has stolen shoes or something and wanted to write a book about it, or it could be about his childhood. The theme is to have enough courage and will to suffer the consequences that you shouldn't have to. Stanley Yelnats is the best character because he's the knew kid in the camp that is smart and strong willed and he is the only one i really know about. A quote could be, "A lot of people don't believe in yellow spotted lizards, but you will if one bits you." I have no questions right now none.

Ellen Foster

Ellen Foster:

I am now reading the book Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. I am about a few chapters in and so far I am very confused. The main character has no name, and to make it in worse there are two realities. A girl is in a bad home with an abuse, drunk dad and then her mom dies because of him. Right now she is riding in a limo to her moms funeral with some of her relatives. What really confuses me though is then there will be a break in the text and she will wake up in this world where she is rich and her new mom makes her cookies and she has ponies. It is so confusing and weird!!!! I don't really like the book because I am just really confused.

 I think Kaye Gibbons wrote this book to make people feel sorrow and to write in a unique format. While she wrote this book I think she wants us to see the message of responsibility. At the very beginning of this story, before the mom dies, the main character takes the task of trying to help her mom with choirs and with keeping her dad calm so he will not hurt them. She definitely a strong and independent girl.

Because I have not read very far in this book my favorite character is the main character because she is courageous and strong. She tries to get though the day with out getting to angry and frustrated so her dad does not fight with her mom. I very much admire her because I was in her situation I would go crazy.

"I always want to lay here. And she moves her arm up and I push my head down by her side. And I will crawl in and make room for myself. My heart will be the one that beats. And hers has stopped"
This such a cool quote because it shows her love for her mother. This quote shows their relationship and the last moment they had together before she died.

I have many questions about this book. One of them is why the heck did she have to write in such a confusing way?!? I also would love to know why the author would kill the only good thing in this girls life. Finally I kinda want to know why the book has no quotes?...why is it only the girl's thoughts?

Post #1

Currently, I am reading the book I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. I am nearing the end of the book and haven't decided if I will read the next book in the series or not. So far, John and Henri have remained in Paradise, Ohio, because John doesn't want to leave his friend Sam and his love Sarah. The Mogadorians found them though, and now they have to fight for their lives. This book seems okay to me, but isn't anything stellar like I was hoping it would be. Sometimes the story is slow, and nothing seems to happen for awhile. This made me not want to continue reading, but I did. I'm not sure why the author wrote this book, but it might be because he wanted to be an important character in a book. The alien home planet was named after him (Lorien), and in the back of the book it said that Pittacus Lore was Lorien's commanding Elder, and he is preparing Earth for war. The main theme of the book is fighting for what you believe in, and not giving up hope. John has had to do this many times already. When Henri kept trying to leave Paradise John had to take a stand, and tell him they wouldn't leave. John loved Sarah, and Sam was the only friend he had ever had, so he couldn't just leave them. John also has to not give up hope because the Monadorians are hunting him. They outnumber the Loriens and the Loriens have almost no chance of surviving, but John has to learn to keep fighting. This is reflected in the quote, "And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope." John is the best character in he book because he has learned the most. He seems to have become wiser as the book progresses, and gained maturity. He's stopped running away from fights, and has learned to take a stand for what he believes in. I am wondering why the author chose to put himself into the story, and why did he call the planet Lorien? I also want to know if there are any motifs in this book.

Ty Appleget Prelim Post

Hi the book I am reading sounds like a thriller. The book I am reading is called The Invisible Man. So far it is about a man who covers himself comepletely. He doesn't let anybody see him even when he is inside. When there is a fire lit insidehe still kept his clothing on. Some questions I have are: Will anyone ever find out?, Will he cause any trouble to the people and how?, Could he be good or bad?, and Will he ever reveal himself to anyone?

Preliminary Posts

If you've just picked out a book and/or begun to read, please feel free to publish a preliminary post.  This is just a quick post that tells me what book you're reading and who wrote it.  You may also want to post a prediction or ask any questions that come up as you're looking the book over or reading the first few pages.

This does not count as Blog Post #1.  It might be easier if you make the title of your post  "Prelim. Post on >insert title here<."

Please go back to the first posts and re-read the criteria for this project (what you need to do in each post).  If you are unsure about anything, please ask.

Happy Reading!

I Am Number Four

I am currently reading the book I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. Right now I am on page 53. This book is about a group of beings who were sent to Earth from a different planet because their race was being killed off, and they have to live among us. They are incredibly strong and fast, but otherwise look like normal humans. So far, three of the beings have been killed and John Smith is number four. He and his guardian Henri just moved from Florida to Paradise, Ohio to escape the Mogadorians. I like the book so far because it didn't have a very long exposition and got right into the rising action. It's to see any themes, but I have started to see a change in the main character. John Smith started out the story as a shy guy that mostly kept to himself. However, on his first day at his new school he stood up to the school bully and made friends with a pretty girl named Sarah Heart. These lead me to think that there might be another side to John I have yet to see. One of the most important quotes from the book is "They are hunting us, and they won't stop until they've killed us all. I am Number Four. I know that I am next." John said this right after he discovered Number Three was killed and the Mogadorians would all start to come after him. I am really curious to see if John can continue to out run them, or what he will do if they find him.

I just finished reading the book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. This was the third book in a series called "The Hunger Games". In this book the main character Katniss Everdeen has to decided whether or not to be the face of the rebellion she started with her first hand full of poisonous berries, and truly embrace the mockingjay she represented to the people. The two major themes that stuck out to me in Mockingjay were  finding the balance of humanity in war (doing what is morally right), and being your own person. Gale was the perfect example of going against what was morally right. He was so blinded by his hatred for the Capitol that he was willing to condemn anyone associated with them to a death that the Capitol would have given any rebel. He had no problem killing a whole mountain full of people with the justification that the Capitol would had done worse. Being your own person is a theme that was mainly centered on Katniss and Peeta. Peeta first told Katniss before the first Hunger Games that he wanted to die who he was, "to show them I'm not just a piece in their games." Katniss was again reminded of this by President Snow. He asked Katniss if she really knew the rebels or if she had yet again been used in some one else's game. The three characters that changed the most were Gale and Katniss. Gale during the war seemed to become a different person. He helped to make weapons and bombs that prayed on human sympathies and emotions. He also became indifferent to the survival of humans and his relationship with Katniss distanced. Katniss herself was ravaged by the war. She had lost so much and seen so much evil that she feel into a deep depression. This was so different from the bristling fierce girl we first saw who fearlessly took her sister's place in the reaping. After Katniss came out of her depression she started to see the beauty of life and even started to let herself love and be loved again. I think this new view Katniss had made her the best character because it showed that even seeing the worst things in the world life goes on. This is reflected in one of my favorite quotes of the book, "The promise that life goes on, no matter how bad our losses." I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone to read of either gender, and any age.