READING RESPONSE: RUNNING ON THE CRACKS BY JULIA DONALDSON

I have finished 'Life of Pi' by Yaan Martel, and I have begun 'Running on the Cracks' by Julia Donaldson, and it appeared very interesting. In the first few chapters I've read, I can gather that the main character is called Leo, and she has run away from her family. I'm still not sure why she ran away, but I assume I will learn soon. Finlay, a paper boy, comes across Leo when reading a section in the news labeled 'Missing Persons', and is determined to help her. At first, Leo was wary of him, and what his true intentions were, but now she trusts him. Finlay and Leo have already gone on many adventures, trying to avoid the police looking for Leo.

The inquiry question I chose for this book is 'Whose perspective is missing in this text? What would it be like if we put it back?' This book is mainly the perspective of the main character, Leo, although some chapters feature her sexually abusive uncle. The perspective missing is that of Leo's cousins, who bullied her, which is also another reason of why she ran away. I think it would be interesting to include these opinions, as it would show their reactions and whether or not they show remorse for driving Leo away.

I predict that Leo will be caught by the police or someone aware that she is a runaway. She has already had many close encounters and had to hide out at Finlay's house for a couple days. Leo probably won't last much longer without someone noticing her. I wonder how her family will react.

The author, Julia Donaldson, is a particularly interesting writer. This is her first young adult book, as she used to write children's books. Her most popular books are 'The Gruffalo' and 'The Gruffalo's child'. She also writes the book in different perspectives, such as the protagonist Leo, her sidekick Finlay,one of Finlay's relatives, Kim, and Leo's uncle.

So far, this book has been an amazing read, considering it is her first young adult book. I highly recommend it.

READING RESPONSE: LIFE OF PI BY YANN MARTEL

I am reading a very interesting book called the Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Although I am barely five chapters into the story, I can already see the book's potential. Using my knowledge so far I know that the book is told from the perspective of an Indian man looking back and reflecting on his past, starting from when he graduated college. This man is called Piscine Molitor Patel and he is narrating the story and informing the reader about his life when he was younger. 

Piscine, the main character, is a very clever (he graduated with double majors in religion and zoology) and thoughtful person. I predict that Piscine will tell us about his earlier years and will lead up to his great past adventure. I can relate to Piscine, and his yearn to reveal his past and the good times he had. I sometimes have the similar feeling of wanting to dive into the depths of my fondest memories of the past, and to embrace and reflect on them.

The social issue question I chose for this book was 'how does this text address the points of view (perspective) of other groups, especially those who usually don't get to tell their side?' This book largely focuses on the perspectives of the animals that Piscine is trapped on the boat with. Although the animals don't physically speak, the author focuses on their actions to show how they feel.
 

The author, Yann Martel, is an extremely descriptive writer. He makes the vibrant colors and feelings of the character's past come to life and explode in a shower of remarkable writing.He manages to somehow grasp the exact description of each moment and make it seem s real. I love reading his work because it makes me feel as if I am actually in the moment, and experiencing all the same feelings and thoughts as the main character.

I think Yann Martel wants us to comprehend our pasts and wonder about our futures, just like Piscine.  I think about the interesting way the author sets up the book, starting from the past and leading up to the future, but in the end, I actually makes the book more enjoyable. 

READING RESPONSE: THE PRINTER'S DEVIL BY PAUL BAJORIA

Currently, I am reading Paul Bajoria's "The Printer's Devil". This story takes place in Victorian England with a young orphan boy named Mog Winters. He embarks on a mystery involved with a ship's cargo, a murderer, and all the criminals in London. An important part in the book is when the main character Mog, discovers thieves stealing treasure and pursues them, only for them to kidnap him, which puts him on the trail of the mystery. This shows that Mog is an adventurous, curious, and daring character.

I admire his impulsiveness and how he relies on his instincts.I predict that with his now extensive knowledge of the mystery, he will be faced with many tricky and dangerous situations, and will meet another character to aid him on his mission. I can relate to Mog and his constant yearn for adventure. 

He also reminds me of another character, in the book "The Ruby in the Smoke" by Phillip Pullman. This book also takes place in victorian England, but with a spunky female lead who gets caught up in a mystery as well. 

Paul Bajoria uses many adjectives and descriptive actions in his book, which allows the story to become more exciting and suspenseful. I believe the author wants the readers to think about the experiences and joys of childhood, just like what Mog is going through in the story.

I often ask myself questions about Mog's recklessness and why he listens to his heart and not to his mind, but in the end I realize it is because he is still young and is trying to live his life to it's full potential. Throughout the story, after going through countless dangers, Mog becomes older and wiser, and his wisdom often comes from past experiences. This book is very touching but still tough and action filled, and I am enjoying it very much.

Cut and paste advertisements from a newspaper or magazine that make you react in a way that questions their motivation. Write about what you believe advertisers are trying to get you to think about.

“Peta”, a group working towards the ethical treatment of animals, presented this advertisement on multiple billboards. Normally, I agree with Peta’s arguments, as I am almost fully vegetarian myself, but when I saw this advertisement, I was shocked. I believe this advertisement was aimed to encourage people to become vegetarian by including a picture of a slightly chubby woman, as if to say that meat makes you gain large amounts of weight. Meat does in fact add to your weight, but only when multiple portions are consumed over a long period of time. This advertisement was urging women to become vegetarian to lose weight, which is a horrible incentive that will just make women feel more insecure about their bodies.

Should Young Adult Books be Banned from 6^th Grade Libraries?

By Isobel Weiner 813

 

Dear Ms.Berner,

The banning of young adult books has become a very controversial topic. While some people involved in the literary world argue that certain books are just too dark for young readers, others protest against banning, saying it limits children from gaining knowledge and relating to the book. Young adult books should not be banned from 6th grade libraries because it would hinder readers from being educated or advancing, as well as holding them back from a whole new world which could help them deal with problems in their own lives.

Banning young adult books would hold back some 6th graders from advancing their reading skills. For example, banning books such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky would limit their knowledge on the subjects of depression, peer pressure, and sexual abuse. Chbosky’s book allows the reader to dive deep into the story of Charlie, the protagonist, who struggles through school socially and academically, while attempting to fit in as well. Reading books such as this that are above the average reading level would help the 6th graders to comprehend and understand more, making them more advanced readers over all.

Another example of why banning books in 6th grade libraries would be a bad choice is because it could take away the potential for a child to relate to the book. Sherman Alexie, the author of the novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” discusses in his article “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood” how reading young adult fiction at a young age helped him “battle the real monsters” in his life. If a 6th grader is having problems at home, or is depressed, or anything of the sort, reading books with characters facing the same difficulties can help them. As Sherman Alexie writes in the last paragraph of his article, “And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons – in the form of words and ideas – that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.” Some teenagers relate so deeply to young adult books that they completely immerse themselves in the story, self-identify with the characters, and have their personality changed as a result of how meaningful the story was to them. This new study of how teenagers are affected by young adult books is discussed in the article “Reading Fiction ‘improves empathy’, study finds, US researchers measure impact of reading JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer” by Alison Flood. The article states how researchers from the University of Buffalo gave students chapters from either 'Twilight' or 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' to read. As written in paragraph two, "The candidates then went through a series of tests, in which they categorized "me" words (myself, mine) and "wizard" words (wand, broomstick, spells, potions) by pressing one key when they appeared on the screen, and "not me" words (they, theirs) and "vampire" words (blood, undead, fangs, bitten) by pressing another key." The result of the study was that people who read the Twilight passage self-identified as vampires, while people who read the Harry Potter passage self-identified as wizards. According to the article, "belonging to these fictional communities" can help improve the reader's mood and personality. This research shows how young adult fiction can deeply connect with the reader, and even positively affect their mood, both of which would be highly beneficial for 6th graders at Ms.51.   

Some people argue that young adult works are too lurid and dark for young readers, including Meghan Cox Gurdon, the author of the article “Darkness Too Visible”. Gurdon remarks in her article how teens will find themselves “surrounded by images not of joy or beauty, but of damage, brutality, and losses of the most horrendous kinds.” This statement can be completely refuted. While certain young adult books include dark aspects, over all they have a moral or a resolution, or even just an ending note that will educate the reader. Young adult is a very popular genre among teenagers, because the stories are moving and relatable, and they shouldn’t be banned just because specific parts contain questionable material.

In conclusion, young adult books should not be banned from 6th grade libraries because it would hold the students back from learning and expanding their knowledge, as well as robbing them of the opportunity to relate to the book, and use the moral of the story to help them face problems in their own lives.

 

 

Reading Response: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

   Recently, I read 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chobsky, and it was an amazing book. It is split into four parts of diary entries from Charlie, a freshman in high school. Charlie is a young boy who has some issues, which as the reader finds out later, come from being sexually abused by his aunt Helen when he was little. The story focuses on how Charlie survives high school, socially and academically. When he meets his two best friends, Sam and Patrick, his life is momentarily turned around. The nightmares he had from aunt Helen became less frequent, and he didn't feel as lonely. Charlie goes through many teenage experiences, ranging from drugs, alcohol, sex, and relationships, and often they cause him to forget about his depression.

   This book is a lot more than just young adult fiction, it has a very captivating quality to it that will attract many readers. The moral of the story is to keep living your life, to not let depression or unhappiness get in your way, and I think that is a great moral which applies to people of all ages. Even when Charlie figured out that his aunt had touched him, he continued through high school and didn't let his troubling past hinder him.

   In the book, Charlie is treated unfairly, especially by his parents and peers. Whenever he tries to express himself it is frowned upon, and even though his parents love him, they often become frustrated over the amount of nightmares he has about Aunt Helen. He begins to drink and experiment with drugs to make friends, and that takes him down the wrong path, as he loses his friends because he was awful to his girlfriend. The issues of peer pressure, drugs, unhappiness, and alcohol are present in the book, and peer pressure especially affects Charlie because he is so desperate to have a good high school experience with friends.

   In conclusion, I loved this book, it was a memorable read and in the end, I felt like I had learned an important lesson. Stephen Chobsky is an extremely talented author. The diary entries he wrote made it seem like he was actually a fourteen year old boy, which helped me visualize the story much better. This book was incredible and I highly recommend it.

 READING RESPONSE: MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE BY ANNABEL PITCHER

   I recently started reading a terrific yet saddening new book titled My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher. This book is written from the perspective of a young boy, whose sister was killed in a terrorist attack. The boy has to deal with his family being torn apart over the loss. He struggles to understand what has happened to his life; his mother has left, his father became an alcoholic, and his other sister is in deep depression.

   James, the young boy, has been raised by his father to hate muslims (it was a muslim who committed the terrorist attack that killed his sister),but eventually he overcomes this absurd obstacle and rather guiltily, becomes friends with a muslim girl. I predict that James' father will find out about his newfound friendship and will be extremely furious with him. James will probably not listen to his father's tormenting words and will remain friends with the muslim girl,Sunya. I can relate to James, and his confusion of the loss of loved one, sometimes I, like James, like to feign ignorance and pretend that the loved one is still with me. 

   Some issues in the book include death, alcohol, cheating, and lying. The issue of death is treated as a sacred topic in the story, for example, the father still acts as if Rose is alive, and enforces a rule that no one says the word 'dead' in the house. The issue of cheating is kept almost like a secret. Jamie's other sister, Jas, never talks about the fact that their mother abandoned them because of an affair, and the father drinks in order to avoid the subject.

   The author of this book, Annabel Pitcher, is a wonderful writer. She choses to present her work in such an artistic way, with multiple flashbacks and descriptive moments. These tools definitely make the story more enjoyable. I think the author wants us to consider what death can truly do to someone, and how it can destroy someone's whole life. She wants us not to just think about the subject of death, but of the experience of knowing someone who went through it. I often wonder why she chose to write the book through the eyes of a small boy. But now I think it is because it emphasizes the pain and confusion the entire family must be feeling. This book is very emotional but enjoyable and I am eager to continue reading it.

Faithful Elephants Theme Essay

By Isobel Weiner 813

 

 

   The picture book 'Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War' by Yukio Tsuchiya is a story about the suffering of the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan at the end of World War II. The story focuses on the tale of three Elephants, John, Tonky, and Wanly, who are sentenced to death by the Japanese Army for fear that bombs will drop and set them loose. The zookeepers murder the Elephants for the safety of the Japanese people, showing how sacrifice for the common good is a central theme of the passage.



   An example of how sacrifice plays an important role in the story can be found in paragraph six. "What would happen if bombs hit the zoo? If the cages were broken and dangerous animals escaped to run wild through the city, it would be terrible!" The zookeepers sacrificed all the lions, tigers, leopards, bears, big snakes, and eventually, the three elephants. By doing this, they protected the people from potential carnage that the bombs could cause.

  A second example of sacrifice being a central theme of the story is  in the seventh paragraph. The author describes how the zookeepers did everything in their power to make John's death quick and painless, which is a true example of love and sacrifice. "John loved potatoes, so the elephant keepers mixed poisoned potatoes with the good ones when it was time to feed him". When that didn't work, the keepers tried to inject poison into his body. That method didn't work either, so eventually they were forced to starve him, even though it clearly pained them to see the elephants die in such a cruel way.

   A final example of how the theme of sacrifice is included in the book is from the quote "The zookeepers wanted so much to keep Tonky and Wanly alive that they thought of sending them to the zoo in Sendai, far north of Tokyo. But what if bombs fell on Sendai? What if the elephants got loose and ran wild there? What would happen then?" Sacrifice means giving up something you love for the benefit of others or for the greater good. This quote shows how much the zookeepers adore Tonky and Wanly, but deep inside they know that killing them is the best option for the Japanese people, so they sacrifice their beloved elephants.

   In conclusion, a main idea of 'Faithful Elephants' is sacrifice, shown through the decision to kill the elephants for the Japanese people, the attempted painless deaths, and the way the zookeepers frantically searched for another option besides murder. Tsuchiya wants the reader to understand how war can affect everyone and make them do things they never imagined themselves doing, like sacrificing something they love.

READING RESPONSE: A LONG WALK TO WATER BY LINDA SUE PARK

   Over the summer, I read a book called 'A Long Walk to Water' by Linda Sue Park. The book was told in two perspectives, one of a girl named Nya, and the other of a boy named Salva. The story starts with Salva, an 11 year old boy living in Sudan in 1985. One day when Salva is in school, an explosion from the ongoing war is heard and he runs away, only to be separated from his entire family. Salva continues walking towards a perceived safe camp in Ethiopia, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone, struggling to survive the harsh desert weather and constant hunger for a morsel of food. Eventually Salva and his companions reach the refugee camp, only to be forced out in 1991 and having to cross dangerous rapids full of crocodiles, where thousands are killed. Being one of the lucky people who survived the river, Salva takes it upon himself to lead the 1,200 orphaned boys to another refugee camp in Kenya.

   Nya is a young girl living in Sudan in 2008. Her whole life revolves around water and having to fight the constant battle of survival. Each day Nya must embark on an eight hour walk to the pond to gather water for her and her family. In the Dry season, Nya's family moves to an area with a dry lake bed, in which they must dig through mud and dirt until water trickles in.

  After Salva spent many years in the refugee camp he is chosen to go live in Rochester, NY with his new family. Salva adjusts to a new life and even learns English, and soon he develops the idea of building wells in Sudan for all those who struggle to find drinkable water. When Salva travels back to Sudan, he is reunited with his family, and he begins drilling wells throughout Sudan. Here he meets Nya as he is drilling a well in her town and building a school for both Sudanese boys and girls, allowing Nya to go to school for the first time ever.

  In conclusion, I greatly enjoyed the book and it was very moving how Nya and Salva's stories combined in the end. Linda Sue Park is a highly talented and descriptive author, and I highly recommend this book.

READING RESPONSE: THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

My group has finished 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, and it was an excellent book. It is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a perfect world where everything is the same. No one has a distinctive personality, people are given children by applying for them, and most importantly, no one can make their own decisions as everything is chosen for them by the committee of elders. Children go through stages in this prefect world, from year one, where they are named, to year twelve, where they are given an assignment. Jonas is the eldest child in his family unit of four. He is 12 and is about to be given a job in the ceremony of 12. Surprisingly, he is given the most prestigious yet dangerous job of receiver of memory. He is trained by a man named the giver who holds all the memories of the past, which he must transfer onto Jonas. Jonas goes through the adventure of receiving these memories. From simple memories about riding a sled, to traumatizing memories of hunger in Africa. The memories change him and the way he sees the world completely. He becomes wise and knowledgeable, just like the giver. Jonas soon comes to realize that it is unfair for the people of the community to be deprived of memories and making choices. He decides that the community must change. With the help of the giver, Jonas chooses to leave the community and go to elsewhere, a place beyond the community where rebellious citizens had been banished. When Jonas leaves all his memories will be let loose and the citizens will become aware of what they had been missing. Jonas departs on the long and difficult journey, facing some of the memories the giver had told him about. Eventually he reaches Elsewhere, and his mission to change his community is successful.

My earlier prediction, that Jonas would become close with the giver came true. Although some of the memories were harsh and depressing, it only made Jonas connect with the giver on a deeper level. This book was amazing, and I highly recommend it.

READING RESPONSE: THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

I have started to read 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry with my book club. The book focuses on the challenges faced by the protagonist, Jonas. Jonas is a twelve year old boy who lives in a perfect world where everyone's life is planned out for them. When Jonas undergoes the ceremony of twelve, which is when each child is assigned a role in the community, he is singled out to train with the receiver of memory, who he later calls the giver. The giver holds in his mind all the memories from the past, which he will give to Jonas, as he is becoming too old.

I predict that Jonas will develop a close relationship with the Giver, because judging by their first meeting, the giver is very keen to tell Jonas the truth about the past. As his first lesson, he gave Jonas the memory of snow, and Jonas decided to trust and respect the giver. I think this trust will increase with each meeting.

The author, Louis Lowry, is very talented. She writes very descriptive flashbacks to the past, such as when the giver is transmitting his memories to Jonas. I am highly enjoying this book, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

I just finished The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and it was amazing. It is a captivating story about a man who rose from rags to riches in the hopes of winning the love of a woman. This man was called Jay Gatsby and he was madly in love with a woman named Daisy. Unfortunately Daisy had married another man, so Jay threw extravagant parties in the hope that she would notice him again, as they had a romantic history. Eventually they became involved again, but Daisy's husband, Tom, found out and everything went downhill from there. Tom's mistress was run over accidentally by Daisy, and Jay took the blame. Then the husband of the mistress was so distraught that he swore to murder his wife's killer. He tracked down Gatsby and shot him. In the end no one attended Gatsby's funeral except for Nick Carrway, his one true friend. Daisy didn't even pay her respects, she just wound up with Tom, the horrible man who cheated on her, which I suppose she deserved because she let Gatsby get killed for something she did.

This story has a very interesting moral, which really got me thinking. I think the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wanted the reader to understand that having to change so much for someone isn't worth it. Mr. Gatsby had to become rich and live in a mansion in order for Daisy to even consider him again, and in the end she didn't even attend his funeral.

My previous prediction that Nick would uncover the secret behind Gatsby's wealth became true. Gatsby had become involved in a gang called Wolfshine which sold drugs and other things for large sums of money. This way, he could use his quickly earned money to impress Daisy.

F. Scott. Fitzgerald, the author of the great Gatsby is very talented. He is excellent in writing flashbacks and is very descriptive of the 1920's time period. I love how he describes the party, as it makes me feel as if I am there.

In conclusion, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it.

READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

I am about halfway through 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald and I am loving it! Last post I was beginning to describe Gatsby's party, but in this post I will go into more depth. Jay Gatsby is extraordinarily wealthy so his parties included indoor and outdoor pools, dancers and singers (and other forms of entertainment), fireworks, and an ocean side view. His parties were always very loud and lasted throughout the night. Surprisingly however, no one was ever invited. People from all classes in New York traveled to Long Island and simply attend his parties. On the night of the particular party Nick was attending, his friend Jordan Baker, whom he had met while visiting Daisy and Tom, told him an interesting discovery. During the party, Gatsby had whisked Jordan away and told her that he had a past relationship with her friend Daisy. He explained that he threw all his parties to attract her attention, as she lived only across the bay. He informed Jordan that a few years ago him and Daisy had been in love, before Jay went off to war. Upon his return, he was penniless. Although him and Daisy wished to get married, he could never support her. So instead she married Tom Buchanan. Finally, Gatsby explained, now that he was rich, he wanted Daisy back. This news stunned Nick, but he agreed to assist Gatsby in his heroic fight for Daisy, as they were becoming fast friends.

My earlier prediction that Nick would discover Gatsby's true identity turned out to be partially true. He did uncover much about his past and how Daisy was involved, but he still didn't learn where all his wealth came from. I am beginning to feel a little suspicious of Gatsby, because if a few years ago he was broke, how did he suddenly become a millionaire? My next prediction is that Nick will uncover the truth behind Gatsby's wealth, as the secret must come out sooner or later. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald is greatly talented as I stated in my earlier post, although sometimes it is hard to understand the 1920's literature. 

In conclusion the Great Gatsby is an excellent read and I can't wait to finish it, as I know from the movie that it has a very important moral to share.

READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F.SCOTT FITZGERALD

Yesterday I went to see The Great Gatsby with my friend at the movies. I greatly enjoyed it and decided that I should read the book. I just bought it today, so I don't know much about the plot yet, but I will retell as much as I have discovered.

The story is told from the point of view of a man named Nick Carraway. Nick has come to live in long island for the Summer so he can be near his second cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom. He quickly becomes intrigued by his neighbor, a very wealthy man named Jay Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby often throws large extravagant parties with his surplus of money, and on one of these such occasions, Nick finds himself invited to the party. However, when he attends he realizes that none of the guests know who Gatsby is or have ever seen him before. Nick hears many rumors such as Gatsby was a prince who killed a man, but eventually he meets Gatsby, and he finds all these things to be untrue.

I predict that Nick will discover Gatsby's real identity, and where all his money comes from, as no one seems to know. I predict this because Nick and Gatsby are neighbors, and I think they will become close, and eventually Nick will uncover his secrets.

The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald is greatly talented. Although this book was written in the 1920's its moral is still applicable to the 21st century. So far I am greatly enjoying this book, and I can't wait to read more.

 Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi

   'Hurricane Song' by Paul Volponi is a historical fiction book about how a father and son survive throughout the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. The protagonist, Miles, is a young boy with an obsession of football, who comes to live with his dad, Pops, a musician in New Orleans after Pops and Miles's mother divorce. Their relationship is rough, as Miles believes that his father favors music over him and doesn't support his passion of football. When Katrina hits, Miles and Pops are forced to take refuge in the Superdome, where they face many challenges. Among these challenges are unsanitary bathrooms, lack of supplies, and gang violence. Originally Miles and Pops had a rough and confusing relationship, but as time progresses and as they face the hardships of the Superdome, they come to realize that they love each other, even though Miles thought Pops favored music over him. The author wants the reader to know that hard times can bring people together, such as the challenges in the Superdome changed Miles, Pops, and their relationship for the better.

   Before hurricane Katrina, Miles was a selfish boy who thought of nothing else besides football. He believed his father didn't care for him, and this caused him to hang out with some bad people. Among these people were Dunham and Caine, who were football jocks. Once in the Superdome, Dunham and Caine become gang members and they stole people's money, food and supplies. Miles was pressured into joining them, but in that moment he began to change and he realized it was wrong, so he declined. Another example of when Miles changed was when he played the drums at a funeral. He became really involved in the rhythm and beat, which pleased his father, and helped him understand that football wasn't everything. A final example of when Miles changed was near the end of the book, when he assisted his father in carrying a piano out of a jazz club so burglars didn't steal it in the chaos.

   Pops changed a lot throughout the book as well. The first few months of Miles living with him, he gave Miles the impression that he favored music over him, which was probably true. When Miles specifically asked for sporting equipment for his birthday, Pops gave him a drum, hoping to create a love of music inside of him. When they begin to reside in the Superdome, Pops insists that he doesn't want to get involved in anyone's problems. As the situation becomes dire, and the hardships of the Superdome become worse, Pops assists people less fortunate than him, and comforts the family of a man who committed suicide. Finally, when a gang starts a fire, Pops grabs his trumpet and Miles as well, which shows how much he is starting to care for Miles, as he willingly saves his life.

  Their relationship also undergoes many changes. In the beginning of the novel, Miles and Pops live nearly separate lives. Miles plays football, and Pops plays jazz music on his many instruments. As they try to survive during Hurricane Katrina, they become closer. Miles expresses an interest in music, and Pops becomes open to the idea of Miles playing football. Pops decides to rebel and he leaves the Superdome, and Miles willingly follows him. Once outside of the former sports arena Miles is strangled by a looter on the street and Pops hits the man over the head with his most prized possesion, his trumpet. Afterwards, Pop says "I couldn't lose you Miles, not for anything", which is a perfect example of how they come to love each other.

   In conclusion, Miles and Pops become closer, as does their relationship, as they suffer through the hardships of the Superdome. This book showed me that I shouldn't take my good relationship with my parents for granted, as sometimes people have to go through life threatening situations in order to become close.

READING RESPONSE: GONE BY MICHAEL GRANT

I am now nearly a third through 'Gone' by Michael Grant, and the book has majorly progressed since my last post. The adults aged 15 and over still show no sign of returning, and the younger children are becoming very distressed, only having teenagers to look after them. Sam, Quinn, and Astrid, the three main characters also discovered something out of the ordinary. Their town, Perdido Beach, is encased in a dome made of indestructible material, preventing them from leaving. The author also revealed that children in nearby towns are suffering from disappearing adults. In addition to all these strange occurrences, more children have begun to develop supernatural powers. Originally it was just Sam who could create fire by opening the palm of his hand, but a three year old girl was recently gifted with the power, but unfortunately she died a little while later.

I predict that the remaining residents of Perdido Beach will grow increasingly hysterical and agitated, as they realize the adults are nowhere to be found. The oldest children are being placed under a lot of pressure at the moment, having to take care of the younger children and attempting to uncover where the adults have gone. The children are relying on their survival skills and common knowledge to assist them in their altered world. I also predict that soon food and other supplies will run out, leaving the children in an even more desperate situation.

The author, Michael Grant, writes the story in multiple perspectives. His most common perspectives are the main character Sam Temple, and a girl from another town, Lana, whose grandfather disappeared while driving, and left her in a car crash. I admire how he uses multiple perspectives while writing, as I think it adds to the story's appeal. This book has been an amazing experience to read, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

READING RESPONSE: GONE BY MICHAEL GRANT

I have just begun to read the first book in a series of books by Michael Grant. This book is called 'Gone', which is followed by 'Hunger'. Since I am only on chapter two, I don't know much about the book, but here is some information I am gathering: It takes place in an imaginary town in America called Perdido Beach. This town and surrounding areas are encased in a bubble, and everyone 15 and over mysteriously vanishes. Randomly, the people left in Perdido Beach and some animals develop supernatural powers, which assist them when trying to find the missing people. This book follows the adventures of the protagonist Sam Temple and his twin sister Caine Soren.

 

I predict that Sam and Caine will find a way to break out of the bubble, even though it appears to be impenetrable. They will probably go on a mission to find the adults who have disappeared. I know that these to characters gain a third companion, who is called Drake Merlin, who is insane, so I'm predicting that he will lead them astray.

 

Although I am barely 40 pages into the book, I can already see how talented the author Michael Grant is. He writes the book in three different characters perspectives, which is a very hard thing to accomplish. He develops each character separately, so they all have their own unique and distinguishing personality. I can't wait to get through this book so I can read the follow up, Hunger.

'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is a poem about making hard decisions and choosing a metaphorical path in life, not knowing where it could lead you. Frost compares choices to a fork in the road, describing how he was faced with choosing a path, and how later in life he is looking back at that moment, wondering if he made the right decision, or if he should have taken the other path. The author wants the reader to know that he had  to chose between two paths, which represent choices, and now he is contemplating whether or not he chose the right one.

In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker says "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both." This quote explains that there are two decisions to be made, but only one can be chosen. Another piece of textual evidence is when the speaker says "then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear; though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same." This describes the moment when the speaker choses one path, without knowing which way it leads, because both paths resemble each other. A final quote is "I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." This explains the last part of my claim where I said the speaker was contemplating whether he chose the right path. In this quote, the speaker is thinking back to the moment when he made the decision, and wondering if he chose the right
path. 

The author wants the reader to know that he had to chose between
two paths, which represent choices, and now he is thinking and 
questioning whether or not he chose the right one. This connects
to me personally because especially at this point in my life I
will have to make tough decisions, such as high schools and
eventually college.

READING RESPONSE: THE HOBBIT BY J.R.R TOLKIEN

I am on the last few chapters of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the book has been amazing. I left off where Bilbo and the dwarfs had narrowly escaped the rock creatures in a heated battle and had taken shelter in a damp cave, where they were once again captured by goblins. This chapter was a critical moment in the book, as it was when Bilbo first encountered Gollum, a strange creature obsessed with a magical yet evil ring that could turn the wearer invisible. Bilbo finds himself with the ring, and the journey continues. A lot has happened since this chapter; the crew has been lost in a forest, captured by elves, and almost killed multiple times. In the part I am currently reading, the dwarfs have discovered the secret passage in the mountain, leading to the treasure Smaug has been hiding. The dwarfs send Bilbo, their burglar, to scout out any immediate danger.

As I predicted, Bilbo's character has completely changed, before he started out on this great adventure, he was a simple hobbit. He wanted nothing to do with adventures, all he desired was to sit in his hobbit hole and eat four meals a day. When he was first given the opportunity of an adventure, he shied away, not wanting to risk his life for a bit of treasure. When he finally agreed to go with the dwarfs, he completely changed. I think after going through many near death situations such as trolls, goblins, and other nasty creatures, he started to see things as a thrill, rather than something to be terrified of.

The author of this book, J.R.R. Tolkien is an amazing writer. He is well known for his creativity and skill of writing fantasy books, such as the lord of the rings trilogy, but I believe his strongest piece of writing is The Hobbit. He lures the reader in with clear descriptions of magical and otherworldly places. He gives each character a distinct personality, so one could recognize every dwarf. This book is incredible, and I highly recommend it.

READING RESPONSE: THE HOBBIT BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN

I am still reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and I'm up to an interesting part in the story. Bilbo and the dwarfs only left The Shire about a week ago, and already they have encountered  many dangerous situations. As I discussed last post, the group slyly escaped three huge dwarfs (with a little help from Gandalf), and now they are climbing the treacherous Rocky Mountains, while two rock creatures are in the midst of a battle. As Bilbo informs the reader, the weather is horrible, and the rock creatures are causing an avalanche of boulders to rain down on them, barely missing Bilbo as he dangles precariously off the side of a cliff. Eventually, the storm comes to a standstill, and the group take shelter in a small cave in the side of a mountain. Little do they know, the cave is already inhabited by Goblins, and once again they find themselves captured.

I can already see how Bilbo's character is developing and changing. In the beginning of the story, Bilbo resembled his father, who was a respectable hobbit, and who seemed the least likely to go out on adventures. Later, Bilbo becomes more like his mother Belladonna Took, who came from a long ancestral line of adventurers. Risky adventures suddenly appeal to Bilbo, and he is desperate to prove himself to the dwarfs and show them that he is capable of dealing with adventures. Bilbo eventually does prove himself, by distracting the trolls and saving his companions.

I predict that Bilbo will keep continually changing, gaining the characteristics of a Took descendant.He will probably have to prove himself multiple more times until the dwarfs finally see him as a worthy companion in an adventure.

This book is amazing. It is a classic fantasy book, such as The Once and Future King. J.R.R. Tolkien brings the story to life, using many descriptive words and making Bilbo a very distinct and recognizable character.

READING RESPONSE: THE HOBBIT BY J.R.R TOLKIEN

I finished Beautiful Creatures, and I haven't had time to buy the second book in that series, so I decided to reread one of my favorites, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book is about a young hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who doesn't believe in having adventures, as he thinks they are childish. A hobbit is a small, content person, who is even smaller in size than the average dwarf. One day, this particular hobbit is approached by the wizard, Gandalf. Gandalf wants Bilbo to assist him and his many dwarf friends in seizing back the treasure that an evil dragon, Smaug, stole from them many years ago. At first, Bilbo is very reluctant, not wanting to live the simple life of a hobbit behind. However, when the thirteen dwarves (Dwalin, Balin, Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur,and their leader, Thorin Oakensheild) barge into his house and eat up all of his food (under the impression Bilbo has already agreed to help them), Bilbo gives in and sets of his first adventure.

I can't make any predictions, considering I have already read this book, so instead I will further establish the main character, Bilbo. Bilbo is the son of a well known adventurous hobbit Belladonna Took, and a much simpler hobbit, Bungo Baggins. He lives in what you might call a Hobbit haven, but what is actually called the shire. The shire is a grassy plain, full of hobbit holes (usually under hills with big circular doors). Bilbo lives in a rather grand hobbit hole called Bag End, which he inherited from his father. By his neighbors, Bilbo was always seen as a respectable hobbit, seemingly the spitting image of his father. It wasn't until later that the adventurous side of his personality developed.

I am only up to the start of their adventures, when they are making their way to Lonely mountain, where Smaug has hidden the dwarves treasure. The crew are just making camp in the forest and settling down for the night, when low and behold a group of three trolls captures all of their horses, which are essential for their voyage. Before all the horses are stolen, Bilbo wakes up. Although he is terrified, he realizes what is happening, and he follows the trolls back to their camp. As he sneakily makes his way to where the horses are being kept, he is caught by one of the trolls. The trolls are questioning him and debating whether or not to cook him in their stew, when Bilbo comes up with the brilliant idea of stalling them until one of the dwarves realizes he is missing and comes to save him. As Bilbo predicted, the whole crew of dwarves come with the intention of saving him, but they are captured too. In the end it was sunlight that turned the trolls to stone, because the dwarves had stalled the trolls until the sun came up.

This book is an amazing adventure, and no matter how many times I read it, it is still very enjoyable.

“Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold.

The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.

For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.

On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.

Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.

Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold; where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves.

The pines were roaring on the height,
The wind was moaning in the night.
The fire was red, it flaming spread;
The trees like torches blazed with light.

The bells were ringing in the dale
And men looked up with faces pale;
The dragon's ire more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail.

The mountain smoked beneath the moon;
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom.
They fled their hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.

Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day,
To win our harps and gold from him!” 

READING RESPONSE: BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BY KAMI GARCIA AND MARGARET STOHL

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I have finished the Divergent series, and I have moved on to Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This book is about a young girl named Lena Duchannes, who recently moved to a very rural town in the middle of nowhere called Gaitlin. From the beginning of the story, the townspeople of Gaitlin see Lena as an outsider. To them, she doesn't wear the right clothes, or isn't interested in the same things as everyone else. This makes her appear to be very peculiar. Eventually Lena makes a friend named Ethan. Ethan doesn't find Lena strange, instead he embraces her differences and they become fast friends. When Lena feels like she can trust Ethan, she tells him the truth. Lena is a caster, or a person who can do magic. She moved to Gaitlin to be with her uncle, who was going to help her figure out what branch of magic she is from. Every caster has a specific type of magic, and Lena's uncle believes she is a natural, which means she has more power than regular casters.

I am around page 100, which is when Lena admits to Ethan her true identity. I predict that Ethan will at first be astounded by Lena's power but will Still protect her and be there for her.

Before Lena came to Gaitlin, Ethan was just like all the other townspeople. He was on the basketball team, he was dating a cheerleader, and he minded his own business. When Lena came, she completely changed his life. He started becoming more adventurous and he expressed how he truly was. He stopped being a stereotypical jock, and instead became himself.

I don't usually read books written by two authors, but for beautiful creatures, I am making an exception. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are both very talented writers. They often use flashbacks, and they are always very detailed and vivid. This book is amazing and I highly recommend it to those who love young adult fantasy.

READING RESPONSE: THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING

I  am very close to finishing The Once and Future King by T.H. White, and it has been an incredible story. I left off where Arthur had just become king of Camelot, he went into the courtyard of the town, and pulled the famous sword, Excalibur, out of the stone. He was the only man successful in pulling out the sword, and that accomplishment made him king off Camelot. He also just met the Lady Guinevere, and from my prior knowledge of the Medieval period, I know that the two of them will fall in love and Guinevere will be crowned Queen of Camelot. I am very excited to see how T.H White describes their wedding day.

I had predicted that Arthur would become a great leader, even when I was only in the beginning of the book when he was just a child. My prediction has come true, as Arthur is now King Arthur, of Camelot. The author has reinforces how Arthur will be the greatest leader Camelot has ever seen, he describes the perfect era in which Arthur will reign.

Arthur has changed so much throughout the book. When I first began reading, he was an ignorant child who fancied nothing more than to play with swords. His tutor, Merlin, who later became his trusted advisor in the royal court, educated him, and nurtured him into becoming a leader. The reader can truly notice how Arthur matures.

T.H. White is truly a magical storyteller. He takes the classic story of king Arthur and the sword in the stone and puts his own spin on it, creating a whole new and wonderful book.

READING RESPONSE: THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING BY T.H. WHITE

I am nearly finished with The Once and Future King, and my earlier prediction has proven to be right. As I said, Merlin has transformed Wart into many animals (fish, bird, snake), and by going through these strange experiences, he has learned many valuable lessons. For example, when he was turned into a bird, Wart was put in the castle Mews, with all the other birds. He learned the social class of each bird, and how to be obedient. As a Merlyn bird, he had a considerably high ranking, but he wasn't as powerful as the hawk and had to obey the hawk's every bidding if he wanted to live. This taught him to be obedient, which is a very good trait to have, considering he was the king's adopted son, which came with lots of power.

I am currently at a most interesting part in the book, where Wart and his brother Kay, have gone into the forest in search of an adventure. Low and behold, they meet Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The two young boys are sent on a mission to Morgan LeFay's castle, to help rescue part of Robin's band of outlaws, who were kidnapped by the witch, Morgan. I'm very excited to see how the boys rescue them, but I predict that they will be captured by Morgan, so there will be an interesting magical scene of battles.

I definitely need to repeat how incredible a writer T.H. White is. He is so descriptive, he takes a while to describe the character's surroundings, which makes the reader feel as if they are actually there.

In conclusion, this book is a very enticing read, and I can't wait to find out what happens to Wart and Kay. 

READING RESPONSE:THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING BY T.H.WHITE

I am about 40 pages into The Once and Future King by T.H.White, and already I am hooked. It is about a brave young boy named Wart and his brother,Kay, who will later become king. One day Wart ventures off into a forest and gets lost. A little while later, he meets a wizard who lives in this forest by the name of Merlin. Merlin helps Wart find his way back home, and as a reward, Wart's father makes Merlin his son's tutor. Merlin teaches Wart the art of magic by transforming into different types of animals.

Although I don't know much about the story yet, I predict that Merlin will help Wart become more mature and experienced, which will help him succeed in life. I say this because I can already see signs of Wart changing. Before he met Merlin, he had no longing to learn anything, and most days he would just shoot at targets and waste time. When Merlin started to introduce him to magic, Wart became active in learning and actually wanted to educate himself, and now he is gaining knowledge everyday.

The author of this book, T.H.White, has a very interesting style of writing. He often uses run-on sentences, which gives the book a sophisticated feel to it. I like how he is very descriptive when he uses long sentences, instead of simply stating things in a short sentence. He also gives each character a specific personality, from the lowliest maid of the castle, right up to the king, which makes it easy to remember each person and the important role they play in the book.

In conclusion, this book is really interesting, and if you enjoy reading fantasy, you'll really enjoy The Once and Future King.