The Giver 11/25-11/29

Pages: 0-163
Prompt: Discuss why you like or dislike what you are reading
                                   
                                            Spoiler Alert 
                             
                               Introduction of The Giver
            The Giver talks about a community that is has no war or pain. The community is very strict and everything is under control. A boy named Jonas lives with his family unit and his 8-year later 9 year old sister Lily. Jonas has a perfect life because he does his volunteer hours, he doesn't tell lies, and his family is as perfect as can be. Jonas is about to be a Twelve and being Twelve is the most important part of your life. Jonas is about to receive his assignment in the Ceremony of Twelves but they suddenly skipped his number. The Chief Elder says that skipping Jonas number was not an accident because Jonas will be the next Receiver of Memories. In order to be a successful Receiver Jonas will need to be trained by the Giver. The Giver holds the true pain and happiness of the world and throughout the story he begins to have stronger feelings towards Jonas.


                          Why do I like This Book?

           The first time I started to read this book I thought it wasn't going to be adventurous and exciting. After I read chapter 12 I realized that this book holds a grand adventure because of the memories of the Giver. I enjoy this book because it has a lot of explicit details and the book got even more better in chapters 17, 18, 19, 20. The reason that these chapters were amazing was because they revealed the true of many mysteries of the book. When Jonas first received his assignment the council of Elders mentioned that there was a failure with the previous receiver ten years ago. Another reason I like this book is because it doesn't tell you right away the truth of some of the mysteries . You would have to read the end to find out the truth of some of these mysteries. When you read more and more chapters it makes the book more suspenseful.


                      Why I like This Book  Continued.....

          The first reason I like this book is because it showed me how to be more thankful with my family. In one memories Jonas sees a happy family sitting in a table laughing and joking with each other. The feel thankful because I have a happy family and actually I get  to spent time with them every day. I think you people should be more thankful of their family because kids like Jonas doesn't have the  privilege to have love in his family. Another reason I like this book because in the chapters I just read the revealed the truth of one of the mysteries. I found out that the previous receiver was a girl named Rosemary. The Giver transported the most painful memories to Rosemary but she couldn't bare these memories. Rosemary left the Giver and she told the Council of Elders that she wanted to be released. I found out that released means that they kill whoever is released. In the 20th chapter it was revealed that Rosemary was the Giver's daughter.

I put this picture because happiness and memories play a big part in The Giver. Jonas wants to share his memories out loud with the people in his community. Jonas wants to change the community by releasing the memory of happiness and love. Jonas is determined to go to Elsewhere so he can change the world.

This week I will comment on Gustavo, Amelia, Steven's Blogs.
                                       

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 11/18-11/22

Pages: 0-172
Prompt Miscellaneous: Do any of the characters feelings change as you've read
             
                        Introduction to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
     This book tells about the story of a 14-year old Native American named Junior although his real name is Arnold. Junior and his family are suffering poverty mostly because Junior's dad spends the money in wine. Junior is born with a problem in his skull and his skull is very delicate which means that he can't play football. Junior has a best friend named Rowdy who is the toughest and most angry kid in the school. Rowdy father abuses and that is the reason that Rowdy behaves almost like a bully. Rowdy's mom is very supportive while his dad is also loving but he has a bad addiction to wine. Junior also has a sister named Mary but in the middle of the story Mary runs away with her boyfriend to Montana. Junior feels like he's not getting his full potential in his all Native American school so he decides to go to an All American School. They start to be racist to Junior because he's Native American. I don't know why but this book was banned in many schools around the United States.


              Emotions Behavior/Change in Behavior

   Throughout the book many of the main and supporting characters feelings change. Arnold a.k.a Junior changes a lot since the beginning of the book. At first Arnold was a very quiet guy who really didn't get into fights too much. Later in the book when Arnold goes to his new school his anger builds up and he punches the school bully. Arnold was very shy around girls and he didn't talk to girls too much. In his new school Arnold falls in love with a girl named Penelope and as a matter of fact he invites her to the school dance. Arnold was a very happy until the middle of the book when he begins to hate himself and changing from to happy to angry. Another character that changes dramatically is Arnold's best friend Rowdy. Rowdy and Arnold used to hang out all the time by going to the school fair and other activities. After Rowdy learns that Arnold is moving to a new school he goes up to Arnold and punches him in the face.


            Change in Feelings and Behavior Continued....

   Rowdy stops talking to Arnold throughout the book although Arnold forgives Rowdy for punching him. Rowdy so far hasn't forgiven Arnold but he doesn't hate Arnold. Last character that changed a lot was the bully Roger that Arnold fought in his new school. Roger actually feels proud that Arnold punched him in the face and he even makes Arnold popular. After the school dance Roger even invites Arnold to breakfast in Denny's. Roger pays for everything that Arnold and Penelope ordered which was a total of $40 dollars. Roger even supports Arnold during their basketball games but Roger doesn't know about Arnold's poverty problem. In basketball practice Roger lets Arnold beat him so that  Arnold is able to be in the team.Throughout the book Roger is proven to be a good friend by paying his dinner and driving Arnold home.

I put a picture of Denny's because this is the location where Arnold gets his first date and where he realizes that Roger is a true friend. Arnold finally has the chance to talk to Penelope about himself. Roger volunteers to pay for Arnold and Penelope's bill and he drives Arnold home. His dad was suppose to pick him up but he didn't have enough money for gas.

This week I will comment on Jenna, Gabe, Marisa B. blogs. 
     

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie 11/11-11/15

Pages: 0-273 (end)
Prompt: Summarize what you just read
                                                                   Spoiler Alert 
           
                  Introduction to Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie/Ending
    
    Since I finished this book I give it a five out five stars. It has an excellent plot and you can vividly understand the story. I recommend it for people who are trying to find a realistic fiction book. This book was a lot better than It's Kind of a Funny Story.  You might be saying that I read fast but to tell you the truth over the four day weekend it gave me chance to read 70 pages a day. I really didn't have anything to do. Drums,Girls, and Dangerous Pie has to do with a thirteen year old boy named Steven who has to with his brother's illness. Steven is a typical ordinary kid and he has a crush on a girl named Renne and he plays in the All-City Jazz band. Actually Steven Alper is very lucky because he's the first seventh grader to join the All-City jazz band. He has very hard working, supportive, and kind parents which always try to embarrass him. Steven also has a five year old brother named Jeffrey which constantly annoys Steven. Later in the book Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia and it turns Steven's world upside down. The family starts to have financial problems, and Steven is starting to fail his classes because he has to much to worry about. Steven doesn't really see his mom too much because she has to go with Jeffrey every week to Philadelphia. Jeffrey's specialist is in Philadelphia and later in the book Steven's dad starts to ignore him.

                Summarizing the Story
    If you're wondering dangerous pie is a blend of coffee grounds, raw eggs, smashed shells, coke, uncooked bacon, and three racing cars. Jeffrey mixes these together and calls it his special "dangerous pie". It kind of makes Steven angry because he stirs the items together with his special sticks which were signed by a famous drummer. Steven one day makes oatmeal for his brother Jeffrey and he puts Jeffrey on the top stool in the kitchen. Suddenly Jeffrey falls from the stool and his mom immediately drives him to the hospital. Later that day the family learns that Jeffrey has been diagnosed with leukemia. Steven's best friend is Annette which she has a secret crush on Steven. In the beginning of the book Annette hates Renne Albert because Steven starts to pay more attention to Renne Albert. Since Steven has been missing class because of his all city band rehearsal he starts to fail his most important subjects reading and math. Jeffrey has had to go to the doctor numerous  times and the hospital bills have been causing the family financial problems.
                             
                           End and Summary of Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
     
        Later in the story Annette falls down the stairs and is unable to play her piano solo in the upcoming concert. Mrs. Gulley the school counselor has been guiding Steven throughout the story by telling him to change things he his able to change. Steven's mom suddenly gets sick which means that Steven and has dad have to drive Jeffrey to Philadelphia. In the hospital Steven meets a girl named Samantha which has and even worse case of leukemia. They became very good friends and Steven gives Samantha one of his drum sticks. In the next band rehearsal Annette comes up with a plan to make the concert a fundraiser and all of the money will go to Steven's family. It's the day of the concert and everyone is cheering to Steven. Suddenly Jeffrey gets very sick in the middle of the concert and has to go immediately to the hospital. Steven decides to go with his family to the hospital. In the hospital while the doctors are doing some tests on Jeffrey, Steven decides to go visit Samantha. When Samantha isn't there he goes up to ask the nurse where Samantha went. The nurse tells Steven that Samantha passed away early in the morning. Before dying Samantha leaves Steven a letter and inside the letter are the drumsticks that he gave to her. Samantha tells Steven in the letter to always remember her when he's using those drumsticks. The story ends with Steven graduating 8th Grade and Annette becoming his girlfriend.

These drumsticks play an important role in the story. Jeffrey uses these drumsticks to mix up his "dangerous pie". These drumsticks helped Steven make it to the All-City Jazz band and he has a pair of drumsticks signed by a famous drummer. When Samantha dies she includes the drumsticks that Steven gave her the day they met inside the letter. Steven mentions that the drumsticks he gave to Samantha will always be his most special pair of sticks.
 

This week I will comment on Stanley, Isabelle R., Julia S. 

   

It's Kind of a Funny Story 11/4-11/8

Pages: 279- 444 (end)
Prompt Test Readiness: Define what is needed to make a good setting
                                      Spoiler Alert 

                          Ending of It's Kind of a Funny Story
     This weekend I finished the book It's Kind of a Funny Story and overall I really didn't like the book too much. I would give this book a 3 out 5 stars, but at the very end they kind of give a moral or lesson.
The first thing that happened was that Aaron called Craig in the hospital and apologized for all of the mean things he said the other day. Aaron mentions that he broke up with his girlfriend Nia after finding out that she took drugs. The reason Nia took drugs was because of her depression and mental illness and she actually took the same pills that Craig took. Nia visits the hospital and is planning to date Craig but Craig rejects her offer. Throughout the book Craig mentions how much he loves Nia but in the hospital he started dating Noelle. At the end of the book Craig spends his last hour in the hospital watching Blade II with his new hospital friends. Craig is released from the hospital and tells the reader to live, live, and live.



                      Defining the Perfect Setting

      The one thing that I did like about this book was the setting. Craig gives us specific details by telling us that he lives in lower Manhattan and each type of food they give in the hospital. He evens tells us if he lives in the upper or lower part of Manhattan. Craig liked Noelle so much that he gives us some background information about her and even specific details about her eyes. He mentions that she has beautiful green eyes that looks like fresh cut grass. He cuts look like the wrinkly face of an elderly person. The Noelle description has nothing to do with the setting but I just wanted to point how she looks in the book. Anyway the hospital in which Craig is staying seems similar to MacNeal Hospital because of the food. Craig mentions that it's huge hospital that has about 4 to 5 floors and that's exactly how many floors MacNeal has. Since Craig is staying in the part of the hospital that has the people with mental illness I picture a huge nurse's station, food carts, and a public telephone.


                 Recipe for a Perfect Setting/Hospital Setting

     The last few details that Craig mentions about the hospital is that the cafeteria is a huge place lined up with dozens of tables. Since I've been to a hospital cafeteria  they usually have tables of four and other tables that are reserved for other patients. Craig mentions that his table has four seats and that the height of the chair is like 5 ft. I think that some things that make a perfect setting is when the writer tells reader the height of a chair or table. The writer uses the five sense every time the main character goes to a new location or setting. The writer describes each color with feeling such as the buss was so yellow that it looked like one of Zeus lighting bolts. The writer doesn't  just say the old man was very old because a good writer says the old man was old that his wrinkles were growing wrinkles. The writer for example mentions the size of a brick from a building and the texture the brick has. That is what I think makes a perfect setting.

This picture represents the ending of It's Kind of a Funny Story. At the end of the book Craig tells the reader to live, live and be happy for yourself. Throughout the book he was worried about school, future job, and the future. The hospital changed him by making him enjoy life more instead of sitting at home studying. Overall he went from boring to excitement.

       I will comment on Gabe, Steven , Nadrian this week for my blog.

It's Kind of a Funny Story Week of 10/29-11/1

Pages: 117-286
Prompt: Miscellaneous: After Reading I wonder



                                So Far in It's Kind of a Funny Story....

         Last time when I wrote my blog I described that Craig was so worried about not being smart in his school. One night during everyone was sleeping Craig was trying to come up with a plan that can kill himself. Craig decides to call the Suicide Emergency Number which eventually leads him to the hospital. Craig decides to go to the hospital by himself in his bike, but it's kind of easy because he lives two blocks away from the hospital. Craig is checked into a room in the middle floor and he even has his security officer.  His parents find out and they vista him briefly because the nurse took away Craig's phone. Craig comes in with another patient called Jimmy and a helper named Smitty takes them to a different floor. Craig makes friends with Noelle a girl who cut her own face and they force Craig to participate in the activities.


                   After Reading I wonder.....

    After reading I wonder if Craig has become more social in the hospital than he was in the outside world. I wonder while so much people can relate to Craig even though Craig and other patients are completely different from each other. I ask myself why did that girl cut herself? Did she mental pain or physical pain? Now that I remember why does the old man Humble look at the world so negative? I think that in our mind we can at least think of something positive about the world. I forgot to mention but Humble is the second friend Craig makes at the hospital and Humble is actually the first person Craig can relate to. Every time I read a new chapter I kind of think that the hospital in which Craig is staying is kind of like MacNeal Hospital. It was just simple thought because they describe the cafeteria has good food and it's pretty big. I don't know why but ever since I was little kid I kind of like to explore hospitals just like Craig.


               Some more Wondering

   I just can't explain to myself why Craig's friend Aaron called Craig a loser just because he's in a hospital. I wonder why Aaron would do such a thing to Craig just because Craig had a mental incident. If I was one of Craig's friends I would go to the hospital and visit him instead of calling him mean names. Another thing I can't explain to myself is why they won't allow patients to have their cell phones. In one part of the book had an urgent emergency and he needed to call his family. He wasn't able to call them because they took away his cell phone and the phone in the hospital gets too crowded. In my opinion I think it was destiny that Craig made so many friends in the hospital because who knew that his so called "best friends" were going to dump him. I wonder what other kind of food they give in Craig's hospital. I know that in MacNeal Hospital they have coffee,fish, and my all time favorite cheesecake. After I read part of the book those are some of things that popped right into my head.


  I think that Craig's hospital looks kind of like this. I think this because they give so many specific details that anyone can think this is how Craig's hospital looks like. In the book they mention that this is almost like heaven to Craig. Craig has new friends, gets good food, good advice, and he doesn't have to worry about any work.

     This week I'll be commenting on Isabelle R., Nikolas, Athziry Blogs.
     

It's Kind of a Funny Story 10/21-10/25

Test Readiness: Compare the plot of what your reading with your favorite book.
Pages: 0-117



                      Introduction to It's Kind of a Funny Story

       The book I'm reading this week has to do with a high school that is extremely worried about his future. In the beginning of the book the main character Craig is studying for the readiness test so he can go to Executive Professional High School. He has to study different subjects and he has to be able to get all 800 questions correct. Luckily he was accepted to the school but after going to his first day he notices that he's not as smart as the other kids. Craig gets piles and piles of homework eventually he falls into a great depression. In the part I'm in the story Craig has thoughts of suicide and right now he recently goes to Dr. Barney. Dr.Barney is a therapist who has close connections with Craig in chapter 14.



                      Comparison of Plot

      It's Kind of a Funny Story and Wonder have almost the same plot because both of the main characters have trouble in school. In Wonder the character August has difficulties in school because he's afraid of people making fun of his face. In It's Kind of a Funny Story Craig is worried about not being smart enough and he's a little afraid of losing his best friend. August almost has the same feeling about his best friend because he discovers that his buddy Will hates him. Craig is jealous of his friend Aaron going out with the girl he was in love with. Craig gets piles and piles of homework while August from Wonder is not that convinced of showing who he really is. The difficult between these two characters is that they're to afraid to show who they really are. I think everybody can relate to this because I imagine that everybody has at least encountered one of these problems. Craig's problem is that he's to afraid to show his intelligence and August is afraid to show his personality.


                  Plot Continued.....
     In the last paragraph I mentioned that both of the main characters are afraid to show who they are, but they also like to share their emotions. In It's Kind of a Funny Story Craig likes to share his feelings with Dr.Barney because he feels that that's the only person he relate to. One of Craig's favorite things to do is ask a person how they started. When Craig asked Dr. Barney, the doctor says that he started the same way Craig did. In Wonder August mostly shares his feelings with his sister Via and sometimes his Mom. Via has strong emotions toward August by standing up to him and even letting her best friend Miranda go into their personal life. Craig also sometimes let's his sister Sarah give him some advice and every single Sarah has to know what Craig's condition is. I forgot to mention but in both of the books emotions play a big part in the plot. Sarah always tries to lift up Craig's spirit and hoping the best for his brother.

       In It's Kind of a Funny Story school plays a big part in the book because Craig wants to have the best education he can get possible. Throughout the book Craig always saying that he needs to get into a good high school so he can get into good college. Once he even tries to suicide himself just so he can pass the test.  

                                                    

                     Note: This week I'll put the comments in my classmates blog page instead of my blog.  I will comment on Gabe, Athzirary, Nikolas

Fire Star 10/14-10/18

Prompt: Miscellaneous/ Describe the main characters

Fire Star: Pages 316-548

                                    Ending of Fire Star

          For the ending of Fire Star Lucy's hair turns more red and Elizabeth tells David the story of her beloved Arthur. Elizabeth fell in love with a man named Arthur and Gwilanna forbid Liz to go out with Arthur. One day Gwilanna cast a spell on Liz which made her pregnant and that day Liz had the baby. Unfortunately Arthur had a misunderstanding so he ran away and Liz never saw him for the last 10 years. Arthur is revealed to be a monk and David goes to the arctic to save Lucy and Zanna. There's an evil alien called the Fain and that creature has the ability to possess  any person that creature wants. Later in the story the Fain possess an Inuit man named Tootega and has a battle with the teenager David Rain. Tootega dies and Zanna, Lucy and Arthur are able to escape. Sadly David stays in the arctic and goes missing. Back home Zanna reveals that she's pregnant and that Arthur has gone a little bit blind. 

                                Description of the Main Characters

          In the series and in the book there are 5 main characters not including the magical clay dragons. The first one is Elizabeth Pennykettle and she is described as a responsible parents and a caring mother. She worried a lot when Lucy goes missing and at one point of the story she still feels like her little girl is at home. Liz is a descendant of an ancient girl named Guinevere and she has the magical aura of bringing mini clay dragons to life. David Rain  was revealed in this story that he has a little bit of the magical powers of the Fain. Some ways I can describe David Rain is that he is adventurous, encouraging, and caring. He is willing to give up his life for his girlfriend Zanna and being able to try to destroy the evil Fain. David cares about all the people around him including his mistress family and even his neighbor. All the clay dragons love him they look up at him as a role model and a powerful ally. He is a little bit lazy because he's held back and almost never goes to his local college, except when he needs help from Dr.Bergestrom.

                         Supporting/ Main Characters Description

          The third main character I'm going to start with is Lucy Pennykettle daughter of Liz, descendant of Guinevere and Gwendolen. Later in the story Lucy has red hair instead of brown hair and her hair changes because she is descendant of Guinevere. Lucy is brave, sometimes stubborn, and has green eyes. People in the book mention that Lucy is like an exact replica of her mother Elizabeth and sometimes Lucy's eyes change into a violet color. Arthur is a religious, caring, and understanding man in the book. Since he had so much depression he went to an island outside of the United Kingdom which is full monks. He changed his name into Brother Vincent and  when the Fain invades his island his only friend who supports him is Brother Bernard. Arthur is understanding when his does not misjudge the dragon Gretel when it comes to the island. Zanna is powerful, supportive, and adventurous. Zanna is revealed to have enough power to over run the powerful sibyl Gwilanna and is supportive to the wounded polar bears in the story. She seeks adventure when she tries to save the dragon Grockle while fighting Tootega.

Polar Bears play a big part in the story because they have some kind of connection with dragons. In the story a female polar bear tries to protect and shelter Lucy when she's trapped in the arctic. A spirit of a ancient polar bear gives power to David Rain.

                    Comments
Stanley,

               I liked your choice of vocabulary and how you described the character's life right before you explain the plot. In the book I just finished I also had a character named Bacon. Your writing made me think about how I should have added minor characters in my blog too. At the end of your blog I found myself wondering about the question you asked at the end. What genre is this book? Thanks for the characters names!


Marisa,

             While I was reading your blog I was reminded by the goddess Gaea because she was mentioned in my book too. You described the character with deep thought and I liked how you gave specific details about Gaea. I forgot to mention that in my series Gaea will be the next antagonist in the fourth book. It's amazing how in both of our books Gaea is power hungry and she wants to take complete control of the world. Thanks for the info about Gaea!


Gabe,
               My first comment is how many books in the were world rage series? When you said that Drew got out of Lyssia does that mean that his spirit was trapped inside of Lyssia? It's amazing how so many events and action can happened just in 30 pages. I liked how you sequenced the events and you explained more about the shadows. I can relate to this because in my book there's a kind of powerful villain sort of shadow just like in your book. Thank for the current events!