OK guys, it is summer reading time now! I can't wait to hear about what you are reading. Remember, the more you read, the better reader you become. If you do your summer reading, you get to attend our Summer Reading Ice Cream Social the first week of school, so GET STARTED TODAY!
You should read one book from our summer reading list and an additional one or two of your choosing and respond right here on our CMS Media Center Blog. Just click below where it says comment and write about the books you are reading. If you do this 10 times over the summer then you are in! Remember, your responses should be 100-150 words and should include your first name and last initial and the grade you will be in next year (ex. Shawn H. 6th).
SUMMER READING LIST
Feel free to email me with any questions hingers@clarke.k12.ga.us
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77 comments:
Isabelle G. 6th
The book I am reading is The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. I have read 37 pages so far and have been reading for about 40 minets and the book is already so intresting. The characters so far are, Eleanor(Groovy), Frankie, Officer Miguel, Mamma, Daddy, and Luis. The plot of the story so far is Groovy's dad has been taken away to go to jail, because her mamma called the police, and she has no idea why, so she is at luises taco shop in search of fankie,(Luises younger brother) to talk to him about it. There have been four settings so far, they are, outside in the street, at groovy house, in her mommas salon, and in the Taco restraunt. The conflict of the story so far is Groovys dad is in jail. I am looking forward to the rest of the book so I'll comment later. Bye!
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Isabelle G. 6th.
if you dont know already, the book I am reading is The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. Today I read 32 pages in about half an hour which means I am on page 70. In these four chapters there have been some characters added, they are, Felix, Marisol Cruz, and Mr. Tom. I like this book because it keeps you wondering and guessing, its has a good plot, and I can sorta know how Groovy really feels because I am also an 11 year old. A summary of the story of what i have read today is, Frankie got a letter from his mom but he wont read it.He has gone to an island, whith groovy, where he hides all the postcards he gets from his mom, and takes the box that they are in and sinks it. Groovys mom still hasnt told her why she called the police to take her dad to jail. But she is taking Groovy out for dinner to explain everything. I'll comment later! Bye!
Isabelle G. 6th
The Year the Swallows Came Early
71-100 (pages) 30-45 minunets
These chapters of the book have taken place in, Groovy's appartment, outside (on the street), and Jose's Cantina. I agree with Groovys mom in holding on to tell her why she called the cops on Groovys father, because if i was her I would need some time to think about what i had just done. All though I can see where Groovys frustration is comming from, because (like it says in the book) Groovy has a right to know about her father, also because if i were her i would want to know if he was safe.
Isabelle G. 6th
The Year the Swallows Came Early
pg. 121-200 (79 pages) 60 minunets
Wow this book is so intresting! I love it! well, I agree with eleanor (groovy) for not forgiving her dad for losing all of her money her grandmother gave to her for cooking school because number one it was twenty-five thousand dollars and another if i was her everything i ever wanted would be to go to cooking school and now I might not be able to go bacause my dad lost it all gambiling and he never said sorry or even told her about it. plus it would be hard to forgive him beause she loved him and now she doesnt know if she loves him or is too mad to. I also sort of understand her not wanting to do anything because she is too deppressed to, look at it this way what if you figure out you had the money to persue any kind of dream you have but your dad lost it all betting, how would you feel?
Isabelle G. 6th
th year the swallows came yearly
pg 224-pg 271 (47 pages) 45 minunetss
ok this is my last blog for this book. but i loved it so much you should try it! I love the happy ending the author wrights. it makes you feel good inside. I dissagree with Eleanors(goovys) mom because i think earth-quakes are not caused by hot weather because you be in an earthquake in the winter. i also agree with groovy and i think it was right for her to forgive her dad because he was really sorry on the phone with her and i think that it shows her love for her dad that she loved him so much that she acutally forgave him and didnt hold a grudge. i love this book so much pick up a copy and read it you will love it!
The Anybodies by N. E. Bode
pages read 1-29
In one part, two babies get switched at a hospital. I compare it to real life and think how this could not be possible. This draws me into the book because it’s so much more interesting and it makes me wonder. I now know that the characters lives will be changed and not the way they might expect. When one of the switched babies is older and people come to visit her and her family they say she looks nothing like her parents. There her life is changed because she doesn’t look anything like her parents. Her parents get mad at her all the time and tell her to stop opening her eyes so wide, but she cant help it because that is just how she looks. I hope to learn the reason for the magical things that happen to her like when the bat turns into a marble, and if they would make sense if she hadn’t been switched.
-Julie Alpaugh
The Anybodies by N. E. Bode
pages read 29-70
Each character in this book has their own distinct personality. There is a young girl named Fern who is not at all repulsive, and she is very admirable. She usually knows the right thing to do in a situation. Fern is always calm and confident in situations that others would have gone crazy in. For example when a bat turns into a marble, she is very calm. Mrs. Drugger is the mom that Fern was switched to. She is bland, her food is bland everything about her is bland. Mrs. Drugger is also not a very sociable person. Mr. Drugger is the husband to Mrs. Drugger. He also is very boring and enjoys silence. He and his wife are both accountants and they do not like to take vacations. The Bone is Fern’s real dad. He is real tough and very adventurous. The bone is an anybody, so he can change his shape, size and looks to look like some one else.
Oliver Benson 6th
The book I'm reading goes by the name of Darkwing. The book starts right off by introducing our main character, Dusk. Dusk and his father Icaron are climbing the Great Siquoia, in which he lives in, to begin his first gliding lesson. (they're bats). As Dusk is climbing he begins to get nervous and scared. Kenneth Oppell (the writer) does a great job in expressing emotions through his characters, for exaple: I can tell that dusk is scared not only by being told openly, but by the little things that he does, or thinks. Like "the tree had never seemed so high" and "can I go back to the nest?" or "Dusk's voice sounded with a unfimiliar crackle.
Overall this book has a great start and i'm sure i'm going to love it. ~ Oliver
Isabelle G. 6th
this book i am reading is on the clare middle school reading list its called We Cant't All Be Rattlesnakes. I really dont like that the litte boy is keeping him and other wild animals in his house. because one no one keeps a tarantula as a pet bacause they belong in the wild, so do the other "perisoners", next he never asked his parents to keep the snake, last was tortchering them and he was just being plane mean, think about it how would you like if you get snatched up out of nowhere, you got slung around, locked up in a cage, and your thinking "i am never going to get out of here" and "when is he going to start the tortchure". i will comment later! bye
Wow! I sure am glad to see how much you guys are reading and posting on the blog? You all are doing a great job making comments and asking questions about your books! :)
Oliver Benson 6th
In the book Darkwing they have started to introduce some more characters, starting with Dusks big sister, (by three seconds) Sylph. You can plainly see Sylphs emotions but you do not know enough for her to be called a 3d character, like Dusk is. Some other characters that you meet are Aeolus and Jib. Aeolus seems shy and does not talk much, but Jib is the heartless and mean fellow newborn that is common in books in which the main character is different. Jib enjoys making fun of Dusk calling him names and making jokes at his expense.
Dusk has been having strange urges to fly, but he does not know why.
He asks his father Icaron about it. (who we find out is the leader of their band of bats or chiropters as they call themselves)
He replies that Dusk should never try to fly because it is not what Chiropters do.
I'll keep you updated ~ Oliver
Isabelle G. 6th
We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes
pg. 10-43 min.s read 30-40
the characters in this book so far are crusher(the gopher snake), rex(the lizzard), speedy(the tortise), mom, dad, and gunnar. a short summary is crusher has been captured by gunner, there are a lizzard and a tortise(rex and speedy) that have also been captured. And crusher has just been taken on the "Grad Tour" around the Gunners house. the plot is crusher needs to get out of his cage and most importantly back to the wild before he starves. I love this book and i will keep reading it so i will comment later bye!
I think I'll read We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes next, you are making it sound so good. I finish up with summer academy/school tomorrow, so I am ready to start reading my stack of books! :)
I can't wait to see you guys in August to hear all about your reading! Keep me updated in the meantime right here on the blog.
The Anybodies
by N.E. Bode
The setting of the house Fern is in now, is very different from the previous one at the Druggers'. The Druggers' house was very neatly organized and sparkling clean. Their living room only had one picture. The Bone's house is the polar opposite of the Druggers'.
Unlike the barron house of Mr. and Mrs. Drugger, his house is completely ingurgitated with the most unique stuff. The walls are covered with velvety red cloth, "like in a movie theater." On the walls are framed shoe inserts, a fish made of tea bags, a painting of dental floss, and a picture of the Bone and the Mister. On the floor is a fold up card table with two fold up chairs. There is even an orange knit sofa and beanbags all sprawled out on the floor. The Bone has a refridgerator that stinks of rotton old chinese food. His windows have curtains covering them and outside his windows were spies holding tea mugs against the window. As you can see his house is the contradistiction of the Druggers' house.
-Julie Alpaugh
Oliver Benson 6th
As we read on we are introduced to what seems to be a new main character, making two.
This character is named Carnassial of the felids who has just seemingly destroyed the last winged quetzal eggs (some type of dinosaur.) Carnassial has created an addiction to meat that is so overwhelming that he has to resort to leaving his prowl and murdering other beasts for food. (the beasts have made an alliance so this is strickly forbidden.) Carnassial lives on the mainland which i do not know much about, he and his assembled prowl who have the same taste for meat move on to the island that our other main character lives on. There have been some reports of the felid eating bird eggs but the chiropters are not afraid.
Carnassial has come to the island becouse the word of them breaking the alliance has spread all around the mainland, so they cannot catch prey as easily.
I'll keep you posted, ~ Oliver
Oliver Benson 6th
Carnassial has attacked!!!
He and his band have closed in on the chiropters making it very hard to escape! Dusk, Sylph, Icaron and Mother are sleeping soundly when a soft chatter begins among them, soon they begin to hear shrill screams of terror and agony as Carnassial and his band attack their Siquoia! As Icaron steps out of his hole he is approached by Carnassial and attacked. Dusks mother desperately tries to help but Dusk is rushed of to try to escape with Sylph and does not see what happens. Later dusks finds that his father is alive but badly wounded and his mother is... dead.
In my opinion this was one of the most exiting eight pages of this book! I was just blown over, I strongly suggest that you read this book!
I'll report more soon ~ oliver
I'll report more soon
Trent s. 6th
I am reading the book dragon egg by Sarah L. Thomson. Ive read seven chapters so far and I like it. The main charecter Mella and her familly live in the upstairs of a resturaunt. Tt is cool to me because at the resturaunt they eat dragon eggs just like we would eat chicken eggs.The plot of the story is very interesting because Mella is a dragon keeper, she is the one who takes care of the little dragons that they get the eggs from. then she finds an egg of a real dragon and she has to take care of that one. the book is very suspense full even in the first chapter so i cant inagine how greate the climax of the book will be. for example they are riding on a hore through the woods and the hear wild dragons skreeching in the shadows. I like the book so far and i look forwrd to reading more of it.
-Trent s.
Isabelle G.6th
pg. 43-79 (36 pages) 30 minets
i dissagree with gunther on taking cusher to school. because after she had bitten bryon i think he should have realised that crusher was not that tame also i think that i would not be comfortable having a snake at my school in a box that can easialy open. i also dissagree with gunthers mom because she is letting him keep any animal he can find. what if he comes home one day with a rabid squirrle? she might not even know it and let him hold it. he might get rabies. its all for the saftey of her child. well got to get to the rest of the book! this book is awesome! bye!
Trent S. 6th
I am reading Dragon Egg by Sarah l Thomson. I am on chapter 10 now and I have noticed something interesting and unique about the book. It is that the story switches between Mella's reality and Mella's Dreams. It is also interesting how all of the dragons know where the egg is because a group of wild dragons comes and tries to defend the egg. If I could chose a favorite character so far I think it would be the egg because whenever it is in fire it glows and I also for some reason like it because it cant talk. I am half way done and I really like it.
Trent S.
Fern and the Bone are trying to find a big brown leather book that has secret codes that will help the Bone and Fern do magical thinkgs as anybodies. The Miser is also an anybody, but a horrid character who is also trying to find the book. Fern and the Bone don't want him to because he will use it for terrible things. Fern has figured out that the book is somewhere in the grandmother's house, but one problem, her grandmother does not know Fern and she hates the Bone. Her grandmother (Mrs. Appleplum) lets people who need a place to stay, stay in her house. So the Bone and Fern have to go as pretend people who need a place to stay. When they get in the house they find the miser already there but still has not found the book. Now the Bone and Fern are trying to figure out where the book could be before the Miser does. Who will find it first?
Fern and the Bone are trying to find a big brown leather book that has secret codes that will help the Bone and Fern do magical things as anybodies. The Miser is also an anybody, but a horrid guy who is also trying to find the book. Fern and the Bone don't want him to find it because he will use it for bad things. Fern has figured out that the book is somewhere in her grandmother's house, one problem, her grandmother does not know her and hates the Bone. Her grandmother (Mrs. Appleplum) lets people stay in her house so the Bone and Fern have to go as pretend people who need a place to stay. When they get in the house they find the Miser already there, but still he has not found the book. Now the Bone and Fern are trying to figure out where the book could be before the Miser does. Who will find it first?
Lydia J. 6th
I am reading "Savvy" by Ingrid Law.
I kind of did the reading and forgot about the writing. Oops. I think I’ll just talk about the characters now.
Bobbi – a hardened, bubble-poppin’ teenager with a good-sized dose of attitude, which perfectly masks her secretly soft inside. She and Mibs are an unlikely pair, yet they form a strong bond through the book. Bobbi is vividly described by the author of Savvy. She is one of my favorite characters because the way Bobbi acts reminds me a lot of myself.
Mibs (Mississippi) – a savvy surprise. It’s her thirteenth birthday and turning 13 only means one thing for the Beaumonts that a savvy (supernatural powers) is coming. When her father is injured in a car wreck, she believes her savvy will save him. She drags two of her brothers – Fish and Samson – and two friends – Bobbi and Will – into a crazy adventure to save her Dad! Mibs is not a giver-upper, just like me.
Samson – small and shy boy, but incredibly clever and enjoys hiding.
More later… Happy reading!
Lydia J. 6th
Still reading "Savvy" by Ingrid Law. Here we go again with the book’s characters.
Fish – a boy with a rather stormy mood …literally. Fish’s savvy controls storms. Being oldest, he is very protective of his siblings. Moody like Samson, he can whip up a hurricane in seconds. One should keep on the good side of this Beaumont; for until he can control his storms, he is unpredictable.
Will Junior – strong, smart, and has a secret. Neither of his parents is named Will, so where did the junior come from? He has a crush on Mibs, and she feels the same towards him.
Rocket – the eldest of the Beaumont children. Not much is known about him other than his appearance is electrifying. Bobbi, not that secretly, has a crush on him.
Poppa – a man without a savvy, who is the victim of the car wreck.
Momma – perfect in every way. That’s her savvy. She looks perfect, and everything she does is perfect. When she messes up, she messes up perfectly. What a perfect mother!
Isabelle G. 6th
We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes
page 79-page 106 35 pages 30 minets
If i were crusher i would have waited for gunner to take me out to escape because how would i have gotten the door open to get outside but if you think about it number one you would not have thought about it because you would have been too worried about how you were going to escape and also you would not really understand how a door works because you are a snake from the wild. i also feel that crusher had to bite gunner because he was attacking him but also he was the one that was trying to escape and gunnar was just trying to "contain" him. i will comment later bye!
Isabelle G. 6th
page 106-121 (17 pages) 15 minetes
This is my last blog for this book, I still have one more book to read, but so far this book has been the best out of the summer reading i have been doing,although i did love The Year the Swallows Came Early. I think it was right of gunnar to set crusher free but it was not right of him to capture a king snake, because, one, Kong (the king snake) is even more dangerouse and also she also deserves to be in the wild, she was not made to be stuck in a cage. i will blog in my next book. i am going to start reading now so goodbye!
When fern goes back to her old house at the Drudgers she sees the house has change massively from the beginning! In the beginning it was so neat, and nothing was ever on the floor. It was always so quiet and the lawn was always perfectly mown. But now it is so much different, when she gets out of the car she sees the lawn has not been mown in a while. When she opens the door it looks like a hurricane had hit. The floor was completely littered with old banana peels. Closets were opened and coats and scarves were scattered everywhere. There was an umbrella hung from a ceiling fan that was still spinning. There were muddy footprints on the carpet and it sounded like a zoo in the house. There were screeching and thumping noises coming from up stairs. Mr. and Mrs. Drudger had also changed tremendously. They went from being bland boring people to being hypnotized and acting like monkeys! They jump and waddle around and are not quiet. They chirp and squeal and are so happy.
Oliver Benson 6th
still,if you do not know already I have been reading the book Darkwing
which I highly recommend.
As result of the attack on their Siquoia, Dusk and his clan have been forced to return to mainland to try to find a new life. The Chiropters still hope to get back their siquoia though.
This book has been very compelling from the start and makes you (if you are like me) get a adrenaline surge making you read faster and become more emotional while you read.
When the Chiropters reach the Mainland the other Chiropters seem to take them in quite easily, but when they find out why they left they are told to renounce their ways or be gone. Icaron being his proud self, firmly denies doing so and is forced to find a new home.
Keep you updated ~ Oliver
p.s. sorry about the closing reapeat on my last input.
Oliver Benson 6th
Again, the book I am reading is called Darkwing.
The Chiropters have been searching far and wide for a new home but keep being rejected by the other animals. Though on their way they find a extremely generous ground of animals that give Icaron a healing salv for his wound.
The animals prepare a special feast for the Chiropters that consist of things Dusk had never even seen before. Dusk is told of a monster that lives in the forest but believes it is just a myth, but this myth becomes all too real as they find out they have been tricked, put to sleep by the food, and left for dead in sacrifice for the monster! I must admit though that it is terribly typical what happens, Dusk thinks of a clever way to wake up and save his companions narrowly saving almost all of the Chiropters lives!... ... ... Duh.
Keep you updated! ~ Oliver
Lydia J. 6th
Savvy by Ingrid Law
When Mibs drags her friends onto the Pink Bible Bus that she thinks will heading to Salina from her unwanted birthday party (Her little sister Gypsy accidentally told Ms. Rosemary that it was Mibs’ 13th birthday. Ms. Rosemary is in charge of the church they go to, and she is watching them while Momma and Rocket have gone to help Poppa), they find out that the bus is actually heading in the opposite direction. The bus is heading to make more deliveries. This is only one of the troubles they run into along the way to save Mibs’ Father.
The man driving the bus is described as a sad and lonely man – his name is Lester. Lester has had some bad experiences in his life. Although he’s not strong of mind, he’s a kind man. Later, when Lester discovers Mibs and her friends, he just gives up and let’s them stay on the bus. It turns out that Lester enjoyed having someone to talk with. Stay tuned for more of Mibs’ troubles…..
Lydia J. 6th
Savvy by Ingrid Law
When Mibs and her friends discover that the bus won’t be heading back to Salina until tomorrow, Mibs and her friends become anxious as they believe that, since they snuck off, everyone will be worrying about them. Mibs and her family are already anxious because of Poppa and the fact that he may die. To try to pass the time, Will handed Mibs her birthday present. She opens it and finds two pens. Will holds out his hands to Mibs for her to write on them. Mibs draws out a small, smiling sun on his hand. The next moment, the sun opened its eyes and cleared its throat like it had something to say. This is the beginning of Mibs’ savvy. The sun opened its mouth and said in a sing-songy voice: “Will’s got a secret, want to know the secret?” It repeated it over and over. Mibs runs backwards. Fish, knowing something is wrong, closes in on Will. When Mibs yells, “Wash your hand Will Junior.” Fish spits on Will’s hand and smears the sun away. Mibs has begun to discover her savvy is being able to read a person’s mind when there is ink on their body.
Lydia J. 6th
Savvy by Ingrid Law
My final entry on Savvy has too little room to describe the rest of the story… how Lester finally stood up for himself, and how thankful the parents were when the kids came back. But, I’ll tell you what I can. The next delay came when the bus had to stop because there was a car parked in the middle of the road. It turns out the car had broken down, and there was a woman named Lill inside. Lester took to her immediately. Lill needed a ride, and to Lester, it was, the more the merrier. Lill’s a kind woman and is very light-hearted. If she had a savvy, it would be lateness. She worked nights as a waitress in a truck-stop just off the interstate near Emerald. Lester took her there. She ended up getting fired, and she came with them on the bus. Lill and Mibs were becoming friends. At the diner, Mibs had explained to Fish her savvy, and Bobbi had overheard. So now, Bobbi knew her secret. When Lill became suspicious of what we kids were doing while with Lester, Bobbi had to use her special talent and become Ms. Rosemary to save the day.
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
I have started a wonderful book, Dragon’s Egg, by Sarah L. Thompson. I am on page 111, and I started the book yesterday. I thought it was amazing when little Mella, common dragon keeper, finds a true dragon’s egg, and is assigned its keeper. Mella is going on what seems to be an impossible adventure to the mythical Hatching Ground, which is above a waterfall and between two matching mountains called The Fangs. As Roger tags along after her, they are kidnapped so that Roger’s rich parents must pay a large ransom to get him back. Mella’s part in the scheme is that the kidnapper will hold her hostage until he can get out of the country disguised as a merchant. What will they do to get out of this tricky situation? I think I’ll finish this letter off with a question that I hope will be answered at the end of the book. Which do you think is true? Kilian, Kalian, damerson, dee, who made the dragons and set them free? Heart of a serpent, voice of a man, breath of the fire that none can withstand? To be continued…..
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
I finished the Dragon’s Egg!! The book is AMAZING! Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The last blog had a question that I never finished. I had forgotten the next part, but I remember now. Which do you think is true this or the last one? Kilian, Kalian, damerson, dee, Coel made the dragons and set them free. Skin of a serpent, mind of a man, heart of a fire that none can withstand. Personally, I think the songs should be together. And by the way, Coel was king when there were the first true dragons. Mella and Roger have escaped the kidnapper! (His name was Alain.) Mella was able to get some wild common dragon to help her. They attacked Alain because he went near the Egg. Roger grabbed Alain’s sword and could have killed Alain, but it was against his rules of honor. Then Mella hit Alain’s head with a rock, and she and Roger escaped into the night. This scene is important to me because it’s incredibly well thought out, and it’s funny.
A savvy is a supernatural power that all of the Beaumont children receive sometime during the day of their thirteenth birthday. The savvies are also what makes the book fascinating. Savvies can be unexpected or extraordinary. They might be helpful, harmful, or dangerous to other people. The two oldest Beaumonts, Fish and rocket have already obtained their savvies. Rocket’s supernatural power is he can conduct electric currents though him to other objects. Fish has the power to make storms. His savvy can be very dangerous. For instance, on the night of Fish’s birthday his power destroyed a whole town. It was so bad they had to move away. The three younger children have not gotten there savvies yet. Before the Beaumont children turn thirteen they have to bee home schooled because the powers can be very dangerous. Home schooling is also necessary because they can learn how to control their savvys if needed
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
After Mella and Roger escape Alain, they have to follow a river that they think will lead them to the waterfall. Roger finds a man who is living in a village in the forest. When Roger inquires if they can stay, the man says no. But when Roger rescues the man’s lamb from an emperor eagle, he changes his mind. Unfortunately, Alain ends up at the same village and overhears them telling the man, Gwyn, about the dragon’s egg. Luckily, Alain does not believe what he hears as he thinks they are lying. Then Alain makes up his own story about Mella and Roger being his niece and nephew, the people from the village believes him. Gwyn believes Mella and Roger, and helps them try to escape Alain again. Unluckily, Alain follows them in the dead of night, and in their battle, Gwyn is hurt! Even so, Roger and Mella are able to run off into the dark maze of the forest at night, leaving Gwyn and Alain far behind. What will they do now?
The plot of this story would be much different if the Beaumonts lived in another town. Many things would not have happened, if they lived somewhere else. The Beaumonts lived on the coast when fish turned 13 and got his savvy. His first storm would not have been a hurricane and caused so much damage if they were farther from the shore. That would have lead them to not move. Mibs might not have the problem of the hospital being so far away which would have led to her not needing to sneak on a bus or the bus from Saline could not have been there if they had in another city father away. Just by the beaumonts living somewhere else would have changed the story tremendously.
Mibs and her friends find themselves in a big mess on the pink bible bus and have many adventures. While hiding in the back when the bus pulls out they realize it is going father from Saline not towards, and now I am wondering how? What? Are they still going to get to Saline? When Mibs falls the bus driver sees that he’s not alone, and asks why they are there. He tells them they can hitch a ride but reluctantly. But OH NO! He has to go to Bee then Wyoming, Montana and finally, Saline. It will be over a day but Mibs has no other choice than to ride with him. While in Bee, a tiny town, if you blink to slow you’ll miss it, Fish and Will get in a huge fight. Will gets a black eye. Mibs has also been having the problem of being able to hear any ink pictures or tattoo’s conversations. I think this must be her savvy. The bus drive, Lester, has the appearance of being tough and mean but truly he is a caring, loving, helpful man. Lester pulled to the side of the road and let a lady named Lill ride with them because her car broke down and she is late for work. This surprised me; I thought he would not want anyone else on the bus by how he acted about Mibs and her friends staying on.
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
After Mella and Roger escape Alain, they have to follow a river that they think will lead them to the waterfall. Roger finds a man who is living in a village in the forest. When Roger inquires if they can stay, the man says no. But when Roger rescues the man’s lamb from an emperor eagle, he changes his mind. Unfortunately, Alain ends up at the same village and overhears them telling the man, Gwyn, about the dragon’s egg. Luckily, Alain does not believe what he hears as he thinks they are lying. Then Alain makes up his own story about Mella and Roger being his niece and nephew, the people from the village believes him. Gwyn believes Mella and Roger, and helps them try to escape Alain again. Unluckily, Alain follows them in the dead of night, and in their battle, Gwyn is hurt! Even so, Roger and Mella are able to run off into the dark maze of the forest at night, leaving Gwyn and Alain far behind. What will they do now?
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
What would the book be like if Roger and Lilla (Mella’s sister) switched places? The kidnapping wouldn’t have happened, so even though they wouldn’t be able to gain lodgings with Gwyn, they wouldn’t even need to! And Mella, during the fight in the night, wouldn’t have stumbled upon the waterfall (and its secret entrance) between the Fangs, and most likely they wouldn’t even find The Egg. Lilla, if she took the place of Roger, would need to change her entire characteristics – she would need to be born to a different family too, if the same events happened with her in Roger’s place. Roger would have to grow a love for hair ribbons, become hard to please, and very fashionable (for that time that is). I can’t imagine how Mella or Roger would survive the switch, so I am certainly glad that the Author chose to write the story the way she did.
Ms Hingers - this is the ooe that did not get published....sent again - thanks!
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
I finished the Dragon’s Egg! The book is AMAZING! Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The last blog had a question that I never finished. I had forgotten the next part, but I remember now. Which do you think is true this or the last one? Kilian, Kalian, damerson, dee, Coel made the dragons and set them free. Skin of a serpent, mind of a man, heart of a fire that none can withstand. Personally, I think the songs should be together. And by the way, Coel was king when there were the first true dragons. Mella and Roger have escaped the kidnapper! (His name was Alain.) Mella was able to get some wild common dragon to help her. They attacked Alain because he went near the Egg. Roger grabbed Alain’s sword and could have killed Alain, but it was against his rules of honor. Then Mella hit Alain’s head with a rock, and she and Roger escaped into the night. This scene is important to me because it’s incredibly well thought out, and it’s funny.
Lydia J. 6th
Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson
If I was going to compare the Defender’s weapons to that of Xena Warrior Princess’ weapons:
The Defender had a sword, of course, and a dagger for fighting up close or for throwing. He sometimes carried a spear. The Defenders were an old order meant to protect the kingdom from dragons, back in the days when King Coel ruled.
Xena Warrior Princess was a warrior “forged in the heat of battle”. She used to be evil, but now uses her great strength, agility, and brains to defend others from the forces of evil. Xena’s weapons were a shakram (round killing thingy that you throw like a boomerang Frisbee), a sword, breast dagger, sometimes a whip, and whatever else she had around her. Her most fearsome weapon is her blood-chilling, heart-stopping, war cry that paralyzes you!
Both Xena and the defender have students to help them. The Defender, whose name is Damien Damerson, has Roger; Xena has Gabrielle. Both of their assistants/students end up being royalty – one a prince, the other an Amazon princess.
Julie Alpaugh 6th
Savvy
The characters in this book each have very interesting personalities. I get introduced to them while they are on the pink bible bus. The main character Mibs is 13. She is very smart and good at problem solving. She has a savvy that allows her to hear what ink pictures and tattoos think. Bobbie is 16 and secretly very lonely, she is very good at tricking people. Bobbie also loves chewing bubble gum. Samson is very shy and barely ever speaks. He likes finding places to hide. Fish is very protective of his sister and has a savvy that allows him to make storms. Will Jr. has a crush on Mibs. Will is very brave and strong. Lester was a weak man who would not stand up for him self or what he thought in the beginning, but now he has a lot more self-confidence and is doing what he thinks. Lester is a nice loving man and he has a crush on Lill. Lill love kids she is really sweet and want the kids to be happy she also helps Lester have confidence in himself.
The ending in this book was surprising to me. By the ending the characters had changed. On the bus, Fish was one of the oldest, so that put him in the position of needing to be a role model. Fish matured a lot and learn how to control his savvy. Mibs realized by the end that she was not a little girl any more but a teenager. Bobbie was a lot nicer and was a true friend. She was a mature teenager who had good advice for Mibs. Rocket has grown up into a young man who can control his savvy. I expected the story to end like a normal kids book, everyone lives happily ever after but no, well kind of yes. I thought from the very beginning that Mibs would be able to help her dad somehow. It ended up Mibs was able to wake him, but he was not at all the same. His mind was messed up and he did forget things and had many bad scars. I thought he would be perfectly normal but he was not. They did end up living not at all like the beginning but happy very happy.
Fear Churchwell: Seekers: The Quest Begins. I have read another chapter of Seekers! The three polar bears(Nisa,Taquiq,and Kallik). Go north south to avoid the melting ice. So they are forced to swim. They arrive at an ice berg and rest there. Then Nisa the mother. Takes Kallik which appears to be the main polar bear. To the other side and is planning to come back for Taquiq. On the way there they are attacked by an ocra!!! Nisa Trys to protect Kallik by fighting the ocra. She succeeds but is killed. Kallik manages to get to the other side safely but just barely. Now she is stranded on the island with nobody else.
Fear Churchwell 7th: Seekers: The Quest Begins. I have read some more of the book. It starts back after Kallik it goes to Toklo. Toklo, his Mother Oka, and Tobi. All set out to the stream to catch salmon. It takes them a while before they reach the stream. They try to fish for a little while than there mother tells them to rest. Overnight Tobi dies. Than it goes to Lusa they are climging trees. Yogi gets to a new place high up the tree. Then he starts to taunt Lusa. Then King comes along (their Dad). He teaches Lusa and Yogi how to climb trees the proper way, and Lusa makes it too the top. Then there dad starts bragging on how Black Bears are great climbers. Then he starts to talk about Humans than they get the word their mother has fallen ill. Man this book is good. Every time I finish a bear I want more of the chapter.
Fear Churchwell 7th: I read last night Seekers! Kallik runs into a pack of bears at the island. Before she found them shel was looking for Taquiq. She looks for them at the bears cave but she cannot find him. Then she meets a bear that tells her a story just like her mother. Meanwhile Lusa's mother has just died. Lusa is very sad that her mother died. King also tells them about his life in the woods and about the trees. This book is getting very interesting, I wonder what will happen next.
Fear Churchwell 7th: I stayed up and finished Seekers!!! It was awesome! Lusa enters the wild on her own in search for help. Toklo Learns too survive by catching salmon. Then Toklo meets this strange bear that follows him around. You see the bear is much younger than Toklo. Meanwhile Kallik is following tracks of the fire beasts. Along with her friend Purnaq. Her paws were sore, but she kept on going. The fire beasts also live where Toklo romes. The best part of the book was the end... I can't be sure but I think Toklo runs into Lusa!!! I really enjoyed this book and might continue to read the series.
isbaelle G. 6th
The sisters grimm- The inside Story
pages 1-67
i picked this book as my book that was not on the summer reading list because i love the way the auther sort of paints the picture in your head so its like watching a movie i dislike sabrina's choice of not going by the fairy tales so the can get there faster but i can see why they did do it i mean i might do it under the sercumstances of saving their brother. I also do not agree with their desishion of trusting puck after he betrayed them i mean how do you know if and when he is going to betray them again. i will be getting back to my book now so BYE!!!!!!!!!!
Isabelle G. 6th
The Sisters Grimm-The Inside Story
i dissagre with Sabrina on her letting Puck boss her around and say that they are getting married because she is WAY too young to be getting married. Also she should be making that desicion for her self. But i do aggree on them not telling dalphine about the monster that tried to kill sabrena. i also do not agree with sabrina, puck, and dalphine on them taking many stops and rests alog the way i think they need to just keep going. i have to go now so BYE!
Isabelle G. 6th
page 121-184 (63 pages) in one hour
The Sisters Grimm- The Inside Story
i really dont agree with sabrina and dalphine in alowing the other charachters to come with them in their journey, because first the editor was anry when he found out and, second they would have to be sent back any way and, last they knew all these things would happen so really all those people were just a big burden. i also think that sabrina needs to toughin up because all of the things that are happening to them are happening to puck and dalphine(not to mention dalpine is younger than her) and you don't see them crying and fainting all the time she epecially should because she needs to be strong infront of her little sister. i can see why she is crying but if i were in the place of dalphine i would want my sister to be strong and optomisstic for me. i'm going to get back to my book now so bye!
Fear Churchwell 7th: I started The Magic Thief last night. I read 300 pages in about two hours!!! I finished it today! The book starts out in a town called Twilight. There is a thief named Connawer. He sees a magician which I will name later. Then he reachede into the magcian's pocket and gets his lucos magicoulus (which is kind of like a wand but a stone). The Magician figures it out then offers him to dinner. The stone nearly kills Connawaer. The magicians name turns out to be named Nevery and is sort of impatient. Nevery is surprised it didn't kill Connawaer so he accepts him as his apperentice. Later they go to a different house to go to meetings. There is a house keeper named Benet. Then Connawaer starts to go to a school called acaiedimicos.
Isabelle G. 6th
The Sisters Grimm- The Inside Story
page 185- page 225 (40 pages)
In this part of the book the editor sends the revisers to kill the characters but sabrina, pinocchio, puck, dalphine, and the fake white rabbit. they land in the book of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the fake white rabbit takes their door so they have to make a new ending so they tease the headless knight. then they end up in the story of aladin and find that the mirror and their baby brother are there. after that the mirror rubs the jenie lamp and goes to his story to change it and the rest of sabrina's family show up and their mom tells their dad about their little brother because he never knew about him. the children fill the adults in on whats going on, next they go to the editor to try to convince them to go to the story of snow white cause the mirror is there and he refuses to let them go. so they go to try to cause trouble so that the editor has to let them get into the story of snow white.
Fear Churchwell 7th: The next part of The Magic Thief happens like this. Nevery thinks that Conn is a spy cause his uncle is the underlord. So Conn uses the Embero spell to turn himself into a cat. He hides his locus magicoulus stone in the snow. Then he goes to spy on the underlord and his minons. He finds out that they have a machine that can take away wizards' magic!!! While he is leaving he is now a boy again. In the middle of his walk home Conn is captured. He is taken to the underlord and trys to drain his magic. I am almost done summarizing this book I think I will post my last one today!
Fear Churchwell 7th: The end of The Magic Thief ends like this. Conn figures out a way to escape. He finds Nevery and tells him what is going on. So they go to the Underlord's palace. When they reach the palace they start searching. Conn finds the Underlord and Pettivox (Keeston's master). They try to drain his magic, but Nevery appears, and Pettivox and Nevery start throwing spells at each other. Eventually Nevery wins. A couple days later Conn wakes up and learns that his locus magicoulus is destroyed. Then he falls back to sleep. Later he wakes up to find Keeston they talk for a while then the book reaches the end. This was a great book.
Isabelle G. 6th
Sisters Grimm-The Inside Story
page 225-266 (41 pages)
I just finished my last book on the summer reading list and I loved it, it was intresting, mysterious, eciting, sad, and romantic in a weird way. I like the way that granney renalda basicly kills herself just so her grandson could live. i also think the relationship between sabrina and puck is sorta funny and intresting i mean they make people think they hate each other but they really like each other in the inside. i just think that it is really intresting reading the way they interact with each other. i just think that puck should be a little nicer at times because when ever sabrina tries to have romantic conversation with him he always ruins it by talking about how smelly she might be at the moment or how "ugly" she looks but really he thinks she is pretty. well this is my last blog so BYE!
Nicolina Boza: The Year the Swallows Came Early - pages 121-178 - July 28-30
I feel sorry for Frankie. I can't imagine how Frankie felt while his mother was gone. I would be happy when my mom came home, but I would also be mad because she lied. Groovy started to sell strawberries, and for once Marisol was nice and gave Groovy all her money for strawberries. She bought two every day for herself and Felix. Groovy took Frankie to go look in a box at Groovy's house. They found books that were her grandma's and a key. there was a number on the key. It was 173. If I found that key, I'd be very excited. Groovy was brave to go to the bank all by herself to see if her dad actually took the money or if it was in the safe deposit box. When she looked in the box, there was nothing in it. She knew for sure that her dad had taken all the money that her grandma left her. She was very mad, and I would be too.
Julie Alpaugh 6
The Magic Thief
Conn has been pick pocketing for some time, so he is really good at it. On the night when he takes a wizard’s locus, his life is changed forever. When the wizard finds out that Conn has taken his locus he just offers to feed him. Conn is very scrawny because he has no house and lives on the street. Conn knows the man is a wizard and knows it is not a good idea to go but his hunger overpowers him so he takes the offer. I think I would have been too wimpy to go, but later I find something out. The wizard feeds Conn at a local restaurant and tells him: he was almost killed by the locus. When he pulls it out he is surrounded by ice luckily Conn was with the wizard and is saved by him. The wizard said Conn needs to come with him. I would have been terrified to go but Conn went and that was the right decision. The wizard has provided him with new clothes and food. So now no more living on the street and no more starvation. He definitely made the right decision.
Julie Alpaugh 6
The Magic Theif
Conn is living in a house with Nevery and Bennet. The house has two sides but they only live on one side. When they first moved into the house, it being vacant so long, it accumulated many cobwebs, and everything was covered in blankets of dust. All the rooms were filled with boxes and old furniture. Conn is in charge of the cleaning. After an evening of sweeping, dusting, and moving old junk from the house, the house is a little more appealing. In the many rooms there are, each is filled with the old wizard's knick knacks and many books. When Conn ventures out to the other side of the house he finds it very similar to the other side; also it is filled with many similar things. The only difference is the house has a broken window where rain has been blowing in. The rain has dampened the carpet which gave a perfect environment for mold so the house smells of mildew. In one room there is a box of locuses and other wizards devices. Conn can not explore the whole house so I am wondering what the rest of the house will look like.
Julie Alpaugh 6
The Magic Thief
All the book’s characters help this book be more interesting. Nevery is a wizard. He is very grumpy and does not talk often and when he talks he sounds angry. Benet is the cook of the house and is really good at it. He too does not talk often. Rowan is Conn’s tutor and is very impatient. She has red hair and is very smart and interested in magic. Conn likes to ask many questions and catches on to things very quickly in school. He is very sneaky and eats a lot. Keestoon is Brumbees apprentice. He is now Nevrey’s secretary. Keestoon also picks on Conn.
Julie Alpaugh 6
The Magic Thief
When Conn is ordered by Brumbee to find his locus in 30 days to be Nevery's apprentice Conn thinks it will be a breeze. But he finds out differently. Conn gets stumped on how to find his locus and has no help that will be coming from Nevery. After doing nothing for a few days Conn decides to go to the twilight to look since that is where he used to live. He has to wear his old clothes that are thin and ragged so he will be camouflaged. It is the middle of winter and is snowing while Conn searches. During this time he goes many hours with no food plus he is freezing and tired by the 29th day, still no locus in sight. On the 30th day Conn sneaks in to the duchess’ house because he see a lady there wearing a jewel. He feels a strong pull that tells him to get it. When he sneaks in the lady’s room the guards see him and captures him. Conn wakes to find himself trapped and chained up in a jail cell with a guard standing in front of him. After that he has to get asked so many questions. Finally Conn started thinking and figures out why he has such a strong pull to the jewel. It is his locus. Later Nevery and Benet come and Conn is able to get his locus. Conn has learned that it is not so easy to find just the right locus.
Julie Alpaugh 6th
The Magic Thief
In the beginning of the book I am almost 100 percent sure Conn’s life would be so much easier. Now he has a house to stay in, warm clothes to wear and plenty of food. Closer to the end of the book my perspective has changed. Maybe it won’t be so easy. During the 30 day period while trying to find his locus, well you know how hard that was. Since the locus he found was the most exquisite stone in the town, Crow was already wanting Conn. Now he wants him in his clutches even more. Now Conn has to be very careful what he says to Keeston because he tells it to Brumbee who tells Crow. Crow has put all his guards out around the city to capture Conn. While Conn is out going to the store with Benet and Keeston some of Crow’s guards get a hold of him and when they have to fight back, Conn ends up getting a black and blue bruise the size of a saucer on his rib from getting clubbed. Benet also got clubbed in the head and a gets huge gash on his arm.
Nicolina Boza: The Year the Swallows Came Early - pages 179-223 - July 31-August 3
Groovy wants everyone to call her Eleanor. Her mom wants her to start making lists. My mom makes lists so she tried to get me to do them, but it didn't work out so well. Mr. Tom tried to tell Eleanor to forgive her dad. I think everyone should butt out of her business and let her decide for herself either to forgive her dad or not. Marisol is the one who got Eleanor motivated to sell strawberries again. Marisol showed Eleanor the strawberries she had made. They had white swallows on them made with white chocolate. I think it's cool how out of all the people, Marisol got Eleanor motivated again. It was pretty amazing how they knew the swallows were coming and watched them arrive. I can't wait to find out the ending of this book, with only 50 more pages. I'm dying to find out if Eleanor's dad gets out of jail or stays in jail.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Dragon’s Egg
Read in June, 2010
Response #1
In Dragon’s Egg, there are two characters names Mella and Roger. When Mella is sent on a mission to deliver an egg, Roger comes along and forces Mella to take him too. At first, Mella isn’t too thrilled about it, but as they carry on with the quest, she starts to enjoy Roger’s company.
I think it is fascinating how the text shows how Mella and Roger build their relationship through out the story. They get in trouble and are held captives more than once on the mission, and when they are trapped by dragons, Roger gets his dad, the king, to save them. Mella could never survive on her own. Roger serves as a very trusty companion.
I enjoyed reading this book because it shows how two kids who don’t even know each other form a bond and become friends. I think the novel has a strong moral and is worthy of many reader’s attention.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Dragon’s Egg
Read in June, 2010
Response #2
In Dragon’s Egg there are many descriptive words. Sarah L. Thompson writes very well and her writing is enjoyable. There are barely any bland words throughout the story, but rather rich, colorful ones. For example, instead of using the word “run”, she’ll replace it with “sprint” or “streak.” It makes the book overall better because I don’t want to put the book down, I would rather keep reading.
This is what I wish reader would think of my writing. Every time I work on a piece, I try to make it so that my readers don’t think it’s boring. Every time I come across a new word in my reading, I mentally write it down and incorporate it into my writing sometime. Some I’m putting down right now are from various novels.
Sarah L. Thompson does great work. Dragon’s Egg is an amazingly descriptive book because of the adjectives. I highly recommend it.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Dragon’s Egg
Read in June, 2010
Response #3
One of the characters in Dragon’s Egg is a dragon with anger management problems. He is very sick and needs Mella to deliver the dragon egg, but while trying to talk it out with Mella, he often blew fire and got really riled up. I believe it was because he was used to protecting his egg, and he still had doubts about letting a human do the job.
I have read about this before. In a book I am working on now, a baseball coach screams and yells at his players, curses at them, and makes them work way too hard. But at times, he can be calm and tell his players how much they contribute to the team. I find this an odd personality, but I can see how it would make someone likeable.
I can relate to these behaviors, even though they are a bit different. To me, this text-to-text connection stand out and make me think about how these parts of the book relate. I enjoyed their similarities.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Dragon’s Egg
Read in June, 2010
Response #4
Roger and Mella have to work together in order to save the dragon’s egg. At one point, a man named Alain captures them and ties them up. Eventually, after a herd of dragons swarm the camp, Roger unties himself and makes a break for it. But Alain awakens, and catches him. While Alain has his back turned on Mella, she unties herself, and distracts Alain. A dragon bites him. After being bitten a few more times, Alain is tied up with is own bonds, unconscious. But they couldn’t have puller this off without each other.
This isn’t the only time Mella and Roger have to use teamwork. When they are inside a mountain, Roger holds a torch he found and lit while Mella leads the way through the tunnel. After a long time finding their way through the darkness, they burst into the hatching grounds with the egg, and that is where all the teamwork pays off.
I feel like this is a meaningful lesson. It should be listened to and displayed more in peoples behaviors, and Dragon’s Egg shows just that.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Dragon’s Egg
Read in June, 2010
Response #5
In Dragon’s Egg, when Mella and Roger deliver the egg at last, they are met by a huge mass of dragons. They are told that hey are not welcome at the Hatching Grounds and that they should leave immediately. But a tiny dragon named Alyas thinks differently. He believes that they should witness the hatching as a reward for sowing the egg. I don’t understand this.
I would think that Alyas would be just like the rest of the dragons and insist that Mella and Roger be sent away. But instead he rescues Mella after he was sent to put her up on a rocky ledge on the side of a mountain. Then he scooped up Roger and flew them both to Roger’s dad, who brought them home from there. Alyas must be a rare kind and sympathetic dragon. He appears to be unique in a good way.
Though it confuses me how nice Alyas is, I can see how he is different. His personality is charming and thoughtful, two qualities that don’t seem to fit a dragon. It certainly is mysterious as well, therefore, Alyas is a character that will keep you on your toes.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Magic Thief
Read in June, 2010
Response #1
In The Magic Thief, one of the characters is Benet. He is big and burly, full of muscle, and makes you shiver deep inside. In other words, he isn’t the kind of person that you would like to meet in a dark alley at night. On, and did I mention that he’s a wizard’s personal assistant? However, his hobbies include knitting and cooking pies and biscuits. Not what you expected, huh?
The point I’m trying to make is that you should not judge someone by their appearance, and Benet is a perfect example of that. Even if someone appears weak and worthless, he or she could still surprise you by accomplishing something big. Every one has a place in the world and something positive about them. Sometimes you can’t know what that quality is at first glance.
This is just one of the lessons to be learned from The Magic Thief. It is worth reading because of the valuable lessons to be learned from it.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Magic Thief
Read in June, 2010
Response #2
There are lots of books about magical worlds. The Harry Potter series features a villain, spells, and a magical school, while The Hobbit is mostly about smaller creatures, dwarves, and dragons. But in The Magic Thief, it is completely different. I’ll compare it to The Hobbit and Harry Potter Book I.
For one, The Magic Thief takes place in a city, while the other two novels mostly take pace in rural areas. In The Magic Thief, only a few people are trying to beat the bad guy, but in the other two books lots of people get involved. But there are also similarities between the novels. All three books have a villain causing a problem. In The Magic Thief it’s Underlord Crowe; in The Hobbit, it’s Smaug the Dragon; and in Harry Potter, it’s Voldemort. They all have some magic involved, mostly spells. There are similarities and differences between the texts. The Magic Thief can be compared to the other books in lots of ways. Its magical world is unique in its own way.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Magic Thief
Read in June, 2010
Response #3
In The Magic Thief, the main character, Conn, becomes a wizard’s apprentice But before that, he lived in the streets, fighting for survival. He had no money, no warm, clothes, and relied on picking people’s pockets for supplies. He stole for food and had no one to help him- his mother was dead. It doesn’t seem like a very comfortable life, to me.
I can relate this to another novel I just recently finished called Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Brian has been in a plane crash and is stranded by a lake. He has only clothes and a hatchet to live. These two situations are similar because the two boys both are striving to live, but there are differences. Conn lives around people and uses them to live, while Brian is alone and has only the wilderness. Brian has to also make his supplies, while all Conn has to do is steal them. But Conn’s food is right there for him, while Brian has to hunt and prepare it over a fire.
All in all, these boy’s situations can be compared in many ways. Conn and Brian live very different lives that can be related. Neither of these lives are ones I would like to possess. I am impressed, though, at how these kids handle them.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Magic Thief
Read in June, 2010
Response #4
The wizard who takes Conn as his apprentice in The Magic Thief is named Nevery. He is over six feet tall, has a long, gray beard, and wears a top hat. He isn’t an evil wizard, but is somewhat menacing. This surprises me. I usually picture a wizard with white hair and a beard, but with a blue robe and a pointy hat. I also see them as old but very wise. Nevery is sort of like this, but not exactly as I pictured him.
Nevery’s personality seems to fit him, though. He is demanding, always insisting that Conn should wash up before breakfast. He also says that Conn should stay out of the way when he is working. Nevery is also secretive, not letting anyone know what he is trying to decipher in the giant book he’s looking at day after day. He doesn’t speak up too much, which makes him a hard person to understand. But when he does speak, his words are meaningful.
Nevery is a critical character in The Magic Thief. He plays his part well. I like his personality and I believe he makes the text more interesting.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
Magic Thief
Read in June, 2010
Response #5
At the beginning of the novel The Magic Thief, when Nevery finds Conn and takes him as his apprentice, he only takes him because of his potential in the magical world. But his respect for Conn continuously grows throughout the book. After a few weeks of keeping him inside with nothing to do, he announces that Conn was his measly servant all along, and that he should leave. But Conn convinces him to make him Nevery’s apprentice. Then he starts to surprise Nevery.
After Nevery sends Conn to the Academicos (school), he goes out to find his locus magicalicus stone. On the thirtieth day of searching, Conn steals it from the queen, and Nevery is clearly impressed. He shows Conn how to use it, and then Conn saves the magic of Wellmet, the city they live in. Nevery then keeps Conn, and all is well.
At first, Nevery is pessimistic about having Conn, but he realizes his potential after a while. Nevery made too quick of a prediction, and he shouldn’t have done that.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
The Gollywhopper Games
Read in June, 2010
Response #1
In the text The Gollywhopper Games, kids move into a football stadium to answer questions. There are over 25,000 kids. As more kids answer the questions incorrectly, less remain. Soon, the number of survivors winds down to less than 1,000 and eventually only ten remain. Then one becomes the champion. But, over the course of the games, thousands of contestants are eliminated. Imagine how that must feel.
I’ve experienced this before. My Little League baseball team finished in first place during the regular season with an almost perfect record of 17-2, but then was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. It was touch lick and we all felt miserable, but we kept our heads high and remembered the glory of the regular season. But, we mush have felt worst than any competitor in The Gollywhopper Games, since there was a 1 in 6 chance of us winning rather than a 1, in 25,000the. Anyone eliminated from the games could have said, “Well I probably wouldn’t have won anyway.”
The Gollywhopper Games was a perfect example of what it feels like to win or lose. I’ve been a part of that, and the book made kids feel just as I did. Through it wasn’t the entire moral of the text; I feel that it kept the story together.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
The Gollywhopper Games
Read in June, 2010
Response #2
Bianca LeBlanc is a girl in the book The Gollywhopper Games that wants to be a movie star. She meets Gil, the main character, outside Golly Toys and Games and quickly makes friends with him. Bianca helps Gil advance to round 3 once the games start by helping him with a difficult social studies question, something she knows about. Bianca is useful in many other ways too.
Bianca advances the round of the final ten contestants with lots of luck. On a multistep math question that she knows absolutely nothing about, she guesses in a sophisticated way. She builds a number out of her age, 15, how many days left until her birthday, 8, and how old she would be then, 16. The number was 15, 816. Amazingly, she is only 84 off the real answer, 15,900. She advances.
In the section of the games where 5 kids work as a team, Bianca helps out. She is the only one who can open a pull tab, which comes into play. She sacrifices a nail bowling. Once on a question that Gil figures out how to solve, Bianca spots the answer before anyone else. All these tiny contributions may seem minor, but they help the team in a huge way.
Bianca is an interesting character that I enjoyed studying throughout The Gollywhopper Games. She got far in the competition by knowledge, luck, and following Gil. She is funny, intriguing, and entertaining. Bianca is a great character.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
The Gollywhopper Games
Read in June, 2010
Response #3
In the book The Gollywhopper Games, lots of cheating goes around. A character named Rocky Titus follows Gil and Bianca to the right answers in rounds 1-3. He relies on them because he knows he can’t answer the questions correctly on his own. He also get his dad to help answer the questions in round 4 by using hand signals. Rocky doesn’t play fair.
Thorn Dewitt-Formey is another cheater. He uses an earpiece to listen to his parents. Gil stops him, though, by getting Thorn to tell him that he reads lips without his “hearing aid.” Then Gil drops a penny on purpose. Thorn looks down at it and Gil makes the point that pennies don’t have lips. Thorn’s earpiece is gone.
I don’t think cheating is acceptable. It’s wrong and doesn’t give you the satisfaction of knowing you did a good job, even if you win. Rocky and Thorn should have answered the questions on their own. They should have been disqualified but they were too sneaky for anyone to notice their tricks. Cheating is not the right road to take.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
The Gollywhopper Games
Read in June, 2010
Response #4
In the text The Gollywhopper Games, I liked how Gil looked at every question at all different angles. He examined the problem in different ways, from the correspondance from letters, to numbers, to how letters can be put together between words. He always figured out how the phrase made sense. I think this was his key to winning the games.
I think like this as well when I’m doing math equations. When I can do the problem easily, I try to figure out how that way can make the problem come out to the right answer. Sometimes I even make up anew way to do the equation. Usually I start by doing the inverse of the operation, then I fiddle around for a bit and I have it. It is very much like Gil’s way of thinking.
Gil thinks about the questions in The Gollywhopper Games the same as I think about math. He and I both look at the problem in every way. I like this strategy and I believe that all problems in life should be dealt with this way.
Zach Meyers
6th Grade
The Gollywhopper Games
Read in June, 2010
Response #5
I did not understand The Gollywhopper Games in some parts. For example, when they were performing the stunts, they ran from question to question, but in between there were objects like orange dump trucks and 10 foot long blue zucchinis. These seemed to me like extraneous details. They make the writing more exciting and colorful, but hey don’t seem absolutely necessary to me.
I also didn’t understand Old Man Golliwop. It seems as if he is Bert Golliwop’s dad, but it never really explains their relationship. I doubt they are the same person. Old Man Golliwop is only mentioned at the beginning and briefly at the end. I wish the author explained this better.
I think novels need to have some mystery incorporated into them. There should always be something to ponder over once you finish reading, but that’s just my opinion. The Gollywhopper Games possesses this, and I like that.
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