Hi guys! Welcome to 8th grade at CMS. You can click on the response link below to write your response to at least four of your summer reading books.
Your books should include: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and at least one book from the 8th Grade College Bound Reading List.
Each response should not summarize the book, but should instead, tell us what the book made you think about. Please write 2-3 paragraphs and be sure to use proper spelling and grammar. Feel free to email me if you have questions at hingers@clarke.k12.ga.us
Remember, the CMS Media Center will be open from 4-6 p.m. this summer every other Thursday starting June 2nd.
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214 comments:
1 – 200 of 214 Newer› Newest»M. Kagel
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports is the third book in the Maximum Ride series, but isn't nearly as exciting or compelling as the first two. It was, however, still thoroughly enjoyable, as James Patterson's writing always is. This book is chock full of plot twists, which are interesting, but it becomes tiring after a while. The third book of the series only seems vaguely connected to the first two.
Although Max is the main character of the Maximum Ride series, she is not the most mysterious, nor the most compelling, all the time. The six year old, Angel, is the youngest, but appears to be one of the most powerful. In Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, the flock is captured by evil scientists. Max has Angel pretend to be evil, so that she can get on the inside of the lab. The things Angel says to convince the scientists are so thoroughly believable, like when she talks about her desire for power, and how Max was "holding her back", it truly left me wondering if Angel would turn on the Flock later in the series.
E. Sams
Life As We Knew It
The book “Life As We Knew It” has been one of the most influential books to me. It is about a sixteen year-old girl whose life changes when an asteroid hits the Moon, sending it VERY close to earth. This causes earthquakes, extreme tides, volcanic eruptions, and many deaths. All of these events end up taking her family together, and showing them what really matters.
This book taught me many lessons. The book showed me that when your future is unsure, there are more important things in life than playing on your computer or texting your friends. They learned more about each other, and the main character, Miranda, learned that her mom cares about her children so much. Over time, Miranda found herself loving her mom more than she ever thought she would. When her family got sick with the flu, Miranda was worried that her family would all die. So she nursed them back to health. This showed me that I should care about my family, because one day, they might not be there.
This book definitely gave me something to think about. Sometimes I would get so deep into the book that I would think that that was really happening. I enjoyed the book so much, that I might go and get the sequel. The author, Susan Beth Pfeffer, did a really good job with this book. I can’t wait to read the next one!
E. Sams
Animal Farm
“Animal Farm” has changed the way I look at the world. It is about mistreated animals that overthrow their farm. It all starts out where all animals are equal, but the rules evolve until the pigs rule the farm as the humans once did. The leader took advantage of the other animals and manipulated the rules so that he was benefited, and the other animals were not.
The book intertwines with real life because there are real life situations going on right now. It taught me that if a leader mistreats their people, the people would fight back. It may be said, “all people should be treated equally” but over time no one remains equal. No government can function properly without a leader. The leader will never settle the needs of all the people, because life isn’t perfect.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to go into office or some form of leadership. You have to know what could happen if you aren’t reasonable. It is a really great book that is easy to read. It is the best classic book I have ever read. It will teach you some great lessons about life in our world.
K.Daniel
The Story of a Girl
The Story of a Girl was a touching story about a girl named Deana who gains the reputation of the school...a word that i can not say, and tries to get rid of it but its easier said then done. The worst thing about Deana's life is that most of her friends left her(fake people...just saying) and her own father hates her, because he's the one who caught her in the back of the truck with a seventeen year old(by the way they were both high) i was surprised at the fact that this little affair went on a whole year without her older brother and the guys best friend noticing it. i mean it was illegal she was thirteen for Christ sakes you'd think her parents would a little more attention to their little angel, but i guess not. Anyway this story was filled with a lot of drama considering the fact that she was in love with her best friends boyfriend and she kissed him. Also her dead never said her name or had a decent conversation and that went on for three years..In my opinion some one should have knocked some since into him, i mean you just can't shut out your little girl. And if this wasn't enough the guy she got caught with made her seem like a joke(what a complete jerk) but all and all this book was good and it kept me asking for more.
Jakob Sullins
Football Hero
Football hero is a book written by Tim Green, who is also a former player himself. The touching book is about a middle school student named Ty who's life isn't so great. First off Ty's parents died in a car accident years ago and he was forced to live with his aunt and uncle who are cheap, lazy and just mean. He has a brother named Thane but he is just hitting it off with his NFL football carrier.
When Ty is barely getting through school, the football coach stops him before he gets on the bus. He is invited to the football team. Ty fells very special because he would never think he would be good at football, unlike his brother Thane. Ty finds out he is very skillful and at the same time he finds a little bully on the team.
I thought when I was reading this book was that Ty's life is horrible, but he seems to always have faith or a good mood in him. Later in the book Ty got stuck with some bad people betting on NFL games, and they used Ty and Thane to get the inside injury reports which fans are not allowed to know. This section of the book made me think about how people can be used and cheated. Ty ended up living when Thane got his money from the NFL in his mansion where he had a good life, at the moment...
E. Sams
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
Honestly, this book was the best book I’ve ever read. The author of “Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment” did a very good job at trying to make you a part of the story. The book I read was about a group of children who were made in a lab. They are 98% human and 2% bird, and they have wings! The main character, Max, is the leader of the clan. She has to protect the group no matter what dangers lay ahead for them.
The book showed me that we should all be lucky that we have a family. None of them know their parents. They say that they are each other’s family. Without family, you have no real place for comfort.
The author showed me that to keep people involved in you story, you have to constantly change it up and keep it fresh. He certainly did that with this story. I couldn’t put the book down. Reading can really help your writing skills.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action, suspense, and bird-people!
F. Collins
To Kill A Mockingbird
The book " To Kill A Mockingbird" was a book I am glad I read, but not the type of book I'm used to reading. When I got further into the book I was pleasantly surprised of how much I enjoyed it. The beginning of the book seemed to drag on and on. Harper lee was just setting up the story of a young girl growing up during the fifties. Her, her brother, and thier friend Dill have many adventures during the summer, especially sneaking around the Boo Radley property. When thier father, they call him Aticus which I'm guessing is a term of endearment, takes a job defending for a Negroe man accused of rape. The kids lives truly change, as back then this was very unusual.
I really enjoyed this book, and loved discussing it with my family. What I found quite strange is that Harper Lee did Not write any other books, but if there where I would definitely look into reading them. This book was very influential on my outlook and I really enjoyed it!
S. O'Reilly
Anne Frank The Diary of a young girI
I have found The Diary of a young girl by Anne Frank to be a very influential story. Anne Frank was only 13 years old when she and her family had to go into hiding from the Nazis. The Frank family left their home in Amsterdam to an old offic building where they would go into hiding. The reson i think this story of Anne Frank's life is so influential is because, Anne had to live in hiding, in a small area, with seven other people. The Van Danss, another family that was living with the Franks, where very picky and they would complain alot. Mrs. Van Dans would constantly be picking on Anne. she would have done nothing wrong, yet Mrs. Van Dans would always say that the Frankks did not do a good job of raising her. There where many quarrals in the house hold, no body ever dared to express their opinion, and on top of all this.... there i a war going on outside! Anne tells that the mood in the "Secret Annexe" as they called it, was close to always stiff. they could not move about the hidout freely because there was an offic building below. they had a friend on the outside that would give the grown-ups news about the war and books and toys for the children to keep them intertained, even though the "children" were alll in their teens. this person was Ellie.
Anne tells off growing in this hidout and how her relationship with everyone grew as well. in the lateast chapter that i have read, Anne tells of how her mother and her relationship has grown. Anne never felt that close to her mother, but she wished that she did, she even says herself "it is hard to grow up a young woman, without a mother to show you how." the only person that Anne feels she can talk to is peter. but i just learned that peter and Anne used to date, but then Anne went into the "sixth form" at school and Peter went into his second year at hight school. then peter moved away and dated other girls and Anne thought that he had forgoten about her. so she prayed that her and peter would meet back up and they did and now she obbsesed with him. every entry has had somthing about peter in it. I have also relized that she does not seem to let the outside world bother her to much, she says that there have been many happenings in the war but that she has not been wrighting about them. I could never imagine myself having to live through the hardship that Anne lived through.
A. Hinkle
Let Me In
Let Me In was quite surprising to me considering it was a vampire book. In my day and age the above would immediately prompt images of star-crossed lovers Edward and Bella. This selection, however, is like nothing I have ever read before.
Written by John Ajvide Lindqvist and translated from Swedish, this novel is based upon the loneliness of adolescence and adulthood alike while questioning the capacities of human cruelty. It is due to such cruelty that a bullied young boy named Oskar meets an odd girl named Eli who has moved into the apartment next to his. Oskar slowly realizes that she is a vampire, but what is so endearing is how he immediately accepts her for who she is. While this book was very touching, some of the ways it explored human darkness left me speechless.
This book is disturbingly gorgeous, and incredibly haunting. Unlike many books, the ending was satisfying! This book is definitely a must-read, and I highly recommend it.
E. Clarke
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a story that brings out the harder and hidden aspects of Indians living in reservations in modern times. The main character,Junior, has numerous medical issues and is picked on by everyone but his faithful and violent friend. Along with that his parents are drug addicts, there is never any food in the house, and his sister spends all her time in the basement. Junior is one of the smartest kids in his reservation school, but he still hopes for a better education and teachers who actually care. Junior gets more hope when a teacher encourages him to go to an all white school called Reardan. He goes to the school but everyone on the reservation turns on him, even his best friend. Junior still goes forth in life strong, and makes new friends. This book shows me that the right thing can be done alone, even though no one wants you to. I think that this is a very well written and meaningful book, but I think that sometimes the scenario is overly sappy and too sad to be real.
Florence White
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
In this novel by Grace Lin, an optimistic young girl named Minli sets forth from her village beneath the dark and foreboding shadow of Fruitless Mountain. She seeks to find the cure for her homelands poor fortune, so that her village, which can barely feed itself, may become as prosperous as legend claimed it used to be. After receiving directions from a talking goldfish, she sets out on a journey to find to old man of the moon on the Never Ending Mountain. It is not long before she comes across a miserable dragon that cannot fly. The two instantly become friends, and they continue on their journey, now also to ask how “Dragon” may gain the power of flight. Along the way, they encounter many new friends, as well as an evil tiger that is the re-incarnation of the “Tiger Magistrate”, a wicked dictator. When Minli finally makes it to Never Ending Mountain, she discovers that she can only ask one question of the old man. What really mad an impact on me was that instead of asking her own question, she sacrificed her once-in-a-lifetime inquiry to ask how to give Dragon the ability to fly. In the end, they bring prosperity to Minli’s homeland and, of course, live happily ever after. This story, though it doesn’t contain much action, is none the less, an addicting tale. Full of drama with little short stories stuck here and there, it is a fantastic book and a must read.
So I see that you guys are enjoying books from several different genres! :) I am adding to my reading list thanks to your responses. I love how thoughtful you all in your reading and writing.
L. Slaboda
Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy is a story about a boy whose mother has died, and he tries to find his father. After his mother died, he was put into a ‘home’. He has lived in the home for really long time, and has gone from foster home, to foster home. In the book, he is put in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Amos, and their son (foster family). After a bad experience in this foster home, he ran away from the Amos’ home. He left to go find his father, who supposedly lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When he got there, he found who he thought was his father, Herman E. Calloway. After finding him, he stays with him and his band. It turned out that Herman E. Calloway was his grandfather, not his father. Although he was his father, he stayed with them, and later joined his grandfather’s band.
Good book, Luke. So, tell me what you think of the book.
K. Farber
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games was a book of action, romance, and trust. Every year two children from each district are chosen to compete in The Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
This book has made my way of thinking change. When Katniss, the main character, volunteers to be in the games instead of her sister, it made me realize that family comes first. If I knew one of my family members was about to be killed, I would put myself up to the challenge to save their lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is the fan of The Harry Potter series and The Maximum Ride series. If you’re ready to read a page turner, read The Hunger Games trilogy.
K. Farber
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games was a book of action, romance, and trust. Every year two children from each district are chosen to compete in The Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
This book has made my way of thinking change. When Katniss, the main character, volunteers to be in the games instead of her sister, it made me realize that family comes first. If I knew one of my family members was about to be killed, I would put myself up to the challenge to save their lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is the fan of The Harry Potter series and The Maximum Ride series. If you’re ready to read a page turner, read The Hunger Games trilogy.
K. Mobley
The Diary of A Young Girl
This book is one of the most powerful books of all time. It is about a teenage Jew, Anne Frank, who has a great life in Amsterdam. Then it all spins full tilt when the Germans invade Holland in their attempt to rule the world, and eliminate the Jews. Anne is forced into hiding with her family and another family, the Van Daans. They hide in the "Secret Annexe", or the top two floors of a business building that are enclosed by a latched cupboard.
On top of all the misery and tragedy that comes with a war such as World War 2, Anne has to deal with all the hardship that comes with being a teenager. In her diary, she talks about all her conflicts with her family, especially her mother, and the quarrels between the other members of the "Secret Annexe". She also talks about her changing emotions and sides, which come naturally with a girl of that age, but amped up 100 times because of the conditions.
Anne and the other members survive for two years in hiding before they are finally found by the German police: the Gestapo. They are all, including helpers Mr. Koophuis and Mr. Kraler, sent off to concentration camps. Koophuis was released for medical care, but Kraler was sent to a forced labor camp for 8 months. All of the members were sent to Westorbork. Otto Frank was the only member of the "Secret Annexe" to survive, and he, along with influence from friends, published this diary. Anne died in Belsen just a few days after her sister. She did not reach 16.
I really enjoyed this diary because it put you into the shoes of a person who encountered this horrible event. At one pint I was reading and it hit me: "This is a real person suffering real pain." It was so real and you could sense her emotions and you immediately had an empathy link with her.
I will never forget this book.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
L. Jenkins
Siddhartha is a book written about the journey of a young Brahmin to a wise old man.It is a book written for anyone interested in Middle Eastern religion and ways of life. Although this topic may sound extremely intriguing to some people, this was not the case for me. I only began reading this book because there was nothing else to read at the time.
At first, the plot was slow-moving and I didn't really see the point. This book was boring me so much that I had to stop reading it and find something more interesting.
Weeks later, with a new mindset, I gave the book another try. I paid attention to the life-long messages that the author was portraying in between the lines. These small details in the plot were what I found most thought-provoking.
As Siddhartha continued his journey to understand perfection, to understand Om, I began to understand the story. It was not about Siddhartha finding Nirvana, but about Siddhartha realizing the perfection of life and why the good and bad aspects of it are both important.
After finishing this book I realized that it had left a huge impression on me. It had influenced my ways of thinking about and seeing the world around me. I can actually say that this book, Siddhartha, changed my life. Herman Hesse's writing is what I would define as pure wisdom.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
L. Jenkins
I was extremely reluctant to start reading the Hunger Games series not because I didn't believe they were good books, but because so many people had already read them. When summer began I finally mustered up enough courage to pick up the first book in the series, which had been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year.
The Hunger Games was a pleasant surprise, but what really caught my attention was the second book in the series, Catching Fire.
Catching Fire was mostly amazing but had some off points that had to do with the excessive and partly-stupid romance. Really amazing parts were when for once I had absolutely no idea where the plot was going, and I was completely overwhelmed with all of the different twists in the storyline. I don't know how Suzanne Collins thought of those, but I do know that this is what perfected the novel to above-average writing and not just amateur blather. It would be really interesting if I could find out where exactly Suzanne Collins gets her inspiration.
In a series, the first book is usually the best because it introduces an interesting storyline. The Hunger Games was satisfactory, but Catching Fire was even better solely because of the abrupt twists and turns in the plot. Mockingjay was also okay, but was mainly just a book written for the conclusion of the series in my mind.
Catching Fire is the first book of a series that was the best, and was not the first. I still can't say that it's my favorite book, which is insane, but only because what made the book so good is the brilliant storyline. The writing did not own up to the creativeness of the plot. In my favorite books, there are obvious exceptional writing skills paired with a perplexing storyline that it owns up to. Without both, it can not be a favorite. I can still say that Catching Fire was definitely a good read, and will be making it to the "best books" section on my bookshelf.
Lela,
You just said everything I have been thinking about this series. :) You are an amazing writer. Loved your post.
Thanks! Correction: Catching Fire is the best* book of the series and not the first.
M. Kagel
Rules of the Road
"Rules of the Road" was an enjoyable and influential book to me. It was very similar to some of Joan Bauer's other books (Peeled, Hope Was Here, Best Foot Forward, etc.) because there was a strong emphasis on a sort of "fight-the-power" feeling. There is also a teenage girl character with a troubled past, like several of the other books.
In "Rules of the Road", Jenna goes on a six week road trip with her boss, Mrs. Gladstone, who owns Gladstone Shoes. Jenna drives Mrs. Gladstone throughout the country, on a quest to stamp out low quality shoes and salesmanship in her stores. Jenna leaves behind her alchoholic father,and her elderly grandmother with Alzheimers.While Jenna is on the road, one of her friends suffers a tragic death. After a while, the sadness becomes overused and somewhat boring.
C.Elliott-Gower
Just Listen
The book Just Listen, to be honest, has nothing to do with my life, but it was a book that I couldn't put down. The main character, Annabel Greene, you can tell, has been in a fight with her only friend for a very long time. However, at the beginning of the book, you have no idea what the fight is about. She seems really unhappy in the beginning of the book. She is a Lakeview model, but she doesn't enjoy it very much. The only reason she keeps doing it is because she's scared that her mom won't be able to take her quitting. She also sadly has no friends at her school. She sits alone at lunch on a bench. Its just her and one other guy on the bench for a while. They never talk or even make eye contact until one day. After a very awkward moment with her ex-friend in the parking lot, she ends up sick on a side of the school. The guy, Owen, stays with her for a while, and then ends up giving her a ride home. This really began the main part of the book.
After the ride, Annabel and her new friend Owen begin to hang out a lot until finally, they kiss, and become a couple. Owen helps Annabel in many ways. Mainly, he helps her to be more honest, honest about little things, but also honest about life changing things.
There are many things going on in the book. I can't really explain them all in separate paragraphs, so I'll stick a lot of them in this one paragraph. Annabel has a very hard life, as I've told you, but I never really explained how. Her ex-fiend Sophie thinks that Annabel slept with her boyfriend, that did happen, however, Sophie's boyfriend raped Annabel. Annabel doesn't have the courage to tell anyone what happened. Also, Annabels older sister has an eating disorder and its taking all of the attention off of her from her family. So, they can't even see that something wrong.
In the end, everyone finds out that she was raped. Sophie's old boyfriend goes to jail. Her and Owen and a very happy couple, and she isn't a Lakeview model. I didn't really like this ending, but only because it was too obvious. I mean, everything in her life changed, but it was all expected. I would however recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it. Its inspiring and made me want to be more honest about everything.
L. Slaboda
The End (Series of Unfortunate
Events) By Lemony Snicket
The End is the final book in the long series of all the unfortunate events that occur in the Baudelaire orphans lives. With everything that has happen to the children, I am happy (for the kid’s sake) happy they can live without the fear of Count Olaf. I don’t want to spoil it for others that read this, but Count Olaf will not be a problem for the Baudelaire children anymore. I feel this book gave a perfect ending to a great series. Of course I have a tweak or two I would have made, but really, it is a great book.
I would recommend reading the whole series in order. If you don’t, you won’t really understand everything that is going on. I have had so much fun reading the series; I am a bit sad that the story has to come to an end. In conclusion, you should defiantly read the book, if you have read the rest of the series. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
V. Petuhova
Pirates!
Pirates is about a girl named Nancy Kington. She grew up in her father's plantation house in the 1700's. Being a young woman in Bristol meant that you had to have money and talent to have a proper and worthy position in England's society. Growing up, she realized that this was not the lifestyle that she wanted to live. Eventually, she found her way around the rules and befriended a slave. In time, this leads Nancy to becoming a pirate and trying to run away from a greedy, selfish Brazilian with a lot of money.
I didn’t like this book very much. It didn’t leave any kind of impression on me, neither good nor bad. The storyline was slow and the only thing that kept me reading was the romance between Nancy and her suitor, William. A majority of the book consisted of the author trying to explain the possible outcomes of Nancy’s choices. I felt like the ending was very weak. It was not a conclusion that would make you think about the story and feel connected to it. If you like books that get to the point, I do not recommend Pirates.
Jakob Sullins
Among the Hidden
Among the Hidden is a very intresting book. It is the first book of I think a 7 book series. The author is Margaret Peterson Haddix which already has many other good books.
The story takes place at Luke's House, his room (the attic), and the woods surrounding his family's farm. Luke Garner, which is the main character, is a shadow child, a third child forbidden by the population police. The law takes place because of a food shortage problem. He always had to be careful, but now that a housing development is replacing his family's farm he is not allowed near the windows. Worst of all he is not even allowed outside.
Not to far in the book he peeks out of his window every so often. He sees that his naighbor has 2 boys, but around noon he sees a extra head! If I saw this it would give me a lot of hope that there was another shadow child. From that point on he planned to run over to that house and check out what he saw. He finds out that her name is Jen, She has access to the internet, and there are hundreds of people just like him, shadow children. He also finds out that Jen's father works for the population police.
Jen wants to rebel at the capitol, but Luke is afraid and stays behind. Jen thought tons of shadow children were coming, but only forty actually showed up and they shot every one of them. After a few days of not seeing Jen he fears the worst. He finally goes over and her father tells him that she was killed. Then he offers Luke a fake I.D. Luke goes on to his new life at boarding school as Lee Grant.
I really enjoyed this book, and I will definatly read the whole series!!
V. Petuhova
Max
Max is the fifth addition to the Maximum Ride series. It continues the story of the flock of “bird kids” as they fight for their freedom from people who either want to destroy them or study their behavior. The storyline is pretty much the same through the series so far. I think that the spark of romance between Max and Fang add to the plot to make it more interesting.
I love this series but I think that something different should happen at least one time. The same people keep showing up and they seem to always have the same intensions. The kids can only count on each other because of how many times they have been betrayed. Even though I think that the series needs a little more variety, I am definitely reading the next book just to see how things are going to end.
S. Osorio
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is an incredible book about the consequences of love, and the heartaches of death. Althought it is harder to understand in the beginning, everything becomes more clear as the story goes on.
Wuthering Heights has many interesting characters with all kinds of personalities. The character I find most interesting is Mrs. Ellen Dean. She is an older woman who is narrating almost all of the story. Mrs. Dean was there through all of the madness, happiness, love, and death, therefore playing a very important character in the book.
I definitely enjoyed reading Wuthering Heights, even though there was some frustration within some of the texts, since the book was written in the 1800's, but I was still fascinated by how strong the emotions were, whether it was love or hate, and just fascinated by the book in general.
"Dracula" by Bram Stoker
L. Jenkins
Count Dracula. The name makes me think of bloodthirsty vampires, religious superstitions dealing with garlic and silver crucifixes, and the puppet that announces the number of the day on Sesame Street. Well the name actually means "the devil" in Romanian, and the majority of the book has little talk of vampires, although there is a considerable amount.
In the first half of the book no one even knows what Dracula is. They just know he's the weird guy in town who lives on top of his hill in his Transylvanian castle. This was what really frustrated me, because obviously I know that Dracula is a vampire. In the beginning of the book I was mainly just waiting for them to figure out his secret. There was only one very exciting part, and that was when Dracula attacked the first of the victims. The book is also made up of the victims' diary entries, which does make it more interesting with the different perspectives and all. There were also small side events that added to the story, but I didn't understand their point until towards the end of the book.
So after everyone finally puts together their clues and experiences, the smartest and oldest character in the book, Professor Van Helsing, suggests that Dracula could possibly be a mythical creature, which is the vampire. There is the expected disbelief and uncertainties of the main characters, but eventually they believe Van Helsing. This is really when the story starts to improve. Finally the characters are hunting down this "monstrous creature of the devil".
By the time I finished reading Dracula--which was several months after I started it--I really loved the story. The beginning wasn't so good but was needed to tie things together. I loved the writing, because the diary entries allowed me to connect to each character. I also liked the language, which was pretty old-fashioned English with it being written in the late 1800s.
Dracula is another one of those books where the plot isn't really what makes it special, but it's the very small details that are put into every sentence that matter. Sometimes these little details are what make the story more dense, and a slower read, but really this book just couldn't do without them. Dracula really is an excellent, commendable book for anyone willing to be patient.
C.Walker
Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson and the lightning thief is the first book out of the Percy Jackson and Olympians series.Its about when Percy and Grover are at Yancy academy and Percy has trouble reading and learning because he has ADHD and dyslexia. So one day the class goes on field trip and Percy is called privatley by a substitute teacher named miss dodd and later finds out that miss dodd is a fury and his teacher Mr.Brunner is ch-iron a trainer of Hercules and Grover his best friend is a satyr which are half goat and human. he also finds out that hes a demigod, a son of the Greek god Poisiden. He is blamed for stealing Zeus's Master lighting bolt and has till the summer solstice to prove he is Innocent and along the way he is attacked by a minotor and losses his mom and goes to a special camp for demigods which are the children of the gods. He meets a new friend named Annabeth and find his power which is to control water.He also has to save his mom from hades,a god, who rules the underworld. Then have a long battle with a tratior named Luke who blamed him for all the crime that he did who also tried to kill him at the end. Percy ends up proving his self innocent and returning the bolt to Zeus.
This book left me wondering whats next with action packed scenes every word i read.
E.Conaway
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
What compelled me to read this book in the first place, was the fact that it is a classic. I wanted to try and see if I could understand it enough to enjoy the story, and I can say that I definitely did.
When I first started reading it, I was confused by the dialect that it is written in. It took me almost 20 minutes to understand each page. I thought I would never get through the whole book, and I was ready to quit reading it. However, I kept on reading and, after a while, I started getting used to Twain's style. The more I read, the better I could understand his words. I could finally get into the plot.
Once I started understanding the story, I found that I really did like it. The schemes and tricks that Huck, Jim, the "King", and the "Duke" played on different villages were enjoyable for me to read about. I loved how clever they were, but I also felt sorry for those who were being tricked. Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the characters' personalities. Especially Huck's, Jim's, and Tom's.
The book also got me thinking about what life on a raft would be like. As far as I can tell from this book, it would be a peaceful life, with not many worries. However, if I was under the same circumstances as Huck and Jim, then it would also be about survival. I might have to play tricks on villages for money as well. Overall, I think I would like that type of life, if I could actually survive. Playing tricks and using only the resources that I could find would be fun. I also think that I would like not having to worry about anything but my own survival. It would be one big,long adventure.
I am very glad I did read this book, and I certainly did enjoy it, as a story of many adventures and risks.
I LOVE Huck Finn; glad to see you chose it. I enjoyed your comments about the dialect, so true. This book has been in the news lately due to the recent censorship controversy surrounding it and the language used in the book. Makes me want to reread just to see what I think now.
"The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
L. Jenkins
First of all, I felt slightly ashamed for reading a young girl's diary. Obviously Anne Frank did not write her diary with the intentions of it being a worldwide classic translated to at least thirty languages and adapted for theater and television production.
With that said, I can really say that Anne Frank and I have a lot more in common than I thought we would. This realization struck me by surprise. Who knew that a modern person that rarely has to worry about war could have so much in common with a person that has air raids shaking their house at night? Well, we actually have similar views on life and also what the world should be like. If I ever met Anne I would expect to either be good friends or we would hate each other because we were so much the same.
Anne's writing, in retrospect, made it obvious that she was much more intelligent than kids in her day and age, and kids her age today. Some things that Anne writes are so true that they should be quoted somewhere, so everyday people can apply what she wrote to their life. I also really liked Anne because of this.
Anne wrote as if she were speaking to another person (Kitty) and not just herself. I think this made the diary much more interesting than if she had wrote it to herself. This really was what allowed the reader to feel a part of the story.
Because of this writing style, throughout the book I was creating a connection to Anne, her family, and all of the people in the "Secret Annexe". If they felt suspense, I felt suspense. If there was a sudden lift in the atmosphere, I could feel relief just as well.
It was pretty incredible seeing how people reacted together in a close environment paired with the ineffable tragedy of the war. The atmosphere really did affect everyone in the household. At times the "Secret Annexe" emanated joy, alleviation, and a bit of hope. At other times, Mrs. Van Daan's constant grousing could ruin everyone's mood. Anne could feel frustrated with her parents and so misunderstood, or love Peter and the family members that do so much for her. This was all a part of living in the "Secret Annexe".
Anne's plight was similar to that of other Jews in hiding. There was that constant fear of being found, the longing to be free of judgement and ostracizing governments. Sometimes Anne was desperate for it to all be over, at least then she would know the result of things and could finally stop her worrying about what was to be. In the end, we all know what that result was, but Anne's life and experiences were not a waste. This book, this diary, is what comes to show from "Yours, Anne", a young girl that will always be remembered.
Check out this book trailer http://youtu.be/wVegDhDxLeU I am so excited about the new book by Ransom Riggs Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! Going to start reading it tomorrow. :)
B.Edrees
The time machine
The time machine is about the Time Traveler explaining his plans to travel in time to a group of his Victorian peers (most only named by an occupational label.) The next scene is a dinner party a week later with the narrator and a few of the Time Traveler's previous guests. The Time Traveler enters the room in terrible shape. After he has cleaned up and has eaten, he begins to tell them of his trip in time.
The narratorial voice switches to that of the Traveler himself, and he tells them that he went to the year 802701 A.D. The England of the distant future is a beautiful place, almost a Utopia, but civilization is in majestic ruin. He first encounters the Eloi, a race of pretty, vacuous beings descended from humans. All other animals are apparently extinct, and the vegetarian Eloi have every need mysteriously provided for. Then, he discovers that someone has taken his time machine and he is frantic until he realizes that it has been locked in the bronze base of a nearby statue. He gives up on trying to free his machine, and later saves a drowning Eloi named Weena.
Weena tags along with the Traveler, and he soon discovers the existence of the Morlocks, a race of subterranean creatures descended from the human working class that maintain the underground machines that support the Eloi. He goes off exploring in the countryside with Weena in tow, and in the process of going through a ruined museum he lets the time get away from him and the Morlocks come out to attack after dark. He gets away from them, but inadvertently starts a forest fire and Weena is killed in the chaos.
The Traveler makes it back to the statue and finds that the doors are open. He goes inside to get his machine, and the Morlocks try to trap him. The Traveler manages to escape and goes far into the future to a time where the place he once lived is a beach with monstrous crabs. He travels on to an era near the end of the world, a time of darkness and cold. Then, he returns to his own time.
The only one who seems to believe his story is the narrator. The narrator goes into the lab to talk to the Time Traveller, but he and his machine are gone.
B.Edrees
The time machine
The time machine is about the Time Traveler explaining his plans to travel in time to a group of his Victorian peers (most only named by an occupational label.) The next scene is a dinner party a week later with the narrator and a few of the Time Traveler's previous guests. The Time Traveler enters the room in terrible shape. After he has cleaned up and has eaten, he begins to tell them of his trip in time.
The narratorial voice switches to that of the Traveler himself, and he tells them that he went to the year 802701 A.D. The England of the distant future is a beautiful place, almost a Utopia, but civilization is in majestic ruin. He first encounters the Eloi, a race of pretty, vacuous beings descended from humans. All other animals are apparently extinct, and the vegetarian Eloi have every need mysteriously provided for. Then, he discovers that someone has taken his time machine and he is frantic until he realizes that it has been locked in the bronze base of a nearby statue. He gives up on trying to free his machine, and later saves a drowning Eloi named Weena.
Weena tags along with the Traveler, and he soon discovers the existence of the Morlocks, a race of subterranean creatures descended from the human working class that maintain the underground machines that support the Eloi. He goes off exploring in the countryside with Weena in tow, and in the process of going through a ruined museum he lets the time get away from him and the Morlocks come out to attack after dark. He gets away from them, but inadvertently starts a forest fire and Weena is killed in the chaos.
The Traveler makes it back to the statue and finds that the doors are open. He goes inside to get his machine, and the Morlocks try to trap him. The Traveler manages to escape and goes far into the future to a time where the place he once lived is a beach with monstrous crabs. He travels on to an era near the end of the world, a time of darkness and cold. Then, he returns to his own time.
The only one who seems to believe his story is the narrator. The narrator goes into the lab to talk to the Time Traveller, but he and his machine are gone.
B.Edrees
Johnny Tremain
The book is about Johnny, a fourteen year old boy, is an arrogant apprentice of silversmith Ephraim Lapham. Although an apprentice, Johnny behaves like a tyrant, telling people what to do and how to do it. He often receives praise as being Boston’s most talented young apprentice in his skilled profession, allowing it all to go to his head. Having no care for the outside world, all he wanted was to be a silversmith. After a practical joke done by fellow apprentice, Dove, Johnny becomes handicapped and can no longer continue working in silver. The selfish and prideful Johnny becomes ashamed and humiliated; he must now find other skilled work that he can do with a crippled hand.
The world outside of silver work is bustling, tension between the Whigs and Tories were growing. Johnny, unaware of the importance of the political world, soon gets hired to deliver newspapers for the Boston Observer, a Whig newspaper published and owned by Mr. Lorne. Rab, the nephew of Mr. Lorne, shows Johnny the ropes and eventually becomes a role model for Johnny. After realizing that being selfish and arrogant won’t get him far in the political arena, Johnny starts to mature into a selfless and patriotic man, much like Rab. Learning the ropes quickly, Johnny and Rab become close friends and take part in the Boston Tea Party. Johnny becomes a part time spy and errand boy for the Boston Whigs.
B.Edrees
Brian Jacques
brian Jacques The book opens with Ben and Ned stranded in a wrecked boat in the Mediterranean Sea off of the coast of Libya, when an Arabic slaver named Mahmud captures Ben and throws Ned back into the ocean. Ben is sold as a slave while Ned is washed up on a shore where he is found by a friendly troop of entertainers, the Travelling Rizzoli Troupe.
The entertainers are captured by the pirate Al Misurata who has been enslaving Ben at the same time. They (Ben and Ned) have a happy reunion, and Ben is soon deeply in love with Serafina, a beautiful singer in the troupe. There is little time for romance however, with Al Misurata around. Al Misurata offered to ship the Rizzoli Troupe to Piran, Slovenija (Slovenia), close to Augusto and Mama Rizzoli's home in Italy, along with Ben and Ned. They accepted the offer, and Augusto Rizzoli purchases Ben's freedom. However, Ned eavesdrops on Al Misurata consorting with Bomba Shakal and Ghigno the Corsair and discovers that Al Misurata intends to sell the troupe to Count Dreskar when they reach Piran. Later, Al Misuarata brings the troupe onboard his ship, the Sea Djinn. Ben and Ned chose to stay out on deck, rather than go into the heart of the ship, because of their fear from the Dutchman. The troupe, however, stayed in their room. After the ship set sail, Bomba hired a knife thrower, Abrit, to kill Ben and Ned during the night. However, the plan was stymied, because Mummo went on deck due to seasickness, and threw a belaying pin at Abrit, killing him, after seeing him almost throw his knife. Soon, the Sea Djinn reached Malta, where Ben and Ned escaped by cutting the rope holding the forsail aloft, then jumping overboard. They swam to the island, where the next section begins.
Diary of a Young Girl By: Anne Frank
Sydney S.
I found this book to be quite remarkable. It made me really think about everyday things that I take for granted. Because I am about the same age as Anne, I imagined myself in her footsteps and it was terrifying. Reading about the years Anne spent in the “Secret Annex” was very moving for me.
As I read through this book, I thought about what it would be like for a Jewish girl, my age, to be going through something so unthinkable to kids like myself. It was interesting to imagine life without friends, without different kinds of food available at all times, and without privacy. This book really made me appreciate the little things in life that I normally would just assume would be a part of my everyday world.
Ruth Barrow
8th Grade Summer Reading Assignment
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Harry Potter has always been a fun theme for me because I love fiction and adventure! The seventh, and last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is my favorite book out of all of them. This is because, in the seventh book, almost all of the action occurs!
I like how the author had so many secrets revealed in this book, because they were all very shocking. For example, in the sixth book you witness a murder, but then, in this book, it is explained that the victim wanted to be killed! I was mislead throughout the whole series on a lot of things until the seventh book redirected me. I like how Rowling chose to have these surprises in her writing, because it is very exciting, and it makes you want to just keep reading!
The thing I don’t like about this book is all the sadness. So many tragedies occurred and it was very devastating! A lot of the side characters died in this book and that took away from all the fun adventurous moments.
Even though it has some flaws, this is probably one of my favorite series of books; I recommend Harry Potter to any one who wants a fun, exciting adventure in the palm of their hands...
Ruth Barrow
Summer Reading Assignments
Lies, by: Michael Grant
I liked this book a lot because it was very fun, adventurous, and interesting. Michael Grant always surprised me in this book. Lies is the third book in a series. This series is about Perido Beach, California, where everyone over the age of 15 disappears! The kids in the town are developing strange, mutant powers, and there is a demon, deep inside the mines, which feeds off of radioactive material from the nuclear power plant. No one knows how all of these strange things happened, which is why this book is so mysterious!
I like this book because it makes you think on your own. How can a bunch of kids cope without adults? When food starts to get scarce and there is no electricity, kids freak out. I like how the author didn’t just tell you in the beginning why everything was happening because then it would be no fun to read this book. Instead, Michael Grant decides to lead you through adventure after adventure so you can uncover all the mysteries that lie inside this series!
The characters in this book are all very different from each other, which makes the book more fun. Some characters are heroic and some are shy. One thing I would change is the use of so MANY main characters. For example: throughout the book, the author switches between many different scenarios and characters, which is interesting, yet it can get quite confusing! Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing. I think Michael Grant is a great author, and I recommend this series to anyone of any age!
C. Wilson
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a story about an Indian boy named Junior who lived on an Indian reservation. Most Reservation Indians do not expect a lot of themselves and stay living on the "rez" for their whole lives until they die, typically of alcohol. Junior is the only one who realizes this and he wants to change. He decides that because he wants a better education and life, that he should go to a different school. He ends
up going to an all-white school and faces new problems.
This book has bee influential to me because it has taught me that if I set my mind to it, a lot can be done. It also has taught me how much words can hurt.
This book has humor in it, but also reaches very serious issues in the real life world such as bullying, racism, and death. The way the author writes is very easy to picture and fun to read. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
C. Wilson
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye is a book about a 17-year old boy named Holden Caulfield and all the crazy things he did before he was sent to a mental institution. It is his story that he shares with all the other people there. I did not like this book at all. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it was one of the worst books I've ever read.
Just on the first page, there is more cuss words then necessary. But as you read you realize how terrible Holden really is. He thinks of women wrongly, drinks when he's is under age, and smokes under age. I felt like a bad person just by reading this. I had to force myself to read it to the end.
This did make me realize that I am lucky to not be like this guy. That does not change the fact, though, that i do not like this book at all and would not recommend it to any one.
C. Wilson
The Messenger
This is a book by Lois Lowry, who is also the author of The Giver. These two books are tied together, but you don't have to read both to understand either. The Messenger is about a boy named Matty who travels from Village, through Forest, and to to other communities to give messages. Soon though,the town that used to be so proud of its welcoming of newcomers, decides to no longer accept newcomers. The whole town is becoming evil because of trading their deepest-selves at the trade market. Matty has to travel through forest to convince his guardian's daughter to come to Village before it's too late. Forest soon trades on him though...
This book is very good. It is fun too read and thoroughly enjoyable. I did not want to finish it, although the ending was my favorite part. This author writes where you are confused and then you understand in the end. i like that because you know you will find out in the end so you want to keep reading. I would recommend this book to anyone.
The Hunger Games
T.Brown
This book was about a young girl named Catnis.Catnis is a girl from a ruil city where she is from a different district. She has an older sister.In addtion to that they have to battle to the death of the citizens.
On the other hand her sister feels really sorry for her so she battles for her and she wins.Now she has the victory...!
Catching Fire
T.Brown
This book is the following book of THE HUNGER GAMES.It is when Katniss Everdeen is forced to return the arena to battle in a speacial edition battle.
On the other hand Katniss And Peeta returns to district 12 (the poorest district) and they were notified that they have to return to fight again.
Diary Of A Young Girl
T.Brown
This book is about...A young girl who is hiding during the Nazi war.She keeps a diary and she writes letters and she couldn't get up and leave the area.
When it was time for the family to eat the workers from the factory gave them food.But after she died her dad read her diary!
C.Elliott-Gower
Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen is definately one of my favorite authors. I swear I could read all her books 20 times and still be want to read them again. In the book Lock and Key, the main character, Ruby, has always had a really bad life. Her father left when she was a young girl. Her and her sister, Cara, we’re always not only being iqnored, but also being beaten. She never got the courage to tell anyone anything, especially when her sister Cora left for college, even when her mom ended up leaving. The only reason anyone figured out that Ruby had been living on her own is because her neighbors luckily found out and called the police. She ended up moving in with her sister Cora and her new husband Jamie. Ruby has never trusted anyone, so she really doesn’t want to live with anyone, but herself. However, Ruby meets a boy, Nate, and he helps her relieze that its okay to trust people sometimes because they won’t always dissapoint you.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was interesting, but it also made me learn something. I learned just what I said in my first paragraph, that its okay to take a chance and trust some people because more then not, they can actually really help you. I would reccomend this book to anyone, specifically girls, its a pretty girly book itself. I would also read it again.
Elijah Fear Churchwell
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
I have read the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" I thought this would be boring when I first read the summary, but I found it quite amusing. The story takes place in the 1930's, which is the time of The Great Deppression. I thought of this as a sad book because there are many people in this book who don't have shoes and have to work and don't have time for their education.
Anyway, the story doesn't take place over the course of a few months (like most books), but takes place over a few years. I found this quite unique. The book is also unique because it is part myestry and actually part humor. Though the book foucuses on small things leading up to one big thing....... The mystery of Boo Radely. Boo Radely and the case of a black man charged of rape on a white girl was definitely the most engaging and entertaining part of the book.
I also thought the book didn't start out very fast. It was just Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her friend (Dill, who visits every summer), and her brother Jem Finch playing around the Radely house, trying to get Boo Radely too come outside. As the story went on though, it became more exciting and the game they used to play became even more of a mystery, which I also found unique. As a mystery usually starts with a murder, but in this one it was quite different. Those are my thoughts of this book.
M. Brown
The Red Scarf Girl
The Red Scarf Girl is a book that i really enjoyed. This book made me think about how lucky we are to get to live in a democracy. The girl, Ji Li, was very brave and she had the strength to always go on no matter what people say and do. I really liked that about her because i know that if i had been in her position that i would not have been able to keep fighting, i mostlikly would have let the communists take over me. I found it very easy to understand what was going on in this book, because we learned alot about cultural revolution in 7th grade.
Ji Li was in middel school when it first began. A first she was very excited about the idea, but as it progresed she realized that it was a very bad thing. She got into a namecalling fight with one of her classmates, and it made her whole class start to dislike her. Before the revolution began she was at the top of her class and she had very high grades, but after the fight with her classmate her grades started to drop. A rumor started to spred throught her school, it was about Ji Li have a relationship with one of her teachers. It was not true, but she knew that one of her classmates had started it. Everything got worse when the red gaurd started. Ji Li school wanted to start their oun red gaurd, they called it the red successors. Ji Li was nominated to be one of the red successors, but one of her classmates parents said that she could not be on it because her family was a bunch of rightists. Because of that the red successors cornerd her and told her to change her ways. things continued to get worse and worse. people, including Ji Li's family, had there hourse serched, and the red gaured would take all the peoples most important things. One day Ji Li's father was put in jail because his friend would not confess to listening to forien radio, even thought he hadent. Ji Li endsup having to work in a field picking corn for a whole summer. In the end her father is relesed and they all move to america, except for their house keeper that died from a stroke.
Elijah Fear Churchwell
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye may have been one of the best books I have ever read, but also among one of the weirdest books I have ever read. The book takes place in the 1940's in New York, which I found interesting because they had many of the stuff we have today, and was much like modern New York. Except, it seemed to be up to Holden Caulfield to be the most crazy person in the city. Holden Caulfield, is telling a story from when he was sixteen (he is seventeen now), and he has somewhat lost his mind. What I found suspensful is that they never told you if he was doing ok when he was seventeen.
The power in this book is basically saying how a lot of teenagers act these days. Now, I am not sure if this was meant to be the moral of the story, but thats what I got from it. For example, Holden drinks while he is to young and he is able to lie about his age because he has some gray hair. He also smokes, but that was legal during the 1940's. I found that book as a lesson to use your money wisely and how you shouldn't drink alchol and all.
E. Clarke
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird is not a book I would choose off the shelf to read, but surprisingly to me it was an incredible book that I would definitely recommend. Harper Lee tells a story about a Southern Family living in Maycomb Alabama. The two children,Jem and Scout, live with there father,Atticus, who is a lawyer. They go on many adventures such as trying to get their strange neighbor Boo Radley to come out of his house.
I thought this was a very well written and interesting story,so I wonder why this was Harper lee's only book. Some parts of the book confused me and I had to reread them to understand them. There were also parts of the story that I did not think were necessary important to the plot of the story. One of these parts was when there was a fire in the neighborhood and a house burned down across the street. I also did not know what the verdict at the court was because it seemed that Atticus just walked out of the court and the scene ended. It wasn't until later in the story I found this out. This story shows me that even if everyone turns on you fighting for the right is the best thing to do.
E. Clarke
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows is the seventh book featuring Harry Potter and his two friends Hermione Granger And Ron Weasley. This story is the book that explains all of the questions left in the other books. For example, in the Harry Potter series Harry has always suspected Snape of being on Voldermort's side, but in this book all is explained.
The Harry Potter series is one of my favorites because of the suspense, drama and magic that goes on. I thought that this book was the most action packed out of all seven. This is where it all ends, so J.K.Rowling must have had a great amount of pressure to close up such a wonderful series.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows shows me that your friends are always there to help no matter what, And that going with your instinct is the best choice.
My favorite part of the book is at the end where it is 19 years after the battle. You get to see who everyone turns out to be and how there lives change and flourish.
Evan L-
The Way of Shadows
One of the books I read near the beginning of the summer was The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. This book really made me think about the world today, and what desperate measures some people will take because of how they are treated. It also made me think about the measures peoplle will take for power.
The Way of Shadows is essentially about a guild rat named Azoth trying to escape a future, if not a short one, of life in the Black Dragon guild. Eventually, his friends help him apprentice to Durzo Blint, the city's best wetboy, which is like an assassin, only much better.
Azoth's test he must pass to enter the Sa'kage (lord of the shadows)is to kill Rat, the main reason Azoth wanted to escape his guild. He does this and finally becomes Durzo Blint's apprentice with Durzo Blint.
Azoth (now Kylar) trains for years without any sign of his Talent, energy that can be used in magic. Finally Durzo gives Kylar his first job in another attempt to get his Talent working. Kylar completes the job with no sign of his Talent. Then Durzo sends him to the king's tourney, the trials to see who would become a sword master. There, while somebody is checking to see that no contestant has a glore vyrden (where a person's Talent is stored). She finds a connection is broken so he cannot use it. He continues to train, and one day, without thinking about it, bonds his master's Ka'kari.
The six ka'kari were made by the mad mage Ezra. Durzo, whos real name was Acaelus Thorne, and who is hundreds of years old and has gone by many names, had been kept alive for so long by the black ka'kari, which was the only one Ezra did not make. Durzo fights Kylar, but the ka'kari had bridged the broken connection, so, with the advantage of his talent, he kills his master.
In the end, Kylar dies killing Roth (a.k.a. Rat, who survived), the leader of the Khalidorian Army attempting to take Cenaria. However, he was healed by the mysterious black ka'kari to continue on in the next book, Shadow's Edge.
R. McCall
The Spiderwick Chronicles
By Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
All changed for the Grace children after their father and mother divorced. Leaving their very small New York apartment to move into their Aunt Lucinda's eerie mansion was not what Jared Grace considered a good change, but no one asked him. His mother said it was for the best because Jared had broken a classmate's nose at his old school and would have been expelled if they hadn't been moving. She also told Jared that he needed to find a way to deal with his anger like his siblings. His older sister Mallory dealt with it by focusing on her fencing and his twin brother Simon dealt with it by making new pets. Jared didn't have any hobbies and usually ended up spending time alone.
They tried to make the best of their new home, but it was really creepy. It sounded like there was a squirrel trapped in the walls, too. When Jared, Mallory and Simon followed the sounds in the walls, they found a little nest of strange objects and decorations. They figured that if they got rid of the nest, the pesky squirrel would leave too. Only it wasn't a squirrel, as they found out when Mallory woke up the next morning with her hair tied to the bedposts. The next morning Simon found his new tadpoles frozen in the ice cube trays and the kitchen covered in trash. Everyone blamed Jared, even though he told them over and over again that it wasn't him.
Furious and alone, Jared decided that a riddle he found in the old library had to solve his problem and prove that he wasn't doing these pranks. Jared solved the riddle and told Mallory and Simon that it wasn't a squirrel in their walls, but a boggart - a type of fairy - according to the book that he found, The Field Guide.
F. Collins
Dream Factory
The book Dream Factory, I found, was alot like all of the other books you could find searching through the young adult section of Borders or the library. Except for the fact it took place in Disney World from the perspectives of two teens who are working as disney characters, and of course they fall in love.
Luke is the teenager chosen to play Dale, from " chip and Dale" when he is done working there he dreads going back to his fathers company. Ella is a girl mourning her brothers death. Her parents send her off to live with her aunt in Flordia, and some how swings a job at Disney playing Cinderella simply because the costume fits. From the beginning of the book it's obvious that the two are to fall in love within the " magic" of Disney World because it rotate back and forth from their perspectives. The reason why I put magic in quotations is because the book also is to show the harsh conditions of Disney actors.( the author must have something against Disney World. Luke and Ella come together after a promotional scavenger hunt, and guess what? They're partners.
In the end they live happily ever after, a very predictable verdict. Honestly I found this book very unstimulating and had an average plot besides the Disney world thing. Not all books can blow you away.
T. Jimenez
Death in Venice
Death in Venice is an interesting book, not to say that it is my favorite or would recommend it to anyone.I might go as far to say that i will not even read a summery of some of Mann's other novels.Though I do believe it is well written and the author has a style that may captivate others, but I found it a bore.
It was a very descriptive novel,Mann made every detail seem as important as the last, also the twist in the idea I was not fond of in the beginning it seems it will be a murder mystery, Gustav Von Aschenbach (The main character) is a moderately wealthy German writer who feels compelled to travel Europe in his latter years, as the name entitles it is a death in Venice which I took to mean with the fact he wishes to travel that he would get murdered. In reality he died of illness.
In short i found it disappointing.
And so ends my ideas of the death in Venice by Thomas Mann...
S. Obijuru
Life as we knew it
Life as we knew it is a book about Miranda and her family as they endure the many hardships that fall upon them when an asteroid pushes the moon close to the Earth.
Life as we knew it made me scared. As I read about all the affects resulting from 1 single asteroid hitting the Earth including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, one single thought repeatedly struck my mind. What if this happened to us? What if we had to live through this treacherous time? After reading this book I now know that circumstances can go from good to life-threatening in the blink of an eye, so you should enjoy life as long as you can.
This book also made me feel shocked and curious. The shocking part was NASA's response to this. If an asteroid could push the moon closer the Earth, why wouldn't NASA try to use nuclear bombs or missiles to push it back further? I was also curious about what will happen next. Will Miranda's family be able to survive even longer? Will the world really be the same by May?
To sum it all up, Life as we knew left me with mixed emotions and if you are looking for a page turning thriller novel, I'd recommend this book.
K. Farber
Mockingjay
Mockingjay is an extraordinary conclusion to The Hunger Games Trilogy. Everything happened just the way I wanted it to, although it was hard to get through at the beginning because Peeta, one of the main characters, was not there. I think it took me longer to read than the others, because without Peeta the book is less interesting to me. If he was there it would’ve been more about him and Katniss’s relationship, than about how Katniss and Gale, her best friend, were surviving in District 13. Since Peeta was gone for part of the time in most of the books, I would suggest to Suzanne Collins that she should write another Hunger Games Trilogy, but in Peeta’s point of view.
K. Mobley
Fahrenheit 451
This is a great tale told by Ray Bradbury of a time when books are illegal and firemen burn them, and they claim it has always been that way. But a curious fireman, Guy Montag, believes there is more to the story than that.
Montag is just the average fireman, going along and burning illegal books and jailing the people who hid them, just like he had always been told. But he meets a young girl named Clarisse, who takes time to think and converse and challenges Montag to do the same. She tells him of a past when people actually read books, and enjoyed them, too. But that contradicts what he's been told, so it can't be true. Or is it?
Montag starts to ponder if what Clarisse says is true. Who is right, a 17-years old girl or his fellow firemen? He is confronted by his fire chief, Beatty, who tells him that what he has pondered is true, and that books haven't always been burned, but that firemen were told to burn books after society lost interest and they imposed tough questions and challenged the reader to think, something that made the reader upset and wasted time. Finally, Beatty tells Montag that he must resume his role as a fireman, or he will be imprisoned.
Montag meets an old professor named Faber, who tells him that one day society will be free to read book and challenge one another, and decides to help Montag. When Montag is advised to resume his job in order to see if any fireman are against what they are doing, Montag makes a regular midnight run to an ordinary house. But this isn't just any house. it's his house.
Beatty turns on Montag and forces him to destroy his own house. But Montag kills Beatty and two other fireman. He then has to run away and hide from the police. He meets with Faber one last time, and hides in the river. He avoids a near death from the Mechanical Hound. He meets a group of old professors who have memorised different novels and one day, will recite them to be written again. Montag joins them.
This book was very inspirational and empowering, and caused me to think and be thankful for the books we have today. They are a source of adventure, deep thinking, and pure fun.
J. Warner
The Chocolate War
When I first looked at the summary, I was slightly unsure of the book. However, as soon as I had completed the first few chapters, I had made up my mind. I loved the book. It showed values of fine literature. These values are a consistent, powerful plot, well developed characters, and the use of "excellent-ish" vocabulary words like, for example, discrepancy and tabulating.
The Chocolate War is about a boy who decides not to sell chocolates at his school's annual fundraiser. Unfortunately, by doing this, he defies the Vigils, a secret bullying and humiliation causing group in his school, and nobody defies the Vigils and escapes unscathed.
This story made me think about how CMS would be with a secret group that basically "runs" the place. I decided that the school would be chilling, and we would all live in constant fear that we or our friends will be their next victims. This got me thinking about what could be done to stop this terrorism? I mean, how does one disband or eliminate a group that "officially" doesn't exist? (I will leave now with that thought in the air)
All in all, I would strongly recommend this book. It is a good read and is well worth the time it could potentially take. Thanks for this book, Mr. Corimer(the author).
J. Warner
Frankenstein
Everyone has heard of Frankenstein, the terrible monster. But yet, Victor Frankenstein is the scientist, and not the monster!
This book was curious, mostly in the fact that the emotions of Frankenstein changed often. He went from loving his monster, to ignoring it, from fearing it, to attempting to destroy it. This mood changes make the book a bit hard to follow. However, the parts that can easily be followed are tragic. They speak of Victor's loved ones perishing at the monsters hands, of Victor's death, and of the monster explaining why he kills seemingly without cause. I was thinking that a theme might have been tragedy and death. I liked the book a lot, but I do fell that Shelley rambles a bit with tiresome descriptions occasionally, in the dreariest parts. Although there were boring parts, Shelley did manage to make one want to continue reading, perhaps in hope that they would be more satisfied with the upcoming chapters. It was enjoyable anyway.
I would recommend this book, but I also caution that whomever reads it needs to be prepared to reread the confusing sections repeatedly, and to take longer with this novel than they do with their usual books.
C. Cona
Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 is a great book for people who are curious about the future. Before I finished Fahrenheit 451, I thought that the point of it was that the government would make unusual laws, like burning all of the books in the world, just to overrule the citizens, like Germany killing Jewish people, but I was wrong. As I got further into the book, Beatty told Montag that the government banned books because, as civilization became more complex, books were becoming less important, and a lot of people stopped reading them. The first reason the government banned books was so that everyone would be the same. The second reason was that some books made people sad, and others happy which could cause conflict. That didn’t make much since to me, but let me quote a part of the book that let me understand. “Colored people don’t like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White people don’t feel good about Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Burn it. Someone’s written a book on tobacco and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book.” These reasons may be adequate in this apparent futuristic scenario, but in our society there are a lot of people who read books which would make us equal, but in Fahrenheit 451, not many people read books so banning them would make them equal.
I also enjoyed the part where a lady wouldn’t live with her books being burned to the ground, so she chose to burn to death with them. I didn’t like that part itself, but it led to an interesting part of the book where Montag realized that if some people would die for their books, then they must be important. With this in mind, he decided to steal a book from the lady’s house, and he read it. I like this part because; it is interesting how Montag became a rebel against himself, his job, and his way of life.
I just realized something that makes me think that the whole idea of burning books is stupid. If all books were illegal wouldn’t that mean that you couldn’t read religious books, which I think would take away a major part of that religion. What is Christianity without the Bible, and Judaism with the Torah, and Muslim people without the Quran?
The book made a very good point that I never thought of. Faber, a person who owned books at the time, said himself that books don’t matter much, because the content in them were created by us. So we can still hear things that can be in books. It’s just that we can’t read them. I thought that it was funny because, Faber broke the law by reading books, and he just said that reading books are the next thing to pointless.
C. Cona
Fahrenheit 451
Now Montag is teaming up with Faber to put books in firemen’s houses and report them to try to show to people that many people read books, and to protest in an attempt to make books legal. I found this weird, because now Montag is literally doing the opposite of what his job tells him to do.
When Montag went back to work, the other firemen were waiting for Montag to return the book, because they somehow knew he had it. Then they got a report of a house with books in it, and when they got there is was Montag’s house. This was the climax and it was really cool. After that my favorite genre of a book appeared after Montag killed another fireman whose name was Beatty after he tried to arrest him. That genre was suspense. After that almost the rest of the story was about Montag running from a robotic dog and helicopters, having close calls to arrest and death! My favorite part of this book was the build up of the dog tracing Montag back to the river and him waiting underwater for the dog to leave.
Another great point was made in this book. The main idea was that when a person dies we don’t miss that person him/herself, but we miss the things that the person had done, and the differences that the person had made will always live with us, therefore we shouldn’t be sad when somebody dies for any reason. This was a good point, but I think that when a person dies you should still be sad because, they won’t be in your life in the future, so you would only be able to remember them by the things that they had done in the past.
The end of the book confused me, because I was left wondering who the protagonist and antagonist were. I could think that Montag was the protagonist, because he made a difference in the world and spread his thoughts among the town, which in my opinion are correct. However he broke the laws that almost everybody followed, but the part that confused me was that if Montag was the antagonist, then why did all of the “good” people die at the end?
T. Jackson
I Am The Cheese by: Robert Cormier
I Am The Cheese was an okay book. I found it kind of slow and boring. I also couldn't relate to any of the characters. Their lives were mysterious, a little confusing, and exciting. My life is calm and easy.
One good thing about this book is it made me think a lot, which made it slightly enjoyable. Another good thing about I Am The Cheese is there were a few plot twists including the main character falling into a ditch while riding his bike and him getting his bike stolen. Lastly, this book went into a lot of detail.
Overall, not the best book I have ever read. It was okay and I enjoyed it a little bit.
Dear Dumb Diary-Jim Benton
Kenya Daniel
I enjoyed the book dear dumb diary. The main character Jamie had problems that actually middle school girls face at times like: friend drama, boys, teachers, and enemies. Jamie also had a controlling friend that she was terrified of. Even though this book was written by a man the author Jim Benton understood the life of a teenage girl to a full extent. In this book Jamie faced small problems that she would over exaggerate and make it seem like the end of the world. This book was funny yet serious at the same time if that even makes sense. In the strange series of events that happened Jamie found her way through them. At the end Jamie realized her life wasn’t so bad until angel corrected her. And that’s where the book ended.
Shreeva Adhikari
The Thorne Of Fire
The Thorne of fire is the second book in the Kane Chronicles. The book was very well written like most of the other books by Rick Riordan. I was very excited about this book because i couldn't seem to be getting over the first one.The book is very addicting, i couldn't stop reading i just wanted to keep going and never wanted it to end.One of the reason i loved this book was because it is about Egyptian Mythology, and i seem to enjoy Mythologies a lot.The second reason like this book is because it shows you to never give up, no matter how difficult it gets.
Although we might think this book is supposed to take place in Ancient Egypt because it Egyptian Mythology, it actually takes in the 21st century in New York. This book continues the stories of Carter and Sadie Kane , the two siblings, as they try to save the world from Chaos. To be able to battle against the forces of Chaos, they have to awaken the sun god Ra, who has been lost for centuries. Reviving him might just be impossible, because no one knows exactly where he is. This book takes us to the journey of finding Ra.On their journey the Kanes have to face a lot of difficult challenges, but they never give up.I would most definitely recommend this book to others , because it is a very enjoyable book, whoever reads it will fall in love with it.
E.Conaway
Life As We Knew It.
This was not one of my favorite books, as far as the word choice and characters go, but it WAS suspenseful. That is the reason why I decided to keep on reading this book. I couldn't exactly relate to the characters, but I was thrilled by the entire calamity. The book was full of disasters, whether they were volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, extreme temperatures, or hunger. On each page, something new was happening; another disaster was unfolding.
I think it would be hard to live the way that Miranda was living while the disasters were going on around her. As she said in her journal, her world was limited to the kitchen and sun room of her house. There was almost no communication from the outside world. Worst of all, she had no idea how long she would survive or what the point of staying alive was. She didn't know if things would ever improve, or if life would ever be enjoyable again. She lived each day just for the sake of living longer, without knowing what her future held. It is not only amazing for someone to survive through the cold and hunger that she was faced with, but also for someone to still have the will to live after all those months. I think that many people, including myself, would have given up hope if they were under the same circumstances.
Overall, the book was okay. I didn't like it that much because I felt like the characters were not developed well enough, but it was definitely a page-turner.
Wings
“Wings” is a fantasy tale by Aprilynne Pike about Laurel, a young girl who wakes up one morning to find a flower sprouting from her back. Now, on top of the normal confusion of becoming an adolesant and the whole “boy thing”, she is forced to deal with the pressure of hiding this new phenomenon. Laurel decides to tell David, a close friend and geek at heart, about her secret. One day, Laurel meets Tamani, strange boy who claims to be a fairy, on the land that her mother is about to sell. He tells her that she is fairy sent to her adopted parents as a child so that she could inherit the land owned by her human mother. He claims that she is an old friend of his childhood, but she can’t remember anything. He claims she is a. Together, David and Laurel confirm this disturbing information as well as the fact that trolls are attempting to buy her mother’s land, which turns out to be home to one of the four gates to Avalon, the land of the fairies. Laurel must help save the faeries' secret, protect her family, sort out her confused feelings for David and Tamani, and figure out her own identity—and her place in both worlds.
Wings
“Wings” is a fantasy tale by Aprilynne Pike about Laurel, a young girl who wakes up one morning to find a flower sprouting from her back. Now, on top of the normal confusion of becoming an adolesant and the whole “boy thing”, she is forced to deal with the pressure of hiding this new phenomenon. Laurel decides to tell David, a close friend and geek at heart, about her secret. One day, Laurel meets Tamani, strange boy who claims to be a fairy, on the land that her mother is about to sell. He tells her that she is fairy sent to her adopted parents as a child so that she could inherit the land owned by her human mother. He claims that she is an old friend of his childhood, but she can’t remember anything. He claims she is a. Together, David and Laurel confirm this disturbing information as well as the fact that trolls are attempting to buy her mother’s land, which turns out to be home to one of the four gates to Avalon, the land of the fairies. Laurel must help save the faeries' secret, protect her family, sort out her confused feelings for David and Tamani, and figure out her own identity.
S. Obijuru
Feed
Feed is a book about Titus and his friends that live in a world so computerized that their ability to move, read, and write is programmed into them.
In Feed, Titus and his friends go to the moon and meet this girl named Violet. When they first talk to her, they think shes kinda strange because of the big words she uses. But Titus decides to give her a chance and they go out.
When they go out, Violet talks to Titus about the stuff thats happening in the real world, like deaths and The Global Alliance. She also says that the Feed is basically something to get you to buy as many stuff as you possible can, so she tries to, "resist the feed." She goes to random stores and expresses interest in lots of different items but doesn't buy any.
She later finds out that theirs a problem with her Feed. She tells Titus that sometimes parts of her won't work for periods of time. Slowly it gets worst and worst. When it gets really bad, she decides to ask for financial assistance to fix it, but they deny her it, saying she's an, "unstable and unsure buyer" because she showed a lot of interest in products that she never bought.
Violet knows her time is up, and sends Titus a list of 22 things she wants to do when she dies. One of the things is go to the mountains, so Titus and her fly there. When they go to their cabin, Violet starts getting close and passionate with Titus, but he stops her, because he says that he already imagines her dead and says it makes him feel like, "he's being felt up on by a zombie". After that, Violet gets upset and asks to be taken home.
Titus takes Violet home. When she's leaving the car, she starts getting woozy. Titus tries to help her out, but she refuses his hand. She drops to the ground, and Titus drove off, leaving her for her dead to take inside.
Later, Titus receives a message from Violet's dad saying that she wants him to be there at the end, so he comes to her house to be with her. He is so sad that he begins to cry. The last words of the book are, " Everything must go."
The book made me curious. This is sent in futuristic times where people can visit planets and live on the moon. I was wondering if in the future are our world will be like that.
This book also made me sad and angry. I was angry at Titus for leaving Violet when she was dieing. I was sad for Violet because she was a very intelligent and pretty girl. She didn't deserve to die or to be treated the way Titus treated her.
The book was a good influence on my life because it taught me the importance of things you have and what to keep your priorities in order.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
L. Jenkins
Frankenstein begins with a description of a much loved, benevolent kind man's life from his childhood up until the present. This man is Victor Frankenstein, who is often perceived as an evil scientist blamed for creating a monster, who many erroneously dub as Frankenstein. No one is certain who decided to name the monster, because in the book he is simply "the monster", not worthy of a title.
Victor describes himself as a very wise, innocent man attempting to achieve his many ambitious goals. He makes it very clear that he had no intentions of creating such a monster. I loved the way Mary Shelley described her characters, as she did Victor, and I soon became very fond of Victor for this and other reasons. Victor likes to make things out of life, and is a very determined, thoughtful person.
When Victor created the monster he immediately realized what a mistake he had made and abandoned it, never to see him again for two years. When Victor sees the monster again he is eager to run, but is stopped by him. The monster wants to explain what happened to him during those two years. This is where the monster's flashback begins.
Mary Shelley has a very habitual way of producing a character's history before even introducing the character to the story's plot, like she did with the monster. Every time a new character is met, we know their full life history and biography. I must say that this is a very good habit that any writer could learn from, because it forces the reader to become connected to the character.
Because of this connection I had made, I was now starting to feel a huge amount of sympathy for the monster. He was feared by men, women, and children solely because of his abhorred appearance. He was forced to live in the wild because of his lack of manners and social skills. He could never fit into the human race, for he was an utter stain on the face of the earth. The monster also realized that there were no others like him, and felt very lonely for this reason. I felt very sorry for the monster, this outcast, this reject. He and all else that knew of his existence were certain that this poor wretch would never find a place.
Then the monster pleaded for his master Victor to help him. I thought that he would never be happy, but now Victor has agreed to succor.
Victor was going to create another female monster so that they could both live together and accompany each other. I thought this was strange because Victor already deeply regretted making the first monster, but Victor soon changed his mind. Victor eradicated the female monster (who was not yet complete), promising himself to never again commit such an iniquity. This made the monster angry, and as a result murdered most of Victor's family. This was an increasingly depressing part of the story, as Victor was giving in more and more to despondency and grieving.
At the very end of the book Victor and the monster are basically going at each other, trying to get revenge for each of their sufferings. Victor's constant chasing and hunting down of the monster was actually quite interesting. I expected the story to start to drag at some point, but it kept a great pace and I was rarely bored with it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Frankenstein, and really cannot think of anything negative to say about it. Mary Shelley's exceptional and completely fantastic writing is what impressed me the most. It never ceased to impress, and paired with the classic story of Frankenstein it was beyond amazing. There is a reason that Frankenstein has received so many accolades and is so highly respected. And that is because it is simply a good book.
S. Sims
Life As We Knew It
Life as We Knew It was a marvelous book. The story takes place in the twenty first century from the perspective of a 16 year old girl, named Miranda. Miranda and her family’s go through dramatic life changes when the Moon is struck by a meteor. The collision between the moon and the meteor causes the moon to be knocked very close to Earth. Thus, several natural disasters ranging from dormant volcanoes erupting to earthquakes occur.
I was struck by the way that Miranda and her family persevered through all of the difficult challenges and life changes they were faced with. It was impressive how the family faced these challenges together. Reading Life as We Knew It, made me realize how important your family is and that you should always put your family before everything else. The book made me think about how quickly the ones we love could be taken away. I don’t think we realize how easy it would be for someone you love to be here today, and be gone tomorrow.
This book also made me think about all of the material things we think are so important to our everyday lives. This book also taught me that life isn’t just about materialistic items, like computers and cell phones. After reading this book it made me realize that materialistic items aren’t what matter at all, it’s your family and the ones you love that make life special.
Fahrenheit 451 J. Warner
If books were illegal in our society, then I suspect that value would drain from society as well. I, for one, could not live without the comfort of books, and I shudder to imagine a world in which they are legally burned.
This book is about a futuristic America that is nuts. People kill each other, people have no cares in the world, firemen burn books, and people appreciate nothing. That was how Guy Montag (a firemen) was until he met Clarisse, a girl who did the opposite of the rest of the population. She cared about things. Montag begins to rethink his life, and begins to read books, while continuously breaking strict laws.
Eventually, Montag enlists the help of a former English teacher named Faber, and they plan to do something about the population's ignorance. Unfortunately, when Montag murders the Fire Chief, he has to go on the run and eventually hooks up with a group of avid readers that have escaped the horrors of the city. They watch as nuclear bombs are dropped on their former city from a war that has just started. Montag attempts to forget his previous life, and starts a new one, the right way this time.
I highly recommend this book. I made me think about the things that have problems in our society, and how it would be if they were corrected. It is an interesting read and is a valuable asset to those that are looking for a book that shows that darker and brighter sides of reality in the future.
Ruth Barrow
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This novel of a lawyer in the south defending a black man is remarkable. This book is like no other I have ever read before. It is fun, happy, and simply a spectacular story.
What I like about this book is that it is very realistic. Harper Lee teaches the reader about Southern life and the many truths of a little girl trying to find her place in this world.
I found it amazing that Atticus (the father/lawyer) defended the black man even though he was living in a time when that was never even imagined. He was very brave and so were his children. Atticus wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he believed in, even though everyone thought badly of him.
I liked the children because they were not prejudice. They didn’t care if you were black or white. They loved you for who you were and I found that amazing because they were around all these people who though differently.
Reading this book was a great experience and I am very glad I read it. I loved this story, and I recommend it to anyone who would like to experience a grand adventure of friendship, loyalty, and fun times!
S. Zaccaria - Jeffers
Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a young girl is a book that I have read several times, and every time I read it I am reminded of what horrific things were happening during the Holocaust.
Anne Frank was 13 when she went into hiding with her family and the Van Daans, and stayed in what they called "the Secret Annexe." While they were there Anne wrote in her secret diary about the dreadful, long days, and all about the quarrels between the families. During the days Anne could not go out, or let alone look out the window during the day time. I could not imagine what it would be like to be in such a confined area for so long.
Anne always wrote about her dreams of becoming a journalist and a famous author, and to me it is extremely devastating to think that her life was cut so short and she did not get to fulfill these dreams. To me it is hard to think about how Anne was never able to do the regular things that come with growing up.
She wrote about the crazy things that the Van Daans did in the Secret Annexe, and how all of this amused her as well as annoyed her. She also talked about her relationship with her parents and how she disagreed with them from time to time, which I think we can all agree to at some level!
So in the end, Anne wrote her last diary entry a few days before she and her family and friends were discovered and taken to a concentration camp. She was separated from her father, Mr. Van Daan and Peter Van Daan, which must have been extremely hard. After a couple months her mother was killed and she was left with her sister. They died peacefully. Her life had a tragic ending, and her diary was all that was left to tell her story. But, from this story I now understand a lot more about the hardships of living during WWII, but i could never truly understand what Anne went through, and what it was really like.
R. McCall
The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein
Meatball Finkelstein is a boy that was born fat and he has a perfect sister that makes him look terrible. Since Meatball was so imperfect his sister refused to ever talk to him, but later in the story that will change. He has always been and always will be a big guy. Yes it says Meatball on his birth certificate, which makes him the candidate for the attention of Rufus Delaney, the most horrible bully at school. Meatball is use to the way his life works, and he usually goes along with it. He says "it's easier than fighting back." Meatball is a vegetarian surprisingly, but one Monday morning, events conspire to make Meatball really mad and he discovers that he's not just an ordinary kid he's an ordinary kid with a superpower! When Meatball eats a meatball he can turn into anything he wants even if it's a person, place, or thing. One day he stumbles onto an evil plot that requires his very special power to save the day. Principles from all over the world come together to make a formula that can change any kid to a thirty year old adult. Meatball follows his principle to the basement of his school and he swipes the formula and leaves, but he then remembers that he left his sister in the basement. He then pops a meatball in his mouth and he is able to change from his normal self and he saves his sister and all the students all over the world!
Mrs.Hinger : I was reading one of your comments when I saw you mentioned Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! I saw it in a bookstore a few weeks ago and REALLY wanted to buy it, but -sigh- I have no money :( I was wondering if the CMS library has/will get this book. Please tell me if you enjoy it!
V. Petuhova
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was originally written as a squeal to Tom Sawyer, but i personally think that it is capable of standing alone. It is about a boy named Huck Finn and a slave named Jim that help each other run away from their town. They go on a journey down the Mississippi River in a raft. They live by hunting, fishing, 'borrowing', and tricking people out of their money. Along the way, they meet some very different people and get involved in different lifestyles. I greatly recommend reading this book along with it's companion 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'.
This story made me think about how hard it would be to step into Huck's or Jim's shoes for the journey. They both have to fend for themselves and survive through the many dangers of the Mississippi River. Especially back then before the times of the Civil War. Jim and Huck didn't have nearly as many resources and leisure as we do now. If their journey was to take place during present day, the adventure would be over before it even started. This factor is what makes this story so great. They talk with little knowledge of grammar, but they have a great deal of common sense. Mark Twain really created a master piece here and anyone of any age and gender will be able to enjoy this book.
c.Williams
To Kill a Mocking Bird
To Kill a Mockingbird is about the inequalities durring the 1960s and how that has affected a little girl and boy who's farther is defending a young black man who is on trial for rape. The story is narrated by the little girl, Jean Louise(otherwise known as scout), who is a precocious tomboy.
Scout and her brother,Jim,have to experience terrible things because their father had been chosen to defend a black man. Scout,who would be going into second grade, will be called names and even get into fist fights because her father is defending an inocent black man. Overall, I found this book to be very enjoyable and somewhat informative, yet, sometimes disturbing.
I give this book two thumbs up!
Feed By: M.T. Anderson Nicole Googe
Feed was a futuristic book set in a time where everyone was oblivious to the world around them because they had a computer feed in their head. It gave me a allegorical message, a message that even though this is the future it still represents society. It represents to me our society, and only a slight bit exaggerated. Even though the feeds are not in our head we still do the things that they are doing. The main characters resist the feed, and they make it so that the corporations are incapable of creating a profile for them. They do not let the corporations run their lives, they run their own.
And even today some of the most major corporations may run our lives, influencing us one way or the other. Were it not for some of the things that they put into our heads social norms could and would be totally different. Some of the largest corporations in the world influence even the smaller business owners in terms of what is expected of them. This book also made me think about peer pressure and the pressure to do and be like everyone else, to change yourself so that you look and act "cool" a.k.a. like everyone else. It further pushed myself to stay how I am and never let others control what I can and should control myself.
The Hunger Games J. Warner
This is the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy, and in my poinion, perhaps the best. It was interesting and kept me engaged until the end. With death, despair, rivalry, alliances, and broken promises at each paragraph, the plot was constantly in motion.
Katniss Everdeen volunteers for her sister in the Hunger Games, a terrible "game" in which children have to fight each other to the death until just one is remaining. Katniss makes frineds, enemies, and pretends to fall for a fellow competitor, Peeta, a boy who she cannot make herself kill. In the end, both Peeta and Katniss win the games and they go home, after unwittingly providing a face for a rebellion, one in which they will become very much involved.
This book made me think about how appreciative I am that I do NOT have to kill others for a "game" of a sort. I highly recommend this book to all that love a great book with a fantastic plat and wonderfully developed characters.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy N. Googe
Absurdity. If someone were to ask me the theme to this book that is what I would say. Because really there is no theme. There are just intriguing events. This book especially made me wonder if there are other life forms millions of miles away wondering why we are so ignorant that we cannot seem to find them. It made me think about how insignificant and important we actually are, both at the same time. How we can make such a small impact in the world and yet turn around and be the most important thing there is.
It also made me question our relationships. How we are all connected and in what ways those connections change the course of your life. Because you are friends with one person means you don't die for Arthur Dent, but for us perhaps it is on a smaller scale. The people who we are around make us the way we are, and they influence our decisions. Our decisions are what they are because of the people we socialize with. If I think if one person who I hadn't met my life would have been completely different at this point, and I'm only twelve!
N. Googe Farenhiet 451
Farenhiet 451 was a book that represented, to me, where our world is headed. It shows everything getting shorter and shorter until people no longer have a desire to read and books are officially banned. Where they don't actually know what firemen do nowadays. Reading is a favorite pastime of mine and if it were prohibited to read books I don't know what I would do with myself. Bradburry was right about books eventually becoming obsolete to a point where people no longer want to to read them. Even now we are getting used to things that only require our attention for thirty minutes or an hour. It becomes a big thing just to sit down and read for two or three hours. Our habits are influencing the way our world is molding into one that could eventually become like Ray Bradburry's where books are no longer an accepted or normal part of society.
In addition this book made me think of how relationships can change over time. How someone that you one might've trusted with your life has floated away to mere oblivion. How people you might know the shortest period of time might make the greatest influence in who you are in the early and later future. The people in this book are mostly ignorant and yet there was a spark, and a spark set Montag's fire.
Remember Me by Christopher Pike N. Googe
This book was about a girl who was murdered and stays on earth to help avenge that murder. This book was, in essence, about ghosts and the afterlife. I really don't know what I think about the afterlife and this book made me question what happens to people once they die. Do they go to the ever famous heaven and life like kings or do they just disappear.
I do not affiliate myself with any particular religion and find that they all have their strong points. This book made me think about religion because it had some of Pike's obvious beliefs in it. As someone who will stand off and look out his beliefs seem plausible.
The religious concepts were all fine and well but I kept returning to the afterlife. Where do people go? I get the sense that the remaining energy left from their body floats throughout the atmosphere and into space. I really don't believe in such things as Pike talks about but I do find concepts like this interesting because so many people have so many different beliefs.
S.Wright
Warriors:into the wild
This book is the beginning of a long series a bout a giant group of furosios warrior cats that live in a forest next to a city.All of the cats are divided into to four clans based on where they like to live or what they are good at hunting.Riverclan is good a fishing and swimming so they live beside a river,Windclan lives in the open and catches rabbits with speed,Shadowclan live in pine trees and marshes were they catch toads and other amphibious critters, Thunderclan cats live in the thick undergrowth and hunt squirrels and mice.
The main character,rusty, is a household cat who is called a kitty pet by wildcats. one day he ventures into the forest in search for a spare mouse, but gets a lot more than he bargained for.
this book makes you use your imagination to picture wildcats living in a sort of civilized way.
its very interesting to think of cats communicating with each other and helping each other as a clan. the cats also battle with other clans over territory and just to imagine cats stratigising a attack is insane to think about. this is a very exiting series to read and i would recommend it to anybody.
L. Wright
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
This book was extremely entertaining, even though the Earth is destroyed to create an interstellar freeway in the beginning of the book. The fact that the main character’s friend is an alien gathering intelligence about other worlds for “the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy” is a bit surprising but also a bit predictable. I thought it particularly funny when the protagonist, Arthur Dent, learns that the planet earth was actually created by a business company on another planet that had already begun creating a second earth. I’d like to say more, but that might spoil it for anyone else that might want to read it, and I definitely don’t want to be a spoiler.
L. Wright
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
This book was extremely entertaining, even though the Earth is destroyed to create an interstellar freeway in the beginning of the book. The fact that the main character’s friend is an alien gathering intelligence about other worlds for “the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy” is a bit surprising but also a bit predictable. I thought it particularly funny when the protagonist, Arthur Dent, learns that the planet earth was actually created by a business company on another planet that had already begun creating a second earth. I’d like to say more, but that might spoil it for anyone else that might want to read it, and I definitely don’t want to be a spoiler.
S. Zaccaria- Jeffers
Lock and Key By: Sarah Dessen
To me, Lock and Key was a great story, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Like other Sarah Dessen books, I never wanted the story to end! This story is so touching and interesting, and I simply loved the book!
The main character, Ruby, lived with her mother and her sister. In the story her sister moves out and goes to college and leaves Ruby with her mother, who works late nights with Ruby’s help, and never really is a good example to her children. One day her mother leaves, leaving Ruby behind, and Ruby continues to go to school, keeping it a secret that her mother had left. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to be left all alone. After a couple months neighbors found out Ruby had been living on her own, and called the police.
Ruby was instantly sent to live with her sister. Ruby realizes when she gets there that her sister had been living a total fantasy life. Her sister has a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood. Her Husband, Jamie is really kind and right away tries to help Ruby. She basically is living in a different world, and she does not feel like she fits in it. She is sent to a new school, and she meets her neighbor Nate, who is the all-around good guy, and of course extremely nice.
Nate lets Ruby know that it’s good to trust people and he helps her realize that talking to people and being honest can help her a lot. She realizes that by reaching out to others she can ultimately help herself.
This story is definitely one that I would read again. I cannot really relate to any part of this story, but, every time I started reading, I always wanted to keep going. I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely think it was one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books.
S. Wright
Fablehaven: rise of the Evening Star
This is the second book in the five book series that brings you into the magical world of favlehaven. The two main characters,Kendra (who has been kissed by 100 of giant battle ready fairies) and Seth (who is always at the bottom of trouble at fablehaven).
besides Seth causing trouble there are always the good old demons and evil creatures to keep you busy at your stay there.
Kendra is lucky to be chosen by fairys to be one of them. she has magical powers like seeing in the dark,recharging magical objects,not being effected by various spells and enchantments, and being able to talk in many different languages as long as it is related to silvan, the fairy language.these powers help a ton when they have to rescue fablehaven from a betrayal and a giant evil frog with lots of mystical toughs.
it is fun to read about all the different types of creatures in fablehaven and what they do. my favorites are the brownies, which can fix and make just about anything, and they make it better along the way. just leave out some spare cooking ingredients over night and the next day you will most likely have some type of desert waiting for you.
the magic of fable is very interesting and it is a great series.
T. Williams
Madame Bovary
This book was okay to me. Still I would only recommend it to others if they liked sorrowful books. The main character, Emma, is sad for nearly the whole book! She marries a man named Charles at her own will and then gets annoyed with him. I think that she wanted more money; therefore I perceive that she was kind of vain. She met this man and fell in love. She was also about to run away with him while still in wed-lock. I could not believe her carelessness.
After she was rejected by him, she ended up finding an old comrade by the name of Leon. She once again fell in love and started meeting secretly. While doing this she also started lying to her husband. I was disappointed in the fact that she had already had a child with Charles, even though she disliked him. That kind of made things worse! Yet it also added some more spice and zest to this book. This made me think that she was legitimately disloyal.
What really stood out to me is that towards the end she attempts suicide by swallowing arsenic powder. By doing this I felt sad for her. To think that even though she had a living father, husband, and baby she was still lonely. She ended up dying. Unfortunately, she left her husband in a great amount of debt to other people. This was because of all of her vanity needs.
The last part I disliked was that the author started killing all the characters off. After Emma’s’ death, Charles soon died. The baby (Berth) was sent to live with an aunt who died that same year. Other than those things this was a very touching book that I will never forget.
L. Wright
“Little Brother”
“Little Brother” is an interesting novel about terrorist attacks and the department of homeland security. The main character, who is a computer hacker, and his friends skip school to find a clue to this real life scavenger hunt computer game. Instead of finding the clue, they are accused of actually helping terrorists set off a bomb on the bay bridge. They are held by the DHS for a few weeks, even though one of them is injured. After that, the main character decides to go against the DHS in hopes of proving a point. This is a great book and I would recommend this book to just about anyone in my grade.
T. Williams
The Golden Compass
I was intrigued by this fascinating book. It was one of the best combinations of love, mystery, plotting, loyalty, and strategy. I was really impressed with the main character (Lyra Belequa) who was a young child. It showed how you can be young yet very intelligent.
Another thing about this book that I liked was that there were daemons. A daemon was an ever-changing soul bound animal while the child was young. When the child grew older their daemon would chose a form and stay that way for the rest of their life.
When Lyra finds out that she gets to go off with what seems a lovely woman, she receives a gift from Lord Asriel. It is called an altheometer. There are only 7 copies in the whole world. She must learn to read it which she eventually does. I like how she is able to trust in herself. She learned the principles of the altheometer and now confides in it. Seeing that she is still a young child, I am amazed that she doesn’t lose it.
She is a very special child who ends up saving a lot of children. I was very astonished at her courage and self control.This is definitely one of my favorite books that I will never cease to love.
Fear Churchwell
Catch 22
Joesph Heller
Catch 22 was an inspiring/exciting book. Though it takes place in world war 2, it isn't exactly a dark gloomy book (like most war books). Even if John Yossarian doesn't care for the war he still longs tro have a good time while he is there. He has many friends which I found funny because some of them had names and weird personalties, such as "Hungry Joe".
Even though John longs to have a good time, he still is enraged that thousands of people (who he is trying to bomb them) wants to shoot him out of the air. That was the hypocritical/ironic behavior in the book which led to me enjoying this book. In my opinion this is like no other war book. This one is funny and humorous, and has only some amount of violence included, but others are mostly just fighting and hatred of the war.
A. Hinkle
I AM THE MESSENGER
I'm an avid reader, so I love when I find a book that completely blows me away. This was one of those books. It's well written, engaging, and very unique. I am the Messenger snags your attention from the very first line with its sardonic and wry wit and complete and utter honesty.
Ed is an amusing and frustrating narrator, and even his self deprecation is entertaining as he regales the reader with his many tasks, set forth by a mysterious, unidentified person. Audrey's character is equally splendid and she plays an important part in the story as Ed hopelessly chases after her and she is the only one in which Ed can confide in. The best illustrated character though, has to be The Doorman. Thats right. The Doorman is Ed's uncurably smelly dog who has a taste for coffee with a massive amount of sugar and cream.
Zusak does a great job at turning this seemingly average australian bum into someone that the reader can relate to, but is at the same time perfectly unique and colorful. Funny and thought provoking, I am the Messenger is full of practical ponderings, and expertly explores human life and interaction in such a way that makes this novel a must read.
Markus Zusak applies artful and lush use of language, an interesting & original plot, and well developed characters that you will carry with you long after you have read the final page. It was painful and sad at times, but this connection that Zusak has made with me as a reader makes the book just so much better.
A. Hinkle
The Diary Of A Young Girl
I hate to drone about what you have undeniably heard before, yet it is indisputably true; The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, is probably one of the most influential books known to mankind. I am not exaggerating. The style of writing -its a pity Anne could not live longer and write more books- is simply captivating. A large variety of readers can relate to it through her young and clear voice as a happy, yet lonely adolescent who feels that no one understands her. I believe that we've all had this feeling before in our lives. The velocity in which her perfect world collapses is so intriguing that a person can not help ones self from being sucked into the plot. And that it is a true story is even more invigorating!
This diary is full of reminiscences of Anne's life in hiding. It is these innermost thoughts and experiences that she writes about so well that makes it insightful to readers of a young age, simply because they can so easily relate. It gives us children a better understanding of the holocaust by visualizing it through another child's eyes.
To read about Anne's journey through life and into woman-hood was so riveting to me. In many parts of the book I cried, despite the fact that I have read this selection numerous times before. The trueness in which a child can write strikes me as so mesmerizing. Especially as Anne's friendship developed with Peter and she dealt with Mrs.VanDaan's homogeneous nagging.
Anne’s diary ends suddenly, just like her life, when she and everyone else were caught and sent to their deaths in concentration camps. Mr. Frank survived and when Miep gave him the remains from the Secret Annexe, he decided to publish Anne’s diary, but edited out many passages. The main excluded entries happened to be about an encounter between Anne and Peter where they discus each other, and Anne exploring herself as a young woman. I do see the sense in removing these entries, but am glad I looked it up because they strongly influenced the way I saw Anne's and Peter's relationship along with my entire perception of the story as a whole.
The holocaust will forever remain one of the most horrific and tragic events in history. The best we can make out of this event is to learn by it, and try to prevent it from happening again. Unfortunately, abhorrent genocides are still being committed to this day. Some people are so blinded by their unquenchable thirst for power and possession that they can not see the light in the world. Everyone should learn by Anne's wise words and try to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of our earth. Anne has taught me to indulge in my serendipity because any day could be the last day of life as we know it.
S. O bijuru
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird is a book about a lawyer named Atticus Finch thats puts him and his family at risk by defending a black man accused of raping a white woman.
This book made me sad because of the way that Scout, Jem and Atticus were treated. Because Atticus was trying to do his job, he was called a, "nigger-lover", and almost got jumped by a group of men upset with him. Scout and Jem were almost killed by Bob Ewell who was the father of the girl that they said got raped. I was also sad because of the way that they looked down at African-Americans.
This book also made me reassure to know that their were still good people in the world. Most people wouldn't want to defend a black person but Atticus did it without resentment.
When I first looked at this book, I thought it would be boring and I wouldn't enjoy it. But as I got further into the book, I found it more intriguing and interesting. I wish Harper Lee would have wrote more books, because this one was very good.
T. Williams
Delirium
Delirium was one of the most captivating books I have ever read. It had me hysterically laughing in the beginning and sobbing in the end. This is undeniably the most exquisitely written books I have ever embraced. I was delighted in the way that she made love seem like a bad thing. That way, when Lena fell in love, it had to remain a secret. The way that she fell in love was unmistakably the most enjoyable part of the book.
To me it was amusing how she would deny that she was in love one minute and not the next. She always had a confrontation with herself by knowing it was wrong. Nevertheless she had the courage to abandon her fears of what would happen, and follow her heart.
The most heart wrenching and mournful part was towards the end. Lena and her boyfriend, Alex, were planning to leave secretly so that they could love freely. Disastrously, they were seen. Alex basically sacrificed his life for Lena! Right as she turned around to make sure he was there, she saw him get shot in the chest! It was so heartbreaking to see her reaction. If he didn’t murmur his last word “go” to her, then she would have went back to be with him.
Most stories follow this saying, “Happily ever after has a scary part first”. But for this one, it was the total opposite. This was one of my most enchanting reads in my whole lifetime. I would unquestionably recommend this book to all young adult readers.
Last year I was drawn into the book series known as "Cirque Du Freak" written by Darren Shan. These books hold such tension and morbit scenes that you can't put it down for a second. The one I prefered of all the ones I read was the second one, "The Vampire's Assistant". In this book, friendship later turns into tragedy.
Darren Shan, both the protagonist of the series and the author, used to be a human, but then turned himself into a vampire to save his beloved friend from a abnormal tarantula's deadly poison. But later, after he makes friend with another boy named Sam, tragedy strikes. His sense of heroism is one of the multiple reason why I liked this series. I recommend this book to anyone who are attracted by tension.
This summer, I read a book called "Rave Master" which is written by Hiro Mashima. This story is about a young boy named haru, who one day fishes up a wierd creature named Plue. One day, an old man shows up and gives one of the five Raves to Haru. Haru then begins his big adventure to find the other four Raves and destroy the Dark Bring, an evil item that can destroy the whole world.
Many wacky characters make an introduction during his adventure, those that laugh too much, those carved out of stone, and even those who are talking animals. There are always evil people who try to kill Haru, but none of them ever succeed. I liked this story because I thought it had humorous scenes. This is a great book for the summer because of it's humor. This story I recommend to people who like action mixed in with humor.
C. de Leon Franzen
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mokingbird is a story about a middle-aged lawyer named Atticus Finch and his children, his daughter, six-year-old Scout (Jean-Louise) and his son, Jem. As their mother had died when the children were still young, they were raised by their father and black kitchen helper, Calpurnia.
The story is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama and is a narration by Scout. In the story, the siblings meet a next door neighbor, Dill, who visits Maycomb to spend the summers with his aunt. They become great friends with him and learn that he shares their fascination with the reclusive neiborhood terror, Boo Radley! Together, they hatch plots to find out more about him as the book progresses.
The town court appoints Atticus to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young white girl named Mayella Ewell. He agrees to try his best to defend him against most of the towns wishes and this leads to Atticus being called a "nigger lover". Atticus ends up standing up to a mob headed by Bob Ewell that want to lynch Tom. Only the children showing up stop the violence in time. Scout is willing to fight to defend her father's honor and does so until Atticus tells her not to. Jem goes out of his mind when an insulting old lady down the street badmouths Atticus and destroys her yard. As punishment, he reads to her every evening to take her mind off of her being weaned off of pain medicine. This goes on until her death.
As Atticus does not want Jem and Scout present at the trial, they sneak in with Dill and sit in the colored balcony. Atticus makes it clear that Mayella and her father, Bob Ewell are lying and that Mayella had been making sexual advances on Tom and her father had caught her in the act. Despite the fact of Tom's innocence being proven, the jury convicts him. When Tom trys to escape jail, he is shot.
Bob Ewell is humiliated by the trial and vows revenge. He spits in Atticus's face in the street, trys to break into Judge John Taylor's house, and harasses Tom's widow on her way to work. Finally, he attacks Jem and Scout on the way home from the school's Halloween pageant. He trys to crush Scout and breaks Jem's arm. In the confusion, a man comes and rescues the children. The man carries Jem home and once things are settled, Scout realizes the strange rescuer is Boo Radley. The sheriff arrives and after he goes to examine where the assult happened, tells the news that Bob is dead. He argues with Atticus about if Jem or Boo had killed Bob and finally Atticus agrees that Bob had fallen on his own knife.
After the doctor comes and says that Jem will be okay, Scout walks Boo home. When he says goodbye and goes in the house, she realizes and regrets that she never said thank you for the gifts and help. This story is great and is definitly unique, I wish there had been a sequel.
Jakob s.
The diary of Anne Frank
The diary of Anne frank is a very inspiring book! It all begins when she gets a diary on her 13th birthday and she names it kitty. Later on the hitler lead Germans started killing all the Jews. Considering that Anne and her family are jews they go into hiding. They hide in their fathers work attic called the "secret annex". The workers would bring them food and almost everything the Franks needed to live. Later on many people joined the "secret annex", and most if the time they did not get along very much!
The Franks faced many problems like hunger, bordem, sickness, and trying to keep quite. The Franks and the other people lasted for 2 years in the Secret Anne until the Germans raided the attic and brought them to concentration camps. They were together for about a month until their father was shipped to a different camp. Margot, Anne, and their mother stayed together for months until their mother died of starvation. Anne and Margot did not last very much longer until they both died of Typhus.
This book is very special and there should be a law for everyone in the U.S.A to read it before High School!!
C. de Leon Franzen
Watership Down
The story starts with the main character, Hazel and his brother, Fiver who is a runt and has special powers too. He is able to foresee things. In the beginning of the book, Fiver and Hazel are feeding, when they come upon a billboard with black sticks on it. Fiver, upon seeing the sign, receives a frightening vision of the warren's destruction. They warn the Chief Rabbit of the danger, but when they gain audience, they are repulsed because Fiver can’t describe the danger which they face. They then tell a few rabbits and convince them to leave with them. This is hard and they end up confronting the leader of the Owsla- military force/police, Captain Holly. Bigwig, former Owsla who is leaving with them, fought Holly and they ran. They meet a rabbit who invites them to live in a warren, they decide to go to the warren, and mix and mingle with the warren rabbits. They are very strange rabbits and do unnatural things. Fiver has suspicions and visions about this place. No one listens to him, but when Hazel and Bigwig try to find him, Bigwig gets caught in a snare. Fiver tells all of his companions and they leave with a rabbit called Strawberry. Fiver leads them to where they can start their own warren, Watership Down. The main characters are reunited with Holly and a rabbit named Bluebell. They tell Fiver he was right and humans destroyed the warren. They blocked the holes, gassed the warren, and shot any rabbit that came up. The rabbits befriend a gull named Kehaar. He gives them information on where does are because there are no does with them. One place is a farm, and the other is another warren. Hazel sends a mission to Efrafa that was composed of Holly, Silver, Buckthorn, and Strawberry for their ability to endure the long trek. Hazel and Bigwig make a plan with four others to bring the hutch rabbits to the warren. In the raid, Bigwig fights and beats a cat and Hazel gets shot in his leg and presumed dead. They get the two does and one of bucks. After the farm, the Efrafa mission returns. They tell their story about meeting an escort, being taken into Efrafa, meeting a group of does who want to leave, and being told that they cannot leave themselves. Efrafa is a tyrannical Hitlerish society led by a huge rabbit, General Woundwort. The group only escaped because the pursuing Efrafans were run over by a train. Hazel leads all the rabbits who had left the original warren to rescue the does. Bigwig joins Efrafa and leads an escape with Kehaar attacking the pursuing Efrafans including Woundwort. They then escape on a boat down a river, the boat had been moored on the bank and Hazel had chewed the rope apart just in time. The does start their new life on Watership Down but they had been tracked by a wide patrol right to the warren and are soon under siege. They block all the holes, shutting themselves in, and stay together in a cavern with only one passageway that Bigwig blocks. Woundwort fights Bigwig, he wins and tells him he is staying and fighting under order of his chief rabbit. Woundwort, not realizing Hazel is chief, imagines that some huge rabbit is chief and goes out onto the hillside just in time for Hazel’s plan. As Bigwig fights Woundwort, Hazel secretly exits the warren and leads Dandelion and Blackberry to the farm, where they chew through the black Labrador’s rope and run from it straight into the middle of the Efrafans. Woundwort is the only one left on the hill and tries to fight it single-handed. His body is never found but he was never heard from again. The epilogue describes how Watership Down is after the battle and Hazel’s vision of a new warren between Watership Down and Efrafa and made from both. Then it tells how Hazel lives longer than most rabbits and is sleeping in his burrow one ‘chilly, blustery morning in March.’ Hazel is visited by El-ahrairah, who invites Hazel to join his Owsla. Leaving his friends and no-longer-needed body behind, Hazel departs Watership Down, ‘running easily down through the wood, where the first primroses were beginning to bloom.’
C. de Leon Franzen
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn is a great book that continues another great book. Huckleberry Finn starts off where The Adventures of Tom Sawyer leave off, in the town of St. Petersburg with Huck in the care of the Widow Douglas to be "sivilized". Huck is not thrilled about his new life of being clean, having manners, and going to church and school. He sticks with it for Tom Sawyer who says that he cannot be in his 'robbers gang' if he is not respectable. Everything is okay until Huck’s brutish, drunken father, Pap, reappears in town and demands Huck’s money. Judge Thatcher and Widow Douglas try to get legal custody of Huck, but Thatcher is called away and the new judge in town believes in the rights of Huck’s natural father and even takes the old drunk into his own home in an attempt to reform him. This fails and Pap soon returns to his old ways. He hangs around town for several months, harassing his son, who in the meantime has learned to read and to tolerate the Widow’s attempts to civilize him. Finally, outraged when the Widow Douglas warns him to stay away from her house, he kidnaps him and takes him to a hut across the river where Huck stays for several months. Huck escapes by faking his own death and runs away to Jackson Island. After a few days, he meets Jim, a runaway slave of Miss Watson's and they team up. A big storm hits and they see a house and a raft floating down the river. They capture the raft and there is a dead man inside the house whose face Jim does not let Huck see. They leave the island when Huck sneaks into town and hears that they think Jim is on the island. They go down river and have a close shave with a robber band but make off with their loot. In a thick fog, they miss the mouth of the Ohio River and have a run in with men looking for runaway slaves to which Huck tell that there is smallpox on board. They get separated when a steamboat hits the raft and Huck ends up with the Grangerfords who have a blood feud with the Shepherdsons. Jim arrives with the raft and they go away. They meet two con artists who claim to be an English duke and a lost French King. These so-called aristocrats pull scams in each small town they pass and even pass as a dead man's two brothers. They are betrayed by Huck unknown to them and he almost losses them. Then they pull off their worst trick, they sell Jim. Huck is finally rid of them though and goes to free Jim. When he arrives, he is mistaken to be someone named Tom and he soon finds out they mean Tom Sawyer! He is at Tom's aunt and uncle's and Tom is due for a visit. Tom pretends to be his younger brother Sid and Huck tells him about Jim. Tom hatches a plan to set Jim free but adds all these weird and unnecessary obstacles that hinder more than help because he had read about it in books. They eventually get Jim out but Tom gets shot in the leg by pursuers, Huck calls a doctor, and Jim gives up his freedom to nurse Tom. Tom then reveals that he meant this to be a big game and that Jim had been set free by Miss Watson who had died two months earlier. He had meant to pay Jim for his troubles and Aunt Polly comes and identifies "Tom" as Huck and "Sid" as Tom. Aunt Sally offers to adopt Huck when Jim tells him the man in the house on the river was Pa but Huck says he is going out West.
M. Striepen
Anna and the French Kiss
Anna and the French Kiss to me was a wonderful and enjoying book. I loved to compare the thoughts of Anna to my own, and reading how Anna learns how to cope in this "new world."
She has been sent off to Paris to an English boarding school, were she is to live in a dorm with people she has never met before. If my parents did that to me now, I’m pretty sure I would be excited to live in the city of love, but nervous to be going somewhere I don’t speak the native language and know very few people. I understand her frustration with her family, and if I were in her situation would probably feel the same way.
Though Anna is frustrated and sad, she manages to make a group of new friends, who understand what she is going through. I enjoyed reading about how Meredith, Josh, Rashmi, and her romantic interest, St. Clair (Etienne) help her learn to wonder the streets of Paris and speak the beautiful fluent language that is French. Through this Anna and Etienne become very close and must learn to file through there confusing feelings and strive to understand them.
I relished in the different moods throughout the story, and how real it came to seem. I was very entertained by the plot line and ending, to this truly romantic love story.
S. Osorio
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies is an extraordinary book about a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on an island, and what they have to do to survive. At first, the boys are ecstatic because there are no grown ups to tell them what and what not to do, but as time goes on, they start to realize what a bad island it is, and how much they miss their parents taking care of them.
The character I find most intriguing is Piggy. He's a fat boy who has asthma, is scared of almost everything, and hates to do any kind of work. At first, he is disliked by everyone, but he doesn't give up. He keeps giving ideas and doesn't let the mean comments get to him. That shows signs of real courage.
Lord of the Flies is a really good book that grabs the reader's attention, and holds onto it throughout the entire book.
M. Kagel
To Kill A Mockingbird
In all honesty, I didn't think I was going to enjoy To Kill A Mockingbird at all. Despite my parents high praise of the book, I set into it grudgingly. And then, to my surprise, I ended up liking the book quite a bit. It was riveting, with a great plot and interesting characters, and the text wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it might be.
I particularly enjoyed Harper Lee's writing, because it was from a child's point of view. The way Scout sees the world is really neat; from her curiosity about the Radley house, to her deep respect for her father, Atticus. Scout is made fun of at school because Atticus is defending a black man in a trial, and as much as she'd like to punch every kid who said something, Scout keeps her head high for Atticus. Overall, I think Harper Lee managed to pinpoint a child's point of view quite excellently.
S. Osorio
Someone Like You
Someone Like You is one of the many book I enjoy by Sarah Dessen. It is about a fifteen year old girl named Scarlett, whose boyfriend dies in a motorcycle accident, and then realizes that she is pregnant with his baby. While it sounds depressing, the book is surprisingly happy and upbeat as it goes on.
The main reason I like this book is because of Scarlett. She is an amazing and strong character in the first place, but after she became pregnant, she became even stronger. Most girls would probably think it is the end of the world, but not Scarlett. At first it was incredibly difficult, but as time went on, she realized the mistake she made, what the consequences were, and also what needed to be done.
The author Sarah Dessen writes so many great books, but Someone Like you is by far my favorite. I would most definitely recommend it, and other books written by her. It definitely changed my point of view.
Great job on the book responses! Keep on posting them. I have so enjoyed reading your thoughts on all these great books. I'm almost finished with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets I've been reading with Gretchen. Two down and four to go!
Come see me at the CMS media center today if you have time!
V. Petuhova
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
This book is so sad. The actual content is not sad, but the situation is. An innocent teenage girl should never have to go through this torture. I know that Hitler destroyed the lives of so many good people, but this book really makes me realize how bad it was. Not being able to be in the fresh air and be free is pure torture. More like cruel and unusual punishment of people who defiantly don't deserve it. This makes me think of how bad is was back then. Even now, jails, house arrest, etc. allow people to at least enjoy their time.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is truly a moving and inspirational story. It's amazing how a girl's diary could turn into such a well known classic. Anne's diary contains so many deep and private thoughts that each and every girl has at some point in their lives. Whether it's about seeing that one person or feeling lonely and mistreated, it passes through all girl's minds. Thinking about how unfair the world once was, makes me realize that people are selfish and ignorant. Hitler killed thousands of people just because he could. He enjoyed having power and people becoming so scared when they hear his name. The world was really messed up, and still is. It's sad to think that having power and money is all that people care about.
May Anne Frank rest in peace.
R. McCall
The Diary of Anne Frank
This wonderful book is about a girl that kept a diary while hiding from Nazi’s in Amsterdam for two years. The diary was ended when the Nazi’s found them. They first kept them in camps, most of her family was separated and they were later killed in exception for her father. This books main source was from a journal that Anne kept. She was given this journal in June 12, 1942. She was only able to explain her life for two years in this journal. The journal was found after she was killed and it was given to her father and he got to keep it. I felt like it was very touching to him that it was still there and he had something to remember her by. This journal brought Anne’s childhood together and it just tells the story of her life, and how she had to live through it. The journal shows the adolescence of Anne and her constant arguments with her mother.
I felt that there was a main problem in this book. I realized that Anne rewrote her diary about two months before she was captured because she wanted her journal to be published after the war,since she waned to have a career in journalism. It was hard to tell what existed in her original copy and how much did she add on, so this tells me that we will never know how much knowledge Anne Frank really had.
This book had a major impact on my life and how I look at different things. I can’t believe how some people had to live back before I was born. They had very hard times and had to live through it all, so this book was a great learning experience.
A. Saupe
Just Listen
Just Listen is the first Sarah Dessen book I read, and it caught my attention right away. Annabell, the main character, is a high school girl and a model at lake view. She doesn't really like modeling anymore but she is afraid it will hurt her mom to much if she quits. At school she sits alone at lunch and kids won't talk to her unless they are saying something mean. Then she explains that her and her old best friend got in a fight a long time ago and never made up. Then one day after school she see a guy that brings up horrible memories and she gets sick behind some bushes. A guy that sits near her during lunch finds her. They talked for awhile, and then he offered to take her home. They end up being good friends. He helps her open up and to be more truthful. After a awhile they become a couple and get even closer.
At the end you find out that she was raped a year or two before by the boy she saw at school that one day. Her other best friend thought she was trying to sleep with her boyfriend. This is why at the beginning nobody would talk to her, but in the end the boy goes to jail. Also Annabell quit modeling and ended up being friends with her oldest best friend.
Parts of the end were very obvious and some weren't as easy to figure out. This book was still very interesting and I would recommend it to many girls.
Miss Hinger,
Did you receive my last response on The Hobbit? Because there might have been an error in which it all got erased...If not I can redo it but I just wanted to make sure and not take all that time to write another one.
-Kevin
T. Willey
Penrod
"Penrod" is the first of a three-book series, written in the 1910s by Booth Tarkington. The book contains the hilarious antics of a boy named Penrod Schofield. The book, while in novel form, does not have a main plot. It is a series of stories, each a few chapters long.
The story is set in the American mid-west, in a medium sized town. Penrod is twelve years old, and his family includes his mother, father, and older sister Margaret, not to mention his "wistful" dog Duke. Penrod is not a scholar, but has much creativity- especially when he's in trouble. For example, when he got in trouble for yelling at his teacher, he told her that he didn't know what he was doing because he was worn out from trying to save his uncle John from the "evils of drink".
Penrod is always trying to win the heart of a girl called Marjorie Jones, but so far he has been unsuccessful. This may be due to the fact that he is generally known as the worst boy in town. Penrod has, at various points in time, ruined a play that Marjorie was in, covered her with tar, and given her brother a coin, which he swallowed. It's no wonder that she prefers the suave and sneaky Maurice Levy to him.
Some of Penrod's friends include the almost equally mischievous Samuel Williams, neighbors Herman, Verman and Sherman, Roderick Magsworth-Bitts, frenemy and rival Maurice Levy, and the disgustingly angelic goody-goody Georgie Bassett, who is more of a counterpart than a friend.
This book is genuinely funny. Written long ago, the stories still make us laugh, with something everyone can relate to. I am sure the next book will be a good one as well.
This summer I read the book known as "The time machine" by H.G. Wells. I don't really like science fiction, so I can't say that I enjoyed it. It still was a great book that contains thoeries on time travel and mysterious creatures that build gigantic statues and buildings. The writer sure has a big imaginative mind.
This story talked a lot about a white sphinx made out of marble. There also were these wierd creatures I talked about earlier, so delicate and fragile, they also appeared to be boneless. I sort of liked the part when the time traveler got into a fit of rage when he noticed that his time machine was missing.
I do recommend this book to anyone that likes science fiction or would like to see what time travel would be like. Will it ever be possible to time travel one day?
Aaron Manzy
THE Million Dollar Goal
Is a sports fiction novel, its very adventrous and thrilling (in my opinion). Its all about a boy named dusk and a girl named dawn who are identical twins, and they both love hockey with a passion that is very strong. Its all centered around Dawn&Dusk Rosenberg's grandmother Sophia Rosenberg or as they call her Oma.Something you should know about Oma, she has an uncotrolabule love for Elvis Presley she has numerous Elvis vinyl records and even has a potrait of Elvis wich is hung in the Rosenberg's living room.
It all starts when the Rosenberg family attends the Montreal Canadiens hockey game where they did an anononymys drawing for the chance to shoot a goal and win a million bucks. Annomusly guess who was chosen,
Oma Rosenberg.
So they began to practice with Oma day after day she began to come closer and closer to them.
Through this experince Oma becomes very,very popular. Then one day while the Rosenbergs went to discuss the rules and regulations of Oma's shot. Oma tragically dies her last dying words were "Elvis Lives". In the contract it read "In the case of death anybody in the intermidiate family will be able to take the shot. So Dawn and Dusk competed in a shootout whoever makes the most out of 10 wins,and Dusk won. So when the day came for Dusk to take the shot he was ready and so he watched as they honored Oma by song. Then they rolled a whell chair out on to the floor of the ice they said sit he did not know he had to be sitting but since Oma was bound to a whellchair she would have to take it sitting down. Boos erupted in the crowd and Dusk said "My grandmother may she rest in peace was very into contest and she told me you got'a play by the bleeping rules to blepping win". Dusk did not make the shot but they recived something beter.......
In her last will and testament Oma gave Dusk&Dawn velvet elvis and behind the photo was Elvis's birth certificate valued at over a million dollars.
L. Wright
“Fahrenheit 451”
“Fahrenheit 451” is an interesting novel about a world where reading books is illegal and books are burned. The main character, Guy Montag, is on a routine fire run to burn the books at a particular house when he meets a seventeen year old girl named Clarisse. After talking to Clarisse, he proceeds to realize that books aren’t meaningless like he’s been taught, but that they do mean something. Then Montag tries to steal some books and keep them, but gets caught by his boss and ends up killing him. To sum it up, this book is about how people shouldn’t be kept away from one of the best things in the world. Books.
L. Wright
“Diary of a young Girl”
“Diary of a Young Girl” Is the nonfiction rewrite of Anne Frank’s diary, which was written during WWII, when thousands of Jewish people were either taken to concentration camps or put into hiding. Anne’s family was one of just a handful of Jewish families that were actually able to go into hiding. Unfortunately, they were, as some might say, “ratted out” by someone in the neighborhood. In the diary, Anne describes every day something of interest happens in great detail, as well as describing her own problems. In the afterword, the book describes how the people hiding in the secret annex were captured(except who tipped off the police) and how all but one died.
This summer, out of all the books I read, the one I enjoyed the most was "The diary of a young girl" by of course, Anne Frank. This diary written by a 13 year old girl during world war 2, when she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in a small annex. They spent two whole years shuting themselves from the malicious group of genociding men from Germany. This book made me really think that there are less fortunate people than you.
Anne Frank sure was a brilliant girl. Her diary is a testament that reminded people of the horrible events that happenned during that grueling war. Just reading her diary made me think about thoughts that most people don't ever think about. I hope that everybody will read this book so that this macabre event will never happen ever again.
Aaron Manzy
Diary of a Young girl by Anne Frank
I found this book to be intresting at some points..... Like some parts we teenagers experince,but I actually don't care about a girls day to day life. But it is very informational to learn and get an inside look on a victim from the Holacaust. Actually I found the postlude to be more entertaning.
I like thie story in away, its interesting we she talks about new things that happend in their life. I dont care for the arguments they have. I enjoy when she gave a play by play descriptions of they were having a house break-in.I dont want to know about your love life with peter.... But I said to my self, her diary wasnt entended on being read because it was her personal thoughts. So I shall take that into exception. I enjoyed finding out how things are different from now and then instead of getting 160$ shoes they recived food,pens,flowers and books the worlds value systems have changed tremendously
Shreeva Adhikari
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird is a book about a lawyer named Atticus Finch who agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman. Because Atticus agreed to defend a black man, his children have to face a lot of humiliation and bulling at school. Atticus and his two children, Jem and Scout live in an racist community, where all the people are against Atticus and think Tom is guilty. But Atticus knows Tom is not guilty but fails to show that to the judge. Tom ends up in jail where he tries to break free but ends up getting shot in the process. At the end of the book Scout agrees to listen to her father and show empathy and not judge people by their color.
I didn't really think i would like this book but surprisingly i really enjoyed it. Harper lee has done an astonishing job on this book, she showed us the true meaning of humanity. I wish that Harper lee would write more books like this, because if she did i would defiantly read it.
R. McCall
Fehrenheit 451
The main character starts off politically correct, hating books, burning them without any guilt. He is married, and him and his wife are as happy as everyone else. Then he meets a young beautiful girl who confesses she likes to read. Curiosity takes him, and he starts stealing books hear and there before burning the rest. By the end of the story, his buddies from the fire department are searching his home, finding all of his hidden stashes of books, and he's running for his life. He is rescued, and finds his way to this community of people, and they all have memorized a book. They introduce themselves to each other by the names of the books they recite.
S. Zaccaria – Jeffers
Feathers
Jacqueline Woodson
To me, Feathers was a very moving book all about teaching the main character (Frannie) about hope and faith. Frannie Didn’t think much about hope, she had a lot of other things to think about including, her best friend Samantha who was changing everyday, and the Awful class bully, Trevor. Also, the new kid who no one can figure out.
Later on in the story, Frannie starts to realize that she is starting to see things in a new perspective. She starts to think about hope, and how maybe it is not such a bad thing to think about after all. She becomes attached to a special poem, “The thing with Feathers” and it changes her way of thinking totally. She starts to really understand her family, and her friends.
I thought this story was really interesting, but I enjoyed it and it was very touching. I read all about how Frannie found hope and faith in herself and life. This book was very different , but I really liked it!
A. Martinez
someone like you
someone like you is a great story of friendshi, its the story of two bestfriends being there for each other, there names are Scralett and Halley. Halley has always turned to Scarlett when things got rough. but everthing changes in thier junior year, when Scarlett's boyfriend is killed in a motercycle accident, and soon finds out that she has his baby, so Halley will to have learn how to be strong for Scarlett, and throughout this journey Halley meets this boy named Macon, but soon finds out that hes no good, and well Scarlett has nine long months of head of her. but indeed this was an enjoyable book.
A.Dominicali
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing
The book I read was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is an auto-biography that outlines the life of Maya Angelou, an African-American woman who grew up in a time of racism. Through her life she faced poverty, segregation, and abandonment yet, she never gave up.
I have not read many auto-biographies so this is a new genre for me. I really didn’t know Maya Angelou but, after reading this book I feel like I have learned about a very inspiring person. While our childhood experiences are worlds apart, as a young woman myself, I feel that Maya Angelou has shown to me that no matter what your struggles are you can always overcome them.
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more about her!
A. Martinez
Eighth Grade Bites
Eighth Grade Bites is a great book. this book is about a boy named Vlsdimir tod and him throughout eighth grade, but he is not your typical teenager, hes half vampire anhalf human. but his parents were murderd they just never found out who killed them. so now he lives with his aunt nelly. but she really isnt his aunt but a close friend of his parents. but he happens to have a vampire after him, so he must go back to his dads journal to dicover his past, and soon he finds out that he has an uncle that is vampire as well, and helps Vlad destroy the vampire that is after him. this would be a great book to anyone.
A.Dominicali
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing
The book I read was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is an auto-biography that outlines the life of Maya Angelou, an African-American woman who grew up in a time of racism. Through her life she faced poverty, segregation, and abandonment yet, she never gave up.
I have not read many auto-biographies so this is a new genre for me. I really didn’t know Maya Angelou but, after reading this book I feel like I have learned about a very inspiring person. While our childhood experiences are worlds apart, as a young woman myself, I feel that Maya Angelou has shown to me that no matter what your struggles are you can always overcome them.
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more about her!
C. Williams
Fahrenheit 451
This is an excellent book. Ray Bradbury, the author, did a wonderful job of showing a world without books. Guy Montag is a fireman, he doesn’t put out fires like our firemen, he starts them. In this book it is illegal to own books. If you do own books then firemen will come burn your house down and arrest you. It is ironic because Montag is secretly hiding books in his ventilator grille. He starts to think about what is in those books after he starts talking to a girl, named Clarisse, who is strange to him. She likes to just sit and observe people and things. After more encounters with Clarisse he starts really thinking about books and he can’t stop!
One night when Guy is home with his wife he takes out all the books he had been hiding and shows them to his wife. He tells his wife they are in it together and that after he memorizes all of them they can burn them. He returns to work the next day, but the rest of the firemen suspect something. The firemen get an alarm to go burn a house but the captain doesn’t say which one. They arrive at Montag’s house. Montag is forced burn his own house. The captain keeps taunting Montag and tells him that his wife sent in the alarm. He gets so angry he burns them with fire. They are dead. Now Montag is on the run for murder.
He stops at his friend Faber’s house and asks for his dirtiest clothes. Why you ask, because the mechanical hound tracking him and he has to cover up his scent. Montag leaves and runs through the town until he gets to the river where he washes himself and changes into Faber's clothes. He floats down the river until he crashes on land. He is in front of a country home where he dreams he could sleep in the barn and then continue, but he can’t. He continues on until he finds a fire along the train tracks. There is a group of men there, men just like him. They have to hide because they love books.Montag joins then and now they are waiting for just the right moment to spring out of the shadows.
I would recommend this book to anyone who love science fiction.
M. Brown
Every Little Thing in the World
Every Little Thing in the Wolrd is an amazing book and it really changed my life. It deals with teen problems, but it does that in a way so that you dont really realize it until you finish the book. This Book is full of unexpected events and twits.
It all starts one night at a party, sydney and her best friend stole her parents car and drove there with out a license. When her parents found out they were furious, this led to sydney being sent to her dads house for the whole summer! About aweek after being with her dad he decided to seend her to a one-month canoe camp in canada! This is when the story really picked up. when sydney got to the airport she realized that her BFF was going with her. About a week later they realized that canoe camp was going to be long and boring, they were right. About half way throught the trip one girl wanted to go home, so reluctantly they got someone a speed boat to take her back. When there was only a few days of the trip left they ran out of food. So they made what they had, tuna with mustard. the next morning everyone was sick, except sydney. When they got to the hospital they found that it was from the tuna, and sydney did not eat any. Everyone was fine and when they got home there parents forgeve them for taking the car.
all and all this was a great book and i would recomend it to everyone!
A. Totty
Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl
Anne Frank: The diary of a young girl is the story of a Jewish girl writing in her diary in Holland when the Nazi party was rounding up Jews. She was 13 when she started her diary, the age of many 8th graders. I would have felt pretty scared if i were in the same situation, maybe more scared than she was. Anne mainly talks about her feelings towards the other people in hiding with her. She talks about how bored she is and how she wants so badly just to have a little fun. I would feel the same way if I were in such small living quarters with so many people. On the other hand if Anne went outside she would be killed. She must have had inner conflict about going outside and being recognized or staying in and being safe.
A. Totty
And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is the story of a group of ten strangers who get invited to an island, and then start getting randomly murdered. The strangers each get an invitation from a Mr. and Mrs. Owens whom none of them know. Each of the strangers has murdered someone, or caused someone to die. On Indian Island the strangers start dying one by one following the pattern of an Indian poem. One of the themes of this story is justice. I do not think justice was served, because two wrongs don’t make a right. If the strangers did each murder someone, they should be punished but not killed. This book definitely kept me up at night.
F. Collins
Anne Frank: Diary of A Young Girl
Honestly I don't know where to start. I have so many thoughts on this book. So I'm going to start just telling you about the book.
Anne is thirteen years old, and has quite the personality. She is growing up during world war 2. Her family was Jewish, the Jews where indefinitely the most effected group of the war, and the Franks where most certainly effected. After receiving a letter for her older sister Margots deportation, the family was forced to go into hiding. I can only imagine how hard it was for Anne. Especially during this period of her life. They go in to hiding in their "secret annexe" a cut of part of a work building that is hidden by a bookshelf.
They go into hiding and are soon joined by the Van Daans, and their son Peter. Throughout the book love complications arise between Peter and Anne. They also take in a man named Dussel, who's wife had been in the US when the war began. As you can imagine things where very tight, and they began to get on eachothers nerves. Food is scarce as well as room.
Anne is very hopeful, and insightful, and begings to feel the heaviness of not having everyday luxuries. Still she was much lukier than many other Jews. But really just to see what they would give for a piece of bread made me very thankful.
The end is not happy, as we are used to. The Franks, Van Daans, Dussel, and two of the people hiding them where all sent to concentration camps. The men and wemon separated, everyone died except for Anne's father, Otto. He then discovered Anne's diary that concerted her throughout her time spent in the annexe. He gave out copies of it to family and friends in memory of his Family. I can't imagine the devastation he went through.
This is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read and I'm sure it's the same for many others. It remains one of the most influential of all time all over the world. In this book I personally knew every character, every aspect of Anne Frank.
Although Anne Frank did not live through the war, her story was told, unlike thousands of others.
Her voice was heard.
C.Elliott-Gower
The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar is about a women's path to madness. In the beginning, she has this month job at a magazine. She knows that tons of girls would kill for this job, but somehow, she's not happy. I thought it was really sad, to have all the people around you loving life and you have the same life as theirs, but you don't enjoy it. In, I thin k, the 8th or 8th chapter, she finally gets sent to a psychiatrist. Esther's situation becomes really bad. She has trouble reading and writing and thinks about killing herself often. Later in the book, she actually does try and kill herself and ends up in a hospital. Finally, Esther goes to a metal hospital. She gets better and better with shock therapy, insuline treatment, and regular therapy. She trusts Dr.Nolan, who is her psychiatrist greatly. After a very long time in the mental hospital, Esther is finally better and can leave, and thats the ned of the book.
I didn't think I would like this book very much, but I'm so glad I read it. It was a little intense at parts, but I really enjoyed it. It wasn't quite a page turner. but I didn't not want to read it, as I do with some assigned books. I think its kind of girly in a way, so I wouldn't suggest it to or for a boy, but I would suggest it to a girl in a heartbeat. Its not a book I would read again, but I did like it.
J.Arias
The Scarlet letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
"The Scarlet Letter" is one of those books you start out reading because you had to finish it for a class assignment; or because you never got around to reading it in school but you feel you should because it's a so-called "classic", and end up getting hooked and realizing it's a classic for a good reason: it's a timeless story that resonates as much in our own time as when it was written, centuries ago. At the center of the book is Hester Prynne, a young wife in puritan New England, trapped in a loveless marriage with a man old enough to be her father, sent ahead of him to the new world while he takes care of business in the old. But before he can join her, she falls in love and into an affair, and nine months later, the result is born for all to see. In colonial New England, where religion controls every aspect of everyone's life, Hester and her lover have committed a horrendous crime, never mind a sin, for which they could both be executed; the powers that be feel they are being lenient with her by condemning her to wear a scarlet letter A, for adultery, prominently displayed on her clothes. Hester shocks the whole village by embroidering the scarlet letter with gold thread and wearing it like a badge of honor. Is this her way of spitting into the eye of the village, or is she making her public dishonor deliberately more shameful as a penance?
And who is Hester's lover? The village demands he show himself; Hester, out of pity, love, or contempt, or more probably a mixture of all three, isn't saying. We know early on it's the reverend Dimmesdale, a young preacher beloved and respected by all, but if he doesn't have the courage to come forth himself, Hester will keep his secret. The story isn't a whodunit, who done it is obvious almost from the beginning. The book is about love vs. lust, courage vs. cowardice, and the hypocrisy of public piety covering up a shameful secret. Reverend Dimmesdale can flagellate himself all he wants in private; we can't help but feel contempt for him for not having the guts to share Hester's public humiliation.
But as bad as things are for Hester and Dimmesdale, they are about to get infinitely worse with the appearance of Hester's husband, Roger Chillingsworth, who arrives in the new world to find he has been cuckolded by his wife, who has given birth to another man's child, and wants his honor avenged.
Hawthorne tells a compelling tale which captures our imagination as much as it did when it was written. We realize these star-crossed lovers don't stand a chance in the uptight society they lived in. The book moves slowly, but in doing so it gives the reader time to think about the timeless issues of love, betrayal, deception, and the social mores that controlled the protagonists lives. Hawthorne raised plenty of questions; the readers will find their own answers.
A. Saupe
Keeping the Moon
Keeping the Moon was written by Sarah Dessen. I have read one of her books before and I really enjoyed it. She captivates the reader write away, especially in Keeping the Moon.
It starts out with the main character, Colie, a girl that lives alone with her mother. Her mom is a world known fitness icon who is going on tour. Colie is sent to live with her eccentric aunt for the summer in North Carolina. She has never fit in, so she is scared she won't in Colby.
She ends up pretty quickly with a job at a restaurant and meets two girls a little older than her. They help her appreciate who she is and teaches her what true friendship is. Colie also meets a guy, Norman, a kind of weird artist. He ends up being real nice and they get pretty close.
I would recommend any of Sarah Dessen's books to many girls. Her books are easy to read and very interesting. I can't wait to read another one of her books!
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Much like Bram Stoker's "Dracula", Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a story we all think we know, but really don't. Very few films have consciously attempted to follow the novel too. Thus, everything popular culture "knows" about "Frankenstein" does not originate from literature, but from films. This is a shame, in a way, because the novel itself is, if not the Ancestor, an early vessel of so many forms found science fiction and horror.
The basic plot remained intact when transferred to other media. Swiss medical student Victor Frankenstein discovers the secret of life (which he never reveals, lest someone repeat the mistake). He then puts together a body, essentially a man, from various corpses. He then becomes horrified by the creature he has built, and abandons. The creature, suffering a great deal of neglect and abuse, still manages to get a thorough education, and learns of his lineage. After murdering Victor's younger brother, and framing the family maid, the creature tells his (admittedly) sad tale to his "father", and then demands a mate. Victor, in a panic, agrees, then thinks better of it at the last moment, destroying the new bride. In retaliation, the creature murders all of Victor's loved ones (including his wife), and leads Victor on a merry chase across the world.
Most probably know that Mary Shelley wrote this book in response to a challenge issued by Lord Byron, during a vacation at Lake Geneva. (Along with this story came John Polidori's "The Vampyre", the first English vampire novel.) Most probably also know that Shelley went on to write other works of imaginative gothic fiction. Still, her modern reputation rests with this book, understandably.
As stated, numerous forms (themes, plot lines, characters) are present here. The basic fear of what evil technology may bring along with the good is a central theme, as is the warning against playing God. So is the implicit warning to be responsible in all things, be it during innovation or being a parent. The creature is, for all intents and purposes, an android-everyone from Gort to C-3PO owe their existence to the Frankenstein monster. And the monster that slays all but one protagonist is a staple of horror, be it traditional monster movies, like "Alien", or more realistic slasher movies like "Halloween".
But, as I noted at the beginning of this review, certain of these elements have been lost in most interpretations. The creature is actually intelligent, and well-spoken, quite different from the inarticulate grunts or slows half-sentences of the movies. Further, while the films have made lightening a staple of the creatures’ creation, Shelley never really explains the process (probably knowing that she might interfere with the plausibility of her work). Finally, one of the staples of the films is the explanation for the creatures "evil" nature. Often, the problem lies with the brain used, which almost invariably is a criminal brain, or is damaged before implantation. In the book, the creature is really a child that's horribly neglected, but with the strength and intelligence to strike back.
Thus, "Frankenstein" will be a new experience for readers who have never experienced it. Unlike "Dracula", there aren't any moments where a reader might look up and suddenly realize how quiet it is in the house, or how dark it's gotten outside. In that regard, "Frankenstein" has not aged particularly well. Throughout, however, it is a moving, disturbing, depressing, but also a touching and beautiful tale. Those qualities have withstood the test of time. While it is not always an adventure, it is a rewarding read.
Anne Frank:The Diary Of A Young Girl
Anne Frank
Before I read Anne Frank's famous diary of her experiences in 1942-1944 as a Jewish teenager hiding in Amsterdam, I wondered if it was so well-known because it was well-written, or because it served as a compelling historical document of a difficult time and place. After reading it I can say that, for me at least, it is both.
Anne's story has so many elements. It is largely the story of herself, a developing, maturing teenager, and the people she interacts with on a daily basis. But as the Nazis take over and she is forced to go into hiding with her family, there is a sharp feeling of change. It is still her story, a very personal story. And yet, permeating her story at every point is this sense of something very dangerous all around, constantly threatening to encroach. We already know most or all of what the Nazis did as they occupied much of Europe, but Anne's diary is a historical document in the sense that it provides a unique, deeply personal perspective on how that time effected a very few people. Some people will say that history is mainly told in the big events, but I disagree. History means little if we can't see how it effects even the most unlikely, otherwise unknown people. In reading Anne's diary, I could see history's effect on the individual more clearly than ever before.
And yet her writing itself is quite good as well. It's fairly good when the diary begins, with her at age 13. It is even better when it ends, shortly after she turns 15. She had a talent for description and an eye for detail that is rare in any writer, and she was very honest in her feelings, opinions, and experiences. We get her impressions of the Germans and the occupation, of course, but we also get the stories of her squabbles with her family and with the other members of the "Secret Annex." We get the stories of arrests and raids, but also the story of Anne's teenage developments. We hear about food shortages, but also about what she learned during her stay in the Annex, academically and otherwise.
In the end, reading Anne's diary feels wrong in a way, because it is the very personal thoughts of a young girl who is struggling to express herself, and confiding in a receiver who was never meant to be a real person. And yet, now millions have read her thoughts. It is -- I can't stress this enough -- a story of a maturing teenager. In a sense, it could be the story of my babysitter, or even eventually of my own daughters a few years down the road. However, it is also a story told under circumstances that would make most teenagers (and adults) cower in fear. The fact that Anne had the presence of mind and the strength and the courage to write down this document makes this one of the most important diaries ever written.
I won't soon forget it.
S. Zaccaria – Jeffers
To Kill a Mocking Bird
Harper Lee
This is one of my all time favorite books. It is full of Happiness and laughter, and I loved it. The story took place in the 1930’s, and was basically about the two children, Scout and Jem, who live with their father who is a Lawyer, Atticus.
Atticus was defending a man who was discriminated against just because of his race, and was charged for hurting a woman. Many people actually believed that he did this, and the man was struggling for freedom. In the end Atticus proved that he didn’t hurt the woman, with the help of his family and friends in their southern town in Alabama.
I really loved how the Author created these characters, and how the story was so detailed and compelling. I loved the plot of the story and the point of view of all the characters and how they dealt with the situation. I would definitely read this book again!
A.Dominicali
Growing Up
The book I read was Growing Up. It was a captivating auto-biography of Russell Baker, a man who grew up during the Great Depression. The book starts out with him at his elderly mother’s bed side. She now has Alzheimer’s and her confusion has caused her to live most days in the past and rarely recognizing Russell as her son. It reminds him of his childhood and the people and struggles that were a part of his growing up. At the age of five Russell Baker lost his father to diabetes. This change in his family thrust him into becoming a man while still a child and the responsibilities expected of him. His mother was a strong woman who had great expectations for him.
Auto-biographies are now one of my favorite genres. I really enjoyed learning about what it was like for a typical family during the Great Depression. Its shocking to see how bad of shape the economy was in and how it affected them. Many children had to drop out of school very early just to support their families. In one part of the book where I really liked his description was when he went to one of his uncles houses and he had an indoor bathroom. He was so amazed at something then that now is just a regular day thing that we all use.
What caught my attention about Russell’s writing is that he made me feel like I was a part of his story and I really stayed interested throughout the whole book. I really liked how well he described people, things, or what he felt.
I recommend this book to anyone.
A.Dominicali
Growing Up
The book I read was Growing Up. It was a captivating auto-biography of Russell Baker, a man who grew up during the Great Depression. The book starts out with him at his elderly mother’s bed side. She now has Alzheimer’s and her confusion has caused her to live most days in the past and rarely recognizing Russell as her son. It reminds him of his childhood and the people and struggles that were a part of his growing up. At the age of five Russell Baker lost his father to diabetes. This change in his family thrust him into becoming a man while still a child and the responsibilities expected of him. His mother was a strong woman who had great expectations for him.
Auto-biographies are now one of my favorite genres. I really enjoyed learning about what it was like for a typical family during the Great Depression. Its shocking to see how bad of shape the economy was in and how it affected them. Many children had to drop out of school very early just to support their families. In one part of the book where I really liked his description was when he went to one of his uncles houses and he had an indoor bathroom. He was so amazed at something then that now is just a regular day thing that we all use.
What caught my attention about Russell’s writing is that he made me feel like I was a part of his story and I really stayed interested throughout the whole book. I really liked how well he described people, things, or what he felt.
I recommend this book to anyone.
E.Scott
Anne Frank The diary of a young girl
I am glad I read this book because it makes realize how hard times were then. This book is about a young 13 year old Jew, Anne Frank, living in Amsterdam. Then one day when the Germans invade Holland, everything goes wrong and they have to go into hiding. Life is not so well for them while being in hiding. Everything is limited. They are staying in a place called the “Secret Annex” and they are sharing the space with another family, the Van Daans. They end up staying there for 2 years.
While living in the “Secret Annex”, Anne feels that she is being mistreated. In Her diary, she talks about how the conflict is between the Van Danns and her family. She also talks about how she feels and how her emotions and things are changing. She felt that they were worse because of what was going on.
This book was very touching. Anne is a very strong girl and it seems that she doesn’t let anything bother her. I could never live the life she did.
Sydney S.
Animal Farm
“Animal Farm” is a superb book. George Orwell, the author, did a remarkable job writing this book. I favored this classic out of all the classics I have read this summer. The book tells a story about a farm which gets overthrown by the farm animals. It starts out with all of animals being equals, but as the book progresses, a hierarchy develops. This is evident in the way that the pigs were eventually the only animals allowed luxuries, decent amounts of food and were able to disobey the rules.
Reading this book really prompted me to reflect on how I treat other people. Reading the book also made me think about all people in general treat each other. It made me question whether or not we treat each other equals throughout everyday life. We may all like to think that we treat each others as equals, but the truth is that our society requires us to have some sort of hierarchy in that we have to have leadership to survive as a society. In reality, there will always be others, such as leaders or supervisors above us. Our society, much like the animal farm environment, requires us to have designated individuals who make decisions for us.
S. Cofer
Twisted by Sara Shepherd
In hopes of forgetting the misfortune of the past, the girls take a trip to Jamaica. Well, that fails. They meet a girl there named Tabbitha who seems to now about their dark past. They are all convinced she is Allison, and like many other characters in the series, she ends up dead.
I really enjoyed this book, and the rest of the series. Something I've learned through this book is that you always have to be careful about who to trust, and it's ALWAYS better to tell the truth, because it will hurt when you get caught up in your lies. It may even cost a life in Rosewood.
I recommend this book to teenagers and up. This book is based on high schoolers and murderers, but it's a great read.
"Stick with me kids, it's about to get good" -A
T. Jimenez
The time machine
H.G Wells
The time machine was written by H G Wells (who has been called the father of science fiction because of his popular novels in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds).It was a great book I think, it had many actual science facts, and he had a very interesting idea of the future.
In the beginning of the story the main character ( only referred to as the time traveler in the book) is explaining his idea to a group of people in his laboratory. They don't believe his idea of time travel to be true, until he shows them a model of his machine that disappears into what he says is the future. A short time later he has traveled into the future and the entire rest of the novel is about him telling them his story.
In the future Wells depicts the people have devolved and split into two groups the ones he lives with on his journey ( eloi) who are frail child like species that live in ruins of some civilization before them and are afraid off the night. And the morlocks who live in underground tunnels and are afraid of the light, they also come out at night and take eloi down into there tunnels to eat.
When the time traveler first arrives the morlocks take his time machine, he eventually gets it back and accidentally goes to the future which he finds is an apocalyptic world where there are giant crabs and then nothing after he keeps going further forward in time.
This was a great novel and i look forward to reading more of his books in the future...
S. Cofer
The Adventures of Huck Finn
by Mark Twain
Huck has a complicated life, but he goes on the adventure of a lifetime to find out who his real friends are.
A university professor in Alabama is producing an newly edited version of the book replacing the word "nigger" with "slave." I'm not sure how this will affect the book. I understand the "N"word is used in the book because that is how Jim would have been referred to in that time. I also understand that it is a terribly offensive word to use. I'm not sure how this change will affect the way readers see Jim and Huck's relationship.
This is a really fun book to read. I recommend it for adventure lovers. It is a great book about friendship, scheming and adventure.
S. Cofer
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Pip, an orphan, has his whole life planned out for him. That is until he is willed a fortune by a mysterious person. The giver has just one request... that Pip becomes a gentleman.This has always been Pip's dream but those are some great expectations. Can he do it?
This is a wonderful book. The message I get from this book is to always be kind to people. If Pip hadn't helped the convict his dreams may never have come true. Also, it reminds me to never give up. Pip went throug some rough times, like losing his beloved Estrella and going into debt, but he never gave up and lived his dreams.
I recommend this book to everyone.
E.scott
Peace, love, and baby ducks
Carly is what you would consider a rich girl. They have the cars the expensive clothes and everything. You would think she loved her life but surprisingly, she doesn’t. She’s always relied on her little sister, Anna, to love and support her. But over the summer, he little sister turns "hot" and everything changes.
Basically, this book tells how one simple thing can change a lot. It’s also about the everyday life with sisters and what they go through.
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and hilarious. This is a book that I could read over and over again and still laugh at it.
I read Hatchet at home, and let’s just say that I finished it in around 3 days. It was very interesting and pulled me right into it, which is lucky for me, because I put the reading assignment off until the end of the summer.
My favorite part of this book was that Brian was nearly clueless about what to do while he was in the woods. An example of this was when he ate wild berries, which almost anyone with a brain knows, is a dumb idea. I understand that he was very hungry, but still he could’ve killed himself eating things without knowing whether they were healthy. There were other things that I noticed, but not too many other people would notice it, because I only know it because I am a boy scout. Such as when he gets sprayed in the face by a skunk, and goes to wash his face off in the lake, but I know that if you are sprayed by a skunk, you shouldn’t wash off in water, because it has properties similar to oil, so it doesn’t mix with water, and for that and other reasons it won’t wash off, and it would spread.
My least favorite part of this book is that it was just not realistic enough. I understand that most books aren’t that realistic, but first of all, this book is supposed to be plausible, and second of all, everything that happened to him is unrealistically unlucky. I would say that having been trampled by a moose, being in a plane crash, being stranded on an island by yourself, having to eat both gross and dangerous stuff, being sprayed by a skunk, having your mom cheating on your dad, and having your parents divorced is definitely a bad time of life in my luck, however I guess that being stranded in the middle of nowhere is unlucky enough.
I finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone today, and I am going to have to cram my report into today’s schedule, so I wish myself luck. Okay here it goes:
When I watched the newest Harry Potter movie in films just a little while ago I decided that for my last book for this assignment, I would read Harry Potter. Overall I decided that this was the worst book that I read all summer, however it wasn’t that bad, because I liked all of the other contestants, also it had way more details then the movie did, which was a good and bad thing. Sometimes the book would have details that I would need to understand the book more, but other times there were just boring details to fill in the pages of the book.
My favorite part of this book was towards the end when all of the kids play chess on the supersized chess table. What didn’t make any since to me was why Ron had to sacrifice himself to win the game, because he could’ve gotten off of the horse and called out demands from the sad, but too bad for him, he is stupid. Even though I enjoyed this part of the book a lot, I would never know what it would be like in my imagination, because when I read every part of this book, I couldn’t make my own mental image. I just saw what you see when you are watching the movie, which is a bummer, but it was pretty cool, because it was nice seeing what my favorite part of the movie was based on
My least favorite part was almost all of the kid’s personalities. They were all preps, nerds, know it alls, which brings me to state the fact that some of the things that they knew seemed like things way too advanced for a child their age to comprehend. However it was a book, so I might as well just get used to the fact that many things in books aren’t that realistic
C. Cona
Hatchet
I read Hatchet at home, and let’s just say that I finished it in around 3 days. It was very interesting and pulled me right into it, which is lucky for me, because I put the reading assignment off until the end of the summer.
My favorite part of this book was that Brian was nearly clueless about what to do while he was in the woods. An example of this was when he ate wild berries, which almost anyone with a brain knows, is a dumb idea. I understand that he was very hungry, but still he could’ve killed himself eating things without knowing whether they were healthy. There were other things that I noticed, but not too many other people would notice it, because I only know it because I am a boy scout. Such as when he gets sprayed in the face by a skunk, and goes to wash his face off in the lake, but I know that if you are sprayed by a skunk, you shouldn’t wash off in water, because it has properties similar to oil, so it doesn’t mix with water, and for that and other reasons it won’t wash off, and it would spread.
My least favorite part of this book is that it was just not realistic enough. I understand that most books aren’t that realistic, but first of all, this book is supposed to be plausible, and second of all, everything that happened to him is unrealistically unlucky. I would say that having been trampled by a moose, being in a plane crash, being stranded on an island by yourself, having to eat both gross and dangerous stuff, being sprayed by a skunk, having your mom cheating on your dad, and having your parents divorced is definitely a bad time of life in my luck, however I guess that being stranded in the middle of nowhere is unlucky enough.
C. Cona
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
I finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone today, and I am going to have to cram my report into today’s schedule, so I wish myself luck. Okay here it goes:
When I watched the newest Harry Potter movie in films just a little while ago I decided that for my last book for this assignment, I would read Harry Potter. Overall I decided that this was the worst book that I read all summer, however it wasn’t that bad, because I liked all of the other contestants, also it had way more details then the movie did, which was a good and bad thing. Sometimes the book would have details that I would need to understand the book more, but other times there were just boring details to fill in the pages of the book.
My favorite part of this book was towards the end when all of the kids play chess on the supersized chess table. What didn’t make any since to me was why Ron had to sacrifice himself to win the game, because he could’ve gotten off of the horse and called out demands from the sad, but too bad for him, he is stupid. Even though I enjoyed this part of the book a lot, I would never know what it would be like in my imagination, because when I read every part of this book, I couldn’t make my own mental image. I just saw what you see when you are watching the movie, which is a bummer, but it was pretty cool, because it was nice seeing what my favorite part of the movie was based on
My least favorite part was almost all of the kid’s personalities. They were all preps, nerds, know it alls, which brings me to state the fact that some of the things that they knew seemed like things way too advanced for a child their age to comprehend. However it was a book, so I might as well just get used to the fact that many things in books aren’t that realistic
C. Cona
Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl is a very great book, which can really give you an image of what World War II was really like. (Unlike what the history books) The main thing that the book made me think about was the fact that the Nazis had no good reason to imprison and kill Jews. In fact, the leader of the Nazi party was Hitler, and he was a Christian, and I can come up with 3 good reasons why he didn’t entirely know what he was doing when he killed the Jews. First of all Christianity and Judaism are much related, because they are both Abrahamic religions. Secondly, Jesus, a very important person to Christianity, is Jewish. And lastly the Torah, Judaism’s holy book, is the same as the Old Testament in our Bible.
When I read the part when the plumber came to the Annex, and the Frank and van Daan families had to use the restroom in cans, it just made be reflect on how lucky we are to have toilets, baths, food that actually tastes good, etc. When I read this part of the book, it made me think that they must’ve been the unhappiest families on the planet, but then when the diary mentioned that they were lucky to have what they had, and that other families had it worse then them, I just couldn’t imagine what those families had to go through, and I don’t think I want to.
Until the part when Mrs. Van Daan says that she only would feel at home with other Jews, I thought that the Annex family was happy enough, because as they mentioned before, they were lucky to have all they had and that compared to other Jews they were thriving. My assumptions were wrong. Mrs. van Daan also said that she would want to live in Jerusalem, because that was one of the few places in the world that Jews Were treated with respect and integrity, while other places of the world would imprison and even kill them, and they would do this even though Judaism is very similar to Christianity.
The part where Mr. Voskuijl found out he had cancer made me think about something that isn’t really related to the story’s main idea. With our current technology, doctors would’ve been able to identify cancer from an ulcer, and would’ve most likely treated him, and released him from the hospital. It is just so sad to me that if this situation happened in the future he would’ve been treated, but the wrong thing happened at the wrong time.
The first part of this book that I am going to relate to my life is the part where Anne mentions that due to exercise, everybody is so stiff, physically, and that they could hardly move their heads. Well I read this part when my neck was injured sure enough, and, ironically, I injured my neck by lifting weights, while they couldn’t move their heads due to lack of exercise.
C. Cona
Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl
This book has been very interesting, but I can’t really tell what is going on in Anne’s head during the book. A good example of this is when Italy surrendered from the war. What I think was going on in Anne’s head was that the war may had been coming to an end, but sadly I learned in Social Studies that the war wasn’t going to end for a good amount of time, plus there is still a lot of the book left to read, but luckily, I think that was the first time that I said something bad about this book, so obviously I am enjoying it.
A major part of this book that I am realizing is that people are starting to (in a way) go crazy. Everybody is fighting, and irritating one another, and pretty much becoming alienated. The cause for this is that they are trapped in a small space away from society for too long. That would be like me having to stay in the same place with my family for years, and that would be living heck for me. Plus I used to think that they should just be happy that they have what they have, and that they aren’t living the horrible fate that other people were having, but I now realize that what they are going through is almost the same. No freedom, no fun, no luxury, and no life.
Another part of this book that related to my life is that Anne had a fountain pen that she loved, because it had a thick nose, which allowed her to write neater. That reminds me of my fountain pen with its thick nose, and I liked it for the same reason…It allowed me to write neater.
T. Jimenez
Lord of Flies
William Golding
This is a book in which a evacuation plane from London is shot down and the passengers were all kids and they survived on an island. In the beginning there are only two kids Ralph and Piggy who were both twelve or thirteen. piggy found a conk shell and convinced Ralph to blow in it to rally any other survivors to the sound. when the kids came they had a meeting and elected ralph the leader.
Ralph and two other kids explored the island and came across a mountain. When the kids returned to the beach which was made there home, and told a kid named jack and a group of kids to be hunters and hunt the pigs that lived on the island, and another group to keep a fire burning on the mountain for passing ships to see. after a long turn of events in which many kids were convinced a monster lived on an island. jack began disagreeing with ralph and eventually ran away with most of the kids to form a new tribe where he was leader. all the kids became savages and piggy and simon were eventually killed by this other tribe, they were hunting ralph and set the jungle on fire to draw him out when a passing ship saw the fire and discovered ralph and the savage kids. they were then rescued.
E.Scott
Flawless (Pretty little liars series)
The Pretty little liar books are a series that i REALLY Enjoy.
Flawless is about four girls, spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily, who all have very busy live but share the same secret. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher, Emily likes her new friend Maya much more than a friend, spencer stole her sisters boyfriend and Hanna's obssession with looking beautiful is making her sick.
The Girls have let a serious secret keep them from hanging around each other.When ever they see each other, the secret never pops up in their conversation but one always want to talk about it.
I would recomend this book for any girl that loves mysteries and drama.
A.Dominicali
Breaking Dawn
The book I read was Breaking Dawn, the fourth book of the Twilight Series. This book is my favorite of the series. It starts with Bella and Edward preparing for their wedding. Throughout the book major things happen like getting married, having a child, becoming a vampire, and figuring out your vampire power.
This is one of the most suspenseful books I’ve ever read I never knew what was going to happen. I couldn’t put it down! The reason I like it so much so is because it ended the series just how I wanted it to and now I’m wanting more! I’m hooked on Stephenie Meyer’s writing. I look forward to seeing the movie and I’m hoping it’s just as amazing as the book!
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and suspense!
……TEAM EDWARD
A. Saupe
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a book written by Zora Neaele Hurston. It is a very powerful and moving book. This book was set when slavery was ending so african american people were just being freed.
It explains a life of a girl, Janie, that lives with her grandmother. Later on, Janie falls in love with a man and they get married. After about a year she is unhappy and she doesn't love him anymore. She then meets a guy that is traveling to an all black town called Eatonville. She leaves her husband and marries the guy named Joe. They both travel to Eatonville and help build up the town. They open a little store and build a big house. After awhile Joe ends up getting very sick and dying. For a couple of months she hangs around the store kind of lonely. Then one night a guy, named Tea Cake, comes to her store and they start talking. Two months later they get married and move to the Everglades. She goes through a lot there and they almost die in a huge flood. He gets very sick and soon dies. She then moves back to Eatonville and is in peace with herself.
The character, Janie, goes through so much stuff throughout the book. Even though its a very mature book i would still recommend it to people my age. I think it could teach them a lot.
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a story of love and hope and adaptation amidst extreme despair. It is 1930. Esperanza lives a rich and privileged life with her parents, her abuelita and servants on their vineyard, El Rancho de las Rosas, in lush Aguascalientes, Mexico. She is a beloved only child and deeply loved by her family and workers on their ranch. Their family is well respected and kind to all around them. On the eve of Esperanza's thirteenth birthday and of the grand fiesta celebrating the bountiful harvest, Esperanza's father is killed by bandits. Then their elegant home is burned down under suspicious circumstances. Esperanza's corrupt and greedy uncles force Esperanza and her mother to secretly flee the rancho and head across the border to California. Abuelita is forced to stay behind because of injuries, intending to meet up with her family later in California (which she does). Esperanza and her mother are suddenly penniless, leaving with only what they could carry in a small suitcase. They flee Mexico with their loyal friends-- housekeeper Hortensia, field boss Alfonso, and their son Miguel, to seek a better life in California with Alfonso's brother. Arriving in the San Joaquin Valley, Esperanza faces a difficult life, one much different from her life in Mexico. She and her mother must live with another family in a small cabin at the Mexican camp. While her mother works in the fields, Esperanza stays back at the camp to take care of the other family's babies. It is extremely hard work for everyone, especially Esperanza, who was used to such a privileged life in Mexico. At first, she rebels, insisting that she will one day have back all that she has lost. When her mother becomes ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza must go out and work in the fields to support her family. It is the Great Depression, and there is little money for food and doctors. It is during this time that Esperanza experiences labor strikes, prejudice, unfairness, and fear as she struggles to survive. However, over time, and with many struggles behind her, Esperanza rises to the occasion and accepts her life as it is and looks ahead with esperanza--hope. Ryan's second novel (her first was Riding Freedom) is a beautifully told tale, peppered with Spanish words and expressions. This engaging novel is too good to put down and sure to be loved by many a young reader. It makes a wonderful read-aloud. In the Author's Note at the end of the book, we learn that this novel is loosely based on Ryan's grandmother's experiences in migrant camps in the 1930s. Life in those camps is vividly described and authentically portrayed. This novel is a wonderful stepping-off point for studying post-revolutionary Mexico, the Depression, migrant camps, and Mexican Repatriation and the Deportation Act.
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a story of love and hope and adaptation amidst extreme despair. It is 1930. Esperanza lives a rich and privileged life with her parents, her abuelita and servants on their vineyard, El Rancho de las Rosas, in lush Aguascalientes, Mexico. She is a beloved only child and deeply loved by her family and workers on their ranch. Their family is well respected and kind to all around them. On the eve of Esperanza's thirteenth birthday and of the grand fiesta celebrating the bountiful harvest, Esperanza's father is killed by bandits. Then their elegant home is burned down under suspicious circumstances. Esperanza's corrupt and greedy uncles force Esperanza and her mother to secretly flee the rancho and head across the border to California. Abuelita is forced to stay behind because of injuries, intending to meet up with her family later in California (which she does). Esperanza and her mother are suddenly penniless, leaving with only what they could carry in a small suitcase. They flee Mexico with their loyal friends-- housekeeper Hortensia, field boss Alfonso, and their son Miguel, to seek a better life in California with Alfonso's brother. Arriving in the San Joaquin Valley, Esperanza faces a difficult life, one much different from her life in Mexico. She and her mother must live with another family in a small cabin at the Mexican camp. While her mother works in the fields, Esperanza stays back at the camp to take care of the other family's babies. It is extremely hard work for everyone, especially Esperanza, who was used to such a privileged life in Mexico. At first, she rebels, insisting that she will one day have back all that she has lost. When her mother becomes ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza must go out and work in the fields to support her family. It is the Great Depression, and there is little money for food and doctors. It is during this time that Esperanza experiences labor strikes, prejudice, unfairness, and fear as she struggles to survive. However, over time, and with many struggles behind her, Esperanza rises to the occasion and accepts her life as it is and looks ahead with esperanza--hope. Ryan's second novel (her first was Riding Freedom) is a beautifully told tale, peppered with Spanish words and expressions. This engaging novel is too good to put down and sure to be loved by many a young reader. It makes a wonderful read-aloud. In the Author's Note at the end of the book, we learn that this novel is loosely based on Ryan's grandmother's experiences in migrant camps in the 1930s. Life in those camps is vividly described and authentically portrayed. This novel is a wonderful stepping-off point for studying post-revolutionary Mexico, the Depression, migrant camps, and Mexican Repatriation and the Deportation Act.
A. Martinez
Wuthering heights
Wuthering Heights is an intense love story, but this is a mistake this is also one of revange. It follows the life of heathcliff, a mysterious gypsy-like person from his childhood (about seven years old) to his death in his late thirties. Heathcliff rised in his adopted family and then reduced to a servant, and then runing away when the woman he loves decides to marry another. He later returns wealthy, and educated and comes back to set about gaining his revenge on the two families he believed ruined his life. But this book is such a great book to have read and I would think you would learn to like it as well.
J.Arias
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a story of love and hope and adaptation amidst extreme despair. It is 1930. Esperanza lives a rich and privileged life with her parents, her abuelita and servants on their vineyard, El Rancho de las Rosas, in lush Aguascalientes, Mexico. She is a beloved only child and deeply loved by her family and workers on their ranch. Their family is well respected and kind to all around them. On the eve of Esperanza's thirteenth birthday and of the grand fiesta celebrating the bountiful harvest, Esperanza's father is killed by bandits. Then their elegant home is burned down under suspicious circumstances. Esperanza's corrupt and greedy uncles force Esperanza and her mother to secretly flee the rancho and head across the border to California. Abuelita is forced to stay behind because of injuries, intending to meet up with her family later in California (which she does). Esperanza and her mother are suddenly penniless, leaving with only what they could carry in a small suitcase. They flee Mexico with their loyal friends-- housekeeper Hortensia, field boss Alfonso, and their son Miguel, to seek a better life in California with Alfonso's brother. Arriving in the San Joaquin Valley, Esperanza faces a difficult life, one much different from her life in Mexico. She and her mother must live with another family in a small cabin at the Mexican camp. While her mother works in the fields, Esperanza stays back at the camp to take care of the other family's babies. It is extremely hard work for everyone, especially Esperanza, who was used to such a privileged life in Mexico. At first, she rebels, insisting that she will one day have back all that she has lost. When her mother becomes ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza must go out and work in the fields to support her family. It is the Great Depression, and there is little money for food and doctors. It is during this time that Esperanza experiences labor strikes, prejudice, unfairness, and fear as she struggles to survive. However, over time, and with many struggles behind her, Esperanza rises to the occasion and accepts her life as it is and looks ahead with esperanza--hope. Ryan's second novel (her first was Riding Freedom) is a beautifully told tale, peppered with Spanish words and expressions. This engaging novel is too good to put down and sure to be loved by many a young reader. It makes a wonderful read-aloud. In the Author's Note at the end of the book, we learn that this novel is loosely based on Ryan's grandmother's experiences in migrant camps in the 1930s. Life in those camps is vividly described and authentically portrayed. This novel is a wonderful stepping-off point for studying post-revolutionary Mexico, the Depression, migrant camps, and Mexican Repatriation and the Deportation Act.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by: Ally Carter
F. Collins
This book was an easy read after such a book like Anne Frank. The book is about a girl who goes to a school for privelidged young wemon. But what really lies behind the walls of this academy is a spy school!! How cool, I'm really honestly very jealous even though this is fiction. Instead of your everyday classes like ELA, math, and science, try going to ancient Languages, biochemistry, and coverage operations. All that and your mother as the head master!
Cammies world becomes very bizarre, as if it isn't already, when a boys school merges with them for one semester. It all end in suspense! Cammie, and her friends; Bex( two parents in the CIA), Liz( photographic memory), and Macey( senators daughter) are in for a wild semester. Filled with secrets, love, and suspense.
I would recomend this book to anybody looking for a fun read( but first they should read the other two books in the series). I really enjoyed it!
Kevin M.
The Hobbit
The Hobbit is the fascinating prelude to the Lords of the Rings series that is about loyalty, friendship, and how big things come in small packages.
Bilbo Baggins is just an ordinary hobbit when he comes across Gandalf, a wise old wizard. Bilbo is forced against his will to go on a riviting adventure with 12 dwarves to reclaim forgotten treasure from the evil dragon Smaug. They face trolls, vicious goblins, giant spiders, and wood elves along the way to the Lonely Mountain where Smaug lives. Bilbo also has a riddle-duel with a nasty sea-monster named Gollum, but escapes and recovers a very powerful ring, which is the very ring of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Even though Bilbo and the dwarves do not kill Smaug, who is eventually killed by a man named Bard, they still are very courageous on their journey. After the news breaks that Smaug is dead, everyone rushes to claim the treasure, and a war ensues. It is called the Battle of the Five Armies (and for good reason, because it is the dwarves, elves, and men of Long Lake against the sinister goblins and their giant wolves). The heir to the kingdom which once was so prosperous, Thorin, is killed in this battle along with two other elves. Bilbo receives his share of treasure, and goes back home with Gandalf, where he settles for his lifetime until he bestows the ring with his younger cousin, Frodo...
Watership Down by Richard Adams
E. Flurry
Watership Down was a very compelling book that was easy for me to get into. The characters being rabbits really interested me and drew me in because of their one of a kind personalities. In the book, a young rabbit foresees danger to his tribe’s warren. A few rabbits in the tribe set sights on finding Watership Down, where what hopes to be the new warren. While on their adventure, they come across many encounters but soon reach Watership Down missing a key component: the doe. This problem made me come away thinking about what home really is. Home is not just a place to live but it is your family and community that separate a home from just a place to live. The book ends happily with the tribe creating a home at the new warren. I thought this was a very well written book. I would recommend it to people who enjoy adventure, animals, and philosophy.
Shreeva Adhikari
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird was an extraordinary book. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. I didn't quite understand the book in the beginning, but the further I got the more interesting it seemed to get.
The story is about courage, humanity,and prejudice. Atticus and his two children, Scout and Jem live in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb. Not knowing the prejudice times around them Jem and Scout have to face a lot of harassment at school, when their father, Atticus agrees to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. As the story comes to an end Tom Robinson, the man accused of raping a white woman is found guilty despite the fact that everyone knows he is innocent.
Harper lee has done an amazing job on this book. This book has thought me to stand up for what I believe in.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
E. Flurry
Fahrenheit 451 was written very well but I was not a fan of the plot. Guy Montag is a fireman who burns books in a futuristic city. He meets a girl named Clarisse. They see each other daily and talk. But in this city, talking to people is a thing of the past. People have become less and less social and have no intellectual life, which faintly resembles a lot of people’s communication even today. Montag has started to enjoy doing this, but there relationship soon comes to a halt. Clarisse dies but Montag can’t find out why. I thought it was very odd that this happened because Clarisse is almost never mentioned in the story from there.
One night the firemen find a woman with a houseful of books. The woman refused to let go of her valuable books and decides to burn with them. Montag now wonders, why would someone care so much about those books? Is there something valuable in those books? Montag soon starts his own secret collection of books.
Montag now wants to read rather than go to work and does so. He gets a visit from his boss explaining that all fireman wonder about what is in books. Even in this stage, books have to be burnt within 24 hours. Montag is overwhelmed by all the reading and has no help around him.
He finally finds help from a man named Faber who helps Montag go on an adventure just to keep the knowledge of the books. In the end, Montag meets a group of people in the woods doing the same thing he is doing. Their mission is to keep the knowledge of the books in them to store forever making there way into the city.
I did not like the ending of the book because it left me hanging and confuse. What were the men going to do in the city? It took me looking up a summary and further content on the book to really understand what happened in the book. It was almost too descriptive for my taste making it very hard to comprehend. I might try reading this book again when I am older and try and help make more since of it.
Shreeva Adhikari
Diary Of Anne Frank
Diary Of Anne Frank is a phenomenal book. I really loved it. Her dairy is completely amazing. It's very terrifying to put myself in her place. The book takes place during World War II when the Nazi's occupied Holland and forced the Franks to go into hiding. They are hiding in a secret attic of the office building where Mr. Frank used to work. They share the attic with the Van Daans, and Mr.Dussel. They get help from several people in the office building who risk their lives to keep the secret and provide them with food. As the days go on its getting harder for Anne to stay there, she wants to live and be free. After spending months together Peter Van Daan and Anne start developing feeling for each other. Unfortunately, her diary is left unfinished when she and the rest of her family are captured by the Nazi's and taken to concentration camp. Anne dies, so does the rest of family. Except for her beloved father, who made it through. This story is really sad and it makes me think about how lucky I am to just be here and be free.
M. Merritt
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian
This story has indeed proved Sherman Alexie a very deep, humorous, and colorful author. Though I truly have none to little similarities with his characters, I connected completely with this book. Indicated by the title, this story follows the path of a young Spokane Indian boy living on a reservation, who pushes past the hardships of being poor, repressed, intelligent, and Native American with astonishing passion and rigor.
The main character, Arnold Spirit or “Junior”, is constantly faced with tragedy and bumps on the road toward success. After realizing that with the education he is receiving, he will never become successful, Junior knows he must make a change, somehow. Going against the wishes of his tribe, and his community, Junior enrolls in a high school outside of the reservation. There he is the only student who is not white, and is instantly tormented and rejected from society… Life is not easy.
Reading this book put me in tears more than once, and it made me feel deeply. When someone looses those that they love, and those that love them, life is never the same. And in ways I was changed by the lives in this book as well. I felt along with Junior, and grew attached to the people he loved; something only a good book will. I left the story wanting more, but also very happy with what was there. I felt happy for Arnold, fictional or not. I felt grateful for my own life, and grateful for the people in my life that supported me and loved me. This story was real to me. And though sad at times, I think was a great look at what one can accomplish with an open heart and a strong determination.
Emily Hall
Feed
When I began reading Feed, it was not like I was expecting. However, I really enjoyed this book. I felt sympathy for both Violet and Titus for what they were going through. Violet was breaking down and Titus was not ready for anything going on around him. I felt really bad for Violet though, because everyone else was too shallow minded to understand the things she was saying. I did not completely enjoy the ending because I believe that Titus should have been there for her when things started to go wrong. I am glad that he at least went to her in her last moments. Even though I didn't enjoy the ending very much, it made the book that much better. Though sad, this is still a thoroughly enjoyable book.
Emily Hall
Life As We Knew It
This book was very well written, in my opinion, if a little depressing. I love how it is written in the view point of a junior in high school who is being thrust into the world of responsibility for the very first time. You become very attached to her and feel like you're going through these experiences with her. The best part about this book, to me at least, is that you feel like that could actually happen, which draws you even farther into it. I completely enjoyed this book, from the asteroid hitting the moon to Miranda's family getting the food, and hope, that they need to survive. This is, undoubtedly, one of the best books I have ever read.
M. Striepen
“Being Nikki”
Emerson Watts is a girl who was crushed by thousands of pounds of TV. The only way she can survive is by being put into supermodel Nikki Howard’s body. Even with all this she has to work for the most evil corporation in the world, Stark Enterprise.
Nikki (Em) doesn’t know exactly how to handle the situation. She is sad and confused about the fact that she can’t hang out with her old friends, and is only aloud to see her family a few times a month. Throughout this book my heart was pounding, waiting for the next big problem to come. It seems nothing can go write fore Nikki (Em). She can’t get the boy she’s loved, even before she became Nikki Howard, to notice her. She has Stark breathing down her neck. And as Nikki beings to realize the awful truth about her employer, things only get more complicated.
From the beginning of the story I knew that the ending would not be happy. This made me depressed throughout the book. I was waiting for the bad ending to come, but then something good came along. She was so close to her happy ending, but one wrong step and BAD!
This book was thrilling, entertaining, and a book I couldn’t put down. I will defiantly read the sequel called “Runaway.” And I certainly recommend this series. “Airhead”, “Being Nikki”, and “Runaway.”
Emily Hall
The Book Thief
I really enjoyed reading The Book Thief. It was an amazing story of love and courage. Liesel had to go through so much but in the end she had a good life. I love the way The Book Thief was narrated by Death, and that there was a lot of different plots intertwining. I particularly enjoyed the Jew in the basement part. I'm so glad that Max came back to Liesel at the end and about how their re-union happened. I just wish that Rudy didn't have to die. I'm relieved that it wasn't really a depressing book about Nazi Germany during World War II. Otherwise it wouldn't have been as good, at least to me.
M. Striepen
Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl
Talking to a few of my peers, I learned that many people thought Anne Frank was long and a boring book. That was not the case for me. I am the youngest in my family and I understand how she feels about how people don’t take her seriously. I am taken seriously but not all the time and not by everyone. I am not saying I understand exactly what Anne must of felt, because I can’t begin to comprehend how it must have been for her, but I feel that I am closer to her in someways.
In the very beginning when she starts to write she says that no one will really care about what a thirteen-year-old girl has to say, so she was just writing for herself and Kitty. That nearly broke my heart. I wanted/want to grab her somehow and shake her and say “that’s not true. People do care. Your writing is famous!” but I can’t, and my heart pounds a little with the pain and wanting.
Another thing I think about this book is that Anne Frank is real! These things happened. That is how I got through this book without being board once. Every page meant something to me. This is not just some girls diary, these events are traumatizing. This writing helped her through things, and with this in mind I think everyone should learn to appreciate and honor it.
As the time passes, Anne’s writing gets much better. Even at the age of thirteen she was a wonderful writer, but she became better. Throughout the book Anne is writing about after the war. She wanted to become a famous writer, and she did. Though she didn’t make it through the evil and brutal concentration camps she still made her dream come true. She wanted it so bad, I’m not a religious person but, I think after all the bad that happened to her, God wanted to do this one small favor for her.
The last thing that really made me think was Anne’s last diary entry on August 1st 1944. It was kind of her self-realization. She talks about the two sides of herself and how people only know the happy, silly, annoying side of her and not the deep and wonderful side. The only reason she doesn’t show her deep side is because she is afraid people will laugh at her and not take her seriously. I’ve met both sides through Anne’s writing and I take both of them very seriously, and I hope that in someway she know that.
Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl is an absolutely wonderful book. It has emotion, passion, fear, and more. It has great writing and meaning throughout the book. The detailed descriptions make me think I’m there with her. I can almost smell the potatoes and hear the van Daans arguing. I can see Anne huddled up in a corner lonely and hungry. Now that I see this it’s hard to get out of my head. Anne Frank is an amazing book and should be read by all.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank was an amazing story of courage during hard times. She had to go through things I can relate to and things I can't. She was thrown into this situation after being spoiled for the first 13 years of her life, yet she remained optimistic through it all. She even managed to find herself along the way. She was such a strong person, despite her situation. She wasn't perfect, of course, but nobody is, especially during their teenage years. She didn't even have anyone to confide in, except for her diary, but she made it through where plenty of people would have broken down crying and possibly thrown a fit because no one understood them. She even had time for a crush. She was also very smart for her age, despite what everyone else seemed to think. This book really spoke to me because Anne Frank is my age, and going through all these hardships. Overall, this book was a huge eye-opener for me about the hardships of being a jew in Nazi controlled areas during World War II.
Emily Hall
The Diary Of A Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank was an amazing story of courage during hard times. She had to go through things I can relate to and things I can't. She was thrown into this situation after being spoiled for the first 13 years of her life, yet she remained optimistic through it all. She even managed to find herself along the way. She was such a strong person, despite her situation. She wasn't perfect, of course, but nobody is, especially during their teenage years. She didn't even have anyone to confide in, except for her diary, but she made it through where plenty of people would have broken down crying and possibly thrown a fit because no one understood them. She even had time for a crush. She was also very smart for her age, despite what everyone else seemed to think. This book really spoke to me because Anne Frank is my age, and going through all these hardships. Overall, this book was a huge eye-opener for me about the hardships of being a jew in Nazi controlled areas during World War II.
T. Willey
The Time Machine
The Time Machine is a book of science fiction, written in 1895 by H. G. Wells. It is considered to be a literary masterpiece. After writing this book, Wells became famous almost instantly.
The story is, as you would guess, about a man who builds a working time machine. Referred to only as the Time Traveler, he goes to the far-off year of 802,701, where he finds a race of child-like people in an apparently Utopian age. Hoping to study the beings and their culture and then return to his own time, the Time Traveler is separated from his machine, and returns to find it missing. After a time, he discovers that it was stolen by the Morlocks, a race of ape-like people descended from the working class humans of the past. There is much suspense as to whether he will be able to return to his own time. After The Time Traveler retrieves the Time Machine, he escapes from the Morlocks to a time even farther in the future. He then returns to his own time, where nobody believes him, except for the narrator of the book. After this, he is off to who knows when, and is never heard from again in his own time.
I'm glad I got to read this incredible book, especially since I love science fiction so much.
T. Willey
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird was written in 1960 by Harper Lee. It is about a girl named Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill. They all live in a small southern town in a place called Maycomb County. The story revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, an African-American accused of the rape of a white woman. Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who will defend Tom Robinson.
Scout and her companions have all kinds of adventures in the story, in the course of which great truths are revealed. They grow in understanding of the adult world.
The style of writing is sometimes humorous, sometimes dramatic, sometimes suspenseful, but also very touching.
Although this book was the only one Harper Lee ever wrote, it was instantly declared a masterpiece.
E.Conaway
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I loved this book!!! It was beautifully written and full of adventure and excitement!
The book is about a group of boys who are stranded on an island after a plane crash. No adults survived the crash, so the boys can do anything they want; the island is theirs. There are no rules to prevent them from having fun. That is what the island is like in the beginning of the book. It is a care-free paradise, where the only concerns are getting food, water, and shelter.
Towards the middle of the book, however, the boys start to realize that they cannot survive on the island forever; they must be rescued. Once they start to understand this, they create a signal fire and try their best to keep the smoke going. However, only a couple of the boys, Ralph and Piggy, are truly serious about rescue and understand how important it is. The others just go around acting wild. For a while, the boys are somewhat organized. They have food, water, and shelter; they hold assemblies, and they have a signal fire. The only conflict is that Jack, the leader of the hunters, is jealous of Ralph, the leader of all of the boys. It is not a serious problem, though; it is only a childish kind of jealousy. However, as the story continues, that jealousy grows, and the boys grow wilder.
Jack keeps becoming angrier and angrier with Ralph, and, after a while, he cannot stand for Ralph to be in charge anymore. He wishes to have his own tribe. Meanwhile, the rest of the boys, besides Ralph, Piggy, and two twin boys, grow wilder and wilder. Jack and his hunters lure all of the wild boys over with promises of meat and partying. Before too long, Jack has his own tribe. He has a tribe of savages. Everyone on the island except Ralph, Piggy, and the twins is in his tribe. The tribe gets so wild and crazy that they even kill two boys, one of which is Piggy, and take the twins hostage. Then the only boy not in the tribe is Ralph, but still Jack hates Ralph. He gets so jealous that he wants Ralph to be killed. He sends his tribe on a man hunt, in an attempt to murder Ralph. They roll big boulders towards him, throw spears at him, and even set the island on fire. Luckily, before Ralph can be killed, the boys are rescued by a naval officer who sees the smoke from the island fire.
I loved this book, but I was also surprised by it. I was surprised by how far excitement took the boys. I do not believe that the boys were truly bad people; they just got caught up in the action. Still, it was very surprising to me. I could not believe that they actually would go so far as to kill. I have never thought that children could get that excited. The clamor brought foolish little school boys to the act of murder.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of excitement and adventure.
T. Willey
The Diary of a Young Girl
This is the diary of a thirteen year old Jewish girl named Anne Frank. Anne was forced into hiding in 1942, when the Anti-Semitic Nazis took power in Holland. We read all about day-to-day life in the "Secret Annexe" where she, her family, and a few other people were hiding. The diary covers a period of about two years, and stops when Anne and her family were betrayed to the Gestapo.
Anne is an intelligent person, and writes about typical feelings and experiences of someone her age. She wrote about things we can all relate to: Her family, fighting, schoolwork, dreams and aspirations, opinions, et cetera.
The book is a unique chronicle of persecution, and is one of the most famous published diaries in the world.
Shreeva Adhikari
The Lost Hero
The Lost Hero is a wonderful book. I really loved the theme. It was very interesting and mysterious. The book was filled with adventure. This book is full of surprises, I really enjoyed it. This book is about three demigods Jason, Piper, and Leo that go on a journey to save Hera, the wife of Zeus. On their adventure they have to choose between friends or family, at the end all of them end up not choosing either. Jason is the son of Zeus, who has lost his memory and the only on that can return is Hera, so they have find Hera and save her.
At the end of the story Jason get some of his memories but not all of it. There are still many mysterious to be revealed. I really liked this book and can’t wait for the next one to come out.
M. Merritt
Fahrenheit 451
Guy Montag’s story is one that I will never forget. It is a story of discovery, and corruption, and war, and of danger, and curiosity, and of friendship, and plotting, and suspense, and sadness. It is a story that takes thought and emotion to understand any meaning. I have found that I had to go into this book with an open mind. I have found that it makes sense on its own: without being compared to anything else. So while reading, I had to completely immerse myself in the book. I had to stop THINKING about it to even begin to see. I feel that I can’t even begin to comprehend the complexities of this book; cannot begin to understand the meaning of Ray Bradbury’s words. Because I feel that this book has surely more depth to it than many books I have read in the past.
The story tells of a world yet to come. Of technologies yet to be discovered, invented. It is a time in the future, where books are illegal. They told too many opinions that could stimulate too many unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Yes, it was better for entertainment to be controlled and designed just right to direct peoples’ thoughts to less important thoughts and actions. Such as what ‘Karen’ would say to ‘David’ when he asked her to marry him on next season. Yes televised entertainment was much more controlled and contained. Free thought was practically unheard of! It is a world where fireman do quite the opposite of putting out fires- they start them! Where a fireman’s job is to burn books, along with their alleged owners. It is a bitter place. And Guy is right among the rest of the fools until he meets Clarisse McClellen, who changes his perspective on the world. She is the one who initiates Guy’s realization that what he stands for- the burning of books- is wrong, so very wrong.
Unfortunately for Montag, things don’t play out for him as well as he would have liked, and soon he is a fugitive on the run with no home, no wife, and no security. He is wanted for the possession of books, and murder! Honestly, that one was a surprise! Montag manages to successfully escape his pursuers and finds a group refugees that he may take refuge with. So quickly Montag’s life takes a dire new path… As if the story couldn’t get much more- well, sad- a war breaks out, and a bomb destroys Montag’s own city; taking his wife and friends and life. All that is left to do is go on: to try rescue and survivors, and start over. To pass on their knowledge and their stories, and the books that they experienced and retained over they years. The end of this story is sort of left open to possibility and imagination. It was, in my opinion, a very good book and an influential story on all our lives.
I was constantly a little confused reading this book, but always cleared things up after the second or third time reading over the passage. I was definitely upset when I learned Clarisse had died after being hit by a car. And later, when Montag reads a book in front of an audience of gossipy woman who would OBVIOUSLY turn him in, along with showing his wife! But definitely the most surprising was when Montag Killed-incinerated- his former boss. Well, that and when bombs were dropped all over and destroyed the city. That was a shocker! This whole book was definitely a surprise: which I enjoy in a book. And I definitely would want to re-read this book when I am older, because I surely think this is a book that you get more out of each time it is read.
I really enjoyed Ray Bradburys’ novel Fahrenheit 451, and found it moving, and inspiring it on many, many levels.
M. Merritt
Fahrenheit 451
Guy Montag’s story is one that I will never forget. It is a story of discovery, and corruption, and war, and of danger, and curiosity, and of friendship, and plotting, and suspense, and sadness. It is a story that takes thought and emotion to understand any meaning. I have found that I had to go into this book with an open mind. I have found that it makes sense on its own: without being compared to anything else. So while reading, I had to completely immerse myself in the book. I had to stop THINKING about it to even begin to see. I feel that I can’t even begin to comprehend the complexities of this book; cannot begin to understand the meaning of Ray Bradbury’s words. Because I feel that this book has surely more depth to it than many books I have read in the past.
The story tells of a world yet to come. Of technologies yet to be discovered, invented. It is a time in the future, where books are illegal. They told too many opinions that could stimulate too many unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Yes, it was better for entertainment to be controlled and designed just right to direct peoples’ thoughts to less important thoughts and actions. Such as what ‘Karen’ would say to ‘David’ when he asked her to marry him on next season. Yes televised entertainment was much more controlled and contained. Free thought was practically unheard of! It is a world where fireman do quite the opposite of putting out fires- they start them! Where a fireman’s job is to burn books, along with their alleged owners. It is a bitter place. And Guy is right among the rest of the fools until he meets Clarisse McClellen, who changes his perspective on the world. She is the one who initiates Guy’s realization that what he stands for- the burning of books- is wrong, so very wrong.
Unfortunately for Montag, things don’t play out for him as well as he would have liked, and soon he is a fugitive on the run with no home, no wife, and no security. He is wanted for the possession of books, and murder! Honestly, that one was a surprise! Montag manages to successfully escape his pursuers and finds a group refugees that he may take refuge with. So quickly Montag’s life takes a dire new path… As if the story couldn’t get much more- well, sad- a war breaks out, and a bomb destroys Montag’s own city; taking his wife and friends and life. All that is left to do is go on: to try rescue and survivors, and start over. To pass on their knowledge and their stories, and the books that they experienced and retained over they years. The end of this story is sort of left open to possibility and imagination. It was, in my opinion, a very good book and an influential story on all our lives.
I was constantly a little confused reading this book, but always cleared things up after the second or third time reading over the passage. I was definitely upset when I learned Clarisse had died after being hit by a car. And later, when Montag reads a book in front of an audience of gossipy woman who would OBVIOUSLY turn him in, along with showing his wife! But definitely the most surprising was when Montag Killed-incinerated- his former boss. Well, that and when bombs were dropped all over and destroyed the city. That was a shocker! This whole book was definitely a surprise: which I enjoy in a book. And I definitely would want to re-read this book when I am older, because I surely think this is a book that you get more out of each time it is read.
I really enjoyed Ray Bradburys’ novel Fahrenheit 451, and found it moving, and inspiring it on many, many levels.
E. Watson
Eragon
Eragon is the first book in the Inheritance series. I had seen this book many times but it never looked very interesting to me. When we had our book swap type thing at school, I saw this book and decided to give it a shot. I started reading and I loved it!
This book is about a young boy named Eragon who goes into the woods and finds a dark blue stone. This rock is unlike anything he has ever seen so he takes it home assuming it could be worth something. One night as he is sleeping, the stone breaks apart and a tiny dragon emerges. Eragon is then plunged into an ancient tale filled with dragons and their Riders.
I did really love this story but I realized you can't get to attached to any of the characters.
This book is filled with many unexpected twists and great writing. I would definetly recommend this book!
A. Totty
The Time Machine
The Time Machine is about a man who travels millions of years into Earth’s future in a time machine built in his lab. When the Time Traveler arrives, he meets a lazy, unintelligent species of evolved human, called the Eloi. He befriends an Eloi named Weena, after saving her from drowning. As Weena was drowning, all the other Eloi watched helplessly while the Time Traveler saved her. Later, the Time Traveler meets the Morlocks. The Morlocks are strong, aggressive creatures who can fend for themselves. Since the Eloi had used the Morlocks as slaves, it has turned the Eloi into a weak lazy species, and the Morlocks into a strong self-sufficient species. It reminded me of the movie Wall-E. Wall-E is about fat, weak, lazy humans that have created robots to do everything for them. Most of the humans in this movie can not even walk, and are as helpless as the Eloi. In both The Time Machine and Wall-E, one group exploits the other, making the other group stronger, and the exploiting group weaker
Dear Teachers,
I misunderstood the assignment. I have been reading all summer, but I thought I had to read only two books from the list, and two other books. As of yesterday, I realized my mistake, and have read the third from the list and just posted my essay. I will be reading the fourth from the list this week, but my essay will be late. I will post it ASAP. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Auggie Totty
E. Watson
Eldest
This book is the sequel to Eragon. In this book Eragon continues his journey to become a Rider.Eragon has just defeated an army of Urgals (evil horned creatures)and has earned himself a new nickname, Shadeslayer. In this book Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, the land of the elves, to finish his training to become a Rider. As Eragon travels to the elven village he soon finds himself falling in love with an Arya, an elf.
This book was amazing and I definetly liked it more than the first.
E. Watson
Fahrenheit 451
This book is about a dystopian society in which owning books are illegal and fireman burn them. I found that some parts of this book were a little hard for me to understand but its was definetly an interesting view of society and how they function.
This story is about a fireman named Guy Montag who one day meets a seventeen year old girl who starts making him question everything he does.
Although this story was slightly confusing and a little hard to follow, you can see how it does tie in to our society now. This book really makes you question how important certain objects are in our culture and what kinds of things would dramatically effect our day-to-day living.
T. Williams
The Diary of a young girl
I usually don’t read diaries. Therefore I wasn’t too excited in reading this. Surprisingly, after the first page, I was hooked. I liked how she made it seem like she was actually talking to someone. A lot of people (including me) would think that the beginning of her life was pretty sweet. She had lots of admirers, parents that didn’t really care that much about her grades, and a lot of best friends. Anne is able to get over that childhood dream and enter reality. Now she wants to lead a meaningful life. She wanted it so that when she died, her words would live on. They really and truly did. I was completely awed at how she had so much self-control. She was always being scolded and reprimanded. She only wished for a normal life! When there were guns or bombs, Anne would be terrified. I know that if that was me, I would be scared beyond words! Anne learns to be more grateful for nature. I was overjoyed that she was able to find some friendship while living in the Secret Annex. Overall I really LOVED this book. I would recommend it to all middle school aged kids and over.
M. Striepen
“Fahrenheit 451”
“Fahrenheit 451” had a short story plot but was a hard read for me. It was sometimes confusing and was hard to follow, even though it had a wonderful flow to it. Though the literature was sometimes a little difficult to understand, the fast moving pace of the book made it easy to continue to read.
This book was hard to put down. Every second, while I was reading, I wondered what next big thing Guy Montag would do. When ever something new and exciting was about to happen I would mentally prepare myself for the unimaginable. Ray Bradbury (author) wrote with wild and meaningful imagination. The idea of owning or possessing a book being illegal is and idea that I would have never come across in my own mind. The different ideas that bring this story together are horrifyingly wonderful.
“Throughout Fahrenheit 451” I found myself bewildered and awed by the way Ray Bradbury made me feel. He wrote with such detail that I found myself in his book. I could see the blazing fire, feel the happy wild emotions of the firemen, and see the hunger in their eyes for more burning. I felt I was with Guy when he murders his boss, floats down the river, and survives.
“Fahrenheit 451” was an amazing book that I think anyone in my grade or above should read. Though it was a little confusing I worked my way through it and had a wonderful and scary time reading it!
T. Williams
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a great book. The author, Mark Twain, has an interesting way with words. In the beginning I couldn’t really grasp the concept but as I read more, it became easier. Huck was definitely one of my favorite characters in the book. He was cunning, clever, and sneaky. I also enjoyed the previous book “Tom Sawyer” Back to Huckleberry, He lived with the kind Widow Douglas for a while, but then he couldn't stand all the stuff he had to do. (School, church, etc.) I loved how he faked his death. It was kind of mean, but I guess it was for the best. Altogether, this was a fantastic book. I totally would recommend it to anyone!
T. Williams
Jane Eyre
This was an exceptional book. Jane starts off with a bad start. She is in her Aunt Reeds cruel care. Jane is always being teased. When they tease her, Ms. Reed is never around. When Jane retaliates, the aunt suddenly appears! Jane is thoroughly hated. She even gets locked into the red room. (The red room is where her uncle died) While she was there, she claims to have seen her uncle’s ghost. She then faints. When she wakes up, she is being taken care of by Bessie. Bessie is the only one who gives Jane any affection. She is sent of to a school. The master is very strict and mean. Jane manages to make one friend, Helen, but Helen soon dies of a typhus fever. Soon Jane becomes a teacher. She teaches lovely young girl. Slowly she starts falling in love with Rochester, the owner of the manor. Her hopes are crushed but are slowly built back up again. In the end, Rochester’s old wife lights the house on fire and gets killed. Rochester becomes blind and loses a hand. Later on, after they get married, Rochester regains eyesight in one eye. He is able to see his first son! This was a fantastic book! I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to all romance lovers.
M. Merritt
Muchacho
This book was a really interesting and, for me, a very informative read. Muchacho is the story of a young Mexican- American man (of about 17) who attends Bright Horizons: an alternative high school in Rosa Blanca, New Mexico. He is a thoughtful and funny character who is very intelligent but still hates school. But who could blame him? Most of the teachers don’t believe in those kids anyway, making it very difficult for the students to begin to believe in themselves.
Eddie Corazon (the main character) is a troubled kid. It’s all he can do to not get “picked up” (jumped, really) to do a drug drop off! Yeah, I know, he doesn’t live in the best neighborhood ever… But, lucky for Eddie, he has fairly supportive parents, unlike many of his friends and peers. He doesn’t have much, but that is never really a problem for Eddie. He always makes the best out of what he has.
Though Eddie is a smart kid, in his neighborhood being an intellectual isn’t the best thing in the world. So with that said, it isn’t until Eddie meets Lupe, that he really tries to turn over a new leaf. Lupe is beautiful. She really is. And Eddie knows form the first time he lays eyes on her that she would be his girlfriend. He would do anything. That was one thing that I really admired about Eddie, once he got his eyes on something, there was no stopping him.
Lupe starts Eddie on many new and helpful habits; one of which being poetry. And Eddie was good! I mean really touching stuff! Well Eddie did what he had to impress Lupe and more importantly, her father.
My favorite part of this book was definitely Eddie himself. I really enjoyed his outlook on life, and his sunny personality. He definitely had a great sense of humor that leaves me bursting out loud with laughter all the time. Another thing that I actually found very surprising is how well I was able to connect to a character so unlike myself, not only ethnically and economically, but he was a teenage BOY! And LouAnne Johnson (the author) did a very good job of making you feel very comfortable and at home with these characters and this story.
I would definitely read this book again, and would strongly recommend it to anyone who simply likes to read! It is a humbling book that left me very thoughtful and happy to be able to share part of Eddie Corazon’s crazy, bitter- sweet, fascinating story.
S.Wright
Diary of a Young Girl
i understand that she did not intend for this book too be read by millions of people and in a ton of different languages. and no offence to her, but if she new that she probably would have made it less boring. when i say boring i mean that she goes through phases were she pretty much repeats the same things every day.
the starting was the most interesting because each day was something different. once she goes into hiding she pretty much repeats the same things each day. first half of the book all she talks about is relationship problems. she then talks about different small matters then goes back to relations.near the end she only talks about peter.
its a very repetitive book and i dont think it was very enjoyable
E.Conaway
The Diary of A Young Girl
By Anne Frank
This book was very interesting, and also incredibly moving. I felt very privileged to actually be able to read Anne Frank's diary. I was reading about a real person's life that lived in hiding while the holocaust was taking place. Of course, I have learned all about what the Nazis did in Social Studies, but that was from a third person point of view. This book was from a first person point of view. It was a "behind the scenes" look at life for Jews during the holocaust. I had already known about concentration camps and Nazis, but never had I learned about what everyday life was like for Jews in hiding.
I had no idea what Anne and her family's life would be like, and this book really cleared things up for me. I had not thought about all of the conflicts that people in hiding had to deal with (both external and internal). It must have been tiring for Anne to have to deal with the Van Daans every day, as well as her parents. Their repetitive meals must have also been quite tiring. Her internal conflicts, however, must have been much harder to deal with, especially fear, boredom, and depression. She was in a closed up space for about 2 years, with the war going on around her. Every day she lived knowing that at any time someone could break through their door and they could be taken away. She wanted to be free, and yet she was stuck in the "Secret Annexe". The war went on and on, and it must have been hard not to lose hope. Despite all of this, Anne stayed happy, and I think that two things helped her with that. First of all, she had her diary to write down all of her feelings in, so she did not have to keep them to herself. Second of all, she had Peter whom she could share her thoughts with during their meetings. If she did not have those meetings to look forward to, I am afraid that she might have gone insane.
As well as reading about the conflicts that Anne faced, it was interesting to watch how she matured and became a better writer as the book went on. When she was thirteen, she was quite a good writer, but her writing became more thoughtful as she got older. She also thought more clearly about her and her mother's arguments. When she was 13, she only complained in her diary about how annoying her mother was. When she was 14, however, she was able to look at both sides of the argument and control her anger. Another thing is that she became surer of herself as she got older. She thought better of herself, and was proud of who she was.
It is sad to think that Anne's life was cut so short, and that she never got to grow up. She never got to fulfill all of her dreams or see how the war turned out. For the last part of her life she lived in captivity, and she never got to be free. However, one good thing did come of her life, and that is this book. She said that she wanted to live on even after she died, and so she did. She lives on through her diary. I wish that I could leave a trace of myself behind when I die, as Anne did. Although her life was cut short, she still did become famous - just as she wished.
S.Wright
Fahrenheit 451
this book took me through a long story with myself. while reading the book on top of my car (long story) i left it on top of the car and just my luck, the next day it rained for the first time in a month. my dad drove the car but it stayed right on top. i found it the next day and spent several hours today using my moms hair drier to dry the book while reading it. since it took so long to dry each page i read EVERY word of the book....
it is about a fireman named Guy Montag. he is not the type of fireman you would think. his job is to burn illegal books and to arrest the people that own them. he asks no questions about his join until one day he meets a girl that tells him of what used to be.
he then starts to take some books and read them and try to understand. he wants to get away and quit his job. he meets a professor named Faber and they make a plan....
this book is confusing. he uses (i feel like) a metaphor for every other sentence instead of just saying it.
i would only recommend this book to people who can figure out what he is saying. it took me a while to read and understand.
A. Hinkle
War and Peace
This book was originally recommended to me by the director at my mothers work, yet I only decided to read it one boring summer night at Barnes and Noble. Technically I have not read this entire book, but have only gotten through volume 1. By a month or so into school, I hope to have finished it.
I was suprized with the style of writing expressed in this book. I am not very familiar with Russian literature and at the begining, I found it difficult to follow. However what did suprise me was the easy flow in which it was written, and I found it easier to understand than many people have told me. I'm not saying it is exciting though; I am finding myself bored by the highfalutin ways of Russia's aristocrat.
A part that confused me was the great number of "royalty" (ex. kings, queens, princes, and princesses). I inquired to google about this and discovered that this "royalty" wasn't royalty like individuals with these titles would be in other countries. Actual royals were usually titled Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. Aside from this, the only other part I found confusing was the indepth discussions in politics, which I followed as well as I could.
Tolstoy did a good job of developing his characters. He was incredibly descriptive and this allowed me to create a better image in my mind. I enjoyed Tolstoys humor, despite him being known as so serious, and especially amusing was when he described Pierre with his clumsiness and fatness.
So far I have enjoyed this book and am excited to read more.
Evan Lewis
Anne Frank- The Diary of a Young Girl
This book is a very interesting look at the life of Jews in hiding during Hitler's reign. It gave me a look at the troubles and hardships of Jews during that period of time. In the beginning of Anne and her family's time in the Secret Annexe, they were able to get enough food with black market rations; however as time goes on, many foods such as vegetables become very rare. Along with food scarcity, there is often air raids.
Not only did this book teach me about Jew's lives during that time, it also taght me a valuable lesson. If you are having a really hard time (or, in this case, hiding from a psychopath), it is very helpful to express yourself to somebody, or even just write something down.
The Diary of Anne Frank also made me really think about how I would feel if I were in her position.
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