I started reading a book called Would You by Marthe Jocelyn. I though it would be about someone who pushes someone into a pool killing them. So far, that's not exactly what happened. Why did I think that? The cover shows someone almost completely under water and it looks like they are falling in. The title would you just made me think "would you push someone into a pool to kill them?" That doesn't have anything to do with the book yet, but you never know.
So far, the book is pretty good. It started out with these to sisters who are really close. One is going away to college in the fall (Claire) and the other is going to be a junior. (I think) The story is being told from Natalie's (the younger one) point of view. I think she is the main character because her sister is in the hospital in a coma, but before that they are just enjoying their summer with their friends. Natalie is a lifeguard and almost every night her and her friends go pool hopping. (Jumping the fence of pools, going swimming when no one is around, and leaving on their bikes when they almost get caught.)
One night, Natalie gets home and her parents tell her that Claire has been in a car crash coming home from the party she was at. They go to the hospital and wait. Natalie is in a coma and has broken and fractured ribs and other things. They don't know if she is going to make it. Natalie and her parents take it pretty hard and they just kind of wait to see if she will wake up. They go in and talk to her and try to trigger some memories. That's where I left off.
At the beginning of the book, everything was kind of boring, but it was kind of shocking when Claire gets in a car crash. I thought that would happen at the end of the book. It makes me wonder what else is going to happen. Natalie and Claire had a very strong relationship, but I would have liked to see them be with each other more before Claire is in a coma. I really hope Claire lives because it seems like Natalie wouldn't have anything besides her friends if she didn't have Claire. Her family is already becoming somewhat dis-functional. Would You is pretty sad, right now, but I have a feeling that might get turned around soon. I'll keep you posted on any new happenings in the book.
I commented on Emma's Lit. Skills Blog.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Speak
I finished the book speak about a week ago. I have to say I really liked it. I'm not going to tell you what happens because you should definitely read it yourself, but I will give you the main idea of it all. Melinda (the main character) continues to lead a very boring, negative life, but towards the very end of the book, her life gets better. That is pretty much all I really want to tell you about the book, but I thought the book had a great ending. Melinda grows so much as a person. For how much I didn't like it in the beginning, the ending sure made up for it a lot. I saw Melinda as like a whole new person by the end of the book. She finally is able to see some better days. I also thought this book sent a very important message(s). I put the "S" in parentheses because you kind of have to interpret if some things have a message or lesson to you or not. I thought this book had many messages and lessons to learn. For example, Melinda teaches the reader that you have to speak up about things even to your friends and enemies. The last thing I have to say about this book is how much the author was able to believably write from Melinda's point of view. Melinda got easier to relate to as the story progressed. Speak might of had a slow, boring start, but now that I think about it, there were some things the author added in to make the book a little more interesting and the ending was pretty amazing. For you readers out there who don't mind reading through a few chapters of bla-bla-bla just to get to a very shocking and dramatic end, then you should definitely read Speak.
P.S. If you can find the platinum edition, I recommend reading that and the interview with the author. (very interesting!)
I commented in Alexis's blog.
P.S. If you can find the platinum edition, I recommend reading that and the interview with the author. (very interesting!)
I commented in Alexis's blog.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Speak
I am reading a book called "Speak" by Lauren Halse Anderson. The book is about a girl named Melinda who called the police at a party during the summer. Now her best friends won't talk to her and they hate her. She is hiding a secret that can't tell anyone. It's apparently about the party, but that's all I know. I'm at the part where there is a pep rally. A girl named Heather (who is the closest thing to a friend she has) drags her there. (No, not literally) A group of kids she is standing with notices her as the girl who called the police at the party.
So far, the book is okay. It's very negative and slow because Melinda kind of hates her life. The story is set in a high school, (Melinda is a freshman) but high school very different from middle school and hard to relate to. It's kind of hard to relate to what the character is going through in high school if you aren't in high school. The thing I like about this book is that the setting kind of starts off in a bad place for Melinda, but that leaves me thinking that she is going to do something or that something is going to happen that is going to change the story. Also, there are many un-answered questions that I have. The book started with two big questions that I want to be answered so bad that I am forced to keep reading. Those questions being... What happened at that party? and... What is her big secret? I've heard a few good recommendations for this book, so I hope it gets more interesting.
I commented on Moira's blog.
So far, the book is okay. It's very negative and slow because Melinda kind of hates her life. The story is set in a high school, (Melinda is a freshman) but high school very different from middle school and hard to relate to. It's kind of hard to relate to what the character is going through in high school if you aren't in high school. The thing I like about this book is that the setting kind of starts off in a bad place for Melinda, but that leaves me thinking that she is going to do something or that something is going to happen that is going to change the story. Also, there are many un-answered questions that I have. The book started with two big questions that I want to be answered so bad that I am forced to keep reading. Those questions being... What happened at that party? and... What is her big secret? I've heard a few good recommendations for this book, so I hope it gets more interesting.
I commented on Moira's blog.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Eggs - By Jerry Spinelli
THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS! After I finished Nancy Drew, I read Eggs by Jerry Spinelli. I finished the book already. I thought it was very reputable. I thought it told a great story and the characters were very relate-able and believable. You could often feel what how the character felt. The only part I wasn't totally pleased with was the ending. I thought it would be more dramatic. David does learn something important and makes some pretty miraculous changes.
The story was about nine-year-old a boy named David who's mother died a year ago when she slipped on a wet floor and hit her head.This had a big effect on David. He thinks that if he never breaks a rule (to the exception of his grandma's rules) he can bring his mom back. He lives with his grandma and his dad comes home from work on the weekends. He is never kind to his grandma. The day before his mom died, he was going to see the sun rise. Because she died that day, he never got to see the sun rise with her. Now he has made an oath that he will never see the sun rise unless she comes back. I think that David's "obsession" with his mom is interesting and gives him more personality.
David doesn't have any friends. He doesn't want any until he meets a 13-year-old girl named Primrose. Primrose and him fight all the time, but they become good friends. I like their strong friendship and I think they learn a lot from each other. Primrose doesn't have a dad and she hates her mom. (She even bought a trailer and moved into the front yard to get away form her mom.) Primrose is the kind of character you love to hate. (But you don't hate her all the time.) I have to say I was often annoyed with how rude, grumpy, and negative she is, but she changes a lot too.
One day, Primrose and David see a man on television who waves to cars as they go by. The "waving man" stands in the middle of the intersection all day and waves.
I'm going to skip some minor parts in the book. Primrose and David have a huge fight at the end and don't talk to each other. I think this was probably good for them. (They needed some separation.)
After a while, David goes over to Primroses house and Primrose takes him to Philadelphia. I was a little confused. I didn't know why they were going or how they were going to get there. They walk there on the train tracks. They are really nice to each other and Primrose isn't grumpy. Primrose finally tells David that they are going to see the waving man "to see if it is real." (I think this means that he is actually there waving all the time.) If it is real, Primrose is going to ask him why he does waves.
At night, David reads books to Primrose and tells her stories. He reads her to sleep. I thought this was because Primrose has never had anyone read her to sleep and David knew how good it felt. In the morning, Primrose wakes David up early to show him a river. It's sun rise, so he closes his eyes and she leads to a a bridge going over a river. Then David decides to open his eyes and watch the sun rise with Primrose. I couldn't believe he did that! He promised never to watch the sun rise without his mother. I was happy he did that though. It showed that he trusted Primrose a lot. A little while later the police search party finds them and brings them home.
Primrose and David change a lot in this book. Primrose moves back in with her mom and David is always nice to his grandma. I thought the change in both of these characters was equally drastic, however I was hoping for a more eventful ending. I would have liked the ending to be something more dramatic, but it would be hard to make the ending perfect. I could either see it too dramatic or not dramatic enough. This ending wasn't that drastic, but I think that's better than having the ending be too drastic. I think the characters in this book have a lot ahead of them and are going to face many challenges in their life, but they will know how to overcome them because they learned something from each other. All in all I would rate this book a three and a half out of five and I do recommend it as a good book if you are looking for a book.
I commented on Presley's blog.
The story was about nine-year-old a boy named David who's mother died a year ago when she slipped on a wet floor and hit her head.This had a big effect on David. He thinks that if he never breaks a rule (to the exception of his grandma's rules) he can bring his mom back. He lives with his grandma and his dad comes home from work on the weekends. He is never kind to his grandma. The day before his mom died, he was going to see the sun rise. Because she died that day, he never got to see the sun rise with her. Now he has made an oath that he will never see the sun rise unless she comes back. I think that David's "obsession" with his mom is interesting and gives him more personality.
David doesn't have any friends. He doesn't want any until he meets a 13-year-old girl named Primrose. Primrose and him fight all the time, but they become good friends. I like their strong friendship and I think they learn a lot from each other. Primrose doesn't have a dad and she hates her mom. (She even bought a trailer and moved into the front yard to get away form her mom.) Primrose is the kind of character you love to hate. (But you don't hate her all the time.) I have to say I was often annoyed with how rude, grumpy, and negative she is, but she changes a lot too.
One day, Primrose and David see a man on television who waves to cars as they go by. The "waving man" stands in the middle of the intersection all day and waves.
I'm going to skip some minor parts in the book. Primrose and David have a huge fight at the end and don't talk to each other. I think this was probably good for them. (They needed some separation.)
After a while, David goes over to Primroses house and Primrose takes him to Philadelphia. I was a little confused. I didn't know why they were going or how they were going to get there. They walk there on the train tracks. They are really nice to each other and Primrose isn't grumpy. Primrose finally tells David that they are going to see the waving man "to see if it is real." (I think this means that he is actually there waving all the time.) If it is real, Primrose is going to ask him why he does waves.
At night, David reads books to Primrose and tells her stories. He reads her to sleep. I thought this was because Primrose has never had anyone read her to sleep and David knew how good it felt. In the morning, Primrose wakes David up early to show him a river. It's sun rise, so he closes his eyes and she leads to a a bridge going over a river. Then David decides to open his eyes and watch the sun rise with Primrose. I couldn't believe he did that! He promised never to watch the sun rise without his mother. I was happy he did that though. It showed that he trusted Primrose a lot. A little while later the police search party finds them and brings them home.
Primrose and David change a lot in this book. Primrose moves back in with her mom and David is always nice to his grandma. I thought the change in both of these characters was equally drastic, however I was hoping for a more eventful ending. I would have liked the ending to be something more dramatic, but it would be hard to make the ending perfect. I could either see it too dramatic or not dramatic enough. This ending wasn't that drastic, but I think that's better than having the ending be too drastic. I think the characters in this book have a lot ahead of them and are going to face many challenges in their life, but they will know how to overcome them because they learned something from each other. All in all I would rate this book a three and a half out of five and I do recommend it as a good book if you are looking for a book.
I commented on Presley's blog.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE SOME SPOILERS TO PEOPLE IN THIS POST. (PROBABLY NOT)
I have been reading a book called the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart. I've been reading this book for a while now, but I took a break. I've read The Mysterious Benedict Society and it is my favorite book. So far this one gets like a gazillion thumbs up too. I highly recommend them.
What I really wanted to talk about is why I love his books so much. I've given it a lot of thought and I think one of the main reasons is because his characters are so well developed. You either passionately love them or love to hate them. He takes so much time building up a sense of caring and passion for each character even if they are a minor character. He makes you feel like you know the person.
Take Mr. Benedict for example. He doesn't appear much in the book, but he is still a very thick character. (By thick I mean has a lot of aspects and characteristics to him.) (If that makes sense.) Trenton Lee Stuart builds up Mr. Benedict's character by showing relationships and reactions from other characters in the book, so the reader knows that Mr. Benedict is a very kind-hearted, non- selfish, caring, compassionate patient, considerate, and understanding person. He is very good at reading people especially Reynie when he comes to his office to talk to him. He has to be patient to care for his two-year-old adopted daughter. He would never put anyone he cared about at risk to help himself.
His main characters that appear often in the story, such as "Ten Men" develop a certain reputation as the story goes on. (Ten Men are working for the main antagonist and are out to get The Mysterious Benedict Society. They are given their name "Ten Men" because they have ten different ways of hurting people.) They are obviously a huge threat to The Mysterious Benedict Society because they are hurtful, vexatious (mean), and every other negative adjective you could think of. They don't care about what they're doing as long as they are getting paid. They are like the deliberately hurt people because it's fun and you don't care about them version of mercenaries. (Soldiers paid by another country to fight for that country during the American Revolution.)
That is pretty much how awesomely Trenton Lee Stuart develops his characters.
I commented on Noah's BLOG.
I have been reading a book called the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart. I've been reading this book for a while now, but I took a break. I've read The Mysterious Benedict Society and it is my favorite book. So far this one gets like a gazillion thumbs up too. I highly recommend them.
What I really wanted to talk about is why I love his books so much. I've given it a lot of thought and I think one of the main reasons is because his characters are so well developed. You either passionately love them or love to hate them. He takes so much time building up a sense of caring and passion for each character even if they are a minor character. He makes you feel like you know the person.
Take Mr. Benedict for example. He doesn't appear much in the book, but he is still a very thick character. (By thick I mean has a lot of aspects and characteristics to him.) (If that makes sense.) Trenton Lee Stuart builds up Mr. Benedict's character by showing relationships and reactions from other characters in the book, so the reader knows that Mr. Benedict is a very kind-hearted, non- selfish, caring, compassionate patient, considerate, and understanding person. He is very good at reading people especially Reynie when he comes to his office to talk to him. He has to be patient to care for his two-year-old adopted daughter. He would never put anyone he cared about at risk to help himself.
His main characters that appear often in the story, such as "Ten Men" develop a certain reputation as the story goes on. (Ten Men are working for the main antagonist and are out to get The Mysterious Benedict Society. They are given their name "Ten Men" because they have ten different ways of hurting people.) They are obviously a huge threat to The Mysterious Benedict Society because they are hurtful, vexatious (mean), and every other negative adjective you could think of. They don't care about what they're doing as long as they are getting paid. They are like the deliberately hurt people because it's fun and you don't care about them version of mercenaries. (Soldiers paid by another country to fight for that country during the American Revolution.)
That is pretty much how awesomely Trenton Lee Stuart develops his characters.
I commented on Noah's BLOG.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
So Yesterday, Chapters Zero - Three
I just started reading this book called So Yesterday by Scott Westerfield. I haven't gotten very far, but I don't like it yet. I think that I don' t like it because it's confusing in the beginning. Put really, I cant' judge a book by the first 17 pages that I've read.
The characters in this book are classified into two categories. Innovators and trend setters. I don't really know what the relationship is supposed to mean, but I think it is kind if weird. Trend setter pay super close attention to detail and brands and stuff like that. I don't know much about the innovators because so far, there is only one that I know of.
Trend setters seem to see the world from a totally and completely different perspective. The title, So Yesterday kind of explains how the trend setters think. Trends get really old for them really fast. For example, here is an excerpt from the book. (The boy, Hunter is on the phone with some lady named Mandy from this focus group he is in (FYI: I think a focus group is a group of kids who are chosen to test a product, but I'm not sure.) and he is with some girl named Jen who he just met when he asked if he could take a picture of her shoes (Probably for the focus group) and here's the excerpt.)
"Okay, Mandy, whatever" I looked at Jen who was scrolling absently through numbers, politely not listening, maybe a little saddened by how old and decrepit her own phone was (at least six months).
Do you see what I mean? My point is that it would be crazy for a person to think a phone was old and decrepit at six months, but apparently not for a trend setter.
I'll let you know more about the book as I keep reading. Bye :-)
The characters in this book are classified into two categories. Innovators and trend setters. I don't really know what the relationship is supposed to mean, but I think it is kind if weird. Trend setter pay super close attention to detail and brands and stuff like that. I don't know much about the innovators because so far, there is only one that I know of.
Trend setters seem to see the world from a totally and completely different perspective. The title, So Yesterday kind of explains how the trend setters think. Trends get really old for them really fast. For example, here is an excerpt from the book. (The boy, Hunter is on the phone with some lady named Mandy from this focus group he is in (FYI: I think a focus group is a group of kids who are chosen to test a product, but I'm not sure.) and he is with some girl named Jen who he just met when he asked if he could take a picture of her shoes (Probably for the focus group) and here's the excerpt.)
"Okay, Mandy, whatever" I looked at Jen who was scrolling absently through numbers, politely not listening, maybe a little saddened by how old and decrepit her own phone was (at least six months).
Do you see what I mean? My point is that it would be crazy for a person to think a phone was old and decrepit at six months, but apparently not for a trend setter.
I'll let you know more about the book as I keep reading. Bye :-)
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