Blog 3 Mockingjay

Right now I am also reading the book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Right now I am on page thirty-two. So far in my book Katniss, the main character, is dealing with the pain of knowing she destroyed her district. She is on the edge of insanity. Peeta, one of her best friends, was captured by the Capital and is thought to be dead. But he recently was interviewed by the Capital and was aired on television. He made traitor remarks and now everyone in the district Katniss is living in, wants to kill him. It is very good. The book is a constant thrill so far and it urges you to keep reading. I think that Suzanne Collins wrote this book  simply because she likes to write and she needed to finish the series. She is a big writer and is also none for writing the Overland series. The theme is clearly action. The book is always in action one-hundred percent of the time. I think the author wanted readers to see how cruel the world can be and how we could destroy it with a touch of a button. The best character in the book so far is Gale. He has changed since the start of the series, he has developed a sort of dark side or deep hate for Peeta and the Capital. "I killed you and you and you." That is a very important quote in this book because Katniss blames herself for the deaths of her people. My main question is how the heck are the rebels going to beat the Capital? It seems impossible.

Ben Ranard

In the end Harry gets tricked to go get a prophacy. He doesn't think he is going to get it but thinks he is saving his godfather. When he gets there he finds the prophacy but then the Death Eaters come (Voltamolts followers). They want the prophacy. He does not give it to them. They fight for it and right at the right time the Order of the Phenix (people fighting against Voltamolt) comes and helps Harry. Harry's godfather is there, but he gets killed. Harry runs after the killer and stuns her with a spell. When he is about to kill her Voltamolt comes, but right before Harry die Domboldofe steps in and fights with Voltamolt. In the end neither dies, but the Minister of Magic sees Voltamolt and the truth comes out. Everyone that thought Voltamolt was died now believes Harry that he is back.

Ben Ranard

I read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phenix. At the start of the book Harry got attacked by Dementos. They are the guards of a prison. Harry has to fight them off, but then almost gets expled form Hogworts. He then has a meeting and he gets off the hook and can go back.

Taite Gallagher Blog 2: The Hunger Games

There is a movie coming out about the book The Hunger Games so I decided to start reading the books. I am on the first one right now.

There are a couple of main characters we have met so far; Katniss is the main character, Gale is one of her friends, Peta who is chosen for the games along with Katniss, and a couple of others. Basically the story takes place in the future, there are 12 districts in the country. Katniss lives in district 12.

There is a cruel game called The Hunger Games. Every year each district chooses two kids randomly and puts them into the games. They are put into an arena and fight to the death. Right now in the book Katniss and Peta are on a train to go to the main city. So the book looks like it's going to be a good one.

THE CALL OF THE WILD 3
In THE CALL OF THE WILD buck and has team are sold to a nother person and they have a very heavy load and a long way to deliver mail from down south up to the gold miners in the north. they have gone a long way and they all lose a lot of weight even though they are feed good. buck looses 40 pounds out of his previous 150 pounds.
this trip has taken its toal on everybody and the oldest member gets weak and has to be put down because his hips give out and he can't go on.
finaly they make it and they are all releaved.

Hit and Run

1. The book i am reading is called Hit and Run.

2. The author of this book is Lurlene McDaniel.

3. Actually i started to read this toward the end of the summer and just picked back up on it when we got this assignment. I'm almost half way. I'm a slow reader.

4. So far what happened in this book is that there are these four main characters named Laurie who isn't the most popular girl in school and kind of keeps to herself, Quin a guy who everyone thinks is the most amazing guy in the whole school, Analise who is very responsible and gives school her all, and Then there is Jeremy Analise's boyfriend who is a very sweet and nice guy. Well al of them are brought together by something that I haven't read yet. Anyways what is happening now is that Laurie has a big crush on Quin but she thinks he would never go for her because she is a freshman. Then he randomly comes up to her while she is eating lunch and says, " You're Laurie, aren't you? Want to come to a party with me this Friday night?" She is so amazed he mouth just drops open! She says," This Friday?" and he says, " Yes I'll pick you up at seven and no need for directions i know where you live." He gives her a little flirty smile and walks away. Of course my this time she is all smiley and she has butterflies! She goes home and tells her mom and yes you know moms she blows it up and is so happy for her. Then he comes and they drive off. Well in this book it switches from character to character telling their part of the story from their view. So it switches so Jeremy. Jeremy talks about how much he loves Analise. Back to Laurie. She talks about how they show up at the party and there are boozes and smoking and all that good stuff. Quin has been drinking and she hasn't even finished one beer yet. Then she slips off to the bathroom where an older girl proceeds to tell her that Quin is just a player. And he will date her then dump her. Laurie feels hurt by this because she already seems to know she is out of his league. They finally leave and walk to the car in the cold air Laurie's teeth are chattering. He pushes her up against the car and kisses her hard. Her knees got weak and he runs his hands down her back and pulls her closer for a "better fit." Then he jerks away and gets in the car. She is nervous because she doesn't want anything to happen that she isn't ready for. She says that she has other plans for loosing her virginity then in a backseat of a car in the woods. Nothing happens when they get in the car and then the proceed to leave. On the way home Laurie kind of drifts off. Then she hears a whump and metal scratching against the car and the screech of the cars breaks. The jerk of the car and the tightening of the seatbelt snaps her out of her sleep. She hears Quin swear and she is wondering what is going on he says it was just a deer. He goes outside to see and tells Laurie to stay inside. She sees a giant drop off and she gets really worried she asks Quin if she should call 911 and he says no then he drags some branches over whatever he thought he hit and calls it god then the drive away.

5. So far i think this book is amazing like with all the action thats going on it really kept me locked and I usually don't like to read in my free time.

6. Well maybe the other wrote this because who knows it could of happened to her?

7. I feel like the theme is a bunch of things like don't drink and drive, don't try to cover things up and call it good, be honest and don't get pressured.

8. I like Laurie because in a way we can connect. I'm sure all girls can. Sometimes you just get stuck in that place where you don't want a guy to think your a baby or not like you if you have a really big crush on them so your willing to put a lot on the line for them even if your uncomfortable.

9. " I can't come u with any ideas where Analise might be." (Jeremy) This is important because no one knows what happened to Analise and thats not like her she is very responsible and no one has seen her sense the night she went to babysit the same night of that party.

10. What happened to Analise and is she okay?

-- Alanna!

The Last Apprentice

1. The Last Apprentice
2. Joseph Delaney
3. Chapter 11 to the end of the book
4. Tom has been lured away by the witch and her evil son with many teeth. They have taken him far away from the Spook's house. He has been burried in a pit and once he dies the witch wants his blood to make her stronger. The two thumbs that used to be the Spook's last apprentice are casted into the pit with Tom. Then he is forced to drink a strange potion. Then he imagines the previous apprentice that was missing his thumbs trying to kill him because the thumbs are in his pit. Then Alice tells him it is all an illusion and thay no one is in there but him. She helps him out of the pit and they flee together. When the witch was about to catch up to them the Spook appears and slays her and her wicked son. Later Tom is forced to either bury Alice or take her to her human aunt on the coast. He chose to take her to her aunt. Then he began his journey home.
5. I think this book is really good because it reflects on previous events to make the new ones make more sense.
6. I think that the auther made this book out of interest in midevil times.
7. I believe that the theme is more about people doing things for others even if they don't want it. Also never judge a person on who they are with.
8. I like Alice because she seems to want to do the right thing even though she is smothered in evil.
9. "See you later Tom." That is what Alice told Tom when she had to leave him for a long time. It was meaningful because Tom knew he would miss her.
10. Will the Spook continue to live through the whole series?
By,
Adam N.O

Right now I am reading Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling. Right now I am on page 42. So far Harry has been trapped in his Aunt in Uncle's house and is forbidden to leave. All he can look forward to is going back to school. But he is warned by a house elf that sneaks into the house. The elf said that Harry should not go back to school for he is in grave danger. Harry kind of ignores it. A few days later Ron Weasley comes and breaks Harry out of the house he was trapped in.  I think that the book is ok so far. It has started with some action but not a ton. Suspense is starting to build though because Harry is warned that he is in danger. I think the author wrote this to continue the series and keep her imagination going. I also think she did it to provide for her only child. So far I think a big theme is poor living. Ron Weasley is very poor and Harry lives a horrible home life.  I think the author wants to remind readers how lucky you are to be who you are. The best quote so far is when Ron says "You have forgot who I have got with me." This is Ron referring to his brothers who can do anything. The question I have is if Harry is really in great danger or if the elf is tricking him or something.

Recruited

I finished the book Recruited by Susanne Weyn. This story is about this kid named Kadeem and he is the best quarterback for south side high. He is always being scouted and recruited by college coachers. There are two major colleges he is focusing on and they are Teller university and Peterson university. Now Kadeem is faced with good offers from Teller but he soon finds out that all their offers and what theyve been doing is illegal in the NCAA. He really is then faced with stress and constant smothering of Teller. Kadeem is a very good player but has bad grades and thats what keeps him from Peterson. In the end he finds teller to be a bad and show off college and picks Peterson University. I personaly love this book because it puts in his shoes and makes you imagin what it would feel like. I believe Susanne Weyn wrote this book cause she maybe  felt the same way or was expireiencing the same thing as The character Kadeem. Of course the Theme is Recruiting and Football. The best character is probably Ty, Kadeems friend who is being recruited too. Ty is like a everyday kid who is funny and a person that everybody would love. He hasn't grow really he actually gets sucked into Tellers recruiting buisness and picks them. The best quote from the books is "so what are you saying" it gives you the controll to answer it and leads you to what happens next. The one question I have for this book is why isn't books like theses longer they are so good and more deatails could be added to make it a best seller.

CALL OF THE WILD2nd

In the book CALL OF THE WILD the dogs have been out on the trail for a while now and they are tired of carrying all the food for them and their owner across the land then they go on a trail that has food set out for them and their owner so they do not have to carry all their food.

After they stop for the night they are romping around in the snow when they see a jack rabbit and they go tearing after it. they are running after this rabbit and they run by a police station and there are a bunch of dogs there and they get loose and start chasing the rabbit.

Hunger Games post three.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Third Post.
       I just finished the Hunger Games and it was so soooo good. As Katniss goes to the feast she manages to kill a tribute and get the medicine to heal Peeta. When Peeta is all better he is collecting berries in the woods that he doesn't know are poisonous so one of the other tributes steals some and dies. This leaves Peeta, Katniss and another boy who is very well trained. They manage to kill him and then the Gamemakers announce that the rule was revoked and two winners can no longer happen legally. So Katniss plans on killing herself in Peeta at the same time. However, this would be an embarrassment to the capital so they say two winners would be okay. However, the fact that Katniss did this is seen by the president as a rebellious act and he is not pleased. It ends on a huge cliff hanger leading you in to the next book.
       The underlying themes are oppression, courage, and loyalty. This is what she is trying to teach from her books, real courage, governtmental oppression cause from them gaining too much power, and the definition of true loyalty.
       Peeta is for sure the best character. Sweet, handsome, funny. The whole package.
My favorite quote from him is:
Caesar: “Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what’s her name?”
Peeta: “Well, there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping.”
Caesar: “She have another fellow?”
Peeta: “I don’t know, but a lot of boys like her.”
Caesar: “So, here’s what you do. You win, you go home. She can’t turn you down then, eh?”
Peeta: “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning…won’t help in my case”
Caesar: “Why ever not?”
Peeta: “Because…because…she came here with me.”
It was the major twist in the book, and prevented you from setting the book down until you finish.
       I have a lot of questions that I know will be answered in the next book. Such as: Who does she end up with? Peeta or Gale? Does President Snow interfere? Do the districts rebel? What will happen at the next hunger games?
----- CARLYN

3. The Hobbit

     I have finished reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.  I thought is was a good book.  I still think that the part with Gollum was one of the most important parts because it is when Bilbo finds the ring and it helps them on almost all the other encounters that they face.  After Thorin and Company made it into the dragon's lair in the mountain they eventually found the secret entrance and Bilbo was able to steal a gold cup.  Smaug woke up to find what the hobbit had done and naturally wasn't happy.  He raged out of the cave and flames engulfed everything nearby.  Eventually, he returned to his cave only to once again be visited by the hobbit. At first amused by Bilbo's riddles, he soon began to become infurriated with the Lake-men thinking they were involved in the theft.  He ended up going down after the Lake-men only to be shot and killed.  This action resulted in The Battle of Five Armies because they all wanted their shares of the gold. The dwarves, men, and elves stopped fighting each other and joined forces to defeat the goblins and the wolves.  In the end Bilbo finally made it home to his cozy, hobbit hole.  However, not all the dwarves survived.

     There are still a lot of great characters so I not sure which is my favorite one!  I still like Gandalf and the dwarves and Bilbo.  Gollum is interesting because I think he was really well written.  He acts so distinctly and differently from everyone else.  You kind of pitty him, but at the same time he's someone you'd want to avoid as best you could.  As for themes, I think that the author wanted to convey how power and greed can effect people.  He did this largely through Gollum who has clearly been transformed by the ring. 

     Thorin made a big chage in the end.  He strongly supported getting back his gold and not sharing it with the other people outside the fourteen.  After the battle, on his death bed, he tells Bilbo, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above horded gold, it would be a merrier world."  He has obviously changed his thinking about how he acted. 

     As mentioned in previous posts, I think that the auther wrote this book because that was what he enjoyed doing and to tell a story to help get across some different messages.  Overall, I thought this was a great book.  It was interesting and had many suspenceful moments throughout it.  I'd still like to know how he came up with some of the characters!

I have recently finished reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling. In my book Harry Potter has found out he was a wizard. So Harry leaves his mean Aunt and Uncle to go to school at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. He soon finds out that he is a hero in the magical world for killing Lord Voldemorte. When Harry goes to Hogwarts he is extremly happy. Harry is extremly curious and thinks he knows about a magical stone that keeps people alive.  He soon meets Ron and Hermione and together they accomplish remarkable feats. Harry,Hermione, and classmate Neville get into trouble one night. As a punishment they had to go in the woods and they spot a horrible beast drinking a unicorn's blood. Harry panicks and thinks it could have to do with the sorcerer's stone. So he goes through a huge maze to find it and has to defeat Lord Voldemorte to get the stone before he does. He does and he eventually has to leave Hagwarts when the school year is over.

I think it is very good because it is original and a great mix of action and fantasy. I think her motivation for righting it was because she was a single mother that was struggling. So I think she did it mostly for her daughter. She also started writing the book in the spur of the moment. She started writing the book on a napkin in a cafe`.The main theme by far is fantasy. I believe that the main idea of the book is that anything can happen. Harry Potter I think is the best charactor in this book because he is very brave and outgoing. He has gained a ton of confidence through out the book and has had close friends for the first time in his life. A good quote in the book is when the watchmen Filch says "Well, well, well we ar in trouble." I thinks this is important because it basically starts the rising action in the book.  My only question about the book is do you have to catch the snitch to win a quidditch game.

On Mystic Lake

The book that i have been reading for this quarter is called On Mystic Lake, by Kristin Hannah. So far i am on chapter 8, so about half way through the book, and really enjoying this story about heart break, love and family. The main character is a middle aged women named Annie. Right from the beginning you find out that her husband has been cheating on her and wants a divorce, so she goes back to her home town to spend time with her father in Mystic Lake. She deals with depression and finally figures out that she needs to change. So she completely gets a new look and positive attitude. Which is good because she runs into her old friend from high school, Nick. I cant wait to keep reading and finish this book. I really enjoy how Kristen describes everything with so much detail it makes it so much more interesting.
                                                                    -Abby Linden

CALL OF THE WILD

In the book CALL OF THE WILD Buck the main chactor is a dog and he has a good life he is feed well and is in very good shape. Then his life changes when he gets sold to an owner who beats him for a short time and then is put on a team as a sled dog in the klondike.

At first he battles hunger because he is given the same amount of food as the others but he is much bigger. After he gets used to the food rations the other dogs start to dislike him and start atacking him and steeling his food.

2.)GONE WITH THE WIND

   This is the second part of this book I am blogging about and my third blog post. The last part of the book starts with Scarlett taking a long trip to Alanta but while shes there the yankees take over Atlanta and burn it to the ground. And Scarlett takes charge of rebuilding the city and catches a Yankee theif and takes his life from him. And this whole time Scarlett is living with Ashley's wife and cousin. But by this time in the war Ashley is coming back home. And now I ton of siolders are home in Tara the city she is staying at where Ashley's house is.

  Then one day on her way home a free black man and his white freind attack scarlett on her way home.  But after that the KKK revenges on the behalf of Scarletts attack and ends up the black guys death. Then Rhett a guy she actullys kind of likes asks her to marry him and she quickly say yes. And he bought her gaint mansion and they had another kid named Bonnie. Rhett and Scarletts starts off great happy and all that love stuff that kids dont get. But then Rhett starts getting mad and bitter at Scarlett.

  Then Scarlett then figures out her feelings for Ashley have diminshed to just freind and accepted that. But then one day Ashleys sister starts a rumor. The rumor was Scarlett was having an affair with Ashley.

 Boonie is killed in horse riding accedent and Rhett loses almost losses his mind. The marriage between the two gets even worse and looks like it falling apart. Then Ashley's wife has a miscarriage and grows very ill. Scaurlett hurries to see her inspite of Rhett saying no and there marriage getting worse and worse. And Scarlett promises to look after there first kid and Ashley for her.

  Then she dies and Scarlett relizes that Ashley was just a fantasy for her. And then goes home Rhett left and now she is alone and greiving. She decides to go back to Tara where she wants to regain her strength and try to win back Rhett.

                                                                                         -Jarrett Stallman

3) Wuthering Heights

     I am reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I have just finished the book and so much has happened I don't even know how to begin. Heathcliff gets revenge on Edgar by manipulating the children. He forces young Catherine to marry his son Linton by locking her in a room until they marry. He wants them to get married so all of her possessions, including Thrusscross Grange will be his. While trapped in her room she gets to know Harreton, a boy that works there, and eventually falls in love. Heathcliff soon gets tired of manipulating them and lets her free and dies shortly after. By now the story is in present time when Nelly is telling Mr. Lockwood this story, so he quits his job at Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Harreton get married after Linton dies and they live happily ever after.

      I really liked the ending of the book. All the evil and drama ends right after Heathcliff dies. I really liked how the story started in the past and ended in the future so now the begining of the book makes sense. Another thing I liked was how they started with the love story and triangle of Heathcliff, Catherine, and Edgar then ended with basically the same story with their children. Overall it was a very good book yet very confusing. Emily Bronte wrote this book to show what lengths people will take just to get revenge, but also to show what your willing to do if your in love.

      The theme of the book is love. Heathcliff loved Catherine and Catherine's daughter Catherine loved Harreton. Also revenge was another theme. Right after Catherine died the whole book was about Heathcliff getting revenge and manipulating his own child. Heathcliff has been my favorite character throughout the whole book because he is so interesting. At first you feel empathy for him and like him and then you hate him. But still you know he isn't terrible because he is doing all this evil stuff out of love.

      "That, however, which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination, is actually the least, for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped on the flags! In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day, I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!" This is an important quote because it shows that his whole existence was Catherine and now that he has lost her she still is his whole world. Wherever he goes he can still see and feel her presence.

      Now that the book is over I really don't have any questions left, most of them were answered in the end. I just wonder what will happen with Catherine and Harreton now that their married? Also, what will Lockwood do now that he doesn't work at Wuthering Heights?

                                                                                                                  - Tiffany Ryan

2) Wuthering Heights

       I am reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I am just over half-way finished with the book. Since I last posted a lot is happened, the book goes back in time before Catherine  died when Heathcliff was in love with her. Catherine gets transformed into a lady and marries Edgar, a guy she met while staying at Thruscross Grange after receiving an injury, Heathcliff still in love with her inacts revenge by eloping with Edgars sister Isabella. He is very abusive and evil towards her to get revenge on Edgar. Several years later Heathcliff sneaks in to see Catherine, and Edgar finds out so he makes her choose one of them. She locks herself in her room and says she is going to die, she later gives birth to her and Edgars child named Catherine and dies shortly after. Isabella gives birth to her and Heathcliffs son Linton. The book then goes on to tell about Catherine and Linton, as well as Harreton a cousin of Catherine.

       I definetly like this book a lot better than before, even though there's so many characters its hard to keep them straight. I like it because it keeps you entertained with so much happening...it never gets boring. The author wrote this because she wanted to show that people can be good and evil at the same time. Heathcliff was once abused by his landlord Mr. Linton and everyone else at Wuthering Heights and was deeply in love with Catherine so he seemed innocent. Until Catherine married Edgar, then he turned evil by abusing Isabella and even injuring Mr. Linton. So someone who was once innocent turned evil. What I just said could also be the theme of the book, as well as Heathcliffs love for Catherine.

      Still the best character to me is Heathcliff because he does evil things, but you still feel bad for him. He is viewed as both a hero and a villian.  "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and [Edgar’s] is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire." This is an important quote becuase Catherine wanted to be with Heathcliff more than Edgar, but she chose him because he could give her a more luxurious life.

      I don't have very many questions, just what will happen to Heathcliff now that Catherine is dead?

                                                                                                       - Tiffany Ryan

3. A Girl Like Moi

        I have now finished A Girl Like Moi, by Lisa Barham. Last time I left off, Imogene got the internship with a fashion magazine called Hautelaw, and Brooke was up to something suspicious. So for a while everything is going well in Imogene's life. Her only problem is she really needs her cell phone back. (Note: I forgot to tell you that the boy she met at the Soho House is Paulo.) When Imogene's career finally gets going, something major happens. First of all, Hautelaw doesn't get invited to the Jock Lord fashion show, which is a major coverage point for their magazine. This of course stirs up all kinds of trouble. The main problem is someone leaked insider photos of Hautelaw's upcoming trends to the major competitor of Hautlaw, Winter Tan. Brooke shows Imogene the photos that have been leaked only to realize that the photos were ones off of Imogene's cell phone. Imogene assumes that Paulo (the guy that has her phone) is the one to blame. Spring fires Imogene and she is devastated. Imogene just lost the job of her dreams, and is willing to do anything to get it back. Later that week, she gets a job at Evie's dad's restaurant as a waitress. Coincidentally, Imogene's first customers are Paulo's two sisters who happen to be waiting for Paulo's arrival. (Note: Paulo's father is a major fashion designer in Italy.) When Paulo arrives, Imogene blames him for ruining her career and she dumps a bowl of noodles on his head. She runs out the restaurant, later to find out that Paulo ran after her. What Imogene doesn't know is that Paulo has been trying to return her cell phone and he is in love with her. Okay, so long story short, Imogene sneaks into the Jock Lord fashion show, discovers a way to get backstage and take pictures of all the clothing. She gives her photos to Hautelaw, who rehires her. Spring did not rehire because of the photos though, she rehired because she found out that Brooke had leaked the insider photos. So, Imogene's career is back on track and her name gets put in Hautelaw's fashion book with all the latest trends. She is now an editor of the designs. Even some of her own designs got into "The Book". That same day, Imogene goes to the sample sale at Barney's (biggest sale of the year). As she is shopping around, she finds lots of things. She is about to check out when she sets all her stuff down accept some books for her parents and pair of shoes for her friend. Imogene has finally realized that she doesn't need all this to become successful. She has entered a new chapter in her life. Later that night, she gets invited to Paulo's father's fashion show. She attends (front row) and is in awe at all of the gorgeous gowns. When the wedding apparel came out. Stitched onto the three wedding dresses her "Heart Imogene". Imogene is welcomed to the stage, where she kisses Paulo. Imogene lives happily ever after.
        I absolutely loved this book. It showed Imogene overcoming so many problems. I believe that the author wrote this book to teach us about being determined and learning to trust people. Also about learning the true meaning of life and not always treasuring material things. Maybe this was her motivation because she went through similar life changes and wanted to teach other about it. The authors reason for writing the book  is also the theme of this book.
       The best character was most definitely Imogene. She endured so much and learned how to cope with lots of problems. Imogene learned what life was really about. Her majot growing point of the story was at the sample sale. Imogene putting those items down really symbolized her leaving an old life behind.
       "When all of this finally clicked--when the message form my heart finally made it all the way up to my head--I knew I was leaving behind one life and entering a new one." This is her in the checkout line at Barney's when she decided to put down all of her items. It shows that Imogene is a smart girl and has become a new person.
       I have no questions about this book. It was exciting, dramatic, fun, and it taught valuable life lessons. Fantastic!

3. Around the World in Eighty Days

      I have just finished Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne. When we last met the crew they were on a train heading to Omaha. On the way though they attacked by some Indians and it caused a massive fight. Only few were wounded, but Passepartout and two others were taken as prisoners. So Phileas Fogg and some volunteers go out to rescue them. As they are in search for the prisoners the train restarts and leaves without them. This makes it so they won't be able to make it back to London in time.  Then this man has a home-made vehicle that can travel across the plains and in a straight line to Omaha where they may meet the train going to New York. When they made it to New York they had just missed the train by thirty minutes. So then Mr. Fogg finds a freight who is accepting them to travel to England, but not to Liverpool. On the trip then Mr. Fogg takes control of the ship and heads towards his destination instead. When they reach English territory Detective Fix arrests Phileas. Then while sitting in his jail cell Fix tells him he can go because the real thief was already arrested while they were traveling around the world. When they reached London they were five minutes late. This puts Mr. Fogg into a a deep depression. Then as Passepartout is looking for a priest to marry Aouda and Phileas he realizes that they had gained a day because they had traveled around the world. He then won the bet and the prize money and married Aouda.
       I didn't much care for the book until the last ten chapters or so, but it just really started to pick-up. My favorite part is when they realized that they had actually made it all the way around the world in seventy-nine days, but were at home the whole day before they realized it. I think the reason that Jules Verne wrote this book is to so how being calm and patient can always have benefits. Like how Phileas was always calm and he was side tracked a lot, but instead of making rash decisions that could have jeopardize his mission. A theme in this book could be the advancement of travel technology. Like how they have come from a horse and buggies to trains and steam boats. This actually made it possible for people to do around the world trip without having to many deaths.
      My favorite character in the book is Phileas Fogg because he is always so calm and patient. He has never blown up about anything that has caused him problems. He also never blames others for his mistakes. To me it doesn't seem like their are any good quotes throughout the book because it i mostly simple talking and a narrator.

3.) Atlantis Found

      I am reading a book called Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler. Right now I am on Chapter 45 out of 51.

      Since my last post this book has gotten better. Dirk Pitt and Al Giodirno, who both work for the NUMA, were told to go home by their boss. Even though they were the ones that were most familiar with the Wolf's plans, they were told that the government would handle it. Even though Pitt and Giordino were told to go strait to Washington D.C., they still took a plane to Antarctica to assist in helping stop the Ross Ice Shelf from being broken. They got a Snow Cruiser which is basically a huge machine that can plow through snow, metal, and almost anything else. Meanwhile, the U.S. Special Force Teams were on their way to Antarctica to stop the Wolfs and save the world. The Special Force team was losing really badly to the Wolf's security gaurds, and were extremely relieved when a huge Snow Cruiser came running through. The Snow Cruiser, which was driven by Pitt and Giordino, flipped the "war". The Snow Cruiser broke into the control room and destroyed the clock that was going to tell the machines to break the ice shelf. Pitt and Giordino saved the world from a terrible apocalypse.

      I like this book now because it is exciting and has a lot going on. It keeps you on the edge of your seat most of the time. It isn't my favorite book, but I would recomend it to people. I think that Clive Cussler wrote this because it is a good story to talk and write about, and also a good and fun thing to expand on. Also it could have just been something he was interested in, or another good adventure for his character Dirk Pitt.

      I htink that the theme of this book is that anything is possible. Anything could happen and you just don't know it can or has until you see it. Also that nomatter what the consequences, you shoul do what is right and never to let anybody down.

      I think that the best characte is Dirk Pitt because nomatter what he looks out for everybody. He's always there when somebody needs help or a hand. Also, he is just a caring person. You have seen diffferent sides to him because he can get sarcastic and very upset when people make him mad. Most of the time he trys to be funny and lighten the mood.

      I think that an important quote is made by Major Cleary. He was the head of the Special Force Team that attacked the Wolf's compound. He said, " I can't believe a couple of oceangraphic people from NUMA, untrained to fight hostiles, could do so much damage." I think that this is important because this gives an example  that anything is possible. Even if the odds are against you, it never hurts to try and do something that is right. You never know what could happen until you try.

       I am almost done witht this book and my only questions have to do with what happens at the end. Do the Wolfs get away? What happened to Pat O'Connel? And lastly, do Pitt and Giordino get awards or some kind of recegnition?

2. The Hobbit

I am still reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.  To recape what has happened the dwarves and hobbit have set out on a quest to reclaim their lost treasure that has fallen into the hands of the dragon Smog.  Along the way they have incountered goblins, elves, Gollum, giant spiders, and the Lakemen.  Right now I am at the part where they have reached the mountain and have used the information gathered from the map to find the hidden keyhole. 

I think it is a good book.  It is very creative and I love all the characters.  I still think the author wrote it probably just because that is what he enjoyed doing.  I think this because it seems like he really got into the story.  He wrote multiple books which would take dedication and he would have to care about it some to stick with it and continue the story throughout the other books. 

 I think that one of the themes is that even the smallest, least likely person can be courageous and become a hero.  Bilbo is a definent example of this.  He's a hobbit so he shouldn't even be on an adventure, but he finds himself on one and has to save the dwarves multiple times.  Another theme the book brings up is how wealth and power can corrupt a person.  This is most clearly shown through Gollum and the Ring.  It has physically run him down and mentally driven him crazy to do things that any normal person would find insane.

There are a lot of characters I like in this book.  Gandalf is one of them because he's mysterious.  You don't know all that much about him and he somehow manages to pop-up when he is most needed.  He seems like a very interesting person with a lot of intellect.  I think that Thorin has changed throughout the book.  At first he really thinks a lot of himself and wouldn't have ever decided to take a hobbit with them.  Now he is grateful to the hobbit and he's leared to show more respect. 

I wonder what lead the author to want to write a book like this.  How did he come up with it all and did he base characters off real people he knew or just come up with them?  I can't wait to finish the book!

gone with the wind

Margaret Michell

  I am half way through the book and is very interesting Scarlett is a interesting charecter and she is

 in love with a man called Ashley Wilkes. Witch then she hears that Ashley is engaged to his own cousin

from Atlanta. Then while they where at a cook out she expresses her feelings for him telling him how she

loves him and wants to be with him. Then ashley shuts her down and says I am not marring you and he was

 sorry but Melanie was similar and he likes that about her and there getting married. All of a sudden as

 Ashley was leaving Scarlett slaped her in the face and Ashley kept on walking.


   Then the civil war starts and Charles Hamilition is a dull timid man. Out of no where he proposes to

 Scarlett. She in a wink of an eye says yes to marrying him. But she did not marry Charles out of love or

 even because she liked him, she did to make Ashley jealous. So they get married right before Charles goes

 to the army. Charles goes off to the army and sadly dies of measles. But all of a sudden Scarlett is pregnant

 and gives birth to a boy, named Wade. She becomes bored and unhappy with her life and becomes sad.

  This is about all I have read so far but cant wait to read more. I dont get why they named the Ashley it

 sounds like a girls name to me. And that is about the only question I have so far.

By: Jarrett Stallman

2. Around the World in Eighty Days

          I am reading the book Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. Right now I am on page about 150 of 210.
   
         When we met the characters last  they were on a elephant on their way to Calcutta. When their reached Calcutta they met a new member to their group named Aouda, an Indian women refused to be in an arranged marriage, so Phileas Fogg saved her. Then they headed to Bombay and Passepartout, Mr. Fogg's servant, got into some trouble with some priests. They had to pay a bail so then they could head to Hong Kong.. In Hong Kong the detective following them around drugged Passepart so he couldn't tell Mr. Fogg that the ship to Yokohama. So then they miss the ship and somehow Passepartout makes it on the ship and is on his way. Then Mr. Fogg finds a boat captain to take him to Shanghai where he can catch the ship going to Yokohama and then the States. Then in Yokohama Phileas and Aouda finds Passepartout working as a clown. Then they get back on the ship together as a group and head off on a long journey to the United States. Where I have left off they were all boarding the train from San Fransisco to New York City. All the while the detective is trying to ruin their voyage so he may have time for warrant to come so he may arrest them.
      
         To me this book is just okay, but it has its ups and downs. I don't think that the stories pace will pick up really unless something major happens and causes a last minute arrival of the clan in London. A reason I think the author chose to write this book to show how many different cultures there are in the world and how different they really are. Like how some places their is pretty much only one type of people like in India, but in Japan their were all types of people from all parts of the world.A theme to this book could be traveling and the technology of the late 1800's. An example of the technology is they all had to go by either train or ship unlike taking an airplane in today's world. Today there are jets that travel around the world in just hours. Then they were making bets on if you could make it around the world in eighty days.

       My favorite character is still Phileas Fogg. He is always calm and cool. Even when things are at their worst he never reacts badly or in anger. Everyday of the trip though he seems to get a little bit more excited because he is right on time for his calculations. To me it doesn't seem like that their is any really good quotes in this book it is mainly just normal talk or a narrator. My only aggravating question is are they going to make it in time. It took them fifty-two days to go half way around the world and now only have 28 days to do the rest.

By: Michael Kline

1. The Hobbit

       I have started reading The Hobbit and have been enjoying it.  I started reading this book due to my dad because its one of his favorite books.  It is written by J.R.R. Tolkien and is the prelude to the popular series The Lord of the Rings.  First off, I love all the songs that have been added into the story (some of them are quite clever).  I have seen the cartoon version of The Hobbit so as I've been reading I've been comparing the similarities and differences between the two.

       Right now I am at the part where Bilbo and the dwarves have just escaped the woodelves and now are in the company of the Lakemen.  They escaped by traveling down the river in empty wine barrels.  I think it is a good book because it has an unlikely hero, but he overcomes his fears to help his friends on their quest to the regain their lost treasure.

       I think that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the book because that was what he enjoyed doing.  One of the quote that I found most interesting was "May the hair on your toes never fall out."  It just seemed like an odd thing to say to someone.  It showed how the dwarves started to respect Bilbo rather than think him useless.

       I wonder how the dwarves and Bilbo will manage to get their treasure from the dragon on the mountain.  I also wonder how the author came up with all the strange names for all the characters.  I think J.R.R. Tolkien came up with some great characters.  I always feel bad for poor Bomber, the over-weight dwarf, who always is either last or finds he has to be the one to carry little Bilbo!  This is a really good book and I can't wait to see how it ends!

THE HUNGER GAMES. Post two.

     This is my second post about the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I am about three-fourths of the way through the book.
     A lot has happened since they enter the arena. Right off the bat the bigger tributes make an alliance and Peeta joins them, however when they have Katniss trapped in a tree he risks his life to save her. She then forms an alliance with Rue, a twelve year old girl from District 11. A boy from District one kills Rue and Katniss kills him to avenge Rue. She is broken over the loss of Rue. Right now they are in the arena, and there are four tributes left. They have announced that this year there could be two winners of the games, as long as they are from the same disrtict. So now Peeta and Katniss are together on a team. Peeta is in genuine love with Katniss, but Katniss thinks it's purely for the effect their "love" has on the people who can send them gifts (their sponsors). Since Katniss doesn't realize Peeta's love is real she is faking love too, or you're not sure if she is faking it or genuinely loves him. Peeta's leg is badly cut and he is dying from his wound. In order to keep the games entertaining for the spectators they announce that one thing each player needs is in a back pack waiting for them at the place where the games began, this forces the players together, where they will have to fight.
      THE BOOK IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD. I think the author wrote the book to touch on the things I said in my first blog, but also to write about true love. It's obvious the Peeta is sooo in love with Katniss. The theme of the book so far is human nature, peoples true colors, and love.
       I think the best character is still Peeta. He's sweet, charming, and funny. He's grown to be less shy and you begin to see he has good values, and is a genuinely good, caring person.
       This is a quote from after Katniss drugs Peeta with sleeping medicine so she can sneak off to get the medicine after she promises she wont go:
"Who can't lie, Peeta?"
      It's important because she is furious at the government for making all these lies up and forcing citizens to compete in the Hunger Games, but yet in this quote she is kind of excusing them, saying everyone lies.
     I have so many questions because the book is so suspensful! What will happen at the feast? Who will die? Will she cure Peeta in time?

           Post Oneeeeeeeeee! THE HUNGER GAMES.

I am currently reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I am around half way through. I am at the part where they are first entering the arena. Basically the book is about a country called Panam. It has 12 districts and every year each district is required to send a male and a female "tribute" between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in the "Hunger Games". The twenty-four teenagers are placed in a giant arena pitted against one another in a fight to the death.
It is so far the greatest book EVER. Soooooooooooo good. The reason it was so addictive, I think, is because it is every type of book mashed into a story of love, violence, and human nature. It's tragic, romantic, filled with action, and yet at times funny.
I think when writing this book Suzanne Collins was trying to teach us about what desperate people will do in desperate times. Also, she is trying to show us (by the circumstances under which the people are living) that bad things could come by giving the government too much power. Overall I think what the author wanted us to see from reading this book is the true character of people when placed in a life or death situation.
My favorite character would have to be Peeta. He is the 16 year old male tribute from the same district as the main character Katniss. They are both from Dictrict 12.
This would have to have been my favorite part of the book so far, when I was really hooked. It's the boy from District 12 (Peeta, the male tribute from the same district as the main character) during his pre-game interview.
Caesar: “Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what’s her name?”
Peeta: “Well, there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping.”
Caesar: “She have another fellow?”
Peeta: “I don’t know, but a lot of boys like her.”
Caesar: “So, here’s what you do. You win, you go home. She can’t turn you down then, eh?”
Peeta: “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning…won’t help in my case”
Caesar: “Why ever not?”
Peeta: “Because…because…she came here with me.”
       Where I stopped I have sooooooooooo many questions. What's going to happen with Peeta and Katniss? Does Katniss feel the same way? And of course, what will happen in the arena? Who will live and who will be the first to die?

2.) Atlantis Found

        I am reading a book called Atlantis Found, by Clive Cussler. So far I am on Chapter 36 out of 51.

        Since my last post, I have found out a lot of things about the Wolf family. They have been planning to destroy the world and have only the people that they think are fit to live saved. Their family has been planning to do this for 3 generations. They started it right after World War II. Also, they had taken Pat O'Connell and forced her to decipher an ancient carving in a cave left by the Amenes. The Wolf family has also created and built four massive boats. They are the biggest boats in the world and have to house thousands of people for twenty years. I found out earlier that there was supposed to be a comet striking Earth and that is why the Wolfs are building these ships. Now I know that the Wolfs figured out that the comet isn't going to strike. They need another way to wipeout the earth, so they decided to break a massive ice cap so that it would float to sea and cause a shift in the earth's poles. This will cause the hole world to flood and wipeout anybody who isn't on one of their ships.


        I like this book now that it has gotten more interesting. In the first few chapters it was really slow moving and boring, but it has slowly gotten better throughout the book and I like it better now. I think that Clive Cussler wrote this book because he thought it was an interseting story and wanted to expand on the idea of Atlantis. Also, maybe it was just something he thought would be another good journey or adventure for his famous character Dirk Pitt.

         I think that the theme of this book is that anything is possible. In the book it had been nine-thousand years before anybody discovered any of these ancient carvings or cities. Just because we don't know something existed before, doesn't mean that it didn't exist. Things can always be added to history after new things are discovered.

        My favorite character is probably still Dirk Pitt because no matter what the circumstances, he's always looking out for everybody. He is really smart and is good at thinking of ways to outsmart is opponent and win. He looks out for everyone and always does the right thing. He has grown a lot during the book and is a lot more open to possibilities and ideas. He also shows a caring and affectionate side now. I learned that he has a girlfriend and is very much a gentleman.

          I think that there is a good quote made by Karl Wolf in chapter 32. He says, " That's the difference between you and me Mr. Pitt. You see it as the end. I see it as a bold new beginning." I think that this is an interesting quote because it shows how differently Dirk and Karl see things. Karl is very cocky and snooty, while Pitt is kind and logical. Karl doesn't see that what he is doing is really wrong. Also, this shows how people can do amazing things no matter how hard, as long as they set their mind to it. Karl is going to destroy the world, and he has a very good plan of action. People see things differently in books, and in real life to. I think that this is a good quote because it displays this and represents how as one door closes, another one opens.
         One of my questions is why do the Wolf's want to destroy Earth. They already know that the comet isn't going to strike, yet they are doing whatever they can to speed up the destruction of earth. Also, I would really like to know what happens at the end and how Dirk and the NUMA stop the Wolf's from flooding the world.

2. A Girl Like Moi

            I am reading A Girl Like Moi, by Lisa Barham. I am about halfway through the book right now. Last time I blogged she was about to reveal the McDonalds Makeover to the public. So basically what happened was her boss got really mad about the whole makeover event. He fired both Imogene and Evie. When Imogene's mom finds out, she isn't mad. But she is super mad because she finds out that Imogene has been excessively spending. Imogene has a really deep credit card debt. She's addicted to shopping. As Imogene's punishment, she has to join the summer internship program at her school. Imogene hears about an amazing internship opportunity with a New York fashion magazine. She would be helping out at Hautelaw magazine, and the best part is: the internship is paid. She contacts the girl from her school in charge of the internship program, Nini. The problem is that Nini is super busy and a major fashonista. Nini has absolutely no time to talk to Imogene except at a party that night at the Soho House. Once they are there, Imogene makes a few enemies, gets a new celeb friend, and also meets a boy. She falls head over heels for this boy. She even accidentally leaves her cell phone with him.
            Anyway, after talking her parents into letting her move to New York, she gets an interview with Hautelaw. Spring, the top designer of the magazine, loves Imogene and her style, so she gets hired. Brooke, a previous intern, got a promotion and is in charge of Imogene. Any designs that Imogene wants Spring to see have to go through Brooke. I have a suspicion that Brooke is stealing Imogenes' designs. (Note: Evie also moved to New York to help her father out in his restaurants. Evie's family and Imogene live in an apartment together.) Also while in New York, Imogene is forced to attend Spender's Anonymous meetings, and she is on shopping probation. 
            I am really enjoying this book. There is lots of fashion talk about the latest and greatest trends. It's also very cool to see Imogene overcome her shopping addiction because I can easily relate.
            I believe that Lisa Barham wrote this book to teach a lesson. I think a lot of this book is about taking responsibility for your actions. Another motive could be about being an individual and growing up. Barham probably wrote this book to teach teens lessons and make them think. These are also the major themes of the book at this point.
             My favorite character is probably Brooke. She creates a lot of drama. She is definitely up to something. She hasn't really grown or changed, she is just really fun to listen to. She's not the sharpest tack in the box. Imogene, on the other hand, has grown a lot. She is learning about being responsible. 
              "Though muffled, I heard what sounded like a familiar voice coming from the phone in her drawer and then Brooke began rustling papers and shuffling things around on her desk." This shows that Brooke is definitely up to something. I wonder if she has a plan or if she is leaking top secret Hautlaw information to the public?
--Alex Smith

My book was not good!

I thought that A Tale of Two Cities would be my type of book, but know its putting me to sleep. Time for a new one.

white fang

White Fang

London Jack

                 This book is about two men (Bill and Henry) stuck in the woods, with their three dogs.With them they have one pistol that only has three bullets left. Bill is out watching the dogs when he gets attacked by a wild wolf. Bill starts yelling to Henry, while one of the dogs is getting attacked. Bill tries to shoot the dog but misses and is eaten by the wolf with the dog. So now it is just Henry with other two dogs. He trys to drive the other wolf off with a fire and it is not working the wolf is stocking them like it there pray. He is about to attack until a group of men traveling by notice what is going on. Henry is hurt bad but him and the other two dogs are saved by the group of traveling men.

                 The wolves are in a pack but they start splitting up and the she wolf is one of the first. She finds 

another pack of wolfs and is accepted in the pack. She mates with another wolf in the pack and has nine pups. 

Only one pup lives threw a series of unfortunate events. The pup grows up to be power full and very physical.

                 The wolf pack comes to an Indian tribe where out of no where we found out the she wolf is part 

wolf part dog. In the Indian tribe is where her master is. Her master catches her and White Fang her pup stays 

close watching her. The she wolf is sold to another Indian tribe. White Fang grow fond of Gray beaver (the she 

wolfs master) and stays with him. He get picked on and beat up by all the other dogs. Especially one dog 

named lip-lip.

                White Fang get more and more mean, what his master wants. And White Fang starts killing other dogs. White Fang is sold to Beauty Smith. Beauty Smith is not a good man he is a drunk and hardly has enough money to buy White Fang. Some folks around town say he is a monster. Beauty Smith makes White Fang meaner and White Fang starts fighting bigger and meaner dogs he is killing and beating them. Until he meets a big Bulldog and is only saved by a man named Scott a no body around town.

                Scott tames White Fang and they move to California together. There White Fangs settles down and is trained to love his master and other dogs. And he even saves Scott's father From a criminal from a nearby prison. And White Fang has puppies with hes father dog collie. And him and collie and there puppies live a happy life in California.

      By: Jarrett Stallman