Cover Up, By John Feinstein - Mystery Novel

A boy of the name Stevie Thomas is 14 years old, and he is a sports fanatic. Stevie has stopped a player from being blackmailed in the final four. He has been hired by USTV to do a show for them. After a couple of months later he was fired and then hired by CBS. Stevie then was told a story about a few players on the dreams football team. That they have been using Human Growth hormones throughout their season. Stevie started gathering evidence up and started making a story for the few players using the human growth hormones. This story was kept a secret from other people so those players using human growth hormones would not be suspended from playing. Will the players get caught for their human growth hormones and get suspended from playing, or will they get away with it and continue playing for the dreams for this final four????? Question #6
If i could as the author one question about the book the question would be what made him think of a book about players using drugs does this relate to anything in real life or that happened to you? Question #1
One character in this book is a boy the name of Stevie Thomas. Stevie Thomas is very interested in football and sports in general. He is a writer and a show host about the game of football.

the hunger games-christian flett

in the fiction book there are massive amounts of starving families struggling to survive
not only that but are also being thrown into a fight to the death 24 players and only one winner

question 2 i think the main characters peeta and katniss do change/mature by the end of the book
 i think they kind of in a way figure out how twisted the word they live in is.

question 5 yes i thought the ending was vary satisfying because every thing happend exactly how the reader
wanted it to and i think the author was kind of setting up the ending at about the middle and me as the reder knew what exactly what was going to happen.

in all the book was vary good.

CROAK by Gina Damico, Fiction

        The fiction novel book, named CROAK, has a plot that follows a teenage girl in her life that turns in many different ways. This tale includes mystery, action, humor, and a realistic feel of what a real girl would do in these odd situations, such as the type of girl this plot follows. The center main character's name is Lex, Lexington Bartleby, sixteen years of age, a straight A student suddenly turning delinquent in her normal school life. Soon would she know that this summer may be the best thing to have happened to her in a little town called Croak.

     Question #2
   The main character that is seen and followed through most of the book, Lex, was the one that changed the most over the summer in the time she spent at Croak. Her personality turned more mature, well, somewhat, with less blind rage and more of a normal teen girls personality with more of a balance with her emotions.

    Another main character is Lex's partner in her "work", Driggs. Driggs and Lex didn't exactly get off at a good start with her saying; "That's a stupid name" and the funny but awkward way they met. Driggs's personality didn't change that much, maybe a bit more mature and serious but he's still mostly himself.

    Another main character is Lex's uncle, Mort, the mayor of Croak, a scientist, known as a genius, but sometimes just seems to be trying to make Lex insane at the beginning of the book. Mort is mysterious and goofy but over time in the book Lex learned the he's more secretive, smart, and serious than she thought.

      Question #6
    A question I'd ask the author of this book is: "What was your inspiration?". I haven't read any other books by this author but just this one book caught my attention and held my interest to the not only the plot but the characters and mystery of the good plot line I've read. I've heard this book is a series and I wouldn't mind reading the entire thing just for fun and ideas. My opinion: "This is a great story!"

Ellis island, Pamela reeves, non fiction

So far i have read 31 pages of the book. so far the book is explaining the difficulties of getting into Ellis island and the problems with the ride over from Europe to america. I like the book it has a lot of history about the people who have come through.

question 2. What is the central idea discussed in the book? The central idea of the book is the history of Ellis island and the people that came through. The author talked about how the poor had to ride boats with over priced tickets and bad quality with disease and waste going around the boat.

question 3. Do the issues affect your life? Yes because some people were being sent back to their countries because they did not meet the requirements needed to get into america so if my family was not accepted then my family would still be in germany and i may have not been born.

Dear Bully, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

The whole point of this book is 70 authors write a letter to their past bullies. It shows what has changed these peoples lives by bullying. If you have never been bullied before, this book is a real eye opener.  No one ever realizes how people can get hurt by just a simple joke. Some of these letters are also past ullies apologizing to their past victims. Its so hard to realizes how someones life can change just by one little thing that happens in grade school. although this book doesn't really have a plot, in a way it does because the readers realization of the nation wide problem grows throughout the book. when we get lectures in school about bullying, we don't see how it hurts people because we cant see a real point of view, this book changes that. We can really see how the issue affects everyone, even 20 years later.

Question 3: book structure- This book is in the first person. it starts off as a summary of what bullying is and how much it happens, then turns into a series of letters that will never be sent to a past bully or victim

Question: how has the book changed me- I was teased a lot in elementary school but I never thought much about bullying till now. I now know how it feels to be afraid to go to school everyday, to hate yourself, to wonder why you deserved it. Now I know the relentless power of bullying

They All Fall Down By Roxanne St. Clare

The whole point of this book is its high school, these teenage girls would kill to be on the list. Kenzie the main character couldn't thank everyone more when she landed number 5 onto the list of the hottest girls. But soon she wont be thanking anyone.. Her life will change, big time. Her life is in the hands of another person, her life will soon be rolling down the hill. But in the meantime being number 5 on the list she hits jackpot. Gets in parties , new friends, and the cutest guy in school likes her. If you were on the list last year, your life changed. But this year if you're on the list, your life ends..

The girls on the list have started to die..
is it a curse? a coincidence? Or is the list in the hands of a killer?
Time is running out for Kenzie.. but shes determined to figure out why this is happenning.. Before he number is next on the list

One part in the passage Kenzie was talking to one of her friends, her friend said Chloe just died..

Kenzie started crying because Chloe is Second and Kenzie is fifth..

Question 6. If i could ask the author any question i would ask how she got the idea to write the book. I havent read any other books by her so i would also ask if all of her books are mystery or if she changes. This book definitely inspires me to read more.

Question 4. A theme the author reaches is that Every girl would die to be on the list. There is an order everyone is on the list. The order that they are on the list is the order that they die in.

The Scorch Trials: James Dashner, Science Fiction

After the Gladers find their way out of the maze, they meet some people and they take the Gladers to a building. When they arrive, the Gladers eat and shower, thinking they are safe. After the Gladers get their rest, they wake up in the middle of the night, startled because there are madmen that are calling themselves "Cranks." Their flesh is torn and they have insane eyes. They were in the windows shouting "Kill me!" or "I'm a bloody Crank" over and over again. After the Gladers escape their bedroom, they enter a dark, smelly room. As they turn the lights on, they could see at least a dozen people hanged from the ceiling. Thomas, one  of the main characters notice that the people on the ceiling are the ones that rescued the Gladers.

Question 1: Thomas and Minho are two of the main characters. Both are hardworking, smart, not the type to give up, brave and ambitious. They are still trying to figure out more information about themselves, since their memories were wiped. Also, they are trying to get out of Phase 2: The Scorch. Thomas and Minho are both Runners. Runners are gladers that go in the maze and try to find a way out.

Question 3: The Scorch Trials is the 2nd story in the Maze Runner series. The author uses a single viewpoint during the story, which is Thomas. I think the author chose to tell the story in Thomas's point of view so the reader could understand and connect to the relationship that Thomas have with the Gladers, WICKED, and Theresa, she is the last Glader that have been sent.

Tiger Woods by Jack Clary nonfiction

I have read about a third of my book on tigers younger years. He was noticed at age 14 winning the amateur championship. His mom is Korean and his dad is aferican american and a former MLB catcher. Tigers real name is Eldrick coming from his Korean roots. He went Division 1 golf and played at stanford university.

Question 1c: I find it hard to understand how he was noticed at age 14

Question 2: the author explores tigers personal life

Ghost Hawk, By Susan Cooper 

         The book I've chose is a great read. It's a fictionally book revolving around a Native American Boy known as Little Hawk. He has gone on a journey to become a man. His tribe Nauset sends the boys out to the wilderness to survive on there own for 3 months. So far his journey has been rough considering they can only bring a tomahawk, bow and arrows, moccasins, and a knife. With this they have to survive through the winter on there only till spring.  

       Question 1 Time in History: The book is based back in the 1700's. This is to me what makes the book even better. It can go into detail with description about what is happening. If the time period was changed the book wouldn't of came together and wouldn't be right because the fact of when they send the boys out on there own journey. There is death in the book already with an elderly woman getting a disease they believe is measles.

      Question 2 Structure: The book is a story that is continuous and with it being that it has mystery and excitement. With the events that happen in the book the story basis moves forward in history. I like how the author just uses one point of view to tell the story. I think it is better than having multiple view points that could make the book confusing. 

 
                     

Gone, Lisa McMann, fiction, Nathan Powell

My book is a fiction novel about a teenager going onto a woman that's going through a rough time right now. Her name is Janie. Janie just wants to get away from everyone and hide and not be around people.  While she is going through this rough time Cabel, her boyfriend, comforts her and all the stuff a boyfriend should do while being a boyfriend. As time goes and her things started to get better and her friends are trying to do everything. However Janie is a unique person. She has these dreams where she can tell what others peoples dreams are and what's happening in the dream. Adding to her troubles her father that she never saw before shows up when her mother went to the hospital for being drunk. But here a twist the father is close to being dead he has a brain damage and right now Janie really doesn't want her dad to be here at all. With everything happening right now in her life she should just, "Pick it up. And walk out."

Question #1: Janie is a very interesting main character. Guessing on how she living right now I think she had a rough childhood living with only her mom and all. Her relationship with Cabel seems fine and it seems like she doesn't get along with her parents that well either too. Janie reminds me of sometimes because sometimes I just want to be alone and away from everyone.

Question #9: The one thing that I thought sounded interesting to me was that Janie could see other peoples dreams so what she saw the person was dreaming that same thing.

Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher, Mystery

Hannah baker committed suicide, and she left behind 7 double sided cassette tapes.Each side of a tape is about on person and what they did to have a effect on Hannah. The tapes are passed around so the people on the tapes know what they did to make her do this to herself. The cassettes explain why she killed herself. The story is told by a person named Clay Jensen, he is on the tapes but he has know idea what for.

Has the novel changed me:
The novel has not changed me, however it has opened up a new variety of books. I have never really been into book but this book has really caught onto me because of the idea of it being a mystery.

One question I would ask the author:
One question I would ask Jay Asher would be what inspired you to write this book, because the book is sad and maybe something happened in their life that hap them write the book. I have not read any of the authors other books. If their books are in common the Thirteen Reasons Why I would be very interested in reading them.

B For Buster, By Iain Lawrence - Jacob Munger

16 year old Kak, nicknamed after his hometown Kakabeka in Canada, enlists in the Canadian Air Forces. Wanting to join the Air Force to get away from his abusive parents, Kak is trained to be a wireless operator and sent to a squadron in England. Kak is thrilled to go on his first op, as he thinks that it will be the same heroism as he has seen in comic books. But on Kak's first time on a night op, Artillery strikes their plane, B For Buster, and one hit could bring them down.

Question 2: Describe the main character...
The main character is a Canadian teenager named Kak, after his hometown in Canada, Kakabeka. Kak is eager to enlist in the Canadian Air Force to fight for the Allies during World War II to get away from his abusive parents. Kak is a very quiet character I would presume, as he doesn't want anybody to know about his past. He also has some other secrets that he doesn't want anyone to find out about, like the fact that he is only 16, and underage for Military Service. Kak is sometimes worried as well, since some of the people in his squadron he knew lived in his hometown back in Canada.

Question 8: Where in time and history does the story take place?
The story takes place during World War II. The Allied Forces (USA, Canada, England, etc.) are fighting the Axis Forces (Germany in this story) and the main character leaves his home in Canada to join the Air Force.

Paper Towns, John Green (Fiction)

Quentin, also known as Q, believes everyone is given a mirical and his just happens to be a neighbor. He moved next door to the adventure speaking, Margo Roth  Spiegelman. Margo is a popular girl who had been friends with Q since she was younger, as they got older they drifted apart due to popularity. Q, became friends with the band kids, while Margo was the "ringleader" of the populars. Margos' boyfriend and her friends do not stay loyal to Margo, so she creates a plan, for revenge to successfuly tackle this plan in one school night she needed a partner. She chooses Q, by claiming into his room window in the middle of the night. After a night of unforgettable adventures with Margo, the next day she is gone.

Question 3. Books structure...
             This book is told in 1st person my Q. He starts off with a backstory when him and Margo were nine years old. The rest of the story is told when they are seniors in high school. I think this helps tell the story because it tells how Q feels throughout the story.

Question 10. Character solves a problem...
              Twords the end of the section since Margo left, the popular boys starting acting up. Some kids filled water guns with pee and sprayed the freshman boys. Other kids ran over freshmans bikes with a car, crushing them. Q fixed this problem by emaling another senior boy who he knew was associated with the problems, Q talked to him and used some blackmail to get the boys to stop. Later they ever came over and apologized.

The Ghetto Cowboy, By- G.Neri

This book started off fantastic. It is a good and easy book to get into. About a trouble making boy that lives sin the city. When his mom has just had enough she sends him to live with his father. Who his son has never seen him before. Not even in a picture. This book has a fantastic beginning and I am loving the book so far. The author is doing a great job.

Blur, Steven James, Fiction

         Two different people, Daniel and Emily. Same school, same environment but have no clue who each other are. Although a town shocking event happened. Emily, Emily Jackson disappeared and was recently found dead. No one really knew who she was until they found out she had passed. Multiple people from her school and from the community including Daniel. Daniel found the situation quite awkward, following everyone to what they were doing he went to the line to say the final goodbyes to Emily. At last it was face to face, Emily to Daniel. Daniel found himself seeing Emily, alive. Overwhelmed he passed out. A few days passed and Daniel continued his usual life school, friends and football, Daniel Loved football. The days counted down until finally the day of homecoming came! Although Daniel could not get Emily's appearance off his mind. Finally came game time! Daniel did amazing first half; second have came along and Emily Jackson made a second appearance, in shock Daniel blacked out again. Daniel needed some sort of closure so he wanted to go to the lake where Emily was found. As he was walking around he found Emily's glasses. Standing in confusion he thought "maybe Emily's death wasn't an accident after all?"

   Question #1: Talk about the stories structure....
    This book is one story mainly focusing on one plot or theme. Throughout the book it goes back and forth from the past where it was at Emily's funeral and to the present. In this whole book so far it is mostly in Daniel's head, his thoughts and his voice.

   Question #2: Describe the main character...
      Daniel is a very athletic, smart boy. Although when it comes to girls he is very shy. Daniel is very good to his friends, his friends trust him. He depends on his friends and his friends depend on him.
Also Daniel's mother left him as a child so his life got turned upside down.

Josh Hamilton Beyond Belief with Tom Keown, non-fiction, Jacob Buell

My book is a biography on the baseball player Josh Hamilton. The book started off with Josh as a kid always wanted to be around baseball. He couldn't get enough of it. As a kid, he respected his coaches, parents and anyone that was around him. Evryone wanted to be like him. As he got older he got well known and had scouts watching him early as a kid. But he didn't quite undrstand.Now that he got older, he was drafted number one by the Texas Ranger. He was playing with the farm team and was hitting well and was basically the best one on the team.
1. The central idea of this book so far is basically to stay humble no matter how much of a special ability you have. Im learning from this book that you should stay humble and never brag.
2.I find this book intriguing because I am very into baseball just like Josh. Also, I hope to belike him.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Sam Robinson

Summary: This book is about a girl named Cassie (short for Cassiopeia) who is trying to survive an invasion of the "Others". The Others are "aliens" who have come to earth to take control. The only difference about these aliens is that their not little green, big headed, huge eyed things. They actually look just like us, humans. In the first couple of chapters she is describing what happened during the first couple of waves. There are 5 waves all together and each wave gets worse and worse and kills more and more people till there is literally no one left on Earth except for the Others. "In the 1st wave only around half a million people died, since the wave was only a massive electromagnetic pulse that ripped through the atmosphere at precisely eleven A.M. on the tenth day." Each wave had a different effect on everything and everybody.



Question #8: Where in time and history does this take place...
This story takes place in modern times, maybe 2007-2010. I can tell because in some of the beginning chapters Cassie says things about texting her friend on her cell phone, which indicates that they have technology that they wouldn't of had in the 1900's. Also they talk about people having CNN on 24/7 to see whats going on out in the world.




Question #6: If I could ask the author a question...
A question that I would ask the author (Rick Yancey) if I got the chance would be, "why did you include the part where Cassie is sitting in her backyard with that boy (Mitchell)?" "What was the point of that part being in the story if it wasn't really beneficial to the story?"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The Independent Study, By Joelle Charbonneau, Book 2 of the Testing Series

Short Summary: Cia Vale is 17 years old living in a distopion world in the future. Each year kids are chosen from their schools to be apart of The Testing. It is made by the government and only the smartest students are chosen to be in it. It is a huge honor but also very difficult. In book 2 Cia is chosen to do a job she is not prepared for that could get her killed.


Question 1: Describe the character. Cia Vale, the main character, is a strong but deeply emotional person. She often underestimates herself but always works hard. I admire how strong she is emotionally and she comes from a normal family and life. She is a great character.


Question 6: If I could ask the author one question it would be what was her inspiration for the book. Were her characters based of certain people if so who. How would she react if she was put in the same position as her characters.

Throw like a girl, by Jean Thompson, fiction

Summary: The book i chose to read was a fictional novel called throw like a girl by Jean Thompson. The main character that takes place in this book is Iris, she is known as "the brat" because shes rude to a lot of people including her mom and doesn't like a lot of things.

Question 3: Is it a continuous story or interlocking short stories? Does the time line move forward chronologically or back and forth between past and present? This story is a continuous story because it keeps telling you about whats happening and it doesn't jump to another story. The author might have chosen to tell the story the way she did because it inspired them to write it like that.

Question 6- If i could ask the author one question what would it be? Have you read other books by the same author? If so how does this book compare. If not, does this book inspire you to read others?
If i could ask the author one question it would be "what inspired you to write this book and why"? No i have not read other books by this author but i would like to because i was interested in this book.

Unstoppable By Tim Green- Cameron Cronk

A foster boy named Harrison Johnson moved in with a family named the Constables. They made him do chores pretty much all the time. It was a sad and difficult time for Harrison because he would get beaten with a belt by Mr. Constable when he did not obey his rules. One day, Harrison just couldn't take the abuse anymore. He met with a lady named Mrs. Godfrey about the abuse by Mr.
Constable. Mrs. Godfrey is a nice women who helps out foster children, so Harrison was moved to a new family named the Kelly's. Mrs. Kelly is Mrs. Godfrey's daughter. The Kelly's treat Harrison like he was one of their own family members. One night Mr. Kelly (Coach) asked Harrison if he's ever played football. He responded ''No''. Mr. Kelly encourages Harrison to try out for the team and he makes it. The next day after school, Harrison went to put on his new jersey and equipment. When he went out to the practice field, everyone started laughing because...  he had put his pads on backwards. Harrison was embarrassed. After he met his teammates, Harrison realized he did not like one of his new team mates. His name was Leo Howard.  Harrison  didn't like him because of his attitude. But Harrison did make a friend and his name is Justin. He plays wide receiver for the team. In Harrison's first game he was a monster on the field and they beat the other  team 63-20. Harrison even scored a couple touchdowns. In school, Harrison met this girl he likes named Becky. There is a dance coming up called the  Fall Ball  and Harrison is to chicken to ask
Becky to go with him to the dance. When they saw each other again, Becky could tell that Harrison wanted to ask her, but he didn't.  Becky decides,  if Harrison is going to be a person who is too afraid to talk to her, she doesn't want anything to do with him. All in all, Harrison loves to play the game of football and he wants to make it to the NFL... and be with Becky again.


Question 1 (What is the Central Idea discussed in the book?)

     The author likes to talk about Harrison's Life and the tragedies along the way. Will Harrison find happiness with a loving family? For example, in the beginning of the book Mr. Constable is Harrison's foster dad and he is abusive. His mom came into court wanting to take him back however, the court wouldn't allow it.  Then he ends up with a loving family and he is happy with the Kelly's.

Question 2 (Do the issues affect your life?)

     These issues do not affect me on a daily basis but if I do something that I shouldn't do than I would get a punishment. And hopefully nobody else in the world gets treated the way Harrison was treated by the Constables. However, he is now with a family that loves him and I can relate to his loving family. My family is very close and we treat each other with love and respect.

Wonder,R.J Palacio,Fiction

Short Summary-
The fictional novel that I chose to read was Wonder by R.J Palacio. The main character  August (Auggie) who is ten years old was born with a condition that makes him have some physical face features that makes his face look different from every other normal ten year old kid. School is hard enough for any kid,but when you get bullied for something that you were born with makes it even harder.There is also another main character named Summer,she sits with Auggie at lunch,but most of the kids in their school don't get why such a nice girl would sit with him at lunch.

Question #6-If I could ask the author one question...
If I could ask the author one question about the novel,Wonder,I would ask why he chose August to be the main character in the book,and why he had to have something wrong with him? I have never read a book by this author,but what would inspire me to read another novel by this author would be that I really like the message that this author is incorporating in Wonder.

Question #3-Is this book us a continuous story or connected by short stories...
This book is broken into different parts and each part of the book is told by a different characters point of view. At each part of the book each characters perspective of the whole situation is different.Which I think is a great way to tell the story because especially in this novel its good to hear the way that each characters feels about what August is going through.

Paper Towns By:John Green Fiction

Summary- Q Jacobson had only a month left of school before he graduated. That was before Margo showed up at his window in the middle of the night. Margo was Q's next door neighbor that rarely talked to Q until this night when he was chosen to be apart of one of Margo's many journeys. Q and Margo had 10 things to do before it was morning again. The first thing that they had to do was buy all the supplies they would need for the night. Then they would go to Margo's now ex best friend house to leave a surprise. They also left a surprise to he ex boyfriend and best friend. After that Margo wanted to break into Sea World. They did because it was one one the parks  that she had never broken into before. After the night was over and they got home Margo told Q that it cant be like this and things would have to back to normal. A couple days later Q finds out that has run away from home again.

Question #3 Paper Towns is a continuous story. as far as I have been no flashbacks, the story moves forward in time.The story is written in one view point. It is the view point of the main character Q. I think that the author wrote it in this view point because Q is the only one that cares enough about Margo. If it were to switch view points the whole story would be changed. Also it wouldn't make sense if it was from anyone else view point.


Question #6 If I could ask the author a question it would be "Why are and Margo the way they are? Why are they so different from each other?" Another book of his that I read was The Fault in our Stars. They are very similar in story. They are both about finding your true love.

Lacrosse Fundamentals, Jim Hinkson, non-fisction, Gianni Martino

So far i have read about different game plays, set ups, jobs of different players, and the parts of the stick. I read that about where the game originated and how the game is played. The author mentions being taught how to play the game at a young age from his father. The author mentions personal experiences and also tells about how to play the game. The game was created by Native Americans over 100 years ago. Native Americans play the game with traditional hand crafted gear unlike most profetional Americans who use name brand gear. I am most surprised that over all of the years lacrosse is still one of the most played sports in america.

No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL by Mark Owen, Kevin Maurer. Genre: Biography.

     No Hero by Mark Owen is a book written in the perspective of a Navy SEAL. The book starts off with the protagonist (who is not identified) talking about what it's like, and what it truly means to be a Navy SEAL. Towards the end of the prologue, the protagonist points out that he is writing the book. The chapters continue to talk about the protagonist's journey to become a Navy SEAL, and the struggle and dedication of training to become what he will be by the end of the book.


     Question 2. What is the central idea discussed in the book?
          The central idea discussed in the book is the hardship of being a Navy SEAL and the sacrifices that are made during the journey to becoming one.

     Question 3. Do the issues affect your life?
          These issues affect my life. Not now, but in the future, because I had always had the thought of enrolling into the Army. Knowing the struggle and risks that you need to take, it definitely allowed me to know what it will take to be in the Army one day.

I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior By Howard e. Wasdin and Stephen Templin

I am reading "i am a seal team six warrior" it is a bout a man named Howard wasdin. Howard was born prematurely in boynton,beach florida on November 8 1961. His mothers boyfriend Leon which later became his stepfather beat him whenever he wanted until Howard finally left for college. He went to cumberland college in Williamsburg, Kentucky. After he Howard didn't have enough money to go back to college he went and saw military recruiters. He saw a poster of a search and rescue swimmer and he knew what he wanted to do. He met a woman named Laura which late became his wife and then Howard went to training after they got married. Howard took the search and rescue screening test. After he passed he went to boot camp where he attended aircrew school.


1)The central idea in this book is don't give up if you work towards your goal you will achieve it.

2)The first part of the the book is a specific passage where Howard takes leon beating him. Also works all summer to be able to pay for college and still makes it to the military.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, realistic fiction. ~~Alyssa Woodruff

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, realistic fiction. ~~Alyssa Woodruff

Hayley Kincaid doesn't have the strongest family relationship. Her dad is a drunk who is on and off about being a father. Sometimes her father is clean of drugs, sober, and caring. Other times, he is so drunk that he can't even walk. They are struggling with finances. Hayley's father almost never shows up to work; explaining why the small family can never find a home to stay for a long period of time. And she is being "haunted" by the thought of her father's ex-girlfriend coming back into her life. Hayley was home schooled up until her senior year; she started to attend public school. Now she can get the real feel to have friends. Gracie and Finnegan Ramos are her two best friends. It is safe to say that Hayley is shy and quiet. Although she is shy, she has an outgoing personality.

1. ) If you could ask the author one question…?

If i could ask the author, Laurie Halse Anderson, one question, then I would ask her why she chooses these type of stories;stories with characters that are struggling with their lives. I have read a few other books that she had written. The award winning book, Speak, is about a high school girl that is left out and bullied. I have also read the book Twisted. Twisted is about a high school boy that made one bad choice that has changed his life. All three of these books have something in common. They are all about the different struggles that high school students go through. These stories may not apply to everyone, but they,in my opinion, are important to hear. If I were to ask this question, I would be curious to as what I would hear.Does the author have kids that go home and tell her stories? Or did she live through the different events?

2.) Where is the setting... how would it impact...?

Bullying is a huge problem in the 21st century. Suicide is the second leading cause in the United States for people 10-24 years old. Bullying has been a huge topic for the past few years. This book, in particular, isn't about bullying but is about struggles and drugs. Drugs have also been a major problem for many years. More and more students in high school are either using or surrounded by drugs. If the setting was changed, for example to the 19th century, then the story would be majorly impacted. There were not as many resources to bully something back then as there is today. Today, there is so many technology resources that can encourage cyber-bullying. Back in the 19th century, there was not technology with Facebook or Instagram.

Legend, by Marie Lu, Fiction

Legend is a very interesting book. It takes place in Los Angeles, California sometime in the future. Day and June are the two main characters who fight against each other through out most of the book. Day is a criminal child who steals from the Republic to support his poor family. June is a daughter of a Republic soldier who patrols the street. June's first mission as a recruit is to hunt down Day and capture him. One problem for the Republic soldiers is that non of them knows what Day looks like.


Question #1: Describe the main characters.

Day is a wanted criminal who escaped the execution of the failed tests of the trial. He is wanted for Assault, Arson, Theft, Destruction of Military Property and Hindering the War Effort. His family thinks he is dead except his older brother. He steals things for his family and gives them to his brother to share with the family.
June is the youngest person to go to college and be training for soldier duty. Her older brother works for the military as a military police officer. She gets hired in as a trainee for her brother's patrol after an accident. Her first missions as a detective is to hunt down Day and capture him

Question #3: Talk about the books structure

The book starts off with Day for a few pages then rotates to June. The book does this throughout the whole story. I think this is a good idea on how to keep the reader updated on what is happening to each person at the time of events.

Schooled by Gordon Korman, realistc fiction

So far I've been reading about a book called schooled and it is about a boy named Capricorn Anderson, Cap for short. Cap, just your average...Uhh...Hippie, he has never tasted pizza, never watched television, and never heard of a wedgie. Ever since he was little, his only experience has been living on farm commune and being homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. But when Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums, Cap is forced to move in with a guidance counselor and attend to the local middle school!

From Bad To Cursed By Katie Alender Horror/Fiction/Mystery

From Bad To Cursed By Katie Alender is the second book in the series Bad Girls Don't Die. From Bad To Cursed is about a girl named Alexis, she is in Junior year of high school, her sister Kasey has moved back in after being in a mental institute for ten months and it is a big surprise to her. Her parents want her to help Kasey get back into the swing of things.
   
Questions:
1) The past has shaped Alexis by never letting ghosts take over her body like her sister Kasey let Sarah possese her body.
2) The dymamics between Alexis and her sister Kasey is that ever since Kasey got possesed by a ghost their relationship has gotten torn apart.

Football Superstars Tom Brady, by Rachel A.Koestler-Grack, non-fiction

In this novel the main character is Tom Brady who is a very talented and athletic person who has played baseball all his life decides to turn to football because of the love for the game. He ends up going to college for a full scholarship at Michigan university he did good and got drafted to the patriots in the 6th round. he fights with his very out going personality and finally gets the starting job and the dynasty for Tom Brady is just beginning.

In the novel Tom Brady has a very significant relationship with all his coaches and is very respected in all the teams he has played for and makes sure he 120% earns his spot on the team.

Tom does what he does for his teams and close family members because of the true heart he possesses and passion for the sports he plays Tom is very confident in his ways and is a very interesting person.

When I was the greatest by Jason Reynolds.

  In the first few chapters the author explains
The setting and the theme. He also explains the characters
And how they got there nicknames. They live in Brooklyn
There wasn't that much going on in the story just introducing the characters  and the time setting.



2. The central idea is that the author is telling what has happened in the past and he is telling a story.  He is talking about his life and what it was like living in Brooklyn.

4. The author uses all types of language. He uses figurative language. He uses idioms and hyperboles.  Sometimes he over reacts with what he says.

Crow Planet, Lyanda Haupt, Nonfiction

A naturalist from Seattle named Lynda explains in the very beginning that she is not a fan of crows and was told to write about them from her editor from her first book. She starts talking about how people feel about crows and what amazing things crows have done such as adapting in our environment and how smart they can be. For example, crows will play games like dropping and catching sticks in midair with other crows and how they use tools to get hard to reach foods.

#3. This effects my life because I never knew how smart crows were. It really peeks my interest because I would love to study them now to see it for myself, I may never look at crows the same way again.

#6. What found me as significant was how much crows care for each other. For example, how they play games with each other and if a crow died all the crows would pay there respects for the loved one.

Story Of A Girl by Sara Zarr (Realistic fiction)

Hannah Fogg                                                                                                                                 9/24/15



     Summary: Deanna Lambert's high school years basically consisted of everyone defining her from her past. Through the days of being bullied from her past mistakes made four years ago, she cant seem to convince herself that her life is at all okay. Her older brother, Darren, seems to be the only one in her family that has forgiven her from her bad choices she made when she was thirteen. Although he doesn't feel as though she should have put her social life at risk, he does believe in second chances after making some major mistakes himself. Deanna's father thinks otherwise. Her father has never actually respected his daughter after catching her in an illegal act. He feels like Deanna does not deserve respect, and makes her think twice about her relationship with her family. Her mother however, tries best to stitch the family back together. Deanna does not think that is possible, seeing the relationship she has with her father, and how disrespected she feels because of him.
Question #1: Describe the main characters-personality traits, motivations, inner qualities.

• Describe the dynamics between characters.....

Deanna and her father have a very brittle relationship. Her father kind of took his love for his daughter and threw it away. Deanna feels vey disrespected by his actions, and tries her best to avoid any type of conversation with him. Although, Deanna and her brother Darren have a very strong bond. Although Darren doesn't agree with Deanna's choices, he gives her respect for wanting to change.

• Question #2: Has the novel changed you?

Actually reading part of the book has broadened my perspective. The novel shows me that you shouldn't hate anyone because they've made stupid choices or mistakes. Everyone is human and calling someone names could really make them doubt themselves. Reading from Deanna's perspective shows that a lot of people have a tough life in general. Some people do try to change, and sometimes their families don't give them the support they need.

Welcome!  This is the new site for our book talks!

Three times per marking period, we will be logging on to chat about the books we are reading.  If you are looking for a sample of what your book talk should look/sound/feel like, then feel free to check it out at http://mswelchenglish9.blogspot.com/. There, you will find three sample entries from prior students.

Happy reading!