Blog for the Week of 2/25/15

An Abundance of Katherines

By John Green Pages #1-24

Prompt:  Do you like what you’re reading? Why or why not?

   I like what I'm reading. However, it is a little difficult to read. The author's word choice definitely affects the whole book. It makes it a lot more complicated that it actually is. The characters' dialogue also makes it confusing. They go back and forth so many times, I'm not even sure who's talking! I'm also having trouble on figuring out the point of view. It mainly shows Colin's thoughts, but it sometime shows Hassan's thought too. 

   Another reason this book is difficult for me is that the format of the author's writing makes it somewhat choppy and confusing. It keeps switching from one thing to another. At one moment I would be reading what Colin is thinking, and the next moment they are leaving Hassan's house to go on a road trip. The book moves really fast. It moves almost too fast to the point where I have to reread a whole chapter because I was confused.

   However, as confusing as it may be, the plot is pretty interesting. Colin only dates girls that are named Katherine. He has dating nineteen Katherines, and has been dumped nineteen times. The last Katherine he dated broke his heart and he became a mess. So, Hassan (his best friend) takes on a road trip to get him back on track. The story so far is just telling background information and details of the beginning of the trip. I feel that later on the trip will turn into something more serious, but I can't tell what that seriousness is going to be.

Video Reflections

Pen Pal Video Reflection

      My global awarness before entering 7th grade was in the middle. I knew (obviously) that there was other countries and they had different cultures and things like that. However, I didn't know that the people in other countries were actually very similar to us. My global awarness is now very high, I now understand that other places are very close to ours. They dress pretty much the same, they speak english (along with their native language), the hang out with their friends, and just do normal things. I know that some countries are basically the same, or that they can be very different.

     My perspective on other cultures has changed a lot. I didn't know they were so similar to us. The dress the same and act the same. The videos showed me that they are just normal kids like us. One interesting thing I saw was that the Swedish kids walk around school barefoot or in socks! I also saw the Indian kids dress up nice to go to school.
   
      

 

Blog for the Week of 2/16/15

Impulse By Ellen Hopkins

Pages #475-637

Prompt: Select a quote from your reading that you liked. What made you pick it? How does it make you pause and think?

  The first quote I chose was, "Love means holding on to someone just as hard as you can because if you don't, one blink and they might disappear...forever.” This made me stop reading and think. This quote is really deep, because it goes against something that everyone always hears: "If love someone, let it free". I really think it makes more sense to hold on to someone than to let someone go if you love them. I think if you really love someone they are worth keeping. 

   The next quote I chose was, “My happiest memories have no place in the past; they are those I have yet to create.” This quote is also very deep, it tells something that I think is very important  It made me stop and think for while.. It tells you that even though you might have come from a rough past, you can still make things better in the future. It reminds of "Hakuna Matata" from the "Lion King". It means put your past behind you. These quotes have a great meaning. 

   The final quote I chose is, “Everyone's afraid of everybody else...maybe because we're all afraid of ourselves.” After I read this quote it kept me up all night thinking about it (I'm dead serious). I feel it is very true. We all know how we think as individuals, but sometimes our thoughts can scare us and we think other people think the same thing. So we all just go around scaring ourselves thinking on how we think other people think. (I hope I'm explaining this well enough, this is very confusing. Sorry if you don't get it.) This quote is really mind boggling.

     

2/16/15

Poetry Reflections

     The poem I chose is called "The Summer I was Sixteen". This poem is about summer. It tells about all the little things that happen during the summer. It tells of all the great memories of summer break. I think the author wrote it because it reminds people of fun and happy times. The poem makes you want summer, it makes you feel happy. 

This poem reminds me of summer (obviously). It reminds me of how nice and warm it is. I thought about how fun it is, and how we have no school. After I read it I really wanted it to be summer. The poem basically describes everything I do during the summer perfectly. After I read it, I just felt so happy. 

  

Blog for the Week of 2/8/15

Impulse By Ellen Hopkins

Pages #181-332

Prompt: List the personality characteristics of the main character (feelings, interests,

behaviors, etc.)

  In my book there is three main characters, not just one. Tony is from a bad part of town. He is book smart and street smart. His mother didn't really take care of him and his dad left him so he could get a job. His dad sent him to Aspen Springs, which is why Tony hates his dad. He also did time in jail when he was younger. Tony can get angry easily, but he is also really nice. Tony is also gay, however he does have feelings for Vanessa (the other main character).

  Vanessa grew up in a not-so-loving home. Her mom was crazy, she had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Her dad was in the military so he was always in different countries. However, even when he was home he wasn't loving. The only person who really cared for Vanessa and made her happy was her Grandma. Vanessa is quiet and somewhat shy. Except when she is around Tony or Conner.

 Conner also didn't grow up in a loving home (I'm starting to see a pattern). However, unlike Vanessa or Tony, Conner was rich. His mom always bought him expensive name brand clothes. Conner's mother was caring in a twisted way, but she wasn't loving at all. Conner has a twin sister but he says she is as evil as his mother. His dad wasn't loving either, the only thing wanted his son to be was a perfect athlete and student. Conner was a popular kid, he got all the girls, and was a star football player, and a great student. 

I commented on Evie's, Emily's, and Devin's.

  

Blog for the Week of 2/3/15

Book Talk

 

Book Talk Transcript

    My book is titled Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and the genre is realistic fiction. It takes place in present day Mica Arizona. There are actually two main characters, they are Leo Borlock and Stargirl (her real name is Susan Caraway). Leo Borlock is an average guy. He is in the 11th grade at Mica Highschool. He also collects Porcupine ties. Stargirl is very strange. She wears homemade clothes, she has a pet rat that she takes to school, she plays her ukulele in the lunchroom. She has been home schooled until she joined Mica High. At first Stargirl inspires all the students at Mica High and they start going to game and change their hair color and everyone becomes more themselves. It all stops and everyone goes back to normal. The main conflict was that Leo and Stargirl became boyfriend and girlfriend. Then when  people went back to normal they started not liking either of them. (I would say more but I don't want to give away too much of the plot) The mood is funny at some times and sad at sometimes and happy at sometimes! One of the main themes of this book is "never judge a book by its cover". People judged Stargirl by the way she acted and the way she dressed. They didn't get to know who she really is, only Leo did. So, they didn't get to see how amazing she really was. 

     I liked this book because I think the idea of this story is really good. I also liked it because I liked the character Stargirl she was just enchanting. What I remember most about the book is how Stargirl has a happy wagon. It is basically this toy wagon and based how happy she is she puts pebbles in to show her happiness or sadness. I would recommend this book to my friends and family because it is a really good story that I think everyone would enjoy. You should go out and get this book because the theme of the story is a good thing for everyone to learn and it is really enjoyable. Thats all, Bye! :)

2/2/15

Gallery Walk Reflections

   This week we got to choose our own AOW's. They had to have an important message we thought the world should hear. I chose a CNN article about how scientists are getting closer and closer to finding a cure for cancer. I thought it showed perseverance and determination. The other articles people chose were very interesting. They also had interesting messages too.

    One article that I thought that stood out to me was Sammie S.'s article. It was about how scientists are trying to turn sunlight into liquid fuel. However they are still working on because it has some problems and they just aren't finished with it. Another good article was Mia C.'s article. It was about a murder mystery that is still trying to be solved after 60 years. A boy was beaten to death and put inside a cardboard box. No one has given any information to the police about the boy. I just thought that was crazy.