May 23rd, 2011
This is a collage on the book I am currently reading, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Katniss is in trouble once again with the capitol; President Snow knows about her kiss with Gale and feels that she is mocking the capitol. (The presidential symbol and the city) To cover this incident up Peeta asks Katniss to marry him. Katniss says yes and plans a wedding in the capitol city where everyone, including the president will be watching. In district twelve (number twelve) there is rising tension when Gale is whipped for hunting in the woods (the whip and camouflage pattern.). Soon after this event Katniss and Peeta find out that they are both going to have to participate in the legendary hunger games once again for the Quarter Quell. This means that they will have to use their skills again in the arena to stay alive (the bow and arrow, weights, and the arena). They survived through the games last time as star crossed lovers (the heart with two stars). Not only that, but Katniss was known for her mockingjay pin and as the girl on fire (mockingjay symbol and fire). To deal with all of the stress the previous games and the new games are bringing Peeta has started painting (the painting tools). Hopefully the games will be in their favor once again (games).
No Comments | In: Catching Fire, Independent Reading | | #
April 29th, 2011
I am currently reading the book Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which is the sequel to the book The Hunger Games. I am really enjoying the series; I like how I can relate to some of the characters and how the writing keeps drawing me back in. A few of the characters are not the best though. I would be ashamed to introduce President Snow to my family because of his cruel and unkind nature.
President Snow is the ruler of a sick country, Panem, which watches people kill each other every year in the annual Hunger Games. Not only do these games consist of only children ages 12-17 fighting to death in an arena but the capitol city watches and makes bets on who will win! I do not understand how you could rule a country like this one.
The temperament of President Snow is absolutely awful. If he is unhappy it can result in severe punishment, which can be very painful, or in some cases even lead to death. “If the Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane, had any brains, he would have blown you to dust right then. But he had an unfortunate sentimental streak. So here you are. Can you guess where he is?” he asks. I nod because the way he says it, it is clear that Seneca Crane has been executed. (Page 20) As you can see he can’t stand being outsmarted or out ruled.
As you can see President Snow is not the nicest of them all and maybe could use a little anger management. I would be Ashamed to introduce him to my family and am really happy I will never have to.
No Comments | In: Catching Fire, Independent Reading | | #
March 18th, 2011
This is a collage on the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold. In the book I feel that there are many important images that need to be explained or images that help you better understand the story. In the collage I have images that are either in the book or help represent the book.
Many people loved Susie and will miss her now that she is gone. There were messages that Susie tries to give her family from heaven. Even though it was hard for her she did it. Susie’s last name is Salmon “Like the fish”. She was 14 years old when she died and through out the book she blooms into a young lady.
In the book her mysterious disappearance is hard to solve because Mr. Harvey planned a way to get rid of her body without anyone knowing. He killed her when rain was coming so no one would find a scent or see blood. After that he used a safe to hide the evidence.
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Lovely Bones | | #
March 7th, 2011
This post is about the book that I am reading this quarter, The Lovely Bones by Alice Seblod. I chose to write a letter to the author about my likes and dislikes on their writing style and the book in general.
Dear Alice Sebold,
I am currently reading your book, The Lovely Bones and think that it is an intriguing story. When I start reading it I can’t put it down! It’s almost addicting. There are a few things that I don’t like about the way the story was written though.
I thought it was that the beginning of the book was Susie’s death. I wish that I could have known more about her character before she was no longer living. I also wish that the story wouldn’t have gone from such a high level of suspense to details about Susie’s murder. The only other thing that I disliked about the book was that the writing was some what boring at some parts. Maybe even a bit too detailed.
Even though I did have some bad things there are also many things that are good about this book. I like the way that you wrote scenes with Mr. Harvey because the whole time you just want him to be caught and the investigators always just miss evidence. For example: “When Len Fenerman had gone door to door in the neighborhood he had found nothing remarkable at George Harvey’s.” When I was reading this I thought, how could you not find evidence? I really wanted him caught. I also like the way you explained Susie’s heaven and how you made the entire image clear. Last but not least I really thought you did a good job illustrating how Susie feels about her life and the events that took place in it.
I have really enjoyed your book so far and cannot wait to see how it ends. I really hope the investigators finally find her murderer so that Susie and her family can live in peace. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Molly S
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Lovely Bones | | #
February 18th, 2011
The following post is a journal entry written about the main character, Susie Salmon, in the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Susie goes through a lot of struggle with trying to get investigators on the right track of finding what really happened to her. The only problem is that she is dead.
December 9, 1973
Dear Dairy,
My name was salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen years old when Mr. Harvey murdered me. The past few days I have been exploring my heaven. I have met new people and found my favorite things. My close friend, Holly has really helped me adapt and get used to heaven. She is like my sister helping me out and showing me how to fit in.
I also have Franny. She is the mother figure in my heaven. Without her I would cry every night. Even though I have all of these people I still wish I was alive more than ever. I miss a lot about my old life and would love to live it again.
Sincerely,
Susie
December 13, 1973
Dear Diary,
I really miss being alive. I have been watching over my family and remembering my friends. I want to tell them all that I am fine and safe in heaven. The investigators have decided that my missing person case should now be changed to a murder. The worst thing about this is that I know where I am and who killed me, but I don’t have the power to tell them.
Just yesterday they suspected Ray. Ray is the boy that I have a crush on. He was the first boy that ever kissed me and they thought he killed me. On his mother’s special rice paper Ray had written me a love note, which I never read. They found this in my biology notebook and put him on the list of possible murderers. This really hurt me to see Ray be a suspect for a murder case when he wouldn’t hurt a fly. He had just started to fit into this school and because of this all of the few friends he had finally made he lost. I am really sad today.
Sincerely,
Susie
January 29, 1974
Dear Dairy,
He saw me today actually felt my presence! I am finally getting through to my family! My dad was angry, thinking about what had happened to me, when he suddenly stopped and looked toward the window where I was. I could feel that he knew I was there with him. Now I know that I can somehow get him to see me again and he will help solve my murder.
Sincerely,
Susie
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Lovely Bones | | #
February 4th, 2011
- You Are My Sunshine – Elizabeth Mitchell
- Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri
- I Never Told You – Colbie Caillat
- Secrets – One Republic
- I’m in Here – Sia
- Fifteen – Taylor Swift
All of the songs above represent different aspects of the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The first song (You Are My Sunshine) helps explain Mr. and Mrs. Salmon’s love for Susie. In the book once they find out she is missing they have to describe her smile. They say that when she would smile the whole room would light up around her.
Jar of Hearts represents all of the hearts that Mr. Harvey has taken in his life. Susie was not the first girl her murdered. “It would be some time before I realized what you’ve undoubtedly already assumed, that I was not the first girl he’d killed. He knew how to remove my body from the field.”
I Never Told You explains Susie’s feelings for a boy in her class, Ray. Susie really liked Ray and never got to tell him the feelings she had for him before she died. Ray even wrote her a love note that she didn’t get the chance to read.
The fourth and fifth song (Secrets and I’m in Here) talks about how Susie wants to give all her secrets away and tell her family and friends what happened to her and where her body is. In the book it states, “I knew where my body was but I could not tell them.” Susie is never able to give them away.
The last song (Fifteen) gives a good example of what it is like to be a teenager in high school. It tells how fun it is to be in love and how fun it is to have good friends. Susie has experienced all of this in her life.
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Lovely Bones | | #
January 12th, 2011
“Daughter? Constantine never told me that she had a daughter.” I knew Constantine for twenty-three years. Why would she keep this from me?
“It was hard for her. The baby came out real…pale.”
I hold still remembering what Constantine told me, years ago. “You mean, light? Like… white?
Aibileen nods, keeping at her task in the sink. “Had to send her away, up north I think.”
“Constantine’s father was white,” I say. “Oh…Aibileen…you don’t think…”
Page 86
I think that this passage is very important because Skeeter has been trying to figure out why Constantine, the family maid that raised her, suddenly left without reason. Skeeter keeps getting little clues here and there from Aibileen but it still isn’t enough. I hope that by the end of the book we find out what happened to her.
This passage represents a conflict in the book that will pull some characters closer and push some further apart. I predict that this will soon involve all of the characters in the book and will then lead to the climax of the book. My only question now is how will everything be resolved? I think that Skeeter will find out that Constantine died from something and that is why no one will talk about her disappearance or why no one has her address. Let’s hope that it will end up being a happier ending though.
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Help | | #
January 12th, 2011
The Characters in The Help have different personalities, struggles, and lifestyles that make the book interesting. Aibileen is a sweet middles aged women that has lost a lot in the past years. Her son dies, and her husband leaves her. Aibileen is also an African American in Mississippi in the 1960’s. All she wants is to be respected and treated like a normal human being and her boss is standing in the way it. “Three years ago today, Treelore Died. But by Miss Leefolt’s book it’s still floor- cleaning day.”(99) To over come her awful treatment she and her other friends all talk and are close with each other.
In the book there is another character, Miss Skeeter. She is a very bright and determined girl that has success on her mind. Her big obstacle is her mother. Skeeter is a very tall awkward young woman that never really fit in. Her mom is set on her getting married and that’s it but Skeeter wants to become a successful journalist in New York. “Four years my daughter goes off to college and what does she come home with? A pretty piece of paper.”(55) Skeeter works behind her mother’s back to get a job and succeeds. Her dating life isn’t the greatest though.
I think that Aibileen did a good job getting through with friends but Skeeter should have communicated with her mom on what she wanted to do in life instead of going behind her back.
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Help | | #
December 20th, 2010
I have started the book The Help in the last few weeks. So far my book has been narrated by an African American woman that lives in the south in the mid 1900’s, Mississippi to be exact. During this time period many people down south still had negative feelings towards African Americans. So let me tell you, most of the characters in my book aren’t liked very much.
The main character so far is Aibileen and she is a maid at Ms. Leefolt’s house. The minute that Aibileen walked in the door she soon discovered how oblivious and mean Ms. Leefolt can be. Ms. Leefolt has a little girl named Mae Mobley and she doesn’t understand how to take care of her baby. There was one day where Ms. Leefolt didn’t realize that she had a dirty diaper for hours! So, Aibileen takes care of the baby house and cooking while Ms. Leefolt chit chats with all of her snooty friends. So basically they are going over how unfairly treated the African Americans in the south where.
The author has also touched base on some of Aibileen’s friends who are in the same situation as she is but one of them has a mouth on her. Her name is Minny. Minny was recently fired from her old job and cannot find a new one because her old boss spread roomers around that she had stolen from her. Aibileen was getting worried about her until one of Ms. Leefolt’s called asking where she could find a good maid. Guess who Aibileen recommended, Minny.
I have a prediction that Minny will find a new job with this woman and will be treated with respect and fairly too. The woman that called on the phone seemed very sweet and well mannered. But who knows she could be mean like all of the others.
I think this has been a good book so far because of the way the author has written it. She has all of the characters talk as if they lived in the south. I feel like I am right next to Aibileen all the time observing what chore she will do next or what she will encounter with her boss.
No Comments | In: Independent Reading, The Help | | #
