IF I STAY: BY GAYLE FORMAN

   I have gotten farther into the book "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman, and it has gotten even more exciting! Have you guys ever read a book that is so amazing, you don't want to stop reading? Well, this book for me is that. This book is about a girl who is in a coma, trying to figure out what would happen if she stayed, as the book go through she shows you memories of her past, etc, one thing that takes a big effect in her life is playing the cello.
 This reminded me of me, because the reason that she plays the cello, is because it makes her feel alive and almost like a "normal human". I have this same feeling when I sing, or play piano. She says that she doesn't care if anyone notices her playing or not, because she notices herself, I know that this is a really hard thing to do, to stop obsessing about what other people think.  I do not have this feeling, but I am sure it would be great! 
  I started to think "what would I do if I were in Mia's shoes", and I came to the conclusion that I would die, not meet up with everything I lost, but because if I were seventeen, I could not start my life over. Even if I wanted to. I also don't think I could bare living without everything that I love. I am not sure which path Mia will choose, but I know one thing for certain, if I were Mia, I would not stay even if it was the hardest thing that I had to do. I think that the only thing that makes Mia see how great life is is the cello. She loves it its a part of her, if she does live that she will have the great opportunity to become a great cello player. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: BY JK ROWLING

    One thing that our teachers always ask us to do when we are re-reading our books, is to try and find something that is interesting, new, or something that we didn't realize. That's exactly what I did with one of my favorite book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There tend to be times where one of the meaner character, like Draco Malfoy, would make a crude comment about Muggle born people. At first I thought Rowling just put it there to make us dislike Malfoy even more, but as I thought more about it, I came to realize that she was using her book as a reference that happens a lot in the real world.  
   People in the real world tend to be prejudice toward a group of people. Here in America the "dominate group" (white) look down upon the minor group "blacks." America's history has more than a few time periods where the conflict between these two races has risen and become violent. The Civil Rights era was a time period where blacks began to stick up for their rights, while the whites tried to hold them down. Before that, in the Civil War, Lincoln decided that the north was not only fighting to keep the country together, but to support the African Americans, too.        But instead of blacks against whites, its "pure bloods" against "muggle-born." There are some wizard to pride themselves on not having any muggle blood in them. And those who do, the pure bloods think that they are below them. They discriminate those wizards who come from muggle descent but have turned out to be wizards or witches. They even have a nasty word for them "mudbloods." 

       I believe that the reason J.K Rowling but this similar social issue in her book is to secretly tell her readers her opinion on this type of issue. I think she thinks it isn't fair and that you shouldn't treat a book by its cover, especially if the book is smarter than you are (like Hermione Granger.) I completely agree with J.K Rowling and think that it was "bloody brilliant" how she made that connection to the real world. 

     

IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFILES:BY JULIA ALVAREZ

             In The Time of The Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, four sisters from the Dominican Republic share their story about living underneath the dictatorship of Trujillo, also known as “El Jefe.” Alvarez shows us that when you fight for your freedom and justice, you will change internally. She makes us realize this from the perspectives of four very important women to the Dominican Republic’s history. After all, they were the ones who started the revolution against the government! When they were younger, Patricia, Minerva, Dede, and Maria’s father used to be a very big supporter of Trujillo. But as time passes, the girls’ opinion changed. Along with that their loyalties changed as well, including their loyalty towards their “Jefe.”( Their president.) 
Minerva, the second oldest of the sisters, and the spunkiest of them too, changed first, after she heard her friend Sinita’s sad tale of what happened to her uncles, father, and brother. They were very close friends of Trujillo’s and worshipped him, but then he started killing people who didn’t believe in what he was saying, or who didn’t worship him. They were killed right on the spot after they avowed that they were going to teach Trujillo a lesson. Later, Minerva’s friend Lina had an affair with their president Trujillo. He got her pregnant, and he had to send her to Miami to avoid the wrath of his wife. The sad thing is that she truly was in love with him.  As time progressed, Minerva realized that this was wrong, so she began to fight. And fight she did; she started setting up organizations and rallies. She started listening to  illegal radio stations during that time period. Then she made the biggest step to revolt against the government. She married a man named Manolo. He was one of the most wanted people that the government wanted to capture and kill. It was only after these first events happened that she found out Trujillo’s secret. He was getting everyone who was sticking up for the right type of government  killed because he wanted them to worship, obey, and love him. He wanted to control their rights. He was violating their freedom and their justice. And Minerva Mirabal would not stand for that. She had changed her loyalty because she realized that Trujillo is not someone who deserved to be worshipped like a god.
Maria was the next one to join the cause of fighting for freedom. Maria Anna was the smallest and the youngest of all the sisters. She cried whenever someone yelled at her, and she wrote in a little diary. Yet, she was the second one to join this cause, and she knew that this was a very dangerous thing to play with.  At first, she was outraged when Minerva used to go to secret meetings. She couldn’t understand why Minerva would put her education and life at risk for this silly cause. But then one day, Minerva was caught. Minerva spun this long tale about her uncle becoming sick and that she needed to go see him. Then Maria was called in to the scene. The headmistress asked if this story is true, then hesitantly Maria said yes, it is. I believe this event is when Maria joined the cause, symbolically. She knows that her lie is supporting the revolution. If she didn’t lie, then Minerva would get in trouble along with the people at the secret meetings who were plotting to get rid of the government. Maria joined the movement because she “likes the thrill” that goes through her veins. She also realized that in order to protect her older sister, Minerva, she has to join. Maria realized that Trujillo can hurt her sister and she doesn’t want to worship someone who harms her family. She doesn’t want to worship a murderer.
Dede was the only sister who didn’t get involved; she only got involved after it was “too late.” From the beginning, Dede was very reserved. She didn’t say what she felt and was a little secretive. She liked to keep things secret in order to keep her pride. Dede did change internally; she did realize that what Trujillo was doing was wrong. But her excuse for not joining the revolution was that she had children to take care of. Later on in the book we come to realize that Dede is scared. She doesn't want to go through the dangers that the other sisters are going through. She “wasn’t as brave or as noble” as them. Maybe, Dede just never learned to stick up for what was right. She always followed other people. But one thing that she never learned is to follow her heart. She never married a man that she truly loved, and she never had the life that she truly wanted.
Patricia didn’t want to get involved in the revolution. She had two children to take care of  and her husband to feed and care for. She never really had much of an interest in politics or how her country was being run. Then one day, Patricia went to go visit Minerva in Montecristi. In the middle of dinner, revolters and government men started shooting at each other over the houses. Minerva and Patricia had to duck down in order to avoid being hit. As Patricia peeked through the window she saw a boy “ the same age as her Nelson” carrying the revolutionaries’ symbol proudly on his chest, slowly fall to his knees as a speeding bullet from the governments’ gun hit his back. As he lay on the ground, Patricia knew he was dead. It was after this event that Patricia joined the cause to fight against the dictatorship that ruled her country. She didn’t want her family to be hurt by the government; and like Maria, Patricia realized that she didn’t want to be loyal to someone who killed in order to maintain power.   
The Mirabal sisters did change. Each one of them changed their loyalty toward Trujillo internally. But only three of them made a move to support the revolution. They realized that if they didn’t show people what a horrible person Trujillo was, then their whole nation would grow to love this dictator. They didn’t want to worship someone who murdered and hurt their friends and family in order to gain power. “Vos del pueblo, vos del cielo.” (Voice of the people, voice of god.) The Mirabal sisters’ voices spoke out, spoke out against the dictatorship in which their country cowered underneath, and spoke out for freedom. One thing that Trujillo couldn’t control was their mind.  And all four sisters used and changed their mind about Trujillo. And if you learn to use you mind to stick up and fight for your rights, like three of the Mirabal sisters did, then you might make a mark in history too.

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN: BY RANSOM RIGGS

   Fairy tales are about princesses and unicorns, fairs, and dragons, and princes. Jacob's grandfather tells fairy tales to Jacob too, but these fairy tales aren't about princesses and dragons, no, its not even on unicorns. It's about levitating babies, and kids strong enough to lift boulders; its about a boy without  head and monsters that are out to chase these children. And this isn't even a fairy tell, heck no, this is real, but Jacob didn't know this until his Grandpa Porter died. He always assumed that this was just a fairy tale story to keep him occupied and entertained. He as he got older he started to doubt these stories, until he turned 14 years old.
   I have read exactly 51 pages of the book and I'm already freaked out. Along with the book there are these weird photographs that go along with the story and some of the photographs are super creepy. Like the one with two twin dressed up in the weirdest costumes ever. All these photographs seemed to be linked with the story. I have a feeling that these photographs will be very important later on in the story. They are very mysterious. You don't know who took these photos, who are these photos taken of, or what were the conditions when these photos were taken.
   Because I haven't read that far into the book I can't really analysis the characters, only the photos because right now they seem to be more important than the character. They seem to link to the past, the future and right now.

THE WHALE SOUNDS: BY ROGER KISER

     Everyone judges. Weather it be on races or looks or some other trait, everyone judges. Some people even judge on disabilities. The Whale 

Sounds by Roger Dean Kiser relates to a story that happened in Roger’s earlier life. This one boy, whose name is not mentioned in the text, was 

seen getting picked on by the “Spring Park School bullies.” He was discriminated because he was deaf and made “funny like hand movements.”

The main character ( based on Roger) was the only one who stood up for this deaf kid.

“ Leave him alone,” he yelled. Perhaps the reason that the main character stood up for the deaf boy was because he felt sorry or bad for him. The 

deaf boy was getting beaten and abused up by the bullies, and it must have been hard for the main character to watch this innocent person get 

hurt without doing anything. 

This story had a strange twist to it. Usually when the main character watches someone get bullied or judged, they walk away and don’t try 

to help. Then, later on in the story, the main character feels bad and reflects on the discrimination that they witnessed; the main character tends 

to feel bad or angry about not helping the victim defend himself. Most of us can relate to this version because this solution might seem more 

sensible at the time. We can relate to the main character being afraid of the bully, and not wanting to help. Yet, in The Whale Sounds the main 

character jumps to defend the deaf guy. This action sort of leaves us wondering, why would the main character do such a dumb thing. This kid is 

risking his face to protect someone that he hardly knows. 

     Perhaps Kiser wrote about this story to make the reader realize that the what the main character did was noble. It was brave. To save 

someone from being hurt both emotionally and physically, I think that is a good deed to do. Even if it means that your face get pulverized. Also, the 

thought that someone would tease someone because they have a disability, is sick. Being discriminated is wrong. To be made fun of or excluded 

because the way that nature made you is wrong. Every one is unique and every one is different. Not one person is the same, not even twins.   

     

THIS IS THE SCIENCE FICTION ARTICLE WE CHOSE IN CLASS.


HAPPY NEW YEAR <3

BECAUSE OF MR. TURUPT: BY ROB BUYEA

      Because of Mr. Terupt  is a book about seven kids at Snow Hill School with their new teacher, Mr. Terupt. There is Jessica the new kid, she doesn't really know who to be friends with and there is Alexia, she is the "bully" of the school who always starts girl fights. There is Ana an outsider because of what happened with her mother. There is Luke, the classes "brain." There is also Peter the classes trickster and Danielle the quite girl. All these character have been hurt in some way, and they need Mr. Terupt to heel them.
     Jessica just moved from California with her mother, because her father cheated on her mother with a younger women. Her mother decided they need to get away from California and her father. At first she thought that her father was "dumping her mother and not her." She was angry for getting punished but "what she didn't know at the time was that her dada wasn't only dumping her mom, he was dumping her, too." Perhaps this made Jessica feel unwanted and uncared for. She wanted a father who she could look up to. Now that she moved to a new town, she needs a friend to give her a shoulder to cry on. I think Mr. Terupt made her realize that the only way she will heel is to "finally talk a little about her secret and it will help her out."
     Alexia is know to be the big bully of the school. She bosses people around, talks behind their backs; and to make matters worse, everyone does what she says, or they might find their selves in a really ugly "war." Towards the end of the book that once Alexia used to be nice. She was sweet and innocent. But her only problem was that "she didn't have a voice." She couldn't stick up for her self when other kids called her " Leopard Lexie" and "Lexie Like." The one day she yelled at some girl like "Mom and Dad yelled at each other." After that no one wanted to be friends with the girl. Because of this Alexia has learned that when she is mean she wins friends. But Mr. Terupt set her in her place. "You're being mean. And I don't like mean people," he said, "You're acting like the meanest girl I've ever seen. I'm telling you the truth, and sometimes the truth can hurt."
    I feel these are two character that went through the most change throughout the book. They both were able to solve their problems with a little help from Mr. Terupt. Their problem at home were very deep and this effected them tremendously. They didn't have a place in life then Mr. Terupt gave them a little push and showed them the right path to walk down on. Now they are walking, arms linked together down the right road.

DEADLY LITTLE LIES: BY LAURIE STOLARZ

     I remember in 6th grade, Amira Ali recommended a book called deadly little secrets. This book was one of the books that stuck in your head, after all these years. SO when I saw the sequel to it in Ms. Rear's library, I HAD to read it, And just as before, this book became one of my favorite; and I know that it will stick in my head. I love the book Deadly Little Lies! This book is about a girl named Camelia. After a scary event that happened last semester, Camelia thought that this would bring her sort of boyfriend Ben and her together. But she was wrong. Ben told her that he wanted to be with her; but with a past background like his, he didn't want to put her, or him in danger. Camelia was heartbroken, but she forced herself to move on. That when she met Adam, her not coworker. But Adam might have a deadly past of his own.....
     One thing that is very important to this story, is the background of the character. Ben's backgound history is a very ugly one. This is probably why most people dislike him. I mean with a past like his, I couldn't blame him. This effect Ben now too. His demeanor is sinister, mysterious and a little creepy. Laurie did a great job mixing in his past to effect his present. Because of this he doesn't like to be very social with people.
    Camelia's best friend (Kimmie) history can also effect her character. Her mother shut her self inside a little box where she locks away the key why she needs to. Her father is cheating on her mother. Her father also tells her that if it weren't for her and her brother, he would love Kimmie's  mother. To me this is really harsh. To be tole by someone that you love that it's your fault for their troubles. No wonder Kimmie portrays her self as a "slut"