Looking for Alaska 2/9/15 Minor Spoilers may be included

Blog for week of February 9, 2015

Minor Spoilers may be included (last paragraph)

Writing Prompt: 1. If the author were here, what would you say and ask him/her? 2. What are two emotions the main character has felt? What made the main character feel this way?

Pages Read: 0 - 29

          If the author (John Green) were here to answer questions about the book (Looking for Alaska), I would ask him: Why did you decide to write this book? I am wondering this because I am also wondering (and going to ask him): Does this book have anything connection to your life? Like Edgar Allen Poe, John Green's life might have an effected this book. I would also ask him: What was the first book you wrote? and Was this the first, second, third book you wrote?

          I would tell John Green that I know that I will very much enjoy this book. I have not read it yet but so far I am enjoying it. For some reason I think that all his book are going to be great because he is the author of Fault in our Stars. I would also tell him that he is a very good author and I hope he continues to write more books. A series perhaps? Speaking of that, I would ask him: Are in going to write another book?, Are you in the process of writing a new book?, and Will you ever write a book series, such as the Hunger Games?

          So far the main character in my book is Miles Halter, also known as "Pudge". One emotion that Miles has felt is fear. When he was going through a type of initiation he was taped from wrists to shoulders and ankles to thighs. After this he was thrown into the lake! Being taped, wearing nothing but your underwear, and drowning would fear anyone. A second emotion Miles has experienced is an emotion close to love. There is this girl named Alaska. Miles think Alaska is the prettiest girl he is ever met. It says so many times in the book.

The reason I chose this picture is because in the story, Miles became friends with people who smoke and this causes Miles to smoke even though his parents told him not to.

Commented on: Joseph G, Giovanna G, Jared A

Book Talk 2/2/15

Blog for week of February 2, 2015


VIDEO

Transcript:

I will be telling you about the book Pride and Prodigious and Zombies Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith. Considering this book is about zombies I would say that the genre would be horror and/or thriller. This book takes place a long time ago in Regency England. Regency England took place 1811- 1820. There are many important characters in this story. There is Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet, Mary Bennet, Kitty Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Jane Bennet, Master Hawksworth, and Dr. Keckilpenny. Of course there are more important characters, but these are the main important characters I guess you would say. As the story goes on it focuses more on Elizabeth Bennet, as it tells her crazy journey of becoming a zombie slayer, Master Hawsworth, as it slowly lets out his dark secrets, and Dr. Kekilpenny, as it shows the madness behind his crazy ideas. All of the Bennet sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, Kitty, and Lydia, have to set aside their learning of being young, pretty, polite ladies, and gain the knowledge of being zombie slayers. This is not something that they are used to and it is a difficult challenge that they have to overcome, and their mother, Mrs. Bennet, is not accepting this very well. This book is quite detailed on the decayed looks that the zombies create. The book is so descriptive on those parts that you can almost picture exactly what the zombie would look like.

I really like this book because before this I hadn't ever read a book in this genre and now I hope to explore more books like this one. I think I will remember all of the zombie battles and the hidden romance that is clearly happening. I would recommend this book to my friend Celeste because, like me, she enjoys things like the TV show "The Walking Dead" (which is about zombies) and basically things that would fall into that category. If you are into zombies or horror or distasteful things, then I think that this would be a book might be something that you would enjoy. So, if you think it is it's Pride and Prodigious and Zombies Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith.









Commented on Mia's Blog, Jared's Blog, Emily's Blog

Gallery Walk Reflection for AOW 1/30/15

Writing Prompt: What impression are you left with after our gallery walk? Please reflect in at least two well written paragraphs, using evidence from your graphic organizer.

          After completing the gallery walk I have learned lots of things. Things such as, 635 people were infected with Measles in 2014, There is a app that makes it easier to cyber bully, and a women sold her child for $7,000. Even though these topics aren't exactly joyful, there were some more positive things that I learned. Things such as, drones being created to help people, Ebola vaccines, and cancer treatments.

          Though there were happier articles, I found that most of them had a topic that wasn't very...good. For example, there was an article about ISIS holding 2 Japanese residents hostage. Things like this are giving me the impression that the world is turning into a more dangerous, violent place.

Middle School the Worst Years of my Life 1/26/15

Blog for: January 26, 2015

Writing Prompt: What does this book remind you of?

          The book I am reading is called Middle School the Worst Years of my Life. This book is about a young boy named Rafe who is having some troubles with Middle School. He has made up his mind that he is going to try to break a bunch of rules by the end of the school year. If he does it without getting caught then he gains points. Him and his 'friend' Leo are the ones that made up this crazy idea. The reason I put friend in quotes is because Leo is an imaginary person made up by Rafe. In other words Leo is Rafe's imaginary friend.

          This book reminds me of the book I Funny which is also about a boy struggling with school. The main reason he struggles is because he is handicapped. In other words he is in a wheelchair. He also has to live with the school bully and his family. The only reason this is so is because his parents have died. Believe it or not this kid sort of likes being bullied because it makes him feel like a normal kid. Another reason is because he doesn't like being treated as someone who is handicapped.

          Another thing this reminds me of is the book/movie series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This is also about a boy who is having a not so good time in/with school. This kid (Gregory) also has to deal with his annoying older brother who thinks he is the coolest person ever. Along with that Gregory has a best friend that can be quite embarrassing. Over protecting parents, an embarrassing younger brother, and a bit of a lying problem isn't helping him either.

Commented on: Mia C., Jared A., Devin R.

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life 1/19/15

Blog for week of January 19, 2014

Pages read: 1-98

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

          My book, Middle School the Worst Years of My Life, is about a young boy in middle school and his not so good life. He works through his problems with his imaginary friend Leo. This book is like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Words and then some pictures here and there to help give the reader a visual aid. In my opinion I think this is a good book. I have enjoyed it quite a lot so far. The only reason I have not finished this book yet is because it is not challenging therefore I read other books during the school year. I hope to finish this book soon so I can focus on there things.

          Even though this book has some pictures (that have no color) I really enjoy this book. Before the school year really got started I was reading this book quite often. I was really enjoying it. Once the school year did start I realized that other book should be read in place of this one. Since that was so, I had to put this book aside and continue it another day. I have yet to complete that goal.

          I enjoy this book because it is funny and provides much entertainment. I would definitely recommend this book to other people. Friends, family, strangers, anyone who is looking for something interesting to read. Although, to be perfectly honest, I think adults would find this book simple and easy. It is a children's book after all. Even though they might think this I still think that some would find joy in reading it. Over all I believe this is a great book that I really love, and should be read by many.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 1/12/2015

Blog for week of January 12, 4014

Writing Prompt: Is what you are reading believable? Why or why not?
Pages Read: 60 - 174

          The book I am reading, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is about the zombie apocalypse starting again. As I read this book it always crosses my mind wether or not this could actually happen, wether or not this stuff is believable. The thought of this kind of scares me. Along with the book I also watch the TV show "The Walking Dead". Watching this show makes me more nervous. I think and think but I always say that this is impossible. If only I knew what causes a zombie apocalypse. Then I might feel a little better.

          Maybe sometime in the future some kind of dangerous chemical will spill and make the dead raise form their graves. This is a possibly that just might happen. This makes the reader think that what is going on in this story is believable. The problem is, the TV shows, movies, or books never tell you how it all started until the end. So until the end people don't know wether something like this can happen. Some people do believe that stuff like this is believable because there are many different ways that something terrible can happen and the world can turn into the zombie apocalypse. Some of me thinks all of this stuff is believable.

          Another part of me thinks that all of this is not believable. Like, the zombie apocalypse couldn't really happen! There will not come a time where flesh eating monsters roam the earth looking for their next meal. There is just no way...right? I feel that a world such as "The Walking Dead" doesn't and wont ever exist. Yet some of me thinks that it does. I would say that I am in the middle of believing in this stuff and not believing it.

The first time I... 1/5/15

Blog for week of January 5, 2014

Writing Prompt: When was the last time you did something new for the first time?

          About four weeks ago I learned to to play "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals on the guitar. "House of the Rising Sun" was a song that I had been obsessed with at that time. I am not as obsessed with it now but I defiantly still love it. It was the end of my guitar lesson and I had brought it up to my guitar teacher that I was starting to like that song. When I told him he asked if I wanted to learn how to pay it. I was thinking that we were going to wait until our next lesson. My mom hadn't arrived to pick me up yet so he quickly wrote down the chords and taught me how to play them correctly so they matched the song.

          When I told my guitar teacher that I knew and liked the song he was a little shocked. The reason he was this way is because he thought that I would consider that song "one of my mom's slow jams" or an "old people song". He thought this because this is what I call all of my mom's music. I call it that because I believe that all her music is slow and boring. Most of it anyway. Even though he was a bit surprised he was happy to help me learn and pay it like a pro!

          I am glad that I now know how to play a song that I enjoy. Of course this isn't the first song I've learned to play, but it is one of the few songs I actually have fun and enjoy playing. Being a person who has played guitar for almost four years I feel like it would be silly not to learn a song that I enjoy so much. Believe it or not that song is actually not that hard to play...for me anyway.