Songs of the Humpback Whale
Picoult, Jodi. Washington Square Press, 2001.
Must read
Jodi Picoult’s novel, Songs of the Humpback Whale, focuses around a married woman named Jane Jones. She married her high school sweetheart right out of school and soon became pregnant with their only daughter Rebecca. Although she loves her husband deeply their marriage is failing and one fight brought her and her daughter on a road trip across the country. Jane and Rebecca spend weeks on the road together following the vague directions mailed to her by her brother. When they arrive they find themselves completely out of their LA lifestyle on an Apple Orchard in Massachusetts. It’s there that they both meet the men they were supposed to fall in love with and the moment they start to realize this is when they truly discover who they really are. Though their new discoveries aren’t exactly easy to accept they are now faced with heart wrenching decisions. They spend a couple weeks on the orchard helping Jane’s brother but as the weeks go by they discover things about themselves they didn’t know ever existed. Through passion, love, infidelity and heart break the two girls find themselves at a crossroads in their life, and when they leave the orchard they’re certainly not the same as when they first arrived.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Heat: Blog
Michael Arroyo’s dream is to pitch in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The South Bronx All Stars have a chance, but they must beat the best that the New York area has to offer. His dream diminishes when just a few months after Michael and his family moved to Bronx, New York from Cuba his father dies of a heart attack. Carlos, Michael’s older brother, is just a few months from turning 18 and taking full custody of his brother. If Social Security were to hear about the situation Michael and Carlos may be sent to foster care or even worse be sent back to Cuba. With the help of there neighbor, Mrs. Cora, and Michael’s best friend, Manny Cabrera, they try to keep there father’s death a secret. A rival is formed and rumors begin to spread. Rumors of Michael being too old to pitch, the committee demands Michael to be benched. How will he get back into the game he loves?
I thought this book was a good read. The boys dream was inspiring and amazing. The book was easy to follow and understand. The author’s diction grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read the amazing story about Michael Arroyo. I would recommend this book to any person that likes sports or a story about perseverance.
Heat By Mike Lupica
2007, Penguin Books Inc.
New York, New York
Michael Arroyo’s dream is to pitch in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The South Bronx All Stars have a chance, but they must beat the best that the New York area has to offer. His dream diminishes when just a few months after Michael and his family moved to Bronx, New York from Cuba his father dies of a heart attack. Carlos, Michael’s older brother, is just a few months from turning 18 and taking full custody of his brother. If Social Security were to hear about the situation Michael and Carlos may be sent to foster care or even worse be sent back to Cuba. With the help of there neighbor, Mrs. Cora, and Michael’s best friend, Manny Cabrera, they try to keep there father’s death a secret. A rival is formed and rumors begin to spread. Rumors of Michael being too old to pitch, the committee demands Michael to be benched. How will he get back into the game he loves?
I thought this book was a good read. The boys dream was inspiring and amazing. The book was easy to follow and understand. The author’s diction grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read the amazing story about Michael Arroyo. I would recommend this book to any person that likes sports or a story about perseverance.
Heat By Mike Lupica
2007, Penguin Books Inc.
New York, New York
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Ben Cech Into the wild
Ben Cech
Into the wild
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer fallows the story of a recent collage graduate named Christopher McCandless. Christopher, who desires to have adventures like his hero’s John Muir and Jack London, decides to rid himself of all his possessions, and go into the wild. He starts by burning all of the money in his wallet, and removing the license plates from his car, he then rids himself of all personal possession to be in contact with nature. Christopher then hitchhikes his way to Alaska, where he changes his name to “Alexander Supertramp”, now he is free to experience the true beauty of the world. As the book unravels, the reader can see the pieces falling into place, like a puzzle, the ending of the book is only revealed as you continue to read on. The books’ setting has a great amount of importance in the plot. The book starts off with Christopher in his luxurious home, and ends with him in Alaska; this shows him departing his past life, and every thing that came with it, to end up in the true wild.
As I began to read Into the Wild, I felt that I would enjoy this book based on the plot, and where I saw the book going. As I read this book, I found it very hard to stop reading once I had started. Krakauer uses imagery, and foreshadowing to portray the setting and plot of his book. I would recommend this book to almost any reader
Into the wild
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer fallows the story of a recent collage graduate named Christopher McCandless. Christopher, who desires to have adventures like his hero’s John Muir and Jack London, decides to rid himself of all his possessions, and go into the wild. He starts by burning all of the money in his wallet, and removing the license plates from his car, he then rids himself of all personal possession to be in contact with nature. Christopher then hitchhikes his way to Alaska, where he changes his name to “Alexander Supertramp”, now he is free to experience the true beauty of the world. As the book unravels, the reader can see the pieces falling into place, like a puzzle, the ending of the book is only revealed as you continue to read on. The books’ setting has a great amount of importance in the plot. The book starts off with Christopher in his luxurious home, and ends with him in Alaska; this shows him departing his past life, and every thing that came with it, to end up in the true wild.
As I began to read Into the Wild, I felt that I would enjoy this book based on the plot, and where I saw the book going. As I read this book, I found it very hard to stop reading once I had started. Krakauer uses imagery, and foreshadowing to portray the setting and plot of his book. I would recommend this book to almost any reader
SLAM
Slam is the story of a young, very talented basketball player living in Harlem. At his new school Slam is still adjusting to the high expectations in the classroom, but also the low expectations of the basketball team as he had formerly played on Harlem’s tournament champs last year. Latimer High School is much more demanding than his last school and Slam has difficulty on and off the court. His grades are poor and his teachers perceive him to have an attitude problem. The school goes as far as threatening to take away the only place he feels comfortable in basketball. The book was written by Walter Dean Myers and won the Coretta Scott King for its success. I found the book to be quite interesting from cover to cover. Myers did an excellent job conveying details in the actual games, which is so often difficult to do when writing sports novels. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to young adult males in general. I have already read some of Walter Dean Myers material and like his style of writing. He writes in a character’s specific dialect and uses a lot of slang.
Slam was able to take a bunch of ragtag basketball players and made them into a real team after they were able to build trust in each other. With the wisdom of the assistant coach, Mr. Goldstein, Slam learned to cope with his temper and become a better player on the hardwood and in his everyday life. Mtisha is Slam’s childhood crush and they are both very into each other even as upperclassmen in high school yet not quite dating. Finally, Ice is Slam’s friends since he was little and good friends now, but it just doesn’t seem the same to him. Slam is suspicious of Ice getting into some dangerous things.
Slam was able to take a bunch of ragtag basketball players and made them into a real team after they were able to build trust in each other. With the wisdom of the assistant coach, Mr. Goldstein, Slam learned to cope with his temper and become a better player on the hardwood and in his everyday life. Mtisha is Slam’s childhood crush and they are both very into each other even as upperclassmen in high school yet not quite dating. Finally, Ice is Slam’s friends since he was little and good friends now, but it just doesn’t seem the same to him. Slam is suspicious of Ice getting into some dangerous things.
Riptide by Ekstrand
Dylan Ekstrand
Mrs. Smith
Riptide, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child,
published by grand central publishing
The story starts off with a interesting prologue describing a pirate by the name of Edward Ockham who hid his treasure on Raggad Island. The curiosity of a lost fisherman stranded on the island who found where the treasure seemed to be hidden turned into a quest of many to find the treasure that is booby trapped beneath the island. The first attempt to reveal the treasure was in 1790. So many lives have perished and people have lost fortunes trying to discover the treasure. The main character is Malin Hatch who currently is a medical researcher for a hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts. When he was a younger child his father owned the island, and one day his curiosity got the best of him. He took his brother to the island where his brother was buried alive. As in his adult life he is the owner of the island and is constantly bombarded with people asking his permission to dig on the island, and every answer of his is no. Until one day he is approached by a man he says he has the blue prints to who designed the chamber the treasured was buried in, and that he also knows who the person was that created it. Reluctant at first Malin decides to grant permission to the man. But will the curse that is said to be surrounded by the treasure destroy yet another man's life? Will the treasure ever be found? The author's style is very easy to follow. He uses just enough imagery to let the reader get a full understanding of what is occurring, but doesn't over do it. This makes the book very easy to read as well as very suspenseful making the reader want to read more and more. Once I picked up the book I found it very hard to put it down. The setting is really important in that it makes the story majestic since it is on the coast of Massachusetts which has so much history. I would hands down recommend this book to anyone as it is a great read.
Mrs. Smith
Riptide, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child,
published by grand central publishing
The story starts off with a interesting prologue describing a pirate by the name of Edward Ockham who hid his treasure on Raggad Island. The curiosity of a lost fisherman stranded on the island who found where the treasure seemed to be hidden turned into a quest of many to find the treasure that is booby trapped beneath the island. The first attempt to reveal the treasure was in 1790. So many lives have perished and people have lost fortunes trying to discover the treasure. The main character is Malin Hatch who currently is a medical researcher for a hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts. When he was a younger child his father owned the island, and one day his curiosity got the best of him. He took his brother to the island where his brother was buried alive. As in his adult life he is the owner of the island and is constantly bombarded with people asking his permission to dig on the island, and every answer of his is no. Until one day he is approached by a man he says he has the blue prints to who designed the chamber the treasured was buried in, and that he also knows who the person was that created it. Reluctant at first Malin decides to grant permission to the man. But will the curse that is said to be surrounded by the treasure destroy yet another man's life? Will the treasure ever be found? The author's style is very easy to follow. He uses just enough imagery to let the reader get a full understanding of what is occurring, but doesn't over do it. This makes the book very easy to read as well as very suspenseful making the reader want to read more and more. Once I picked up the book I found it very hard to put it down. The setting is really important in that it makes the story majestic since it is on the coast of Massachusetts which has so much history. I would hands down recommend this book to anyone as it is a great read.
Changing your Path
“The five people you meet in heaven”
By: Mitch Albom
When I first read the title of the book I thought that it might have been more of a spiritual/ religious book. With furthering my reading of the book, it was about a man who died, and went to heaven. Once he gets to heaven there are five people that he meets along the way before he can get to his “sanctuary” in heaven. These five people that he meets where people who played some role in his life time.
Eddie; who is the main character, teaches you the value of life and to also accept when God is ready to take you. But while you spend your time here on earth to cherish the people who are around you, and never be too quick to judge but be quick to apologize and forgive.
The setting takes place in heaven, but while Eddie meets his five people in heaven each scene is different and it allows you to imagine how each person felt and why their heaven s’ are different from the next person. Also the scenes gives you a view as to where he was at the time that he met the person, but also why that scene fits as that persons “heaven”. But mainly why it showed him the reason as to how and why they met. The setting is very important to have throughout the book because you are cable of understanding why he went through the things he did in life.
I commend the author on his writing of the book; Mitch Albom does a great job in writing the details in the book, but most important learning the meaning of the book. The readability I thought was at good level for teens to read. Most important it was readable.
By: Mitch Albom
When I first read the title of the book I thought that it might have been more of a spiritual/ religious book. With furthering my reading of the book, it was about a man who died, and went to heaven. Once he gets to heaven there are five people that he meets along the way before he can get to his “sanctuary” in heaven. These five people that he meets where people who played some role in his life time.
Eddie; who is the main character, teaches you the value of life and to also accept when God is ready to take you. But while you spend your time here on earth to cherish the people who are around you, and never be too quick to judge but be quick to apologize and forgive.
The setting takes place in heaven, but while Eddie meets his five people in heaven each scene is different and it allows you to imagine how each person felt and why their heaven s’ are different from the next person. Also the scenes gives you a view as to where he was at the time that he met the person, but also why that scene fits as that persons “heaven”. But mainly why it showed him the reason as to how and why they met. The setting is very important to have throughout the book because you are cable of understanding why he went through the things he did in life.
I commend the author on his writing of the book; Mitch Albom does a great job in writing the details in the book, but most important learning the meaning of the book. The readability I thought was at good level for teens to read. Most important it was readable.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Preston and Child
If you are the type of reader that enjoys being drawn into a novel to the point where you cannot wait to turn the page this is the choice for you. The main character is a man named Pendergast. He is an FBI agent who seems to have a secretive past that drives him to feel intrigued to investigate cases of this nature. He is the perfect man for the job once things begin to heat up, a cop with a motivation that creates a plot from very little direction. He gets wind of a massive chamber underground that is filled with the skeletons of people who went missing in the late 1800’s. Agent Pendergast reaches out for aid from an archaeologist named Nora Kelly. Nora works for the New York Museum and is your stereotypical nerdy historian. She is socially stingy, but she knows her stuff; reminding me of the librarian from the popular motion picture The Mummy. They came to the conclusion that it was not a cemetery by the obvious mutated structures. These people were murdered, and in a gruesome manner by being operated on while alive. There seems to be no reason to pursue and investigation on such an old case until someone in the enormous city decides to simulate these past murders in the present day. The fact that the bulk of the action takes place in such a large city that New York is, creates an additional element to the mysteriousness, suspense, and frustration of the plot. There is so much going on, so many people, and so many direction that can have affect on a situation like this when in a city environment that it can have an overwhelming effect that makes the story even more enjoyable. Do not be intimidated by the thickness from cover to cover because your “curiosities” will propel you to uncovering the final twist to the plot before you know what happened.
Katie Davidoff Nineteen Mintues Book Review
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. Washington Square Press: New York, 2007
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult begins with a girl named Josie Cormier going to school on a normal day, to then realize it would be a day that would change the rest of her life. A boy named Peter Houghton who had been picked on since grade school, was finally fed up with all of the bullying and went to school with four guns, planning to gun down the ones who had given him such a hard time. Throughout the story, Picoult goes back and forth from before the shooting and after it. Peter is on trial for ten counts of murder and nineteen counts of attempted murder, and his attorney Jordan McAfee is there to try and win over the jury to prove that Peter’s actions were due to something similar to post traumatic stress disorder- in terms of bullying.
Compared to Picoult’s other stories written, Nineteen Minutes seems to convey a very good message, but it was a lot more harder to get into rather than some of the other page turners she has written. It is interesting how Picoult manages to fit in almost two whole stories other than the school shooting. Josie Cormier deals with her first love and all of the fights and make-ups that come along with first love, and how to deal with her mother who typically works all the time, now wanting to cater to her every need since the shooting occurred. I would recommend this book to only a certain sum of people, but if you are an easily bored reader, I’d look for something a little more action filled.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult begins with a girl named Josie Cormier going to school on a normal day, to then realize it would be a day that would change the rest of her life. A boy named Peter Houghton who had been picked on since grade school, was finally fed up with all of the bullying and went to school with four guns, planning to gun down the ones who had given him such a hard time. Throughout the story, Picoult goes back and forth from before the shooting and after it. Peter is on trial for ten counts of murder and nineteen counts of attempted murder, and his attorney Jordan McAfee is there to try and win over the jury to prove that Peter’s actions were due to something similar to post traumatic stress disorder- in terms of bullying.
Compared to Picoult’s other stories written, Nineteen Minutes seems to convey a very good message, but it was a lot more harder to get into rather than some of the other page turners she has written. It is interesting how Picoult manages to fit in almost two whole stories other than the school shooting. Josie Cormier deals with her first love and all of the fights and make-ups that come along with first love, and how to deal with her mother who typically works all the time, now wanting to cater to her every need since the shooting occurred. I would recommend this book to only a certain sum of people, but if you are an easily bored reader, I’d look for something a little more action filled.
Alex Miller's Book Review
Book Review
Alex Miller
Mrs. Smith
The Rose that grew From Concrete
The Rose that grew From Concrete is a book written by Tupac Shakur at the age of nineteen. Despite his young age he was able to successfully grip his strength, his compassion, and his message of hope through his poetry. These poems were found not long after the tragic death of this hip-hop icon. These poems found revealed his true thoughts, feelings and perception on things that he was experiencing in his life. These poems by Tupac also showed the public the truth about what the limelight can do to a person and the truth behind his early struggle hood in life. Each poem is unique in its own way and each portray a new message or meaning behind them.
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in the East Harlem part of Manhattan in New York City. He grew up among violence, hardship within the ghetto and drug and alcohol abuse. Some argue that these hardships as a young man is what made him who he is. The struggle with conflicts in society along with other things is what gave his music and lyrics such “pain” which people quickly became interested in. After releasing a first album with such controversial lyrics, it didn’t take listeners long to hop on the bandwagon and become curious about the thoughts and feelings of this young man, and where they were coming from.
Tupac Shakurs style and tone also brought more and more listeners in. His raw lyrics and rebellious attitude is what caused him problems with both the law and other hip-hop artist. At the same time this style is what made his music a hit in the industry, because so many people felt like they could connect his struggles to one’s of their own.
Alex Miller
Mrs. Smith
The Rose that grew From Concrete
The Rose that grew From Concrete is a book written by Tupac Shakur at the age of nineteen. Despite his young age he was able to successfully grip his strength, his compassion, and his message of hope through his poetry. These poems were found not long after the tragic death of this hip-hop icon. These poems found revealed his true thoughts, feelings and perception on things that he was experiencing in his life. These poems by Tupac also showed the public the truth about what the limelight can do to a person and the truth behind his early struggle hood in life. Each poem is unique in its own way and each portray a new message or meaning behind them.
Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in the East Harlem part of Manhattan in New York City. He grew up among violence, hardship within the ghetto and drug and alcohol abuse. Some argue that these hardships as a young man is what made him who he is. The struggle with conflicts in society along with other things is what gave his music and lyrics such “pain” which people quickly became interested in. After releasing a first album with such controversial lyrics, it didn’t take listeners long to hop on the bandwagon and become curious about the thoughts and feelings of this young man, and where they were coming from.
Tupac Shakurs style and tone also brought more and more listeners in. His raw lyrics and rebellious attitude is what caused him problems with both the law and other hip-hop artist. At the same time this style is what made his music a hit in the industry, because so many people felt like they could connect his struggles to one’s of their own.
90 Minutes in Heaven by David Strimple
90 Minutes in Heaven
Don Piper
Mrs. Smith
90 Minutes in Heaven is the true story of Don Piper, a Baptist minister who died in a tragic car accident, written by Don Piper and co-writer, Cecil Murphy.
There are three very important parts to this book. Each one, in itself, is well worth reading and gets my recommendation.First is the story of Don Piper’s tragic automobile accident. His Ford Escort was crushed by an 18 wheeler. He died instantly at the moment of the crash, but God had other plans. God spoke to a man waiting in the line of stopped traffic. Dick Onerecker felt compelled to pray for the dead man in the wrecked car and as a result, Don Piper was brought back to life 90 minutes after being pronounced dead.Second is the story of the 90 minutes of Mr. Piper’s death and his time in heaven. His first hand description is sure to make anyone long for their heavenly home. I often think about his impression of the sound of angel’s wings. “A beautiful, holy melody with a cadence that seemed never to stop.”Third and possibly the most powerful part of the book is the story of how he coped with his broken body, surviving a long and exhausting recovery while experiencing constant pain. In this he found a mission in ministering to those who suffer from pain.
This is easily one of the best books of our time! When I started to read this book it completely blew me away that this was a true story about a man who went through all of this. Once you start reading this book it will be hard for you to put it down!
Don Piper
Mrs. Smith
90 Minutes in Heaven is the true story of Don Piper, a Baptist minister who died in a tragic car accident, written by Don Piper and co-writer, Cecil Murphy.
There are three very important parts to this book. Each one, in itself, is well worth reading and gets my recommendation.First is the story of Don Piper’s tragic automobile accident. His Ford Escort was crushed by an 18 wheeler. He died instantly at the moment of the crash, but God had other plans. God spoke to a man waiting in the line of stopped traffic. Dick Onerecker felt compelled to pray for the dead man in the wrecked car and as a result, Don Piper was brought back to life 90 minutes after being pronounced dead.Second is the story of the 90 minutes of Mr. Piper’s death and his time in heaven. His first hand description is sure to make anyone long for their heavenly home. I often think about his impression of the sound of angel’s wings. “A beautiful, holy melody with a cadence that seemed never to stop.”Third and possibly the most powerful part of the book is the story of how he coped with his broken body, surviving a long and exhausting recovery while experiencing constant pain. In this he found a mission in ministering to those who suffer from pain.
This is easily one of the best books of our time! When I started to read this book it completely blew me away that this was a true story about a man who went through all of this. Once you start reading this book it will be hard for you to put it down!
Speak by Rebekah Blakkolb
Rebekah Blakkolb
Mrs. Smith
Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Imagine going into your freshman year of high school having all your close friends hate you as well as everyone else in the school. Melinda knew how that felt but no one understood why she did what she did. Her and her friends went to a high school party the summer before they were freshman and they ended up drinking. Something went wrong with Melinda and she was so upset and did not know what to do that she called the police. Someone heard her calling the police, everyone started screaming and trying to run but the police were there before they could leave the party. Since then everyone found out who called the police and hated her. She dreaded going to school that first day of her freshman year. She had no friends, and the friends she had before the party all gave her dirty looks for ruining it. Melinda did not know what to do she could not tell everyone what happened for fear that no one would believe her but she could not stand having everyone hate her. Melinda was on her own, the only friend she made that year was a new girl named Heather and even she hated being around Melinda because of her reputation. Heather did not know what Melinda did but she knew that she was depressed and was getting a bad reputation and told Melinda she could no longer be friends with her. Whenever Melinda is called on or talked to she never seems to be able to find her voice to respond. Throughout the story she over comes a series of events that will test her to make her a stronger person and speak out for help because she could not the night of the party.
Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of the book Speak writes through the mind of a student that is in high school making it easy to understand. She makes it interesting to read and does not explain what happened to Melinda until half way through the story making you want to keep reading until you find out what happened. I like the way Anderson writes because it kept me interested in the story and it was easy to read considering it was written from a student’s perspective.
Mrs. Smith
Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Imagine going into your freshman year of high school having all your close friends hate you as well as everyone else in the school. Melinda knew how that felt but no one understood why she did what she did. Her and her friends went to a high school party the summer before they were freshman and they ended up drinking. Something went wrong with Melinda and she was so upset and did not know what to do that she called the police. Someone heard her calling the police, everyone started screaming and trying to run but the police were there before they could leave the party. Since then everyone found out who called the police and hated her. She dreaded going to school that first day of her freshman year. She had no friends, and the friends she had before the party all gave her dirty looks for ruining it. Melinda did not know what to do she could not tell everyone what happened for fear that no one would believe her but she could not stand having everyone hate her. Melinda was on her own, the only friend she made that year was a new girl named Heather and even she hated being around Melinda because of her reputation. Heather did not know what Melinda did but she knew that she was depressed and was getting a bad reputation and told Melinda she could no longer be friends with her. Whenever Melinda is called on or talked to she never seems to be able to find her voice to respond. Throughout the story she over comes a series of events that will test her to make her a stronger person and speak out for help because she could not the night of the party.
Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of the book Speak writes through the mind of a student that is in high school making it easy to understand. She makes it interesting to read and does not explain what happened to Melinda until half way through the story making you want to keep reading until you find out what happened. I like the way Anderson writes because it kept me interested in the story and it was easy to read considering it was written from a student’s perspective.
Apocalypse 2012 Review by David Dureiko
Apocalypse 2012
263 Pages
Joseph, Lawrence. E. Apocalypse 2012. Broadway Books. 2007
The Mayans believed that the world be wiped clean in 2012 so that a new civilization could start up. Scientists think that giant solar flares and a diminishing electromagnetic field will result in the total extinction of mankind in 2012. Biblical scholars and researchers say that they have discovered a code in the bible that tells of the end of the world in 2012. All this and more as Lawrence E. Joseph takes us on a humorous yet serious and scary ride thought the facts and beliefs of the end of the world. Through countless years of research, Joseph shows us how significant the number 2012 really is. He manages to instill a sense of excitement as well as panic through many of the beliefs. Whether through the views of the Mayans, leading scientists, or biblical scholars, Joseph manages to get you to rethink your view on the end of the world. Joseph will take you to many countries in the world to show you all the beliefs on the number 2012. By his humorous but very serious writing style, the author makes this book moderately easy to read as well as very exciting. If you read this book, you will definitely not be able to put it down.
1st Period Smith By: David Dureiko
Down The Yukon By: Mike Stefano
Down The Yukon
By: Will Hobbs
Mrs. Smith
This is a story of a young boy Ethan and his two brothers, from the start they were always on their own because their parents died at a young age so they had to fend for themselves. In order to make a living the oldest brother john decides to buy a sawmill for the 3 brothers to run. But after years of a good living and business, a greedy salesman cheats them out of there mill and so the boys are forced to come up with 18,000 dollars to pay the bank. Sam being the second youngest always had a love for animals but especially dogs.
With that in mind he hears of a race from the local hound dog breeder, about a 90 mile race down the Yukon river in Alaska and the first place winner receives 20,000 dollars. The three brothers embark on a journey which not only tests them physically but emotionally when they get word of a long lost relative that makes them want to win.
The book was a very easy reader but I don’t think I would recommend anyone our age to read this because the grammar and words used were way to simple and almost boring. But if you did the author does a good job of keeping you wanting to read on and expresses his love for the outdoors and nature.
By: Will Hobbs
Mrs. Smith
This is a story of a young boy Ethan and his two brothers, from the start they were always on their own because their parents died at a young age so they had to fend for themselves. In order to make a living the oldest brother john decides to buy a sawmill for the 3 brothers to run. But after years of a good living and business, a greedy salesman cheats them out of there mill and so the boys are forced to come up with 18,000 dollars to pay the bank. Sam being the second youngest always had a love for animals but especially dogs.
With that in mind he hears of a race from the local hound dog breeder, about a 90 mile race down the Yukon river in Alaska and the first place winner receives 20,000 dollars. The three brothers embark on a journey which not only tests them physically but emotionally when they get word of a long lost relative that makes them want to win.
The book was a very easy reader but I don’t think I would recommend anyone our age to read this because the grammar and words used were way to simple and almost boring. But if you did the author does a good job of keeping you wanting to read on and expresses his love for the outdoors and nature.
Blue Bloods Review by Sgervasi
Blue bloods is a compelling story about a group of young teenagers struggling to uncover their identities. They end up to be what people call blue bloods which are kind of like vampires. Only blue bloods are friendly people who live in harmony with people. And they cycle, which is where they “pass on” but in reality their souls are being sent to another body to start a new life. But once they get to be in high school the Blue bloods start to remember their past memories from their cycles and that’s when they come to age. But while they struggle to remember all the memories from the past lives that they lived when they cycle. But along the way a major struggle occurs and the main character Schelur Van Alen is thrown into a pit of confusion. Young blue bloods start to die and instead of cycling into the next life their soul was taken. They were taken by the silver bloods and while all that is going on Jack Force (a young blue blood) and Schelur struggle as their feelings for each other grow while a major crisis is going on, the author Melissa de la cruz keeps you reading by throwing exciting plot twists in the story.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Twilight Review by Amontello
Twilight
498 Pages
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005.
Bella, a seventeen year old girl, moved to the rainy city of Forks to live with her father. She never expected to like Forks but she does and it’s because of the flawless Edward Cullen. Edward was extremely beautiful and perfect but also strange, he never ate at lunch and his skin was so pale it was almost transparent. Bella became obsessed with Edward but he tries to avoid her and she doesn’t understand why. Then one day Edward saves Bella from getting hit by a car but Bella doesn’t understand how considering he was no where near her when the accident was happening. Bella begged for an explanation and learns that Edward is not the human he appears to be, he’s living a secret life as a vampire! Despite that, Bella falls in love with Edward and Edward falls in love with her but he tries to warn her he’s dangerous and that she should stay away from him. Bella ignores him though and she and Edward start doing everything together. After time Bella starts to see what Edward meant and realizes her and all the people important to her are in danger! The rainy setting is important because in the sunlight Edwards skin sparkles and if people saw him in the sun his secret would be out. The author writes in a way that makes the book easy to follow and fun to read. Her character development is amazing, you feel like you personally know the characters. Once you start reading the book you will not be able to put it down!
Smith 1st period
498 Pages
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005.
Bella, a seventeen year old girl, moved to the rainy city of Forks to live with her father. She never expected to like Forks but she does and it’s because of the flawless Edward Cullen. Edward was extremely beautiful and perfect but also strange, he never ate at lunch and his skin was so pale it was almost transparent. Bella became obsessed with Edward but he tries to avoid her and she doesn’t understand why. Then one day Edward saves Bella from getting hit by a car but Bella doesn’t understand how considering he was no where near her when the accident was happening. Bella begged for an explanation and learns that Edward is not the human he appears to be, he’s living a secret life as a vampire! Despite that, Bella falls in love with Edward and Edward falls in love with her but he tries to warn her he’s dangerous and that she should stay away from him. Bella ignores him though and she and Edward start doing everything together. After time Bella starts to see what Edward meant and realizes her and all the people important to her are in danger! The rainy setting is important because in the sunlight Edwards skin sparkles and if people saw him in the sun his secret would be out. The author writes in a way that makes the book easy to follow and fun to read. Her character development is amazing, you feel like you personally know the characters. Once you start reading the book you will not be able to put it down!
Smith 1st period
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