Entry 9

The book I have been reading the past hour (none stop) is called Heroes Don't Run which is a hard story about a young man wanting to honour his father's death by joining the marines and learns of death and true misery. It is a short, but complicated story. Adam which is the young man's name runs to his grandfather in New York to make him sign a contract to let him join the army. After several put offs, Adam is finally at boot camp where he is trained mercilessly and cruelly by several officers. Adam reminds me of my teacher in 3 rd grade because they both worked hard to protect their students/soldiers even though they were put down a lot. Adam also sounds sort of like me in the way that he is definit about his decission, untill the truth slaps him in the face. Adam meets an official on the battle field named Rosie whom I really admired because when a shell bomd blew nearby them, they were all peppered with junk, but Adam got peppered with Rosie's bones because he had leapt in front of Adam to save his life. I'd like to be that brave. My favorite quote is,"You're not the only one whose changed, Adam. We've all gone through a lot." because his mother shames him for getting hurt and he feels so bad to have these words hurled at him. Sometimes, I don't think war is this good, a lot more people dis and the misery and pain is more indurable. This story isn't true hell and pain. People have died in the real war and we aren't lessening their pain by writing it down. this is a sad book, but has good writing.

Entry #7, HOOT

The book I have been reading is called Hoot. This novel is very interesting because the characters differ so much. I think the running boy, whose nick name is Mullet fingers is sort of like me in speed. He runs from juvenile hall where his mother dumped him. Then he asks his half sister for help when he gets out of jail. His father is sort of like a lot of people I know who just sit around, eat, and watch TV.
I would really like to be as determined and never giving up as the running boy. He goes into everything with gusto and I can't blame him for hating his mother who doesn't want him and sends him to juvenile hall, blamed for a crime he didn't commit. He also risks his life and freedom by trying to save the burrowing owls who live at a pancake site. Sometimes I wish I was as tough as his sister, Beatrice.
This writer isn't very obvious and he really hooks the reader in from the beginning. Sometimes I wish he didn't give the purpose of the story away because it made it less exciting. I sometimes wonder if the boy's mother really did not want him because she did give birth to him and he wasn't that bad just a little mischievous at times.
Overall, this is a very good book and it really is a wonderful book for children. I think this book deserves the honor medal on it's cover.

Entry 7... Hee! Hee! Hee!

Currently, I am rereading one of my favorite books, " Ronia, The Robber's Daughter" which has really inspired me at an early age as a reader and hopefully a writer. This book has no medal or award to prove it's accomplishments, but this is truly a unique book. Ronia is born into the merry life of her father's robber clan. But when this wild adventurous girl finally finds someone to play with, it's Matt's archenemies son, Birk. Ronia reminds me of myself in ways I don't really understand. We are both careless at times, (and people tell me I will be the death of myself!) both can't stop moving, and we have to know just about everything. She is also around my age. If I could adapt one of the character's traits it would be Birk's wisdom. He is still young and carefree, but he knows exactly what to do in a dire situation and how to deal with it. My favorite line in the book is, " These warm summer evenings are lovely for riding,"said Ronia. And she thought, Why can't it always be summer in the forest?" I like this line because Ronia is thinking deeply of her life and this shows that all children think deep whether parents like it or not. The ending was very interesting with obvious things and surprising information. It's a lovely book! READ IT!

Entry 6, HOLES!

Currently, I am reading Holes by Lois Sachar, who is one of my favorite authors. Stanley Yelnats is basically the total opposite of me, even gender. He sort of reminds me of a friend I have had for a very long time who is just random and plain on the outside. He discovered hidden talents within himself just like Stanley did at Camp Green Lake digging holes. I hope my friend is successful in life because right now, he is not being treated with the respect he should have due to the fact he has family issues and is a little poor. He's a very nice dude. I hope some day I can be as strong minded as Zero is who is Stanley's friend at the camp. Zero actually is very smart, but everybody thinks he's dumb until they test him to make fun of him. Some books like these are made for young children so it wasn't that hard to predict the come out. The book ended like all books should, a happy scene with rejoicing and love and all of that stuff. It's a great book though, so it got a medal.

Entry 5

The book I am currently reading is called Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla. Pocahontas reminds me of myself in many ways yet we are still extremely different. This is a true story of how she saved the life of Captain John Smith by risking her own many times. It sort of reminds me of Romeo and Juliet because there are two different tribes and they fight while one young woman thinks of a way to save the people she honours and the people whom do not deserve to die. Captain John Smith is like my past teacher in a way because he is willing to sacrifice himself for his people just like my teacher tries to help us in a way that is not telling us the truth. I think nobody in the book has a really great trait I would like to posses. Otherwise, I wouldn't like to be bold, brave, or act for the greater good. If I could make Powhatan be more sharing, kind and reasonable, I would because in the end, he won't sacrifice some of his tools and food to free his own daughter who has made many wise and difficult decisions because of her love to her village and her father. One time, at the really end of the book, Pocahontas doesn't want to talk to John Smith because someone told her he was dead. I think that was really stupid of her and I would like to know why she did that. In the end of this book, I have learned not to do good things for personal gain, but to think of others before acting. I would not read a book by this author again because he is to straightforward with history. He needs to make it more exciting and adventurous. My favorite quote is when Pocahontas dies, 'Her eyes opened. "Rebecca!" said John Rolfe. She looked at him as if the name meant nothing. " Pocahontas!" he said. There was no answer. She would never answer him again.' I like that ending because it is abrupt and it ends her important life in a very signifgant way. I love it! I didn't need clues about the story because I 've aleady read it somewhere else. Powhatan changed a lot. First he was a smart leader and a loving father. Then he turned selfish and bloodthirsty and finally, he didn't care about Pocahontas anymore and only cared about food and fire sticks (guns). I always will cheer for Pocahontas no matter what because she is so generous and kind. She's very clever and she changed our economy in a lot of ways both good and bad. I really liked this book's theme, but not the writing.

BOOKS!

I sort of read random books I've already read before and switch around. Then I just laze around reading. My most common reading book is The Harry Potter series because it's fun to read and relax. The Giver was a very interesting book ,but it's to sad and sort of emotional even though that's what the community lacked. It was an enjoyable book to read in class.

Entry 2- connections

pictures of Hollis Woods is a very emotional and well written novel by Patricia Reilly Giff and the story of a twelve year-old artist who looks back on her pictures and notices things that she drew in but never saw. I like to draw and Hollis is adventurous like me. She risks being forced into a new foster family by trying to save an old woman skilled at carving but losing her memory. She tries to save old Josie and herself by coming back to the one family that offered her a home. When she gets there though they are in their winter house and the dreadful memories of why she ran away from them was brought up from the pass. It is very interesting and exciting, but at the same time showing an emotional story of yearning and wishing to be loved, cared, and having a family. This is one of my favorite books and I sometimes cry when I read it.
You all should read it because many of you will have had been in Hollis's position or making a very difficult dicision.

Entry 1

I wonder why the community is so orderly and so loveless because although they all have a pull to the community, no one acts like they care or feel love for a friend or family member. And none of them look like they have experienced real pain and true grief because their world doesn't wonder about the loss of love from their community. But they can't miss love when there is nothing to help them remember what it is. I would never want to live in such a straight forward society not for all the money and dogs in the world.