Kate S.

Kate Sinclair

Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer

Non-Fiction

Challenge

90

1.       I am currently reading, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. A young man named Chris McCandless from a well-to-do family started his adventure after he graduated from Emory University in Atlanta. Chris told his family he wanted to be alone that summer to explore and they didn't think anything of it until they don't hear from him and find out that he gave twenty four thousand dollars to a charity called OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger. His first adventure started when he hitchhiked and luckily a kind man named Jim Gallien picked him up.  At first Jim was hesitant he looked only eighteen and he carried a rifle in his backpack but he had a kind handsome face so he picked him up. Chris told the man that his first name was Alex but gave him his last name, McCandless. Chris told Jim that he wanted a ride as far as the edge of Denali National Park where he intended to live there for a few months with only the recourses of the land and no money, which had mostly been burned. Jim recalls that had little items from knowing other people who had tried to live of the land.  He tried to convince Chris to change his mind scary stories about people dying out there and how hard it is to find food. He tried everything but Chris was not going to change his mind and he could tell. When he gets dropped off finally Jim gives him his rubber work boots even though they were huge on him they were much more appropriate for his journey then his other shoes. Chris then ventures off hitchhiking some more getting a small job here and there and writing in a journal from which this book is based off of.

2.   This book is so inspirational and different from all of my other books. I really enjoy the main concept of the book it is so interesting and keeps me wondering after every page.  This book challenges me but I like that and keeps the book more of a mystery. I enjoy most of the book is based off of Chris’s journal. The author also always had the best amount detail so I could visualize every aspect of his writing but too much that it was boring and I got tired of it. Another reason I love this book is that it actually happened which makes it much more interesting. Also I never have read this genre before and I am really enjoying this book!

3.        I think that the theme of this book is the great adventure right now that he is hitchhiking but I believe once he goes out into the forest to live of the land, if he does that the theme will change to man vs. nature. Right now Chris is just going along with what it and having fun exploring and going wherever so it is more of an adventure. I think this theme really shines through in the story mainly when Chris goes on small adventures through different places sometimes getting lost but finding a way around it or how to fix it. Also the whole plot of traveling in general is an adventure but alone and with limited supplies I think that the theme of the book would have to be the great adventure.

4.       My favorite character would have to be Jim Gallien because first he picked up someone random he didn’t know just because he saw a kindness in them. He seems to see the good in people and not the bad not once did he say that Chris was crazy he just went with it and didn’t judge him. He also really wants to help Chris in his journey and has faith in him he gives Chris is sturdy work boots and then gives him his number so they can be returned after his journey. This small act of kindness showed he had faith in Chris and thought he would be alright out there giving Chris just the right amount of confidence to start his journey. Jim also includes a bit of humor into the story to add a bit of happiness to the bit of a sad story. If I was Chris I would be very grateful to have such a great friend like Jim to help me out mentally and physically.  Jim becomes right away a friend to Chris not being shy to help him out and almost be a bit of a mentor.

5.       My least favorite character was probably right now in the book is Chris McCandless because of his carelessness. I do admire his act of him burning his money but I don’t understand why he would not pack much he seems unorganized right now and not prepared to take on this big of journey. I also have not figured many things about him yet so he seems a bit mysterious in a bad way. I wonder what made him want to take on this task so unexpected.  He almost seems crazy right now for doing this it is like asking to die but I’m not sure if he will be able to turn the tables by the end of the book. I also feel very bad for his parents who he does not even seem to care about while there frantic at home sending someone to find their son he is not even thinking about them even though he said he would write. I feel as he just is throwing his life away or he could do something amazing and surprise me but now in the book I think he is acting irresponsible and need to figure thing out.

6.       I predict that will meet up with Jim again and he will find out who he really is and Chris’s whole story and maybe I can figure out is strange relationship with his parents that could have had something to do with his adventure, maybe a lack of attention at home? Maybe Jim will let his parents know where he is and give them his story or maybe he will not mention it and join Chris in his adventure. I hope that Jim Gallien shows up again but the author always surprises me so I will never be able to know for sure.

Mark McVeigh

Mark McVeigh
Maximum Security
Robert Muchamore
Action
Just Right
Just Finished 287

1) I have just finished Maximum Security by Robert Muchamore. After a successful break out with Curtis Oxford, James and the FBI are closer to capturing Jane Oxford then they ever were before. James is on his third mission as a CHERUB agent. In this mission James, Dave, a highly skilled CHERUB agent, have to break into Arizona Max and break out Curtis Oxford in order to meet up with and arrest his mom, Jane Oxford. Lauren is also in the mission but only helps after the breakout.  Jane is a highly wanted criminal that is now being chased down due to her recent activity of selling American missiles to countries in the Middle East. She is notorious for evading police, so the FBI are now trying a different angle, using CHERUB agents. After a week or two inside Arizona Max, Dave is seriously injured and is counted out for the mission. This leaves CHERUB with no other choice but to pull James out also. James has different plans and says that he will make the escape with Curtis and continue on without the help of Dave. James is successful in pulling this off and about a month after the escape, after much running and evading police, James and Lauren end up in a hotel with Eugene and Bill, two loyal employees of Jane that will do anything for her. They are awaiting they're flights the next day in which James and Lauren will be sent to Toronto and Curtis along with Bill will head out to Brazil. In the small hours of the next morning, Bill wakes up Curtis and tells him to get up and start moving because they are heading out to another location that is unknown to James who is pretending to be asleep and listening to they re conversation. As soon as Bill and Curtis leave the room, James follows them down to the airport shuttle. James lost his hope in the mission and thought it was over until he saw an FBI agent board the bus with them and James knew the fight wasn't over. While all of this is going on Eugene is upstairs attempting to strangle Lauren but she has the skill to jam a pen in his neck and escape. About an hour later, after FBI agents John and Marvin meet up with the kids and determine that Bill had fooled the agent tracking him and is now on his way to see Jane, they are in a motel parking lot with Jane oxford caught red handed.

2) This was a very interesting and action packed book. It was not the best I have ever read though. It got a little bit confusing at the end and actually was in my opinion, was a bit anti-climactic. Although they did capture Jane Oxford, it did not nearly match the excitement that the rest of the book gave you. In prison they were constant fights and rows breaking out, and that spiked my interest allot. But in the end it was just simple arrest, ans I know this is the more realistic situation, I felt like it could have ended with more of a bang.

3) The theme i have have noticed is overcoming fear. Throughout the book James is in a situation that would frighten the toughest of people. He had to overcome his fear from the very beginning. On his first day he had a fight with two kids just because of a commission sheet. Later in the story after Dave was injured and declared unfit for the mission, James had to step in and take over a mission that is tough for a grown man never mind a 13 year old. I think the biggest moment in which he had to overcome his fear was when he was on the run taking a girl hostage so she could drive them to LA. He not only had to overcome his immense fear of being injured in a shootout with the cops if things went south, he had to think quickly to get out of that situation.

4) My favorite character would have to be James. I think that any kid that has the guts to go into a prison with ruthless killers for a reason that really has nothing to do with him deserves an award. Also he is very clever and brave. He displays his cleverness in many situations such as when he had a woman held hostage. He took that situation and made it better for everyone, the kids escaped and the woman got two thousand dollars. For these and many other winning attributes, James is undoubtedly my favorite character.

5) My least favorite character would be Eugene. This is for one and one reason only, he had the heart to try and kill a kid. At the end of the book, he took a pillow and tried to suffocate Lauren, an innocent and sweet little girl that has done nothing but good. I think that any man that has the heart to kill a little kid like that should rot in prison. Although his presence is brief in the book, this one action losses any respect I had for him.

6) The ending of Maximum Security was OK. It was definitely not the ending i had expected or hoped for. It ended up being a routine arrest after a very unexciting car chase. I expected that they would catch Jane during a dealing of the missiles she was selling and have a shootout with a warehouse full of American bikers and Arab terrorists. This would've made the book the best book I've ever read. I also felt like it was a bit rushed, it went from the hotel to the arrest in a matter of one or two pages. This made an OK ending turn into a "Needs Improvement" sort of ending. All in all though the book was great but the ending brought it down a lot.

Reed Mitchell

Reed Mitchell
12/22/12
Maze Runner
James Dashner
Adventure/Fantasy/Dystopian
Just Right
64

1.) Right now I am reading the book Maze Runner by James Dashner and I am on page 64. In the book right now a girl has come up the elevator which has never happened before because everybody in the Glade are boys. The girl says that the end is near and she falls into a coma. The medics in the Glade don't know what is wrong with her so they move her to the homestead. After she is taken away Thomas feels like he has a connection with her even though he has no clear memories. He also worries that Alby and others associate him and his arrival with the sudden change in the pattern of Box arrivals, and with the threat of change brought by the girl. Then Thomas and another boy from the Glade start to wonder why they are in the Glade. They think that they may be criminals sent to prison for reasons they do not know.

2.) I really like this book for many reasons. One reason is that it is like a dystopian world because a number are stuck in this area called the Glade and they have to find a way out. Books that have this kind of setting of my favorite because people usually have to colonize a new society. There is usually a bigger force suppressing them and they have to fight back and rebel which I find really cool. I also like this book because it reminds me of The Hunger Games series which is my favorite series of all time because the settings are both in dystopian worlds and they are not able to leave because the areas are surrounded.

3.) I think the theme of this book is the desire to escape. The reason I think this is a theme is because there are certain jobs in the Glade and one of the jobs is to be a runner. These runners run around the maze searching for an exit because the people in the Glade want to escape. Another example is when Thomas is entering the Glade in the elevator at the beginning of the book.  Thomas can't remember anything but his name and he doesn't know why he is in a elevator. While he is in the elevator he pounds on the walls, looks all around for an exit, and screams for help. Also the plot of the book is to find a way out of the Glade and why they are in there in the first place. So I think this is the perfect theme for this book because of these reasons.

4.) My favorite character in this book is Thomas because he reminds me of myself. If I were to choose a job in the Glade I would want to be a runner like him because a job like being a farmer I think would be very boring. Even though Thomas is new to the Glade he still wants to be a runner even though being a runner is the hardest job and you need a lot of experience in order be one. I also really like Thomas because I really want to know what his life was like before the glade, but he can't remember so that makes me wonder what his life was like. An example is does he have a brother or sister? Or does his family know that he has left and if he has been replaced? Thomas reminds me of myself because he seems daring and really curious like me. Thomas is also mysterious and he really interests me because I want to know what his life was like before.

5.) I don't really have a least favorite character, but if I had to choose it would be more like a group of characters. In the beginning of the book when Thomas is being pulled out of the elevator and there is a group of boys laughing at him. I don't like the group of boys because every month a new boy comes into the Glade and so it isn't anything new to them. So since they are used to it they laugh at Thomas and they act very meanly to Thomas. I feel like they should have given Thomas his space and just let Alby talk to him. All of the characters so far I have taken a liking to but if i were to choose my least favorite I would choose that group of boys.

6.) I am very curious about the end of this book. I predict that the way they are going to find a way out is by going into the maze and letting the gates close. Then they will follow one of the monsters around and the monster will lead them to the way out of the Glade. Or the other way they will get of the Glade will be that they figure out a way to work the elevator and they will use it to escape. I also have a prediction about that all of the kids in the Glade are being replaced in the families by other kids. This book makes you ask a lot of questions and these are the predictions of what I think will happen.

John Fulton

John Fulton
Snakehead
Anthony Horowitz
Action
Just Right


1. I have just finished reading the book Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz. This book was a great read it kept me on my toes and wanting the turn the page. The book ends when Alex and his SAS companion Ben Daniels spoil Winston Yu, the head of a very powerful snakehead gang, and his assistant who is a Scorpia double agent named Ash's plans to detonate a bomb codenamed "Royal Blue" Ben shootsand kills Ash but Yu escapes and starts sinking "Royal Blue"but then Alex detonates it early and it harmlessly goes off but the shock wave kills Yu for he suffers from a disease known as osteoporsis or fraile bone structure.

2. I loved the book it was one of the best I've ever read. It's suspenseful and complex plot caught my interest and intrigued me to want to turn the page even more. It's mix of characters was also incredibly appealing to me with Yu turning out to be the main evil doer when at the beginning I thought Zeljian Kurst was going to be the huge issue. Also Ash being a double agent that was a great and interesting twist.

3.  I think the theme of this book was lost innocence. I say this because even though Alex has had experience with these types situations before in his life and this series. This was the first time he was really responsible for the killing of a person that person being Winston Yu and at the beginning of the book he was forced to join a Snakehead gang as an undercover operative and he had to go through riots and illegal boxing against men twice his size and age that is definitely a lost of innocence.

4. My favorite character was Alex. I chose him as my favorite character again for many reasons one of which was his personality as a character that being one of no fear and the ability to get out of almost any situation he might find himself in. Also to continue on that idea of personality he was faced with the slow and painful death of having all of his organs taken out one at a time and sold yet he faced with little fear and persevered and that cemented my idea of him being my favorite character.

5. My least favorite character was Winston Yu. I changed my least favorite character to Winston Yu because of his being the main evil force and his absolute brutal and harsh way of doing things really solidified my idea of him being my least favorite character. Also how he could condemn a teenage boy to a live of have your organs removed until you can't hold on to life any longer just some money that is sickening and that made him a no brainer choice as my least favorite character.

6.I did not expect the way this book eneded I was incredible surprised . i would have never guest that Ash was a Scorpia double agent and was helping Wnston Yu the whole time and that Alex would detonate the bomb instead of somehow disarm and that if detonated early the bomb would be harmless. But the most surprising was Winston died I thought for sure they would have just captured him and sent him to prison that was what suprised me the most.

Isobel Morrison

Isobel Morrison
So B. It
Sarah Weeks
Realistic Fiction
Holiday
Page 100


1)  The ending of this book surprised me a lot.  It surprised me because Heidi found out that "soof" is a nickname for her mothers friend, Sophia Lin Dimuth one of her mentally disabled friends at the Hilltop Home.          It turns out that Heidi's father is Elliot because Therman Hill (owner of Hilltop Home) paid Sophia to leave.  He did that because he didn't want to have another disabled at the home. So, he paid for them to go live somewhere else just Heidi and her mom but it turned out Heidi was a normal baby.  Therman made the worst mistake because he thought Elliot didn't love Sophia anymore because she couldn't express it through words.  Heidi's mom ends up dying  and leaving her to be taken care of from Bernie their neighbor.

2)  I love this book so I much that I never wanted to put it down.  The plot in this book is just so different from the other books I read.  I am more into dramatic sad books and this was one of them.  Heidi is trying to find all the answers to her life because her life was a mystery. The characters in this all have very different personalities from each other.  Heidi is really determined and curios while Bernie (their neighbor) is a home body and never leaves the house.  The author, Sarah Weeks makes you think one thing but at the last moment she changes it to something totally different.  When Heidi was going to the supermarket to get some food with her mother, you would think everything was going fine until her mother freaks out and runs off the bus.  This is an author I have read before while reading book Matched.

3)  I think the biggest theme that I have notice so far is Respect.  I notice this theme the most in the characters personalities.  That is the similarity between all of the different ones.  I would say it appears mostly in the characters.  Heidi respects her mother by treating her like any other regular adult even with her disabilities.  Bernie shows respect through her actions with helping Mama open cans and doing all the regular chores.

4) My favorite is character is Heidi because she has great determination.  She planned a whole trip by herself to fill in the many questions in her life.  At the end of the book she eventually finds out everything she wanted know.  Heidi is really mature for her age.  She acts like a grown up adult.  Heidi always does the chores for her mother who cannot.

5)  My least favorite character is Therman Hill because he mad Elliot, Sophia, and Heidi as a baby move out to the streets where no where to go.  I think that he should of at least before he kicked them out given them  a place to live.  He seems like one of those guys who only thinks about himself not others and that is one of the main reasons why he is my least favorite character.

6)  I expected the ending to be more of a cliffhanger.  But actually at the end the author filled  in all the answers that we didn't know.  What was different was that Heidi went through thick and thin  to find out who her Dad is.  The author did not show any clues leading up to the ending because like I said earlier the author made you think one thing and then at least it changed to something different and that is what kept me captivated this whole entire book.      

Ryan Sliwinski

Ryan Sliwinski
The Sleepwalker
Robert Muchamore
Action
Just Right
Just Finished pg's 312
1. At then end Lauren and Mac are putting the final pieces of the puzzle (mystery) together. Like why the plane crashed and why Fahim couldn't work as an Agent for the agency that Lauren and Mac work for. This agency is a British intelligence agency that uses orphaned to spy on criminals or criminal organizations.   The plane crash happened because of a screw up with the machinery and then an explosion causing the wings to blow off and then go into a tailspin into a mountain top. Fahim who they had thought to be the bad guy early on has proven to be a good kid but the problem with him was that he talked in his sleep about the things he knew making him to dangerous for missions and he also is  a sleepwalker.
2. I liked the book a lot because of many different things. One thing that I liked was his descriptions of the characters in the begging of the book. He also kept up there qualities throughout the book so there were no sudden changes in there personalities or how they reacted to things. He also kept the plot very entertaining and action packed throughout the book which made me want to keep reading it and not put it down. The only slow part was at the beginning during character introductions and when we met a few new characters.
3. The theme that I chose is Wisdom of Experience because most of the characters in this story like James, Lauren, and there leader Mac have a lot of experience working in this field. Adam is one of the more experienced agents, he has been there for a few years and is now a black t-shirt which means very high success over a number of missions. Then there is Lauren who is the new 12 year old sister of James who is also a highly respected agent but still does not have a black t-shirt. Finally there is the the leader of those two on this mission Mac. Mac is a agent leader who helps the kids coordinate there missions and acts as there parent when there under cover on this specific mission. Mac was also an agent when he was a kid but when he got to old they kept him on as a councilor and after many, many years is the mentor for James and Lauren.
4. My favorite character is James because he is such a highly respected agent. I also like him because he is a very athletic and strong boy so he's easily ratable. Also he is very cool under pressure like when he is on a mission. It's also pretty cool that he is a special agent working for the British government at such a young age.
5. My least favorite character is probably Fahim. He is my least favorite because he is such a bad person in the begging like when he is being suspected of being a terrorist. I then at the end he's bad because when every one thinks hes good and can join them and Lauren tries to get him to join he disappoints them all when he starts to talk in his sleep and starts to sleepwalk ruining his chances of joining.
6. The end was partially what I expected and partially not what I expected. I did think that the mystery would get solved. But what I didn't see coming was them trying to get the bad guy to loin the agency and let him go on missions after all he has done to them. But what ever the author did that surprised me and didn't do to surprise me, made the book incredible and a great read for every one.                                                                                                                                                    

Samantha Clancy

Samantha Clancy

Unbelievable

Sara Shepard

Realistic Fiction

Just right

247

1) Right now in Unbelievable the girls, Hanna has just been hit by a car and is in the hospital. The girls, Hannah, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Mona are all being stalked by someone called A and keep getting threatening texts from her. When Aria is out to lunch with her brother mike he tells him that she is being stalked and he brings her over to the police. Aria tells the police whats happening and says shes not the only one getting the messages from A. During the masquerade party for Hanna for her recovery after being hit. They are all having fun at the party until Maya gets upset with Emily because Trista came all the way to Pennsylvania from Illinois just to see Emily and Maya feels left out.  As Maya storms out of the party and runs away from Emily, a police man confronts Emily and asks her about the messages. Emily says she will have to get back to him and will tell him about A as soon as shes back and runs after Maya and finds her sitting in the pool room crying. When Maya sees Emily she runs away and wants nothing to do with her. Emily's phone beeps and she checks who its from: an unknown number telling her to go check the hot tub. Emily runs to find a doll in the hot tub who looks just like her and has black X's over its eyes as if it drowned, written on the forehead is "Tell and die.  -A" Emily is so scared and knows exactly what that means: Do not tell the police officer annoying.

2) I love this book. It is so exciting and i can never put it down. I love how all the girls are always looking for A and can never find her but A is always one step ahead of them and knows their every move. This is such a good book because the author just keeps pulling you in when you think one thing is going to happen the exact opposite does instead. i love thinking i know what will happen but then finding out i was completely wrong. it is so surprising in every part of the book. When i found out that Hanna knew who A was i thought that she would tell everyone and and A would be put in jail, but before she told anyone A hit Hanna with a car and made her forget everything. Sara Shepard is not a knew author for me, i have read all the other Pretty Little Liars series up to this book and plan on reading the rest.

3) I believe the them of this book is Fear. this is the theme because their isn't one part of this book that someone is not scared. The girls are constantly fearful of A and her powers. They are so scared that every time their phones ring of its A or not they are scared to look. When they girls find out that Hanna knows who A is they are thrilled but also scared of finding out who because they don't know if this person is dangerous or simply someone they are close too who are jealous and in need of power. Also A is fearful because when she finds out someone knows who she is she is willing to kill them so that she is safe. Also A is scared of being seen because she has been close so my times.

4) My favorite character is Hanna because she is so relatable. I can always see myself in the position that she is in at different points in the book. I also like that she is so strong and wont let A knock her down. it is great that Hanna is always their for her friends and can help them out whenever they need to talk. Hanna used to feel so left out when Alison was still around but reuniting with Spencer,Aria, And Emily has really benefited Hanna in a great way. i also like how Hanna's attitude is so optimistic even when they are getting messages from A.

5) My least favorite character is Mona because she is supposed to Hanna's best friend but lately she has been very rude to Hanna. First she started a fight with Hanna for no reason and is acting like it was no big deal even thought it was to Hanna. Also she sent Hanna a dress for her big party but sent it too small so that Hanna would be embarrassed. Also Hanna cant remember any of this because of the car accident but Mona refuses to tell Hanna thinking that it will preserve there friendship even though she knows Hanna will soon find out. I hope that Hanna finds out what Mona did to her and can hopefully forgive her so that Mona can be better character in this story.

6) I predict that in the ending of this book the girls will find out who A is and she will go to jail. i think this will happen because they have been so close before and have failed but maybe next time they can succeed with finding A. Also the girls have so many clues, like the possession of A's phone, and the access to her computer with help from Caleb. I really hope the girls find out who A is so that the can stop worrying about A stalking them.

Paige Gallagher

Paige Gallagher
Two-Way Street
Lauren Barnholdt
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
Just Finished 288

1) In the end of the book Courtney and Jordan decide they should get back together. Jordan confesses to her that he knows about the affair Jordans mom and Courtneys dad are having. Courtney gets really mad at him so she hides in a motel and refuses to talk to him. Shes upset that he kept this secret from her for so long. Eventually he find her and they talk it out. By the end Courtney realizes they are meant to be and forgives him. She calls her Dad and the two of them resolve their issue. She understands that her dad and mom aren't going to be together and accepts that. then she calls her best friends and apolagize for lashing out on them. In the very end Courtney resolves her problems and starts to makenew friends at college.

2) This book was very interesting. It was good but not great, and it was not one of my favorites. The chapters got very confusing. This is because they went back and forth between the past and present without any clear indication about which was which. I understood the main idea and storyline of the book but at times it could be difficult to tell where I was in the story. The characters in this book are very good. Each of them are unique and very realistic. What I like about these characters are the fact that they all have flaws. They aren't perfect, which makes them much more relatable. Courtney likes things to be orderly, and likes to follow lists. Which makes her imperfect and much more life like.

3) I think the theme of this book is Lost Love. It shows between Courtney and Jordan when he breaks up with her. She feels really upset and has to pretend like she doesnt care. Then she has to go on a road trip with him. Courtney and Jordan take a roadtrip to Boston for their first day of college. It was planned a while ago, while they were still together. So a couple of months later when the trip came, they were forced to go. Another character it shows through is Courtney and her dad. After her dad tells her the fact that he is cheating on Courtneys mom. She loses her respect for her dad. From that point on they have a rough relationship. She gets very angry and begins to ignore him. Later in the book Courtney learns she is pushing away everyone she loves. When Jordan comes by to try to explain she stops him, then takes a deep breath and lets him explain.

4) My favorite character was Courtney. She seems very real and original. Her struggles and the way she overcomes them are very realtable. Every challenge Courtney finds the answer to can be applied to real life.  Another reason she is my favorite character is because she is very witty. Even in hard situations, she finds someway to make it just a little bit better. She and her best friend have a good way of finding sunshine on a cloudy day. Something I also like about Courtney is the fact that she is very stubborn. This is something I can relate to being the fact the I can be very stubborn. To me this makes her very relatable because I know what she may be feeling.

5) My least favorite character is Lloyd because he is very rude. He always is telling Courtney how much he hates Jordan, and that hes a bad person. Courtney still wants to be with him so this always makes her feel bad about herself. She and Lloyd both started liking each other after the breakup. Courtney decides she thought they should just stay friends because it didnt feel right to her. Lloyd didnt like the fact that Courtney didn't want to be with him so he and Jordan get into a fight. Another reason I dislike him is because he thinks too highly of himself. At one point in the book he went to a party and he drove a girl back to her house. He thought he was better than everyone else just because he drove her home.

6) I did expect the end of this book becasue there were many clues. One of the clues being Courtney kept shutting Jordan out until she realized he is trying to be there for her. It was very predictable that in the end everything thing would work out. Another reason I think this is because Courtney started to make friends and open up at college. The writer gave you a hint at the fact that she would be willing to hear what Jordan has to say because she's listening to others. One last hint the wrtiter gave was when Courtney talked on the phone to her best friend Jocelyn. Once she heard what Jocelyn said she started to comprehend the fact that it wasnt just herself who was hurting, Jordan is too. Leading me to belive that in the end things would turn out all right.

Luke Martiros

Luke Martiros

Maximum Security

Robert Muchamore

Action

Just Right

94

1) In Maximum Security, by Robert Muchamore, Dave, James, and his little sister have just been assigned a mission. Dave, James, and Lauren are CHERUB agents. CHERUB is a British spy agency that helps fight criminals around the world. Their mission is to go to a jail in Arizona, called Arizona Max. They are trying to free a prisoner, Curtis Oxford. Curtis is in jail at the age of fourteen, after shooting a clerk in the heart with a handgun, after the clerk had not given him the vodka he had asked for. Curtis shot the man, took the vodka, and went outside to look for a car. He shot a man and his girlfriend out of their car. He took the car and drove away. Police eventually caught him and pulled him over. He was drunk and the man he had shot in the store was caught on tape, so he was put in jail. Dave, James, and Lauren, are trying to free Curtis from jail, so the FBI, and CHERUB can find out some information about Curtis' mom. His mom, (Jane) is a worldwide arms dealer. She steals guns from all over the world, and sells guns all over the world. They have no information about Jane, so if they release Curtis, maybe they can capture him and find out more information about Jane. Dave, James, and Lauren just arrived in Arizona, and have a few days until they have to move into the jail. So, their mission controller John Jones wants them to practice driving for when they escape. Dave, James, and Lauren are about to get into a car for practice.

2) So far, I am really enjoying the book. The CHERUB series is the best or second best series I have read. I love the action that happens in every chapter. The main characters in this book, Dave, James and Lauren are always keeping me entertained. Its either James with his jokes, ninja moves or getting into trouble. Dave is one of the most popular guys on the CHERUB campus, so he is always keeping James under control to not blow one of the biggest missions he has ever been on. Dave is always at James side protecting him, and making sure he is never hurt. Lauren, James little brother, is always making fun of James and is more mature than what her age tells her. She knows when to say things, when to be funny, and when to take action, after all that she has been through in he life. Along with the characters, I love the plot of the book. The plot of the book is that James is on a mission to catch a worldwide arms dealer. The plot is constantly changing, and I really enjoy that, because I never am bored. The author makes the characters and the plot of the book, so good by pulling us into the book. The way he describes the situations with so much detail, but with such simplicity is fantastic. His writing is amazing. The only thing I would want him to improve on is his grammar. There are multiple grammatical mistakes that I catch when I am reading. He should hire a good editor for his next book. But overall, the book is really good. I can't wait to finish this one, and start the next book in the series.

3) The theme in this book is betrayal. The theme is betrayal because when James was practicing driving, for the mission, he broke Dave's trust. When you break someone's trust, you are betraying them. When James betrayed Dave, he was driving a car for practice. James was going way to fast, and Dave told him to slow down. James didn't take Dave's advice. James then realized that he should slow down, and that he was on a country road with cars that came by. In the next three seconds, a car did come around the corner, and James and the other car had to swerve to avoid each other. James then crashed the car into a ditch. Dave was furious, and James knew it was going to take a lot to gain Dave's trust back. To make the mission successful, James will have to gain Dave's trust back.

4) My favorite character in the book is James. James is my favorite character, because he is funny, always doing something worth reading about, and he is he thinks ahead of everybody else. James is always a step ahead, of everybody, and can sometimes anticipate what is going to happen next. He is not very coordinated, and he doesn't have great fighting skills, but he uses his brain. He has good common sense, and puts it to good use. In most books I read, they are good, but they only have one good part and the rest is used for building up to that point, or climax. In the CHERUB series, the books are never boring there is always something going on, and James usually has a big part in what is happening because he is the main character. His actions usually get other things rolling. James also had a good sense of humor. He is also one of those people who know when to be funny, and when not to be funny. He knows when he has overdone it. But when Jams is funny he is really funny. James is a good all-around character who makes the story great.

5) My least favorite character is Stanley. Stanley is one of the people that is in the Arizona Max jail. He is very fat, and is always beating kids up for their money because it is so scarce in jail. Stanley and his brother Raymond started to pick on a kid. James was helping one of the kids read his commissary. The commissary is something that a form that has things on it that you can buy. James was reading what the things were to the kid, when Stanley, and Raymond approached him. Stanley was asking for the money, and James refused to give it to him. Stanley then attacked James, and Dave came over to help. After the fight, Raymond needed to be carted off to the hospital. Stanley was mad, so he came back for revenge. When James was coming out of the bathroom, Stanley attacked him James fought him off, but Stanley had a big knife. James called for help, but nobody came. I haven't finished the rest, but I am excited to see what happens next. James knows he injured his brother, but it was out of self-defense, after Raymond, and Stanley attacked him before. So it was all Stanley's fault, and now he is beating up James for something he did, but didn't do it intentionally. Since Stanley is so mean, I don't like him, and he is my least favorite character.

6)I think that James and Dave will get accustomed to the Arizona Max jail. Dave, James and Lauren will fulfill the mission and successfully get Curtis to escape from jail, with a few bumps along the way. I am making this prediction on the fact that Dave, James and Lauren have a lot of background information, and that they are mentally and physically strong enough to do it. So far in the book, Dave, has showed to be the leader out of the three kids. I think Dave will be strong and confident enough to lead Curtis out of jail and into the arms of the FBI. The author has guided me to my prediction, because in the previous books, they have all started out the same way. The characters go on the mission, and then they start out a little bumpy. They find out some information, and then really get into the thick of it.    Then, it looks like they are in a vary bad situation, and area going to die or get injured. Then in the end they come out of it ok. I think that something similar will happen in this book.

Daniel Yang

Daniel Yang
The Mark of Athena
Rick Riordan
Fantasy
Just Right
304

1.) I am currently reading The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. At the moment, three Roman demigods riding giant eagles lead an army of more Romans from the Roman demigod camp. They are trying to kill the seven children of the prophecy (Jason Grace, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhange), a mixture of Greek and Roman demigods. This is because Leo was possessed as the seven children were trying to get the Romans to side with the Greeks to kill Gaea (Earth)'s children. It is strange to me how Gaea is evil but it's true. Due to the fact that he's possessed, he fires at them from Argo II; a ship that Leo made out of his old metal dragon named Festus and other materials. The three Romans are lead by their augur, Octavian. Annabeth, Hazel, and Piper are coming back from a visit with Aphrodite, the Goddess of love. All the seven children are dividing and conquering (they spread out to complete more tasks). As they try to get back to Argo II, the Romans stop them in their path. When told to drop their weapons, Annabeth purposely throws her into the water knowing that's where Percy is located. She did this hoping that Percy will know that they are in trouble. The Romans approach the three girls but suddenly Percy bursts out of the water, sending the Romans flying, and gave Annabeth her dagger. In the mean time, Frank, who is shape shifted into a bald eagle different from the Romans', is carrying Leo and followed by Jason, who can fly. He is able to do this because he is a child of Jupiter/Zeus. The seven kids' crazy satyr, Coach Hedge, fires at the remaining Romans that which are assaulting Frank, Leo, and Jason. Unfortunately,  the cannonball explodes above the three demigods and sends them crashing into ruins of an ancient building. Tourists are running about the place making it hard for the Romans to surround the three demigods. Annabeth orders Hazel and Piper to board Argo II and let her help Jason, Leo, and Frank. Jason, having been one of the Romans, hesitantly fights them as he recalls the familiar faces of the Roman campers.

2.) So far the book has exceeded my expectations of its ability to keep me reading. The characters have a sense of humor, as always, and there's a problem that has never been encountered very often in the series: Since Hazel lived in the 1900s and was brought back from the dead, she remembers a boy named Sammy who she very much loved. Sammy looks exactly like Leo, which is no coincidence, so Hazel can't stay away from him. The problem is that Frank is dating Hazel so it makes the book more interesting to read. But it bothers me how Frank only sees Hazel and Leo doing romantic things, he never sees them just chatting so he is always suspicious of him. What is most exciting about the book, though, is how Percy and Jason work together. When everyone went back to the ship, Percy and Jason were at the top of it with their swords crossed. They did this to combine their powers to stir up a massive storm of wind and water. This is an amazing part to me because before this, they always competed with each other to see who was a stronger leader. They finally worked together to escape from the Romans. The author made the book full of surprises which keeps me from putting the book down.

3.) I think that theme of The Mark of Athena is revenge because the Romans are trying to kill the seven demigods due to the fact that they do not know Leo was possessed when he fired at the camp. Roman and Greek demigods have never gotten along. Athena requested her daughter, Annabeth, to avenge her with the mark of Athena. This is a quest where children of Athena try to find what the Romans stole from the Greeks. It is said that when they find out what the Romans stole from them, they will never forgive them and will seek revenge. Also, two giants stole a very important demigod and a friend of both camps so the seven children of the prophecy are on a quest to seek revenge on them and the girants' mother, Gaea. Even Gaea is trying to seek revenge on all the Gods, especially Zeus; Poseidon; and Hades, for killing her son, Kronos. It is a little weird, too, because Kronos is the father of all the Gods making the Gods Gaea's grandchildren. (The Gods killed Kronos because Kronos ate the most of them. Kronos's wife disguised Zeus as a rock that which Kronos ate. Zeus was raised in secrecy to a full grown, powerful God. He then saved his brothers and sisters by killing Kronos and cutting open the stomach. Kronos thought they would later surpass him, which they made him try to prevent that and triy keep the position as Lord of the Universe. Zeus later took that position because he was the main killer of Kronos). Many more characters seek revenge but almost every character do so therefore it would take too long to list every single one.

4.) Although all of the seven demigods have potential to be my favorite character, Frank Zhang is my favorite right now. He is really big with a baby face and is described in the book as a giant teddy bear. He seems like a very strong built person with a very nice personality. What surprises me about him is that he is frightened by Leo! Leo is very short with a silly face and defends himself with jokes when people are being mean to him. I only later realized he was afraid of Leo since he can summon fire. Frank's life is depended on a little twig that is extremely flammable which is why  he's so afraid of fire. If it were to be burned, his life would be destroyed. His life is more fragile than anyone else's in the book. Frank's power enables him to transform into anything he sets his mind to only if he is focused enough. It takes up a lot of his energy to do so and if he doesn't have enough energy, he is unable to transform. Since his life is as fragile as a twig on fire and he has limited ability to transform into creatures, his character is not too overpowered.

5.) All the characters have very detailed characteristics so it's hard to choose a least favorite character. The character I favor least is Coach Hedge. He may have funny characteristics, but he thinks he's the leader of the seven kids. He is probably the second or third weakest member and orders the kids around with commands that are not logical whatsoever. Once Percy and Annabeth (they're in a relationship) were chatting on the top deck of the Argo II during the night and fell asleep next to each other. They were supposed to be in their rooms because they have a curfew time thanks to Coach. He found out and didn't allow Percy and Annabeth to go on a mini quest (to make progress in the main quest) even though they were both needed. Coach Hedge is the reason that the mini quest was almost failed. He was also the reason that Leo, Frank, and Jason were shot down while attempting to escape from the Romans. The thing that bothers me most about him is that when he orders the kids around, they actually listen and take him seriously even though he's almost never focused or serious. He may be the oldest but he does not have authority.

6.) The book is very unpredictable and full of surprises but I predict that the seven kids will escape from the Romans. Percy and Jason would be extremely worn out from making the huge storm with wind and water. A very powerful monster will attack them and will overpower the seven demigods since their most powerful members, Percy and Jason, will be too weak to fight it. Maybe then the Argo II will be broken after they finally manage to kill the beast which will need Leo to fix it. This will make their quest delayed and schedule even more tight to save their friends and defeat Gaea.

Scott Nichols

Scott Nichols
The Scorch Trials
James Dashner
Fantasy/Sci-fi
Just Right
104

1.  Right now in The Scorch Trials, the remaining Gladers have just gotten out of the tunnel that led from their dormitories out to the Scorch. The tunnel claimed two people's lives and severely wounded another. It showed what technology is available, not to mention the "easiest" and first part of the journey has already done more damage in one day than the Maze did in weeks at some points. Once out of the tunnel, the group realized that the Scorch is incredibly hot, to the point that people are already light-headed and blistering when they've been in the sun for ten minutes. They are approaching an abandoned city where they hope they can get food and supplies. Thomas just saw who he thinks is Teresa in an old building and is now approaching the building

2. I really like this book, and I can never put it down. It is never has anything unnecessary and every word is important. Something good is always happening, and even them trudging through a desert is interesting because of the interaction between the characters and the hope that they will find their ever closer destination. The novel also has lots of suspense, and there is a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter. I always need to read the next few pages to find out what happened, and it is always very exciting what happens afterwards. However, the part that makes me want to keep reading the most is the amount of unanswered questions. The entire book is a mystery, and all you know is that there is a horrible disease going around making people go crazy. That is literally all you know, and they are in a deserted wasteland and being attacked by odd things beyond anything they could even imagine, and the only people they've seen are insane Cranks trying to kill them, other than four shadowed WICKED  members and Rat Man.

3. A theme of this book would be manipulation. The Glader's entire tortured lives has happened because they were manipulated by WICKED. This theme mostly appears in the plot. First, they were put in the Maze, and once they escaped, they get whisked away by "rescuers". Thinking that they were finally safe, the next day, the Gladers walk into their common room to see their rescuers dead, manipulated by WICKED to give the boys a sense of security, and to be another Variable. Then, the group is forced to cross the most dangerous part of Earth, which is already incredibly dangerous, the Scorch. They were implanted with the disease that has caused so much trouble, the Flare, so that they would have no choice but to do what they were told, in the hopes that at the end they would receive a cure. The entire book is pushed along by manipulation and how many people must do things they don't want to do because WICKED manipulated them and their minds to accomplish what WICKED wants.


4. My favorite character in the book is Newt. Newt is really the only genuinely nice Glader that is still alive. He is the second-in-command of the group, and is, as said by his ID tag on his neck, the glue that keeps the Gladers together. He makes sure the boys don't panic, and always looks on the bright side. He is also one of the few people that is nice to Thomas, and is Thomas' only real friend. He talks to Thomas a lot, and cracks jokes to lighten Thomas' nearly perpetual somber mood. If it wasn't for Newt, the entire group would probably have fallen into chaos, not to mention Thomas would get depressed, which would be terrible for the group, given how important Thomas is to the Gladers survival, and to a greater extent, humanity's.

5. My least favorite character is probably Minho. He is the new leader of the Gladers after Alby died in the Maze. Minho can be bossy, and has let his leadership position get to his head. He goes by the "My way or the highway" mentality and makes all the decisions. He also has no respect for authority, which is ironic, considering he is in an authoratative role. When a representative from WICKED showed up, Minho called him Rat Man and kept bothering him even after Rat Man said he wouldn't help them if they ated like they were. Minho also acts childish nearly all the time. He yells consistently when he is upset, which happens often given his temper, and will be painfully stubborn, always thinking he is right. However, despite all this, I think that I will grow to like Minho because he is the designated leader of the Gladers, and will probably pull himself and the Gladers together.

6. I predict that the Gladers, while crossing the Scorch, will find cities full of Cranks, and have to fight their way through them. I guess that only a few will make it, and Winston will die of his wounds. I also think that the cure that has been promised by WICKED if they cross the Scorch will be delayed once they get their because WICKED needs them to do more, and will use the fact that they have the Flare against them to force them to do more work so that they can get the cure.

Jeremy Craig

Jeremy Craig

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

Sci-Fi

Just Right

374

1) I have just finished rereading the Hunger Games. At the end of the book, Katniss and Peeta are still in the games, but the games are coming to a close. The only other contender is the most feared tribute in the games, Cato. Just to make things worse for them, the gamemakers, the ones who control the environment, have decided to draw the final three tributes to the cornucopia for a final bloodbath. Katniss and Peeta travel there, and wait for Cato to come out and challenge them. A few hours later, they hear him coming, running full sprint and wearing body armor. Katniss shoots arrows at him but they merely bounce off him. Then, as he runs past them instead of attacking, they find out he is running from something. Mutated dogs. The three of them now ignore each other as they run from the teeth and claws of the dogs. Once they reach safety on top of the cornucopia, Cato and Peeta start to wrestle and fight. Peeta gets into a headlock, and he is being choked. Katniss aims her bow at Cato, but she knows if she shoots him, he will take Peeta down with him. She doesn't have much time to make a decision, when Peeta gives her a signal and he uses the last of his energy to wriggle away and Katniss takes the shot. Cato goes down and falls off the cornucopia, to the hungry dogs below. This means Katniss and Peeta win. But then the head Gamemaker tells them that there can only be one winner. So in defiance, they decide that they don't deserve any winner at all. They hold out the berries that they plan to eat, for everyone to see. Just as they are putting them in their mouths, the Gamemakers announce that they both win, and they spit out the poisonous berries.

2) In my opinion, this book is epic. I loved it so much that I think I may have read it almost 10 times. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the plot because it is so unique and interesting. It kept me turning the pages because I always wanted to know what would happen to the characters. They were also a fascinating part of the book, because at the end I felt like I knew them very well. Collins drew me in because some parts were very unpredictable, while others were expected. This was a new author to me when I first read this book but then I went on to read all the other books she wrote.

3) I think the overall theme was love and sacrifice. I saw this theme a lot in the plot and the characters, such as the parts when Katniss sacrifices herself for Prim, when her name is called at the reaping. Another example was when Katniss goes to get the medicine for Peeta. These are the times when she sacrificed her safety to save the people she loves. In many other places she demonstrates this theme, because love requires sacrifice in her situations.

4) My favorite character is probably Katniss because she is courageous and determined in this book. She is not always fearless, but she eventually overcomes any fears and I like that about her. She also does whatever it takes to save her family and friends. She is a unique and interesting character.

5) My least favorite character is Effie, the hostess for the tributes of district 12. I dislike her because she seems so idealistic. She is from the Capitol, and she doesn't have any qualms about having so much money and food when the people in the districts are always starving and in run down houses. She is incredibly selfish, along with most other people in the Capitol.

6) The ending of this book had some twists I didn't expect, but for the most part it was easy to predict. I liked it very much despite this. I think that it was good for Collins to put in the twist like the mutated dogs, taking back the 2 tribute rule, and having Katniss and Peeta defy the Capitol with the berries. The part of having them win was very probable though, but it was good. I didn't want them to die. All in all this was one of the best books I've ever read.

Jason Fisch

Jason Fisch
Bringing Down The House
Ben Mezrich
Non-Fiction/Gambling
Just Right/Challenge
Just Finished 251

1. I just Finished Bringing Down the House, by Ben Mezrich. Kevin and Dylan are celebrating because they won fifty thousand dollars playing black jack. They are celebrating at a bar in Boston. After they left the bar, they headed back to Dylan's apartment and realized that his entire place has been vandalized. Dylan remembered that he had left the safe which was holding seventy-five thousand dollars, in his bedroom hidden behind the closet door. When he went to check on it he finds that it is gone. Both of them were freaked out so Kevin decided to double check on his apartment. Luckily when he gets there he sees that nothing has happened. Both Kevin and Dylan assume that the attack was made by a rival group, sending them the message that they better stop gambling. 
2. Ben Mezrich is an unfamiliar author to me, but the book was recommended so I thought I would try reading it. Prior to reading then book I heard many good things about it and was suspecting that I was going to like it. I also found out that my dad has the movie which made me excited to read the book. I thought that this was one of the best book that I have read. I thought it was interesting that the players of the game were able to count the cards in order to reduce the "houses" chance of winning. I like Kevin the best because he was really smart in all the gambling situations. 
3. The theme of this book is human nature. It is human nature to want a lot of many because people think that if you have a lot of money then you will live a happy life. If someone knows a way to gain a lot of money then why wouldn't they do that? Kevin plays black jack with his friends, Fisher and Martinez, who taught him how to count cards. They all begin to win a lot of money even though the casinos frown upon this way of playing. Throughout the book, the boys begin to win more and more money as they become professional card counters. Eventually, Fisher and Martinez become greedy and kick Kevin, Dylan, and Dylan's wife Jill out of the group. The theme is mostly seen through the characters.
4. My favorite character is Kevin because he is very good at communicating with his group of friends about their plans for counting.He also took charge when he knew it was important for the group to make moves in gambling. 
5. Fisher is my least favorite character because he was always negative in the book. He was also greedy and mean to the other characters. He kicked the others out of the group so he could make more money. When he doesn't get what he wants, he fights with others until he wins. 
6. The ending of the book was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought that they were all going to make a lot more money and then retire when they felt that they had enough. Everything seemed to be going fine since the group split up so it was unexpected to have them get robbed. Once they saw they were robbed, they quit counting cards and gambling as a group, all together. 

Alex Martiros

Alex Martiros
When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
84

1. I am currently reading When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. What is going on in my book is that this girl named Miranda has just received the second mysterious letter. These mysterious letters have so far told her that her life is in grave danger and she needs to somehow write to this person and give them a key to their house. If she doesn't, she could die, along with her mother. Also on a completely different note, Miranda and her mother's boyfriend are training Miranda's mother for this game show the mother gets to be on called The $20,000 Pyramid.  The mother really needs money and so she gets to be on the show. There are questions she has to answer in a specific time limit and so Miranda and the mother's boyfriend is helping her to prepare for the game show. Another thing that is going on in my book is that Miranda, and her two new friends, Annemarie and Colin have started working at a sandwich shop called  Jimmy's sandwich shop. They don't get paid but it is just something fun they are deciding to do during their lunch period from school. This one day, a girl from school walks in and Miranda and Annemarie look at each other with disgust. It is Julia, a spoiled rich girl who always teased Miranda. She used to be friends with Annemarie but then decided she wasn't cooler enough to be her friend. So when Julia walks in to the store, everyone starts arguing until Jimmy comes out. Jimmy can tell that Julia is giving his workers a hard time and kicks her out of the store. At this time, Miranda decides that Jimmy isn' as bad or annoying as she thought he was.
2. So far I feel like the book has been extremely confusing. I am all caught up now, but I had to reread parts of the book to understand what was going on. I also don't like how there are three or four different parts in the plot going on. I don't like how there is this conflict with Julia, a conflict with Sal, all the notes, helping her mom get ready for the game show and her job at Jimmy's. Also, her feelings for Colin. The author put too much into the plot for me to understand. It is confusing, but right now I understand what is going on. I do like the notes part of the plot though. I have never read anything else by this author but I don't think I will end up not reading much more of the author. She is pushing me away a reader because it is too confusing. I really have not enjoyed the story so far. 
3. A theme in my book that I have noticed so far is loss of innocence. I have noticed this because in the beginning of the story, Miranda is little and innocent and she is friends with Sal and goes to school and is happy, and pretty oblivious to what is going on. Then her mom gets into the game show, and Miranda starts realizing that she is pretty poor and her mom really needs the money. She also has to now deal with the fact that Sal isn't talking to her and she has a crush for the first time. Miranda loses the innocence of never having a crush and she gains a lot of knowledge about reality, and therefore becomes more mature. I also think the theme is loss of innocence because Miranda has to do a lot more on her own since moving to New York. She has to walk around the city by herself, and find her way around by herself. The loss of innocence extends to at school, when she starts getting teased by this mean girl, Julia. Miranda has to stand up for herself, by herself. I think that makes Miranda gain much maturity, and at the same time, she loses that feeling of being safe and in comfort wherever she goes, also known as loss of innocence. 
4. My favorite character is Miranda. She is my favorite character because she seems to grasp reality and life really well. What I mean by that is Miranda, while pretty young, understands the big pictures in life. She gets that people all have struggles and that sometimes, people can't help but being the way they are. Miranda is also my favorite character because she has a very straight forward personality. She likes telling it how it is, and she isn't afraid to ask questions. For example when Miranda is talking about the game show, and she says that if her mother gets partnered with a dumb celebrity, its hopeless, and say goodbye to money. I just think that's a pretty bold statement to say out loud, especially to your mother who is trying to win. The last thing I like about Miranda, is that she is brave. She is brave because first of all, she lives in New York City, and not in the high end of the city. She lives in the midway point between dangerous and nice. I also think she is brave because she dared to look in the safe while Jimmy was outside. I don't like getting into trouble so I wouldn't have done that. I also think it takes a brave person to walk through the streets of New York City either by yourself, or with another person, but not an adult. Miranda does that everyday coming home from school. I personally do not like cities, because of bad experiences, so I think at first I would be terrified to do that. That's why Miranda is brave to me, and my favorite character.
5. My least favorite character is Julia. I don't like Julia because she is a bully. She teases Miranda and pretty much everyone else who isn't her friend. Annemarie, Miranda's new friend was Julia's friend, but now they are no longer friends, and Annemarie gets teased too. Julia also makes me dislike her because of her extremely snobbish attitude. Julia always has to flaunt her wealth around, and wear things that would make it dangerous for you to live in New York, like very nice necklaces, or rings. Julia doesn't seem like the kind of person who really is confident in herself, and that is why I think that she has to show off most of the time, to make others jealous of her, and to make herself feel better. The main reason I do not like Julia, is because of her history as a bully. No one likes bullies, including me. 
6. I predict that Miranda's mom will win the game show, The $20,000 Pyramid. I think this because she has been studying for so long, that it would be a waste to include it into the plot if she loses. I also think Miranda will become friends with Sal again, but I also think that Sal might be the letter sender. I think this because the author hinted ( or at least I think she hinted ) that Sal has become very mysterious. I also think the person sending the notes could be Marcus. the boy that punched Sal. He seems like he has an important part in the story, but we don't know what it is yet. I also think Miranda will stand up to Julia, and Julia will become her friend. The last thing I predict will happen is that Colin will be liked by both Annemarie and Miranda, but he will choose Miranda, and that will end Miranda's friendship with Annemarie. I think this because I don't feel like they really connect as friends, and I know that they both like Colin, even though they don't know that themselves. 

Blog Week #2!!!

It's that time again - blog time!!!!  You have from Mon. Dec. 17th until Saturday, December 22nd at midnight to post your second blog.  I strongly suggest that you review your green assessment sheet from your first blog to see what you need to improve upon this week.  We will have a mini-lesson in class on Tuesday about Theme which I think will be helpful for a number of you.  Please see me if I can offer any help.  Happy Blogging! :) Ms. D

Greg Thisse

      

Greg Thisse

Donuthead

Sue Stauffacher

Realistic fiction

Holiday

72

       Right now in my book franklins mom is starting to have Sarah Kervick over almost everyday after school. Sarah is a new girl at school that is Franklins worst nightmare; her hair looks like it hasn't been washed in years, she smells of filth, she wears the same dirty clothes almost everyday and the worst part? Franklin is a germaphobe. Franklin is horrified of all the possible diseases Sarah could be carrying and the danger she brings to his home. Sarah has also beat up the biggest bully in school...Twice!The reason franklins mom is taking Sarah in like this has not been told yet.

      At this point in the book I'm really liking it, its a very funny book with a lot of distinct characters. I really enjoy how sophisticated franklin likes to act, for example; Franklin always edits his moms grocery list to take off all the unhealthy items and add healthy choices. This is funny to me because Franklin is like an adult in a 11 year old body. I also really like the way the author describes every aspect of each character with great detail, for example; on page 10 and 11 the author describes Sarah with immaculate detail immediately letting the reader know that she is "the finest host for parasites Franklin has ever seen..." 

      I think a good theme for the book so far would probably be discomfort. I chose this theme because Franklin is always afraid and uncomfortable with anything, he picks apart every possible thing that could go wrong for in any situation. Especially when he's with Sarah Kervick. It also appears Sarah isn't very comfortable with going over to Franklins house and having Franklins mom help her out. It hasn't been revealed why yet but I think it has something to do with Sarah's parents. This theme appears mostly in characters, but a little bit in plot also. 

     As of now my favorite character in the book is Franklin. I like him a lot because its very funny the way he goes about his life. He's always taking every precaution to ensure he doesn't get near any danger. He is also the narrator of the book so it is easy to side with him. One last thing is that Franklin is such a unique character that I doubt I will ever come across a character quite like him ever again. 

     Right now, I could honestly say that I like every character in the book and I don't have a least favorite character. One would think that Sarah Kervick would be an unlikeable character but she really isn't, the author often leaves you feeling bad for her. What I mean by this is, there is something that has been left out that will hopefully tell us why Sarah cant take a shower at her own house or why her own parents cant buy her clean clothes.

    I predict that Sarah will have a very bad home life. By this I mean she is poor or has mean parents or both. This would thoroughly explain why she is always filthy and why Franklins mom keeps helping her by buying her clothes and giving her soaps and shampoos. I think this will be revealed very soon because I'm on page 72 and the book is only 141 pages. 

      

 

Jeremy Craig

Jeremy Craig

The Recruit

Robert Muchamore

Realistic Fiction

Just  Right

Just Finished 336

             James as finally passed Cherubs greuling basic training and he is on his First mission. The objective for James is to find the secrets of a place called Fort Harmony by mixing in with the other kids there and sticking his nose in places where it doesn't belong. But while he was nosing around in suspected terrorists Fire and World Dunn's workshop, he opens a box of poisonous anthrax. James is sent to the nearby military hospital where his life hangs on the line of death. And while this is happening the danger in this mission seems to escalate very quickly.

            I loved this book, it is one of the best I've ever read. Almost every aspect of this book was excellent. I especially liked the characters because I feel like I could relate to the main character, James. He seems like he did what I wouldve done if I were in his shoes. And also I envied him throughout the book because he got to do irresponsible antics and not get in trouble. Also the plot was very interesting and I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved this author and book that I've read the whole series multiple times.

           A potent theme I noticed in this book is Trust. I saw examples of this in the plot and characters because the plot is based on how James had no family left and he was put in a places where everyone was in a similar situation. Because of this they all grew tightly bonded. In less than a year all the characters are closer to than each other anyone else in the world. An example of this is when early on in training, Kerry and James are supporting each others weaknesses and learning to trust the other person with what could be their lives.

           My favorite character is James because he is living his life on the edge. When he is presented with an extraordinary opportunity he jumps right into it. On his adventures he does a ton of things every boy would want to do. I think that if I was in his shoes I would have done the same things.

            My least favorite character is probably Ron Onions, James' stepdad. I hated him because he was a mean person to James' mom before she died, and Afterward he did bad things to his sister. In the end Ron did such bad things that he was sentenced 9 years in prison.

             I didnt expect this ending at all because Muchamore made it seem like James was doing an ok job on the mission and nothing was going wrong. But then when James gets infected with Anthrax and also when the police invade and evacuate Fort Harmony, it totally caught me by surprise. I think having these unexpected parts made me like this book even more. I think the author did give some hints to the ending in the book but they were too subtle to know the first time reading this book.

Justin Sullivan
Eragon
Christopher Paolini
Fantasy
Just Right

1)Right now in the book Eragon, Eragon a dragon rider has recently allied with the Varden a group of people that are fighting the empire. The empire is led by Galbatorix the man who betrayed the Riders with the Forsworn a group of Dragon riders that betrayed the rest and killed the remaining group of riders. When Eragon befriends a man named Morzan he later figures out that he is one of the Forsworns sons. When Morzan does not let the Varden penetrate his mind he is not trusted and will be expelled.

2)I have really liked the book so far Christopher Paolini really described the characters so much that you can kind of relate to the characters. Also I thought the plot was very good. The only thing bad was that the way Eragon almost never got hurt and I thought that that was kind of unrealistic when he got captured on the way to the Varden by the group of slave traders that no one shot him with a arrow.

3)I think that the theme of the book is loyalty. When they are being chased by the Urgals Eragon does not leave Morzan behind. Also Eragons dragon Saphira always puts his life before hers. When Eragon is captured by the Empire Morzan and Saphira break into the jail and save Eragon. When they do this they are risking being captured by the Empire but they do it any way to save Eragon.

4)My favorite character is Eragon, I like him because he is brave, kind, loyal, he also always helps others. Examples of thisare when he saves the elf. He does not know who she is yet he saves her life and risks his doing it. He is very brave when he fights the shade he thinks he cannot win but when him and Morzan team up they defeat the shade and escape.

5)My least favirote character is King Galbatorix who is tehgreedy ruler of Alegasia. He formed the Forsworn and he also betrayed the riders that did not join him. He also kills anything and anyone who gets in his way. Also if he thinks a town is going to rebel he sends his army to kill everyone there.

6)My perdiction is that the Varden accept Morzan and they go and attack the Empire. They recover two more dragon eggs and start to make more riders then they try to kill King Galbatorix but he sends out the shades and urgals to fight and a war begins.

   

Mark McVeigh

Mark McVeigh

The Dealer

Robert Muchamore

Action

Just Right

Just Finished 304

1. I have just finished The Dealer by Robert Muchamore. After many weeks of working on his mission, James finally gets close enough to Junior that he invites James down to Miami with him and his father. James is a secret undercover agent of CHERUB, a branch of MI5 in which kids go out to work undercover and help put criminals behind bars. James, only recently turning 13 and having completed his first mission a few months back, is now on another mission in which he has to befriend the son of Keith Moore, a major dealer of cocaine in England. He has success with this and many of the leaders of KMG, Keith Moore's Gang, have been arrested, but they do not have enough evidence to arrest Keith yet. During this process Junior decides to bring James on his and his father's annual trip to their beach house in Miami. While there, James is contacted by CHERUB and told to hack into Keith's computer and try to find evidence that Keith is buying cocaine while in Florida. James does as he is ordered and finds that not only is Keith not buying drugs but trying to get out of the business by settling all of his previous business debts. A few nights late, James and Junior decide it would be fun to go out and have a boxing match. After a couple of punches and jabs, they decide its not worth it and decide to go for a swim. But as soon as they end the match, James hears a bang coming from upstairs, but he just shrugs it off. Later when they go back up to the house they find George, Keith's assistant, dead on on the floor. While Junior ran outside and captured by one of the intruders that came in the room when they heard him scream, James ran into the next room, locks the door, and quickly makes a knife out of a CD near-by. The intruders break down the door, but with James CHERUB training he quickly jabs his knife into the gun wielding man's wrist and the gun drops to the floor. James quickly picks the gun up and holds the intruder at gun point, ordering him to put his hands up and surrender. While the intruder is ignoring orders from James, and inching towards him telling him there is now way hes going to shoot, James hears Keith Moore in the other room yell out in pain. James then pulls the trigger and shoots the man in the middle of the chest killing him instantly. He then escapes, deciding its more important to save himself then risk going back and help save the others. A few hours later, James finds out that it was the Lambayeke crew, a major cocaine supplier of KMG, looking for money. He also is informed that both Junior and Keith survived and are in good health. Eventually Keith agrees to a deal with the DEA to give them allot of information on the Lambayeke crew in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. James, due to strict CHERUB protocol, never saw Junior again and is sent back to campus immediately.
2. This is one of the best book I have ever read. In my opinion, Robert Muchamore is the best author ever. His first book, The Recruit, is my favorite book, but The Dealer is a very close second. Ever since I was little I have loved watching action movies. And with CHERUB, my love for action has carried over to reading. I really do not like reading, but I loved this book so much that I read it in 2 days! I have never read one of Muchamore's books before but after reading The Recruit, I don't thing I will ever stop reading them. I love that in the CHERUB series, there are kids my age going out on missions and taking down criminals that not even the highest paid agents in Britain could arrest. Also I like how not only are they trained assassins, they are normal kids going to school and doing homework and other things normal kids do, which makes this book very relatable.
3. I think the biggest theme in The Dealer would be judgement. As a CHERUB agent, you must be able to think fast in the harshest of situations. For example, when James was face to face with the intruder that had broken into Keith Moore's house, James had a major decision to make, shoot him or don't. Now this wasn't a game or anything, this was a 13 year old boy deciding whether or not to take a man's life. Personally, if I was put in that situation, I probably would have just froze there and not do anything. But James knew better and decided that one of them was going to die, and it wasn't going to be him. Also in the middle of the story Nicole, a girl that had been working with James on the mission, had made the judgement to sniff cocaine. This bad decision caused her to lose her position at CHERUB and was sent to a foster home to live the rest of her life. These kids are not only making little judgements about tests and quizzes, but making decisions that could possibly cost them their lives.
4. My favorite character is James. He is my favorite because he is not just your average kid, he is a math genius, has a black belt in karate, and is a secret agent for CHERUB. He is the kid every guy in the world wants to be. Also, he is a very clever person and not only gets out of bad situations, but in a very different way than most people would think to do. For example in the first book he finds himself in a situation in which he has to stay out all night in nothing but his underwear. He comes up with the idea of hiding under a bridge and starts a fire using a video camera. I would bet that if you put 100 grown men into the same position, maybe one or two would do something like James.
5. My least favorite character is Nicole. I don't like her because she is stuck up and doesn't appreciate what she has. One night while on the mission, Nicole is partying with her friends and decides to sniff cocaine. The usage of class A drugs in CHERUB is strictly prohibited and if anyone uses them they are kicked out of cherub immediately. Nicole is obviously kicked out of CHERUB and sent to a foster days to live out the rest of her life. But before she leaves she tries to convince James that CHERUB is a bad thing for them and he should quit and leave with her. Nicole doesn't realize that CHERUB is a place where a person is qualified for so many things, that they can do anything with there lives when they get out.
6. I thought the ending of this book was great. It was not what i had expected though. I had expected for Keith to be arrested while in Miami and sent to prison for many years. What actually happened was the Lambayeke crew went after Keith for money and he got off easy by ratting out the crew that had tried to take from him. Looking back now I knew he wouldn't have been arrested because James constantly said that Keith was innocent and wasn't buying drugs in Miami. But then again it was likely that his past would catch up to him after committing so many crimes while selling cocaine. As for the next books in the series I have no idea what will or could happen. The CHERUB series is a group of books with so many twists and turns you ll never know what coming next.