Barf Scarf

The book that i'm currently reading is called "The 13th reality Journal of Curious Letters" by James Dashner. This book is a fantasy book about a normal boy named atticus higenbottom a.k.a Tick. Whos life starts to change when he recives a strange letter from someone named M.G. Tick has to solve a whole bunch of riddles that this M.G. guy sends him. He meets a lot of people on his journey and meets a lot of dangerous creatures too. Tick has to do something very important on a certain day and if he fails horrible things would happen to his loved ones.
In the story Tick is the nerd in school who always gets bullied. Tick also wears a big scarf that covers a big birthmark on his neck. Tick never takes the scarf off no matter how hot it is because he is to insecure about what eveone else would think. But as Tick begins to solve the mistery of the riddles and gets closer to his friend Sofia he doesnt even notice his birthmark anymore as he has his scarf off. When Tick finaly realizes that his scraf was off he puts it back on without even thinking. Is Tick that insecure? Sofia didn't even notice as they were having a good time working together, but Tick felt to insecure about her seeing it again so he put it on again.
I think that these riddles that M.G. is sending them isn't just helping Tick by saving people, but it is also helping Tick be happy with the way he was born and not caring about what other people think about a birthmark that he has. When Tick first had his scarf off it shows how Tick is learning to accept the way he was born and sofia didnt really care about it.
I think that by the end of the book Tick would learn to accept himeself the way he is. And I also think that all of his insecurties will go away as he solves these riddles. The closer that Tick gets to his friend the less he has to worry about his birthmark and he could probably could stick up to those bullies that he was feeling so insecure to. The closer that Tick gets to solving these riddles will be the closer he gets to believing in himself.

FAke loVE

When we first started to watch Romeo and Juliet all I could think about was how dumb this movie was going to be and how the entire time they would just be talking about how much they loved each other. But as we started to watch more of the movie I realized how many deep and intentionall things that they did to make it more intresting. There were many intresting themes but I thought one stood out against the rest and that one was about love.

In the movie and the play love had to be the biggest theme there was. There were many differnt types of love. While I was watching the movie I didnt really realize it but when I read the book it said that Juliet wasnt even 14 yet. That got me thinking that even though she was 14 could her love be true love? Could they love each other as grown ups would feel for one another? And I think that if they truly love each other then they should have the same love and get married. There love was so strong that they basicly killed themselves for it. So to me of course they should get married.

One thing that I thought that they did intresting was in the first scene they started it off with a battle between that Capult and the Monteque. And what really stood out to me was how they used the colors in the battle to show how they were on different side and to show the hatred that they had for each other.

I thought that the movie was a very good interpretation of the play. This movie showed how even something that happened hundreds of years ago it could happen in our time also. And that is why I think that thi movie was so great and the play was great also.

Lying to Save Someone?

Im currently reading the book called Eon Dragoneye Reborn. This book is a fantasy book maintly about the Chinese anamals and dragons. In this book every year a Dragon from each of the animal comes to choose one Dragoneye or the apprentice of the current dragoneye. A girl name Eona has always been able to see an image of all the dragons when she wants to, which is an rare ability. Eona wants to become a Dragoneye but women are forbidden to use dragon magic. So she pretends to be a boy and calls her self Eon.

In Eon Dragoneye Reborn each dragon that represents an animal also represents a color and an emotion. Ironically the dragon that represents Eon happens to be the Dragon af Truth and wont tell Eon her his true name because everyone need to hear the truth about Eon and the secret that she is holding. Is it just a coincedence that she has to revel her true self to everyone befor she can truly master her power? Would Eon truly tell everyone her secret so she can learn the dragons name? But if she does that would mean death.

This book seems very intresting and I will be finishing it and the sequels that come out. This book really teaches you about the truth about things and teaches you also a little about being sexist which I think is why women aren't allowed to use dragon magic.

Mentors

One person that I thought did a good job in his response to a poem was Pip. You can read his response here http://pipreadingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-that-reads-itself.html. Pip really understood the true meaning of this poem and really brough out what stood out to Robert Frost and I think thats what made Pips reasponse to the poem so well written. Overall Pip did a really good job on writing this poem and is a true mentor.

Another person that I thought did really good was Hannah. She really did a good job in showing what a great job JK Rowling did on her first Hary Potter book. you can read Hannahs blog post here http://unlimitedmargin.blogspot.com/2011/01/journey-through-harry-potter-series.html. Hannah shows how a true mentor should be and that is why I picked her.

Finally another mentor that I thought did a very good job with her blog was Zarrin. you can read her blog here http://untoldstoryinsideyou.blogspot.com/2010/12/poor-annie-frank.html. Zarrin shows how a book that I normally would've just skipped over could actually be intresting. If I saw a book about history I would think that it is boring but scince this is a diary it kind of changes the whole view.

The Olive Tree, by Vincent van Gogh



Trees sway
with the cool air
blowing all away
I watch in the distance
as the olive tree stands
with all of its resistance.
he won't stop hear
no he won't
no he won't
hes gone through
so much
just to quit so near.

Hawk
By:Daniel Waters


All eyes are fearful of the spotted hawk,
whose dappled wingspread opens to a phrase
that only victims gaping in the gaze
of Death Occurring can recite. To stalk;
to plunge; to harvest; the denial-squawk
of dying's struggle; these are but a day's
rebuke to hunger for the hawk, whose glazed
accord with Death admits no show of shock.

Death's users know it is not theirs to own,
nor can they fathom all it means to die—
for young to know a different Death from old.
But when the spotted hawk's last flight is flown,
he too becomes a novice, fear-struck by
the certain plummet once these feathers fold.


Every day people face the ultimate fear of life, And someday everyone will face this fear, death. People would do anything they can do to protect their lives or the lives of someone around them. While other people take the lives of others. Doesnt matter which one of those people you are because someday we will all feel the same fear.

The first scentence in this poem I thought was very thought provoking. This one line made me think about so many different things. One thing that I thought about the most was when he said that only people who are facing death in the eyes can recite the phrase. I also thought the second line was very intresting. But one thing that I thought he did well and intentional was when he put those verbs in the poem to describe the Hawk, which set a clear image in my mind of this poem. the first line in the second paragraph made me think for a while about death and as he says its users. I like how he kind of pesonified death into a something you can use. And this phrase also made me think about how he said that users know death is not for them to own. Is he trying to say that you can use death but some people may get carried away and tried to own it?

I think that in the first line Daniel Waters is trying to say that only people who have faced death and seen death in the eyes experience something different than other people. This kind of reminds me of Harry Potter and the Order of Pheonix, how only people who have seen death like Harry can see the invisible Thestrals. the next line is kind of saying that the Hawk must do what ever he must to stay alive, even take anothers life. This kind of reminded me of 'Please Dont Take my Air Jordans Away' in which the guy was willing to kill for his gear. And the first line on the second paragraph is trying to say that as much as you use death to you advantage death can not be owned you can not use it for ever and some day it will get the better of you.

I think that the the main idea of this story was that Death will always win and even if you are the best and use death it will still come after you and take you life.

Love over Hatred

In the book Vampirates Empire of Night by Justin Somper Conner and Grace are faced with challanges that prove their loyalties. This book takes place right after them finding out who their true father was. This was defenantly who they weren't expecting because the person they were chasing the whole time was their father. And they must choose to go with thier father on the bad side or go to the good side.

Conner and Grace go to live on thier fathers ship as spies but realize all that thier father has done for them to make them feel welcome here. I think that Conner got used to the idea of being his son and got blood thirsty like his father. This made me think that even though he is such a evil villan when comes to his children he just wants the best for them.

Even though thier father was bad I think that he really cared for them what ever side they choose, they will always be his children and he will never turn against them.

Power over Intelligance

In the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows there are a lot of people in this book who choose power over intelligance because they are power hungry. There are many different types of characters in this book but the main types of one and people who all they want is power and want to be on the top of everyone else. for example like Voldemort and Gindelwald and there are other people in the story who set aside the crave for power and focus on another way to make them selves stronger by using intelligance like Dumbledore.

The people who want power try to reach to the top by using power to gain controll. Like Grindlewald wanted too use the Deathly hallows to make a superior race. he was trying to gain controll of the world by making them scared and using power to gain control. Were as Dumble dore uses intellagance to gain to controll he will think about the right stuff and the wronge and wont be corupted by power.

Dumbledore was a very powerful man and tried to be even powerful by collecting the Deathly hallows. But even in Dumbledore's younger years he wouldnt want to be as ruthless and Grindlewald, all Dumbledore really wanted was the reserection stone so he can say how sorry he was for all of the things he had done. Dumbledore also wanted the Elder wand but new he wasnt strong enough to be the master of death. I think that Dumbledore knew that with all of that power he too will become power hungy, which I think is more noble than being the master of death admiting you cant controll all of that power.

Dumbledore knew that Harry would some day be stong enough to be the master of death so Dumbledore felt that he had to lead Harry into the right paths. in the very beging of the Sorceres Stone, when Harry first meets Draco they get along really well, and this made me think that maybe if Harry had went to the Slytherin house, had everything that ever happened to Harry would have it all changed because of the people he would hang out with? would he feel like he had to be on the dark side like Snape and Draco? Or would he have over came it.

In this story there are just endless amounts of questions that can make really deep thoughts about, these were just some that I thought were important.

the orange haired boy

In the book The Saga of Larten Crepsley Birth of a Killer. Larten lived hi whole life with his cousin and best friend Vur Horsten. Larten and Vur lived in the same house together with Lartens other brother and sister. they both also actually work together in a silk factory where they both work under the rules of their ruthless manager. In the book their manager dyes all of his workers hair different colors to tell which part of the factory they work in. Vur and Lartens hair was dyed orange, the orange color hair that Larten Crepsley the famous vampire is known for.

Through out the whole vampire world Larten is known for his organge hair. All his life thats what he had to remember about Lartens past and in this book we find out about it. Larten's hair just doesn't reminde him of his old job and ruthless manager but of Vur and the birth of him being a killer. Lartens hair represents all of the hardships that he had to face and his life before he was a vampire. And the reason why the hair dye will never go away because it shows that Larten will never let go of Vur and will never forget about that night when Vur died and that same night when he killed the person responsible.

I think that Vur was a major effect on Larten and what Lartens actions wer. And Larten never once forgot about Vur for he did all of this for Vur he got his revenge for Vur and even became a great Vampire.

Living in Fear

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows evryone goes into hiding after Voldemort launches his first attack at Harry at Bill's wedding. Hermione Ron and Harry are on the run and trying to hide from snatches and Death eaters. And everyone seems to have no hope left in overthrowing the amount of power Voldemort has know.

Voldemort seem to have all of the power now scince his only threat, Dumbledore is now dead and Harry seems to be running away from him. I think that maybe Voldemort is attentionaly doing this to Harry and trying make feel small and scared. And i can tell that Harry is trying very hard not to feel this way but after all that has happened with Ron leaving them because they didnt have a real plan really did make Harry feel all alone. Voldemort has all of the power in the world and not just wizards working with him, he has many different creature. He has Snatches looking for Muggle born and Mudbloods to kill, which in my opinion is why wizards were feared by Muggles in the first place.

I can tell that Harry feels all alone from the way he act and his actions. If I were him I would feel the same, everyone seems t be dependingon him to kill this mighty poweful being but he has no helpon his side.

Looking Deep

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry was given some of Snapes memories, and started to see them before his battle with Voldemort. In Snapes memories it shows snapes life from when he was a child to an adult and even memories with Harry's mother Lily. Snapes memories reveal to Harry truths about Snapes loyalties and important events with Dumbledore.

During this point of the book you really find about Snape and how hard his life was and his secrets. Even though you believe that Snape is a death eater and is loyal to Voldemort, you find out that this was all /dumbledores plan. Snape was in love with Lily ever scince they were little kids. Even though Lily didnt really feel the same way about him and married James, Snape still cares about her. Snape must've felt really depressed when Lily wasnt treating him the same as James and kind of stopped being friends. Snape probably felt that there was no were else to turn to then to become a Death eater, so he did.  Y ou  can tell that Snape would've done anything to save Lily even turn in Harry, but deep down Lily would never be the same if he did. Even though Lily sacrificed her life to save Harry, Snape hated Harry. I dont blame him. Because of Harry the one person he loved was dead. i could understand why he would be mad. but like Dumbledore said, if Snape were to turn Harry in now all that Lily sacrificed would be lost and all of it would have been done for nothing.

Through all of Snape's actions through out the book, you can tell that even though Lily died for Harry and Snape kind of hate Harry in a way, Snape's love for Lily travels down to Harry because what she cared for and died for he cared for and died for.

Living a Lie

In the book The Cronicles of Vladimir Tod Eight Grade Bites by Heather Brewer. In this book Vladimir has to hide who he truly is from everyone around him. He has to go through many things just to hide who he is. Everyday he has to drink blood secretly. And everyday he feels like he has to drink other peoples blood.

In the book Vlad is picked on and tesed because people treat him like a goth kid. If I were him I would at least fight back, but Vlad knows that he can't because hes a vampire. In the book i feel like Vlad can't show his true potential around everyone else just because he is different. Vlad can do much more than other people but people don't realize it so they would pick on him. This book kind of reminds me of the movie The Incredibles how even though the kid wanted to compete in sports, he knew he couldn't because he had powers.

Vlad's one true friend is Henry. Henry spends all of his time with Vlad and even knows that vlad is a vampire. Henry is the only one who accepts Vlad for what he is and is still friends with him. This is an example of true friendship in the book. Even though your best friend is something that you don't expect them to be, it doesn't matter what they are. This kind of remindes me of the quote "Don't judge a book by its cover" and actually is somewhat like rasism.

I think that this book shows a very adventurous story line and shows how being a monster can change someones life, but true friendship can concure that all.

The Lost Hero Reading Response

This book is about a boy named Jason who wakes up in a school bus filled with kids but he doesn't remember who he is or what he is doing there, a girl named Piper who has to rescue her fauther who is in trouble, and a boy named Leo who want to find his purpose in life.

In The Lost Hero Jason has no idea who he is but people claim he is Piper and Leo's best friend. Piper and leo have a whole bunch of memories with Jason and all of their good times and their life together. But once they go to camp half blood they are told that all of that was a lie. That must fell very wierd and if I found out something like thing i wold feel kind of stupid. All of the thing that i thought about a person were all a lie and the thng that we did never happened. I would fell that even though we had a good relatioship that person doesnt even reconize me so none of our friendship even mattered. I fell exactly like piper feels, alone a stupid.

In the book Piper has to go through some rough times too. an evil giant wants her to betray her friends in orde to save her father. I could really feel how she feels torn up inside and cant really decide who to save. She feels also like a outcast. even though she knows she needs to do the right thing she cant help but feel like a tratior. Ithink that is one of the biggest challenge in this book, deciding which people you love more and try to save that person.

Reading Response for The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan

This book is about a young boy named Jebel who was born in a royal family of Executioners. He is always being compared to his big buff brothers but he is short and scrawny. So to prove himself worthy enough to be the next executioner he goes on a dangerouse quest to find the fire god to grant hi  his wish.

SPOILER

At the ending of the book there is a very surprising ending. Even though Jebel got his wish and became and executioner Jebel didnt fell right killing people. I think that towards the ending of this book Jebel was the character who was changed the most. as he came back home whith his powers he didnt want all the things he wanted before. he really changed as a person during the course of the book. Jebel was not greedy and selfish like all of the other people who went on the same quest. The main theme was selfishness. Jebel was very selfish in the beginning of the book. He wanted they, the fame, and the princess.but as he came to the sun god he realized that when Tel Hesani died he regreted it right away and wished he never had went on the quest. Jebel really cared for the slave Tel Hesani even though he came along to sacrifice his life. Tel Hesani save Jebel many times, and they became like family. Jebel realized the true importance of the quest he went on, and that was friendship and the hard times and cruelty in the world.

Jebel learned from his quest that everyone should be given a second chance and not be put to death for simple crimes. so everytime that somebody would be sentenced to death he would put his head to be cut off for them. But no one was ever able to cut through his head since he was blessed by the fire god. the law was passed so that the executioner would sacrifice his own life instead of someone he loved. sience Jebel did this to everyone who was sentenced to death it showed that he cared for everyones life and that everyone should be given a second chance. Eventualy everyone gave up and started making jail cells instead of sentencing a person to death.

Jebel risked this whole quest for his honor and the love of his life. But after the quest Jebel realized that the person he loved didnt care for him, she only cared for his fame if he completed the quest. Even though he knew he was doing right the only person who thaught the same was the girl he never really payed attention to, a slave too. At the end of the book Jebel never really spoke to his father and brothers ever again because of the shame he brought to his family but one of his brotheres realized the good that Jebel was doing and they became a family again.

Rooftop reading response

One of the main themes in this book is racism. Clay feels a lot of hatred for the white cops who killed his cousin. they thought that his cousin was holding a gun when he was really holding a wallet. This just shows how easily the cops were to judge clays cousin because he was black. Everyone in the projects is mad at this too beacause they always knew the cops and even the mayor were racist. Even some of the black cops were mad about this. in this book there is another character I think is very important. His name is officer Henry. He is a big mentor for clay and his cousin. They feel as if he is babying them but he is really looking out for them because he doesnt want them to foll his footsteps as a child. Officer Henry must have been really mad because he always watched out for Addison, Clays cousin. They all must fell very hurt for addison dying because of something that he didnt do.