Post your annotated bibliography extended paragraph here before 6pm on March 3, 2008. Carefully proofread your paragraph for content and grammar before you publish. Use the following format to compose your paragraph:
Format for composing an Annotated Bibliography Paragraph:
1) Compose a topic sentence that states the author and title of the novel and explains whether you liked or disliked the novel.
2) Compose 6-8 sentences that:
a) detail the main plot events (remember the paragraph should not be entirely plot summary).
b) detail how the author uses one literary device to develop the plot (characterization, theme, conflict, setting, point of view, etc.)
c) include transitions between your detail of the main plot events and your detail of the literary device.
3) Finish you paragraph with a summation sentence that restates the topic sentence by explaining why you liked or disliked the novel.
DO NOT USE "I"PHRASES ANY WHERE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH AND REMEMBER TO ITALICIZE BOOK TITLES AND THE TITLES OF PLAYS.
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90 comments:
Arthur Golden novel Memoirs of a Geisha is an amazing book that is filled with drama, lust and always holds the readers interest. The book is about how Chiyo is sold by her father to be taken to an okiya in Goin to be trained as a geisha. This book has a very interesting irony set in place for young Chiyo. When Chiyo first arrives at her okiya she has not interest what so ever in becoming a geisha, her main focus is getting out of her okiya and finding her way back to her family. Unfortunately for Chiyo the only geisha living in her okiya had it out to ruin her. Therefore after living a few months in the okiya Chiyo try’s to runaway and it caught. Once she was caught mother, the owner of the okiya, felt that Chiyo was not a good investment for her and stops Chiyo’s training to become a geisha and Chiyo must live out her life as maid. Chiyo after living about a month as a maid and seeing her friend start to rise as a geisha makes it her mission to become a geisha. Chiyo is able to achieve this goal because she was adopted by Mameha who became her older sister. Even though Chiyo had all the odds against her having Hatsumomo (the only geisha living in the okiya) hate her and want to destroy her reputation, having mother stop investing money in her, and having to work her way form a maid to become a geisha. The irony is how even though no one believed Chiyo could become a geisha and she proved her entire okiya wrong, she even proved herself wrong because she thought that she would be stuck at the bottom as a maid for her entire life.
-Katie McSherry
-Block- D
-Mrs. Kaplan
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez was a very intriguing novel to read. Reading the book is very tense and dramatic. Written in first person narative, this book is about the life of four sisters and the description of their everday horrors in life under the Dominican dictator, Trujillo.The four Mirabal sisters play roles in the story as women that define their decisions to participate, or not,in the anti-Trujillo movement throughout the book. Dedé and Minerva had the most conflict, while María Teresa and Patria’s participation in the movement becomes an seperation of their relationships.Dedé was normaly not a busy women, but on every
25th of November, she had to put her life aside and talk to the news crews that were constantly showing up. She showed them lots of pictures and repeated the same stories over and over again. The story of how she was the only one alive after her family had been murdered. Eventualy, Dedé learned to lie about her arrangements for the day so that she wasn't harrased by these news cast that repeated the same story once a year. In the Time of the Butterflies is and outstanding novel that shares the story of a brave and strong women who has held her head high threw all the horofic things that took place in her life.
Rosa Carucci
D-Block
3-2-08
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is an interesting novel that full of excitement. The novel is about a young, 19-year-old boy named Henry Fleming as a recruit in the American Civil War. Henry was a farm boy who came from New York State who wanted to be a solider. The theme of the story is about courage. During the battle, Henry experienced his initial real war. After that, he fled into the woods and due to his panic and fear. Subsequently, he realized he shouldn’t be a coward and should face to his fear. Therefore, he started to learn to become a confident and courageous person. The story is about different stimulating and remarkable experiences that Henry had experienced during the war. The author used a third person’s point of view to describe how Henry experienced his wars. Moreover, he used imagery details to create an image for the readers to feel who exiting and amazing during the war which the main character Henry had experienced. The novel The Red Badge of Courage is an exciting and realistic depiction of the experiences of soldiers.
Wing Sum Cheung
H block
William Shakespeare. Macbeth.New York: McDougal Littell,2001.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a complicated but enjoyable play about betrayal and the onset of insanity due to a guilty consciousness. Macbeth starts out with the appearance of three witches conversing between themselves and then the setting moves to a military camp where the protagonist of the story, Macbeth and his accompanying general Banquo are described with great honor and valor for defeating two armies. Macbeth is depicted as a blood thirsty but courageous man who is loyal to King Duncan, this image of him though, will soon change once the trio of witches state a prophecy. The witches’prophesize that Macbeth will become a thane of Cawdor and eventually king of Scotland. They also prophesize that Banquo will be "the father of kings" but not the king himself. At first Macbeth and Banquo are skeptical of the prediction but once Macbeth becomes a thane of Cawdor, Macbeth starts to believe the prophecy. He writes a letter to his wife who destroys any doubts that he had and convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Duncan pays a visit to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and that night when Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him, despite his uncertainty and a supernatural hallucination of a bloody dagger. The major literary device employed in the book is the usage of themes. There are two important themes used in the book; one theme is moral constraints not being able to halt ambitions and the second theme is masculinity. Macbeth was an individual who was not one to usually commit evil, unmoral deeds, but the desire for power pushed him to be demoralized. Macbeth kills the King but is then tortured by guilt and thus suffers hallucinations and paranoia. His wife, on the other hand, is more ardent at achieving her goal and is less constricted by morals. Masculinity is another key theme in the book. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill the king by questioning Macbeth's masculinity, which drives Macbeth to untamed violence. Lady Macbeth also states how she wishes to be "unsexed" and thus not feel female emotions such as guilt. Macbeth is a play that can be vexing to read, but once the reader understands the words and phrases, he or she can moderately enjoy the book.
Raya Dyadkina B block
The book Slaughter house- five by Kurt Vonnegut was a very confusing read. This does not mean the book was bad but just hard to follow. The book follows the life of Billy Pilgrim as he survives in World War two and on an alien planet. The book splits itself up into a few parts whenever Billy gets knocked out he goes backwards and forwards in time. This technique lets the reader see Billy’s life from a bunch of different perspectives. Kurt uses imagery to keep the reader going in this book. From the eyes on the alien’s hands to the land surrounding Billy as he walks through the forest Kurt doesn’t miss anything. The reader feels like their actually on a space ship flying faster then the speed of light or in a plane as it’s crashing into a mountain. The book keeps the reader guessing what’s going to happen leaving nothing out in the open until the last second. This book gets an average but fun five out of ten a great book even though it is hard to follow at times.
Shawn Cybulska
Block- B
3/2/08
Tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom is a timeless classic. A wonderful and touching story of a writer getting a second chance to discover life through the death of a friend. This novel is filled with love and wisdom and clarity that makes the reader never want to be the book down; smile, laugh and maybe even cry! Mitch Albom the book's narrator, recalls his graduation in the spring of 79’ from Brandeis University . After receiving his diploma, Mitch approaches his favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz, and presents him with a briefcase. While at Brandeis, Mitch takes almost all of the sociology courses Morrie had taught. He promised Morrie, who was crying, that he would keep in touch with him. Mitch doesn’t fulfill his promise though. Sixteen years after his graduation from Brandeis, Mitch was feeling frustrated with the life he had chosen to live. Mitch hears a voice that sounds so familiar. He turns to the T.V and sees his old professor. Mitch travels out to Boston to meet Morrie who was being featured on a television program called "Nightline". After seeing Morrie again the two grew close again and Mitch returned regularly every Tuesday to listen to Morrie's lessons on "The Meaning of Life." Every week, Mitch brought Morrie food to eat, although Morrie's condition was worsening and soon he would no longer even be able to enjoy solid food. Mitch and Morrie shared a relationship more like one may say that of between father and son than what the case really was teacher and student. Before Morrie's death, when his condition had deteriorated so much that he can no longer even breathe or talk or move on his own he confided that if he could have another son that it would be Mitch. “As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed as ignorant as you were at twenty- two, you'd always be twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. It's growth. It's more than the negative that you're going to die, it's the positive that you understand you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.” Morrie never feared aging; he in fact embraced it. He explains to Mitch that to fight age is a hopeless battle because either way you will never win. Aging and death are inevitable! Mitch Albom’s use of literary device in this novel is outstanding! He uses characterization to portray every character in the novel with a vivid and detailed descriptions, and uses nourishing wisdom to capture the mind, heart and soul of the reader. This novel is a must read. It captured the heart of many and inspired millions of lives! Definitely a novel for young teens and even the old!
-Andrea Borsic
-B block
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a confusing, yet astonishing fictional novel about the past. Jarvis Lorry, an employee of Tellson’s Bank, travels from London to Dover with a mail coach one night in 1775. For the most part, Dickens did a great job in describing the setting in A Tale of Two Cities. He says, “… it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…” Dickens describes an age of conflict in the 18th century between France and England so vividly that you can sense the opposition of two opposing forces; like love and hate. The mail coach came across a man named Jerry Cruncher, another employee of Tellson’s Bank, who was sent to give Lorry a letter that said, “Wait at Dover for Mam’selle.” Lorry tells Jerry to return to Tellson’s Bank with his response being, “recalled to life.” Lorry was sent to Dover by Tellson’s in order to meet Lucie Manette, a woman whose father was supposedly dead, and tell her he is still alive. Although quite confusing, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is an astonishing novel.
Oscar Lee
B Block
Mrs. Kaplan
One of the most simple yet marvelous works of literature, “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, was published in 1960. The storyline takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the great depression, and it is a narrative of the life of Scout Finch, a 10 year old girl who shares her adventures with her older brother Jem and his friend dill. In the book she explains her experience about racism and rape, which took place in her own town. The victim is a white female, Mayella Ewell, who accuses a handicapped black man named , Tom Robinson, of raping her. Scouts father Atticus Finch is chosen to represent the black man and he accepts to do his best. For this, Atticus is ridiculed and criticized by the townsfolk and especiallly Bob Ewell (mayellas father), and similarly his children also suffer the same taunting. Her fathers endurance is incomprehendable to scout. Thereafter, Scout’s father explains to her why he is doing this and how she must behave so that it helps both of them get through this: peacefully and logically. Although , Atticus proves that tom is innocent and Mayella is lying, the jury, being biased as all of them were white men, still decides in favor of the Ewells, and tom is sentenced to life imprisonment. Nevertheless, Atticus achieved his goal of unveiling the truth, which caused the vindictive and shamed bob Ewell to seek revenge; he does so by attacking Atticus’s children and accidentally kills himself. The author successfully conveys her message by using point of view to express the narrators thoughts and feeling about the event that take place and shows how racism is very futile as well as self-indulgent and how even a child realizes it very well, in contrast to the older townsfolk . She also uses setting to show how racism can destroy a small prosperous like Maycomb community from within by dividing it, and how an innocent child experiences it through life’s small details ,by expressing clearly through sensory details. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is definitely an interesting read and it also shows how even in life’s simple details there is so much to be learned, but it is just condensed, a book that is most intriguing and easily understandable as the events can be related to.
farooq hussain,
H-Block.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm has been a much appreciated and interpreted text of the twentieth century. It is set on an English farm named Manor Farm, owned by Mr. Jones. The fable-like story concerns the rebellion of the farm animals, and is told entirely from their point of view. The animals, dissatisfied with their owner’s idleness and incompetence, begin to flesh in the revolutionary ideology of controlling the farm themselves. Three of the pigs (Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball) emerge as the leaders who lead the remainder of the animals in developing a new system, which they called “animalism”. After Mr. Jones forgets to feed them, riots break out among the starved animals. After driving out their owners and his family, they form a new set of rules, all of which focus on equality. The animalism regime begins promisingly. However, as time passes, the promise of equality is slowly narrowed down to only a select few. Full equality becomes “four legs good, two legs bad”. Greed begins to influence the three pigs in charge, resulting in a blooming tyranny. Execution, starvation, and fear begin to lead the lives of the animals once again, this time because of Napoleon the pig. The farm had come full circle, accepting the lone amendment of “ all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The pigs had turned into humans, both metaphorically and physically. The main device used in Animal Farm is the direct use of allegory. George Orwell was able to create a novella purely about a farm somewhere in an imaginary land and apply to it the situation of the Soviet Union under communism. All of it’s snorting characters represent actual historical figures. Napoleon, for example, had embodied Joseph Stalin. Instead of writing a historical account of the events and their rationale, Orwell uses a farm to portray society in a satirical way. In general, Animal Farm ’s satirical allegory of history provides a deep and enticing read.
-Aleksandra Makowska
- Block B
Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi is an inspiring autobiographical graphic novel. The story begins with Marjane living in Vienna, Austria at boarding house run by nuns. She has a roommate, Lucia, who only speaks German. Marjane began school in Austria midyear. At first she was an outcast, but made friends quickly. Marjane spends her first Christmas vacation with Lucia’s family in the Tyrol region of Austria Marjane eventually gets kicked out of the boarding house when she insults the nuns. She moved in with her friend Julie. During this time, she became a punk rocker. After about a year, Julie moves away and Marjane moves into a communal apartment with eight homosexual men. When Marjane’s mother came to visit, she treated Marjane like an adult. Marjane soon moved into an apartment owned by a professor. Marjane becomes a drug addict and begins selling drugs until she gets caught by her principal. After her boyfriend cheated on her and was evicted from her apartment, Marjane lost her mind and became homeless. After a stay in a hospital, Marjane returns home to Iran. Marjane enters an art school with her new boyfriend Reza. The two eventually get married, against Marjane’s mother’s wishes. However, the marriage doesn’t work out and Marjane asks for a divorce. The story ends when Marjane and Reza leave Iran for France to get divorced. Conflict controls the story. Marjane left Iran, whose government was repressive. She moved constantly and made friends with unsavory people. Marjane was a drug addict. Finally, she had a failed marriage. Persepolis 2 tells the story of a woman who overcame the Islamic Revloution fo Iran and shows how the revolution affected the Middle East.
Of Mice and Men, a short yet decent book written by well-known author John Steinbeck which depicts a tragic story between two main characters. The two main characters, George Milton and Lennie Small share a tight bond and sincere friendship, even though the both are opposites of each other in personality. Lennie is a large man who doesn't understand his immense strenth, constantly gets himself and George in trouble, and has the mentality of a child. George is a small man who is clever, sharp-tounged, and quick-tempered. Despite this, he holds a parental role for Lennie who heavily depends on him. Both of the men travel together in California switching from job to job, holding on to the precious dream of one day together living on their own farm. When George and Lennie both find work at a ranch, their dream seems finally within reach. Unfortunately, this is not the case, since conflict arises due to Lennie's foolish actions he is unable to control. George does whatever he can in order to help Lennie control himself but is not able to do so completley. Lennie is highly attracted to Curley's wife, one of the men working at the ranch. Curley's wife constant flirting only makes things worse for George and Lennie. One day when Curley's wife comes to console Lennie in a barn, since he accidently killed his puppy. While she is there, he tells her that he enjoys petting soft things, so she allows him to touch her hair. When he touches her hair, she starts screaming since he he is grabbing too tight. In an attempt to quiet her, Lennie accidently breaks her neck and kills Curley's wife. When this happens, Lennie flees and George finds him. While they are there, George repeats their dream of having a farm, but when a lynch party is approaching the both of them, George shoots Lennie in the back of the head. When the men from the ranch arrive, George leads them to believe that he shot Lennie by mistake, but only one coworker named Slim understands that he shot Lennie out of mercy. The story ends off with George and and Slim walking away, leaving the men highly bewildered. One highly used literary element that was used in the plot was suspense. The way in which the plot is written leads readers always unsure of what is going to happen next due to the twisting turns in the plot. Of Mice and Men is a classic story that truly shows that even the strongest bond in a frienship can be broken.
-Rebecca Utkin
-Block B
-03/02/08
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a very interesting book. It is about a man, Amir, who lived in Pakistan as a child but then moves to the U. S. When he is told that a man that he was very close to as a child was killed he goes back to Pakistan to find the man’s son. When he gets there he must deal with all the memories of his life and see how violent his country has become. Throughout the book the author uses characterization as a literary device. Without the characterization of the main character Amir the book wouldn’t of been the same. Since the author goes through every major incident in Amirs life it feels like he is growing right before your eyes and everything piles up to make Amir much more complex then he would have been if the author had started off from the middle of his life. Like by hearing about the time Amir was ignored by his father you could understand why he would compete with his friend for his fathers attention. The characterization made the story feel like it was someone’s actual life and everything that happened to Amir made his emotions seeem more realistic. The book was very original and while reading it the book seemed very realistic so overall it was very interesting.
Josephine Barone
D-block
The novel In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a poignant tale of courage and hope, as much an inspiration as it is a tragedy. It is a wonderful rich tale which skillfully weaves facts and fiction to a gut-wrenching climax. In the book, there are four Mirabel sisters named Patria, Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Dede who live in a country shadowed by dictatorship and despair. Eventually at the end of the book, all three of the sisters die except for one; Dede. Before the death of the sisters, all four of them speak across the decades to tell their own stories. They begin to describe the everyday horrors of life under the Dominican dictator Trujillo. One of the literary devices used by the author is conflict. The author uses conflict between the Mirabel family and a guy named Lio to later on develop the plot. Minerva Mirabel had met Lio through her cousin Mario. Little did Minerva know that Lio was an enemy of state and also a communist. He was thrown out of the country several times because of fighting against the regime. Minerva fell in love with Lio and this caused chaos through out the book because police are looking all over for Lio and now that Minerva is involved with him, it brings her more trouble. If the dictator ever finds out, god knows what’s going to happen to her. Not only is Lio hiding, but he puts Minerva in danger by inviting her to leave the country with him. If Minerva does choose to go along with him, she would be putting herself and her family at risk. This novel is very compelling and vivid. Its evocation of everyday life in military dictatorship, with its informers and paranoia, ranges from the comical to chilling.
Ashley Suechee H-block
Animal Farm , written by George Orwell is a fable-like story, explaining the rebellion of farm animals, due to the tyranny of men. The story begins with a well respected pig named Major, calling out all the animals in the middle of the night for a meeting. Major explains to the animals that they were being exploited by the human race, and helps them to realize that their miserable existences was of mankind, whom they referred to as "evil enemies." After a while, Major passes away, and the animals begin to prepare for the rebellion. Two of the pigs named Snowball and Napoleon emerge as leaders and create a system known as "Animalism." The pigs take charge and begin amending rules agreed by the other animals. As the rioting and chaos continues, the animals soon manage to drive the humans away and live lives of their own. Throughout the entire novel, the use of allegory was portrayed effectively, in which the animal farm symbolized the life of the Soviet Union. The actions that took place define the corruption of different governments during the Russian Revolution. George Orwell was able to illustrate abstract meanings by using such realistic images. Animal Farm was a very interesting novel, where every sentence was able to reflect the reality of the revolution. The book should definitely be recommended, for it's powerful meaning behind it.
Jisup Kim
B Block
Marjane Satrapi.Persepolis; The Story of A Childhood. New York: Pantheon Books, 2003. Persepolis is a story that portrays a little girl, and how her and the people around her react during a time of war. This book is about this little girl, Marji, trying to figure out what the right thing is. Set in Iran in 1789 going into the 1800’s during an Islamic Revolution, Marji must lead as normal as a life she can while obeying the new set rules. The theme Satrapi tries to set in this book is conflict. Iran, where Marji lives, is in its second was in the matter of a year. First, they were having internal conflicts with their own government in 1979, and then form 1980 through 1988 Iran was at war with Iraq. This is much conflict to endure, especially for a young child just trying to live her life. Marji’s life is going through a drastic change for people moving away to people dying on the streets everyday. Changes are hard for most people to endure and get used to, and for a young child to take this in it must have impacted her a lot. Satrapi makes the book an easy read and throws in many points of view from the different word bubbles. Also when the war with Iraq happened in 2001 some people lost people close to them just like Marji did in the book, and that makes it easy to relate. Overall Persepolis; The Story of A Childhood is a great book it is good for people in high school to read because it is an easy book to connect with. It is a very realistic book, and does not seam like it was exaggerated.
Brianne Hannafey
A Block
Ms. Prevosti
March 3,2008
George Orwell.1984. New York: First Signet Classic,1950.
1984 is a story that portrays the lives of people who have completely opposite believes of the modern world, which is a great topic to read about. The book is set in a negative utopia called Oceania, and describes how Winston, a member of the Ministry of Truth, decides whether to be loyal to his conscious or Big brother. At first, Winston is very secretive and doesn’t know whether to disobey the laws or not. In the end Winston buys a diary which is against the laws and writes down anything that comes to his mind. In this negative utopia people are expected to think alike but are not forced to because there is no government or rules. It is just people’s expectations. Each character in this book is described vividly and the thoughts of Winston and the other characters reflect how they act. Winston’s thoughts are beginning to change his view on the society from when he was born. He is beginning to see all the lies that are being hidden in the cracks of the society. George Orwell uses setting and point of view so well that you can actually see and think about the characters. The book, 1984, was a greatly enjoyed book, which is recommended to be read by others if they wish to know how extreme two worlds could be.
Darlene Akanmu. B Block.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is an intriguing traumatic novel to read. The novel is told in first person point of view. The story is all about four Mirabal sisters living in a country shadowed by dictatorship. They are living under the orders of the Dominican dictator, Trujillo. The sisters, Patria, Minerva, Maria Teresa and Dede were called Las Mariposas also known as "The Butterflies". They were called "The Butterflies" because they lived their lives in the name of freedom. In the novel, Dede and Minerva are having the most conflict. Maria Teresa and Patria participate in a movement. On November 25th every year, Dede had to face news casts to talk to them about the story of what happened to her family. Dede was the only surviving one after her family got murdered. The novel is very intense, suspenseful, and emotional. Dede was a very strong woman, considered what happened to her family and considering all the horrific things she had to go through everyday of her life.
-Angela Matrone
-B Block
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a truly good book to read. It is a story of tragedy , and sisters hope. The sisters are called " The Butterflies". The novel is fiction. The novel is told in first person point of view. There are four sisters in the book. It is based on a dictatorship. They all die except one sister named Dede. She has to go through hard times by herself. She goes through an emotional rollercoaster and has no one to talk to. The main literary device used is conflict. There are plenty of conflicts in the story. The novel is based on conflict. I look forward to finishing the novel because it is very intense.
Samantha Grasso
Block B
Alexandra Crimmins
H-block
March 5, 2008
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger deals with an internal conflict. An internal conflict is a conflict with the protagonist and him or herself. In the book the main character Holden Caulfeild is extremely dissapointed with how society is, he believe almost everyone is fake or as he refers to them as "phonies". Holden is an extremely cynical person, and critisizes just about everthing. This is caulfeild biggest downfall, he never gives anything a chance. The only person who Holden feels he can relate to is his smart younger sister, Phoebe Caulfeild; although he fears as she grows older she will soon be like the rest of the world-fake, and materialistic-but hopes to prevent that from happening. Throughout the story Holden picks out few people who believes they have kept there innocence and have not yet to become a "phony". Some people he believes that are not "phonies" are the two nuns he meets at the train station, his old girlfriend Jane gallegher, sunny, and lastly his dead brother allie. Even though he believes some people are not fake he still feels most of the world is. In the end this idea he had of people turned on him causing him to have a mental breakdown. "About all i know is, I sort of miss everybody i told you about."(Saligner 214) this quotation explain how he realised that people are not so bad; however he spent most of his life only bashing mankind believing a great majority of it was selfish and only cared about material pocessions. Holden should not judge people so quickly, or better yet he should gives second chances.
Alexandra Crimmins
H-block
March 5, 2008
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger deals with an internal conflict. An internal conflict is a conflict with the protagonist and him or herself. In the book the main character Holden Caulfeild is extremely dissapointed with how society is, he believe almost everyone is fake or as he refers to them as "phonies". Holden is an extremely cynical person, and critisizes just about everthing. This is caulfeild biggest downfall, he never gives anything a chance. The only person who Holden feels he can relate to is his smart younger sister, Phoebe Caulfeild; although he fears as she grows older she will soon be like the rest of the world-fake, and materialistic-but hopes to prevent that from happening. Throughout the story Holden picks out few people who believes they have kept there innocence and have not yet to become a "phony". Some people he believes that are not "phonies" are the two nuns he meets at the train station, his old girlfriend Jane Gallegher, sunny, and lastly his dead brother allie. Even though he believes some people are not fake he still feels most of the world is. In the end this idea he had of people turned on him causing him to have a mental breakdown. "About all i know is, I sort of miss everybody i told you about."(Saligner 214) this quotation explain how he realised that people are not so bad; however he spent most of his life only bashing mankind believing a great majority of it was selfish and only cared about material pocessions. Holden should not judge people so quickly, or better yet he should gives second chances.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer bradley is an intense heart pounding thriller. It is a rollercoaster ride and goes all over the place in a good way. This is one of the only books that I have ever read and loved. The author takes you back and forth from two worlds the real world which takes place in Britain, and the world of Avalon where socary and magic are keen. the story takes place during the time when king Author is crrowened. At the point I am at Arthor has just been crowned. The thing that make this book diffrent is that it is seen through the eyes of the women. I will keep reading and enjoyng.
Ryan Mclean
A-Block
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo is an action horror story with black comedy. It gives a new twist to the old vampire legend. The book is about Felix Gomez, a soldier stationed in Iraq during the gulf war. Felix returned from Iraq a vampire. Mario Acevedo uses great description on how Felix transforms and how he turns. Now Felix works as a private detective, using his vampiric abilities to solve cases and make money. The newest case he had received was a job to check out Rocky Flats, Denver. When an old friend pressures Felix into discovering the cause of a large outbreak of nymphomania in Rocky Flats, Felix will have to face government agents, a group of age old vampire hunters and women who want his body to discover something much more deeply than any vampire had ever faced before. Felix has a good use of literary devices that all play specific point to the story.
Bryan Rivell
A Block
3/5/08
Maus I written by Art Spiegelman is an intriguing novel filled with romance and action, telling a story about a man and his life through WWI. The story is about a mouse characterized with human features and abilities who tells his son, Artie about his World War II experience. As Vladek is telling his story, Art Spiegelman introduces many new characters who are also mice. When Vladek tells about his love Anja, the reader will never put down the book, even to sleep. When these two mice speak of love, the reader will be touched, when they suffer, the reader will weep. This old Eastern European family will catch the reader’s intentions and will also captivate the reader by the language and lifestyle of these mice. The use of Imagery in this novel is nonstop which also catches the reader’s attention. While the flashback of Vladek’s past is still going on, Spiegelman uses imagery to thoroughly express to the reader what is exactly going on in the novel. The setting of this captivating novel is in Poland. However, Artie on the other hand isn’t interested in his father’s story. Artie just wants to write his own novel about experiences through WWII. Once the reader opens this book, they shall not put it down unless they finish it. They will then wait for the sequel.
Tirath Singh
B Block
First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung is a very detailed book that keeps the reader entertained. The story takes place in Cambodia in the 1970's. The author uses literary devices such as sensory details. Loung Ung explained how the roasted crickets tasted. The roasted crickets were made with honey, and tasted like burnt nuts. Besides literary devices, Loung Ung describes her life in Cambodia using many details. Cambodia is such a busy country. People are everywhere riding their bikes as a form of transportation. Food is really important not only to Loung Ung's family, but to all Cambodian people. First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung is interesting because the details make the reader feel as if they are sitting right next to Loung Ung and her family eating their noodles, and soup.
-Amanda Palladino B Block
Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples is an amazing novel based on the life of a young girl Shabanu. She faces many struggles, including her having to be betrothed in a year. This story takes place in Cholistan a desert in Pakistan. Shabanu is the second daughter of this Muslim family, she is only twelve years of age. Unfortunately Shabanu can't have the life that most girls at her age have; she must tend to her lovely camels. One of the most tragic things that she had to go through was when she was carrying water to her family and was verbally attacked by a landowner in the desert. This horrible man was looking to rape her sister Phulan. This incident put a damper on the marriage plans for Phulan. In result to this Shabanu’s dreams were crushed. The conflict of all the drama has sabotaged so much for Shabanu and her sister. Even though Shabanu faces many challenges in her childhood, it eventually makes her stronger as a woman. Suzanna Fisher Staples did a fasinating job on the setting and conflict of this novel.
Jazmin Roman
B-Block
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is an enjoyable novel that describes a union regiment's tough decisions and battles during the Civil War. The Red Badge of Courage starts out with the planning of a march that must be executed by the 304th regiment at the right time. Stephen Crane reveals that the protagonist, Henry Fleming, joined the army because he was drawn to the glory of military conflict. Yet, Henry is afraid that if he goes to battle, he might run because he is not courageous. After weeks of planning, the regiment is given the order to march. As they approach the battlefield, they begin to hear the sounds of conflict. During the battle, Henry realizes that he can not run even if he wanted to. The battle ends with his regiment defeating the confederate soldiers, and a celebration breaks out. In this novel Stephen Crane realistically portrays war. Much of Crane's imagery uses animals to enhance the brutal aspects of war. When describing battles and retreats, Crane sometimes creates the feeling of scampering squirrels. This helps to portray the soldiers and their actions more fully than a direct description. In the book Crane uses imagery to describe how the enemy become like "flies sucking insolently at his blood". The repeated use of animal imagery is used to show the inhumanity of war, bringing out its brutality. The Red Badge of Courage is a novel that contains good use of imagery to portray a cruel war and will keep the reader wanting to go on.
Connor Chatterton
B Block
The novel In The Time Of The Butterfliesby Julia Alvarez is a very interesting, upsetting and dramatic story to read. The chapters are narrated by the four Mirabal sisters, Patria, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, or Mate. The four Mirabal sisters lived horrible lives. The four sisters had to live under the controlling Dominican dictator, Trujillo. these sisters are brave, strong and couragous. Julia Alvarez writes this novel in the first person point of view.If I was in the four Mirabal sisters pasitions I think I would have a hart attack because I would be so scared all the time. If I did something wrong or something that I would want to do I would be punished or beat. I dont think I could handle that sort of pressure and depression all the time.
The book Animal Farm is about how a group of animals in a farm rebel against humans because they think that humans are the reason why they suffer.The animals consider every human as enemies and evil.When the leader major(the boar dies) the animals prepare for rebellion. The animals have the farm to themselves because they chased everyone away. Two pigs Napoleon and snowball(the two boars) become the leaders. The literary device is personification because the animals posses human qualities. They become leaders and they rebel just like humans. They have the same qualities as a normal human being does.
-Angela Soliman
B-block
'Animal Farm' written by George Orwell is a fascinating story that will catch everyone in a daze. This novel shows how quickly the leaders against tyranny can turn their revolutionary ideas towards totalittarianism. corrupted by the humans, a farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With outstanding idealism, and stirring sogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice and equality. The animals join together to start their own type of government, a more humane esablishment than that of their previous master Mr. Jones. The animal in charge of the farm animal's revolution is old major, and throughout his last days in the animal farm, he is seen as a symbolic figure by all the other farm animals. When old major dies, Napoleon takes his place as a revolutionary leader and corrupts old major ideal of a farm run only by animals. His rules were the seven commandment's for the animals to follow, in those seven commandmrnts, Napoleon strictly pointed out that two legs were the enemy's and four legs were good. He soon became power hungry, and established a new type of government, leaving him total control over the farm. 'George O rwell' uses charatercterization, and personifcation to explain how politcal leaders can act like animals, and vice verse. In 'George Orwell' novel Boxer represents the working classes, which are always fighting for the dream that the politcal leader illustrated for them. The conflict is when the politcal leader always addresses that he/she will provide equality and freedom among all; but yet the working class like Boxer ends up fighting for the causes that their leaders falsely promised them. The authors purpose is to explain how people with too much power can act like animals and destroy there own creation with their power. Overall too much power can only cause chaos to yourself and your follwers.
Derik Hubbard
a block
boobs
The Red Badge of Courage written by Stephan Crane is a remarkable novel that encounters one young man’s life, after recruiting as a solider to fight in the American Civil War. Henry Fleming, the main character describes his great effort in managing through challenging everyday situations in the military. Throughout the story,Crane uses internal conflict to demonstrate Fleming's fears and difficulties of serving for rights and civil liberties.After escaping an intensifying battle that barely kept him alive, emotional depression confronts Henry Fleming as he runs away, and battles the struggle that constantly fights within his mind. Feelings of doubt, sorrow, regret, and especially loneliness over take Flemings, as he encounters mental breakdowns from his overpowering emotions. Throughout, his fight Flemings gains physical strength as he manages to make it through his upcoming days of surviving in the outdoors on his own, and builds his self-esteem. This book is a notable story for readers interested in learning the narrative of how one man’s weaknesses became his strengths.
Racquel Wood
D-Block
Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman was a very intriguing to me and is interesting to many young readers. This story about a young boy Rudi and his dream to climb Citadel in the Swiss Alps. Many years earlier his father, a guide lost his life climbing the same mountin. Rudi has a job as a dish washer in a hotel and meets up with Captian Winter and enjoys hearing about his tales of climbing. Eventually the two become friends and against his mother and uncle's wishes Rudi atempts the climb of the Citadel. There is a constant conflict with Rudi's desire to climb the mountain and his devotion to his mother and uncle. Everytime he fail his climb he believes his mother and uncle are right,but he still has the desire to climb. This story tells about a boys who's dream became a reality. Rudi became a hero in his town of Kurtal. Rudi Matt became one of the most famous Alpine guides. The story began when Rudi was a boy and ended when he became a man. This story had many comparisions to my life because when he was the same age as me we had dreams and we wanted to follow them.
D Block
Loung Ung's novel First they killed my father is a novel that is fulled with suffering, horror, and the miraculous courage one family goes through. This novel left me gasping for air just like Iris change said after reading this novel. The novel takes place in April 1975 when the Khmer Rouge army came into the city of Phnom Penh and forced the Ung's family to flee. After fleeing the family eventually disperses. The family was sent to different camps in different parts of the city. Loung was sent to be trained as a child soldier in a work camp and her sibling were sent to work in labor camps. The family went through so much horror and the way they were united as a true family was by the courage and love that the family had for one another. This novel was a great book and in addition to leaving me gasping for air the novel left me in tears. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read memoirs and loves books that once you start to read it you have to keep reading until you finish it.
Jeribeth P. Fradera
B- Block
Mrs. Kaplan
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Signet Classic/Penguin Books USA, 1980. A Tale of Two Cities is an intriguing story that depicts humans in their social and political battles. The story takes place in eighteenth century England and France, and describes the effects of the French and American Revolutions. In the beginning, Lucie Manette marries Charles Darnay, a criminal and traitor to England. Later, Darnay travels to Paris and is arrested, and is released by the Lucie’s father’s efforts. On the other hand, Sydney Carton another admirer of Lucie follows her to Paris; eventually, Carton discovers that Lucie will soon be a victim of murder, and manages to send her away. Lucie is accidentally shot dead by her own maid, Carton is guillotined, and Darnay returns to England. In the A Tale of Two Cities, the themes expressed by Dickens show his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation in the European society. In the story, Carton sacrificed himself to the guillotine; his death is portrayed as heroic act, becoming a Christ-like figure whose death serves to save the lives of others. Moreover, like Christ, Carton is resurrected in the hearts of those he has died to save. Similarly, the text implies that the death of the old regime in France prepares the way for the beautiful and renewed Paris. Cartons selflessness in his final act speaks to a human capacity for change. The historical novel describes that the violence of the revolutions and the violence of some of the characters in the story will create a new and better society. A Tale of Two Cities turned out to be an eye opening read that revealed much about European history.
Simit CHristian
D block
3/6/08
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers is a novel of both suspense, and tragedy of the Vietnam War. It tells of a seventeen year old graduate from Harlem named Richie Perry who travels to Vietnam with the United States Army. Richie has many illusions about war and the army. Even though Richie is going to war in Vietnam, his confidence is at a high level because he believes that his hurt knee would prevent him from combat. Soon to his demise that would not be the case. When Richie arrives at Vietnam he befriends two fellow soldiers whose names are Pee wee, and Jenkins. His friend Jenkins later dies because of a land mine on their first patrol. The sudden death of Jenkins left Richie deeply startled, and he wishes to send these horrific accounts to his family back in Harlem but cannot. It quickly becomes clear to Richie that war is not a fun place and at every corner there is death, destruction, and blood. Slowly Richie starts to lose his sanity and his emotions are all over the place. He does not know what to think, and he has no idea how he is going to act in civilization. Before going into Vietnam Richie wanted to be a successful writer, and he was very intelligent. The only thing that stopped him from reaching his goal was being poor; therefore joining the army. Walter Dean Myers uses the literary device characterization. He clearly states every character in the book and with great detail explains each of them, and their role in the war. Even though I did not have the opportunity to finish the book yet, the amazing writing of Walter Dean Myers puts you into the action of the battle and it feels as if you need to dodge the oncoming fire as well.
Anthony Nival
H block
Art Siegelman's, Maus II:And Here My Troubles Began is a very fascinating novel about the Holocaust. The ending of the novel is very upsetting because of the condition that Vladek, a Holocaust survivor, health conditions. Valdek is the father of Artie, who is recording Vladek's story of the holocaust. At the end of the story Vladek becomes very ill while down in Florida and is rushed to the hospital. Vladek loses his memory, but the one thing he remembers is his tale of the Holocaust. Besides extrodianry details in the plot, Art Spiegelman uses flashback in the novel to acknowledge the first person point of view that the novel is written in. The flashbacks occur whenever Vladek begins to speak about the Holocaust. It is used to show Vladek's thoughts on the past while he tells Art his story. The novel Maus II:And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman is fascinating because the way it is written always keeps the reader attracted to the story.
Laurel Haim
H Block
Suzanne Fisher Staples. Shabanu, Daughter of the wind. Random House Children's Books a division of Random House, inc. New York,1989. Shabanu, Daughter of the wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples is an intriguing novel, suitable for many young adults. This novel depicts a clear understanding of a Muslim family that encounters many tragic problems. Set in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan, Shabanu, a girl as wild as the wind, must obey and honor her parents. She is the second daughter of the family, and a twelve year old girl who is to be betrothed in a year. Shabanu is forced to leave her child hood behind to become an adult. Life is hard for young Shabanu, leaving her to uphold her family honor. Moreover, she must sacrifice everything to fix her sister Phulans wedding. One day, while carrying water to her family, she is verbally abused by a strong and powerful landowner in the desert. The landowner was looking for "fun," and wanted to rape her sister Phulan. He then sabotages her marriage plans, and leaves Shabanu unable to accomplish everything she has ever dreamed of. Shabanu was forbidden to do things most Muslim girls could do, and instead was ordered to tend the camels, and comfort her sister. Although Shabanu faces many challenges, she shows her maturity and ends up growing into a beautiful woman. Acknowledging her beauty, Shabanu remembers that beauty takes time, effort, and resources to maintain, and it fades with age. Suzanne Fisher Staples uses characterization to portray every character in the book with a vivid description, and uses detail to capture the mind of the reader. Shabanu’s experiences give her the wisdom she needs to better negotiate in an often hostile and unpredictable world. Shabanu, Daughter of the wind was greatly enjoyed, and would be a recommended book for those who wish to read about a young girl trying to find herself.
Marissa Mule.
H- Block.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephan Crane is an amazing novel about a young man and how his life changes after he enlists to become a soldier to fight in the civil war. The main character, Henry Fleming, Joined the army to fight for glory and for the north. Even though he talks and acts tough Henry is afraid that he will run from a battle. In this novel Crane uses internal conflict because Henry wants to fight and he doesn’t want to run, but he keeps thinking that he will run. So as Henry and his fellow comrades approach the battlefield, they start to hear the sounds of battle. Henry starts to panic and he tells himself that he will not run. During the battle he sees all of his friends being killed and he runs. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephan Crane is an amazing novel that explains the internal conflict in the main character to make the reader want to find out what he will do next.
Cory Moser
H-Block
Kurt Vonnegut’sSlaughterhouse V was a very intriguing novel. I loved the plot and setting of this great American classic. The book mentions the life of Billy Pilgrim. The sensory details and description really made me feel like I was really in the Second World War and right there in the middle of all of Billy’s life experiences. One of the turning points is when Dresden is bombed and Billy is caught in a slaughterhouse. The novel starts in 1944 – 1945 and then jumps to the 1920’s and then to the 1960’s and finally the 1970’s. The novel has many unexpected twists and turns. One of the twists was that Billy is abducted by aliens and wants to share his experience with the world. The book mainly talks about the destruction of war and the impact it has on the people involved in it. Billy struggles to make sense out of a life forever marked by the firsthand experience of war’s tragedy. All in all the entire novel was intriguing yet odd at points. Some of the twists were very odd and didn’t flow but it was still a great read and I would recommend this book to any young reader.
Louis Ferrara h-block
Kurt Vonnegut. Slaughter House-Five. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1969. Slaughter House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a story that describes the past of people’s lives, most likely the army soldiers, which is very interesting to read about. Vonnegut is the narrator of his own story. The novel revolves around the author and his war buddy, Billy Pilgrim. They are experiencing different time periods of their lives. Also, Billy is very close with his family. When Kurt visits him at his house unexpectedly one night, Billy’s wife became moody. This is because she knows that Billy is having a hard time forgetting about the most memorable time in their life. It was his experience in World War II; therefore, it was a period in his life that was destructing. The main literary device that Vonnegut uses in Slaughter House-Five is repetition. Since there are many random happenings in this fictional novel, the author ends these stories with “So it goes.” In the novel, usually after a death arises, this phrase is used. It is used to have a meaning that there is nothing anybody can do about the death or problem and people have to move on with their lives. The use of this literary device helps move from one situation to the next. Slaughter House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is an intriguing life story, as well as recommended to read.
Dana Pistilli
H-Block
The novel Maus 1: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman is a thrilling book that I couldn't bear to put down. The first novel is about the author's father's experience before and during the Holocaust. The beginning describes how Art's father, Vladek, met his mother. Any reader can say that there are two sides to the story of Maus 1; one filled with romance and another with sorrow. The author uses personification to keep all readers interested in the book. By giving mice and cats human qualities, the events of the Holocaust are described in a way that is easier for the reader to digest. As a result, the way the mice and other animals acted human kept me intrigued and unaware of what would happen next. Furthermore, the author used words in a different way than usual, almost as if the writer wasn't very good at writing in English. However, the author chooses this use of words in order to clarify that the characters don't speak fluent English. Therefore, the novel Maus 1: My Father Bleeds Historyby Art Spiegelman is a great book for its use of personification and language style.
Michael Appelgate
H block
The novel,shabanu by suzaSnne Fisher Staples is a gripping, edge-of your-seat novel about a young muslim girl living in the deserts of Pakistan. Shabanu is unnaturally strong-willed for her age and culture but she must learn how to keep this under control. Shabanu9's family consists of her mother,father,her sister,Phulan,, her aintie and two cousins. THe family is getting ready for Phulan's arranged marriage to their cousin, Hamir. Shanbanu is very excited as she helps prepare for the wedding and dreams about her wedding to Hamir's brother Murad. However, tragedy ensues and Hamir ends up dead. Now with no marriage in place the two families must join together and figure out what to do. A literay divice used in this book is theme. A minor theme in this book is the relationship between father and daughter. Being that Shabanu has such a strong spirit, it is often very hard for her father to chose between traditon or acting on his own feelings for Shabanu. Another literary device used was sensory detail. Staples describes the details of the desert vividly snd I can almost see the sweat glistening on Shabanu's father's brow as he herds the camels. Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples is a wonderful intriguing novel and I can't wait to finish it.
The novel Maus by Art Spiegelman was an extraordinary story that truly is suspenseful. The novel is mainly about a young man named Artie Spiegelman trying to learn about his father and other family members heart wrenching lives in the Holocaust. However, Vladek (Arties Father) and Mala (Arties stepmother) are the only people that Artie have to talk to about the Holocaust. The only problem about this is that Arties father is very sick. Although, Artie has most of the information for his book he still didn’t learn about his mother’s life in the Holocaust. While writing the novel his father grows even sicker this became a huge conflict for Artie. This conflict for example, relates to his fathers conflict with the Holocaust, which was losing a loved one. Between Vladek talking about him his life in the Holocaust and Artie losing his father, this novel will open reader’s eyes to the reality of the Holocaust and losing a loved one.
D-block
Briana Kohm
3/9/07
The book Maus II by Art Spiegelman was a very informative story similar to the first book of its series, Maus. Maus II continued the story of holocaust survivor Vlad Spiegelman and his wife Anja. The story picks up when Vlad and Anja are captured into the German concentration camps. Both Vlad and Anja were separated into separate concentration camps based on their gender. Vlad spoke about how he had to gather up one day’s ration of bread for 100 straight days in order to trade it in for a bottle of vodka. Vlad traded this vodka for the opportunity to see his wife. The author used imagery to describe the feelings of anguish that he had while being in the camps. In the end both Vlad and Anja were freed from the camps and saw each other again. This book was very informative and was a much bigger improvement from Maus because it actually had an ending.
Joseph Santangelo
A Block
3/9/08
Patrick Jones main purpose of the book 'Chasing Tail Lights', was to show how the setting can effect, uprasing can effect a person's character. The main character Christy suffers great tramatizing events. Which are because of her mother's neglect and the proverty. Throughout the novel 'Patrick Jones'decribes the main protaganist Cristy as a social outkast. Who tries to survive the hardships of life. Even though Cristy received sexual abuse from her step brother ryan, and it goes to a one sided love relationship with her frriend glen. Cristy's main problem is her unablity to voice her troubles.
Walter Deam Myers of Fallen Angels was an amazing book. the auther uses literary devices like descriptive writing and similies, metophores. this book was about the veitnam war and how it was for a few men to live in veitnam, as soilders and friends. they fought together and weeped together. These men were the ones puting there life on the line to protect there contry from veitnam, and communism. this book was both intreging and mysterious. it had suspence and it also had a long term of irony. I recommend this book to all people that enjoy reading war stories of veterans and soldiers that are fighting in foreign lands.
-Rob Green
-D Block
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alverez is a novel that celebrates the life current that flows among women, connecting them and giving them courage to fight injustice and endure, and hearts to freely love and foregive. This book is a page turner full of excitement. There are four Mirabal sisters who get into a lot of trouble with the law. The girls join a group that has a plot to overcome their leader. While planning and hiding, the girls have to fight for their love and watch their children. Julia Alvarez uses conflict to describe the problems between Trujillo and Minerva. Minerva isn't a big fan of Trujillo's ways of running the country so she joins a group to try and overcome him. Minerva creates a conflict with her family and the law. When Trujillo saw that Minerva was going against him, he puts the Mirbals in danger. He starts to take away the farms and cars. When gets sick of their anticts, he puts three sisters and their husbands in jail. In The Time Of The Butterflies is an adventure book that evryone should read.
H block
Monica Saad
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a facinating and fable-like novel that will keep a reader up all night reading. Animal Farm gives the reader an insight about how swiftly a leader can turn against tyranny, but then use their own individual ideas, and use them to spread despotism, and dictatorship. A farmer named Mr.Jones owns his very own farm, but does not properly take care of the farm animals. A pig named Old Major is very wise, and spreads his knowledge to the other farm animals. Old Major calls for a meeting in the barn. After all the animals have settled down, Old Major begins to explain that the horrid humans have tortured them for years, and only takes their possesions. Old Major gives exaples, such as the humans take eggs from the chickens, and take the milk from the cows. Old Major tells the farm animals that a rebellion should take place to overthrow the wretched humans. Old Major dies three days after his speech, but his encouraging speech lived on. Eventually, after too long of abuse and lakc of food from the lazy Mr. Jones, the farm animals take action, and begin to fight back the humans. Of course, the farm animals win the fight and celebrate. Before long, the farm animals begin to explore all of the property, to inspect no humans were hiding. At that time, two new leaders were emerging; a pig named Napoleon, and a pig named Snowball decided that they both would make the best leaders of the farm animals. The sheep gave the farm it's slogan of "Four legs good, two legs bad", which means that the four legs the animals use are friends, and the two legs humans use are enemies. The farm animals decided to name their new home "Animal Farm", because the name Manor Farm was sort of tacky. At first, Napoleon and Snowball worked together in harmoney, selecting orders to give to the farm animals. Naturally, the farm animals listened to their every word, because in the farm, it was said that pigs were in fact the smartest animals of them all. With so much cooperation going on, the output of crops in the fields exceeded double the amount Mr. Johns ever grew himself. Food was plenty, and the farm animals were all happy. After a while, Napoleon and Snowball begin to grow uneasy with each other. Both pigs always disagreed on something, whether it be about food production, or making new laws. In addition, Napoleon was always thinking about the future, and one of his ideas was for all of the farm animals to come together to contruct a collusos structure that would test the farm animals ingeniuty. Napoleon laid down the ideas for a windmill, which would be used to give electricity to the farm animals at night, warm water in the winter, and reduce the amount of work the farm animals had to do. Snowball rejected this idea, but Napoleon had an over-whelming number of supporters, so Napoleon wins that debate. Snowball feels betrayed by his fellow comrades, so he leaves the farm for good. Work begins on the windmill immeadiatly, but the work is projected to take three years. The animals work hard, and Napoleon begins a reign of power over the otehr farm animals. For example, orders are given by Napoleon that food rations are to be cut by the farm animals, and preserved for the pigs. Another example is when the farm animals question the leadership of Napoleon, and the next day, Napoleon sends several dogs to kill them. At last, the windmill is nearing completion, but as unforutnate as it sounds, a storm hits Animal Farm, and knocks the windmill down. After three long years of work, Napoleon is outraged, but hatches an idea. Napoleon explodes on the farm animals, yelling that it was all Snowballs fault for knock the windmill down. Regardless, the farm animals keep strong, and begin work on another windmill. After two years of work on the next windmill, Mr. Jones and a couple of his men bring guns and sticks to Animal Farm. The farm animals could not take the hits of bullets, so they all retreated inside the house and barn. Mr Jones and his men bring a couple of sticks of dynomite, and explode the windmill, bringing the structure down once more. The farm animals are stunned, and know that Napoleon will order the construction of another windmill, even though after five years of hard labor, and barly a morsel to eat a day. So the farm animals continue on with their pitiful lives. Years later, the windmill is finally completed, but things have changed. Most of the previuos farm animals have died from starvation, and Napoleon ordered for a second windmill to be constructed. The pigs have done a lot of thinking, and ask the farm animals to leave the farm for just one week. The farm animals agree, and after seven days, they return to find that the pigs have begun to walk upright, on only two legs, their hind-legs. The sheep begin the new slogan "Four legs good, two leg better". In the end, the rest of the remaining farm witness that Napoleon had actually made friends with the humans, their life long rivals. The author uses plenty of personification, as well as irony. Allegory is one of the main literary devices Goerge Orwell used. Also, the author gives the charecters conflicts to deal with, which makes the book interesting, and intriuging to read. The message the author was trying to send was: greed will develop inside leaders, and cause the leader to do things only to gain, and better themselves at the expense of others.
Vincent Arcello
H Block
3/10/08
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is a very good book. The narrator of the story is telling about a young 19 year old boy who was a recruit in the America named Henry Fleming. The theme of the book is about the meaning of courage. Fleming had survived a battle by fleeing and the narrator leads us through his emotional journey. On this journey, he’s trying to make sense of where he fits in the war and usually ends up coming up with selfish and egotistical conclusions. He flees into a forest where he runs into a group of injured men. On of the men who is referred to as the “Tattered Soldier” asks Fleming, who is referred to as “The Youth”, where his injuries were. Fleming didn’t have any and was embarrassed. As he was walking in the forest, Henry had decided that running away was really the best thing, and that his place in the army was the responsibility of saving himself.
Fleming later becomes really guilty when he learns that his battalion had won that battle, and that the battle really wasn’t a suicide mission after all. He decides to return to the battalion and gets injured by another fleeing soldier who hits him on the head with a rifle. When he reaches the battalion, the other soldiers see his wound and ask what happened. He lies and tells them that he was grazed by a bullet although they think that he was hit with a club. The next morning, Fleming goes into another battle for the third time. As he was looking for a stream, he over hears his commanding officer talking about how he wants to send Fleming’s regiment as a sacrifice because they were full of “mule drivers” and “mud diggers”. With no other regiment to use, the general orders them forward. In the final battle, Fleming turns out to be one the best soldiers and even the flag carrier. The Red Badge of Courage is a really good book because of the fact that it teaches the reader about courage an I really recommend this book. By mastering his fear and leading the charge, Fleming’s courage turns him into a man.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is a very good book. The narrator of the story is telling about a young 19 year old boy who was a recruit in the America named Henry Fleming. The theme of the book is about the meaning of courage. Fleming had survived a battle by fleeing and the narrator leads us through his emotional journey. On this journey, he’s trying to make sense of where he fits in the war and usually ends up coming up with selfish and egotistical conclusions. He flees into a forest where he runs into a group of injured men. On of the men who is referred to as the “Tattered Soldier” asks Fleming, who is referred to as “The Youth”, where his injuries were. Fleming didn’t have any and was embarrassed. As he was walking in the forest, Henry had decided that running away was really the best thing, and that his place in the army was the responsibility of saving himself.
Fleming later becomes really guilty when he learns that his battalion had won that battle, and that the battle really wasn’t a suicide mission after all. He decides to return to the battalion and gets injured by another fleeing soldier who hits him on the head with a rifle. When he reaches the battalion, the other soldiers see his wound and ask what happened. He lies and tells them that he was grazed by a bullet although they think that he was hit with a club. The next morning, Fleming goes into another battle for the third time. As he was looking for a stream, he over hears his commanding officer talking about how he wants to send Fleming’s regiment as a sacrifice because they were full of “mule drivers” and “mud diggers”. With no other regiment to use, the general orders them forward. In the final battle, Fleming turns out to be one the best soldiers and even the flag carrier. The Red Badge of Courage is a really good book because of the fact that it teaches the reader about courage an I really recommend this book. By mastering his fear and leading the charge, Fleming’s courage turns him into a man.
Lianne Julian
H block
Colors of the Mountain<\i> written by Da Chen, is a story that is very moving, and thoughtful. It is a true story about a boy named Da and his struggles that he goes through while growing up. Chen was the grandson of a landlord which rendered his entire family pariahs during the Cultural Revolution. They were considered outcasts because of there race. And though initially an excellent student, he was ostracized in school and told he could never attend college. Chen was regularly beaten to a pulp by other children and, despite performing at the top of his class, he was repeatedly denied the right to continue at school. Da responded by making friends with a group of young thugs who drank, smoked, and gambled, but were kind to him. After Mao, his sister, died in 1976the juvenile delinquent discovered that higher education might be available to him after all. Scoring among the top 2% of the country, the 14-year-old Chen achieved his dream of attending Beijing Language Institute. At the age of 23 Da wins a scholarship to attend Columbia Law School, and later landed a job on Wall Street and married a doctor. Despite the devastating circumstances of his childhood and adolescence, Chen recounts his coming of age with arresting simplicity. The novel is read through first person narrator Da Chen. The author uses characterization and sensory detail to lure the reader deeper into the interesting and humorous story. The book is recommended for its inspirational message.
-Kristine Munoz
-B Block
-Mrs. Kaplan
Shabanu Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples is a powerful irresistible novel because it tells of a female Muslim child named Shabanu being raised in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. In Shabanu Daughter of the Wind there are some events that are crucial in fully understanding the novel; one is the event of Hamir’s death. Pulan, Shabanu’s older sister was Hamir’s fiancée. Consequently to Hamir’s death Pulan was now engaged to Shabanu’s arranged husband, Murad. Shabanu was angry that she would no longer marry Murad, and she let her feelings show as the family gathered to mourn Hamir. Shabanu’s aunty Sharmar provided Shabanu with a small amount of wisdom. Sharmar said “Never let the secrets of your soul show and keep your innermost beauty.” In spite of all the other literary devices used in this novel, the strongest one is point-of-view. Suzanne Fisher Stapes used first person point-of-view in favor of Shabanu. The reader can intensely see the life of Shabanu, in Shabanu Daughter of the Wind and that is great because she is not the typical Muslim girl, she follows her heart.
Kristin A.R-Martin
D- Block
Haveli written by Suzanne Fisher Staples is an intriguing novel. The book is set in the middle of India, and describes the struggles Shabanu is faced with, with a forced arranged marriage. This book is an offspring of the original book Shabanu Daughter of the Wind. Rahium who is the husband of four adores Shabanu and her daughter Mumtaz the most. However, this makes the older wife of Rahim's very jealous. Eventually, Shabanu moves to Rahim’s Family home in a city named Haveli because of the attacks made by one of Rahim’s jealous wives. Although I'm in the beginning of the novel so far it seems that the author uses characterization to bring this novel and original novel to a halt. The author uses characterization when it describes vividly Shabanu and her thoughts about the arrange marriage. For example, during the time Shabanu and her daughter Mumtaz was living with Rahim’s family all Shabanu was thinking was that one day the very thing Shabanu went through, many years ago her daughter would eventually have to be forced to do the same thing. So far this novel is enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone likes to read about marriage drama like written in this novel.
Ashley Jones
H-Block
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is a very emotional, but apathatic novel which made reading the book very distasteful.Falling Leaves is an auto-bibliography about a young Chinese girl who was born in Beijing, and is blamed for everything that goes wrong. This book has an interesting conflict set in motion right at the beggining of the book, which ties the reader into a close bond with Adeline's struggle. When Adeline was born, her mother died giving birth to her. Natrually, from that moment on, Adeline was the left-out child of the family. Adeline grew up with her father Hian, and her aunt Niang. Afterwards, while Adeline was in her childhood, Niang was very strict and cruel to her, forbidding any sort of fun activities with her, and excluding her from family events. Adeline's brothers James, Gregory, and Edgar disliked Adeline very much also, so they would exclude her from playing with them. Eventually, through all of her struggles, Adeline uses her courage to step up to her horrid family, and loosen her connection with her family by attending a school in Shanghai. Afterwards, Adeline finishes high school, and goes to America to become what she always wanted to be: a nurse. Leading a succesful life ever since she left her family, Adeline decides not to be in contact with them anymore, and went on to write this novel. The author uses profound similies in the story to compare everyone to everything that she thought was suitable. Also, the mood in the story set the tone pretty well, giving the reading an insight to exactly how Adeline felt at times in her life. Overall, the book was actually boring, apatathic, and too dramatic for my taste.
Vincent Arcello
January Blog
The novel In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a really good novel. The novel is about the four Mirabal sisters, symbols of defiant hope in a country shadowed by dictatorship and despair. The sisters sacrificed their lives for freedom. They were known as "The Butterflies", and each of them, Patria, Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Dede tell their stories under the government rule. They describe horrors of life under the Dominican dictator Trujillo. The literary device used the most is confict. Conflict describes the stories of each of the sisters and the horrors under Trujillo. The novel is very enjoyable and I hope to finish it soon because it is a very intense and heart breaking story.
Bethany Greenman
D Block
In the Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is an interesting novel that captured my attention. Henry Flemming the antagonist in the story is a military recruit. He hasn't had any experience and is worried about the rumor that the army is going to be engaged in war soon. Henry is characterized as a brave and courageous solider who is ready to face his fears. Although the thoughts of fleeing were in his mind he chooses not to. His devotion to his country made his stand his ground and fight. Although the thoughts of fleeing were in his mind he chooses not to. The Red Badge of Courage is a story that involves suspense, action, and conflict that is suitable for any reader.
Reuben Gunasingh
H-Block
3/12/08
Island Of The Blue Doplhins is a spellbinding fictional book with a great storyline, and begins with an excellent plot. The author of Island of Blue Doplhins uses a first person view of the main charecter Julia. The stroy is set in a small town in Portugal, at the beginning of World War I. Julia and her brother James are sent off to Columbia where their grandfather lives, because their mother is worried about them getting caught in the middle of the war. The small ship that was sent was bombarded with cannon fire from an enemy ship. Julia is sent off in a life boat, and a couple of days later, James and her find themselfs on a deserted island. Both siblings struggle with survival, while they wonder if they will ever get off the island. Afterwards, James gets killed by a pack of savage wolfs, and Julia is all alone. Julia struggles with her depression and her lack of ability, and is able to survive throughout a period of two months. After two months, ships find Julia, and leave the island. All in all, Julia reunites with her family once more, but without James. The author uses the mood in the story to manipulate the readers thoughts of a happy day, to a dreadful nightmare. In addition, Irony played a great deal in the stroy, since the entire novel was based on the idea of so many unfortuante things happening. Also, the author uses many of the main charecters flashbacks and memories to find out Julia's past. Even more so, the author uses Soliloquy to give the reader the distinct felling of Julia losing hope, and going insane. All in all, Island Of The Blue Dolphins was an extrodinary book about courage, sorrow, and will power to hold out against all odds.
Vincent Arcello
H Block
The book THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS is written by Carolyn Mackler. It is about this girl named Virginia Shreves, she is also a little over weight then normal. She has her house hold problems and she doesn't realize most of them till this year. When her brother gets expelled from college for date raping a girl (Annie Mills) her brother is no longer her hero. She tries to keep a constant diet when her mother pressures her about her body weight. But with the stress of her brother being home she began to gain weight. she realizes how to make her self happy and starts to rebel against her parents. She goes to see her friend in Seattle for thanksgiving and gets her eyebrow pierced. When she gets home her and her mother have a major feud and dyes her hair purple. Things are a little out of hand and on top of it the kid that she was fooling around with, she realizes she starts to like him. As soon as the ending comes though things start to straighten out and become better between her family, as well as for the boy that she likes.
Vanessa Cucuzza
Ms. Prevosti
A: block
3/ 15/ 08
Nothing But The Truth is a novel similar to that of a screenplay of a movie. Avi writes about freshman Philip Malloy, his act of patriotism, and his suspension that soon followed. In school, after all announcements are finished, the “Star Spangled Banner” plays from a recorded tape and Philip sings along with it to himself, though he sings it loud enough that others still hear it. He ends up being suspended because he was being a "disturbance." This story’s setting is taking place in a suburban town where most people know each other. Philip’s high school is also used as a place where the story develops. So far this book is an enjoyable book that can catch many people’s attention about being supportive of one’s country.
Allison Lee
A Block
Ms. Prevosti
Richard Wright novel Black Boy is an intersecting book filled with surprises and twists. As richard started getting older he started using alot of profanity and he even started using the N word. In school one day he tried to sit at the lunch table with a group of boys but they said he can't because he ate black eye peas and buttermilk and that would give him gas. The white kids and black kids had there own sides and if one group cross the only side they would get jumped. They always had little wars going on. At one point in the story richard mom got sick and he was forced to get a job. His first job he had was to carry lunches to man working in roundhouses. Then he got another job in a small cafe carting wood for the stove. Then he worked in a pressing shop delivering clothes to hotels, sweeping floors. But they were force to move twice because they couldn't pay rent. Richard mom had suffered a stroke of paralysis and she is very sick and in serious condition. Him and his brother were seperated because his mom and grandma was sick. When he went to his new school he got into an fight and beat the other boy up.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez was a very amazin novel to read.while Reading this book was very intense and alot of drama.Written in first person narative, this book is about the life of four sisters and is about their everyday life.The sisters roles in the story was kind of depressin.Patria’s participation in the movement becomes an seperation of their relationships.Reading this book was an experince for me. i liked it it was amazin.
Tremika Kirk
D-block
3/18/08
Harry Potter and the prisoner of azkaban J.K Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban opens on the night before Harry's thirteenth birthday, when he receives gifts by Owl Post from his friends at school. The next morning at breakfast, Harry sees on television that a man named Black is on the loose from prison. At this time, Aunt Marge comes to stay with the Dursleys, and she insults Harry's parents numerous times. Harry accidentally causes her to inflate. Harry leaves the Dursley's house and is picked up by the Knight Bus, but only after an alarming sighting of a large, black dog. The Knight Bus drops Harry off at Diagon Alley, where he is greeted by Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. He rents a room and awaits the start of school. In Diagon Alley, Harry finishes his schoolwork, admires a Firebolt broomstick in the window of a shop, and after some time, finds his friends Ron and Hermione. At a pet shop, Hermione buys a cat named Crookshanks, who chases Scabbers, Ron's aging pet rat. Ron is most displeased. The night before they all head off to Hogwarts, Harry overhears Ron's parents discussing the fact that Sirius Black is after Harry.
The students board the Hogwarts Express train and are stopped once by an entity called a Dementor. Harry faints and is revived by Professor Lupin, the new defense against the dark arts teacher. Soon afterward, the students arrive at Hogwarts and classes begin. In divination class, Professor Trelawney foresees Harry's death by reading tealeaves and finding the representation of a Grim, a large black dog symbolizing death. In the care of magical creatures class, Hagrid introduces the students to Hippogriffs, large, deeply dignified crosses between horses and eagles. Malfoy insults one of these beasts, Buckbeak, and is attacked. Malfoy drags out the injury in an attempt to have Hagrid fired and Buckbeak put to sleep. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin leads the class in a defeat of a Boggart, which changes shape to appear as the viewer's greatest fear. For Lupin, it turns into an orb, for Ron, a spider. Harry doesn't have a chance to fight it.
During a Hogwarts visit to Hogsmeade, a wizard village which Harry is unable to visit because he has no permission slip, Harry has tea with Professor Lupin. Harry discovers that the reason he wasn't allowed to fight the Boggart was that Lupin had worried that it would take the shape of Voldemort. This concern catches Harry by surprise, because Harry had been thinking even more fearfully about the awful Dementors. Snape brings Lupin a steaming potion, which Lupin drinks, much to Harry's alarm. Later that night, Sirius Black breaks into Hogwarts and destroys the Fat Lady portrait that guards Gryffindor Tower. The students spend the night sleeping in the Great Hall while the teachers search the castle. Soon afterwards, Quidditch moves into full swing, and Gryffindor House plays against Hufflepuff. During the game, Harry spies the large black dog, and seconds later he sees a hoard of Dementors. He loses consciousness and falls off his broomstick. Harry wakes to find that his trusty broomstick had flown into the Whomping Willow and been smashed in his fall, and the game itself had lost. Later, Harry learns from Lupin that the Dementors affect Harry so much because Harry's past is so horrible.
During the next Hogsmeade visit, from which Harry is forbidden, Fred and George Weasley give Harry the Marauder's map, written by the mysterious quartet of Moony, Prongs, Wormtail and Padfoot. This map leads him through a secret passageway into Hogsmeade, where he rejoins Ron and Hermione. Inside the Hogsmeade tavern, Harry overhears Cornelius Fudge discussing Sirius Black's responsibility for Harry's parents' deaths, as well as for the death of another Hogwarts student, Peter Pettigrew, who was blown to bits, leaving only a finger. Back at Hogwarts, Harry learns that Hagrid received a notice saying that Buckbeak, the hippogriff who attacked Malfoy, is going to be put on trial, and Hagrid is inconsolable. The winter holidays roll around. For Christmas, Harry receives a Firebolt, the most impressive racing broomstick in the world. Much to his and Ron's dismay, Hermione reports the broomstick to Professor McGonagall, who takes it away out of fear that it may have been sent (and cursed) by Sirius Black.
After the holidays, Harry begins working with Professor Lupin to fight Dementors with the Patronus charm; he is moderately successful, but still not entirely confident in his ability to ward them off. Soon before the game against Ravenclaw, Harry's broomstick is returned to him, and as Ron takes it up to the dormitory, he discovers evidence that Scabbers has been eaten by Crookshanks. Ron is furious at Hermione. Soon afterwards, Gryffindor plays Ravenclaw in Quidditch. Harry, on his Firebolt, triumphs, winning the game. Once all the students have gone to bed, Sirius Black breaks into Harry's dormitory and slashes the curtain around Ron's bed. Several days later, Hagrid invites Harry and Ron over for tea and scolds them for shunning Hermione on account of Scabbers and the Firebolt. They feel slightly guilty, but not terrible. Soon Harry, under his invisibility cloak, meets Ron during a Hogsmeade trip; when he returns, Snape catches him and confiscates his Marauder's Map. Lupin saves Harry from Snape's rage, but afterwards he reprimands him severely for risking his safety for "a bag of magic tricks." As Harry leaves Lupin's office, he runs into Hermione, who informs him that Buckbeak's execution date has been set. Ron, Hermione, and Harry are reconciled in their efforts to help Hagrid. Around this time, Hermione is exceptionally stressed by all of her work, and in a day she slaps Malfoy for picking on Hagrid and she quits Divination, concluding that Professor Trelawney is a great fraud. Days later, Gryffindor beats Slytherin in a dirty game of Quidditch, winning the Cup.
Exams roll around, and during Harry's pointless Divination exam, Professor Trelawney predicts the return of Voldemort's servant before midnight. Ron, Hermione, and Harry shield themselves in Harry's invisibility cloak and head off to comfort Hagrid before the execution. While at his cabin, Hermione discovers Scabbers in Hagrid's milk jug. They leave, and Buckbeak is executed. As Ron, Harry, Harry and Hermione are leaving Hagrid's house and reeling from the sound of the axe, the large black dog approaches them, pounces on Ron, and drags him under the Whomping Willow. Harry and Hermione and Crookshanks dash down after them; oddly, Crookshanks knows the secret knob to press to still the flailing tree. They move through an underground tunnel and arrive at the Shrieking Shack. They find that the black dog has turned into Sirius Black and is in a room with Ron. Harry, Ron, and Hermione manage to disarm Black, and before Harry can kill Black, avenging his parents' deaths, Professor Lupin enters the room and disarms him. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are aghast as Lupin and Black exchange a series of nods and embrace.
Once the three students calm down enough to listen, Lupin and Black explain everything. Lupin is a werewolf who remains tame through a special steaming potion made for him by Snape. While Lupin was a student at Hogwarts, his best friends, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, became animagi (humans able to take on animal forms) so that they could romp the grounds with Lupin at the full moon. They explain how Snape once followed Lupin toward his transformation site in a practical joke set up by Sirius, and was rescued narrowly by James Potter. At this moment, Snape reveals himself from underneath Harry's dropped invisibility cloak, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione disarm him, rendering him unconscious. Lupin and Black then explain that the real murderer of Harry's parents is not Black, but Peter Pettigrew, who has been presumed dead but really hidden all these years disguised as Scabbers. Lupin transforms Scabbers into Pettigrew, who squeals and hedges but ultimately confesses, revealing himself to be Voldemort's servant, and Black to be innocent. They all travel back to Hogwarts, but at the sight of the full moon, Lupin, who has forgotten to take his controlling tonic (the steaming liquid), turns into a werewolf. Sirius Black responds by turning into the large black dog in order to protect Harry, Ron, and Hermione from Lupin. As Black returns from driving the werewolf into the woods, a swarm of Dementors approaches, and Black is paralyzed with fear. One of the Dementors prepares to suck the soul out of Harry, whose patronus charm is simply not strong enough. Out of somewhere comes a patronus that drives the Dementors away. Harry faints.
Harry awakens in the hospital wing to hear Snape and Cornelius Fudge discussing the fact that Sirius Black is about to be given the fatal Dementor's Kiss. Harry and Hermione protest, claiming Black's innocence, but to no avail; then Dumbledore enters the room, shoos out the others, and mysteriously suggests that Harry and Hermione travel back through Hermione's time-turning device, and save both Black and Buckbeak. Hermione turns her hour-glass necklace back three turns, and Harry and Hermione are thrust into the past, where they rescue Buckbeak shortly before his execution. From a hiding place in the forest, Harry watches the Dementor sequence and discovers that he had been the one who conjured the patronus, and he is touched and confused to note that his patronus had taken the shape of a stag that he recognizes instantly as Prongs, his father's animagi form. After saving his past self from the Dementors, Harry and Hermione fly to the tower where Black is imprisoned, and they rescue Black, sending him away to freedom on Buckbeak's back. The next day, Harry is saddened to learn that Professor Lupin is leaving Hogwarts because of the previous night's scare. Dumbledore meets with Harry and gives him wise fatherly advice on the events that have happened. On the train ride home, Harry receives an owl- post letter from Sirius that contains a Hogsmeade permission letter, words of confirmation that he is safe in hiding with Buckbeak and that he was, in fact, the sender of the Firebolt, and a small pet owl for Ron. Harry feels slightly uplifted as he returns to spend his summer with the Dursleys.
Eragon Christopher Paloni
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands
Eldest Christopher Paolini
Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reignsEragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspiring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.
Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life.
George Orwell's novel Animal Farm, is a very catchy,creative, and intriuging tale. It is told from the point of view of animals, but it reflected upon the Russian Revolution under communism. The book starts off by Major, a respected pig amoung the farm, calling a meeting to discuss the animals mistreatments. He discusse's how Mr.Jones, the owner of Manor Farm,has left the creatures to starve by forgetting to feed them. Unfortunetlly, shortly after Manor's speech,he passes away. The animals are fed up with their abuse and refer to the humans as "evil enemies". As the novel progresses, two pigs(Napolian,Snowball) take the lead roles in the situation and manage to overthrow or get rid of the Jones family. After rebelling over the family, the animals create a system called "animalism". They begin to amend rules agreed by the other animals. Napolian and Snowball disagreed on alot when making or breaking laws around the farm, and weren't very fond of eachother. Eventually Napolian, surprisingly, had made friends with the humans and all is good. In this novel there is a lot of direct allegory, the animal farm being portrayed as the revolution. As well as allegory, there was a lot of iorny and personification in this story. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who is intrested in books that go deeper into meaning than they think.
-Katerina Mitilineos
-D Block
-Mrs.Kaplan
Elie Wiesel. Dawn. Dawn is a short novel that continues from the story Night. The novel had a great story line, and was a great novel to read. The novel Dawn is about a young Jewish man Elisha, that survived the holocaust. Elisha was now living as a terrorist in British controlled Palestine. This novel takes place in Plaestine.
Samantha Villa
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Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis 2; The Story of a Return. New York: Pantheon Books, 2004. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return is an exquisite graphic novel that portrays the life of a young girl going into her teen years with no advice from her parents. As learned in Persepolis: The Story of A Childhood Marji had to leave her family in Iran during wartime in order to leave a normal life in Austria. Although, Marji’s life in Austria is not so normal; in fact, her life becomes very hectic living with no parents or adults. She experiments with many different things that some teenagers do, but she is too young to handle the circumstances by herself. Finally, her parents allow her to come home, but she has become very guilty for all of the things she did in Austria. Persepolis get married, goes to college, and then gets divorced. This novel was filled with conflict while Marji was trying to get her guilt free life back. Marji wanted to get divorced after she was married, but she felt bad and it drove her crazy. Also, she told the police on an innocent man so she would not get in trouble herself. She was doing many things that brought conflict to her life in many aspects. Marji also loses her grandmother after getting divorced and moving to the United States. Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis 2; The Story of a Return is an excellent read for young adults, because it allows people to connect with the characters. She is a young adult who made many mistakes like getting into heavy drugs, and other things that sometimes teenagers go through. Marji made it out safe and it gives teens hope that everything eventually gets better.
Brianne Hannafey
A Block
Mrs. Prevosti
April 5,2008
The Once and Future Kingby T.H. White is an exciting and different twist on the classic story of King Arthur. Before he was called King Arthur, he was known as the Wart, an underestimated you boy who was nothing more than a burden. He lives with an over rated and highly standard boy named Kay and his father Sir Ector. They were of wealth but treated Arthur like nothing. There is more adventure to this book than any other King Arthur story or The Sword in the stone stories. This details everyones life in a way that it feels you are watching a film.
Francisko Kim
A Block
First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung was a remarkable book. The last I wrote about this book was when Loung was send away from her mother brothers’ and sisters’ in their camp. After her father was killed by the Khmer Rouge soldier’s she began to grow weakier and weakier by the day. She always’s went to her father for advice. And now him dead who would she go to? This part of the book also being the end I found setting was extremely important. In the setting was Loung out in the camps’ by herself. Learning how to improve her self esteem and rely on herself. Yes she got usted to being tired from the day’s work but that was her new life style.
Susan Yacca A Block
Walter Dean Myers novel Fallen Angels is a very good novel filled with many negative situations that Richie, Perry, Harold, and Gates must endure and persevere.his novel has very good imagery in it. Walter Dean Myers gives clear descriptions and details in certain parts of the novel. For example, one of the soldiers had a peice of metal sticking out of his chest, it said how the blood was bubbling and he was gasping for air.
In Antigone by Sohpocles, Antigone is a girl who has passion about life and those around her. Her sister, Ismene, is the opposite, a coward and afraid to go against Creon who is the king of Thebes. Antigone and Ismene are arguing about burying their dead brother Polyneices who went against Thebes to fight Eteocles for the throne to be king. Ismene doesn't want to bury Polyneices because she is afraid to be caught and punished even worse then her father and her mother. Ismene is ashamed her family and would rather her a have a good public apperance than help her sister bury her brother. Antigone is disgusted by her sister's selfishness and would want to die trying even if she fails she would at least know she died trying to bury her brother. Creon finds out that someone buried Polyneices and is outraged. Creon orders a sentry to find the one who buried him and bring them to him so he could punish them. Antigone by Sophocles, is an amazing play and very hard to put down.
Bethany Greenman
D Block
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen is the incredible novel of a girl whose life seems to be spiraling out of control. The book starts of on Caitlin O' Koren's sixteenth birthday when her and her family discover that her older sister, Cass, has run away from home. Cass has always been there for Caitlin. Smart, happy, perfect Cass whose life always seemed to come in first be for her's. After that it seems like Caitlin's life is this unreal dreamland, everything foggy and unclear, until that is, Caitlin meets Rogerson. Rogerson Biscoe is incredibly handsome, rich and seems to know everything. His life is like this intoxicating mystery, always moving in fast forward. When they begin to date for the first time Caitlin feels alive and as if she's finally straying from the path her sister Cass had paved already, going ahead and making her own way. Before she knows it though, Caitlin's life begin's to change, revolving completely around Rogerson. Especially since she discovered Rogerson's dark secret about the abuse he receives from his father. Then there's the pot and the smoking of course, which Caitlin picks up, curtesy of Rogerson and his "buisiness" but then other things begin to happen as well. Rogerson begins to hit Caitlin and soon enough, everyday turns into a race and guessing on how bad the abuse will be. Rogerson is all Caitlin can focus on and she can't tell a soul what's really going on. Finally, one day her mother sees Rogerson completely losing it and kicking her and Caitlin's ever out of control life finally comes to a halt. Rogerson is arrested and Caitlin is sent to a rehibilitation facilty to help her cope with what happened. In the end she ends up helping to piece her life back together again with the help of her family and friends. A literary device that Sarah Dessen uses in Dreamland would have to be symbolism. Towards the end of the book, while Caitlin's at the rehab place, she rips up a picture she took of herself stoned and completely covered in bruises. Then everyday she's there, she slowly puts it back together one piece at a time. This represents Caitlin's shattered life and how in the end, she slowly puts herself back together and is also able to come to terms with that girl she allowed herself to become and as a reminder for how she'll never fall back into that life again.
Amanda Cipollone
April 27, 2008
Block D
Black Boy By Richard Wright is a highly detailed book based on drama he experienced as a child in the jim crow south and his growth through out this time. Conflict is strongly used to describe the many catastrophic events in which he encountered. the book is very intriguing in which it lures the reader in with dramatic details of abuse richard encountered from his parents and other individuals during that time.
D BLOCK
In the book Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers i am up to when over in Chu Lai, Perry and Peewee stayed close. Perry had a knee problem and was still trying to get it known to the commander. They met a guy named Johnson from Georgia. He was a big guy. Peewee kept messing with him trying to get him mad. They were all pretty nervous, not wanting to kill. The three of them were called cherries because they were new in the barracks. Sometimes they would play volleyball to pass time. Perry always thought about having to watch their backs, made it scary for all of them, always having to stay alert and watching out for mine fields. Already Jenkins was killed stepping on a mine. The only other person Perry saw dead was his grandmother. Then they started thinking, that`s the way most of them would be going home, in body bags.
Chris Gallo
B-Block
Tears Of A Tiger written by Sharon M. Draper is a compelling book about a boy named Andy Jackson who kills his best friend Robert Washington while driving drunk and constantly blames his self even months later. The book is highly detailed with conflict being one of the many literary devices used throughout the book.
Although the book may get boring during some parts because of the repetion but the book is fairly good as a whole.
So far, Oedipus the King , by Sophocles, is a very interesting and compelling play. As soon as Oedipus,the king of Thebes, steps out of his palace, he realizes that the city has been struck by a plague, that the citizens are dying, and nobody knows how to put an end to the disaster. Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the Oracle to find out how to stop the plague. Creon arrives and tells Oedipus that the murderer of Laius is in Thebes, and he must be driven out in order to put an end to the plague. Oedipus is determined to find the murderer, but he does not realize that he in fact was the killer. Oedipus asks the people if they knew who killed Laius, but nobody responds. Furiously, Oedipus curses Laius’ murderer and himself, in case the murderer was a member of his family. Oedipus then immediately calls for the blind prophet, Tiresias, who claims he knows the truth. After a tense and angry argument, Tiresias finally tells Oedipus that he is the curse. Oedipus is greatly insulted and is ignorant to what Tiresias has told him. Tiresias then starts talking in riddles and says how the murderer of Laius is the brother as well as the father of his children and the son and husband to his mother. Oedipus is now infuriated and accuses Creon of conspiring against him, and wants Creon to be murdered. Both Creon and the leader try to calm Oedipus, but he is too angry and stubborn. Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife enters and tries to convince Oedipus that Tiresias was wrong. She starts telling Oedipus the story of Lauis’ murderer and that is when Oedipus realizes he is truly the one who killed Lauis. A messenger comes in and starts telling of a story when a shepherd gave him a baby to raise. This becomes more suspicious to Oedipus, so he sends for the shepherd to seek answers. The shepherd tells him that the baby came from the House of Lauis, and Oedipus screams after realizing what he had done. After finding Jocasta hanging dead in her bedroom, Oedipus stabs his eyes out because he cannot bear to face the world after what he has done. Oedipus is exiled from Thebes, his daughters, Ismene and Antigone are taken away from him and Creon becomes the new King.
Sophocles uses many literary devices to develop the plot, such as similes, metaphors, imagery and symbolism. Irony is used greatly in Oedipus the King. Throughout the play, there is a constant reference to eyesight and vision. Oedipus was known for his clear mind and understanding, but he discovers that he has been blinded by the truth his whole life. It is ironic how such a wise man could not figure out his misdeeds and in the end he blinds himself by stabbing his eyes out. Oedipus the King was a very graphic, but interesting play and makes the reader curious to read the other plays of Sophocles.
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