September 2009 archive
What book are you reading (or just finished)? What do you think of it? Write a short post that tells about the book and what you think of it. Don’t forget to tell the author’s name. Then tag someone else in your post. Look at your classmates’ responses and comment on them, too. Did you find a book that sounds interesting?
I just started reading The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer. Gabe moved in with his uncle, a reclusive (that means he hides from everybody) Vietnam vet. One afternoon he comes home from school and finds his uncle lying dead on the floor. He doesn’t tell anyone about it and goes to school the next day. When he gets home, the body is gone and there is a note in the mailbox that says, “I have a secret. Don’t be afraid.”
What is going on? I can’t wait to find out who sent the letter and what Gabe decides to do about all of this. It is definitely a strong beginning that has me hooked. I’ll let you know what happens later!
Tag…you’re it: Sierra R. Taylor M.Briana S. Josh M. Stacia S. Becky M. Rebekah W. Kyle D. Allie F. Harley T. Braden R. Megan S. Chris C. Taylor D.Brad H. Lauren L. Jason S. Ali K.,
Hunger Games book trailer on YouTube By far one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins gripped me by the mind and didn’t let go until I turned the last page. Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, the farthest and poorest district from the Capitol. On the day of the Reaping, her biggest fear comes true: her little sister’s name is drawn for the Annual Hunger Games. Katniss knows that Prim would never survive, so she volunteers to take Prim’s place.
As one of two representatives from District 12, Katniss must travel to the Capitol with Peeta, the baker’s son, and Haymitch, the only other survivor of the Hunger Games from District 12, to fight to the death on national television.
I put this in at home and I’m afraid that you won’t be able to see the video at school. Rather than embedding the video, it just gives a link to YouTube. I may have to beg the filters to allow at least the book trailers. If not, browse book trailers at home. They are very cool…hint, hint…you may be creating some later in the year!
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Welcome to our class blogs. I hope you will find them to be a place to record your thoughts about reading, publish your writing, and communicate with each other about your reading and writing.
To get started, write your first post.
First, you need to find your every own blog. Type in the address on your welcome letter or click on the link from my page on the right hand side.
Once you get to the page, click on the “Site Admin” link. That will take you to the log in. Type in your user name and password. This will take you to your Dashboard, where you control everything about your blog.
Click on the “New Post” link. Look in the top right corner for it. If not there, look down the links on the left hand side.
In the smaller box on the top, type in a title for your post, something like “Top 10 Things about 8th Grade.”
In the larger box, type your answer to this question: What are the top 5 things about 8th grade at Jennings County Middle School? The box will grow as big as you need it to. Don’t worry about filling it up.
Remember, your posts are public. Mr. Bowman and Mr. Green enjoy reading them, too. Do not post comments that would get you in trouble. If in doubt, don’t do it.
When you are finished, click the blue PUBLISH button on the right.
If you have time, read the posts by your classmates. Of course, you can read my posts, too. I’ve posted book reviews of the first four Survivor books and have the first chapter of the novel I’m writing. Leave comments by clicking on the COMMENT link above or below their post.
Have fun!
Friendship, jealousy, moonshine, and basketball combine to create a classic Hoosier story in Kristi Collier’s Throwing Stones. Living in southern Indiana during the 1920’s, Andy Soaring is trying to find his place. Oldest brother Pete was killed by the Spanish influenza after running away to fight in World War I, and the family has never gotten over it. Andy longs to bring some happiness back to his family by leading his high school basketball team to the state championships. Unfortunately, Andy breaks his arm and collarbone whiletrying to outdo his chief rival on the court and for the girl. While sidelined from play, Andy discovers a talent for words as he covers the basketball games for the local paper and slants the facts his way.
Throwing Stones raises many questions about truth and jealousy. Just as in real life, the answers are not neatly wrapped up and solved at the end. Readers are left to wonder at the secrets that still remain partialy hidden and unanswered.
Like the thousands of immigrants before him, Kek comes to America in hopes of finding a better life. After witnessing the murder of his father and brother and becoming seperated from his mother, Kek finds himself getting of a flying air bus in the middle of a Minnesota winter to live with his aunt and cousin. As he adjusts to this new land with its new language and strange ways, he seeks to find a place to belong. He makes friends with a girl in foster care and an old lady with a run down farm. His mishaps with new ways of doing things (such as trying to wash dishes in the washing machine) made me laugh out loud while his undying hope against all odds to reunite with his mother made me cry. Through it all, Kek always manages to see his way through and keep smiling.
In Home of the Brave, Katherine Applegate paints the heartbreaking story of Kek, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The poetry of Kek’s voice shines a light of hope for all of us.
At first I was surprised and disappointed that Lawn Boy made the Young Hoosier book list for 6th through 8th graders. It is a short, easy read that is a better fit for elementary students rather than middle school. In spite of that, Gary Paulsen has created a modern day tall tale that kept me laughing out loud as I read it.
It all starts when they narrator receives a lawn mower for his twelfth birthday–not just any lawn mower, but his dead grandfather’s ancient machine. After mowing a few lawns, things quickly spin out of control as lawn boy takes a crash course in capitalism. Before he knows it (or has time to tell his parents), he has gone from mowing a few lawns to earn money for a bicycle tire to managing a lawn-care business with employees and owning his own prizefighter. What will his parents say when they find out their son has grossed nearly half a million dollars, all from one used lawn mower?
Bethany has grown up with over-protective parents who gave her everything she wanted. After driving all day and half the night, her parents drop her off with Aunt Myrlie, a total stranger to Bethany. Now she finds herself nearly alone in a strange town with more questions than answers. Her parents have seemingly disappeared–no cell phones, no record that they ever existed. No one will talk about the mysterious Elizabeth or why people look at Bethany like she’s a ghost. Bethany’s questions increase after receiving a mysterious package from her father. It contains four birth certificates, each with a different last name and Bethany’s birthday, and $10,000 in cash, in case Bethany needs anything. Who is Bethany? What secrets are her parents hiding? Where have they gone? Who is the strange man following her around? As Bethany searches for answers, she must answer questions about herself, face secrets no one is willing to discuss, and find courage to speak for herself.
As in many of her other books, Margaret Peterson Haddix creates a suspenseful plot with unexpected surprises. Not only does she explore just-out-of-reach developments in science, but she also explores deeper questions of faith in this book. Myrlie’s daughter, Josie, is minister who has asked all the questions even if she hasn’t found all the answers.