Civil War Reading Response March 1oth, 2o1o

Abraham's Battle by Sara Harrell Banks really was very interesting book. I first thought that Abraham was President Abraham Lincoln but he is actually a free slave. I had a connection with Lamar when he was carried on an ambulance. I have been on an ambulance and when I am on the ambulance I felt really nervous so I think Lamar must of felt nervous and wondering if he was going to be alive or not. This was a just right book for me because I understood most of the things about the book and have a good memory of that book.

Abraham changed from not trusting Lamar to great friends with Lamar. In the beginning he was always careful of what he was telling Lamar because he was a Confederate soldier. Then Lamar is invited for a picnic in the hills. Lamar appreciated Abraham for giving him food. Lamar leaves and heads back to Confederate camp. Now Abraham trusts Lamar and they are friends. During the war of Gettysburg Abraham spots Lamar on the ground wounded. Abraham was scared to send him to the Confederate hospital so he brought him to the Union hospital. Lamar later died in peace.

The problem in this book was the Confederate army having a war with the Union army at Gettysburg. The problem was resolved by the war ending. I was not happy about this ending because a lot of people died because of this war. If I would change something in the book I will change the part where the person comes in Ladysmith's house and that person is anatomist to that they find out later on because I was very curious who he was. I think the authors message was fight for what you believe because Lamar was only fighting for the south while Abraham fought for freedom, what he believed in.

Literature Circle Response Absolutely Normal Chaos-March 1th, 2010

I really enjoyed reading the book Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech. This book made me interested because it had a lot of information on her friends and how she felt about them. She expressed her feeling in her journal and wrote everything that had happened. Like Mary Lou I have been sometimes really annoyed by my friend not acting like he usually is or not telling me something that he/she said they will. Also sometimes I have no patience and want to find out the secret they have. This is why I knew how Mary Lou felt when Beth Ann didn't act like herself because of truly-Diviiiiiine- Derek. And also when Carl Ray didn't tell Mary Lou who his real father is. I think this is a just right book because I have no diffulclty on understanding the book.

Carl Ray was very quite at first and never talked on the first day, but he talked to Maggie. He only says Don't rightly know at the beginning and nod. He suddenly started to talk a lot when Mr. Furtz died. He worked for his shop and later on told Mary Lou that Mr. Furtz was his real father. Carl Ray also recevied a lot of money from Mr. Furtz and also a ring from him. He later on got injured in a car accident. At the end he went back to his orginal home althugh he was offered to live with the Furtz's. I think what made him change was Mr. Furtz's sudden death. Mary Lou really hated Alex Cheevey and Carl Ray at first, but then she really started to like Alex Cheevey. He comes to Mary Lou's street to meet the Murphy family but Alex tells her that he made up the Murphy's so he can hang out with her. Mary Lou turns into something like Beth Ann calling Alex all the time. She also starts like Carl Ray because he starts to tell her secrets and always drives her where she wants go. When Carl Ray and Mary Lou went to visit Carl Ray's family Carl Ray let Mary Lou go back to her house one day earlier.

I think the problem was Mr. Furtz dieing. The problem was resolved by Carl Ray not being too sad and going back to his house and living with his other father Uncle Carl Joe. The other thing is that Mrs. Furtz was relieved that Carl Ray told her about that he was Mr. Furtz's son and had gotten the ring from Mr. Furtz and didn't get too sad about Mr. Furtz's death. I would change the part when he tells Beth Ann that he is moving back to his house. I would change it by first telling Mary Lou's family and then going to Beth Ann's to tell her. I think authors message is do not judge people too early. Like at first Mary Lou really hates Carl Ray because he doesn't do any work, but when Mary Lou goes to ole Carl Ray's house she never was able to make up her bed because of Carl Ray's sisters but Carl Ray must of not been able to make up her bed too because of Mary Lou doing it for him. And in the end she starts to like Carl Ray.

December 15, 2009 Reading Response

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry gave me an idea about World War 2. My connection to this book is that I also care for my friends just like Annemarie the main character who helped her friend Ellen to escape from the soldiers, but I didn't help my friend escape from soldiers of course. I know this is a just right book for me because I usually read from 20-35 pages in 30 minutes if it is a just right book. Also I fully understand the book.

Annemarie's parents changed, in the beginning they never lied to Annemarie but when Ellen's family was in dangered they lied that they had a great aunt-Birte. This was actually a plan so the soldiers not know that the family was planning a great escape. Peter was Lise's boy friend and Peter was a very nice person and came to Annemarie's house to meet Lise often. He would also play with Annemarie and her little sister, Kristen. Once Lise had died because of a car crash Peter has not been coming often to Annemarie's apartment. Later on Peter will be caught by soldiers and will be killed.

The problem of this book was that Ellen's religion became illegal so the soldiers came to kill all of the people with that religion. But since Sweeden was a place where soldiers would not come they shipped a lot of people to Sweeden on a boat. I felt really happy when this happened because if I had a friend about to get killed but was able to escape I will really be happy but also sad. I would change the part when Peter got caught and burried in under a rock into burried in a proper grave because it will be hard to remember which rock and which number on the rock. The authors message I think is that always care for your neighbors/friends from getting in trouble such as when the Johansen's (Annemarie's family) saved Ellen and her family.

Summary of The Sign of the Beaver December 1th

Matt and his father had just moved to a forest where only Indians live. His dad leaves to pick up the rest of the family for 2 months. After a few weeks a bear invaded his house and destroyed and took everything from his cabin. Matt was so hungry he climbed to get some honey. The bees reacted and the whole herd started to attack. The next morning he found that he was saved, saved by an Indian called SakNis. Matt in return made a deal with SakNis. Matt will teach Attean the grand child of SakNis how to read and Matt will get food. Attean taught Matt how to survive while Matt read him the book Robinson Crusoe. One day a bear attacked Matt and Attean, Matt threw the rabbit at the bear while Attean threw a arrow. After that Matt was invited to the Beaver colony. After the feast Matt slept over and left the next day. At noon he found Attean's dog trapped. He tried to help but he couldn't. He headed for the Beaver tribe. The grandmother some how approved the coming of Matt and helped him. They were able to rescue the dog and the next day Attean came with SakNis. Attean had to leave to find his spirit to be a hunter. Few days later Attean came to ask if he wanted to come with them to another place to live. Matt was going to be Attean's brother. Matt refused because he had to wait for his family. Matt had got gifts from the Indians and Attean's family had left. 6 months past and finally his family returned. Now Matt was with the family he belonged to, his family.

Whipping Boy Summary

One day Prince Brat took Jemmy his whipping boy to the forest. He was running away from the castle because he had nothing to do in the castle. During their run away they got kid-napped buy H.N.B. and Cutwater.They managed to escape thanks to Betsy and Petunia. They arrived at the carnival and started to buy supplies. Jemmy and Prince Brat headed to the sewers after supper. They met Cutwater and H.N.B. again, but luckily the rats attacked the criminals and they got aboard on a ship to prison. Jemmy was awarded to not take the lessons for Prince Brat anymore and now Prince Brat and Jemmy are great friends.

Reading Response

Southpaw- November 16, 2009

This is the book I am going to do a reading response on. Southpaw by Rich Wallace. I think Rich Wallace really did a great job not giving away the story on Southpaw. I felt that the book had enough details and made it easy to understand. When he went to tryout for the team I knew how he felt because I had tried-out for Tai Tam Tigers. It was very nervous. I think this is a just right book because I know what the book is trying to say and fulling understand all the words.

Jimmy was the main character and he just moved to Hudson City. He is not shy after he makes a friend called Ramiro. Jimmy is a left-handed pitcher for the Hudson City baseball team. He was always bullied by Spencer and his friends. But soon somethings change and Jimmy gains courage. He becomes friends with Spencer. Spencer was basically the team players boss. He always had people on his side. But after a game that Jimmy pitched great he made an error which cost the game. He felt bad and he tried to get the blame. After that incident Jimmy and Spencer were friends.

Well the story was resolved by Jimmy getting the win and Hudson City baseball team getting their first win. I felt really happy for Jimmy because I know how it feels when your team loses 4 straight games and when you are in a slump. I would change the part when the author wrote: That short guy because it kind of insults Willie who is a good player. I would say that little swift guy. I think the author's message is that don't think negative and always believe you can do it. Example: (Restated) Jimmy thought he might not make the team. After all there are plenty of good players. And then coach told Jimmy and Ramiro made the team.

Book Bytes October 2009

Here is my book talk video.