My nomination of the all-star mentor should be Elsie. In this blog post she has everything well thought out and written. Also her paragraphs show how much thought she put into this. Her first paragraph was her retelling, but it wasn't the kind of retell that made you want to fall asleep, it was the kind that made you want to go a library and check-out the book.She also did a good job of elaborating on her paragraphs. Another reason she deserves this award is because not only does she put effort in her posts but she also made her background very amusing and she has these slide shows about things she loves. My point is that her blog is eye-catching and jaw-dropping. All in all, I nominate Elsie for the All Star Mentor award.
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
BOYS, BOYS, BOYS
The book The Summer of Firsts and Lasts is all about boys, boys, boys! The story is narrated by three sisters, Calla, Violet, and Daisy. They all have boy problems in different ways. Unfortunately at the end it doesn't work out for either one of them.
Calla is the oldest and it is her last year at camp before she goes off to college. She is also a people pleaser. She has to have everybody on her side or as a friend. She likes this boy, Duncan, whom she has been friends with since she her first year at this camp. Violet is the second oldest she is the complete opposite of Calla. She's a senior and boys are the least of her problems. She's one of those people that can get over a boy easily and ask one out herself. During the summer she meets James, a counselor at camp. She has never taken any boy seriously except for him. unfortunately the relationship doesn't last long. Daisy is the youngest of the three and she's a freshman. This is her first year at camp and she's kind of nervous. She doesn't have any friends here, that is until she meets Joel, a freshman. On the first night at dinner they hit it off and their next big encounter is the swing dance. Things go nice at first but then Joel isn't the nice guy he was anymore.
I think that this book portraits a really good example of girls these days. The development of girls is really different then what it was a century ago. Girls aren't being taught manners or having the talk with their parents.The rate of teenage pregnancy, drug addicts, and alcoholics has gone up a lot over the century. Anyways, also the perspective of how girls have to look like is part of this whole dilemma. All in all, I would consider myself to be half Violet and half Calla. I'm like Calla because I let boys come to me, i don't go after them like they're some sort of chew toy and I'm a dog. And I'm like Violet because I'm also not so shy to talk to boys.
Calla is the oldest and it is her last year at camp before she goes off to college. She is also a people pleaser. She has to have everybody on her side or as a friend. She likes this boy, Duncan, whom she has been friends with since she her first year at this camp. Violet is the second oldest she is the complete opposite of Calla. She's a senior and boys are the least of her problems. She's one of those people that can get over a boy easily and ask one out herself. During the summer she meets James, a counselor at camp. She has never taken any boy seriously except for him. unfortunately the relationship doesn't last long. Daisy is the youngest of the three and she's a freshman. This is her first year at camp and she's kind of nervous. She doesn't have any friends here, that is until she meets Joel, a freshman. On the first night at dinner they hit it off and their next big encounter is the swing dance. Things go nice at first but then Joel isn't the nice guy he was anymore.
I think that this book portraits a really good example of girls these days. The development of girls is really different then what it was a century ago. Girls aren't being taught manners or having the talk with their parents.The rate of teenage pregnancy, drug addicts, and alcoholics has gone up a lot over the century. Anyways, also the perspective of how girls have to look like is part of this whole dilemma. All in all, I would consider myself to be half Violet and half Calla. I'm like Calla because I let boys come to me, i don't go after them like they're some sort of chew toy and I'm a dog. And I'm like Violet because I'm also not so shy to talk to boys.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Should We Give Up A Dream Or Love?
When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer is about Soledad Reyes. All her life al she has thought about is dance, dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. She's in her senior year at Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts and plans to spend the summer teaching a dance studio, saving up money to audition for dance companies. However, Jonathan Crandall, a musician at Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, proposes Soledad with the opportunity to play the role of Carmen. Also, part of his proposal is to spend more time with Jonathan, who makes her feel her something no boy ever has before. But when she thinks things couldn't have gotten any better she meets Taz, a boy who plays for a Spanish soccer team. Soon they start flirting with each other which leads to an explosive encounter which Johnathan witnesses. Then at the show that night Johnathan does something unbelievable which breaks her leg and threatens her career as a dancer.
Soledad had her life pretty much planned out, after she graduated she was raise up money to go to New York City and audition for dance companies. Ever since she put on ballet slippers she realized she wanted to be a dancer, that is until Johnathan stepped into her life. She started to feel things a girl does when she's with her crush but at the time she didn't know that. Apparently no guy ever in her life had made her feel like that. Johnathan even started to make her rethink her decisions about New York. Soledad even got offered to work with a dance company but she rejected it only to end up with no legs to dance with anymore. I don't know what I would do if a doctor told me I could never dance again. I would probably commit suicide! My life would be over!
I think that Soledad had to make a really tough decision on whether to follow her heart or her head. Well, actually, her heart was telling her to dance and to be with Johnathan. So I guess she had to make the tough decision of whether to follow love or her dream. Honestly I would have chosen my dream, especially knowing that I'm with a guy that has past issues. It would be better to just leave him and it alone before things got complicated. Then again, I don't know what's like to love a guy with such intensity so I can't really be giving my opinion. But what it comes down to is if we should follow our dreams or our love.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Dancing
Dancing is all little Marie van Goethem, a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer in the famed Paris Opéra, can think about in the book Marie, Dancing by Carolyn Meyer. It is the only thing in her life that brings her joy. Unfortunately, she has lived a life of poverty. Along the way having to deal with hunger, her mother's drinking, and her selfish older sister. Then when things could have gone worse she finds an artist, Edgar Degas. He demands Marie's presence in his studio where it appears that her life will change in a big way. He is willing to pay her to pose for his new idea for a sculpture and he promises her to make her a star.
I can relate so much to this story because I know what it's like to love dancing but not have the money to pay for the classes needed. The difference between me and her is that I'm not a model for a very famous sculpture. Marie van Goethem is the model for the sculpture, Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. This year for the dance concert since the theme was artwork, the sculpture was used as one of the artworks. The thing about this dance was that it was open to anybody for a solo. I love to dance and I think she is very lucky to find an artist that was willing to pay her for modeling. What surprised me is what Marie van Goethem planned on doing with the money. Instead of paying for more advanced private lessons, she used the money to pay her family through poverty.
I would have used the money for selfish reasons, especially since my mother was a drunk my sister was a selfish meanie that made me go through hunger for days and starve me. After that, I wouldn't have given them a single cent of my money. Luckily for Marie's family she still had a big kind heart and must have been raised with somebody wise. Then again I love dancing and would do anything to dance just like Marie van Goethem.
I can relate so much to this story because I know what it's like to love dancing but not have the money to pay for the classes needed. The difference between me and her is that I'm not a model for a very famous sculpture. Marie van Goethem is the model for the sculpture, Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. This year for the dance concert since the theme was artwork, the sculpture was used as one of the artworks. The thing about this dance was that it was open to anybody for a solo. I love to dance and I think she is very lucky to find an artist that was willing to pay her for modeling. What surprised me is what Marie van Goethem planned on doing with the money. Instead of paying for more advanced private lessons, she used the money to pay her family through poverty.
I would have used the money for selfish reasons, especially since my mother was a drunk my sister was a selfish meanie that made me go through hunger for days and starve me. After that, I wouldn't have given them a single cent of my money. Luckily for Marie's family she still had a big kind heart and must have been raised with somebody wise. Then again I love dancing and would do anything to dance just like Marie van Goethem.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Dreams
Nevermore, written by Kelly Creagh is one of those books that just has you wanting to read more and more. I just started this book on Monday and I'm already done with it. Nevermore is about a cheerleader, Isobel Lanley, and the school's weirdo, Varen Nethers. They cross each others path when they are partnered for an English project. At first they are disgusted to work with each other. But then they end up falling in love. The thing is that Isobel doesn't know about Varen's secret dreams. His dream world that he has created through the pages of his notebook, a world where the stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. That's when she does literally anything to save his life.
This book has a lot of scenes that make me wonder what the author was trying to make the reader think and feel in this moment. In the book, Varen has this whole fantasy world where Edgar Allan Poe is his best friend and they write deep, dark poems. One really creepy part of his dream world is this demon that follows him everywhere and tells him what to do. When Isobel finds out about the demon she tries to help but ends up messing everything up. In this part I could really feel the author trying to make us think and feel what lead him to this point in life. Is he an only child? Were his parents ignorant to the fact that he was their son throughout his childhood? Those questions were racing through my mind when I read that part. Also, I felt sympathy for him. Something must have really gone wrong for him to have ended up like that.
Some people think that dreams are visions of the future or messages. Some people think that dreams are just dreams and they don't mean anything. I'm one of those people that believe dreams are just dreams and nothing more. This has made me question what I believe about dreams. This book shows how dreams can actually change a person for worse or for the better. Especially with scenes so vividly detailed it's hard to not see it as a movie.
This book has a lot of scenes that make me wonder what the author was trying to make the reader think and feel in this moment. In the book, Varen has this whole fantasy world where Edgar Allan Poe is his best friend and they write deep, dark poems. One really creepy part of his dream world is this demon that follows him everywhere and tells him what to do. When Isobel finds out about the demon she tries to help but ends up messing everything up. In this part I could really feel the author trying to make us think and feel what lead him to this point in life. Is he an only child? Were his parents ignorant to the fact that he was their son throughout his childhood? Those questions were racing through my mind when I read that part. Also, I felt sympathy for him. Something must have really gone wrong for him to have ended up like that.
Some people think that dreams are visions of the future or messages. Some people think that dreams are just dreams and they don't mean anything. I'm one of those people that believe dreams are just dreams and nothing more. This has made me question what I believe about dreams. This book shows how dreams can actually change a person for worse or for the better. Especially with scenes so vividly detailed it's hard to not see it as a movie.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Breaking Dawn: Wedding Scene
In the book, Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer I'm up to the part where Edward and Bella are about to get married. In detail, Stephenie Meyer says that Bella is "...beautiful and never looked better..." according to Edward, on the day of the wedding. And to Bella, Edward looked, "...handsome..." and "...I couldn't believe he is about to be legally mine.." Bella is wearing a white, elegant dress with a train. It's nothing too fancy because Bella is the type of character that doesn't like to attract to much attention. Edward was wearing the normal monkey suit, which apparently made him look like the sexiest man on the planet.
This scene in the book is like any other fairytale wedding. The difference is that it is a little toned down because of Bella's issue with attention. But it has the white christmas lights that are hung all over the place and the fancy white flowers, the seat coverings, and it's all happening in Edward's humongous backyard. I loved the way Stephenie Meyer described the wedding, "...the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons...the bowery canopy... rows of satined-draped chairs..." (pg. 48) The detail and the elaboration and the language just gives the place a magical feeling, other than the fact that she's marrying a vampire.
All in all, Stephenie Meyer could have just written that the setting was beautiful. Instead she elaborated and used language that made it seem like the wedding that she probably dreamed of having or had. This is another reason why I love Stephenie Meyer.
This scene in the book is like any other fairytale wedding. The difference is that it is a little toned down because of Bella's issue with attention. But it has the white christmas lights that are hung all over the place and the fancy white flowers, the seat coverings, and it's all happening in Edward's humongous backyard. I loved the way Stephenie Meyer described the wedding, "...the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons...the bowery canopy... rows of satined-draped chairs..." (pg. 48) The detail and the elaboration and the language just gives the place a magical feeling, other than the fact that she's marrying a vampire.
All in all, Stephenie Meyer could have just written that the setting was beautiful. Instead she elaborated and used language that made it seem like the wedding that she probably dreamed of having or had. This is another reason why I love Stephenie Meyer.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Breaking Dawn Movie and Book
Breaking Dawn is the last book to Stephenie Meyers amazing and addicting Twilight Saga. I have seen all the movies and have read all the books and have fell in love with each one. I have already read this book, in 6th grade. But I am rereading it to refresh my memory on the book. Also I'm pretty sure that you are wide aware that Breaking Dawn is coming out in movie theaters in a few weeks. I as a huge fan am super excited.
Anyways, when I go see the movie I want to be thinking of the book and comparing what the scenes looked like in my head and what the film directors interpretation of the scenes. Additionally, I like to anticipate what is going to happen next. Along with that, in Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyers makes Bella, Edward, and Jacob all narrate the story unlike the other three books where Bella does all of the narrating. I wonder since the movie is splitting the book up into two parts, will there be two narrators or maybe squish in three or will there only be one?
What me and many other Twilight fans love about these books is that it has this plot which a lot of girls fantasize about. For example, I would love to have a sexy werewolf and an incredibly attractive vampire who would do anything for me, to be fighting over my love. Another thing about these books is that it has these moments where you find yourself expressing what you feel out loud. I know that when I was reading the book there were moments where my jaw dropped and I was saying, "Oh my gosh!"
All in all, I can't wait until the movie comes out and I really hope that somewhere Stephenie Meyer is creating another jaw dropping series somewhere.
Anyways, when I go see the movie I want to be thinking of the book and comparing what the scenes looked like in my head and what the film directors interpretation of the scenes. Additionally, I like to anticipate what is going to happen next. Along with that, in Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyers makes Bella, Edward, and Jacob all narrate the story unlike the other three books where Bella does all of the narrating. I wonder since the movie is splitting the book up into two parts, will there be two narrators or maybe squish in three or will there only be one?
What me and many other Twilight fans love about these books is that it has this plot which a lot of girls fantasize about. For example, I would love to have a sexy werewolf and an incredibly attractive vampire who would do anything for me, to be fighting over my love. Another thing about these books is that it has these moments where you find yourself expressing what you feel out loud. I know that when I was reading the book there were moments where my jaw dropped and I was saying, "Oh my gosh!"
All in all, I can't wait until the movie comes out and I really hope that somewhere Stephenie Meyer is creating another jaw dropping series somewhere.
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