The Ashleys

Srishti G.

12/9/10

Pages: Book Finished

The Ashleys

By: Melissa De la Cruz

                 I wonder what happens next in the series  and also want to think about how the author writes. I predict that Lauren becomes one of the Ashleys because the title happens to be Jealous and many times in The Ashleys, the author writes about Lili (nickname for one of the Ashleys) fells jealous when Ashley, the main Ashley, acts nicely with Lauren. I also wonder what happens between Ashley and A.A (one of the Ashleys). I wonder this because A.A thinks Tri wanted to be her boyfriend but instead he ended up with the main Ashley and also A.A and Tri used to be best friend. I wonder if Tri confesses to being laxjock (A.A online boyfriend) but with all the twist the author has in her book maybe it won’t be him after all. I like the way the author write because she writes with a bunch of twist. Right when you think you have figured out what will happen, there’s a twist and you feel surprised. I like this type of writing because I feel like it makes me an active reader where as if I know what’s going to happen I may not read as attentively. I also like how she write from the point of view of all four girl so that you can really understand how all the characters truly feel.  Usually, books are written from on characters point of view and that cases false impressions of all character. I could relate this to a courts case where if the suspect or victim goes to the witness stand and speaks for themselves you get more of a feel for the situation. Overall, I enjoy this authors writing style.

The Ashleys

Srishti G.

12/9/10

Pages: Book Finished

The Ashleys

By: Melissa De la Cruz

               

                The Ashleys tells the story of three popular girls named Ashley and a fourth girl who has basically been an unattractive loser all her life. The story takes place in California and when the fourth girl, name Lauren’s, dad gets his big break in the entertainment industry she gets a make-over, and brand new clothes. All her life Lauren has wanted to fit in and be popular, now she has the right look but will that change anything?  I think the theme of this book would have to be “trying to be popular and fit in”. I picked this as the theme because the entire story follows Lauren as she tries to accomplish just that. For example on page 5 the author writes: “Lauren clenched her jaw. What if they saw through her six-hundred dollar haircut and carefully accessorized uniform and decided she was just the same old dork she had always been?” In this paragraph Lauren worries about the Ashleys not liking her. And she knows if the Ashleys don’t like her then not only will she not be popular but NO ONE will like her. Also on page119 the author writes Lauren asking the Ashleys, “What would you like… We’ve got everything on hand.”  She says this after the Ashleys have entered her private jet. The author then goes onto write, “She showed them the well-stocked pantry in the galley kitchen.” In these sentences Lauren tries to impress the Ashleys by showing them how cool her private jet happens to be and how much food and other forms of entertainment can be found in it. She does this in hopes of being allowed to join the Ashleys.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963

Srishti G.

12/9/10

Pages:1-103(read so far)

The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963

By: Christopher Paul Curtis

I think I am at the rising action right now because I have already met all the character and know where the story takes place (exposition) and the initiating event has already occurred; however, I have not gotten to the turning point in my story. The initiating event occurs when Kenneth’s mother complains about how cold it feels.  The main conflict would be how Kenneth’s, the main character, mother always complains about how cold she feels. So the climax will be probably when the family, The Watsons, move to Birmingham. I know they move to Birmingham because the title of the title: The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963. I think all the things that Kenneth, Byron, his older brother, and very few times Joetta, the younger sister, do will lead up to the family moving to Birmingham. Or, all the weather that continuously occurs in the book right now will lead them to move. Either way, because one of these will lead them to move (the climax) I would be considered at the rising action.

Mockingjay

Srishti G.

11/18/10

Reflection on Books 1,2 and part of 3 which I am reading now)

Mockingjay

By: Suzanne Collins

If my stories did not take place in the future (part of a setting), the story could not happen.  One reason being the United States still exists and the whole idea of the Hunger Games revolves around the fact that the citizens of the United States went against the government, failed and now these harsh districts have been created. So, if it took place in modern times clearly the citizens, at least, as a whole, we are not trying to overthrow the government. Also, technology used in the book will not be invented in several more years such as bathtubs that have custom buttons to receive an automatic shower.  The force field outside the housing of the tributes in order to ensure they don’t commit suicide can also be described as futuristic technology. Although I do not think the author does a good job of bringing a futuristic feeling to her story. The idea of the future becomes written as words instead of in the sentences and general story. I do not think enough futuristic technology is shown. Also, in the future why most people would be leaving under harsh conditions and has barely any food. Most people don’t even have cell phones or a computer although SOME are lucky to have televisions. Once again not futuristic I understand this represents her perception of the future but I strongly disagree with her. She would probably do best writing an action packed story much like the Hunger Games but in a present time.

Wolves of the Beyond

Srishti G.

11/18/20

Pages Read: 1- 20 (log on first couple pages, not that interesting so going slowly but I am reading other books and getting more than my 100 page goal.)

Wolves of the Beyond

By: Kathryn Lasky

The conflict in my story right now comes between a mother, her pup and the society. This conflict can be describes as character versus society. The mother births three babies, two like their dad and one silver one. The she-wolf quickly notices that the silver pup has a splayed paw. She knows if she gets caught by the Obea, a barren wolf who takes charge of doing all the dirty work for the pack.  The splayed wolf quickly becomes noticed by the experienced Obea and the baby is left out t o die. The Obea skillfully places the pup on a rock so that when the waves come in the pup will drown.  Dirty jobs include placing abnormal pups, thought to make the pack weak, outside the territory to suffer to death. Since the Obea has no offspring of her own she has no motherly.  Since the Obea has no offspring of her own she has no motherly instinct. Now, the mother and father of the abnormal pup will both be thrown out of the tribe. I predict that the mother of the pup will be reunited with her pup. I think this because something good has to happen in the book in order to keep the reader engaged in the book since everything in the book has been sad so far. The author knows that if nothing favorable has happens readers will become bored.

Only the Best

Srishti G.

11/18/10

End of Book

Only the Best

By: Beverly Lewis

Along with my harder books that meet my level of reading I always enjoy reading an extra book from a younger age on the side. This week I read “Only the Best” by Beverly Lewis. I really enjoy this book because I like how at the end everything works out so great. I also enjoy how well the author shows the main character, Jenna, transferring from one emotion to another and the author does a great job of showing how Jenna grows as a person.  At the beginning of the story Jenna, a dedicated gymnast, finds out her parents are adopting a baby. She feels gloomy and jealous.  And worst yet they have to go pick up the baby on the day of the biggest meet of her life; at the Olympic Training Center. Throughout the book Jenna gets used to the idea and when Jenna sees all the stuff for the baby and a picture her heart melts. I LOVE reading books over and over because each time you notice something new that makes all the difference in the book. Also, if you are reading it at different ages, you pick up a different and more matured conclusion every time.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus

11/11/10

Chapters: 1-3

By: Srishti Ghosh

The Autobiography of Santa Claus

By: Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn

I can so relate to how Santa feels in the beginning of the book when people start making up ridiculous rumors about how far he has traveled. I can relate to it because I have seen it happen before where one small comment or actions becomes a big deal and soon everyone knows about it but have the wrong facts. For example, one of my friends told her friends that she might be moving to a bigger house. The next time someone told me about it I heard a totally different story. They told me she had already moved into a house in Solon and she would stay at our school only until the end of the quarter. Of course, I knew that did not even closely resemble the truth because her family had decides not to move at all. With Santa, there are rumors going around that he has gone as far as the northern coast which in represents the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. He, in fact, never went more than 50 miles, and the rumors began to annoy him. Once again I can relate to that. For example when one kid jokingly slapped another kid and rumors became that they had gotten into a major physical fight which I knew had not really happened I felt annoyed. I like when I can connect with a character because it helps me better connect with the character. It also gives me a more profound understanding of the book.