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.