Reading Journal Week 18 - Visualizing - 2015

I am doing a Reading Journal Post. 

Imperfect Spiral 

Debbie Levy

In Imperfect Spiral, Danielle is a babysitter. Today she has to take care of  a kid named Humphery. They always go to the park to play football. Humphery always questions Danielle how she can throw a football perfectly. As they are walking room they come to an intersection. The football rolls out of Humphery's hand and rolls to the middle of the street. The young kid that Humphery is he runs into the street to get the ball. A car comes by and hits Humphery and Danielle runs to Humphery. Other play around the neighborhood saw what happens and call the police. At the hospital Humphery dies. Danielle feels like it's her fault. They didn't really describe the accident so this is how I imaged it. 

Humphrey getting hit by a car

Reading Journal Week 17 - Asking Questions and Wondering - 2015

Questions

1. Why aren't they wondering what is going on, on the first day everything happened?

2. Why isn't everyone being more serious about the situation?

3. What happened to the power?

4. How serious is the power going out?

5. Will the Power turn back on?

Answer

People figure and think that it is just a regular power outage. That the power will come back soon. But when power goes out it is usually caused by a storm. The thing is there wasn't any storms the skies were clear. So I don't know why people are not really that serious about the problem.

I really don't know why everyone isn't being serious about the situation like Adam and his friends. I think they are being serious about it because they don't want to worry that much.

I don't really know what happened to the power.

I don't really know how serious the power is going out. But I think it is pretty serious if every computer is shut off. Therefore, everything that is controlled by a computer is shut off also.

I don't know if the power will turn back on but I think it will not. I think there will be war first.

Reading Journal Week 16 - Predictions - 2015

I am doing a prediction Reading Journal.

The Rule of Three

Eric Walters

In The Rule of Three, everything that is worked with a computer has shut down. So just about everything exceot for really old things have shut down. There are cars blocking the road because they have shut down. Stores closed because know no can go anywhere. So my prediction of what is going to happen. Is that, Adam, his friend Todd, and the girl he likes, Lori. Are going to work together to firgure out the problem. I think it will end up being the government having a computer that controls everytihing. They have to find a way to destory it and find out who was behind it. While they are firguring this out they will have to deal with other things that will put them out of there path.  

Reading Journal Week 15 - Book Review - 2015

I am doing a Book Review Reading Journal.

What My Book Was Aout.

The book cut was about a girl who cuts herself. But she never cuts herself to deep, only enough to feel the pain. So her parents put her in something that will try to help her. The girls there call the place Sick Minds. Everyday the girls have a group chat but Callie never talks. The book is basically about the other people helping Callie to talk and to stop cutting herself. 

What I Like About The Book.

I like how the author made them all unique in their own way. Even though some of them did the same thing they all had different stories. Each one had a different reason way they did it. Each one had a limit. I also liked it because I could imagine myself in her shoes very easily. I could be sitting in a room full of people and not talk to a single person there. 

 What I Don't Like About It

What I didn't like about it, is that the climax wasn't that much. I didn't really get what the climax was. And the resolution wasn't that clear. I get that she finally accepted the fact that she needed help but the resolution wasn't clear to me. The ending was kind of boring and the part with her dad was kinda boring.

My Rating.

On a scale of 1 - 10 a rate it a 5. It is kind of good because I can see myself in Callie. But they again the book was not that great. So I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone. The only people I would really recommend it to is people like me and her,

Reading Journal - Week 14 - Literary Criticism - 2015

I am doing a Literary Criticism Reading Journal.

   The Bar Code Tattoo     The Bar Code Rebellion

By: Suzanne Weyn

At the beginning of the book, Kayla was just going with the flow. She was an average kid going to high school, getting good grades, going to parties, liking boys. What a normal teenage girl does. The only difference is the Bar Code Tattoo when you turn sixteen you can get it. You don't have to get so she figures it is not a problem. The Bar Code Tatton basically holds all of your information. Kayla's parent have it and her friends have it, everyone at her school has it. When she starts to doubt the Tattoo is when her parents act differently. Her dad got really stressed over the Tattoo and then killed himself. She met a group at school who disagreed with the Tattoo. Everyday she learned something new about this Tatton. There was also this boy in the group named Zekeal who she liked. They started dating but one day when she was at his house she found that he was working with the Bar Code Tattoo people. That day I think she learned not to trust people, especially what was happening. She soon got with Mfumbe and together and fought for their lives. 

I think she matured because she had to survive on her own. She learned not to trust everyone she meets. She learned that life is not perfect and anything can happen. She also learned to stick up for herself and her beliefs.

Reading Journal Week 13 - Literary Compare and Contrast - 2015

I am doing a Literary Compare and Contrast.

    Matched                               The Giver

                            Ally Condie                                                  Lois Lowery

Compare

In these books, people are deciding your life for you. They both have lack of freedom. In Match and the Giver they chose your jobs and your spouse. At a ceratin age in both of the books they have a ceromony to chose your job and spouse. In the giver, at the age of 12 people gather to hear what job they have given you. The Elders have obsevered you for your whole life so they could pick the right job for you. In match at the age of 16 they chose who you will marry. At the ceromony they both had something happen to them. In the Giver Jonas number was skiped and was called last and got the most honored job. In Match when it was her turn for her match to appear on the screen, it took a long time. She got scared the she didn't get a match but it turned out to be her bestfriend. They look kill people when they get to a certain age.

Contrast 

Even though the books have things the same they also have some differences. In the Giver the society can't see color only the receiver. In Match they have three tablets they need to take. They also chose your food portions. In Match they are not that strict what each age does. 

Reading Journal Week 12 - Pure Emotion - 2015

I am doing a Pure Emotion Reading Journal.

Bang

Sharon G. Flake

I had a lot of emotion when I was reading Bang. I was sad that they had to see a lot of people get shot. We need to help those families who have lost a person they love. Most of the time the people who got shot didn't do anything. Those people who are shooting others, probably have something going on in there life. Some of them have some really bad things going on an there house. So they take it out on other poeple. They just need to be shown love. There family probably abandoned them and they feel like nobody loves them. Some feel like its the right thing to do because they weren't taught right. They need a family who loves them and to be taught what is right. When someone does something bad people always think the worst of them. The police and the government don't do anything about it. They just send them to jail. Jail is just making it worse. In jail you don't get treated right, poeple are always fighting. What those people need is some love and to be taught right. I am not saying all of them do it because they feel rejected. Some do it because it feels good or they want to do it just because its fun. Some do it to impress there friends, others do it what of presure. We need to help them, all we do is complain about the wrong they are doing. We need to help them reach out to them. Teach them what is good and bad. 

Reading Journal Week 11 - Heart of a Poet - 2015

I am doing a Heart of a Poet Reading Journal.

The Bar Code Rebellion

By Suzanne Weyn

I am doing a poem about Kayla and Mfumbe. Since Mfumbe always tells Kayla poems when she feels down. I have decided to write a poem about Kayla telling Mfumbe a poem she made. She will be telling this while Mfumbe is basically on his death bed and is forced to have the Bar Code Tattoo.  

As I watch you struggle for your life 

As I watch you struggle for your life,

with your eyelids closed.

They try to mess up your life with this demon inside you,

but I know you are strong enough to survive.

As I watch you struggle.

I read poems for you,

to try to distract the pain.

I will kill them for what they did to you,

but I know you wouldn't want me to.

As I watch you struggle.

I think of all the memories we had while we were hiding.

I want to tell you I love you with all my heart,

but I don't think you would hear me through all the pain you are going through.

So I tell you through may mind,

but you don't seem to understand.

Maybe that connection we used to have is long gone.

As I watch you struggle.

It makes me want to take away all the pain you are feeling.

This Bar Code they forced you to get,

has messed up my connection with you.

I wish I could fly like a bird that is free.

Freedom is what we lack in this world,

know no has their freedom anymore.

As I watch you struggle,

hopefully for the last time.

I plant one last kiss before it is to late.

I will go to find an answer to put you out of your pain.

But for now I will have to go,

 hopefully you will last that long.

As I watch you struggle for you life.

Reading Journal Week 10 - Strange Conversation - 2015

I'm doing a strange conversation post?

Bang

By Sharon G. Flake

I am doing a conversation between Callie the girl from cut and the boys from Bang. This will happen when Callie is in the woods running away from sick minds. And when the boys are in the woods because their parents left them there to survive for a week.

Kee-lee and me been walking in deez damn woods for 'bout week now. This white chic is running in deez woods herself. Did her folk leave her too? I nudge Kee-lee and got his attention on the girl running deez woods. 

"Oh she got money 'cause her white," Kee-lee say while running in her direction.

"Nigga, please," I say but I still run up to catch up with him.

"Hey, where you off to," Kee-lee say when get to the girl. 

"No, where," she says queitly.

"Did you folk leave you out here too?" Kee-lee ask.

"No, I am running away," the girl say.

"What your name," I ask the girl this time.

"Why you need to know?" she say.

"Do you got money?" Kee-lee say something before I could speak.

"No," she says while try to move out of the way.

Kee-lee step in front of her so she can't go nowhere. "I said do you got money."

"I said no," she say scared.

Kee-lee takes out the brown bag. I know what is 'bout to happen.

 "Stop it Kee-lee," but as always he ignore me.

"I said do you got money," he say while taking out the gun.

Kee-lee points the gun at her. The girl starts screaming like a little girl. Kee-lee lifts the gun in the air. BANG! BANG! BANG! The girl start to run the other direction and Kee-lee start to follow her. I run after Kee-lee and tackle him to the ground. He throws a punch to my face but misses. 

"Relax, don't go shooting nobody," I tell Kee-lee.

  

Reading Journal Week 9 - Flash Fiction - 2015

I am doing a Flash Fiction.

Cut

By Patricia McCormick

Today is the first day I am going to Sick Minds. It is for people who have issues they can't break. My problem is that I take drugs so I will forget my problems. I also cut myself because I am sick of my life. We aren't suppose to bring drugs or knives, anything that can continue our issue. But I have it all firgured out. Everytime my boyfriend visits me. He will bring drugs with him, so I won't have to stop. He is like a drug dealer we get high every single day with each other. We are finally here at this stupid place. When we enter someone from the front desk shows me my room and then takes me to a room. She says that all the girls are in a meeting that they have everyday. When I enter the room all heads turn to me. I start blushing I don't like being the center of attention. I go to the back of the room beside a girl that looks about fifteen. 

 "Hello, my name is Claire. Can you tell us a little about ourself," a girl says.

 "Well, my name is Ava. I am here because I have an issue of taking drugs and cutting myself"

 Out of the corner of my eye I can see the girl who is sitting beside me pulls her shirt down. So she is holding it tightly with her fingers. 

 "So Callie," the girl beside me snaps her head at Claire. "What do you think of Sick Minds trying to help us out."

The girl beside me, that now his a name, just shrugs. 

"Do you ever think about going back home?" Claire asks Callie.

Callie doesn't answer her. What is her problem? What is so hard about answering that question. Does she not talk or something. I don't like this place already. I hope I can go home soon  

Reading Journal Week 8 - Predictions - 2016

I am doing a prediction Reading Journal post.

Between Shades of Gray

By Ruta Sepetys

            My story is about the Soviet secret police taking people to Siberia. The Soviet police come into Lina's house to take them away. The only thing is there dad is at work so he isn't home. The mother keeps on saying that the dad is going to meet them there. I think the dad won't be there when they arrive. How do the police know where the dad would be? When he dad gets home he would wonder where they went. After awhile he would come to the consolution that they were taken by the Soviet police. Then he would go out and search for them but he would get caught in the process. The police would find him and take to the same cell his family is in. The police would then beat him infront of his family until he dies. The mother would end up dying because of stravation. She would always give the food to her kids so they could have enough food to eat. Now the kids have to survive on there on. How will they get out of the cell? And that is my prediction. 

     I think this will happen because I don't think the police know about the dad. How would the police know about the dad if they have never seen the family. The mom could be single with two kids. How would the police know? When the dad comes home and sees that his family isn't there. He would suspect something happened. The family knew the police were in their village. So the dad would think the police came for them. I think the dad would go and try to save his family. 

Reading Journal Week 7 - Asking And Wondering - 2015

I am doing a Asking and Wondering reading post.

The Boy Who Dared

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Asking and Wondering

• Why did they start to kill the Jews?
• 
  
• Why did Helmuth's mom date a Nazi solider?
• 
  
• How old was Helmuth when he died?
• 
  
• Why did the Nazi forbid the Germans to listen to the radio?
• 
  
• Why did Helmuth want to join the Hitler Youth so badly?

Answering

• The Nazi started to kill the Jews because they thought that the Jews were a threat. Just because one of the Jews killed one of the Nazi's one time doesn't mean they are a threat. 
• 
  
• I don't know why she would date a Nazi solider. If you knew these things were happening why would you. I didn't feel like they loved each other. I felt like she just married him for money. Plus Hugo was kind of mean to Helmuth and his brothers. I felt like he was trying to boss them around to get them to do whatever he wanted.
• 
  
• I am not sure how old he was but I think he was around 26.
• 
  
• The Nazi were afraid that the lies and the broadcasting could harm the German War effort. 
• I think he wanted to join because his brothers were in it. They also cut out boy scoots so he couldn't do that anymore.  

Reading Journal Week 6 - Visualization - 2015

I am doing a Visualization Reading Journal Post. 

The Boy Who Dared 

 Susan Campbell Bartoletti

My Visual about The Boy Who Dared

The first thing that came to my mind was the jail cell. I imagined that the jail cell was like the cells in prison. The imagine that came to my mind was a dark gray brick wall going from the ceiling to the floor. The only window is on the back wall the is square with bars running through it. I chose this scene because I felt bad how the Jews didn't do anything and they put them in a dark cell.

 This is how I imagined the execution place to look like. The circles with the strings hanging from the ceiling are where they hung the people. The knife on the table are if they choose a different way to kill the Jews, like cut them up til the die. I chose this because I wonder what they used to kill the Jews.

Reading Journal Week 5 - Write A Letter - 2015

I am doing Write a Letter reading journal. 

I am Writing a Letter to the Watcher

                     The Watcher By James Howe

Dear Margaret (The Watcher),

How do I start? At first I thought you were a lonely girl that has know no to talk to. You would always sit at the top of the stairs writing things in your notebook. Some people would think you were just a silly little girl that doesn't know what to do with her life. Some people would think you are very shy and needs a friend to play with. Other people might see you as the girl who wishes what her life could be, then you write it in your notebook so you will never forget. This all can be true but then you went into Evan and Callie's house and stole a photo, a kite, and there mothers shawl. Now I was really confused how does a girl who sits at the top of the stairs becomes a thief. After you went to your house and cut a slit of the photo of the family and put your own picture inside. They had the family's name on the back and you wrote your name too, now I was really confused. Was this your real family? Maybe that is why you were staring at them so much. Or did they seem like a perfect family to you. Then your father found the things and he abused you. He turned on some sad music so your mother would not here and filled the sink with water. After he would put your head under the water until you had no more air. He kept on doing this until he thought you had enough. To me you are a brave girl for going in to the house and not telling anyone about your dad. I wish I could be as brave as you.

Sincerely,

Jasmine Sewell

Dear Jasmine, 

I thank you for helping me with my situation. I was afraid to tell anyone about my dad because he would always tell me he loves me that's why he is punishing me. I never really thought people would notice or even care. I never thought anyone would understand the pain that I go through. I thought the world would be better off without me. You told me I could be more open to people, I think I can become friends with Evan, if he forgives me for taking his things. I didn't mean to take his things it's just there family is so perfect I wanted my family to be like that. I thank you for helping me and telling me what you thought about me. 

Sincerely,

Margaret 

Reading Journal Week 4 - Making Connections - 2015

I am doing a Making Connections. 

How I Connect Myself with "The Watcher" 

The Watcher by James Howe

What My Book Is About?

   

          There is this girl called the watcher because she is always sitting at the top of the stairs looking out at the beach. People don't acknowledge her they just walk past her. All she does everyday is sit at the top of the stairs staring at all the people playing on the beach. There is this one boy who she stares at the most notices her staring at him but doesn't ask her why. This time she was looking at this perfect family and wish she and her family could be like that.  

How I Connect To The Watcher?

            Sometimes I feel like people don't recognize me, they just walk past me. I know how it feels to not have someone to talk to. When you go to a new place and you don't know anyone, you feel like you are alone. So i know how she feels when everyone just walks past you and doesn't acknowledge you. You feel like a ghost that is invisible and know one wants to be around you. 

Reading Journal Week 3 - KWL - 2015

I am doing a KWL Blog Post

What you Know, What you Want to know, and what you’ve Learned?

Smile by Raina Telgemier

What I Know?

•  This book is about romance.
• There is at least one guy that is gay.
• It is the sequel to Smile.
• A girl likes another guy but he is dating someone.
• I know that the characters are in 7th and 8th grades.                 

 What I want to Know?

• I want to know what she will do because she likes a guy who is dating someone else.
• I want to know how much she has changed since the last book "Smile".
• I want to know if she still has her braces.
•  I want to know if she has matured more since the last book because she didn't seem to mature to me. 
• I want to know what the stage in the front of the book has to do with her.
• I want to know who are her friends now.                                                                            What I have Learned?
• Callie likes Greg and Greg's brother likes her to so when Greg kissed her. Greg's brother git mad. Then Bonnie Greg's ex called him back and Greg took her back so Callie is now bad at Greg. Then at the end Greg asks her to be is girlfriend but she says no. So she ends up with no one.
• I don't think she has changed at all to me she acts like a child.
• She doesn't have her braces.
• I don't think she has matured at all. She acts like a girl in kindergarten.
• The stage in the front is because she is part of the stage crew for a play at school. 
• Her friends are mostly guy she only has one girl friend.  
• She is such a crybaby and she basically likes everyone in the school.

How was your summer - 2015

How was my summer?


Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland and having fun.
                                                                 - Florida



         My summer was fine, I had swimming classes, piano lessons, I went to camp Akita, I had to talk to Clawy, and went to Florida for a reunion. The first few weeks of my summer I stayed home because swimming classes didn't start yet. The most thing I did in those few weeks was read Wattpad, practice piano, and talking to the people from last year. 
          After those few weeks of being bored, we began swimming classes. Every year my brother and I go to swimming classes at my mom's job. The reason why they don't start as soon as we get out is because my mom works at a public school and we end school before them. Since I have been going to swimming classes every year I am at the highest level. The swimming classes have 2 sessions each session is three weeks. I only went to the first three weeks of swimming class because after I went to summer camp at Camp Akita.                   Summer camp at Camp Akita was a different experience. Camp Akita has three different age levels. The first one is called cub camp with ages 5-7, then there is junior camp for ages 10-12, and then there is teen camp with ages 13-16. Every time I went to summer camp I was 11 or 12 so I wasn't in teen camp. I really liked teen camp, you have more fun. When I got home from summer camp on the Sunday I had to pack because we were going to drive to Florida on the Monday. 
          We were going to Florida for a family reunion/birthday party for one of my grandma's sister. They invited everyone from my mom's side of the family not everyone could come but enough people went for it to be a family reunion. The family reunion was fun because I got to meet alot of my family that I have never meet before. That's basically how my summer went.