The Grievers of Death By: Andrew Yang

The Grievers of Death

The Maze Runner is the first book of a science fiction trilogy written by James Dashner. The Maze Runner has also been directed as a movie that is going to be coming out on the 19^th of September 2014 in the US.

 The main character of The Maze Runner is a boy named Thomas who wakes up in a metal cage like box and is sent to a place called the Glade. He has no memory except for his name. Magical moving walls surround the Glade. These walls protect the Gladers (people that live in the glade) from horrid monsters who reside in the forest on the other side of the wall. One of the scarier monsters is the Grievers-“It looked like an experiment gone terribly wrong—something from a nightmare. Part animal, part machine, the Griever rolled and clicked along the stone pathway. Its body resembled a gigantic slug, sparsely covered in hair and glistening with slime, grotesquely pulsating in and out as it breathed. It had no distinguishable head or tail, but front to end it was at least six feet long, four feet thick.”(Page #112) The pattern created by the walls’ movements was also intended show the Gladers a passcode that they will use to escape from the maze. After the number of patterns that was needed has been recorded, the walls will stop moving, and the evil that lurks outside the wall will be free to room in the Glade. Will Thomas and his friends find out the passcode fast enough before the Grievers slowly kill them off? Or will they die trying?

My favorite character in this series is Teresa, this is because she went through so much to protect Thomas because or her love. Before the memory wipe Thomas and Teresa were dating and after they were in the glade, they still liked each other. The entire time, no matter what she did, she always did it to protect Thomas, all the way until the very end when she paid the ultimate price, her life. When she pretended to betray Thomas and like Aris, she did it so that Thomas would be safe. When she dove and pushed Thomas away from the falling boulder, she did it again so that Thomas would be safe. No matter what Thomas thought of her, everything she did was to protect him, and that’s why Teresa is my favorite character.

I feel like this book would be perfect for those who found The Hunger Games trilogy and The Divergent trilogy fun to read. This is an action packed book that includes suspense and has different surprises around each and every corner. Throughout every chapter, the author always made me think, “What is going to happen next?” I was completely captivated in the plot until the very last word, and that is why this trilogy is also going to be movies just like The Hunger Games and The Divergent.

Chasing the Tracks of the Bombinating Beast (Reader Response by Jewellee Lee)

 “Before you consider reading “Who Could That Be at This Hour”, ask yourself these questions:

 

1. 1.     Are you curious about what is happening in a seaside town that is no longer by the sea?


2. 2.     Do you want to know more about a stolen item that wasn’t stolen at all?


3. 3.     Do you really think that’s any of your business? Why? What kind of person are you? Are you sure?


4. 4.     Who is that standing behind you?”

Encyclopedias, classic novels, math workbooks, biographies, and a few fictionish fiction novels… these books fill my bookshelf. One day, I was cleaning up my room, I spotted a book that I had not seen. What drew my attention was the cover of the book. It was very cartoonish and said “Lemony Snicket” in huge bold letters. Judging by its cover I thought that it was some sort of graphic novel, but didn’t look like it looking at the thickness of the book. My hands automatically opened the book full of curiosity. I started reading the first page, then another, then another. By the time I finished the first two chapters, I couldn’t stop flipping the pages.

This book takes off with the main character, Lemony Snicket receiving a note from his chaperone, S. Theodora Markson.

 

“CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW IN THE BATHROOM AND MEET ME IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THIS SHOP. I WILL BE WAITING IN THE GREEN ROADSTER. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. –S” –chapter 1, pg.5

 

Snicket begins his apprenticeship with S. Theodora Markson. Their first case takes place in a small town called Stain’d-by-the-Sea. In that town, was a mansion so large it looked like several mansions had crashed together (pg, 29) and an old lady called Mrs. Sallis asking for help. She claimed that she had a priceless item stolen, the statue of a Bombinating Beast and knew the thief, the Mallahan family. She is sure of this because the Mallahan family has been enemies of the Sallises family for many lifetimes. So Snicket and S. Theodora Markson search for the Bombinating Beast in Mr. Mallahan’s house disguised as a couple on a honeymoon. There, Snicket meets Moxie, Mr. Mallahan’s daughter and Stain’d-by-the-Sea’s only reporter. As she talks about newspapers, the discussion moves towards the Sallises. Snicket tells Moxie the reason he’s here.

 

“I’m trying to solve a mystery,” I said, “concerning the Bombinating Beast.”

“The mythical creature?” “No, a statue of it.”

“That old grimcrack?” she said with a laugh.

“Come on up.”         (Chapter 3, pg. 53)

 

Moxie looked at me and smiled. “I guess your mystery is solved, Snicket,” she said, but that, too, was the wrong thing to say.        (Chapter 3, pg. 59)

And according to her, the Mallahans and the Salllises have been friends for generations.

But there were some strange things to point out. One, if Mrs. Sallis knows who the thief is, why doesn’t she call the police? Two. In the book, Mrs, Sallis says “I want nobody to know you are working for me, and I want nothing done to the Mallahans. They’re nice people.” Moxie said the Mallahans and the Saliises were friends for generations. Mrs. Sallis said the Mallahns have been enemies of the Sallises for many lifetimes. This means that one of them is lying. If Mrs. Sallis is the one, why?

What I like best about the book is the voice that each character has. The main character of this book, Lemony Snicket , is a thirteen year old apprentice. Lemony Snicket has its own thirteen-year old voice full of curiosity. On the other hand, S. Theodora Markson, who ranked fifty-second out of fifty-two chaperones in the chaperones list has that “whatever” voice. I think the author did an awesome job on creating that particular voice for the right character. I also like how the author put some bits of humor throughout the whole book. In some of the less interesting parts of the book, it had humor so as the reader, I was still with the book.

“Who could that be at this hour?” is mysterious and full of questions. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. It has tumbling twists and dramatic flow. I would recommend this book for any 7^th grader.

The Choking Game By: Eileen Lee

The Choking Game

By: Eileen Lee

 

For the past few days, I have read a book called ‘Choke’ by Diana Lopez. ‘Choke’ is a touching and a meaningful book. This book talks about a typical 8^th grade student, Windy, who wants to get in the ‘in-crowd’ group, not GP (General Public) or ‘out-crowd’ group. Windy is GP, neither a loner nor popular. But then the coolest kid in school, Nina, starts hanging out with Windy and plays this really dangerous game called ‘the choking game’. Windy is going through a big dilemma deciding if she should keep hanging out with Nina and get in the ‘in-crowd’ group or just stay in GP and not play the choking game.

 

There is a really important message in this book. The Choking game is a dangerous game between teens in which they self-strangulate in order to achieve a brief high. The high is the result of oxygen rushing back to the brain after it’s cut off by the practice of strangulation. This game is actually happening between teens in real life. The author of this book was once a teacher. One day, she noticed that her students were coming in with blood shot eyes. At first, she thought they were doing drugs, but later, she learned that they were involved in a game known by many names, mostly, the choking game. The choking game can kill many people because no air goes into their brains. So this is the reason why she wrote this book.

 

My favorite character is Windy Soto who is the main character of this book, because even though she had a hard time deciding if she should keep hanging out with Nina, abandon her best friend, Elena and play the dangerous choking game or stay in GP, but don’t play the choking game, she made the right choice. I think that could have been a hard decision because everyone would want to be a friend with the ‘cool’ guys. I also thought Nina was an interesting character. I always wore a scarf to hide the red mark on her neck from the choking game.

 

I like how the author started the book by explaining that there are groups of people in the main character’s school. People in ‘In-crowd’ group are very popular, GPs are students who are just normal and like invisible, and people in Out-crowd’ group are people who get bullied and have no friends. I also like how the author plotted this story. The plot is full of excitement and suspense.

 

The book ‘choke’ is very interesting and has been read by many people all over the world. The author wrote her message on the book very well, and as a student, there are some parts I can totally understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunger Games Daily Reading Log

• Character List + Description


• Vocabulary Challenge - 5 words that you need more help with + Page # + Definition


• Connection - 1 way this chapter relates to the world beyond the book.


• Setting Map - Add any new locations to your setting map.


• Madman Writing(Chapter 1-6) - Essential Question - How do governments acquire power?  How does Panem(The Capitol) acquire/keep power?


• Madman Writing(Chapter 7-9) - Essential Question - How do governments influence their population? How violent is our society - share examples?  How violent is Panem - use specifics from the book?  What influence does the government or the media have on portrayal of violence? Should we study violent material in schools or should we keep violent materials out of schools?  why?


• Madman Writing(Chapter 10-14) - Essential Question - How do civilizations become successful?  Consider our list from yesterday, how did the central government of Panem become successful?  What measurements can you use to demonstrate the "success" of Panem?  -  OR -  Essential Question - What circumstances lead to unrest and instability in an empire? Considering the need for and use of "Tracker Jackers" from today's reading, what circumstances in Panem may make or lead the citizens to rebel?

 

• 

Mind Power Of Divergent

Mind Power Of Divergent

 

I have only recently found interest in reading science fiction books, and so far Divergent is my favorite.  Veronica Roth has definitely perfected the idea of catching her reader’s attention. The details are so planned out, making every action more intense. For example, when Tris was taking the aptitude test one of the simulations was her having to choose how to react towards a vicious dog.  The action itself made my heart race; but along with the descriptions of Tris’s feelings and the action happening around her, I could perfectly see what was going on, like a movie inside my mind.

My favorite chapter in Divergent is chapter twenty. Tris is getting her second fear simulation; she is in a tank that was slowly filling up with water. Before the simulation started, she was freaking out because the last simulation she was in stayed in her mind and was haunting her.  I like this chapter because it is when she really starts to understand her divergence. I think this was the perfect simulation to show the reader what a divergent is. The way that the simulation could be so obviously manipulated really helped us understand that she was one of the only people who could.  One of the quotes from the book that really led me through to understanding was, “We walk quickly down the hallway, and then I stop, pulling my arm back. He stares at me in silence. He won’t give me information without prompting. “what?” I demand, “You’re divergent,” he replies.“ The contents of this chapter are important because when Tris finds out she is divergent, they told her it was dangerous and never to tell anyone. Now, because Four knows, she has to learn how to contain it.

I think the setting of this story also was one of the more important aspects, along with the saying “Faction before blood.” Factions are the area in the city that a person belongs to. In Divergent there are five factions, Amity that believes in peace, Dauntless that believes in bravery, Abnegation that believes in selflessness, Candor believes in honesty and Erudite that believes in Knowledge.  I think the setting is affective because different factions have different beliefs. When it describes how the faction transfers are having a hard time adjusting to their new faction, it really shows how strong the beliefs are. It also helps me understand how different one faction is from the other.

Overall this book left me wanting more. The feelings that come with this book are so strong, some of the feelings I have never felt as strong as when I was reading this book.  So remember, if you are divergent, try to contain it.

The Book Hunter - Book Review of I Am Number Four by Sunny Lee

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is a science fiction novel. The main character named John Smith is a Garde (or an alien) from the planet called Lorien. He was sent to earth when he was a child with eight other Gardes to escape from the invading Mogadorians who destroyed the planet Lorien. They all never had real names, so they were each assigned a number (John was given number four). John was very young when he was sent to earth so his guardian Henri protected him up until now. John is beginning to develop legacies, in his case: telekinesis (ability to move objects at a distance by mental power) and power to transmit plasma through his hands. Earth was meant to be a safe place for training and for getting ready to fight back the Mogadorians because of what they did to Lorien back in history. But the Mogadorians followed them and are killing the Gardes one by one. ”They killed Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.” Will John make it? This might be the end of his life.

In this dangerous yet frightening story, John, a young alien boy struggles to survive from the Mogadorians on the planet earth and activates two important messages. The first one is don’t trust others, no matter how close you are with them; rather, trust yourself. In the story, some Mogadorians are disguised as humans that pretend to help John until one night John sneaks into this house and finds out that they were in disguise. The second one is to never give up on yourself, don’t stop, in fact sometimes help will come to you. When John went in that house and started fighting the disguised Mogadorians, he ended up being cornered when suddenly his guardian Henri came to rescue. The author captures the reader’s attention by putting some great humor and detail in helping us visualize each moment in the story. Also, after parts of big climaxes, he always puts in another big conflict that we would have never thought of, but keeps the story going smoothly. The story is very straightforward, it gives many visualizing details but never puts any unnecessary text.

I Am Number Four is full of action and danger. It is a wonderful novel to read for those who enjoy action, danger, fighting and maybe even those who love mystery! I Am Number Four shows feelings of a boy that has been wanted and has been chased ever since he was a child. I think this book is good for ages 11 and up. This book is exciting and worth reading.

Never Ever Give Up

One False Note is a Fantasy and Adventure book written by Gordan Korman. This enthralling story maps out the life of young orphans Amy and Dan Cahill as they venture to find the 39 clues left behind from their dead grandmother in order to attain an unknown prize. Deciding that there was nothing left to lose in their life, the two orphans compete against their own family relatives in order to find all the clues, but will they be able to withstand the brutal attacks of their cousin competitors?

The message of this book teaches me a very valuable lesson, to never give up. Sometimes the character’s determination starts to diminish but the last inspiring words of their grandmother keep their spirits up. The author’s story map is thrilling. One moment they are safe the other they are trapped in their competitor’s ship, threatened to be killed!

The story mountain is a wiggly path filled with invigoration, excitement and suspense. “They were cornered, from the floor Dan pulled up a hockey stick wrapped in brown paper. At that moment, Eisenhower Holt took a running leap at the door. With a teeth-jarring crash, the hatch splintered loose and slammed into Dan. The boy went down hard. The stick clattered to the floor. Blinded by rage, Amy snatched the stick and broke it over Eisenhower’s head. The big man absorbed the blow, wobbled, and collapsed on a mailbag. The victory was short-lived. Holts stormed the car. Madison Holt grabbed Amy by the collar. Reagan Holt yanked Dan upright. They were caught.” This paragraph clearly shows the breathtaking events of this story and rapid action. This part of this story also describes the scene in detail marking that this story is well written.

The only weakness Korman has is his lack of use of good and vivid vocabulary; he should use more specific dialogue and vocabulary that would enhance the picture in the reader’s mind.

My favorite character in this book is Amy Cahill. She is a sweet and shy yet very intelligent girl. Her affection and understanding for her brother and friends is my most admirable part of her personality. I like how the author gave a loving character to an action filled story.

By- Gauri Kaushik 7-7

‘And Then There Were None' by Sung

 ‘And Then There Were None’

-Agatha Christie

The most favored Mystery writer, Agatha Christie, branded ‘Queen of Crime’ begins another thriller piece. Agatha Christie opens the beginning of the book with eight people receiving an invitation from a stranger named Una Nancy Owen. They are invited to come over to Mr. Owen’s private island off the coast of Devon, to stay with him for the weekend. The people are slightly astonished by the letter, despite that they still decide to go visit without realizing the malicious purpose behind it. The eight guests unexpectedly meet on the boat that is heading off to the island. They are surprised at each other, since they did not know anything about other visitors. None of them seem to know each other, all they have in common is a murder they have committed in the past. Beginning that evening, the guests start getting murdered one by one.

The novel was set on a private island off the coast that no one lived on. It was the perfect site ever to commit a crime, if I were the killer I definitely would have trapped the people I wanted to murder in one area where everyone is in risk of death. The smaller the area is the better it would be for the criminal. There may not be an easy way to get around suspicion, however this sort of location would be the easiest, quickest, and the most efficient way to commit murders.

The two literary devices that cover most of the story was allusion, and of course irony. Agatha Christie made an allusion to the poem, ‘Ten Little Indians.’ The crimes happened all based upon how each Indian died in the poem. Anthony Marston died of cyanide poisoning, just like the beginning of the poem, “Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; one choked his little self and then there were nine.”

In the ending when the criminal confesses that he was the murderer, it was the biggest irony of the entire book. He was one of the people I was never suspicious of, since he displayed the most determination to find out the killer. He also has a type of job that is actually opposite to crimes and murders.

Throughout the entire book Agatha Christie continuously kept me wondering about the real criminal. Every chapter was thrilling and she never left a huge clue that made me suspicious about a certain person. Agatha Christie kept me thinking till the very end of the book. This is the reason she writes the world’s best mystery books and is known as the ‘Queen of Crime.’  

 

Reading Response

Reading Response assignments should have:

*Details that show you have read the book, DO NOT WRITE A SUMMARY

*What you thought about as you read or your opinion or feelings about; the whole book, certain chapters or pages, events, characters, problems, solutions, author’s style, sense of humor or seriousness

*Support and/or explanation of your thoughts

*Quote or point out a part of the book that supports what you are saying

 



ON THE WHOLE BOOK

What genres, authors, or topics do you generally enjoy?

What do you like best about your book? Why?

How did the book make you feel? What reaction did you have? Why?

What themes are explored in the book? How does the author make his point about the theme? What reaction do you have to the theme as presented in the book?

 

CHARACTERS

Have you ever felt like any of the characters? When?

Did the characters in the book remind you of other people or yourself?

How would you have reacted given the exact circumstances?

How do you feel about the characters? With which character do you identify most closely? The least? Why?

Which character would you like to be? Why? What personality traits do they have that you would like to have?

SETTING

Why did the author choose the time and place that he did? Was it a good choice? Why?

Did the setting remind you of anyplace? Describe and compare them.

PLOT

What is your favorite part? Why? You must support this with quotes and explanations.

Look at the beginning. Why did the author begin the way he did?

What is your reaction to the ending? Does it work? Why?

MORE READING RESPONSE POSSIBILITIES

*Did this book make you laugh? Cry? Cringe? Smile? Wonder? Explain your reaction and give quotes or examples.

*What was the worst or most disappointing part of the book? Why?

*What is the author saying about life or living with this book?

*What parts of the book seem most believable? Most unbelievable? Why?

*What do you think might happen if the book continued? What would happen next?

*Do you think the title fits the book? Why or why not?

*Comment on the tools the writer uses. Comment on dialogue, description, imagery, word choice, and style.

*Select the five moments of greatest tension or conflict in the novel.

*What questions would you most like answered by a character after reading the novel? Answer them.

*Is what you are currently reading/viewing or studying challenging you in any way? In what way?

*What is puzzling you as you are reading at present? (About the author, characters, ideas etc.) What specific questions are being raised by what you are reading?

*Can you make any connections between what you are reading/viewing and everyday life, history, situations in the world, any other subject you are studying or your own life?

*Write down 3 questions you have for an author of a text you are reading/viewing/studying at present. Explain why you have asked those questions and what you think the answer would be.

*What are you learning about yourself from what you are reading/viewing/studying? (Your own values, attitudes and beliefs)