SSR (Late) Zachary Smith - Ms. Buys

I've finished reading the book "Touching Spirit Bear". It's been a great book to read. I liked the fact that Cole seemed to have realized he had anger issues and accept that he needed to work on that and make himself a better person. Cole wanted Peter to come to the island so that he could heal from the bad things that Cole did to him. Peter did come to the island. It seems like Peter and Cole would have developed a friendship after all that they'd been through. The book was very easy to read and very interesting. I would never want to have anger issues the way Cole did as it seemed it got him into quite a bit of trouble.

Zachary Smith Topic Of The Week - Economic News

My topic of the week is from the webpage http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/business/know-what-youre-protesting-economic-view.html?ref=economics. The title of the article I read is: "Know What Your Protesting". The article is written by Gregory Mankiw. This article is about an Economics college teacher at the school Harvard. Since there have been many movements with "occupy" such as occupy Wallstreet and other places as protestors have been protesting things in our economy. This teacher had students protest and walk out of his economics class. The students felt this class was bias and symbolized increased econimic inequality in our country. The teacher was more upset that his students were very poorly informed rather than be upset that they walked out of his class. Sometimes people just jump on the bandwagon because they feel that it's what everyone is doing. That isn't right. The article was very good and informative.

One thing I find interesting about this book is the ending. The end is his biggest fight against a really strong kid from another town over. People were real doubtful on Sonny winning this fight since the other kid was undefeated. His coaches wanted him to quit boxing and not fight this kid, but he decided to anyways. I think that is why the book is called the Brave. This was a real interesting book and this is what makes it interesting to me.

Eddie Darling 1st period

SSR - Zachary Smith - 11/13/2011 - Touching Spirt Bear - Mr. Kenealy (Ms. Buys)

I am reading "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. The story is centering on Cole being banished to an island because of the bad things he has done. He has encounters with a "Spirit Bear" and sometimes those are very gruesome. He's fought the Spirit Bear, been attacked by the Spirit Bear, and is learning to understand the meaning behind all of this. Cole has been alone so long and is feeling he's learned his lesson and ready to return home, however the two other characters in this point of the book, Edwin and Garvey, feel he needs more of a lesson before leaving. Cole has to understand and learn to deal with his anger issues. He needs to understand why he has them, and what he did to Peter was wrong. That is why he's being punished.

Ttyl

Kristyn Oliver
Ttyl
Lauren Myracle
What do you find intresting about your book?

What I find intresting about my book is the format of how it is written. The way this book is wrrtn is in texting or instant messaging format. I find thing this intresting because texting is something I do everyday and when you find a book written this way it makes the book fun to read. The book is given me more motive to read because the way it is written makes me want to keep reading. Also, what makes the book intresting is that this book is about teenage girls who have drama in their lives, just like in every other teenagers life. This is what makes my book intresting.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This is for the post that was late for last week). Well so far in my book i like that Henry (from
the future) travels back to the past of Clare's childhood and he meets her several times and they fall in love. But when Henry and Clare meet in the present he has not yet visited her childhood because that was Henry's future self, so Clare knows all about Henry. But Henry thinks hes just meeting her for the first time. I thought that was interesting because its an odd twist to the
story. It can get confusing at times but its interesting to read. Its just such a unique book.
-------Rachel Costello period 1

Zach Smith - Mr. Kenealy (Ms. Buys) SSR 11/5

I'm continuing to read the story "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. Cole who has been abused and tormented other people is now being tormented by a Spirit Bear on a deserted island. Cole has no food to eat so he has to find a way to survive. He eats a mouse and other gross things but is basically starving. He realizes the bear isn't going to kill him even though it's fought with him a lot. Cole is beginning to realize that if he is ever going to live through this, he needs to change the way he treats people. Even though he's been abused, it's not right for him to have beaten the boy up from school. Cole continues his stuggle on the island.

Zach Smith - SSR 10/30 - Mr. Keneally (Ms. Buys)

I'm reading "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. Cole is the main character and has been abused and gotten into a fight and is now sent to an island for punishment from the court system. He met a white bear that is who is referred to as the Spirit Bear. Cole had a violent attack with the Spirit Bear. While Cole was at home and in his normal activities, he was the one that was in charge, as in being a bully to people and having anger issues. Now the Spirit Bear is the one that's overpowering Cole. This book is very interesting to read.

JOE ALONZO 1st period

My book is the BIG FIELD, by Mike Lupica. I really don't find anything interesting about my book. I mean I'm interested in it but I cant say an interesting thing about it. I can relate to the book and all. Like how the main character Darryl took over some positions, I did that a few times. That is about the only interesting thing to me. So the character is interesting to me. Only because I can relate to him and he is interesting like me. So that is what I find interesting about my book.

Monster by Steve Myers by Quassim Winters SSR P1

My book is called Monster. It was authorized by Steve Myers. The point of the story as if it were a movie. Steve Harmon is the main character and he tells the story from first person and then to a movie. I think the point of view should stay the same because its an interesting way to read a novel. In some parts its told as a play, but overall is basically a movie setting

The Time Trvelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Travelers Wife is told in two point of views. Its told by Clare who knows Henry from the future and Henry who is from the past. He thinks hes meeting Clare for the first time now but really they have known each other forever. Clare knows all about Henry and knows what they will be like and what will happen in the future. While Henry is finding out about the future before it even happened. Its a good book and I think Its told in two point of views so you get the feel of the past and the present at the same time. Its a good book and I recommend it to every one.

----------Rachel Costello period 1

SSR Dean Khater Per.3

My book is Holdup

The ponit of view of my story is very important. IT is told by First person, but told by alot of different people. The ponit of view is very important because it shows the characator feelings and what they think. Espically in my book since it is talked by multiple charatactors is helps alot. I like the way it is told because it tells alot. This also portarits alot too about the plot.

Forrest Gump

Kristyn Oliver
Period one
Forrest Gump
By: Winston Groom

My story is written in first person point of view. I think that this story actually benifits by being written in first person. I think this because in the story Forrest talks about all of his adventures threwout time. This would not be the same if it was written in any other point of view besides first person to me it would not make sense. It is more interesting when someone tells a story using the words I, we, or us. I would not like it to be told in any other point of view because to me it would not make any sense.

Point of View-My Sister's Keeper

My point of view is being told from first person omniscient. I like this view, because it applies to this novel really well, and you need more than just one person's thoughts to make it complete. If the novel would be from a different point of view, it would still be the same story, but the reader wouldn't get it. Having first person omniscient suits this novel. This point of view makes an impact, because if this book were written in a third person point of view, how would the reader know the character's thoughts, then?

-Claudia Komperda, per.1 Ms. Buys

A kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

My story is in two different point of views. In some chapters Talia tells the story and in some chapters its Jack. I think if only one of them told the story it wouldn't be as power full. The story's point of view is power full because its interesting to see how 300 year old Talia sees the world compare to modern day Jack. Talia sees every thing as pretty and innocent but Jack sees things as mean and cruel. Talia trusts the world but jack doesn't. There point of views are completely different so it makes the story powerful.

Tony Swigart Ms Buys Period 1

My story is called The Will Of The Empress. The authors name is Tamora Pierce. I think that the thing that keeps you reading this book is the way the setting is explained. The setting is placed with great detail without sparing anything. For example, "He leaned there, a fleshy-faced, powerfully built man in his mid-fifties, dressed in blue summer cotton of her weaving and stitching." The story helps you picture whats going on and what the people look like. That is what makes the book more powerful.

Radwan Soos

My book is The Falcon Malesters. The most Powerful part of my book is the plot. There was a waiter, freinds with a dwarf. That dwark had choclates that is a key to five million dallors in diomonds. People literally killed fo it. The dwarf had the answer and told to the waiter and only the waitor. The dwarf was killed. Dectectives went to the waitor and asked how you now the dwarf, and for the secert. By the time she got to the secert. By the time she was ganna say the first word she was interupted by anthor waitor. The other waitor said there someone with flowers at the door. So she told the detectives shell be back, but it was a trick. she was kidnapped. Thats the most powerful part of story so far.

Monster by Jonathan Kellerman Quassim Winters P1 SSR

My book is titled Monster. It was authorized by Jonathan Kellerman. I believe the setting is the strongest part of the story. It sets the tone and mood for the plot and conflict for the novel. The setting can create a picture in your mind about what's going on. It creates a gloomy and somewhat mysterious detail as the book progresses. Overall, the setting proves to be the strongest part in this story. From September 25th, 2011.

JOE ALONZO 1st period

My book is The Big Field, by Mike Lupica. I really cant say whats the MOST strongest thing about the story. But I can say a few strong things about it, like the setting, and the character. The setting, because in order to have a story you need characters and also Hutch the main character is what the story is mainly about him and the tournament that hes in. The other strongest thing is the setting. The setting, because most of the story takes place on the base ball field, also where the tournament is being played at, the ball field. So those are the two strongest things in the story, which is the character and the setting.

SSR respnse Daniel Bednarz English Ms.Buys

My book is called SLAM. The author of the book is Walter Dean Myers. The book Slam is a really good book in my opinion. This book is about Greg (Slam) who is the best basketball player in state.The most powerful thing about this book are the characters. I think it is the characters because the play a really important part in the book. They also show great exprestion on what is happening in the book. Last of all the characters set the mood and setting of the story, for example when Greg (Slam) goes to school and everyone is congraulating him that he scored the most points in the game and even his coach is very pleased about his work on the court.

Kristyn Oliver

Kristyn Oliver
period 1
Forrest Gump
By: Winston Groom

In my story Forrest Gump I think the characters make the story so powerful. I think the characters of a story make a book so powerful because without the characters you would have no book. The characters are what make everything happen in a book. Like in my book without Forrest you would have no major character to make the story happen how it does. You would only have those minor characters like Jenny to make the story when still a bunch of minor characters is not the same as one major character. the characters make the whole plot diagram because without them who would you be talking about in the book. Also, When you have a character you can imagine them but say there was no characters in your book what would you have to imagine. So this is why I think the characters make a book so powerful.

I think the most powerful thing in my book is the characters in it. The characters in the book make the plot interesting. The personalities of the differtn fighters, especiall the last fighter, change and make you keep reading. Some fighters are weak and do not have smarts compared to Sonny. There are also some where Sonnt does not think he will be able to win the fight because his adversary is too smart for him and too strong. Sonny also is a dynamic character because he goes from a confident strong willed fighter to a scared weakening boxer. This is why i believe the characters are the powerful items in this book.

Eddie Darling 1st period

Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

In my story the plot is makes the story power full because of the events in the story. The way that the author decided to make Talia 300 hundred years old is power full. If she was only 20 years old it wouldn't mean as much. And that Talia's family disowns her is power full because it makes the reader feel sorry for her and makes the reader like Talia more. There for the plot is power full.

-----Rachel Costello

Powerful Characters in Perfect Chemistry

The most powerful part of my novel is are the characters. Without the characters, the novel would not be complete, because the whole novel is about Alex and Brittany. I don't believe the setting or plot are so important, even though they do contribute to the story, the characters are what make up this whole novel.  This novel is about how Alex and Brittany fell in love. The plot may be significant in this story, but if the novel is about love, the characters are way more powerful. Any love novel only focuses on its characters, and Alex and Brittany are powerful in Perfect Chemistry.

-Claudia Komperda, per.1, Ms. Buys

Zach Smith - SSR 10/16 - English Ms. Buys / Mr. Kenealy

I've finished reading the book "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer. The last few chapters are very sad but also very good. The part of the book that bothered me most is after all the abuse that Dave suffered. It appeared that someone in authority had found out about it and was going to visit the family at their home. Before this happened. Dave's mom sat him down and basically told him how sorry she was, told him she loved him, and told him she wanted to be a good mom. It shocked me that Dave actually fell for that. But at a young age maybe anyone would. It made me feel very sad for him when I realized it was all basically a prank. Finally, the authorities did rescue Dave and this book ends with him being taken from his horrible home and situation.

Setting for The Christopher Killer

The book The Christopher Killer takes place in Silverton, Colorado. It's a small town, and because of this the killings there are very unusual, since in the book they rarely take place in small towns. The main character, Cameryn, lives with her grandmother and father by the mountains. The only high school that they have in Silverton only has about 500 stundents, from grades kindergarten to senior year. The area is usually cold, and tourists are often attracted to Silverton. The time period is modern day.

Josh Makos Ms. Buys Period 1

Setting for Perfect Chemistry

The setting in this novel takes place in Illinois. Alex lives on the south side of Chicago, near the train tracks. Most Mexican families live there. Brittany lives on the north side, near Lake Michigan. The two towns both join together for Fairfield High School. The south side is poor while the north side is rich and wealthier. This is a problem in the story, because nobody in the high school expects a white person from the north side dating a darker person from the south side.
The time period is modern-day. There are gangs and much more modern things.

-Claudia Komperda, per.1, Ms. Buys.

Characterization for Perfect Chemistry.

The main characters in my book are Alex and Brittany. There are two because the novel tells both of their stories at the same time. Alex has a reputation of being in a gang and being tough. Alex has dark hair and he works part-time at his uncle's car repair shop. He's poor and lives in the south side of Chicago. Also, he's a senior at his  high school. Although he's very smart, he tries to cover up that he's not. His father was shot when Alex was six, so now he takes care of his family. He loves his family, and they're really close to him too. 

Brittany lives in the north side of Chicago and is rich. But even though in high school she's a perfect, pretty, and blond cheerleader, her life at home tells a different story. She has a sister who is mentally retarded, and Brittany loves her a lot. Her mother also has anxiety attacks, and her father cares about work too much. Brittany tries to hold up a reputation that she's perfect, but she has lots of insecurities as well.

-Claudia Komperda, per.1 Ms. Buys.

SSR response Daniel B period 1

My book that i am reading is called SLAM. This book is really good in my opinion. The setting of the story is modern day. The story takes place in, a school, home, Ice's house, and basketball court.The physical surroundings of the story are a basketball court, school,house and streets.The main character of the story is Slam(Greg Harris) he like being called Slam because the palyers call him Slam by the way he plays basketball. He is the best basketball player in state and he really wants to make it to the NBA. The only thing that is trubling Greg is his grades. His mother got Greg a totor but he doesnt want one. The only peson that he wants to help him is Matisha a girl that he really like in school. He says that she is really pretty and is really intellegant.

Kristyn Oliver

Poppy by Avi
Kristyn Oliver
Period 1

My book is called Poppy. The book takes place by Glitter Creek in the Dimwood Forest. Poppy says," The stars are glowing but im veiled in darkness by this deep forest." The book also states that,"He looked at a grey house built by hand, where farmer Lamount lives in the Old Orchard." The main place in this story is near the old oak tree. I don't think thank the setting of this story makes the story better or adds to the story because I think since its fiction the setting of the story does not really matter. I think the characters add to the storyy. The only type of book that I think the setting adds to is a Non-fiction book.

The Falcon Malteser by Radwan Soos

The setting of my book is France. It is in an old town were they have a famous restaurant called grannies. All the workers or old people the time period is modern time. I know this because they had a box of chocolate that had a label the said best buy Aug 2006 and the background relates to modern tome. There is some man made structures like stores and clubs in my story.

The setting of my book "the Brave" is set in a town in California. Most of the book is set either inside a gym or outside with others while Sonny is training. It takes place in present day and Sonny is surrounded by a boxing atmosphere. Always being surrounded by this atmosphere, i think it makes for good suspense and anticipation for his last fight. Most of the people in his town play a role in the setting because they are always surrounding Sonny.

Eddie Darling 1st period

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

This story takes place in the early 1900's. It takes place at a circus, with many train cars and people. They have lots of work men and performers. Every one is crowded into train cars and its very tight. They travel all over to many cites all around. They have tents that they set up at every stop. Right now in my story they are in Joliet collecting more performers and an elephant. But soon the circus will be on the road again.

------Rachel Costello

Courtney Brown Period:1 TTFN By:Lauren Myracle

I am reading TTFN now. It is a sequel to the other book I was reading called TTYl.So it is the same story line. But in this book the three best friends Maddie,Angela, and Zoey are now not going to be together all of their high school years. The character I'm going to do the traits is on Angela. I pick Angela because she is they main reason hey won't be together all 4 years of high school. Her parents decided to move to California. Angela is probably the biggest drama queen now. So far when her parents are in that divorce mood but they aren't divorced she's busy thinking they are buying her a car! also she is very dramatic when things don't happen her way. For example Maddie couldn't go to her house to watch "A Cinderella Story" with Chad Micheal Murray and she flipped out at her for that on thing!

SSR Zach Smith - English Ms. Buys 10/9

I'm reading the book called "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer. I've been reading this book and I'm finding it so sad and hard to read. I do not understand how anyone could call their child "the boy" as David is often referred to in this book. David's mother abused him in many different ways. She withheld food from him, she burned him, she also stabbed him. In the later chapters I've read that she tried to drown him. It seems you would hate someone for treating you like this. One day after years of abuse. David's mother was being very nice to him. She talked sweet and told him she loved him. David fell for that trap. A social services lady came to the house and talked to both David and his mother. David seemed to think that his mom had changed. When the worker asked him about the abuse. He denied it. He seemed to think his mom loved him again. He was wrong. That was a very sad part of the book to read.

SSR - Z Smith 10/2 - English Ms. Buys

I'm reading a book by Dave Pelzer called "A Child Called It." The book is so hard to read because the abuse of this poor kid is just wrong. I'm reading where the mom stabs the boy named David in the stomach and he's sent to the garage to let his wound heal on its own. Somehow David's wound does heal. I would think he would have died. He did not die. His mother treated him more horribly as each chapter goes on. His mother made him clean the bathroom with a mix of ammonia and bleach. This is a deadly mixture. David would be forced into a small room to clean and be choked of breath to the point of near death. I cannot understand how someone can treat a child or another person like this - ever.

Tony Swigart Period 1 Buys

The book I am reading is The Graveyard book. Written by Neil Gaiman.( I like this book but it is confusing, I am probably just going to get a different one. ) The character traits I would give to Mrs. Owens are Kind and Brave. During the parts I read, She decided to take "Nobody Owens" as her own child. To take care of and give "the freedom of the graveyard". She is Brave because she had to talk to spirits to be allowed to keep the baby in the graveyard. They said she could not support the child but she stood by it.

Daniel Bednarz period 1 Buys

The book that I am reading is Kick. It is a good book in my words. The main character of the story is Bill Kelly. He is a really good soccer player. He is the best player on the team. Two character traits that i would give Bill would be athletic and brave. I would say both of these beacause hes good at soccer and he is brave by helping a girl out from a car crash. He said that it was his fault that she got in the car crash and he got all the blame then the girl forgave him but never told him her name. She was really quiet she never even said a word to the police, Bill was doing all the talking. Those are the character traits that i would give Bill.

My main charecter, Sonny is a confident person. He feels like he's confident during his fights. In his first fight he knows he can beat his opponent which shows he is not afraid and he will not back down. Also, in his training and his time at the gym, he gets stronger and starts to become more not afraid of some of the guys he has to verse in his fights. The more fights he wins also, the more expierence he has and the more confident he gets.

Eddie Darling 1st period
The Brave by: Robert Lipsyte

The Christopher Killings

The main character in my story is very confident in what she's doing even if she's not completely sure on what it is. An example of this is when they were doing an autopsy and she has only read books about forensics. She told her dad that she could do it even though she wasn't completely sure she could to herself. She is also very skinny. Sometime in the beginning of the story a fork fell through the counter in the kitchen and the wall. She could fit through enough because she was so skinny.

Josh Makos

Monster by Jonathan Kellerman Quassim Winters Per1

My book is called Monster. Its by Jonathan Kellerman. One the characters in the novel is Claire Argent. Clarie has been known to be quiet and hard-working. Her co-workers have told this to numerous others. Including the detectives, when being questioned by Clarie's death. Claire was known to never mess with anyone. She had no enemies whatsoever.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristyn Oliver
Crank By Ellen Hopkins
Period 1

My book is Crank by Ellen Hopkins. The main character in my book is Kristina Georgia Snow a tennager with a daring personality.When I think of Kristina Snow I think of two main traits rebellious and is very jelious person. I think Kristina is rebellious because when she goes to her dads house for the summer she does not do anything she is told to. For example, when she left for her dads house her mom told her not to do anything stupid like do drugs which her dad does. Guess what happens she starts to do drugs even when her mom said not to. Also, she is rebellious because when she commes home from her dad's house at the end of the summer she asks her mom to get a tattoo and her mom says NO! But what does Kristina do she gets a tattoo of a heart on her hip. She does not listen to what she is told to do. Another thing she does that makes her rebellious is that she trys things that are illegal. Kristina trys crystal meth. This makes her rebellious because She is doing things that she could get in alot of trouble if she is caught. Kristina is also jelious. She is jelious because she starts to like this guy named Buddy but he has a girlfriend so kristina trys to break them up because she is jelious that his girlfriend has something that she does not have. Also, she is jelious because when other people have meth and she dosent she goes physco and is raging with jeliously because they have her precious crystal meth that she does not have. Kristina gets very mad when people have things that she dosnt like guys and her precious drugs.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My main character is Jacob Jankowski. I think he is brave. Jacob is brave because he jumped right on a moving train when he was on the ground. Most any one would be too scared that they would hurt them selves jumping on a moving train. He is also brave because he talked to the girl he likes even though he was nervous. I know I can't talk to the guys I like when I'm nervous. I think Jacob isn't scared of anything. He does things that no one else would do and he does them easily and without fear.

-------Rachel Costello period 1

late work. kristyn oliver

Period 1

This is from the week when we had to do the character traits. My book is Crank by Ellen Hopkins. The main character is Kristina Snow. She is a thin, fit girl who is just like a nornal tennager. She wears nornal clothes and she likes school. Until she goes to her dads house she becomes a different person she becomes a party girl who wears short skirts, low v necks. Her hair is a darkish brown color. She says," It's not like im addicted to partying and boys and drugs i just think its fun." This shows how she acts in the story. She does a strong drug that her dad showed her called crystal meth. She foes that with her dad. Kristina thinks ," What if my mom finds out what will she think?" This is all about my character Kristina Snow.

Papertowns and Characterization

The main character and narrator of my book "Papertowns" is Quentin Jacobsen. Quentin lives in Florida with his parents who work as psychologicals. Quentin cares a lot about his friends, but he always forgets that he shouldn't be expecting them to be just like him. This is his character flaw, and he tries to work on it by accepting his friends for who they are. Also, Quentin thinks mostly about his neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelmen, and what happened to her. Margo is all Quentin ever thinks about anymore, and he is looking so hard for clues to look for her and where she might be. Quentin is a good student at school.

-Claudia Komperda, per. 1

Summary of Reading

My book is called The Deer Hunter by E.M. Corder. In this book there are a group of friends who all work together. Steven, one of the friends, is getting married. The men go hunting before Steven gets married. They wanted to spend their last moments with Steven before he got married. At the wedding there is a man dancing with Stevens wife and feeling her. This is making Steven very mad. He hits his wife instead of the guy doing it.

aleigha przybycien 1st period

The book i am reading is Old Yeller by:Fred Gipson. the book is about this boy and his brother likeing with his mom wile his dad is out on the cattle drive. and the oldest boy is stuck taking care of the house. the younger brother is always causing trouble. the this yellow bog comes along and the oldest brother does not want to keep it bot the youngest brother does. the older brother already had a dog so the mom lets the younger brother keep the dog. so the rest of the story is the the thing that happen to the family and the dog. it also explains how they save each other and the adventurers of their lives.

Take Two By:Julia DeVillers&Jennifer Roy

I just satrted a new book and I'm pretty far in the book. My new book is called Take Two by Julia DeVillers&Jennifer Roy.It is about these two twin sister Emma and Payton.Payton is the "girly" one, she likes to keep up with fashion and new rends like shoes and hair styles and purses.But Emma is more"sporty", she likes to play sports and she doesn't really cares as much about keeping up to date in te fashion world as her siter Payton.But they decide to switch lives. They notice it isn't goes out too well, so they "promise" not to do it ever again.

Courtney Brown Period:1

Tony Swigart- Period 1 SSR Ms. Buys

This week I am reading The Graveyard Book. The author is Neil Gaiman. I read about "The man Jack" who went into a house and killed two people. He went to the childs room to finish the job and kill the last family member. The child however was not in his room and had snuck out before he could get to him. The infant child went to the graveyard on the other side of the street and was spotted by a husband and wife. They decided to take care of the child as the ghosts of its parents asked them to. He was named "Nobody Owens" and the man that went after him came to a dead end unable to find the child in the grave yard.

Josh Makos

In my book that I just started reading, a girl that is 17 years old wants to have a career in forensics. Her grandma wants her to be a lawyer, doctor or anything else besides forensics because she thinks that it will mess with a young girls mind. The type of forensics she wants to get into is finding evidence of how a person died. She asks her dad if she could be his assistant because he does that job. The grandma gets pretty mad, but he says yes. The first case that they go on, she ends up finding hidden evidence that her dad wouldn't have found otherwise. I forgot the name of my book :/

My SSR book is called the Brave. Sonny Bear, a boxer is entering a fight against a tough opponent. The crowd considers him the hometown fighter and they want him to win the bout. He starts off really slow and is losing the fight to his advisary, Jake. His trainer keeps yelling at him to throw jabs at Jake and finish him off. As the crowd starts to think Sonny is going to lose, things take a turn and he starts to fight back and he ends up winning his first fight.

Eddie Darling 1st period

SSR response Daniel Bednarz period 1 Ms Buys

My book is called Kick. The author of the book is Walter Dean Myers. This book is really interesting. The book is about a boy that is playing baseball but wants to play soccer. His father wants him to play baseball but he is way better of playing soccer till his baseball coach tells his father that he is really good at soccer. He plays soccer for his school and he is the best player on the team till he gets ingured. His team is now in last place in the coferance. When he returns he isnt good as he used to be till he gets better. When the season is over he is named best player of the year.

Monster Quassim Winters Per.1

My book is called Monster by Jonathan Kellerman. Its a pretty good book so far. Currently, the detcetives are interrogating other suspects in the murder case. So far, they have found nothing or any information needed for the case. Not even from the victim's family. As the search for the killer goes on, it gets more difficult for the agents. With no lead or clue, it'll be a miracle if they manage to catch he or she.

Kristyn Oliver ~

My book is Crank by Ellen Hopkins. It is about a girl named Kristina a teenager who is a very well behaved girl. Her parents are divorsed so it is her fathers summer to see her. So she traveled to New Mexico to see her father. 4 When she arives in New Mexico she sees what her father has become a drunk. Her father didnt care what Kristina did when she was at his house. One day her father showed Kristina this boy that he is friends with his name is Adam but they call him Buddy. Buddy and Kristina's dad give Kristina a new name too and that is Bri. He says she needs to have a new name for her new personality. They want her to change from that good school girl to someone who is so different, a girl that is a party girl. That is all i read this week since it is a new book.

Papertowns by Claudia Komperda

What I read about is basically this 17-year old boy Quentin, who is our narrator of the novel, explaining to the reader about his next-door neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelmen. They live in Florida, and in May of their senior year, Margo comes into Quentin's bedroom through his window and asks him to help her get revenge for her cheating boyfriend and her fake friends. Quentin always liked Margo and thought she was this fantastic person. A couple days after they pulled an all-nighter, Margo runs away and wasn't in school for a couple of days. Quentin gets concerned and decides to check her room. He finds many interesting things in there, and they lead to clues. His friends help him, but they are also focused on their high school prom, which is coming up. But Quentin only wanted to take one girl, and she was gone.

-Claudia Komperda

Beyond the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Every one is back in school at Trinity and Archie is up to his old tricks again. The new kid Ray Bannister from cape, is the new person of interest. Archie all ready has his "assignment" for Ray. when the bishop comes to Trinity Archie has a plan. No one will be at the auditorium. except ray Bannister. They all will ditch school, and they will ditch because no one and absolutely no one defines Archie. the punishment, Emile Janza's fist.

-----Rachel Costello period 1

Twilight by Stephaine Meyer

JOE ALONZO 1st period

There are only a few characterization traits in my book. Some characterization traits are that Danny loves to play baseball. He is shy and is half white and half Mexican. He lives in the suburbs. He is skinny and tall. He is a pitcher in baseball. He doesn't like to get into or start any trouble. he has a toned body, as it says in the 3rd chapter. His new good friend is Uno. there really inst any other traits about him it just says a lot of things about baseball. So that is all for this week, next week should be a new book.

Mexican White Boy, Matt de la Pena

Doormat by Kelly McWillams period 1

My book is Doormat by Kelly McWillams. The main character, Jamie is caring and emotional. She is caring because she never gave up on trying to help Melissa with the baby. She was always there for her even when they were mad at eachother. She is also emotional because she had alot going on. She was trying to help Melissa, while having a crush on Zach, and thinking constanting about her father and who he is and trying to call him. Jamie's traits are mysterious and smart. She is mysterious because she would stand up for herself when her mother was not paying enough attention to her, and when Greg yells at her for being a bad actor. She is also smart because she gave good advice and she knew who to trust, like Zach and her aunt.

"A Man Named Dave" by: Dave Pelzer is the book i am reading the character has many traits he is obedient because he would do anything anyone would ask him to do for them, like when his mother would abuse him he would just take it and not try to escape or the time his so called friends made him look bad. A other trait his he is ambitious when all odds were against him he was willing to push threw everything his mother told him to do,He was able to accomplish his life time dream of living by the river at the end of his long journey. He has a problem when he gets nevours he starts to studder and cant control how he speaks like when he is on stage of talking to other abused outa lessons. He would also think of his past alot and would up up feeling guilty for it because of his mother.

By:Carlos Romero prd.3

TTYL BY: Laure Myracle Courtney Brown 1st period

One of the main characters in my book is Zoey.She is very emotional and friendly.One example is where her little sister dropped her face wash in the toilette and she went phsyco on her little sister.Also she started crushing on a guy and he liked her, but she was obsessing over him.Zoey is very nice and supportive for her friends.She knows when she has to be there for them and no matter what she would stand up for them!

SSR response period 1 Ms Buys Daniel Bednarz

My book is called The Boy Who Dared.The author of the book is Susan Bartoletti. The main character of the book is Helumeth. Helumeth is cought for betraying the nazis. Later Helumeth is sentenceded to death. He helpes his friends by saying that it was all him and then he dies in a gas chamber. Two character traits would be brave and smart. I would have to say this because he always helped his friends and parents. He also always got good grades in school. Helumeth stuck up for his friends in court by saying that it was I that betrayed the fatherland not them. At the end of the story Helumeth dies in a gas chamber at age 17,in August, 1942.

Monster by Jonathan Kellerman Period 1 9/25/11

This from September 25th. One character trait to describe Milo is observant. Milo is very ambitious to solve a case one way or the other. When Milo is handed any evidence or files, Milo takes a very long time trying to figure if he can get a lead or some kind of hint. Especially when Milo is interrogating suspects, he asks specific detailed questions. He does this until he gets answers. Its very rare to have at a loss of words during an investigation.

Supernaturalist - Josh Makos

A character trait that I would use to describe the main character in Supernaturalist is determined. Throughout the story, one in the beginning and one in the end, he has a near death experience and uses determination to keep going. The first was when he fell off a 20ft high building and got electrocuted by a generator. The other characters in the book were amazed that he survived. The other one was when he was "wrapped" and he stayed awake long enough and broke him and the other characters out of the "wrap". To me this is the definition of a determined person, even though I only said two examples.

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/7792656-418/from-jca-to-cbs-emmy-winner-got-acting-bug-at-joliet-school.html

Extra credit ~Kristyn Oliver

This article is about A woman named Melissa McCarthy who won the best lead actress at the Emmy awards which was the topic of the week. She was from Plainfield Illinois and stars in the comedy t.v. show Mike & Molly. It talks about Melissas life and things about her and acting. I chose this for the topic Emmy Awards because she Plainfield is not that far away from Oak Lawn. To me this is significant because not alot of people from Illionis get awards at something like the Emmy awards which the whole nation watches.

In my book, Bud, not Buddy there is only one main character. Bud is a very outspoken, perservered young African-American boy. He may look like a child, but his actions make him seem like an older person. The book describes him differently than what I saw him as. I saw him as a young adult, but the book makes him like a little kid. One thing that shows me that he is a young adult is when Bud sets out on his journey to find his real father. His actions speak louder than the words that they describe him with.

Eddie Darling 1st period

Twilight by Stephaine Meyer

So far in this book, I've gotten to the part where Bella has left the cafeteria and has gone to her next class where she finds that she will be sitting next to Edward Cullen. This part of the is ironic to me because Bella was staring at Edward all lunch period and now they had to sit with each other in biology. This part of the story kinda reminds me of when i was at my old school, there was this new girl who was staring at my friends and I when we were at lunch. We ended up sitting at the same exact table for all of our afternoon classes. I was able to connect with the book at this point in the story.

LeNardo Nelson, Jr.
1st period

Characterization for The Cardturner

My character's name is Alton Richards, and he is the narrator and main character of this novel. Alton is very determined. Like when he turns his uncles' cards, Alton always thinks about what card he would have played. Alton was also learning how to play bridge because of his great-uncle. Alton was learning while he was helping his blind uncle. When his uncle Lester Trapp commented that his nephew didn't know how to play bridge or understand the game at all, Alton got internally upset, because he did in fact know how to play, he just wasn't telling or showing anyone. I think that is an act of determination, because one day when Trapp dies, he will play for him, and was very determined to be well in bridge.

-Claudia Komperda

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

In the beginning of the book Brittney acts perfect. Brittney is blond, skinny, she has small muscles and soft curls that bounce when she walks. Alex thinks she is a stuck up person who thinks shes all that. Alex thinks shes a bad person and thinks shes really selfish. He just doesn't know Brittney. Alex is strong and tall. Hes Mexican, his skin all tattooed and he has long dark hair. Alex tries to act strong and mean but really hes loving and soft and he wants a future. He wants to be better than his gang.

------Rachel Costello period 1

Maximum Ride - Angel experiment ~ James Patterson,

In the story I read about what Max, Nudge, and Fang were going to do to get Angel back from the Erasers. I thought it was interesting how the two that were left back at the house, gasman and Iggy were playing with explosives. Trying to design a extra line of back-up to prevent something like this to happen again. They were making flame based grenades as a second line of defense from the erasers. They wrote down in a journal how they were going to make them and where they would be stored without burning the cabin down. I thought the idea of using explosives was interesting because they had no kind of secure boundrys around their house to begin with. Not even an alarm.

Tony Swigart period 1

ssr book by aleigha przybycien

this week i read the book old yeller. what i read so far in the book was really good i liked it.
i liked it mainy because this book gives alot of back round information befor it realy started telling the story. as i continued to read on this week end it showed more of the happiness to the life of old yeller in the book witch i really liked this book is just one of those book i cant stop reading.

Responding to Reading

My book is called The Deer Hunter by E.M. Coreder. This weeks reading was exciting. The boys went to a friend's trailer in the middle of the woods to meet up and spend the night there and go hunting and living outdoor style. As they were all there, many other of their friends continued showing up and more and more cars showed up and there were a lot of people there and it turned into a party. I liked this weeks reading because it had a lot of action in it. It explained what they were wearing and that they changed their shoes because they were wearing nice shoes and didn't want to get them dirty. One of the boys went into one corner of the trailer and found a shotgun and loaded it and went hunting. The book is always good and gives great detail of whats going on.

ssr betty stopka period 1

im reading Doormat by Kelly McWilliams. This week I read interesting things. While Jamie and Melissa were discussing what they were going to do with Melissa's pregnancy, Zach over heard. Jamie and Melissa freaked out when they heard what happened. But then Zach said he wouldn't tell anyone about it and he offered to help. They all went to a clinic together and tried to get help. So far that is where I am in the book. The book helped me realize that my friends and I will stick together and help each other out, and how to appreciate my friends help.

My book is called Bud, not Buddy. I just finished it a couple days ago and I really liked it. Its about a little orphan child who is determined to find his dad since his mother died a long time ago. He learns that his father plays in a jazz band in Grand Rapids and he wants to try and be with him. I really liked this book because it keeps you in suspese since there were so many times where he thought he found him, but it wasnt really him. It was also a funny story because he didnt like people calling people him Buddy. He wanted people to call him Bud. He finally found his father and ended living with him.

Eddie Darling 1st period

ttyl By Lauren Myracle

My new book is called ttyl.I just started the book so I am still trying to undersand the book. But in my opinoin I like it so far, because it is in instant message form.Also it uses text "language".It's about three best friends Angela, Maddie, and Zoey's first day of 10th grade.Suprisingly I can understand every single thing they say.Even though when my friends use text message kanguage I can't understand them.


Courtney Brown Period:1

Supernaturalist

My book is called Supernaturalist. Since I don't have the book, I forgot the author's name. I just finished the book, and it was kind of a surprise because the leader of the group, Stephan died. The whole book was enjoyable and there was only a few slow parts but pretty much every book has those. I haven't read that many books before, but this one is my favorite. It really showed how orphanages are bad (even though the one in this book is obviously much much worse) but it made me have a feeling of "that's unfortunate" to orphans.

Mexican White boy

The Book Mexican White Boy, I don't really like it no more. It seems to me that the book has a lot of spelling grammar. Which that makes it hard for me to read. The author kind of makes me feel lost in the book. The story isn't getting my attention, like it was when I first started reading. I am going to find a new book coming Monday. Hopefully I get a book that gets my interest this time so I have more to write about. But I don't Like this book.

Joe Alonzo,(First Period)

second chances

What I got out of my book is that everyone deserve a second chance no matter the back round,financial situation. Because in the book dope sick Lil j is coming to his Cross roads where he will finally choose if he will give up from the cops. When his friend kelly some how took lil j problems as his own and took the bullet that was meant for him. With all this said secind chances can come in many different ways

Connecting to Reading

My book is called The Deer Hunter, written by E.M. Corder. In this weeks reading the boys were going to the VFW to spend time with their family for the last time before they got sent out to the Vietnam war that they were enlisted to fight in. While they were at the VFW, as I was reading i kept imagining the banquet hall I went to for my great aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary. I drove 3 hours to see the family that I pretty much never even met, I was 2 the last time I saw them. It was really nice to meet all of them again, and this time I will actually remember them. The way the author was explaining the VFW, such as the color and surroundings, reminded me exactly of the hall I went to for the anniversary.

SSR Ms Buys Daniel B Period 1

The book that i am reading is ''The boy Who Dared''. This book is really interesting. It also has a lot of details and it is also about World War 2. I really like to read about World War 2 books they never get borig for me. I like this book because it is about a boy that is trying to find out what Hitler is trying to do that is leading to all these wars. The boys name is Hulumeth, he is german. I found out that Hulumeth is a really strong and brave man, he never gives up. When Hulumeth was in fifth grade he knew that Hitler would do something really bad which he did. I also think that Hulumeth will join the german army so he can find out more information about Hitler by asking the soilders.

Stargirl Kristyn Oliver

Im reading the book Stargirl and overall it is an absolutley amazing book. I like that when I read I get thinking and get a picture of this girl in my mind. I think about how different and out of the ordinary this girl is. When I read about her in the book I always think what happens if a girl like this came to my school. What happens if she played the ukelele and sang happy birthday to everyone in the school. What if she dressed different or she carried a rat around school. Would the people in my school treat this girl the same way as these people in her school treat her? When I read I love getting a picture in my head. Something I dislike is the way people treat Stargirl in the story. I dislike this because I think everyone should be treated the same no matter who the person is or what they look like. This treat this girl like she is a clown at the carnival and I really dont feel it is right but overall this book is amazing and i love it.

SRS Assignment - Sep 17 2011 - Zachary Smith - English Ms. Buys

The book I'm reading this week is "A Child Called 'It'", by Dave Pelzer. I've never read about abuse as bad as what Dave Pelzer had to endure. In chapter 1 it is basically at the end of the story of the first book in his series. It begins with his normal abuse situation at home, and ends with his school intervening and taking him away from his horrible home. Chapter 2 begins the story from the beginning. Its amazing and sad to read how sweet and kind Dave's mom used to be when he was small. Then a terrible change happened. Dave endured years of abuse. In the beginning Dave was punished by being told he was a 'bad boy', and having to stand in front of mirrors or in the corner. He was made to do chores that no one else (his two other brothers) had to do. So far the book is very sad and I can't ever imagine this kind of pain.

The book I'm reading called Monster is a good book. I like the plot and the suspense of the story. I also like the investigations in the book such as murder or robbery. I dislike some of the characters in the story such as one of the detectives. He's too picky about the evidence and the partners he works with. I like the part when they first discover the body in the back of the trunk. The details were specific, yet gruesome.

summery ssr star girl (make up)

I read the book star girl for ssr. and this book was about a new girl that moves and starts at this new school. no one likes her and or talks to her because she dresses different then them. they all think this new girl in there school is fake and they make fun. the new girl dose some really odd thing wile she is at the school. like she would play a ukulele daring lunch and sing happy birthday to people she didn't even know.  as the story progresses she joins the cheer-leading team and everyone starts to notice her in a different way. she becomes more liked and she starts to get friends. star girl changes a in a view point wise. i mean the view of her changes in the story but really she didn't change at all she just acted like her self.
                    By:Aleigha Przybycien

"A Man Named Dave" by Dave Pelzer I really like this book like his many other stories like "A Child Called It" and "Lost Boy". Why I liked it you may wonder is because it isn't like no fairy tale or happy story were everything is happly ever after, It's a story about life that many other people have or are going threw and wouldn't ever expect it. The story teaches you many lesson's like you should never take anything for granted when someone else can be going threw something way worst then you are going threw. I also can relate to this story in way's i rather keep personal, but the story show's the sad truth that their are parents that don't care or mistreat their kid's many people should be aware then to be blinded by lie's and ignore's of others.It is a very inspireing story when a young boy learns to fight for himself and stay postive that he will one day make it out alive and become someone in life, When it looked like he was going to be killed at any point his mother wanted to but he survived.

By Carlos Romero

Pr.3

Connecting to the Book

When Mia's cat dies at the near end, I felt sad for her, because she lost all of her colors from that traumatic experience. Mia had Mango for a whole year and loved him very much. my dog didn't die, but my dad gave him away while I was on vacation. My parents both knew I loved my dog, and I also had her for a full year. I was really sad, because that meant no more walks or playing with her. I know how Mia felt. Losing your pet can be so sad. I also connect with her experience, because although it hurt once our pets were gone, we eventually moved on too.

Revaluate/Respond

When I first started reading "Cardturner" I right away knew that the author, Louis Sachar, would teach me all about playing bridge. The novel is talking about a teenage boy needing to play bridge with his great-uncle after his uncle loses his eyesight. When the character, Alton, begins to understand the game by turning his uncle's cards for him, the reader also learns. Before reading this novel, I knew nothing about bridge. Even though it's hard to understand, I'm getting there. Bridge is a card game that normally elders play. From reading this novel, I learned a lot about this card game bridge.

Teen Angst? By: Ned Vizzini 9-12-11 per. 1

This book has many new and interesting facts that you don't hear everyday. The stores that Ned tells are hilarious, like how his family always embarrasses him, or him getting into some ridiculous situation. My favorite one of all of the stories would have to be him making a movie, "attack of the Killer Turtle", and trying to get it on Cable Access. I had no clue all these stories about Ned were true! And the video he made is easily found on You Tube. This is definitely a book that I am enjoying so far.(:

Where I'd Like to Be by Frances O'Roark Dowell

This book is like all the times I go back to school after winter break, and all the kids compare every thing they got for the holidays. In this book Maddie lives in an orphanage and every time a new girl comes, they all compare the cool things they have or the story's they have know and experienced. The same thing happens at Christmas time with your friends. I got that the girls compare things because they are looking for acceptance and love. They are looking for some one to say "wow" just like I was in grade school.

-----Rachel Costello

stargirl connection

This book was awesome. i reminded me a lot of my life. one for the main connection points i found when reading this book was that when the new girl came to the school she was not liked she didn't have any friend and she was really odd.every one was think she was a fake person and no one would talk to her. but when she joined the cheer leading team every one started to see a different side of her and it started to turn out to be the best for her. that was a lot like my life because when i was in fourth grade a new girl came to the school and no one would talk to her or even look at her. the only difference from the book to my life is that a sport didn't change how people thought of her i did.the book showed how she had to work towards friendship and being excepted where in my life a person like my self changed it for her. the connections to my life from the book help me understand the book more and see it in a whole different way. By:Aleigha Przybycien

to be mona

connection:
so far, in this book i have made a few conections, but here is one. Sage, has to take on quite a few responsibilities and is thrown into the adult world, while her mother is at an unstable position. When my grandmother was sick i had to take on new responsibilities that i did not have before. Also, in the book, Sage has a calm attitude during this time and i had the same attitude, for the most part. I had extra chores to do around the house. I also had to help baby sit and help my grandmother with her dyalisis. Sage had some extra chores, like grocery shopping and cleaning up the house and getting her mother medicine.
By: lizzy Forbes

New Moon by: Stephanie Meyer

So far my book is great. It reminds of how one of my close friends really like two boys at once. She didn't know what to do so of course she picks the one i didn't want her to pick, but he was still a good guy. Don't get me wrong they weren't a vampire or a werewolf, but they both loved her. Funny thing is my friend's name was Bethany not Bella but sort a close. Beth though she was in love with her boyfriend, but in my opinion shes' too young to know what love is .She is still with her boyfriend til this day. Hopefully her boyfriend doesn't turn her into a vampire in the future.



Courtney Brown EnglishI Period:1

My connection to my book I'm reading is that every body deserves a second chance. In the book the main character is giving a series of questions like "if you can change something an event that will make your life better what would it be?" He could answer with a full statement he said short answers and small comments to get around the subject.Until the end of the book when the last confirmation he said he wants to change every event the day before because he felt that's when it all wrong.

Doormat

I am reading Doormat by Kelly McWillams. In this book, Melissa and Jamie are best friends. Melissa might be pregnant, an is desperate for help. She doesn't want to tell her mother. She excepts Jamie to help her. Jamie does not know what to do or how to help Melissa. Melissa is being stubborn and thinks that Jamie is being a bad friend because she is not helping her. Jamie tries to, and when she does, her and Melissa get into a fight and Melissa is angry at Jamie, because Jamie tells her that she should just tell her mother. I can connect to this because my friends ask me for help with difficult situations too. I don't always know what to do or how to help them. I try to give my best advice to help them make the right choice.

The angel experiment James Patterson,

In my book the only thing I can connect it to is a TV show I watch, There is nothing in real life thats anything like it. The main characters are "family" not by blood but by circumstance. No parents just together to survive, like in a show I watch called Bleach. In the soul society the souls of the dead are together there and there are to many people to find dead family or friends from the other world so they match together to continue to exist. Much like in the story where they need to stay together or they will be killed.

Tony Swigart Period 1

SSR

The book I'm reading is called Monster. The author is George Steinbaugh. I can relate to this novel because I know a video game called L.A. Noire. The game has a similar format and conflict just as the book itself. Some characteristics include a detective-like setting, many murder and crime cases to solve. I can also relate to this book from a tv show called Criminal Minds.

KristynOliver~ssr StarGirl

Im reading Stargirl by Jason Spinelli. I can connect to this book because in chapter 5 Stargirl Caraway goes to the football field to cheer on and bring pep to her football team that nobody goes to see. She is offered to join the cheerleading squid because of all of the school spirt she has. I can connect to this because I am on the cheerlading team for the school and we have to bring pep to the people in the stands just like Stargirl is doing in the book.

Connect to life Ms. Buys

Daniel Bednarz

From my story there is this boy named Helmuth. I would connect this character to my great grandma because she was in world war two just like Helmuth. My great grandma was taken by the nazis in the war. She was put in a concentration camp with many other polish and jewish people. Her husband also was taken into a concentration camp. One day her husband escaped from the concentration camp and the nazis were looking for him he came home but it was all destroyed so he hid in hay which the nazis never found him. My great grandma and prisoners were later rescued. I connected this to my story because Helmuth is also in the German war that was lead by Hitler and the nazis, and Helmuth is trying to escape from the war with his family.

Zachary Smith - SRS Assignment (Mrs. Buys)

The book I've been reading is Grendel by John Gardner.  In chapter 3 the story details Grendel's obsession with watching the humans and noticing how they interact with each other. The story also goes on to tell how these humans have wars and battles among themselves.  Grendel is fascinated at the storys and how they get to be exaggerated when the groups come together.  In reading this story, I'm trying to figure out exactly what kind of being or monster Grendel is.  It's hard to imagine but it seems to be he is some kind of cross between a wherewolf and a bear.  During chapter 4 the humans believe that Grendel is possibly a ghost or a spirit.  They dont realize it but they do speak in the same language.  My guess is that Grendel speaks low or rushed or maybe pronounces things the wrong way.  Grendel still believes the humans do not want to be kind to him. 

Zachary Smith 9/10/11 - SRS Assignment

Sept 11,2011 is the 10 year celebratesion of a very sad day in history and we praise to all the people who lost thier lifes on that day and show that we are rebuliding 9 11. It was a very bad thing but many things came from it more security in air planes and we have more proction from anything that can happen on american soil that is bad.So that day is the most saddest but learning exprince we had in history and dealing with terreots.

By:Carlos Romero

Love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl starts a sun calender on a hill and every morning before sunrise, she goes and works on it. On the winter solstice she is going to have a solstice party on the hill. but one day when she was biking to the hill she finds a house on fire! She runs to the neighbors to call 911 and then she runs in the house to see if any one is there. Stargirl is hurt very bad and has to stay in the hospital for a whole week.

That reminds me of the time when an apartment by my house was on fire. I saw in the news that a man ran in to save a boy and he died. It was very sad but the boy lived but suffered bad wounds. Its just like how Stargirl ran in to the house to save people. Stargirl and the man are both heroes in the same way.

------Rachel Costello

Zachary Smith - English Ms. Buys

I read an article on the anniversary of 9 11 and this is what I thought. The first thing I noticed was the big picture on the side; it was a picture of Uncle Saw standing with a plane crashed half way threw him. It talked a lot about the fire men and how they risked there lives to save the people inside. I think that 9 11 was a very scary day for a lot of people, a lot lost there family members. I don’t know how anyone can repay the families of the dead firefighter trying to save people during 9 11. I think that the fire men should be remembered forever. I know that for all the families that lost loved ones can never give praise to the firemen who helped so selfishly to save lives and in the end ended up losing many of their own lives. I remember that the only thing on the news for days and weeks was the 9 11 coverage. I remember my mom and our neighborhood friends going outside with flags and we called it "flagging" - to show our love and support for our country and all those that died.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/from-the-archive-blog/2011/sep/06/9-11-attacks-guardian-archive

Doormat by Kelly McWillams

I began to read Doormat, by Kelly McWillams. It started off with Jamie, and her best friend Melissa who thinks she is pregnant. Melissa is really worried and doesn't know what to do. Melissa has a dream of becoming a model. Jamie thinks Melissa should tell her parents but Melissa says that is a horrible idea. Melissa thinks she hates her mother. She hopes that Jamie can help her. Melissa is a very pretty girl, that is skinny and has a model figure. Jamie is not like Melissa, and is not very popular. They have been friends for a very long time. Melissa was afraid to buy a pregnancy test so Jamie went to Walgreens to buy it for her. She took the pregnancy test, it came out pink. She was crying in the bathroom for twenty minutes and did not know what she would do with the baby. Jamie tried to help, but it caused a big fight and Melissa yelled at her to get out of her room. That is all i read so far.

Teen Angst? By: Ned Vizzini

It's all about Cliques! Stuy's student body wasn't vicious; it was simply separated into distinct groups that hoarded goods, traveled as one, and ostracized others. This is something that my school can definitely relate to. We have the preppies, the jocks, the chess club, the band nerds(: we got it all! The category i can fit into would be the band nerds, even though it's not very nerdy at all. All it means is that we have talent that most people don't or will never be able to do! This part of the book is something any kid from any high school has to deal with. A clique is something you want to be in or are in. If your not in one then go join in one today!

Twilight

by LeNardo Nelson, Jr.

So far this book starts off pretty slow. It talks about how Bella just moved away from her mom in Arizona to upstate Washington with her father. She doesn't really like it in Washington yet but she will. If the book is at all like the movie, she will fall madly in love with a vampire named edward cullen. That is the part of the book that I looking forward to. I hope i get to that part pretty soon, because i am losing a little interest in the book already.

Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

One day, Leo is at school and the new student named Stargirl Caraway (Susan Caraway is her birth name) comes. She cheers at the football games so well they decide to make her a cheer leader. When she starts to cheer for the other team, they know shes weird. Leo is fascinated. When Stargirl tells Leo she likes her he instantly returns the feeling. They start going out and Leo notices every one at school is avoiding him. This troubles him. So he questions "Whose affection do i want more hers or theirs"?

---Rachel Costello

Star Girl By Jerry Spinelli

By Kristyn Oliver

I started to read Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli. In Arizonia there is a school named Mica Area High School. There is this guy named Leo and Kevin and they are the main characters in the story. One day at school they heard that there was a new girl at school and she was different but they didnt think anything of it until they saw her. Her name was Stargirl Caraway she was different. She didnt look like anyother girl. She had a blonde color hair and she wore a ukulele strapped to back at all times. When it was someones birthday she would sing happy birthday to them and noone really new that it was that persons birthday. When everyone in the school saw Stargirl they didnt think that was a real girl they thought the school planted her in there school for some weird reason or she was an actress. Leo and Kevin wanted to put Stargirl in the hot seat. That was all i read this week for ssr.

Falling Angels

This book is taken place during the Vietnam War. It's about a young man who meets interesting people and misses his family from day one in Vietnam. His world is now full of Vietcongs he has to worry about and his life. War is complicated and all you want to do is talk to your family. That is all is wanted from Perry ( the main character), but he also wanted to get away from it. Life changes in Vietnam is especially when you can't get away from it.

New Moon

In the beginning of the book it starts off as Bella's Birthday . She hates birthdays or any holiday where you gets presents for some reason. As everyday when she pulls up to school Edward is waiting for her in the same spot everyday.But instead of Edward running up to her saying Happy Birthday its Alice. She has planned a party for her at the Cullen's house later that night but Bella didn't know about it so of course she didn't like the idea, but she still went.Bella really hated this birthday because that means she is one more year older that Edward.When she went to the Cullen's house everyone was waiting for her in the dinning area. everything was going fine until Bella got a cut and it started to bleed.Then the whole family was on the edge of their chairs. But Jasper was the one who lost it.Luckily Edward was there to save her, but while he was saving her he hurt her even more.

Courtney Brown EnglishI 1st period

The Book i am reading is called "Monster" it is very mind blowing to see how a sixteen year old can ruin his life for 1 mistake. I can make many things from this book but the one thing this book makes me think of is many stories i hear on the new's i would recomind this book to many. It show the true side of a young man's way to freedom or to death it is heart breaking and a book like wow why would you do that type of book.It goes to show that you can be in the same spot if you do the crime but also shows what is more inportant to you in life.

By;Carlos Romero

Pr.3

Raiders Night

What's it mean to think team? It means you don't talk team business with anybody who isn't on the team. It means whatever happens inside the team stays inside. It means you can only trust a brother Raider, any questions? The book I am reading is called, "Raiders Night" like my favorite sport "football" that's exactly what my book is about. A senior group of jocks who are really feeling that this year, "their last year" will be their year that they make it all the way. At Nearmont high school, football stars are treated like royalty. The team is in preseason working out and getting ready for the year when they take over the game football. Matt Rydek, which is the main character has just left the workout room and has just gotten his weekly JUICE shots, and is now heading for his dad's softball game. His dad coaches a group of dudes who play softball and he leads them into a victory. Matt is just thinking about he is aching from his workout and says beer and vicodin should fix his aching, and also thinking about the last party before hell. Yet, Matt was looking forward to hell, it was out of town.

The story I'm reading is called Monster. It's about a series of murders happening in California. Detectives and others explore jails and many other places to figure some cases. I would strongly recommend this book. I haven't got that far in the book as of late. But so far the book is getting suspenseful as I read.

Ssr response

By Daniel Bednarz

The book that i read is called John F.Kennedy. In May 29,1917 John F.Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. As a child he gets scarlet fever in 1920. In 1960 John F.Kennedy is elected president of the United States of America. John gave Americans his ideas and his beliefs. He cared about people very much but later in 1963 he got assassinated in Dallas. The person who shot John F.Kennedy was Lee Harvey Oswald he later got arrested on November 23. John F.Kennedy was the youngest president in the United States. He left behind a wife and two little children. All of the Americans were terrified after the lost of the president of the US.

Maximum Ride-The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

In this story The main character and his "family", are experiments used to combine the genetics behind people and animals to create super humans. The "family" aren't related by blood but they work together to survive through the experiments. The main character max was combined with a bird, and can fly. Another improvement was in his strength, much more powerful than an average human. The guards of the area are called Erasers. They will kill anyone that trys to escape, they are half human and half wolves. They also have improved strength and their numbers are larger than that of the family, so the family couldnt survive when encountered, the youngest of them Angel, was taken away and now all of the others are trying to stop the van from performing more experiments. and thats as far as I read.

Tony Swigart

Write Him, Write Her

The book I am reading, is called Mexican White Boy. It is about a boy named Danny who is living with his cousin, for the summer. Danny's cousin is not like Danny, she is from the city and he is from the suburbs. His cousin just hangs with her friends and talk crap to people. Danny on the other hand loves baseball. While he is hanging with his cousin, he is paying attention to these kids playing base ball. His cousin knew the kids and told them that Danny is better than all of them. So they decided to play home run derby, but they all had to put in some money to play. That is all i read this week so far.

Joe,

dope stick

My book is called dope stick it is by a famous writer named Walter dean Myers. Its about a 17 year old kid who lives in a rundown house trying to make a life for him his mom his girlfriend and his young son. Early in this book the reader is introduced to the main character named Lil j who is on the run from the police when a drug deal goes south and a cop is killed by someone who's suppose to be Lil J's friend named Rico. Rico is a heavy drug user but he helps Lil j with "WORK" as some people call it. Lil j stumbles into to a old building where he meets this guy named Kelly who sees everything from his TV with his he attempts to steer Lil j back to the right path.

Heart-Break by: Norma Fox Mazer and Harry Mazer

What I read today: They've gone to visit him everyday so far ignoring each other so Amos wouldn't find out. If Amos didn't realize what was going on between Tod and Hilary then things would be fine. The two kept up their secret love, but Tod was struggling a bit to stick with it. Each day they thought Amos was better, but it was only looking worse for him. Hilary was the one person that truly brightened up Amos' day, which is when Tod finally understood what he had to do. Tod told Amos how him and Hilary had something together, but it wasn't chemistry between them. Now Tod and Hilary have agreed on not seeing or calling each other, while Amos is in the hospital.

Mango Shaped Space - By Wendy Mass - Part 1

 By Claudia Komperada

This story starts off with a 13-year-old girl called Mia admitting she sees colors in numbers, sounds, and letters. For example, when she pictures the letter a, or reads it, the letter for Mia has a yellow faded sunflower color to it. Or whenever she thinks of q, she sees a dark silver. 

Mia's grandfather died a year ago, and Mia has been making a painting for him to honor his one-year-death anniversary. What also happened a year ago was that Mia found a small orange kitten, which she kept and named Mango. Mia didn't name her cat for the color, but for whenever the cat wheezed or sighed, mango-like colors came out of him, acoording to her.

Mia never told anybody about her colors yet. There was incident in third grade about Mia's colors, and she has been keeping it a secret since, even from her best friend Jenna.

In a store with her mom for school-shopping, Mia meets a little boy and introduces herself. The little boy, Billy, says that Mia is purple and green. Mia says no, the color of her name is red and green. Later she realized that Billy might have the same situation as she does, too, seeing colors in letters.

I Once Forgot

 By Mr. Kenealy

I once forgot how to write poetry
But no one ever really forgets how to tie their shoes
It just takes the will to run out the door
And explore the world from a new ave'new'

Like a bear waking from a hibernation
Or returning from a long vacation
The rest was a resuscitation
Of putting words together
Describing the world again
Where I was so frustrated
That I couldn't do Before

You never forget how to ride a bike
You just fall out of it for a while sometimes