Quarter 4 Blog #6

In class we've started to read a graphic novel, Persepolis. I really find this book interesting because of the fact that it's a comic book! The read is quick and it's actually interesting. I feel that I can absorb more information from a graphic novel because each piece of writing is connected to a picture, so you can remember what you read. So far, I've learned about the Islamic Revolution and the overthrow of the Shah in Iran in 1979. I find it interesting because this story is told from the point of view of a 10 year old girl, which is a different perspective than we readers are usually used to. The book reading is going well and we are about half way through it, I'm not quite sure what's to happen by the end of the novel, but I assume the main character and her family will get caught in all the revolution happening and that will lead to something exciting.

Quarter 4 Blog #5

We have completed reading the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. The ending of the book was depressing. 3 of the 4 Mirabal sisters die horribly because of Trujillo's guards. In my opinion, the overall feeling of the novel was filled with good times leading to a sad future. I really enjoyed the fun events that took place on the way to the climax and eventually the resolution of the novel, but the ending really hit it home. The fact that the 3 sisters die at the end shows the main point of the novel, that even when you fight against what's wrong, you can always be taken down, in this case, with your lives. I found the book interesting because it was told in multiple point of views, but disliked it in the fact that it was pretty lengthy. It was a good book overall.

Quarter 4 Blog #4

Lately I've been reading the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez. The book consists of accounts from the 4 Mirabal sisters, female revolutionists that go against the regime of a dictator in the Dominican Republic named Trujillo. In my opinion, the book is fairly interesting, especially how it was written. Its nice to jump from point of view to point of view every chapter, you are able to know all about the same situation from different directions. I really enjoy how the author is able to create an interesting story based on true events. We haven't finished the novel yet, but I'm sure it will be an interesting ending.

Quarter 4 Blog #3

The novel Runner by Carl Deuker is another suspenseful thriller that involves tons of action. This novel was extremely good. Basically, a poor high school student who lives on a boat with his dad gets into a smuggling ring, he gets paid well, but he ends up getting into a big mess. Eventually, terrorists are after him, and his dad ends up paying the price with his life. This book was a page turner because the chapters were very short, and the story flowed real well. I think Deuker's main idea of the whole novel was to make concious decisions because that seemed to be the main problem with the main character; everytime he had to make a choice, it was usually the wrong one. It really teaches a lesson as well as makes a point for all teenage kids who don't make concious decisions, and that's one of the reasons I enjoyed it. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Quarter 4 Blog #2

The novel, Code Orange, by Caroline B. Cooney, is a suspenseful thriller that really interested me. I finished the book a while ago and it was amazing. The plot was about a boy named Mitty, who lives in the suburbs of New York; he has to do a project on an infectious disease, which he chooses Variola Major, the virus responsible for small pox. As the story progesses, he gets sick from Variola Major and believes he has smallpox; so some terrorists kidnap him and try to use him to infect the city. In the end, you actually find out that he didn't have the virus, which is what really gets you. Overall, I thought it was a good book because of how the author was able to manipulate the reader with several key events to make you believe something and end up finding out she was leading you astray. I give that book two thumbs up.