Thoughts on being halfway through Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman

No, this image is not actually based on the book by Diana Wagman, but I liked that it symbolized the difference between two races--though this is probably not a fairy and a troll--but whatever/whomever they are, they are definitely different from each other.  Also, could you imagine the combination of the attributes of both of these imaginary characters coming together in a single child?  That is what Extraordinary October, by Diana Wagman, attempts to imagine.

Period 5 2017 Blogs

Here are the links to your classmates' blogs.  Visit three-four of them and comment on a post.

Ms. Crabtree's Blog
Angela Castillo
Angela Celestino's Blog
Evangelina's Blog 
Simon's Blog
XingYu's Blog
Dylan's Blog
Bella's Blog
Jeanette's Blog
Christian A.'s Blog
Angel's Blog
Eric's Blog
Cristian F.'s Blog
Claudia's Blog
Mirian's Blog
Michelle's Blog
Cesar's Blog 
Charles's Blog
Aczel's Blog

Period 3 and 4 Blogs 2011-2012

joseorellana344.blogspot.com  Jose
mayra-mayraliteracyblog.blogspot.com  Mayra
mellyblahh.blogspot.com  Melissa
Jesus
yolandasreadingblog.blogspot.com  Yolanda
jetsgiirl001.blogspot.com  Ashley
chrisnicia.blogspot.com  Chris
andreamariedrew.blogspot.com  Andrea
nenalovesyuhh.blogspot.com  Isabel
icysilvermist1.blogspot.com  Stephanie
angelsierra300.blogspot.com  Angel
crystalpreciado.blogspot.com  Crystal
anthony828.blogspot.com  Anthony
booksnstuffnopekeeptyping.blogspot.com  Ernest
Ricardo

Character, Conflict, and Evaluation

Write at least 200 words (1-2 paragraphs)  on one of the following (or combine them together to make sure you write enough).  Try to explain significant moments about your book as you answer the questions.

1)  (Evaluation)  What did you like about the book?  What would you change about it if you could change something?  What did you dislike (if anything) about the book?
2)  (Conflict)  What was the main conflict in your book?  How did this lead to other problems or tough decisions?  Try to categorize the internal (hidden) and external (obvious) conflicts that you discuss.
3)  (Character Development)  What was memorable about the main character?  What did he/she learn through the events of the story?  How did he/she grow?

Make sure to include the title and author of your book.  Also, TITLE your post with something that highlights the main idea of what you discuss.

Period 1 2011-2012 Blog addresses

Take some time to visit another student's blog and comment!

jackylovesjose1234.blogspot.com Jackie
yogibeartexis97.blogspot.com  Adrian
kimsromanticblog.blogspot.com Kimberly
joseramirez20113.blogspot.com Jose
rebelrebel1.blogspot.com  Lesly
katherinehernande.blogspot.com Katherine
brynbriones.blogspot.com  Bryn
yoyo-katissexay.blogspot.com  Yolanda
carlosac123-carlos.blogspot.com  Carlos C.
nolascoc.blogspot.com  Carlos N.
lilisunshine24.blogspot.com  Lilibeth
wenn101.blogspot.com  Wen
anaheartsu.blogspot.com  Ana
tapatioguy686961.blogspot.com Antonio
angelahernande.blogspot.com  Angela

Try to do one (or more) of these three things when commenting:
1)  Expand on the original post by adding more information or insight.
2)  Ask thoughtful questions about the information in the post.
3)  Build connections between what you have read by comparing or contrasting to the book described in the original post.

What I want to read next...

Write at least 200 words (about 2 paragraphs) about...


1)  What you liked OR disliked about your first indie reading book.
2)  What genre of book OR specific book you want to read next and why (if you have already started a new book, you can write about what you like about the book so far...)


When finished, email your post to mxc0861@lausd.net


After you finish, visit 2-3 other student blogs:
http://kilofiveshot.blogspot.com/  ricky's
http://vendeiscool.blogspot.com/ Ven De
http://theangrymustash.blogspot.com/ Katye
http://blankasbook.blogspot.com/ Karina
http://destinyyourweird.blogspot.com/ Destiny
http://oldspice123.blogspot.com/ George
http://tonyroxxz.blogspot.com/ Luis
http://nipplelife.blogspot.com/ Chris
http://oddlyawkward.blogspot.com/ - not-so-awkward ... nor odd Melanie
http://jazminenicole123.blogspot.com/ Jazmine Sepulveda
http://nightmare13-awesome.blogspot.com/ Kandy
http://www.blogger.com/goog_915230612 Senidy
http://www.blogger.com/goog_915230612 Karen
http://www.blogger.com/goog_915230612 Alina
http://www.blogger.com/goog_915230612 Maria
http://liliannaaaa.blogspot.com/ Liliana
http://karlaboo.blogspot.com/ Karla
http://yeahhbuddie.blogspot.com/ Paige
http://tinamarie12345.blogspot.com/ Cristina
http://bryansawesomestuff.blogspot.com/  Bryan
http://myownworld2011-unknown.blogspot.com/  Jazmin Solorio
http://monkey237-love.blogspot.com/  Daisy

"Mismatched Couple" from Perks of Being a Wallflowe

"And I felt very bad for both of them."  p. 12
Charlie has seen his sister's boyfriend hit her right in front of him.  Although he feels bad for his sister, he also feels bad for the boy, since the boy seemed to be pushed to do it by his sister egging him on.  In the end, as Charlie looks at the relationship between his sister and her boyfriend, he concludes that neither one of them are very happy or "meant" to be together.  He thinks this because his sister is with a boy who is not worthy of her intelligence or ambition, and her boyfriend is with someone who is mentally superior to him.  In the end, I think that Charlie is right, and the relationship will not last.

Set up your analysis using these sentence starters (if necessary):
What happens right before this is.....
It's important because......
What happens next is.....

Passive-Aggressive

I am reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.  I am truly enjoying this book since it is about a misfit and his ninth grade year of high schooler.  The main character, Charlie, has just broken up with his first girlfriend, Mary Alice.  Although Mary Alice is smart and cute and very into Charlie, Charlie just can't get over the fact that, since she's a senior and he's a freshman, she keeps trying to "improve" him by exposing his to all these new "foreign" ideas and concepts.  Unfortunately, Charlie doesn't actually talk to her about it, but instead, he takes a childish way out that ends up hindering his friendship with everyone in Mary Alice's circle of friends.  Which, unfortunately, is also Charlie's circle of friends. 

This is Charlie's way of saying "I love you."

"I know that I brought this all on myself.  I know that I deserve this.  I'd do anything not to be this way.  I'd do anything to make it up to everyone.  And to not have to see a psyhiatrist, who explains to me about being "passive aggressive." And to not have to take the medicine he gives me, which is too expensive for my dad."  page 139

In this scene, Charlie expresses his regret over what how he broke up with Mary Alice.  Due to his lack of experience with girls, his insecurity over telling what he really feels, and his avoidance of confronting anybody, Charlie makes a huge mess out of not only his relationship with Mary Alice, but also his friendships with Patrick and Sam.  Here, he realizes that it would have been better to talk to Mary Alice face-to-face, rather than making a big scene in front of everyone and embarrassing her.  Next, Charlie has to avoid his whole crowd, which means eating lunch by himself and becoming a loner once again.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I really like that this book is about a boy who is different- who has autism.  I think there needs to be more examples of things in the media that show people who are different.  A lot of value is placed on the individual, but what I like about this book is that it shows a community-minded response to Christopher, the main character.  Christopher, usually so isolated, is forced to go out into his community and the greater world to solve two mysteries.  I think we too often ignore or feel "relief" about kids who are different- that we don't have to "deal" with them.  I think that's a shame, because I have learned so much more from different kids than I've ever learned from kids who conformed to the mainstream standards.  Also, I love that this book challenges even what we think of as "normal" and maybe helps us to see that normal doesn't really exist.  Questions I have about the book are if Christopher was modeled after a particular student or if he is a conglomerate character.  I would love to know more about Christopher's school and the experiences of autistic kids at "special" schools.  I think anyone who likes mysteries and books that they can't put down would like this book, but I would especially recommend it to other teachers and my mom because I know they love knowing and learning about how we learn and gain information and grow.

Cover of book in the UK

Spider Monkeys...and curious creatures.

Currently, I am loving this book by Mark Haddon, and not just because the upside-down image of a dog on the cover is supposed to indicate that it is dead.  Christopher, the narrator, is a misfit- one of those 15 year olds that no teacher, parent, or even peer knows what to do with.  And yet, his father, who figures greatly in the book as well, seems to be able to figure out how to manage and even love his difficult son.  I cannot imagine writing a book with a main character as difficult as Christopher- but he is also charming, logical, and kind in his own way.  Oh, by the way, Christopher is autistic, and I appreciated that the book didn't "sugarcoat" the idea that people with disabilities still deserve to be part of society.  Seeing Christopher's neighbors, school staff and faculty, and his dad react to and deal with his disorder is what I think the heart of this book.  Also, seeing Christopher's thoughts about THEM gives us a new perspective on why developing relationships and fostering understanding can improve the quality of life for all involved.  The mystery is only secondary, it is the revelations of the thoughts and feelings of a unique, teenaged narrator that make this book enjoyable.  One of the most endearing traits of Christopher is his love of animals, which is another thing that makes him so relatable and not just a caricature of someone who has a disorder.  Even as a teacher, I need to be reminded of how different- how much an individual- each student is and try to respect them for both their strengths and their weaknesses.  I think Christopher reminds me of this.

spider monkey- an animal I think resembles Christopher

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie.

This book- which I am almost finished with- is way funny and true.  I really like Junior, the main character, and his funny/smart perspective on life.  He is something of a misfit, and I think since most teenagers feel that way at some point or another, this book holds a lot of wisdom and humor for kids who feel out of place within their own communities, schools, and skins.  The book starts by describing Junior's life on the Indian Reservation in Washington (the state, not the city) and how he was born with an enlarged brain.  Junior is small and skinny, so he gets beat up alot, but he has a best friend- Rowdy- who protects him.  However, because Junior decides to go to school in the "white" town outside of the reservation, his friendship with Rowdy is jeopardized.  In order to find out how it all turns out ok- you should read the book yourself.  Junior is an aspiring cartoonist, so the book also has his drawings interspersed throughout, which breaks up the reading and gives you a glimpse into his active imagination.  This book appeals to people who like to laugh while they are reading and want to identify with a protagonist who doesn't always have it so easy.  I HIGHLY recommend this book.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

I just finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.  I really liked this book because the heroine, Flavia de Luce- is so freakin' cool.  You can read more about Flavia (a fictional character) and her adventures here (yes, even fictional characters now have blogs).  Flavia is tormented by her older siblings, and she is also genius-level smart, which, of course, makes her both weird and interesting.  But, like all geniuses, she sometimes gets ahead of herself and makes the requisite rookie  mistakes.  But I like that she is so into chemistry- especially poison- I respect characters that dedicate themselves to odd areas of study and it's fun to see a girl in science (and one that excels at it).  Also, she lives in this crumbling, ancient British manor house, she rides her bike around the rural fields and towns of England, and she concocts her own hot cross buns on the fly.  Thus, she's a totally original girl and deserves to have her own series (which she does, you can find her other books here).  Finally, as the ultimate mark of awesomeness, she was created by a guy who wrote an entire non-fiction book on his hypothesis that Sherlock Holmes actually was a FEMALE character and totally angered most of the Holmesian fan community in the 80's and 90's (now, that's an idea I could totally get behind).  So, this book is not only a wonderful mystery, but actually made me wonder why it had been so long since I had read a mystery (I used to love them in high school).  Maybe because Alan Bradley took so long to perfect and publish this delectably diabolical heroine!

Symbols in Life of Pi

Another cover for the book.  Hello, Richard Parker!

Since Life of Pi is actually an allegory and the entire story can be read on multiple levels, every object, character, and event is basically symbolic. Thus, it starts seeming a ridiculous enterprise to try to label and explain every symbol. However, I do think it is still important to break the book down and talk about specific groups of symbols in order to decipher what human life event or phase the book is trying to explain.

Connecting...Life of Pi to other works

I think that one aspect of Life of Pi that connects to other texts stems from this quote, "I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion. Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are "happy" because they are "free." (p. 15) This quote connects to other texts because we often confuse freedom with happiness. But I have found in my life that the times when I had the most freedom were not the times when I felt free at all, but the times where there were expectations and standards for choices or my behavior. Unfortunately, it is hard to pin down a specific time to illustrate this, there have been so many examples, but I think that there are a couple of general times in life that fit this profile: 1) after college graduation. Unless you are locked into a fellowship or graduate school, the wide world is open to you. This might explain why many college graduates search for awhile before finding their "true" callings in life. 2) after children leave the nest. Though I haven't experienced this, my parents have, and I feel I have lived vicariously through them. They have limitless options for how to spend their time, and it is interesting to see what they have chosen to do with it. I am a little bit jealous, too. 3) the first year in a new place. Yes, you might have a job or school, but the first year after moving often seems like you can do or be anything you want. 4)the first year in a relationship. Neither of you can do any wrong, and it is fun to explore and experience through your beloved's eyes. The hardest part of all of these is the making mistakes part. I think we actually make more mistakes when we feel most free.

Dynamic Characters- Susie Salmon vs. Lena ???

Susie, the girl who never grows up, makes for an interesting main character in Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, I was not sure about how I felt about reading a book from the point of view of a dead teenager. Even though I wonder if I agree that the dead can change as much as Susie does through the course of the book- I picture death as being a release from human yearning, desires, and struggles- I appreciate the idea that Susie is as self-aware in heaven as she was on earth. In other words, her change is from a dead soul who desperately wants to be a part of her family and earthly relationships to being content watching from a distance and enjoying her family's eventual reconciliation. So, since no one truly knows what happens to us after we die, Susie's character development is believable. It is an interesting idea that souls in the after-life go through stages of grief, just like souls left behind on earth do while missing the deceased. Lena, from Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, moves through the world as if she would make herself invisible, but she is slowly exercising her will in more positive ways than an eating disorder. She is starting to stand up to her mother, father, and for herself, which seems a healthy development, though I am still frustrated by this character more than Susie. I empathize with Susie, the dead girl,more than with Lena, the alive-but-trying-to-make-herself-invisible girl. But I see both characters as wanting to be somewhere, and someone, they are not.

Favorite Speak quote

"My tree is definitely breathing; little shallow breaths like it just shot up through the ground this morning. This one is not perfectly symmetrical. The bark is rough. I try to make it look as if initials had been carved in it a long time ago. One of the lower branches is sick. If this tree really lives someplace, that branch better drop soon, so it doesn't kill the whole thing. Roots knob out of the ground and the crown reaches for the sun, tall and healthy. The new growth is the best part." page 196 I chose this quote from the book Speak because I think this final tree in Melinda's art project shows us how far she has come in many ways, not just art. If you think about it, Melinda's tree has both "dead" parts, but also "new growth," which is also a great way to describe Melinda herself. Though her memory of that terrible night will always stay with her, and her awful memories of her f reshman year, too, there is a lot of hope within her and things are starting to "bloom" for her, in a sense. I like that she also recognizes the roughness and texture of the tree, just like she is beginning to understand the way life has its ups and downs.

Themes...

How do you think about a theme? Why do you think understanding themes is important? Where else besides books do you see themes occurring? What is a theme from your reading that has been meaningful to you? I think themes are important because you can start to see them in everything, even your own life. There are certain periods of time that human beings survive where you look back and see specific themes and ideas that are "played out" by the events you experience. Also, our relationships can give us a window into various themes, simply because relationships are so integral to life and how we think about our world. It's the same with storytelling (and book writing)- authors look for ideas that are true for the world (universe) and then express those ideas through events and relationships. I think themes have been woven throughout history, anytime stories are told, because they are important ideas for the human condition. From watching movies like Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and The Blind Side (two out of three of which were created from BOOKS) to reading stories like The Lovely Bones, Wintergirls, Speak, and Maus, some common themes appear. A few things that have hit home for me... Strong, loyal friendships are important to survival. I especially see this theme in the movie Sherlock Holmes and books like The Lovely Bones- where people who were deeply connected to each other were able to save and sacrifice for those they loved. Heroes are often flawed, but have some sort of resilience within them. I think this is an obvious theme of Avatar, as well as the Lord of the Rings, Speak, and Wintergirls. We see the idea of resilience in Jake Sully, Frodo, Melinda, and Lena. All of them have huge struggles that they overcome by demonstrating the resilience of their inner spirits. Sometimes vengeance is not the most important thing, healing is. I see this a little bit in Avatar and definitely in The Lovely Bones, and somewhat in Wintergirls as well. The main character, Lena, in Wintergirls, is trying to control her world through her anorexia, and part of that is because of her anger at her mother and desire to take revenge on her for being "perfect." Although her mother is controlling and bossy, Lena's need for vengeance is sometimes frustrating since she is ultimately hurting herself. In Avatar, when the humans try to wreak vengeance on the native people of Pandora, you see that it ultimately destroys their mission, as the Na'qi are more powerful than they imagined.

Connections to other works...

So, on Thursday night, I finally went to see the movie everyone's been talking about- Avatar. I thought it was an entertaining movie, and although I didn't go through "withdrawals" after leaving the world of Pandora, I was interested in the world and the life of the blue aliens. But, I also saw some similar themes and ideas to books that I have read recently. First of all, The Lovely Bones. I felt that the main character, Jake Sully, was very similar to the father character in The Lovely Bones. Both are dealing with a lot of grief, pain, and disappointment. Jake has to face life without the use of his legs and the death of his brother; Mr. Salmon (Jack) has to face life without his eldest daughter after she is murdered. I also see connections between how heroism is portrayed in this movie and how it is portrayed in other books and stories. One example of this is how Jake Sully comes to care about the and is willing to risk his life to help save them. Similarly, we find that Odysseus cares so much about saving his men that he risks his life against multiple challenges in order to try to save them. I think there are lots of heroic qualities that are similar between Avatar's leading characters (not just Jake, but also Trudy, Kate, and Norm) and characters from other works of fiction, such as the Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, and anything having to do with Star Wars. Some of these common traits include commitment, kindness, sacrifice, and the ability to have deep relationships and care deeply about others. And, of course, as we see from Jake in Avatar, Peter in Chronicles, and Aragorn in LOTR, most heroes are also physically well-built.

More on Wintergirls...and REAL winter!

I just realized I never finished writing about the books I am reading...well, I have not finished Wintergirls yet, and I think I accidentally left it at school, so I will have to finish that the last week of break after I get home. Also, I haven't had as much time for reading yet this break as I thought I would...so sad. But, the next couple of days I will be reading more because we will settle into relaxing for the holidays, and it is raining and cold outside here in Arkansas. Perfect weather to stay inside and read! I am re-reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. There's a purpose behind this reading (if you're a Decathlete, you'll know why), but I actually enjoy this book because of Dickens' character sketches and political statements. This book is virtually a political treatise in story form. Dickens doesn't really hold back on what he believes, but I think if you read this book from the political commentary lens, it holds more interest and fascination as a viewpoint on a stormy time in the world. It is certainly not his richest storytelling, but that is okay...we all need to diversify, even authors!

Highlights and Lowlights of Reading so far this fall...

Well, the good news is that I have several books that I am really excited to be reading...Wintergirls (almost finished) by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (halfway through it) and we have finished reading and are working on our final project for Speak in my 9th grade English classes. I am very happy, at this point, to be finished with Speak, though I love the book, and I honestly find more literary devices in that book everytime I read it, reading it with about 100 9th graders over three months does make one a little tired of a novel after awhile. Though I think it is incredible that books like Speak are still being written, when it is easier to just, y'know write about vampires or something like that. The Lovely Bones is a book where you expect it to be about one thing, but actually find that it is about something else. I thought this story would be about a family's vengeance, unforgiveness, and tragedy...although it contains all of these things, the focus is given instead to recovery, hope, and healing. What an awesome way to write a book that starts out with a tragedy. I am not saying that some parts are not creepy and dark...they are, but the descriptions unravel the darkness by highlighting different methods of coping with reality. If you like reading about families, "true-life" tales, and coming of age- read this book! It is a page-turner and I can't wait to finish it.