Weekly Blog 10/27/14 Speak

º Does the title fit the story? Why or why not? 
º Do you like what you’re reading? Why or why not?
º Describe your least favorite character and explain why. Describe your most favorite character and explain why.

       
       I think that the title "Speak" fits the story because the whole book is about Melinda being scared and lonely and not wanting to actually speak because she is afraid. I think that this also fits because usually she doesn't tend to speak anymore and usually just nods yes or no or in fact just puts her head down when teachers talk to her. Finally I think it fits because in the ending she starts to become more confident and happy, so gradually she beings to speak again. Its an inspiring book for young girls like me. 

       I liked what I was reading because it helped me change the way I look at people and to not just judge them without getting to know them. I also liked the type of word choice that Laurie Halse Anderson used in her writing. Thirdly I liked how Anderson made the book Melinda's first person because it adds more feeling to the book. Also I liked what I read because it makes you feel so connected to the book, like when shes sad it makes you sad because all you can do is sit an read not knowing what is going to happen next and I think that Is thrilling to everyone that reads her stories. 

       My least favorite character would be Andy or as Melinda refers to him as "The Beast". He is my least favorite character because he sexually abuses Melinda at a party before high school starts which makes Melinda call the cops resulting in everyone hating and ignoring on the first day. In the story they describe him as, very wealthy, is good looking, and that he's very charming. Also that he as seen in Melinda's eyes like a monster that followers her every move, everywhere. My favorite character would have to be Melinda because even if sometimes she is very depressing she is still a girl that just wants to get through high school without any problems. In the story it never really describes her, only that she used to be bright and cheery but that changed after the night of the party when after that she became sad and depressed, not wanting to speak anymore. 

Weekly Blog 10/20/14 Speak

Draw 4 objects that represent your 
reading. Write a sentence for each, 
telling what each item says about 
what you’ve been reading.

  1. A Dead Tree
 In the book, for Melinda's art project she must draw, sculpt and "become" a tree, a living tree but the only thing she comes close to is a dead rotting tree. I think this represents what I'm reading because Melinda is a shy quite girl that in reality always hangs out by herself. She in very depressed and always takes darkly about eveyone. She is always thinking the worst. Its only close to the ending that she is allowing her self to become more open and friendly. Its also how she thinks about her life, with all the traumatizing things that have happened to her, she doesn't see herself alive. 

  
  2. A High School
 This represents what I'm reading because the whole book is basically in side of her high school and all the problems that he faces inside of it and even when she is outside. This helps me visualize what she was seeing and I couldn't imagine being ignored and hated like she was. This also represents the reading because the book describes most of her fears and guilt inside the school where its like she is imprisoned and she cannot escape. 

  3. A Rusted Bicycle 
 I think that this represents  how sometimes she can work just fine like a bike, but sometimes when it gets rained on and forms rust, your not able to pedal as easy as it could of been before so I imagine Melinda is just like that. I can imagine this because sometimes she has her ups and downs like when she was struggling to tell someone of the traumatizing event that happened during the summer.I also think that this represents my reading because the book makes you feel bad for her, like I have personally never gone through as much as she has gone through but it makes you think how would you react if you, or I was in that situation?

  
 4. The main character from Wonder
I think that they both go through something difficult, August going through the tough time with his health and facial problems just like Melinda is going through her tough time with being hated and ignored (Its worse then how it sounds). They can relate and it helps represent what I'm reading because readers that have read Wonder will know what the difficulties that he goes though. 

 

 

New Ending To "The Lady or the Tiger"

     Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, every eye was fixed immovably upon that man. Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right, and opened it. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have tricked him. Why must I have been so selfish. I had known what would happen to him if anyone found out and yet I did it anyway. I can still imagine the gleaming girl in that dark cage waiting inside for her prince charming to swoop her away, off her feet. Yet when I look back at it, a silent tear rolls down my face, remembering the cold hard fact of what I had done and what went with it.

*Flash Back*

     I watch with horror as he finally pulls the door open and the beast springs out. I cant stop the tears that flow down my face as he is brutally killed in front of me and the whole crowd. Blood, that's all I could see when I here a mournful cry as they take away the tiger and reveal the beautiful maiden as she is running towards my lover. Tears streaming down her face thinking of what could have been.

*Flash Back Over*

     Back then we were both heart broken. Back then I wasn't thinking. She was able to move on and find her true prince charming. While I was still mourning. I never moved on. I sometimes ask my self if it was worth it. The question I ask my self every day, of every hour however, is why. Why could I have done something that horrible to any person at that, that only deserved the best out of life. That question I will never be able to find the answer, but I probably never will. 

*The End* 

7th Grade First Quarter Reflection

     During this first quarter of 7th grade I have achieved many things and learned many things. I have successfully made it through the quarter with just 1 B which I am very proud of. My most difficult classes I would say are math and Lit/La class. In Mrs. Larson's class i have learned many things such as annotating, the way to blog, objective summaries, and how to cite you work. I personally think in just this first quarter I have learned way more then I did in 6th grade.

     For my 40 book challenge so far I have read 1 book and I am half way on my 2nd book. Forty Books seems like a lot but I hope I can catch up in the new quarter so that I can achieve this goal. Both the books that I read and are currently reading are by the same author, Laurie Halse Anderson. Not to stray off topic but she is a very good author that expresses great word choice for her characters. For my 2nd book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson I am on page 164 so I am about over half way done with the book. 

     I have gotten way better with my blogs because I actually never had a blog. I think I am expressing myself more and it helps to sometimes let go of those feelings in writing. Currently I love to blog and I hope I can make one out of school so I could express my feelings a bit further. Mrs. Larson has done a great job teaching all of us and I hope to learn more things from her. I also love the was that she is not to strict with us but just enough to put us in our places to make sure we don't goof around.  

Weekly Blog 10/13/14 Characterization In My Current Book

     In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson we are introduced to the main character Melinda, who has gone through a very traumatizing event. The first thing we see from Melinda is when she says at the very beginning of the book, "It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache." We can tell from this that she is scared or nervous to go to school.

     This helps with character development because the main character Melinda is feeling low of her self so that makes her attitude and her actions slow and gloomy. Melinda is the type of girl that would rather stay home and do nothing all day. She has so much guilt that she explains further more into the book. In the story her character develops from being okay, sad, to depressed, and even sadder if possible. She wonders through high school looking for someway to fit in when everyone around her doesn't even notice her. She looses many friends so it also effects her development. Her parents are also arguing all the time and its close to divorce. During the book I discovered that really all she wants is to be a kid again. For all her worries to go away.

     I could tell all this thought pages 1 to 144 because the author specifically tells you that just like any other kid, she wants to be normal. She can not do that because she did something that made everyone hate her. I can't spoil the book! After just reading half of the book I'm ready to say that I think she can not be happy anymore. She puts way to much time afraid someone or something will hurt her its got teachers, counselors and even her parents worried about her. This book could really affect your life just like it did mine. 

In the book on page 4 she wrote "I wasted the last weeks if August watching bad cartoons. I didn't go to the mall, the lake, or the pool, or answer the phone. I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with. I am an outcast." This helps me know that she is conflicted with not knowing anyone and that she is very conflicted with being here, I personally think that she doesn't want to be here for a greater reason.

Book Review (Wintergirls)

Book Review:

Wintergirls

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

     

     The book Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson shows how Lia struggles to over come her case of anorexia (is when a person has an eating disorder or does not like to gain weight, like they have a fear of it). Lia and her best friend Cassie have known each other since that they were kids. When Lia and Cassie start to play a dangerous and deadly game of who can be the skinniest. Times past and now that Cassie is dead her ghost is haunting Lia for not answering her phone when Cassie was calling Lia right before she dies. Watch as Lia tries to overcome Cassie and live with all the problems going on in her family. 


    I really enjoyed this book because it shows how even through you could be having a really hard time, there always a light at the tunnel for you to reach out to just like Lia does. This book really impacts my life because after all that Lia's been through it teaches me that life's not a game and you should never just quit even if you are sad or depressed. I would totally give this book a 10 because even though it took a bit to understand how Laurie Halse Anderson lays out her writing, it was also very hard to put down the book. I would have finished it sooner but with all the homework I get its very challenging to do so. Over this is one of my top 10 books and I hope ever one reads this book because it can change your life like it did to me.