The Third Mushroom by Kamryn Ragsdale

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 14:27:18 UTC

Ellie wanted to have a normal life, however her grandfather Melvin showed up to her house. In effect her life took a turn. Ellie also finds out that she has a crush on a boy named Raj. Raj and Ellie had been friends for a long time. Raj in effect starts to like Ellie as well. Raj ends up asking Ellie out on a date, Ellie also invited her grandfather Melvin, (who looks like he is fourteen). Melvin decides to order a malt at the restaurant. When the drinks arrive, Melvin collapses to the ground. He is later rushed to the hospital. The doctors find nothing wrong with him, but Melvin knows. He tells Ellie that he has made a serum to regrow the liver he never had. Melvin made Ellie swear not to tell a single soul about the serum. When Melvin recovers, he moves back in with Ellie and her mother. When Ellie's mom is t her job, Ellie's cat Jonas gets seriously injured and needs to be rushed to the vet. Melvin urgently alerts Ellie that she needs to call her mother. When all three of them arrive at the vet, they discover that Jonas will not make it out alive. When all three recover from this tragedy, Melvin turns back into an old man and moves into an apartment of his own.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 14:31:57 UTC

"On the drive home, I stare out the window. How did this happen? Everything changed in the blink of an eye" ( Holm 154). This quote is significant because it reveals to the reader how things in life really can change in the blink of an eye, and that we need to cherish the time we have with our loved ones before they are gone.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 14:33:16 UTC

I can connect to Ellie by her feeling when her cat died, I felt the exact same way when my dog died.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 14:35:02 UTC

The lesson I learned is that our loved ones are not permanent, they will some day not be here. Another lesson the I took away from this book is that we need to spend as much time as we can with them before we lose them.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 14:46:46 UTC

Ellie begins to have external conflict with Raj after she attends one if his chess meets. Ellie begin to like Raj, and things begin to get awkward between them. When they pass each other in the hallway, they do not do what they usually do. They usually say hi to each other and give each other a high five, but now they walk past each other like they have never met before.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 17:00:05 UTC

Ellie has a battle wither herself when she feels the pressure to be perfect or great at science. She thinks that her grandfather Melvin will not think highly of her if she does not live up to his standards. She is also worried that if she is not good at science, Melvin will begin to look down on Ellie and her mother. Ellie is also worried that if she is not perfect, not only will Melvin look down on her family, but also her friends, like Raj.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 17:01:31 UTC

The mushroom symbolizes Ellie's desire to be older and get to make her own choices. The mushroom also symbolizes something she strongly dislikes.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 17:04:45 UTC

The T. Melvinous symbolizes people's want to be younger. This species also symbolizes the fountain of youth. The T. Melvinous is a type of jellyfish that Melvin discovered to make himself younger again.

ragsdalekamryn — 2024-03-05 17:10:29 UTC

Raj's chess tournaments symbolize a bonding experience because that is where Ellie and Raj suddenly learn that they have feelings for each other.