8th Grade Independent Reading by Sophie Beg by ∞sophie∞

Sunrise Over Fallujah: Summer Read #1

sbeg — 2015-09-28 13:03:30 UTC

The book, Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Meyers is good writing because the imagery shown and the symbol throughout the book. There is imagery shown by the description in the text. For example, "'We understand you have some detonators that interest us,' Coles said. The old man shrugged, and spoke to the others. They all shrugged. It reminded me of hanging out in the barbershop on Saturday and the old dudes wanted to mess with the young bloods. He spoke to Fadel, who turned to us slowly. 'He says he doesn’t know what the American is talking about,' Fadel said 'What are detonators?'” (pg. 264) The imagery represents the men all gathered listening to other men talking. On the other hand, Sunrise Over Fallujah is good writing because there was a lot of symbolism. One way there was symbolism is, the sunrises. The sunrises symbolized new life, or renewal. Each sunrise represents a new day, each and every day, here in Barrington and all around the world.

Real Mermaids: Don't Wear High Heels #2

sbeg — 2015-09-29 03:02:02 UTC

The book, Real Mermaids: Don't Wear High Heels by Helene Boudreau, was about how a mermaid and her family went on a small vacation for their parents wedding after she rescued her mother from the "Mer-Council". As they were there, there was a lot of mystery and "Who-Dunnit" on their vacation as her parent's wedding started to slowly fall apart.

Real Mermaids: Don't Sell Seashells #3

sbeg — 2015-10-19 22:06:09 UTC

The sequel to Real Mermaids: Don't Wear High Heels, Real Mermaids: Don't Sell Seashells, is the fourth and final book of the "Real Mermaids" series is good writing because of the imagery shown throughout the story. There is example, on pg. 76, of imagery, "We wove our way through the stalls on the harbor side of the market, but there was no sign of Dillon or his colorful blanket full of shells. I walked up and down the pier, looking for his green, beat-up speedboat, but the only boats there were a few water taxis" (Boudreau). The reader can imagine the facial expression of Jade's face, Jade "frantically" going back and forth of the pier. Plus, the reader can imagine Dillon's little tent with a table with a colorful blanket, and shells on the blanket. The reader can also imagine all the water taxis lined, floating on the water.

Happily Ever After #4

sbeg — 2015-11-18 17:24:36 UTC

The book, Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass is collection of the same story, but with different points of view from the different characters. Happily Ever After is good writing by the organization of how the short stories are put in together, in chronological order. For example, "The Queen" is about how Queen Amberly was selected, and explains why King Clarkson acts the way he acts during Prince Maxon's selection. Cass states, "The sound of the door crashing openstartled us out of our conversation. I recognized the queen instantly. I too started curtsy, but Clarkson pushed me sideways into another hall. 'Don't you walk away from me!' The king voice boomed across the floor. 'I refuse to talk to you when you're like this,' the queen replied, her speech faintly slurred. Shielding me even more Clarkson put his arms around me, but I suspected he needed the embrace more than I did... There was the sound of one of them striking the other. Instantly, Clarkson let me go. He grabbed one of the door handles and turned, but it was locked. He moved to the opened. He grabbed my arm and forced me other, and it inside, shutting the door behind us. He started pacing, ripping his hair with his hands as if he was tempted to rip it all out." (38, 39) This shows that why King Clarkson was so on edge all the time, his parents argued 24/7. "'I have a secret for you,'... 'You're going to be the next queen of Illea.'" This also shows Queen Amberly's time during the selection. Going forward, "The Prince" is about before Prince Maxon's (King Clarkson and Queen Amberly's son) selection, how he felt, and the beginning of his selection, him meeting the girls, and his first date. In the text, it says that, "Between Daphne's words, Father's interloping, and my own growing fears, I was dreading the Selection like never before... 'They're competing for you not the other way around.'... 'What if I don't like any of them?'" (Cass 118, 120) This illustrates, Prince Maxon was really nervous because they were about to read the names of the selected, and one of girls will be his wife. He was nervous because, what if he didn't like any of the girls, and they only want the crown, and not him. Lastly, "The Guard" is about Aspen's (One of the guards at the palace, and Lady America's, The Selection's main character, first love) time at the palace during the Elite round of the selection. The Elite round is when five girls are left in the selection. In the story, it said, "Last night's Halloween party... 'Reporters got candid shots

The text explains that during the Elite round, one of the girls, Marlee (also known as the "favorite"), slept with one of the guards, Carter. For that, the other four girls' families were to come to Angeles (the province in which the is in), and have "first row seats" to the caning of Marlee and Carter. All in all, to have a good book, the book has to have good writing. In the Happily Ever After, Kiera Cass has used organization to do just that.

Red Queen #5

sbeg — 2015-12-18 04:21:40 UTC

The book, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is the first book of the Red Queen series. The second book is called Glass Sword. Red Queen is good writing by all the imagery shown throughout the book. For example, Aveyard says, "Lady Blonos is a horrifying sight... She must be over fifty... But her skin is smooth and shockingly tight over her bones. Her hair is perfectly white, slicked back, and her eyebrows seem fixed in a constant state of shock, arched on her in wrinkled forehead. Everything about her is wrong, from her full lips to the sharp, unnatural slope of her nose. Only her deep, grey eyes look alive. The rest, I realize, is fake... Change herself into this monstrous thing in an attempt to look younger, prettier, better” (121). This quote describes what Mare first saw Lady Blonos. By this imagery the reader can infer that Lady Blonos used to be one of the more beautiful women back when she was younger. But now she is an old "monstrous" lady, and she is a blood healer, so she can make herself look prettier and a bit younger. Plus, by this quote, the reader can imagine what how old Lady Blonos is, and how scary she must look like. In the book everyone is scared just a bit because of how strict she is when she is teaching.

Whistling in the Dark

sbeg — 2016-01-11 14:54:15 UTC

The book that was read over winter break is called, Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen, and it is a very mature book, with a twist of mystery. Throughout the book, the imagery was vivid, as if the ready was right there in the story, experiencing it all. For example, on page 103, it says, "

Margot: A Novel #6

sbeg — 2016-02-05 03:43:05 UTC

The book, Margot: A Novel Jillian Cantor is a book worth reading. Everyone knows Anne Frank's story during the war, but very few people recognize her sister, Margot. This book is all about Margot, and how she managed to survive after the war. Margot had to completely change her identity, she hid her religion, her nationality. She becomes very uncomfortable when her sister's diary was published, and then when an inaccurate movie about Anne's life. The reader lives through Margot's obstacles to conquer her past, while also trying to find her true love, Peter. The book, Margot: A Novel by Jillian Cantor , is worth reading because the reader feels what Margot has been put through during and after the war, to forget all about yourself and start a whole new life, literally.

The Glass Castle #7

sbeg — 2016-02-24 02:54:22 UTC

The book, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, is a book worth reading. It was an emotional story, and the reader is able to connect with the character in so many different ways. Connecting to the story is important because the reader understand the storyline better. When Jeannette was thrown from the car, for the next couple sentences, it seemed like her parents won't come back for her, so she was kicked to the curb. The reader can feel or connect by, if they ever felt lonely or kicked to the curb. Going back, the reader also understands what the character is going through, and why he/she decides these choices or does these actions, which pretty much makes up the storyline. Or, feeling a connection also means not getting bored from the book. Book plus boring equals not finished. On the other hand, the story had a lot of mixed emotions. When most readers feel all sorts of feelings, that means the book has a monotone, and once again, it is boring. When their dog, JuJu died from a rattlesnake bite, the reader feels depressed or sad for Brian (the brother; this was the event where Jeannette saw Brian cry for the first time). Or when Rex Walls ruined Christmas and their first, real presents by lighting the tree on fire, the reader is angry at Rex for only drinking alcohol. From previous experiences, if one does not grow a connection with anything in the book, or feel any feelings, then one will feel boredom. But just because the reader may know they have a connection, that does not mean that there isn't a connection. To conclude, The Glass Walls is a book worth reading because if the connections made throughout the story, and the emotions felt throughout the story.

Grace, Gold, & Glory, My Leap of Faith #8

sbeg — 2016-04-13 12:48:02 UTC

The book, Grace, Gold, Glory, My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas, is a book worth reading. The reader creates a connection with the story, and the reader has mixed emotions throughout the story. For example, when Gabby pulled her hamstring and she fell off the beam twice during a competition that determined if she would be on the Olympic team or not, the reader felt disapointment or sorrow. The reader could feel a connection with Gabby because we all have bad days and mess up. It might not be a competition or a meet, but it could be a test or presentation.

No Pretty Pictures #9

sbeg — 2016-05-17 12:54:15 UTC

The book, No Pretty Pictures by Anita Lobel is a book worth reading. The reader feels connected to story and the characters and the reader has strong emotions throughout the story. For example, in the book, it states, "Except for the lost protection of Niania, I don't know if I mourned the loss of anything. Feverish, always crouching, diarrhea dripping from my behind, I dreamed of a day I could sleep in a soft bed with clean sheets and sit on a toilet that flushed in a lavatory that had a door that closed" (Lobel 111). To illustrate, the reader can feel pain for the characters because of the conditions that the children were held in, and how they wished they had comfort that they once had, and we have now. The reader feels sorry for the character because they have all these "wants", as the character barely has her "needs". On the other hand, at the beginning of the story when Anita and her brother had waste dumped on their heads by the "filthy peasants", on page 31, the reader could feel anger, and could sense the fear in the narrator's voice when she calling for her Niania. The reader may have wanted to teach the "filthy peasants" a "lesson". All in all, No Pretty Pictures by Anita Lobel is a book with a lot of emotion and the reader is able to connect with the character.

The Crown

sbeg — 2016-05-18 01:59:59 UTC

The book I have read for enjoyment is called The Crown by Kiera Cass. This book just recently came out, and it is the fifth and final book to "The Selection" series. I was so excited, I read it in one night! This book continues on from right where it left off , after Queen America, a beloved character, had a heart attack. As the reader goes on, the tension in the book gets surreal, and it's impossible to put down!