Madison Thornton
June 4th, 2014
ELA
Book Review: Number The Stars
The book I read was a historical fiction novel, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. I chose to read this book because I've heard good book reports on it, and it was suggested to me by multiple people in my class. I think it had a very good story to it, and it made me think differently about the holocaust.
This book took place in Copenhagen, Denmark during the time of World War II. The main characters of this book were Anne Marie and Ellen. The plot of this book was that Anne Marie was hanging out with Ellen, who was taking care of her younger sister Khristi. After some time passes, the Nazis start taking Jews to somewhere no one knew of. Anne Marie and her mother had many run-ins with some of the Nazi soldiers. Such as during her Uncle's funeral, and delivering a package through the woods to her Uncle's boat. Annemarie finds Ellen's necklace, the Star of David, and hopes to return it to her when she comes back home. The tone of this book was very hopeful. It kept me on my toes, and always kept me hoping that everything would work out in the end.
In my opinion, some of the strengths of the book were the details she put into telling the story, and how she used pathos to get to the readers emotions. She also used foreshadowing through the chapter subtitles, and the beginning of the chapters. From this book, I learned about the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. It taught me to help others in their time of need. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I don't think it's too hard for young children, and it's not too easy for teens. This book truly changed my perspective on certain things, and I believe it could have the same effect on a lot of others as well.
We are seventh and eighth grade readers. Welcome to our online place where we intend to post lots and lots about books, books, and more books. Reading 40 books a year is no easy feat, but that's the challenge in one year of Reading Workshop. It helps when we can find those good reads. So...come sit a spell and check out what's hot on the shelf these days!! What's up with you and your latest read?
Monday, June 16, 2014
The Fault In Our Stars
The Fault In Our Stars
In the realistic novel, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, you will go on a very emotional roller coaster with 16 year old Hazel Grace Lancaster, her friends, family, something she didn't bargain for, and something she didn't expect.
The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel Grace and her tragic story of trying to be a normal teen but with lung cancer. The setting mostly takes place in Hazel's home and support group she attends. Hazel is much of a home-body until she mets Augustus Waters.
The setting also takes place at Augustus's house and on the many adventures that Hazel and Augustus take. However, not all the adventures are all that grea...together they go there so much that will put a smile and then you'll be in tears, but that's no reason not to read this book. Isaac is also a cancer patient in Hazel's support group, who invited Augustus in the first place. These friends go through a lot, from Isaac losing his eyes to cancer then getting back at Isaac's ex-girlfriend.
The relationship Hazel and Augustus are in is confusing. I don't think Hazel even knew where their relationship stood at some points. They went from strangers, to friends, to what, if anything in a number of days. When Hazel found something about Gus, she says "you gave me forever within a numbered days and I'm grateful." This shows that the time they've spent together has been a forever to Hazel.
The theme of this book is, "Pain demands to be felt" but that doesn't mean you need to let it stop you from from living. This book is full of emotion from happy, to sad, to heart-wrenching. Read the book to find out what adventures Augustus and Hazel take, and how their relationship turns out, and if Hazel finally lives HER OWN life.
Milkweed Review
By: Dax Crowley
Milkweed. That is the name of a novel which I recently read. Milkweed is a book about the Holocaust, and mainly takes place in a ghetto. It's historical fiction, 208 pages long, and it's also written by one of my favorite authors, Jerry Spinelli. Jerry Spinelli wrote many books. Stargirl, Space Station 7th Grade, and one of my favorite books of all time, Loser. But Milkweed isn't like any of those books. It is a tale of surviving the Holocaust, except with the Jerry Spinelli style. I mainly read this book because of an assignment I had to read a Holocaust book, but I also read it just because it's by Jerry Spinelli.
The book Milkweed was written in a first-person point of view. It tells about the Holocaust in the perspective of a young boy, who doesn't even know his own name. The book begins with him running, after he stole a loaf of bread. The first thing he remembers, is the woman he stole it from yelling, "STOP! THEIF!" This beginning alone tells readers that this is going to be a really interesting story, and it is.
The book's setting changes throughout the whole book. I won't spoil it for you, but I'll just say that the book starts out in a city setting. The characters in the book also change throughout the book. Some of the main characters in the book are Uri, a Jew who helps the boy who can't remember anything, and also gives him the name Misha later on, and Janina, a little girl that slowly develops into a strong main character. Each of these characters also are either friends or family with many minor characters. The characters in the book are well developed, so you can visually picture them in your mind, and also undeveloped a little in a good way, so you can see your own spin on how they look.
The plot of this book is that Misha grows up in a Holocaust time, and goes through, and sees many things. Some of the things he sees he doesn't know why they are happening, and some he gets to understand later. The books eventually goes into a ghetto, where most of the book takes place. In the ghetto, there is a constant demand to survive, in the horrible conditions. He has to steal food to survive, and helps other people. I won't give away any more of the book, because you should read it yourself.
Overall, this book is O.K. It isn't my favorite book of all time or anything, but it was an interesting book to read. I'd recommend it to almost anyone. There is some light swearing in it, but it's only PG swearing. I'd rate this book 8 out of 10 stars. I would read this book again, and you should try it too!
By: Dax Crowley
Milkweed. That is the name of a novel which I recently read. Milkweed is a book about the Holocaust, and mainly takes place in a ghetto. It's historical fiction, 208 pages long, and it's also written by one of my favorite authors, Jerry Spinelli. Jerry Spinelli wrote many books. Stargirl, Space Station 7th Grade, and one of my favorite books of all time, Loser. But Milkweed isn't like any of those books. It is a tale of surviving the Holocaust, except with the Jerry Spinelli style. I mainly read this book because of an assignment I had to read a Holocaust book, but I also read it just because it's by Jerry Spinelli.
The book Milkweed was written in a first-person point of view. It tells about the Holocaust in the perspective of a young boy, who doesn't even know his own name. The book begins with him running, after he stole a loaf of bread. The first thing he remembers, is the woman he stole it from yelling, "STOP! THEIF!" This beginning alone tells readers that this is going to be a really interesting story, and it is.
The book's setting changes throughout the whole book. I won't spoil it for you, but I'll just say that the book starts out in a city setting. The characters in the book also change throughout the book. Some of the main characters in the book are Uri, a Jew who helps the boy who can't remember anything, and also gives him the name Misha later on, and Janina, a little girl that slowly develops into a strong main character. Each of these characters also are either friends or family with many minor characters. The characters in the book are well developed, so you can visually picture them in your mind, and also undeveloped a little in a good way, so you can see your own spin on how they look.
The plot of this book is that Misha grows up in a Holocaust time, and goes through, and sees many things. Some of the things he sees he doesn't know why they are happening, and some he gets to understand later. The books eventually goes into a ghetto, where most of the book takes place. In the ghetto, there is a constant demand to survive, in the horrible conditions. He has to steal food to survive, and helps other people. I won't give away any more of the book, because you should read it yourself.
Overall, this book is O.K. It isn't my favorite book of all time or anything, but it was an interesting book to read. I'd recommend it to almost anyone. There is some light swearing in it, but it's only PG swearing. I'd rate this book 8 out of 10 stars. I would read this book again, and you should try it too!
Number The Stars
NUMBER THE STARS REVIEW
Nikyla
In the breathtaking historical fiction, Number The Stars, by. Lois Lowry, it's 138 pages covers so much emotion and hope with an ending that leaves you wanting more. I guarantee you cannot put the book down. This book shows loyalty, and to not take life for granted because at any time, it could change drastically in a matter of days. There were many events in this book that kept you hooked, especially the run from the Nazi soldiers. But every story has to start somewhere, and it started with a little girl, Annemarie.
The setting takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. Annemarie, the main character, has a friend named Ellen. Ellen was different though. The thing is, during World War II, her kind of people were dubbed as a monstrosity. What is this kind of people? It was the Jewish "race". Their life was normal; school everyday, dealing with Annemarie's sister Kirsti, and playing together but all of a sudden their world got turned up side down. In the matter of days the average normal day was no longer in tact. Before Annemarie knew it, Ellen had to abruptly stay in Annemarie's home. It was great for Annemarie that her best friend is moving in, but she was wondering why is it so sudden. Why isn't Ellen's parents moving in either. When Ellen stays, she has to take off her Star of David.
Peter, Annemarie's dead sisters fiancée payed a visit one night. Which was kind of fishy because she hasn't seen him for a long time, but their family loved him like their own. When he and her parents explained everything that was happening to Annemarie, she didn't know what to think. Her parents are going to hide the Rosens and bring them to Sweden, which was safe zone for the Jews during this moment in time. She was scared for Ellen. What would happen to her? She contemplated to herself that night whether shed' do everything in her power to save Ellen; she determined she would.
Everything went on as normal until an abrupt visit from a few Nazi soldiers catch them off guard. Annemarie and Ellen broke the chain of Ellen's Star of David necklace and hid it quickly as the soldiers came into the room. When the guards question why they have an extra kid that looks nothing like Kirsti and Annemarie, they get skeptical. Then when their mother hands them a picture of Kirsti, Annemarie and Lise, Annemarie's dead sister. The soldiers look closely, ignoring the date printed onto the picture. Annemarie was thinking how lucky she was that Ellen looked relatively like Lise. Next the soldiers leave without another word. That was close. Too close in fact that Mrs. Johansen takes Ellen, Annemarie, and Kirsti to visit Uncle Henrik up north.
They couldn't just up and leave. The Nazis would get suspicious and come after them. So they start preparing a funeral for a non-existent great aunt. This helped because it gives a reason to have so many people in their house, which consists of Ellen's parents and other Jewish people. After the funeral, Peter and Mrs. Johansen each take a group of Jewish guests out of the to safety.
Alone Annemarie's mom gets back and happens to be injured from a bad fall. Shortly later, Annemarie discovers that an important package Ellen's father was supposed to take to Henrik never made it. Since her mother in injured, she can't take it. So that means Annemarie has to go. She hides the package in a basket with food and hurries through the woods to her uncle's boat. Before she could reach the boat, she met some Nazi soldiers and their dog on the way. They wanted to see what was in her basket, and Annemarie told the. That it was food for her uncle. They didn't believe her so one soldier grabbed piece of bread out of the basket, sniffed it and threw it to the ground. Next, he told her to scram. So she did, and get the basket safely to her uncle.
When the Nazi soldiers brought their dog to sniff out Hendriks boat, the dog didn't pick up a scent. This was because the stuff in the basket had a special ingredient that kept the dogs from finding people hidden on his boat. To think, if she didn't bring the package toy uncle Hendrik, Ellen and the other Jews wouldn't have gotten to safety because they would have been caught by the dog.
The book concludes two years later, when the war is coming to an end. Peter was discovered and killed by the Nazis. After. Conversations about Lise and Peters young and unfortunate deaths, Annemarie went into her room. She walked over the Lise's trunk and grabbed the broken necklace. After asking her dad to repair Ellen's Star of David necklace. "Until then," Annemarie told him, "I will wear it myself."
This is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone. It is definitely a hair raiser, and it shows true friendship. Annemarie hasn't seen Ellen for two years and still is waiting for her to return. I believe his book could give a few good lessons; to never give up even with how difficult it could be, there are good people out there that are willing to risk their life for you and be there when you need help, that true friendship does exists, and that you can't always do things on your own, it's okay to get help. It pays off in the long run.
Nikyla
In the breathtaking historical fiction, Number The Stars, by. Lois Lowry, it's 138 pages covers so much emotion and hope with an ending that leaves you wanting more. I guarantee you cannot put the book down. This book shows loyalty, and to not take life for granted because at any time, it could change drastically in a matter of days. There were many events in this book that kept you hooked, especially the run from the Nazi soldiers. But every story has to start somewhere, and it started with a little girl, Annemarie.
The setting takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. Annemarie, the main character, has a friend named Ellen. Ellen was different though. The thing is, during World War II, her kind of people were dubbed as a monstrosity. What is this kind of people? It was the Jewish "race". Their life was normal; school everyday, dealing with Annemarie's sister Kirsti, and playing together but all of a sudden their world got turned up side down. In the matter of days the average normal day was no longer in tact. Before Annemarie knew it, Ellen had to abruptly stay in Annemarie's home. It was great for Annemarie that her best friend is moving in, but she was wondering why is it so sudden. Why isn't Ellen's parents moving in either. When Ellen stays, she has to take off her Star of David.
Peter, Annemarie's dead sisters fiancée payed a visit one night. Which was kind of fishy because she hasn't seen him for a long time, but their family loved him like their own. When he and her parents explained everything that was happening to Annemarie, she didn't know what to think. Her parents are going to hide the Rosens and bring them to Sweden, which was safe zone for the Jews during this moment in time. She was scared for Ellen. What would happen to her? She contemplated to herself that night whether shed' do everything in her power to save Ellen; she determined she would.
Everything went on as normal until an abrupt visit from a few Nazi soldiers catch them off guard. Annemarie and Ellen broke the chain of Ellen's Star of David necklace and hid it quickly as the soldiers came into the room. When the guards question why they have an extra kid that looks nothing like Kirsti and Annemarie, they get skeptical. Then when their mother hands them a picture of Kirsti, Annemarie and Lise, Annemarie's dead sister. The soldiers look closely, ignoring the date printed onto the picture. Annemarie was thinking how lucky she was that Ellen looked relatively like Lise. Next the soldiers leave without another word. That was close. Too close in fact that Mrs. Johansen takes Ellen, Annemarie, and Kirsti to visit Uncle Henrik up north.
They couldn't just up and leave. The Nazis would get suspicious and come after them. So they start preparing a funeral for a non-existent great aunt. This helped because it gives a reason to have so many people in their house, which consists of Ellen's parents and other Jewish people. After the funeral, Peter and Mrs. Johansen each take a group of Jewish guests out of the to safety.
Alone Annemarie's mom gets back and happens to be injured from a bad fall. Shortly later, Annemarie discovers that an important package Ellen's father was supposed to take to Henrik never made it. Since her mother in injured, she can't take it. So that means Annemarie has to go. She hides the package in a basket with food and hurries through the woods to her uncle's boat. Before she could reach the boat, she met some Nazi soldiers and their dog on the way. They wanted to see what was in her basket, and Annemarie told the. That it was food for her uncle. They didn't believe her so one soldier grabbed piece of bread out of the basket, sniffed it and threw it to the ground. Next, he told her to scram. So she did, and get the basket safely to her uncle.
When the Nazi soldiers brought their dog to sniff out Hendriks boat, the dog didn't pick up a scent. This was because the stuff in the basket had a special ingredient that kept the dogs from finding people hidden on his boat. To think, if she didn't bring the package toy uncle Hendrik, Ellen and the other Jews wouldn't have gotten to safety because they would have been caught by the dog.
The book concludes two years later, when the war is coming to an end. Peter was discovered and killed by the Nazis. After. Conversations about Lise and Peters young and unfortunate deaths, Annemarie went into her room. She walked over the Lise's trunk and grabbed the broken necklace. After asking her dad to repair Ellen's Star of David necklace. "Until then," Annemarie told him, "I will wear it myself."
This is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone. It is definitely a hair raiser, and it shows true friendship. Annemarie hasn't seen Ellen for two years and still is waiting for her to return. I believe his book could give a few good lessons; to never give up even with how difficult it could be, there are good people out there that are willing to risk their life for you and be there when you need help, that true friendship does exists, and that you can't always do things on your own, it's okay to get help. It pays off in the long run.
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