Critical Question: Is this story fair? Why or why not?
    
    Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead may seem very dumb and cheesy at first, being about vampires and half-vampires and quarter-vampires, but it's actually got some very deep and meaningful issues. These recurring themes and ideas can be very easily related to every day life such as justice, and loyalty.

    After reading all 7 books in the book series I think the main theme is loyalty. The main character, Rose Hathaway has a best friend that she's protected all her life. Throughout the books Rose meets many people who question the idea that the moroi (half-vampires) really need to be protected from evil vampires (strigoi) by guardians like Rose. It is expected of every dhampir (half moroi and half human) to become a guardian and that they must sacrifice their lives to protecting moroi to keep their race going.

    Rose hates being restricted and bound for life to protecting these snobby, selfish people but believes that it's for the best. This reminds me of the people in our world today and how we're all expected to be something no matter how much parents and all of society even may pretend that your life is completely in your hands; they do have impacts on us. Every day, people are compared to their siblings, friends, parents, and almost everyone else. Parents have expectations just like Rose's society does. I think the author does a great job in including this in her story.

    Also, in the book there's a lot about social classes. In the moroi world there is royalty and those who are in power get guardians to protect them from strigoi. This is also an issue, because there's a lot of poverty going on in the world and the people who have no money or homes are left without protection, even if it's not protection from murderers like in the books it's still protection from disease and hunger.

    In conclusion, I think that being that these two issues of expectation and poverty are the main ideas in this book that the story has a lot of unfairness and injustice going on.

Observing Surroundings

    I take the train home every day.  Sometimes I’ll take the bus. But that’s not important. What’s important is what can happen in the time it takes for the train to stop. 
    
    I was listening to my headphones when the train lurched to a stop and a group of teenagers with pants too short and too saggy loaded onto the train. Although the train was jam packed they managed to push everyone (or maybe it was by choice) as far away as possible. I heightened the volume of my music but even The All American Rejects couldn’t drown out the sound of the boys screaming and shouting that they were taking over the “f______ing train”. I wasn’t scared of them, but I could see that some of the younger kids in the train were. It wasn’t fair that they could just waltz in and “take over” the train.
    
    It wasn’t right either, people getting home from work didn’t want to hear their hyena-sounding laughs or their nonstop swearing. I think the cause of ignorant kids like this is their lack of discipline and the effect is that they lose respect for others and become self-indulgent. I think what needs to happen is that schools and parents must explain to their kids that respect goes both ways. No child should be afraid of a teenager, I know when I was younger I looked up to them. That’s the way it should be.

Interview

                                                   
Asma Begum has been a very dedicated member of the “Green Team” at public school MS51, and has been a member for 3 years now.

What exactly does the Green Team do?
We organize all of our schools garbage into 3 groups: anything recyclable, trash and bottles and cans which can also be reused.

Do you think you help the Green Team helps the world in any way?
Not exactly, no, but it does help the school in many ways. It keeps my school organized, clean and more appealing to incoming students.

Why else do you think the school should be kept clean?
If this school is dirty and messy it will become hard for students to concentrate, and will make them want to come there less. Nobody wants to have to spend 6 hours in an unsanitary place, where it smells of garbage and bugs are crawling around. It’s disgusting.

Do you think there’s any way for the Green Team to help our environment more?
Yes if all schools had some sort of green team then slowly all other businesses and buildings would hopefully pick up on it too. Then we would have less global warming because we would be reusing and recycling more. Many of the worlds problems would be resolved.

What do you think will happen if we continue to ignore global warming?
It will be harmful for everyone, there won’t be a safe place to stay. People can die of diseases because sicknesses spread from bacteria, and pollution holds a lot of bacteria.

Shadow Kiss

    I am currently reading the book Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. The book is about one half-vampire, Rose and how she struggles between whether to follow the future that's been set out for her, protecting her best friend from evil vampires or to follow her heart. I really like how although this book seems cheesy at first, the actual themes and concepts in this book are very serious and realistic. 

    I loved that the main theme of this book in particular was about Rose fighting to keep her sanity. After witnessing several murders, and having to see very gory and horrible things to save her and her friends lives Rose begins to see things. I enjoyed reading this especially because I think hallucinations are so scary, and I thought that the way the author described Rose going crazy  was very accurate to how I would imagine it to be in real life. She goes through multiple breakdowns, denial, depression, angry outbursts and isolates herself from others. She tries to keep it all a secret. 

    The way that the author shows Rose's personality and how she matures throughout the book series feels very real, and is nicely paced-- not boring, but not rushed either. I also loved that Mead keeps the books interesting by keeping every door open, it lets me build many theories as to what's going to happen. I really like that the author gives Rose an obstacle in each book and that with each obstacle that she passes she turns into a better person. For example when her neglectful mom comes back to see her for the first time in years. Although Rose was very impatient and angry with her mother, by the end of the book they had come to a level of understanding and Rose had grown more mature because of it.

    In conclusion, I think that the author does a great job in keeping her books interesting and her characters very believable and that many of the concepts are exaggerated but still true to the world. I also like how there are many ideas Mead questions in her books like, how selfless and kind should one be? How far does "others before yourself" really go? When do you draw the line?  Should there even be one?

Hurricane Sandy

    I recently read the article, "Are Humans to Blame? Science Is Out" by Justin Gillis. The article was on scientists questioning themselves on whether or not humans are to blame for the disastrous hurricanes. Scientists are beginning to think that the global warming caused by pollution from the people has been affecting the weather.

     I think that everyone blames themselves for what happened during Hurricane Sandy, or at least thinks that if they had done something differently then more people could have been saved. This article only further proves this. Added to the government who think that they didn't provide enough information allowing for people to think the situation wasn't as bad as it truly was, ordinary people who blame themselves for the deaths of others, scientists are now also arguing that they didn't put enough research into the hurricanes. Not only Sandy, but Irene too. A climate scientist by the name of Kerry A. Emanuel says, "My profession hasn't done its homework. I think there's going to be a ton of papers that come out of this, but it's going to take a couple of years."

    I also think that the article brings up a good point. No one has yet wondered, in all of this chaos, what the source of the hurricane could be. Hurricanes this bad aren't natural, it's not the way the world is supposed to be. Scientists are also warning that Sandy could just be the beginning, "And they emphasized that Hurricane Sandy, whatever its causes, should be seen as a foretaste of trouble to come as the seas rise faster, the risks of climate change accumulate and the political system fails to respond."

    In conclusion, I think that if there is another hurricane, that next time we should and will be more prepared, because everyone is learning from their mistakes. I also think that something has to be done in order to prevent global warming.

RR #5 Dairy Queen

    I have recently re-read the book Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. I remember reading this book last summer and not enjoying it, but after reading it again I fell in love it, for multiple reasons. One of the reasons being that this book is a huge example of how I've grown as a reader and appreciate more writing as I get older. I loved everything about this book, the plot, the characters, the humor, but especially the reality, connection and understanding that I felt towards it. This book really made me think more deeply and I learned a lot from it.

    The book is about a teenage girl, named DJ, who has a very boring but busy life. She lives in Red Bend,Wisconsin. Lately she's had to work her families farm all on her own, because of all of her pending family issues. Working leaves her very little time for anything and everything except for her love of football. One day over the summer a family friend who happens to be a football coach in the rivalry high school team brings his quarterback to start helping DJ out on her farm. Throughout the story, Brian the quarterback helps DJ realize what she's missing out on in life and just how much more there is to it.

    I loved this book because of how deep it was and how easily one can relate to it. One example of how deep it is is  when Brian tells DJ that she's just like one of the dairy cows she takes care of; in the way that she does what she's told all the time and never says no to anyone's requests and she doesn't mind. Even if it effects her greatly. After this revelation DJ starts to realize that almost everyone she knows is a cow in the way that they're always doing what they're supposed to, just standing there never even realizing that they don't want to be doing something but they are only because they don't know any other way of living. This really made me think more deeply about how sometimes people are just too lazy and tired do think on their own for a change. Also, one of the main ideas of the book was that when you don't talk a lot doesn't get said. Which doesn't sound very deep but really is, because if you think about it, if you don't say something once it's one thing, but to not talk most of the time means there's probably something you don't want to say but it's important. This is what DJ's whole family has to go through, which also brings up a very real issue that a lot of families aren't close because they don't put effort into talking to each other, which is a huge deal.

    I think Murdock did a wonderful job in making this book and all of the characters in it so believable and lovable. In conclusion, I think the author had a really amazing meaning to her story that should be more thought upon.

Drummer Boy of Shiloh

    In the beginning of the story of "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, Joby, the main character is an outcast in the army but by speaking to the General his feelings an attitude have changed completely.
    In the beginning being the drummer boy makes Joby feel very unimportant in the army but when the General speaks to him he realizes that he is a huge part in the army. Because Joby has no parents around the General has to become his mentor. ' "-You are the heart of the army boy. Listen to me now." And lying there Joby listened.' This quote shows how the General becomes Jobys father-figure by advising and guiding him.
    Towards the end of the story, Joby gains back the confidence he was lacking before he met the General. The General shows Joby that he is very much a part of the army by telling him so and teaching him how to become a better drummer. For example, the General tells Joby that by beating the drum fast during the war all the soldiers will move quicker and become more alive, but if he beats slowly they will set their pace to his.
    In conclusion the General gives Joby confidence and hope in becoming a bigger part in the army by giving him his guidance and advice. I liked this text because it was so unique and original, the writing was also very beautiful in the metaphors.

Response #3 "Evermore"

    In the book "Evermore" by Alyson Noel I thought that the overall theme of the book is that love conquers all. I thought that the theme was very clear and touched upon during the book, but it also made the book too predictable because the theme was shown so early on in the story.
    Evermore is about a girl named Ever whose family dies in a car crash. After the accident Ever finds out that she can hear peoples thoughts and much more. In the beginning of the school year Ever meets an "immortal" a person who cannot die, and will live forever. The immortal is a guy named Damen, who has been in love with Ever for many lifetimes but they've never gotten their happy-ever-after. The book centers around their relationship and how Ever struggles with her gift.
    I thought that the books theme was really boring and unoriginal. Because the book was so romantic and gushy from practically the very first page, it made for a really predictable and uneventful read. I think this because on almost the third chapter of the book, it was clear that Damen was interested in Ever, as he would give her flowers, wink, and do nice things such as hold doors for her.
    Another reason that I thought the book was so boring is because the main character was not someone I could relate to or even wanted to. Ever reminded me very much of Bella in the book Twilight because of what a bland person they both were, and how in no way could I find them lovable. For example, in the book Ever gets jealous when she sees that Damen gives flowers to another girl, and instead of asking him about it she pouts and ignores him.  I found it really annoying that I couldn't find reasoning for any of her motives such as not going to see Ava, a woman who could help clear her head of everyones thoughts.
    In conclusion I thought Alyson Noel did great in showing her theme, but not so well in choosing it. I thought she could've found a more interesting plot, and maybe a more detailed character.
    

Response #2

 I liked that Martins blog was very short and quick to the point, he had a specific piece of his book "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar that he wanted to focus on. In a way he could've expanded his response to include what he thought of the book itself, and more on why he enjoyed reading it. His conclusion was also very short but I liked how it was very essay-like and professional. I think Martin did great in showing his opinion on the consequences Kaira gets Armpit into. 

  I really liked Malachs blog on the book "Battle Royale" because  although it did need a little editing it was really interesting to read. There was also just enough opinion to it and summary. It was also great that he set up a question he needed to answer from the very beginning, and I think he did very well in answering those two questions. I also liked how he compared the kids in Battle Royale to present-day kids. In the end Malach made me want to read this book.

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone is a book about an ordinary eighteen year old orphan girl, Alina Starkov who has grown up with her best friend and crush Mal. They're sent into the army and soon they have to cross the Fold, which is everyones worst nightmare come to life. The fold is a desert crawling with vicious monsters, when they're attacked Alina finds a power within her that surprises everyone and soon enough she's training to become a Grisha, a very respected person in the royal court who has magical abilities. Now Alina has the chance to become everything she's never let herself dream of being, beautiful, strong, and most of all, wanted. But is it worth losing Mal? One of the reasons that I loved this book so much is that it put a really complicated and incredibly twisted, dark fantasy story around one of the most commonly thought of and used ideas. The idea that beauty isn't found on the outside, but the inside, and that its what's on the inside that counts. I thought Leigh Bardugo, the author did a great job on keeping her main character realistic. I loved how the main character, Alina was very far from perfect and that made her a lot easier to relate to which is, I think, one of the most important traits of a book. Alina was very skinny, weak, and sickly in the beginning of the book, and it was something that was constantly brought up throughout the book. I liked that the author had her turn strong and then beautiful because of her strength rather than vise versa. Another thing I really loved was how in most books the heroine or hero, has been special in some way from the very first page of the book. For example Tris from the book Divergent was divergent, Katniss from The Hunger Games was incredible at hunting, Katsa from Graceling had a grace. But Alina on the other hand was plain as could be, there was nothing to her. Very much like Bella from Twilight although she remained boring throughout the whole book. In conclusion I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone because it was like reading an adult fairy tale. It used one of the most known morals, beauty is found on the inside and turned it into this incredible plot.