Josey Hajek 1st blog 9/30/12

I am reading the book " The Bone Yard" by Jefferson Bass. I am just starting the 3rd chapter. I learned about my main character. he is teacher in the forensics science depaetment. He make up makeshift crime scenes for his student to take information from. One of his students sisters has comitted suicide, but they think that it was really murder. angie ( who is his student) calls him and asks him to help her determine weather or not they believe it was suicide. Even though I am only on the 3rd chapter I can already tell that I will like this book because I want to work in the forensics departmant as well. I really like to read books with some kind of a twist and I feel that this book will have an exciting twist. I believe that the author wrote this because sometimes people die and nothing done to prove how they really did die. Somethime the wrong person is sent to jail for something that they truly didn't do. Maybe the author had something like this happen to him. He may have been thinking that sometimes you need to take a closer look at something befor you try to prove it. You need to dig a little deeper to find the turth. My favorite character so fare is Angie, she is trying to find out what treally happened to her sister. She dosen't believe that she would kill herself  and not say good bye. Her siters husband was said "I didn't hear the shotgun go off, I was sleeping". Even though he was a room away from where she killed heself. I am left woundering if she really shot herself, and if not, who did?

Blog Post Rubric

This is where you will share what you're reading.  Here's what I want to know when I'm reading your blog posts:

1.  What book are you reading?
2.  Who wrote it?
3.  How far have you read?
4.  What's happened in your book (be very brief)?  If I want more information, I'll ask questions in the comments.
5.  What do you think about it?  Is it good?  WHY?
6.  Why did the author write this (other than making money)?  What makes you think this was his/her motivation?
7.  What's the theme?  What big idea did the author want us to think about when writing this?
8.  Who's the best character?  Why?  How has he grown or changed?
9.  Type out a cool quotation from your book.  Why is it important?
10. What questions do you have about your book?

Feel free to write anything else you notice about your book or author.
Please write in sentences and paragraphs, not numbered bullet points.

What questions do you have?

Carly Croy: First Blog 9/25/12

             I'm reading this book called Thirteen Reasons Why, a novel by Jay Asher. I am about a third or a fourth of the way through the book. Right now the main character, Clay has been listening to tapes that were left on his doorstep. The tapes are of a girl you committed suicide named Hannah Baker and her thirteen reasons why she took her own life. This book is very realistic and I really like it so far, sometimes it's hard to put down. I like it because it's just so true, and the way the author narrorates Hannah Baker I feel like I know exactly how she would say it. Maybe Jay Asher wrote this book because he wanted to get a message out there about bullying and dark sides of people. The theme is being realistic to young adults to make them see that people around them actually are suicidal. There is only one character that we have actually met and that's Alex and he seems quiet and and to himself. And Hannah Baker, the one who made the tapes seems very forward and enthusiastic. I can't really tell who the best character is because there has only been a couple, and I don't know a lot about them. A quote by Hannah Baker is, "Did it hurt? No. But that doesn't matter, does it?" I think this is significant because when Hannah was hurt by this boy or whoever she's talking about she doesn't let it get to her, which is an important guideline in high school. I have no questions about this book.

Simon Duster 1st blog

          I am currently reading a book called Eldest, by Christopher Paolini. I have read about halfway through the book and I am liking the book a lot, just like I did last time. The book is the second in the Eragon series. It is a story of a teenage boy named Eragon, who comes across a dragon egg, without knowing what it was, and having his life changed beyond reason. He has to escape the evil king Galbatorix, who controls most of the land and is also a Dragon Rider, like Eragon. Eragon is put into a world of magic and has to travel with Brom to reach the Varden. The Varden are the freedom fighters against the king thatr Eragon has decided to join to help stop Galbatorix.
          Eldest picks up on Eragon after the first book and continues his journey to become a great rider so that he could eventually defeat Galbatorix. I think that this book is really good, especially for teenage kids who are into fantasy books, like me. Paolini has a way of writing the book in a flowing method while keeping the storyline going. He jumps between two people's stories and does it very well by leaving off with one person, and writing the story of the other to "catch-up" to the other, so you don't get confused on what is happening.
          I think that Paolini wrote this book for his family and also just for fans. I can tell that he loves fantasy and is very good at writing the storyline because he includes very good details and descriptions that are easy to put an image in your mind and create a very good story. The theme of the story is, well, a sort of problem-sloving theme. Paolini writes this book to show how overcoming great challenges can be very hard, but satisfing at the end, which he expresses through Eragon. I think Eragon is the best character and since he is the main character, paolini spends a lot of time focusing on him and Eragon grows to be a smart, confident, and thoughtful character, whereas before, he was just a farmer with a simple life.
          One cool quotation from the book is when Eragon's teacher says, "Those whom we love are often the most alien to us." I think that the quotation is important to the story because Eragon realizes that he doesn't understand Saphira as much as he thought. I alos think that it is important because once you think about it, it is true, and I think that paolini put that quote in the story to go with the story, but also to try to connect to us and make us think about our lives. It is like him giving us a piece of advice throught the book.
          I have no questions about the book since I have read teh series already and I am enjoying the book and encourage others to read it.

Post 2- Lucas Kowalski

   I have finished reading a book called The Magician. It is part of a series called The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. The author of the of the series is Michael Scott. The book is 461 pages long. Since my last blog in the book Nicholas Flamel, Sophie, and Josh are in Paris. Josh and Sophie have killed Nidhogg, a ancient reptilian monster, with Clarent, the ancient sword of fire. Also Dragon has taken Scatty. Josh has had is powers awakened. Nicholas Flamel, Sophie, and Josh have gone to England. I think this book is great. There is lost of adventure and you don't know what will happen next. it keeps you turning the pages. I believe the author wrote this because he wanted something that lots of people would like and read. Also he probably like the idea and fundamentals of of magic. I believe the theme of the book is no matter what you will always have your family. I concur that the best character in the book would be Sophie. She has taken on the huge responsibility of magic and it has ginormous consequences and it is taking its toll. "Every use of magic is like running a marathon", this quotation is important because Every time they use magic it takes energy, lots of energy, an if they use too much the will burst into flames and die. I have no currently no questions on my book. 

Post 1-lucas Kowalski

                   I am reading a book called The Magician. It is part of a series called The Secret Life of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. The author of the of the series is Michael Scott. I am on page 244 witch is about half way through the book. So far in the book Nicholas, Josh, Sophie, and Scatty are in Paris. the are hiding from Dr. John Dee and Niccolo Machiavelli. Sophie has just learned the magic of fire along with air and Josh, her twin, is jealous. I think this book is great. There is lost of adventure and you don't know what will happen next. it keeps you turning the pages. I believe the author wrote this because he wanted something that lots of people would like and read. Also he probably like the idea and fundamentals of of magic. I believe the theme of the book is no matter what you will always have your family. I concur that the best character in the book would be Sophie. She has taken on the huge responsibility of magic and it has ginormous consequences and it is taking its toll. "Every use of magic is like running a marathon", this quotation is important because Every time they use magic it takes energy, lots of energy, an if they use too much the will burst into flames and die. i have no currently on my book. 

Here We Are Now

Welcome to Our English 9 Blog!

This is your English 9 blog.  Through the course of the semester you will post to this blog at least six times.    You must blog about two books that you read this semester, one per quarter.  You will blog about each book three times.

We will discuss specific requirements later.  For now, just start thinking about what books you would like to read.

Have fun!

~Ms. Nielsen

Welcome to Our English 9 Blog!

This is your English 9 blog.  Through the course of the semester you will post to this blog at least six times.    You must blog about two books that you read this semester, one per quarter.  You will blog about each book three times.

We will discuss specific requirements later.  For now, just start thinking about what books you would like to read.

Have fun!

~Ms. Nielsen