Monday, August 16, 2010

Summer Reading

Over the summer, you were asked to read at least two novels of your choice.

1) Briefly tell me what you read, including the titles and authors.
2) I want to know what you liked about the books, what you learned and, more importantly, what matters to you about the book's content.

*Make sure to adhere to proper conventions and proofread your response. If, for some reason, you did not read two novels, tell me about two novels you have read and answer the above.

31 comments:

  1. The two books I read were "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, and "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" by Jack Canfield. I absolutely loved "The Alchemist". It was a great story, was masterfully written, short, and meaningful. "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" however, I did not enjoy reading. The story's in it are supposed to be inspiring and uplifting, but most are just very sad. I think it really defeats the purpose. There is a book like it that I enjoyed called "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey. It is inspiring, and has usefull information in it. I learned valuable life lessons from "The Alchemist", like the inner treasures and talents we all posses. I unfortunately did not get anything from "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul".

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  2. The two books I read were in the same series. I read "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer. The second book I read was "Artemis Foul: The Arctic Incident" by Eoin Colfer. I enjoyed the first book, but the second was bland and boring. The first had fun characters, impressive action, and a story that I loved. "Artemis Fowl: The arctic Incident" was not nearly as good as the first, mainly because of the bland action and boring characters. I loved the fantasy style in "Artemis Fowl" but in "Artemis Fowl: The arctic incident", not many new characters were introduced and the story line, in my opinion, failed.

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  3. The two books i read over the summer were "The Giver" and "Black Hawk Down". I have heard so many good things about "The Giver" that i had to read it for myself. Now, a story about a perfect society in the future was really intriguing. The mystery behind the whole city was super suspenseful and thrilling. Thats what i look for in a book. "Black Hawk Down" was a whole different story. It is a non fiction book for one. I loved the non-stop furious action. Plus, the background information was accurate and in detail. Non-stop suspense and shooting is a big factor in my interest in a book. "The Giver" and "Black Hawk Down" were great reads over the summer.

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  4. The two books I read over the summer were "Better Off Famous?" by Jane Mendle and "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater. I absolutely loved "Shiver". The book from middle to end always had me on the edge of my seat. Though the beginning of "Shiver" was very boring and only talked about the two many characters lives. I loved how it had suspension throughout most of the book. I liked "Better Off Famous?" very much as well. The book taught me that in every way stay true to yourself even if you are in an environment that is pulling you away. I also learned never to give into peer pressure because it will ruin your reputation. Overall it was a great book. It wasn’t boring at all. I loved how "Better Off Famous?" used a main character that was very unimportant and unnoticed and then completely changed her into a TV star. "Shiver" and "Better Off Famous" were fantastic books.

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  5. This Summer I read "Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood" and "Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood" both by Ann Brashares. I really liked both of these books. Ann Brashares writes about topics most teen girls can relate to. Her characters are interesting and I love how Ann made all of her characters totally different from each other. The girls in the books seem like they could be real people and that was my favorite part. All in all I was happy about my summer reading choices.

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  6. Well over the summer I read Craking the code by Paul Azinger. This book was about the Ryder Cup U.S. golf team in 2008 and how they overcame many set backs to win the Ryder Cup. What this book taught me is that if you want something you go 100% for it and no matter what set backs you face never stop and if you want it bad enough don't let anyone tell you no! I also read the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe by C.S. lewis. What this book taught me and what I could use was to be curious because as long as you explore you still won't see everything so get out there and experience what you can because what is out there might surprize you!

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  7. The two books that I read over the summer are "Son of the Mob" by Gordon Korman and "Night" by Elie Wiesel. The first book I read was "Night". This is a booked that I liked and felt exstremly sad because it was about a boy and his father surviving the Holocaust. This was a short read for me because I could not put the book down. This was a 200-250 page book that is filled with survivile and terror. The next book I read was "Son of the Mob". It was kind of a "boring" book at first because it was just telling the son's life story. Then everything started to fall apart because his father's business(mob)was interfuring with his love life because his girlfriend's father was an FBI angent that has their place "bugged". I enjoyed both of these books a lot.

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  9. The two books I read over the summer were Hunger Games and Catching Fire; both were written by Suzanne Colins. I really enjoyed reading both of these books. They were both written very well and I would recommend these books to anyone that enjoys violence. Both books were about a reaping that would pick a boy and a girl from each of the twelve districts to go and fight to the death in an enclosed arena. The victor would get a new house in the victor's village, the title of victor and to take your name out of the reaping so that you could never go back in the games. Or so they thought...

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  10. Over the summer the two books I read were "A Bend In The Road" and "A Walk To Remember" both by Nicohlas Sparks. I enjoyed reading both of these books but I would have to say that "A Walk To Remember" was the better of the two because I really could connect with the characters on a deeper level. In "A Walk To Remember" the most important part of the context was understanding that two opposite people like Landon and Jamie could come together and fall in love. And because they were so in love thats why there is such emotion behind everything that happens. Especially when Landon finds out what Jamie's been hiding because she didn't want to hurt him. In "A Bend In The Road" the part of the context you really understand more and more through out the book is that even thought Miles will never let go of his deceased wife and high school sweetheart Missy he is opening himself up to love once more now that Sarah has entered his life. Because Miles knows that Sarah has entered his life for a reason.

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  11. I read No Wonder My Parents Drank, By Jay Mohr. I liked this book because it was funny and it made me laugh. I don't know what i would do if I couldn't laugh, it would be a long boring life. I got alot of things out from this book. First of all how to make my parents life less stessful but in a hilarious way.

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  12. The two books I read over summer break were "A Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez, and "The Man With The Golden Gun" by Ian Fleming. What I loved about "A Rebel Without A Crew" was how it showed how director Robert Rodriguez started off making small foreign films, with money out of his own pocket, and now has directed a number of movies, two of which have been in theaters this summer. The book is extremely interesting to read, and it tells about how he filmed his first movie, edited it, and pitched it to distributers. The second book I read, "The Man With The Golden Gun" by Ian Fleming follows british secret agent, James Bond and his job to exterminate Scaramanga, an infamous assasin who uses a golden gun and bullets. Being a big fan of the movies, I really enjoyed the book. The level of detail that's not in the movie makes it even more interesting to read.

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  13. I read a few books over summer, but the two i like the most were "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King, and "White Fang" by Jack London. "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" was an excellent book. It was very well written. This book was so good that I began reading other Stephen King books like "Firestarter", and "Cujo". One of the other books that I read this summer, was "White Fang" by Jack London. This book was very well written also. It was very tragic in the beginiing but it got better on a very large scale towards the ending. I liked almost everything about both of these books. To begin, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" was very good because it showed that some people have hard lives, and others have easier lives, like most of us. Red and Andy had it very hard, going to jail and then one escaping and one violating his parole. That has got to stink. "White Fang" by Jack London follows the hard life of a small cub, and this shows again that some people have it way better than others. Both of these books taught me that life is all about mistakes. You can learn, like the dog fighter in "White Fang". Or, you can choose to make more horrific mistakes, like Red and Andy. In "White Fang", what mattered to me was that White Fang had it very hard and then his life got better towards the end. What mattered to me about "Rita Haworth and the Shawshank Redmeption", was that these men were too stupid to wait it out and they both ended up as fugitives. On a side note, both of these books were very detailed, interesting, and very well written.

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  14. The two books I read over summer break were "Hatchet" and "The River", both by Gary Paulsen. "The River is the sequel to "Hatchet". I have to say I really enjoyed reading these two books, because they are a mix between action and emotion. The main character in these two books is Brian Robeson. In the first book, Hatchet, he goes through the emotional pain of remembering his mother kissing another man, while her and Brian's father were still married. After his parents were split up, Brian flies through the Canadian Wilderness to see his dad while the pilot of the small bush plane he's flying in has a heart attack. Brian crashes into a lake and has to experience a month in the wilderness before finding an emergency transmitter in the wrecked plane in the lake. This is the kind of book that gets you thinking, "what if that was me out there?". You can connect with Brian quite well, even though the book is written in third person. In the second book, "The River", Two men working for the government ask Brian to go out in the wilderness again to show his survival techniques from his experience at the lake. After he agrees, him and a survival teacher, Derrick, fly out to a lake similar to the one before. Derrick had planned that they keep survival tools with them, but Brian only agrees to keep the emergency transmitter. After Derrick gets struck by lightning while holding the transmitter, Brian has to build a raft and go downstream to a trading post that is about 100 miles away. This book is even more intense than hatchet because of the fact that anything could go wrong. The way the narrator describes the raft trip is intense. Overall, these were two great books that i'm happy I read this summer.

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  15. The two books that I read over the summer were, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "Tuesdays With Morrie" both by Mitch Albom. The things I really liked about "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" was that it really made you think about life, and what life was really about. "Tuesdays With Morrie" also made you think about life, and what life was really about, but also not to take life and people for granted. The thing that I learned from both these books was that life is too short, not to live it to the fullest. What really matters about the both the books content, was that you shouldn't go through life regretting things or wondering what could have happened instead you need to go and make it happen.

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  16. What I read over the summer was different from other books that I have read. I read two books, one called "Sing Me to Sleep" by Angela Morrison and the other "Stealing Heaven" by Elizabeth Scott. I liked how in "Sing Me to Sleep" it was suspenceful all the way through the book. In "Stealing Heaven" I liked the end of the book the most. In "Stealing Heaven" I learned that you should not steal things or you will get caught. I also learned you can never trust a criminal. In "Sing Me to Sleep" I learned everyone hides something.

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  17. The two books I read over the summer were, "Brian's Winter" by Gary Paulsen and "Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident" by Eoin Colfer. One thing I liked about "Brain's Winter" is that the main character Brian had to overcome many obstacles in the forests of Canada to survive. Another thing I liked about this book was that you never knew what was going to happen next. In "Artemis Fowl:The Arctic Incident" I thought it could have been more realistic but overall I think it was a good book. From "Brian's Winter I learned in a survival situation you should stay calm. In "Artemis Fowl:The Arctic Incident" I learned always be careful and think plans through.

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  18. This summer I read "Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging" by Louisse Rennison and "The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog" by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz. I thought Rennison did a great job writing "Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging". The title was interesting, but once I started reading I saw the talent in the writing. This book definately shows the value of not caring to much about what others think and to just stay true to who you are. I also liked the humor and different twists. In "The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog" however, I liked completely different things. Reading about the different reasons and treatments for psychological problems was very interesting. It amazed me how much young children and even teenagers could go through and still bounce back. Dr. Perry has a great mind and his thoughts on how the brain works are just fabulous. This book shows the value of how influential the early years of life are on children, and how they can effect the kids forever.

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  19. The two books i chose to read over the summer were Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Sara Gruen did a fantastic job on writing Water for Elephants because it surprised you in so many ways. Although the title of the book doesn't really come in until later it was a great, catchy phrase that interests you in the very beginning. This book definitely has a moral and proves that no matter what age you are or how big your dreams, you can still reach your goals in life. Scott Westerfeld wrote about the life in the future that really opened your mind about things.The title of the book really makes you wonder what its going to be like and draws you in. But i think the overall moral of this story was the way you look makes you what and who you are, and you shouldn't change that no matter what people say.

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  20. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde were the two books I read over the summer. Uglies was full of technology and adventure which made it intriguing to read. The main character went on a search to find a forbidden city in order to become pretty, but on the way ran into complications and faced hard decisions. The book takes place in the future so it was interesting to read about the new technologies they had and how the characters looked back on our life today wondering about the logic behind our actions. I learned lessons about friendship while reading Uglies. I enjoyed Uglies but I loved Pay it Forward. This book is about a boy who wants to change the world with an idea called pay it forward. His idea is to help three people and then instead of paying him back they have to help three more people and so on. This book was very inspirational and makes you want to help people and the world. In Pay it Forward I learned you must always follow your dreams if you want them to come true. Overall I was pleased with both books.

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  21. The two books a read this summer were "Uglies" by Scott Westerfield and "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. Both books were fantastic and i would recommend them to anyone looking for a good book.
    The book "Uglies" was incredibly written and very easy to relate to. The book takes place sometime in the future when we "rusties" have all died out. This book makes you question the methods of how we do things today and also what it will be like in the future. Ultimately, reading about this alternate universe you question many things about yourself, how you are perceived and the world around you.
    The next book, "My Sister's Keeper" was definitely a tear-jerker. I waited to see the movie until after i read the book. The book was way better, of course. I really enjoyed the way this book was written by many people points of view. The story has to deal with the heavy topic of a girl, Kate, with a very rare type of cancer and here sister, Anna, that is a "designer baby" with the job of saving Kate. The book had many internal struggles and multiple life lessons, but most of all i took away from the book the overwhelming feeling to take everyday as it comes and live each day to the fullest. It is very powerful message that will stay with me for a long time.

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  22. The two books i read were Dial L For Loser and It's Not Easy Being Mean; both were written by Lisi Harrison. I really enjoyed Dial L For Loser by Lisi Harrison, because it was very fun to read. The book was about a poor girl named claire that got a starring role and her rich friends are jelous, cause she gets to move to Hollywood for 6 weeks. The content in the book was funny and very relatable from when I was a kid. Once I finished Dial L for loser I read the next book in the sequel It's Not Easy Being Mean. This book was about the girls go back to school and 7th grade is almost over. So the alpha 8th graders set up a scavanger hunt for a key to unlock a secret room in Octavian Country Day School for the next alphas. So the girls search everywhere and to find out that its in a freshman boy's bedroom. This book was fun to see how far people would go to get what they want. I overall enjoyed both of these books.

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  23. I read "Harry Potter and the Half Blood prince" by J.K. Rowlings and the second book was "Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan. What I read from Harry potter was That it is his sixth year there and now they have security to protect ther student so they don't get hurt by lord Voldermort. The Lightning Thief was about a boy who has the power to control water and he is on a mission to get what was stolen from Zeus and he has to get it back before the solalation. I liked the adventure that was in the Lightning Theif. In the book Harry Potter I like all the adventures and the problems he has to go through this and how this one is more life threatening than the rest of the years that he has been at Hogwarts. What I learned from the Lightning Thief was that not everyone can be trusted sometimes not even your friends as well. In the book Harry Potter you should almost treat your life as if it may be your last because sometimes it just might be your last day to live. In the Harry Potter book the content of it was that you are at school learning magic everyday. In the book the Lightning Theif the content of it was mastering your power if you had any and to put all your practices combat tranning into the real battle.

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  24. The two books I read were The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom and The lightning Theif by Rick Riordan. The Five People You Meet In Heaven was a very good read. I liked it because it took on the whole idea of after death and heaven and put an extrodinary twist on it. The Lightning Theif is one of my favorite books because it takes the real world Greek gods and brings it to life. Rick Riordan puts the story into perspective so that it is if it could be happening.

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  25. First off I read My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger. It's about three friends and how there life is at the begining of high school. T.C. is all about the Red Sox. He cares mostly for is father and his best frind/unofficial brother. But, his goal is to have the girl of his dreams, Alejandra. On the other hand Augie is all about Liza Minnelli and Andy Wexler. Augie hasn't told Alejandra or T.C. thathe is gay yet but they both know. Hes other obsession Liza Minnelli is world famous and all Augie want to do is meet her. Alejandra doesn't like T.C. but during the coures of the book she learns that he his sweet and he does just about anything he can to have her. Ale has a love of dance but also as the daughter of a very powerful man she tires everything not to disapoint him. I learned that you have to be honest withyour self before you can be honest wih anyone else. I recommend this book to anyone who like romance novels. The second book that i read was Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. It is the forth and last book in the Twilight Saga. It's about Bella and Edward getting married and going through the birth of a half human-half vampire baby born very mature. As the baby is born it almost kills Bella and Edward has to save her by turning her in to a vampire. The book progresses into almost a battle that involes the Volturie. That threaten the lifes of Bella and her daughter.

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  26. I read Blackhawk Down and Catching Fire. Firstof all Blackhawk Down, an action packed novel. With a compelling and sadining true storie of America's mission to keep the peace in somalia. Now Catching Fire is also a novel filled with action. It is the sequle in my opinion a very good book The Hunger Games. In this book the victirs have to go back into the arina but haz a suprizing twist at the end. I strongly recomend both of these books.

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  27. The two books I read over the summer were The boy in the striped pajamas, I don't really know who the auther was.The book was about two boys, one of the boys was in a jail for jewish people and the other boy was apart of the jermans. but the German boy did not understand why the jewish boy was in there. At the end of the story they both die.
    The second book I read three cups of tea, the book is about this man who climbed mountains. He got lost on K2 and he ended up with some mountain villagers

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  28. The two books that i have read are twilight, by Stefanie Meyers, and A Child Called It, by David J Pelzer. Twilight is about a love story between a vampire, named Edward and a human girl,named Bella.Edward has to keep Bella safe from all the other vampires but there's this werewolf named Jacob who also really loves Bella, It's a war between wolves and vampires over humans, including Bella.
    Now A child Called It is about a boy who's mother is a drunk and she is a psycho mother. She tortures her youngest son, beats him, doesn't feed him, and neglects him in front of his siblings. The boy, David, winds up living in and out of orphanages and all boy group homes until he was old enough to decide where he wanted to go and be. He had to testify against his own mother and father and he had the hardest time ever forgiving his mother.

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  29. books i have read this summer
    i have only read one book this summer and that was the vampires assistant that is the second book in the cique du freak series and it is kinda hard too explain because it is in a series there is alot that goes on. But i will tell you some of the important parts first Darren and Mrs Crepsley have too fake his death so that he can become his assistant and a half vampire. So they do that and Mr Crepsley Brings Darren the the Cirgue du freak it is a place were all these crazy people go and travel the world and do shows. So he starts doing that and this big thing comes up and they have too go to vampire moutin with is the head of the vampire nation is i dont know why he has too go there yet but im looking forward too find out.

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  30. The Outsiders by S E Hinton was the first book i read. What i liked about the book is that it was based off a true story that S E Hinton expieranced. I think that the thing that matters most about this book is that johnny and ponyboy are best friends and they dont give up on each other. Also I read No Wonder My Parents Drank, By Jay Mohr. I liked this book because it was funny and it made me laugh. I don't know what i would do if I couldn't laugh, it would be a long boring life. I got alot of things out from this book. First of all how to make my parents life less stessful but in a hilarious way.

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