Sat, 19 May 2012 0:31:55

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In applying the same sort of reasoning to thebuilding of flying machines we must be led to theconclusion that the inventor can, and will, eventually,bring out a form which is as far superior tothe form which nature has taught us to use asthe wonderful machines we see all about us aresuperior to carry out the special work they weredesigned to do. legend ackley

13 Little Blue Envelopes - By Maureen Johnson

I first found out about 13 Little Blue Envelopes through my friend, but then sort of forgot about it then I went back to a bookstore and one of the employees recommended it to me.

The book is about a girl named Ginny who recieves letters (specifically 13) on what to do. Because of these letters Ginny is taken all over the world. She meets many new people and gets to experience somethingtotally new. Along the way she meets Keith (Giny's romantic interest in the novel). But because of the letters it makes it harder for her to keep him. To find out the details of the book and the crazy places these little blue envelopes take Ginny you will have to read the book!!

My opinion:

I am really picking about books and I didn't know what I was getting myself into at the time that I picked up this book but I instantly began to love it! This book kept me awake while I was reading it. I constantly wanted to know what would happen next or begin to plot my own ending for the book.

My Recommendation:

save some paper download it!! or you can buy it and read it! 

Lynn Gilmour

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos is a novel that deals with the average teenager’s problem of fitting in. About: Rico is an average 16 year old living in Harlem. He likes comic books, goes to school, and has some friends. The problem is, his parents are Puerto Rican, but he looks white. Because of this, he struggles to fit in, and is often discriminated. One day, one of his two best friends, Gilberto, wins the lottery and moves away to Wisconsin to attend college and to start a better life. More misfortune arrives as Rico is beat and robbed at his school, and witnesses more violence. He starts skipping school, even against his parents’ wishes. His other friend Jimmy, who is usually a nice guy, takes up drugs and becomes more closed. And later, Rico is with Jimmy when Jimmy catches on fire from a cigarette. Rico’s life is getting worse and worse, and he struggles to find his true self. When Rico’s parents arrange to have him sent to Florida against his will, Rico and Jimmy (who had just recovered), decide to hitchhike to Wisconson to live with Gilberto at his farm. They get there, and are amazed at the environment, having not seen th world beyond harlem. They begin to live with Gilberto and his college friends. Rico and Jimmy help out on the farm and relax. While Jimmy usually is doing drugs, Rico is reading books and enjoying his new home. But certain things still trouble him, like not being able to talk to his parents, and not going to school. But when he goes to a carnival with Gilberto, he meets a pretty girl named Sheri. They begin to hang out and date. Rico also gets a job at a gas station, getting robbed sometimes, but he would sometimes talk with Sheri and that would make him feel better. Even Jimmy gave up drugs and started dating a college mate of Gilberto. Life had never been better for Rico, but after a while, the thought of his parents and his life in Harlem got the better of him. He found his true self, and now knows the true meaning of America. He decides he is going home, but he is happy to after experiencing such a great adventure. After a tearful goodbye to Sheri, Gilberto, and Jimmy, Rico calls home and tells his parents he is coming home.

            At Hailsham Institute, a boarding school in England, no child is given a formal, comprehensive education as we are. They are instead taught to create paintings, sculptures, and poetry, and the best of the works are supposedly taken away into a mysterious gallery. They are forbidden to leave the school grounds, and the concept of a hostile outside world is ingrained into their minds from an early age. They live by strict schedules and for the monthly visit of a friendly outsider who brings toys and other small playthings. They are imprisoned.

            Never Let Me Go follows the journey of three protagonists, Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy, as they mature in Hailsham and form close bonds between one another which hold throughout their lives. Their love triangle and fluctuating relationships only serve as a side-story to their struggles as they discover and learn to accept the purpose of their existence. Though I struggled with much of the vocabulary in this lengthy 300 page book, I managed to appreciate the essence which Ishiguro so masterfully instilled within those sacred pages. Though the narrow minded may only focus on the romantic aspect of the novel, those blessed with vision, such as book critic You-Jean Leigh, will be able to extract the underlying messages.

            Set in a dystopian society, the actions and behavior of the fictional world outside Hailsham force the readers to become introspective and examine themselves. It provokes thought about morals and ethics, and creates a hypothetical universe with frightening scenarios. Most importantly, it offers insight into the difficulty of leaving one’s childhood innocence and naivety, the purpose of one’s existence, and raises questions regarding living life at the expense of another.

The story of Pretty Little Liars, is about five best friends that have just finished their seventh grade year of school. Alison, the most popular one, was the leader of the group, while the others, Aria, Emily, Hannah, and Spencer, just followed her. Like regular teenage girls, they shared many secrets which each other. Some secrets were okay to be told, but others were meant to be kept to the grave. Right before beginning the next school year, the exclusive group of girls from the wealthy town of Rosewood had a typical sleepover. That night, Alison mysteriously disappeared.

A few years ahead, the girls are now in high school, and ever since Alison’s disappearance, have been separated from each other. The four ex-best friends have recently been receiving threatening messages about their secrets no one else knew but each other and Alison. The notes were all signed “-A” which led the girls to immediately believe it was their missing friend sending them. That was until police find Alison’s dead body in the backyard of her Rosewood home.

I finished the 200-plus page book in less than a day! I can honestly say this is one of the best books I have ever read. The novel keeps you on your toes and constantly wanting to know what happens next. Thankfully the novel is part of an ongoing series that has released eight books with two more coming out this year. The storylines and plots get even more complex and fascinating as each book is added to the series. You never know what twist the author Sara Shepard is going to throw out you. 

Recommendation: Get this book. In fact, get the whole series! But because of the language, violence and bad behavior, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under the age of fourteen.

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What happens when someone just gets out of jail? Their criminal life is done and they want to get their life back on track. In Small Steps by Louis Sachar Armpit had just got released from Camp Green Lake. Armpit is Theodore’s nickname that he gained at Camp Green Lake, which is actually not a lake at all. But a dried out lake where minor boys that commit a crime are sent to “build their character.” The boys actually are searching for treasure by digging a hole five feet deep and five feet wide every day, but are just unaware of it. The boys are told that if they see anything just to let the councilors know. All of this background information is inside the first book Holes. After the “camp” shut down, Theodore is ready to put his past behind and focus on his future. He is holding up a job and taking extra classes to finish up high school. Along the way comes X-Ray, another character from the previous book. X-Ray has a new plan to get rich fast. He wants to scalp Kaira DeLeon tickets. Kaira DeLeon is a very popular pop singer in the book. Theodore is tentative about this plan because he does not want to get in any more trouble. But X-Ray is very persuasive and convinces Theodore to join in by explaining that he won’t loose a penny. Along their journey of selling all of the concert tickets, the book shows Theodore’s attempted love life and the difficulties of being a teenager. Later on in the story they sold all but two tickets. Theodore figures this is the perfect opportunity to take his crush out on a date. She is really excited at first but then finds that she cannot go. At the same time X-Ray has a customer that is interested in the tickets, Theodore then calls X-Ray and tells him to sell them. Then he realizes he can take his next door neighbor with him, Ginny. Ginny is a young girl who is one of Theodore’s very good friends and he tells her everything. She has cerebral palsy where she cannot speak properly and has spasm attacks. He then calls X-Ray and tells him not to sell the tickets. Later Ginny realizes that she cannot go. Theodore calls him once again and tells him to sell them to the customer. Ginny finally comes to the conclusion that she can go. Theodore calls him one last time and tells him to hold the tickets. Confused with the whole mix-up, X-Ray decides just to sell them because he didn’t want to get stuck with two tickets. He photocopies the tickets and gives the fake ones to Theodore and tells him to “be flexible.” He ignores the comment and goes to the concert. Once they get to their seats two other people come up to them and tell them that they are in their seats. They get into an argument and Ginny has a spasm attack. From there they actually get to meet Kaira, because she comes over to see what all the fuss is about. She decides to give them backstage passes. After the concert they talked for a while. Days passed they kept and touch and planned get-togethers. Kaira and Theodore have a love interest and share a few dates. Along the whole story Kaira’s manager is devising a plan to hurt Kaira and frame Theodore.

My reaction to this story was I could not put it down. It was a quick and easy read that let me escape for a few days into another world. This book was literally glued to my hands. I read it for fun because I loved the book Holes and the movie and I wanted to know how Sachar would continue the story with those two characters. It appeals to any age of 10-15 most likely or anyone who enjoyed the movie Holes.

About the Book: Flowers in the Attic, by V.C. Andrews, is told through a first person view by Cathy Dollanganger (the protagonist). The story takes place in the attic of Mrs. Dollanganger's mother's manor, where Cathy, Christopher (her older brother), and her younger twin siblings (Cory and Carrie) are imprisoned. Before that, the Dollanganger family was completely perfect, until Mr. Dollanganger was killed in a highway accident. Without an income, Mrs. Dollanganger pleaded her mother for her to live with her once again. She agreed but the condition was the children must be hidden away, in the attic, since their grandfather is unaware of their existence. When they arrived to the manor, Mrs. Dollanganger revealed that Mr. Dollanganger is actually her half uncle; which caused her to be disowned by both her strictly Christian parents. Also, Mrs. Dollanganger explained to her children that her father is very ill, and if she won the affection for both her parents again, she'll inherit the family fortune. Believing their mother, the Dollanganger children agreed to cope with staying in the attic until their mother inherits the fortune. In the beginning, Mrs. Dollanganger paid visits to her children, bearing gifts and affection. Soon days turned into months, and then Mrs. Dollanganger stopped visiting her children; which made Cathy and Christopher believe something has happened to their mother. With their mother gone, Cathy and Christopher played the parental roles for Cory and Carrie; also Cathy and Christopher decide to unravel what happened to their mother. At the same time, their religious grandmother threatens them if they disobey her rules and abuses Cathy and Christopher for being the "devil spawns."