Brooke+S.

Name: Brooke Samson

Book Title (1 pt.) Friends with Boys

Genre: (1pt)Graphic Novel

Author (1 pt.) Faith Erin Hicks

Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2012

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! If you are writing about a collection of stories or poems, you need to talk specifically about 2-3 of the selections in the book. (4 pts.)

Maggie, the main character is starting in a public high school after her mother has home-schooled her and her three older brothers. Maggie mysteriously runs away previously…. Maggie seems to have lots of trouble making friends with //anyone//, since she’s been so enfolded in her family. She is a tomboy, and has been closer to her brothers her entire life. // Friends With Boys // is the story of potential friendships for Maggie, but those friendships are with Lucy and Alistair that she meets at school. Other friendships are with her brothers and a ghost that she’s been seeing in the local graveyard for the past seven years. //Friends With Boys// an excellent graphic novel for teens. It’s a story about walking into the world, not entirely understanding it, making plans based on what you see, and then //still// not entirely understanding that world.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts.).

I liked the lessons it taught about going out into the real world. Showing the life one might face after being homeschooled and around family too much.

I did not like the format of this book. I did not like the swearing in the literature.

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. This week, I want you to write questions strictly //for discussion// here – not project ideas (you’ll see why below). (6 pts)

If you were Maggie being homeschooled your entire life, and just now entering a public school for the first time, what challenges would you face?

What qualities did Lucy and Alistair possess to befriend the new girl at school?

What do you see are the biggest differences between homeschooling and public schooling?

How can you see this book being used in the curriculum? For what grade level would it be most appropriate? Give a specific example of how you as a teacher might use the book as part of the taught curriculum. What specifically would you use it to teach and what would you have students do with it? (7 pts.)

This question is hard for me to answer because I truly don’t like this piece of literature!

I would use this in a 9th grade class. I could see it being used to teach students about accepting others for who they are, regardless of their background. This book could be an introduction to a unit on learning about different cultures and religions around the world. Because a large part of this story is realizing how Maggie is trying to fit into the world, it is important to remember how others view and see cultural differences. One things I would have my students do other than reading the book would be: have the students write out a list of what they perceive are barriers befriending new students or forming new friendships with those they see as “different”. As a class we could also have a large discussion on homeschooling myths or perceptions students may possess.

Name: Brooke Samson

Book Title (1 pt.) The Pregnancy Project Genre: (1pt) Nonfiction Author (1 pt.) Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2012

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)

Gaby Rodriguez a high school girl was frequently told she would end up a teen mom. It was kind of expected by many because so many in her family were teen mothers; her mother and her older sisters had gotten pregnant as teenagers. Although from the outsider’s perspective it seemed predictable that Gaby would follow in her family’s footsteps, she had ambitions that didn’t include becoming a teen mom. However, Gaby appears to be worried about what others will think or how she will be viewed as she chooses not to be a teen mom. As she faces this decision, Gaby begins to embark on a final project her senior year, faking a pregnancy. She does this to see the reactions of her family, friends and the community. Through her faking a pregnancy, and embarking on this journey, she learns many things that end up changing her life forever. She is fighting stereotypes and learning how one girl can find strength out of the low expectations surrounding her.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts). My responses are directed more to the storyline … I liked this lessons it taught Gaby, and therefore can teach other high school girls in this same predicament. What I dislike is the fact that Gaby felt like she had to fake the pregnancy. I hate that she felt like she had to fake the pregnancy because of all the pressures others were putting on her. The fact that she felt like a disappointment if she chose not become a teen mom is WRONG on so many different aspects. I dislike how people immediately judged her no matter what the decisions she chose to make.

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)

1. Gaby faked the pregnancy to feel accepted. What cultural pressures cause students to make decisions in order to be accepted? 2. Describe the affects of these decisions on futures, relationships? 3. How have we seen this affect others in our lives or the world around us? 4. How do your opinions of others affect the acceptance of others? Can you show acceptance of others with having your opinions change?

Book Talk 4-7-13- 4-14-13

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Name: Brooke S amson Book Title: Storm Runners Genre: (Adventure-Survival or Mystery): Adventure Author: Roland Smith Date of Publication: February 1st 2012

Name: Brooke Samson

Book Title (1 pt.) Elephant Run Genre: Historical Fiction Author (1 pt.) Roland Smith

Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2007

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)

In 1941, German bombs are dropped into London where fourteen year old, Nick Freestone and his family are living. Nick is sent away for safety to the family’s plantation in Burma. Thinking he’d be safer there, however being sent there he’s actually in more danger as the Japanese soldier’s attack and invade Burma. Nick is now forced to be a slave to the soldiers and his father is imprisoned. As Nick is stranded in an unknown country he meets his new friend Mya. The two of them become adventurous and plan to escape the horrible mess they are in. In order for them to succeed they are forced to face the dangers of the wilderness along with the Japanese soldiers.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts).

I am not a historical fiction kind of person at all. History is just not my thing! However I picked this book soley on the purpose that it takes place in Burma. I have a heart for Burma and the Karen people (the Burmese). My church here in Omaha is partnered with Burma, and that is our mission field overseas. So… with that being said it was interesting to read a story about a young teenager in Burma. Sadly, the way this story goes, is very similar to how it is over in Burma. Their refuge camps are nothing we would ever want to live in, and the aspect of the wilderness that Nick and Mya have to face is exactly how it is over there. My roommate actually just got back from Thailand and Burma and has shared many stories about the culture, living conditions and much more.

Honestly, I don’t think there anything I disliked about this book. The high pace, adventure kept me interested.

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)

Compare and Contrast your life to Nick and Myas lives.

Imagine your life as a 14 year old, being sent to a different country all alone. How would you feel? What would you do to survive? Would you have made the same decisions and choices as Nick?

Do some research on what the WW2 was like and explain to me what you think it be like to live during WW2.



Name: Brooke Samson



Book Title (1 pt.) Matched Ally Condle Genre: Science Fiction Author (1 pt.) Ally Condle Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2010

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (3 pts.)

Imagine yourself living in a world where every decision is made for you. Every decision like where you live, what you eat, where you will work, who you will marry or love, when you will die completely out of your control. As we enter the book Cassia is about to “matched” to the one whom she will marry and love. When Cassia learns that her match the person she’ll marry is Xander her best friend, she’s ecstatic. Keeping in mind, all decisions are made by the government, being matched to someone you know is almost unheard of. However, as she is given the video also known as the microchip after her Match Banquet, another boy’s face appears on the screen, Ky Markham. Cassia is immediately confused and does not know what to think or who is really is matched with. The Officials never make mistakes, yet somehow, she’s been Matched with two boys. Of course she is assured that she indeed has been matched with the correct boy, Xander. But she is still in completely shock and wonder about being matched with Ky. As she tried to move forward with her relationship with Xander, she cant help to deny the feelings she has towards Ky. How is a girl to let go and move on? Throughout the story, Cassia is torn between the life of probability and predictable outcomes and a life of true love and challenges choices.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (3 pts.)

Ok so I am a huge Hunger Games fan, so this book was on right up my ally. I loved the dystopian world that Cassia was placed in. I cant imagine being in a world that all decisions are made for me. I loved the whole romance aspect of the story as well. How confusing would it be to be matched with your best friend who you know everything about, but begin to fall in love with the other boy who you were mistakenly matched with. I also liked that the book did not end abruptly.

I can say I couldn’t find anything that I disliked about this book. I guess I could say the way or direction that Cassia went bothered me! I guess it just threw me off…! However it was all good! J

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)

1. Compare and Contrast our life styles to the life of Cassia.

2. If you were in Cassia’s shoes, what decision would you make as far as the boy? How would you do things differently?

3. Pick on character in the story (it can even be one in which doesn’t have a huge role), and describe what life is like for them. Explain their life style, and the choices that have been made for them. Do this with great detail.

Comprehension Assignment

Write a description of one character from the story. Then find four quotes from the story that support your description of the character. Make sure to cite the page numbers for each quote.

Cassia is the daughter to Abraham and Molly, and the older sister to her brother Bram. She is a family girl and this is evident throughout the whole story with her relationship with her grandfather. Her grandfather is a kind man who she seeks advice from. (Chapter 6). Her best friend Cassia is a sweet 17 year girl who is a smart, intelligent model student. Cassia is a girly girl, and this is evident as she is going to her match banquet (page 6). She has always been one to agree with Society, never causing trouble. However as she faces her match day and is giving on accident two matches, her world is turned upside down. She cant come to grips with the fact that society in fact did make a mistake. Her heart feels as though she has been matched with the wrong guy even though Xander is her life long best friend. I also see Cassia as being a devious or a curious girl (page 54-55). In conclusion, I saw Cassia as a fighter in many ways. One who wont let her challenges of life get to her… she will fight to make it her way or to be happy. “So I fight. I fight the only way I know how, with thinking of Ky evening though the pain of missing him is so strong I can hardly stand it.” (Page 363)

Name: Brooke Samson




 * 1) Book Title (1 pt.) Brusier


 * 1) Genre: Fantasy

> Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2011
 * 1) Author (1 pt.) Neal Shusterman


 * 1) Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (3 pts.)

Brewster Rawlins, (known as Bruiser) one of the main characters is a social outcast, shy and alone. Not one to have many friends at all. Bronte a girl who is a twin to Tennyson, befriends the shy and withdrawn classmate Bruiser. From the beginning of this friendship, Tennyson is concerned their relationship. Bruiser has a side to him that seems somehow dangerous. As the two begin to become closer friends with Bruiser they start to realize this unusual side or talent of Bruisers. Not only does Bruiser assume the physical pain and wounds of individuals he is close to, he also somehow begins to absorb their anger, hurt, and grief.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (3 pts.)

I liked the fact the Bronte is an example to teens of what it looks like to befriend an outcast. This speaks volume to students who may be that outcast or one who is befriending one and being made fun of for doing so. This book had a lot of mystery to it which was fun to see as I turned the pages… It was hard to put down.

The book was a little predictable at times which I dislike! I like to be surprised. J I think it would have been nice to have a little more background to Bronte and Tennyson’s life prior to meeting Bruiser.

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)
 * 1) If you were Bronte or Tennyson, and became good friends/starting dating Bruiser, after the entire school was against him, how would you face your classmates? How would you explain Bruiser to them, and your feelings towards him?
 * 2) Every chapter in Bruiser is titled as ONE word. Pick your favorite 3 chapters and explain in great detail what each chapters word means/how it relates to the chapter.
 * 3) As a classmate of Bruisers, how would you feel as Bruiser begins to become part of the “in” crowd/ good friends with Tennyson and starts to date Bronte? Explain in great deal how you would feel and what you would think of this.

Comprehension Activity:

Write a newspaper article about someone or something that happened in the story. NOTE: this is NOT a book report! Review a few newspaper articles to get the "feel" of the format. What would the headline say? Was anyone interviewed for the story? Who are the sources of information? Are there quotes from characters? Be creative! (15 pts).

Local Boy friended!

Brusier Rawlins, a sophomore at the local high school who was once voted most likely to receive the death penalty is no long the social outcast. This kid was always a social outcast who kept to him self and didn’t have any close friends. No one knew why or how he could get through life feeling like this. Now the kid has been befriended by twins Tennyson and Bronte. These two however didn’t know what they were in for. As Bronte becomes close with Bruiser and the two eventually began dating, Bronte had no idea the special talents or attributes that Bruiser had. Which began to explain why and how it is hard for him to become close friends with anyone. Not only does Bruiser assume the physical pain and wounds of individuals he is close to, he also somehow begins to absorb their anger, hurt, and grief. “Brusier has taught me a lot in the past 4 months of our friendship. I am so thankful to have in my life despite all the negative words said to me by fellow classmates.” Said Bronte. Let this friendship be an example to you, that you cant judge a book by its cover. You never know what is person is like till you actually get to know them!

Name: Brooke Samson


 * 1) Book Title (1 pt.) //After Ever After//


 * 1) Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction


 * 1) Author (1 pt.: Jordan Sonnenblick


 * 1) Date of Publication (1 pt.) Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (April 1, 2011)

After ever After is all about an 8th grade boy named Jeffrey. Jeffrey is a cancer survivor who is still feeling the aftereffects of his treatments. He is struggling to get back to “normal” life and fit back in with his friends. Low and behold one day while at school a new boy comes to school who also happens to be a cancer survivor as well. The two instantly become best friends. They both have problems with homework and parents and girls. He and Tad bond over the after effects of their disease and treatment. Jeff walks with a limp and has problems remembering stuff and isn't a little boy with cancer anymore. He's a teen who's in remission, but life still feels fragile. This book was great in many ways… it had me laughing because of the awkwardness of middle school, and crying because of all the cancer details.
 * 1) Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)

I liked that this book was real! It talked about an issue or a disease that is anymore normal. So many kids are faced with the same type of trials and tribulations that Jeffrey and Tad faced throughout the story. I loved how Jordan Sonnenblick had the story taking place in an 8th grade class… and how realistic it was. This story portrayed so many different aspects of real life that kids can relate to. What I didn’t like about this story… hmmm! Well it had me in tears at points. Having a mother going through Chemo right now, the whole cancer aspect of the book hit home. This book was an amazing book for adults and kids who are facing/have faced this same struggle in life.
 * 1) What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts.)

1. If you were in Jeffrey’s shoes, how would you react to the challenges/obstacles he has had to face? How would you stick up for your friend, like Jeffrey is to Tad, who is also a cancer survivor but is confined to a wheelchair and has a chip on his shoulder? 2. Jeffrey has been faced with many obstacles in life with cancer. He is now a survivor but is finally facing and realizing the aftereffects of the whole illness. Would it be hard to fit in with the other 8th graders who have lived a normal life and haven’t experienced everything you had? How would you go about your day knowing and living through everything that has happened to you? How would you as Jeffrey form confidence to face each day? 3. If you were in Jeffrey’s shoes, how would you deal with Tad’s horrific news? What would as a friend do to help him?
 * 1) Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. These should be questions that require students to dig into the reading to support their answers. One of the three can be a higher level thinking project or activity(6 pts).

Comprehension Activity:

Create a “FakeBook: (not Facebook) page for the main character or one of the main characters from your Contemporary Realistic Fiction Book. Use the instructions provided in a separate attachment to help you. When you’ve finished your work online, copy and paste the URL for your Fakebook page below (15 points).

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Name: Brooke S amson Book Title (1 pt.) Storm Runners Genre: (Adventure-Survival or Mystery) (1 pt) Adventure Author (1 pt.) Roland Smith Date of Publication (1 pt) February 1st 2012

If you were Chase Masters, how would you react/ what would you do as the bus rolls and end in the water? Beingseparated from his father as the storm hits, how do you think he was feeling? How would you feel and what would you do differently than Chase if you were put into this situation?
 * 1) Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)

Comprehension Activity: (15 pts).

The main character (or one of the main characters in your novel) and provide an explanation for choosing each. Avoid making all obvious choices, but instead, get creative and think outside the box!

Character:Chase Masters Artifact #1 – the bus I chose this because... Chase is on the bus as the adventure really begins to take off. He and his two friends are started to face some of the biggest challenges yet.

Artifact #2 - GPS I chose this because... Chase uses this to predict the storms whereabouts.

Artifact #3 – survival skills I chose this because... as Chase and his friends are tested beyond belief, they are challenged to use their survival skills as they try to conquer gators, fierce wind and rain from the hurricane, along with personal injuries faced from the bus crash.

Artifact #4 - friends I chose this because... Chase is fighting the storm of challenges with his brand new friends who have no idea what they are in for experiencing.

Artifact #5 - The news bulletin I chose this because...a news bulletin confirms that Hurricane Emily is closer than expected and will be touching down soon. It proves to be accurate as the storm arrives quicker than imagined, doing more damaged than expected!