Emily+H.

April 15th- 21st Book Title __Black Gold__

Genre: __Non Fiction__

Author __Albert Marrin__ Date of Publication __2012__

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending!

I read a nonfiction book __Black Gold the Story of Oil in Our Lives__ by Albert Marrin. It gives insight into how oil has become such a valuable resource and reiterates that our lives today would not be possible without it. It’s amazing how many products are made from oil; everything from drinking straws, plastic bags, plant fertilizers, computers, backpacks, knee guards, etc. The text also discusses that in order to understand oil you must start with “the rules of science” as it affects decaying plant and animal life, volcanic activity, mountain ranges, plate tectonics, etc. From discussing oil and it’s role in the middle east, the natural environment and it’s connection to oil I know feel that I have a much better understanding of oil and how it affects our lives.

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike?

I liked the variety of ideas included in the text. The author highlighted information like how oil affects the United States, other nations and the Middle East. He discussed how fossil fuels and the natural environment play a part in the story of oil. He ended the text on a positive note discussing the renewable resources that might be helpful in creating a new energy order. I appreciated the diagrams, pictures and graphs that added to the points and discussion throughout the book. The language is very clear and easy to understand.

In looking over some of the reviews it became evident that in reading a book by a journalist and not a scientist some of their information may be more propaganda driven than scientifically driven. Just something I chose to keep in mind during my reading to try to keep an open mind.

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


 * 1)  What is the theme of __Black Gold the story of oil in our lives__? Please give examples from the story to support your answer.
 * 2)  What is the relationship between the production of oil and our natural environment?
 * 3)  What details would you use to support the view that it is essential we find other sources of renewable energy?

Matched by Ally Condle passage pg. 82-83

@http://youtu.be/xGTILLNPGg0

Book Title __Feathers__

Genre: __Historical Fiction__

Author __Jacqueline Woodson__

Date of Publication __2007__

Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending!

When the “Jesus Boy” comes to the all African American school tension and misunderstanding are prevalent. Frannie and Samantha are intrigued by the Jesus boy, as are the rest of their classmates. The novel ties in themes from the political issues and conflicts in the early 1970’s. The theme of racism trends throughout the novel including Trevor, Frannie and Jesus boy. Frannie learns a great deal about hope throughout the story. She continues to relate her experiences to the poem by Emily Dickinson that discusses hope.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

What did you like about the book? What did you dislike?

I liked Woodson’s clever inclusion of faith and hope throughout the story. She tied these concepts into the life of a young African American girl who grew up in a rough neighborhood. I also enjoyed the way Frannie described her beautiful home. She carefully described the graffiti on her building that looked like a giant had come along and drawn it with giant markers. She talked about the cardboard over the windows where the glass has been broken out; explaining how the sun finds it’s way through and leaves “bright, yellow lines over everything inside.”

I didn’t care for the shortness at the ending. I wish Woodson would have elaborated more on the tender moment between the members Frannie’s family. I greatly enjoyed the family dynamic she began to cultivate toward the end.

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

Can you elaborate on the reason Frannie would start her story, “My brother taught me to speak, I grew up inside his world of words…?” Please state what would have lead Frannie to choose this as her story topic.

Can you make a distinction between the way Frannie can relate to Jesus boy and the way Samantha relates to him? Please give examples from the story as to how these two girls each connect to this third character in their own way.

What evidence can you find to describe how Frannie relates to her family and how she feels about her family? Please give specific examples from the text.



Week 9: March 25th- April 1st

__Book Title:__ Matched

__Genre:__ Science Fiction

__Author__: Ally Condle

__Date of Publication:__ 2010

**__Summary:__**

Matched is a futuristic novel based in a utopian society. Cassia Maria Reyes is the average 17 year old. She never questions the societies procedures or decisions, in fact no one does. This all changes after Cassia is matched. The society chooses two people who will be compatible partners and will produce the healthiest offspring. There is a mistake in Cassia’s match and it causes her to enter into a love triangle between her lifelong friend, Xander and the boy she is falling in love with, Ky. Her grandfather challenges her to create her own words rather than to use someone else’s. He also puts them both in danger by giving Cassia a forbidden poem. The poem encourages her, to, “not go gently.” From that point on Cassia quietly challenges the societies decisions and begins to express a desire for choice. A chance to choose who she will love, where she will work, where she will live, when she will die, what she will eat and when. She wants it all and she will not go gently anymore. This is the first book in the trilogy that sets the relationship between Cassia and Ky and sets the scene for an understanding of the overwhelming power of the society.

__What did you like about the book? What did you dislike?__

One of my favorite things about Matched was the strength and rebellion that you watched grow in Cassia throughout the novel. I was thrilled by each rebellious step she took towards taking back her freedom to choose. The futuristic technology was entertaining but also furthered the totalitarian government’s hold on the citizens. The society Condle described seemed perfect and oddly tempting at the beginning. It was interesting to consider what it would be like to have all of your decisions made for you and to believe each choice was made with your best interest in mind.

I didn’t care for the lack of climax in the novel. There were periods of excitement and anticipation, yet I was left wanting more. Another such observation is the characters relationship to one other felt disconnected. Someone might even go so far as to say the characters felt muted. I feel Condle could have wrote things differently to cause the characters to spring to life on the page.

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

1. Can you assess the value or importance of the tablet container and the red, blue and green tablet? What do you think would happen if a citizen did not carefully steward these possessions? 2. What choice would you have made in Chapter 29 when Ky was being escorted to the train stop? If you had been Cassia would you have done things the same or differently? If you were another citizen at this scene what choices would you have made? 3. How would you adapt the plot to create a different outcome for Cassia, her family and Maple Tree Borough’s?

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 a bright, beautiful seventeen year old girl. She is strong, loving and hungry for more in her sheltered life. She begins to love things that are wild such as hiking and disobeying the societies orders.

“My green eyes. My coppery- brown hair… my straight small nose. My chin with a trace of a dimple like my grandfather’s.” (pg. 7)

“I’m one of the best sorters. In fact, it’s been almost three months since my last error.” (pg. 30)

“You’ll love it if they let you hike the Hill, Grandfather says, his face animated. There’s something about climbing to the highest point you can see, and there’s no one clearing a path for you, no simulator. Everything’s real-”(pg. 66)

“You have words of your own Cassia. I have heard some of them and they are beautiful… I want you to trust your words.” (pg. 81)

Week 7: March 10-17th.

__Book Title:__ Reckless __Genre:__ Fantasy __Author:__ Cornelia Funke __Date of Publication:__ 2010

__Write a brief summary:__

Jacob and Will Reckless have discovered a magical Mirrorworld in which there are fairies, witches, curses and goyl’s. A nasty attack from a goyl leaves Will cursed. His skin begins to turn to stone to resemble a goyl. Jacob embarks on a treacherous journey to save his brother. The boys are accompanied on their quest by Will’s girlfriend Clara, a shapeshifter from Mirrorworld named Fox and a dwarf. Jacob’s unrelenting pursuit to rescue his brother is incredibly endearing! Many times the task of rescuing his brother becomes nearly impossible and requires Jacob to put his own life in danger many times and yet he presses on. Jacob battles goyl’s, the Dark Fairy and bloodthirsty unicorns. He takes incredible risks to help rescue his brother from the curse. The ending has quite a few twists involving the Dark Fairy and the wedding of the Empress’s daughter to the king of the goyl’s.

__What did you like about the book? What did you dislike?__ I liked the Mirrorworld Funke created. The concept of the flesh eating unicorns and the goyls, the good and evil fairies were all very entertaining. I enjoy fantasy stories and this one certainly reminded me of some of my favorites like the Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia. However I disliked Funke’s style of writing. It was very simple and one- dimensional. I got caught up in the action several times however I would have loved to see more character development and more richness to the detail of the story. Had I not been reading this story for an assignment I probably would have discarded it without finishing it.

Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book.
 * 1) 1. Can you make a distinction between Jacob’s journey to rescue his brother and return order in Restless, to Frodo’s journey in the Lord of the Ring’s Trilogy? Please explain the similarities and differences between Jacob’s character and Frodo’s character. Discuss their adventures and how they handle their hardships along the way. Please provide evidence from the text.
 * 2) 2. Can you assess the value or the importance of having Valiant the dwarf along as a guide on this journey? By your assessment would Jacob have been able to accomplish his task without Valiant?
 * 3) 3. How would you improve the character development in this story? Please focus on two of the main characters and give specific examples of what you would add or change to Funke’s writing.

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).



Created using http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp Thanks, Jenna!

Week 2: February 11th- 17th

Emily Hough

1. Book Title __Storm Runners__

2. Genre: (Adventure-Survival or Mystery)

3. Author Roland Smith

4. Date of Publication 2011

Summary: Storm Runners is a story about a father and son duo who chase down storms and offer relief and support to the resident’s impacted by the disaster. In this case the Master’s are chasing down Hurricane Emily on the coast of Florida. John Masters tries to get ahead of the storm to be in the right place at the right time in order to make repairs for people. Chase Masters get stuck right in the middle of the storm along with two of his classmates. They end up banning together in order to survive the storm together.

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

What is the relationship like between Chase and his father? Make a timeline of major events throughout the course of the story and the lives of Chase and his father.

What questions would you ask Chase in an interview about Hurricane Emily? List at least five questions that will require the person to dig deeper into the story.

What would have happened if Chase and his father had been together during this disaster? Write a brief alternate ending to the story.

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!

Artifact #1 – A lion

I chose this because... this represents Nicole who has a strong survival spirit. She is also an incredible swimmer and diver which saves the lives of her classmates several times in the story.

Artifact #2 – An alligator

I chose this because... this represents Rashawn. Rashawn turns out to be the teenager’s resident alligator expert as they attempt to cross a refuge swarming with thousands of gators. Rashawn’s father studies alligators and has worked with thousands of them over the years. She provides very valuable information and advice to the trio as they navigate their way across the refuge.

Artifact #3 – A lightning bolt

I chose this because... it represents John Masters. John (Chase’s father) was struck by lightning in their backyard. John went out in a rainstorm to gather up his tools that Chase had left out in the rain. As he went to pick up a tool he was struck by lightning. This ties in again and again in the story as a representation of how unique and special John and Chase are and how unique their past is.

Artifact #4 – Boy scout patches

I chose this because... Chase is a former boy scout and uses many of his survival skills to help himself and his classmates to survive the disaster. He uses tools such as a GPS tracker and a satellite phone. He advises his classmates to stay hydrated and eat something to keep their energy up even when they are not feeling hungry or thirsty.

Artifact #5 – A microphone

I chose this because... it represents the two reporters who get involved with our characters and ultimately help Chase and John to find each other during the disaster. Richard Krupp and Cindy Stewart become a comedic aspect of the story. When they are introduced into the story so is their distaste for one another. It offers a humorous dynamic in an otherwise tense story.

Emily Hough

Book Title //Hush// Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Author: Jacqueline Woodson Date of Publication 2002

5. Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! The contemporary realistic fiction novel I read was //Hush// by Jacqueline Woodson. The book was published in 2002. The story follows a young African American girl and her family. Her story begins in Denver, Colorado. The teenager’s name is Toswiah. Her father is a police officer that witnesses two other officers commit a crime. When he testifies against the other officer’s threats and angry phone calls begin. The family is entered into witness protection is given new names, identities and then relocated to another state far away. The story then goes on to tell about how the family copes with creating a new life. The author takes great care in expressing how important your name and your identity are. The part the family seems to struggle with the most in this scenario is knowing who they are after being relocated and forced to use new names. Each character must immerse himself or herself in a sport, school or religion in order to cope with their new circumstances.

6. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike?

In //Hush// I liked the description of the characters and the struggle they were going through. At times I felt like I was joining the young girl in her loneliness. However the struggle was depicted only so deeply. The author could have gone into far more detail of what life was like for this family. It seemed as if the whole story was wrapped up much too quickly.

7. 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.


 * Describe the relationship between Toswiah and Cameron. Choose one word to describe their relationship and give three examples from the story to support your answer.
 * Propose an alternative ending to the story Hush. Give a thorough description of what happens to each character.
 * What questions would you ask in an interview with Toswiah? Please share 5-10 questions you would ask her about her life in Denver or her new life after the relocation.

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. []