The book I have recently finished (yes, I finished it already!) is called "Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have). It is about a girl named April Berman. She was left behind by her mom- Since her mom cheated on her dad with a french dude named Daniel, then moved to Paris with April's younger brother-, then when her dad and his new wife, Penny, decide to move to Cleveland, April had to make a decision whether to move with them and start a new life, or to stay in Westport with her friends and her boyfriend and her old life. April chose to stay.
Parentless and living with her friend Vi, also parentless-her mom works in the traveling show business so she is never home-, April decides live the party lifestyle, which goes against the rules she promised to obey by her father. Throughout the chapters of the book, she starts listing all of the things she and her friends did that they should have never done. Thats why each chapter says "number_:________", she says what she did.
Her parents have no idea what she has done, though. when her father email's Vi's mother, he is actually emailing Vi. And when Vi's real mom email's April's dad, she really is emailing April. The only reason, though, they can't get caught is because of Lucy the Spy. She knows everything and if April and Vi didn't let hre go to their parties, she would tell their parents and they BOTH will be screwed. So thats the only reason they get away with it.
During the book, you will start to realize that living without parents has its benifits, but also dire consequences. By having sex with her boyfriend, April catches Chlamydia, an STD, and she has to go on a hunt to get the truth out of her boyfriend if he slept with someone else. She did find out that he did and she broke up with him and decided to hook up with her best (guy) friend, Hudson. She also starts to miss her parents and wishes that they had never broken up and that they were still living together as one big happy family.
When you read this book, you will feel like April: going through tough times, without any parents to explain it with. See you later!!!!!
-Alicea \(*-*)/
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn't have) reader's response by Alicea Mendez 805
This book is about a girl named April Berman. She is coping with her parents divorce, her mom moving away to Paris taking April's little brother with her, her parents getting remarried, and now she has to deal with her father moving to Cleveland with his new wife, who is planning on taking her with them. In this book, though, the way it is written is that it is naming ten things April did that she probably shouldn't had (hence the name). And although she didn't move with her dad to Cleveland, but moved into her friend Vi's house, she did lie to him saying that :
*she won't have any boys in the house whatsoever
*she won't drink
*she won't skip school
*she won't use the money he gives her on wasteful things
She has a boyfriend named Noah (which she plans on losing her virginity with), she has had plenty of parties at the house (in which they have boys), she did drink, she did skip school so she can go to Planned Parenthood to get on birth control and then after that go to the mall, and she wasted money on clothes, and a grocery bill worth $625, in which there were things that did not need to be bought.
April thinks that she is going to get away with this crazy scheme of lying to her folks so that she can stay with her friends and boyriend, but there is this one girl that she, Vi, and I, the reader, have been suspicious about...
At one party, a girl named Lucy Michaels recorded what was going on (underage drinking etc.) and showed her mom, who then showed April's dad, who grounded April for that. So now every time April sees Lucy, she gets scared because Lucy is kind of like a spy: you never really know what she is up too...
I haven't finished reading the book yet, so that is all I can say about the book right now... See you later!!!
- Alicea
*she won't have any boys in the house whatsoever
*she won't drink
*she won't skip school
*she won't use the money he gives her on wasteful things
She has a boyfriend named Noah (which she plans on losing her virginity with), she has had plenty of parties at the house (in which they have boys), she did drink, she did skip school so she can go to Planned Parenthood to get on birth control and then after that go to the mall, and she wasted money on clothes, and a grocery bill worth $625, in which there were things that did not need to be bought.
April thinks that she is going to get away with this crazy scheme of lying to her folks so that she can stay with her friends and boyriend, but there is this one girl that she, Vi, and I, the reader, have been suspicious about...
At one party, a girl named Lucy Michaels recorded what was going on (underage drinking etc.) and showed her mom, who then showed April's dad, who grounded April for that. So now every time April sees Lucy, she gets scared because Lucy is kind of like a spy: you never really know what she is up too...
I haven't finished reading the book yet, so that is all I can say about the book right now... See you later!!!
- Alicea
Friday, October 12, 2012
Clash reader's response by Alicea Mendez 805
The book that I have just finished is called " Clash" by Nicole Williams. Right off the bat, I would like to say that this is a really good book. This is the second book in the " Crash" series, and it is really more shocking than the first one...
In the beginning, Lucy Larson is in college and back together with her boyfriend, Jude Ryder. She is taking up a dancing career in Julliard, and Jude is taking up a football career in Syracuse. But as Lucy goes to see Jude and go on a lovely date with him, another girl comes into the picture. And that girl is Jude's spirit sister, Adriana Vix...
As Lucy and Adriana fight over Jude's love, Jude is caught in the middle as a pawn, in love with Lucy, but trying to steer clear of Adriana's seductive ways. Then one day, Lucy sees a disturbing scene that she was not supposed to see ( I'll leave that for the next reader to find out...) and breaks up with Jude, leading him into being half dead of dehydration and starving, trying to find Lucy to explain to her what really happened on that fateful night.
I would not like to spoil the ending since this is the best book (or should I say series) that I have ever read. But the ending will suprise you in a way that you haven't expected. It will leave you crying, I swear (well unless you can't go into the reading zone while you are reading), out of joy, sadness, and a hint of anger as this book and this series altogether takes you on a wild ride called the Jude and Lucy Rollercoaster. Well, see you all later!!!!!!!!
-Alicea \(^.^)/
In the beginning, Lucy Larson is in college and back together with her boyfriend, Jude Ryder. She is taking up a dancing career in Julliard, and Jude is taking up a football career in Syracuse. But as Lucy goes to see Jude and go on a lovely date with him, another girl comes into the picture. And that girl is Jude's spirit sister, Adriana Vix...
As Lucy and Adriana fight over Jude's love, Jude is caught in the middle as a pawn, in love with Lucy, but trying to steer clear of Adriana's seductive ways. Then one day, Lucy sees a disturbing scene that she was not supposed to see ( I'll leave that for the next reader to find out...) and breaks up with Jude, leading him into being half dead of dehydration and starving, trying to find Lucy to explain to her what really happened on that fateful night.
I would not like to spoil the ending since this is the best book (or should I say series) that I have ever read. But the ending will suprise you in a way that you haven't expected. It will leave you crying, I swear (well unless you can't go into the reading zone while you are reading), out of joy, sadness, and a hint of anger as this book and this series altogether takes you on a wild ride called the Jude and Lucy Rollercoaster. Well, see you all later!!!!!!!!
-Alicea \(^.^)/
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Am I Blue reader's response: Alicea Mendez 805
Bruce Coville's short story "Am I Blue" talks to the reader about being insecure with yourself and that it doesn't matter if you are gay or not, just that if you believe in yourself, you can be whatever you want, no matter what anyone says about you.
In the beginning of the story, Vincent, the main character, was bullied by another kid named Butch Carrigan. Vincent looks at Butch a certain way that Butch perceives it like something else. Butch tells Vincent "You little fruit! I'll teach you to look at me!". This shows that Vincent is gay (or at least he thinks he is) and that Butch always bullies him for it. But in this case, all Vincent did was catch a glance at him when Butch decided that Vincent was "interested in jumping his bones".
In the middle of the story, Vincent was with his "fairy Godfather" Melvin in a cafe. Vincent asked: "'Me being your first case. Does that mean I'm gay?' I didn't mention that I have been trying to figure out the same thing for myself for about a year know." This shows that Vincent isn't really sure that he wants to tell himself, or anyone else for that matter, that he is gay because he is scared for what people might say and do to him. He really isn't sure about his sexuallity yet, and he doesn't know whether to come out of the closet or not.
In the end of the story, Vincent, who now has gaydar vision ( a type of vision that allows you to see all of the gay people in the world by turning them blue) and now knows that Butch is gay since he was "blue as a summer sky", says he: "Decided to save my third wish for when i really need it--maybe when i meet the girl of my dreams. Or Prince Charming. Whichever." This shows that he is now satisfied about who he is (and who Butch Carrigan really is) and that it won't really matter to what he is going to be when he gets older : gay or straight. He would be happy either way. But he still isn't sure what he is, though.
And in conclusion, Bruce Coville short story "Am I Blue" teaches readers to be yourself, no matter what you are. Bruce shows readers that being gay is a choice, whether you want to come out of the closet or not, and that it expresses part of who you are.
In the beginning of the story, Vincent, the main character, was bullied by another kid named Butch Carrigan. Vincent looks at Butch a certain way that Butch perceives it like something else. Butch tells Vincent "You little fruit! I'll teach you to look at me!". This shows that Vincent is gay (or at least he thinks he is) and that Butch always bullies him for it. But in this case, all Vincent did was catch a glance at him when Butch decided that Vincent was "interested in jumping his bones".
In the middle of the story, Vincent was with his "fairy Godfather" Melvin in a cafe. Vincent asked: "'Me being your first case. Does that mean I'm gay?' I didn't mention that I have been trying to figure out the same thing for myself for about a year know." This shows that Vincent isn't really sure that he wants to tell himself, or anyone else for that matter, that he is gay because he is scared for what people might say and do to him. He really isn't sure about his sexuallity yet, and he doesn't know whether to come out of the closet or not.
In the end of the story, Vincent, who now has gaydar vision ( a type of vision that allows you to see all of the gay people in the world by turning them blue) and now knows that Butch is gay since he was "blue as a summer sky", says he: "Decided to save my third wish for when i really need it--maybe when i meet the girl of my dreams. Or Prince Charming. Whichever." This shows that he is now satisfied about who he is (and who Butch Carrigan really is) and that it won't really matter to what he is going to be when he gets older : gay or straight. He would be happy either way. But he still isn't sure what he is, though.
And in conclusion, Bruce Coville short story "Am I Blue" teaches readers to be yourself, no matter what you are. Bruce shows readers that being gay is a choice, whether you want to come out of the closet or not, and that it expresses part of who you are.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
The Drummer Boy of Shiloh draft by Alicea Mendez 805
The Drummer Boy of Shiloh is about a boy in a war. He doesn't feel like he belongs there until the General talks to him and tells him that he does belong in the war.
In the beginning, Joby is laying on the floor with his drum, counting the many shadows passing through the campsight. He starts to think about things like: he doesn't belong in the war, he only has "a drum, two sticks, and no shield,". This shows that Joby feels out of place and that he feels useless and that he is there with no protection from the harm that he can receive.
Thats when the General walks up to him and notices the emotion that Joby is showing.The general starts to talk to Joby, talking about the war. He then begins to tell him that Joby does have meaning to the war. That Joby is "the heart of the war" and that what he does matters too. Joby then realizes that what the General is telling him is right. He does matter and that what he does also has an impact on the war too. This shows that Joby is realizing that he really isn't out of place.
At the end, Joby is feeling happy again. He is feeling confident in himself, feeling like he has the power to change what happens in the war. In the story, it says that "he smiled, falling asleep with the drum at his side". This shows that what the General told Joby changed the way Joby thought about himself.
I think the theme Ray Bradbury wanted the reader to know is "Don't doubt youself: you are who you are". I think that this is the theme because in the beginning, Joby felt useless, but after the pep talk with the General, he felt confident.
The author shows us this by describing to us the way he felt throughtout the story. Ray also shows us that by giving us a mental picture of the scene that is happening. Ray gives us the scene and the reader would really feel like they are really there with Joby and the General in the war. The reader would feel like they are really experiencing the dialogue in real life.
In the beginning, Joby is laying on the floor with his drum, counting the many shadows passing through the campsight. He starts to think about things like: he doesn't belong in the war, he only has "a drum, two sticks, and no shield,". This shows that Joby feels out of place and that he feels useless and that he is there with no protection from the harm that he can receive.
Thats when the General walks up to him and notices the emotion that Joby is showing.The general starts to talk to Joby, talking about the war. He then begins to tell him that Joby does have meaning to the war. That Joby is "the heart of the war" and that what he does matters too. Joby then realizes that what the General is telling him is right. He does matter and that what he does also has an impact on the war too. This shows that Joby is realizing that he really isn't out of place.
At the end, Joby is feeling happy again. He is feeling confident in himself, feeling like he has the power to change what happens in the war. In the story, it says that "he smiled, falling asleep with the drum at his side". This shows that what the General told Joby changed the way Joby thought about himself.
I think the theme Ray Bradbury wanted the reader to know is "Don't doubt youself: you are who you are". I think that this is the theme because in the beginning, Joby felt useless, but after the pep talk with the General, he felt confident.
The author shows us this by describing to us the way he felt throughtout the story. Ray also shows us that by giving us a mental picture of the scene that is happening. Ray gives us the scene and the reader would really feel like they are really there with Joby and the General in the war. The reader would feel like they are really experiencing the dialogue in real life.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
crash reader's response by alicea mendez 805
The latest book that I have just finished reading is called "Crash" by Nicole Williams. Starting off, this book is REALLY good. Its about a girl named Lucy Larson. She is a ballet dancer who has the dream of making it into Julliard to study to become a professional dancer. There's only one problem: Jude Ryder.
Jude Ryder is what you would call a Bad Boy. He's been arrested more times than he can count (literally...), has slept with almost all of the women in the entire state (figuratively), and is the most feared person in all of SouthPointe High School. Anyone and everyone in the entire school does not get on Jude's bad side unless they want to get put into ICU at the hospital.
What happens is plain and simple: Lucy sees Jude, Jude sees Lucy, they both fall in love with each other but they don't show it. Since Lucy also sees Jude as a brother, they became friends for the simple fact that Lucy doesn't have a brother. Anymore......
Lucy's brother, John Larson, was shot and killed by a bullet meant for their father, Wyatt Larson, a man who had a big heart and a large sense of work ethic. Until his heart shriveled 3 sizes after losing his only son. Lucy lost her only brother, her only best friend, and her whole entire heart, until she started taking up dancing in which she stopped mourning the loss of her brother in order to continue with life.
With Jude Larson, it's like she has her brother back, only he is much more stronger and protective.
The only consequence that comes with hanging with him is that she now has a new reputation, which is,by the way, not a good reputation to have.
This book's theme is that even though there may be some bumps in the road or you have had rough patches with the person you love, you always stick with the person through those times in your relationship. The reason this is the theme is because Jude had a rough childhood and is having a tough time as a teenager, and Lucy has stood by him from the day they became friends, and then when they became a couple, encouraging him to forget what happened in the past even though he really can't forget. For example, in the story, Jude tells Lucy that "I'm worthless piece of $# !% and that, with the life I'm living and my with the history I have, I'm like a cancer that you can't get rid of" and that "You need to stay away from me", but Lucy always tells him that "you need to stop living in the past because you can't change anything about it. You can only change what you do now in the present". And because of these conversations, they always end up having a mini-argument where Jude tells Lucy to leave him alone since he's no good and Lucy never listens to him, telling him that she loves him for who he is, not for what he has done.
This book can teach readers that if you love someone, you love them for who they are and not where they have been. Anyone who likes high school romance with a little bit of comedy will LOVE Crash!!!!
Hope you readers enjoy this book too!!!!! See you around!!!
-Alicea >:-D
Jude Ryder is what you would call a Bad Boy. He's been arrested more times than he can count (literally...), has slept with almost all of the women in the entire state (figuratively), and is the most feared person in all of SouthPointe High School. Anyone and everyone in the entire school does not get on Jude's bad side unless they want to get put into ICU at the hospital.
What happens is plain and simple: Lucy sees Jude, Jude sees Lucy, they both fall in love with each other but they don't show it. Since Lucy also sees Jude as a brother, they became friends for the simple fact that Lucy doesn't have a brother. Anymore......
Lucy's brother, John Larson, was shot and killed by a bullet meant for their father, Wyatt Larson, a man who had a big heart and a large sense of work ethic. Until his heart shriveled 3 sizes after losing his only son. Lucy lost her only brother, her only best friend, and her whole entire heart, until she started taking up dancing in which she stopped mourning the loss of her brother in order to continue with life.
With Jude Larson, it's like she has her brother back, only he is much more stronger and protective.
The only consequence that comes with hanging with him is that she now has a new reputation, which is,by the way, not a good reputation to have.
This book's theme is that even though there may be some bumps in the road or you have had rough patches with the person you love, you always stick with the person through those times in your relationship. The reason this is the theme is because Jude had a rough childhood and is having a tough time as a teenager, and Lucy has stood by him from the day they became friends, and then when they became a couple, encouraging him to forget what happened in the past even though he really can't forget. For example, in the story, Jude tells Lucy that "I'm worthless piece of $# !% and that, with the life I'm living and my with the history I have, I'm like a cancer that you can't get rid of" and that "You need to stay away from me", but Lucy always tells him that "you need to stop living in the past because you can't change anything about it. You can only change what you do now in the present". And because of these conversations, they always end up having a mini-argument where Jude tells Lucy to leave him alone since he's no good and Lucy never listens to him, telling him that she loves him for who he is, not for what he has done.
This book can teach readers that if you love someone, you love them for who they are and not where they have been. Anyone who likes high school romance with a little bit of comedy will LOVE Crash!!!!
Hope you readers enjoy this book too!!!!! See you around!!!
-Alicea >:-D
Saturday, September 8, 2012
house at the end of the street reader's response-alicea mendez
The book I've read this summer is called 'The House At the End of the Street'(By the way, I didn't cheat by watching the movie first). This book is technically about a girl who moves to a new town, meets new people and, well, is trying to adjust to a new life. The girl's name is Elissa. She moved to a new house, which her mom could afford because the house was really cheap. But the only reason the house was cheap was because there is secret behind it. The house next to it had a gruesome story behind it. There was a family that lived there, and their daughter, Carrie-Anne had an accident in which she suffered severe head trauma. The months that followed have taken all of the lively happiness out of the house. Until one night, when Carrie-Anne brutally murdered her parents and ran off into the woods behind the house.
Ever since then, no one ever moved into the neighboring house, fearing that Carrie-Anne would come for them. Elissa and her mom don't know the whole story: they just know that the family was killed by their daughter. And that the girl's brother, Ryan, still lives in the house to this day. Rumor around the neighborhood says that Ryan is demented in the head and that he needs help. But Elissa decides to meet this guy and find out the real story...
After being kicked out of a party for something that was not her fault, she decides to walk home by herself when Ryan notices her and gives her a lift home. After talking for a little while, Elissa goes home and Ryan goes into the basement with a tray of food...
He opens a secret door revealing a room fitted for a little girl. He sets the tray down and turns around to find Carrie-Anne behind him. He tells her to leave Elissa and her mom alone.
Soon after, Elissa and Ryan become boyfriend and girlfriend. They hang out a lot, which gets her mom upset since she doesn't trust Ryan.
I don't want to reveal what happens in the middle and the end because this is such a good book and I don't want to spoil it for anyone who would like to read the book(or see the movie if you don't want to "waste time reading the book"), but all I'm going to say is this: don't judge the characters by their cover. what happens will surprise you!
If you decide to read the book instead of watching the movie, you are smart for doing so: the book is way better than the movie, well, being that I haven't seen the movie. YET!!!!! hahaha. well, hope you enjoy this really awesometastic book!!!!!! Love you all!!!
-Alicea >:-P
Ever since then, no one ever moved into the neighboring house, fearing that Carrie-Anne would come for them. Elissa and her mom don't know the whole story: they just know that the family was killed by their daughter. And that the girl's brother, Ryan, still lives in the house to this day. Rumor around the neighborhood says that Ryan is demented in the head and that he needs help. But Elissa decides to meet this guy and find out the real story...
After being kicked out of a party for something that was not her fault, she decides to walk home by herself when Ryan notices her and gives her a lift home. After talking for a little while, Elissa goes home and Ryan goes into the basement with a tray of food...
He opens a secret door revealing a room fitted for a little girl. He sets the tray down and turns around to find Carrie-Anne behind him. He tells her to leave Elissa and her mom alone.
Soon after, Elissa and Ryan become boyfriend and girlfriend. They hang out a lot, which gets her mom upset since she doesn't trust Ryan.
I don't want to reveal what happens in the middle and the end because this is such a good book and I don't want to spoil it for anyone who would like to read the book(or see the movie if you don't want to "waste time reading the book"), but all I'm going to say is this: don't judge the characters by their cover. what happens will surprise you!
If you decide to read the book instead of watching the movie, you are smart for doing so: the book is way better than the movie, well, being that I haven't seen the movie. YET!!!!! hahaha. well, hope you enjoy this really awesometastic book!!!!!! Love you all!!!
-Alicea >:-P
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