Book 3

Title: My Heartbeat

Author: Garret Freymann-Weyr

Pages: 154

A.R. Points: 5

Grade:100/100

Date Finished: October 24, 2009

Publication: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 29, 2002)

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Favorite Characters:
1. Ellen
2. Link
3. James

Feelings when finished: I loved this book so much! It only took me two days to read it. I loved Ellen's relationship with her brother Link and her crush, later boyfriend, James. I was so mad at Link's dad for not accepting his son might just be gay. However, I loved how innocent Ellen was in trying to help her brother and James.

Other books by author:
1. After the Moment
2. When I was older

Plot: A fourteen-year-old girl who discovers that her brother and his best friend, James, who she has been in love with for years, are a gay couple.

Reading Response Questions:

1.What character do you like least? Why?
Link and Ellen's father for being so dense on his son's obvious sexuality. If Link or Ellen, for that matter, was gay so what? There is nothing wrong with being gay or bisexual.

2.How have you changed after reading this book?
My thoughts on the parents who deny their children the freedom to be what they want has definitely grown stronger.

3.What makes you wonder in this book?
How can you not know your child is gay.

School Reading book 2

Title: Julius Caesar

Author: William Shakespeare

Pages: 95

A.R. Points: 4

Date Finished: September 08, 2009

Publication: 1599?

Genre: Tragic play

Grade: 99/100

Favorite Characters
1. Caius Cassius
2. Marcus Brutus

Favorite quotes:
1.1. Et tu, Brute? [Act III line 84]
2.These growing feathers plucked from Ceaser's wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Act 1]
3.For the eye sees not itself but by reflection, by some other things.
4.This day I breathed first. Time is come around, and where I did begin, there shall I end. My life is run his compass. [Act V. ]

Other books by author:
1. Othello
2. Midnight Summer's Dream

Plot:
In this striking tragedy of political conflict, Shakespeare turns to the ancient Roman world and to the famous assassination of Julius Caesar by his republican opponents.

Reading Response Questions:

1. What character do you like least? Why?-I think that Ceaser was my least favorite, because I think Shakespeare sort of portrayed him as an imbecile and kind of a pansy who should have listened to those who warned him of his death.
2.How have you changed after reading this book?
-I have learned that the people you believe to be your friends could very well be the ones who murder you viciously.
3.What makes you wonder in this book?
-How someone who you believe to be your confidant could be so vile and kill you.

My Response: I loved this play! My favorite character is that of Caius Cassius, the main "bad guy" of the story. The only gripe I have of this story is that maybe Shakespeare should have included more of Ceasar, hello the name of the story! I give the book a 99/100.

School Reading book 1

Title: The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka

Pages: 54

A.R. Points: 12

Date Finished: September 5, 2009

Publication: Bantam

Genre: Philosophical novella

Grade: 98/100

Favorite Characters:
1. Gregor Samsa

Favorite quotes:
1. This getting up early, makes anyone a complete idiot. pg. 4
2.Thinking things over calmly-indeed, as calmly as possible was much better than jumping to desperate decisions. pg. 8
3.Were all employees louts without exception, wasn't there a single loyal, dedicated worker among them who, when he had not fully utilized a few hours of the morning for the firm, was driven half-mad by pangs of conscience and was actually unable to get out of bed? pg. 9
4.His parent did not understand this too well; in the course of the years they had formed the conviction, that Gregor was set for life in this firm; and furthermore, they were so preoccupied for immediate troubles that they had lost all consideration for the future. pg. 17

My Response: I intially liked this book. For the reason of how alienated Gregor became when he was transformed into his "beetle-like" state.The only fault is the ending when the family just completely forgets their dead son and focuses on their daughter. Really? Your son is dead and not to mention an insect and a giant one nonetheless. Have some compassion! :D

Other books by author:
1. The Trial
2. The Castle

Plot: The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed into an insect.

Reading Response Questions:

1. What character do you like least? Why? -I hated the entire family because of the horrible way they treated Gregor.

2.How have you changed after reading this book?
- I learned that sometimes you yourself are a monstrosity to what society and your family make you.

3.What makes you wonder in this book?
- I wondered how Gregor became a beetle-like bug?
- I also wonder how things would have played out if Gregor had not died