Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

            Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie was written by Jordan Sonnenblick. This is about an 8th grader named Steven Alper. He's not popular nor cool. He is just a typical 8th grade boy trying to enjoy life. On a usual school morning his younger brother, Jeffrey Alper, has blood cancer a.k.a Leukemia. Being the oldest brother can put a lot of pressure. You take responsibility for the choices you make. Its definitely hard for Steven. From that point on Steven has taken a big step for his whole family, and even himself.

          It all started with moatmeal. Steven Alper was the utmost geek ( to himself) in middle school. Starting with that morning, Steven went to school. Having Jeffrey on his mind shift his thinking. Steven Alper was an extremely self-conscious boy. He cared about what other people thought of him. He rushes to his locker and there stands Renee Albert. Renee is Steven's crazy crush. Whenever he thinks of her its like a shine of colors speaking to him. He tells his self that he forgot to brush his teeth! Literally! Steven forgets all about his poor little brother. Steven goes back to his class and continues his day.

       Steven Alper has matured in brother-hood. The first thing that he bravely did was to kick Renee Albert to the curb! He actually did that because Renee was sick. If Renee came into Steven's house then Jeffrey would've catched her flu. When someone has any cancer its not good to have a sick person going around. If you want a family member to not risk of dying then keep them away from sick people. The other thing was that he left his concert for Jeffrey because Jeffrey had a fever. He was throwing up and it was time to leave. It was a hard decision to make. Steven practices all year long, and he was ready. Now he is doing something big for his brother Jeffrey.

      As Jeffrey is sick, Steven is having stages of depression. He is angry about Jeffrey and how he got cancer. He is blaming himself on all of this new family issue. Its getting to the point were he is not having use to himself. Steven doesn't do his homework! He was seeing a councilor to fix out his depression. Everyone was worried about Steven's future. As soon as he thought about everything it was time to get his things together. That made Steven accomplish middle school!

     There isn't an ending. It's just the beginning of a new life. Steven graduated happily with Jeffrey being there. Having a life with a diagnosed cancer family member isn't easy for anyone. At the end of Steven's point of view at the concert they raised abot 23,000 dollars I think. Now there is time. The Alper family has been through a tough time but, they got out with a living son.                                    

MEMOIR

Memoir
Ava Ojo
705

IS SANTA REAL MOMMY?

    " You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not shout I'm tell'in you why,....Santa Claus is coming to TOWN!!!" The smell of hot coco and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are in the air combined with the cool scent of peppermint. It's Christmas Eve in the dry desert area of Davis, CA. In Davis there are no white Christmas's. There are only high winds and lots of rain. I am with my brother, Kristian, my mom, Eva and Danny, seeing the Christmas Parade. Eva is my mom's closest friend. Danny is my friend from when we were little. Suddenly we all hear loud Christmas music and elves waving. They are tossing out Santa hats. We see all different character’s from Christmas movies on floats. Like Jack frost, Frosty the Snowman, even the Grinch. Each float has a background of were the characters live.  After all of the characters go down the street we see Santa! He is in a huge red sleigh with his reindeer’s (Mouse). Santa is repeating “HOHO MERRY CHRISTMAS!” over and over again. As he rides down the street, people start leaving. We pick up our stuff and head to the car.
        *                *                *
     We pull up around 7:30pm at my house. Most of use are tired and ready for tomorrow morning’s surprise. But before we go, my mother has a present for Danny.      
"Mommy I got the Thomas the Choo-choo train. I got Thomas the Choo-choo train from Santa." Danny yelling. He’s running up and down. We we're only 7 years old.
"Mom, can I open just one present...too, PLEASE!" I begged to her with my puppy face.
"No honey.” She said. “You are going to open your presents tomorrow morning. Today we just did the parade, and we are now just giving a little gift for Danny.. ok." My mother says.
"But-"
"AVA."
"Fine!" I say with frustration.
11 minutes later
    I needed my sleeping bag. It is chilly and my feet were getting numb.
“Mom....” I say.
“What?” My mom says.
“ I need my sleeping bag. Were is it?” I ask.
“It’s in my room, in the closet on the top, but I’ll get it.” She says. My mom goes back to talking to Eva on the couch. I leave without remembering that last line she said. I get out of the living room and turn a sharp right on the rugged carpet. Before I even open my mother’s white wooden door I see a note, it read:
Dear Children in this household,
    Please do not! I repeat NOT! Open this
door. If you do, Santa will give you coal.
Love,  Mommy XOX

    “Oh well! I am only seven! And I do not. Repeat not, know how to read that well!.” I whisper to myself. I took the note off that door and pretended that I never saw it. I looked behind me and to the sides of me. For protection I take an aluminum bat. I open the door slowly with a gentle push, making sure that ghosts aren’t in there. I walk into the dark, shadowed room with a little light coming from the curtained window. Rushing, I try to find the switch. I am pretty scared of the dark.  *click*
“What‘s that?” I asked to myself. There was a blue ordinary sheet covering my brother’s crib. I walk to it slowly. With a blink of an eye I take it off and BOM! There were the presents wrapped in gold,silver, and all different colors. The presents were gorgeous. I stare at the presents. OMG! I say in my head.
“AAAAAA!(screaming)” I run to the living room. “Danny! Danny! Santa works here! HE ACTUL-” My mom cuts me up.
“AVA ADELINE OJO!” She stands up, eye to eye. “ What did I tell you!”
“ You said that my sleeping bag is in your closet right on the top.” I felt embarrassed, but yet confused. I hadn’t even get my pink sleeping bag.
“ Go to your room immediately!” I stomp loudly enough so that my mom can hear, to my room, take a left and walk to the end of the hall way. I slam that stink’in door hard. My bed is on the right and my brothers bed is on the left. I just collapse on to it. And start crying. My cheeks get red and my heart is racing. I think to myself those movies, and songs are just for little babies.
     A half an hour past and my mom comes in saying that Danny and Eva left to go catch their flight. I am laying flat on my bed, facing the wall that is filled with Littles Pet Shop wall stickers and pictures with my mom, my brother, my daddy and I . My mom rubs my back and pats it. I can feel her *gulp* and her soft warm hand going in circles.
“ I am sorry.” She says in her ok voice tone. “ I should’ve paid more attention to you.” I get up with my back aching and hug her tightly. I am only seven (thinking in my head). I can hear my 2 year old brother running from the living room in his dinosaur shirt and his Elmo diaper. He yells.
“Mommy, I want to open just one present PLEASE!” He puts up his index finger while speaking. We both laugh, then Kristian joins in.
“Merry Christmas!” My mom says.

    I always think of that day being the reasons why I new that my mom and dad were actually “santa’s helpers” or as we all teenagers say it santa. I look forward to Christmas day. Sometimes I do wish Santa were real. Then we all won’t have to worry about all these sales and Blackout Friday’s. It would be Christmas for all of us! My mother always tells me to enjoy it and be grateful. She is correct! Merry Christmas! And all a good night!



 
   
   
   

Crank

Character's shoes

 

           I am reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins. This book is about a girl named Kristina. Its summer break. She is flying to Albuquerque to see her father. Over there she has a nickname. Bree. Bree is the monster inside of Kristina. She meets a boy named Adam. On their first date, Adam gave Kristina crank. Suddenly Kristina turns into this her monster, Bree. Bree is the bad side and Kristina is the trustful side. What would I do if I were Kristina?

     Being a teen is hard. You don't have many options as a regular adult. You think you can do all these adult thing but you can't. But Kristina isn't picking the best option. If I were her first off I wouldn't date Adam. He has a crazy ex-girlfriend of his own. Then I wouldn't have taken the crank nor the cigar from Adam. Adam is a type of guy that steals and goes to parties every now and then. When you have a boyfriend that gives you all this crap, Kristina, is playing dumb. With these guys you get in to trouble. Soon you'll see your self in jail locked up forever! I guess she just has a messed up family from my point of view.

   All in all, I would recommend this book to teens. Not pre-teens. Basically 12 and under. From these books you can get an idea. Sometimes not a good one. Don't ever drink or smoke like Kristina. Its a bad habit!!!!  

Wintergirls

Conflict

            Wintergirls was written by Laurie Halse Anderson. Wintergirl's main character is named Lia. Lia has had a truly difficult time with herself. Her "best friend", Cassie  just died alone, in the motel room calling her 33 times. Lia feels guilty. She feels that its all her fault. Lia punishes herself by eating less and less everyday. She doesn't know what to do.

           Lia already has divorced parents who are living in sepreate homes. Her dad, David, married Lia's stepmother, Jennifer, and she now has a stepsister named Emma. You would think that Emma and Lia have a bad stepsister connection but they actually don't. They love each other. Lia is constantly seeing Cassie. Cassie keeps on telling Lia that she's not good enough. She even tells her to cut deeper with a bigger knife. Its all a game though. It was when they were in the 3rd grade. Lia and Cassie made a promise. It was that whoever gets the skinniest wins. They even cut their own promise to make the swear.

        All in all, I cannot tell you the ending. If you like to read social issues this is the book I would recommend to you. Its scary and a nightmare type of book. Just don't read while going to bed!       

This I Believe

THIS I BELIEVE

                I believe in waves. Waves are to me, nature that keeps on being reborn every splash it takes. Sometimes it can pull you in, sometimes it can take you out. Waves make me calm. There are small waves, strong waves, big waves, waves were you can swim in. Waves are fun. You can surf, scuba dive, play, even go boating or fishing.

               I remember when I was younger. I lived in California. My mom would always take me to Santa Cruz (an amusement park in the south of San Francisco) or the beach. We would collect rocks and sea shells. Some beaches even had sand mountains near the ocean. My brother and I would play near the water. The beach was empty. No people, no lifeguards. It was sort of 'our beach'. Even though there was no one there, I felt so relaxed. I couldn't go in the waves because there were twice the size of NY. I only played by the shore. It wasn't clear water though. The water had a muddy, blue type. To get there, it was an 1 hr. and 1/2. It was enjoyable. I remember the feeling of going to the beach. Whenever I put my hand in the water, I can feel the waves energy flowing with my hands and going into swirls. I love waves and I love the beach!

          I believe in having a place where you feel like yourself. My place, of course, is the beach. Try thing out! I still like to go to the beach but its not like it back in the open palace. DREAM. Use your imagination. No  matter how old you are, you can always have a place that reflects you;)

Stay

Conflict

         I am reading Stay by Debcaletti. Its about a teenage girl named Clara. She met a boy named Christian at this basketball game were her friend's (Shakti) boyfriend was playing in.The first time she saw Christian was when those beautiful eyes met hers. She felt in a way happy. 

      After the basketball game she looked forward to seeing him again at the next one. But she knew that there was a chance were she couldn't find him, anywhere. That next basketball game came and it was filled with 1,000 people. There was pushing and shoving (of course) but she just couldn't see him at all. Her hope faded away, she really was looking forward to meeting Christian. Finally she saw him after the basketball game. She felt relieved. he was sitting on the bleachers eying her to come. As she walked up the bleachers and sat down, Christian had kissed her. But wait, she doesn't even know this guy. She felt it to soon so she left. The conflict that is going to happen is that Christian cannot let her go. Its turning into a messy obsession.

   Clara has moved away from all the fear of Christian but she might not be able to yet. I cannot tell you the ending. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading social issues.This is the Sunday blog:) 

The Help

PLOT

       I've been reading THE HELP.  Its a story back where there were slaves for the rich. Its powerful, and it tells you how one whisper can help your community. There are 2 slaves (that I know) Minny and Ailibeen. They work for different people in different homes. They have different experiences. Here in this next paragraph it will explain the plot.

   During the beginning of the book, Ailibeen takes care of Mable (a baby of one of the families). Mable reminds her of her own son that died of getting run over by a truck. Yeah, she was depressed but one day she got up and decided that it was time to start a new day. Ailibeen goes to different homes and to different places. I haven't finished the book yet but I'll keep you  updated.

  All in all, THE HELP is a fabulous book. It is extremely packed with details but you'll get it. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading stories about slaves, and how they came out. This is the blog for this Sunday!!!!!

"Revolt of Evil Fairies"

Discromination

                In Ted Poston's "Revolt of Evil Fairies" there is a protagonist that doesn't feel that being dark skinned isn't the way he wants to be. It would be a miracle to him if he got the main act or a good fairy. But he can't because of his color of his skin. Imagine that your in a play and your dark skinned. You would rather prefer the main act or the good fairy. In this case you can't! You have to be a dark fairy. How would you feel if you wouldn't have a voice?

                Ted Poston's "Revolt" has a theme of discrimination. The protagonist goes to a school in Hopkinsville, Kentucky named Booker T. Washington Colored Grammar School. They always do a play called Sleeping Beauty. My first example for discrimination: " Rat Jointer, for instance, rationalize that situation. Rat was not only black; he lived on Billy Goat Hill. But Rat summed it up like this: If you black, you black". This shows what the classmates of the protagonist sum the whole play. 

             In the making of Sleeping Beauty there is one particular teacher. Her name is Miss LaParade. In my second example it shows how she would sum up the play: "Miss LaParade called it a modern morality play of conflict between the forces of good and evil. And the forces of evil , of course, always came off second best." Here you can tell that the teachers make the decisions than the students. They think whats best for the audience and the yallers.

           All in all, the protagonist made a fight with Leonardius Wright but made it look like it was supposed to be in the script. The protagonist doesn't feel bad. Even though he was not going to be in the play next year, it was wroth it doing. Don't believe in people! Believe in yourself. This is the "Revolt of the Fairies" discrimination.   

               

Pretty little liars

Conflict

      I just finished reading Pretty Little Liars. I this book there is killing, murders, and all types of usual world things that happen to be true. There are 4 girls. Emily, Spencer, Aria, and Hanna. They are all in high school in a small town. Suddenly there so called to be best friend, died. Her name was Alison. For the past year they've been receiving notes/text messages. Here I will give out the conflict.

     Imagine that you have this really cool group. You guys have lunch together. The usual freindship. Then a horrible incident happens to your main leader of that group. Right after her funeral you get a text message signed off with her/his name. You've been getting text after text about not doing this or threatening you to do that. This is basically the conflict. You cannot trust anyone!

    All in all, there is still more to overcome. I would recommend these book series to someone that enjoys to read mysteries! Write to you next Sunday!
   

Amulet (book two)

Conflict

     I've been reading Amulet (book two) by Kazu Kibuishi. Its about a girl with an amulet. The amulet has powers that can control things. In the next paragraph it will explain the conflict being told in the story.

    The protagonist is basically the main point were all of it starts. There are two sides. People that want to join the evil Elf King or people who want to join the protagonist by not being on the evil side. Going on, the Elf king wants to kill the protagonist because he wants the amulet to complete his mission.

   All in all, I am not finished with the graphic novel yet. I hope you readers will chose this book for you independent book. Write to you later:)

The complete Perselpolis

In Character's shoes

           I've been reading Persepolis for about 1 day. Its about a girl in Iran telling the reader about her history when she was little. She wanted to be a doctor. The teachers were worried but her parents weren't. I haven't finished the book yet. Here is what I would've thought.

          Being an Islamic girl in the 1980's was hard. They would separate the girls with the wraps and the girls that are fighting against the girls with the wraps. Sometimes they (police) would come to your house and take your father or your mother. It was a depressing time. The protagonist would become a doctor. But its hard to. If i were in her shoes then I would give my life up for a change in my community. Its a riskful thing to do. But you want to do it so that it wouldn't last forever.

        All in all, I am excited to see what has come in this womens life. I wish her good luck. I would recommend this book to a person that would prefer a graphic novel based on world issues. This is my blog for today!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Conflict

     In "If I Stay" written by Gayle Forman, there is this heartbroken moment. Mia, being the main character, has a conflict. Or as some people call it an issue. Here I will explain why my conflict would be accurate. 

     People say and people do. Its life. We're born and we die. Its a cycle. Mia has this. Imagine you in a car accident and suddenly your lively dead in a ditch. But then you suddenly realize that your a ghost. Basically this is the conflict/issue. Just imagine that. Its a sad, heartbreaking, lovely, story. All I can tell you is that this is reality.

     All in all, I adore this book. I would recommend this book to people that are really in Social Issues. Write to you next Sunday........:)

Anya's Ghost

If I were In Anya's Shoes

              Right now I just finished the graphic novel Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol. In this novel its about a teenage girl, named Anya, in a high school were there is drama, chaos, and dumb things. One day Anya was running through the park and she feel in this pot hole. In the pot hole there was a woman named Emily Reily. Shes dead but, when Anya went to school she had Emily's finger!

            What if you knew a ghost.... would you take it home our leave it behind? This is a super easy question for me....nooooo! I wouldn't take a ghost home. Their like strangers. You never know what they would do next! In the beginning of the book i thought Emily was a really sweet girl but at the end it didn't turn out well. If i were in Anya's shoes I would've said no. I am not tryng to give sneek peaks people! Just think about it. This is my explanation!

          All in all, I cannot tell you the ending. Lets just say that Anya knows better. This is my blog for his Sunday! Write tell you all later:)

 

Drummer Boy

Character Traits

         Right now we are reading Girls, Drums and Dangerous Pie. The main character is Steven. Steven thinks of himself as a nerd. He's those kids that sort of know everything but are really  annoying (to me). Here is my newest post on the Drummer Boy a.k.a Steven.

        Steven right now is feeling worried. His younger brother, Jeffrey, has blood cancer. His mother is shocked and extremely quiet. But lets go back a bit. Steven was getting Jeffrey some "motmeal" and when he turned around Jeffrey had fallen of from is chair really hard. So hard that is nose was bleeding non-stop. Steven's mother took Jeffrey to the hospital. 

     When Steven arrived at school he met his crush Renee Albert. He's telling us readers that he forgot to brush his teeth! Come on! Now i know that Steven is.....selfish. His brother was rushed to the emergency room for god's sake! I wouldn't care about my teeth. Also I think Jeffery and Steven have a special connection with each other. There brothers! If I were Steven I would've asked my mom to get Jeffrey some motmeal.

     All in all we aren't finish but i hope that Jeffery lives. Somehow I have this feeling that Jeffrey might.....die. I am enjoying this book, which is good! This is my blogg:) Write to you next Sunday...... 

Lock And Key

Summary

           Right now I am reading Lock&Key by Sarah Dessen. Its about a girl named Ruby having a life that has no answers. Her mother left her with her sister she hasn't known for 10 years of her life. Ruby right now feels like shes.... unwanted. What if you were left in a mansion that your sister that you don't know owns it? Here is how Ruby feels about her life situation.

           Ruby is now telling me about her yellow house and meeting the Honeycutts. And how her past was with her depressing mother. This main character has a pretty messed up life. But now she doesn't. Her yellow rented house is this 1 bedroom, dark celled walls, and a small kitchen. For me i would not live here. Anyway, Ruby was always tired because most of the time Ruby's mother would come in and ask if Ruby can go sleep on the couch. That was i stopped and realized that this place comparing to her sisters place is so much better. At her sisters she has a green room. Filled with fluffed pillows with a slanted ceiling. Thats her room. Now the honeycutts are the new land lords of the yellow house. In this book right now Ruby is just playing back memories/flashbacks of her past. This is my summary!

         All in all the story isn't over yet but I will give updates. I would recommend this book to readers that love social issues. Write to you later:)

No Body's Perfect

No Body's Perfect by Kimberley Kirberger

             No Body's Perfect by Kimberly K. is a book about teens and pre-teens having issues with their body. Kimberly K. collected over 50 stories about having the perfect body or being anorexic. Its an extremely BIG topic to talk about. Some of the teen authors had stories that you can connect to. Here is my post about No Body's perfect.

             This book really can connect to me. Being over-weight is hard. A lot of people judge you because you don't look, well....healthy. The story that caught my eye was about a girl 2 years older than me. She had written about how she was unhealthy and how her so called friends would make fun of how she looked. But then she decided that is was time to be healthy ( to lose wait). After a year of hard work she found herself at her point. She was happy and had confidence walking into school. This is why I love this book. I don't feel as if i am the only one in the world. This is my connection!

            All in all, I learned facts about how people feel inside there body's. I love it how (sometimes) it gets fixed. This is my newest post:)