zMac'nCheese

"The Erik Fisher Football Dream"

     The "The Erik Fisher Football Dream."  That was what seemed to be on the minds of the Fisher family most of the time.  "The Eric Fisher Football Dream" is Paul's dad's dream for his son, Erik, who is Paul's older brother.  In the story, according to Paul, the dad mentions and talks all about the "dream" a lot.  What it is, is that since the Tangerine Times is crazy about high school football.  Therefore since Erik is such a good football player, he will get the great exposure that he needs in the press. Then the "dream" gets into talking about college.  The dad goes on with the "dream" by saying to his family, "we're just down the road from the University of Florida- you know, the Gators?"  Then you find out while he is talking about the dream that Old Charley is a big Gators fan and that Florida State and the University of Miami aren't far away. 

     This "dream" influences the interactions of the family because the dad was never really into sports, but once Erik got good at them, he became into, or "transformed" as they said in the book.  The dad became obsessed with football once Erik got good, but he especially got obsessed with placekicking.  He learned all about how to hold the ball, for Erik, spinning the laces away.  Paul never really got into helping his dad and brother.  His dad tried to get him to hike the ball to them, but he never really coooperared and got dropped. 

     I have never read about, watched, or experienced a family like the Fisher family.  This is my first time reading about people like them, but I enjoy reading about them.  They are a little different, but that's what makes them so enjoyable to read about.  You never know what's going to happen with them.  They are, unique!  I think that they are unique because I have never read about a mom who wants even the smallest of details to be followed and relates the person to the kind of house that they have.  Also because it's cool that a dad, who never really liked sports, got into them, just to help his son.

     All in all, "The Erik Fisher Football Dream" is really the dads "dream" for his son Erik.  The "dream" has influenced the interactions of the "dream" on the dad.  The Fisher family is a totally different kind of family.

Gathering Blue

     "She has to be taken to the Field!  She has a twisted leg!  She is of no help here!"  Where Kira lived, if there was an unnamed, imperfect infant, they were to be taken to the Field to return back to the earth before their spirit had been filled and become human.  I would say that that is abuse.  No one should be taken away to die, just because there is something wrong with them, but that's the way it is there.  Throughout the book, you read about the children sometimes either being abused or neglected. 

     One way in which the children in Kira's world are abused and neglected is, when children gets sent to the Field when they are born, just because there is something wrong with them.  I don't think that just because they are disabled, they should be sent to die.  I know that they might not be helpful in the village, but they deserve the chance to be able to try and do something.  For example, the Council wanted to take Kira away from her mom, just because she was born with a twisted leg before her spirit was filled, but her mom wouldn't let them take her.  Now, Kira is repairing the robe for the same people who wanted her to die. 

     Another way in which the children in Kira's world are abused is that tykes mothers would hit them if they misbehaved.  Matt received a lot of this type of abuse.  An example of this abuse was that his mom threw a rock at him.  When Kira and Thomas talked to his brother, he told them, "She thrashed Matt so hard he was horrid bloody."  Another example of the abuse that Matt faced was verbal abuse.  What happened was, a women at the weaving shed, Marlena, called Matt a wicked tyke, that he is worthless and that he is horried lazy.  Once she said this, she called angrily at him, and he drew back to hide.

     Matt was also neglected.  An example of the neglect that he went through was his mom doesn't give him a lot of food to eat, so that's why when he goes to visit Kira and Thomas, he eats some of their food.  It's hard to tell that he is treated this way because he always seems to be in a happy mood with Branch.  Another example of the neglect that Matt went through is that he is ignored as someone unimportant.  For example, when he went to Annabella's house with Kira, he was being basically ignored while they were there because Annabella was only interested in teaching Kira the dyes.

     The fact that Matt is abused influences his personality.  He has a sense of humor.  He can always find a way to get Kira and Thomas laugh, even if he isn't always trying to.  He can also be characterized as a loyal friend.  He always supported Kira throughout the whole book, whether it was helping gather his friends to help build her home, or taking risks for her.  These qualities are important because in the book he helps Kira to grow as a person and an artist a few ways.  This is important because she would not be where she is if he wasn't supporting her.  He was the only one who really believed in her from the beginning.  One way is that he would go on the walks with her to Annabella's home.  Also that he went "yonder" to find her blue that she had wanted for so long.  Throughout the whole story you read about Matt being a good friend to Kira. 

       

Gathering Blue

Kira lives in a very strange world were disabled or deformed people are sent to the Field, the concept of age is based on how many syllables are in your name, and sometimes parents of children with great abilities are killed in order for officials to be able to control those children with special abilities.

In Kira's world, children are sometimes abused or neglected.  " 'We're going to use the saplings to build a pen for the tykes.' ," as written on page 15.  Another example of how children are sometimes abused or neglected is " 'They came to take you,' Katrina said, whispering the story to her in the evening, in their cott, with the fire fed and glowing," as written on page four.

In some regards, Matt may be considered to be both abused and neglected.  An example of how Matt is sometimes is abused is, " 'Our mum, she thrashed Matt so hard he was horrid bloody, and so him and Branchie, they goed on a journey and they not be coming back, not to the Fen,' the tyke announced," as written on page 164.  Another example of  how Matt is sometimes abused is, but more of an example of how Matt is used to being abused is, " 'Matt, he got friends who be taking good care of him, not thrashing him never! And they give him food, too.'," as written on page 164.

Matt is also neglected by the adults who should be taking care of him.  An example of how Matt is neglected is, " 'Do you know where he went?' Kira asked, trying not to show how shocked she felt at the condition of these people.  The woman shook her head and coughed again. 'Good rid to him,' she said," as written on page 163.  Another example of how Matt is neglected is, but more of an example of how Matt's mother feels that she is fine without him, and that she doesn't entirely care that he is gone is, "Kira followed his pointing finger with her eyes and found the same gaunt woman who had eyed them suspiciously from the squalor of the cott.  Today she was washed and tidy; beside her, holding her hand, was the tyke who looked so much like Matt.  The two stood waiting as a family.  But there was no second child.  No Matt," on page 175.

The fact that Matt is abused influences his personality.  He can be characterized as adventurous, happy, mischievous, a good friend, loyal those who support him, and a risk taker.  These qualities are important because in the book, Matt helps Kira to grow as a person and an artist in the following ways.  I think that Matt being around Kira, makes her more adventurous, she cares less about what other people think of her after she meets him, she becomes a more sociable person and a good friend to anyone who is willing to be hers.

In conclusion, Kira lives in a world filled with problems, one of them being the fact that children are sometimes abused and/or neglected; but the important thing is, that even though Matt is always being abused and/or neglected by people such as his mother, he still has a good heart, and still wants to be a good friend to Kira and Thomas.  Matt simply just pushes all of that negativity that is forced on him aside, and creates positivity to impose on all of the people in his life that have accepted him for who he is, and all of the people who are his friends and love him.  Now, maybe it's just me, but I think that makes a pretty darn good person...Don't you?

The Silver Crown FINAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     Ellen is an ordinary prim, proper, and imaginative ten year old girl with brown hair, gray eyes, and rather knobby knees, but there is one thing that sets her aside  from other girls. She is a queen. But only she, her subjects, and her Aunt Sarah know it.  So when Ellen awoke on her birthday she was not surprised when she found a silver crown beside her. Ellen goes out before anyone wakes up  and when she returns something horrible has happened to the  place she called home and the family she loved.  Ellen now has to find a way to get to her Aunt Sarah who lives all the way in  Kentucky! On her way there, she meets people who act like friends, and people who really are like Otto. Otto is a small, mischievous, outdoorsy boy with wary brown eyes who lives all the way out in the country with his mother. After giving Ellen a place to stay for the next two nights, and explaining her sad tale, Otto decides to accompany Ellen on her long journey.
    Things seem to be going smoothly, except they hit a BIG detour and have to go the opposite direction temporarily. Ellen badly injures herself so they have to stop for a few days. And on top of everything else, Ellen and Otto are being chased by a follower of the person who caused Ellen to go to Kentucky in the first place. Now that their destination is reachable Otto suddenly disappears.  Now Ellen has to save him! She finally finds out what happened to him, he was abducted and taken to a black castle. The ruler is an evil King who has a strangely powerful black crown, which is almost identical to the silver crown Ellen has.  But now that she is in, Ellen is not so sure that she can get back out with herself, let alone Otto, Jenny, all the other kids, and the whereabouts of her magical silver crown safe.
     I loved this book, and encourage everyone to stop and pick it up. What I really enjoyed about it  is that it was always keeping you on your toes. If you think that one thing is going to happen, BAM! Something completely different happens that you never would have expected but still makes the story flow beautifully. When magic is involved I will almost always give the book a try. And this book is ALL about magic. If you are a reader who enjoys magic, suspense, adventure, friendship, battle of wits, or books kind of like the Harry Potter series I bet you will love this book and I highly recommend it. If I could rate this book I would give it four and a half stars. I LOVED it. But the end got me a little confused. But still I wish there was a sequel!

Cupidity ~ A story for people who love teen romance

    Oh-k this book it aw some.  If you can find it in Borders or something, I highly recommend the book.  It's called Cupidity and it's by Caroline Goode.
    When you go into your senior year of high school, you're at the top of the school.  well. . .if you're A Popular that is.  Laura Sweeney is far from that so though her grades show a good future in college, her social status is otherwise.  The high school is strictly run by a smooth set of social rules.  When you're a geek, your locker is on the left.  If you're A Popular, you're on the right.  You never socialize with The Populars much unless they socialize with you first.  So guess which side Laura's on?  Yeah she's a geek.  She's the girl who is always on time for classes and goes hopelessly gaga over the king of the school.  Her best friend Peter is a tall lanky kid who is a fellow geek.  He's always had a noticeable crush on Laura but Laura never really liked him that way.
    With the Homecoming dance in the back of everyone's head, Laura only wishes for at least a boyfriend.  Since she's classified as a geek and she hasn't had a date since. . .well. . .ever.  So when she cried out for someone to get her a boyfriend one night, her plea reached a certain guy who has the harp shaped bow and reputation for love.  Let's call him. . .Cupid.

   Don't get me wrong, labels aren't all that bad and some of them are compliments but not every label you receive is one you want.  No matter how much it fits you.

   This is a story meant for those people who love hopeless romance novels between teens looking for the right one.  It's more a book for girls I think.  But if you really wanted to guys, you could think outside of the box.

   The setting of the book is sort of unclear to me but it's a regular public high school with school uniforms that people just choose to wear and in present day times.  The school is in Ohio and not many things out of the ordinary happens at Laura's school.

   I rate this story from a 1 - 5, a 5 on an exciting romance part, a three on fantasy and a 2 on realism.  It's an aw some story to get lost in and this is my second time reading this story.

The Fire Within FINAL

         For an outside reading book, I choose to read the book called The Fire Within, by Chris D' Lacey.  There are two sequels to this book, Ice Fire, and Fire Star.  The story takes place on a street called Wayward Crescent.  In a town called Scrubbley, which is in Massachusetts. 

          In the book, David is one of the main characters.  He moved in with Elizabeth (Liz for short) and Lucy (Lucy is Elizabeth's daughter).  When he was looking around the room with Liz, he meets a few other characters.  He meets Lucy, who you already know is the daughter of Liz, and Bonnington, their cat.  He found out about the room available from a postcard in the newsstand window.  The postcard said:

                    HOUSING AVAILABLE- $60 PER WEEK

                    Nice room in pleasant family house

                            Meals and laundry included

                          Suits clean, tidy, quiet student

                                                    P.S. Must like children and cats and dragons...

David met his first dragon when he was looking at the room with Liz and Lucy on a shelf above a sealed- off fireplace.  When he decided to take the room, he went to use the bathroom, and there was another dragon, sitting right there on the toilet!  He is nice to Lucy and when she is about to get in trouble, he took the blame by saying it was his fault.  Since Liz makes dragon's, she made him one as a housewarming gift.  He named the dragon Gadzooks.  Gadzooks helps him to write a story for Lucy as her birthday gift.  While he was typing the story, if he closed his eyes, he could see Gadzooks write a word on his notepad, and that word would help him write more to the story. 

         Liz is another main character in the book.  She makes all of the dragons that are around the house.  She sells them at the market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons.  She also sells them when there is a craft fair at Scrubbley Garden Center.  She says that she is famous for making the dragons.  She has a room in the house that is called the DRAGONS' DEN, which is where she makes all of her dragons.  When she makes a dragon, she tries to bring the person she is making it for out by making it a certain way. For example, if the person she is making it for likes baseball, then she would make it with a baseball bat or a glove to represent baseball.  Also, when she is selling the dragons to people, the dragon picks the person.

         Lucy, Liz's daughter is also another main character.  She is learning how to make the dragons.  She loves wildlife, particularly squirrels.  There used to be an oak tree, but it got cut down a few months ago.  She was devastated because when the tree left, so did the squirrels, except for one.  That one was Conker, who Lucy named.  Lucy believes that he is hurt and can't get away to go with the other squirrels.  She has been trying to find him ever since all the squirrels left, and he was the only one she's seen since then.  She is also a chatterbox.  On the first night she wanted to know everything about David, and wanted David to know everything about her.  All she did was talk about her life the whole night.

        The basic conflict in the book is that Liz and Lucy have a secret about the dragons that they aren't telling David about.  While he writes the story, he starts to figure out secrets to the mystery.

        I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and stories that you have to continue reading to find out what happens next.  What I liked best about this book, is that it had a lot of detail throughout the whole story.  Each scene was described very well.  Also that when I read it, I didn't want to stop, because I wanted to find out what happened next.  I also liked this book because it's suspenseful and you didn't know what was going to happen until you read it and found out what happened.  If I had to grade this book from 1-5 stars, I would give it a 4 1/2 because I thought it was very detailed,and it was suspenseful to find out what was going to happen next.

      I enjoyed reading this book, and if you read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Book Review- Assassin (FINAL!!!!)

Assassin is a novel that takes place in 16th century England. It is written in the point of view of Lady Grace, who is writing in her daybooke. Lady Grace is Queen Elizabeth's favorite Maid of Honor is about to get married off. She has three suitors to choose from. Sir Charles is a kind friendly old gentleman who is just that- old. He is well over fifty, and ew, she's 16. Sir Gerald is a cocky, ignorant man who all the ladies love. He is convinced that he's a real man, not like his competion. Her third suitor, Lord Robert, is different than his peers. He is very quiet, sullen, and studders when he talks to Lady Grace. Also, he is not very wealthy. He is closest to her age, being about 20. They and the entire court go the St. Valentine's Day Feast where she has to make a decision. After she chooses a husband and retires to her room, she is woken up by a commotion. One of her suitors is dead with a dagger in his back and another is under suspicion for the deed. Grace knows that the suspect is innocent, and  she knows she has to solve the mystery.

One thing I really like about this book is all the twists and turns the story takes while Lady Grace and her friends Masou and Ellie try to solve the mystery. They set off in search of one thing and the find something else, or they are investigating the wrong thing all together. If you are the kind of reader who likes compelling mysteries, this might be a good book for you. This is the kind of book to read when you are bored on a Sunday afternoon out loud in an English accent. When I first picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I give the novel Assassin 4 stars!

Miracle's Boys [FINAL]

If you want to find out about poverty in New York City, Miracle's Boys is definitely the book for you.  After reading the book, I certainly gained a greater respect for all those that are under-payed, or those payed minimum wage.  The author is Jacqueline Woodson, who came to our school about a month ago.  Woodson does a great job at describing the hardships that the main characters go through, amid a child's perspective.  She proves that children interpret things differently than adults, and also proves that children are usually just as affected as adults, during a crisis or bad situation. 

The book is set in New York City, during current times, and gives an insider's look, at life in a big city.  The main character is Lafayette Bailey, a seventh grader who lives with his oldest brother Ty'ree, and his other brother Charlie.  Lafayette is the kind of person who voices his opinion easily at times, which becomes very funny in parts of the book.  But he is also the kind of person who can keep important comments and thoughts to himself, during awkward moments.  But those 'private' comments and thoughts, are very entertaining and stimulating for the reader(s). 

Lafayette's oldest brother, Ty'ree, is like a father to him.  Ty'ree is very smart and takes care of Lafayette.  Lafayette's other brother, Charlie, has always been a good kid at heart, but has had some emotional problems, which cause him to do some bad things.  In the beginning of the book, Charlie comes home from Rahway Juvenile Detention Center for Boys, and according to Lafayette, Charlie has changed a lot since he went away to Rahway.

The basic conflict in the story, is that Lafayette keeps trying to get Charlie to open up to him.  Ever since Charlie got home from Rahway, he hasn't actually acted like Lafayette's older brother, or someone the Lafayette can trust, love, or confide in.  Lafayette frequently tries to communicate with Charlie, but the big question is, will Lafayette ever again have the same relationship he had with Charlie, before Charlie left for Rahway?

The thing that I liked best about the book, was that it was realistic, and wasn't changed so that it wouldn't be scary, or so it would just be a happier book.  It really sounded like something that could happen today.  The kind of reader that I think would like this type of book, would be someone who likes realistic fiction.  The reader could be boy or girl, and could really be any age over 10, I think.  It also has to be someone who is prepared to hear the truth about how some people really live, and not someone who expects to read about rainbows, fairies, and unicorns.

If I had to grade this book, on a scale of one to five stars, I would give it four stars.  I wouldn't give it five stars, because I would have preferred a more challenging vocabulary, and maybe a longer book.  The book was very detailed, but I think that Woodson should have kept going with her writing, because I felt like the book ended too soon.  I would give this book four stars, instead of zero, one, two, or three, because I thought the book had a lot of detail, got into some very interesting topics, and it was definitely a page turner.  Woodson kept me on the edge of my seat, throughout the entire book.  I also liked that Woodson did her research, and found out about juvenile detention centers, and about how boys act when girls aren't there.  Those things made the book even more enjoyable.  So, if you haven't already, you really should pick up the book Miracle's Boys, because it gives a totally different look at life, how we all live, and how we all fit into this world.

                                                                                                         

A Once and A Lifetime Chance [FINAL]

     In the book, The Thief Lord, Prosper and Scipio get the chance to ride the merry- go- round.  If I was able to ride the merry- go- round, I wouldn't be too sure if I should go on it or not. 

     If I decided to go on it, I would have to choose between going two ways.  One way makes you older, and the other way makes you younger.  I would want to go the way that makes you older, so I could get to see what it is like to be grown up.  I would go around on the merry- go- round until I was old enough to drive and live on my own, if I had a good job of course.  Otherwise I would live with my parents until I could afford to live on my own.  I would want to be about 20 and have it  be about a week before I turned 21, so I could have a big blow- out party.  I wouldn't want to be older than 20, because if I did have a big blow- out party for being 21, I wouldn't have had one, and it would be stupid to have a party for being 21 at age 31. If you are a kid and you want to be older, and you get the chance to ride on the merry- go- round, you have to be sure you know what age you want to stop at.  If you don't know, you could end up going too far in age, and you might not get another chance to go back to the age you were. 

      That is just what happened in the book.  Scipio got to be older in age, but he might not be able to go back to the age he was, since Barbarossa broke off one of the lion's wing.  Which is my point exactly.  You have to be sure what age and if you definitely want to do it.  Otherwise, you might be stuck at that age.

     There are a few advantages of being older.  One is that you can drive a car without a parent in the car with you.  That is if you passed your drivers test and the amount of time passed that an adult does  not have to be in the car with you.  Another advantage is that you can own your own house, if you have a job that pays a lot of money, so you can afford to pay taxes and everything else.  Also, you have more freedom as an adult then you do as a kid.  For example, as an adult, you can go out whenever you want, and not have to get permission from your mom or dad.  Another advantage is that you have the right to vote.  If you are a kid, you aren't allowed to vote yet; you have to wait until you are old enough.

      There are also some disadvantages of being older.  One example is that you have more responsibility.  As a kid you don't have to worry about certain stuff.  For example, as a kid you don't have to worry about if there is enough money to pay the bills, because your parents take care of the bills.  As you become older, and live on your own, you do have to worry if you have enough money to pay the bills.  Which is where having a job comes in to play.  If you don't have a job, you won't be able to pay the bills, which can lead to you being kicked out of your house by the government.  Another disadvantage is that if your kid, ( if you have one)gets in trouble, it falls onto your shoulder's. As a kid, if you get in trouble, so do your parents, which is what would happen to you if your kid got into trouble.

       Now you know what I would do if I got to ride the merry- go- round, and I gave you a few advantages and disadvantages about being older.  Now that you know this, what will you do if you get the chance to ride the merry- go- round?  Will Scipio ever get to be a kid again?

If I Could Ride the Merry-Go-Round [FINAL]

If I was given the opportunity to ride the merry-go-round from the book "The Thief Lord," I have to admit that I might just do it. I'm not sure, (if I would ride it) but if I did, I would have many reasons to ride the merry-go-round.  It took me a long time to think about my answer, so I hope it makes sense.  If it was really possible, to just ride a merry-go-round and become young or old with just one ride, I probably would not ride it.  I wouldn't want to change my life.  I like it just the way it is; I might not like every single detail about my life, but not enough to want to change it drastically.  I also wouldn't want to ride the merry-go-round, because I might turn into a snotty adult, like Esther Hartlieb, in The Thief Lord, because people would probably see me as so obnoxious, if I was a snotty adult, like herself.

But there are also some reasons that I might ride the merry-go-round.  Some are, that I might want to re-do some embarrassing, mean and awkward moments.  I also would want to ride the merry-go round, because when I was seven, my grandma died, but I never really got to know her, even though I had known of her all my life.  I would want to go back and tell her how much I love her, and how much I miss her when she's gone.  I might also ride the merry-go-round and fast-forward to when I become 25, because I've always been excited about becoming a grown-up, since they have so much more power than kids do.  They can vote, join the army, drive, and pretty much anything else, as long as it is legal.  But if I did ride the merry-go-round and turned into an adult, I would want to be as caring of an adult as Ida Spavento, in The Thief Lord, because she is always so kind to the street children, and I wish I could be as caring as she is.

So you see, I guess if I rode the merry-go-round, I would go either in the direction of my past, when I was seven, to see my grandma and to change some things that I have done, that I regret; or to the future, to when I become 25, so I could have more power and more of a say in my life and other people's lives.  To answer your question, I would travel in time to the ages of seven and twenty-five.

The advantages of going back in time, to when I was seven, would be that I would get to see my grandma again, and I might be able to change some embarrassing, mean and awkward moments.  The disadvantages of going back in time to when I was seven, would be that I would probably have to go through 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, which would be torture to do all over again.

The advantages of going forward in time, to when I become 25, would be that I would be able to make a difference in the world and voice my opinion in the world, sooner.  The disadvantages of going forward in time, to when I become 25, would be that I would never experience all of the proud, nice, purposeful, loving and great moments that are to come.  I would miss all of those moments deeply, since they would/will be enjoyment for me.  Life would be unbelievably different without those moments; even though I'm not positive that they'll all happen.

In conclusion, given the choice of riding or not riding the merry-go-round, I might choose to ride the merry-go-round, or I might not ride it.  If I did choose to ride it though, I would either go back in time to when I was seven, or forward in time, to when I become 25;  I have a lot of reasons for why I would do so.  But, even though there is a one-in-a-million chance of a wonderful merry-go-round like this one existing, I still hope that one day there will be; I mean think about it--who doesn't want more time to live?