Farewell To Manzanar: Book Review

Book Review: Farewell to Manzanar
By: Trent Smith

Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki and James D. Houston, is based on a real event book during World War II. It is a fantastic book about a seven year old girl named Jeanne Wakatsuki that was captured and sent to Manzanar because of the war. She was then sent to an interment camp, with the rest of her family by her side. She shows the adventures that she had, and what her family went through in great details to survive and doesn't miss one important fact about it. She describes the conditions of the camp well, and you would be surprised on some of the conditions of the camp that she went through. She tells the facts about how she made the best of the situation in order to get through the internment camp, but she then sees the suffering that her parents have to experience in order to stay alive. She also explains the effects that the experience of being in an interment camp had on her family.
Her dads name is Ko Wakatsuki, who was taken away for a year from his family and then loses his parental responsibilities. Her mother helped Jeanne get through the internment camp and was supportive to her. She gave her company and almost did everything with her. She also had a brother named Woody, who was the oldest son. He is a hard worker and an honest child. He is like another father to Jeanne.
When she goes to school she explains the exact words people said to her when she went to school. At the time people were pretty racist to her because she was Japanese, so you can imagine the hurtful words that her classmates spoke to her. The book basically talks about the adventures, ups, downs, friends she made, struggles and successes she had during the time when she was in the camp.
All in all I think this book is a fantastic book to read because it explains what really happened when she was in the internment camp. It not only talks about the conditions of the camp, it also explains the conditions of her family and the tragedies she had to face.
What do you think a seven year old girl in an interment camp would do? Well if you're curious to know the answer to that question, the answer lye’s within the pages of this book. The book will tell everything that you need to know. I recommend this book to 6th grade and up because there are some tricky words in the book that are hard to understand.

Chapter 13: Lord of the Flies

Chapter 13 Trenten Smith
Going Back To My Childhood
25 years later…
Ralph woke up in his comfortable, warm bed, with his soft brown blanket on top of him. His wife was sleeping near him, facing the window where the beautiful bay was, with her dirty blonde hair in front of him. Ralph got out of bed and went into his kid’s room, checking to see if his eight year old twins were doing well.
Ralph spoke, “They are so lucky that their childhood gets to go this way.”
Simon, Ralph’s son always had a resemblance to Ralph, as Owen always looked like his mom. Straight blonde hair with hazel eyes. Ralph tip-toed out of Owen and Simon’s room. Slowly he grabs the door and tries to shut it quietly.
“Squeak”, the door sounds.
He tries to shut it even slower so the squeaking sound does not continue. But it was too late.
Simon wakes up and says, “Daddy what are you doing?”
Ralph says, “Oh nothing, just checking up on you.”
Ralph goes out of their room quickly but quietly. He sits on the couch and watches television in his little modern style family room. Simon and Owen just woke up.
Simon says, “I feel like going to the park and playing football, don’t you Owen?”
Owen says, “Ya, I kind of do feel like playing football. Let’s go ask daddy.”
Simon runs out of his room yelling excitedly, “Daddy! Daddy!”, saying it a few times over and over again.
Simon is very excited and has a huge smile on his face, hoping the answers are yes. Owen is feeling the same way, but does not really care if he says yes or no.
Simon says, “Daddy where are you?”
Ralph yells, “In the family room!”
When Simon and Owen heard those words they quickly ran to the family room as fast as their little feet can go.
Owen says to Ralph, “Daddy can we go to the park today?”
Simon says, “Please, please can we go to the park today!”
Ralph responds, “What the heck, it sounds jolly good with me, lets hurry up and get dressed so we can go.”
Simon and Owen respond, “Okay,”
Simon says, “I’m ready daddy.”
Owen says “Me too.”
Ralph says, “Okay I will meet you outside, wait for me out there.”
Simon and Owen run out the door and sit at the bench next to the tall palm tree in the front yard. Ralph quickly runs out of the house.
Ralph says, “Sam, Eric.”
Owen asks, “Who are Sam and Eric?”
Ralph says, “Did I say Sam and Eric.”
Simon says, “Yes.”
Ralph says, “My bad, sorry.”
Simon says, “Let’s go daddy.”
They start walking to the park.
Simon says, “Where did you get Sam and Eric from?”
Ralph says, “Long story”.
Owen says, “Please tell us.”
Wanting to know with all of his attention on Ralph.
Simon says, “Yes, please tell us”.
Ralph says,“Ok fine.”
Ralph then goes and talks about his childhood and takes a deep breath. Remembering the moments during that time. Ralph goes on and speaks about his story.
In great detail Ralph says, “I was on a plane and it was during World War II. All of a sudden something hits the plane and cuts the plane in half. Our pilot died and we crash landed on an unknown island. I woke up and I found myself on an island on the shoreline, lying on the warm sand. After that a kid named Piggy came up to me and I was glad that I was not the one stuck on the island. We also met a kid named Simon. He was a very kind hearted kid that helped a lot of people and was nice and helpful to others. That is why I named him after you. I wanted to remember him.”
Ralph starts to cry and pauses. Standing on the sidewalk with Owen on the left side and Simon on the right.
Simon says, “Please continue daddy, please.”
Ralph continues the story, “Simon was very nice, but a kid named Jack and his hunters killed him. Jack was very mean and always wanted it his way. He thought that Simon was the beast so the killed him. It was raining that day and it was very hard to see.”
Ralph pauses and does not want to continue with the story.
He says, “I will tell you the story another day. I’m not in the mood.”
Simon says, “Please…”
Ralph screams out “Noo, I told you too much, you would not understand how sad that was. You have to be there to understand it.”
Ralph starts to cry and continues walking.
“Ralph says, “Lets just get to the park and have a great time, and play some ball!”

Final Post: Lord of the Flies

Jack's Journal
One big Kill!

I was in the forest looking for pig. Keeping my eyes open on green moving bushes. Looking at the boys colorful face paintings, like an Indian would where it. I look deeper and deeper into the forest with every step I take. I see no sign of activity. I started to creep up a little more into the forest. My group was silent with no sudden sounds. I hear something in the bushed. I then tell my group to be quiet. I hear something. I hear something scrunching up near a bush. I walk toward it. I was right behind it and it looked at me in fright and squealed and ran away. I started chasing it and it was no match for me. I raised my spear in the hot sun. Yelling and chanting. I then take a jump and kill it straight down the middle. The pigs last word was a squeal. All it was, was a little squeal. We all chanted and ran back to the Castle Rock with excitement. We started running through the tall tree's feeling delirious. The tall trees seemed to catch more shade. It felt really good and I felt like taking a break in the cool shade. But I couldn't there was a pig to cook. As soon as we got out of the tall shady trees we saw Piggy, Ralph and Sam N Eric all next to each other in a little group. I say to them what are you savages doing here. They say that they want Piggy's glasses back. Ralph told us that he could not see with out them. I wanted to laugh because I thought it was funny but I didn't. I really just wanted to let Piggy suffer. I never liked him I thought he was annoying and ignorant. So I said, No I will not give him his glasses back. Just let him suffer. He is a savage and annoying ignorant savage. Piggy then said, But I cant see with out my glasses. I am as blind as a bat. I cannot see anything. It is just a big blur. I then said, No. I will not give him back his glasses. Ralph then called me something so mean, something that surprised me the most. Something that I have never heard from someone else ever before. He called me a beat. An evil steeling beast. I was so furious that I could just rip him to parts. I was so mad that I threw my spear at him hoping that he would be in pain. He was hit in the ribs but looked like he had no feeling there at all. I jumped off the step that I was on and landed on Ralph. Punching and kicking him. His spear got me in the ear when I took the first punch. I started to feel the stinging of my cut. But tried to show no sign of being in pain. Ralph was hitting me truculently. But I tired punched him with all my might and tried hitting him like what a pro-wrestler would do. When we were fighting Piggy started blowing the conch. My group was laughing because we did not care about the conch anymore. We do not use that rule in my group. Piggy started yelling and said stop fighting. We then stopped and heard what he wanted to say. He talked about that we should stop fighting and to give back his glasses back. I saw Roger at the top of the cliff. Right below where Piggy was standing. He started to push the huge boulder down. Piggy was making a bug fuss about his glasses. All the sudden the boulder fell on Piggy. The conch exploded into a million pieces. Looking at each piece fly around Piggy. Piggy stood there for 3 seconds and fell backwards. Everything came cessationed. His eyes were open and his head was bleeding. He then rolled off the cliff and fell down in to the ocean. I did not think that it would actually hit him. I just wanted him to get scared so he could leave. I wanted to diddle him. I saw his red face drip and the water around him turned red instantly. Everyone was silent. Everyone started walking back toward the castle rock. Ralph stood their, and before you knew it Sam n Eric went with my group to. Now Ralph was all alone. Miserable in his group. We headed back to our group and everyone seemed like Piggy never died.

I was in my group. I started to elect leaders for certain positions. I told Sam N Eric to watch on guard. While the rest of the group feasts. Before they went to go do their job I gave them a piece of meat. They then run to their spots and watch guard. While me and the other hunters feast I talk about away to kill Ralph. I say to my group. Ralph is a savage. He disagrees with me and always thinks that everything he says is right. Well I don't. I am tired of him making us go through all this kayos. It is hard to deal with. So we have to end it once and for all. We have to make a cordon. But now lets go to bed and talk about it tomorrow. The next day early in the morning. I start torching Sam N Eric to tell me where Ralph was and if he got near our hide out. Sam N Eric told me that he was hiding but he does not know where. I tell them about our plan about killing Ralph. I tell him that we were going to surround the island and try to hunt them down. We started to get a move on it. We start from the Castle Rock working are way up to the end of the island. I start looking in the bushes and I start running deeper and deeper into the forest. I tell my troops to keep a good look our for him and what ever you do just kill. I get near a bushy field of flowers and smell the nice scented flowers. I then spot Ralph hiding in a thicket. I run with all my might and follow his every move. I then tell the troops around me to chase him down. I start chasing him and before I turned my head around he vanished. I started looking for him again. But this time the direction he ran. All I could say was I am not giving up until I hunt him down and once I do I will take his head and give it to the beastie.

Post #7: Lord of the Flies

Wait, It's not a beast!
Simon's Journal

I was on the ground in front of Lord of the Flies. My head down on the hard dirt with my hands on my stomach. I woke up and saw my knee bleeding. I was tangled up in a parachute, which was pulling and making it tighter and tighter on me and on every blow the tightness of the parachute was making the bad cut on my knee hurt and sting more and more. I untangled the parachute and with every bend in my knee I felt the painful sting of the cut. I untangle the parachute and made it purged. When the winded was getting strong and I felt a gust I let it free. Seeing it blow into the open air. Getting higher and higher in every gust. I looked back at the Lord of the Flies remembering what it said and how I was gonna have fun on the island. I was speaking with illumination. I thought all we did on the island was hear Jack and Ralph yell at each other. Saying that Jack and the hunters are not doing anything for our group. They were not helping out with the fire, they did not care about the huts or anything, all they did was hunt and not care about being saved. I also remembered the beast saying that he was the beast. I was confused. I think I am becoming barmy. How was he the beast? I thought the beast was a scary person that will attack you. The beast was theological. All he was, was a corpulent pig head on a stick. I started looking at his mouth. Looking at the blood dripping down into the dirt that was already covered in a puddle of blood. With its teeth as red as a red juicy apple and its mouth as wide as it could be. Looking at the tall wooden stick pummeled into the ground. I thought I was illusinating for a second because I thought it was impossible for me to be talking to a dead pig. The dead pig was dead and it does not know any words it just knows its language of words, and dead physical things do not talk. They just lay down. I thought that I was getting a fever or something. I then had enough of this nonsense. So I started walking. When I walked I felt the horrible pain on my knee. It felt like I was getting a cut all over again. On each step I took I felt it again and again. I suddenly gave up and I had no choice but to walk on all 4's. I put my hands on the dirt feeling the small pebbles smash into my hands. As my feet were in a very uncomfortable position. My heels up and my toes smashed on the ground. But I had no choice. It was either that or walking and feeling the horrible sting on my knee. I was walking and I was trying to figure out what I had to say to the others before I passed out. I started to think. But I could not grasp it. I started to walk some more and I felt a splinter go into my hand. Now I had to feel the splinter every time I put my hand down onto the bushy and grassy trail. I was in pain. All I wanted is to go back to my special place. I was still thinking. All the sudden I found what I was thinking for. As soon as I found it I also found Jack and Ralph and the rest of the survivors dancing and having a great time. I run on my hands and feet and yell out there is no beast it was just a dead man on the mountain. There is no beast. All they did was turn around and came toward me. They were all running toward me. I thought they were happy to see me because I passed out and I thought that they were worried sick about me. I yelled out again on my hands and feet, there is no beast it was just a dead man. All the sudden I see them pull out their spears and seeing them gaining speed. They were all rushing toward me. I wanted to runaway. But it was to late. Jack jumped on me and plunged the spear down my back. They were kicking and chanting. Were killing the beast. They were stabbing me with there pointy wooden spears. It was to late. I felt the terrible pain of my knee and then my back. My life was over and my eyes closed.

The Lord of the Flies: Post #6

Where's the Beast?
Piggy's Journal

I was laying down in the hot warm sand, hearing the waves crash. With my 2 hands on top of my stomach. I then heard Ralph call out in a loud voice meeting, meeting. Then I saw everyone run and gather up into a small, cramped circle. While people were mumbling with each other. I cut them all to be in front. Ralph yelled out again meeting, meeting to make the boys be quiet. We were all in the circle. Instead of Ralph speaking first it was Jack. He said that there was a real beast on top of the mountain. He is corpulent. He then also says that Ralph was a afraid ad that he should be removed from being leader and chief. Ralph looked upset and at the same time very mad. Jack seemed kind of happy. Jack told us to vote. He said raise your hands if you want Ralph to be leader. Everyone did not raise their hand. Jack gets furious and tells them that he will make his own group and whoever wanted to join him could join him. He looked furious. He kicked sand and ran off in tears going to his new spot on the island where his group is going to be. As Ralph here's of this, it seems like he can not get rid of Jack telling him that he was a coward and that Jack thought he could not take killing the beast. Ralph's head was lagging down so I say to him, you are not a coward. You are a great leader and that Jack just wants it his way. He is ridiculous if he thinks you cannot handle chief. If he was leader and chief he would create absolute kayos. I then told him that I have a brilliant idea. I tell him we could make another fire. Instead of on the mountain we could make one on the beach. We could use my specs again like last time and we could make are own taboo. It would be phosphorescence. I talked to Ralph about what he is gonna do in his group. He is probably going to hunt and kill and not care about being rescued. We then go back to our old campus and talking about the survivors that left our group. All the sudden we here Jacks group sneak up on our group yelling and stealing everything that we got. They steal our burning fire sticks. I see everyone take our fire. While Ralph and I were yelling and saying back off thats are's. All they really did was ignore us and laughed. Then the fled. Making us very very angry. While me and Ralph are talking about how idiotic Jack's group was. I say were's Simon. Did he go with Jack's group. I say to myself. No he could not possibly go with Jack's group he is to nice to ditch us like that. He is to demure. We then talk about how Jack is being so rude to us and that we are doing so much for him. We are making sure that we get saved, Wouldn't he rather get saved then to be hunting. I said that he at least thought of us and shared with us what he hunted. Ralph told me that he thought that he was kind of rude when I hit a pig. He thought it was not even an accomplishment for me. He thought that was a piece of cake. He thought Ralph could actually hunted it down. He was just a prefect. I said to Ralph, I bet they are hunting the beast down or they are killing the pig. We then go off on another subject. We talk about if we are actually going to get saved. Or if we are just going to stay on this island forever. I think that we are going to get saved. We already saw a boat on the horizon. That boat probably saw us. And on the way they are going to get help. I know that we are gonna get save. Ralph said in a sad attitude. You think so. Of course I say of course.

Lord of the Flies: Post #5

Did you see that?
Ralph's Journal

I was in a good sleep. My eyes completely shut snoozing into a good dream. All the sudden Sam and Eric come up to me and was flailing my arm like it was a jump rope. They yelled out in fear, Ralph, Ralph, I think we saw a beastie. I thought it was just a little nightmare they had and they thought that they saw the beastie. Sam and Eric told me they whole story. They said that they were ridiculously tired so they fell asleep. They could not keep their little eyes peeled open. When they woke up they saw a beastie, and came running down to you. After I heard that story I called a meeting. I discuss that many people have seen this beastie, and I was tired of hearing of it. It is spreading everybody with fear. Now we are going to hunt it down. I organize an expedition to search for the beastie. I said that we will go to a part of the island that we have never been before and search for the beastie from there. My group was walking in the big plants and they hard dirt when we see a cave near some big plants. I was amazed. It was a big rocky brown colored cave with big plants around it. On the way up, I noticed that Jack was not being mean to me anymore. It was like he gave up trying to get the throne to be leader. He was actually nice to me. When I noticed that he was being nice to me, I also noticed that the other survivors were pushing down big heavy boulders down the hill. I yell at them that we need to be focusing on getting the fire back on. We gotta be focusing on getting the fire and the smoke creating so we could escape this terrible island. After we said that Jack lead us back down the island. We wanted to spread the news that we found a cave.

I was walking down the beach kicking the hot sand. Sometimes making drawings with my feet. Seeing guano every where. I was thinking about how the ocean's horizon was just a huge wall that was blocking my and the other boys dreams of escaping this island. The ocean's horizon looked interminable. Simon was right by me. I said to Simon. Do you ever think that we might be stuck here forever. Do you think we might never me rescued. Simon said with a nice heartwarming voice. Of course you will make it home. Of course you will be rescued. I then smiled and said you think so. He said I reassure you, that you will be rescued. Soon after I had the little talk with Simon it was time to be hunting for the beastie. I went into the jungle looking for the beastie. It was quiet. I saw a plant move. I griped my spear really tightly while my hands were sweating. All the sudden a huge boar comes out of the bushes. I threw they sphere as fast as I could. But I missed. It was the most exciting things I have ever did. I hit it I hit it. I hit the boar. I was repeating it with pride and with accomplishment. I almost killed the pig. I hit the boar. I yelled it to everybody. Jack was dun. But the boar escapes. I reenact the big chase. A boy name Robert was the playing the role of the boar. My hands were griped, hands sweating. When we were playing that scene it was starting to get dark. But still excited that I hit a boar. After we were done playing the scene I call to the group we will hunt the beast tomorrow morning for sure. Jack comes up to me with pride and says do you want to challenge me in the hunt to kill the beastie. I definitely agree. Almost killing that boar was very exciting. I felt like I actually accomplished something. I go up to Roger and Jack and say do you want to try to find the beastie. Of course they agree. Me, Jack and Roger start to climb the mountain. When we were almost at the top we see a huge dark ape figured shadow. I was freaking out. Jack looked bravado. Same with Roger. My hands were getting sweaty my hear pounding hard. I wanted to just scream and run back down to the beach. I hear pounding. I was hearing it getting louder with my mind. Me, Jack and Roger saw and heard enough. We screamed all the way down the mountain and warned the others that there was a scary ape beastie that pounds his chest really hard. I was terrified. I could not get that image out of my head. I could not get the pounding thunder like pounds out of my head. I was terrified.

Lord of the Flies: Post #4

I Should've stayed with the Fire!
Chapter 5: Jack's Journal

I was in the jungle with my hunters trying to look for pig. My eyes peeled and ready to kill. All the sudden I hear the loud conch being blowned down from below. Me and my hunters quickly run down to the beach getting ready for one of Ralph's boring meetings. We all gathered up in a circle. Ralph started the meeting. He was talking about how we ignored the fire. He said that we could not make anymore fires on the beach. The only fire we had was the fire that was on the mountain. If we wanted to cook something. We had to cook it on the mountain. I thought that was ludicrous and that we should be aloud to make a fire on the beach. I really did not want to walk all they way up the hill with a dead pig and cook it. That would be a lot of work or me. I almost wanted to say something but I did not. I already caused a bunch a trouble as it is. So I tried to act decorum.He also talked about that we did not even use the right bathroom. We did not go to the bathroom in the right area. I thought that was stupid to because this is just an island. Who cares if we did not go the right area to use the bathroom. It is just an island. He also talked about how we were not helping Ralph building the huts. I said to myself, Well I couldn't Ralph I was feeding our group. You guys would be starving without me. I was saying it in a jeeringly attitude. But I did not say it to him. I said it quietly in my head. I thought it was not true. I was to helping. Not building huts, but by hunting and feeding my group an you. Then he talked about the beastie. He said that we could not be afraid of the beastie anymore. I said quietly, I am not afraid of the beastie. They beastie is just a little monster that scares the little ones. Ralph continued saying that we could not be afraid of the monster to the little ones. Then a little kid said that he seen the beastie before. Ralph said where do you think the beastie would hide at night. I said to myself. This is stupid. There is no beastie. The littlun also said that it comes out of the ocean at night. This was a long boring assembely. At first the littluns were effigy. Now because Ralph said that they had to get rid of that fear, they could not, and they tried really hard to get a rid of the terrible fear. I say to Ralph and the others that me and my hunters will kill the beastie. I then went with my hunters to the jungle to find that beastie. While my hunters were chanting behind me. I also heard some of the littluns lamentationing behind me. Probably because of the beastie. So I walk into the green jungle in search for the beastie that the little ones are afraid of.

Lord of the Flies: Post #3

Irritated and Mad but Polite
Simon's Journal

I was really hot and had a headache. Ralph and I were making huts for the littleuns on the beach. When me and Ralph were making huts on the beach the stupid huts would always be falling and breaking apart and would not stick together like it should be. Me and Ralph were trying to make it opaque. But every time it fell apart my headache would be pounding even harder. Making the huts were very vicissitudes. I did not have the patience. I looked over to the littleuns playing and having a good time in the nice warm water. I really wanted to just ditch Ralph and play in the water with the littluns, I had no compulsion, but I didn't because no one would be there to help Ralph hold something like sticks or big leaves. All the sudden Jack comes out of the jungle looking irritated. He said he did not catch a pig and also that the other hunters have not caught a pig either. So I was kind of disappointed because there might not be any thing to eat for tonight. Soon after this happened Ralph and Jack argued about how Jack is doing all the work and that Ralph is not doing anything. Then Ralph starts to yell at Jack that he is doing a lot of work around here. It was blatant. This gave me a even bigger headache then before. I ignore them and I wonder off into the jungle. I was walking and looking around at the big tall trees. Then I saw the littleuns trying to pick some fruit out of tree that they could not reach. So I go over to them and help them pick some nice yummy fruit. Once I helped the littleuns pick some fruit and had a little bit of fruit for myself I started lurking deeper into the jungle seeing if there was anything cool or exciting to see. When I was very deep in the jungle I smelled beautiful scented flowers. With butterflies and beautiful colored birds everywhere. I look around to see if anyone around me. All the sudden I was very relaxed and my headache was gone. I sat on a rock and looked around at the beautiful scenery and take a big breath in.

The little kids that I remember helping them pick fruit were having nightmares about a beastie. I also heard them not feeling that well, probably because of the fruit. I also saw that the littluns were getting picked on by the older kids down by the beach. I started to play in the water with Ralph, Piggy and Maurice. I was having a lot of fun. Then Ralph and Piggy see a ship on the horizon. We see no smoke where the fire is supposed to be. I see Ralph start running. So I follow him. He runs to the fire so he could quickly relight it, but it was to late the ship did not come for us and passed the island. Ralph sees Jack and I watch Ralph scream in his face saying that there was a ship and we could of gone home. It was your job to watch the fire. The I saw Piggy jump in and say that we could of been rescued and we could of been home to. Then I see Jack go up to Piggy with a belligerence attitude and punched him in the stomach, throwing Piggy's glasses on the rocks. Then I go run up to Piggy's glasses and fetches it back to him. Then I hear Jack apologize for not keeping a look out of the fire. But he does not apologize to Piggy. A little bit after this all happened Jack invited me to eat some of the pig that Jack killed for us. We started roasting the pig. Then I saw Piggy and Ralph come to, probably to eat some pig but Jack wont let them have any. So I went and fetched some of my meat so they could have some.

Lord of the Flies: Post #2

There's a Fire!
Piggy's Journal

I was on the beach for a meeting because a survivor blew the conch. Ralph told us that we were on an island with no adults. I was listening to Ralph and he did not mention what happened and why we were stuck on this island. I could not take it anymore. No one new that we were crashed on a island. All the sudden I screamed out that we were stuck on an island and that we were crashed on an airplane and that we could be on the island for a very long time. Then everyone got scared. All the sudden a little 4 year old with a large mark on his face says there is a snake-like beastie on the island. Ralph and I said that its all a nightmare. The little boy says it was not a dream. We all laughed because he thought the beastie was actually real. Soon after we were all done laughing we were trying to figure out a way to get off this island. Ralph decides that we should build a fire on the tallest hill on the island. Everyone agrees to it. I even agreed to that idea. We then start hustling over to the tallest hill on the island. Me and Ralph were lagging. I was complaining on how childishness are group was and how stupid our group was. We then get near the top of the hill and I was collecting dead tree bark so we could use it for the fire. I induced myself to carry the little boys bark with the blueberry colored face mark. I set my blocks of wood in the middle of the mountain. I was very very tired. Then the whole group set their block of wood on my block of wood. Ralph was figuring out a way to make the wood burn. All the sudden two errant survivors take me not letting me go and they pinch my specs away from me. I am screaming out. "Give me my specs, I cannot see anything without my specs. Give me my specs". Ralph places my specs to the light. So that the glasses will reflect of the light onto the wood. A couple minutes later the wood starts to burn. All the survivors were so ebullience when the fire started going. Ralph then says we had to put some rocks around the fire so it does not spread anywhere and does not catch the whole island on fire. We then got some big rocks and put it around the fire. After we did that I said to all of the boys that we had to act more proficiently if we want the fire to keep on going. I was putting more wood in the fire, but it quickly died down. The surviving boys were riping off tree bark. While the 4 year old boy was capering by the fire. Soon after we were all surprised and shocked and we pretended nothing had happen.÷≥

Post #1: Lord of the Flies

Lost on a Island
Ralph's Journal

I am on a undiscovered island where there are no adults. It is extremely hot outside, and I am scared and don't know what's happening right now. I was on the beach trying to figure out what happened. Then out of the blue a fat chubby kid with effulgence glasses comes out of the jungle and comes toward me. I was excited that I was not the only one on the island. The fat chubby kid told me everything that happened and explained in great intricacies why we were on the deserted island. He said it was a stormy day and it was during the World War II battle. There were 2 atom bombs that hit us. Then the plane crashed and split in half and we were lucky that we landed on the island. His name was Piggy. Piggy then asked, how are we going to get off this deserted place? I said that my dad works in the navy, he will rescue me. Piggy then said that was impossible, how is he ever gonna find us. I was speechless. We then started walking around the beach looking for more boys. When we were walking around the beach I saw a large pink and cream conch shell. Piggy realizes that the conch can be used to call other boys out to see if there are any boys on the island. I then blew loudly into the shell and there were other boys that survived the crash. They all came down walking to the beach. When we were all gathered they wanted to select a leader. It was between me and a guy named Jack. The choirboys voted for Jack and the rest of the group voted for me. I was surprised. Then we decided on hunters. Jack was one of the hunters along with a choirboy named Simon. Then they went off across the island. Me and Piggy then started to search the island to see if this island was an island or not. We then hit the end of the jungle and there were high sharp rocks next to steep hills. Me and Piggy started climbing up a hill to see if this island was really an island. We then made it to the top of the hill. Sadly, this was an island. But it had an incredulouss view. After we realized that this was an island we started going back to the beach. On the way back we found a wild pig tangled in vines and frond leaves. Jack proffered to kill it so we have something to eat. He then steps up to the pig and takes out a knife. Then Jack got scared and was unable to do it. Then the pig ran away and it was too late. Then he said he would do it the next time he had the opportunity. Then we headed back to the beach where the surviving boys were waiting.

Final Post: Because if Romek

1) I thought the most horrifying part of the book in "Because of Romek" was the part when the guard thought the guy ate some of his important valuables, and that the guard had to take a knife and stab threw his buttocks ripping all the flesh and bones away from his body, making him scream horribly. I thought that was terrible, disturbing, cruel and horrible. He did not just do that to 1 person he did it to several people and there was not even 1 important valuable in them. So he did it for nothing. I think he did that just because he thought it might of been fun for him. I thought this was horrible because it is frightening seeing someone with a knife come toward you and stick that knife through someone’s skin ripping him apart section at a time. It is not just scary and frightening to him it is scary and fighting of the people around him, because that could be happening to them to. Another thing that scared me was when they were asking for the blue file to Romek, but Romek did not know, so the tortured him to death. I thought that was terrible. Sticking fire in his mouth and in his eye. Pulling on his tongue until it fell out. Kicking him until the wind got knocked out of him. Opening his mouth until his flesh ripped apart. That is all terrible at least David got it easy and someone spoke up and saved his life. I thought that was terrible to. There were so many more things I could say about this that I thought was horrifying and terrible.

2) The job that David Faber gets when he was in the Krawinkel Concentration Camp was feeding the dogs. It helped him survive because he was able to eat some of the dogs food and biscuits. He also gave a couple to his friends. This was an easy job for him because all he really had to do was feed the dogs and that got him out of the other hard work he had to do. The first time he had to feed the dogs, he was afraid of them because they are trained to bite people. But sooner David Faber became friends with them and so did the dogs, so he was not much afraid of the dogs. But then later he was taken away for that job.

3)Bergen-Belsen's concentration camp is the worst concentration camp that David Faber has faced. It was terrible for him ti stay there. The rooms smelled like urine and there were dead bodies everywhere and many sick people. Because of that he got the disease called typhus where there is to much water in his stomach and not much food. If he eats to much at a time he could die, and he almost did die. His job was to carry dead people to the furnace so the could be burned and there he could earn a little soup. But later on it was not just soup, it was soup from bodies the cut up.

4) He was proud in that he survived the Holocaust and he was a miracle child. All of his family died but him. God wanted him to stay alive for him to tell the story of what happened in the holocaust. He was also very proud that he survived it to tell the story and made his promise to his mother that he would survive this to make it here were he is now. God wanted him to stay, that is why he did not get killed. And many people helped him survive by getting him easy jobs, giving him hints on how to stay away from the guards and also how not get hit harder by the guards. That is 1 of his proudest moments.

5) David Faber's book, Because of Romek, should be required reading in all middle schools, high schools, and universities because all students need to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. They need to know about this so they could appreciate what they have right now. The people in the holocaust did not get freedom like us. There lives were miserable until the holocaust was over. They got beaten and killed every single day. They had to worry about themselves because everyday that could of been there last day to live on earth. For us we do not get beaten or killed everyday. Thankfully we don't. We don't get torchered like they do and we do not get shot or torchered if we accidentally did something wrong. In the holocaust they saw there families and friends die. For us we see them everyday and we should appreciate that we are still alive today. I also reccomend this book because it talks about how the Nazis were so cruel to the Jews in the Holocaust. They respected them badly and called them mean names and laughed at them when they were slowly dieing. The holocaust was cruel and horrible and that is why I wish that everyone should read "Because of Romek".

Extra Credit: Renaissance Project

Here is a picture that I drew of Desiderius Erasmus! (Click On Picture if you want a clearer image of my drawing!)





























Here is the picture that I based my drawing on!

Extra Credit: Renaissance Project

This is a blog about my character Desiderius Erasmus. This blog site will tell you about events and books he made when he was growing up.

http://factserasmus.blogspot.com/

Project Reflection: Renaissance Project!

Name: Trenten Smith
Class: Ms. Interlandi
Date: June 4, 2008
Letter: A
Project: Renaissance Project

Purpose: The purpose of the Renaissance Project was to learn about a Renaissance character. We had to study his/her family life, education, important dates, accomplishments, experiences, jobs and many other important topics. We also had to learn what the Renaissance clothes were and dances so we could be ready for the Renaissance Ball. We also had to learn about the importance of Florence in the early ages of Renaissance. We also learned about the arts, literature, science and mathematics and also learned about famous Renaissance figures. Like Dante, Michelangelo , Leonardo de Vinchi and many more.

What I Learned: Some of the topics I learned in the Renaissance Project was that I learned about the Black Death. The Black Death was a tragic experience in Renaissance times. The Black Death all started by fleas. The fleas lived on rats. And rats got onto ships. And also traveled along Silk Road. It then moved along to Europe and people then got the terrible disease. There were 3 things that could happen to you if you got the Black Death. The first disease of the Black Death is called Pneumonia disease. In this disease plague attacks the lungs ending up coughing yourself to death. The 2nd one was called Septicemic disease. In this disease plague traveled through the bloodstream and the victim ends up choking on its own blood. The 3rd one is called Bubonic disease. In this disease the victim will start to swell and have delirium's. Ends up swelling to death. This was the most common disease of the Black Death. Some other things that I learned in this project was about my character Desiderius Erasmus. Some facts about him was that he was one of the best humanists in the early 1500's. He was also a great writer, scholar and teacher. Erasmus wrote many famous books like "The Praise of Folly" & "The Christian Knight". He also wrote the 1st ever Greek text book. He also had the best education a kid could ever get and was invited to many Monastic schools when he was growing up. I have TONS more facts about him. I wish I could do more!

Reflection: I thought this project was very fun to do. I liked who my character was in this project and was very exciting to learn about him. I thought that every one's character was unique in its own way. I thought the ball was very exciting to do. I felt like a Renaissance in my baggy shirt. I think I could have done better in this project was to do a little more extra credit work on this project. I did not do that much. But I had plenty of time to do so. All in all I thought this project was great and liked this project all the way to end. It was fun knowing about the problems and what Renaissance wore and danced like. This project was GREAT!

Artifact: For my artifact I was hoping to put my PowerPoint about Desiderius Erasmus on my blog!

El Calendario

Click here for my Spanish Calendar.

Because Of Romek: Post #3

1) I thought that David Faber's speech was very sad and very emotional. I was surprised that he knew every single detailed that happened to him. It happened a long, long time ago and he knew every exact date and street name that he went through. He explained everything in so much detail and probably got everyone a picture in there head about what happened to him. His voice was very powerful about some parts he explained. The commons was very quite and each person in that commons had a really sad face. He said it in so much detailed and he remembered everything single thing that happened to him.

2) I think that Davids experience's with the Russian Partisans were kind of OK. The lived in the woods in tents and tried to destroy all the Nazis weapons. I think he was proud because they were trying so hard to make the Nazis lose and were helping the Jew's get there freedom back.

3) I think that they freed him because the people in line did not think he knew where the paper was because he was to young and probably did not know of it yet. That's why I think they let him free. Also maybe they let him free to tell his family that his brother died. But I think it was because he was to young to know about the paper the Nazis were talking about. It was sad how they tortured them until the told.

Because of Romek: Post #2

1) I think that David's pet pigeon was important because the white pigeon gave a sign to his family that there was danger a head. Luckily Davids mom knew how pigeons gave their signs. The white pigeon came back for a reason. A few minutes later the Nazis invaded their house, luckily they had a secret door so they could hide in it. If that white pigeon did not come back his family could of all been killed.

2)I don't really know why the called it "Vacation Camp". Maybe they called it because they did not want Jews to escape and made the name seem not as bad. But when he got in "Vacation Camp", he was forced to take an axe and cut down trees, which he had no idea how to do until someone showed him. It was ever-lasting work for him and the caught Jews. Again I don't really know why the called it "Vacation Camp".

3)

1st Question) What experience do you remember the most in the Holocaust?

2nd Question) When the Holocaust was over how did you feel?
Also what did you do when it was over?

Post #1:Because Of Romek

#1) An interesting fact about the Holocaust was when they had to dig deep trenches into the ground. When the soldiers thought that they were deep enough they would shoot them, making 1 person lay on top of another into the deep trenches that the Nazis captured. They basically made the captured men make their own grave and die in it. I think this fact is important because it showed how cruel the Nazis were. They did not care if one was hurt or if their family missed them. The Nazis would just kill them. They had to be lucky to survive.

#2a.) David Fabers family is a caring family that tries to protect 1 another. It seems that they are a very calm family because I have not read 1 page that David Fabers family had argued about something. It also sounds like they are a very religious family.

#2b.) I think he remembers it because he saw the Nazis kill his family, his friends and some strangers in front of his own eyes. It is kind of hard for someone to forget that tragic moment. It could haunt him forever. It is really hard to see the people you love die. I think that's why he remembers a lot in the beginning of the early chapters.

#3) I think he is a very brave young boy. He cares about 1 another especially his father. He went through some scary stuff to get to his father back and safe. Instead of leaving him there tortured and dying. David was also very lucky to go alone and survive because of the cruel Nazis taking over his homeland. He is already acting like a father. Taking care of people. Saving the ones he loves!

Aztec Mural Project

Project Title: Aztec Mural Project
Class: Ms. Interlandi
Date: May 5, 2008
Letter: A
Name: Trenten Smith

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to learn about Aztec culture. In order to learn
abot Aztecs we had to learn a little bit of background knowldege about them. We had to
learn about Aztec marrige, weaving, crime & punishment, sacrifices, motherhood &
childhood, recreation, religion, warfare, education, food, clothing, markers and also
about social classes. To learn all those topics Ms. I provided my class with facts about
each topic. Our job was to pick out the main fatcs in each topic. This is how we learned
about the Aztec life. When we finished learning about the Aztec culture, our group was
starting to think what our mural should be based on. After we thought of what our mural
was going to be based on we started sketching it on to a piece of boucher paper. When we
found the idea of what our mural was going to be based on. We began the process of making the mural. First we had to figure out what size we wanted the canvas to be. Once we figured out the size of the canvas. But before painting the canvas we had to paint the canvas with primer. After we painted the canvas with primer, we had to wait for it to try. After it was dried out my group started sketching the picture on to the canvas. When the sketching part was done we started painting the mural the colors that it needed it to be. I was the color coodinater so I chose the base colors that would look good on the mural. Painting the mural took us some time to paint. Then our group was finally done. The theme of my mural was a book. On the left side of the page it was how the recreation started. On the right side it was war and how the recreation ended. So one side was pieceful and the other side was cruelty and war.

What I Learned: I learned a lot in this project. Some of the things I learned in this project was about how Aztecs got married. In the process of marrige. The person that would like to get married would have to invite their teachers over for a banquet. When the teachers came to the banquet the person that wanted to get married would give an ax to the teachers. If the teachers accepted the ax that indicated that the person that wanted to get married is free from school and is ok for the person that wanted to get married to get married. If they the teachers did not accept the ax then he/she would not be able to marry anyone. The parents would decide who he or she could marry. Another thing I learned about Aztecs is about Crime & Punishment. Some crimes that Aztec did was steal or murder. Some punishments that they would give the starnger would be drowning them or killing them. They would not have a chance to live. Laws in the Aztec Empire as based on religois beliefs. Some other things I learned about Aztec's was about religions. One of the religions would be if an eagle landed on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. That indicated that the Aztec's had a good place to buid their temple. That is some stuff that I learned about Aztecs!

Reflection: I enjoyed this project because it was my first project painting on a big piece of canvas. It was a great experince for me because I never studied about aztec's and I never painted a mural before. I also enjoyed this project because it was really cool what there culture was and how it is so different then our life now. I also liked this project because I learned a lot about Aztec culture. I learned about the recration, marrige, crime & punishment, Clothing, Markets, Social Classes and lots more about Aztec culture. This project was very fun and I hope I do this project again. I learned many things about Aztec life and love to learn more about them.

Artifacts: An artifact I would put on my DP would be a picture of my mural!

Breaking Through:Final Post

Name: Trenten Smith
Date: April 22, 2008
Title of Book: Breaking Through
Time Reading: 2 hours
Author of Book: Francisco Jimenez
Book Pages Read: Rest of Book

Question #1) What do you think he felt like when Mr. Robert Penny wanted to see him. And also how do you think he felt like when he was eating lighting and eating tobacco and putting it in his ash tray. Also when he was asked to go into Mr. Robert Penny's car because Mr. Robert Penny had errands to do. How do you think he felt?

Mr Answer: I think he would be kind of scared. I know I would be. If you see a teacher eating Tobacco in front of you. Something weird is going on. I think he would be very scared. And also very confused. It is also kind of weird how Mr. Penny Robert's asked him to follow him into the cafeteria just to get some coffee. And also it was kind of weird how he told him to get in his car. And then said he had errands to do. Wouldn't someone do that on his own. Now with someone else. I also think he would be nervous. Because Mr. Penny Roberts did not give that much information to him of what was going on and where Mr. Penny Roberts was taken him. Again I am wondering why Mr. Penny Robert's wanted him to go with him out of all the other students that were available. Also why would Mr. Penny Roberts want to go to the bank and take him along with him. All I can say is that something odd, unusual and weird is going on. Maybe this is all a big plot(trap)for something. Or for him to have sometime to getting into a good college because he handed him some scholarship applications to him. Maybe its for him to have sometime on getting and also for him to pick what kind of scholarship and college he wants to go to. What do you think is going on?!?

Question #2) Why do you think Mr. Penny Roberts want him to go to college so bad. And is making him do all of this work. And is signing him up for stuff without his permission?

Answer: I think he is doing this to him so he could have a better future. Maybe Mr. Penny Roberts seen where he lived and thought it was not a place where he should be in. I think he is helping get a better future. Maybe he wants him to go to college because he has really good grades and also a great GPA. And Mr. Penny Roberts thinks he deserves a great scholarship and college. He he does not like Mr. Penny Roberts doing this to him because he now has to study harder and study a lot more and has to do more stuff then he usually does. I can see Mr. Penny Roberts trying his best for him to get him in a college but he cant because he cant do it because he is putting his family in first. His family needs him. Why do you think Mr. Robert Penny wants him to go to college so bad?

3 Question) Now Mr. Penny Roberts know what happened to him and his home. How do you think Mr. Penny Roberts reacted when he heard all those horrible things that happened to him? Why do you think that?

Reading Response:Breaking Through: Post #2

Name: Trenten Smith
Date: April 10, 2008
Title of Book: Breaking Through
Time Reading: 2 hours
Author of Book: Francisco Jimenez
Pages Read: 48-70 pages (5-8 chapters)
Total Pages Read: 32 pages read

Question #1) Why do you think that his dad never wants them to go to school? Also why do you think their dad hates to work alone in the fields?

My Answer: I think that the dad does not want them to go to school because of bullies or something like that. I think that this issue with him relates to him about working in the fields alone. I think he hates working in the fields alone because it is very time consuming and probably takes him hours and days to finish picking fruits and vegetables. When there is more people helping you like his two boys then the job gets done quicker. If it is just him then it can take a while to get done. Another reason I think he does not want them to go to school is because their homework is very hard. In the first couple of chapters the 2 boys were saying that there homework is to hard. And they were stressing to much about it. Another reason I think he dislikes them going to school is because I think he does not want to see his 2 boys get disappointed because they might not have there dream profession that they always wanted. I am kind of worrying about the little boy Panchitco because he might not become a teacher. It seems like he really wants to become a teacher when he grows up. But as his dad said it costs a lot of money because you have to take 5 years of college to become a teacher. And college is very expensive.

Question #2) Do you think that when Panchitco grows up, he is going to become a teacher or do you think he is going to go on a different path to a different profession.

My Answer) I think that he is not going to get his dream job. I do not think he is going to become a teacher because right now he does not have the kind o money to become a teacher. As it said in the book that you have to go to college for 5 years to become a teacher. And as the dad said college if very expensive. So I do not think that he is going to get his dream profession. I think he might become a farmer like his dad. Or something that make big money. But I could be wrong about it. There dad said that God would help them try to get more money.

Reading Response:Post #1

Name: Trenten Smith
Date: April 1st, 2008
Title of Book: Breaking Through
Time Reading: 2 hours
Author of Book: Francisco Jimenez
Pages Read: 1-42 (1-4 chapters)
Total Pages Read: 42

1) Response: How do you think he felt when she had to sneak around the metal gates to the other side of the border. Why?

1) My Response: I think that he would feel scared and not secured. I think that because if I was put in that position, I would be scared of the guards watching out for people trying to sneak across the metal gates. I also think that he was not secured and unsafe because if someone caught him someone would ask him where she was from and she would of have to say Colton, California. I would hate to lie. I also think that he would be unsecured because he is not supposed to sneak across the border. If he got caught he could of have been sent to his hometown. Also it feels kind of awkward doing something that your not supposed to do. Its like walking into someones house without permission.

2) Response: Do you think her and her family should of crossed the border or stay in their homeland in El Rancho Blanco? Why?

My Response: I think that they should of crossed the border. They seemed so happy living in California. They had a school so they could have a great education. They had a lot of family time and did not have to spend a lot of time working. On the week days they had great and fun times and school and on the weekends they helped the mom and their dad work in the fields. I also think they should of crossed the border because they finally got to stay and settle in one place. His family finally did not have to move to Frenso at the end of every summer. It was great. But I also think that they should of not crossed the border to California because sooner or later they would be caught and they did get caught bu the Immigration Patrol. But I cannot believe it took the Immigration Patrol ten years to figure out.

3) Optional Response: Because they got caught by the Immigration Patrol do you think that there going to stay where there old hometown was or do you think that there going to come to California LEGALLY and have enough money to live there? Why?

3) My Response: I don't think that they are going to come back to California legally because as his dad said they don't have enough money. The only reason they might come back to California legally is if they his whole family worked really hard to gain a lot of money and come back to there new homeland in California. I thought it was really sad seeing them get caught by the Immigration Patrol because his family was having such a great time over in California. It is so sad to hear that that was taken away from them because they did not pass the border legally.

Website Reflection!

Project Title: Beyond The Ocean Website Reflection
Class: Ms. Interlandi
Letter: A
Date: March 10, 2008


Purpose: The purpose of the website project was to make an informative website displaying Moral Courage. In order to learn about Moral Courage we had to pick a theme to describe Moral Courage. Our theme was Ocean Disasters and how we are hurting the ocean. It displays moral courage by people offering to clean up peoples pollution that they threw on the ground. So the pollution does not get sucked into our oceans. Without these people that offer to clean up trash or people that do the right thing and put trash in the trash can, our environment would not be were it is today. For example our school. After lunch we all contribute a piece of trash to put in the trash can. If we did not do this then we would have a trashy school environment. A lot of people don't put there trash away because their to lazy to go to the trash can. But if these people don't throw their trash away into the trash can then it gets sucked into our oceans and someone could die from that piece of trash that you didn't throw away. This someone could become extinct. To preform this each member of my group had to pick a topic to research about. My topic was runoffs and how it is hurting the oceans. We had to write about 4 pages or more of research about that topic. We then had to create a website and make pictures, paraphrase our research and put our research onto our website. We also had to make links, photographs, anchors movies and much more onto our site.

What I learned: In this project I learned a lot about Runoffs. I learned that runoffs are caused by rain. When it rains it the rain picks up all the trash or ashes and flushes them down the sewer drains. This sewage then gets thrown into the ocean. I also learned that sea creatures and sea animals eat our trash because they don't know if its easy food or not. So now by we not throwing our trash away we are confusing them if trash in food for them or not. I also learned how to make links. I learned how to link a page to another page. Which was kind of a huge skill for me because I had no clue to link pages to other pages so this was good practice for me. I also learned how to make anchors, and also I learned shortcuts like: Control+A, Control+C and Control+V. Which is highlight, copy and paste. Some other things I learned was paraphrasing homework, although I need a little more practice on it. I learned how to take information and put them in my own words but making have the same meaning. For example: There was a unicorn and it went over the hill and the hill was very big. In my own words I would put There was a big hill and a unicorn went over the it. That it what paraphrasing is. I also learned what plagiarise means. Plagiarising is copying the same sentences without put quotes around them. Some things I could of done better on was helping my group out a little more. Because I was kind of ignoring them and was trying to finish my work before class was over. I also could of done better with my information because it took me along time to organize it right. My facts were not in order right. So I should of done better on that.

Reflection: I enjoyed this project because I learned a lot about how people are hurting the environment. I also liked this project because I learned how to make links to other pages. I also learned how to not plagiarise. I also learned a new word which is now on my vocabulary list which is Plagiarism! I also liked this project because it was my first website assignment and I have never made my own website with links to other pages, anchors, has descent information and had pictures and videos. The things I disliked about this project was that one of my team members always politely bugged me because he could not use a computer. So I had to help do what ever he had to do which kind of bothered me because I was doing something and I had to stop to do what he needed to do. I also disliked it because he did not contribute his information to our website. Next time I would be more aggressive and say that I have to finish my work and I do not have time to do what you have to do. So it was kind of pressuring me because I basically had to do twice the amount of work. I also thought this project was a bit challenging because we had to make sure all documents were spaced and had capital letters. It was also kind of hard trying to not plagiarise. Other then that I thought this project was fun and exciting and next if I ever did this project again it would be a tons better because when you first start out with a website project you do not expect how its going to turn out. But if I do it again I now have an idea on how to make a website.

My New Book! Twilight: Post #1

Name: Trenten Smith

Book: Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Total Pages Read This Week: 68

Date: March 9th, 2008

Time Reading: 2 hours

Pages Read: 1-68

As you might know I started a new book called Twilight! So far in the book I have read about a girl named Isabella Swan but she prefers people calling her Bella. The book starts out with Isabella and her mom living in Phoenix, Arizona. But she wants to see her dad, but her dad lives in Port Angeles. The only way she can get there is by plane. So her mom is letting her take a plane flight to Port Angeles to see her dad again. As you probably find out that Isabella's parents are divorced. So anyways she take a plane to Port Angeles by herself. When she gets to Port Angeles Isabella sees her dad Charlie. She feels a bit occurred living with Charlie because he has not been with Isabella her whole entire life. When they arrive at Charlie's place Charlie gives Isabella a welcome back gift. He gives her a old red Chevy truck. Isabella loves the car and was dieing for one at her moms place in Phoenix, Arizona. Her dad Charlie registered up for High School. When she arrives at school with her red Chevy truck, she goes to the front desk of the school and sees a red haired women with glasses. When Isabella sees her she immediately feels she overdressed. When she goes to her first class. It is a small classroom. Students come up to her and were asking her "your Isabella's Swan" and of course corrects them with Bella. When she goes into the cafeteria at lunch she sits next to these girls that she met in class. When she sits down she cannot take her eyes off this group of people. But she was not just looking at the whole group. She was looking at 1 person. A boy! This is a summary of what I read so far. It was not that exciting but its getting kind of exciting hearing that she likes a boy. Named Edward Cullen. You will hear more about him in my next post!=D

1) The things that surprised me in this book was that she moved to Port Angeles. I think that it was a little to early in the book for someone to send there child to Port Angeles. I thought it was a little to early for that to be happening. I also think that it was kind of weird how her dad gave her a red Chevy truck. Because most dads don't buy someone a used car. Those were somethings that surprised me.

2) If I could change one thing in the book I would vary the beginning of the book because I thought it was to early in the book that she wanted to see her dad, Charlie in Port Angeles. I was also kind of confused when she saw her dad there at the airport. I was confused because I never heard in the story that she emailed or sent a letter to the dad, charlie that Isabella Swan was coming to Port Angeles. I was kind of confused about that and that is also something I would change in the book, Twilight. Other then that it seems like a pretty good book to me!

The Sisters Grimm Reading Post #3

Name: Trenten Smith

Book Title: The Sisters Grimm

Author: Michael Buckley

Total Pages Read: 63 pages

Time Reading: 2 hours

Date: March 2, 2008

Pages: 87-150


In the book The Sisters Grimm, a giant was on the loose in Ferryport Landing. No one knew or how the giant came down to Ferryport Landing. Jack grew a beanstalk to lever the giants all the way into the clouds and when the last giant was up there he cut the beanstalk down to make sure the giants never came down. But for some odd reason they have found a giant in Ferryport Landing, causing a big ruckus and is about to destroy Ferryport Landing. Daphne and Sabrina have been seeing the Giant in the woods and have been seeing humongous foot prints. But Daphne new that it had to be someone that helped the big giant get down. Later on in the book they then found out that it was Prince Charming or they say the Uncharming Price Charming. The three little pigs or the 3 not so little pigs and Jack or as they say Slippery Jack. (Jack is the Jack and the bean stalk.) Soon Grandma Relda gets taken by the giant. They then go find clues of where the giant is located it at and follow pixies and fight off preadators to get to the giants layer. And to free Grandma Relda. That is my summary of what is happening right now. Just a few more pages and I am done solving this mystery. =D

1) This book made me feel pretty worried and scared. It made me feel this way because now they do not have a Grandma because Grandma Relda got taken away by the mean giant. I am also worried what something very bad is going to come after them next. They probably have ti fight off the mean Prince Charming, the three little pigs (or the three not so little pigs) or Jack. But my question is why dud Jack let a giant come down to Ferryport Landing if he wanted the giants to stay up in the clouds. That concerns me a lot. I am also pretty woried and scared that if Sabrina and Daphne have to fight off the giant by themselves. It would be pretty frightening if you had to fight someone that tall and that heavy.

2) I think whats going to happen next is that they are going to find there layer and will probably have to fight the three little pigs, the uncharming prince charming and Jak. Because they probably dont want them to spoil there plans. And I think that Grandma Relda was in this scheme to because Grandma Relda was the one that lured Daphne and Sabrina into this situation. Because probably they Grandma Relda and Prince Charming, three little pigs and Jack all hate The Grimm Family. And used the giant to fight off Sabrina Grimm and Daphne Grimm. I also think that Jak grew another beanstalk and tricked a deadly giant to come down to Ferryport landing. But my question is is that why did Jak want another giant to come down here if he grew a beanstalk to lewer the giants up to the clouds and stay there. That is one mystery I have to find out. I also think in the end that the whole Grimm family is going to help Daphne and Sabrina fight off the preadators that want to kill the Grimm family. All in all I think that Daphne and Sabrina are going to find there parents and live with them and that Prince Charming and Three little pigs and Jak are going to gave an unpleasent surprise when the story is over. HAPPILY EVER AFTER! THE END!

The Sisters Grimm Reading Post #1&2

Name: Trenten Smith
Book Title: The Sisters Grimm
Total Pages Read: 87
Date: February 23, 2008
Time Reading: Approximately 2 hours or more
Pages: 1-87

So far in the book a character named Daphne and Sabrina Grimm were living at an orphanage. There parents were mysteriously missing and vanished into thin air. A couple days later they found Daphne and Sabrina's parents car but did not find anyone inside it. The investigation people had no clue where there parents were. Meanwhile in the orphanage numerous people wanted them, but a lot of the people didn't have enough money to raise them. One of the people that wanted Sabrina and Daphne slept in his truck and made Daphne and Sabrina sleep in the back. Ms. Smirt (The person that works at the orphanage) did not approve of letting them stay with him. But one day, an old lady came in the orphanage claiming that she was Daphne and Sabrina's grandmother. But Daphne new that her grandma was dead before they were even born. Ms. Smirt then approved that it was okay to live with "grandma Grimm". Grandma Grimm, Daphne and Sabrina went to the train station to go home with grandma Grimm. Grandma Grimm lived in Ferryport Landing. A place that Daphne and Sabrina never even heard about. They then arrived at Grandma Grimm's place and met a Butler named Mr. Canis. Mr. Canis was really mean to Daphne and Sabrina and did not really care about them that much. He yelled to them when it was bedtime. And never really answered there questions. Daphne and Sabrina thought everyone was being very mysterious and were trying to be detectives. Mr. Sevens a neighbo, were investigating him. Then they went inside the house looking at portraits of there family. But did not really look like Sabrina or Daphne, but then Daphne new that they were the brother Grimm. A couple days later they were playing outside and saw some mysterious activity going on. Sabrina thought that she saw a giant in the forest. And also she thought that there next door neighbors looked like Snow White, the three little pigs and the big bad wold. How weird is that!?! This is all I have read so far. And this was a summary of what I read said so far!!!


1) Some exciting events that happened in the book while I was reading it was that they do not know what happened in to there parents and the investigation system still does not know what happened to Daphne and Sabrina parents. Which is really sad. The also have a grandma Grimm they don't even know about and the thought that they did not have a grandma anymore because Daphne and Sabrina thought she was dead. Plus they have never heard of a place called Ferryport Landing. Plus that Sabrina thinks that she is seeing some activity happening and probably thinks that she is crazy because she thinks that she saw a huge giant in the forest and also she thinks that Snow White, The three little pigs and the Big Bad Wolf is her neighbors. This is a pretty exciting book. I think that in the book they are going to find out that Grandma Grimm is just keeping Sabrina and Daphne far away from there parents and I also think that something bad is going to happen to them if they don't pay attention of where they are going off to. They are seeing so much weird stuff you don't know what else they might see. I also think that Grandma Relda might be a witch. Because this is a fairy tale book you don't know if humans are real or not in this book. All I can say us that this book is getting really GOOD! =D

2) I think that Grandma Relda is really important to the book The Sisters Grimm because without the book would not be that great. I also think where she lives is making this book such a good book. Also with out Grandma Relda there would not be a conflict in The Sisters Grimm. Keep up the good work Grandma Relda. I also think that the place they are in makes the book exciting because most books rely on different charters and does not have charters from other books. But in the Sisters Grimm, I think it is pretty exciting to see that the 3 little pigs, the big bad wolf and Snow White is in it. And they are familiar charters that a lot of people know. That is what is whats good about the book also whats also important in the book besides the main characters.

3) I think I would read another book by this author and maybe even see the movie. What I am reading now is pretty cool and exciting to read. I was very surprised and excited to see that the three little pigs, the big bad wolf and Snow White and a Huge Giant would be in this book. Who would knew that would happen. I would read another book by this author Michael Buckley because everything in this book has a lot of fairy tale and a lot of conflict. And a lot of conflict in my opinion makes in a good book. as you can see I like book s with a lot of conflict. It is also pretty scary what they have gone through. And is kind of interesting that there parent are gone and cannot be found and that Daphne and Sabrina have never heard of Ferryport Landing. There is so much action in this book. And that is basically why I want to read another book by the author Michael Buckley.

4) The thing that upsets me and is sad to me is that it is kind of sad that Sabrina and Daphne's parents have vanished and are missing. It is also sad that they don't have any other family. They don't have Uncles or Cousins or Aunts and now no grandma. Besides the one that is claiming to be Sabrina and Daphne's grandma. It also upsets me is when they don't really talk about there parent or family more or what happened to them or anything. All it says in the book was that Daphne and Sabrina's parents were missing and basically vanished in thin air. And that they found there parents car and no one was in it. And then they just went to the orphanage part. That was the only part about there parents. I was kind of expecting more about them and that is what got me so into this book was about Sabrina and Daphne's parents. This is something I would want the author to fix in this book. But what do I know maybe it tells me more fact and details about the parents in the book. I cannot wait to read more!!!

This has been A REALLY GOOD BOOK! I know it might not be a 7th grade reading level book but this is a great book for people that like fairy tales! =D

P.S. Grandma Grimm and Grandma Relda are the exact same people. I just put different names for them by accident. =D I read extra time for my reading fro #1 i forgot to do it. So I made it pretty long. This is also fro # 2 also. (I hope this is long enough)

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break #3

We finished with the book Alex and Lindsay so here is my question...

1 Question) If you were in Ailin position that night and you were on the boat, what would it of felt like to you. (Description in Book: "Our ship skirted the edge of a typhoon, which made it toss violenly. I had a bunk, and I was afraid I'd fall out in spite of the railing. Soon I became seasick to care. It did'nt help that the cabin was filled with the smell of vomit and the moans of those who wanted to die." Page 123, 1st paragragh.)

My Answer: If I was in Ailin position I would of been frightened and would of made me noscious because of the vomet. It would not be a great place for me to be right now. I would be fightened because of the violent waves making the boat tip back and forth. I would also be scared because if a wave pushed the boat really hard I would of fell out of the bunk. And that would of been a long fall. It would be really scary if I was on that boat.

2 Question) I saw a couple of words in the book that confused me. So what are some words in the book that you thought was an interesting word or didn't know the word.

My Answer: One of the words that I did not know in this book was typhoon.
Definition: A typhoon is a hurricane. Typhoons are usually located on the China seas.

Hope you enjoyed the BOOK! =D

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break #2

1)I agree with you Lindsay. I think that is the problem. I also think that the father does not want her to go to school because of the kids there and maybe he thinks that she is going to be picked on. Or because he has never seen a girl or women teacher there at the public school. Also because the father thinks that she is not going to have a godd future going to a the public school.

2) I agree with you. To me she looks like she is going to have a strong future because she wants to go to school so thats good. And if she wanted to go to school then she is probably going to try to get good grades. I agree with you about she becoming an amah. And that she will move out of the hous and get married. To me she is going to have a really good future.

Comment for Ties that Bind, Ties that Break

1) I think that her mom and grandma and also their servents want her feet binded because it is a big tradition that they belive in. And I think that they do not want to break that tradition. I think that her father does not want her feet binded because I think that he is letting her do what she wants to do to her own body. I also agree with you that her father is letting her to her own desicions.

Alex Reply: I think that it is more than just that he wants to let her do what she wants to do, I think that he thinks she should get to make her own decisions. But maybe the women think that since they had to go through it too then she should have to also.