Leaving Paradise

It's been awhile since I've posted anything note worthy about the books that I've been reading. To be honest, during the summer months the only things that I read really are just adult brain candy, but now that the school year has begun again, it is time that I got serious about what I was reading again.

The book that I have started off my year with is Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. It is a beautiful love story that doesn't begin or end in the same way that we are all used to.
Here's what Barnes & Noble had to say:

Feeling like outsiders since Caleb Becker's drunken car accident left Maggie Armstrong a cripple, Caleb and Maggie end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

It is a great story that grips you from the beginning and refuses to let you go. I can't wait to get into Return to Paradise, the second installment of this story, which picks up about a year after where Leaving Paradise ends.

Week 4 - Compare and Contrast of Main Characters - 4.28.11

John

16 year old boy
Special powers
Alien from another planet
Small group of friends
Hated by the QB
Lives in a small town in Ohio
Has money, but it's in a trust and doesn't actually spend much


Frankie

15 DAYS old girl
“monster” created from parts
Mint green skin
Really into fashion and material pocessions

Similarities

Both have “powers”
Both are not human
Neither are very popular

A Book By Any Other Name - Week 2: April 4-April 8

Review the book description found on the back cover of your book. Using the information, and this information alone, construct two alternate titles for the book that appeal to you.Pick one of the two titles and create a catch phrase and movie poster. Describe (using language that will explain what you are talking about so that we can "see" it) the movie poster to sell the new titled novel.

As I continue to read I am Number Four by Pitticus Lore, I am finding it rather difficult to answer this question in all honesty because I am reading this book on my Nook and I don't actually have a back of a cover. Luckily, I was able to find an image of the back cover on Barnesandnoble.com. Talk about problem solving.

The back cover of the book is actually already pretty cool, so I'm trying really hard to think of alternative titles, but this is what I've come up with so far:
Alternative title #1 - Among You (catch phrase - "You you may not see us, but we see you")
Alternative title #2 - In Plain Sight (catch phrase - "We remain hidden, but we will save you").

I can't decide which title I prefer over the other, but I believe that my idea for a cover will work for either title. My new design would be black with an almost metallic sheen to it (probably printed on glossy paper). There would be a picture of the Earth as if viewed from outer space. A human hand would be on either side of the sphere, as though the hands were balancing the Earth in between them without actually touching it. The hands would look human, but there would be a more golden gleem to them, as if they were glowing from the inside out. Over the top of the Earth, you would see the faint impression of a nose and then a hood covering the rest of the face. The hood would have a silver tint to it, to make it barely set off from the black. You wouldn't be able to make out the rest of the visage, only the nose and maybe the lips, so you really couldn't tell if the face was male or female or even if it were truly human. The lettering for the title would be in crimson red to give it a more ominous feel and the catch phrase would be in gold to pull in the golden sheen from the hands and face.

Actually, based off of what I described above, I think that the second title, In Plain Sight, would be the best title for this type of poster.

Week 1: 3.17.11 - What I'm reading now...

Give the title, author, publisher, copyright date, genre (how do you know the genre -from the back of the book, title page, text?), a description of the cover of the book, and the main character(s) that you have met so far and on what page you first met them. Use complete sentences and ensure that you have proficient mechanics.


Right now, I am reading I am Number Four by Pitticus Lore, which was published in August 2010 by HarperCollins Publishers. The genre of this book is Science Fiction, although they (being the author and the publishers) are trying to pass it off as a real book to serve as a warning to the human race about aliens bent on destroying Earth. I know this because of the author's biography which reads as follows:

Pittacus Lore is Lorien's ruling Elder. He has been on Earth for the last twelve years, preparing for the war that will decide Earth's fate. His whereabouts are unknown.

The cover of the book is a gradient moving from dark orange to bright orange with a sort of bright yellow symbol in the middle. Words on the cover read "Three are dead. I am number four." I found this to be a little interesting, but to be honest, I might not have chosen to read the book based off of the cover because it really isn't that interesting of a cover (see the picture).

I'm about half way through the book at this point (I'm trying to finish it and another book, Angelology, at the same time so that I can continue to make my way through the stacks of books that are next to my bed) so I've met a good many of the characters at this point. For now, I'll make a list of the main characters and where I met them:
- John is the main character, the Lorian Garde who is starting to gain his Legacies to help save his race. He is the narrator of the story and begins the book.
- Henri is the Guardian assigned to watch over John while they are on Earth. I met Henri on page 7.

Week 4: Friday 3, 2010

We've been looking and studying how we relate to our characters and the real world around us. Now it's time to put yourself into your character's shoes. Thinking about the main character of your book, consider what you would do in their situation. 1. What would your reactions be? 2. How would you handle the situation? 3. What would you do differently? Be sure to use complete sentences and EVIDENCE to support your thinking.

I am reading Generation Dead by Daniel Waters. This book is set a small town called Oakvale in Conneticut where a strange phenomenon is taking place. Teenagers who have recently died are coming back to life. They are considered to be "living impaired" or "differently biotic." It is because of these differences that they are being targets of prejudice and bullying. These instances gave me a lot to consider if I were in the shoes of my main character, Phoebe.

During a football game where one of the recently "differently biotic" students was playing, people from the crowd began to throw tomatoes at the players.

"'He finally put him in! And these knuckleheads are booing. That just isn't right.' Her dad clapped louder, and Phoebe and Margi joined him. Someone hit Margi in the back of the head with a french fry, and another sailed past Phoebe's face as she turned around.
Her dad stood up and scanned the upper rows, but whoever it was hid the reminder of their deep-fried missiles.
'Coward,' he called, and sat down.
'Not worth it, Dad,' Phoebe said." (p.141)

My reactions would be probably different than Phoebe's where she was calm and didn't want to confront the people who were throwing the food, whereas I would have been all up into whomever was being so disgusting and rude. I probably would have caused a fight or really gotten into trouble because I don't believe that people should be judged upon something that isn't their fault.

New Book - Generation Dead

I am about to start yet another new book (any of you keeping up with me yet?). Generation Dead by Daniel Waters is my new embarkment. This is a book that I thought looked really interesting from the cover and by what I understand from the back, this book is going to be about how some of the dead are coming back to life. Just what I love...zombies (not!). Apparently, this is a series, so we'll have to see if the story is interesting enough to keep up with the rest of the series. It can't be that bad if more books are getting published, but then again, they did print Breaking Dawn.

Week 5 - 11.23.10

1.Using your notes from your reading, summarize what is happening in your story using 2 examples from your book. Include at least 2.one connection and 3.one inference that you made while reading. Keep in mind the previous feedback that you've received so that you don't make the same errors.

Sisters Red was a great book. I've finished reading it and I have to admit that it was actually a really quick read. It was fast paced and there was a lot of dramatic action that kept the story moving. The ending was very surprising which made it all the more interesting and kept me turning the pages all the way up to the very end. I'm not really going to give a summary because, well, I've finished reading. If you check my previous blog, you'll see that I made a connection to being an older sibling, always feeling the weight of responsibility of watching over someone one, guiding them and blaming yourself for their mistakes, even if they make them on their own. One inference that I was able to make was within the last few pages of the book actually when I guessed as to who the Potential was for the Fernis (the werewolves) and it turned out that I was right. I love being right (as most of you know!).

Although I don't have a hard copy of Sisters Red to share, I highly recommend that any those of you who are interested in reading it go to the library or pick it up at your local bookstore. It is very unique retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood tale.