FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: Week of 4-28-13

Title: FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Author: Michael Jordan
Pages read: 1-50
Pompt: Describe a character that you would like to meet (which doesn’t mean that you

think you would like the character, but that you think the character would be

interesting). List 4 questions that you would ask.

My book is an autobiography written by Michael Jordan himself. So of course he is the character I would like to meet. Before this book I already knew a lot about Michael before this book but now I know even more information. I like this book because he tells about what he went through specifically and tells about more specific details of his career. For example in the 84-85 season he was fined $5,000 dollars every time he wore his black and red Nike Air Jordan 1's because they did not specifically match the uniform of white and red.

I have also learned of some of his toughest moments in his career. In his 85-86 season he broke his navicular bone in his left foot. When Jordan felt he was healthy enough Jerry Krause and Jerry Reindorf didn't want him to play. He found out they were trying to lose games in order to get an early draft pick. Jordan was restricted to 7 minutes a half when he came back yet he was practicing for 2 hours. One game there was 32 seconds left and the game was tied but Jordan had already played his minutes. The coach was told if he played even a minute extra he would be fired. So all the fans began to boo the coach for benching Jordan.

If I met Michael Jordan I would probably be speechless and not be able to say a word. I would have millions of things to ask. If I had to choose for my first would be what was the best thing you ever did to up your game. The next question I would ask would be how he was able to come over his struggles and move on. I would also ask what techniques he used to get open on offense and to be one step ahead on defense. My last question would be how did it feel winning a sixth title and what was the most important thing you did to get there. If I had one more I would ask for a pair of shoes. I chose these questions because I would like to learn how the greatest ever was able to improve his basketball skills, get over injuries and stuggles, and how to become a better player. He is my favorite player ever so 4 questions is really hard to limit myself to.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham: Week of 4-21-14

Title: The Watsons Go To Birmingham

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Pages Read: 0-224

Prompt: Summarize what you read

The Watsons live in Flint, Michigan. All the kids go to Clark Elementary. Byron is in sixth grade and he's the bully everyone is afraid of. Kenny who narrates the story is in fourth grade and their little sister Joetta also known as Joey is in kindergarten. Kenny gets picked on by the bullies at school, especially Larry Dunn, the bully of fourth grade. Things are bad for Kenny until this kid Rufus moves in. Rufus is poor and raggedy. He also talks with a Southern accent so at first Kenny is happy that the kids will have someone new to bully. But instead Rufus and Kenny become friends. The school year goes on and Kenny keeps about mostly Byron getting into trouble. He beats up Larry Dunn, he sets things on fire, and he kills a bird with a cookie. 

He gets his parents really frustrated. Then Byron gets his hair chemically straightened without permission so Dad shaves Byron's head bald. Momma and Dad announce that the whole family is going to take a trip to Birmingham. They will see Grandma Sands, and Byron is going to have to stay with her for the whole summer or until he learns to behave. Grandma Sands is really strict, and Byron is not exactly thrilled about this plan. Down at Grandma Sands's house Byron starts being nice. One day the kids decide to go swimming, but Grandma Sands warns them to stay away from Collier's landing where there's a dangerous whirlpool where  boy drowned. 

Kenny wants to go see Collier's Landing anyway, but Byron says they should listen to Grandma. This time it's Kenny who doesn't listen. He nearly drowns and Byron has to save him. A few days later, Joey goes to church with the neighbors. A bomb goes off in the church. The whole family runs down to find her but they can't find her anywhere. Joey shows up back at the house wondering where everyone is. She explains that she thought she saw Kenny waving at her outside the church, so she left to follow him and missed the whole thing. That night the family packs up and goes back to Flint. Everyone is upset about the bombing but Kenny is having the toughest time. 

OMAM: Week of 4-14-14

Title: Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck

Pages: 37-98

Prompt: How has your feelings changed as you've been reading? 

My feelings throughout the book have changed towards the characters. Especially towards Candy and Crooks. I think since there stories have caused such sadness that I've felt more and more sympathy towards them. Especially Crooks when he talks about the loneliness in his life. Candy is very sad and I am glad that George and Lennie are allowing him in on the deal.

My feelings for Lennie and George's relationship has also changed. I feel now like they are more like brothers. Earlier I felt like George was a real jerk to Lennie. Then I've seen how much he cares and helps Lennie. I also see how much Lennie depends and trusts George. It shows how their relationship is more evolved than I thought and shows how they are more like brothers then friends. 

Throughout the book I have learned more on the lives of migrant workers from the 1930s. I feel this book is an excellent source of history. It also tells a story which gets the reader interested. So then the reader enjoys the story and at the same time learns about the past. I like the different personalities and physical features of all the characters. I feel like they all fit into the story pretty well.

Of Mice and Men: Week of 4-7-14

Book: Of Mice and Men
Author: John Steinbeck
Pages Read: 0-40
Prompt: Do any of the characters feeling change as you’ve read? Explain why or why

not.

In this book the characters feeling are constantly changing. Right now George and Lennie are have gotten jobs and are meeting many of the different characters in the book. All the characters moods and feeling change when they meet all the different characters. For example when they meet Candy, the man tells them lots of information and they get along with him quite well. George seems chill and fine, and Lennie just sits and listens.

Then they meet the Bosses son. His name is Curley. He is a real Jerk. Immediately he begins to pick on Lennie because he is big and Large. He asks something and George answers and introduces Lennie and himself. Then Curley says that the other guy "Lennie" was suppose to answer the question. He scolds Lennie for not answering. Lennie gets struck with fear because he is very "innocent" for him being a big strong man and all. George gets really mad. He defends Lennie and hates small angry guys. Which is exactly what Curley is.

So far I like the book. I find it really amusing how Lennie's last name is small. I get confused with many of the characters because most of their names start with the letter C. I like the relationship between Lennie and George because George defends and cares about Lennie as if he were his younger brother. In class we have talked about the poem by Robert Burns and how it might have to do with the story. He says something about the plans not always going the way they were predicted to go. I am waiting to see if something will happen that is unpredicted that will either help or hurt George and Lennie's situation. I really wonder what will happen between Curley and George and Lennie. There is a lot of conflict with Curley. It seems like there may be trouble for Georeg and Lennie because of Curley.

Of Mice and Men: Week of 3-31-14

Title: Of Mice and Men
Author: John Steinbeck
Prompt: Describe the main characters.

So far in the book there are two main characters. There is George and Lennie. George is small and quick. He has strong features, small strong hands, slender arms and a bony nose. Lennie is a huge man. He has wide shoulders, walks heavily, and drags his feet. These are the two characters in the book. So far in the book it is just them two. They have mentioned some other names but they do not seem to have importance in the book because they have only mentioned at most another name once or twice. Right now they seem to be traveling and have stopped at a stream or river.

George is the first character introduced. He is very rude. He treats Lenny bad and calls him mean things. George seems to be the one in charge though. He does the important or "big man" work. I found this pretty ironic because he is the small man of the two. He treats Lennie as if he is a bother or annoyance. Every time he talks to him he gets frustrated or calls him words I'm not allowed to say.

Lennie is very almost fragile. He has a very childish attitude. Not meaning he messes around. But he is very innocent and seems like he doesn't know his own power. In one instance he has a mouse in his pocket that he is petting. George yells at him to give him the mouse. George gets upset because he killed it. He didn't mean to but his strength seems to be too strong for him. In my opinion the two should switch bodies because they seem to be opposites of their physical features. Lennie is also very unaware which is why he needs George. George must take care of all his important things and keep Lennie in order. Otherwise Lennie would probably end up in serious trouble. They are opposites but I think thats what has kept them together and keeps them both in check. 

Poetry Reflection

        Poetry has small importance in my life. It is important because I like to hear poems about peoples backgrounds and life experiences. I don’t enjoy poems about nature, made up things, or fictional stories. I like to hear poems about how people feel and about people. Some of my personal favorite poems are about Chicago. Where poets express their feeling about the violence and crime. Most of the poets who write these poems had grown up in the bad areas of Chicago. I like to hear these poems because they speak the truth and say how bad things are and how they need to change. They are written because the poet wants the violence to stop. Those are my favorites because it shows how a person if affected by where they grow up and how it affects their choices and opinions. So poetry is important to me because it allows me to know about different places and how things are in the world through a persons feelings and emotions.

        Poetry can belong to everyone. I know this because poems can be about anyone or anything. For example there are love, hate, war, sport, humorous, and all other sorts of poems. Therefore a person can relate to a poem because there is poems about everything and anything. Poems express someones feelings or opinions to something. Everyone has feelings and emotions so anyone can write a poem. Poets come from everywhere. Poets can come from all around the world. So poetry can belong to anyone and everyone. 

        Many poets write based on their background, past, and life experiences. I heard a poem written by one high school student where he wrote about his cousin who had epilepsy. This poet was clearly writing about events in his life and personal experiences that affected him. This is an example of how a poet uses life experiences in their poem. Another high school poet I heard talked about gangs and crime in Chicago. How he grew up surrounded by the crime and how something needs to be done because students had less of a chance to learn and grow in these areas. His message was that there was not an equal chance for kids in these areas to become great or make it to college. He said that they were being cheated and something needed to be done. This poem is written based on the poets background. Where he grew up affected his feeling and poetry. He expressed how he felt about where he grew up and how it was through his poem.

Notes From The Midnight Driver: Week of 3-3-14

Book: Notes From The Midnight Driver
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Pages Read: 88-150
Prompt: Pretend what you are reading is nominated for a national award. Explain why

you think it should or should not receive an award.

        I believe that this book should receive an award. I believe this because it has an interesting story. There is this kid named Alex and he crashed his Moms car. So when he gets sentenced to this one old man for community service he originally hates it and believes that his assignment should be changed. Then he starts learning lessons from this man. He learns how to deal with the man named Sol. Sol begins complimenting him. Alex learns that Sol likes Alex's music that he plays. 

         Then Alex has a brilliant idea. He will perform a fundraiser for the nursing home. He will hold a concert with him and the two best musicians at his school performing. They agree to do this. So this book deserves this award because it shows a teenagers growth through a punishment. He becomes smarter and more caring of others. The author Jordan Sonnenblick does a great job of describing how the main character, Alex feels and changes over the course of the book.

         This is a great book for younger teenagers. It has lots of humor. Alex the main character shows lots of sarcasm which makes the book funny. Also the attitude and how Sol the old man acts is a great addition to the humor part of the book. Also Alex's best friend Laurie is funny. She is funny because she makes fun of Alex and surprises him all the time with the weirdest things. And Alex had never thought about Laurie in a sense of her being pretty until Sol won't stop talking about how great she is. Alex starts thinking of her in that sort of way. It is funny because he can't help himself and is constantly reminding himself that she is his friend and nothing else. All and all this book deserves an award for humor, plot twist, and characters.