40 Book Challenge

On your Blog discuss where you are in your 40 Book Challenge. Reflect on how your reading has progressed throughout your 7th grade year. If you have successfully completed the challenge or are about to, how did you make this happen? Based on your 6th grade year, how would you rate what you have read this year? Consider the amount of books you have read, as well as the caliber of the text. What are your thoughts about the 40 Book Challenge going in to 8th grade? Minimum requirement is 2 solid paragraphs!

     I did not accomplish the 40 book challenge this year. I think I am somewhere in the high teens or lower 20's if we are counting books over 350 pages, so I was around 20 books off.  However the 40 book challenge has made me a better reader and has allowed for me to read more book this year. The 40 book challenge along with the blog post every week has made me more obligated to read and has helped push me to read more books. I think compared to last year I made a great improvement. I also think the 40 book challenge has opened me to more types of genres that I could like. For example I was never interested in autobiographies or biographies. Then I found a Michael Jordan autobiography in my house that I had never seen before. I thought it may be kind of boring but I actually really liked it. I think that book will open me to several more biographies and autobiographies in the future.
      Last year we were not obligated to read as we are this year so I didn't really care to read or about reading as much. I don't know how many books I read last year but I'm sure it wasn't very close to how many I read this year. Also the level of reading and length of the book has improved this year. This year I read more complex and longer books, which was a large improvement from last year. I think as the years go on and I begin reading more and more I will eventually reach 40 books. For the 40 book challenge in 8th grade I think going in to 8th grade the 40 book challenge has helped me this year and will help me next year if we still have it. I do think that the types of books should change because I know I sort of stayed away from books or genres that were not appealing. When we do the 40 book challenge in 8th grade I am hoping to be able to read more books and that the skill level be higher. 

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: Week of 5-5-14

Title: FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Author: Michael Jordan
Pages read: 50-77
Pompt:  • Make an interpretation of the passage – may be a picture, symbols, graphic

organizer.

I chose this image because all through Michael Jordan's life he was either being picked up or trying to help others. Also this shows how individuals care and trust each other. Michael Jordan had to put a lot of trust into others and had to be able to make sure others trusted him. I know most people would probably expect a basketball. But in the book Michael talks about when he became a man he realized how basketball opened his life for him and showed him how important all everything in his life was. The first example I have was when coach Phil Jackson first came to the team. He introduced a new offense that got the whole team involved. 

At first Jordan thought it wasn't going to go well. In fact the whole team thought that. But they had to trust their coach. When they ran through the offense teams had to worry about all the players because the offense allowed all their players to score. This led to more points for Jordan actually. This is because they couldn't double Jordan as easily and the offense improved him. I think the biggest friendship and "I got your back" idea in the book was his relationship with Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson ended up getting the HIV virus. Magic called Michael and told him everything. About how he was going to retire and fight the virus.

I felt this truly showed trust and help because Jordan talked about if that happened to him he wouldn't talk to anyone. So I think Magic told his true friends so that they could help him get through and so he would know he would have people behind him. I really like this book. I learn a lot of interesting facts about Michael Jordan. By reading this book I learned how much more of a hard worker and great player Michael Jordan was than I ever thought. After reading so far (and I'm not done) I find it hard how anyone can question whether Jordan was the Greatest Player Ever. In my perspective there is no question about it. This book is amazing because I get to learn about my favorite player ever.

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.