Reading response on ctq:# 10

     In the book, "On the Devils Court", by  Carl Deuker the character, Joe, has many problems and struggling a lot. Joe loves playing basketball and moved to another city. He lived in Boston and moved to Seattle. He is shy and doesn't like getting out of the house. He has no friends yet in his new home. He goes to a private school and wants to go to a public school. His private school doesn't have a good basketball team. He is a straight a student in Boston and was really good in basketball. Once he moved he downgraded in everything. Academics and sports. He did anything to be the best basketball player he could be. People would do anything to achieve happiness and success.
     Joe is a straight A student, but everything went wrong once he moved to Seattle. In Seattle, he was struggling to get a B and ends up getting C's. His dad expects a lot out of him, but he was dissapointed once he saw his scores. His dad was also serious about sports. His dad played almost every sport except for basketball. Basketball is the one thing he is better than his dad at. Joe was also stuggling at basketball at the time. Once tryouts came he was doing horrible. Coach said he would put him in junior varsity. He was frustrated. He had found this old and deserted gym. He palyed in it every day, alone. He saw this green smoke like thing coming toward him, and he somehow knew that the Devil was calling. He didnt hesitate and he blurted out, "Give me a full season of power, and my soul is yours".
     After, he had played the best basketball of his life. Also, he was back to A's instead of C's and B's. Coach saw him play the next day and was surprised. He put him on the team and scouts from all over wanted him. He was the best and was all over the place. Colleges were calling him. His Dad was so happy for him. He isn't sure if he had really sold his soul to the Devil but he couldn't help it he was a star athlete like he had always dreamed. He was the leading scorer in every game. It wasn't like he was perfect but he was great. He has given up his souls to achieve what he had wanted.
     In that season he was great. He had sold his soul to the devil. Just to be the best he can ever be. He dreamed this day for a long time and it has finally come, but he had done it the wrong way. After that mysterious thing that happened in the park he went from being a lousy basketball player and a C student to a star and a straight A student. The cause of him doing this was from reading a book called,"Doctor Faustus". Is achieving his dream worth what he has given up?

Revised reading response

     In the book, "On the Devil's Court", by Carl Deuker Joe is struggling. He loves playing basketball. He isn't very talkative and likes to spend time in his room a lot. He is shy and doesn't spend much time outside. Joe moved from Boston to Seattle. He used to get straight A's, but know he struggles to get a B. His dad expects a lot out of Joe but he doesn't have much confidence in himself in his new home. Joe found an old place to play basketball in and he played every time in that gym. It was deserted and nobody went there. The only surrounding of it was trees. People will do anything for happiness and success.
      Joe had everything he wanted, straight A's and great basketball skills . He wasnt comofortable in his new home. It was hard for him to move to a new city. Also, Joe goes to a private school and they don't have a good team. He tries to convince his dad to let him go to a public school. His friend Ross, plays basketball with him and a few other people. He gets in trouble by the law because because he is caught drinking under age. His dad makes him go to a private school. One day, when Joe was playing in the gym he saw a green mist and knew that the devil was calling him. He sold his soul to the Devil and got good grades and got way better in basketball. After that every team was calling for him to play with them.
     Joe scored 30 points and the coach decided to let him start on the next game. He had gotten great grades too. His dad was very proud of him. He also got a scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Some of the best schools in the world that have great basketball teams. Joe wanted to be the best basketball player he could be and was. Joe sold his soul to the devil so he could have this success, but is it worth it. Everything was going wrong for Joe but as soon as that green smoke appeared he went for it. He didn't know if it worked or he just got comfortable in his new home, but he was just glad it happened.
     Joe's amazing talent rose and Joe still was willing to do anything to be the best basketball player he could be. After reading that book some how he knew that the devil was calling him. Joe's talent kept rising and all the glory was around him. Every body was surprised in Joe, after doing horrible in everything, all of a sudden he became the best that he can be.When he sold his soul to the Devil he didn't even hesitate. "Give me a full season of power, and my soul is yours". If you had the chance of doing this, would you go for it?

Reading Response ctq: #8

     In the book, "On the Devil's Court", by Carl Deuker many hard things are going happening in this book. Joe is the main character of the book and he loves playing basketball. He isn't very talkative. He is shy and doesn't spend much time outside. Joe moved from Boston to Seattle. He used to get straight A's, but know he struggles to get a B. His dad expects a lot out of Joe but he doesn't have much confidence. Joe found an old gym to play basketball in and he played every time in that gym. Joe will do anything to play basketball, that is his life. People will do anything for success and happiness.

     Some shard things that are happening in this book is that after he had moved to Seattle, he got low grades and played terrible basketball once the tryouts came along. Also, Joe goes to a private school and they don't have a good team. He tries to convince his dad to let him go to a public school. His friend Ross, plays basketball with him and a few other people. He gets in trouble by the law because because he is caught drinking under age. His dad makes him go to a private school. One day, when Joe was playing in the gym he saw a green mist and knew that the devil was calling him. He sold his soul to the Devil and got good grades and got way better in basketball. After that every team was calling for him to play with them.
     Joe scored 30 points and the coach decided to start him. He had gotten great grades too. His dad was very proud of him. He also got a scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Some of the best schools in the world that have great basketball teams. Joe wanted to be the best basketball player he could be and was. Joe sold his soul to the devil so he could have this success. This proves that people will do anything for happiness and success. He was state champion.
     Joe's amazing talent rose and had a disappointing ending, but Joe still was willing to do anything to be the best basketball player he could be. When he sold his soul to the Devil he didn't even hesitate. "Give me a full season of power, and my soul is yours".

Critical Thinking Question

I am currently reading, "Hoop Dreams", by Ben Joravsky. This book has important issues, that talks about young kids and there dreams. These issues are happening all over the world. This book is about a kid that had finished school and is focusing on his favorite sport, basketball. Lonnie has a second chance to play in the NCAA college basketball and finish college. He is facing many problems along the way and he has diffucult times. His biggest dream was to be apart of the NBA, and be rich. As you can see, many kids want to be apart of the NBA, but first they have to finish there education. This book talks about many kids always focusing on basketball and not on there education.

This book faces hard issues. When Lonnie decides that he is finished with high school and all he focuses on is basketball, he meets this gut named Cal. This guy changed his life. He helped him get back into college and play with the pros. Lonnie thought this guy was a joke until he found out that he was once apart of the NBA. Lonnie's big dream was being apart of the NBA. This book shows that of you dont get through education first you cant follow your future. Education was important especially to Lonnie because becoming an NBA player.

This issue is happening all around the world and not only for basketball. It is happenign to young kids that want big futures. Those kids have to learn that the first step to that future is your education. Because if you just focus on basketball and dont make it to the pros you need a back up. I found a statistic that says: The odds are 7,600 to 1 high school basketball player will reach the NBA. This is really big because those 7,599 other kids might not have a bacup for there future and who knows where they end up. So, this is why education is a really important issue in the world.

This book tells you about a lot what i have been talking about. Education is important, its a big step in life. Imagine your life without education, its almost impossible to succeed. Hoop Dreams is a really good book and it shows a really important lesson.

Something that inspired me was a basketball player and how he had played on the court. This pallyer inspired me because he worked really hard to make the team win. WHen i see im play on the court i want to do well, in school and on the court. It makes me want to strive forward to success. This player brought the team to a championship. He always works his hardest every day on the court.
Sports connects to school somehow. I think this player was very inspiring because he did not go to college.
This player went straight into the NBA from high school. He dropped out. But now he is making tons of commercials saying not to drop out. It was rough for him when he had dropped out. Because of his NBA skills his life was how it is today. But if you think, if he didn't get this chance to be in the NBA, where would he be in life. So he always encourages me to stay in school and to do my very best, and that is what i do. Because he didn't go to college he was probably one of the youngest. Many other players had the chance of going into the NBA from high school. A new rule has happened saying that you can only enter the NBA from college. I think that was a really big life changing rule for many people. I say this because if anybody had the chance of being in the NBA from high school, they would take it.

When i was a little kid, my teacher introduced this awesome picture book. I took the book home and read it day and night. The book was called, "Where the wild things are". Many people are favorites of this book but i still like it, even today. This book shows what a great imagination a kid has and where they go in there imaginatiion. This book is about a boy named Max and he is dressed up as a monster running around the houuse. He was sent to bed without supper.
He then realizes that trees and a big jungle is growing out of his house. he climbs out ofhis window and there is a huge river.  He sails on the river and he then sees monsters. He was scared of the monsters but then realizes that the monsters want him as a leader.They dance around then he sends the monsters to bed. When he wakes up he finds his hot bowl of soup on his dresser.
This book shows me the great imagination a kid has. Also, don't disobey your parents. In the book Max was yelling at his mother an therefore he was went to bed without his upper.
This story doesn't relate to me in any way. I think my little brother will love this book when i introduce it to him. Also in the story, Max is a little kid and it can show an important lesson for the other little kids.

Argument Essay #2

Argument Essay

                Reading is some peoples life activities. People love reading, especially some young adults and teens. Banning books is basically taking away the meaning of a book. That is one less book you had taken away from their reading life. Yah, some parts in the book can be inappropriate, but these books show great and important life lessons. For example, in the book we were discussing about in our inquiry group, there are lots of teen life conflicts and issues that are really bad. It's not always a bad thing because in the end they show an important lesson. To never fall into peer pressure and drugs. Drugs is one of the main topics in these books, but then it shows how bad the life if the girl is and nobody ever wants to turn out like her. This book is titled, "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins. This is a book for a mature audience, such as, eighth grade and above.

                In the article, The Banned Books We Love," the author Jen Doll wants the reader to know that kids read books that matter to them . Kids  have access to the books they want to read. Book banner and overly protective parents may believe that this sort of stuff will hurt the mind of the young reader. Jen Doll also shows that when you Ban books it takes away the meaning of the book". As I said earlier in my essay, book like this shows important life lessons that young teens can be learning.  In the book, "Crank" it shows you how you could turn out to be if you do all these bad stuff, like the use of drugs.  Censoring books will only want kids to read them more. Also, there nothing to hide in books because kids already play the top violent games ever. I bet more than half the school has been exposed to these situations that go on in these kinds of books. So, what's the point of banning these books. All your really doing is taking away the life lesson . What really do you get out of taking away books. Nothing!

                Many over protective parents and book banners don't already realize that many kids are already exposed to these kinds of issues that are happening in banned books. In the article, "Banned and Challenged Books", it says that should be aware what their children are reading. If they are reading books like these they can make different suggestions".  I agree with this whole sentence. Instead of taking away a book why can't you just have different alternatives for your child. In my inquiry book, "Crank" there are lots of issues and imp sure that some parents would want to tale that book away from the child. They can also sit down and talk to their child. Why take away the book and also take away the meaning of the book, when there are many other alternatives.

                There are many teens that face the same issue as the characters in the banned books. Also, many books that young teens love to read over and over again are being banned, such as, "The kite Runner", "The perks of being a wallflower" and many other favorites.  Wouldn't you be mad if that book was gone from your school library shelf.  In the article," annenbergclassroom"  it says that "If you're going to put books about sex and drugs in middle or elementary schools, of course you're going to get people wanting the books banned. Maybe we should be teaching our kids and teenagers how to think for themselves, and not let things like books influence their way of thinking". I also agree with this because I feel like a middle school child is mature enough to make their own decisions, and think for themselves.

                There are many teens that face the same issues that characters face in banned books. I think reading books in these issues will be really helpful to young readers and teens. I say this because in books they can teach you very important life lessons. They will teach you many life lessons. Banning books will also take away the meaning of books. Also, other parents that want to ban books don't realize that kids love these books and get life lessons out of these kinds of books.

               

The Very Hungry Catipillar

The book the very hungry caterpillar was the best book as a child. I would read it where ever i went. I read in long car rides or in school, or even before i went to bed. I probablly read it thousands of times. Also it was a great way of getting me to eat. When the very hungry catipillar eats i start to eat. Thats just how it worked.
That book was like my best friend. That was what i read when i coudnt play the game cube. When i didnt know how to read at the time my families used to read it to me and i enjoyed it every single time. None of my siblings liked that book, i was the only one.
My favorite part of the book was when the catipillar ate the different kinds of food.

• apple
• 2 pears
• 3 plums
• 4 strawberries
• 5 oranges
• 1 piece of chocolate cake
• 1 ice cream cone
• 1 pickle
• 1 slice of Swiss cheese
• 1 slice of salami
• 1 lollipop
• 1 piece of cherry pie
• 1 sausage
• 1 cupcake

1 slice of watermelon
1 green leaf
I just loved flipping through the pages and seeing all the kinds of food he ate.Then in the end he became in to a very large butterfly. Sometimes i didnt even read the book i woluld just look at the pictures.

Childhood memories

When i was a child i remember always getting introuble. Either for pulling an awesome prank on my sister or fighting with my siblings. I remeber when i was in my old house we had a basketball hoop in the back of our house. Me and my cousins and aunts used to play there. It always used to be boys versus girls. I always remebered girls used to win because there were five of them while there were only me and my cousin.
I also remember that i had the game cube.The game cube was the most important thing in the house to me. Every time i used to run home and go straight to my room to play it. The best games on that was Mario kart and super smash bros.
That house was was big and had like four families. Also, the house across the street was my cousins. I could've slept over any time i wanted to. I mostly went there because they had the ps2. Now having the ps3, the game cube and the ps2 are very old and boring.
I think the best part of living in the house is getting our bikes out from the basement and riding them up and down the block. We had a stop sign and sometimes we would pretend that the person with the stop sign is the crossing guard. We used to play outside day and night.
Once, there was a blackout and we went outside and played hide and seek in the dark tag. We had little candles so we could see where we were going.
I wish i could just go back to that house. I had the best memories there.

Argguement Essay

          Reading is some peoples life activities.People love reading especially young adults and teens. Banning books is basically taking away there reading life. Yah, some books are inappropriate for non-mature readers but books like those show great life lesson of what not to do in the real world. A great example for this is the book"Crank", by Ellen Hopkins. The great life lesson in this book is not falling into peer pressure. Peer pressure is an issue for many people that are in middle school. That is why book like these should say in middle school libraries. Maybe not 6th and 7th graders but  mature readers, such as, 8th graders.

           Banned books are most of the time based in life lessons. Teens are going to learn about this situation someday in life so why not learn it in the 8th grade. Also, nowadays censoring books will make kids want to read these books even more. Kids will be getting more interested in these books. Why not just let kids learn about this topic as eighth graders. Mature audiences wont do these things in real life. That is why I say not to let 7th and down not to read these types of books. Because just imagine 6th graders learn about the use of drugs. In the book "Crank", it shows that you shouldn't do drugs because the character in the book falls into many horrible situations. Books like this helps them learn. Some parent don't have the time to sit and talk with these issues in life. Somehow these books  also help parents. Also sometimes its also awkward to sit down with your parent and talk about these issues so reading books that have to do with these issues can help them learn not to do these stuff in the real world.

           Many adults are banning these books but they don't realize that many kids are already aware of these types of stuff. Not only 8th graders but many 6th graders as well. Banning these books just wont make a difference. They will only make kids want to read these books even more. Also if parents have a different alternative about there kids reading books . But taking away books from many middle schools isn't fine. Why cant parents just talk to there kids. Why do people have to take away books that people love away? Also wouldn't it be great to let the kids find out what there are things to face in life. A great way of learning about life and what you have to face is in some of the great books people are banning.

         Also, in many books that middle school children read there are many issues that kids there age face. And it shows where they would go in life. After reading a book like that it shows the reader they wouldnt want to be that person. They will then learn how to face these issues in real life. It would show the reader not tol follow the characters footsteps because they are falling into horrible issues. So, banning these kinds of book will take away great life lessons to the readers and take away the
book itself. This is why i think it is not okay to ban books that face these types of issues.

          Banning books can really take away the meaning of the book. Parents might think that there children shouldn't read these books cause they show really bad examples to the reader but they don't, the book teaches the reader. Also. some parents don't think of the other kids that love these books an depend on the meanings of these books.

Monday Muses

Thamina
Mymuna
Atiya
Muhtasim
The four cousins
Never Apart
Just by a year
Our birthdays appear
One of them is a sister
The other two are almost
As close.
We played and hung out
Almost everyday
It became what I would
Call the most important
Part of a day.
We grew up together
In the same household
We played on the See-Saw.
That See-Saw went up and down
Two on each side,
We were perfect.
Childhood with the cousins
Was the best.

Reading response Theme

               The theme in the book "Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R Tolkien is that Frodo relies  on the wisdom and knowledge his protectors. For example, Gandalf is one of the examples Frodo relies on.
Gandalf is so much more powerful than them so they rely on the most powerful person that can protect them. Gandalf is going on this quest with Frodo. Gandalf's job is to protect and guide Frodo through his journey. Gandalf is helpful in the journey because he says important information. For example, he says that if the ring is worn too frequently the person who is wearing the ring will be subsumed into the spirit world. Without Gandalf Frodo couldn't succeed anything. He needed somebody more powerful and someone that can guide him and protect him throughout the journey. Also, later in the books they have to defeat Sarouman and you need Gandalf for that because nobodies more powerful than him. Tom Bombadil is another one of Frodo's supporters to help him with his journey. Bombadil is  wise and powerful. Frodo needs all the help he can get. He as to rely on wisdom and knowledge. And obviously Tom and Gandalf are to great examples of that. He also need both tom and Gandalf because Frodo has a tough decision if to wear or not wear the ring.

Sunday September 29, 2013

                         In this amazing book, "The Hobbit"  by J.R.R Tolkien. The main character or protagonist in this book is Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. The hobbit is a half sized human that lives in  a hole. Not a dirty hole with nothing in it, its a nice and neat hole . Bilbo also loves to smoke pipe, and he only eats simple food. Bilbo doesn't like messes when the thirteen dwarf's.


                           In the beginning of the book, thirteen dwarfs and a wizard knocks on the hobbits door."I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone"- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Ch. 1.Gandalf wants to invite Bilbo on a quest. Bilbo declines and then Gandalf and the thirteen dwarf's appear the next day and they ask him again. The thirteen dwarf's and Gandalf has a feast. Gandalf thinks the hobbit can be used to reclaim the treasure that the smaug dragon had stolen from the dwarf's.  Bilbo and the band of fourteen {Gandalf and the dwarfs} travel there way through the hobbit lands to the mirkwood. On there adventure Bilbo encounters trolls, bad weather, goblins and hunger. "Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them."- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Ch. 2. When Bilbo regains consciousness he finds himself in a tunnel. "He guessed as well as he could, and crawled along for a good way, till suddenly his hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel"- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Ch. 5. Bilbo then faces a Gollum. A slimy  creature that eats goblins. When the Gollum found out that Bilbo had the ring, Gollum's favorite possession.  When the hobbit has a chance to kill the  Gollum he turns invisible with the powers of the ring and escapes.

                           In the middle of the book, the hobbit realizes that he has to rescue his friends but found out that they had also escaped. They then race out of the mountains. They are chased by wargs. Big beastly wolves chase all the dwarf's up into the trees. Gandalf then scares the wargs away. Bilbo and the dwarf's cross the enchanted lake through the forest. Bilbo rescues Bombur one of the thirteen dwarf's. Bilbo is captured by spiders but then gets free with the sword he got from the trolls.  After all thirteen dwarf's are captured and thrown into the dungeon. They then escape because of the hobbit. With the powers of his ring he turned invisible and escaped.

                           At the end of the book, they had to encounter the antagonist, the smaug dragon. The hobbit and the thirteen dwarf's see the Smaug dragon sitting on the treasure that he had stole from the dwarf's. Since Gandalf wasn't there the hobbit was like the leader in the group. Bilbo enters the lair and steals the Arkenstone, the precious gem. The smaug dragon then comes out of his lair and destroys the town. Then this fierce archer from the town archers Smaug with a spear and the dragon dies. The battle of five armies - Elves, goblins, and men. Bilbo is then taken to see Thorin who was dying. He is buried in the grave with the Arkenstone.
                      
                             Bilbo is returned at home known as a fierce warrior.  He finds that his home is being auctioned but recovers most of his possessions.
                   

         In this book titled, "Nicholas Dane" by Melvin Burgess is about a 14 year old going through lots of trouble. His mother died and he went straight to a boys homing school. He needs to run away.
     
        Nick is having lots of trouble. His mother dies so suddenly and unexpectedly. She dies by a drug overdose. He's a fourteen year old boy that is going through pain. Since nobody could take care of him he was sent to a boys homing school. In that homing school he was in more trouble. The boys there were beating him up and the owner Mr. Creal doesn't care and does nothing to stop it. All the boys are twisted and don't know anything but violence and drugs. After Nick's mom died he didn't even go to school. He is getting forced to go to school. Home schooled. Its bad enough he had tough times with his family and now he is getting forced to go to school and getting beat up every single day. He only could think of one solution, to run away. He now has to live in the streets while having nowhere to go for shelter. He runs into this other boy who is a bad influence. This boy fences stolen credit cards and car radios. He is stuck and he thinks life cant get any worse.

          This book shows how a teen age boy could go through in life. I really enjoyed this book because of what the author wrote this book. All in all, when i started the book I couldn't put it down. I read this book 3 times. all 3 times the book was amazing, I never got bored of it. This book shows a focus on drugs and child abuse and how some children were treated in the 1980's in united kingdom. the boys homing centers there were terrible. If I was in Nicks shoes i wouldn't know what to do. I think i would also run away if i was getting beat up everyday.

         Over all, if I had to give this book a rating form 1 to 5, I would give it 5 stars. I would recommend this book to young boys. One of my best books!