Response to Children's Literature

The Giver is write in the perspective of Jonas, an eleven year old boy who lives in what seems to be  utopian society in the future. There is no pain, no fear, no hatred or prejudice. The society seems actually very creepy to me because everyone acts, talks, dresses and interacts the same. There is very little differentiation between individuals and there is no real freedom to make individual choices. It seems as if every member of the community is being controlled. Even jobs, spouses/ families and lifestyles are dictated by the society they live in, not the individual themselves. Jonas is going to be given his job assignment in what is called a ceremony of twelve. Because he has certain powers that others don't he is given the job of The Receiver. In this job he keeps the memories of sadness, anger, madness, pain or any other emotion the people in the community might remember. Overall, I thought the ideas in The Giver were really creative and imaginative. I was trying to think

The second half of Wonder continues to introduce new characters and perspectives. I really enjoyed this book and the story of Auggie. I think this book touches on many different key lessons, ideas and themes. The theme I htink is most prevelant in this story is the theme of perserverance. Also key in this story is friendship, love and growth. August shows extreme perseverance through many aspects and point in his life. He is faced automatically with hardships as he is born with facial abnormalities. He faces bullying, taunting, bad/ mean looks and the fear that he is never going to be a normal kid, like everyone else. While he has the help of his family and friend Auggie's shows that he is tough and resilient in the face of hardships and challenges.  Wonder also hints at themes of love, friendship, courage, and growth. Growth in particular is something I think Auggie personally exhibits a lot as the book goes on. He starts the book as a sheltered young kid who is being fa

I have really enjoyed the first half of Wonder so far. I think the story includes a great message and is an honest story about what life is like for many kids. August Pullman is a young boy who was born with physical deformities stemming from a genetic mutation. He often feels different and not “normal”. The first half of this book focuses on how August is going to school for the first time in his life, as he had been home-schooled in the past. There is an argument over whether or not August should even be going to school because his parents have tried to shelter and protect him from other people. When they decide to send him to school August is extremely nervous and hopes that the other students will treat him like every other student at school. The book is told in first-person with different parts of the book focusing on different characters in the story. The different points of view include Via, Jack, Charlotte and Summer. Via, Augusts’ sister, expresses in her section of

The second half of this book, in my opinion, is much better and different than the second half. I think Holling develops a much better relationship and understanding of Mrs. baker throughout the last half of the book. Also, Holling starts to grow as an individual as he realizes he can not count on the support of his family. Holling's dad, Mr. Hoodhood, plays an important role in the story because his position as an architect often intersects with Hollings life. initally, in the beginning of the book, it affected the way he intereacted with Mrs. baker and now it affects his realtionship with Meryl Lee. Both of their fathers are architects in the community, working for the same job. Holling gives informaation to Meryl Lee about his dads plans before their big presentation, which casues conflict between him and his dad. Also, Mr. Hoodhood misses the big baseball game and when Heather runs away from home Holling has to go get her without the help of his parents. Holling shows a lot of

Holling Hoodhood starts out seventh grade thinking his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him. He is the only Presbyterian in the classroom and he feels like he is being singled out for this reason. He is stuck in the classroom on Wednesday afternoons doing meaningless chores, like cleaning erasers and wiping down blackboards. Mrs. Baker has him start reading Shakespeare, "The Tempest", and he actually becomes pretty interested in it. But he still thinks Mrs. Barker is out to get him.  From the first day of school Holling thought Mrs. Baker was trying to punish him and resented him. He assumed there was going to be a year-long war between the two of them. He often seems paranoid about her motives and her reasoning for doing things and assumes she is trying to hurt him. I don't understand Holling's approach or behavior towards Mrs. Baker. I think he may feel stuck in the situation and as if he cannot let his family down because Mrs. Baker's family business may h

Now that I have finished Hatchet I think the first half of the book is more about Brian's initial challenges and coming to terms with the situation. Whereas the second half of the book is more about Brian's actual fight for survival. Brian finds strengths within himself he had no idea about. He makes weapons and tools like a spear for fishing, as well as a shelter to keep him safe. Brian was attacked by a moose as well as faced a tornado. Although he was injured and exhausted he continued on. I think Brian showed a lot of determination and persistence throughout all of his ordeals. Also, while undoubtedly toughened up by his ordeals Brian still shows sadness, grief and terror about the plane crash. When he first sees the plane again he feels a rush of sadness come over him because of the pilot and when he goes over to the plane when trying to find the survival pack he worries about seeing the dead pilot underwater.  I think this showed he is still just a thirteen-year-old boy

I really enjoyed the first half of Hatchet. I think it is an engaging story about survival and overcoming odds. The story is centered around a young boy named Brian Robeson. His parents had just recently gotten divorced and he is heading to the Canadian wilderness to spend time with his dad for the summer. Before he leaves for Canada his mom gives him a gift, a hatchet. While flying Brian notices the pilot of their small plane begins to have a heart attack. The pilot is no longer in control of the plane and Brian must take over to try and land safely. He was able to crash land the plane in water, however, now he is stuck in the wilderness, alone, with only a hatchet. I thought this was where the real story began and the reader could tell this was going to be a trying and hard journey for Brian. After the plane crash Brian's first actions were to crawl out of the water and he slept until the next day, exhausted and hurting from what just happened. That next day he realize