Jeffrey

Jeffrey Armstrong Book review

**__ "The Giver" __**

Lois Lowry calls this book __“The Giver"__. It is a fictional story about a young boy named Jonas. He learns that at one time life may be simple, but it never stays that way. Feelings and memories I guess aren't as good as I thought after all.

The book told an amazing story. I could relate to it well. I would say that this is a five star book. The plot seemed very believable. The story almost seemed real but run differently. I concentrated the best I could on this book, and it payed off. I understood it well. My mind did wander a bit but that's just me. The story did not say when and where it took place, which makes it more exciting because it keeps your mind wondering what will happen next in this unknown world? Although there isn't really a setting, I believe that the characters fit right into this story. They went along with the storyline professionally. Jonas lived in a world where almost everything was perfect for him. However, once he met "The Giver", he showed Jonas the real meaning of his new role. "The Giver" gave him memories, some were bright and upbeat, and others, not so bright. There was once a memory of sledding down a snowy hill. It was fun and delightful for Jonas. Although, "The Giver" gave him that same memory again but this time it was full of pain. This time he fell off the sled and sliced his leg open. Blood was everywhere. "The Giver" had the power to give very powerful memories. The book taught me that life is not always going to be full of happiness and glee. Just like Jonas learned in this book. Jonas accomplished his role as the receiver and "The Giver" accomplished his role as "The Giver". "The Giver" gave Jonas the right memories to be ready for his next assignment.

The characters were very bonding with each other and with the reader. I felt that I could easily relate to Jonas as he and I are alike. Jonas developed more than anybody in the story. He was once an eleven year old who did not think that life had many problems, but when the book ends he is an informed twelve year old who is the new receiver of memories. There were lots of surprises. When Jonas's father released (killed) the smaller of the two infants, it definitely surprised me. I was overly impressed with how the author ended the chapters. She ended them with a quote that left me hanging on the edge of my seat. One time, in the ceremony when Jonas was going to turn twelve, the announcer skipped him and the chapter ended with the quote,”//What had he done wrong?”.// The dialogue was pin-point perfect. I almost felt like the third person in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Lois Lowry has really caught my attention when I read her books. The storyline was exciting and I knew when I started reading that I had picked the right book. I would suggest it to anyone who likes a good story in their hands. I think this book is for ages eight and above. “Back and back and back” is one of my favorite quotes because it refers to the family line and how their ancestors had done similar things. Another outstanding book by Lois Lowry is Gossamer. It has the same idea except its more of a fantasy with a fictional twist. Lois Lowry is famous for writing many famous books. If you want to read a good book, read "The Giver". []Click above to buy the book...  Jeffrey Armstrong Book Review

**__ “The Wave” __**

 “__The Wave”__ is a non-fictional book written by Todd Strasser. It is about a huge change in the way Gordon High is run. Soon after, the experiment goes way too far. “Strength Through Discipline, Strength Through Community, Strength Through Action, Strength Through Book Reviews!”

 The book tells an extremely good story about a High School in danger of being taken over by what the history teacher, Ben Ross, calls __“The Wave.”__ “__The Wave”__ is a change in how the history class is run. All students are equal, no one is better than the other. Also, they go by these three mottos, “Strength Through Discipline, Strength Through Community, Strength Through Action.” The Plot itself is developed. It was easy to concentrate on the book, my mind did not wander at all. __“The Wave”__ really kept me on the edge of my seat. The story takes place in 1969, in Palo Alto, California. The setting isn't mentioned much, but the year 1969 makes it more interesting. The Characters in the story do not really rely on the setting since it is mentioned maybe once. However, Palo Alto seems to be a good setting for this story to have taken place.

 The problem in __“The Wave”__ is “__The Wave”__ itself. It changes the way things are run in Gordon High. The problem of __“The Wave”__ is nobody has a say in anything. Since everyone is equal, no one can think for themselves anymore. The two main Characters are Laurie Saunders, and David Collins. They were both in Ben Ross's history class when he started __“The Wave.”__ The day before, Ben had showed the class a rather disturbing video of the Holocaust and what Adolf Hitler had done to the Jewish people. At the end of the story, Ben Ross convinces the whole High School that other High Schools have been using “__The Wave”__ also, and he claims that there is a leader of __“The Wave.”__ So he has them all meet in the gym and shows them a picture of Adolf Hitler. He is the leader of __“The Wave.”__ Taught me that __“The Wave”__ was just like how the Nazis conducted themselves. I do believe that Todd Strasser accomplished a good book and taught a good moral.

 The characters most definitely connected with the reader (me). I could relate to David a little bit. He was almost always trying to go with the flow but to a certain limit. I am the same way. I think that Ben Ross changed as a person. People thought he was one big hero for creating __“The Wave”__, but he was a hero for a different reason. He was a hero for showing them what was wrong with __“The Wave.”__ I was surprised when a picture of Adolf Hitler appeared on the screen for the leader of __“The Wave.”__ That was a surprise that kept me into it. Some of the paragraphs ended with cliffhangers, such as Chapter seventeen, at the end, Robert Billings, the school loser, comes up to Ben Ross, crying. The final quote is: “Why don't we go get a bite to eat? There are some things I think we should talk about.” That quote makes me want to go with them and see what they are talking about. I think all the dialogue is natural, since the book is non-fictional. Overall, The Wave is definitely worth five stars *. I liked the book because the author kept me into it with almost every page. Todd Strasser, job well done!

[]Click above to buy the book... 1st Trimester Book Review Jeffrey Armstrong  7Y __1984__  By George Orwell

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> George Orwell calls this book <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__1984__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and political fiction is its genre. Mind control and constant government surveillance over the people of Oceania is the overall theme of the book. “War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__1984__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> story is very hard to obtain. The story itself was kind of creepy and odd. It definitely got my attention. The main character, Winston Smith, fought the idea of the revolution taking over every one's lives, until the end. While I questioned if this type of thing could actually happen, it is somewhat believable. Taking place in the country of Oceania, the year was 1984. Oceania used to be London but is now a barren city in constant war with Eastasia and Eurasia. Normally when one country is fighting the other, they are in alliance with another. The setting depicts the depressing world of Oceania. It is bullet and bomb riddled, and everyone is constantly being watched. Whether it is in their homes with a telescreen or a helicopter spying on them. They are all being watched and watching each other. The government wants total control over them and for them to submit everything.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The book made me realize how thankful I really am for my freedom. I can’t imagine living in a world like that. I think that George Orwell’s intention of this book might have been over-estimated. The book scarred me a little. Just thinking about how horrible it would be living like that. However, as I looked at it more carefully, I saw that if you were to be living in this kind of world, you would have very little hope for your future. The characters were mostly depressed and hopeless. Except for Julia, who tried to make the best of her life and situation. It took a little while for Winston and Julia to connect. That is because people are very suspicious of one another. You can’t trust anybody, and when you do, they turn on you. Just like the shop owner who turned in Winston and Julia. There were lots of surprises in the story, like the time when Winston was tortured to submit fully to big brother. It was surprising that he finally did commit.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Overall, the book was good, I would give it 4 stars. The story was hard to catch on to at first, but as I read on, the story became more interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in politics or government. George Orwell, good book, and great story.

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[|__here__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to buy the book.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2nd Trimester Book Review Jeffrey Armstrong <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 7Y

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 36pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">__The Outsiders__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By S.E. Hinton

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">S.E. Hinton calls this book <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__The Outsiders__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. This book is about the constant struggle between two opposing gangs, and a young boy’s journey, to make things right. It is a fictitious adventure and a thrilling ride. “Hold on to your horses Ponyboy, we are just getting started.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">This book was a very cool experience to read. There were many parts of the story that made me really think of what it would be like if I were in that situation. Such as the time when the church caught on fire, and Johnny got seriously injured. That part of the book almost made me cry. The story was great in how the boys were in a bad area, and did bad things. Ponyboy really emerged from that to become on of the main heroes of the story. The book does not say where and when it takes place, it is said to be estimated to be somewhere in the 1960’s. It is also in a city, but not any city in particular.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The conflict of the story is entertaining. Two gangs that constantly fight and bicker over the littlest of things. Ponyboy also had a conflict with Darry, his older brother. Although in the end, Ponyboy and Darry work things out, and act as good brothers to each other. Johnny had issues with his parents, they didn’t really care for him and Johnny did not care for them either. The book taught me a lot, it humbled me. It made me realize how important family and friends are. Ponyboy changed a lot throughout the story, he realized how much he needed Johnny and Dally after they died in the end. I can definitely Identify with Ponyboy, we are about the same age, and we both are different and set ourselves apart from the crowd.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I really liked this book. It kept me into it, and my mind didn’t wonder at all. The Curtis family really seemed to be in trouble in the beginning of the book. But the church burning down really made Darry come to his senses and to be the big brother he was meant to be. I think that he also bonded with Johnny pretty well afterwards, until he unfortunately died. He fought his heart out in the battle between the Greasers and the Socs at the end. I would definitely rate this book Five Stars (*) for its amazing story! This is definitely a work of art by S.E. Hinton.



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<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeffrey Armstrong Book Review <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 48pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__Night__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elie Wiesel calls his very moving book <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__Night__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__Night__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a Non-Fictional book, reflects back on all of the hardships that millions of people experienced during the Holocaust. It is about ayoung boy named Elie, who is living with his family, and gets transferred to Auschwitz, where he sees death in its crudest form. "'The yellow star? Oh well, what of it? You don't die of it.” At least there can be some words of encouragement during the Holocaust.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story was extremely moving to me. I never realized how important family and friends are to you, until you don’t have any left. This book also painted a very vivid picture in my mind, of what it was like to be beaten, and treated like animals. My mind did not wander at all, I really payed good attention to this book. The book takes place in 1941-1945, near the end of WWII. Elie is twelve years old, and living in a small town called Sighet, in Transylvania. These facts make the story very convincing, and they gave me a better understanding of what Elie was going through. In Sighet, there is a mystic, by the name of Moshe the Beadle. He warns the town of a quickly moving German Army that is approaching the town very fast. Unfortunately, no one really listens to him, and mostly everyone forgets about it. However, in 1944, the German army does come tot the town of Sighet, and set up ghettos. Everyone is terrified. After a while, they end up getting transported to Auschwitz, the largest of the concentration camps. This really taught me how important your family really is to you.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The characters really connected with each other very well. Especially how every one of them didn’t give up hope until the last breath. This helped each of the characters grow in a special way! Elie also learned how important family is, until you have none. One of the most interesting parts of the book was when Elie was in the Hospital and he looked in the mirror and saw a corpse. That part really touched me on how the Holocaust will not only change you, but change everyone around you. Although this book was very good, there were some parts that surprised me. Such as the part when SS Soldiers were throwing infants into fire. I was also surprised at the part when a boy killed his father for a morsel of bread. Overall, I would definitely give this book five stars *****. I really learned a lot while reading this and was moved very much by it. Job well done Elie Wiesel!



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