Mikaela

 Sarah's Key, Third Trimester Book Review The Holocaust was a dark and scary time, full of mysteries and secrets. This book, “Sarah’s Key,” by Tatiana De Rosnay, delves deep into a family secret that goes all the way back to July 16th, 1942 as the Nazi's were occupying Paris, France. This book enables the reader to experience the horror of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young girl living through the nightmare and a journalist researching it.  Tatiana De Rosnay weaves an incredible tale about one young girl, Sarah, living in Nazi occupied France in 1942. Her courage to survive and save her brothers life is both heart wrenching and inspirational. This story intertwines with a present day journalist, Julia Jarmond, who in a twist of fate, determines that Sarah and her family previously occupied the apartment where Julia’s great grandmother previously resided. I think the main theme of this book is curiosity and perseverance. With the lack of curiosity, Julia would have never had the motive to go out and start finding the clues and information to start placing this mystery together. Julia’s family members told her to give up, citing the past should not be reflected upon. In this book, Julia not only discovers more about Sarah and the holocaust, but she discovers herself.

This book was absolutely incredible. I must say that in the beginning, I was utterly confused and had no idea what was going on. It was not until the middle of the book where I was completely hooked. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the holocaust and how it tears a family apart, but brings together one as well. I admit, this book left me in tears, but it was definitely worth it. I would rate it a ten out of ten and I am devastated that it is over.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhdUQCqVdrw/TKpu58ZL3GI/AAAAAAAAAHo/K9jVlDWABv4/s1600/sarahs%2Bkey.jpg&imgrefurl=http://exclusivebooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/sarahs-key.html&usg=__3XucZ-A6EtUG0xS-fZ-D3ObJiyU=&h=500&w=323&sz=42&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=j5UJguPmlOjwGM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=94&ei=FWzQTbO9GOTY0QGJgM3yDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsarah%2527s%2Bkey%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1152%26bih%3D591%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=236&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=52&ty=62 http://www.amazon.com/Sarahs-Key-Tatiana-Rosnay/dp/0312370830 < buy this wonderful book!


 * The Outsiders, Second Trimester Book Review**

Gangs, a four letter word that has a whole lot of meaning. When someone says the word gangs to me, I think of blood, violence, guns and killing. I guess that’s what comes to mind when most people hear the word gangs, too. Until I read //The Outsiders,// by S.E. Hinton, those four things, blood, violence, guns and killing were all I thought gangs were about. It wasn’t until after I completed this book that I realized, theirs much more to this word then people assume.

//The Outsiders//  wasn’t just a book, it was a story. In my mind, there is a huge difference between a book and a story. A book is just a simple, self explanatory piece of writing, when a story, is a journey, has life lessons and takes your mind on a trip. I admit, when I first heard the back of this book, I said to myself, “wow this seems stupid, and a pointless waste of time.” Was I wrong! Each page had a new adventure, each sentence and a different journey, and every word took my mind on a trip.

I think my favorite part of this whole book, wasn’t something a character said or did, but was the significant growth you would legitimately notice in each one of the characters. In the beginning of this book, Darry and Ponyboy didn’t have a very good relationship. Darry always favored Sodapop, the middle brother. It’s understandable why, based on the fact he was the good one and got into little amounts of trouble, but Ponyboy always pondered why he wasn’t loved as much. The three brother’s parents passed away, so Darry took charge. He was always very tough. By the end of the book, they all came together as one family.

This book has opened my eyes to a different side of gangs. Yes, I know that rival gangs like the “Socs” and “Greasers” are bad. No doubt about it, but I realized, they don’t have a legit reason to be actually mad. The two opposing gangs just don’t understand each others lifestyles. When an individual person, or a group of people, are doing something unfamiliar to what they are used to, they consider it weird. The Socs thought it was weird that the Greasers had long hair and the Greasers thought it was weird The Socs drove fancy cars. For example, in America we are used to electronics, in somewhere not as developed like some places in Africa, it’s normal not to have electronics.

In conclusion, I am so glad I ended up picking this book. I would rate it a five out of five stars. I can’t wait to find out our book choices for next marking period to see what could top this!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-S-Hinton/dp/014038572X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297726798&sr=8-1<--- BUY IT! http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IMNpEfPssNk/TTd6DJAIEgI/AAAAAAAAAAk/cBoayWXJ7tY/s1600/The+Outsiders+Book+Cover.jpg


 * My Sisters Keeper, Jodi Picoult, First Trimester Book Review**

When I think of cancer, I think; shots, needles, hospitals, doctors, surgery and most importantly, death. I’m sure anyone thinks of the worst possible scenario when they hear the word cancer, because so many people have passed away from this horrible disease. “My Sisters Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult really opened my eyes to cancer on a whole new level. Most people predict that this book is just about a girl with cancer and her little sister seeks to help her. That is partially correct, but once I delved into this book, I realized there was so much more to learn.

“My Sisters Keeper” becomes an emotional journey about strength, courage and the bonds that can both bind and pull a family apart. In this book, Anna Fitzgerald seeks medical emancipation from her parents, Sara and Brian. Sara and Brian genetically engineered a child (Anna) after finding out their eldest daughter, Kate (at age two at the time,) was diagnosed with leukemia. In Anna’s short thirteen years of living, she has put up with treatments and surgeries since the day she was born. Now, they want her to donate a kidney in an effort to save Kate. Anna declines this offer considering there are many side effects involved that could not only effect her, but kill her during the operation. The Fitzgerald's also have a middle child, Jesse, who rebels to get attention. The parents don’t pay attention to Jesse because they have Anna, who’s involved in the lawsuit, and Kate, who’s sick.

This book taught me so much. It taught me to stand up for what I believe in, even if I'm standing alone. It taught me to be brave, and never back down. It taught how family is so important and to spend every opportunity I get with them, because they could be gone at any second. I had a whirlwind mix of emotions while reading this book. At some points I was crying so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. At other times, I was laughing because of old memories they used to have. There was parts I was at the edge of my seat to find out what was going to happen next with Jesse. The one emotion that kept coming back though, was a big smile on my face. This was probably the best book I've ever read. Not just because it was a good read, because it taught me amazing lessons.

In conclusion, this book didn’t end how I thought it would. When I first started this book, I said to myself, “Kate is going to die, I might as well save me my tears, and breath now and just close the book,” but you know what? I am so glad I read this book, it made me a stronger person mentally and emotionally. I’m dreading reading my next trimester book, because I don’t think anything can get better then this.

http://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Keeper-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0743454529 <--- BUY IT HERE!! http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://imlivinginadream.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/mysisterskeeper.jpg&imgrefurl=http://imlivinginadream.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/my-sisters-keeper/&usg=__RKecMmFhMHDCKZJOMskUKd5-5Po=&h=475&w=314&sz=27&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=4iyXpcQBTMn8QM:&tbnh=161&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmy%2Bsister%2527s%2Bkeeper%2Bbook%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D601%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=751&ei=3tjZTOq1G4GB8gbZ_e2PCQ&oei=3tjZTOq1G4GB8gbZ_e2PCQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=8&ty=75

** A Child Called IT, David Peltzer, Summer Reading **

 Did you know that over 30,000 cases of Child Abuse and neglect are reported every year? Honestly I never appreciated the extent to which Child Abuse occurred until I read "A Child Called It." The author and survivor lives today to tell the story of his brutal beatings and his abusive mothers "games" which left him without food and nearly dead. David Peltzer tells his unbelievable story so detailed, so vivid that it left me in tears.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> In David’s emotional story, he uses such strong imagery that you could feel like you were in his skin. You could feel your head smashing against a mirror or your body covered in blood. I felt like I was experiencing his pain, loneliness, desperation and suffering. The author, David Peltzer, kept me at the end of my seat after every word. I was hooked after the first sentence. I couldn't put this book down!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> This book taught me a lot. I realized that I should be much more grateful for two wonderful parents that love, support and care for me. I learned that I shouldn't take necessities for granted such as food, water, a roof over my head and a hot meal because some people don't have that. I admire David Peltzer for his courage and strength. I look up to him as he is still standing strong today after many painful years of abuse and neglect. I know I would never be able to be as strong as him. David has been through so much and after everything; he supports our Country in the United States Air Force.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> In conclusion, I have gained emotional insight to the struggles that victims of child abuse endure. I recommend this book for only ages 13 and up as it is heart wrenching and disturbing. It does, however allow the reader to dig deep into their psyche and I feel that I have been made stronger by reading this book.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"> **The Wave, Todd Strasser, Summer Reading**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">For my book review, I completed the book, “The Wave,” by Todd Strasser. The story, based on a true event, took place in a 1969 High School. The Wave started out as a classroom experiment introduced by Senior High School Teacher, Ben Ross. The class started learning about The Nazis and Adolf Hitler. Mr. Ross was a young, hip teacher who was always known for having out of the box classroom experiments. Little did he know this “classroom experiment” would take a turn for the worse.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">Like any teacher, Mr. Ross wanted his students to learn and pay attention, so he decided to do it in an interesting way. The Wave was a metaphor for a cult-like group reflecting what life was like when The Nazis and Adolf Hitler took over Germany. Mr. Ross took the role of Adolf Hitler, and was the “leader” of The Wave. His students took this experiment very seriously. Friendships were broken, fights were started, and the whole school erupted in chaos if you weren’t part of The Wave. People were so affected by The Wave that Mr. Ross was assigned a body guard so nothing would happen to him. Instead of Pep Rallies they had Wave Rallies to induct new members. Membership cards were given to indicate you were part of this group.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">This book taught me a lot about peer pressure and standing up for what you believe in. In taught me about peer pressure because a lot of student were pressured into joining The Wave and if you weren’t in The Wave you couldn’t be friends with people that were in it. This book also taught me for standing up for what you believe in even if you’re standing alone. I would recommend this book from ages 11 and up because it could be confusing if you don’t know the background information about Adolf Hitler and The Nazis. This story was so interesting it left me at the end of my seat after every sentence. I would have never read this book if It wasn’t required for summer reading, but I am so glad I did.