Blog Post #12: Blog Review

I read many blog posts this week and once I read Josephine's blog post I knew this was the blog post I am going to write about. Josephine's Blog Post about Hatchet really made me want to read it. It started out very strong and made me want to keep on reading.
Josephine's post made me really want to read the book because of how she written the post. First she told us a little retell on the book, and she gave us a basic retell but didn't give too much away. And since the story is very interesting itself, it made me want to keep reading to find out more of the book, the issues in it, the hard things, and more about the characters. Also, this post makes me want to read the book Hatchet, because Josephine sort of...lets us into the characters emotions in the post. She tells us about the character Brian, and she also made connections between all the events that happened in the book, and it kind of strings everything along. It makes you want to grab onto that line and read till' you reach the very end to see what happens.

In the post Josephine says that the book gave a message from the experience Brian went through when he was trying to land the plane. She made a connection between what happened in that situation and the real world, and she said, "No matter what the trouble or crisis, all we have to do is to be determined and optimistic in order to reach our goal." I think this was a really strong message because it makes you think about believing in yourself and trusting your instincts. It also makes me think about self esteem. I also like this book because, in a way, I can relate to it. I also have doubt in myself a lot, and this post makes me think if I should just listen to myself sometimes.

This post is very engaging. When you read the first few lines it keeps you reading even more, it's like when you're watching a horror movie and there's a noice that comes out of nowhere, you want to keep watching, to figure out what happened. This post keeps you engaged because of the way it is written. In the post, Josephine gives you a little retell on the book to let you see if this is your type of read or not, then she starts introducing what she is writing about, in a straight forward way. And since I'm a teen, we kinda like things that are just told to us without any discussion. Also, she quotes the book a lot and explains her thoughts after every quote, so you kind of get a sense of how the book is written, what words are used. And she also uses very inteligent language in her post too!

What I would take away from reading this post is how it is written. I want people to read my posts and leave good comments for them, so I want to use the language Josephine used to pull readers in. Also, I want to start using different formats for the way my posts are written because I noticed most of my posts are written the same way. First retell, then opinion, then the message, and how it relates to the world. Maybe some people don't read it because it is to, "planned out," and I want the readers to be more interested so I want to make my posts more engaging. Another thing I would take away from her post would be, to add more quotes directly from the book. I don't seem to have a lot of quotes and I think I should be adding more of that to let readers get a feel of how the book is written, so my posts can encourage more people to read the book I am reading!

Blog Post #11: The Power of Six Book Review

I finally finished the book! My thoughts on this book was that it is amazing and had a great plotline. I don't want to give anything away but I think this book really keeps you thinking.

What I like about this book is that it makes you never want to stop and it sucks you in like a black hole. I would definetely recommend this book to any Hunger Games fans or Percy Jackson fans. This book has a lot of action and adventure in this book and you can picture it in your head, and it reminds me of a one of those action movies when you practically start to stand up and shout at the scream in the movie theaters because you are just begging for the movie to run faster so you can know what happens.

I also really like how this book is written. There are kind of two main characters, John, and Marina. Both of them are very important, so the author has to mention both of them, but the hard thing is that, the two characters don't really get involed with each other until the end of the book. So this leads me to the next thing I am going to talk about. I admire how the book is written. I like how the author uses different font to represent the two different characters. I also like how at the end of one part with one main character, it leaves you with a cliff hanger. So in a way, this book forces you to read more to find out what happens next. Like at the end of the book! It has a cliff hanger, showing that there is going to be another book. And from the last two books in this series, I can't wait to read more of this series!!!

Blog Post #10: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- Cross book inquiry

In the book The Power of Six, there are 3 main characters and one very important supporting character, John, Six, Sam, and Marina. Marina is a supporting character but she is a VERY important character in this story. I am comparing this book to the Hunger Games series. I think some of the characters are similar in many ways, and the plots are also similar.

The plot of The Power of Six is the Garde and Cepans running away from the Mogadorians and trying to win the war and return to Lorien. And the plot of The Hunger Games series, is for Katniss to win the games, but in the last book the Mockingjay, the plot is to take down the Capitol. I think these plots are similar because they are both trying to take someone or something down. In The Power of Six, all the Garde and Cepans are trying to take down the Mogadorians, and in the Mockingjay District 13, the rest of the districts, accept district 2 was trying to take the Capitol down.

I think John, is similar to the character Katniss in The Hunger Games. John and Katniss have many similar characteristics. For one thing, they do whatever they want, they cannot be told what to do. They demand they want something and argue until they get it, this doesn't have to be a bad thing though. One example of this for John, is when Six, Sam, and him went back to Paradise to find the transmitter so they can find more information about Sam's dad, but John wanted to see Sarah, so he argued with Sam until he would agree to cover for him. And for Katniss, one example of this is when she was going to make a deal about being the Mockingjay, she demanded some requests like for example hunting in the woods with Gale, and I thought this was a very good example, because she kept arguing with President Coin and stuck to her heart the whole time. They are both also very brave, John is willing to get himself killed just to get his chest back from the Mogs, and Katniss always denies the rules in District 13 and plays by her own rules.

Sam is like the character Gale in The Hunger Games. They both are sort of "the sidekick" of the main character. They are always on the main characters' side and are always loyal. One example of this is when Sam decided to go with John to the nut and help him find his chest instead of going to Spain with Six to find the other Garde. And Gale is always on Katniss's side no matter what, in fights with the districts, in times when Katniss feels like she doesn't have anyone else to lean on. They are loyal characters who are just like a dog, a friend that is ALWAYS by her side.

Six similar to the character Peeta from The Hunger Games. They both have their own minds and can't be told what to do...at least in the Mockingjay for Peeta. Peeta is brainwashed in the Mockingjay, so he isn't really Katniss's dog anymore. But Six is a REALLY independent girl, and she plays by her own rules. In a way, she is similar to Katniss, but Six can fight her own battles without any back up. She's been doing it for years! And Peeta is similar to Six because he has his own mind. It seems like he's gone mad in the Mockingjay, but he does have his own mind. He technically controlled by the Capitol, but that is because he can't find a way out.

Overall, the book The Power of Six, and The Mockingjay both have their similarites and differences, but they are both very good reads and have great plotlines, characters, and conflicts.

Blog Post #9: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- Conflict

In this book, I think the conflict is, being hunted down by the Mogadorians and trying to stay alive. All the Garde, Cepan, and...Sam, have to try to stay alive from being killed by The Mogadorians. This brings us a lot of problems in the book, and is basically the plot of the book. The Mogadorians are the only reason why this book is here because without the Garde and Cepan runnning away from The Mogs there will be no plot of conflict. Since John, Number Six, and Sam have to move around a lot, it makes it even harder knowing evil ailens are out to get them and kill them. The conflict changes all the characters.

So starting with John, the conflict changes him and the situation he's in changes him a lot as well. John lost is Cepan, therefore he has to train on his own, learn about Lorien on his own, and fight on his own. Since he's all alone now with just Sam and Six, it makes him stronger and more fearless. John gets all his training from Six because she has been without a Cepan since she was a young girl. So the only reason why he could possibly survive is Six, so I guess he does get help. I think after Henri died something good came out of it. He will learn how to fight by himself and be more independent. Out of Henri's death, John became a better person.

Number Six is a strong girl who is very independent and fearless. This situation she is in doesn't really change her. All that changed about her specific situation is that she as two friends by her side helping her. Six lost her Cepan, Katrina, when she was very young, and she has been alone ever since. I think now she has a time to not always be worried about the Mogs since she has John and Sam around so I think this situation she is in, actually makes her life easier.

When Sam got involved with John and Six, I think his life got much harder. Sam had to leave his family behind and live a life where he is being hunted down by the Mogs AND the FBI. The conflict really effected Sam because he didn't have any experience with this kind of thing like John and Six did before. Sam had to learn about Lorien and he had to learn how to fight which made things harder for him. And he had to learn how to be more independent since all he has now is John and Number Six. But luckily he has two amazing mentors to help him find his way. So overall I think Sam was effected the most.

Blog Post #8: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- The Setting

***SPOILER ALERT*** in the middle of the post

This book is very unique. Setting wise, and in general because there are many different settings and two indivisual stories in it! I know this sounds weird but it's true! The story follows a teenage ailen who came onto earth trying to be a part of saving his species in the last book and in this one. But in this book, the author transfers back and forth from the story of another ailen that is the same species as the other main character, John. The other ailen's name is Marina, and she is trying to find John, thinking he is an ailen like her. So far the two characters haven't met or got involved yet, but I think they will later on in the book.

First I am going to talk about Marina's "setting." She lives in a church in Spain. Her protecter, called a Cepan, name's is Adelina and the two of them have been trying to find homes since they arrived on earth and the only people that would help them was the sisters at the church, so that is where they stay now. This setting is significant because without it, Marina won't be the same person, she wouldn't have her cave to hide in when she feels isolated from the world, and she wouldn't have the personality she is, she wouldn't be that independent girl who knows how to fight for herself. Also, the church is a really important setting in this book, because since there are so many rules there, it makes Marina seem even more of a rebel with her sneaking out all the time, getting up after hours to see if there are any news about John, etc. The setting shows how much Marina changed since she arrived on this planet, and more importantly, Adelina.

Adelina is another important character in this book because of the role she plays as a Cepan. She has been "brainwashed" by everyone in the chruch, she is actually convinced that they need to be on god's side and not on Lorien's side. She thinks she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore, she thinks it's not worth it. Adelina has that sort of aftermath where you end up hating the situation. The situation Adelina is in is like when a child found out he or she is adopted. Sometimes they feel left alone and that their parents didn't want them, so they don't want to find them. Adelina somewhat feels like that. She thinks the people of Lorien just dumped them on earth to defend for themselves without any information at all about when they can go back home, or where they are specifically, so she thinks she doesn't need to help them, since they didn't help her. In a way, she is the shapeshifter in Marina's "setting." Adelina will think she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore now that she's almost an adult, but when Marina really gets harmed, she doesn't want to help, she needs to.

Now onto John's setting(s). Right now, John, Number Six, and his best friend Sam are in an abandoned house in North Carolina. I guess since they move around from place to place, they don't really have one specific setting, but for now I am going to focus on the house. The house I think really symbolizes freedom. The three teens are off on their own, in hiding, in a abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. I think this shows how independent they are. They can deal with being hunted down by the FBI, but also The Mogadorians as well! In the house they do regular teen stuff, but they also have to train just in case The Mogadorians attack! The house represents freedom because in a way, I think it is freedom. When you think of it like a house that is left alone in the woods, but is still there standing tall and "alive", the house kinda shows how strong it is, and how it can never be broken down, it seems like it's independent and free from the world.

In conclusion, all these settings are very important. These settings make up the story and the characters. Without it, there won't even be a story!

Blog Post #7: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- Archetypes in the story

The hero in this book, is most likely one of the main characters, John. In this book, John is one of nine ailens who came to earth after their home planet have been destroyed by their enemies, The Mogadorians. Each of the Ailens get a number in which it is the order they are hunted and killed by The Mogadorians. John is a Garde, he is kind of a "kid ailen." John is number 4, so in this book, he is the one being hunted. And also, every Garde, gets assigned a Cepan (a guardian to protect them on earth.) In the last book, I AM NUMBER FOUR, something happens to John's Cepan Henri, and in this book, John is left all alone with his 2 friends, Number 6 and Sam. Which makes John more independent. He definetely shows courage, because in the last book, he left the ones he loved in Ohio, where he was hiding then, and he leaves all his loved ones in Ohio, for their own safety. He didn't want them getting killed by The Mogadorians too so he had no choice but to leave. In the last book, he definetely went through a loss of innocence which is another reason why he is the hero. He loses his Cepan, he barely has any knowledge about their home planet, and The Mogadorians. He also grows up in that book, he gets his powers (his "legacies") and learns how to use them.

The Mentor in this book would definetely be Number 6. She lost her Cepan 3 years ago, and she has been alone since, well, until she found John and Sam. She has a knowledge about their home planet, Lorien. She also knows a lot about their legacies too! She has experienced what John is about to go through, so she guides him throughout his journies. She teaches him to fight, she teaches him about themselves and their powers, but also, she teaches him about The Mogadorians. Also, sometimes, in battles, Number 6 will fight for John and defend him.

The Shadow in this story are The Mogadorians. Of course The Mogadorians are the shadow, they are the dark side, they are trying to kill off the entire Lorien ailen population. They create the tension in the book because they are "evil." John, Number 6, and Sam are running from The Mogadorians, they killed John's home planet, and are the reason why he never feels safe anywhere.

The shapeshifter in this book, would be...I would say Sam. He doesn't shape shift in a bad way. He's not one of those evil characters who only stick around because they are benefitted in some way. He just shape shifts because he has abandoned everyone he loves back home in Ohio, to go on adventures with John and Number 6. His parents nor anyone in Ohio knows where are they and what they are doing, and everytime on of their faces pop up in the news (since they are being hunted down by the police too now because they think they are terrorists) Sam has the urge to return home and tell his whole family the stories. But everytime he is in a situation like that, he reminds himself he made a commitment to John and Number 6 and he is going to stick to it! 

These are all the Archetypes in the book so far, since I just started reading it. But one character I am more curious about is Marina. In the beginning of the book they start of with her journey in hiding from The Mogadorians since she is too, a Garde. But then, in one of the chapters, they change back to John's situation. So it makes me wonder if they would ever collide in the story again. Marina has been searching for John because she believes he is one of them. And soon on in the book, I will find out what's going on!

Blog Post #6: Mockingjay- How does the text make you think about justice in the world?

In Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, Justice is one of the big themes in the book. The rebels are wanting justice in the book. They want everyone to be treated fairly and equally. They don't want the Capitol to have all the power, so they can do whatever they want.

So far in the book, justice is not served. If justice was to be served, The Capitol will to have a "fair" government, where the Capitol's power is limited, and so are the citizens', so they are both equal. In the book, the power in the society of Panem, isn't like the organized, fair government we have today. In Panem, the Capitol has all the power and can do anything they want to the citizens, at least until the citizens rebeled. And in my opinion, justice needs to be served, because it is "fair" to the citizens, that the Capitol gets to make all the decisions, and that they can have something as cruel as The Hunger Games, where people are getting killed for no reason!!! They should be trying to save humanity instead of getting rid of it! There is only one continent in Panem, and The Capitol is practically endangering the human species!

I don't think anyone, or any side, in the book represents justice. The rebel side, is wanting justice, but The Capitol is resisting it. There is not really anyone who is representing it, there is no one that is sort of the "peacemaker" in the book. Most readers will probably think Katniss represents justice because she is the main character in the book, but she doesn't really see eye to eye. She doesn't think The Capitol is ever right in this situation. One moment when Collins really tricks you into thinking that Katniss is the peacemaker, is when the guy from the Nut, is holding a gun to her head and she says he has every right to kill her. But the reason why she isn't the peacemaker is because she was looking through the eyes of a citizen of Panem, even though that citizen is from a district that kisses up to The Capitol, it is still an innocent soul. That moment really makes you think about the plot.

The Capitol blocks justice. They don't want justice because they want power. Power is the thing that motivates them. The Capitol craves power, I think they are savages. Power has taken over their minds, and now people in The Capitol, for example, President Snow, have courpted minds, and will stop at nothing to get power. But the question in this situation, is why do they want this power? Personally, I think The Capitol abuses their power and responsibles, they feel like since they are on the top, they can do anything, but they can't because there are always boundaries. They don't treat all their citizens fairly, and they don't really protect them. They force them to kill each other once a year, and they watch it on television like it is a Olympic Game! But I think the people in The Capitol want power, just because it is power. If you have it, you have a huge honor. If you have power over someone or something, you seem like you are the strongest, you feel honored and respected when you have power.

If rebellions like this were to happen in the real world, both sides would somehow find a compromise, or one side would win and the other side would just have to go on with the rest of the world. I think this would happen because it has happened in the past with wars. For example, The Revolutionary War. The rebels (Americans) won, because of the battles, and how people worked together. The French worked with the Americans. But what really ended it was the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Britians and American made a compromise, and split the land in America equally, and that Americans can be their own nation.