COULD YOU PASS THE TEST?

Quarter 1 – Outside Reading

The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart, Little Brown & Company, March 2007

        This story was about an orphan named Reynie Muldoon. He is too smart for normal high school classes so the orphanage got him a tutor. Reynie had a specific way of doing things in the morning. First he would wake up and make tea. By the time the tea was ready his tutor would be sitting at the table with two morning papers to read. The two would sit in the kitchen discussing the morning paper because there seemed to be nothing else to teach Reynie. One morning an add in the paper caught Reynies attention. The add seemed to be addressing children and not their parents. The add stated: “ ARE YOU A GIRTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPERTUNITES?” This question leads Reynie to a series of tests both mental and physical till there where three children left. Reynie was one; he had the talent of solving puzzles. Kate, the girl with all ability to any physical challenge. And finally Sticky a very intelligent boy. Throughout the story the three become best friends and face many challenges together.

       Fun, mysterious and suspensful. I loved it. Will definitely read the rest of the series. Cant wait to read them.

Published 29 days ago by Pen Name

       I found this book very hard to get into. The writer wrote in such a way you had to push yourself to keep reading. Though once I got into the book it was very exciting. I do not think I would read any other books from this author because of the issue of getting into the book. Also I am not a very big fan of reading and I found the story almost as if never ending.  In the book the author said: “ The door slid open. The children dashed through. They found themselves in a warm, bright room that smelled heavily of newsprint and ink.”

       I found I couldn’t really relate as well to the characters as had hoped I would have. This also made the book very difficult to complete. Over all I do not think this book was for me. I would rate this book 3 paws because this book may have not been as exciting for me as other people and I do think that other people would like this story.

       The five words I chose to describe Melinda are helpless, hopeless, unhappy, lonely, and miserable. Helpless fits her description because she does not have anyone to turn to. She can’t talk to anyone about her issues because she is afraid to open up. Melinda is hopeless because she doesn’t have anything left for her. She basically gave up. Melinda is unhappy because she lost all of her friends. She is also unhappy because she is blamed for calling the police at a party over the summer. Melinda is lonely because she does not have many friends. She doesn’t talk to her parents about anything they mainly communicate through notes. Melinda is miserable because again she is lonely and miserable. She also is failing most classes and has a very low GPA.

       I find the best word to describe Melinda is miserable. This is because she doesn’t have friends. She lacks communication with her family and teachers. She gets in trouble a lot. She escapes to the janitors closet to take a break from the world. And lastly she is afraid to open up to anyone.

       Examples from the book are: “… This is the death voice, the voice that means business…” “…You mean we are not friends anymore?” “… You can’t eat lunch with me anymore…” “…Evil kids pointing at me…”

       These are all good examples of why I think Melinda is miserable. I think she will open up to someone soon in the story because she is desperately in need of help. I think she needs to talk to somebody.

Summer Reading Essay!

          Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks

         Characters: Katie, Alex, Josh, Kristen

         The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen

         Characters: Auden

     Katie was going to the local store to pick up the bright yellow paint she had ordered days before. It was a hot summer morning. Her short blond hair blew in the wind as she walked out of the forested neighborhood that she now called home. Katie walked into the store and was quickly greeted by Alex the widowed storeowner.

          "Hi Katie, are you looking for anything specific?"

         "I'm just here to pick up the yellow paint I ordered."

         "Oh yes! That just came in. I'll be right back I just have to get that from the back room." Alex disappeared into a dark doorway in the back of the store.

         Not only did Alex come back with the paint, he also came out with beach items, and his two children Josh and Kristen. 

         "SUPRISE!" The children yelled in unison. 

         "What’s going on?" Katie curiously asked.

         “We are bringing you to the beach Katie!” Kristen quickly stated.

        

         The four of them carried everything out to the red jeep and piled in the car. They began to drive out of the small town and a little further down the coast.

        

        

        

        

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         About an half an hour later they pulled up to a beach. The beach looked beautiful, the waves were very large, and the water was crystal clear. There also was a boardwalk made of stone.

         “Katie, I almost forgot you don’t have your bathing suit!” Stated Alex. He pulled a crisp twenty-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Katie.

         “You and Kristen go across the street to the store right there, we will set up a spot and meet you in the water.” Alex said to Katie. Without saying a word Kristen pulled Katie across the street.

         The girls walked into the store. Inside it was small. Bathing suits hung in the back of the store. They had a variety of jeans, shirts, cover-ups, flip-flops, and perfumes. The girls started to the back of the store.

        

         As the girls reached the bathing suits a tall girl stepped behind them.

         “Hi, my name is Auden is there anything I can help you find today?”
         “Actually yes there is! I am looking for a bathing suit to wear today on the beach.” Stated Katie. With that Auden started riffling through the bathing suits. Katie looked on the clearance rack behind her.

         “Are you from around here or are you just visiting?” Auden asked curiously.

         “ We are from South Port. About a half an hour away from here. How about you?” Katie replied quickly.

         “ I’m from Massachusetts, when I heard my step mom was having a baby I decided it was a good idea to spend my last summer before college helping out…”

         “That’s cool! I think I will take this one” Katie said as she pulled out a pink bikini with white ruffles on the top.

“Good choice! Follow me and I will ring you out.”

Katie quickly followed not wanting the boys to have to wait any longer.

         Katie and Kristen walked out of the store and crossed the street to the beach. Both girls got changed in the bathroom. Then they walked along the beach as their feet touched the hot sand. The girls soon reached the frigid water and walked out to Josh and Alex.

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         Katie and Alex left the kids in the water boogie boarding the waves. They started to walk towards the boardwalk.

         “Are you having fun?” Alex curiously asked Katie.

          “Of course I am! Nothing could be better then being with you!” Katie joyfully responded back.

         Their feet touched the cool gray rocks and they walked along the boardwalk. They walked silently holding hands. The sun was slowly setting. Josh and Kristen got out of the water and walked up the boardwalk to Alex and Katie.

         “Are you kids ready to go?” Alex asked.

         “Yes!” Josh replied.

         Everyone gathered their things and started for the car. They reached the car and put all of their belongings in the back. The kids jumped over the tires into the jeep. Katie and Alex both got in the car. Alex started driving back home. The kids instantly fell asleep after a long few hours at the beach.