Post #1: The Maze Runner

Currently I am reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner. At the beginning, this book was kind of boring and introducing you into the characters and what Glade, where the gladers live, is like.

Thomas wakes up in a metal elevator and all that he remembers is his name and has a general idea of what the world is like. He is pulled out by the leader of the gladers, Alby, and is introduced to this new world called Glade. I imagine Glade as a large circle with a few buildings that contain a cafeteria, restrooms, and a place for the gladers to stay. Glade is surrounded by a large maze that opens at a certain time every morning and closes at a certain time every night. During the night, the walls change in the maze and monsters that are called Grievers come out in the maze at night. If you are a maze runner, some one who runs in the maze everyday to find their way out of Glade, then you where a watch that tells how much time you have until the maze doors will close. No one that has been trapped in the maze for the night has ever made it out alive. The Grievers can sting you and make you go through a process called the changing where you remember some things form your past life. After Thomas's first day, the next day all the gladers are alerted that new glader has come. Not only is it rare that this glader came within the same week as Thomas, but she was a girl. Thomas feels a connection to this girl that he never thought he would feel. Thomas somewhat recognizes her form his past life. Thomas nowhas a sudden urge to become a maze runner.

Post #1: Shiver

I have just started reading a book called Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater. This book is somewhat similar to the Twilight series. However, this book is just about the relationship between a wolf, and a girl named Grace. Grace is just an ordinary teenager who has a special relationship with a wolf named Sam. I have not read enough to tell more about this book.

The Help: Post #5, Letter

The Help is a story that explains what life was like for black and white women and men in Jackson, Mississippi. I am writing a letter from one of the main characters, Skeeter, to one of the African American maids in the book, Constantine.

                                                                                                                                                
Dear Constantine,

Where are you? My mother won't tell me why you're gone, and my father won't either. No one has given me an address to write you letters, and find where you are. I miss you Constantine. Why did you have to leave? Why didn't you tell me where you were going? If you were here, you would be so proud of me. I got a job at the Jackson Journal, and I write Miss Myrna's cleaning articles! The issue with this job is that I don't know anything about cleaning. Right before my articles are due, I got o Miss Elizabeth's house and ask her maid Aibilene the answers to the letters that are sent to Miss Myrna. If you were here, I would have asked you to help me. I don't know our maid very well, and it is uncomfortable to talk to her like I used to talk to you. Mother is getting on my nerves. She is not supportive of my decisions, and she is constantly yelling at me about something. I miss the way things were when you were still here. I hope that you eventually get this letter, and I hope that you come back. I hope that you are doing well.

Sincerely,
Skeeter

The Help: Post #4 Connections

     The Help is a book that is easy to relate to because it explains some of the stories in Jackson, Mississippi in 1967. This book relates to the laws in that time period. This story is based on how the author, Kathryn Stockett, was raised as a child, and her story of becoming a writer. This book relates to many other books that are about African American rights. It is hard to relate this book to today's world because the society in Jackson Mississippi was way different in 1967. Now, everyone is respectful to others in our country no matter what their race is.

Figurative Language

While reading Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson, I found several examples of figurative language. This book is based off of a story about an African American Revolutionary War solider who is serving for the British. For more information about the Revolutionary War you can visit: http://historyamericanrevolution.blogspot.com/

Similes - 

"a hinged wooden box as big as my hand"

Narrative Poetry

During the week, my classmate Carmen, and I, made a narrative poem. Enjoy!

Carmen & Kate's Poem:

At the airport, calling a girl

Asking them for marriage

One simple call can change a life

At work

Locking up, a black figure in the door

On the ground, black and blue

One simple action can change a life

On the street

Turning around, car runs into me

Where am I now?

One simple plan can change a life

At the studio

Writing a piece

Doing what I love

Getting a text

One simple friendship can change a life

Filling up with gas

Going in to pay

Seeing a dead body

This is the end

One simple moment can change a life

At the Rivercourt

Shooting hoops

The swoosh of the net

Little boy cheering

One simple recovery can change a life

One simple second

One simple minute

One simple hour

Can change a day 

The Help: Post #3

     In The Help,  I think that it is interesting that after a couple of chapters, the narrator changes. On the chapter that I am currently on, Skeeter is the narrator. She is going through an important part of her life in this chapter.
     After Skeeter graduated college, she wanted to become a writer. She notified an editor in New York that she would like to write a book. Skeeter got a letter back from the editor, and she said that she would like Skeeter to gain some experience by getting a job at a place where she can write in her town. Less than an hour after she read the letter, she scheduled an appointment at the Jackson Journal. She said that she will apply for any job that is available. The next day, Skeeter went to the Jackson Journal and went through her resume with Mister Golden. Through the interview, he thought that Skeeter was applying for a cleaning job, but Skeeter told him that she instead wanted a job to write. Mister Golden considered it, and Skeeter took another employee's place. Skeeter got a job.