Can you recommend a great book for me to read?

Let's share some great titles and authors here! What book did you just finish reading? Who wrote it? Now tell me what you thought of the book and why. Use specific examples from the book to support your opinions.
Hopefully you will inspire me and others to read your book!

Thanks!
Mrs. H

Pictures Painted With Words!

The ultimate goal of a writer is to use his words as a paintbrush to paint vivid pictures for the reader. They can be pictures of a character, a scene that's unfolding, or a special place in the story. These images are the basis for the movies that we create in our minds as we read.

Here is an excerpt from Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah where the author creates a vivid picture of one of the characters, Anya:

"Meredith saw the mess grief had made of her mother's beautiful face: it had sucked in her cheeks and made her bones appear more prominent; it had drawn the color from her skin until her flesh nearly matched her hair. Only her eyes-startlingly blue against all that pallor- held any semblance of who she'd been a month ago."

Now find an excerpt from your book where the author paints a vivid picture for the reader. Make sure you give credit for the work by mentioning the title of your book and the author!

Say What?

I've been thinking a lot lately about characters and how authors develop them for the reader. They almost always help a reader to visualize characters by providing physical descriptions, and they often reveal what characters are like through their actions.
Did you know we can learn about a character by what he or she says or thinks? This will often show the reader what type of person he or she is. Think about it. Have you ever listened to someone talk and then made a judgment about what kind of a person he or she is based on what was said?

I want you to look through your book and find some dialogue between two characters or a part of the story where a character is thinking. Read it carefully and decide what the words spoken or thought by the character reveal about him or her. Then tell me:

1. the title and author of your book
2. the character's name and what he or she said or thought
(Be careful to use quotation marks correctly!)
3. Tell what this revealed about the character to you.

For example, here's what I would write based on a character in a book I recently read :

In Water for the Elephants, written by Sara Gruen, the main character Jacob is thinking, "I knew how important it was to keep her secret, and keep it I did - for the rest of her life, and then beyond. In seventy years, I've never told a blessed soul."
From these thoughts I know that Jacob is an extremely trustworthy and one-of-a-kind soul! Most people can't keep a secret to themselves for over five minutes!

Get the idea? Okay! Now tell me about one of your characters!

And they lived happily ever after? (#4 - 5th six weeks)

At long last we have come to the end of our journey with Miyax Julie Edwards Kapugen...and what a journey. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! It's sad to leave all of the characters that we have grown to know so well, but fun, at the same time, to imagine what lies ahead for them.

What do you see in the future for Julie? If you could predict the sequel to her story, what would you place in store for her? If she does indeed return to Kapugen, what will her life be like in his Americanized household? What about Daniel? What about her beloved wolves? Tell me how you think the story would continue.

I hope you enjoyed the book enough to read the real sequel, Julie, by Jean Craighead George, and also Julie's Wolf Pack which continues the story of the wolves. Storytelling at its finest!

Looking forward to your responses!

Love,
Mrs. H

The End is Near! (#3 - 5th six weeks)

And no! I'm not talking about the end of the school year, I'm referring to the end of the novel we've been reading together in class, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George.
Because she is such a gifted and extremely descriptive writer, I once again want you to look for an example of figurative language in the book today that you particularly like.

1. Quote the figurative language you chose (make sure to use quotation marks!)
2. Identify the type of figurative language it is. (simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, hyperbole, idiom, alliteration, imagery etc.)
3. Lastly, tell me why you picked it.

What's Next? (#2 - 5th six weeks)

Just finishing Part II, Miyax the girl, of Julie of the Wolves, what do you think is going to happen next? Where do you think the story is going? Will Daniel or his family come after Julie? Will Pearl's involvement in Julie's running away be discovered? Will she ever see the wolves again? Is her father Kapugen really dead? Does she ever make it to San Francisco?
So many things to consider! Can't wait to hear what you think! Can't wait to finish the book!

Mrs. H

Class Novel Study (#1 - 5th six weeks)

We have finished Part I, Amaroq the Wolf, of Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, and I can tell that you are enjoying the story. The author has filled the pages with rich, colorful language that only increases our enjoyment.
Today I want you to select a line or section from the story that you enjoyed, quote it, and tell me why you are impressed with that particular selection.
I can't wait to see what you choose!

Mrs. H

Figuratively Speaking! #3

Figurative language (the use of similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification, hyperbole, idiom) is all around us, but particularly in the books we read. By utilizing it, the author creates more vivid images for the reader and adds to his/her overall enjoyment of the story.

Look for an example of figurative language in your book today.
1. Give the title and author of your book.
2. Give the example you found (make sure to use quotation marks!)
3. Identify the type of figurative language it is. (simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, hyperbole, idiom, alliteration, etc.)

For example, I am reading:
1. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
2. My example of figurative language: "My sister had cancer a few years ago, so I know the drill."
3. This is an idiom.

Now let's see what you can find!
Mrs. H

What's the Message? #2

The theme of a story is the message about life that the author wants to convey to you. It is never written out or mentioned specifically, but you "get it" after finishing the story. For instance, in Song of the Trees by Mildred Taylor you might say that the theme is the strength of family members sticking together. Another possible theme might be standing up for what's right.

What is the theme (message or lesson about life) the author wants you to take with you in the book you are presently reading? Give me the title of the book and the theme you are discovering amid its pages.

Snow, snow, and more snow! #1

One of these days we'll get back to school and back to blogging!
In the mean time, I'm thinking about Valentine's Day (can't you tell?) and catching up on my reading!
I hope you are too!

Happy New Year! #3

A new year with the promise of new beginnings - that's always a good feeling! I hope that your time off for the holidays has renewed and refreshed you and now you're ready to get back to reading and writing and school in general. I know I'm excited to be back.

Speaking of feelings...I've been thinking lately about the many different ways that I feel while I read, depending on what I'm reading and who wrote it. Sometimes I feel...

surprised...uneasy...fearful...restless...worried...hopeful...annoyed...
peaceful...sympathetic...angry...happy...sad...upset...and so on.

Think about the book you're reading now and the different feelings you've had while reading. Today I want you to give me the title of the book you're presently reading and then tell me (1) how you were feeling and (2) what was happening in the story when you were having that particular feeling.
("I'm currently reading _________ and I was angry when...")

Can't wait to hear what you have to say!
Love,
Mrs. H

Tator Tot Tic-Tac-Toe - Halterman and Clark Style!

As you already know, Hope and her mother Louise spent many Christmas Eves in the same booth at Chuck's Chicken and Biscuits on U.S. Highway 4 playing tic-tac-toe with their cooling tator tots. Mrs. Clark and I very much wanted to recreate this scenario for you all as a *fun* way to culminate finishing the book...and so our classroom was transformed into Chuck's (as best we could!) complete with tator tots, tic-tac-toe paper plates, and Hope's special sauce - 2 squirts of mayonnaise, 2 squirts of ketchup, and a small squirt of mustard!

What fun! We loved serving you and watching you *try* the special sauce - at least those of you who were brave enough to try it! Here are a few photos of our classroom diner:




We hope you enjoyed the experience - as well as the book. I'm looking forward to reading many more books with you this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,
Mrs. H

And What's Next for Hope? #2

Well, we've finished the book and I just loved seeing your eyes light up at the end of Christmas Jars when you figured it all out! What an amazing story, huh? There is a sequel to the book that just came out this fall and it's called Christmas Jars Reunion...but I'm not going to tell you about that yet.
I would love to hear your ideas of how you think the story will continue. What do you predict in Hope's future? Will she remain friends with the Maxwells? Will she have a relationship with her newly found mother Marianne? What will happen to the Christmas Jar tradition? What will happen to Adam's business now that he is gone? How about Hope's career?
What do you think about all of this? I want you to tell me what you think will happen in the next book!
And Merry Christmas to you all! See you in January!
Love,
Mrs. H

What do you think? Share your opinion! #1

Well guys, we are almost finished reading Christmas Jars, and it is my *hope* that you have enjoyed it as much as I have. The story certainly gives a person much to think about and ponder on long after it's over. In fact, there are a few questions that I have, and I would love to hear what you think about them.

Please pick one and let me know what you think. Here goes...

1) Who do you think deserves to receive a Christmas jar the most? Why?
2) Is it better to give gifts or to receive gifts? Why?
3) Is it ever right to do something wrong? Why?

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!
Love,
Mrs. H

Let's talk more about conflict! #3

Now that we have finished reading the first five chapters of Christmas Jars, we are well into the story, and hopefully enjoying it! All the elements of a plot are equally important in weaving a good story, but the conflict(s) in a story certainly play a big part in adding to our enjoyment.

Think about some of the conflicts that have been presented so far in Christmas Jars. You will need to:
1) Select a conflict and
2) Identify and explain what type of conflict it is.

It has been so much fun getting to be a part of reading Christmas Jars with you! It's one of my all-time favorite books. See you soon!

Mrs. H

Characters in Conflict #2

I know you have been very busy reading your independent books with the end of this grading period just two weeks away! Since you have been learning about the different types of conflict that can occur in a story (individual vs. individual, nature, society, technology, supernatural, and, of course, individual vs. self), I thought it would be fun for you to tell me about the type(s) of conflict in the book you're reading!
So, this week I want you to:
1) identify the title and author of your book
2) identify the type of conflict in the story and give me a little bit of background about what's going on
Since I haven't been there at school, I'll be anxious to see what you've been reading. If everything works out, I'll see you via Skype on Friday. Until then, be good!
Mrs. H.

What's your prediction? #1

In a short week or so we will be beginning the highly anticipated book Christmas Jars by the renowned best-selling author Jason Wright. (Whew! That was a mouthful of an introduction!)
I am so anxious to begin this reading - I've been looking forward to it for a long time now!
Given the little bit that you already know about the book, I would love to hear what you think this story is going to be about!
Predictions everyone!
Mrs. H

We all have stories! #4

You have been gearing up over the last few days to write a personal narrative. It's true that we all have stories to tell from experiences in our lives, and these stories shape the way we think, therefore, they have meaning to us and to others. Some stories stand out in our minds more than others and almost cry out to be told!
A quote from Virginia Woolf, an English novelist, says it very well.

"But in order to make you understand, to give you my life, I must tell you a story."

Our stories are peppered with conflict and change too. No story is good without conflict, and no conflict is worth it without change. So, this week I want you to think about all of this and the story you have decided to tell.
• Which story did you pick?
• Why did you pick this one?
• Why is it important for you to tell this particular story?

Starting Week Four...sigh!

Hi guys! Well, here I am again! I never think to ask someone else to take pictures of me, and then I struggle trying to take them by myself. That's a hard thing to do, let me tell you! My arms aren't long enough to get everything in. In the picture above I was trying to fit my new cast into the picture too, but as you can see, it didn't work. I had the new cast put on last Tuesday when I went for my appointment. They took new x-rays and removed the staples from the surgical incision before putting a new cast on. The doctor said that everything look good. I could have picked all kinds of colors for this cast - green, pink, yellow, blue, red, or black. I really wanted orange for fall and Halloween, but they didn't have it, so I chose black. I think it looks okay. What do you think?
Here it is!
This is my buddy on most days. Do you remember me showing you pictures of my cat Cinder Ella when I did my Box Speech? Well, here she is! She keeps me company all day while my husband is at work. Most of the time she curls up in my lap if I'm sitting in the recliner, or she snuggles up next to me if I'm on the couch. I talk to her all day long, but she very rarely answers me back!

I hear good things from Mrs. Clark about what you're doing in class. I want you to keep up the good work! I can't believe it's the end of the six weeks already. Some time soon, we're going to set it up where we can talk to and see each other via the computers using Skype. That should be a lot of fun. Maybe a few of you can read me some of your work. You know how much I'd like that! I hope you enjoy your two days off and come back next week ready to work hard.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Be good and I'll write to you again soon.
Love,
Mrs. H.

More summary, please? #3

Ah, I hear you have been reading the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handedly with Nag and Nagaina in the bathroom and garden of the big bungalow in Segowlee cantonment. And what a story it is...one of my favorites!
I would love for you to once again practice using the strategy Somebody Wanted But So to write me a short summary of the story. You might want to write out your SWBS statements beforehand and then put them together into a summary before you attempt to post on the blog...just a suggestion! Remember to first put your summary into an Appleworks or Word document, be sure to save, then copy and paste it into the comment window on the blog.
I will write to you tomorrow and send you some new pictures. I have a brand new cast! Wait til you see it!
Mrs. H