Ms. Flagg’s Comments (group member since Nov 04, 2015)

Ms. Flagg’s comments from the 823 Reviews group.

List the five books you most recently completed.

Paragraph 1: Summarize the text without giving away the ending. In your summary, make sure to identify the genre, protagonist, antagonist, setting, and the primary conflict. This paragraph should be a MINIMUM of five sentences.

Paragraph 2: Reflection (should be a minimum of six sentences)
Answer at least TWO of the following questions:
1.) Did you like/dislike this book? Why/why not?
2.) Did you make any personal connections to the text? Explain.
3.) To whom would you recommend this text? Why?
4.) What advice would you give to the author? What questions do you have?
5.) How does this book compare to others you have read by the same author?
6.) How does this book compare to others you have read in the same genre?
7.) What was the most aspect of the text? Character development? The setting? The kind of conflict?
8.) Create your own interesting question!

Here's a model of an exemplar review:

1.) The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
2.) We Are Lincoln Men by David Herbert Donald
3.) Everyday by David Leviathan
4.) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
5.) Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.” This quote opens Walter Dean Myers's intense text, Monster, a work of realistic fiction that takes place in New York City during the 1990s. Using journal entries and scripts, the novel tells the story of Steve Harmon, a sixteen year-old accused of being an accessory in the robbery of a convenience store and the murder of its owner. Feeling alienated from society, Steve is forced to reflect upon his own character to determine whether he is in fact the monster that much of society believes him to be. Talented and intelligent, the once aspiring film-maker is now a resident of the Manhattan Detention Center. Dealing with the pressure of disappointing his parents and failing as a role model to his brother Jerry, Steve uses writing to cope with the fear during the murder trial, as he faces the reality of a life behind bars.

Overall, I thought Monster to be a thought provoking story. Steve faces many of the same problems that many teens do today. Not only does Steve endure pressure from neighborhood delinquents, but he also struggles with deciding what kind of man he wants to be. Is having strong moral character more important than maintaining his image and proving to people that he has, as the delinquent Bobo phrases it, "heart." Therefore, I would recommend this book my students, for it might encourage them to think twice before making a choice they know to be wrong. Because I think he understands teens so well, I would recommend to Myers that he writes more novels with female protagonists. Girls face many of the same issues as boys, yet novels often portray them as superficial or dramatic. I believe that he his themes about standing up for yourself and resisting peer pressure would also resonate with them and serve as an inspiration for positive decision making. Bottom line, whether his books are geared for boys or girls, teens or adults, Walter Dean Myers's engaging writing style, inspiring themes, and realistic conflicts continue to cause his readers to deeply reflect about the choices they make in deciding what kind of person they ultimately want to be.

List the five books you most recently completed.

Paragraph 1: Summarize the text without giving away the ending. In your summary, make sure to identify the genre, protagonist, antagonist, setting, and the primary conflict. This paragraph should be a MINIMUM of five sentences.

Paragraph 2: Reflection (should be a minimum of six sentences)
Answer at least TWO of the following questions:
1.) Did you like/dislike this book? Why/why not?
2.) Did you make any personal connections to the text? Explain.
3.) To whom would you recommend this text? Why?
4.) What advice would you give to the author? What questions do you have?
5.) How does this book compare to others you have read by the same author?
6.) How does this book compare to others you have read in the same genre?
7.) What was the most aspect of the text? Character development? The setting? The kind of conflict?
8.) Create your own interesting question!

Here's a model of an exemplar review:

1.) The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
2.) We Are Lincoln Men by David Herbert Donald
3.) Everyday by David Leviathan
4.) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
5.) Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.” This quote opens Walter Dean Myers's intense text, Monster, a work of realistic fiction that takes place in New York City during the 1990s. Using journal entries and scripts, the novel tells the story of Steve Harmon, a sixteen year-old accused of being an accessory in the robbery of a convenience store and the murder of its owner. Feeling alienated from society, Steve is forced to reflect upon his own character to determine whether he is in fact the monster that much of society believes him to be. Talented and intelligent, the once aspiring film-maker is now a resident of the Manhattan Detention Center. Dealing with the pressure of disappointing his parents and failing as a role model to his brother Jerry, Steve uses writing to cope with the fear during the murder trial, as he faces the reality of a life behind bars.

Overall, I thought Monster to be a thought provoking story. Steve faces many of the same problems that many teens do today. Not only does Steve endure pressure from neighborhood delinquents, but he also struggles with deciding what kind of man he wants to be. Is having strong moral character more important than maintaining his image and proving to people that he has, as the delinquent Bobo phrases it, "heart." Therefore, I would recommend this book my students, for it might encourage them to think twice before making a choice they know to be wrong. Because I think he understands teens so well, I would recommend to Myers that he writes more novels with female protagonists. Girls face many of the same issues as boys, yet novels often portray them as superficial or dramatic. I believe that he his themes about standing up for yourself and resisting peer pressure would also resonate with them and serve as an inspiration for positive decision making. Bottom line, whether his books are geared for boys or girls, teens or adults, Walter Dean Myers's engaging writing style, inspiring themes, and realistic conflicts continue to cause his readers to deeply reflect about the choices they make in deciding what kind of person they ultimately want to be.

Paragraph 1:
Did you like/dislike the book? Provide at least TWO specific reasons for your opinion and explain them.

Paragraph 2: Reflecting
This book is banned (not allowed) in many school districts. Do you think it should be banned? Provide at least two reasons to support your opinion.

List the five books you most recently completed.

Paragraph 1: Summarize the text without giving away the ending. In your summary, make sure to identify the genre, protagonist, antagonist, setting, and the primary conflict. This paragraph should be a MINIMUM of five sentences.

Paragraph 2: Reflection (should be a minimum of six sentences)
Answer at least TWO of the following questions:
1.) Did you like/dislike this book? Why/why not?
2.) Did you make any personal connections to the text? Explain.
3.) To whom would you recommend this text? Why?
4.) What advice would you give to the author? What questions do you have?
5.) How does this book compare to others you have read by the same author?
6.) How does this book compare to others you have read in the same genre?
7.) What was the most aspect of the text? Character development? The setting? The kind of conflict?
8.) Create your own interesting question!

Here's a model of an exemplar review:

1.) The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
2.) We Are Lincoln Men by David Herbert Donald
3.) Everyday by David Leviathan
4.) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
5.) Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.” This quote opens Walter Dean Myers's intense text, Monster, a work of realistic fiction that takes place in New York City during the 1990s. Using journal entries and scripts, the novel tells the story of Steve Harmon, a sixteen year-old accused of being an accessory in the robbery of a convenience store and the murder of its owner. Feeling alienated from society, Steve is forced to reflect upon his own character to determine whether he is in fact the monster that much of society believes him to be. Talented and intelligent, the once aspiring film-maker is now a resident of the Manhattan Detention Center. Dealing with the pressure of disappointing his parents and failing as a role model to his brother Jerry, Steve uses writing to cope with the fear during the murder trial, as he faces the reality of a life behind bars.

Overall, I thought Monster to be a thought provoking story. Steve faces many of the same problems that many teens do today. Not only does Steve endure pressure from neighborhood delinquents, but he also struggles with deciding what kind of man he wants to be. Is having strong moral character more important than maintaining his image and proving to people that he has, as the delinquent Bobo phrases it, "heart." Therefore, I would recommend this book my students, for it might encourage them to think twice before making a choice they know to be wrong. Because I think he understands teens so well, I would recommend to Myers that he writes more novels with female protagonists. Girls face many of the same issues as boys, yet novels often portray them as superficial or dramatic. I believe that he his themes about standing up for yourself and resisting peer pressure would also resonate with them and serve as an inspiration for positive decision making. Bottom line, whether his books are geared for boys or girls, teens or adults, Walter Dean Myers's engaging writing style, inspiring themes, and realistic conflicts continue to cause his readers to deeply reflect about the choices they make in deciding what kind of person they ultimately want to be.