What's 811 Reading? discussion

After our conversation about theme (a lesson, moral or message about life that the writer wants to teach his/her reader), you need to determine a theme in your IR book. Make sure to follow the proper reading response format!

For a “4”: Did I….
• Write a topic sentence that provided the title, author, and genre of my text?
• Provide context of what is happening in the text, so my reader understands what I’m talking about (1-3 sentences)
• Find a direct quote from the text that proves my idea that is properly introduced and punctuated (Arnold states, ".....")?
• Thoroughly explain the significance of my quote/how it proves my idea (2-4 sentences)?
• Check for correct punctuation and spelling?

In Philip Reeve's science fiction novel Fever Crumb, one theme is, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." I chose this theme because when the main character, Fever, met Dr.Crumb, she thought he was weird and a little crazy just by how he looked. But the more Fever started to get to know Dr.Crumb, the more she started to like him.

I think that Fever and Gray from Green Eggs and Ham are alike. When Gray saw the plate of green eggs and ham, he thought it looked disgusting and that he would never eat it. Later in the story, Gray finally tried them and liked them. When Fever saw Dr.Crumb, she thought he looked crazy and weird. Then after getting to know Dr.Crumb more, she started to like him. It is clear from this comparison that "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is a good theme for Fever Crumb.

In the novel The Curious Incident of the do in the Night- Time by Mark Haddon, a theme for this book can be "If someone loves you enough to go through a lot of trouble for you, you should forgive them no matter what." I think this theme fits this book because Chris, the protagonist has problems. He is really picky for a 15 year old. For example he can't use public bathrooms, and he doesn't like the color brown and yellow. He also hits people when he doesn't feel comfortable around them. Once he hit a police man and ended up in jail and his father always has to deal with this. A few years ago. his mother past away. That's what his dad told him but Chris finds out that he was lying when he found his book with a bunch of letters. The book was a story he was writing about the mystery of who killed Wellington which is the poodle that belongs to Mrs.Shears who is his neighbor. Chris' mother actually left for Mr.Shears who is his neighbor's ex-husband. Chris' dad says "I didn't know what to say. I was in such a mess. She left a note and.. Then she rang I said she was in the hospital because I didn't know hot wo explain" (114). This quote shows that his father was really sorry and he loves Chris a lot. His dad just didn't know what to do at the time so he decided to lie but in the end, Chris forgives his dad because he been through so much trouble all these years. Therefore, the theme "If someone loves you enough to go through a lot of trouble for you, you should forgive them no matter what." fits this book.

In Rick Riordan's fantay novel, The Sea of Monsters, the theme of this book is "to take courage." Have the courage to solve problems and never shrink back or cringe. Percy Jackson wasn't a perfect person. Some disabilities he had was dyslexia and ADHD and he didn't have the courage to find a new home or become a trained fighter. Soon, Percy realized that he can still battle over his disabilities and can still do quests and fight enemies and monsters. Percy had the courage to not give up and help the Gods and Goddesses, including half-bloods to defeat Lord Kronos and other antagonist that was after him or others. Percy also took te courage of moving to Camp Half Blood because he had to, or else he would die from titans, which includes Kronos. He wanted to either stay with his mother at their original apartment, or move into Camp with her. However, since his mother is not a half blood, she wasn't able to enter. Because of this, Percy was willing to move in to Camp with his best friend, Grover, and his mother was captured by the minotaur, and sent to Hades. Therefore, this is why I think this the theme of this book.

In Rick Riordan's fiction novel The Red Pyramid, the theme is "don't find yourself into trouble." I think the theme fits perfectly with this one part in the book, because when carter and his sister Sadie are in this library inside a museum. They were trying to get inside the magic doors which where locked by a spell. So Carters sister Sadie wanted to use a spell and brake the doors open. But Carter told her that the last time she used that spell she almost fainted, and he doesn't want the after affect of the spell to be worse than the first time. "That door is locked for a reason you know!" said Carter. This quote shows that Sadie is very anxious to open the doors but Carter does't want it to be something bad behind the doors. I feel like Sadie is always looking for trouble, maybe because she is the youngest, but she always disregards what Carter says.

In Cynthia Kadohata's realistic fiction novel, Kira-Kira, the theme that would best fit it would be, "You can see the world in your own way." I choose this theme because since Katie's big sister taught her the word "Kira-Kira" and uses it to say that things are so glittering, Katie sees and describes the world and everything that's on it are glittering. "The sky is very kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time." This quote shows that Katie and her sister sees the world as a glittering figure because they use that word to describe everything they see using that word. So the theme of this book "You can see the world in your own way" would fit it.

In Judy Blume's realistic fiction Just As Long A We're Together the theme in this book in this book is to not judge people by the way you look. The protagonist (Stephanie) was on her way to school. While she was walking; she saw this girl who looked weird. She saw this girl wearing red and white striped t-shirt to her knees, hair was long but wasn't brushed, had her dog with her, and she was barefoot. Stephanie walked up and talked to her. After that, they had talked they became friends. "Rachel gave me one of her skeptical looks then said, Well...I think we should try to help her get adjusted here. I think we should try to be her friends. I think so, too, I said" (36). This quote states that Rachel (Stephanie's best friend) and Stephanie are judging the way Allison (Stephanie's and Rachel's new friends) looks. However, Stephanie and Rachel thinks that Allison has issues in her life and needs friends to support her. Instead if ignoring and not judging Allison; they have to develop a friendship with her.

In Christopher Paolini's fantasy novel, Eragon, a theme that would fit the book is, to understand then be understood. Eragon is about a 15 year old boy that found a Dragon. He is known as a Rider who have thought to be extinct but now one has come. He is supposed to be the savior of the land from the horrid King, Galbatorix. Before he does that he needs to understand his friend, Murtagh. Saphira, Eragon's dragon says "Now if you don't want to spend the night under my foot, you will ask Murtagh what is troubling him." Saphira said this because Murtagh is troubled.He needs to know what his friends feels and try to save him, and if he can't then how is he supposed to save the land. Therefore the theme that best matches Eragon is understand then be understood

In Sharon Draper realistic fiction novel, Tears of a Tiger, the theme of this book is to appreciate what you have. I say this because after the car accident my protagonist Andy has faced (killed his best friend Robbie) serious problems of living life. He went to an alcohol clinic, psychologist, and friends, to help him to be better, but he shut them down. Didn't care with Alcohol clinic thing, kept telling the psychologist that he wasn't crazy to be checking in with him, and wouldn't be there much for his friends nor his girlfriend, and that's why they break-up. But this break-up was tough for him. So one day he just wanted to talk to somebody, but then nobody was available, no alcohol clinic or psychologist,(mom died, that's why) no friends, and worse, no girlfriend. So then the next day came and he didn't go to school. He stayed home and all he did was grab his dads rifle and started talking to himself. Then came up to this. "Its not that I want to die-it's just that I can't stand this pain of livin` anymore"(165). then "I'm sorry for all I've done-so sorry,... so very, very sor-"(165).From there, he shot his gun towards his head and died. This just showed that when you don't appreciate what you already have, that's one of the consequences you may take, killing yourself, suicide. In conclusion, you should appreciate everything you have now, because later on, you may regret.

In Rick Riordan's fantasy novel The Lighting Thief, one theme of this book is be brave and never give up. Percy Jackson just learned that he is a son of Poseidon. He stays at Camp-Half Blood until he goes on a quest to find Zeus's Lighting bolt. His best friends come with him and while Percy finds many challages such as finding someone who betrayed him. Percy never gave up after going though the underworld and fighting Ares the god of war. "I will not stop until we get to return his bolt,"This quote means that he will not give up no matter what comes in his way. He is determined to get the bolt. Therefore I think this is the theme that Rick is trying to teach.

In Laurie Halse Anderson's realistic fiction novel Speak, One theme is," Don't be afraid to speak up for your self." I think this the best theme because if you don't speak up for yourself, people are going to take advantage of you and think you let people do whatever they want to do to you. In the book Melinda lets her peers throw stuff at her and call her names because she is afraid to say anything to anyone. She's scared to tell people how she feels and she's scared to defend herself."A guy behind me unwraps his breakfast and shoots the wrapper at the back of my head......."(3). Melinda didn't do anything when this rude child threw his breakfast at her. She didn't say anything because shes afraid to express herself because if I were in Melinda's situation, I would have threw it right back. This quote proves my idea because Melinda doesn't stand up for herself and she doesn't care. Therefore the theme that best describes the book Speak is " Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself."

In the Rick Rioadans fantasy book Mark of Athena. The theme of the book was mostly war. Percy Jackson is a Half-Blood which aloes his to be half a god and half a human . In the beginning of the book him and his friend that he met in camp Half-Blood Anabeth stopped at Rome and then the Roman gods got in their way by stopping the Greek half-bloods boat. Later the Roman gods warned them to stay away . Obviously they didn't so they started a war against ancient roman gods.
"The Romans are coming" said Piper
"Theres only one thing to do . Start the war. " said Percy
this quote shows that instead of solving it with words they decided to solve it with war and fighting, which would be the theme of the book .

In the book Sticks and Stones by Beth Gooble, the theme of the book was to never give up. Jujube fought for bullying to stop in her school, it was unnecessary and caused mental abuse. "It can't last forever, I protested." This quote shows that Jujube was determined not to give up on what was right. All of the hatred needed to stop. Though it was just words, they had very harsh meanings that pierced students. Jujube wasn't going to rest until she got to the end of it. She never gave up and she got what she achieved for.

In markus zusak's historical fiction novel The Book Thief one of the themes of the book is that how that you should be companistante to other people even if nobody else is.Lisel is a 14 year old girl who lives in himmel street.She lives with Rosa Hubermann her foster mother and Hans Hubermann her foster father.she also lives with a jewish fist fighter name Max. Max lives because lisel 1943 in Germany were jews were sent to constration camps and 90% of the german population was a nazi which ment they were against jews and they want to purife the race. Lisel foster parents was part of the other 10% who weren't in the nazi party and werent against jews because of something that happend to Hans Hubermman.During his years he was fighting in war although he didnt really like the volience and one of this fellow soldier didn't like violence either his name was Erik;Erik was a jew. They became really good friends Erik taught Hans how to play the arccodian and he also saved his life. So because Hans never the nazi party and infact his Erik son Max in his basment so he wouldn't get killed or sent to a constration camp. Hans show his compastion in another to Death(the narrtor) descibe the event like this "The Jew stood before him,expecting another handful of derision , but he watched with everyone else as Hans Hubberman held his hand-out present a piece of bread, like magic." this show that you should compastionate even if nobody else is because the Jewish man expect hate and Hans Hubberman gave something like bread which made the man thank and show the man that he is human. Hans Hubberman knew that man would apprectate it and even though everyone in that crowd showed hate he showed a diffrent side he showed compasion.

In the thriller novel "Summer of Fear" by Lois Duncan I think the theme is to always be brave and to face your fear.I said this because in the book Rachel (the main character) is suspicious about her cousin and what she believes she did last summer.In the book she hesitates to talk or and ask her cause she was afraid of her and scared cause she never knew what her cousin could have do to her.I also think that the theme supports the book only cause she was brave to talk to her and confront her."Rachel states,she hesitated to shake her hand" and she started to talk after she warmed up to her.I think this quote shows how much it was at the begining and how it was later on because she was to even shake hands with her own cousin like her blood and flesh.I also think think that she came out and you see the difference because she came out and was resentful from that hand shake and now she was having a converstion with her in her bed room.I also think that if Rachel decides to continue down the pace she is going at or down this pat I think she will be able to accomplish anything.

In Ian o'Connor's biography, "The Journey Of Derek Jeter," the theme of the book is, "To keep trying and push yourself." Derek Jeter was the first pick for the New York Yankees and had been playing at Columbus for a while until someone on the Yankees roster had gotten injured. So the managers made a decision and called Derek to the big leagues to cover for the shortstop. Jeter had been doing amazing at Columbus but when he started playing at first he struck out multiple times but gradually got used to it. When Jeter was having a tough time, George Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees had stated, "I wasn't sure if I we had made the right decision. But then we realized that we had." This quote shows that the theme of the book is, "To keep trying and push yourself," because Jeter wasn't doing so well but his parents and teammates encouraged him which motivated him to keep going and do what he had dreamed of as a kid. Which was to play at shortstop for the Yankees.

Bloodline
In Kate Carys novel "Bloodline", a theme that best describes this book is that danger is at every corner. The main character John Shaw, a nineteen-year-old, who is in the British Army who works as a communication officer who listens to German radio feeds and translates what he knows. John Shaw's Captain Quincey Harker and him went into battle. While in battle, an enemy approached John Shaw with force. Just before he was about to pull the trigger, Captain Harker took his sword and pushed the sword through him. "Harker had saved me! Saved me from certain death" (50). This quote shows that at every corner you turn, danger is waiting. I choose this quote because it shows how you can die in the blink of an eye. If Captain Harker was not there John Shaw would not have lived In conclusion a theme that best describes this book is danger is at every corner.

In Christopher Paolini's fantasy novel Eldest, a theme that best describes the novel is to never give up. The main character in the novel is named Eragon. Since he is a dragon rider, King Galbotorix is trying to capture him using the Ra'zac, and make Eragon work for him so he can become more powerful. Eragon is sent to Ellesmera, a place where the elves lives. He is being taught there how to do complicated magic spells to use in battle. However, he hurts his back in a battle with Durza, which makes it hard for him to do certain things. Eragon doesn't give up though, because he wants to get better at doing different things. This shows that a theme to describe the book is to never give up, no matter how hard things may get.

In R.L's Stine's realistic fiction "The Mask Mutant" a theme that best describes the book is to never stop until you find out what's happening. Skipper is predicting that a comic book character came to life. He was predicting that because he was seeing usual stuff outside he seen in his comic book. His friend Libby suggested that Skipper is delusional and told him to forget about. But Skipper said, "I will not stop until I find out what's going." This quote shows that Skipper is a solver and he wants to find out what going on.