Mrs. Jernigan's Class discussion

Maria wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I also agree with Sarah Kate in saying that the Disney movies give us that expectation as little kids, and that could be one of the main reasons that we expect so much ..."

If you were to make a movie on both books, who would play the main character and why?

The two books are very similar because they are both about teenagers and are both written from teenagers perspectives. John Green puts a twist on both books, he ends the book very unexpectedly. In both books something tragic happens that takes the reader off guard, leaving the reader dying to know what happens next. Which I thought was very strange because like we were talking about earlier most books have a very happy ending. For example Fault in Our Stars ends with Augustus dying, which is a very unexpected twist since from the beginning Hazel makes comments of how she might die soon. As the reader we hope that they both live happily ever after, but that is not how Green writes the story.

I think Kristen Stewart would be a really good actress for Hazel in the beginning, because Hazel is kinda depressed and acts like she is just waiting to die. For Augustus I think Liam Hemsworth because Augustus is really sweet and kind. I picture Augustus being like Liam in the last song.

I am reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, an autobiography by Mindy Kaling from The Office and The Mindy Project. I normally don't like autobiographies, but I loved her testimony. She is extremely relatable and real. To Libby's question: the main thing i learned from this book is that Mindy made it in the television/comedy industry being completely true to herself and no one else. She is just an extremely normal person and i appreciated and respected her honesty in the book.

Do y'all think books are more easily relatable when the author takes stories from their own lives instead of completely running off of a purely fictional idea?

Ruth wrote: "Do you think writing books about love and romance could potentially corrupt the mind of a girl (or boy) looking for the "Perfect" love? Do you think it could effect one's opinion on love?"

Ruth, I definitely think that books about love and romance has the ability to corrupt the mind of the reader about love. Obviously when every girl reads The Notebook, every single one of them wants a Noah in their life who will wait for them and love them forever. This can go either way. Either this teaches young girls to have high expectations for a guy and that he should treat her with love and respect which should always be present in a relationship. Then there's the other side of it: it makes girls lonely and depressed when they realize that men arent perfect like they are in books or movies.

Libbey wrote: "What did you enjoy about your book specifically? Was it the authors writing style, the characters, or something else?"

In my book, I enjoyed the honesty of the writer. She makes the audience feel like they are sitting on the couch chatting while How I Met your Mother plays in the background. It was perfect for an autobiography.

Marianna.ward wrote: "Do y'all think books are more easily relatable when the author takes stories from their own lives instead of completely running off of a purely fictional idea?"

I think that when authors use their lives to incorporate into their stories it could either be a hit or a miss. Some stories are either too involved in the authors personal life and views, and the some are just the right amount. The book I read, "Matched", was a combination of the author's negative views towards the government and her positive views on love. Books that are involved with the author's personal life can be boring, or they could also be relatable.

I would say that i am most like Augustus because he has more of a positive view on life than Hazel does and I am a person that is always looking for positives. I have never had cancer but i can relate to Augustus because I have family member who have had cancer just like he has friends with cancer. We both have walked along side peoples journey's through their cancer. He also thinks of others and is caring and I feel like i am always trying to put others before myself.

Marianna, i do think it is easier to relate to the the story if the Author writes from his or her experiences if the Author has done something intriguing. I think that a story is most interesting when an author takes their own experience and exaggerates the story a little to make it more exciting.

Libbey wrote: "What did you enjoy about your book specifically? Was it the authors writing style, the characters, or something else?"

I am a big lover of romance, science fiction/futuristic, and a little bit of insurgency. I loved "The Hunger Games" trilogy because they matched up with my preferences. When I picked up "Matched" I fell in love because it had the same feel at THG, but a different story. Books like this give us an imagination about what the world might become. Also both books create a place where one could go and be in a "different" world, but in reality its just words.

Maria wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I also agree with Sarah Kate in saying that the Disney movies give us that expectation as little kids, and that could be one of the main reasons that we expect so much ..."

If I made a movie of The Fault in Our Stars I think I would have Anne Hathaway be Hazel and Robert Pattinson be Augustus. I feel like Anne Hathaway does a great job in depressing roles and is really able to connect with the character. I find Robert Pattinson to be like Augustus in many ways and I think they have the some of the same mannerisms and Robert Pattinson is able to seem very carrying in movies which is like Augustus.

Marianna.ward wrote: "Do y'all think books are more easily relatable when the author takes stories from their own lives instead of completely running off of a purely fictional idea?"


I think personally that books are more easily relatable when the author is sharing his personal experiences. We are able to relate because we may have had some of the same struggles or experiences in our life. Where as with fictional stories they are purely made up so throughout the story it is exciting putting yourself in the characters places but once you are doe reading the book it is disappointing because you must go back to reality and realize that these things would never happen.

Maria wrote: "If you were to make a movie on both books, who would play the main character and why?"

For "Matched" I imagine the main character, Cassia being played by
Victoria Justice. I think Victoria could bring the rebellious character to the movie. I think Ky could be played by Dylan O'brien because he has the dark hair and could play the part of the misunderstood outcast.

Since most of us didn't read biography's do y'all thing that your books problems and relationships were believable in your story's?

Maria wrote: "Maria wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I also agree with Sarah Kate in saying that the Disney movies give us that expectation as little kids, and that could be one of the main reasons that we e..."

If I could make a movie for Redeeming Love I would cast Kristen Stewart as Angel and Brad Pitt as Michael. Kristen Stewart has such a strange personality and is blunt which resembles Angel. If Kristen Stewart was a prostitute and then found someone like Michael i feel like she would also run away. Brad Pitt would make a great Michael because I feel like he is a gentle person and has realistic views. He also would not stop running after the his wife is she were to act the same way as Angel.

Hannah wrote: "Since most of us didn't read biography's do y'all thing that your books problems and relationships were believable in your story's?

I personally think that John Green does a great job of keeping h..."

I think that "Matched" is a good representation of what the United States could potentially come to. For example, so many new technology things are coming out every day. Soon enough we will all be only typing on computers or tablets like in "Matched." In the futuristic Society that Condie creates, no one even knows how to write because they only have typed all their life. So to conclude, I do think that Condie's book are believable and could potentially happen.

What main theme is found throughout your book?

I think the number one theme in "Matched" is that people should be able to voice their opinion. The society in "Matched" is so closely watched that the only thing that the government doesn't know is what you are thinking inside your head.

Another theme is true love. Reallove.com defines True Love as : "caring about the happiness of another person without any thought for what we might get for ourselves."

Ruth the main theme in Fault in our stars i think would be that love wins over struggle and hardship. They know they have limited time to be together but they still love each other through it.

Hannah wrote: "Since most of us didn't read biography's do y'all thing that your books problems and relationships were believable in your story's?

John Green has a way of writing that is believable and realistic. He achieves this by writing about things that happen every day in the life of a teenager although we may not know it. It is hard thinking about a teenager with cancer but it is believable because it actually happens. People would not be able to relate to this story if the issues that they have or situations they go through were not believable.

Redeeming love is a totally different story. I think that what happens in the book is believable but i just do not want to face the facts that girls actually have gone through same situations like Angel. I think that it is for sure possible for a man to love someone as much as Michael loves Angel. What is really hard to believe is that a he would run after as many times as he does. To me that part seems like a fairytale but that is because Michael has love like God's and it is too difficult to understand the amount of love God truly has for his children.

If you could change one thing about your book what would it be and why?

This is a weird kind of question but... When you were reading your book how did you "experience" is? Like did you get into it? Were you pulled in, or were you just a bystander, reading a story?

For "Matched" I kind of felt like a bystander at times, and then I also felt like I was apart of the story. Condie gets into the mind of Cassia and makes the readers feel like they are living the story through her. But when she goes on to just explain things I feel like I am watching the story unfold.

If I could change one thing I first would say to change the story so Augustus doesn't die, but at the same time i think that it adds an unexpected twist. I honestly don't know what i would change, John Green did a really good job of killing Augustus to where the readers are sad but still love the book.

Libbey wrote: "If you could change one thing about your book what would it be and why?"

One thing I would change about my book would be the rules on how teens are matched. I think that the teens should have a little bit more of a choice on who they want to spend their life with. But then again the strict rules make the book more about rebellion.

Hannah wrote: "Do you think the way the author portrays teenagers is accurate?"

In my book I personaly think that he represents teenagers well, in the way the characters act rebelliously, but also they are held responsible for their actions and though they may not care if they get caught, there is punishments for what they do.

Hannah wrote: "Since most of us didn't read biography's do y'all thing that your books problems and relationships were believable in your story's?"

I personally think that John Green does a great job of keeping his books believable, through the setting that he chooses and the obstacles he creates. I think he works really hard at making the problems his characters are faced with relatable to his readers.

Are there any characters that you relate to in your book, or see yourself in their shoes sometimes?

Is there a book that you could compare your book to, or one with the same feel/themes? Which one do you like better?

Libbey wrote: "What did you enjoy about your book specifically? Was it the authors writing style, the characters, or something else?"

In my three books i really enjoyed the character development. Throughout both Life of Pi and Catching Fire the main character starts out as a simple character that blossoms into something completely different. Pi becoming a man and Katniss becoming a hero and a figure of hope, each change so much and end up effecting so many people with that change

Libbey wrote: "Marianna.ward wrote: "Do y'all think books are more easily relatable when the author takes stories from their own lives instead of completely running off of a purely fictional idea?"


I think pers..."

I think that yes, a more personal story can touch peoples hearts more than any old fictional story, but i don't think that is always to case. For example in the Life of Pi, a fictional book, ends touching so many peoples hearts and becoming one of the most famous books ever made. With fictional books, you never know what your going to get. sometimes it might affect you and sometimes it won't.i also believe that in every fictional story, there is some personal touch from the writer. although it might not be a direct story there is still some meaning and truth behind their words. for example with Pi when he had to face his past and recall all the tragic events in his life, that probably means that the author either had or saw someone with a bad past and decided to write somewhat about it.

I believe that it is much easier to believe and relate to a story when the you know the author knows what she or he is talking about. A great example of this is Louisa May Allcott's Little Women.

Ruth wrote: "This is a weird kind of question but... When you were reading your book how did you "experience" is? Like did you get into it? Were you pulled in, or were you just a bystander, reading a story?

Fo..."

When I was reading Redeeming Love I was completely and totally captivated. I could not put the book down. I throughout the book felt so much sympathy for Angel and Michael just seized to amaze me. This book made me realize so many different things that go on in the world, and that humans are no where near perfect, but also that people do forgive and so does God!

While reading The Fault in Our Stars I was constantly captivated by the ups and downs of Hazel's life. I really enjoyed this book because I was able to relate to some of the things throughout the book. During the entire story I just put myself in Hazel's shoes and thought of what it would be like to be a teenager and have cancer. I just wished I could cure all of these kids from their cancer.

Ruth wrote: "Are there any characters that you relate to in your book, or see yourself in their shoes sometimes?"

Obviously with my book being an autobiography there was only one character. In one part of the book, Mindy discusses her struggles with choosing where to go to college and what she wanted to do with her life after high school. As juniors, I think that this is something we can all relate to.

Ruth wrote: "Is there a book that you could compare your book to, or one with the same feel/themes? Which one do you like better?"

In a weird way this book reminded me of The Hunger Games. Obviously Mindy does not fight to the death with 23 other people, but she focuses on the occasionally hostile nature of people in the world and how she overcame feeling confused and lost after coming out of her comfort zone after high school. This book is all about finding yourself and making bad situations better by embracing your past. I feel like Katniss's story also deals with finding yourself in a dark place.

Ruth wrote: "Is there a book that you could compare your book to, or one with the same feel/themes? Which one do you like better?"

I do not think there are any other books like Redeeming Love or The Fault in Our Stars. These stories are one of a kind because the authors who wrote them put their heart into these books.
there maybe other books out there that are like these and I have just not them, but I honestly would not want to read any other book that is similar to these because they would just not do justice.

Libbey, what was your favorite part of Redeeming Love? That book is so powerful.

Libbey wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Is there a book that you could compare your book to, or one with the same feel/themes? Which one do you like better?"


My favorite part of Redeeming Love would be every single time that Michael runs to get Angel back. We know that Michael's love for Angel is a resemblance of God's love for use and that just really tugged at my heart because that is a lot of love and to think that God loves me that much and more is amazing. It just made me think and put into perspective how much I take God for granted and how thankful I should be. I also agree it is in my opinion one of the most powerful books to this day.

Ruth wrote: "Are there any characters that you relate to in your book, or see yourself in their shoes sometimes?"


I feel like I could relate to Hazel's mom although I am not a mom. I just think we are the same in the way that we want to make people we love feel their best. I do not love comparing myself to a mom but the care I have for my friends is a lot like the care Hazel's mom has for her. I also watch out for my friends and make sure they are not about to make a bad choice because i care so much about them. On another note Hazel's mom makes a big deal about anything positive and I find myself doing this with the littlest things.

Hannah wrote: "Ruth the main theme in Fault in our stars i think would be that love wins over struggle and hardship. They know they have limited time to be together but they still love each other through it."

I would have to agree with you Hannah. I think that there is just so much love throughout the story that is even kind of hidden in the rough places. They do not take for granted the time they have with each other which is so sweet and makes me feel like i should be the same with my family and friends.

How has the book you've read changed your perspective on life or the world or did it change your perspectives at all?

For my book I read Red Dragon, a book about a serial killer who mythotically kills one victom after another, what do y'all think creates such amoral monsters out of human beings?

Hanna wrote: "What is one thing that you found significant while reading your book?"

In my book, Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees with Chris Fabry, I think the way Drew uses his faith is very significant. He relies on faith a lot, and when you are in a position like he is by having season ending surgery that is all you can rely on. But what is great, he did not just rely on it then, but all the time. I know I do and some other do too, we just rely on our faith in God to get us out of things but other than that we don't pay much attention to it. His story is very impacting and I well recommend it to all.

In my book I found that the signifance of family was a huge part of Tony Dungy's life. He felt as if that when you work you need to show your kids how it is they are being provided for and how much that he loves his kids to do this for them. He always wanted his kids to be involved.

Another important thing that he wanted was that everything he did he involved Christ. He would teach his players and teammates about what he believed in and how God has helped him everyday through his life to shape how he is today. So God in his work was a huge thing for him.

Do you believe that a certain object or something tangible can help a character develop or come along on their journey easier?

Walkerh wrote: "Do you believe that a certain object or something tangible can help a character develop or come along on their journey easier?"
Yes, In my one of my books the Hunger Games, Katniss has a mocking jay pin that she puts on inside of the arena. Every time she runs into trouble she looks at it and it gives her hope through all of her struggles. Even if she doesn't think she has a chance or can win she knows that her mocking jay will always be with her.

Ruth wrote: "I am reading Matched by Ally Condie which takes place in the Perfect futuristic America. In this society everything is chosen for them from how many kids they have, to who they marry, to when they ..."

Along with Katniss in Catching Fire, there is also an example of someone acting in a way diffewrent than they were told. In Killer Angles, a group of men were told to execute and take over a pointless station of defensless men. Despite being under order, the men decided to go against their commander and spare the mens life.

The main character in my story, Nouriel, is presented with a seal, representing a different sign by God for the nation, and it is Nouriel's task to find the meaning and significance of each seal. Many times Nouriel decides he will give up and forget about the prophesy, however he always ends up being right where he needs to be to continue on with his quest to find the harbingers.

I read the house of hades by Rick Riordan. It is book about a group of Demi gods who have to save the world from Gaea the titan of the earth. she wants to destroy the world and recreate it. In this part of the series the characters have to close the doors of death to start the monsters, titans, and giants from returning from Tartaurus (underworld). This story is written differently than many other books because there is not on main character. After a couple of chapters the narrator switches to another member of the group. Going off of Ruth's question, how do the characters make there own decisions, all the heroes in this story have to make life changing decisions in almost every chapter. Not every time are theses the decisions that other want them to make. they are constantly being tempted to take the easy way out and they choose not too.

Walkerh wrote: "Do you believe that a certain object or something tangible can help a character develop or come along on their journey easier?"

In the House of Hades, the heroes each have an object that keeps them safe. these objects aren't always weapons. Percy has a sword but then there is leo who has a tool belt that has never ending pockets. these items make the characters feel safe and secure. These objects also develop the characters as well give them a sense of importance and also help them succeed in their journies.