Post 7: Book 4 Review

East's journal to Girl Garner (whom is dead)from the book Snap: December 1, 2014 Dear Girl Garner, This is East. I know you’re dead and I know you know the truth about who murdered you and I know that it was your brothers. This street gang can do terrible things to our lives and I want nothing but to get out. Anyways, I need you to give me a sign as to how your brothers killed you. They are blaming me for the murder because I saw you dead at the bottom of the stairs and I was sure your brothers would blame me. Although I am innocent I need to get out, but I have to keep my brother, West, safe as well. I think I’m going to pull him out of school. He’s already bullied because of his distorted face from his disease anyways. I just don’t want to make it obvious that we’re going to flee. This is a time where I really wish I had parents to guide me. I wouldn’t even be in this situation if that were the case. I’m trying to be a hero not only for myself, but for my brother. If I get pinned for this crime my brother will have no one, and God knows he can’t make it on his own. Please give me a hint Girl! Sincerely, East December 6, 2014 Dear Girl Garner, Life has gotten even more insane since I last wrote you. The whole street gang in Stepney has turned against my brother and me. Now not only do I feel like we need to leave the town, but I feel as if we need to leave Britain. I am so incredibly scared, but I’m not letting anyone see that emotion in the slightest. The other night the Garner boys saw me and my brother in an alley in Stepney and started shooting at us. My brother is entirely confused and I don’t know how to explain the scenario to him without him thinking I’m a criminal or being scared. I finally realize what “being at the wrong place at the wrong time means”. I’m sorry about your death Girl. It’s ruined not only your life, but my brother’s and mine as well. HELP! Sicnerely, East December 10, 2014 Dear Girl Garner, I’ve recently decided to not flee. I am going to be a(n) (anti)hero for my brother. I am going to solve this mysterious crime. I know testifying as a witness won’t do much good. I mean, look at me. I’m just a teenager in a gang from Stepney. I need evidence. I will be like a spy. Although, being in a gang has gotten me into this mess, oddly enough, I think it can get me out. I know how to be sly. Anyways, if you are seeing this from where ever you are please send down a sign Girl!! I need you. Sincerely, East December 20, 2014 Dear Girl Garner, I haven’t written you in over a week, but I have some awesome news. West and I are safe. We are going to be okay. I’ve dealt with a lot of violence over the past couple of days and it almost feels as if my worlds be torn upside down because I’ve had to become a no one: a person who can’t be seen. Anyways, West and I are going to be okay. It turns out that the Garner boys didn’t just murder their sister, but also other girls in the gang as well so the other gang members and I turned on them. We’ve had to search hard for them because they went to a different town, but we found them and had a shootout. Every single one of your brothers is dead Girl. I am wondering if they are with you. If you guys went to the same place after death. I know you were helping me from wherever you are and I’m out of the gang. West and I will live a safe life. It will still be full of hardships, but we will live in our small townhouse as a family. Sincerely, East

Post 10: Reading Wishlist

Sara's bookshelf: to-read

Love the One You're With

by Emily Giffin

tagged: to-read

Hidden

by Catherine McKenzie

tagged: to-read

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner

tagged: to-read

Where the Heart Is

by Billie Letts

tagged: to-read

The Truth About Forever

by Sarah Dessen

tagged: to-read

Post 9: Book 2 Trailer

Post 8: Book Talk Presentation

Book 3: 5 Reasons Why Jase & Samantha Should Be Together

5 Reasons Why Jase and Samantha Should Be Together ♥

                Jase and Samantha, the main characters in My Life Next Door, aren’t your average couple. They form a relationship in the oddest of ways. The Garrett’s (Jase’s family) move into next to Samantha, her sister, and her mom. They live next door to each other for years before actually having any conversation, which is probably because Samantha’s mom is appalled with the Garrett’s clutter. Anyways, eventually Jase finds the courage to talk to Samantha who is watching Jase’s family from her rooftop. This is just the beginning to their adorable love story.

1.)    Jase and Samantha Even Each Other Out.

Jase and Samantha come from very different families. Samantha comes from a family of three without a father figure. Her mom is a “clean freak” and must have everything done precisely. Sam’s mom also is a stickler for the rules, such as getting home right at curfew.

On the other hand, Jase comes from a huge family with parents whom love each other greatly. His family is chaotic, but that’s the reason Samantha enjoys watching and being around them so much. Samantha claims, “The Garrett’s were my bedtime story,” (page 6) referring to her watching the Garrett’s every night. 

2.)    Jase Breaks Samantha Out Of Her Shell.

Because Samantha has such an overbearing mom she has become a girl who always has to abide by the rules. When Jase comes into the picture he doesn’t turn her into a bad girl, but opens her world up to things she hasn’t done or felt before. Samantha says things such as, “If Jase knocked on the window again and told me we were going to take a motorcycle trip to California right now, I’d go.” (Page 105). 

 

3.)    They Genuinely Care For Each Other.

In My Life Next Door, Samantha gets put into a scary situation where her best friend’s brother, Tim, is driver her to an unknown place. The bad news is: Tim is under the influence and speeding like a nascar driver. When Samantha doesn’t know what to do she immediately thinks of Jase and when she calls him he says, “’Just hang on. Get in, lock the doors, and hit the hazard light. We’ll find you.’” (Page 152). After forty-five minutes Jase follows through on his promise and not only saves Samantha, but also drugged out Tim. (What a great guy! Right?)

 

4.)    Jase And Samantha Push Each Other To Be The Best Version Of Themselves.

Jase and Samantha push each other to be better by realizing that their jobs and workouts are important. Jase is understanding of Samantha’s several jobs while Samantha is understanding of Jase’s daily workouts on the beach because they both know that these things will help them in their future. Also, at one point in the story when they talk about what they want to do after high school Samantha tells Jase she wants to go to college, but Jase claims he might not get a chance to because of how many kids are in his family. Sam then encourages by telling him that he can get loans or try to get a scholarship so that he can be go to college. They truly want each other to succeed!

5.)    They Make Each Other Happy & Don’t Fight Like Every Other Teenage Couple.

Samantha and Jase are very affectionate. They love to hangout not only with each other, but with Jase’s family and Nan and Tim. They’re not over-protective of one another. Jase and Samantha have the perfect relationship! Samantha thinks, “His smiles so infectious,” (page 136) and “…the way he does look at me makes me feel absolutely beautiful.” (Page 175). While Jase says about Samantha: “I never felt with her the way I feel whenever I even catch sight of you.” (Page 175).

Conclusion:

Obviously, for all these reasons, and many other tedious ones written in the book, Jase and Samantha are in love. Because they are in love and truly happy they should be together. Also, they can overcome adversity with each other and that is a great thing to have in a relationship. They are a model couple of what love looks like!

ß Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Blog 5: Genres Matter

                I believe that genres completely matter. Therefore, a book should be completely true if it is going to be called non-fiction. Why? Because everyone likes to read different things. For example, I am someone who enjoys reading non-fiction because I think that stories become more interesting when they are true. Also, some people may use non-fiction to learn about the world and if children are reading a book that claims it is a true story about monkey’s who flew to the moon on a banana then the world will become stupid. I think half-truths are okay only if the book is “based on a true story” or fiction. I think that it does matter that Frey said his book was a memoir, even though he lied in it because if he lied in it he could have just said it was “based on a true story” which would have allowed him to avoid the negative publicity.

                I think Shields is wrong about saying that genres don’t matter. I think genres help people to decide what type of books they enjoy reading so when Shields asks, “Why does it matter to put the book in a genre?” it makes me want to respond to him by saying, "What is the harm in it?" I think his question is silly. The genre is not hurting the books story or making it not as good, in my opinion. If people think a story seems good or interesting they would probably read it regardless of the genre, but that doesn’t mean genres shouldn’t exist.

Adapting The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

If I were to adapt The Perks Of Being A Wallflower I would adapt it into a TV show because it has already been adapted into a movie (although I have not seen the movie). It would be a good idea to make this story of Charlie's life into a TV show because throughout the seasons you could see him mature as he gets older. The book is told through Charlie's journals so each journal could be an episode. One of the five most important decisions for making this a TV show would to be true to Charlie's character. It is entertaining to see Charlie trying new things and speak his mind about coming out of his shell. Secondly, Charlie's family should all remain exactly as they are because they are all interesting and mysterious, in my opinion. Thirdly, there needs to be more information on Michael. The book starts off talking about how Michael killed himself, but they don't go into much detail as to why he did or the problems he might have faced in his life. The fourth most important decision in the TV show would be to incorporate the songs/genres of  music that Sam, Patrick, and Charlie constantly talk about because this will convey their personalities. Lastly, the book is somewhat raunchy, but I think the TV show should also be that way because it is funny to see Charlie get into these types of situations. It would make for a comical TV series. The only person I would possibly take out of the book would be Craig, Sam's boyfriend, because since I have not finished the book I am still hoping that Sam will fall for Charlie who is a hopeless romantic. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower would be a great TV show because it would allow teenagers to relate with Charlie and root for him as they seem him grow throughout high school.