Sarah’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2014)

Sarah’s comments from the Reading Rams Summer I, 2014 group.

Shanay wrote: "Jenna, I too scared myself reading this last night. I decided to stop and finish up this morning. The pictures were very spooky but it was a great touch to the story nonetheless."

I agree! The pictures were spooky, but it was very helpful to the story line.

Very descriptive and eerie! I liked it though! After about the fourth ( I think?) chapter you could see where this story was going. The scene of his grandfather dying was so sad! Really good story! I gave it to my mom to read, she's a retired Middle school reading teacher.

Jenna wrote: "Shanay, Rochelle-
I think Monica is your average teenager who doesn't know how to handle something like a loved one with cancer. And at that age being "in love" in general is so overwhelming on its..."

I think Monica was just scared! That was a big reality check for her! I'm sure too much for her to handle. Sad!

I found this to be an excellent read. I thought Hazel was a very, very strong young lady! Gus and Hazel were very in tune with each other.
But I've got to say it was a tear jerker! Man! Tears! John Green is an excellent writer. I would like to read more of his books in the future.

V. wrote: "Sdg22 wrote: "Shanay wrote: "The watson’s go to Birmingham

I remember my 4th grade teacher reading this story to us as a read aloud. I remember reading it once someone had given me the book back ..."

I very coming of age story, during a difficult time in our history. ( Sarah)

This was a really good story. The little brother's point of view about the world around him. His brother, a typical teenager, sent off to his grandmother to "straighten" him out. A little sister who, bugs everyone and cries at everything. He's got his family pegged very accurately. The author did a superb job in all his descriptions, the car, the pictures he painted while traveling through different states, the feelings and attitudes of the people during this time in our history. Excellent!

Taylor wrote: "Bunnicula is such a loved story by young readers. A very funny mysterious book about a VAMPIRE rabbit or bunny. This story was told through the eyes of the family’s dog. The family’s dog and cat se..."

Sarah wrote - It'a hilarious that the cat ends up going to counseling because of his strange behavior.

Latoya wrote: "I read this book many times as a child. It is narrated by a dog and is about a family and their pets, which include the narrator, a cat, and a strange bunny they find in a cardboard box at a Dracul..."

Sarah - it wouldn't be the same if it were told by the humans.

FInally! lol I love the viewpoint of the Harold, aka, the Dog. I would have fun reading this book to my class. Vey cute story! I wish I had read it when I was younger! The introduction of the story was very clever. Harold taking the manuscript to the publisher, really clever.

What a great story! I think I'm in love with Ivan! Great discussion book about animal rights.

Cynthia wrote: "Shanay wrote: "This book is always a good read. I enjoyed it that much better this time around. I still find it funny that Papa put an ad in the paper for a wife and to have someone respond is biza..."

I found it bizarre that Papa put an add in the paper too! And that Sarah took a big chance, leaving home and family for something unknown!
Strong lady! Courageous!

I have always heard of this story, but I had never read it. I've seen the movie. This has a familiar storyline. The author did an excellent job in painting pictures in my mind of what it was like to be a settler, farming and the reality of how harsh life was back then.

I finally finished the book. Our class discussion was very helpful! I enjoyed the story and Maniac Magee a great character, so innocent about race. I kept thinking this book was written during the 60's or 70's. But, it was a great way to introduce for discussion racism and prejudice in an older classroom. It approaches the subject with humor and lightheartedness. The names of the characters were humous, too!

What a delightful story! Winn-Dixie brought everyone together and Opal and her Dad move on after her mother left. He filled an emptiness in everyone. I actually listened to the story on Audible while I was working in the yard. I really enjoyed it and got a lot done.

I had never read this book or heard of it! I am so glad I got to read it though! There is so many wonderful aspects of this book, it's hard to mention them all. Maniac is definetly a special guy with very special talents. This was a delightful story I will love to share with my students.

Jennifer wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I also love the idea of "What are the Tucks up to in 2014?" Wish I had thought of that one! Yes, it is a bit anticlimactic. I was wondering most of the time if she would drink from th..."

That's a really interesting thought! What would they be like now? Could we learn something new from them?

Cathy wrote: "I like the concept of the book and I can see some good discussions happening with the students. Would you want to live forever or not? What are the advantages of it? If you lived forever would you ..."

I agree! I would have liked a better ending.

I enjoyed reading Tuck Everlasting. Although it had some realistic elements, such as fear, love, searching for…, friendship and consequences for your actions. It also had some fantasy's, for example, wanting to find the "spring of eternal life" and life without pain. I did not like the setting of the story or time period, too depressing.

Such a cute story! I will definitely read this to my class, who are very much like Isabella. They sing, dance and enjoy life in such a innocent way. I'm glad to see that Isabella has really internalized all the books she has read. My girls have internalized "Frozen" in the dame way. I also love that the illustrations go along with the stories that she is pretending to be a part of. Delightful!

A very good story! The 1930's was such an hard time in history. The family was very protective of Natalie and I feel Moose really did want to protect her from others. It's sad that they had to send her away, but in those days that's what they did. The story had a lot of interesting details that helped make the reader feel like the author know what life was really like on Alcatraz. From the fog coming across the Bay, the bell ringing every hour and the placement of the guards' towers. Very authentic. I took a tour of Alcatraz in the 1980's, it was scary, lonely and depressing. Not a happy place. I would not have wanted to be a child living on Alcatraz! I can relate to how Moose felt, "I want to be here like I want poison oak on my private parts."