Sonja’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2014)

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

Rochelle wrote: "I loved every minute of reading this book. The characters were very real to me. I knew the story was not going to end with some miracle but as I was reading I couldn't stop myself from hoping for t..."

Great Rochelle, I get what you are saying about Hazel needing to know what happens to the people who are left behind. No wonder it meant so much to her that her mother was getting her Master's degree to become a social worker. And at the same time, her mother did want her to feel like she was going on with her life without Hazel. Makes sense.

V. wrote: "This was a great story! I'll have to read more of John Green's books. Sometimes real life is rated R and the characters in this novel, from all the protagonists to Peter Van Houten, show us so ma..."
I did like the ending and how it brought closure for Hazel. "You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers." However, I do wonder how long Hazel will live, the same way she wondered about Anna's mom.

I think I will be crying all day. Oh, my goodness! I'm so slow sometimes. I knew Augustus had osteosarcoma, but I couldn't remember why it seemed so familiar to me. Well, my best friend's granddaughter just completed chemo treatment for osteosarcoma last summer. I remember reading her daily post and remarking how sarcastic her tone was to me. I hear it in Hazel and Isaac's voice.

I didn't like the profanity for the record. I hate to think that young adults casually speak this way, but let me come back to the real world. The book read like a movie; it had a really easy flow. I am used to having to reread and wonder what an author meant when he said...... or wonder where is she going with this. I like a more complex and challenging story. John Green does an excellent job of moving us through the novel. The read was too easy and emotional. Loved the poetry inserts and letter writing.

Surprise....the book was a thriller! I was hook after the first chapter. I mentioned in a response to Shanay that I did not like the language. Honestly, I would not hand it to my 14 yo to read. Would you be able to use this book in a classroom?
According to the author notes, Ransom Riggs has received awards for short films. His film background definitely influenced the script. It read very similar to watching a movie. I felt compelled to read with the twist and turns of the plot. One line I remember well is when the children came to his father's room at the very end. Jacob said, "My friends were standing in the doorway, waiting for me." Jacob finally had found a place where he fit in. Before, he was a loner even among his family.
I noticed a lot of parallels to Tuck Everlasting. We questioned whether we would want to live as a teen or adult forever. But in this book, we actually get to see what it is like to live the same day over in the loop. Again there were the relationships, Emma and Grandpa and Emma and Jacob. Hmmm.. Jacob is sixteen and Emma is eighty plus.

Shanay wrote: "At first glance of this book I was excited it looked very interesting but I was also unsure what I was about to read. Most of the books I have read are ebooks on my iPad so I hardly ever read the s..."

Shanay, I agree with about the author's writing style. He was very descriptive and wonderful way with words. However, the profanity I didn't care for, but it did not take a way from the integrity of the story. Unfortunately, the language was about the same you would hear watching tv on a weeknight.

Cynthia wrote: "Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is itself a peculiar book. I had never read it and did not know what to expect from it. This book made it difficult to predict what would happen next, ..."
The pictures were a little scary, but I need them as a visual. I wonder with you Cynthia about which came first, the story or the pictures. I read At Her Majesty's Request by Walter Dean Myers year ago. He wrote that his story was inspired by a letter he found in a bookstore. So using pictures in classroom might be a great way to get a story started for students.

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 in middle school. I had to re..."

Did you notice that at the beginning and the end of the book Byron is still looking at himself in the mirror? Although his exterior makeup and attitude is the same with the addition of a few chin hairs, his heart has been softened by the bomb and caring for Kenny.

Jennifer wrote: "As I read the first chapter, I was laughing so hard about Byron getting stuck to the mirror. I still was not too sure about what the book would be about. I enjoyed reading as more information was..."
I was was happy to see Byron fulfill his role as a big brother at a time when Kenny really needed his strength of character most. Byron's attitude and action where the remedy for making Kenny's world normal again. Kenny found security in his brother remaining the same.

Shanay, I did listen to this book on tape, but I remember just where I stopped. Funny. I stopped at the cussing. It's one thing to read it and another thing to listen to it. The last thing I needed back then was for my three kiddos to have some practice using a funny foreign tongue. The profanity, the bullying by Larry Dunn, and the fight or whipping Byron gave to Larry over stealing Kenny's gloves were too real for me. However, overall I did like the book.

I must admit I could not fight back the tears as Kenny fought the battle of his fears. He had seen the blackness of death with "Wool Pooh" and the two little girls from the church. It was overwhelming and life changing.

There were funny parts of the book like Byron's lips freezing on the car's mirror and Dad buying the record player for the car. Those scenes reminded me of when I was little. I could relate to the humor of it all. I liked Rufus and Cody. I am from Arkansas and I remember a couple of northerners calling me "hillbilly". I didn't think I sounded any different than they did.

I do love the weird Watsons. As problematic as Byron seemed to be, he had to know he was apart of one of the best families in the world.

Jennifer wrote: "This was not one of the books at the top of my list but it was good. I will start with Toby. I liked his character - realistic. He had to deal with his mother leaving, crush on Scarlet, looking ..."
Jennifer, I was hoping that Wayne would make it home, but I couldn't help from thinking that would be too unrealistic. If he came home, would he be the same. Remember there was one other person the author mention that came home and never said another word. This book would be a good lead into studying the Vietnam War and its effect on the soldiers. It would also help students to be sympathetic and understanding of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.

Shanay wrote: "I actually enjoyed this book although there was a lot going on, a lot of different characters introduced and to remember but it was a pretty good story.

1.Think about the kind of town that Antler..."

Shanay, I didn't make the connection between the letters of Wayne and Opaline. It was hard for Toby to accept that his mom had left him. Maybe by not acknowledging the letter, both boys can mentally hang on to their love ones.

Antler seems like the typical small town in Texas where marriages, births of babies, and new folks in town are big news. At times while I was reading, I did think that it would be a great place to raise a family. I like what Toby's dad said that this was a place where he could be himself.
2. I feel sorry for the whole family. I'm sure it was just as hard for her to leave as it was to stay. I wish she had stayed, but living in a unhappy home has its damages on children too. Her dream was a passion. Mr. Wilson acknowledges that she has wanted to sing all their married life. I wonder if he was hoping that he would be enough to satisfy her passion.
3. Now this is bathroom talk, but I actually laugh out loud in the library when the boys had the "potty" contest. I just wasn't expecting them to use the "piss". Sorry.
4. I do not believe his stories, but I do believe he does. He is somewhat similar to Opaline. Opaline takes the opportunity to chase her dream by getting to Nashville. However, Zachary Beaver is trapped by his weight and must venture these places in spirit and within the covers of the books.
5. Toby doesn't have siblings. We see the squabbling between Kate and Cal, as well as the pesty relationship between Scarlett and her younger sister Tara. Wayne is different; he actually seems to care about Cal. Who wouldn't want to have a brother like that? Maybe Toby sees what Cal takes for granted and wishes he could change places with him.
6. I think its closure for all of them. They have all faced tough challenges through the book. They need the "new birth" or new beginning baptism symbolizes.

I really like this book. One thing I remember is the friendships and how they made time for each other. They were present. They were to each other what Mr. Wilson described as wanting from his father, a little time. Good read!

Sarah wrote: "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..."
Sarah, it was sad that they had to send her away. I was hoping that with her progress that she would remain with the family. However, that might be an unrealistic expectation.

Jennifer wrote: "I was not sure what this book would be about with Al Capone in the title. Would it be about gang wars in the early 1900's? No, it was even better. It described how life was with an autistic chil..."

Jennifer, I appreciated the author's notes as well. They spoke of feeling safe on Alcatraz. I think I would have been scared out of my mind. It would have been like living across the street from the cemetery. Scary....

I enjoyed reading this heartfelt story. As the book began, I thought I would be annoyed by the sarcasm of Moose, but his character surprised me as he matured into a thoughtful older brother. The author doesn't reveal what is wrong with Natalie, but allows the readers to see the daily life of a child with autism and how it effects the entire family. You see the sacrifice that each member makes for the well being of Natalie. There were times when I wanted to cry with the mom, dad and Moose. Reality was not easy. Then walks in Piper. She is a piece of work, a perfect contrast to the Flanagans. She is portrayed as self-centered and egotistical. I couldn't believe her crude comments about Natalie when first meeting Moose. She is conniving and disobedient to her father. Moose, on the other hand, is reluctantly self-sacrificing and does what his parents wants him to do to ease their burden. In seeking to obey his parents, I do appreciate that he grows into his own voice and is able to articulate the truth of his heart.
There are many relationships in the story among school friends and other Alcatraz children. It was good to see support arise from relationships as seen at Natalie's birthday party.

One of the startling parts of the book was when Natalie disappeared and was found with 105. I still don't see why that was included in the story line except possibly to show the age of Natalie as a blossoming teenager and not the ten year old her mother wants to believe she is. I was really scared something bad had happened to her.

The book did come to a quick end, but the note from Capone satisfied my closure.

Marshall wrote: "I had never heard of this book before I read it for this class. Overall it was a fascinating plot and dealt with a lot of weighty issues such as abandonment, family, fitting in, standing up for you..."

Marshall, I understand what you are saying about the book not having a realistic conversation about the emotional impact of racial issues. However, I think the humor and light- heartedness was appealing factor for me. Sometimes racial issues though real are just too hard to bear especially when you are young. Jerry Spinelli's approach gave dignity and understanding to both races even when ignorance is present. That is one of the themes I derived from the book. Many times division is broaden simply because of the ignorance we have of one another.

Jennifer wrote: "I also have never read this book. Overall, I liked it. Jeffrey Magee earned the name Maniac with all his antics. How sad that he lost his parents and then had to live with an aunt and uncle that..."

It was very sad when Grayson died. He is the one character that Magee actually makes a home for. He gives Grayson a place of significance. Although he dies, it was not a loss, but a blessing that Grayson had been apart of his life.

Excellent! I truly enjoyed reading this book. I loved the language. It was amusing to see Maniac's reaction to Mars Bar as he claims how bad he is. However, Maniac does not quite understand his meaning of "bad". Yet later he learns how to talk smack on the court with the east side boys.
The characters were so real and played such an instrumental role in the life of Maniac. Although he struggles with the division of the east side and west side, he amazingly uncovers the similarities of both. The author matched the characters well. For John McNabb, there is Mars Bars. For old man McNabb, there is the man who shoo's Maniac at the July block party. Lester and Hester are met with Russell and Piper. The Beales family compares with the Pickwell's. Maniac also meets his match with Amanda Beale.
Again, I enjoyed the familiar language. I believe this book would appeal to boys as well as girl and urban and inner city students.
Thumbs up!

Rochelle wrote: "I LOVED this book. Isabella reminded me of myself when I was younger. I was always excited to go to the library and read a new book. I still get excited about new books to read. I really liked how ..."
Rochelle I thought it was great that Isabella became a part of the story as well. It leads me to conclude that she had probably read or heard these stories before which is the beauty of classics. They never grow old on you.

Tricia wrote: "This book is so interesting because I think it appeals to adults with the subtlety and little hints. The pictures are great, they would actually be good for teaching to use illustrations to gather ..."

I agree. It is refreshing to see the joy of a good book. Also, I think that libraries are transitioning toward making the library an inviting place for children.