Wild magic book review
February 6, 2009
Genevieve H Christensen
What if you could talk to animals? What if they crawled into your bed with you at night? I would love it and hate it, but Daine just loves it. Daine loves animals, no matter if they are marmots or snakes, grizzly bears or sparrows. In fact, it’s almost as if she has a sort of magic that connects them to her.
The first time we meet Daine in the book, she is at a fair. There, she meets a stubborn woman named Onua, who hires her on to help bring ponies more stubborn and obstinate than she to the capital of Tortall. On their way they have a run-in with monsters, the King’s Champion, and a strange hawk that is not like any animal Daine has ever dealt with. They meet nobles who talk to commoners, animals who talk to humans, and girls who don’t always wear dresses.
I liked this book. I could understand how Daine felt, and why she likes animals so much. My favorite part is either when the badger climbs into her sleeping roll, or when she meets the queen. I wouldn’t change anything about the book even if I could.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it. It’s easy, and I read it in three hours or so. Anyone from sixth grade and up could read this, and people who like animals will especially enjoy Wild Magic. It has about 362 pages, but large print.
Wild Magic is the first in The Immortals quartet. The author, Tamora Pierce, has written three other quartets. It is published by Simon and Schuster, copyright in 1992, New York. My copy has a map of the land Daine travels in, and the first chapter of the second book (Wolf Speaker). I bought my book at Borders for around seven dollars. You could probably purchase it at Barnes and Noble, or any other large bookstore. The ISBN number is 978-1-4169-0343-7. This book is a pleasant diversion, and, again, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read it.
--GC
Friday, February 27, 2009
Fly on the Wall
Fly on the Wall
Monday, February 9, 2009
Genevieve Christensen
Many-faceted eyes watch me from the windowsill
One insect mind gauges how dangerous I am
Two little feet rub against each other
Two gauzy wings rest against a black, hairy abdomen
Eight beady eyes watch the watcher
Eight furry legs get ready to move
One silk spinneret starts to activate
Two fangs begin to glisten with poison
I, one teenage girl,
Am not sure whether I am disturbed or pleased
While I look on as one creature gains energy
Another loses life
I am one with the
Fly on the wall
Knowing with terrible certainty
That she will die
Squirming madly
In a vain attempt to escape
Feeling venom run through her veins
I know the
Spider’s feelings
Satisfied at the speed with which it acted
Triumphant about the kill
Sinking her fangs into the flesh of prey
Not relinquishing the power of death
Over this poor little fly
Effectively, I have been a fly on the wall,
Observing with clarity this exchange
--GC
Monday, February 9, 2009
Genevieve Christensen
Many-faceted eyes watch me from the windowsill
One insect mind gauges how dangerous I am
Two little feet rub against each other
Two gauzy wings rest against a black, hairy abdomen
Eight beady eyes watch the watcher
Eight furry legs get ready to move
One silk spinneret starts to activate
Two fangs begin to glisten with poison
I, one teenage girl,
Am not sure whether I am disturbed or pleased
While I look on as one creature gains energy
Another loses life
I am one with the
Fly on the wall
Knowing with terrible certainty
That she will die
Squirming madly
In a vain attempt to escape
Feeling venom run through her veins
I know the
Spider’s feelings
Satisfied at the speed with which it acted
Triumphant about the kill
Sinking her fangs into the flesh of prey
Not relinquishing the power of death
Over this poor little fly
Effectively, I have been a fly on the wall,
Observing with clarity this exchange
--GC
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hatchet
How would you survive in the wilderness alone? All you have is a hatchet. The main character Brian Robeson is only thirteen-years old. The book is called Hatchet, and it is by Gary Paulsen who became very well known for this book. He is one of America's most popular writers for young people.
Brian is going to the Canadian north woods to visit his father. In the plane, the pilot seems to express his pain a lot. Soon just as we anticipated, the pilot dies and the plane crashes. Brian gets stranded in a wilderness by himself. Through all the hard times and troubles he learns how to make fire, how to recover from his injuries, hunt and other things. It is just amazing how a thirteen year old boy can do all these things that most of us don't even know anything about.
I really liked the character Brian. After all the devastating and hopeless events, he still tried to survive. If I was him, I would just choose to die. In this book, the author described the situations very realistically, and they are simply harsh with painful incidents. I am very proud of this boy.
As you can tell, I loved the book. Right after I read, I wanted to read it again! I hated when all the tragic things happened to him. I got very anxious. But when Brian figured out the ways to recover or make it work again, I was so happy and proud of him that I squealed! It was very touching.
I would recommend this book to almost everyone. Especially the ones who love intense adventure stories! I am sure that this will be in your favorite list of books. Also because this book is very popular, almost everyone has read it. If you didn't read it, you will feel left out. That is one of the reason for you to read the book.
Additional information: Hatchet-Gary Paulson. You can find this book at almost every library. Scholastic, printed in April 2007. 194 pages, average under $10.
Alice Choi
Brian is going to the Canadian north woods to visit his father. In the plane, the pilot seems to express his pain a lot. Soon just as we anticipated, the pilot dies and the plane crashes. Brian gets stranded in a wilderness by himself. Through all the hard times and troubles he learns how to make fire, how to recover from his injuries, hunt and other things. It is just amazing how a thirteen year old boy can do all these things that most of us don't even know anything about.
I really liked the character Brian. After all the devastating and hopeless events, he still tried to survive. If I was him, I would just choose to die. In this book, the author described the situations very realistically, and they are simply harsh with painful incidents. I am very proud of this boy.
As you can tell, I loved the book. Right after I read, I wanted to read it again! I hated when all the tragic things happened to him. I got very anxious. But when Brian figured out the ways to recover or make it work again, I was so happy and proud of him that I squealed! It was very touching.
I would recommend this book to almost everyone. Especially the ones who love intense adventure stories! I am sure that this will be in your favorite list of books. Also because this book is very popular, almost everyone has read it. If you didn't read it, you will feel left out. That is one of the reason for you to read the book.
Additional information: Hatchet-Gary Paulson. You can find this book at almost every library. Scholastic, printed in April 2007. 194 pages, average under $10.
Alice Choi
No Electricity? (part 2)
I always had a weak stomach. When I saw the blood and found out where it came from, I felt dizzy and that instant, everything went black.
In the darkness I was certain that I had passed out again, but I was conscious strangely, it was like I was dreaming. But it wasn't a good thing. The nightmare kept coming back to me. An ear piercing high pitched scream then my mom falling to the ground with blood splashing on her. The next thing, my head light shone to a big creature but I could never find out what it was. And in it, I remember my brother crying, which I absolutely hate.
When I woke up, I was in a white room. My head hurt really bad, and I still had a little bit of dizziness in my head but everything else seemed fine. There were some strings and tubes attached on me and to the computer and some complicated looking machines. I was scared, and being terrified, I just yanked all the things out of my body with frustration. I felt a little bit better without those things being attached to me. I looked around carefully trying to amass some information.
The room was snow white, hurting my eyes. And the bed that I was laying on was very comfortable. 'Wait' I thought, 'The electricity was out! Then how can I see this room without my headlight? What is going on? I looked up, but there were no lights on the ceiling. I inferred that since there are no lights but the room was white, that the room itself was shining. That this room is the light!
I stumbled out of my bed to actually explore around even though there was nothing to look about. My headache was gone by now. There were a set of slippers beside the bed. It was very nice. But my anxiety started to grow. I wondered where my brother was. Oh, and rest of the family. When I thought of my mom, I remembered the nightmare. For the first time of my life, I was a little bit worried about my mom. I was also clueless about how I came here from my house, and who did this.
I wanted to get out of this room, but there were no exits. No doors, no windows, nothing. I went around the corners knocking on the wall for any clues. When I was on the third corner a little bit to the right, I heard the knocking sound echoing back at me! I felt so accomplished. I yelled, “Hey! Hi! Nice to meet you! Can you hear me?” Right after I said that, a voice answered, “Yes, I can. I'm sorry that you are here.” It was a raspy old man's voice. He coughed and then he said, “Die.”
Alice Choi
In the darkness I was certain that I had passed out again, but I was conscious strangely, it was like I was dreaming. But it wasn't a good thing. The nightmare kept coming back to me. An ear piercing high pitched scream then my mom falling to the ground with blood splashing on her. The next thing, my head light shone to a big creature but I could never find out what it was. And in it, I remember my brother crying, which I absolutely hate.
When I woke up, I was in a white room. My head hurt really bad, and I still had a little bit of dizziness in my head but everything else seemed fine. There were some strings and tubes attached on me and to the computer and some complicated looking machines. I was scared, and being terrified, I just yanked all the things out of my body with frustration. I felt a little bit better without those things being attached to me. I looked around carefully trying to amass some information.
The room was snow white, hurting my eyes. And the bed that I was laying on was very comfortable. 'Wait' I thought, 'The electricity was out! Then how can I see this room without my headlight? What is going on? I looked up, but there were no lights on the ceiling. I inferred that since there are no lights but the room was white, that the room itself was shining. That this room is the light!
I stumbled out of my bed to actually explore around even though there was nothing to look about. My headache was gone by now. There were a set of slippers beside the bed. It was very nice. But my anxiety started to grow. I wondered where my brother was. Oh, and rest of the family. When I thought of my mom, I remembered the nightmare. For the first time of my life, I was a little bit worried about my mom. I was also clueless about how I came here from my house, and who did this.
I wanted to get out of this room, but there were no exits. No doors, no windows, nothing. I went around the corners knocking on the wall for any clues. When I was on the third corner a little bit to the right, I heard the knocking sound echoing back at me! I felt so accomplished. I yelled, “Hey! Hi! Nice to meet you! Can you hear me?” Right after I said that, a voice answered, “Yes, I can. I'm sorry that you are here.” It was a raspy old man's voice. He coughed and then he said, “Die.”
Alice Choi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The BYI Museum of Art
The MOA (BYU Museum of Art located on North Campus Drive) is the right place to go if you are in an artsy mood! The atmosphere there is very relaxed and peaceful. At the MOA you get to escape the real world for a while and lose yourself in several artists created worlds. Every month or so they get new artists to display there work. So you get to experience new ideas frequently.
Right now the MOA is displaying pieces done by Dan Steinhilber. Dan uses everyday things such as balloons, florescent lighting and garbage bags to create his art. We may take these average things for-granted but Steinhilber finds ways to give those things more value to us. Even though I wouldn't qualify his works as beautiful, they are still very unique and pleasant to view.
My favorite piece of his was one that he did with garbage bags. For this piece he melted black and white garbage bags onto a piece of wood. The bags melted to create a very abstract piece of art. His completed piece covered almost an entire wall!
To me, his pieces showed what our modern world is like. There is trash everywhere and almost everything in existence is man made. But even though this is the current state of our world, it doesn't mean that it is ugly. Steinhilber shows us that with a little persistence and a lot of creativity you can have the ability to turn things int the world into something truly breathtaking.
The museum is welcoming to people of all ages. There is also no admission fee! You should definitely consider checking out Steinhilber's truly inspiring pieces of work!
- Chelise Marie
Right now the MOA is displaying pieces done by Dan Steinhilber. Dan uses everyday things such as balloons, florescent lighting and garbage bags to create his art. We may take these average things for-granted but Steinhilber finds ways to give those things more value to us. Even though I wouldn't qualify his works as beautiful, they are still very unique and pleasant to view.
My favorite piece of his was one that he did with garbage bags. For this piece he melted black and white garbage bags onto a piece of wood. The bags melted to create a very abstract piece of art. His completed piece covered almost an entire wall!
To me, his pieces showed what our modern world is like. There is trash everywhere and almost everything in existence is man made. But even though this is the current state of our world, it doesn't mean that it is ugly. Steinhilber shows us that with a little persistence and a lot of creativity you can have the ability to turn things int the world into something truly breathtaking.
The museum is welcoming to people of all ages. There is also no admission fee! You should definitely consider checking out Steinhilber's truly inspiring pieces of work!
- Chelise Marie
Kidnapped
“Hello? Hello? Please answer!” I panicked. The person on the other line of the phone wasn't responding. I needed them to respond!
“Hello this is 911 what is your emergency?” Finally, someone voice answered.
“Hi! Um... I was just walking along and... I saw him! He took her! He just put her in the car and drove away! Oh my gosh! Please help...” I was so frazzled. I searched for words but I couldn't seem to find the right ones.
“Sweetie, slow down. Can you calmly explain what happened? Where are you?”
“Sorry....” I took a deep breath before I continued. “I am pretty sure I just witnessed a kidnapping. There was a little girl. Maybe 5 or 6, she was just playing and then a man in a little white car came. He just pulled over, got out of the car and took her!”
“Hun, are you sure the little girl didn't know the man?”
“Yes! She was screaming! He looked like the man from the news last night. The guy with the scruffy beard and no hair. It was him, I am sure! Please! You have to believe me! I know what I saw. We have to save that little girl!”
“Ok, . Calm down. I believe you. Did you get his license plate number?”
“Yes! It's right here.... um... it's 142 0509.”
“Alright. And where are you?”
“I am on the corner of Lawrence and 18th.”
“Is it alright if you come down to the police office so they can question you some more. We need to get to the bottom of this.”
“Yeah. Thats fine, I can be there in five minutes.”
. I hung up the phone and started to run to the police station. I was already there with in three minutes. In an instant that little blond girl became my life. I needed to help her. She looked so scared and helpless when he took her.
When I walked in to the police station there was a younger couple sitting on some chairs in the waiting room. They were crying. In the womans hand she had a picture of a little blond girl who got kidnapped. My heart broke when I saw the mother. I knew how worried she was. I felt her pain.
“I can help. I saw it all happen.” I told a passing police officer.
“Oh, so you're the girl who called earlier. Come on in here. We need to know everything you saw.” The police officer led me into the questioning room and shut the door behind us.
The officer questioned me for what seemed like hours until I was finally let back out into the room.
“You're ok to go home. If we have any more questions for you we will give you a call. Ok?”
I turned my back to leave but stopped and turned around. I saw the Mom and Dad again. Their faces were still wet with tears. I tapped the officer shoulder and he turned to look at me.
“Do you think you will find her?” I asked.
The officer sighed. “I don't know. I just don't know.”
I nodded gently and walked out the door as a single tear ran down my cheek.
-Chelise Marie
“Hello this is 911 what is your emergency?” Finally, someone voice answered.
“Hi! Um... I was just walking along and... I saw him! He took her! He just put her in the car and drove away! Oh my gosh! Please help...” I was so frazzled. I searched for words but I couldn't seem to find the right ones.
“Sweetie, slow down. Can you calmly explain what happened? Where are you?”
“Sorry....” I took a deep breath before I continued. “I am pretty sure I just witnessed a kidnapping. There was a little girl. Maybe 5 or 6, she was just playing and then a man in a little white car came. He just pulled over, got out of the car and took her!”
“Hun, are you sure the little girl didn't know the man?”
“Yes! She was screaming! He looked like the man from the news last night. The guy with the scruffy beard and no hair. It was him, I am sure! Please! You have to believe me! I know what I saw. We have to save that little girl!”
“Ok, . Calm down. I believe you. Did you get his license plate number?”
“Yes! It's right here.... um... it's 142 0509.”
“Alright. And where are you?”
“I am on the corner of Lawrence and 18th.”
“Is it alright if you come down to the police office so they can question you some more. We need to get to the bottom of this.”
“Yeah. Thats fine, I can be there in five minutes.”
. I hung up the phone and started to run to the police station. I was already there with in three minutes. In an instant that little blond girl became my life. I needed to help her. She looked so scared and helpless when he took her.
When I walked in to the police station there was a younger couple sitting on some chairs in the waiting room. They were crying. In the womans hand she had a picture of a little blond girl who got kidnapped. My heart broke when I saw the mother. I knew how worried she was. I felt her pain.
“I can help. I saw it all happen.” I told a passing police officer.
“Oh, so you're the girl who called earlier. Come on in here. We need to know everything you saw.” The police officer led me into the questioning room and shut the door behind us.
The officer questioned me for what seemed like hours until I was finally let back out into the room.
“You're ok to go home. If we have any more questions for you we will give you a call. Ok?”
I turned my back to leave but stopped and turned around. I saw the Mom and Dad again. Their faces were still wet with tears. I tapped the officer shoulder and he turned to look at me.
“Do you think you will find her?” I asked.
The officer sighed. “I don't know. I just don't know.”
I nodded gently and walked out the door as a single tear ran down my cheek.
-Chelise Marie
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Limericks
-Amanda Black
Tracy the cat,
Was oh so very fat,
When he walked he wiggled,
When he tripped he wobbled,
Then he sat on a mat.
Little girls are jumping,
Little boys are thumping,
Going north,
Going south,
Little kids are running.
It was bright red,
Made specially by Fred,
There was drawn candy,
It was quite dandy,
Written in a pencils lead.
Tracy the cat,
Was oh so very fat,
When he walked he wiggled,
When he tripped he wobbled,
Then he sat on a mat.
Little girls are jumping,
Little boys are thumping,
Going north,
Going south,
Little kids are running.
It was bright red,
Made specially by Fred,
There was drawn candy,
It was quite dandy,
Written in a pencils lead.
The Fire Within' Book review.
- Amanda Black
The Fire Within' By Chris D'Lacey. David Rain is a college student looking for a place to live close to Scrubbley College when he passes an ad that says, "HOUSING AVAILABLE - $60 PER WEEK. Nice room in pleasant family house. Meals and laundry included. Suits clean, tidy, quiet student. PS. Must like children and cats. and dragons..." David writes to Elizabeth Pennykettle at 42 Wayward Crescent, Scrubbley, MA, explaining why he needs this room and a little bit about himself.
David arrives at his new home with Elizabeth, Bonnington (their cat), and her daughter Lucy. Lucy likes squirrels, cats, and dragons. Elizabeth makes dragons out of clay and sells them. Bonnington likes to sleep under all kinds of things blankets, newspaper you name it.
All around the house there are dragons in the bathroom, in his bedroom, kitchen, by the door, everywhere. David is aloud in any room, except, the mysterious DRAGONS DEN, Elizabeth’s workshop.
Elizabeth makes David a special dragon that may or may not come to life. There was only one thing he had to do with it, love it, and don’t let it cry.
My favorite character in this story is Lucy. She is fun, loves animals, and she just cant keep her mouth shut. Just like me! Sadly enough her mom always stops her before she gives something juicy away.
If you like, dragons, fantasy, and fun I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a great book. I always found this very interesting to read, and that doesn’t happen often. I hate reading unless its interesting and I don’t many things interesting.
If your at all interested you can purchase The Fire Within' at www.scholastic.com for only $4.99. ISBN : 0-439-67244-9.
The Fire Within' By Chris D'Lacey. David Rain is a college student looking for a place to live close to Scrubbley College when he passes an ad that says, "HOUSING AVAILABLE - $60 PER WEEK. Nice room in pleasant family house. Meals and laundry included. Suits clean, tidy, quiet student. PS. Must like children and cats. and dragons..." David writes to Elizabeth Pennykettle at 42 Wayward Crescent, Scrubbley, MA, explaining why he needs this room and a little bit about himself.
David arrives at his new home with Elizabeth, Bonnington (their cat), and her daughter Lucy. Lucy likes squirrels, cats, and dragons. Elizabeth makes dragons out of clay and sells them. Bonnington likes to sleep under all kinds of things blankets, newspaper you name it.
All around the house there are dragons in the bathroom, in his bedroom, kitchen, by the door, everywhere. David is aloud in any room, except, the mysterious DRAGONS DEN, Elizabeth’s workshop.
Elizabeth makes David a special dragon that may or may not come to life. There was only one thing he had to do with it, love it, and don’t let it cry.
My favorite character in this story is Lucy. She is fun, loves animals, and she just cant keep her mouth shut. Just like me! Sadly enough her mom always stops her before she gives something juicy away.
If you like, dragons, fantasy, and fun I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a great book. I always found this very interesting to read, and that doesn’t happen often. I hate reading unless its interesting and I don’t many things interesting.
If your at all interested you can purchase The Fire Within' at www.scholastic.com for only $4.99. ISBN : 0-439-67244-9.
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