Schooled by Gordan Korman

"Caprcicorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television. He's never tasted pizza. Never even heard of a wedgie. Since he was little, his only experience has been living on farm commune and being homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. But when Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums and has to stay in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a guidance counselor and her cranky teen daughter and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dying and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school. Right from the beginning, Cap's weirdness makes him a moving target at Claverage Middle School(dubbed C Average by the students). He has long, ungrommed hair; wears hemp clothes; and practices tai chi out on the lawn. Once Zach Powers, big man on campus, spots Cap, he can't wait to introduce him to the age-old tradition at C Average: the biggest nerd is nominated for class president....and wins."

This book sounded interesting, and I was really excited to read it. I really wanted it to be fresh and something new. With middle school and bullies involved, it had a lot of potential to stereo-type everyone as gum-chewing, wedgie giving teenagers.
Okay, so some kids were.
But others weren't.

SPOLIERS BELOW: (Please don't read this until after you read the book....you'll want to be surpised!)




Things I Liked: I liked Cap's attitude. He took into the idea of a completely new lifestlye pretty willingly. I liked how Naomi changed and became one of Cap's friend. I thought Mrs. Donnely's daughter, Sophie, was a crack up. The character development was strong, because I found myself wanting to really know what Cap's outcome would be. The story moved along pretty nicely, and surpisingly, I really liked how each chapter was from a different point of view. It kept things fresh. I LOVED that Cap was a good 8th grade president. I really wanted him to be able to stick something in Zach's face.

Things I Didn't Like: I didn't like how mean Darryl and Zach were. Are kids like that really that mean? Yes, I'm glad Naomi changed sides and went with Cap, but it just suddenly.....happened. One minute, she was desperatley in love with Zach, and I turn the page and she is doing tai chi with Cap on the school lawn. Maybe her heart was softened. I'm not sure. I didn't like that we never found out why Sophie's dad, Bill, left. In the story, it said the he would show up for a while and then just leave. Why? Business trip? Vacation? I wondered.



Overall, this book is great. It was refreshing. It definitely goes on my reccomendation list.

Anxious Waiting......

Long time no post, eh? I am extremely sorry, (although it doesn't look like many read this blog) but for the few who do, I apoligize. It just wanted one of my priorites for awhile.
~

Have you heard the hipe about the new movie, I Am Number Four, by Pittacius Lore? From what I have seen and read, it is selling like hotcakes at the box office and the stores. Surpisingly, I had never heard of the book before. I thought it was just a movie, but then I read about it on another blog I read, and I knew that I just had to try it. Here is my problem, though. I got online to put it on hold at the local library, and much to my dismay, I discovered that it had 63 holds. 63. Seriously? So now, while others run to B&N, waving their gift cards in my face, I sit at home, anxiously waiting for the neighbors next door to hurry up and finish the book! Aarg! How I wish I still had the $25 gift card that I got for my birthday, but alas, I spent that all in one visit last month. Now, I have to wait............humph.

Mr. Potter

This series has so much buzz that it is hard to keep up with it. I have heard raving reviews about this series, and I have heard people say that they aren't the best books. A couple years ago, I figured it was time for me to find my opinion, so I read them all. I absolutely love them. And people always say: "Well, they are just saying that." No, I'm really not. Many misconceptions have been put out there about these books but what they don't understand is this: If you have never read the books, how do you know that you hate them? I remember the day that I finished the 7th and final book in the series. I read the last three words(all was well), and I smiled in awe. J.K. Rowling is an amazing writer, and her books prove it.
If I was skeptical about anything it was that I was afraid that I would get bored with the books. 1st book: Harry saves everyone and all is well. 2nd book: Trouble arises and Harry saves everybody. See what I mean? After seven not so small books of that some would think that they would get incredibly boring. For me, they didn't. The characters always surprised me with what they did, and it sort of bothered me that I couldn't predict the ending. I promise you, if you pick up these books, you won't regret it. You will enter into a whole new world of fantasy and I guarantee that you won't want to leave.

Stories and Reviews

My NanoWriMo story is coming along! No, it is not even close to the 50,000 word goal, but my writing isn't rushed and bad. I feel that what I have gotten down is actually good, and I'm proud of it. I haven't counted my words in a while, so I'll have to do that soon.
I have all my book reviews for December done, so I should be able to post one a week next month, depending on what the holiday brings.
Happy Turkey Day.

Writing.......Writing........Writing

Whoa, I've been writing a lot lately, which is probably why I haven't posted any reviews.

Sorry.

Oops.

I guess I have writing fever.

I just can't stop for some reason.

I'm getting hooked on these stories and so connected with the characters.

Have you ever written something good, like really good and then stopped writing it for whatever reason?

Well today, go back to that story, read it, and try to pick it up and get it going again.

I have many stories that I have left behind, and I picked them up again, and it felt really good.

Just try, is all I ask, try to pick them back up again. You never know what the outcome may be.

Poetry

I have been reading some poetry lately, and I just love it! I was flipping through Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein and I forgot how great it was. Readers, writers, editors, publishers, whoever is out there that loves a good novel, take a break from them this week. If you really search through poetry, you can find some beautifully written pieces. I found one of my poems from third grade the other day:

The gift of a pencil

clean yellow and true;

when it's tip hits the page,

dreams really can come true.

It's one of my older poems, but I like it.

Poetry is a language within English, and if you really look through it, you can find some magic.

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is coming up! (NaNoWriMo. )

Novemeber is creeping up on me and I can't wait to count all my words. This is my 2nd time participating and I already have a great topic in mind. So who's doing it this year? What's your game plan?