Before and After: The Trojan War

     Before learning about the Trojan war I didn't know very much. All I knew was that there were a group of people trying to rescue a princess, that had been stolen from her homeland. To accomplish this act they built a wooden horse. The princess' captors took the horse in, and in the night the people took back the princess.
     Now that I've learned about the Trojan war, I know that it all started with a golden apple. Eris, an evil goddess, was not invited to a banquet that the gods and goddesses were having. Upset, Eris threw a golden apple into the banquet. All the goddesses wanted it, and so they asked Zeus to tell them who would get the golden apple. Zeus told Aphrodite, Pallas Athena, and Hera to go ask Paris who was the prettiest. Paris was a prince and was herding the sheep of his father when the three goddesses came to him. They all told Paris that they would make him a deal if he chose them. In the end, Paris chose Aphrodite, who promised him the prettiest maiden in the world, Helen. Aphrodite took Paris to Helen and her husband Menelaus. Menelaus soon trusts Paris a lot, and he goes off to Crete. While he's gone, Paris take Helen. Menelaus is mad, and he gets the Greeks to help him get Helen back.
     Many great hero's die in the Trojan war. Achilles, Hector,  and Patroclus die. Paris is also killed, being shot with an arrow. Achilles dies by a poison knife after he killed Hector. Achilles killed Hector because Hector killed his best friend, Patroclus. One morning all the Greeks have left, and all that's left is a huge wooden horse and a warrior. Sinon, the worrier convinces the Trojans that he was left behind, and that the horse was meant as a peace offering to Athena. The Trojans bring it inside the walls of their city. Laocoon warns the Trojans that it's a trick, then he gets strangled by sea serpents sent from the gods. The Trojan king's daughter also warns them. She had been cursed to always tell the truth, but that she would never be believed. In the night, Sinon lets the Greeks out of the horse, and they destroy the city of Troy. They win the war and get Helen back.

The Call to Adventure

     Athena comes to Odysseus to tell him what she wants him to do. She tells Odysseus that she wants him to participate in the Trojan war. Odysseus tells Athena that he will participate in the Trojan war. This is hard for Odysseus because he doesn't want to leave his faithful wife, Penelope. He also doesn't want to leave his new born son, Telemachus. Odysseus sacrifices twelve years of time that he could have spent with his wife and son by participating in the Trojan war. He sacrifices watching his son grow up, and teaching him how to be a king.
     In sixth grade we were going to go on a field trip to a school. At this school they had rooms that were like star ships. Everyone was assigned to a group, and a job. I was called to be second in command. I got to where fancier clothes than the rest of the crew. On the ship we learned how to do our jobs and then we set off on our quest. It felt like we were on a real star ship, even though it was all pretend. I had to operate controls, and make sure that everyone was doing there duty. I remember my sixth grade teacher saying that the people she assigned to be second in command and captain, were people who could be leaders. That day, I learned that I could be a leader too.

The Hero Meets a Protector

     Athena is the goddess of war and wisdom. When Calypso is keeping Odysseus on her island, Athena gets the other gods to make Calypso let him go so he can return home. Then Athena helps more on Odysseus' island, Ithaca. Athena warns Odysseus that things have changed since he's been gone, and that he can't trust everyone. She disguises Odysseus as a beggar so he can figure out who he can trust. Athena also tells Odysseus when he should reveal to his son (Telemachus) his true identity. In the battle of the suitors, Athena fights with Odysseus to get his home and wife back.
     Last year my friends started avoiding me. Concealing it well from me, my friends lied about what they were doing so they could hang out together without me. I was really hurt as saw that my best friend was avoiding me. One of these times was at a surprise party for my best friend. I had planned the party, and bought most of the stuff for it. The other girls didn't contribute much stuff to the party. After my best friend came and we ate cake, one of the girls said to my best friend, "Let's go to your house". The three of them left, leaving me to myself at my house. My best friend didn't mean to hurt me by avoiding me. I guess she just thought that I'd never find out. My mom told me that I needed to talk to her about how I felt. I rehearsed what I would say over and over. When the time came, my friend denied the truth, but I felt she still wanted to be friends. My mom tried her best to comfort me, and in time we moved. Now that I live where I am, I'm happier, and I don't have to worry about my only friend betraying me.

The Belly of the Whale

     Odysseus helps out with the war by bringing men to help fight and twelve ships. The ships can help them fight the war. Many great hero's die in the war, and Odysseus comes up with the idea of the Trojan Horse. He commands the men to construct a horse and many of them climb inside. One of the men pretends that he was left behind by the Greeks so that the Trojans will take the horse within the walls. Once inside the walls and night falls, the man who pretended to be mad opens up the horse. Odysseus and the men come out and destroy Troy.
     One experience that was new and frightening to me was federation. Federation was a flute competition with judges, and points that you could earn towards a trophy. I had been in many recitals before, but never federation. I imagined it more competitive, and was extremely nervous to play. When I played I messed up terribly and I wanted to cry. Despite feeling so nervous, I kept on playing till I finished the song. I didn't get a superior score that day, but I did get an excellent. I knew I hadn't even played that well, but the judges could tell I was nervous. Since I pushed through even though I felt really nervous the judges gave me a good score.

The Hero receives the goal of his Quest

     Odysseus and Penelope both love each other a lot, and while Odysseus is gone, they both dearly miss each other. Both of them are faithful to each other and don't date anyone else. Penelope waits for Odysseus for twenty years, and stalls time to keep the suitors from marrying her. One of the things she does is she weaves embroidery, and at night she takes it apart. Penelope claims she has to honor Odysseus, if he's dead, before she gets married.  On his journey, Odysseus thinks about his loyal wife, and he takes courage. He becomes more determined to make it back to his love in Ithaca.
     One goal that is important to me is to find answers to all my questions, and to grow spiritually. To do this I pray and read my scriptures every night. I search for most of my answers in the scriptures, because I know they are all there. To learn more I am willing to look up conference talks online, even if I feel like doing something else. I also have a journal that I can write my answers in. I'm always striving to have more questions that I can find answers for so I can grow. I believe that finding answers to my questions helps me become a better person.

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman

     The author, Peggy, knows how to keep the book interesting, even while doing everyday things. That's what I like about the way she writes. Though, it would be nice if used harder vocabulary, then it would make the story more interesting. In this chapter, Aaron tells Mr. Peterson that they were late to school because he was busy working on his invention. Mr. Peterson excuses Aaron and Brenna, but holds Hope (the girl) back. He looks at her disapprovingly and tells her that because she was late she has detention for a week. Aaron, Brenna, and Hope all know that the reason why Mr. Peterson gave her detention was because she is terrible at inventing things.
     Hope is looked down upon by almost everyone because she can't invent things. Hope thinks that this year she has a great invention, and she is striving to get the respect she wants. She believes that this years invention will make it so everyone will stop treating her badly. It's then that Hope realizes that her potato, which is some how associated with her invention, is missing. Now Hope changes from feeling upset to feeling frantic. Hope dumps out her backpack and can't find the potato. The author states that Hope had to find the right potato that would work with her invention. Another potato may not work. Hope goes to the lunch room and collects a sad looking potato. Hope is concerned that her invention may not work as planned. I predict that Hope's invention won't go as planned, and that she will still be looked down upon. Hope will be embarrassed, and decide to do something unsafe to get respect.

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman

     I like that instead of taking the boring way to school, Aaron, Brenna, and the girl take the fun way to school. After coming down from the cliffs the three kids herd the train whistle go off. The train was supposed to take them to school, and they were about a mile and half from the train. They began running, desperately trying to reach the train in five minuets (in five minutes it would leave). Seeing how pointless it is, the girl stops and introduces  new plan. One reason that the kids have to get to school in time is because their parents thought that they left to school early, and if they knew that their kids were late to school they might find out about Bombs Breath. Another reason they have to get to school is because today they are showing off their inventions. Every year everyone makes inventions and shows them off. In the book it states that the girl isn't very good at making inventions, and so that makes her a bit different from everybody else. This year though, she believes that she has a great invention. Anyways, the girl suggested that they should take the grain tram. The grain tram is an invention that someone invented to take grain around the city faster. Aaron is worried that they will get in trouble for using the invention, and refuses to use it. The girl gets Brenna to convince Aaron to let them take the grain tram, and Aaron gives in. They all pile into the three (walled) sided contraption and start it going downhill. Near the end, the girl presses the breaks, and they all get out. The three kids make it  look like the grain tram got loose from the rope that bound it, and got stuck in the bushes. The three kids run to the school to find out that they are hopelessly late. That's when Mr. Peterson (he has a partial job at the school) sees them, and starts walking over to them.
     I don't like in the book, how the author may have said the girl's name because I don't know if she did. She didn't do a good job of making sure that the girl's name was known. So I don't know what her name is, and you kind of like to know what the main characters name is.

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman

     Something I like about the way Peggy (the author) writes is that she gets right to the point, instead of boring you with details.  It starts out with a girl who is standing on the edge of a cliff because she was dared to jump off and do a double back flip. She is accompanied by Aaren, and his little sister, Brenna. The part of the cliff that the girl is going to jump off into is filled with gases from old bombs. One breathe of the gases will kill you, but if you hold your breathe you won't die. The gases from the bombs slow your fall down because the air is really dense there. That is why the girl can jump off the cliff and not die, unless she breathes in. The girl (they haven't given her name yet) hesitates for awhile, and then she jumps off the cliff. I'm not going to say anymore than that because I don't want to spoil the story.
     In the story, everyone is afraid of the gases from the bombs. They call the area Bombs Breath, and they have had some bad experiences in the past. Like the time that a bunch of kids were playing in the woods, and four of them accidental walked into bombs Breath (which is invisible). The four children died, and everyone kept far away from Bombs Breath after that. Aaron, the girl, Brenna, and a few others try not to get caught having fun in Bombs Breath. I predict that later in the story they'll get caught, and told not to go back. Then I think that Aaron, Brenna, and the girl with go back to Bombs Breath despite their parents warnings. I think that some conflict will arise from this, and then Aaron, Brenna, and the girl will have to save their town.

Vocabulary from the book Sky Jumpers

1) Tingled- I think this word means, a strange sensation. The real definition is a "experience or a cause to experience a stinging or slight prickling sensation."

2) Molecules- I think this word means micrscopic balls that make up everything. The definition I found read " a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundimental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction."

3) Floated- I think this word means to kind stay where you are in are or water. The 'definition I found read, "To rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid or to drift in the air."

4) Lifting- I think this word means to pick up something. The  definition reads, "to lift up to a higher position or level".

5)  Comebacks- I think this word means to say something back to someone after they've said something rude to you. The definition I found read, " a quick reply to a criticle remark.

6) Between- I think this word means that something is in the middle of something. The definition I found read, "in or along the space seperating to objects or regions."

7) Huffs- I think this means to breathe hard. The definition I found read, "blow out loudly; puff."

8) Pedals- I think this means plastic squares on a michine that allows the machine to move when they are pressed. The definition I found read, "a foot-operated lever or control for a vehicle, musical instrument, or other mechanism, in particular."

9) Sparkling- I think this means shiny little dots. The definition I found read, "shining brightly with flashes of light."

10) Produce- I think this means food that was grown from a garden. The definition I found read, "things that have been produced or grown, particually by farming."

11) Energy-  I think this means that you have the ability to do things. The definition I found read, "the strength or vitality required for sustained physically or mental activity."

12) Surrounded- I think this word means that there are organisms or objects all around you. The definition I found read, "be all around someone or something."

13) Oozed- I think this word means to leak out of someone or something. The defintion I found read, "(of a fluid) slowly trickle or seep out of something; flow in a very gradual way."

14) Shifted- I think this word means to adjust your position. The definition I found read, "change the position of one's body, especially because one is nervous or uncomfortable."

The Hero has won the Freedom to Live

     As mentioned earlier, Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar he could figure out who to trust, and who not to trust. Odysseus finds Telemachus and tells him that he's his father.  Odysseus tells his son to go take the suitors weapons and take them somewhere else, so that they can't defend themselves when Odysseus kills them. Antonius treats Odysseus badly as a beggar, and Penelope asks to speak with him. He tells her that some time tomorrow Odysseus will return home. To by Odysseus time, Penelope tells the suitors that who ever can string Odysseus' bow, and shoot an arrow through twelve axe handles can marry her. None of the suitors are able to string the bow, and Odysseus, the beggar, asks if he can try. Odysseus completes the challenge and then kills Antonius. The suitors now know that it's Odysseus, and they plead for their lives, telling him they will give them all their money if he spares them. Odysseus refuses their money and the suitors begin fighting for their lives with any weapons that they had carried with them. Telemachus brings Odysseus armor, and he fights along side him. Athena, Zeus, Eumaeus, and a faithful herdsman, also fight with Odysseus. All of them are clothed in full armor, and they kill all the suitors. They dead suitors are left in a pile, and Odysseus takes back his home and wife.         
     One thing I do to make sure I'm free to become the person I want to become is being honest. There was one time when I was at a friends house for a sleep over. That night her aunt and uncle let her take in a cat from off the street. The only thing we had to do was let it outside before it used the bathroom in the house. My friend had given the cat milk earlier, in which gives cats diarrhea (she didn't know that). In the late hours of the night, we were watching a movie when we smelled something terrible. We went to check it out and found out that the cat had diarrhea on a small tent like toy of my friend's aunt's kids. We took the cat and the tent outside. My friend wanted to throw the tent away to hide the evidence, but I knew that was dishonest and that it wouldn't be nice to throw away some one's toy. I convinced her to just wash it off and let it try out so the kids could  use it later. Honesty is a talent that I have. I hate being dishonest, and I wouldn't want to lie to anyone.

The Hero Crosses the Return Threshold

     When Odysseus returns home, he find that suitors are trying to get Penelope to marry them. They have moved into his home, and are eating his food.  The suitors are secretly planning to murder Telemachus, Odysseus' son. The leader of the suitors is Antonius, and Athena has to disguise Odysseus as a beggar. In this way he can figure out who he can really trust. Odysseus finds his old dog, Argus, as he dies in a dung pile. He is mad because no one trained the dog to be a great hound, like he was supposed to be.
     This last week has seemed really chaotic, because it's the end of the fourth term, and teachers are giving out twice as much homework. Having procrastinated a sixty question biology packet over the weekend, I desperately began filling out the packet towards the end of the day. I still wasn't done when bed time came, and so my mom gave me extra time to finish the packet. Most questions were more like two questions in one question. At four AM I finally finished the last question that I knew the answer for. My mother helped me with the rest in the morning. I went to school exhausted, and I later found out that the packet wasn't due that day. Having done that quite a bit, I have decided to write done ever assignment I get, and the due date, for the rest of the school year.

The Hero Fights a Symbolic Dragon

     Odysseus comes to an island, and with him he brings the wine of the gods. This wine is ruby red, it smells like honey, and when deluded with twenty cups of water it still tastes good. Odysseus takes twelve of his best fighters with him on the island. The men want to take the cyclops flock of sheep, and Odysseus tells them no. They go to the cyclops den, and the cyclops shuts the door. The cyclops asks them who they are, and what they are doing. Odysseus answers him by telling him how cool he is, and demanding him to give them gifts or Zeus will punish him. The cyclops gets angry, eat a few of Odysseus' men, and goes to sleep. While he sleeps Odysseus and his men sharpen a spike and plunge it in the Cyclops' eye. Outraged, the cyclops cries out, and his brethren ask him whats wrong. He yells "No body's hurt me"! (Since Odysseus had told him his name was Nobody earlier). The Cyclops brethren tell him to pray to Poseidon and go back to bed. Later, when the cyclops opens the door to let his sheep out, Odysseus and his men ride on the sheep's back to leave. They go to their sheep taking the sheep with them. As they depart Odysseus yells to the cyclops, telling him how he bested him. The angry cyclops throws stones at their boat ant they almost sink. Poseidon curses Odysseus for what he did to the cyclops. By the way, the cyclops is named Polyphemus.
     When I was about eight, my mother took some friends, my siblings, and I to the neighborhood pool. The youngest in the party were my little sister and her friend. Neither of them could really swim yet. My little sisters friend decided that he would jump into the pool and catch hold of his noodle. Unfortunately, when he jumped in he missed the noodle. Since he couldn't swim he began flailing in the water, desperately trying to keep his head above the water. I saw him flailing in the water, and I jumped in to get him. "Grab on", I said as he reached out for me. With whatever swimming abilities I had when I was eight, I started progress toward the side of the pool. My little sisters friend was probably about three, and he was heavy for me. He was still really scared, and out of fear he kept pushing on my head so he could stay above the water. I couldn't keep my head above the water whenever he pushed it under. He wasn't trying to harm me, he was just too young to realize the problem he was creating. I was afraid I would run out of air, but I still kept on swimming until we reached the shore. I'm sure my little sisters friend was glad to get back on dry land.

The Hero Follows a Road of Trials

     Odysseus and his men had just left Siren island, and began their journeys towards Scylla and Charybdis. When the Odysseus' men hear the sound of Charybdis, they dropped their oars because they are really scared. Odysseus commands his men to pick up the oars and continue to row. Odysseus tells his men that they have to keep rowing so they can get past Scylla and Charybdis. The men can now see the bottom of Charybdis, and they obey Odysseus by continuing to row. As they pass, Scylla snatches six of Odysseus' men, and devours them. Odysseus and his men row the rest of the way past Scylla and Charybdis without anymore problems.
     For most of the school year I've always gone to bed at eleven thirty or twelve. Everyday I was tired, and complained a lot. My mom was tired of me staying up because it kept her up as well. That is when she made a rule that, every minute I was out of bed would count for an hour of chores. Since I didn't want hours of chores I went to bed at ten every night. I wasn't so tired anymore, and some of the other goals I needed to work on became easier. I didn't procrastinate as much because I knew I had less time to do my homework before bed time. Overall it made me a better, happier person.

   

     

Beyonders book three by Brandon Mull

            I personally think that this book, Beyonders book three, has a slow start. The beginning is exciting, but after that it gets quite boring. The book starts out with one of the people living in the Mionnamon temple, calling for Rachael with mind communication. In Lyrian (the world that Rachael and Jason are in), Rachael has a gift for the Ecodomic, the power that wizards use. Rachael has been teaching the people in the Mionnamon temple Ecadomic, and when one calls her in the middle of the night she goes to help her. The girl she goes to help is named Kala, and when Rachael comes to help her, Kala tries to kill her. Instead, Kala winds up dying.
            Then comes the slow part of the story. In the morning, Rachael, Jason, Galloran, Ferrin, Jasher, Faralee, and other people are going to embark on two different quests. Rachael will go in one group with Ferrin, Galloran, and others. Jason will go in the other group with Jasher, Faralee, and others. The oracle had told them that to save Lyrian, both of their quests had to be a success.
            Jason is watching ape like creatures battle each other for fun when Rachael comes to see him. They talk about how they are going to leave soon since Rachael was almost killed. Rachael tells Jason that she is worried that the oracle could have been lying to them. Jason tells her not to worry, and that if she wants she can talk to Galloran.
            After they talk, Ferrin takes a walk with Jason. Being a displacer, Ferrin can talk his body parts on and off. Ferrin gives Jason his ear so Jason can communicate with him, even though Faralee is bringing messenger eagles. Jason worries that Ferrin might betray them.
            That is all I read for this read for this reading response. Hopefully it will get more interesting.

Free Write: Close Forever

                                                                 Close Forever

                                     

                   Sorrow picks at her soul.  She bows her head in pain.  She suffers excruciating agony, all seems lost.  She's about to die in her misery.  The torment of the past floods into her memories. It feels like there's no one there to grab hold of her to help her find the light.  No comfort. No joy.  Just the sting of a time bygone.  Time seems to tick like it's already stopped.  The world is sheeted in a black blanket, and she can feel its choking hold.
                  Then comes a piercing hope.  A joy that no one's felt.  Her seemingly forever lasting hurt seems to suddenly fear.  It wars with the exhilaration inside her.  Then the twinge has passed its limits, and dreading to become a detainee of a crusade. The time's painful plodding is dispatched, and it reaches a high velocity.
                  The darkness marches its armies away, and the light reclaims its elated memories.  Her heart is dancing a radiant gyrate.  No wall can barricade her now.  No torment can oppress her.  No tribulation can win a war against her exuberance.
                  She knows that her dead is close.   She knows she will always be there.  She feels her dead's endearment and senses her help.  Her dead loved one watches, shields, assists her.  She can't discern her lost friend, but she can almost touch her.  Her heart is overwhelmed with joy, and the tears sky dive from her eyes.  She has a knowledge, a testimony.  One day she'll be with her dead again. The lost has been found and she can discern her company.  No, expiry cannot tear love apart.

                               

Current Event: Search goes on for Malaysia jet

        In Malaysia there was a plane that went missing.  The plane has been missing for more that twenty four hours, and they have ships and planes searching for the plane.  They began searching again on Sunday.  The plane contained two hundred and thirty nine passengers.  Two of the passengers got on using stolen passports.  The Malaysian investigators at trying to figure out how they got on.
        There's been some debris found but no one can tell if its from a plane or not.  The article says that the weather was great, but the pilots had no time to contact anyone.
        I think its absolutely terrible and that the worlds getting more wicked people in it.  One of my guesses is that the two passengers with stolen passports took over the plane.  Then I think they took them to a secret base, maybe to eventually to fore the government to pay money to get the passengers back.  They could also be terrorists and decided to kill them all for no good reason.
        The other guess I have is similar to the first.  I think maybe the two passengers with stolen passports went to get rid of the pilot.  Then the pilot put up a fight and then no one was driving the plane.  Desperately they fought over the steering wheel, causing them to crash.
       I feel really bad for those people.  There's lots of families that are really hurt because of there lost.  There's hundreds of families who will be mourning for their lost, can you imagine how hard that would be.

Wish you were here-- Pink Floyd

                   The first poetic device I noticed was, "Cold comfort for change", and it is an example of Juxtaposition.  Another poetic device I found was "And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?" is figurative language.  One other one is "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl", which is a metaphor.
                  I think the guy singing this and the girl he likes are both kind of depressed and confused.  They aren't sure if they want to get back together after they broke up.  I think it tells this when it says "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl".  Though the guy can see that his old girlfriend is confused, nothings changing, and so he does nothing.  His life goes on with him being miserable.  Its says this when it says "Running over the same old ground ".  I think he also feel like he's been betrayed by his old girl friend.  It tells this when he says, "And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts."

Casey at the bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

           The poetic devices I found in the poem were "Five thousand tongues applauded", and, "And now the air shattered."  "Five thousand tongues applauded", is an example of personification, and, "And now the air shattered", is an example of a hyperbole.  The other one I found says, "...a death like silence sat", and this is also an example of personification.
          In this poem Casey (a baseball player) pridefully, purposely misses the first two ball the pitcher throws, and then he tries to hit the last ball.  He thinks for sure he'll hit it, but he misses, and loses the game for everyone.
          I think this poem teaches that we shouldn't be prideful.  Even if your the best at what you do, pride can destroy your talent.  I've had an experience like this.  I thought to myself as I played flute I'm the best, and I had been in one of the top chairs in my past band.  Since I was prideful I became part of the flutes that weren't as good the next year.  Then I tried to get rid of my pride, and I was able to become one of the best players again.  So don't be prideful.
         

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

       There were many poetic the devices in this poem.  Two of the ones I got read, "And each separate dying ember", and "the darkness gave no token", which are examples of personification.  "My sad soul is smiling", is also an example of personification.
       This man is dreadfully sad, and misses his dead love, Lenore.  He's scared that she's come back to haunt him.  He drifts off to sleep and awakes to a tapping at his window.  The man freaks out and checks the window but sees no one.  Then the tapping comes to the door, he checks it, and again sees no one.
      Then a crow flies in and perches on a statue of a goddess.  The man believes the crow came from the under world and starts asking it questions about Elinor.
      The crow answers never more for each question.  I think really that the mans imagining things more scarier than things need to be.  He's scaring himself and making his pain of losing Elinor worse.  He's so focused on his misery that he can't let go of his pain.  The poem ends with the man feeling terrified.

Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel)-- Billy Joel

                  I think the speaker is referring to being with his daughter as she was growing up.  He's dealing with her worries about him leaving her.
                  The meaning behind this poem reveals a father putting his daughter to bed and telling her to dream while shes still young.  He says no matter how far they are from each other he'll always be close by.  When you love someone your always close by to them in their heart.  He's telling her that love can never be destroyed, and so he'll love her forever.  It says this when he tells her, "You'll always be apart of me", and this is figurative language.  When he tells her to dream on he says, " But lullabyes go on and on...  They never die", and this is personification.
                  I like how the speaker shows how much he loves and cares about his daughter in the words of his song.  Its a common thing for children to worry about leaving their parents when they get older.  So he's comforting her and telling her not to fear.

The Candy Shop War book two by Brandon Mull

            In this book the teams that have been employed by Jonas (an evil magician) compete against each other to get the items that he needs.  When a team loses the kids in that team would vanish.  I liked this idea because it made the story more intense, and harder for the characters.
            When they had the second challenge it was violent.  The kids with tanks powers threatened people a lot. The tank powers gave the kids super strength and durability.  The tanks accidentally break or twist a girls ankle, but they don't hurt much more than that.  They just act and talk violent.
             Closer to the beginning Summer, Nate, Trevor, and Pigeon find out that John (a police man that keeps the magicians under control) and Mozag (a powerful good magician) have disappeared.  They then go to arcade land to investigate and find something out of the ordinary. 
             They find that four stamps are worth the most tickets.  The stamps are a tank, race car, submarine, and jet.  Only four kids can inherit each stamp and will get to enjoy an unlimited supply of them.  They will also get to join a special club.
              Thinking that they'll be able to gather important information and bust John and Mozag out, the kids start earning tickets for stamps.  While earning their tickets they meet Roman, who is also earning tickets for a stamp.  He claims his friends told him that the stamps are awesome, and encouraged him to earn one.
               Roman and Nate have a few competitions with a basketball game, and Nate wins two of them with the help of magical candy.  Roman tells Nate that if he and his friends earn enough tickets for a stamp, they shouldn't take the last two slots for the jet stamp, because he wants to be with his friends.  Roman is helpful by giving Nate hints on how to earn more tickets playing games.
               Then later in the story when Roman becomes a tank he also becomes violent.  He no longer is nice to Nate.  He isn't nice to his friends Chris and Risa either.  His personality really changed.
               One thing I didn't like is that Nate and his friends carelessly used magic candy to get tickets faster.  The thought even occurred to them that the owners would be suspicious of them earning so many tickets so quickly, and winning big almost every game.  I thought it was just dumb when they still continued, not trying to cover up.  I think that Brandon Mull should have changed this part.

Beyonders book one by Brandon Mull

           This book begins out OK.  Jason gets hit with a baseball and doesn't feel so will.  He rides his bike to his job at the zoo.  Then the author talks about a few unimportant things, which slowed down the story.  Jason leans over the hippopotamus tank because he hears music playing, falls into the tank, and gets swallowed by a hippo.
           I thought it was confusing when Jason was swallowed by the hippo because it wasn't described will enough.  When I read that part it was strange, because he was in the tank and then all of a sudden he was in a whole new world.  I had to reread the paragraph to truly grasp what the author was trying to say.
            After the hippo incident, Jason takes about two pages to get out of a tree, and realize that he's in a whole new world.  He goes to the river where he had seen raft with magicians on it, and then follows a boy to the waterfall.  He tries to save the musicians even though they don't want to be saved.  Sadly, they end up going over the falls.
           I don't know, but I think maybe Jason should have felt worse about accidentally shooting a guy in the arm with an arrow, and not being able to rescue the musicians.  Jason just kind of seemed insensitive to the trouble he caused, and only focused on himself.  I also think that Brandon Mull shouldn't take so long to explain things in his book.  It really gets old, and you literally start to drift off to sleep because of too many long boring descriptions. 
           I did like how Brandon Mull made part of the story goofy.  In it there's a woman who lets a man steal from her because he refuses to accept charity.  There's also a man who creates impossible puzzles only for one person to solve them.  Then there's a blind king who lives in a mostly collapsed castle.  His servants pretend he has a grand castle, and that he's a great king, but he's really not.  He knows about the castle, he just plays along, making the servants believe he doesn't know.
           Another thing I dislike is that when Jason was at the Respiratory of Learning, the author told you what Jason read  in an unimportant book he read.  It made me start to fall asleep.  The author needs to work on making his book more interesting.  Besides the boring things the books fine so far.  I haven't gotten to the action yet.

The Candy Shop War book two by Brandon Mull

             I liked how in this book Brandon Mull had so many interesting ideas.  One of his interesting things was Uwenya, a model of the earth.  If you blew on the model earth it would cause a tornado to be born.  If you put your thumb on it, it would squish everything in that area. 
             I didn't really like how there was only one challenge guarding the protector that would lead them to Uwenya.  I also didn't like how one of the challenges to get to Uwenya was the same as when they went to get the protector.  Brandon Mull probably should have  done something else.
             In the next book, (if there is a next book, because the author hinted there would be a next book), I'm guessing the evil magician, Camilla, will own some kind of place that attacks  kids (like an arcade or ice cream shop).  I also think she'll have some kind of food or treat that makes it so no  one would notice her magic, like the nachos or white fudge in the first two books.  I also think that Camilla will use kids to get something that will help her destroy the world.
             To me its obvious what the outline of the next book will be, because the author used the same outline for book two as he did book one.  In my opinion he should be more creative and come up with a new outline.  After awhile it could get boring reading a book with the same outline. 
             Two other predictions I have is that Chris, Risa, and maybe Roman will join Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon in stopping Camilla.  I also think that the treasure Camilla wants will be in their town or a town next to theirs.

Vocabulary for Beyonders, book one, by Brandon Mull

1)  Unbalanced-  I think this word means to not be totally even.  Like when a chair has one leg that's longer than the others.  The real definition is "not keeping or showing an even balance; not evenly distributed".

2)  Through-  I think this word means to continue to go into something until you come out the other side (this can be emotionally, physically, intellectually, etc.).  Some definitions I found state that it means, "past; beyond, from one to the other of, moving in one side and out the other side".  Since this word is used slightly differently than the definitions it doesn't match up as well with the definition.  In the book it says that Jason is pushing through his emotions.  Its the same thing as physically getting through something, its just emotional.

3)  Half-  I think half means that something is bisected in the middle.  The definition I found read, "either of two or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided".

4)  Violent-  I think this word means to that someone (or something is used in descriptive writing) treats you or an object roughly.  The definition claims that this word means "using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

5)  Pounding-  I think this word means to continue to hit something for a while.  The definition I uncovered testified that this means the "repeated and heavy striking or hitting of someone or something".

6)  Processes-  I think this word means a cycle that someone or something goes through.  The definition I found describes that it means "a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end".

7)  Noticed-  I think this definition means that someone picks out (not literally grab, just in your mind) something that they see in something.  Maybe something they hadn't seen before.  They definition recited that this word means to "become aware of".

8)  Debris-  I think this word means dirt or the the remains of something (like a building).  The definition says it means "scattered fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed".

9)  Current-  I think this word means a strong pull in the water.  The definition I found lists that it means, " A body of water or air moving in a definite direction, esp. through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement".

10)  Scramble-  I think this word means to clumsily move or to wriggle while moving.  The definition I read declares that this word means "a difficult or hurried clamber up or over something.

Free write: Dancing With the Rain

                 

                                                                    Dancing With the Rain

                                         

        I hear a soft pat on my bedroom window, and I can feel the sky beckon for me.  I feel my toes touch my furry pink carpet, and I can already smell the water.  I creep through the shadows and into the night, where I can feel the cold spray of the unseen clouds.  I look up heavenward and I can feel the sky beckon for me again.

         So I glide over into the nearest puddle, and I can see the rain all around me, all those pretty young girls.  They dance so elegantly, and they ask me to come and join them.  I wanted too, I really did, but I wasn't very good.  They said come with us, we'll show you how, and so I said I would.

          I stretched out one arm, then the next, and then I began to twirl.  I felt like a princess in a whole new world.  I giggled as the raindrops smiled, and I knew I could really dance.  My face lit up as I danced, soaring into the sky.  

         Each step stole me away into an endless comfort and joy.  I danced all night, and then the dance began to end.  First, the older girls left, and then they all began to go.

         The remainder of the older raindrops dragged their sisters away from the seen.  There were a few who remained, and they danced with even into the sunrise.  Then they said their goodbyes and they left too.  I watched as they fell to the ground below.

         When I woke up I was in my bed, and I wasn't wet at all.  Though I knew I hadn't dreamed, because I had learned to dance.

Current Event- Bye student is hurt in avalanche

       Ashleigh Nicole Cox went to American Fork Canyon with her friends to go snowshoeing.  Unfortunately they somehow started and avalanche.  Nicole was buried for forty minuets before the rescue party pulled her out.  The news article says that they waited twenty minutes for the rescue party to get out there and then another twenty minuets to get her out.
       The news article also reads that the BYU student didn't have a pulse when they pulled her out.  She was critically injured, but luckily they were able to revive her.
        There's been other avalanches in American Fork Canyon too and they had to block the roads.  The roads they were forced to block were route one hundred forty-four and route ninety-two.
          When I read this news article I was shocked because I thought avalanches only occurred in places like Mt. Everest.  Now I know that they can basically happen anywhere there is snow.
          I also wonder why the rescue party didn't send a helicopter out to rescue her.  Wouldn't you suffocate under the snow?  It doesn't take long to suffocate and it doesn't take long to fly either.  My mom told me that when they use helicopters its for emergency situations that are the most close to the person dying.  Wouldn't this situation qualify?
          What about heart attacks and the many other life and death situations there are.  Why don't they qualify?  Is it too much money to run the helicopter to save someone's life, or maybe they aren't sure how serious the situation is.
          I also thought, don't they have signs.  You know, signs that say, "Warning, don't go past this point, because there are avalanches in this area.  The thing is that families go tubing and snowshoeing here.  If its meant for families to have fun it needs to be safe.  It can't be some fun thing that could be your grave.  People pay money to have fun doing these thing, but not to buried under feet of snow.
          We need to take the necessary precautions to protect people from being harmed.  Even if its simply with a sign.
         

Vocabulary from The Avatar Battle by Chad Morris

Observant- I think it mean to carefully watch something and draw information from it.  The definition is to be quick to notice things.

Problem- I think it means an unpleasant situation we have to deal with.  The definition is an unwelcome or harmful situation that needs to be overcome.

Stumbled-  I think this means to kind of trip or accidentally bump into something.  The definition was to momentarily lose ones balance or to almost fall.

Clumsily-  I think this mean to accidentally bump and trip into things.  The definition is to do something clumsy, but the deeper meaning is awkward in movement.

Advantages-  I think this means that someone or something gets a gain for something.  The definition is a circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.

Programmed-  I think this means to make something like an electronic do something you want it to do.  The definition is to provide a computer or machine with coded instructions for the automatic performance of a specific task.

Potential-  I think this means how well you do or don't do something.  The definition is having or showing the capacity to become or to develop into something in the future.

Inspiring-  I think this means to leave an impression on someone.  The definition is to fill with an animated, quickening, or exalted influence.

Various-  I think this means things of all size, shape, etc.  The definition is different from one another; of different kinds or sorts.

Weakness-  I think this means that there's something hard for something or someone.  The definition is a state or condition of lacking strength.

Cough Syrup--Young the Giant

        There were many poetic devices in this song.  The first one I noticed was, "A wet world aches for a beat of a drum".  This one was an example of personification.  The song also has symbolism, like when it say, "I'm waiting for this cough syrup to come down" or "The fishes in the sea are staring at me".  Another device was, "If I could find a way to see this straight I'd run away", and I thought it could maybe be a narrative.  It kind of tells a story, because it says there's a chance that he'd run away.  It could also be a simile I suppose, because it compares his problems to being so overwhelming that he'd run away.  The last one states, "Coming up out of the blue", and it is an idiom.
        This guy feels lonely, because he probably broke up with his girl friend.  His heart aches for her just like the wet world is aching for a beat from a drum.  He wants to get back together with his girl friend, but he's waiting for her to want him back.  Just like he's waiting for the cough syrup to come down.  Later in the song it looks like he's beginning to live a new live and forget about his old girl friend.  He decides to find something or someone better.  He's "Coming up out of the blue".  He's forgetting the past and finding a cure for himself instead of waiting to see if his old girl friend will do anything.

Life is a Highway--Rascal Flatts

        I got four poetic devices from this poem.  The main one, "Life is a highway", is a metaphor because its referring life to how a highway works.  Another device in the song was, "There's a world outside every darkened door".  This line of the song was alliteration.  There was also an example of allusion in the song.  The line goes "The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's Peak".  The last one was, "There's no load I can't hold", and it is a Hyperbole because you can't really hold just anything.
       I think that in this song the guy is saying that there's so much for us out in the world for us.  That's what he means when he says life is a highway.  On a highway you don't have as much limitations as on other roads.  In our lives we can and need to reach the best of our potential because we have the freedom to.  Just like you have more freedom on a highway (for example you drive faster).
       I also think he's saying that you should enjoy life.  Be positive and happy, just like you may enjoy your freedom to drive faster on a highway.

Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull

       In this book I liked how Brandon Mull really thought things out and made everything a bit more realistic.  For example, Mrs. White (the owner of the candy shop) asked Trevor, Summer, Pigeon, and Nate to go and collect beetle eggs.  When they return with the eggs she checks them under a microscope to make sure the had really done the job.
       Brandon also took time to think other things through.  He thought thought about what it would be like to be a fifth grader again.  In his book he mentions how Nate wants to build a fort out of the left over boxes after moving.  I thought that was dumb at first.  I thought why would a kid want to build a box fort, that seemed so kiddish.  Then I thought when I was that age I probably liked to do that too.  We don't always remember what we liked to do when we were a certain age.  That's why we should keep journals.
       Brandon also has had some creative ideas in the book so far.  One thing he has is candy that can give you magical powers.  I remember, that when I was a little girl I also dreamed of having candy that had magical powers.  I would sometimes use real candy and pretend that when I ate it I had a certain super power.
       The other thing that makes the book interesting is that there's this guy, named John Dart, who has been cursed.  His curse is that what ever he purposely does to someone else happens to him.  For example, if he knocks someone out he falls unconscious.  John is a detective and so it makes you wonder how he can take out the bad guys.
       However, this book isn't as interesting as some of the other ones that Brandon Mulls wrote.  There's not as much action as in his other stories.
       Not a whole lot has happened yet.  The characters are still gets getting started on their journey.  At the beginning it gets boring when Nate is talking about to his mom.
       I thought it was awful when he kept thinking and saying  how nerdy and dumb Pigeon seemed.  I thought he was being judgmental, but I suppose we all do that a lot.  Its hard not to do, and something we really need to word on.
        I learned that you can learn lessons from the simplest of books.  Even if the book meant for entertainment and not learning.
     

Martin Luther King writing post two

            I learned Martin Luther King traveled from place to place giving his freedom  speeches.  King was always sleep deprived, and always working hard to show that everyone is equal.  He also received many death threats.
            Back in those days the white people bombed the African Americans churches, and one time King's house was bombed.  Unfortunately his wife and child were in the house when it was bombed.  Luckily his family was okay after being bombed.
             There was also a time when a crazy woman came up to Martin Luther King Jr.  She stabbed him in the chest and he was taken to a hospital.  The doctors told King that had he even sneezed he would have perished.  It was good that King made a recovery.
          One man who didn't like King, tapped into his personal life, and was always watching him.  He even listened to what King talked about on the phone all the time.  King was always watched twenty four seven.
          Later three men went missing while inspecting a church that had been bombed.  Two of the men were white and one was an African American.  The men were found dead.
           In the end King was shot while he was standing outside looking out over the railing outside his apartment.
          I think that Martin Luther King fulfilled his purpose in gaining freedom for the African Americans.  he was respecting by many and there were also many who were greatly inspired by his words.  After his death his son took over in gaining the equality they wanted and then equality soon came.  Think about it,  why would they have Martin Luther King day if King hadn't had such a great influence in the lives of many?  If he got his own holiday then that proves how much he put in to help bring equality to America.  King was a great man, and he used all his energy to help others.  Its important to put all your effort into something, that way you can accomplish a lot.  Its also important to never give up, just like King didn't.  If you do these things you can influence the world for the better.  Our world would be a much better place if everyone put all there effort into good things that can help benefit others.

The Avatar Battle book two by Chad Morris: reading report two

         In this book I didn't like how not much seemed to be happening in it.  The characters spend a lot of there time working on solving a question their grandpa had given them.  I thought that they should have probably been more focused on how to stop the evil villain, Muns.  Throughout the book the characters were caught pondering about the question, or worrying about Muns revenge he had on them.  Muns also sent them videos that were probably meant to make the characters afraid.  The videos gave the characters an idea that he was going to attack again, and he also compared himself attacking to a game of chess.  He said that a famous chess player was playing a game of chess with another man.  He let the man capture all his important chess pieces before he made his major moves.  The man then took over the game and played checkmate on the other man.  I thought it was kind of stupid how Muns kind of told his evil plan.  Muns attacked a couple of times, but only with small attacks.  That was how you knew that something big was coming.  So you'd think that the characters would be a bit more concerned than they were.  Maybe it was because the characters didn't know what to do to defend themselves because they didn't know what Muns would do.  Even so, the author didn't get that across very well.
          I still thought that the book had many good surprises.  It was interesting to learn the secret about Dr. Mackleprank, but I'm not going to tell you just in case you read the book.  It was a good book overall, and out of five stars I'd probably rate it a three point seventy five.  It's a book that I'd recommend, but not as much as I'd recommend Fable Haven.
           I also thought some of the classes they had in the school were kind of funny.  I mean the author makes it sound cool, but it seemed kind of dumb in a way.  For example one of the classes was a class where you could control avatar, an animal avatar.  In this class who learned how to control robot animals in their natural habitats that they had recreated for the robots.  So you got to learn how to be a animal and about the animal.  Which I thought was strange.  I mean who'd want to learn how to be an animal?
           The second book hints that there will be a third book.  I know it sounds like I really disliked this book, but I really did like it. There was just a lot I noticed that was not well explained. I'll look forward to the third book coming out.

The Avatar Battle book two by Chad Morris

          This story begins with the characters of the book worrying.  Worrying about when Mins (an evil man who kidnapped Abby and Derick's grandpa in the first book, and he also endangered the lives of their parents) would return for his revenge.  Around lunch time Abby, Derick, and their friend Carol each receive a message from Min on their rings.  Note that this book takes place in a time with more advanced technology and a ring can be used like a phone, computer, email, etc.  The message avows that they shouldn't be helping, and that the adults should handle their problems.  Also in Abby's message Mins asks her to give him the keys to a time machine.  He claims that if she gives him the three keys he will let her choose a date in time, so that he can fix the tragedy (like the titanic).
          Abby's grandpa asserts that without tragedies we couldn't learn from our mistakes and we'd just make more problems by changing time.  It would also prevent certain people from existing anymore and new ones appearing, because people would have different families.
          Mins uses a device of his to break through the time machine's shield for a few seconds to send two of his men in.  Luckily they are stopped before they change anything in time.  Though the characters believe their battle's over I don't think it is.  I predict that Mins used that plan as a distraction and that they were supposed to capture his assistants.  I think that he has an even bigger plan, one that will almost destroy time and ruin lives.
         Chad Morris writes with pretty simple words.  The book isn't really easy of hard to read.  I don't think much of his writing, and he keeps his book interesting for the most part.  Although it would be even better if he made it more intense or used big words, like Brandon Mull.  Though it can be nice to have something different from other fiction books.

Martin Luther King Jr.

             Every year America celebrates a special day, Martin Luther King Jr day.  Martin Luther King Jr  was an African American man who stood up for the African Americans when they were being treated unfair, unequal.  He gave many speeches about how everyone is equal, and how no one should be treated unfairly.
             Unfortunately he and others were still treated wrong.  Later, the African Americans were treated correctly, and we made this holiday to honor him.

In the eye of the Storm by John H. Groberg

                After awhile Elder Groberg is called to serve in Ha'apai, Tonga.  It was interesting to see the differences in the two different islands all said to be combined into one called Tonga.  It seemed like the people in Ha'apai had a little more stuff (since Tongans don't really have money) than the people on Niuapotupatu, Tonga.  Instead of just staying in one general area, he had to sail to all the different islands of Ha'apai, Tonga. He had many cool and interesting experiences there too.
              I did notice that not all the scenes in the movie are in the book.  The book has more in it than the movie, but like I said, it still doesn't contain all the scenes that are in the movie.  It made me wonder why, and I wished the book did have those things in it.  I also noticed that chapter one is different from the rest of the book.
              In chapter one it talks about a time when he's at sea and a bad storm strikes.  The ship overturns and he and the rest of the crew is thrown overboard.  Its then that his companions and him have to swim back to dry land, when their miles away from it.  As far as I remember I don't think it told when this event took place.  Then after the chapter, chapter two begins and its labeled the beginning.  I didn't like that I didn't know when this event took place.  I thought it was supposed to be kind of like a prologue and that it would probably be repeated later in the story.  The thing was that it wasn't and that one (as far as I know) event was out of chronological order.
              In the end of the book Elder Groberg says he met up with Jean after he served his mission, and was later married to her.  They were married in the Los Angeles Temple on September 6, 1957.
              I loved this book and out of a rating of four stars, I'd rate it four stars.  I learned many more things about the Tongan culture, and the author did a great job keeping up your interests in the story.  There weren't many or any parts that bore you.

In the eye of the Storm by John H. Groberg

              I noticed that in this book the author shares a lot of the thoughts and feelings that he had on his mission.  I thought that these thoughts that he shared helped me to better understand the situation of things and what was happening.  I liked that I can see how he really felt, because in the movie you can't tell what he's thinking about or what exactly he's feeling.
             He started out the story with a little about when he grew up (the Great Depression and World War Two), and since I know he's still alive it made me think how that wasn't so long ago after all.  Then he talked a little about high school and how he met Jean Sabin (his future wife) on his first date (it was a blind date).
            After that it proceeds to tell about when he got his mission call.  He says that when he herd he was going to Tonga he didn't even know where that was.  Before he left he and Jean promised that they wouldn't get married to anyone until he returned from his mission.
             It took three months for him to make it to Tonga, due to complications on the trip.  The complications allowed him to serve in the Orange District in California for awhile before he caught a boat to America Samoa.  Then he sailed to Fiji, and finally to Tonga.
              Elder Groberg was sent to serve on the island (there's one hundred seventy one islands) Niuatoputapu, Tonga.  He enjoyed many wonderful spiritual experiences there.
              In one experience a Tongan father came to Elder Groberg carrying the limp body of his son.  Elder Groberg looked down at the child and announced that he was dead.  Then the father said, "I don't know if he's dead or not but I know that you help him".
                So Elder Groberg took the boy into his house and began a form of CPR.  He did this for about a day and a half to two days (and nights) straight.  Eventually the boy woke, and Elder Groberg gave him back to his father.
               Something that the Tongans did for special occasions was that one family had to furnish a pig.  So they would let out a couple pigs out of their pig pen, and a group of men and boys would chase after a certain pig.  When they got to the pig they'd beat it up with machetes, clubs, stones, and sticks until it drew its last breathe.  Then they would fry it up for dinner.
               I really enjoyed the many fun stories that Elder Groberg tells from his mission.  They are all unique and interesting.  They show a great example of a different culture.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

             Captain Nemo shows the professor the rest of his ship and then disappears for a few days before inviting them to go hunting.  With Nemo's advanced technology they use diving suits to travel down into the depths of the ocean.  Each man has a gun that shoots out glass bullets, which I thought was interesting.  I mean glass, its a lot more breakable than lead.  They travel through the forest of coral and on there way back to the ship Nemo shoots a sea otter.  Again the captain disappears for a while and the three men are left to themselves.
              One day they get caught on a reef and have to wait till the tide rises in five days.  The professor asks Captain Nemo if Conseil, Ned, and him can go hunting on land.  From the beginning Nemo vowed that he'd never return to land again, so the professor is surprised when the captain says yes.
              The three men take a small boat up to the island full of cannibals (which they already know) in hopes of food that's not from the sea, and Ned strongly hopes they can escape.  They find lots of fruit and kill a wild boar.  They roast it and begin to eat it when arrows and stones come flying at them.  They run to the boat as cannibals come after them.
              Later after the tide rises and they leave the island the captain tells the professor that he has to lock them up again.  So he locks them up and drugs their food, so they fall asleep.  When the professor awakes he's in his cabin again and the door is unlocked for him.  The captain comes up to him and asks him if he's a doctor.  He says yes, and is brought to do treatment on a wounded crew mate.  Sadly, the crew mate is beyond help and later dies.
              The captain, his crew, and the three men bury the dead man and have a funeral for him at the bottom of the sea.  The professor knows that what happened to that guy was related to the events of the other day, and that to keep secrets from him the captain had to drug them.
               I think that this book is an easy read but overall its pretty interesting.  The one thing I don't like about it is that it has pictures for every other page.  It just kind of annoying and makes it a little embarrassing to read.  Someone told me that because its and old book it has lots of pictures in it.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

          I really like how the story's going so far.  Jules Verne, the author, can somehow make the story really interesting.  So far in the book Professor Aronnax (the main person) has decided to take his journey out to the sea to study the mysterious sea creature that's destroying ships.  So he boards the fastest ship in the U.S. Navy.  The captain, Commander Farragut, is positive that his crew will be able to find and destroy the mysterious sea creature.  They identify the creature as a giant narwhal, even though they aren't sure what it is.  One other main character is Ned Land.  He's the most valuable man on the ship because he's an has good eyes, and is extremely good at harpooning whales.
          After a long while at sea they decide to turn back in three days if they don't find the monster.  The author claims that the captain promised this on November second, so they'd turn back November fifth if there was still no sign of the Narwhal.  Suddenly they see the Narwhal and it starting climbing onto the ship.  The crew shot cannons and Ned tried to harpoon it, but they just bounced off the creature harmlessly.
          Professor Aronnax leans over the rail to look at Ned throwing the harpoon and he tumbles into the sea.  Conseil jumps in to save in and the ship is washed away.  Conseil claims its his job to protect the professor and starts swimming while holding the professor.  Soon the professor passes out and when he wakes up he finds that he's on the back of the Narwhal with Conseil and Ned.
           They figure out the creature is a submarine and are taken prisoner below deck.  The captain of the submarine (captain Nemo) tells them that he won't kill them, but that they will have to forever stay so no one knows his secret.  He says they can roam wherever they want to and invites the professor to explore the sea with him.
           One thing that I thought was cool about the way Jules wrote, was that he put dates in his book to make it seem real.  It worked too, because at first I thought it was a true story.  I think I'll enjoy the rest of the story and predict that Ned, Conseil, and the professed will escape.