THE RAVEN by Edgar Allan Poe

BIOGRAPHY

Click here to watch a version of Edgar Allen Poe's most famous work, 

"The Raven"

POETOGRAPHY

Poetography #1

What do you think of these images?
What words come to mind?
How do they make you feel????

GABY, LOST AND FOUND by Angela Cervantes

Gaby is a wonderful girl who feels a bit lost and unwanted, just like the pets at the animal shelter. Her mom gets deported to Honduras, leaving her in the care of her father. She barely knows him, and he works all the time. Worst of all, he doesn't even seem to want her around. She spends most of her time with family friends and at the nearby animal shelter.

 Slowly, Gaby becomes attached to the people and pets at the shelter. She takes on the "job" of writing ads for the pet adoptions and gradually she finds her own place in her life. But not without some rough patches along the way!




ACTIVITIES:

1. Group discussion about the book
2. Look at a map for places in the world (like Honduras) and where Gaby lives
3. Make a slide in our pet adoption presentation
1. Choose a pet
2. Create a name & profile to help people understand this pet and what it needs to find a happy, forever home. 
4. I will print out the slides and put them on the Library/Maker Space bulletin board.

Hope you had fun!

SHELFIES!

What's a SHELFIE?

• A photo of yourself 
• That you take yourself
• Posing with your favorite book!!!

Click the SHELFIE link for a shelfie template

INCOMING GRADE 3 LANE SCHOOL SUMMER READING

  

WELCOME TO THE LANE SCHOOL LIBRARY! 

Here is your information for Summer Reading 2015

There are LOTS of steps...hang in there with me!

1. Chose ONE BOOK from the Summer Reading List (2 or 3 if they are picture books - these are marked as multiples) Here's the link: 2015 SUMMER READING LIST
2.  SIGN UP FOR YOUR BOOK: use this BOOK SELECTION FORM, or sign up with the link on the 2015 Summer Reading List.   NOTE - ONLY 25 STUDENTS PER BOOK - Once 25 students have signed up, the book will disappear from the sign-up listing
3. READ the book(s) over the summer 
4. Next, ANSWER a few questions or do the activities - See the link below                                                  2015 SUMMER READING INSTRUCTIONS - Gr 3 (PRINT THIS OUT)
5. Want to do your Summer Reading ONLINE? GREAT!!!!! :-)
   Click this link for your ONLINE RESPONSE  (and you won't have to worry about losing your paper!)
6. Bring your work to school in September if you printed the assignment. A day will be set for you to have a special activity with the teacher and all other students that selected your book
7. Books will be available at the Bedford Free, Boston, or any Public Library and you may also borrow some from the Lane School Office. RETURN books as soon as you are done, so others can do the reading too.

Problems accessing the docs???? Technology is GREAT...until it doesn't work, lol :-)
Try signing out of any google accounts, then click the links again.
If all else fails, email me at linda_coviello@bedford.k12.ma.us

HAPPY READING!!!

Ms. Coviello

Lane School Librarian

UPCOMING GRADES 4 & 5 LANE SCHOOL SUMMER READING

  

WELCOME BACK TO THE LANE SCHOOL LIBRARY! 

Here is your information for Summer Reading 2015

1. Chose ONE BOOK from the Summer Reading List (2 or 3 if they are picture books - these are marked as multiples) Here's the link: 2015 SUMMER READING LIST
2.  SIGN UP FOR YOUR BOOK: use this BOOK SELECTION FORM, or sign up with the link on the 2015 Summer Reading List.   NOTE - ONLY 25 STUDENTS PER BOOK - Once 25 students have signed up, the book will disappear from the sign-up listing
3. READ the book(s) over the summer 
4. Click this link to do your RESPONSE for Summer Reading  online (and you won't have to worry about losing your paper!!!)
5. If you want to print the activities, click the link below and bring your work to school in September     PRINTABLE QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES. A day will be set for you to have a special activity with the teacher and all other students that selected your book
6. Books will be available at the Bedford Free, Boston, or any Public Library and you may also borrow some from the Lane School Office. Return them as soon as you are done, so others can do the reading too.

Problems accessing the docs???? Technology is GREAT...until it doesn't work, lol :-)

Try signing out of any google accounts, then click the links again.

If all else fails, email me at linda_coviello@bedford.k12.ma.us

HAPPY READING!!!

Ms. Coviello

Lane School Librarian

MIMI'S VILLAGE by Katie Smith Milway

Mimi, a young girl living in an African village, witnesses the benefits of basic health care in her community.

Visit Katie's Website www.mimisvillage.org

to learn more about the REAL Mimi behind the story and how you can help!

ONE HEN by Katie Smith Milway

Kojo, a poor boy in Ghana, finds a way out of poverty and helps others do the same after he is given a small loan and buys a hen.

Check out Katie's website www.onehen.org to learn more about the real Kojo and his story.

Play games and earn money for poor communities

GET INVOLVED! Check out the website for more ways you can help

THE GOOD GARDEN by Katie Smith Milway

Eleven-year-old Maria Luz and her family have a small farm in Honduras, but may not have enough food to sustain them for the year, so Maria's father must leave home to find work, leaving her in charge of the garden.

Check out Katie's website www.thegoodgarden.org to learn about the REAL Maria Luz and her real story. 

Play the Hasbro game for "The Good Garden" too!

COLONIAL JOBS

Tradesmen in Colonial Times
Colonial Williamsburg

NATIONAL PARKS

National Parks Official Website

Padlet example of National Parks

GRADE 5 INTERNET SAFETY

ONGUARD ONLINE www.onguardonline.gov

Watch 3 videos:
1. Heads up: Stop.Think. Click.
2. Protection Connection
3. Stand Up to CyberBullying

4. Play "The Case of the Cyber Criminal" Game
                   

CITATIONS

CITATIONS are a way to give original authors credit for information that you include in your work so that you do not PLAGIARIZE. Plagiarism is stealing or "kidnapping" some one else's words. Citing your sources helps you avoid plagiarism.

Use these online tools to help generate citations:
CITATION CREATION
CITATION MACHINE

MARTIN LUTHER KNG, JR

"Martin's Big Words" by Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

1. Watch this video of the reading of the book
2. Write 3-5 meaningful words from the text or your own prior knowledge on the subject of Dr. King and/or Civil Rights. Click here for the MLK DOC
3. As a class, we will enter all of the words into Tagxedo and make a word cloud blended with an image of MLK
 

PLAY IN THE SNOW!

HERE ARE SOME FUN "WINTER" SITES TO VISIT:

Code with Anna & Elsa

Make-A-Flake

Snowflake Builder

HAVE FUN!!!

VOLCANOES - 1

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/volcano-parts.html

DISCOVERY.COM http://discoverykids.com/games/volcano-explorer/

1.     Ring of Fire

1.     Create a virtual volcano - control viscosity & gas settings

WONDEROPOLIS
 http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-hot-is-lava/

1. Read about general volcano info

1. Watch lava video

ENCHANTED LEARNING - Glossary (Vocabulary)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/glossary/

http://kids.discovery.com/games/build-play/volcano-explorer

Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator By Jennifer Allison

Since Gilda Joyce's dad died, she has been driven to a state of mind where she speaks or communicates with the so called "other side". Then the ideal opportunity strikes when she has to visit her awkward cousins in San Francisco. A tortured ghost just starts roaming around their creepy Victorian mansion, and on top of that, her uncle seems to be hiding a handful of secrets ever since his sister committed suicide. So Gilda and her cousin Juliet decide to work to uncover family secrets and their findings are a lot to take in and Gilda Joyce's life might just change.                                                                                                                                                             By Rokibat ****

SUMMER READING 2014!!!

SUMMER IS HERE!!! 

YAY! 

And, just in time...we have everything you need to know about Lane Summer Reading right here.
Click the links below for your

PARENT LETTER/DIRECTIONS

SUMMER READING LIST

SUMMARY FORMS

 Bring your summary forms to school  in September and be ready for a special activity!

Email me if you have any questions:
linda_coviello@bedford.k12.ma.us

SKELETON CREEK By Patrick Carman

             Ryan wants to find all about Skeleton Creek but his friend Sarah is leading that dream in a dangerous path. After getting sent to the hospital a few times, Ryan gets separated from Sarah and is not allowed to talk to her anymore. When they keep trying to meet up. Ryan breaks his leg. Will Ryans mom figure out they were still communicating? Or will it keep it a secret and more disastrous stuff will happen? CRUNCH!

             The main character struggling was Ryan.

             Ryan was struggling with Sarah because he kept trying to persuade her not to go to Skeleton Creek again but she wouldn't listen.

             Ryan changed by at the start of the story he didn't take Skeleton Creek and Sarah that seriously but at the end he realized Skeleton Creek had more to it then the "machine", the forest itself and the town.

             Ryan's struggle with Sarah trying to keep her safe is like when I have a "talk" when she does something bad and I talk to her about it but she ignores me.


              Rating ***

              Ittai
     

INHERITANCE by Christopher Paolini

There is a boy named Eragon. He found a egg which hatched into a little dragon.There was also a evil king and destroyed his home and family. He is now fighting for the the world and he is battling for the throne.



The coolest part is Eragon sent a tornado of  swords to the evil king.



I would recommend this book to boys who are ages 9-13.



RATING: *****

Ibrahim

THE HIDDEN STAIR CASE by Carolyn Keene

A 18 year old girl who is now about to be tied up on another mistirous case for a hunted house. Just as there about to new case a person comes and warns them Nancy and her house keeper Hannah beware your father is in danger. Nancy is getting  closer and closer to finding out the mystery of the hunted house for Mrs.Flora and her Aunt Rose Mary, and then the information was pilling up and up and up and CRASH!!!!!!!BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The ceiling comes crashing down on everyone and you would not even believe how fast it was as fast as as blink of a eye.........................................................Will everything go ok with the dad? Or will Nancy stop or will she figure out this mystery?

One thing that she was struggling with is when the whole ceiling came crashing down on her.

2 big conflicts in the store is she is worried about her dad that he is really in danger and the hunted house for her Aunt and Mrs.Flora so she had two cases on her hands

When I read this store there where not so many changes to the characters the Aunt Mrs.Flora  the dad and Nancy the main character.

I related a lot but one that stuck out to me was when Mrs.Flora saw a pair of eyes and was really frightened
and a person who I know is easily frightened too

RATING: ****

Julia

Day Of Doom By: David Baldacci

Amy and Dan has just gave the Vespers the last piece,and they didn't let the hostages go. Turns out they are using the stuff Amy and Dan stole for them to build a doomsday machine. Amy, Dan, and friends of theirs race against the clock to turn off the doomsday machine. They also have to find out who the mysterious Vesper 1 who has put this plan altogether. Can they save the world (Again)? Find who Vesper 1 is? Defeat the bad guys (For the millionth time)? Try not to get killed (by their parents killer and henchmen)? And save the hostages, Before it's too late?!!!

There was no struggle for the main character or for any of the characters.

The main characters didn't change.

The main characters didn't remind me of myself


RATING: ******

        

Historical Fiction: The Shark Attacks of 1916

Charlie 

July 2, 2014

Room 218

Mrs. Shaughnessey

The Shark Attacks of 1916

By: Lauren Tarshis

In July of 1916 sharks fatally attacked and killed four people and wounded one off the coast of New Jersey. Two of the attacks didn't even happen in the ocean, surprisingly, they happened in a creek 16 miles from the ocean.  

The story takes place in Elm Hills, New Jersey. The main character Chet Roscow is a ten year old boy who lives with his Uncle Jerry. Even though Chet has not been living in the beach town very long, he has made three friends; Dewey, Sid and Monty. The friends liked swimming in the nearby creek and pranking each other.

During this time people thought sharks were gentile creatures, however, local resident Captain Wilson said he had seen shark attacks while he worked as a whaler. 

One day while at the creek, Chet saw eyes black, beady as coal. While swimming to the shore, the shark scratched its teeth on his chest.  Nobody believed Chet when he said there was a shark swimming in the creek. Unfortunately, because of his prank, nobody believed him. He wanted to warn his friends before they went into the water. 

I can relate to Chet because we are both ten-year-old boys who like swimming with our friends. Like Chet, if my friend was about to get eaten by a shark, I would jump in and try to save them.



I give The Shark Attacks of 1916 4.5 stars.

THE COURAGE OF SARAH NOBLE by Alice Dalgliesh

Sarah is alone with her father, poor and in a small cramped house. Life is hardworking, light and dark every day. Sarah does not know if she cam make it through the hard labor. Read this book to find out.

Sarah is on conflict with herself. She is put through hard labor every day and the work is hard.

At the climax of he story, a miracle happens for Sarah. She is working and hires her. Sarah is beaming because she can buy clothes and food for her and her father.

This reminded me of me when I did chores and my mom started to give me an allowance.

RATING: ***

ZENDA LOST IN AQARIA by Ken Petti and John Amodeo

In the story Zenda and her friends went on a field trip to a moon called Aquaria. During the trip they got lost.
 
 Of course it was a struggle to get back to the campsite.At the end of the story you see that Zenda was
   able to overcome her fears.

   Zenda's enemy in this story is a girl named Alexandra

It must of been hard for Zenda and her friends to stay out in the wilderness on a planet they 'even know. Not only that but Alexandra was with them.if you could describe her is self centered and bratty.

 Kani is a power Zenda has that make her dreams come to life. But at the end Zenda stood up to it.

RATING?????

Ainsley

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS By J. K. Rowling

Strange things have been happening in Hogwarts. Strange words on the wall, and petrified people. Harry doesn't know why a elf tells him not to go to Hogwarts or hears words others can't, but when the chamber of secrets open, Harry has to battle the heir of Slytherin.

Harry, Heromine, the professors, and Ron struggle with Voldemort, the Malfoys, and a basilisk.

Harry hears words others can't, drinks a disgusting potion, sees petrified people, sees petrified Heromine, and fights the basilisk.

Harry gets paranoid when he sees petrified people, gets happy when the professors said that cures were being made for the petrified people.

Harry fighting the basilisk reminded me of a part of a book when a person fights basilisks.

RATING: *****

Kevin

ELLA FITZGERALD-TOMMY

ELLA

Ella was born on April 25 1917 Newport News Virginia.
Ella was the child of William and Temple Fitzgerald.
Ella lived in Yonkers new York where her corer took off.
Ella studied music inarticulately Jazz,
Ella overcame reform school and her parents separation.
Ella worked as jazz singer.
Ella was challenged by fame and jazz.
Ella's personality could be described as positive, generous, and determined.
Ella was always determined.
Never gave up her corer.
Ella was best know for her scat singing and Jazz.
Ella was ODD, CRAZY, AND CREATIVE!!!

FITZGERALD

THE RUNAWAY RACEHORSE BY Ron Roy

THE RUNAWAY RACEHORSE: Ron Roy
By Alvin

The three kids, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, are off on a train to Forest’s house to see a very fast racehorse named Whirlaway run in Saratoga Springs. Dink’s Uncle Warren is also there. Warren and Forest both own the racehorse. When the kids ask if they can see Whirlaway in the shed they find out that Whirlaway is gone. After he and the kids find Whirlaway in the shed, but he started acting weird. Whirlaway backed away from his jockey, Sunny. He was usually friendly to her! On the day of the race in Saratoga, Whirlaway suddenly was very slow. He came in last to the finish in the race. The winner of the race is a horse named Dancer. The kids took a picture with the winner with the jockey and the horse's owner. At Forest’s home when the kids got their pictures from the drugstore they found out Dancer and Whirlaway are exactly alike except one has a dimond shape on his forehead(which is "Whirlaway") and one has shoe polish to cover the diamond shape on his head(which is "Dancer"). But why? Then Dink found out that the horse that Sunny rode wasn't Whirlaway--- Dancer is-- they switched names. Ruth Rose found out that the man in the picture was Mr. Bunks, Dancer's owner. Maybe Mr. Bunks had something to do with this. Then Josh came up with a conclusion, Whirlaway doesn't like sugar, so if Dancer eats the sugar cube, the kids will know this horse is not Whirlaway. Dancer didn't want the sugar, so they knew this was actually Whirlaway and Dink rubbed off the shoe polish on Whirlaway revealing a diamond shape. Whirlaway and Dancer are twins. When the police found out about this, they arrested Mr. Bunks and Forest got his horse back.

FOR THIS LAND By: Kate McMullan

This book is about a young girl named Meg, living in the 1850s in Kansas who went to go live with her
relatives on the prairies. It was a big mistake because there was a struggle against slavery, and Ruffians
were terrorizing the state! Not only that but, a devastating fire threatens their home.

The main character was in conflict with society  because a war against slavery was going on.

The struggle for Meg is doing what her family needs her to do in the new state, but wishing she was back home and gets worried that her father and uncle are in war to fight for a free state. Also, now that she lives far away from her home, she has to make new friends at  school.

Meg changed during the course of the book by being more mature and getting used to her new home (learning all of the chores she has) She cooks meals for everyone in the house, sews quilts for winter,
and cleans the house with her mother and aunt. Also, she helps looking for her uncle when he goes to
war but doesn't come back.

I can relate to Meg because we both dislike slavery and war, and we like school.

Rating*****

Maddy

MEET FELICITY AN AMERICAN GIRL by Valerie Tripp

Felicity has always liked horses, but when she meets Penny she likes them even more. After Felicity how bad Jiggy-penny's owner- she starts visiting her every night.  But when Jiggy catches Felicity trespassing to give Penny an apple, he forbids her to come back. He also keeps an  eye on her in case she comes back.

But Felicity is determined to help Penny, so she still comes back every night. Still not getting caught. Will Jiggy ever be nice to Penny? Or will Penny suffer though the rest of her life?!?!

Felicity is in conflict with another character. The conflict is that Jiggy won't treat Penny fairly.

Felicity changes by being nicer to Jiggy at the end of the book.

I could relate to this book because my sister's friend used to be very mean to her and now she is much nicer.

RATING ****

Audrey L

   

MY NAME IS AMERICA: THE JOURNAL OF RUFUS ROWE, A WITNESS TO THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG by Sid Hite

Its about Rufus a boy who runs off to Fredericksburg, Virginia with only ten dollars and then he gets two jobs but in about a month a whole army of union troops come. Luckily they don't attack at first that gives time for the confederate army to come. After along time waiting the confederates come but the union have a bridge all the citizens go out of town except the army, a couple blacks, and the brave Rufus Rowe stay. Houses shatter, people die the unions try to get to the other side. Will the succeed to beat the confederates or will they fail and charge through the lake?

Rufus Rowe (the main character) is in conflict with war (society).

The conflict for the main character was that he was close to some of the people that died and he feels that if you lose you lose and if you win you lose.

Rufus changed during the course of the book being happy to get away from his mean father but near the end he was not happy because so many people died (upwards of 6,800).

I feel the same way as he did (Example : Before I fight with my brother I feel happy but after I fight I feel unhappy.

Rating : *****


Yan

TIMMY FAILURE by Stephan Pastis

I liked the part when they told about the bunny Dickey it was weird who would 

name there bunny Dickey and the weird thing is hes in a bank.

Timmy has a struggle with making new friends.

He has trouble talking to other people when he makes new friends in his school or in his nabore hood.

Timmy made new friends in his school his behavior was a little better then what is was before and he did better.

he reminds me of my friend hes sometimes bad but not all of the times.

**** 

Pedro    

GHOST HORSES by Gloria Skurzynski

The main idea is when a mom geologist found something strange going on with the horses in the Chloride herd. Jack and Ashlia's mom puts the kids in a foster care.  Awhile later the mom comes and picks Jack and Ashlia up from the foster care and also takes two other kids from the foster care.

The kids struggle sometimes to help there mom with important things.

The mom struggles to keep all of the kids safe and the kids are doing there best to get along.

At the begining of the story the mom wasn't mechin as much as she was at the end of the story like for example, the mom was getting mechin in the middle of the story.

My mom relates to this character because she is always hard at work.

RATING:****

logan

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON by Cressida Cowell

The main idea of the book is Hiccup needs to find a dragon a long with ten other boys Thor's day Thursday exile. But in the morning a sea dragon appeared on the beach. Will Hiccup be able to get everyone out of exile?

The main character in conflict is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the 3rd

The conflict for the main character is Hiccup could not pass the initiation test.

 The main character changed during the course of the book like when there was a dragon fight and everyone failed the test. Hiccup could not control his dragon in the beginning. But at the end of the book Hiccup and his dragon Toothless fought a sea dragon as big as a mountain. Which proves that Hiccup is now in control of his dragon.

I related to to this character and their struggle like when Hiccup was embarrassed because he was the only one who could speak dragonese. I also was embarrassed when I was the only one one to chose vanilla ice cream on the field trip.

RATING:  ****

Tommy

GOOSEBUMPS: THE DEADLY EXPERIMENT OF DR. EEEK by R.L Stine

You and your friend Sam are looking for you mom in a science lab ... Where could she be ? You sit on an orange chair, but Sam doesn't. He picks up a glass of clear liquid water that is sitting on a table ."HEY"you cry "DON'T DRINK THAT!!!" But before you tell him , he drinks it down in one big gulp. "Sam ...I mean it  ...WE CAN'T FOOL AROUND ...THIS IS A SCIENCE LAB


You are in conflict

You cant find your mother but your friend Sam keeps messing around with you ... And you are in a science lab !!!!

You have thought you would never find your mother, but now you think you have a better chance because you said bye to Sam, and now its just you and DR. EEEK .

It reminds me of when my mom and my dad got divorced and it felt like I lost  my father forever.

RATING :*****

  Sydney

AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN by Michel Morpurgo

The main idea in the story is war. It's war because many things happened in war like fire, bombing and others. In the fire and bombing people were being killed and badly hurt it was torture, but they were the last people to be hit for the bombing. It was a disastrous for what had happened to the poor town. Lizzie was the character that had struggled (real name is Elizabeth) and she was against society. Lizzie was in a big war, her dad was fighting in the war and he hadn't come back and they hadn't had a letter saying he was dead or killed.

They started to bomb her town and they were trying to find their elephant but they couldn't find her and mutti was upset. But then they decided to move on away from the death zone.

Lizzie changed because the elephant meant a lot to her mum. Lizzie also had to change because if she said she was from her country they would kill her if said or found out. Elizabeth is a old lady in care not a child anymore. My character relates to me because my grandad's parents or grandma and grandpa were fighting or in the house when war was going on.

RATING: *****

Olivia

MOON OF THE RUBY KEY by Holly Lisle

This book is about kids trying to find something. They are trying to find a ruby key. The kids are going on an adventure looking for it. They are looking everywhere.So then they go in the woods and they are just walking around looking every where there are a bunch of trees every where.                                                                                                                                                                                      
 The main character is struggle with the ruby key because all they are doing is looking around trying to look for the ruby key and they are in the woods.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Caleb was mad because he was looking very hard for it and they have been there for along time and and they are in the woods and it is very dark you can't see any thing so they still have a long time .                                                                                                                                                              
He changed because then they were saying that we will find it and they also said they said it will be okay and even if they have to stay there for a long time but we will find it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
It reminded me of my sister because once she got something a she really liked it and then she lost it  we were looking for it every where and she really wanted to find it so she made me look for it every where.  
                                                          
    *****

THE PRINTER'S APPRENTICE by Stephen Kringsly

The main character Gus is a printer's apprentice for Master Bradford. Together they print a newspaper called the Gazette. The Gazette has a challenger, The Weekly Journal. One day Zenger -the maker of The Weekly Journal- got arrested for putting something in the newspaper that offended the governor. Gus's friend Zach doesn't think that Zenger should have been arrested. A few weeks later, Zenger's layers didn't want to defend him. Zach writes a letter to a layer in Philadelphia and gives it to Gus to give it to the layer in Philadelphia when he goes. Gus gives the letter to the layer and when Zenger is in court he is found NOT GUILTY!

Gus is in conflict with Zenger.

Gus and Master Bradford were struggling to like Zenger, and put his arrest in the Gazzett, and help Zenger in court to prove him NOT GUILTY!

One time halfway in the book Gus helped Zach pull a little kid out of an old ice fishing hole. This showed that Gus  had more courage to do more stuff.

This book reminded me of myself because Gus was always confident to do things but scared at the same time.


Rating:****

Astrid

GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR - Jennifer Allison

        In this book Gilda Joyce told her class, she as going to San Francisco for the summer. When Gilda's father died she wanted to communicate with her father. When she arrives in San Francisco at her long lost cousin's house she figures out about Juliet's aunt. They struggle to become friends and try to figure out family secrets.

            Gilda the main character struggles to become friends with her cousin Juliet.

      The struggle for Gilda was Juliet. Juliet broke her ankle and she would only lay in her bed and wouldn't come out of her room. Juliet even didn't come down for dinner she would eat eggs and celery. Also the first time she time they talked Gilda asked about Juliet's foot she slammed the door on Gilda's face.

   Gilda change during the book because in the beginning Gilda was on her typewriter almost every second of the day typing about Juliet or her father besides at dinner time and other times but during end she started to get more and more involved with the mystery of Juliet's aunt Melanie. Also in the begging they hated each other but near the end they starred making friends with Juliet. They started to begin to solve the mystery together and try to be as sneaky as possible so Juliet's father, Mr. splinter wouldn't catch them.

     Gilda struggle was becoming friends with her long lost cousin Juliet. That relates to a problem I had because sometimes my cousin are sometimes a little crazy. But like Gilda they still love each other.

RATING: ****

Sophie



      

SMELLS LIKE PIRATES by Suzanne Selfors

This 12 year old boy named Homer W. Pudding has been accepted to a secret treasure hunting organization called L.O.S.T . His book has a map to the greatest treasure of all time. But he is not the only one who's trying to get it this girl thief named Lorelei who's trying to destroy L.O.S.T and tale all the treasure for her self. When Homer visits Lorelei in her new lair she was talking to two former women who worked for L.O.S.T, they still are but there spies and theirs for Lorelei. Finally when they were gone, Lorelei acted  like Homers friend. Te two agreed that they would split the treasure 50/50 but there's one thing that still isn't figured out...will Lorelei betray Homer in the end?  Nobody knows. mwahahah!!!!

The main character does not change in the book.

Homer struggles to get his hidden map.

Rating *****

By Cameron

THE MARK OF ATHENA By Rick Riordan

Annabeth is very frustrated... she is worried that when she reunites
with Percy he will have changed, It has been six months and believe  me
people can change! Soon Annabeth receives a note...   Dear Annabeth, take
three friends to the Argo II... AVENGE ME!!!     -Athena. That note terrified Annabeth! 
And the most disturbing part was this note was from her Mother! , 
ATHENA... Annabeth had not seen her for years yet she always  knew
her mother was up in the clouds starring down at her...   BEWARE THE ARGO II...

Annabeth was the main character [of course]. Annabeth had a big struggle
with her mother, Athena because she had not seen her mother in years, 
and years! She always thought her mother had bailed on her! Annabeth
had another struggle with Percy... Annabeth had just reunited and had not
been together for the longest time! {six months}

Annabeth had a big struggle with life itself. She most of the time was never
happy or never had a smile on her face. Life was a nightmare come true,
everything was a really big challenge for her and she could not really function
as well as everybody else.

Annabeth goes from a lonely, twisted minded girl to a warrior of
wisdom! There are some very big changes that she goes from through-out
the story... these are very hard changes to make and are brave to
dodge!

Annabeth reminds me of a friend named Sally... She had a mind
just like Annabeth, she thought everything was out to get her,
even her cat, Mr.Butler, [frankly he really was out to get her]!

RATING: *****

~Eva