Story Time

Fairytales are only for children, they say
But I believe in them everyday.
Happily Ever after, knowing it will come true.
Everyday I think of you.
The way you would tell the stories too
The Once Upon a Times
The endless rhymes
Your voice so deep,
Putting me to sleep.
I wish they were not memories
I wish that you were here.
But for now I keep my fairytales
ever so near.

Fourth Quater Outside Reading Book Review

If I am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus. Simon & Schuster, 2007. Genre: Non-Fiction

Janine Latus writes about her life and the many meaningful, some disturbing things that had happened. She focuses on her childhood and her unusual marriage. She notices that her and her sister have not had the best love lives and comes to realize this when her sister goes missing. Latus writes about her memories of her love life and childhood when her family was together. She tries to put the pieces together on what went wrong.

"Unfolds like a gripping novel...gorgeous prose...[Janine's] bravery...shines in her struggle to rediscover her own self worth." – People magazine

If I am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus is a truly inspirational story. She tells about her abusive marriage and how she felt during the marriage, and how she fought through. She keeps in close touch with her sister, Amy; they both have struggled in their love lives. Latus also reflects on her childhood, her mentally abusive father and their mother and father’s divorce. She reflects on how this affected her and her siblings. She uses a lot of emotion in her writing and you can tell that every word has came from the heart. Latus tells about her supporting mother and never really understanding her father. This book gives true inspiration to those that have been abused, that life gets better and goes on. This was her first book, but it does deserve praise.


“But I don’t stand up and say it because it feels to risky, like it will make Kurt feel vulnerable, like what we have is fragile, and I don’t want that for him. I want him to feel safe and loved, secure. Especially after all he has given up for me.”

This is one of the first and only non fiction books that I have read. I don’t particularly enjoy them but this book was completely astonishing. The way that she described her life and the event that happened made it a real page turner. I found myself wrapped up in the book. I think reading some of the things that happened mad me give pity her because things seemed so hard and nothing seemed to be getting better. I think that you have to be very brave to share your thoughts and feelings with the whole world in a published book. For that I give her extreme applause.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, something we face every day. Whether deciding what you want for lunch or if you can take that big vacation these choices are all of the most importance. Making decisions can make or brake your day, and without you knowing, can change another persons life. In The Old Man and the Sea the two protagonists, the old man, Santiago, and the little boy, Manolin, are torn apart when Santiago goes out deep sea fishing. Manolin has to stay and fish with people that he does not like, to respect his father's wishes. Even though Manolin desperately wanted to go with Santiago he made his decision to stay with the fishermen that he didn't like. This decision was not as little as it may seem because while Santiago was out at sea he had caught a huge marlin! Manolin had made the choice to stay home and he had missed this once in a lifetime chance, even though this seemed like the wrong decision, it had many rewarding results.

While Santiago was at sea Manolin was worried each day and would check his house to see if he had returned. Manolin had felt so strongly for the old man and loved him that he wanted to make sure that he was being cared for and that he was okay. Everyday the boy would go fishing and when he came back he would check. After fishing so long with Santiago the boy seemed to almost be a caretaker for him and would be his strength and keep and eye on him. When the old man did not return after so many days at sea Manolin it seemed that Manolin had felt that he was to blame if anything had happened because he chose not to go with him and help him. Even though the boy could not be Santiago's strength at sea he wanted to do what he could with the old man on land, "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you." The boy's always made sure to express his compassion for the old man with him so that the old man new that Manolin was proud of him.

After days and days at sea Santiago returned with a marvelous marlin. The only problem was that the fish was not intact. He had only returned with some of the head and a very large skeleton. To the boy this meant nothing, the only thing that he cared about was Santiago and that he had made it home safely. When he had gotten off the boat I could sense that the boy was overjoyed and that he was also relieved that the man was safe,” The boy saw that the old man was breathing and then he saw the old man's hands and he started to cry...and all the way down the road he was crying." When the old man came home he went to his house and slept the rest of the day away. The boy patiently stayed with him and got him food for when he awoke. The boy was so delighted to have him to care for and didn't want him to ever leave again. The love between the old man and the young boy was a very warm and glowing aspect that you could sense.

Santiago returned and the boy vowed to always fish with him,” I know you did not leave me because you doubted me", no matter what his father wanted. That way he would always be happy and enjoy fishing and not think of it as just a job. The old man had proved himself lucky and a good fisherman. He did not gain much respect because the fish was not intact. In the boys eyes this was a marvelous catch and one that he would admire forever. Since he made the mistake of choosing not to go with the old man. He didn't want to make such a foolish mistake again so he made yet another important decision to the story. He decided that he would stay with the old man. I felt that this was the most important decision in the story because now neither the boy nor the old man would be alone.

In the book the author makes the decisions critical to the book. These decisions affect the reader and the book itself. The book would have been very different if the boy had gone with the old man and helped him with the fish. The decisions, big or small all have consequences similar to the ones that I mentioned above. If decisions weren't made nothing would change. So decisions are important for not only literature but also for life.

Third Quarter Book Review

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Washington Square Press. 2004

Genre: Fiction

This is among one of Picoult’s popular books and portrays a family with a rebellious son, Jesse, a daughter with leukemia, Kate, and a daughter that was made to have the same bone marrow as Kate, Anna. This topsy turvy family goes overboard when Anna takes a sudden lawsuit on the family. Follow the struggles of Anna’s decision that could lead to her sister’s death and what happens to those around her.

“(A) fascinating character stud framed by a complex, gripping story… a beautiful, heartbreaking, controversial, and honest book.”

- Booklist (starred review)

This book is about a teen girl, Anna that was made to match her sister, Kate’s bone marrow, so that she can be a donor for her and help Kate through her leukemia. When her parents find out that Kate needs a kidney transplant, they all expect Anna to go through the surgery until she files a medical emancipation so that she can get her own medical rights and decide for herself. Through the book you go from each person’s story, struggles, past and present to find out what happens.

“On the other hand, I was born for a very specific purpose… I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother’s eggs and my father’s sperm to create a specific combination of precious genetic material.”

This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I thought that it was a marvelous book. There were man sad and revealing parts but I thought that overall it was very good and I would enjoy reading something by her again. This has affected me because I had never really known about sperm cell research and how it worked so this gave me information on it and I good story to read. I think I enjoyed that the author had the book from all the character’s perspective; I really enjoyed hearing how each of them felt.

One Month

His cell phone rang, the caller i.d. read Alan, his best friends familiar voice sounded on the phone. It wasn't unusual it was practically ordinary. But this call would change his life forever. As Marshall answered the phone, he didn't cherish any words or take anything in it was just a conversation with his friend for 15 years, his assistant coach on the field. Little did Marshall know this would be the last conversation he had with Alan.

"Hey Marshall, Uh, I'm not feeling to well I don't think I will be making it to football practice tonight." Alan said.
"Okay that's fine you better rest up we got a game soon! I'll talk to you soon!" Marshall said casually.
"Okay bye!" Alan said

Marshall went to practice and Alan wasn't there as expected. Things seemed fine and the team was looking good. His two youngest daughters, Elizabeth, Eliza for short and Danielle, or Danni, were there and running around the sides of the field his eldest daughter, Catherine, was at her high school soccer practice. He was on his way home after football to pick Catherine at the high school field. They went home and ate a great dinner of steak and mashed potatoes that their mother and wife, Marie had made. After Marshall and Marie were done tucking in their three girls, they watched some television and went to bed.

The digital clock read 2:13 and Marshall's cell phone rang again. This time it wasn't such a pleasant call. It was Alan's son, Nick; he was in a state of hysteria. Marshall could barely understand what he was saying. The one command that he made out was to come to the hospital something was wrong. Marshall put on some clothes on grabbed the keys to his truck and rushed out of the house.

He arrived at the hospital and a covey of people in the waiting room their eyes were tear stained and sad countenances. Marshall didn't know who to look at first. He was in awe and he didn't know what was going on. It dawned on him that Alan was no where to be found. He walked over to his wife and she explained that they had gone to bed and that Alan had died in his sleep. He had suddenly sat up and then fell back unto the bed. They called the ambulance and had tried to revive him but he had already passed on. Marshall stood in utter shock, this couldn't be happening Alan had just called because he was feeling sick, he can't be dead. He was only 53 things like this don't happen. Marshall didn't know what to do; he was angry, sad and confused all at the same time and all he wanted was to talk to Alan. When things had died down and everyone had said goodbye to Alan before they took his body away, Marshall headed home. He didn't have a clue what he would tell Marie and the girls.

He got home around 4 am and his precious daughters were still asleep. Marie was dozing but when she heard the front door open she was wide awake. Marshall didn't have to say a word she already knew something was terribly wrong.
"He's gone." Marshall said. He never thought in his life he would have to speak those words especially about Alan. Marie's lamented because Alan had been a friend to all of them. They talked about what had happened and Marshall explained that the cause of death was a heart attack. They cried together and debated on how they would tell the girls. Of course Catherine would be the first one that they would tell. But how would they break it to the other two girls? They knew that sleep would help and that they would figure it out in the morning.

The next morning Marshall awoke lethargically and he got his cell phone. He headed downstairs and began to search his phone's address book for Will's number. His best friend of 40 years. Some would say that Will was a pudgy but he was actually very stalwart. Alan, Marshall and Will had been best friends even though Alan and Marshall had lives in the same town and Will had lived about 45 minutes away, they all shared on particular thing in common, football. All three of them had a zeal for the game. Alan and Marshall had coached youth football together and they got Will to do the same for his town. They had a ball together they even had special nick names. Will was Falcon 1, Alan was Tiger 1 and Marshall was Tiger 2. As the phone rang Will picked up.

"Hey Marsh! What's up? Why such an early call?" Will asked.
"Look I gotta tell you something..." Marshall said holding back tears.
"Okay shoot." Will said expecting something sports related, not the horrible tidings to come.
”It’s Alan, well he, he, Will he's dead." The tears burst through the phone receiver and both men were crying. Marshall went through the all too familiar explaining of how he died and what had happened.
"Marshall I don't know what to say. What are we going to do? What are YOU going to do?"
I don't know but I really need you now so you better be getting yourself better." Marshall said. Will had been fighting with lime disease and he had lost feeling and control in the left half of his face. Marshall needed him now to abet him. He was the best friend he had ever had, they were like brothers.

Telling the girls was not easy especially since Catherine was in high school and all the football players had also known Alan, he was their youth coach. Where ever she went she couldn’t escape the sadness, at school and at home things were awful. But what she hated most was that people who didn't even know him would say how sorry they were to her and how they missed him. That she could never tell her dad because she needed to stay some what strong for him. Catherine had never lost anyone really close to her. Her best friend’s father had died a couple of weeks earlier but he didn’t live with her friend so she didn’t really know him. Alan was different, he was a member of her unofficial family, the Football Family. This family consisted of the youth coach’s and Will, who she called Uncle Will, he was her godfather.

The wake, funeral and burial was the hardest thing that the family had experienced. Watching each football player walk up to Marshall and give him a hug was bittersweet, but knowing that each player from 3rd grade to a senior in high school care so much gave everyone a wave of hope. The silent way that each of them passed by seemed so unreal.
The day of the wake the Football Family had gathered on Marshall’s front lawn and had been talking and ordering a lot of pizza. When Catherine got home most of the people were departing for the wake. Before Will left he came up to Catherine to give her some words of condolence.

“Hey Catherine, how you doing?” he asked.
“Better, thanks. How are you?” she answered the same way she had for everyone else that had asked.
“ I am doing okay. But I want you to look out for your dad okay?” he said. Catherine nodded, but he walked away before she could say that they would watch over him together. She didn’t understand why he had said you and not we.

–—–——–—–—–—–—––—–——–—–—–—–—–

A few weeks later things had died down. Everything was over and everyone was almost completely back to normal. Marshall had become much calmer and had played out the rest of the football season with out his best friend and assistant coach, for 15 years. Things were different along the sidelines but there was only a week left in the season that he had to fight through.

Marshall was a carpenter, he worked with Will. Will had gotten him the job and there was nothing better than working with hid best friend of 40 years. They had plenty of inside jokes and always kept the other carpenters guessing on what they were talking about. When they had the chance they would deride the new guys. As he was driving to the site, he remembered that he hadn’t seen Will at the office where they checked in and couldn’t remember seeing his time card checked in. Suddenly his cell phone rang, it was Eve, Will’s wife.

“ Hello?” Will answered.
“Marshall it’s Eve. Will is in the hospital his lime disease had progressed and he is really sick. We need you here. Will needs you here.”
“I’ll be right down.” Marshall hung up the phone and immediately started crying. A feeling of compunction rushed over him. This gave him an inkling that something was wrong. He just couldn’t lose Will without him he wouldn’t know what to do. They were like brothers and had stuck together through thick and thin. He didn’t know what was going to happen but he was praying for the best.

He arrived at the hospital to Eve’s hugs and kisses and her tears falling softly on his shirt. He knew he was too late and that Will was gone. The people’s face’s mimicked those of when Alan had died. He kept hugging Eve and he started crying too. None of this made any sense. He kept thinking over and over about what he had done to deserve this, what his family had done. He stayed with Eve and her two daughters. They all exchanged tears and confusion. Not knowing what to do and not believing what had just happened.

When Marshall arrived home he told Marie but they decided not to tell the children until later that night. Marie didn’t know what to do or how to alleviate her husband's pain. He had just lost his two best friends in less than one month, nothing like this should happen, to anyone. When they told the kids Eliza cried with her mother but Danni didn’t really understand. She only knew that uncle Will was now in heaven with Alan. Catherine went to her room and cried. She stayed to herself and didn’t show too much emotion with the family. She wanted to be able to stay strong for the family.

The wake, funeral and burial seemed to mirror that of Alan’s only with different people. It was almost like déjà vu. Things later were hard Marshall would try and dial both phone numbers before he could catch himself and remember that they would never answer. After everything that had happened nothing would be the same things would change. They had to look at the positive side of things and hope for the best. Lives were lost but hope still remained. That was what they looked forward to.

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass, Little, Brown and Company, 2006
Genre: Fiction

In this book the main character Jeremy Fink is turning thirteen and he finds out that his father, that had passed away, has left him a box with the meaning of life inside it. The only problem is, the keys are lost and this box is not an ordinary box it takes four different keys to open it.Throughout the book you follow Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy through the journey to find the keys in time for Jeremy's birthday.

"This is an unforgettable book that you will want to give to someone the minute you reluctantly turn the final page."
- Book Page

Mass shows the streets of New Jersey from Jeremy's point of view as they are on the ultimate scavenger hunt to find the missing keys that could be anywhere. They travel all over New Jersey because of some unexpected trouble that they got into while on a search for the keys. The two friends are have always been inseparable but now more than ever they keep each other going even though it is rough.

Mass uses the much detail to describe each unusual place that Jeremy and Lizzie travel. She makes sure that no nook or cranny is left out and that the reader knows exactly where they are. She also takes care in describing her characters. When she described the characters I got a very clear image in my head of what the person looked like.

"Staring up at me are the engraved words THE MEANING OF LIFE: FOR JEREMY FINK TO OPEN ON HIS 13TH BIRTHDAY. I'd recognize my dad's handiwork anywhere." (13)

I really like this story and I would definitely recommend it. I got recommended it by my friend. The book has so many twists and turns and it makes you keep reading. The suspense killed me at points but it made me read faster, and until I couldn't open my eyes any longer. Mass throws so many things you wouldn't expect which make the book so much more fun. I really like that she had two friends that were opposite gender because my best friend is a boy. People that don't know us think that we are like dating and say it is so cute but then we just look at each other and if the whole we are just friends excuse doesn't work we say we are brother and sister or we are cousins! It works every time.

First Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Penguin Books, 2003

Genre: Fiction

In the book The Secret Life of Bees the main character Lily Owens, a teenage girl, is growing up with her abusive father, T.Ray during 1964. Lily runs away from her South Carolina home with her house maid Rosaleen, and ends up in Tiburon, South Carolina. She goes to Tiburon to find out more about her mother and about her death that Lily caused. She ends up staying in a pink house with three colored, bee keeping sisters.

“Maybe it’s true that there are no perfect books, but I closed this one believing that I had found perfection.” –Book magazine

In The Secret Life of Bees Lily Owens has always been told that she murdered her mother. She remembers her mother going through the closet and kept telling her to hurry. Then her father came up the stairs with a gun and they started fighting. Her father, T.Ray, dropped the gun and she went for it the next thing that she remembered was an explosion. In this story Lily has only a few things from her mother. One unparticular is very important. A picture of a colored Virgin Mary that on the back says Tiburon, S.C..Lily has a house maid named Rosaleen and she got into some trouble and ended up in jail. That night Lily gets her out and they run away to Tiburon. They find the ladies that have the Black Madonna picture on their honey jar and they end up staying with them for a good amount of the summer. Lily gets to help bee keep and becomes really good at it. Through the book Lily has a strong feeling that her mother has been there and has her search for her. The author gives you a look into this topsy-turvy teenager’s world and really makes you feel like you are in the book. She makes you feel like you feel what Lily is feeling. I have never read this a book like this and this is just too good of a book to be compared.

“T.Ray sat in a chair and cleaned his nails with a pocketknife. I swayed from knee to knee , hoping for a second or two or relief, but the pain cut deep into my skin. I bit down on my lip, and it was then I felt the wooden picture of black Mary underneath my waistband. I felt the waxed paper with my mother’s picture inside and her gloves stuck to my belly, and it seemed all of a sudden like my mother was there, up against my body, like she was bits and pieces of insulation molded against my skin, helping me absorb all his meanness.” (pg. 24)

I really enjoyed this book. I think that it was good because a number of people can relate to or understand it. My mother recommended it to me and she said that she loves it too. I think that this is a perfect book for any adolescent and that the writing that she used was very good. In this book you were always waiting for more to happen. Kidd gave you more and more with every page you turned. I really enjoyed that it was about teen adventures because I always imagine things like that in my head doing crazy things like running away and almost everyone wishes that they could have a secret relative to find more about. This book was excellent and I would definitely read more by Sue Monk Kidd and I can’t wait to see the movie!!