Holes by Louis Sachar

Because of his great-great-grandfather, Stanley Yelnats is stuck at Camp Green Lake. There is no lake, only tents, dirty people,yellow-spotted lizards, and holes. The boys there have committed a crime, and had the choice of coming to Camp, or going to jail. They dig holes exatly 5 feet across and deep, 'for character'. Stanley soon realizes that something else besides character is being looked for.

I enjoyed the three stories going on at once. They told you why this thing was like this and what Green Lake was like 100 yeards ago and foreshadowed things in Stanley's story. But I got confused sometimes. There wasn't much distinguishing between stories. I liked the creepiness of the story. I got shivery sometimes, like when the Warden scrached Mr. Sir with her venom-coated fingers. I could picture it really well, and Mr. Sir was gross.

I had a softball game yesterday, and instead of going an hour and fifteen minutes, it went two-and-a-half hours. We went into three overtimes! but the other team finally got one more point then us, and we lost. But we got fourth place in tournament!

getting up to date

The last three postings are mixed up. I started some a while ago, but finished todayish, so scroll down and check them out.

Happy has a gross sore on his neck. We took him to the vet yesterday, and they had to cut the scab off and prescribe pills. Poor puppy.

I met a girl from Bolivia yesterday. Her name is Lu, short for Ludovica. She's really neat. She's staying the summer with her sister, Karla, who is a junior at OU. They'll give us Spanish culture lessons.

This summer I'm going to try and read all the Newberry Medal books.

My Own Two Feet by Beverley Cleary

This is an autobiography of Beverley Cleary, from the end of highschool to the publishing of her first book, Henry Huggins. She went to junior colledge at Chaffey, California. Her family lived in Portland, Oregon, so she had to take long bus trips back and forth. She then graduated and went to Berkeley, and fell in love with Clarence Cleary. Her parents did not approve. Beverley's dream was to get a degree of librarianship. she could not get it at berkeley, so she transferred to WA State. She and Clarence married. Pearl Harbor was bombed, and she was sent to an army library. When the war ended, they moved to San Francisco and Beverley began Henry Huggins.

I find it more fun to read autobiographies than normal biographies because it is fresher, and more detailed than most biographies. Beverley Cleary is pretty funny. I had no idea she lived during the Depreession! Recommended.

Started taking Spanish lessons with Mrs. Payne. Very interesting.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
Katie and her family move to Georgia in search of a better job. They move into a tiny house in a Japanese community, Katies parents have crazy work schedules, and no one is very happy. Katie follows her sister Lynn more than ever. Sammy is born, and things change again, for the better, mostly. Lynn has found a friend, Amber. Katie doesn't like her. It gets worse when Lynn stops doing stuff with her and doing strange things like walking around with books on her head. Amber is a fake friend, because she abandons Lynn when Lynn is discovered to have anemia. The family works harder than ever to pay medical bills. Then she comes down with lymphoma, too, and isn't likely to live very long. Katie doesn't know what to do without her.

This made me cry. It is a most deserving Newberry Medal book. I enjoyed the part where Katie's dad smashed a car's windshield and afterwards they went to a Mexican restaurante and Katie ate five tacos. I also like the part where they give their parents the money from not eating donuts, and the expressions described.

books i read on recent trips

Went to FLA a few weeks ago, to see family last week, and books were read.
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques
Martin is taken captive and made a slave by Badrang, the evil stoat. He, and two friends are rescued by Rose and Grumm of Noonvale. They are separated at sea. Martin, Rose, Grumm and a hedgehog journey to Noonvale to muster army against Badrang.The other two escapers make soldiers out of actors and actresses. They fight. Badrang is winning, Martin's army comes....

There was to much traveling of Rose, Grumm, and Martin. 200 pages of traveling, 10 in Noonvale. Parts where there were slave escapings were exciting. It was good when grumm tunneled to the pit.

Crispin and the Cross of Lead by Avi
Crispin is an orphan who doesn't know who his dad is. The priest tries to tell, but is murdered by the steward. Crispin is declared a wolf's head for murdering the priest and stealing money, but he did neither. A wolf's head means he can be killed on sight. Crispin runs away and meets Bear,
a juggler. They go to Great Wexley. Crispin finds out that the steward knows Lady Furnival. Bear is captured by Lady's soldiers. Crispin goes to save Bear.

I don't like Avi's endings (from the 2 of her books i've read). Great plot, but really winds down. Steward saw Crispin at least 3 times after Crispin was declared a wolf's head, but never got him.

The Lost City of Faar by D.J. MacHale

Bobby Pendragon is in the flume again, this time on his way to Cloral. Cloral is a world where everyone lives on gigantic boats...almost everyone. Ledgend has it that a thousand years ago there was an island called Faar, where the first Clorans lived. It sunk like Atlantis, and was never seen again. If there is such a place, it would be the perfect target to make the whole world fall into chaos.

D.J. MacHale isn't the greatest writer, but he sure knows how to make you want to keep reading! Spader was pretty cool, everybody likes him, but why did he have to change so much? I liked the fish people a lot. 'Fake' mermaids and mermen.

Going to Florida tomorrow! Is it the Sunshine State, or is that somewhere else?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Today is Mom's birthday! Wish her one.
Here's a way to say it on the phone...
1. call 822-5338
2. then push(and maybe sing):

Hap-py Birth-day to you,
1 1 2 1 # 6
Hap-py Birth-day to you,
1 1 2 1 # 3
Hap-py Birth-day dear mom (or Julie)
1 1 # # 8 4 ? 1
Hap-py Birth-day to you!
# # 6 4 2 1

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnans Rawling

The Yearling: Jodie and Ma and his father, Penny live on Baxter's Island, a pine forest in the middle of Florida scrub. One day while he and Penny are hunting, Penny is bit by a rattler. They kill a doe to draw off the poison. Jodie, who has always wanted a pet, argues that since the doe had saved Penny's life, they should take care of her fawn. But when it starts ruining crops....

This was an okay book. it didn't get very interesting until Penny got bit and they rescued Flag. One thing I did like, though, was the way everyone talked. Ev'rythin' was slurred and endings were usually cut off.

Guess what??

I WON SECOND in the Science Fair! i did not expect to get anything. I mean, there was a robot! Lucas made his own robot (with a little of his dad's help); it had a moveable camera, a microphone, and it moved. Josiah, who won third, made a lung. Chris (1st) rusted nails. I put lettuce seeds in different soils to see which grew best. So if anyone grows lettuce, put it in regular potting soil, or, in a pinch, acidic potting soil.

Dazzler Showcase is Saturday!

books i read over the weekend

I read two new books over the weekend; here are their reports.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Ani is a princess sent to make a marriage alliance with the country of Bayern. on the way, her lady in waiting, Selia turns traitor. She and about half of Ani's escort go on to the palace, and set selia up as princess. Ani becomes a goose herder. she wants to: get title back, reveal Selia, show kingdom she's not worthless, with the help of some very special talents.

I loved this!!! I like it when someone takes a fairy tale, makes it longer, ends it how they want to, put it in their own words. The first paragraphish didn't make sense. What does it matter if the princess didn't open her eyes for three days?
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Rakkety Tam by Brian Jaques
Rakkety Tam and his friend Doogy are squirrels bound to a crazy king and queen. When Gulo the Savage comes and takes away the royal banner, they are given the bargain that if they return the flag, they will be set free from their oath. But even getting close to Gulo is no easy task.

This seemed to be an unnessacerily long book. At one point the enemy seems to be dead, but isn't. there's a theiving vole 'helping' the Redwallers that keeps on stealing their stuff. The sign of power is a turtle! But the beginning, where Doogy and Rakkety Tam are in the squirrel kingdom, was pretty funny.

THE GRAND CANYON WAS GRAND!!!!!!!!!. I'm really glad we got to go. Drove all day Friday, got to Flagstaff at about 8:00, spent the night in a hotel, left for the Grand Canyon at 8.00, spent 5,6 hours, drove back to Alberquerque, came back Sunday. We hiked, saw the sights, took tons of pictures, ate lunch, and walked. I would post my pictures, but we need the camera printer for that.

Our office looks wonderful! Thanks to everyone who helped!

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

The Hero and the Crown: Aerin has never fitted into the king's court. She is a half Damarian, daughter of a Northerner, shows no sign of the Gift, has tamed a lame, wild stallion, and is a dragon-killer. Those aren't the usual hobbies of a princess. Because she doesn't fit in, she avoids the court, and so since not many people go to the library, she goes. And finds a recipe for a fire-defying mixture. This is the beginning of the dragon hunts. The North raises a Great Dragon, and she fights it. Because if she doesn't, it will destroy Damar, because the one who woke it has the Crown, Damar's stolen treasure.

This is the inspiration for Dragon Slayer. So i like it. It was really cool how it seemed like the fight with Maur is the climax, but no, there's more! it all fits together so well. My favorite character is Talat, the horse. he's almost like C.S. Lewis's talking horses-it's like he's about to talk all the time.

Going to the Grand Canyon with Russ in a few weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!