This page contains important information for Bridge Academy students about two major projects: Portfolio & Independent Reading.
1. Bridge Academy – Portfolio Project
Portfolio Project Overview: Throughout the semester each student will be required to compose a series of written responses to a selection of writing prompts that are intended to develop students’ writing skills, while also developing students’ abilities to think creatively and analytically about a variety of subjects.
As students progress through the five stages of the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) they will not only be able to develop and sharpen their writing and language skills, but also demonstrate and reflect on the fruits of their labors during mid-year and end-of-year portfolio presentations to faculty.
Full Project Details: SHS – Bridge Academy – Portfolio Project Details – 2011
Portfolio Project Rubric: SHS – Bridge Academy – Portfolio Project – Rubric – 2011
Portfolio Prompts Available for Download:
2. Bridge Academy – Independent Reading Project
Independent Reading Project Overview: Each quarter students will be required to select and read a literary work of their choice, in an effort to prepare them to develop a literary criticism of their chosen work. In doing so, students will not only explore the merits of their selected work, but ultimately position themselves to provide both critical and analytical analysis of their chosen novel against the criticisms and reviews of experts in the field.
Full Project Details: Independent Reading – Project Details – 2011
Project Rubric: The Independent Reading Project will be assessed as part of students’ Portfolio Project, and will utilize the Portfolio Project rubric found here [click for rubric].
Kayla M. Lugo
Mr. Smith
January 13,2012
Prompt#13
Independent Reading
Kayla M. Lugo
Mr. Smith
January 13,2012
Prompt#13
Independent Reading
The title of my second independent reading book is My friend Leonard by James Frey. It is they same author as he first book I chose to read. This is followed after A Million Little Pieces. My book is about a young man that recently got out of jail after leaving a recovery facility. In the beginning of this novel, James the main character describes his unstoppable driven love for his girlfriend Lilly. She was also as patient at James’ facility. He is passionatley smitten to get out of jail and meet with Lilly on the “outside” that she is all he thinks about in the last days he resides there. However, Lilly’s grandmother is the only resource of family she has left and she happens to die while James is in Jail. Lully cannot put up with all the sorrow and grief so she decides to commit suicide because she feels so alone. Once James is released from prison he immediatley takes the risk of driving down the facility where Lilly is staying. Once he arrives he is told they found her body in her room. James then begins a journey of trying to deal with his new sober life and face all the obstacles he is faced with.
The protagonist in this novel is named James Frey. He is also the author of the book. So right off the back you can assume he based this book on himself. He is also the narrator in this story. He is 23-year old man with a serious drug and alcoholic problem. The antagonist in the novel is Roy. Roy has a multi-personality disorder and he immediately holds a grudge against James once he is entered in the program. James and Roy get in to multiple conflicts. They get into fights all the time until Roy is released from the program. Roy is released due to his multi-personalities and trying to hurt the other patients staying in the facility.
I chose this book as my independetn reading book because I had to start reading the second book that follows this one. When I started reading novels written by James Frey I automatically knew I would love all his books. His writing style is very unique and unlike any other authors format. It is almost as if he is speaking directly towards me and I really love that. His stories are real and based on expirience and you can tell by his storyline. My teacher had recommended that I gave the book a try, a few others also recommended the book so I gave it a try. The summary on the back of the book seemed genuine and true so I felt like I could relate to it in a way.
The major theme in this novel is conquering your fears and going above the beyond than what you can do. At first james struggles with his denial with drugs and alcohol but towards the end he gives in and starts to realize the is much more to life than just the bad demons trying to takeover you. It is slowly revealed throughtout the stages James goes through. The theme would fall into physiological. I really enjoyed reading this book. However there are some chapters I am bit disappointed in since he takes a while describing what exactly he is going through for a long period of time. This book does not compare to any others I have read. This is by far the best book I have read in a while and I’m glad I gave it a try.
Joel Ballestero
Mr. Smith
Portfolio #13
January 23, 2012
No Way Out: Overview
The Book that I’m reading is called, “No Way Out” written by Peggy Kern. This book is about a
teenage boy named Harold who is trying to handle responsibilites now that he has to take care of
his grandmother. Bills for his sick grandmother are piling up so he decides to get a pat-time job and
and continues to go to school. His grandmother isn’t fond to the idea of Harol walking because she
feels that it will interfere with his school work . However, Harold feels that if he don’t work his
grandmother will be in serious trouble financially. It seems that even though he is working, he is still
not able to come up with the money to help his grandmother pay her bills, and mind you he is
part-time. So he starts doing favors for this Londell James who was once a drug dealer and was just
one of those people who did bad things in the neighborhood. He tells Harold that he changed his
ways and now he’s doing postive things for himself. To Harold he sounds believable so he decides
quit his part-time job at the supermarket and start working for Londell. His decisions eventually leads
him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe. You need to be careful with the people
you choose to trust.
Joel Ballestero
Mr. Smith
Portfolio #2
January 23, 2012
Goals
Everyone in life has a goal that they’re trying to reach, and if you don’t well good luck in your future. However even though everyone has a goal that they’re trying reach doesn’t mean that everyone reaches that goal. It takes hard work, dedication, and committment to reach your goals.
My goal this year is to get what ever I need to get done in school by the end of May. So that way I’ll be able to walk the stage with my class and get my diploma. This isn’t easy though, and I’ve already started out in a bad note. I barely go to any of my classes and when I do go I’ll be to lazy to even do any work in class. I need to get a reality check and turn my life around if I’m looking forward to graduating this year. But it’s easier said then done. If I expect to get that diploma this coming June I need to start changing my ways now before it gets too late. I need to stop procrastinating when there’s work that needs to be done, I need to stop spending so much time on the internent when I should be doing my work, and instead of trying to pass my classes I should just do it! Plus in the end of this accomplishment I’ll feel good about myself because I’ll be able to say, “I’ve accomplished my goal.” As long as I can get my head out of the gutters and stay
committed to my goal, this can be done.
If I don’t get my diploma this year, I should think of the consequences I would have to face. Not only I would be disappointed but my family would be disappointed as well. I’m pretty much the only one out of my family who have the opportunity to finish high school and head on to college. I guess that’s why the pressure is on me, and I always carry that on my shoulders. I don’t want to have that feeling of disappointment from my family, I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be good feeling. Although there will be no need for any disappointments if I just accomplish my goal like I plan to do.
Jeremy Dominguez
English ¾
Mr. Smith
January 18, 2012
SLAM!
The independent reading book that I have just finish reading is called SLAM. The author of this book is called Walter Dean. The story is about this young kid named Gregory Harris who is a very talented basketball player who has obstacles to fight through to become the great basketball player he is .The obstacles he has to overcome is his family, his girlfriend, his teachers and his family. He just knows it’s going to be hard and keep fighting to chase his dream.
The antagonist who helps Gregory is his coach. His role in the story is helping Greg with life and basketball. The only problem Greg has with his coach had was trying to keep Greg out of trouble with his friends and fighting.
The reason why I chose this book was I thought Slam could relate to me because I love basketball and I know its tuff to play a sport you love with a lot of distractions. The cover really caught my eye because there was a kid on a gate with a basketball on his hand, which I thought meant he needs help to achieve his goal. Also the summary in the back. The summary explained the book was about and how the different kind of struggles he has to overcome.
The major themes are family’s friends and enemies race, love, sex and for the love of the game which is basketball. These themes are familiar to because all of the themes can relate to me. I think that the themes are socially – motivating because it motivates people to who has a dream to never give up .I was actually surprise with the text because the story relates to me in many ways. I would recommend this book for kids who love basketball because it’s hard to become a good basketball player especially with different problems.
Joamer Canela
Mr. Smith
Portfolio #13
13 January 2012
Jackie and Me
The independent book I’ve chosen is Jackie and Me, By Dan Gutman. Jackie and Me is an adventure book of a young boy Joe Stoshack, the protagonist who has the ability to use baseball cards to time travel. Joe Stoshack has the ability to time travel but the only issue is that he needs a baseball with the year in which he wants to travel to. Joe has a report to do on Jackie Robinson, an African American. In school Joe got a assignment of a report during black history month. Joe time travels to meet the famous African American Jackie Robinson, who is the first black man to play out of the Negro League.
Joe Stoshack a young baseball player, during black history month was assigned a report to do on a African American who made an impact in American history. Joe chose Jackie Robinson, the first colored man to play professional baseball with white people, which soon opened a door for other colored people to join the MLB. Joe Stoshack believed that what better way to do a report than to interview Jackie Robinson face-to-face. Once he time traveled he no more was a white boy, he turned into a young black boy. When he finally arrived at jackies time he noticed that he their was a black man heavily bleeding from the arm, Joe helped him out by putting pressure on the wound and got him help. Thanks to Joe the black man survived, the man was thankful enough that he introduced Joe to Jackie. Jackie soon accepted Joe into his home and let him stay there for a few nights.
This book happens to not have an antagonist, that’s what makes it very interesting to me, it catches my attention at all time but without an antagonist. Around Jackie Robinsons time their was a different league, a league for all black people called the negro leagues. Jackie Robinson was the first to get signed to a professional team. In 1945, Jackie played in the Negro Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1946, he was now in the international league playing for the Montreal Royals. 1947-1956, he now played in the MLB for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson #42 from the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1947 got awarded MLB rookie of the year, 1955 the Brooklyn dodgers became the world series champion, and #42 got retired in all baseball teams.
Theme of this book shows how racism was back in the days, it showed how colored people suffered back in the days. Even Though Jackie Robinson became a famous baseball player didn’t mean everything was going to be easy. Jackie Robinson was one of the best baseball players, but with having such a good talent also meant their will be people that are out their to make his life worse. Jackie and his family received threats because he was the first black man in the MLB. Joe Stoshack helped Jackie bring his confidence back up and told Jackie how one day he will become a great baseball player, that he shouldn’t let people bring him down. If Jackie would’ve quit history might have been different, black people might of not been able to play in the MLB if it wasn’t for him.
I highly recommend this book to all students in all grades and ages, this book has a lot to teach about how racism was back in the days, but none of it could’ve stop Jackie Robinson. This book teaches that nothing should stop you from succeeding your life goals, and that your skin color has nothing to do with it. Only thing that can stop you from succeeding are the actions you take each day of your life. Jackie Robinson shows that their will be times when things get rough, but at the end of the day he shows that you can overcome any obstacle. Jackie Robinson made a huge impact in history, that his jersey number 42 got retired in the whole MLB.
Yesenia Toro
Mr. Smith
English III&IV
January 18, 2012
Prompt 13
The book No Fear by Anne Shraff is a book about gangs and being abused. The main reason of this book is to tell the readers to not be scared to take a stand for themselves, to be strong, and brave for yourself and others.
In the book No Fear like any other book you have a good guy and a bad guy. Ernesto was the typical good guy who does well in school. Than you got the bad guy Clay, who’s a jock in school, plays sports and has the hot girlfriend. Ernesto and Clay had problems because of the hot girl named Naomi. Ernesto really liked her as a person and wanted to talk to her since she and Clay broke up. Ernesto didn’t want her to get back with clay because while him and Naomi were going out he had hit her. He slapped her across the face. During the break up Ernesto had ask Naomi out on a date. He had set everything up just for her to run back to Clay eventually.
I chose this book because of the title, and its cover. Than I was reading the back summary and it caught my attention. I felt it would be interesting to read and maybe I can learn a little from it. I searched for some reviews on it but the book was too new. The theme of the text was mainly about the cycle of abuse. This theme is traditional and familiar. You see lots of books on abuse. In the theme you find some personal motivation, you find entertainment, but mainly you learn a lesson.
I wasn’t to surprise with the text of the book, but I really liked it. It was based on real life situations that most of us go through and don’t know how o get out of. The book No Fear is kind of like the book the Crucible by Arthur Miller. They’re both reality type books. Both books can in a way teach a lesson in the real world and maybe a lesson within yourself. They both tell an amazing story. I recommend this book to any readers who like a little drama. I recommend this book to students who don’t know how to go through hard times, who may needs different perspectives. I think anyone can read this book and become easily interested.
Prompt 13
The title of my independent reading book is “1984” written by George Orwell. The book is about the development of communism and its negative effects on human sanity. The book portrays Orwell’s terrifying vision of the potential power of communism. The main character of the story is Winston Smith. The protagonist of the story is Big Brother. Big Brother is the collective mind of the government and its principles.
In the book, Winston struggles with himself and the ideals of the society around him. Winston is a free thinker, but the people around him have become so narrow-minded that they have lost sanity. The government brainwashes these people through years of propaganda and deception to the point where anything the government says becomes truth. Winston feels the need to rebel against Big Brother. Winston’s thoughts and feelings lead him to make difficult decisions and uncover nightmarish truths about both the government and himself.
I chose to read “1984” because it was recommended to me by a friend. The major themes in this book are the dangerous power of communism and the relativity of insanity. The themes are revealed through the behavior of the society and through the direct explanation by the characters. At the time the book was written, such themes were new and fantastic ideas that could only exist in writing; but, now these ideas have become somewhat common among books and moderately realistic fears among the population.
I enjoyed the book from its slow introduction to its shocking conclusion. The beginning of the book created such complex characters with meticulous backgrounds to give them a depth that seems as if Orwell was writing about a person that really existed. However, what I think distinguishes this book from many others is the setting, which is not only technologically advanced, but, psychologically elaborate. This aspect of the book permits the reader to fully immerse himself in the story. I would recommend this book to any person who enjoys psychological thrillers and who appreciates beautifully crafted literature.
Cassie Thompson
Mr. Smith
Creative Writing
13 January 2012
Prompt #13 –
The title of my independent reading book is The Monster Is Real: How to face your fears and eliminate them forever, and the author of my independent reading book is Yehuda Berg.
The Monster Is Real is based on a religion and psychology on different types of phobias, fears, anxiety, and mainly about the origins of healthy and unhealthy fears/anxiety. It is for the “technology of the soul: The Kabbalah.”
The Monster Is Real teaches you how to overcome what you are truly afraid of by going in depth about how phobias, fears, and anxiety originally started. The Kabbalah is part of a religion that takes part in the book, and it is based on psychology beliefs.
The main character in the Monster Is Real is Yehuda Berg, and there wasn’t a protagonist nor antagonist, because it wasn’t a story, it is a book based on a religious and psychological origin.
I choose The Monster Is Real, because a friend offered me to read it when I was feeling down, and it made me realize the different types of fears and phobias that I’ve wanted to learn about.
My initial reaction towards The Monster Is Real was fascinating, because I’m into psychological and religious beliefs, based on how I am feeling at that very moment. It caught my attention, because most of the interesting things they were saying.
Zeneida Guerrero
Portfolio 13
Mr. Smith
13 January 2012
Book Review
The title of my independent reading book is Go Ask Alice. The author of this book is Anonymous. The book is about a girl that is struggling with drugs, sex, school, and family.
The main character of my book is Alice. The antagonist is drugs. Alice is addicted to drugs, and it affects her life in many ways. There was one day she was on drugs, and she was so high she didn’t notice that she was getting raped. Also the people she hung around with were also addicted to drugs. This made if more difficult for her to stop doing drugs. Alice had a loving family they cared for her and wanted the best for her. Drugs changed all that. She left school and went out with the wrong boys. She tried to stop doing drugs many times, but someone or something always pulled her back to it.
I chose this book because I found it interesting. Alice was going through things many teenagers go through. I can’t relate to this book because I don’t do drugs, but quitting drugs isn’t as easy as it sounds. Many people say, “if they want to quit they can”, but if it was that easy a lot of people wouldn’t have drugs problems.
Compared to the other books I have read, this book is more interesting because I normally read fiction books, and Go Ask Alice is a non-fiction book. I would recommend this book to others because it’s a really good book, and it can also teach people about drugs and how it can effect your life.
Portfolio Response #13
The title of my independent book that I’m reading is called Darkly Dreaming Dexter. The author of the book is Jeff Lindsay. This book is about a guy named Dexter who worked for his father who is a cop. He was a hardcore killer. He was killing all the bad criminals in his city. His father would send him to kill a guy; he would do it without hesitation.
The main character was Dexter Morgan. He had problems only with people that were committing bad crimes. In this book the antagonist was the people he was killing, which were the criminals. Every time there would be a bad crime committed the police would always send him to go find the criminal and kill them. The thing that surprised my about this book is that he would kill someone and act like nothing ever happened. He would be fine with that.
The conflict he had with his brother was crazy! Towards the end of the book and his brother had a little argument and Dexter was really scared for the first time. Because he never saw his brother like that towards him. The ending was just crazy and will have you thinking about what will happen next I recommend a lot of people to read this book. Every chapter on this book had me reading with my eyes wide open. Jeff Lindsay did a really good job with this book. I would like to read more of his books.
The reason I chose this book because my science teacher recommended me to read it. The major themes in this book are when Dexter has to kill the criminals. The themes are revealed and developed when the author talks about the past of Dexter and his present. He talks about how Dexter becomes the person who he is in life. The theme is new to me but it might be traditional to others. The theme to me is psychological, socially-motivated, and entertaining because the author gets into his life and how he became a killer. Also it is entertaining because I like reading about crimes. My initial reaction to the text was that I liked it, it surprised me because I thought this book would be about just cops saving the day but it was more about criminals getting killed by a blood spatter analysis and also a hardcore killer. This book made me want to read which I never do. I also finished this book and liked it. I would recommend this book to my peers because its not boring and it will have you wanting know what will happen next. I suggest no minors to read this though.
Kaitlyn Mills
Mr. Smith
Portfolio #13
January 6 2012
One Last Scar is written by Tony Varrato. The book is about a young man named
Ethan who is a car theft. Ethan is a smart young man with some very foolish
decisions. He gets mixed up with the wrong type of so called “friends”. Jarrett is a
friend of Ethan’s who is a drug dealer and very intimidating.
One evening Jarrett asks Ethan to steal a car so they can do some business. When
Ethan picks up Jarrett, he has 2 of his friends with him as well. They end up at the
house of an older man, his wife, and young girl. Ethan was never told to stay in the
vehicle and keep it running. After going into the house Ethan sees Jarrett has them
all tied up. Jarrett ends up shooting the wife of the old man, and Ethan tries to stop
Jarrett from harming anyone else and puts himself in danger. Ethan gets in a fight
the 3 guys and ends up escaping from the house. He takes the drugs with him to lure
Jarrett away from the house. Jarrett holds Ethan’s friend hostage until he receives
the drugs. Ethan now must fight for his life and the life of his friends. In the end
Ethan is betrayed by one of his closest friends, but escapes from Jarrett’s clutches.
I chose to read this book because the illustration on the cover. It is the face of a
young man with a giant scar on his cheek. The theme of the book is overcoming
obstacles, realizing diversity and saving lives. Ethan realizes what they are doing is
wrong and he tries to save not only his life, but also the lives of others. This is a very
interesting book with an inspirational theme.
I feel this is a very moving story. We all go through tough times like this and it
makes you feel like your not alone. It is very detailed and gives a very vivid
description giving the story a realistic feeling. This book is none like any other
It makes you feel like your there standing in the shoes of the character. I would
definitely recommend this book, because it is very moving and dynamic.
Arlenys Zoquier
Mr. Smith
Portfolio
13 January 2012
Prompt 13
One of the books that I have read this semester is called Fringe Girl in Love by Valerie Frankel. This book is mainly about a day in a teenage girls life who battles everything from dating, annoying siblings, and crazy parents. I choose this book because of the summary in the back and I read the first chapter of the book and instantly liked it.
The protagonist in this story is Adora (a.k.a. Fringe). She is a 16-year-old girl and goes to a private school in New York City, her hometown. Her life is very typical. She has a boyfriend who she is head over heals for. Her parents are both writers and write advice columns in the New York Times. She has a little sister who is young but has developed really quickly and thinks that because of this she is able to have sex, which Fringe finds to be very bazaar. On the other hand her parents don’t really think much of it due to the fact that they are so sexually active and this concerns Fringe. In the story the main turning point is when Adora’s English teacher is out on medical leave and they have a substitute for the rest of the semester, doesn’t seem like a big deal right? Wrong. Ms. Rossi is her name and she seems to be out to get Adora. Everything she says is wrong in Ms. Rossi’s eyes and she doesn’t have any say in absolutely anything.
The book overall was great it really showed how every teenage girls life is similar, and in life you go through many changes and its normal to not like them at first. I’ve read many books in the past where the main character feels as if they’re an outcast but in reality many look up to him or her.
I recommend this book to young girls who feel like they’re in love at such a young age and they aren’t noticed. I feel like this book will open the eyes of those girls and show them that not everything they see is gold and they should wait and mature up before making such serious decisions that can change your lifetime.
Bryan Aybar
Mr. Smith
Portfolio # 13
13 January 2012
Independent reading book
The book that I have read is called, “Playing without the ball.” by Rich Wallace. The book is about a high school senior that is left by his dad in Philadelphia to finish school there as his dad moved out to L.A. he works at a bar as a cook and his dream is to become a NBA player and he meets numerous girls in the time he spends working at the bar.
The main character of the book is called Jay. He works at Shorty’s bar. Where he meets spit, a girl that eventually grows on him and he starts to like. The antagonist is probably the lawyer that spit starts to go out with and jay doesn’t really like it but he tells spit that he’s fine with it all though she knows he isn’t. The conflict between jay and the lawyer is spit, jay wants her but the lawyer has her.
The reason why I choose this book is because someone once told me that they really liked it and I saw that my English teacher had it on his shelf so I decided to read it. I recommend this book to people that like basketball and somewhat romance and everyday things that happens to a teenager. The theme of the book is probably romance and trying to live out your dream. The theme is familiar, it involves someone trying to live their dreams but at the same time they find someone that they want to be with.
Over all I liked reading this book it fit me interests. This book in my opinion, I think it might have become one of my favorite books that I have recently read. I would recommend this book to someone but someone that is interested in the theme of the book because if they aren’t interested in characters in a book starting to like someone or falling for someone else in the book then they probably wouldn’t like it but I think it was a great book.
The title of my independent reading book is Million- Dollar Throw, by an author named Mike Lupica. My book is about someone who has a chance to win a million dollars by throwing a football. In this book, Million-Dollar Throw, the main characters name is Nate Brodie. Nate Brodie is a thirteen-year-old boy who loves American football. Not only does he love watching it but he also love playing it and is pretty good at it, better then a lot of kids in his league. He is an amazing quarterback and is compared the famous athlete Tom Brady, who is also his favorite player in football.
Nate wanted a signed football by Tom Brady. The ball he wanted was a Limited Edition that came with a certificate of authenticity. He had been saving up for it for a long time and finally was able to get it. When he went to buy it he went with his mom and Abby. Abby was reading a sign that was being promoted by sports about a chance to win a million dollars on throwing a football, it was a contest and whoever won would get the chance to throw it. Abby then got a pen and signed Nate’s name. The only qualifications needed for this was that you had to be over 13 years old and you had to make a purchase of over five hundred dollars. The football Nate bought cost more then five hundred dollars. He had the qualifications and all he needed was his mom’s signature, which she signed it. The way they were going to choose who won was going to be like a lottery. When they called the winning number, they matched the ones that were on Nate’s ticket. Nate would soon be on his way to get the chance to make a “million dollar throw”.
Nate had a best friend named Abby who was always there for him and had gone to his games. Abby was loosing her eyesight little by little everyday and one day could be blind. She was loosing her night vision and had lost her peripheral vision. Nate didn’t like what was happening to Abby but couldn’t stop it. When they would talk about the million-dollar throw she would say that she would be able to see perfect when the crowd yelled but Nate knew this was not going to happen. He didn’t want her to go blind and not be able to see him get that throw.
I chose this book because it was about sports and I am interested in sports. I also chose this book because I had read a previous book by the same author and it was good. I can compare this book to the one I read before because they were both about sports. The only difference between the two books was that one was about basketball and this one was about football. The other book I read was called “Heat”. The way he wrote this book was a great way because I could understand it. The throw that Nate would have to make would be one of the biggest throws he’s ever had to. Not only because its for a million dollars but also because he would be able to help his family with money that they would need. This book is an interesting book to read and I would recommend it to anyone.
Jonae Texeira
Mr. Smith
Portfolio #13
6 January 2012
Forever Overview….
The book Iam reading is Forever… by Judy Blume. This novel is mainly about a teenage girl named Katherine and her boyfriend Michael that are seniors. They have been together for quite some time considering they attend the same High School. This couple is one of he most popular one’s in their school. Once they both have entered their senior year things between them seem to be a little bit of a rift raft.
The main character of my book is obviously Katherine. In the beginning of their relationship everything is amazing, sincere, unique etc. As I had said before, this partnership was like no other to them. Middle of Katherine, and Michael’s senior year they come to find out that Katherine gets pregnant. Michael insisted that Katherine was to get an abortion, and forget everything. This was a tremendous bump affecting this relationship. So on, and so forth everything falls off track toward the end of the school year. Michael becomes a deadbeat father because Katherine keeps her baby and deals with him. He doesn’t like the fact of this, but he pays child support etc, etc.
I chose this book because a friend referred it to me. My friend had read the series of these books. Which she led to say it was made for teenagers and related a lot to us! The major theme of this book does relate to us in some kind of way. The theme is mainly about teenager’s high school relationships, what comes about, and how to deal with them. I feel like this theme is traditional considering it has to do with teens now in present days. Also, this novel is definitely a socially motivated theme. That’s because it might have a positive impact on some people on how to do with different types of relationships with their partners.
My initial reaction to this book was dislike. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book to others. I’m not exactly sure why, it was somewhat inspirational but I don’t feel enough to be read. This novel doesn’t compare to other relationship books I have read. That is my perspective review on the novel Forever… by Judy Blume
Shelby Carter
Mr. Smith
Portfolio 13
January 6, 2012
The title of my independent reading book is Crank By Ellen Hopkins. My book is about a girl that was kind, sweet and smart. When she took a visit to see here dad in Alberque. Her whole world changes. She’s introduced to the monster by the “ love of her life “ and her own father. They call crystal meth the monster a.k.a crank.
Kristina is the main character of the story. She doesn’t have serious problems with the same person through out the book. It starts with her boyfriend Adams girlfriend Lince. The problem with her soon goes away when she leaves Alberque. When she goes home there are a couple people she starts problems with. Through out the story she gains a problem with her mother and stepfather but nothing ever really comes out of that beside Kristina getting grounded a few times. When she meets a boy named Brendan, things seemed to be going good until one of there dates he took a little to far and raped her. A few months later she finds out he had gotten her pregnant. She haves the baby and that’s were it ends.
I chose this book because I heard a lot of good things about it. From the summary on the back it seemed like something I would really enjoy and wouldn’t mind reading. The different theme through out the book is drugs. More than half of the book is Kristina talking about her highs, and trips and how she got her crank. The theme of the book is dark. It’s the life of a teenager going down hill fast. The book is very entertaining and almost is a lesson to other teenagers, that you’re life can change by every choice you decide to make.
I really liked reading Crank. It made really think about how drugs affect you and what can happen when you hang out with people you barley know. Through out this book my reaction was strong and it almost made me feel bad for Kristina. I felt this way because it made me think back to the best friend I had lost to cocaine. I would choose reading this book over any type of novel. It is filled with entertainment and each time you flip the page you have a different reaction. I would recommend this book to almost anyone. It caught a lot of attention and eyes.