Blog Due The 28th!!! i think

It's ALMOST Halloween!! Ok... so i read the book Nineteen Minutes (Click here if you want a trailer). Some of the parts were a little graphic, and kinda gross but like we were talking about in class, we are ignorant and need to be aware of this kind of stuff. It happened in our own country too! So, this is basically Columbine. That's the background
SPOILERS I THINK AHEAD!
So. I think that this book was REALLY good, but the last few chapters are wierd. They kind of make you go back. the story takes a totally unexpected twist when you figure out Josie remembers it all...
AGAIN REALLY DON'T READ AHEAD IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON READING THIS BOOK ANYTIME. HUGE SPOILER.
And that it was HER who shot her boyfriend MAtt Royston. OMG omg omg... she explained why briefly but i just don't get it. all it says is that she hated him, and she loved him. WHY does THAT have to be the cause of his death?? Yes, he was a jerk, but a nice one, and Josie didn;t have to do that. she didnt have to shoot him. I just wish there was a more clear reason for it. i guess it's just up to interpretation. i REALLY REALLY REALLY want to get it, but i have never EVER been in that kind of stressful situation or anything. :( this is makin me sadd ;(. poor josie.

Another thing i think about the book is that some parts are a little to slow. one example is when judge cormier (alex), the mom of josie, is deciding wether to preside on the case. i think that that fight is kind of minor in the scheme of things. another thing that i think is that there is kind of a "Red HErring (or heron??)" IT TOTALLY leads you on the wrong path. That is when peter is like, in jail and he is all sad and they get a good case deal idea thingey. they seem to have a good arguement with the battered bullied syndrome. i just think that it is wierd that in the end, it ends up that the two main characters are in jail, living a sad life. one is there for life too! i really was beginning to feel sorry for Peter and then BANG(the police man is slamming the jail door for the last time)... he is in jail for life. Poor Josie. I REALLY DONT GET WHY JOSIE SHOT MATT. read this book and tell me PLEASE!!!!

be careful, this is a tear jerker, but i guess not as much cuz i just told you what happens.

her website is here... click

THanks for reading,

EMMA BALDIWN

PS I COMMENTED ON beccas blog, and she accidentally commmented on my last weeks, not this week, so dont take off for that

6th POST, DUE THE 14TH

SO... I READ TWO OTHER SARAH DESSEN BOOKS WHILE CAMPING(IT WAS FREEZING), BUT NOW I AM READING THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER, and im on page 246, BY SARAH DESSEN ALSO.


SPOILERS MAYBE SOON????
I LOVE HOW THE AUTHOR DEVELOPS THE CHARACTERS AND HOW WES AND MACY JUST SEEM TO MATCH, LIKE A PUZZLE PIECE. MACY AND WES ARE PERFECT FOR EACHOTHER AND THEY BOTH HAVE PRIOR COMMITTMENTS, LIKE THEY BOTH HAVE BOYFRIENDS/GIRLFRIENDS, BUT THEY ARE ON HOLD WITH THEM.


WES AND MACY ARE GOING TO A PARTY WITH FRIENDS... THEY ARE IN A CAR AFTER ONE OF THEIR CATERING JOBS, IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND THE CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS. WES IS POLITE AND ASKS MACY WHICH WAY TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY WALK. THE WALK ABOUT TWO MILES, AND ALL THE WHILE THEY DECIDE TO PLAY TRUTH.
IF YOU ARE A BOY YOU PROBABLY DONT KNOW WHAT THAT IS...WES DIDNT. IT IS WHERE YOU PLAY A GAME, AND ASK QUESTIONS. YOU
WANT TO GET THEM TO PASS, BUT YOU HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH!
YOU CAN ASK THEM REALLY HARD QUESTIONS OR JUST ASK THEM
EASY ONES. THAT'S ABOUT IT. ITS ACTUALLY REALLY FUN.
SO THEY BOTH PLAY TRUTH AND THEY DONT QUIT CUZ THEY R REALLY COMPETITIVE. THEY BOTH ASK QUESTIONS. MACY HAS HAD HER DAD DIE AND WES'S MOM DIED. THEY CONNECT ON MANY LEVELS. I JUST LIKE HOW IN THE STORY THEY KEEP LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT EACHOTHER. IT MAY SEEM PRETTY SAPPY BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THEY LOVE EACHOTHER OR YOU KNOW, ARE BOYFRIEND GIRLFRIEND. THEY R JUST FRIENDS THAT SHARE ALMOST EVERYTHING TOGETHER. MACY HASNT TOLD ANYONE HER FEELINGS ABOUT HER DAD OR OTHER THINGS. SHE NEVER DID, SO WHEN WES ASKS HER A QUESTION ABOUT IT (KINDA) SHE IS RELUCTANT, BUT ANSWERS IT. I THINK IT WAS GOOOD TO GET IT OUTTA HER SYSTEM AND TO TELL SOMEONE FINALLY.
I JUST REALLY LIKE HOW THEY RELATE TO EACHOTHER AFTER MEETING COINCIDENTALLY, AT A CATERING JOB AT HER HOUSE. THE CHARACTERS REALLY DEVELOP AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ IN A WHILE.
THIS BOOK IS MUCH LIKE HER OTHER BOOKS, TOO BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS HAS SOMEONE HOLDING BACK ON FEELINGS. I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO THAT IN SOME WAY. WES HELPS MACY DEAL WITH HER FATHERS DEATH SO MUCH THAT IT IS AMAZING! WES IS KINDA LIKE MACY'S LIFESAVER.
I REALLY LIKE THIS BOOK AND I THINK YOU WILL TOO... READ IT AND IF U WANNA SEE A QUICK SUMMARY BEFORE YOU CHECK IT OUT, CLICK ON ONE OR THE UNDERLINED WORDS, SARAH DESSEN OR MORE SPECIFICALLY THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER

ANOTHER COOL THING ABOUT THE BOOK IS HOW SARAH DESSEN CREATES THE CHARACTERS. WES IS JUST INSPIRING. SHE EXPLAINS HOW HE IS GORGEOUS AND HOW HE IS SOOO INTO ART. REALLY, HE IS KINDA A ROLE MODEL. HE IS AMAZING AT WELDING AND HE ALSO DOESNT LIKE PERFECTION, HE REALIZES THAT EVERY FLAW IS AN IMPERFECTION, AND IT IS OKAY TO HAVE THAT.
IT'S COOL TO ME HOW MACY OPENS UP TO THIS GUY SHE HARDLY KNOWS, AND THEY END UP CONNECTING. THEY HAVE THEIR PARENTS DEATHS IN COMMON, AND THEY FIGURE OUT MORE AND MORE IN THEIR GAME OF TRUTH. (I DONT WANA GIVE TO MUCH AWAY).
ENUFF ABOUT WES AND MACY, WELL, IM GUNNA KEEP WITH MACY CUZ SHES THE CAUSE OF EVERYTHING AND ITS FROM HER POINT OF VIEW. HER STINKY POO PERFECT AS EVERYTHING BOYFRIEND IS A SNOB. HE GOES TO "BRAIN CAMP" AND SETS GOALS WAY HIGH FOR HIM AND HER. HE EMAILS HER EVERYDAY TO TELL HER WHAT TO DO WHILE FILING IN FOR HIM AT THE LIBRARY. :( THEN SHE CLOSES HER NOTE BACK WITH LOVE YOU, MACY AND HE FREAKS OUT. THEEY HAVE BEEN OGING OUT FOR LIKE 2 YEAERS AND HE WONT GET CLOSE TO HER, EVEN HOLD HANDS. HE THINKS THEY ARE GETTING "DESTRACTED." HE TAKES A BREAAK FROM HER...
BECAUSE OF THAT, SHES ALL UPSET BUT STILL WORKS AT THE LIBRARY. SHE HATES IT AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ARE "PERFECT" TOO AND ARE TOTAL SNOBS TO HER. SHE HATES IT, AND WHEN SHE MEETS THE CATERING CREW SHORTHANDED AT HER HOUSE WORKING FOR A DAY, SHE HAS FUN. SHE HELPS THEM FOR A DAY AND THEN WHEN SHE SEES THEIR VAN NEXT, "JOINS THE GANG!" SHE IS NOW ONE OF THEM AND HAS FRIENDS OTHER THAN STUPID STINK POO BOYFRIEND JASON. KRISTY AND HER SISTER MONICA, AND THE PREGNANT WOMAN RUNNING THE SERVICE ARE ALL REALLY NICE TO HER AND TREAT HER SOOOOOOO WELL.
I LOVE THIS BOOK AND HOW SHE MELDS ALL OF THE THINGS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE MACY'S LIFE BETTER. IT ALL FITS IN, AND NOW I GOTTA GO STUDY FOR CONSTITUTION TEST... POOEY.

READ THIS BOOK, ITS GOOD

EMMA BALDWIN

P.S. I COMMENTED ON FRan's blog

BLOG DUE 10/7/09 FIFTH POST

SO... I read the book Sweethearts by Sara Zarr...

Jennifer Harris is teased and made fun of immensely at school. Everyone hates her cuz she's "The Fat Kid of The School" She only has one true friend, a kid named Cameron who disappears in middle school.Now she moved, changed her name, is in high school, is skinny and popular... AND HAS HER FIRST BOYFRIEND. That was background, and now i will get to the SPOILERS!!!

I didnt get for sure the "HORRIBLE" thing that happened to her and cameron on her birthday. the problem is that the author references it many times and tells us part of it each time... its kinda hard to piece together and when i did, it didnt seem that horrible. Cameron wanted her to go back to the house (after she moved, and it's been 6 years) for some reason that i also dont understand because she says "And what he asked me to do bothered me-- to go back to the scene of... everything. Just like that." WHATS EVERYTHIHNG?????? here's an example of one of the earlier refrences...
"He's standing behind his faher, with something in his hands. The thing in his hands is greeny brown and drooping. It's Moe, his lizard. It doesnt move. Cam says it's your birthday. He made you something. yeah, that's right, but i wouldnt get too excited, i mean, dont get ur hopes up. i've seen it and its pretty much a piece of crap. I look at cameron and try to tell him with my eyes that it's ok, whatever he made is going to be good and i'll like it because he made it.Thats alot to say with your eyes, and idk if he understands, so i find my voice. I'll like it, i tell cameron, but his dad thinks im talking to him.
Sure, you say that now, but the proof is in the pudding, right, so let's take a look. He turns toward Cameron's room, and then stops and looks back, right at me. Wel come on already, I'm not going to send you an engraved invitation. After one last glance at the front door, i follow them to Cameron's room. Cameron goes first, moving fast, Moe's tail hanging over his arm. his dad wears boots, the kind you hike in, and he walks in long-legged strides like he's going to step on cameron's heels. and then there is me, my pink sneakers on the gray carpet, hoping that we'll just look at the gift and his dad wont say anything else about me being chubby or Cameron being stupid, and Moe is only sleeping, not dead, and then i can go home."
And that's one section.It leaves you off on a cliff hanger and it's hard to piece together the pieces. i wish she had just said the whole memory in one selection, one chapter, one hour or somethin. idk...

I also think that the ending is NOT satisfying. it's like, cameron ends up going back to his family in california, staying there with his messed up family (and they really do have problems) and leaves Jennifer (or Jenna now), heartsick for him, but not in the love way... in the (as the mom says it...) "forever having unfinished business between the two of them." it ends that way tooo!! He LEAVES AND SHE STAYS AND LONGS FOR HIM... the end!!!!! Im like, omg cant u at least finish the book?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??! Like, a year later... theres a letter and flowers at their door, and its from him IN CALIFORNIA... it leaves her longing and missing, and it ends all depressed!

P.S. i commented on BECCA WINETROB's BOOK BLOG