Maximum Ride Update

I haven't gotten that far in Maximum Ride but so far I have figured out the Max and her friends all have wings and the power to fly, though certain people have other special abilities. For example, the youngest of the Angel, has the power to read minds. These kids got these powers in a place called School. The School is made up of scientists who changed the kids genetic material to create their powers and to make the Erasers. Before Max was in charge, the kids had a protector named Jeb. He helped them escape from the School but because he did that he disappeared but the kids think he died protecting them. Since then Max has been in charge.

 Also, Angel has been kidnapped by the Erasers who are the half-man half-wolf. Angel, who is the youngest and Gasman's little sister, just got kidnapped after Max and her friends had a big fight with the Erasers. Max and her group followed the Erasers but couldn't save her. While they were fighting the Erasers, Max recongnized one of the Erasers as her former friend, Ari.

Max was shocked as she figured out the Ari had been changed into an Eraser. Max knows Ari because he was Jeb's son. She figured out the Ari has been changed into an Eraser at age seven. Max figured out that the Erasers had taken Angel back to the School, maybe to do more experiments on her. She told her group that they needed to come up with a plan to get Angel back. Max's relationship with Angel is really strong as she treats Angel like a little sister and like her baby, she needs to get her back. That is as far as I got, they are coming up with a plan to save Angel!

Maximum Ride

I just started reading the book Maximum Ride by James Patterson. Many people have told me that this book is really good so I decided to give it a try. Judging by the front and back cover, this book seems to be a mystery and science fiction book. I read the first couple of pages and the story starts out with the main character, Max, having a nightmare. She has a dream that she is being chased by her enemies the half-man half-wolf people called the Erasers. She jumps off a cliff to escape and she grows wings and flies away. Then she jolts awake.

I was introduced to some other characters too. A boy Gasman, his younger six-year-old sister Angel, Fang who is only four months younger that Max, Iggy who is six months younger than Max, and eleven-year-old Nudge. These kids live together in a house in the middle of nowhere with no parents, no school, and no doctors. Only Gasman and Angel are related but they are all like brother and sister. Max, who is the oldest has to take on some responsibility and take care of them. I predict that these characters have all learned how to live by themselves but sometimes they just need that backbone, who is Max, to depend on and to lead them the right way.

From the ten pages I have read so far and the front cover, I predict that what happened in Max's nightmare will actually come true. I think her and her friends will be chased by the Erasers and will have to escape and survive some how. I also think each of them has some sort of special power because in Max's dream it said that she could fly. They might fight the Erasers with their special powers. I will have to read more and figure out what happens. If you read the book, comment if my predictions are right!

Romeo and Juliet Movies

We have been watching two different versions of the Romeo and Juliet moive. There is one old one and a new one. They both have the same characters and the same plot that follows the same scripts. There are some major differences through. For example, in act one scene five of the new version, Paris is shown dancing with Juliet even though in the old version he isn't dancing with Juliet and he is singing. There are many of the these small differences throughout the scenes but some of them are darastic changes. For example, in the new version, the characters have guns instead of swords. This may be becuase of the time difference but I still think they should have used swords.

Personally, I think the older one is better becuase I feel it is more realistic and doesn't change much. For what I image when reading the text, the older version looks more like it. They used actual swords and when the characters talk the Elizabethan language, it fits what they look like. In the new movie the characters also talk in Elizabethan language but it doesn't fit very well becuase the setting is new. The new setting has cars and guns but they talk old language and it just sort of bothers me. This is why I also thinks the older version helps me understand more things becuase the setting and dialogue fit together. The clothing and tone of the older one makes it better. Also the newer one seems a little more silly.

 

Romeo and Juliet

We starting reading Romeo and Juliet in class. I love Shakespeare's figurative language but the text itself is hard to understand. The language used back then is really different from language today, making Romeo and Juliet difficult to understand. Sometimes it takes more than context clues to understand what a certain passage means. You also have to make sure you understand everything because every detail is important. I like when we watch the movie after reading a scene because it helps give a visual for me. Having a visual also helps me understand the text better. (Also, Romeo totally looks like Zac Efron!)

The other day in class, we were introduced to the question of whether or not Romeo is Juliet's true love or whether "love at first sight" is true. After reading a passage in the book, it said that Romeo so quickly changed who he loved. It made me wonder if he could ever be committed to Juliet. I guess I will have to wait and read more!

Book Recommendations

One series that I would like to recommend to you is The Heroes of Olympus series. This is a sequel series to The Percy Jackson series. It includes the same plot of demi-gods fighting to save the world but this time it throws in a special twist. The first book called The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan, introduces some new characters and takes you through them discovering their powers and who their god parents are. But it also includes some of the old characters like Annabeth and Percy. This series has a plot twist in every chapter and you will never want to put the book down! The author can change his tone so easily and makes the book flow so well. One chapter I am laughing at what the characters say and the next I am sad.  For more information on this series and other books by Rick Riordan click here.