I have just finished reading the book, Raisin in the Sun. This book’s setting took place during racisim. A poor black family were waiting to receive an insurance check, worth 10,000. Once it arrived, the family spent half of it to move to a neighborhood where only white people stayed. The issues in the book were mostly over the money, and how should they spend it. But one issue was over the neighborhood they were going to move to. The neighbors that lived there, didn’t want no blacks to stay by them. So the black family was offered a refund, but did they take it? You have to read the book to find out more.
Off-Color by Janet McDonald P. 1-12
Cam is late for school and her mom is fussing at her a bit. She gets to school late, tells her teacher a crazy story and is sent to the counselor’s office (again). He talks to her about always being late and the classes in which she is earning poor scores. After she leaves his office, she tries to find a friend to ditch with her. The first friend she asks, Crystal, says no-she’s in class. The other friend, P, didn’t even answer her. She leaves school alone.
The book I am going to read next is Off-Color by Janet McDonald because it is a library book that I am preparing to put on the shelf for check-out. I also think it’s going to be a very interesting book. I have loved Janet McDonald’s books Spellbound and Twists and Turns. I will post more when I have some time to read!
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F COO
If you are a Caroline Cooney fan-be patient. You have to read a few chapters before it really gets interesting. But it is worth it. Rembrandt Marland is a girl on the edge of freedom-she’s almost ready to get her driver’s license. But to get it, she must make it through her Driver’s Ed class. Morgan Campbell is in her driving group and its hard to concentrate on driving when he’s around. They strike up a conversation and soon they are planning their first date. They have a great time and share a first kiss. But something they do on their date causes a terrible thing for someone else. You’ll have to read to find out more!
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F DUP
The residents of Ember are taught from an early age that their city is the only city that exists and outside of the city, there is nothing. The city does not have any natural light sources. Everything comes from light bulbs. From nine each night to six in the morning, the lights go off and the city is completely dark. There are no portable light sources in Ember.
Children go to school until the age of twelve, when they must pick a job from the mayor’s bag and go to work. Lina thinks the best job in the city is that of a Messenger, but when she pulls her slip from the bag it says Pipeworks. Lina’s childhood friend Doon wants a job that will help the city’s problems, but instead pulls Lina’s dream of Messenger. They decide to switch and off to work they go. Unfortunately, the city’s problems get larger, including long blackouts. Lina and Doon rekindle their friendship and try to find some solutions.
This is the first book in a series and I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to read the second book, The People of Sparks. Lina and Doon are great characters and readers will want to see them succeed and help their fellow citizens of Ember.
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F COL
This book takes place on the continent of North America, on the land once called the United States. The people in the United States did terrible things and now the place is called Panem. The people who rule this country live in the Capitol. The Capitol rules over twelve Districts that are spread over the continent and all twelve are required to participate in the Hunger Games. Each district sends one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to “play. The contestants are taken to an arena where they must fight to the death. That’s right. Only one out of the twenty-four participants can win the games. And the winner is the last one standing after he/she kills the others.
This story is told from Katniss Everdeen’s point of view. In a living nightmare, her twelve-year old sister is chosen to participate for District 12. She can’t bear the thought of young Prim going to fight, so she volunteers in her place. Soon she is on her way to the Capitol, along with Peeta Mellark, the boy representing District 12.
Look for the Second Book of the Hunger Games-Catching Fire-in September!
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F DUP
This book picks up with the Lina and Doon after they have found their way out of Ember. <SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE CITY OF EMBER> Remember, at the end Lina and Doon drop their message into the cave and Mrs. Murdo catches it out of the air. She tells the rest of the Emberites and most of them find their way to Sparks. But how would YOU feel if four hundred strangers invaded your town, needing food, shelter and guidance in survival? Well the people of Sparks try to act kindly, but things don’t go so well. Will the Emberites stay in Sparks or leave to create their own city? Do they even have the ability to create a new city? Read the book to find out!
Although this book was not as good as The City of Ember, I still really enjoyed it. After all, you can’t read the first book and not want to find out how things work out!
