Lectura Independiente de Álvaro Lizán

I decided to read The Catcher In the Rye by J. D. Salinger for my independent reading. It is a bildungsroman novel in which the protagonist of it is the narrator as well. The novel is set in between the 1940s and the 1950s and most part of it it’s set in New York. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is a teengager that tells the reader at the beginning of the novel that he just got kicked out of the boarding school he was attending, Pencey Prep. He describes all the reasons why he hates the school and the people in the school, who are apparently a bunch of  “phonies”. He makes a detailed description of his roommates, Ackley and Stradlater, who bother Holden a lot and make him very irritated and turn out to be “phonies” as well. He reveals his platonic love to Jane Gallagher, a girl he spent a lot of time with during summer. After being kicked out of the school and having nothing to do, he decides to depart to New York and rent a hotel room so he can spend some days there until  he can go to his parents house. He wanders around New York and makes references of his family multiple times. Holden’s sexual desire as a teenager becomes bigger and bigger throughout the novel.

In my opinion, it was a little annoying how Holden hated everything and was bothered by any kind of behaviour and how he thought everyone had a “phony” personality. Though something I really liked was Holden’s desperateness for women and how he strived so much to get dates with girls, it was funny sometimes.

Regarding to the narrator’s style and tone, it changes throughout the course of the novel but he speaks in a colloquial style and his tone varies from critical, nostalgic or cynical.

I strongly recommend this book because it has a good plot and it’s really well written.

The Program

Ilse Diaz
Mrs. Arnold
English 9
May 18, 2015

For this independent reading project, I read “The Program” by Suzanne Young, a fictional futuristic story that includes action, brainwashing, and a little bit of romance. The story is definitely a fast read that keeps you deeply intrigued. Young keeps the “teenager-esque” feeling well in the story, the feelings that the characters feel reflect onto you and really intrigue you. The main characters, Sloane Barstow and James Murphy, find themselves in a very tough situation when all they have left is each other after The Program has taken everyone they know, that haven't killed themselves, because of the depression that has over swept globally on teenagers. Sloane's brother killed himself and now Miller, James and Sloane’s best friend, has killed himself. The Program has been made to stop depression from children who are at high risk of depression and brainwash them to forget everything in the past and move on. Weeks after Miller killed himself, they took James and he came back completely brainwashed. A week after his return, Sloane’s parents flagged her and called The Program to take her as well. Now it’s up to Sloane to see how she’ll save herself from The Program. All the characters really mesh together well to create the heart breaking but equally as fascinating in this story. Sloane is portrayed as a tough and strong female because even though she’s had a very harsh life so far, she finds ways to move on and helps others along the way. The fact that this is in the future, it makes one wonder and think that it could happen because of many factors that have a possible ending similar to the book. It was very well written and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic but action filled book.

Koerner HBD

Christopher Koerner

Mrs. Arnold

English 10

18 May 2015

Home Before Dark

The book Home Before Dark by Tim Shoemaker is a fictional detective thriller, that focuses on a kidnapping. The story begins in a park with four kids on their way home after a night out. The teens Cooper, Gordy, Hiro, and Lunk are in a rush to get home when one notices a van in the parking lot of the park. On top of the van is a backpack, and when the car starts to drive away Gordy decides to go warn the driver about the pack. As he leave the others quickly realize that something seemed wrong; Cooper, Gordy’s cousin, quickly pedals toward the van to catch up with him. All of a sudden, when Gordy goes to return the pack he is tasered and thrown in van by a big man. The three kids quickly call the police with what they think the licence plate numbers are, but by the next morning there is no sign of Gordy, the van, or the kidnapper. Over this period Cooper goes through stages of guilt and blame, while Hiro, whose dream job is a police officer, works on possible places Gordy could be hidden locally. All the characters views are shown and how they are feeling in the moment. I enjoyed the characters as they all go through a struggle and the way their feelings are expressed make the helplessness they feel more real to the reader. I personally enjoyed the book and would recommend it to our age group and both to guys and girls

Kevin Ye

Mrs. Arnold

Independent reading

I choose Everything I Never Told You for my independent reading. This book is written by Celeste NG, and she is a Chinese American. This book is talking about a Chinese American family living in a small town in Ohio in  the 1970s. When I read the background of this book, it was highly attractive to me.

The book starts with Lydia’s body, which was found in the middle of a lake nearby her house. Lydia is the middle daughter of Marilyn and James Lee. James Lee is a Chinese American; his parents came to the U.S. with the Chinese immigrations of 1840, when many Chinese came to the US for the Gold Rush. James felt self-abasement and he could not fit in America’s society although he grew up in the U.S. He rejected to learn Chinese because he worried once he learns, Chinese will influence his English accent. Marilyn is an American woman who really wanted to be a doctor , but she fell in love with James and realized she pregnant with Nath ( Her first son). She became a homemaker. At that time period, a mixed family was not accepted in the whole country so they live in a suburb. James wanted Lydia to fit in with native students and be the center of every party. But Marilyn wants her to pursue Marilyn’s original dream--- be a doctor. Both James and Marilyn ignored Lydia’s feeling. Nathan and Hannah, the younger daughter,  are struggling to distinguish themselves, but Lydia will always be the most important child.  Lydia’s death is a catalyst that make the whole family in chaos and pulled them apart. Even their neighbor Jack who is not accepted in their community is involved in Lydia’s death.

From this story, I like Hannah best, because she is the most smart in this family. But I also feel frustrated James and Marilyn ignored her. She is the youngest child in this family, but she lives in the attic. Even Marilyn didn’t set a seat for her at the table. Hannah is the most poor child in her family.

This whole book represents some problems in that time period, 1960-1970. This book narrates some stories about how native Americans discriminate against James’s family. These stories stand for part of the Chinese American community who lived in a very low level in society during that time period. Another big problem is the different cultures and the different opinions on mixed family. There is a gigantic difference between James and Marilyn; James forces Lydia to make more friends but Marilyn forces Lydia to be a doctor. They never ask what Lydia really wants to do.  I highly recommend this book. As an international student I have the same feelings with this book in some special situations. This book is not only attractive to me to know about the relationship in this family, but also can make me realize more information about American culture during that time period. This book is worth reading.

Where She Went

Tina Hong 
Ms. Arnold 
English 10
17 May 2015

where she went by Gayle Forman

I read “where she went” by Gayle Forman. It is the sequel of " if I stay". I loved "if i stay"'s book and movie, and I was so eager to find out what happen next because "if i stay" ended with a cliffhanger right as Mia wakes up. 
The genre is realistic fiction, and it is a story about Mia and Adam's reunion after three years of separation. The book, Where she went was told in first person from the perspective of  Adam, which I really enjoyed, because I got to know more about Adam( the first book was in Mia's perspective). This story mostly takes place in Manhattan, New York, and Brooklyn. 
This book happens three years after Mia's loss of her family and the break up with Adam. Mia becomes Julliard's rising star and Adam is a popular rocking star with headlines and a celebrity girlfriend. One night Adam gets stuck in New York, and chance brings Mia and Adam together. They go to Mia's favorite places in the city which is her new home. Mia explains to Adam why she left him and what has happened in her life since they've broken up. Adam listens carefully and ends up opening his heart again to her. They both find out they still have feelings for each other and make plans to see each other when Mia has concerts in Japan and Adam has concerts in London. 
I loved Mia because she is pretty, nice, loyal, and is an incredible cello player. 
She is patience when Adam refuses to listen to her explains and is nice to her fans, her friends at the diner. I do not have a character I hate but I did find a bit too much inappropriate words in Adam's quotes when they are in New York which made me pretty uncomfortable. However, it is understandable because Adam's quotes perfectly showed his anger.
The main conflict in the book is when Mia tells Adam  why she left him three years ago. The reason was because she hated him when Adam made her stay and she thought it would be easier to go. Then they have a huge argument and Mia walks away.  In this part of the book, the story kind of pulled me in and I started to think in Mia's position although I was reading in Adam's perspective. 
The book reflects the differences of living style between city and country. Adam in the book has had a hard time adapting to the busy life, and wants to get back to his original life with loose schedule.
 I would recommend this book to those who have finished the first book or movie, If i stay, because it would be  quiet hard to follow up without the knowledge of the background. 

Where She Went by Gayle Forman book trailer (video ...
Where She Went (If I Stay sequel) | Unofficial trailer - YouTube

Jack Hambrick Independent Reading Project Final

Jack Hambrick

Mrs. Arnold

Independent Reading

5/17/2015

Shadow Wave

For my spring independent reading book I read Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore.  It is the final book in the Cherub series.  It is about a kid named James who is recruited for British intelligence at the age of 13 after his mother dies. This book takes place when James is 18 and is about to leave the program because he is too old.  Before he leaves his last mission is to watch over a politician's children with his sister and a younger agent during a weapons deal.  The politician is a very corrupt man who steals money and kicks villagers out of their homes to build tourist attractions.  One of James's friend tells him about the man and convinces him not to accept the mission. His friend ,Kyle, also convinces him to sabotage the deal and destroy the politician's reputation.  James’s sister still wants to go on the mission and refuses to help them, so James bugs her phone so he can track where they're going.  The also recruit multiple journalists to make the story public and protesters to get the politician and family angry.  Will James and Kyle ruin the corrupt politician or get in trouble with British intelligence and ruin there lives.  I recommend this book if you like a fast paced book with an interesting story.

Independent Reading Project

Kellie Fonville
Mrs. Arnold
English 10
17 May 2015

Paper Towns

For my Independent Reading project I read Paper Towns by John Green. This book is about a boy named Quentin Jacobson and a girl named Margo Roth Spiegelman. Quentin has spent his entire life loving and admiring his neighbor Margo. So when she comes into his room in the middle of the night one night. He takes the opportunity to be with her. Once their first hangout is finished they begin to hangout more. During these hangouts Margo confirms Quentin's love for her is supported and he begins to fall harder and harder for her.  But in this process Margo runs off to somewhere else. No one knows where she is because she covered her tracks well, but she leaves little clues for Quentin around town so perhaps he can find her. The story is about Quentin going through the town trying to find the girl that he loves. This book was put on the Best Sellers list and won an Edgar Award. This was probably my favorite Independent Reading book I read this year I loved reading it and it kept me very entertained.