CTQ Reading Response - The Hobbit

Q: How does this text deal with individuals and groups? Are the people acting alone and in competition with one another, or does this text help us imagine people working together?

The book The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien deals with individuals and groups, by using this small little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, and places him in a group of various dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf. In the beginning, the dwarves didn't believe that this hobbit would be of any use in their adventure. But Gandalf had faith in him from the beginning for some unknown reason. However during their long and hardworking journey, the conservative hobbit miraculously seems to have the ability to prove himself worthy to be counted on.

For the most part, the text intends to make us imagine people working together. This is because Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves are already one team. They work together to survive and to keep each other alive. Although there is competition between them and the goblins, wolves, and other threats, they work together to defeat them. They all depend on each other.

I think that it is cool how easily the groups and individuals in this book can end up working so well together. Readers can relate to this. Sometimes in groups there can be that one person that you aren't too sure can be of any help. But then they end up to be a very helpful component of the group. Even in tough competition, teamwork is what gets people to succeed.

Monday Muses: My Favorite Book

My favorite book is Patches Lost and Found by Steven Kroll because it reminds me of when I was younger and I just wanted to draw all the time. I really loved reading, especially picture books like this one. I actually got this as a gift from my second grade teacher. She was very helpful in my work and she was very nice. It's relevant to my life today because I still love drawing things out.

The main character lost her pet, and draws out a crazy way her pet got lost, and later on uses it for her writing project by adding words to her drawing. And sometimes when I lose things I'd love to draw out the crazy ways I lost them, just for the fun of it.

Fortunately though her pet does get found in the end of the book. I wish life was like that. To this day I still wonder where my various hundreds of things I lost are in this world right now...

Argument Essay Draft One

Books like The Hunger Games and Where’s Waldo? are in danger of being taken away and forever banned from school libraries. People are shocked that these wonderful books are being challenged. One of such books is Divergent. In honor of the first amendment that allows freedom of expression and speech, no book should be banned for people to not be able to read. Furthermore, Divergent by Veronica Roth should not be banned, because it deals with important themes and making important choices.

Bravery is one of the important themes that Divergent deals with. In the book, Tris who is the main character makes a point on what Divergent is trying to teach us. For example, in the book, she said, “‘It prepares you to act,’ I say finally. ‘You learn strategy so you use it.’” (Roth 144) This shows how Divergent teaches readers to fight bravely, and to use strategy to prepare yourself for the worst. In the book, Tris also deals with many strong issues, like the death of a mother, and the loss of a lover, which takes a lot of bravery. For example, in the book, she shares her thoughts, “I hear him telling me to be brave. I hear my mother telling me to be brave. Somehow I get up and start running. I am brave.” (Roth 444) This shows the readers how important bravery can be, and how it can help people with various issues.

Important choices are taught in the book, like sex. Sex is a very important choice to make, and an issue that should be gladly brought up, if not mentioned. In an article, “The Banned Books We Loved” by Jen Doll, Jen says that “they stand out as important books that we read, because they dealt with important hard subjects, like death or race or sex, deep emotions…” and Jen is correct. These are important subjects that people and young adults should all be aware of, because these things happen in the real world. Sex is one of these issues and is mentioned in Divergent. In the book, Tris is in a simulation and is trying to face her fears, and possible sex with her boyfriend Tobias is one of them. For example, in a conversation with him, she said, “‘Not you,’ I say. I bite my lip to keep it still. ‘Being with you… with anyone. I’ve never been involved with someone before.’” This shows the choices that young teens think about making when they are dating some, and other teens can relate to it, when they read it.

Despite all this, others claim that books with themes like violence and sex are indecent, and should not be read, and if they are banned that way kids won’t read them.  However this is not true. In “The Banned Books We Loved” it says, “Banning books doesn’t in fact hurt them much, and if anything it may even inspire more interest.” This means that banning books will not keep them away from anyone. This is because people have the right to choose what they want to read. In an article on “sick-lit” literature by Tanith Carey, Tanith insists that these themes are “questionable” and shouldn’t be “aimed at children as young as 12.” But these themes shouldn’t be questionable; they should be inspiring themes that these kids should know about. From the same reliable article of Jen Doll, it said, “a book being added to a censored list simply means the book has an important message along with being just entertaining.” Divergent is one of such books, because it was one of the many challenged books, that had many important messages that the author wanted the readers to read about.

So as you can see, the banning of books is a serious issue, and it is imperative that these books do not get banned. This is because these books are classics, and have important messages that people all over the world can relate to. If they were to be banned a very big and important part of literature as of today would be gone, and we cannot let that happen. Hence, Divergent by Veronica Roth should not be banned, along with many other great books that have been challenged, for they too may also deal with important themes and making important choices.

Monday Muses

Music

M - Many different themes, that give you inspiration.

U - Unbelievable beauty, that makes you feel.

S - Symphonies of every kind, flow through your brain.

I - Interesting lyrics, that you listen to over and over.

C - Complicated, crafty, and cunning songs, that fill your day with joy.


I - It makes you feel so alive, and amazing.

N - Nothing can inspire you more.

S - Sometimes you just want to dance to it until you fall to the floor.

P - Perfect in every way.

I - Imperfect in every perfect way.

R - Relatable is what it is, almost like a diary

E - Entertains you with it's undeniably catchy and yet soothing tone.

S - Sing along to it as you enjoy the wonders of what it can give you.


M - More, more, more, you just can't stop listening to music.

E - Enough is enough... But with music, it's never enough.

3rd Reading Response: The Book Thief

In the book, The Book Thief, there is a girl named Liesel who is very fond of books and words. This is because she loves to read. Even though she gets bullied by others, she will do anything to get better at reading. She believes that books can give possible answers and new ways of looking at life. She feels the same way about writing. It shows how fond she is of these topics in this book.

One way she is fond of books and words, is that she loves to read. She loved to read throughout the whole book. Like at the beginning, when she was teased about her reading flaws, she continued to love it, and to try and get better at it. In the book, it said, "She sw them. All those mashed children. Grinning and laughing. Bathed in sunshine." This shows how the kids bully her by laughing at her and teasing her. They even call her names like "an idiot." Yet she continues to try and get better at reading and writing despite what they do.

To add on, she believes that books can give people more knowledge of life in general and can help her to find answers. This is because in this book's time period a lot of things were happening. There was war and there was many conflicting themes. Jews were hated at by the Germans, because Hitler was German and he was a leader. In the book, Liesel was reading a book that compares to the timeline. It said, "The authorities' problem with the book was obvious. The protagonist was a Jew, and he was presented in a positive light. Unforgivable." The book showed how life was for a Jew in which Liesel who was in a German family. It showed life in a different perspective. Liesel appreciated that.

Also, she is fond of writing. She learns about words and letters that connect to reading. In the book it shows that she is eager to write. It said in the book, "As they progressed through the alphabet, Liesel's eyes grew larger. She had done this at school, in the kindergarten class but this time was better." This shows how fond she is of it and thus proves her to be fond of books and words as well, for they are very connected in terms of literature.

In conclusion, Liesel's fondness of books and words are shown well in this book, from dealing with bullying to having a better understanding of the reading of books and the wonders of writing.

Character in "The Book Thief"

Liesel, the main character, is a very eager reader. She wants to read as much as she can even though she's not very good at it. For example, she's willing to get midnight lessons of reading from her Papa. "'Read some for me.' But of course, she couldn't. When he made her point out any words she could read and actually say them, there were only three." Since Liesel had trouble with reading, they started from scratch. But for her to want to have lessons at night shows dedication to her eagerness in reading.

Another way Liesel is eager in reading is because she's curious and that she loves to steal books. For example, "A necklace of sweat had formed around her throat. Beneath her shirt, a book was eating her up." In the book, this was the third book she stole. Later on she ends up stealing stacks and stacks of books. She did anything she could to get her hands on books, because it was a dark time for the characters at the time. So basically, she is so eager to read that she steals many books.

In conclusion, Liesel's eagerness in reading led to many things. It led her to do a lot of reading no matter where her flaws were. She was also so eager that it led her to steal as many books as she could no matter what the consequences would be. This describes Liesel's personality well; about how dedicated she can be.

Catching Fire (Summer Reading Book) by Suzanne Collins

This book was a little different from the first book. This book is a sequel to The Hunger Games. It is still very exciting though. In The Hunger Games there was lots of twists and fights, just like in Catching Fire. What I really liked about this book is that I got to see Katniss, the main character grow even more as a person trying to win the games and test her skills, and as a person who cares deeply for her sister and family and friends and possibly boyfriend. I also liked how there was a cliff hanger at the end. It ended with many unanswered questions which would most probably end up in the next book called Mockingjay.

I'm definitely looking forward to read Mockingjay.