Most important line in Chapter 3 in Lies that Bind

All eyes are on Kate and it's not because her pink hair is starting to fade. Last year, her best friend, Grace died in a mysterious fire in the chapel on the ground of their prestigous private school, Pemberly Brown. Jus like all the books and movies with this basis she ventures to find what really happend while reciving messages from the dead best friend. But, today is the memorial service where, "People would whisper excitedly about wether the broken best friend would come." (Roeecker 9) Rich people. *eye roll* Anyway, at the end of this service everyone gets a text to meet at the graveyard at dusk for Obsideo, a sacramentum at Pemberly Brown, where they read a list of all the dead Permberly Brown alumini. Kate has deiced she wasn't going until.....

"On page 56, Grace's handwriting was clear as day, orange and bubbly like always.
Someone has to rembemer." (Roecker 28)

This is important because Kate believes that this again is Grace telling her to go to the Obsideo to catch the culprits that killed her. This pushes Kate to go to the Obsideo because before she wasn't going to go. This will also propel the plot because Kate gets these messages from "Grace" to help her uncover the secrets behind Pemberly Brown and to figure out everything behind her death and an ancient interschool feud that started when Pemberly Brown first merged.

 

What do you think will happen at a midnight party full of teenagers mourning the death of a peer?

Oh did I mention this is in the winter in a GRAVEYARD????

Looking For Something to Read? Check this Out!

Summary

My Life Next Door is about a seventeen year old girl, Samantha Reed. She has lived next door to the Garretts for ten years, but has never spoken to them just watched. Her mother, the senator of Connecticut, is up for re-election. Sam's mom, Grace, is very OCD and very rule oriented, she likes routine. She told her girls, Tracy and Samantha, from the day the Garretts moved in to stay away from them. The Garretts are definitely nothing like the Reeds. They have eight kids instead of two. They always have people over and are a loud tight knit family. But, one day one of those eight kids changes everything. Jase,the third oldest, climbs up to sit with Samantha on her roof. This sparks a friendship, which may lead to something more. Follow Samantha on her crazy and fun filled summer with the Garrets.

Review
I loved this book! Yes, the whole premise is cliché "guy meets a girl and they fall in love over the summer" but in my opinion it was really well done. I think the way Samantha fit into the Garretts family so well was great. But, I need a minute to talk about George.

  Spitting out random facts that sometimes go along with what's being said sometimes not so much;adorable and intelligent four year olds like Jase’s Little brother George are one of a kind," It's George, now wearing boxer shorts but no shirt. He comes over and plunks down on the bed, looking at me somberly. 'Did you know that the space shuttle Challenger blew up?'
 I nod. 'A long time ago. They have perfected things so much more now.'
 'I'd be ground crew at NASA. Not on the shuttle. I don't ever want to die ever.'
 I find myself wanting to hug him. 'Me neither, George.'
 'Is Jase already going to marry you?'
 I start coughing again. 'Uh. No. No, George. I'm only seventeen.' as if that's the only reason we aren't engaged.
'I'm this many,' George holds up four slightly grubby fingers. 'But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.'
 Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through the proposition. ' 'George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.'
 George backs out of the room, but not before saying, 'His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it.'" ( Fitzpatrick 35-36)

If you read this and did not think George is A) adorable B) funny C) the cutest thing ever or D) all of the above

I don't know what to say to you,but I digress. I really liked almost all the characters in this book.  Even though Jase, Samantha, and Grace, Sam's mom, were the more prominent characters to this story you got to know all the characters. Even the characters you don't like *cough* Clay and Nan *cough*.
I really liked that this book was very realistic fiction. Sam had summer jobs, Jase worked at his dad's hardware store, the way Clay ran Grace's campaign. Jase and Samantha babysitting the younger Garrett crew. Going to the beach . Jase's ridiculous training routine for football. The fact that Grace was never home because of her campaign and how Samantha was mentally complaining about having to go to her mom's events and wondered if the other sons and daughters of political leaders felt like she did. The gripe I  have with this book is that Samantha's friend, Nan, fell off the face of the Earth after their fight, I needed some closure on this.

 I believe since this is more of a romance novel that it would be more targeted towards girls, but anyone who enjoys a good love story and family should pick this book up.

If you liked this book check out Huntley's website for more information on her current and upcoming books!

Huntley Fitzpatrick


Would you read a book like this? (romance novel) Why or why not?

1st Post of the Third Trimester- Allegiant Book Review

Summary

 

I am nearly finished with the book Allegiant by Veronica Roth.  In this book Tris and Tobias have finally shown the people of  Chicago the "truth" by releasing the Edith Prior video. This video told them that they were part of a genetic experiment to find a cure to "damaged genes".  The Bureau of Genetic Welfare set this experiment up because of what was known as the Purity War between those who were genetically "pure" and those who were genetically "damaged" which devasted the United States. The Divergent are supposed to come to the Bureau when there numbers are large enough. The Divergent are supposed to be genetically "pure".  After the release of the video and the fall of Jeanine Matthews and the Erudite a new dictator came to power. Evelyn Johnson, Tobias' mother, and the factionless.  They want to destroy the factions and make sure that there never are factions again. She has forbidden Tobias and the Divergent from leaving Chicago (although they don't know they are in Chicago) to follow the instructions that Edith Prior-a relative of Tris- has given to them in the video.

A group called the Allegiant have formed to rebel against Evelyn and the factionless. This group along with Tris and Tobias orcastrate a group to go beyond the fence into the outside world. On the way to the Bureau the group lose a member. Upon arriving though they find that not all their friends they once thought to be dead are.  After exploring the compound they find that they have been watched by the Bureau their whole lives and they place they once called home is called Chicago. They learn that there are other experiments just like thiers. Tris meets David the director of the Bureau and learns that her late mother lived her and had volunteered to enter into the Chicago experiment and is handed her journal to look over. She also meets Matthew a scientist who would like to examine her and Tobias' genes since she has the power to resist serums and is aware during simulations, as well as Tobias.  Which leads to some unforseen information. Here we also meet Nita, she is a GD (genetically damaged). She asks Tobias to come and meet her at night so she can show him something. Tobias obliges but just as they arrive to the destination Marcus' verdict has been decided and Tobias rushes to see what his mother has decided to do with his father. Tobias is suprised by her decision. Tobias agrees to meet Nita again and she asks him to come with her to the Fringe. This is a place where the GD'd live. It's a rough and scary place that she thinks he should see, but she also recquires his protection.

Once at the Fringe, Tobias witnesses a boy being beaten to death. Once the boy was dead he was then robbed. Nita brought Tobais in and introduced him to the leaders Rafi and Mary. Immediately after Nita dismisses him to discuss matters with the other two. Nita instructs Tobias not to inform Tris of what he has seen, heard or of the meeting they have just returned from. Tobias not wanting to go back on the promise they made to each other at the beginning of the book to not lie to one another any more tells Tris what is going on. Nita is now forced to bring Tris in on the plan to steal the memory serum- this serum erases peoples memories- from the Weapons Lab.  Tris  doesn't trust Nita. She voices this to Tobias, but he feels he must help the GD's and agrees to be apart of the plan.

The plan is put into motion soon after. Tris was near one of the explosions when the attack started and so was another member of the original group. They received major injuries and now are in critical condition. Tris wants to go find Tobias but she knows there is a bigger issue. Nita. She and Matthew proceed to the Weapons Lab where David is being held at gun point to open the Weapons Lab. Tris must decide how she will defuse this situation.  There are several civilian injuries and casualties as a result of the diversion -the bombs- going off across the compound.  Tobias has been arrested along with his other accomplices.  They are each interrogated, but Tobias was let off on parole for one year because of his "condition" and the fact that Nita had told him that she was stealing the memory serum not the most dangerous serum in the weapons lab.

After this Tris and Tobias avoid each other. Tobias feels guilty about the attack he didn't think he would be hurting any of his friends or civilians. But he also felt guilty because Tris had warned him but he had ignored her when she had been right the whole time. Meanwhile, Tris was summoned to David's office. David survived the attack with a shot to the foot and losing the ability to walk for a long time. He asks Tris to train to become a council member or one of his advisors. She accepts with other plans in mind.

After this Tris takes her trip to the Fringe to see what its like. Upon her return she looks into things that the Bureau may have twisted to make the genetically "damaged" look even more inferior to those who are "pure".  She finds that they were lying about it.  She then calls a meeting with her friends to create a rebellion that would be effective but not as destructive as Nita's. Since Tris is in a high position they agree to wait until she has sat in on the council meeting before they make any concrete plans.

But while Tris was gone at  the Fringe, things in Chicago have developed. A new unexpected alliance among the Allegiant has sprouted. The Allegiant have also captured some on Evelyn's weapons. But what they don't know is that Evelyn has discovered some of what Nita was after.

In the meeting Tris learns that Evelyn has found this dangerous weapon in Chicago.  David has a way to defuse the situation but it would mean starting all over. He can't risk Evelyn using something that dangerous or a war breaking out because the government has already threatened to shut the experiments down. This just fuels Tris'  motivation  to take down the Bureau.

Will Tris and Tobias' group succeed in their rebellion for equal rights and save their home?

Review
The kind of reader that would enjoy this book is someone who likes action and adventure. Their is some romance but not a ton. Someone who likes stories about rebellion and struggles for equality and overthrowing an unjust government. This book is good for both boys and girls. It's not too much action or romance to be targeted at one group or the other.

 

 

I would give this book a 4 out of  5  stars. This is because I liked the storyline. But I felt like the pacing was so slow at some parts and then you would hit sections where things were occurring one right after the other or simultaneously. They characters are very well written though they develop for good or worse through the book and the series. I liked how it was set in the future and how they still have all the technology and big cities , but you can see how things have changed. Cites are damaged from the Purity War and there are no major cities in the west because they are too far apart and it is now known as the Wild. I also like that Veronica Roth sprinkles humor after some serious or really tense parts.
 Again the only real problem I had with this book was the pacing.

 

Serpent's Shadow Analysis

In The Serpent's Shadow it says, " ' I'll take Freak to Memphis,' I said. 'Be back as soon as I talk to Thoth.' 'I'm going with you,' Walt said. Sadie had told me to take him along ,of course, but looking  at him now , I had second thoughts. Walt's cheeks were sunken. His eyes were glassy. I was alarmed by how much worse he looked since just yesterday. I know this is horrible, but I couldn't help thinking about Egyptian burial practices-how they'd pack the body with embalming salts to slowly dry it up from the inside. Walt looked like he'd been started on the process. 'Look, man,' I said, 'Sadie asked me to keep you safe. She's worried about you. So am I.' His clenched his jaw. 'If you plan on using a shadow for your spell, you'll have to capture it with that figurine. You'll need a sau, and I'm the best you've got.' Unfortunately, Walt was right. Neither Sadie nor I had the skill to capture a shadow, if that was even possible. Only Walt had that kind of charm-making talent. 'All-right,' I muttered. 'Just...keep your head down. I don't want my sister going nuclear on me.' Bast poked Walt's arm, the way a cat might nudge a bug to see if it was still alive. She sniffed his hair. 'Your aura is weak,' Bast said,' but you should be all right to travel. Try not to exert yourself. No magic unless absolutely  necessary.' Walt rolled his eyes. 'Yes, Mother.' Bast seemed to like that. 'I'll watch the other kittens,' she promised. 'Er, I mean initiates. You two be careful. I don't have much love for Thoth, but I don't want you caught up in his problems.' 'What problems?' I asked. 'You'll see. Just come back to me.'" (Riordan 116-117)

This passage shows that Walt's curse/ condition is getting worse and he's inching closer and closer to death. We also see that Carter and Sadie need advice from the god of wisdom Thoth about a spell for a shadow to destroy Apophis. Carter doesn't want to bring Walt along since his condition is so bad but he needs his skills to defeat Apophis and it looks as though the efforts could do Walt in. We also see that Walt, Carter, Sadie and the other initiates see Bast as a mother even if they have a living mother who loves them Bast is like a second mother to them. She protects them and watches over them every second when she isn't taking a nap. We can also see that Bast doesn't like Thoth. We can predict that something happened back in ancient times that made Bast dislike the god of wisdom. She tells Carter and Walt that Thoth has many problems and to stay away from them. We can predict that they will indeed get caught up in Thoth's problems because in order to get things from Thoth you have to do something for him in return like solving his problems or going on an y errand for him. And the errand that you must run for him usually puts you in mortal danger.

Blog Reflection

 

Beginning of the Trimester Post:

 Theme-The theme of the Half Blood Prince is one must trust others. This can be seen through out this book and several of the other Harry Potter books.  In the text when Harry is questioning Snape's loyalty to the Order and Dumbledore replies with this statement, "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely."  Dumbledore has put his complete trust into Snape that he is no longer a Death Eater and that he is truly changed to the good side.  Dumbledore also put much trust in Harry to retrieve Slughorn's memory which was the key to moving on in Harry's private lessons with him. These lessons are very important as stated here, " 'I shall tell you , Harry, when you have retrieved that memory from Professor Slughorn,' said Dumbledore. 'When you have that last piece of the jigsaw, everything will, I hope, be clear... to both of us.' " This shows just how much trust Dumbledore is putting into Harry to get this memory because it not only effects Harry's future, but it could effect the future of everyone because this memory could contain some sort of hint to the number or what objects Lord Voldemort  has selected for his horcuxes.

 Summary- A summary of the chapter The Seer Overheard -Chapter 25- is Ginny and Harry have started dating. Hermione thinks she has figured out who the Half Blood Prince is a girl named Eileen Prince but she can not yet prove that it truly is her who is the Half Blood Prince. Harry disagrees with Hermione completely and is still hot on the trail of Malfoy trying to figure out what he and Snape are supposedly up to. Harry receives a note from Dumbledore he's all excited because this means that Dumbledore has found another horcuxe and he wants Harry to come with him to destroy it. As Harry makes his way to Dumbledore's office he hears Professor Trelawney scream and he investigates and finds that she was in the Room of Requirement and she heard whooping and then was thrown out of the room when she was hit with a spell by an unseen person. Then Trelawney lets it slip that Snape was the one who overheard Harry's prophecy and told Voldemort what he had heard of the prophecy which caused him to come and kill his parents and attempt to kill him but of course he failed. So , Harry is furious and goes on Dumbledore about trusting Snape and how Snape is up to no good with Malfoy etc. Dumbledore tells Harry to get his Cloak of Invisibility and meet him at the entrance hall. Harry does so but also grabs his Felix Felicis -Liquid Luck- and Marauder's  Map and tells Hermione and Ron to watch Snape and Malfoy while he's gone and to alert members of their group -Dumbledore's Army- if they had any problems. Then he meets Dumbledore and they apparate to a cave where the horcuxe is hidden.

 

End of the Trimester Post:

 Theme- One of the many themes of Rick Riordan's House Of Hades is that one must choose their own path.  This is illustrated in House of Hades when Annabeth talks to Damasen, '''The Prophecy of the Seven,' she said. Percy had already climbed out of the bed and was shouldering his pack. He frowned at her. 'What about it?' Annabeth grabbed Damasen's hand, startling the giant. His brow furrowed. His skin was as ruff as sandstone. 'You have to come with us,' she pleaded. 'The prophecy says foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.  I thought it meant Romans and Greeks, but that's not it. The line means us - demigods, a Titan, a giant. We need you to close the Doors!' The drakon roared outside, closer this time. Damasen gently pulled his hand away. 'No, child, he murmured. 'My cruse is here. I cannot escape it.' 'Yes you can,' Annabeth said. 'Don't fight the drakon. Figure out a way to break the cycle! Find another fate.' Damasen shook his head. 'Even if could, I cannot leave this swamp. It is the only destination I can picture.' Annabeth's mind raced. 'There is another destination. Look at me! Remember my face. When your ready, come find me. We'll take you to the mortal world with us. You can see the sunlight and stars.'"(Riordan 314-315)  And we see Damasen's decision when it says, "The Maeonion drakon spread its frilled collar and hissed, its poison breath filling the battlefield with the smell of pine and ginger. It shifted its hundred-foot-long body, flicking its dappled green tail and wiping out a battalion or orges. Riding on its back was a red-skinned giant with flowers in his rust -colored braids, a jerkin of green leather, and a drakon-rib lance in his hand. 'Damasen!' Annabeth cried. The giant inclined his head. 'Annabeth Chase, I took your advice. I chose myself a new fate.'"(Riordan 524). This illustrates the theme because Damasen is a giant a son of two evil forces- Gaea(Mother Earth) and Tartarus (the abyss)- he was born to oppose Ares, war god, so he is the opposite of Ares so Damasen is peaceful and gentle Damasen was crused because he helped mortals. His curse was that every day he must defeat the Maeonion drakon. Annabeth pushes him to break the cycle of the curse to choose his own path, to be who he wants to be. That he can overcome his curse all he needs to do is to believe in himself and build his own path.

 

 Summary- Percy, Bob, and Annabeth are traveling through Tartarus when they come upon arai. If you kill these monsters you will receive a curse of someone you killed that they made with their final breath. Percy of course kills several before learning his lesson. Leaving Annabeth blind(curse from Polythemus) and abandoned (cruse from Calypso). And himself eye twitching, sides bleeding and poisoned with gorgon blood. Bob eventually was able to kill the remaining arai and both he and Percy ran over to Annabeth. Bob touched Annabeth and cured her curses. Bob also tried to heal Percy but the gorgon blood poison was too strong and they needed to find someone to heal Percy. Bob being a Titan knew where they could find someone to heal him. They reached Damasen's hut and Damasen heals Percy and Annabeth tries to convince Damasen to join them on their quest to find the Doors of Death. Their discussion was cut short when the drakon came back and Polybotes ( the anti- Poseidon giant) was on their heels and they had to keep moving to avoid a confrontation with the giant because even though Percy had defeated Polybotes before he and Annabeth were in no shape to be fighting a giant.

 

Analysis: The quality of writing has improved because at the beginning of the trimester I didn’t really go into detail about how my quote supported my theme. I spent more time retelling every single thing that happened in the chapter form which I was pulling the theme instead of focusing on how the theme was conveyed in the text. I also cited more than one place in the text that could back up my theme later in the trimester making my claim stronger. I feel that I gave a little more background info later in the trimester to give the reader more of a sense what’s going on and why things are happening then I did at the beginning of the trimester. This would help them understand even more why I chose the theme I did and how the theme applies to the text.

Questions: One thing I struggled with when blogging was how much detail I should put into summaries because I felt as though I would spoil people if I added certain details but without those details I felt that the other events wouldn’t make sense. I overcame this by being as vague as possible but still giving enough detail that it would flow with the other events and made sense. A strength I had with blogging developed over the trimester. This would be the amount of detail I put into my analysis of the quotes I used to back up my claim. I feel like every time I dissected the quote more and more sometimes mentioning something from a couple paragraphs or pages before the quote I had chosen to show how what I was saying tied in with the rest of the story. I did not reach my reading goal I completed about a third of that goal this trimester. I used good reads to track my reading progress and to like quotes from my favorite books and author.

Book Recomendation for Throne of Fire

In Throne of Fire Sadie and Carter continue to fight evil,  but this time trying to keep  chaos-Apophis- from breaking free of his prison where Ra had trapped him before he retired. Carter and Sadie also race against time to find Ra and raise him to battle Apophis since they are archenemies. To awake Ra, Carter and Sadie must first find all three parts of the Book of Ra. Once that is done they must travel through the Duat - a world of magic and spirits- on the route Ra took every night and at the end of the journey he was reborn as the sun rose in the sky. On this journey Carter and Sadie learn many things about one another and about themselves. They face many obstacles along the way, Sadie must recite spells to free and awaken the three aspects of Ra, Carter must free Zia and try to resist Horus' pleas for him to become pharaoh.  Those are just a few  of the challenges they face in their race against time because at the equinox Apophis will rise from his prison and attempt to swallow the sun leaving the world in darkness. Can Carter and Sadie win the race against time?

I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because we can see that Carter and Sadie can stand on their own with out the help of Isis and Horus. They may still throw their two sense in from time to tome but we can see even if this happens Sadie and Carter can control Isis and Horus. We also see them grow as magicians as they now can control their powers and they, of course, are learning new spells and things everyday. Also, we see Carter grow and become more confident in himself and his decisions, where as before he was just the kid who knew all the facts, now he is more of the leader and the one everyone looks up to and can go to with any questions. Sadie and Carter also, grow even closer in this book, especially when Sadie learns Carter's secret name, it shows how much closer they are now that they aren't living in different parts of the world. What I didn't like about this book was I felt like some things weren't explained enough like when Set was talking to Vladimir about raising Apophis and how Set then let Carter and Sadie escape after Sadie gave back his secret name and then it really wasn't brought up again in detail about why Set let them go so easily because why would the god of chaos let them go when he could have caused chaos for them?  Also, it wasn't really explained why Ra wasn't reborn at sunrise like he normally would have in the old days. Why would it be different now from what it was back in the days when Ra was King? Those are the only issues I had with this book. I encourage you to read all Rick Riordan books they are amazing! The first book in this series is called The Red Pyramid  after this is The Serpent's Shadow. Riordan also wrote a cross over between The Kane Chronicles and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series called Son of Sobek. If you liked both of these I would recommend Heroes of Olympus which is a continuation of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

Someone who would like this book is some one who enjoys a story containing action, adventure, and magic. Also, someone who enjoys sibling banter and watching siblings coming together and working as a team. To read this book you should have an interest in Egyptian mythology and what the Egyptians believed the gods did for them. This book makes those stories and gods come to life in a more modern atmosphere and puts them more in a this day and age perspective.

Analysis of The Throne of FIre

A passage from The Throne of Fire is, " ' They are ruthless murderers and theives,' Desjardins said.  'The worst of our House.' 'But they are anxious to prove their loylaty, ' Menshikov assuered hi. 'They are happy to do it!' He grinned at his minion, as if they encouraging them to look happy. None of them did. 'Besides, my lord,' Menshikov continued quickly, ' if you want Brooklyn House destoryed, we must be ruthless. It is fo rthe good of the Ma'at.' Desjardins frowned. 'And you, Vladimir? will you lead them?' No, my lord. I have full confidence that this, ah , fine group can deal with Brooklyn on their own. They will attack at sunset. As for me, I will follw the Kanes into the Duat and deal with them personally. You, my lord, should stay here and rest. I will send a scryer to your quarters so you may observe our progress.' ' Stay here,' Desjardins qouted bitterly. 'And observe.' Menshikov bowed. 'We will save the House of Life. I swearit. The KAnes will be destroyed , the gods put back into exile, the Ma'at will be restored.' I hoped Desjardins would come to his sensesand call off the attack. Instead, his shoulders slumped . He turned his back on Menshikov and stared at the empty throne of the pharaoh. 'Go,' he said wearily. 'Get those creatures out of my sight.' Mensikov smiled. 'My lord.' He turned and marched down the Hall of Ages with his personal army in tow.  Once they were gone, Desjardins held up his hand. An orb of light fluttered from the ceiling and rested in his palm. 'Bring me the Book of Overcoming Apophis,' Desjardinstola the light. 'I must consult it.' The magic orb dipped as if bowing , then raced off. Desjardins turned toeard the purple curtainof light- the image of teo figures fighting over a throne of fire. 'I will 'observe,' Vladimir,' he murmured to himself. 'But I will not 'stay and rest.'' The scene faded, and my ba returned to my body." (Riordan 311-312)

In this passage we see that Vladimir has a group of minions who have been exiled form the House of Life becasue they are thieves and murderers. He intends to use them to attack the Brooklyn House (Carter and Sadie's home) while Carter and Sadie are in Cario trying to raise Ra. This would leave only their uncle( Amos) and their trainees to defens the Brooklyn House. Carter is witnessing this thorugh a dream so we can predict that Horus is trying to tell Carter that instead of raising Ra, he should instead go back to Brooklyn and help defend his home. Horus is also warning Carter that he has a target on his back and that Valdimir is out to get him and Sadie and that he has no intenion of leaving them alive.  We can perdict that Vladimir does not want Desjardins along because he intends to do alot more then just "deal with the Kanes". earlier in the book we see Vladimir talking to Set about raising Apophis(Chaos) Vladimir wants Ra to be defeated by Apophis. Also, Desjardins is very weak from their travel after fighting with Carter at Zia's tomb. We can also. see thourhg this passage that Desjardins does not trust Vladimir so, he get the Book of Overcoming Apophis. We can perdict that Desjardins will take an action against Vladimir because he said he will not stay and rest.