RJ #5 FARY TALES

Dear Mrs. Zrihen,

I just finished reading some fairytales from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale book. I read stories such as The red shoes and The tinderbox. I read common stories and uncommon stories. Some of the stories were sad and some happy. Two strategies I used before reading were: plan which stories I would read. And if they were uncommon fairy tales I would try to think about what it was by the name. Two I used while reading were write down the name of each story I read. And summarize each story. Two I used after each story where: to compare them to modern twists and decide if I liked it.

I read a lot of stories but my favorite has to be the steadfast tin soldier. I liked this one most because, it was very sad and I had never heard of that story before. It was about 25 tin soldiers that were made out of the same metal spoon. The creator had very little bit of the spoon left so the last soldier (the 25) was made without his left leg. At midnight every night the owner would put all of his toys away and that is when the the toys went to play, the soldier say a ballerina on one foot so he assumed that she only had one foot too. But when he went to talk to her the jack-in-a box sprung open and said “you must leave soldier, or else” but the soldier didn't leave (but he didn't speak to the ballerina) “very well” said the troll. Then the soldier ended up in stream a stream then got swallowed by a fish. Then the next morning the maid of the boy got a fish from the market and when she cut it the soldier was in it! So she put him back where he saw the troll harassing the ballerina so he got his sword and tried to fight him but the troll but the troll threw him in the fire place. His face was burning then the troll threw the ballerina in there too. So they both burned. Then later that day the maid came to the fire place and saw that the soldier and ballerina burned. All that was left of the ballerina was a sequence from her dress and the soldier had melted into a heart.

I compared these stories to the modern day twists and the biggest one was the little mermaid. In the Disney movie Ariel and the prince got married and she became a permanent human. But in the story the prince ended up marrying the women he thought saved him (but it was the mermaid) and do to true love the mermaid killed herself (stabbed herself) while in human form. So I thought that was interesting.

In general, I would rate these stories 8/10, because they taught lessons, inspired and where about love. I recommend this to kids who don't mind seeing creepy drawings from the 1800s .

sincerely, Shianne Salazar

The Girls RJ #4

Dear Mrs. Zrihen,

The book I picked was: The Girls by: Tucker Shaw. I picked this book because the back summary was awesome. The two strategies I used before I read this book are: 1. I skimmed through the book to see how the chapters are and how the author organized the book. 2. I read the PROLOGUE. Two strategies I used while reading this book were: 1. After every section I read I summarized 2. I thought about what was going to happen next. Two strategies I used after I read this book were: have a entire summary of the book in my head. 1. I discussed it with my mom.

The genre of this book is realistic fiction, it is realistic because the events that took place in the book could happen in real life. It is fiction because, the people and places did not exists.

The characters are: Peggy, Mary, Stephen, Sylvia, Crystal, chief Jackie, Flora, Miriam, & Amber. The protagonists are: Peggy, Mary, chief Jackie, Flora & Miriam. The antagonists are: Crystal, Sylvia, Stephen & Amber.

The book is about a girl named Peggy who has had enough Drama at her home town Denver. So one day she just Googles “boarding school” and the first thing that pops up is Maroon Bells School for Girls in Aspen. The book takes place 5 months later. Her mom is just dropping her off to the Timberlake coffee shop for her to get breakfeast, then walk over to her dorm. Where she hears Amber gossping to Sylvia about how Stephen ( Mary's boyfriend) is cheating on her with a girl that works at Mod jean store (yikes!). Peggy pretends that she doesn't hear it and leaves. Then the next day Sylvia gives Mary a gift card for The Timberlake and gives it to Mary right when she knows Amber is on shift. She and Peggy go to the Timberlake and over hear Amber on the phone talking about how Stephen is cheating on Mary, but Mary doesn't belive her because Amber is always starting gossip. Then a couple days later Peggy goes to go to Mod to spy on Crystal but the only way do to that is to get a pair of jeans and go to the dressing room where she hears Crystal on the phone saying that its okay that he can't come to visit her because he has plans with Mary so shes starts to talk about the fact its her birthday and her grandpa is in the hospital even though its not true. But what Peggy doesn't know is that Sylvia is in the dressing room right next to hers listening to Crystals conversation too. So Sylvia takes Mary and Peggy to Mod so Mary can confront Crystal. Then later that day chief Jackie tells Peggy to go to a restaurant seminar to spy on a rival chief. Peggy and Mary go were they meet Flora and Miriam and Flora starts to talk about her boyfriend Flip and Miriam talks about her boyfriend Howie to find out that he was cheating on her with Sylvia and they get into a small fight. Then the next day Mary finally talks to Stephen on the phone for him to tell her that Crystal is pregnant. But Peggy goes to the Timberlakle and sees Syliva and Crystal talking about Stephen when Crystals phone rings and drops it and Pegg sees that the caller ID says “FLIP”. Then she and Sylvia leave but Sylvia drops her phone and Peggy takes it and a couple hours later sees a text from Crystal that says that shes not pregnant she just told Stephen that so he'd break up with Mary. Finally Peggy sits down and tells Mary everything. Then she and Mary go to the Timberlake to get coffee were Flora finds out that Flip was cheating on her with Crystal and Mary tells Stephen that Crystal is not pregnant. Then Crystal,Sylvia and Flora get into a fight and the cops come. Then Mary and Peggy sit down and eat a grilled cheese sandwich.

This was a very fast past book, with a lot of drama. It is written in first person point of view (Peggy's). It did not have any figurative language.

I recommended this book to very MATURE girls of the ages 13-16.

I personally loved it.

sincerely ,

Shianne Salazar

It's Raining Cupcakes

Dear Mrs.Zrihen,  

I picked this book because it looked interesting. The two stratiges I used before reading this book are: 1. I read the back of the book summary, to get the feel of the book before I read it. 2. I also skimed through the book for some figerative language & and text features. The two stratiges i used during the book were: 1. After every chapter I read i summerized in my head everything that just happend. 2. Right before i finished a chapter i went to the next chapter and looked at the title to interpret what it would be about. And, two stratiges I used after I read this book were: 1. I rememberd what i read chapter by chapter. 2. Then i went and dissused the book with my mom.

The genre of this book is realistic fiction, it is realistic fiction because the events that took place cold happend in real life. The characters are: Isabel,  her Mom, her Dad,Sophie,her Grandma,they are the main charcters. The protaganists are: Isabel, her Dad & Sophie. The antaganists are: Isabels Mom & and at one point (but not for long) Sophie.

The book is about a girl named Isabel. She has lived in Oregon since birth and hasn't been anywhere BUT Oregon. Isabel's mom loves to bake so much that Isabel's father finds an old  laundermate with an appartment right above an appartment and they buy it and her mom is determined to turn it into a cupcake shop. So Isabel has to move about 15 minutes away from where she used to live (but it feels like hours for her)now she lives and Willow,Oregon and she's dying to leave. Her whole life  she's wanted to travel the world. Her mom isn't selfish  she just dosen't think about how others fell and has Isabel and her father running behind her. And her mom is very quick to give up. So to get out of Oregon she signs up for a baking contest her BFF Sophie found in a baking magizine for kids and the grnd prize is $1,000 and a trip to New York! She signs up and wants to do a choclate tart recipe but her mom is pressring her to do a cupcake recipe she "does the right thing" and does a cupcake recipe. Then later on a reporter interviews her family and  Sophie, and askes them about the grand opening og "It's Raining Cupcakes" (the name of the shop) and Isabel says something stupid nd to cover it up Sophie says something else but Isabel is jelous that Sophie is "good at everything" and they have a fight. In the ending they open up the shop and Isabel becomes a finalsit in the contest and her mom submites her tart recipe to surrprise her and realizes she has been selfish.

The tone of this book is fast paste and humerous because Isabel is a very silly girl and weird things always happen to her. The figaretive langue were simmalies & medafors. the book was written at Isabels point of view. 

I recoomend this book to girls the age of 9-14.

      Sincerly, Shianne Salazar

Four Truths and a Lie

Dear Ms.Zrhien, I just finished reading FOUR TRUTHS AND A LIE BY: Lauren Barnholdt. I got this book on my own no one recommended it. It is about a girl named Scarlett. Who is a high class, boy crazy, drama queen. Who is so caught up in a secret about her dad and boys that her mother sends her to an all girls boarding school! Of course Scarlett's life is over! And the reason she's at Brookline Academy (school) is because her Dad was the CEO of a company called Web Workz, But he stole money from the company and got fired. At school everyone was being mean to Scarlett and everyone turns on her. Then at the end of the school year her mom sends her to Brookline. And the crazy gym teacher is on her to join the basket ball team plus, her roommate hasn't been very inviting. But one day she received an anonymous letter, letting her know more will continue the letter(s) are about four truths and a lie, that the person will send her 5 statements 4 will be true and one a lie. And if she doesn't participate she will be “destined for darkness”. Because the person sending her the letters knos her secret... As I was reading this book I was wondering who was sending her these letters. Before I started reading this book I looked at the cover to try and figure out what it was about then, I read the back summary. As I am reading this book I re-read what I read if I dont under stand. And I plan ahead how many pages I am going to read. After I read this book I will summarize in my head what it was about, then talk to people about it. After I am done with this book I will read: The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney by: Lauren Barnholt. Sincerely, Shianne Salazar