•house
•garden
•kitchen
•room
•bed
•train
•wagon
•car
•america
•califonia
•rose garden
Thank you.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Summary
Have you ever wanted to read a dramatic book then you should read Gossamer.It is a drama from the first part.It is a drama scene from the middle.It is a drama scene from the last part.So if you like books that drama.Then you should read Gossamer.And for the new comers just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Gossamer is about a nine year old boy named John who was abused by his father and now lives in foster care with an older woman and her dog. The story follows Littlest, a young dream giver who is being trained to collect and give dreams in the home where John comes to stay. Littlest learns to care for John as she struggles to find happy memories to give him in dreams and protect him from the nightmares which can weaken and destroy him.And he loves to write.He also likes to talk.And to blog I think. just like me.
This book is fairly simple and would be a good one to use for younger middle school grades and struggling readers. Generally it is an easy, delightful, and fanciful book, but there are some serious references to child abuse and some disturbing images. This book is a great way to start a serious discussion on child abuse, but should be used with discretion.
Gossamer is about a nine year old boy named John who was abused by his father and now lives in foster care with an older woman and her dog. The story follows Littlest, a young dream giver who is being trained to collect and give dreams in the home where John comes to stay. Littlest learns to care for John as she struggles to find happy memories to give him in dreams and protect him from the nightmares which can weaken and destroy him.And he loves to write.He also likes to talk.And to blog I think. just like me.
This book is fairly simple and would be a good one to use for younger middle school grades and struggling readers. Generally it is an easy, delightful, and fanciful book, but there are some serious references to child abuse and some disturbing images. This book is a great way to start a serious discussion on child abuse, but should be used with discretion.
Characters
Littlest/Gossamer: Littlest is the name of the young dream-giver at the beginning of the book. She is quite carefree, and is curious about everything. She gains the name Gossamer for her gossamer touch.
John: John is the young boy that Littlest and Thin Elderly receive as their assignment. Ever since he was little, he had been abused by his father. His mother did not agree with it, but could not stand up for him because she would get beat or screamed at too. He is eight years old. He is resentful at first, but softens towards the end of the book.
John's Mother: John's mother is not explicitly named in the book. She had led a hard life with John and her husband, Duane. She was an intelligent woman, but was forbidden to participate in social and intellectual events by Duane. After her divorce, she becomes a secretary at John's school.
Mellissa: Toby's owner is Mellisa in the book. She is an old woman, being about sixty or seventy years old. She used to be a schoolteacher, but retired a while ago. She lives a happy life with her dog, Toby, and is sweet in every way. She had a sweetheart who died in a war that may be the First or Second World War.
Thin Elderly: Thin Elderly is the dream-giver that is Littlest/Gossamer's instructor. He is quite experienced, and patiently answers Littlest's questions without taking offence. He takes care in his dream-giving, and is quite happy with it.
Most Ancient: Most Ancient is the eldest dream-giver of Gossamer's Heap. Although he has a faltering memory, he is wise in many ways.
Strapping: Strapping is a young dream-giver from a different Heap than Gossamer's. He was careless in his dream-giving; however, after he was assigned to John's mother as punishment, he becomes more affectionate and caring.
Fastidious: Fastidious is another dream-giver of the Heap. She is extremely irritable and impatient. She was introduced as Littlest's mentor, but gave the task thereof to Thin Elderly. She is hinted to be quite old.
Littlest/Gossamer: Littlest is the name of the young dream-giver at the beginning of the book. She is quite carefree, and is curious about everything. She gains the name Gossamer for her gossamer touch.
John: John is the young boy that Littlest and Thin Elderly receive as their assignment. Ever since he was little, he had been abused by his father. His mother did not agree with it, but could not stand up for him because she would get beat or screamed at too. He is eight years old. He is resentful at first, but softens towards the end of the book.
John's Mother: John's mother is not explicitly named in the book. She had led a hard life with John and her husband, Duane. She was an intelligent woman, but was forbidden to participate in social and intellectual events by Duane. After her divorce, she becomes a secretary at John's school.
Mellissa: Toby's owner is Mellisa in the book. She is an old woman, being about sixty or seventy years old. She used to be a schoolteacher, but retired a while ago. She lives a happy life with her dog, Toby, and is sweet in every way. She had a sweetheart who died in a war that may be the First or Second World War.
Thin Elderly: Thin Elderly is the dream-giver that is Littlest/Gossamer's instructor. He is quite experienced, and patiently answers Littlest's questions without taking offence. He takes care in his dream-giving, and is quite happy with it.
Most Ancient: Most Ancient is the eldest dream-giver of Gossamer's Heap. Although he has a faltering memory, he is wise in many ways.
Strapping: Strapping is a young dream-giver from a different Heap than Gossamer's. He was careless in his dream-giving; however, after he was assigned to John's mother as punishment, he becomes more affectionate and caring.
Fastidious: Fastidious is another dream-giver of the Heap. She is extremely irritable and impatient. She was introduced as Littlest's mentor, but gave the task thereof to Thin Elderly. She is hinted to be quite old.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Plot
Esperanza Ortega is a young girl who grows up in Mexico in the 1920s on Rancho de las Rosas, a vineyard her family owns. The Mexican revolution
produced conditions of violence, uncertainty, and economic hardship in many regions of the country. Unemployment was high and times were difficult for many families. Mexico is still recovering from the revolution, and there is still a great deal of animosity towards rich landowners, who seem to be uncaring of the peasants.
The story opens, as Esperanza is anticipating the harvest of the grapes from their vineyard that always coincides with her birthday. At the end of the harvest, there is always a wonderful fiesta attended by the servants, vaqueros, campesinos, and many of the wealthy families in the area. The afternoon before the La cosecha, or the harvest ceremony, "Anza" cuts her finger on a rose thorn, while she is gathering roses for table decorations the next day. As she is thinking this is bad luck, the plot begins.
That evening her mother Abuelita, who is her grandmother, and Hortenisa, the faithful housekeeper, who has been with them for many years, are very concerned, because her father is late coming home from the fields. Finally, the ranch foreman and his son are sent to look for Papa. Before they arrive back home, two stepbrothers of her father, Tio Luis and Tio Marco, come to the house with Papa's silver belt buckle. It's a very bad sign. Later that night, the ranch foreman and his son return to the house with a wagon carrying the dead body of Papa.
Several days later a lawyer tells Esperanza and her mother that the ranch house and the grapes in the vineyard now belong to them, but, since women are not allowed to own property, the land belongs to the bank. The bank president happens to be Tio Luis, who is not liked, as he is a crooked businessman and has been unfriendly to the family. He is also an aspiring politician trying to gain credibility in the community.
Tio Luis offers to buy the house from Mama, but at an amount much lower than it is worth. When she turns him down, he has a second proposal, this one of marriage. She loathes the idea and tells him so, but he reminds her that he is now her landlord, and he can make it very difficult on her if she does not accept his offer of marriage.
The next night, the family wakes to find their house on fire. All is lost, including the grapevines and Papa's beloved rose garden. Tio Luis arrives the next day to repeat his proposal, and to say that more harm could come to them if she doesn't reconsider his offer of marriage.
To avoid the marriage, Mama and Esperanza go to the United Sates with their foreman, his wife (Hortensia), and their son (Miguel). There they must find work in the fields, and Esperanza finds it especially difficult as she has led a sheltered and spoiled life to this point. Their life in a work camp is very hard, and mama becomes ill and must spend several months in the hospital. In order to help her get well, Esperanza must earn money to bring Abuelita from Mexico to be with her. Mexican migrant workers were finding jobs in the United States that would pay them more money than they were able to make in Mexico's struggling economy. The American farm owners were happy to hire the Mexican workers because it was considerably cheaper to pay them than other American workers.
Her friend, Miguel, steals Esperanza's money and he disappears. Esperanza is very depressed at not being able to help her mother. Finally, Miguel returns with Abuelita after having gone to Mexico with Esperanza's money to bring Abuelita to California.
produced conditions of violence, uncertainty, and economic hardship in many regions of the country. Unemployment was high and times were difficult for many families. Mexico is still recovering from the revolution, and there is still a great deal of animosity towards rich landowners, who seem to be uncaring of the peasants.
The story opens, as Esperanza is anticipating the harvest of the grapes from their vineyard that always coincides with her birthday. At the end of the harvest, there is always a wonderful fiesta attended by the servants, vaqueros, campesinos, and many of the wealthy families in the area. The afternoon before the La cosecha, or the harvest ceremony, "Anza" cuts her finger on a rose thorn, while she is gathering roses for table decorations the next day. As she is thinking this is bad luck, the plot begins.
That evening her mother Abuelita, who is her grandmother, and Hortenisa, the faithful housekeeper, who has been with them for many years, are very concerned, because her father is late coming home from the fields. Finally, the ranch foreman and his son are sent to look for Papa. Before they arrive back home, two stepbrothers of her father, Tio Luis and Tio Marco, come to the house with Papa's silver belt buckle. It's a very bad sign. Later that night, the ranch foreman and his son return to the house with a wagon carrying the dead body of Papa.
Several days later a lawyer tells Esperanza and her mother that the ranch house and the grapes in the vineyard now belong to them, but, since women are not allowed to own property, the land belongs to the bank. The bank president happens to be Tio Luis, who is not liked, as he is a crooked businessman and has been unfriendly to the family. He is also an aspiring politician trying to gain credibility in the community.
Tio Luis offers to buy the house from Mama, but at an amount much lower than it is worth. When she turns him down, he has a second proposal, this one of marriage. She loathes the idea and tells him so, but he reminds her that he is now her landlord, and he can make it very difficult on her if she does not accept his offer of marriage.
The next night, the family wakes to find their house on fire. All is lost, including the grapevines and Papa's beloved rose garden. Tio Luis arrives the next day to repeat his proposal, and to say that more harm could come to them if she doesn't reconsider his offer of marriage.
To avoid the marriage, Mama and Esperanza go to the United Sates with their foreman, his wife (Hortensia), and their son (Miguel). There they must find work in the fields, and Esperanza finds it especially difficult as she has led a sheltered and spoiled life to this point. Their life in a work camp is very hard, and mama becomes ill and must spend several months in the hospital. In order to help her get well, Esperanza must earn money to bring Abuelita from Mexico to be with her. Mexican migrant workers were finding jobs in the United States that would pay them more money than they were able to make in Mexico's struggling economy. The American farm owners were happy to hire the Mexican workers because it was considerably cheaper to pay them than other American workers.
Her friend, Miguel, steals Esperanza's money and he disappears. Esperanza is very depressed at not being able to help her mother. Finally, Miguel returns with Abuelita after having gone to Mexico with Esperanza's money to bring Abuelita to California.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Characters
Jess Oliver Aarons Jr. - in the beginning of the novel, is habitually fearful, angry and depressed. He also has a crush on his music teacher, which plays an integral role in the final events of the story. After meeting, and then ultimately losing, Leslie, Jesse is transformed, in that he becomes brave and lets go of his anger and frustration.
Leslie Burke - An intelligent, talented, imaginative, outgoing girl. Her talents include gymnastics, creativity, swimming, writing, and running. Jesse Aarons thinks highly of her, and they are loyal friends. She is not socially accepted by the other students in Jesse's school, to which she is a newcomer.
Joyce Ann Aarons - Jess' bratty four-year-old sister. May Belle thinks Joyce Ann is "nothing but a baby."
May Belle Aarons - May Belle is one of Jesse's younger sisters. She is described as the only one of Jesse's siblings with whom he feels comfortable. However, because she is six years to Jesse's 10, she does not fit the mold of the ideal confidante to Jesse, leaving him still desperate for companionship. She clearly worships him from the beginning, and like him feels that she does not have a place in the family. She is the first of his sisters to learn about Terabithia, and becomes Queen after Leslie dies. She is the only one Jesse allows to enter his world and the only one who has any sort of thing for, or acceptance of, Jesse in his family.
Ellie & Brenda Aarons - Ellie and Brenda Aarons are Jesse's two older sisters. They
are selfish and are spoild.
Janice Avery - The school bully at Lark Creek. Janice is very overweight and tends to become very offended when people tease her for being so. She has a crush on Willard Hughes, which Jesse uses to trick her. Janice's father beats her, and she secretly smokes.
Miss Edmunds - The music teacher, who Jesse greatly admires. She invites Jesse to go to the Smithsonian Museum, which leads Leslie to go to Terabithia by herself. As a result, Leslie is alone when she falls from the rope and drowns.
Prince Terrien - A puppy that Jesse gave Leslie as a Christmas present. He is the guardian and court jester of Terabithia.
Gary Fulcher - He and Jesse both hope to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade. Both are beaten at this by Leslie.
Scott Hoager- He is garry fultures friend and jesse enemy.He hopes to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade. Both are beaten at this by Leslie.
Mrs. Myers - Jesse and Leslie's teacher, who is given the nickname "Monster Mouth Myers." She thinks highly of Leslie.
Jesse Parents- They both work and they can not aford to pay bills.
Thay do not pay attention to jess.
Leslie's Parents - Novelists who come to the story's location for purposes of their work. Unlike most of the locals, they do not watch television.
Leslie Burke - An intelligent, talented, imaginative, outgoing girl. Her talents include gymnastics, creativity, swimming, writing, and running. Jesse Aarons thinks highly of her, and they are loyal friends. She is not socially accepted by the other students in Jesse's school, to which she is a newcomer.
Joyce Ann Aarons - Jess' bratty four-year-old sister. May Belle thinks Joyce Ann is "nothing but a baby."
May Belle Aarons - May Belle is one of Jesse's younger sisters. She is described as the only one of Jesse's siblings with whom he feels comfortable. However, because she is six years to Jesse's 10, she does not fit the mold of the ideal confidante to Jesse, leaving him still desperate for companionship. She clearly worships him from the beginning, and like him feels that she does not have a place in the family. She is the first of his sisters to learn about Terabithia, and becomes Queen after Leslie dies. She is the only one Jesse allows to enter his world and the only one who has any sort of thing for, or acceptance of, Jesse in his family.
Ellie & Brenda Aarons - Ellie and Brenda Aarons are Jesse's two older sisters. They
are selfish and are spoild.
Janice Avery - The school bully at Lark Creek. Janice is very overweight and tends to become very offended when people tease her for being so. She has a crush on Willard Hughes, which Jesse uses to trick her. Janice's father beats her, and she secretly smokes.
Miss Edmunds - The music teacher, who Jesse greatly admires. She invites Jesse to go to the Smithsonian Museum, which leads Leslie to go to Terabithia by herself. As a result, Leslie is alone when she falls from the rope and drowns.
Prince Terrien - A puppy that Jesse gave Leslie as a Christmas present. He is the guardian and court jester of Terabithia.
Gary Fulcher - He and Jesse both hope to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade. Both are beaten at this by Leslie.
Scott Hoager- He is garry fultures friend and jesse enemy.He hopes to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade. Both are beaten at this by Leslie.
Mrs. Myers - Jesse and Leslie's teacher, who is given the nickname "Monster Mouth Myers." She thinks highly of Leslie.
Jesse Parents- They both work and they can not aford to pay bills.
Thay do not pay attention to jess.
Leslie's Parents - Novelists who come to the story's location for purposes of their work. Unlike most of the locals, they do not watch television.
Bridge To Terabithia Plot
Jesse Aarons, the only boy in a family of five children, lives in rural southwest Virginia. His mother favors his sisters Brenda, Ellie, May Belle, and Joyce Ann, while his father works in Washington D.C. and therefore spends little time with his children. May Belle, the second youngest sister, adores and admires Jesse. Leslie Burke is an only child who moves from Arlington, Virginia, to the same area as Jesse. Her parents, both writers, are rich.
Jess and Leslie soon become close friends. Jess shares his secret love of drawing with Leslie, and Leslie shares with Jess her love of fantasy stories. With this new friendship, the two children create an imaginary kingdom in the woods near their homes, only by a rope swing over a creek. They name the kingdom Terabithia and make themselves King and Queen, and they spend every day after school there. In Terabithia, they are able to face their real-world fears, such as that of the eighth grade bully Janice Avery.
Leslie gives Jess a drawing pad and a set of colors as a Christmas present, and Jess gives Leslie a dog who she names Prince Terrien, or "P.T. for short. They consider P.T. to be the protector, Prince of Terabithia and due to his puppyish looks.
Jesse has a crush on his young music teacher, Miss Edmunds. The problem occurs when Jesse joins Miss Edmunds to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and Leslie goes to Terabithia alone. The rope breaks as she is swinging over the rain-swollen creek. Though a good swimmer, Leslie falls into the creek and drowns. Jesse can overcome his grief only with the strength and courage that his friendship with Leslie had given him.
He attempts to deal with his grief by going back to Terabithia alone to make a memorial for Leslie. During his ceremony, he hears a cry for help and finds May Belle caught in the midst of a fallen tree that she had been trying to use as a bridge across the creek. He helps her out of danger and rescues her.
Leslie's grief-stricken parents decide later to leave the area. As Mr. and Mrs. Burke are leaving, Jesse asks to take some of their wooden planks by their shed. They say he may have anything left in the house; thus permitted, he goes down to Terabithia to build a bridge. After he finishes the bridge, he takes May Belle over it and makes her the new Queen of Terabithia. He realizes that while no one could ever replace Leslie, Terabithia must have a Queen and Leslie would agree.[6]
Jess and Leslie soon become close friends. Jess shares his secret love of drawing with Leslie, and Leslie shares with Jess her love of fantasy stories. With this new friendship, the two children create an imaginary kingdom in the woods near their homes, only by a rope swing over a creek. They name the kingdom Terabithia and make themselves King and Queen, and they spend every day after school there. In Terabithia, they are able to face their real-world fears, such as that of the eighth grade bully Janice Avery.
Leslie gives Jess a drawing pad and a set of colors as a Christmas present, and Jess gives Leslie a dog who she names Prince Terrien, or "P.T. for short. They consider P.T. to be the protector, Prince of Terabithia and due to his puppyish looks.
Jesse has a crush on his young music teacher, Miss Edmunds. The problem occurs when Jesse joins Miss Edmunds to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and Leslie goes to Terabithia alone. The rope breaks as she is swinging over the rain-swollen creek. Though a good swimmer, Leslie falls into the creek and drowns. Jesse can overcome his grief only with the strength and courage that his friendship with Leslie had given him.
He attempts to deal with his grief by going back to Terabithia alone to make a memorial for Leslie. During his ceremony, he hears a cry for help and finds May Belle caught in the midst of a fallen tree that she had been trying to use as a bridge across the creek. He helps her out of danger and rescues her.
Leslie's grief-stricken parents decide later to leave the area. As Mr. and Mrs. Burke are leaving, Jesse asks to take some of their wooden planks by their shed. They say he may have anything left in the house; thus permitted, he goes down to Terabithia to build a bridge. After he finishes the bridge, he takes May Belle over it and makes her the new Queen of Terabithia. He realizes that while no one could ever replace Leslie, Terabithia must have a Queen and Leslie would agree.[6]
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