Monster's story is a fairly common one. A kid, Steve Harmon, is in prison for holding up a gas station and killing the clerk, Mr. Nesbit. He claims not to have done it. As evidence stacks against he and the other perpetrator, whose name I do not recall, it seems like more and more that he was involved but, the other perpetrator actually killed Mr. Nesbit.
So how was the book?
Very, very good.
Let's go over the bad parts first:
The plot was similar to many other books.
The dialogue sometimes came across as unrealistic.
Supporting characters could have been developed a bit more.
Now, the good parts!
I really enjoyed the screenplay format.
Steve's narrative was heartfelt and interesting, you really cared about him.
Even though you liked and cared about Steve, it kept you on your toes, in terms of knowing if he was or wasn't guilty.
The courtroom scenes felt real and intense.
Steve was relatable.
You could really feel O'Brien's doubt.
You never knew the juries verdict until it came.
The mystery was top notch, it was very suspenseful.
I think that anyone who likes a mystery would really enjoy this book. My grandma really likes mysteries and I would recommend this to her. I think she would enjoy it because the mystery in the story keeps you wondering if Steve will be found guilty. Also it is very heartfelt and who doesn't enjoy a heartfelt book. She also really enjoys reading books that aren't in the classic format, and this book is written as a screenplay!!
Overall: 9/10: While not perfect, Monster is a must read.
+ Screenplay format
+ Steve is a great character
+ Mystery is great, suspenseful.
- Unoriginal plot
- Secondary characters felt tacked on and
needed more development
+ Pro
- Con
Monday, April 8, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Theme of Chains
Finally, my last assigned post on Chains!! Unfortunately, it's about theme. Ugh.
I think the theme of Chains is 'be strong.' I say this because Isabel went through so many hardships and walked out with her head (sometimes hung low) intact. She lost her sister because of Mrs. Lockton, and yet she carried on. True she retaliated and got branded because of the retaliation, she still carried on. She never gave up, she kept on fighting. This goes for the time she carried Lady Seymour out of the fire, too. She could have been weak and just saved herself but, she was strong and she saved both herself and Lady Seymour, starting a friendship (as friendly as a owner and slave can be with one another, I guess. Slavery must come with some resentment) with her. Any other hardship in the book Isabel faced, wether physical, like when she got locked in a wooden barrel which she overcame by literally being strong and kicking out of it, or an emotional hardship, like losing Ruth's bear, which she overcame by focusing on other things and not looking back on it.
As you can see, Isabel is a very strong character and that is the theme, most definitely.
Until Next Week/Day/Few Days,
PJ
*Coming Next* A review of an overrated book called Chains. I'm not sure if you've heard of it.
I think the theme of Chains is 'be strong.' I say this because Isabel went through so many hardships and walked out with her head (sometimes hung low) intact. She lost her sister because of Mrs. Lockton, and yet she carried on. True she retaliated and got branded because of the retaliation, she still carried on. She never gave up, she kept on fighting. This goes for the time she carried Lady Seymour out of the fire, too. She could have been weak and just saved herself but, she was strong and she saved both herself and Lady Seymour, starting a friendship (as friendly as a owner and slave can be with one another, I guess. Slavery must come with some resentment) with her. Any other hardship in the book Isabel faced, wether physical, like when she got locked in a wooden barrel which she overcame by literally being strong and kicking out of it, or an emotional hardship, like losing Ruth's bear, which she overcame by focusing on other things and not looking back on it.
As you can see, Isabel is a very strong character and that is the theme, most definitely.
Until Next Week/Day/Few Days,
PJ
*Coming Next* A review of an overrated book called Chains. I'm not sure if you've heard of it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Favorite Character in Chains!
This one is easy. Really easy.
Wanna know who it is?
Curzon.
*Plot Twist!*
So, originally I thought I was going to say Isabel, or Ruth, or... Someone that wasn't Curzon. But, I picked Curzon because well, he's interesting.
He fights for liberty that he'll never get, but because freedom and justice are important to him. He is a determined character. Even when soldiers put him down for his race, position, well… just race, he gets his act together and takes it, so he can taste the sweet taste of freedom, so he can hear the the sounds of liberty, so he can smell the sweet air of justice for all! (NOTE: My poetry book hits store shelves on the 21st of Nevertober)
So, a physical description, well, he's a slave... WAS a slave, he is a soldier, he got caught by the British, and then he got sick in the prison. Now you see why I'm not a poet.
Why would I like to know him?
For one, he is determined and whenever I am around determined people it makes me work harder to do what I love... and to do schoolwork. I really enjoy being around determined people and I feel that if you were around Curzon you'd be inspired to work harder and be determined to get what you want like how Curzon is determined to be greater than what he is and to be a freeman and to be in a country and world where there is freedom and justice for all, where all men are created equal and a slave is worth 1/8 of a free man. Wait, that last part wasn't right...
The other reason why I'd personally like to know Curzon is I am a dreamer who does things even when people say I suck or I can't do it and Curzon does this although for him it is about liberty and stopping injustice. I feel that me and Curzon would help one another dream and be more than we are.
See you later,
PJ.
P.S. Did you like the comedic tone or was it not appropriate? Please comment below.
Wanna know who it is?
Curzon.
*Plot Twist!*
So, originally I thought I was going to say Isabel, or Ruth, or... Someone that wasn't Curzon. But, I picked Curzon because well, he's interesting.
He fights for liberty that he'll never get, but because freedom and justice are important to him. He is a determined character. Even when soldiers put him down for his race, position, well… just race, he gets his act together and takes it, so he can taste the sweet taste of freedom, so he can hear the the sounds of liberty, so he can smell the sweet air of justice for all! (NOTE: My poetry book hits store shelves on the 21st of Nevertober)
So, a physical description, well, he's a slave... WAS a slave, he is a soldier, he got caught by the British, and then he got sick in the prison. Now you see why I'm not a poet.
Why would I like to know him?
For one, he is determined and whenever I am around determined people it makes me work harder to do what I love... and to do schoolwork. I really enjoy being around determined people and I feel that if you were around Curzon you'd be inspired to work harder and be determined to get what you want like how Curzon is determined to be greater than what he is and to be a freeman and to be in a country and world where there is freedom and justice for all, where all men are created equal and a slave is worth 1/8 of a free man. Wait, that last part wasn't right...
The other reason why I'd personally like to know Curzon is I am a dreamer who does things even when people say I suck or I can't do it and Curzon does this although for him it is about liberty and stopping injustice. I feel that me and Curzon would help one another dream and be more than we are.
See you later,
PJ.
P.S. Did you like the comedic tone or was it not appropriate? Please comment below.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
My Favorite Character
Ugh, you ask the hardest questions. I love so many characters how can I choose just one? I have to pick James Adams, main character of the original CHERUB series. When you have 12 books to evolve with a character, you have no other choice than to like him.
He changed many times throughout the books, both physically and mentally. At the beginning of the first book, we met James Adams, regular jock. Physically, he evolved to become fit and stronger through CHERUB training. Mentally, he dealt with the loss of his mom, home, and everything he knew. Throughout the series, he became more likable until, he cheated on his longtime girlfriend, Kerry. I cannot tell you how much I hated him. And the worst part? He NEVER said sorry until he and the girl he cheated on her with were broken up. I hated him for those 3/4 books. But, slowly he became mature until by the 12th book, Shadow Wave (which I am currently reading) he is faithful to Kerry (who got back together with him) and he discovers Kerry is his one true love and tells her he wants to move to America with her but, she dismisses that and him, putting him in a depressed state, which he will go on the mission with. It is the main point of the book that James really wants to be with Kerry forever, different than his old cheating self. I relate to James because we both aspire to do great things, we are slackers in school (sorry Mrs. Lipman), and we both care about friends and family and will do what it takes to keep those people safe.
Thanks for Reading,
PJinSchool
*This choice was between James, Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), and more... much more.
He changed many times throughout the books, both physically and mentally. At the beginning of the first book, we met James Adams, regular jock. Physically, he evolved to become fit and stronger through CHERUB training. Mentally, he dealt with the loss of his mom, home, and everything he knew. Throughout the series, he became more likable until, he cheated on his longtime girlfriend, Kerry. I cannot tell you how much I hated him. And the worst part? He NEVER said sorry until he and the girl he cheated on her with were broken up. I hated him for those 3/4 books. But, slowly he became mature until by the 12th book, Shadow Wave (which I am currently reading) he is faithful to Kerry (who got back together with him) and he discovers Kerry is his one true love and tells her he wants to move to America with her but, she dismisses that and him, putting him in a depressed state, which he will go on the mission with. It is the main point of the book that James really wants to be with Kerry forever, different than his old cheating self. I relate to James because we both aspire to do great things, we are slackers in school (sorry Mrs. Lipman), and we both care about friends and family and will do what it takes to keep those people safe.
Thanks for Reading,
PJinSchool
*This choice was between James, Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), and more... much more.
Monday, March 4, 2013
First Assignment!
Well, this wouldn't post until I tried it on my computer yesterday, where it shut off before I posted it. Fortunately I was smart enough to save then, and check this morning...
So without further adieu, here is my first assignment!
I think my favorite book is Alex Rider: Stormbreaker. It is by no means the best book I have ever read, in any sense. But it is the first ever book that got me into reading a lot, so I am ever grateful to it.
My favorite genres are fantasy, Sci-Fi and action/adventure. I like reading about what probably won't happen (or definitely won't happen) to me. I like that because I read it without feeling like this could happen to me and it transports me to another world so I can read about them, not me.
The book I am reading right now is Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore, the final CHERUB book. I am not too far into it. Anyway, it starts with James revealing to his girlfriend that he wants to move to America with her. She isn't so sure, and James becomes sad. Then we start to follow Kyle, James' best friend, who is training recruits in Malaysia. A huge tsunami hits, undetected by radar. Kyle saves a bunch of natives, who are forced out of their homes by the government, causing Kyle to become angry and he and his native friend try to figure out what to do. The native friend thinks war is the answer but Kyle goes with a more peaceful approach. He calls a charity who was made for this sort of event called Guilt Trips. He has the head go down to Malaysia to meet with Kyle's native friend. He once again preaches his war-like ambitions, which Guilt Trips leader quickly dismisses. The native calls Kyle and informs him of Guilt Trips plan, which Has Kyle sending a letter to newspapers, which incidentally is where the head of Guilt. Trips works.
So without further adieu, here is my first assignment!
I think my favorite book is Alex Rider: Stormbreaker. It is by no means the best book I have ever read, in any sense. But it is the first ever book that got me into reading a lot, so I am ever grateful to it.
My favorite genres are fantasy, Sci-Fi and action/adventure. I like reading about what probably won't happen (or definitely won't happen) to me. I like that because I read it without feeling like this could happen to me and it transports me to another world so I can read about them, not me.
The book I am reading right now is Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore, the final CHERUB book. I am not too far into it. Anyway, it starts with James revealing to his girlfriend that he wants to move to America with her. She isn't so sure, and James becomes sad. Then we start to follow Kyle, James' best friend, who is training recruits in Malaysia. A huge tsunami hits, undetected by radar. Kyle saves a bunch of natives, who are forced out of their homes by the government, causing Kyle to become angry and he and his native friend try to figure out what to do. The native friend thinks war is the answer but Kyle goes with a more peaceful approach. He calls a charity who was made for this sort of event called Guilt Trips. He has the head go down to Malaysia to meet with Kyle's native friend. He once again preaches his war-like ambitions, which Guilt Trips leader quickly dismisses. The native calls Kyle and informs him of Guilt Trips plan, which Has Kyle sending a letter to newspapers, which incidentally is where the head of Guilt. Trips works.
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