This week I read Peace like a River and loved it! It definitely wasn’t what I was anticipating, but it was good. A sick boy, his miracle worker dad, and his imaginative younger sister go on a journey to find their older brother.
One night two boys broke into Reuben’s family’s house with baseball bats, but Davy, Reuben’s older brother, shot and killed them. Davey went on the run after breaking out of prison the night before his sentencing. The family went looking for him the next spring and landed up boarding with a widow. While they were there, Mr. Land didn’t have any miracles, but Reuben found Davey who was staying with a man in the woods. It killed Reuben not to tell his sister or dad, but he knew he shouldn't. The family, excluding Davy, went back home to continue with their lives. One night Davy drove up with the girl who was living with Davy and Jape. It came out that they had run away from Jape while stopping on the highway. When morning came it was time for Davy to leave because he was still on the run. Davy went to start the car and Jape shot at him from his hiding spot near the barn, but missed and got Mr. Land in the side. The second shot hit Reuben in his lungs. Mr. Land should have lived and Reuben died, but he switched places and died in Reuben’s place.
I think that Davy instigated the two boys into breaking into the house so that they wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore.
When I see Roxanna I see this big motherly figure that was never blessed with kids, who just needs an outlet. She is caring and gentle when you get to know her...and seems to me the type who makes really good chocolate chip cookies, as it is she makes cinnamon buns.
Reuben feels pure gratitude and sadness at his fathers’ passing; he gave his last miracle to Reuben.
If Davy had been found at the cabin, I don’t think Mr. Land and Roxanna would have gotten married, I also don’t think Reuben’s lungs would have survived the grief.
My favorite part was at the end when Mr. Land gave his life for Reuben because it was written so imaginatively and powerfully.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Taming the Star Runner #2
This week I finished reading Taming the Star Runner. The first two thirds were really good, but I was completely disappointed in the end, it just dropped off.
When I read about the horse show, I saw Casey’s fierce side while she was jumping. When the Star Runner died, I saw her sensitive side. The most important part, in my opinion, was when Travis found out how he was judged for how he dressed, both from the publisher and from the girls at the show. The message through out this story is no matter how you are stereotyped; you can change, or know that you aren’t the person they think you are. During the horse show Travis and Casey unofficially started dating. She got first in both speed and style runs, and he took care of the horses. Casey was determined to jump, even though Travis told her not to because of her broken ribs.
When I read about the horse show, I saw Casey’s fierce side while she was jumping. When the Star Runner died, I saw her sensitive side. The most important part, in my opinion, was when Travis found out how he was judged for how he dressed, both from the publisher and from the girls at the show. The message through out this story is no matter how you are stereotyped; you can change, or know that you aren’t the person they think you are. During the horse show Travis and Casey unofficially started dating. She got first in both speed and style runs, and he took care of the horses. Casey was determined to jump, even though Travis told her not to because of her broken ribs.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Blog Post #2 Taming the Star Runner.
So this past week I started Wuthering Heights. So far it is pretty boring, and I am in the mood for a bit of a faster read, so I started Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton. I read her first book The Outsiders three years ago and really enjoyed it.
Now that Travis knows he likes Casey, I think he will ask her out and/or try to like horses. Upon this happening, I think his friends in the city will start to tease him because he used to be the most popular kid in the school and now has no friends. He also used to spend all his time with his guy friends and cars, not girls and horses.
I think Travis is going to try to like horses to gain Casey’s’ attention, and, ultimately, affection. In the end there will be a major decision to be made by Travis. He is already starting to like life on the ranch, but he misses the city, so he will have to decide which he wants more. In the city is abusive, if now partially brain damaged, Stan, and at the ranch is annoying and clingy Christopher.
When Travis let Jennifer approach him instead of the other way around, I think it was because he doesn’t know her or know a lot about girls. Travis feels like a loner and an outcast because in the city he fit right in, but here everyone is smaller town style and he hasn’t found any friends. This makes me wonder how small this town actually is. It is just small compared to the city, or is it actually really small?
I pictured Casey as a girl in my class, not only because of the resemblance in names, but also the minimal descriptions given are similar. This book doesn’t give much description on the ranch, but in the meantime I have been picturing it quite the same as I pictured the farm in the book series Heartland. I see Travis waling with a bit of a city strut, although now that he is getting less and less arrogant, I see it going away. I see him wearing jeans (not baggy) and tight t-shirts. I could also see him wearing a leather jacket from time to time. He has light brown hair, a nicely toned body, and moderately tall.
The author included the section when Kristen broke her leg to show the connection between Casey and Travis, or at least to start the connection. It gave us a glimpse of what might happen.
I can’t exactly remember where I have heard of stuff like this, but they are pretty common story lines, this is just a combination of them. A kid doesn’t like the step parent and gets sent away; kid almost accidentally kills someone and gets sent away; kid moves in with uncle; oddly matched crushes; comparison between city and country life, etc.
Travis kind of reminds me of my friend Taylor, just in his attitude and his looks, not his actions. Casey reminds me of a girl in my class for most of her looks, as I have mentioned, but also of my cousin Carrie in the way she loves and has a way with horses, are both short, and also have an air of authority.
If Travis hadn’t smoked, then he wouldn’t have had the smokes in his hand when he went into the barn. Kirsten wouldn’t have rode past him and stolen them, he wouldn’t have chased her, her horse wouldn’t have slipped in the mud, she wouldn’t have broken her leg, and Travis wouldn’t find out that he is falling in love with Casey.
Now that Travis knows he likes Casey, I think he will ask her out and/or try to like horses. Upon this happening, I think his friends in the city will start to tease him because he used to be the most popular kid in the school and now has no friends. He also used to spend all his time with his guy friends and cars, not girls and horses.
I think Travis is going to try to like horses to gain Casey’s’ attention, and, ultimately, affection. In the end there will be a major decision to be made by Travis. He is already starting to like life on the ranch, but he misses the city, so he will have to decide which he wants more. In the city is abusive, if now partially brain damaged, Stan, and at the ranch is annoying and clingy Christopher.
When Travis let Jennifer approach him instead of the other way around, I think it was because he doesn’t know her or know a lot about girls. Travis feels like a loner and an outcast because in the city he fit right in, but here everyone is smaller town style and he hasn’t found any friends. This makes me wonder how small this town actually is. It is just small compared to the city, or is it actually really small?
I pictured Casey as a girl in my class, not only because of the resemblance in names, but also the minimal descriptions given are similar. This book doesn’t give much description on the ranch, but in the meantime I have been picturing it quite the same as I pictured the farm in the book series Heartland. I see Travis waling with a bit of a city strut, although now that he is getting less and less arrogant, I see it going away. I see him wearing jeans (not baggy) and tight t-shirts. I could also see him wearing a leather jacket from time to time. He has light brown hair, a nicely toned body, and moderately tall.
The author included the section when Kristen broke her leg to show the connection between Casey and Travis, or at least to start the connection. It gave us a glimpse of what might happen.
I can’t exactly remember where I have heard of stuff like this, but they are pretty common story lines, this is just a combination of them. A kid doesn’t like the step parent and gets sent away; kid almost accidentally kills someone and gets sent away; kid moves in with uncle; oddly matched crushes; comparison between city and country life, etc.
Travis kind of reminds me of my friend Taylor, just in his attitude and his looks, not his actions. Casey reminds me of a girl in my class for most of her looks, as I have mentioned, but also of my cousin Carrie in the way she loves and has a way with horses, are both short, and also have an air of authority.
If Travis hadn’t smoked, then he wouldn’t have had the smokes in his hand when he went into the barn. Kirsten wouldn’t have rode past him and stolen them, he wouldn’t have chased her, her horse wouldn’t have slipped in the mud, she wouldn’t have broken her leg, and Travis wouldn’t find out that he is falling in love with Casey.
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