Stories of a 7th Grader

Sometimes, I really can not think of what to name something, whether it’s a graph or a story or a post. Never mind; anyway, I recently looked up the definition for ’science fiction.’

noun a form of fiction that draws imaginatively on scientific knowledge and speculation in its plot, setting, theme, etc. -dictionary,reference.com

When I think of sci fi I think of  ‘a long time ago in a galaxy far away. . .’, but there are also books that fit this definition that are about the not-so-bright future. Here are some examples:

*Among The Hidden series by Margaret Peterson Haddix-Luke is a Third Child, meaning he is the third kid in a family and therefore illegal because of the overflowing population. One day, when all the other people are at school or work,  Luke glances out the window and sees the face of another Third Child.

The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson-coming soon!

*Black, Red, White, and Green by Ted DekKer-coming soon!

*Uglies series by Scott Westerfield-Teens wait in anticipation for the day they turn sixteen–the day that they go under extreme surgery to become ‘pretties’. Tally’s friend, Shay, runs away because she does refuses to become pretty. Tally thinks this is crazy, but Shay had a point:Should she become pretty when the pretties seem so clueless and un-lifelike? That’s when the adults give Tally a choice: betray your friend or never become pretty.

The Giver by Lois Lowry-see my post on the Giver Review!

*with the asterisked series, I only gave the synopsis for the first books in the series.

I don’t enjoy all futuristic books (plus, I haven’t read all of these yet!) but some of the above caught my attention. The Giver was especially intriguing. Intriguing-that seems to have become one of my favorite words. .’Science fiction isn’t my most favorite genre, but I hope you find these books interesting!

Yes, this is an assignment. Yes, you are free to fall asleep. I would still like it if you read this, though. There are no spoiler alerts(never mind there are), but I reccommend that those who read this post should read The Giver in advance.

Jonas is twelve years old, living with his ‘mother,’ ‘father,’ and ’sister’. None of them are related by blood, but in Jonas’ community that is how the ‘families’ are divided. Even though Jonas has been with his parents for eleven years and his sister seven years, he has no real connection to them. Each life in the community is the same, but each life in the community is in a way isolated as well. When he recieves his Assignment, or job, Jonas is surprised to learn that he will be the next Giver.

The original Giver was an old man, who held all past memories before everything in Jonas’ world became the same. The Sameness was colorless, painless, and choiceless, and the Giver was the only one who knew true feelings. The course of the book spans over a year of time, and by the end Jonas has created a true bond with his mentor and friend. Since the Giver and Jonas were the only two with memories of joy and pain, they were the only two that could truly care. 

Even though the boy lived with his ‘family’ for most of his life, his relationship with them was shallow and could be destroyed without pain. It takes pain, hope, care, and love to have a true friend.

I’m pretty sure I did a Veteran’s Day post last year, but November 11 is a really special day to so many people. My grandfather is a veteran (and this is a literature assignment!), so I created another Wordle. I know I should probably say more but later. (hey I posted this on 11/11 at 11:11 am!)

Wordles are sort of like Piclits but it’s just all words. My language arts teacher made a post with this cool thing called a wordle, where a person can type a bunch of words in a text box and the words are combined in a unique way. Enjoy!

The picture is worth a thousand words

We only know so few

go to this website to see my poem because I don’t know how to put it in a post!

This is called a PicLit, or a Picture to inspire Literature. From piclits.com, my Lang. Arts teacher introduced it to us yesterday and I have written several already. It’s where hundreds of pictures inspire poetry or meaning or just plain fun.

October 31:Hallowe’en,  All Hallow’s eve, Night of the Great Pumpkin, whatever you call it, last night was Halloween! I don’t really ‘celebrate’ Oct.31 by going all crazy costumes or tricking treaters, but the candy is nice too. My favorite part of Halloween is watching ‘It’s the Great Pumkin, Charlie Brown!” It’s an old movie and I have seen it about ten times, but I love it anyway. Happy November!

Someday I want to make a book called InSpire where kids write poetry or stories to express themselves and what they think about the world, then bundle it all up together in one big novel and publish it, kind of like a wake up call saying, “Listen to what we say cause sometimes it has a meaning!” But anyway, today I got inspired and I wrote poems(please, if you don’t agree with me please tell me because I want to know)

Differences and Similarities–“Differences are just skin deep”

“When you turn out the light/Everyone looks the same.”

Then why do the black and white/Always have to fight?

Why do the rich and the poor/Hate one another even more?

Why are there so many cliques/Which with you have to stick

Even when what they’re doing is wrong?

Don’t try to act cliche/What is wrong with being different?

Originality’s a crime/Or at least in this world we live in;

Cause of race, fashion, gender/People walk by and stare

Why do so many people always have to care?

Get rid of super-glued groups/The Exclusion and the Sameness

You don’t need to be someone else/You don’t need to be famous

To stand out.

Numbers–Why does safety have to be in numbers?

Like the score/of a game/or the grade/on that test

Or the numbers/in your adress book?

Sometimes it’s nice/to be online/together with hundreds

Or thousands/or nine

Then why do people say ‘they’re all stalkers,’/don’t hang out with so many people

Isn’t that what they want you to do anyway?

Then there’s always that crowd/of maybe 4 or 5 or 6

That controls/all the other/numbers within it.

How is that ’safe’ if you feel trapped?

If 3 is a crowd/too much comany, I mean/then what about 2?

What do you do/if you are one of those 2?

If that one can deny you/or break your heart/or stab you in the back

Unfortunately, maybe even literally?

When they drop your hand like grains of sand?

Here’s a thought–what would you do when–or if–

You were the one

Who let go

Of

His

Hand?

On Friday I went on a 2day reatreat with my church that was all about peace. We rocked out in singing and played outside games like Bonkers, Sardines, and Apple Slingshot Dodgeball. Everyone gathered round the campfire and ended up playing board games till midnight. On the second day I also went hiking and tie-dyed. It was awesome and I feel totally refreshed!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera when most of the games were going on, but here are some pictures! (I am not the world’s greatest photographer. . .)

The bus we rode on

In the November of 2008, my teacher Mrs. Plantan introduced us sixth graders to Edublogs. Now I am a seventh grader (yes, I graduated),  and there are new sixth graders–as well as more Edublogs! My brother, David, is in Mrs. Plantan’s homeroom and I am advertising his blog. There are book reviews and info on  school life, and sidebar widgets. He currently only has one dot on his ClustrMap because it is so new so visit it if you can! (the other 6thgraders’ websites are awesome too.)

This is the title of a mini-book of satirical letters from kids to their grandmas. I don’t know if it would be at a library or at a bookstore, but I own it and I have read it so many times that I love it. Here are just some of the letters*

• Dear Nanny,

You are the best cook in the whole world. You are even a better cook than Mom but she still makes the best Kool Aid.

Love, Natalie W, age 9, Denver

• Dear Grandmother,

What should I call you?  Grandmother? Grandma? Grannie?

Love, Bobby C., Age 9, Las Vegas

P.S. I could call you Ms!

• Dear Grandma James,

I think you are to old to smoke.

I love you, Mary Lou P, Age 8, Brooklyn

• Dear Gran Lewis,

Do dogs have grandmothers?

Love, Elaine, Age 7, Montgomery

P.S. I hope so because everybody should have a grandmother.

• Dear Nanny,

I hope you live another 100 years. Even if it makes you the oldest grandmother in the world.

Best wishes, Karen P, Age 8, Winston Salem

*These are copywrighted and selected by Bill Adler and Bill Adler Books, inc.