headermask image

header image

Independent Memoir Books - Comment Here!

October 19, 2008 – 10:32 pm

DIRECTIONS: Click on the “Independent Memoir Books” post by clicking on the headline at the top of the instruction message. Follow the steps listed below when posting:

1)   At the bottom of the page, you’ll see an area labeled: Leave a Reply. Fill in the following boxes:

a)   Where it says name, place your first initial, the first three letters of your last name, and your class period. i.e. TSor1
b)   Where it says email, enter your school email address. If you’re not sure, we’ll look it up together. Do NOT use a personal email address.
c)   Leave the website address blank.

2)   Next, you’ll see the main box where you will type your comment. Your comment must contain the following items:

a)   In the first lines of your post, make sure to list the book title and author.
b)   In no more that 5 sentences, give a summary of what the book is about. Make sure to label the paragraph as “Summary” so it is clear.
c)   Answer at least THREE (3) of the following questions about your book. Make sure to label clearly which questions you are answering. Your response to each question should be a separate paragraph averaging 6 to 10 sentences in length. (NOTE: During our initial posts on our summer reading, many of you ignored the 6-10 sentence requirement. This should NOT be an issue this time as you will NEED to include direct textual evidence [i.e. quotes] for each response! Make sure to include the page number at the end of each quote used in your response!) 

Non-Fiction Book Questions

1.   What important facts about your character did you learn from this novel? Write about at least two (2) facts in your response. Use details from the novel to explain why these facts are important.

2.   Pick out a snapshot or a thoughtshot that you think is important. Quote that moment in the story and explain why it’s important. NOTE: It’s importance should relate to either the lesson learned or the “ah-ha” moment.

3.   Write one fact and one opinion from your novel. Explain why they are important to the author’s story, and how you can tell the difference between the fact and opinion. NOTE: Their importance should relate to either the lesson learned or the “ah-ha” moment.

4.   If the main character of your novel were standing in front of you, what would you like to ask him/her? Use information/text support from the novel to support your question, and write at least a paragraph.

5.   Which part of the memoir was most interesting or surprising? Use information from the novel to support your opinion.

6.   Imagine you were going to give a talk about your memoir to the class. Pick one lesson you think the main character was trying to get across. Explain how the reader learned this by focusing on the “ah-ha” moment and use textual evidence to support your claim.

7.   Make a connection between the memoir and you! Have you learned a similar lesson? Have you gone through a similar experience? Use text support to explain how you connect/relate to the events or experiences in the memoir. Don’t forget to talk about your own experiences that relate! Don’t simply say, “I did that too!” Explain!

Mr. S. | Memoir, General Instructions | Comments (15)

Summer Reading - Fantasy/Mythology

September 11, 2008 – 11:16 pm

Pulled from the Summer Reading Review page, the following comments were posted by students about fantasy & mythology novels. The posts are in no particular order and provide a look at a variety of novels within the genre.  

 

Gates of Fire, a mythology novel by Steven Pressfield, Reviewer: SMul8
SummarySpartan scribe, Xeones, recounts the story of his life starting from when he was a poor farmer boy whose city was sacked to when he became a scribe for one of the 300 Spartans who fought in the Battle of Thermopylae. He focuses on Spartan culture and mythology leading up to the battle.
2. How does the main character change over the course of the novel?
Over the course of the story, Xeones is a farmer boy, a hunting nomad, a slave, and finally a battle scribe. Not only did his physical appearance change, but what he thought and how he lived his life changed. When he was a farmer boy, Xeones lived in relaxed comfort, not fearing anything happening to his family besides maybe a drought or bad storm. However, after his city was sacked, Xeones lived a life of fear, barely scraping by through the years. Then he became, willingly, a slave of Lakedaemon (

Sparta). He stayed loyal, even after bearing humiliation and pain from the hands of another slave. Then he became what he always wanted to be, a battle scribe. From this position he was honorable and valiant beyond belief. 

6. How did the main characters beliefs guide his actions?
Xeones beliefs affected his decisions enormously. It is a guiding force that made all of his decisions. Xeones believed that the Spartans were good, and so he gave his life to them. He was their slave, their scribe, their warrior. His belief in

Sparta changed every decision he made, from what to eat to whether to fight. 

 

Battle of the Labyrinth, A fantasy by Rick Riordan, Reviewer: DPhi1 

SummaryThe main character in this book, Percy Jackson, and his friends* have enemies, Luke, the titan Lord Kronos and their army. Luke, Kronos and co. are trying to attack Percy’s camp via a magical labyrinth where you can travel from Maine to

Texas in seconds. Percy and co. try to stop them by finding Daedalus, the creator of the labyrinth, so he can destroy the labyrinth and stop Luke’s attack. The labyrinth is destroyed eventually, but not before Luke was able to get through. Fortunately, Percy and co. were able to fend them off.
*They are all half blood, half mortal, half god.  

4. What type of person do you think the main character is? Come up with at least two labels to describe their identity. The main character, Percy, can be described as brave. He adventured into a dark and scary labyrinth filled with monsters just to save a camp. Nobody I know would care that much for their summer camp. I also believe that Percy is rash and stupid for what he did. If he valued his life, he probably would have stayed home. He even left his friends behind on one part of the adventure because he thought it was too dangerous for them. But then again, most really brave decisions in life are also rash and stupid.  

6. How did the main character’s beliefs guide his/her actions? Percy’s beliefs influenced his decisions because his belief was that his camp was the greatest thing to happen to him since his mom. This belief drove him to do anything to save his camp. Riordan described this camp as a paradise for such a character. Another belief that influenced his decisions was that he had to stop Kronos from taking over camp and

Olympus. In one part of the story, this belief influences him to go into a cave with Kronos and Luke, his two worst enemies in it. He had to stop them to save camp and

Olympus, and while he didn’t really do anything, at least he had a warning for his camp. 

 

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, a fantasy by R.L. LaFevers, Reviewer: JFul2
SummaryTheodosia’s parents are the curators at a museum in

London. She has the ability to see and feel the evil curses and black magic that are on the artifacts that her parents bring to the museum. When the Heart of Egypt goes missing Theodosia must use her special “powers” to save

Britain.
1. What important lesson(s) does the main character learn from this novel?Over the course of the book Theodosia learns that she has to do what’s best for the majority of mankind rather than just think of herself. When she discovers that she has to go to

Egypt to put the Heart of Egypt back in it’s rightful place, she thinks, “WHAT?! How can I do that? My mom just got back from

Egypt and there’s no way she’s going back so soon. And even if she does go back why would she ever let me go?” but once she thinks about it she realizes that if she doesn’t do this

Britain could be ruined.
6. How did the main character’s beliefs guide his/her actions?

Theodosia believes in using her special talents to stop the evil Egyptian magic and curses. In the book Theodosia and The Serpents of Chaos she knows that if she’s going to use her talents for the better she has to do whatever it takes. Even if it means being a stow-away on a ship traveling to Egypt, then sneaking around historical places in Egypt, and then… almost getting killed while trying to save Britain. If she didn’t believe that she had to use her talents for good then

Britain would have died.

Mr. S. | Mythology, Fantasy, Initial Comments, Summer Reading | Comments (18)

Summer Reading - Mystery Books

September 11, 2008 – 11:14 pm

Pulled from the Summer Reading Review page, the following comments were posted by students about mystery novels. The posts are in no particular order and provide a look at a variety of novels within the genre.  

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by

Trenton Lee Stewart, Reviewer: KVas2 

Summary
Reynie, George “Sticky”, Kate, and Constance, take a series of tests and meet Mr. Benedict, a good man who is trying to stop his evil brother Mr. Curtain form taking over the world. At The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (L.I.V.E.), Mr. Curtain created a machine called the Wisper which could be used to brainwash the world.  

1. What specific lesson does the main character learn from this novel?
An orphan named Reynie learns in this story that he had a family throughout the book without even realizing it. He and his friends were looking for acceptance into a group or family. This lead them to consider betraying their friends in order to be cared about. Mr. Curtain tried to control the world and offered Reynie and Sticky a place to belong if they joined his forces of evil. Although the offer was appealing, they denied. They realized that they already had a family, each other.  

5. Which character from the novel would you like to be friends with and why?
If I could choose any character from the novel to be my friend it would be Kate. Kate is intelligent and an exceptional gymnast. She is an orphan who spent her childhood in the circus flipping on the trapeze. She enjoys gymnastics and would make a great friend because we could practice flips and kart wheels together. She is also intelligent and could think of plenty of interesting things that we could do together. A day with her would never be boring. I would pick Kate to be my friend out of any character in the novel. 

 

The

London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd, Reviewer: KKos2 

SummaryThe story is about when The Spark’s cousin Salim and his mom (Aunt Gloria), that they have never met, comes to visit them in London on their way to move to

New York. Salim wants to go on the London Eye so while him, and his cousins Kat, and Ted are in line a strange man comes up to them and offers Salim a ticket. Kat and Ted let him go on alone and track his pod until it comes down, but Salim wasn’t in it. While everyone is going wild looking for Salim, Kat and Ted go on their own search to find their lost cousin. 

5. Which character from the novel would you like to be friends with and why?I would most like to be friends with Kat. She is a very adventurous person, and very persistent. Kat is most certainly not a boring person. While she was helping try to find Salim she always went out and explored. She went and got pictures developed, searched for a man out of a picture, and many other things. Kat is an extremely courageous person and I think would make a wonderful friend. I could always have a good time with Kat, she would never be down or boring.6. How did the main character’s beliefs guide his/her actions?The main character, Ted, has a disease that makes him think like a computer. No one listens to Ted and his theories. But he keeps with it and tries to find out what happened to Salim. Ted is more of a thinker, rather than a doer, but even when Kat (his sister) tells him to stay away, he knows he can help and follows his beliefs. Because of his disease, people might think he has no clue what he is doing, but he keeps trying. In the end, Ted is an extremely good help in this mystery, and no one could do without him. 

 

Kiki Strike: Inside the

Shadow City, by Kirsten Miller, Reviewer: AApa1 

Summary
This book tells the tale of the Irregulars, an unusual group of girls with their own unique talents, lead by the mysterious Kiki Strike. When the girls discover abandoned tunnels underneath

New York City, at first they use their knowledge to fight crime and help Kiki with her strange agenda. However, when the girls begin to suspect that their leader is up to no good, they have to decide whether or not to trust Kiki. 

1. What specific lesson does the main character learn from this novel?
Ananka learns an important lesson from the beginning to the end of the novel, and it all starts with Kiki Strike. When Kiki disappears toward the middle of the book, the Irregulars believe her to be a thief, con artist, and maybe even an assassin. However, the girls do not have the whole story, just the word of a suspiciously fake-looking FBI agent. And when Kiki doesn’t return, over time Ananka begins to believe the strange man. In reality, Kiki isn’t really a dangerous ninja, she isn’t wanted by the FBI, and she isn’t plotting to kill one of Ananka’s classmates. Kiki was just trying to make friends, and when she reveals this, Ananka has no choice to accept that she has to find out the whole story before she begins jumping to conclusions, an very important lesson. 

5. Which character from the novel would you like to be friends with and why?There are a few reasons why I would most like to be friends with Ananka Fishbien. First of all, Ananka is the main character of Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow city. She is also probably the nicest and most grounded of the Irregulars. While the other girls can sometimes be silly or stubborn, Ananka is always the one trying to calm them down and keep the peace. I believe that these are important qualities to have in a friend, and that Ananka’s level-headedness would balance my dramatics. Another reason why I would love to be friends with Ananka is because of her library. I love to read, and Ananka’s house is filled to the brim with books on every subject that you could possible imagine. Ananka is the perfect friend- she has a great personality, a huge heart and a library to match. 

 

Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator, by Jennifer Allison, KHer7
Summary
Thirteen year old Gilda Joyce is determined to become the best psychic investigator there is. So when she gets the chance to visit her relatives in

San Francisco who live in a spooky mansion she can not turn it down. Her and her cousin, Juliet, work together to solve the mystery of their dead aunt who had committed suicide at this haunted house where Juliet lives.

5. Which character from the novel would you like to be friends with and why?I think the character from the novel I would want to be friends with the most is Gilda because every day she wants to do an investigation or an adventure. And I hate being bored and have nothing to do just like her. She doesn’t care what people think and loves being unique in her own way. For example on the streets of San Francisco she dressed up in a boa, pink wig, high heels, a rainbow shirt, a mini skirt with flowers, and star shaped sunglasses. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with showing who you really are. And what’s better than showing it in your favorite outfit! 

6. How did the main character’s beliefs guide his/her actions? The main character, Gilda, is a psychic investigator in the making. And when she goes to this spooky, haunted mansion her beliefs of reaching the after world are set off in the making. Once she hears footsteps on the other side of her wall in the haunted tower, right away she tries to figure out what is going on. No matter who tries to stop her, she always finishes her investigations with all the information she wanted to know since the beginning. She never gives up.

Mr. S. | Mystery Books, Initial Comments, Summer Reading | Comments (16)

Summer Reading - Non-Fiction

September 11, 2008 – 10:43 pm

Pulled from the Summer Reading Review page, the following comments were posted by students about non-fiction novels. The posts are in no particular order and provide a look at a variety of novels within the genre.  

 

Shark Girl, a biography by Kelly Bingham, Reviewer: VBud8 

Summary
This book is about a teenage girl getting her arm bitten off by a shark. It tells how Jane, her family, and her friends deal and get passed this tragedy. 

5. Which part of the novel was most interesting or surprising? The most surprising part of this novel was when Jane was getting attacked by the shark. The reason why this part was so surprising was because her brother jumped right in after her. I was surprised because the one and only person to make an effort to save her and make the shark stop, was her brother. Everyone else just watched and stared not knowing what to do. But on the other hand her brother didn’t think about what was best for him, but what was best for his sister.
7. Why do you think the author chose to write about this topic? I think the author chose to write about this topic because even though have body parts amputated is rare, it does happen. I think the author wanted to show kids who are going through a similar problem, that in the end everything will work out. During the first few months you will wish things have happened differently. But with help from your family, friends, or even people who have heard your story, you will get through it. I think the author feels that Jane’s story is inspiring and should be shared with everyone. 

 

From Baghdad, With Love, a memoir by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, Reviewer: PDur8 

Summary
This book is about a marine who finds a stray puppy left to die during the invasion of

Fallujah, Iraq. The marine tries to save the puppy from a life of starvation and disease, and with the help of his fellow marines “Lava Dogs” he keeps the puppy a secret. After 4 months of emails and sneaking the puppy to different parts of Iraq and Baghdad the puppy is snuck onto a plane leaving to the

US carrying trained dogs. It took the help of many soldiers and

Iraq citizens to save the pups life. 

4. If the main character of your novel were standing in front of you, what would you like to ask him/her? If the main character (Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman) was standing in front of me at this very moment I would most likely ask him how the he couldn’t give up. I would ask this because when your thousands of miles away from home dirty, tired of having bullets and suicide bombers come at you, all at the same time being home sick, how can you not give up on such a small puppy? 

5. Which part of the novel was most interesting or surprising? The part about this novel that was so surprising to me was that in such a hostile environment how a small puppy can give you something to care for. I don’t see how you can come back from ridding in an armored humvee down the most dangerous highway in the world and still have a little love for a puppy that is small enough to fit in your boot and loud enough to attract some attention from another marine who can turn that puppy in only to be shot. That is what truly was most surprising to me about this novel. 

 

Tasting the Sky, a memoir by Ibtisam Barakat, Reviewer: RMor1 

SummaryA young Palestinian girl is caught up in the six days war. She faces hardships like living as a refugee in a house with twenty other families, living with Israeli soldiers firing outside her house so she was traped inside, going to an orphanage while her parents where still alive, and going to a school in a refugee city. 

3. Write one fact and one opinion from your novel. Explain why they are important.
One fact from my novel is that the Israeli army invaded the

West Bank. This is important because it had a huge affect on countless people’s lives. Many people were kicked out of their homes and made to live as refugees. Many people’s houses were destroyed, and many people’s parents were killed. This was all brought about when Israel decided to invade and bomb

West Bank. An opinion from my book is that it was scarry living in the orphanage in

Jericho. This is important, because it was the reason the children were taken back home. It also made the boys behave better than at the orphanage they had been at before. But it is an opinion, not a fact.

 

7. Why do you think the author chose to write about this topic?
The author of this book is the main character, and she had obviously had alot of conflict in her life. From the way she wrote she wrote, she seemed to want to make you pity the Palestinians and all the problems they are and were facing during her childhood there. She also probably felt it was an important topic for people to know about, because it had affected so many peoples lives.

Mr. S. | Non-Fiction, Initial Comments, Summer Reading | Comments (9)

Summer Reading - Historical Fiction

September 11, 2008 – 10:29 pm

Pulled from the Summer Reading Review page, the following comments were posted by students about historical fiction novels. The posts are in no particular order and provide a look at a variety of novels within the genre.  

 

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, Reviewer: CMas7 

SummaryIn this book the main character, Liesel Meminger is a young girl living in Nazi Germany with her foster parents. This book tells of the girl’s struggles with the way that the Nazi’s affected her friends, her parents and herself. It tells of her fascination of books, from her stealing her first one right after her brothers death, of her learning to read, and of her adventures the books tock her, whether through her imagination or physically. This particular book is narrated by “Death” and his twisted black humor adds a little to the story and makes this feel as though you are right next to her until the very end. All in all, this book is mind-bending; a thrilling privileged experience to read and it will captivate you again and again. 

4. What type of person do you think the main character is? Come up with at least two labels to describe their identity. Liesel is a very strong individual in my opinion. She is confident in who she is, she does not take no for an answer, she deals with her everyday problems better then I would if I were in her position! She is also very stubborn in some ways. She will never give up on her answers or opinion even if they might be wrong. She sticks with what she says even if no one is following her. She shows no sign of weakness and refuses to talk about how she feels to anyone (except for you of course). So if I could Label her I would say that she is Strong and Stubborn, but she sticks up for what is right.
5. Which character from the novel would you like to be friends with and why?If I could be friends with one character in the story I would definitely be friends with Liesel’s best friend Rudy. Rudy always finds the good or the fun in everything he does, for example, when he finds out that Liesel is stealing books, the first thing he says he wants to do is to help her steal the next one. He has a very funny sense of humor and he is very much like me. I think that he would be a very entertaining person to be friends with.
Conclusion: This book will dominate all your thoughts long after you put it down. 

 

Summer of the War, by Gloria Whelan, Reviewer: CWat7 

SummaryA 12 year old girl named Mirabelle has been going to her grandparent’s cottage every summer in

Michigan with her brother and 2 sisters. This summer is a big change though because Mirabelle’s cousin Carrie is coming from

England to the cottage, because her dad is fighting in WW11 and her mom passed away. Having Carrie around the family makes everything change because Carrie has never met Mirabelle, and right from the start things get rough. When Carrie first meets the family they see her as some stuck of rich girl that doesn’t know how to have fun. With Carrie here and her dad back home fighting some things get dramatic and that is when everyone really finds out who Carrie is. 

2. How does the main character change over the course of the novel?The main character Mirabelle changes from being a perfect girl that listens to her grandparents every time to realizing who her cousin Carrie really is. This is only happens because of Carrie. The summer with everyone is supposed to be relaxing and fun. But Carrie is just making it very stressful because of all of her whining and not listening to her grandparents, makes Mirabelle’s brother think that he doesn’t have to practice the flute. All the kids in the family practice the flute every day with there grandparents and Carrie not doing this just makes Mirabelle feel like Carrie is breaking the family apart from bonding time. Mirabelle is changing because now her cousin Carrie hangs out with the boy Mirabelle likes Ned. Without Mirabelle able to hang out with Ned she can’t let her stress out and Ned always keeps her happy. 

3. What would the main character of the novel do next if the novel were to continue? How do you know this?What will happen next is that Mirabelle and the rest of her siblings are going back home to see there parents. But they aren’t the only ones going back to Carrie with be with them too. If the book was to continue I no for a fact that Carrie will be living with Mirabelle because from the text when Carrie found out her dad died Mirabelle said that she should start getting use to Carrie. Even though Carrie and Mirabelle had conflicts with each other through the book I don’t think it will happen at home. I think this because Once Mirabelle actually understands Carries personality and Carrie does the same with Mirabelle. They will find connections about each other. This will make them friends and cousins. 

 

Stones in Water, by Donna Jo Napoli, Reviewer: PVoi1 

SummaryThis novel is about a young Italian boy, Roberto, his two friends, Memo and Samuele, and his older brother, Sergio who were kidnapped from a local movie theater and brought to work at a Nazi work camp. Roberto stays at the work camp to try to hide Samuele’s dangerous secret of being Jewish, but after he dies Roberto escapes to travel through the wilderness to reach his home in

Italy. Near the end of his journey, Roberto meets a Roamn soldier who to wants to escape the war. They work together to escape the war grounds to move back to

Italy to become partigianis. 

3. What would the main character of the novel do next if the novel were to continue? How do you know this?If there was a sequel created to Stones in Water, then the Roman soldier and Roberto would reach their home in

Italy where they would become partigianis. I know that Roberto would at least try his best to become a partigianis because in the end of Stones in Water, the Roman soldier tells Roberto about what they do and Roberto seemed convinced that he was going to be one. I also think that Roberto is inspired to become a partigianis because of how he saw the Jewish children being treated and starved at the small Jewish camp he saw. He snuck them food when he could, and seemed really touched and changed by the way they were treated. I also think that he would escape free because every time someone questioned the Roman soldier and the Italian boy, they put on a little play where the Roman soldier had captured the boy as a prisoner. In this way Roberto was able to stay with the soldier and continue their journey to freedom. 

4. What type of person do you think the main character is? Come up with at least two labels to describe their identity. I think Roberto is a sensitive and resourceful child. Roberto shows his sensitive side when he risks his life at the Nazi work camp to sneak the starving Jewish children some of his food. Roberto really seemed touched and changed when he saw the condition of the kids. He was close to starving himself, but he risked his life again to steal eggs to eat raw. He also showed his sensitive side for all the things he did to help hide Samuele’s dangerous secret of being Jewish. He woke up early so Samuele could pee before everyone else, changed his name for him, and kept all the boys’ hands off Samuele when he died. Also, Samuele shows his resourceful side when he travels through the wilderness to freedom. Some examples include when he ties himself to a tree so he doesn’t freeze on the ground, when he searches the villages for food, and when he uses the potato sacks for blankets. If someone wasn’t as resourceful as Roberto they would not have been able to make it through the journey to freedom. 

 

Diamonds in the Shadow, by Caroline B. Cooney, Reviewer: KMar2
SummaryThe Finches are an American family hosting the Amabos, a refugee family from

Africa. However, Jared Finch starts to suspect the Amabos aren’t really who they say they are. Jared soon discovers a villain from

Africa is chasing the Amabos to get his illegal blood diamonds back. 

2. How does the main character change over the course of the novel?Over the course of the novel, Jared Finch, the main character, makes notable changes. In the beginning of the book, Jared Finch refuses to share his bedroom with the African refugee boy who his family is hosting. Though, he knows his decision is not right, Jared decides this because he put himself first, and in some views, was selfish. As the story, progresses he starts to give up things such as clothes for Mattu, the African boy. Jared begins to put others first, such as these Arricans. For, example, Jared risks his life when a villain comes to help the Amabos. Jared Finch makes a great change throughout the story. 

3. What would the main character of the novel do next if the novel were to continue? How do you know this?If Diamonds in the Shadow were to continue, I can definitely predict what Jared Finch would do. After the Amabos moved out of the Finches house, Jared would continue top help them out. I am sure he would make weekly trips to their new apartment. Jared would support the family by teaching Mattu and Alake English. When Jared is not with the Amabos, he would take the lessons Mattu and the Amabos taught him and use them. For example, instead of studying, he might join the soccer team again. Jared Finch definitely learned a lot from the amabos and will use it all. 

 

Shanghai Shadows, by Luis Ruby, EGre1 

Summary
Ilse is an Austrian Jew whose family fled Hitler’s wrath and went to the only place that would take them without a visa,

Shanghai. Soon they discover that life in Japanese-occupied China is not easy by any accounts, and certainly not the blessed life they led in

Austria. Ilse feels she must do something to stop the hated Japanese so she joins REACT, an American Underground Society dedicated to harming the Japs, but what can one little girl do? 

2. How does the main character change over the course of the novel?
The main character of the novel changes through out the story by learning to stand on her two feet. When she was in

Austria, she was pampered and even baby-ed by her parents and teachers. Now, in

Shanghai, she must learn to cope without anyone to guide her and build street smarts in order to not get harmed by the many beggars living on the street. She also has to earn money, which she never did before to keep her family from starving. She has so much to accomplish while forever being oppressed by the Japanese. 

6. How did the main character’s beliefs guide his/her actions?
Ilse’s belief guides her actions because she believes that the Japanese are not being fair to the Americans, Jews, and other refugees in

Shanghai. In order to stop this, she joins the local chapter of a group called REACT which is an American-run Underground Society where she has projects to do in order to bring down the Japanese one step and a time. Some include breaking the toilets in a Japanese stronghold by disguising herself as a mailman and going from house to house ahead of the Japanese raids to tell everyone to hide their radios.

Mr. S. | Historical Fiction, Initial Comments, Summer Reading | Comments (9)