2nd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review
The Express: The Ernie Davis Story by Robert C. Gallagher. Random House, Ink., New York, NY Genre: Biography
Ernie Davis was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy in college football. He played high school football in Elmira, New York and went on to Syracuse University to win a national championship in 1959. Davis was the number one pick in the 1962 NFL draft and he signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns. Davis never got to play in the NFL because he was diagnosed with leukemia the summer before his rookie season.
As a sophomore Ernie Davis led his team to an undefeated season and a national championship in 1959, he earned his nickname the Elmira Express. Davis broke the rushing yards at Syracuse University. He showed great dignity and courage, and he inspired the nation.
In this book Ernie Davis has obstacles on and off the field. There were a lot of racist comments on the field and off. The comments stopped when he inspired the nation. He dealt with prejudice and leukemia and he still showed dignity and courage. This reminds me of the book Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado because the people have to overcome obstacles.
“Winning the Heisman Trophy,” he said, “is something you just dream about. You never think it could happen to you. Naturally I always wanted to win, but I never thought I would.” (93).
I really enjoyed reading this book. Ernie Davis was an outstanding football player and he showed courage throughout his life. Most importantly Ernie Davis was an example of a decent person. The author attended Syracuse University which made his choosing to write the Ernie Davis story that much more interesting.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Book Review Miracle in the Andes
Jake Hebert
Mr. B-G
Block: E
First Quarter Outside Reading Book Reviw
Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado. Crown Publishers New York, 2006. Genre: Non Fiction
Miracle in the Andes was written by one of the rugby members who survived the plane crash into the Andes Mountains. The Old Christians Rugby Club was traveling from Montevideo to Santiago, Chile to play an expedition match against a top Chilean squad. There were forty-five people aboard the plane. They were scheduled to fly nonstop to Santiago, a three and a half hour flight but a few hours into the trip there was bad weather and the plane had to land in Mendoza. They had to stay the night and the next day they left at 2:18 p.m. They were in the air for a while then things went bad. Everything happened so fast, there was a noise that was metal grinding and then Nando saw sky above him. He was torn form his seat with incredible force and was thrown forward into darkness and silence. For the next 72 days he fought to stay alive and to live to tell his story.
“Miracle in the Andes is an astonishing account of an unimaginable ordeal. In straightforward, staggeringly honest prose, Nando Parrado tells us what it took—and what it actually felt like—to survive high in the Andes for 72 days after having been given up for dead. If you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down.” —Jon Krakauer, author of Under the Banner of Heaven, Into Thin Air, and Into the Wild
Nando was thrown forward from the incredible force into the darkness and silence. Nando was in a coma and unconscious for three days until he woke up to his teammate crouching beside him, pressing a ball of snow against his lips. They were stranded in the Andes, he was freezing, and his head was throbbing with pain and his skull was in pieces. There were twenty-nine survivors. When I was reading Miracle in the Andes I compared it to the book Robinson Crusoe because both books deal with an exceptional challenge facing the main characters. The men had a problem and needed to persevere and refuse to give up. They ran into obstacles and overcame the harsh elements.
Roberto was nearing the end of his strength. My strength was fading, too. Painful cramps had seized my legs, making every step an agony, and my breathing was too rapid and shallow. I knew we were walking ourselves to death, but I couldn’t make myself stop. Time was running out for us, and the weaker I grew, the more frantic I became to keep moving. My pain, my body, didn’t matter anymore; it was just a vehicle now. I would burn myself to ashes if that was what it took to get home. (211)
I am not an avid reader. Usually I read because I have to, not because I enjoy reading. That said, I was actually compelled to read Miracle in the Andes. The author, Nando Parrado, wrote in a straightforward style. With every situation and challenge I could picture the scene of the survivors and their struggle to get through one more day. Although some died over the 72 days, what was really inspiring was that 15 people survived because of their courage, faith, and determination.
Mr. B-G
Block: E
First Quarter Outside Reading Book Reviw
Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado. Crown Publishers New York, 2006. Genre: Non Fiction
Miracle in the Andes was written by one of the rugby members who survived the plane crash into the Andes Mountains. The Old Christians Rugby Club was traveling from Montevideo to Santiago, Chile to play an expedition match against a top Chilean squad. There were forty-five people aboard the plane. They were scheduled to fly nonstop to Santiago, a three and a half hour flight but a few hours into the trip there was bad weather and the plane had to land in Mendoza. They had to stay the night and the next day they left at 2:18 p.m. They were in the air for a while then things went bad. Everything happened so fast, there was a noise that was metal grinding and then Nando saw sky above him. He was torn form his seat with incredible force and was thrown forward into darkness and silence. For the next 72 days he fought to stay alive and to live to tell his story.
“Miracle in the Andes is an astonishing account of an unimaginable ordeal. In straightforward, staggeringly honest prose, Nando Parrado tells us what it took—and what it actually felt like—to survive high in the Andes for 72 days after having been given up for dead. If you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down.” —Jon Krakauer, author of Under the Banner of Heaven, Into Thin Air, and Into the Wild
Nando was thrown forward from the incredible force into the darkness and silence. Nando was in a coma and unconscious for three days until he woke up to his teammate crouching beside him, pressing a ball of snow against his lips. They were stranded in the Andes, he was freezing, and his head was throbbing with pain and his skull was in pieces. There were twenty-nine survivors. When I was reading Miracle in the Andes I compared it to the book Robinson Crusoe because both books deal with an exceptional challenge facing the main characters. The men had a problem and needed to persevere and refuse to give up. They ran into obstacles and overcame the harsh elements.
Roberto was nearing the end of his strength. My strength was fading, too. Painful cramps had seized my legs, making every step an agony, and my breathing was too rapid and shallow. I knew we were walking ourselves to death, but I couldn’t make myself stop. Time was running out for us, and the weaker I grew, the more frantic I became to keep moving. My pain, my body, didn’t matter anymore; it was just a vehicle now. I would burn myself to ashes if that was what it took to get home. (211)
I am not an avid reader. Usually I read because I have to, not because I enjoy reading. That said, I was actually compelled to read Miracle in the Andes. The author, Nando Parrado, wrote in a straightforward style. With every situation and challenge I could picture the scene of the survivors and their struggle to get through one more day. Although some died over the 72 days, what was really inspiring was that 15 people survived because of their courage, faith, and determination.
The things Valuable in Life
Jake Hebert
Mr. B-G
English
Block: E
The things Valuable in Life
Are you one of those people who buy the newest and most expensive technology out? Or a person who gets a new cell phone, car, or ipod every month? Everyone likes to buy the expensive things and have the latest technology. But people have forgotten what is really valuable to them or a moment that is great but priceless. I value my cell phone that has a price tag and I value a day at Okemo and that is a priceless moment.
I wake up to my alarm clock going off and the clock says it's 6:15, October 18th. It’s still dark outside but there are lights on in my house. I'm still tired but I have a good reason to get out of my bed. It's Thursday morning, and I have school. But today isn't just a regular day, it's my birthday! By the end of today I will be a teenager I thought. Instead of mopping around like a normal morning I jumped out of my bed. I grabbed my towel and ran down the stairs. My older brother Max was in the kitchen with my mom who was making breakfast. They both said happy birthday to me in a joyful voice. I said thanks happily and excited.
As I walked to the bathroom to take my shower I wonder what my parents got me for my birthday present. I wondered if I was going to get what I asked for. I imagined that I got a cell phone, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up for anything. So when I was standing in the bathroom and day dreaming I forgot that I was suppose to be getting ready for school. I snapped out of it and hopped in the shower to clean myself. Next, when I was done with my shower I put on some nice clothes, a collared shirt and jeans, and went to the kitchen and sat down to eat my breakfast that my mom made. Chocolate chip pancakes, my favorite, with strawberries and a glass of Simply orange juice. As I was eating my dad and little sister CC came down the stairs and they both said happy birthday. I had too much food in my mouth to reply, so I nodded to them. Once I was done with my breakfast and my sister was finished we both walked down our hill to the bus stop.
It was a cold morning at the bus stop. My friend Kevin was just coming down the street to go to the bus stop. He yelled happy birthday Jake very load. I laughed and said thanks Kevin. Sean, another friend of mine, and Maddie were waiting at the bus stop also. They both said happy birthday and I thanked them. As we waited for the bus together they asked me what I wanted and what I thought I was going to get. I just said I’m not sure and said that I really wanted a cell phone. My friend Sean’s birthday was a couple weeks ago and he got his first cell phone, he was very excited that he got what he wanted. When I got to school a lot of people knew it was my birthday and everyone I knew wished me a happy birthday. School and my classes went by slow and I was ready to leave and go home. It was dismissal finally, I got on my bus to go home. I was happy that I was out of school and I was in a great mood not just from my birthday but also I didn’t have any homework. I was in the 7th grade at the time and the teachers didn’t give too much work.
Finally I was done waiting. My family and I had a great dinner, my mom made tacos with a salad. When we finished eating it was time for my present. My mom left the dinner table and went and got a small, rapped, rectangular gift. She brought it over to me and I took the ribbon off of the small gift. I tore the rapping paper off and the first thing I saw was Verizon Wireless. I got a cell phone! I was so excited to get my first cell phone. I got what I wanted. We finished my birthday with a wonderful dessert of cake and ice cream. I went to bed that night happy and had a great gift from my family that I value a lot.
Its 2:24 p.m., I’m in math class, my last class of the day. I’m waiting for the announcement to go off for dismissal. All 8th graders please leave for your buses. I’m so excited to have the weekend off. Each weekend in the winter my family and I go up to Ludlow Vermont, Okemo Mountain. It’s the ski resort that my family owns a house on. On Fridays we go up to our house or our friends condo their and have a fun and exciting weekend. We pack our car and set off for the two and a half hour drive to Vermont. It’s worth it once your up in Ludlow and on the mountain. For this weekend’s weather at Okemo the weather man said that theirs going to by great skiing conditions for the mountains in Vermont with snow during Friday night, throw Saturday and including Saturday night. Everyone is excited to snowboard and ski in a foot of powder.
When we get in Ludlow the town is quiet. There are a couple of stores open and some street lights on. You can see the snow falling. Ludlow is a small town but very nice. It has a lot of country stores like a bakery and deli and it also has great restaurants, some cheap and some high class. It’s got your gas station and your grocery store. It was beginning to snow harder and harder as the night went on. This weekend my dad, mom, I, and my sister went up together with another family, the Senicles, that we are good friends with. They have two kids, a girl and a boy. Ones my sister’s age, Taylor and the other one, Tyler is younger. We stayed at their Condo which was very nice.
We didn’t talk a lot that night because the parents were very tired and they wanted to get some sleep because if there is a foot of snow on the trails then we are getting first tracks which means were getting up very early. Where we slept there were two bunk beds, the parents got their own rooms. Before we all went to bed we checked the weather, the forecast for tonight and tomorrow was snow. Everyone was excited for a long and fun day tomorrow but we needed to get some rest. We all went to bed and fell asleep fast because we were tired from the long ride here.
I woke up to the smell of breakfast. It was 6:00 a.m. The moms cooked bacon, eggs, ham, pancakes, and French toast with fresh fruit and orange and cranberry juice. The breakfast everyone needed to have for a long day. There was a foot of snow outside and on the mountain! The lifts open at 7:00 a.m. and our goal was to be the first in line at that time. As we ate our breakfast we imagined snowboarding and skiing with such good conditions. Once we finished our delicious breakfast we got on our gear as fast as we could so we could get first tracks. When I was done putting my gear on I stepped outside, there was snow everywhere, and it was still snowing! I struggled to walk to the trail because there was so much snow, the snow was up to my knees. The snow was past Tyler’s knees. I had to carry his skis so he could make it through the snow. That day we had a blast on the mountain, we had so much fun we didn’t even come into the Condo for lunch. The conditions were epic!
There are things in life that you value and there are things in life that you don’t value. I value both my cell phone that cost money and a snowy day at Okemo Mountain that is priceless. They both are things that put a smile on my face. I use my phone a lot, I usually bring it wherever I go. A day at Okemo with our family and friends is like a day in paradise. We have had so much fun with each other. My cell phone and my day at Okemo are alike. They both are fun and there things I enjoy. If I had to pick my cell phone or a day up in Vermont I would have to pick a day in Vermont because I can’t explain how much fun it is. It’s a “priceless” moment. My cell phone was an important gift and I use my cell phone all the time, to talk to my friends, to make plans, or just to text for phone but snowboarding and skiing in powder is amazing and fun.
Mr. B-G
English
Block: E
The things Valuable in Life
Are you one of those people who buy the newest and most expensive technology out? Or a person who gets a new cell phone, car, or ipod every month? Everyone likes to buy the expensive things and have the latest technology. But people have forgotten what is really valuable to them or a moment that is great but priceless. I value my cell phone that has a price tag and I value a day at Okemo and that is a priceless moment.
I wake up to my alarm clock going off and the clock says it's 6:15, October 18th. It’s still dark outside but there are lights on in my house. I'm still tired but I have a good reason to get out of my bed. It's Thursday morning, and I have school. But today isn't just a regular day, it's my birthday! By the end of today I will be a teenager I thought. Instead of mopping around like a normal morning I jumped out of my bed. I grabbed my towel and ran down the stairs. My older brother Max was in the kitchen with my mom who was making breakfast. They both said happy birthday to me in a joyful voice. I said thanks happily and excited.
As I walked to the bathroom to take my shower I wonder what my parents got me for my birthday present. I wondered if I was going to get what I asked for. I imagined that I got a cell phone, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up for anything. So when I was standing in the bathroom and day dreaming I forgot that I was suppose to be getting ready for school. I snapped out of it and hopped in the shower to clean myself. Next, when I was done with my shower I put on some nice clothes, a collared shirt and jeans, and went to the kitchen and sat down to eat my breakfast that my mom made. Chocolate chip pancakes, my favorite, with strawberries and a glass of Simply orange juice. As I was eating my dad and little sister CC came down the stairs and they both said happy birthday. I had too much food in my mouth to reply, so I nodded to them. Once I was done with my breakfast and my sister was finished we both walked down our hill to the bus stop.
It was a cold morning at the bus stop. My friend Kevin was just coming down the street to go to the bus stop. He yelled happy birthday Jake very load. I laughed and said thanks Kevin. Sean, another friend of mine, and Maddie were waiting at the bus stop also. They both said happy birthday and I thanked them. As we waited for the bus together they asked me what I wanted and what I thought I was going to get. I just said I’m not sure and said that I really wanted a cell phone. My friend Sean’s birthday was a couple weeks ago and he got his first cell phone, he was very excited that he got what he wanted. When I got to school a lot of people knew it was my birthday and everyone I knew wished me a happy birthday. School and my classes went by slow and I was ready to leave and go home. It was dismissal finally, I got on my bus to go home. I was happy that I was out of school and I was in a great mood not just from my birthday but also I didn’t have any homework. I was in the 7th grade at the time and the teachers didn’t give too much work.
Finally I was done waiting. My family and I had a great dinner, my mom made tacos with a salad. When we finished eating it was time for my present. My mom left the dinner table and went and got a small, rapped, rectangular gift. She brought it over to me and I took the ribbon off of the small gift. I tore the rapping paper off and the first thing I saw was Verizon Wireless. I got a cell phone! I was so excited to get my first cell phone. I got what I wanted. We finished my birthday with a wonderful dessert of cake and ice cream. I went to bed that night happy and had a great gift from my family that I value a lot.
Its 2:24 p.m., I’m in math class, my last class of the day. I’m waiting for the announcement to go off for dismissal. All 8th graders please leave for your buses. I’m so excited to have the weekend off. Each weekend in the winter my family and I go up to Ludlow Vermont, Okemo Mountain. It’s the ski resort that my family owns a house on. On Fridays we go up to our house or our friends condo their and have a fun and exciting weekend. We pack our car and set off for the two and a half hour drive to Vermont. It’s worth it once your up in Ludlow and on the mountain. For this weekend’s weather at Okemo the weather man said that theirs going to by great skiing conditions for the mountains in Vermont with snow during Friday night, throw Saturday and including Saturday night. Everyone is excited to snowboard and ski in a foot of powder.
When we get in Ludlow the town is quiet. There are a couple of stores open and some street lights on. You can see the snow falling. Ludlow is a small town but very nice. It has a lot of country stores like a bakery and deli and it also has great restaurants, some cheap and some high class. It’s got your gas station and your grocery store. It was beginning to snow harder and harder as the night went on. This weekend my dad, mom, I, and my sister went up together with another family, the Senicles, that we are good friends with. They have two kids, a girl and a boy. Ones my sister’s age, Taylor and the other one, Tyler is younger. We stayed at their Condo which was very nice.
We didn’t talk a lot that night because the parents were very tired and they wanted to get some sleep because if there is a foot of snow on the trails then we are getting first tracks which means were getting up very early. Where we slept there were two bunk beds, the parents got their own rooms. Before we all went to bed we checked the weather, the forecast for tonight and tomorrow was snow. Everyone was excited for a long and fun day tomorrow but we needed to get some rest. We all went to bed and fell asleep fast because we were tired from the long ride here.
I woke up to the smell of breakfast. It was 6:00 a.m. The moms cooked bacon, eggs, ham, pancakes, and French toast with fresh fruit and orange and cranberry juice. The breakfast everyone needed to have for a long day. There was a foot of snow outside and on the mountain! The lifts open at 7:00 a.m. and our goal was to be the first in line at that time. As we ate our breakfast we imagined snowboarding and skiing with such good conditions. Once we finished our delicious breakfast we got on our gear as fast as we could so we could get first tracks. When I was done putting my gear on I stepped outside, there was snow everywhere, and it was still snowing! I struggled to walk to the trail because there was so much snow, the snow was up to my knees. The snow was past Tyler’s knees. I had to carry his skis so he could make it through the snow. That day we had a blast on the mountain, we had so much fun we didn’t even come into the Condo for lunch. The conditions were epic!
There are things in life that you value and there are things in life that you don’t value. I value both my cell phone that cost money and a snowy day at Okemo Mountain that is priceless. They both are things that put a smile on my face. I use my phone a lot, I usually bring it wherever I go. A day at Okemo with our family and friends is like a day in paradise. We have had so much fun with each other. My cell phone and my day at Okemo are alike. They both are fun and there things I enjoy. If I had to pick my cell phone or a day up in Vermont I would have to pick a day in Vermont because I can’t explain how much fun it is. It’s a “priceless” moment. My cell phone was an important gift and I use my cell phone all the time, to talk to my friends, to make plans, or just to text for phone but snowboarding and skiing in powder is amazing and fun.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Late Night
The Contender Alfred
A Child Called "It" David
Setting: Alfred and David's Town
It’s around 11:00 PM on a Friday and Alfred is hanging around with his best friend James outside Epstein’s grocery store. “Hey Alfred, how do you like working here?”
“It’s alright, I sweep and clean up.”
While they keep talking a boy runs around the corner and trips right in front of them. He’s about 12 years old and has cuts and bruises on him. His shirt is ripped and he’s not wearing any shoes. He smells like body odor. Alfred and James both look at each other and then look at the young boy.
Alfred says, “Hey, why are you out so late?”
David says, “I snuck out of my house, I had to.”
“What do you mean you had to?”
David didn’t want to tell the boys about his Mother abusing him. Last time he told the Principle and the teachers about his Mom’s issues they gave her a call. He didn’t eat for 3 days.
“I just had to, okay?”
“Leave him alone James” Alfred said.
“I was just asking.”
The three boys talked for a little bit longer. It’s about 12:30 PM and it’s too late. The police would be out. They planned to see each other tomorrow and meet at Epstein’s. Alfred and James both walked home together. David had been thinking the whole time that he has to go back home sometime. He didn’t want to go back home to his Mom. She was a monster.
He went to Central Park for about a half an hour and then started to walk home. Luckily when he got home and walked in his house everyone was already asleep. He went down to the basement were he had to spend most of his time. The basement smelled bad. He slept on an old busted up couch. He had a room but he was kicked out and forced to sleep down there. He thought about what was going to happen tomorrow. He then went to bed.
It’s almost 8:00 AM and Alfred is getting up to take his morning run. He grabs a quick snack and a water bottle from the fridge. David wakes up from his Mom already yelling at his brothers not having their chores done. “David, get up!” He already knows he’s not getting breakfast today.
He walks up the stairs and opens the door, “David no breakfast this morning, that’s your punishment.” David didn’t say anything. Everyday he had to clean the dishes and take out the trash. If his Mom was in a really bad mood he would have to clean the bathrooms. After his Mom left David went to go meet up with Alfred. Alfred was done with his run and already waiting for David. They were in front of the Epstein’s store. “Hey David, how’s it going?” “Alright, I guess.” “That’s good, you want to go and get some breakfast?” “Yeah I do!” “Alright, let’s go.” Both the boys walked to a diner, where they talked about Alfred boxing and David’s Mom. They had a good time with each other and where going to be friends.
A Child Called "It" David
Setting: Alfred and David's Town
It’s around 11:00 PM on a Friday and Alfred is hanging around with his best friend James outside Epstein’s grocery store. “Hey Alfred, how do you like working here?”
“It’s alright, I sweep and clean up.”
While they keep talking a boy runs around the corner and trips right in front of them. He’s about 12 years old and has cuts and bruises on him. His shirt is ripped and he’s not wearing any shoes. He smells like body odor. Alfred and James both look at each other and then look at the young boy.
Alfred says, “Hey, why are you out so late?”
David says, “I snuck out of my house, I had to.”
“What do you mean you had to?”
David didn’t want to tell the boys about his Mother abusing him. Last time he told the Principle and the teachers about his Mom’s issues they gave her a call. He didn’t eat for 3 days.
“I just had to, okay?”
“Leave him alone James” Alfred said.
“I was just asking.”
The three boys talked for a little bit longer. It’s about 12:30 PM and it’s too late. The police would be out. They planned to see each other tomorrow and meet at Epstein’s. Alfred and James both walked home together. David had been thinking the whole time that he has to go back home sometime. He didn’t want to go back home to his Mom. She was a monster.
He went to Central Park for about a half an hour and then started to walk home. Luckily when he got home and walked in his house everyone was already asleep. He went down to the basement were he had to spend most of his time. The basement smelled bad. He slept on an old busted up couch. He had a room but he was kicked out and forced to sleep down there. He thought about what was going to happen tomorrow. He then went to bed.
It’s almost 8:00 AM and Alfred is getting up to take his morning run. He grabs a quick snack and a water bottle from the fridge. David wakes up from his Mom already yelling at his brothers not having their chores done. “David, get up!” He already knows he’s not getting breakfast today.
He walks up the stairs and opens the door, “David no breakfast this morning, that’s your punishment.” David didn’t say anything. Everyday he had to clean the dishes and take out the trash. If his Mom was in a really bad mood he would have to clean the bathrooms. After his Mom left David went to go meet up with Alfred. Alfred was done with his run and already waiting for David. They were in front of the Epstein’s store. “Hey David, how’s it going?” “Alright, I guess.” “That’s good, you want to go and get some breakfast?” “Yeah I do!” “Alright, let’s go.” Both the boys walked to a diner, where they talked about Alfred boxing and David’s Mom. They had a good time with each other and where going to be friends.
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