"Bat 6"

Anne 12-14-06

I am sooo mad at Shazam! She can't just try to kill someone just because they’re Japanese! Aki is totally harmless and had nothing to do with bombing Pearl Harbor. I think someone should explain to Shazam that just a few Japanese were in the war and the rest of them are just friendly, normal people. Shazam should try to talk to someone about Japanese and should try to control her anger! Aki had nothing to do with Pearl Harbor and she still had to live in a camp for seven years! If anyone should be knocked out it should be Shazam! After what Shazam did I am furious at her.

I like the way the author makes you feel really sorry for Shazam and then really mad at her. At first you feel sorry for her because of her clothes, and then you feel mad at her for threatening to quit the school if there are Japanese. It goes on like that through out the book. I think that is a cool form of writing. Sometimes you don't know whether to feel mad or sorry for Shazam, which is one of the reasons, she is such a mysterious character. I think she should tell more people about her problems. The author uses interesting writing techniques.

I think they should try to reschedule the Bat 6 game. All the girls have worked really hard for this and have waited all their lives for it. Some of the girls didn't even get to bat! Who cares if the original game was on May 28? The girls have worked too hard to give it up. One of the main reasons Aki's family moved back was so she could play in the game. The girls only get to play in Bat 6 once in their lives and they deserve to play.

I wonder what will happen to everyone at the end of the book. Will Aki be okay? I hope she is. What will they do with Shazam? I think she should find someone that she could talk to and help her with her problems. Will they reschedule Bat 6? I hope they do, and what will everyone on the ball field do? All the adults should try to comfort the girls. I predict (and hope) that everything will turn out all right in the end of the story. I am very exited to finish the book.

"The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle"

Anne 1-8-07

I have a bad feeling about Captain Jagger. If he really didn't hurt Mr. Cranick, then why were all the sailors and men at the dock afraid of him? I don't think Charlotte should trust him. On the back of the book it said "...Charlotte found herself caught between the madness of a ruthless captain...” Charlotte might be in danger on this ship. If I were her I would start to listen to Zachariah and be more cautious. I had a funny feeling about him when Charlotte first met him but she isn't suspecting anything! I hope he doesn't do anything to Charlotte.

I have mixed feelings about the dirk. She should keep it in case the captain or crew starts to do something to her. I would keep it to help me feel safe. If what everyone says is true she might need it. Charlotte also has reasons to throw it into the ocean. The first sentence in the book is "Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty." I predict that Captain Jaggery might get so mad at one of the crew members he murders him and blames Charlotte who he knows has the dirk. Another reason to ditch the dirk is that instead of making Charlotte feel safe it is making her really un-easy. I don't know what she should do with the knife!

I am starting to worry about Charlotte. Everything was going well for her until suddenly she seemed to have used her luck up. First the family that was supposed to go with her to America couldn't come, doing major damage to her safety. After that she was put in a cabin that was more like a chicken coop. Things like that keep happening on the ship and I am starting to feel concerned. I think they might be using Charlotte for something. In chapter two some of men were having a conversation that gave me that idea. It sounded like this, "With her as witness they'll not dare move." Charlotte should start to pay more attention to the men around her and less attention to how pretty the captain’s cabin looks! I feel scared for Charlotte.

"Hatchet" Anne 5-3-07

I thought it was interesting how Brian said he died and was re-born. It was really scary how he "died." I've heard of adults who wanted to commit suicide but I never thought kids would do it. Now that Brian is "re-born" I think he is doing better than most adults would in the wild. But I wonder if he will ever be found after 47 days. I wonder if Brian even wants to go home anyway. Brian has changed a lot since he crash landed.

Brain has been really brave throughout his time in the woods. Theirs the obvious things like living through the crash and meeting the bear. But I think he's been brave in other ways too. For example, he devoted almost all his time to picking berries and cutting wood while having an outrageous need for a hamburger. I don't thing I could have spent all that time doing work in a weakened state. He is also brave in more emotional ways. I can tell it took a lot of strength for Brian to overcome his thoughts of suicide. He also needed courage to get as far as he is now. Brian has been brave in different ways throughout his experiences.

While I'm reading I can't help wondering if I could have done what Brian did. It sounds like he didn't have much surviving knowledge, like me, but he's making it through just fine. I think I could have gotten through some of the emotional challenges, but not many of the physical. Still, if Brian read a book like this about someone else, I bet he would think that he couldn't do it either. I guess it would be more of a choice if you survive or not, with you making the decision.

Now that a plane has come I wonder if Brian will think that going to find civilization isn't such a bad idea. There's a good side and a bad side to each choice. For example, at camp, Brian has the lake, charted grounds, and a good shelter. But he may never be rescued. If he chose to leave, he could probably navigate his way out of the woods, but have no shelter, fire, or way to carry food and drink. I don't know what Brian should do but I think he should take action soon.