Blog # 6

I recently read a book called "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," by John Boyne. It was a very good book, but you do not want to read it unless you want to become seriously depressed (I did become seriously depressed by reading this book). This book is about a boy named Bruno who father is a high-ranked Nazi during World War 2. Bruno's family moves to a prison camp so that his father can oversee the camp. Bruno is exploring and he goes to the boundaries of the camp. There he meets his best friend Shmuel. Bruno sneaks out to see Shmuel every day. One day Bruno sneaks over into the camp to help Shmuel find his father. The get led to the gas chambers and die. Brunos sister and mother moved away and his father went insane and felt he had no reason to live.
As I told you, this is a depressing book. Although it was depressing, I believe the author did a good job mixing historical events. I believe he did that by mixing a war into a fictional book. He also did that by incorperating the prison camps in it.
I believe the author did a good job with Bruno's feelings. Bruno's feelings were the lot a same of a real nine year-old boy. For example, when Bruno moves away he misses his friends. The author also did a great job expressing Bruno's bordeness with his new house. I recomend this book to anyone who wants to be depressed.
p.s. I commented on Blake M.'s blog.

Post #5: The Looking Glass Wars

In The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, Wonderland is real and Alyss Heart is heir to the throne. Her evil aunt, Redd, kills her parents, claims the throne, and Alyss barely escapes to our world. Alyss eventually comes back to Wonderland defeats Redd and claims the throne. Although Redd lives and escaped. I think they had Redd escape because this book is in a series and the series would be very boring without a villan. Oh yeah I forgot. Spoiler Alert. That's probably no help know though.
If anyone has seen the Disney movie Alice in Wonderland (which my baby sister wanted to watch 5 times in a row) you will see the similarities between this book and the original story. One example of similarities is the place in the story is still called Wonderland. An example of a difference in the story is Alyss has a best friend named Dodge.
In this book, Alyss tells her story to an author who doesn't believe her. He writes what we know today to be Alice in Wonderland. A lot of the characters are the same except darker. The Mad Hatter for example becomes Hatter Madigan, Alyss' bodyguard. Another example is Alice's cat becomes Redds top assassin. This book is a great book for anyone who like adventure.
p.s. I commented on Sebastian Torero's blog.

Post #4 (#5 for most people) Crossing The Wire

I recently finished a book called Crossing The Wire by Will Hobbs. This book is about a boy named Victor Flores who lives in Mexico. Victor's family is starving and their crops are failing, so Victor tries to illegally sneak into the United States to earn money to send back to his family. This story shows the bravery of a boy who even when he runs into a barrier he keeps on trying.
Victor is extremely determined. I know this because even when officials catch Victor and ship him back to Mexico he tries to cross the barrier again. I also know that he is determined bacause at the beginning of the story, he is not the bravest guy. But he knows that he has to go out on his own to raise money for his family. It takes a lot of determination to face your fears.
I believe the author did a great job mixing current events with fiction. For example, in the U.S. Mexicans sneaking across the border has been very recognized and important for the U.S. and its government. He uses this event to make a fictional story. He also did a great job mixing real with fiction because he included a lot of real ways that Mexicans crossed the border (some are pay coyote money to smugglers, sneaking onto trains, and going through tunnels when it rains).
ps. I commented on Ryan B.'s blog.