The Reading Project.
"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." — Walt Disney
"A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket." — Chinese Proverb
1HOC students have been involved in the Reading Project from week 5 to 7, choosing English books of their own choice.
They were free to choose a novel from our school library collection, offering a wide choice of English books that received literary awards and endured popularity with the young adults. The library staff offered their advice and guidance, and the students could follow their hearts and personal interests in choosing fascinating literature.There was only one condition: the book was to be set in an English-speaking country and tell a good story about social conditions, values, difficults choices, and to be relevant to our studies. The students were also recommended to watch a film based on the book they read and compare it with the novel, reflecting on the effect of alterations.
While read ing the novel, the participants wrote a literary log where they reflected on the characters, episodes and remarkable phrases. After reading the novel the students presented their findings in class. To promote their books to a broader audience, they shared their reading experiences with potential readers.
Bravo for 1HOC and congratulations on the great effort they took reading and discussing books.
“Someone once wrote that a novel should deliver a series of small astonishments. I get the same thing spending an hour with you.” E. Lockhart, We Were Liars
This quote, said by one teenage lover to another in the book, sums up the novel beautifully. Privilege, love, heartbreak, suffering, happiness, plot twists, art, dogs and death. It's fascinating, heartbreaking and loving at the same time, and puts things in perspective.
It makes you want to throw the book out of the window, and then run straight outside to gently pick it up again.
"Anzac Boys" is a historical novel written by Tony Brandman, inspired by a true story. This book is about two brothers. The main characters in the story are Bert and his little brother Frank. They lose their parents. Then there was nobody to care for them, and therefore they were sent to a orphanage in England. The building was cold and there were a hundred other "waifs", abandoned and neglected. It was a terrible place to live.
Bert and Frank are taken from the orphanage in London. The priests promised them a better life in Australia. But what really awaits for them is hard work, separation and the realization that no one cares if they live or die.
The world war one beaks out and fate brings the brothers together again - in a place more horrific than either of them could ever imagine. Bert is a good boy with a warm heart. He risks his life to safe his little brother. Bret's love for his brother adds a human element to the story. Every one has a brother or a sister. If our brother is happy then we are happy. If they are sad then we are sad, too. Every one cares about siblings, which makes the novel relatable.
"For the first time in a long time, I want more than I have." This quote I think describes the book "Everything, everything" by Nicola Yoon very well. It's about growing up, love and wanting more. Madeleine who is the main character has SCID, which stands for severe combined immunodeficiency. As the result, she is allergic to the outside world and never leaves her house, until she lays her eyes on Olly.
I like the book because I think the story is very believable and interesting. Two more quotes from the book which describe the book very well: "Maybe growing up means disappointing the people we love" and "Everything's a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It's up to you".
The author Jim Eldridge tells the story of the capture of Pebble Island during the Falklands War in 1982 and the major British invasion. He describes one soldier's journey who feels a part of a British elite team SAS (British Special Air Service) as they are ordered to destroy Argentiunian aircraft on the ground in Pebble Island.
The main character in the book is Jim Eldridge, he tells his real-life story in the Falkland’s war in 1982. And he describes his friend in Troops 14 and 15. The other character was Jake. He was Jim’s friend during the Falklands islands war. Jake and Jim were in troop 14.
The story is told from the all- seeing point of view. The author tells series of historical events with facts and specifications to delight the technically minded reader. The book is easy to read and is great for readers who like true stories. Placed within historical context, these part fact, part fictional adventures of the SAS also contain fascinating maps and equipment used during the war, and provide an informative summing up of actual events.
The book is about bullying and gossip in an American high school, and we learn why Hannah Baker killed herself. We get to know the story of her life, more specifically, how her life ended. Follow Clay Jensen, a boy from Hannah's school who receives a package of 13 tapes, and discover 13 stories that led to the tragic death, betrayed by the people around her – some who were directly involved, some who just stood and watched.
I liked the series on Netflix better, but if you like reading more than watching series, this is the book for you.
Gina knows that Victorian London is no place for an orphaned girl. There are those that would literally steal the hair off her head. And so Gina finds work with Thread and Spider as 'George', selling burial outfits stripped off rich corpses. The work is dangerous and illegal, but it is better than starving.
In the story there are twists and turns around every corner, and new suprises come along with them. If you have the feeling you know what is coming next, you soon find out that you dont!
This book really reminds you of Oliver Twist.
I would like to recommend the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. I read it and greatly enjoyed it. I think that all people should read this famous story because it is an enjoyable read and it has a lot of challenges. It is interesting to read about what times were like around 6 hundred years ago and about how people interacted with one another.
" For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo".
There has never been a sadder story than the story of those two people because of the family hatred. While their families the Montagues and the Capulets fight each other, their young children fall head over hills in love after a masked ball. They love each other but cannot be together because Juliet's s father promises her to another man. Will she listen to her father or do the unthinkable?
Robin T. Sæthre read «Strange land» by Alan Gibbons
Iman Ali read «Me Before you» by Jojo Mojes