Diary of a Wimpy Kid

   

--TJ, 3rd

Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Main Characters: Jessie, Ma, Pa, Mr. Neely, Frank Lyle, Mr. Clifton
Chapters: 25
Setting: Frontier village of Clifton, Indiana

Miles Clifton a millionaire wanted to make Clifton Indiana a historical preserve village. Miles invited twenty-five families to life like the 1800's even though it was the 1900's.  He promised them any modern goods.  He wanted the people to live as authentically as possible.  Some of the twenty-five families left because they did not like the life style.  Jessie's father wanted live this experience because he felt the modern world would corrupt his family and he loved the thought of being a blacksmith so his wife agreed to live this way.  Miles did not want tourists come in and out of the village and he did not want the families leaving so he blocked all the ways to leave and come in.  He kept them guarded.  All of the children thought it was the 1800s but the grown ups knew it was 1996.  Living like this brought back an 1800s disease diphtheria.  The doctors had pills that worked but did not use them.  Instead they used herbs to cure illnesses like they did in the 1800s.  The people put signs that said Quarantine.  Clifton ordered them to be taken down because he did not want the tourists to know about the diphtheria.

Jessie's mother told her about Clifton's secret that it was really 1996.  Her mother said she had to do something very dangerous, to go on a mission to get help before someone died in Clifton.  Her mother gave her 1990s clothes that she kept jeans and a t-shirt so nobody will know she is from Clifton.  She remembered her mother told her to watch out for the guards.

She finally begins her mission.  When she heard people coming she hid.  The next day when she goes in the hallway it was loud and crowded with children tourists.  The way she is dressed lets her fit in with the children.  She sees that tourist watch Clifton from glass windows.  By pretending she is a student is how she escapes.  She sees modern day stuff like cars, roads, lights, etc...that confuses and scares her but excites her.

Jessie faces many obstacles in her search for help.  Her mother told her a man named Mr. Neely would help.  She starts looking for a phone.  She does not know how to use a phone.  When she does she reaches Mr. Neely.  Jessie tells him about the diphtheria and he makes her believe that he is Mr. Neely.  He comes and picks her up.  She thinks she is going to Clifton with help instead he says she needs to rest a bit.  He attempts to drug her water but she dumps it.  Jessie hears him talking about maybe having to kill her.  They realize she has escaped Clifton and might tell someone what the real truth is.  The people of Clifton are being held captive without necessities of modern-day medicine.  Jessie had to find help before the children died.

Jessie called the board of health and told them about the diphtheria.  They thought it was a prank call.  Jessie called someone and said there was going to be a news conference.  The new media knew it was something to do with Clifton and so Jessie told them her story.  She felt hot and fell down.  She was rushed to the hospital.  The police and government heard the story and cleared out Clifton saving most of the lives except for two.  All of her brothers and sisters were at the hospital.  She found out Frank Lyle was a scientist that worked with Clifton to attempt an experiment on disease and immune systems pretended to be Mr. Neely while the real Mr. Neely died.  The children were sent to foster homes for safety until their parents were interviewed and reunited.  When they went home Jessie's family were the only ones that stayed in Clifton because her father was taking care of the land until the judges decided what would happen to it.  A doctor said it would help father ease in to the twentieth century after living a lot of years in an 1800s life style.

The scientist compared Clifton to the Nazi concentration camps because they were treated in an inhumane way like second class citizens depriving them of necessities especially in modern day world.  Also keeping them from communicating with others and keeping them imprisoned in Clifton.

--TK, 6th

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne
Main Characters: Bruno, Shmuel
Chapters: 20
Setting: Auschwitz, Poland

The book I have read is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  The main character, Bruno, lives in Germany in a city called Berlin.  Bruno's mom, dad, sister, grandparents, and best friends love Germany.  Bruno had very good times with his best friend.  He loves to play with his friends and they love to explore.  he wants to be an explorer.  Now he has to leave them.  Bruno does not know what his father's job is, but he does know what his friends' father jobs are.  All he knows is that his father has an office at home, where many soldiers come to talk to him.  His father talks about someone called the Fury [Hitler] his boss.  He said that they have to move, because he is being given a promotion by the Fury.  They moved to Auschwitz, Poland.

Bruno misses his friends and his grandparents.  Mother said he'll make new friends, but he still begs, cries, and pleads to go back home.  Bruno does not know how to say Auschwitz so he says out with house, out with town, and out with camp.

Bruno gets really bored and asks Lieutenant Kolter for a rope and a tire.  Lt. Kolte ris another soldier in the Fury's army.  He hangs around Bruno's home like they are his family and it is his home.  Bruno makes a tire swing but is still bored.  Father tells Bruno to stay away from the camp.  He and his sister try to figure out what kind of camp it is.  They know it's not a good one, because the people at the camp are dirty and they wear the same pajamas everyday the striped ones.

One day Bruno gets so bored that he breaks a rule.  He goes walking near the camp.  Bruno saw a boy on the other side of the fence.  Bruno and the boy talk together.  The boy's name is Shmuel.  They told each other where they are born.  Bruno in Berlin, Shmuel in Poland.  Bruno and Shmuel are living in Poland.  Bruno did not know that.  It turns out that Shmuel and Bruno have the same birthday 4/15/34.  They almost felt like twins, except Bruno is healthier looking.  Bruno asks what is is like on that side of the fence.  Shmuel said it was cruel.  He said soldiers gathered men and boys and put them in this camp but neither of them knew what kind of camp it was.  The women and girls were taken somewhere else.  Bruno asked what kind of food he eats.  Shmuel said he eats very little.  So every day Bruno went to the fence and gave Shmuel food like bread and cheese, and they talked about their lives.

Mother was having a party so Kolter came over and brought Shmuel to help clean.  So when Bruno went in to the kitchen both boys were surprised to see each other.  Shmuel did not know Bruno lived here.  Bruno did not know what Shmuel was doing.  Shmuel explained Kolter brought him to clean.  Bruno took out turkey and offered Shmuel some but Shmuel said he would get in trouble.  Bruno said he would not get in trouble so he just stuffed it in his hand.  Shmuel gobbled it right up.  Kolter thought Shmuel stole food.  Shmuel said his friend gave it to him.  Bruno said he had never seen him in his life.  Nothing much happened except Kolter told Bruno to stay away from Shmuel.

The next day Bruno said he was sorry.  Shmuel told Bruno that he could not find his papa.  Bruno said he would help.  Shmuel said he would get him some striped pajamas.  Again they felt like twins, except Shmuel looked thinner and paler.  Bruno now felt like a Jew.  They had become best friends.  Then Bruno lifted up the fence and rolled under.  He thought that there would be children playing and there would be food and grown ups would be sitting on porches.  But he was surprised that there was not.  People were looking at the ground, scared and sad.  Bruno wanted to go home but Shmuel told him that they had to find his papa.  They spent one hour and thirty minutes looking for Shmuel's papa and did not find him.  It started to get dark.

They heard a loud whistle and 10 soldiers came out.  Bruno got nervous and wanted to go home.  The boys were surrounded by grown (prisoners) men and shoved along to a building (gas chambers).  The boys were holding hands, squeezing tight.  it is assumed they died.  They were never heard from again.  Later Bruno's parents discovered his clothes his father sat thought and finally figured what happened.

To me the moral of the story is don't judge somebody before you know them and you can become friends with anybody regardless of differences, and true friends are there for you no matter what.

--TK, 6th

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey

The book I have read describes how to build self confidence, better relationships, and build on your values to make a better character.  The author shared stories on how not to be a defective teen but rather an effective teen.  Which indicates using skills such as "Be proactive not reactive."  Being proactive means taking responsibility for your actions, making better choices, and not blaming others for your actions.  Being reactive means you talk back, put all of your fault on others, and not taking responsibility for your life.  The author explains to the reader to live by principles, morals, values, and ethics.

The dictionary meaning for principles is "a rule or code of conduct."  That means a principle is a rule that must be followed.  Honesty is a principle.  Being respectful is a principle.  Living by principles means you are living a principle-centered life.  Without principles the world would be a corrupt life.

The dictionary meaning for morals is "a action of conduct."  For ex. the moral of life is to live by good rules that should be followed.  Peer pressure and obstacles are like road blocks to an effective teen.  The book teaches you how to break the road blocks.  If you can't break the road blocks you are living a defective life.

The dictionary meaning for values is "the worth of something."  Such as respect, faith, happiness, and learning are all values.  Therefore without values in your life nothing is worth anything.  Therefore leading to failure with no success or goals.  Teenagers have within themselves power, courage, and strength.  In taking baby steps toward good habits such as, "Prioritizing, do the most important thing first" and "Listen to people sincerely," will help teens understand themselves and life in general.

The dictionary meaning for ethics is "the discipline dealing with what is good and bad with moral duty and obligation."  So in a nutshell principles, morals, and values all fall under one category ethics.  Living under the umbrella of ethics allows teens to expand their understanding of right and wrong.  Sometimes living wrong is more fun than living right which will only lead to failure living good takes positive thoughts, it takes good self esteem and confidence in one's ability to know you can and will not I can't or won't.  Having faith in something or someone like God helps us live an ethical life.  It is okay to live your life alone rather than surround your life with negative people.  Yet this can be a lonely life.  Teenagers need to be surrounded by role models and mentors.  So all in all this book tells teens if you follow a routine of good habits that will develop your character into someone who knows and understands principles, morals, and values in developing their life goals.

--TK, 6th

Maggie Tales: Mommy, Where's Heaven?

Maggie Tales: Mommy, Where's Heaven? by C.S. Lockley

Maggie asks her mom where heaven is?  Her mom tells her what might be in Heaven.  She tells her about cotton candy in heaven.  Talks about kids playing and laughing.  There is special places for animals.  Maggie's grandma is in heaven as an angel.  Her mom says Jesus loves to keep his treasures all around.  She tells Maggie not to be sad because Heaven is a good place. 

--ZK, 2nd

We're Back!

The 2013-2014 school year has gotten off to a great start!  We just finished our first quarter, and we started this year's reading program in October.  We've "borrowed" the name of this year's reading program from Dr. Seuss:

BE AWESOME!  BE A BOOK NUT!

You'll be seeing some more paragraphs, drawings, and other creativity from our students as the year goes on.  Please feel free to comment on any blog post--the kids love to know you're reading these!

To start us off, here are some pictures from the first quarter:

The principal and the student body bless those who have a birthday each week.

Rotarians regularly come to read to classes, like this second-grade class.

Learning at St. Peter Claver can happen anywhere!

Many students enjoyed the Georgia National Fair this month!

Welcome to the new school year!