Do you want to read something else by this author? Why or why not?

Yes. I would like to read more books by the author of Things Not Seen because this author writes many books that are pretty good.  For example, he wrote Frindle.  It was Frindle that started me focusing on this author.  Since I enjoyed it, I thought this would be a pretty good book for me to read.  There are two more books in the series: Things That Are, and Things Hoped For.  Maybe I will like to read one of these.

How would you solve the problem in the book?

In the book Things Not Seen the main character is invisible.  First of all I would keep him at home so he stays out of trouble.  I would have the parents call the school and say they want to begin home-schooling Bobby.  Then they have time to try to solve the problem.

If you could be a character in the book, who would you choose and why?

If I could choose to be a character in the book Things Not Seen, would choose to be Bobby Phillips.  When he turned on the light, after taking a shower, Bobby saw that he had turned invisible. I choose him because, when he turned invisible he could do whatever he wanted to do and nobody can see him.  He can walk into a casino, he could go to a movie theater and watch movies for free, and he can go to a buffet and eat whatever he wants.  It would be fun to do.  The only problem is, if he puts on any clothes, people will see empty clothes walking around and be concerned.

What was the most interesting quote from today’s reading? Why?

In the book The Civil War: Moments in History, the quote I found most interesting is about Andersonville prison. “Since we have no other water, we drink and cook from the stream.  I am learning to strain, or filter, it as best I can.”   I found this interesting because prisons at Andersonville used water that was clean before it came through the guard’s camp.  The guards used it for drinking washing, and for a toilet.  Then the water came to the prisoners.  It didn’t smell good or look good.  It made the prisoners sick.  This man tried to make it cleaner, so he could drink it.

What is the author’s message? Which story events helped you to figure this out?

The author’s message in the book The Civil War: Moments in History is that we can relate to the people who lived in Civil War times.  The author showed how they are like us.  During the conflict 16 and 17 year old boys were fighting and dying.  Younger boys played the drums and led troops into battle. Men in prison camps got sick because they drank adulterated water, they had no shelter from the sun, and they ate bad food.

If you wanted to suggest this story to a friend, what would you say it is mostly about?

The book The Civil War: Moments in History is mostly about the moments in the history of the Civil War that most people don’t know about.  It describes the problems that caused the nation to be divided.  It tells about how African Americans tried to escape to the North.  It describes the important history, people, battles, and prison of the war. It also tells about how the war ended.

What would be one small detail that, if changed, might change the outcome of the story.

In the book The Civil War: Moments in History Possibly, if the south agreed to free all the slaves as the northerners wanted,  the Civil War may not have happened. If it did not happen, it would have changed many people's lives It would change not only the lives of many slaves, but many people who were killed in the war would not have died.  Other people may not have been poor or starve to death.  President Lincoln's life may have even been saved. This one disagreement in history, caused so many problems.

Explain what the main character's most pressing problem is at this time.

In the book, Daniel's Story, the main character's most pressing problem he had was not getting to see his family because they had been separated. They were separated because he got sent to the concentration camp.  He had a hard time trying to survive because The Nazis only gave him a little bit of food. 

How would you solve the problem in the book?

In the book, Daniel's Story the main character Daniel and his family get sent from their home in Frankfort, Germany to Lodz, Poland.  Their family is starving in the ghetto and doesn't have enough clothes to wear. They lack the basic necessities because the Nazis have taken them from them.  All Jews are treating disrespectfully at this time in history.  To solve this problem, I think Daniel and all the other Jews should unite to fight against the Nazis rather than simply waiting to die.  They could try to join together and create a bomb or other types of weapons to destroy the walls of the ghetto and try to escape the Nazi control. Some would get killed this way, but by doing nothing, they are just waiting to die.

What could you take away from today's reading that could improve your life?

There is something that I can take away from today's reading of Daniel's Story to improve my life.  Daniel( the main character) is a Jewish boy who is sent to the concentration camp. The Nazis treat his family disrespectfully. They even kill members of his family.  These are terrible things that happen to his family. This reminds me how important family is. After reading this, I will try to improve my life by remembering to treat everybody respectfully and spend more time with my family members to make them happy. I also will try to keep my family from being controlled by other people. Everyone should be in control of their own life.

How does the setting affect what is happening in this book?

In the book called Daniel's Story, the main character Daniel lives in Frankfort, Germany.  Daniel is Jewish. At the time this story takes place, Hitler is taking over control. Hitler and the Nazis have begun persecuting and killing Jews and are forcing them into concentration camps.  The setting affects everything that happens in this book because if  Daniel and his families did not live in Germany, they would not be put in the concentration camps and they would not be treated disrespectfully just because of their religion.  They would have enough food to eat and clothes to wear if they didn't live in Germany too. Also, Daniel's cousin Peter would not have been killed just for parking illegally. None of these things would have happened in this story if the family did not live in Germany during the 1930s.

What are the three big questions you have at this time?

I have three big questions from the book, Daniel's Story.  Will Daniel's family all be killed or will some or all live?  Will Daniel separate from his families?  Will Daniel's family ever have freedom again?

Would you have liked to have grown up with the main character? Why or why not?

I will not have liked to have grown up with Daniel in the book, Daniel's Story.  This story takes place when World War II had just started. Daniel is a Jewish boy. I can't image a worse thing than to grow up with Daniel.  He and the other Jewish children cannot go to normal school or some of the public places in his own town of Frankfort. The Nazis treat Daniel, his family, and all the Jews disrespectfully. They are treated like animals. They even body search them.  Also, the Nazis don't  give them enough clothes to wear and don't allow them hardly any food to eat. Eventually, the Nazis even take Daniel and his family out of their own town and put them into a concentration camp.  This why I would not want to grow up with Daniel.

If you were stranded on a desert island,which character would you want with you and why?

If I was stranded on a desert island, I would choose Nick from the book Frindle to with me. Nick is a very smart boy. Also, people think he is a trouble maker who distracts the class and tries to skip his work.  He is a little similar to me, so maybe we would get along very easily and have a lot of fun on the island.  Nick always has many big idea. In the book Frindle, he comes up with an idea for a new word and even when others try to stop him, he does not give up. He has the quality of determination. I think if I was really stranded on the desert island, he could figure out the solution to get off the island. 

Describe the major conflict right now.

The major conflict is between Nick and Mrs. Granger.  Nick is a student who wants to skip work and try to stop the teacher from giving them homework.  Mrs. Granger is a strict teacher who gives the students a lot of homework and she is unstoppable.  Now they are arguing about the word Frindle, that Nick make up himself. At this point in the book, I don't know who will win the conflict, or if anyone will win at all.

Which character are you least like?

I'm least like Freak (Kevin)  from the book Freak the Mighty because he is a very smart boy, and he has a very big vocabulary.  I am kind of different from him because people think I'm not that smart, and I have a small vocabulary. Really I just have a hard time understanding what other people are talking about because I'm still learning English. Freak can talk very well in English, but I didn't speak too well in English... yet  Also Freak is sick and has seizures from time to time. His body is slowly shutting down. I am a healthy person. That's why we are different.

Choose a character you really dislike. Explain why.

I really dislike the character known as Killer Kane - Max's father.  He is a bad guy who has been put in jail for killing someone.  I assume Max's father killed Max's mother from what I have read so far. That is why Max's grandmother and grandfather hate him so much.  When he is released on parole, he breaks the law again and kidnaps his own son. He tells his son that his grandma and grandpa lied to him - that he didn't kill anyone. Max and his grandparents are scared of him and he breaks the law. That is why I dislike him very much.

Describle what you like or don't like about your book so far.

 What I like about the book Freak the Mighty so far are the characters, Maxwell and Freak.  Max is not a very smart guy, but he has a giant body.  Freak is a very little guy, but he has a smart brain and he knows a lot of words that other people don't know.  I like that they help each other do things that the other one can't do on their own. For example, When Max puts Freak up on his shoulders, Max gives Freak a giant body to use. When Freak helps Max understand new words, he gives Max the gift of his brain. That's the best part so far.  I don't like when Freak treats Max like a slave and asks him do things he doesn't want to do.

Which character are you most like?

I'm most like the character Maxwell because some people think he is not very smart, and some people are afraid of Maxwell.  Sometimes I think people make fun of me because I don't speak English very well.  I think some people might be afraid to talk to me because they worry that I might not understand them or know the words to talk back.  Both Max and I also do not have many friend.  That is how we are the same.

Would you choose the main character of the story to be your friend? Why or why not?

Would you choose the main character of the story to be your friend?  Why or why not? 

I would choose Freak to be my friend because I'm like Max in many ways.  Freak us very smart and he knows a lot of words, so maybe he can help me with writing assignments and can explain definitions of ancient words.