Reading+Log-Sarah





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=**My Family And Other Animals**= //Author:// Gerald Durall //Genre:// Non-Fiction //Summary:// Gerald Durall and his family flee the dreadful English climate and move to Corfu a small Greek island. They live in 3 houses, make loads of friends (including a murderer) and Gerald (Gerry) has about 4 tutors all with different ideas on how to teach. This is why Gerry never had a good education. Being a great animal lover he acquired many different animals which is why, when returning to England they are described by customs as 'one traveling circus'.

Response
//Text to self:// If I was one of Gerry's tutors I would of given up on him because he just wouldn't learn. //I felt empathy with:// Mother because hat ever life through at her she would soldier on. //Language used:// The language was exciting, funny and engaging. It captivated the reader and made them feel the mood of the characters. //I learned that:// Having a younger brother who loved animals would be quite fun. //Recommended:// This is a book for anyone and everyone. An easy read and an enjoyable book.

=﻿Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone=

//Author:// J.K Rowling //Genre:// Fiction-Fantasy //Summary:// Harry Potter is left on the doorstep of his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. For the next 10 years he has been bullied by his cousin and is forced to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. Then someone sends Harry a letter. They keep sending letters until they are forced to leave. They go and hide on a hut on the rock and on the first night there a Giant of a man called Hagrid comes. He tells Harry that he's a wizard and the next day they go to Diagon Alley and buy his books, robes and wand. Hagrid tells Harry his parents were killed by Lord Voldermort and that Voldermort tried to kill Harry but his spell rebounded and killed him. On the way to school on the train Harry meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. When they arrive to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry they are placed in Griffindor house and find a three headed dog. Soon after they find the dog is guarding The Philosophers Stone. They think that Snape the Potions master is trying to steal the sone for Lord Voldermort so he can come back to life. But Harry gets passed the three headed dog and finds out it's Profesor Quirrell who wants the stone. There's a fight and Quirrel is killed and the stone destroyed

**Response**
//Text to self:// If I was Uncle Vernon I wouldn't have pointed a gun at Hagrid. //I felt empathy with:// Harry because his parents had died. //Language used:// The language used was witty and engaging. It drew the reader in and made them want to read more. It was easy to read and had a lot of meaning to it. 'He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared, air rushed through his hair and his robes whipped out behind him-and in a rush of fierce joy he realised he'd found something he could do without being taught-this was easy, this was //wonderful'//. //I learned that:// If we have been bullied all our lives it can take only friends to make you feel better. //Recommended:// 8 upwards.

=**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets**= //Author:// J.K Rowling //Genre:// Fiction-Fantasy //Summary:// Harry's friends Ron and Hermione haven't been writing to him and he finds when a house-elf (Dobby) visits him. Dobby doesn't want Harry to go back to Hogwarts. Harry Uncle Vernon fixes bars on Harry's bedroom window, installs a cat flap to give food through and lock the bedroom door. Harry's friend Ron, worried he hasn't been writing back to him, flies a car to Harry's house to rescue him. They return to Ron's house where he stays until he has to return to Hogwarts. But there can't get through the barrier at Kings Cross and miss the train so they fly the car to Hogwarts and crash into the womping willow. The caretakers cat is petrified and writing on the wall says "The Camber of Secrets has been opened". Then muggle born witches and wizards are petrified. Hermione is attacked and Harry and Ron find out the monster attacking people is a Basalisk. Ron's sister is taken by the monster in to the chamber of secrets. Harry and Ron rescue her and the muggle borns are saved.

**Response**
//Text to self:// I think Harry and Ron were very brave to go into the Chamber of Secrets. //I Felt Empathy with:// Ron because he was scared of the spiders. //Language Used:// The language used was inspirational. It took you on an amazing magical adventure to places you could only dream about. "Steam was billowing from under the crumpled bonnet; Hedwig was shrieking in terror, a golf ball sized lump was throbbing on Harrry's head where his head had hit the windscreen, and to his right Ron let out a low, despairing moan." //I Iearned that:// Even in difficult times we can do anything if we just persevere. //Recommended:// 6 upwards.

=Secret Seven on the Trail= //Author:// Enid Blyton //Genre:// Fiction-Adventure //Summary:// Susie, the sister of Jack a member of the Secret Seven forms a club called the Famous Five. Jack spies on them and find out they have a mystery but Susie knew he was watching so they make up an adventure but Jack thinks it's real. He tells Peter the leader of the Secret Seven but he laughs and says the Famous Five are making it up. When Jack gets home he finds out Susie has invited a member of the Famous Five home with her for tea that week. Jack invites George another of the Secret Seven over the same night. Susie and Jeff pretend to leave the house and Jack and George leave for the house Jeff and Susie pretended to go to. When they get there some men they see men planning a robbery. The Secret Seven Find where, when and what. They get the Police and the men are arrested.

**Response**
//Text To Self:// I wouldn't have gone to the house on a dark night. //I Felt Empathy with:// Jack because no one listened to him but he was right//.// //Language Used:// The Language used was simple but that made the book a great read. //I learned:// You should always listen to others. //Recommended:// To anyone in the mood for a simple enjoyable. = = =__ Term 1 __= =Lookout Rock= //Author:// Jane Caroll //Genre:// Fiction //Summary:// Jessica is the new girl at school and makes friends with Amy. Amy and her brother Will take Jessica skiing and Will falls over. Will and his family go to Australia because he gets sick. When they come back Amy is distant. Jessica's dad is a doctor so one day he takes Jessica to Amy's house. Jessica yells at Amy and finds out Will has cancer.

**Response**
//Text to self:// If I was Will I would be depressed because I have cancer. //I felt empathy with:// Will because he had cancer //Language use:// The language used was descriptive and enchanting. It engaged the reader and made them feel they were watching the events happen. 'His voice droned like set of bagpipes warming up'. //I learned that:// Jane Caroll is an amazing writer. She can write humor, sadness and happiness. //Recommended:// 8 up. For those in search of an emotional read.



Point Blanc
//Author:// Antony Horowitz //Genre:// Fiction-Action //Summary:// Alex Rider is a teenage spy working for MI6. When MI6 become suspishus of Dr Grim, the Headmaster of a school to help improve criminal boys MI6 send Alex to investigate. Soon he finds out that Dr Grim is creating clones of himself to send out and takeover the world. Alex Rider escapes to tell MI6. Dr Grim and his clones are destroyed.

**Response**
//Text to self:// If I was Alex I would be terrified at the thought of snow boarding on an ironing down a mountain at night. //I felt empathy with.// Alex for having to snowboard on an ironing board. //Language used:// The language used was descriptive and made you go there in your head. If a character said something it was like you were there watching. //I learned that:// Painting a picture in the readers mind is better than telling them. //Recommended:// 10 and up. For those in search of an exciting read.

Ark Angel
//Author//: Antony Horawitz //Genre//: Action-Fiction //Plot//:Alex Rider is in hospital after being shot. He pretends to be another boy and gets kidnapped. In thanks the boys father invites Alex on holiday to watch the launch of the space hotel Ark Angel. But inside the hotel is a bomb intended to make the hotel fall on Washington Dc. Alex goes into space and disables the bomb just in time.

**Response**
//Text to self//:If I was Alex I wouldn't of stuck my nose in others peoples business (but I would have to or else the book would be really boring). //I felt empathy//: With Kasper because he had to tattoo his head. //Language used//: The language made you feel how the characters felt. //I learned that//: Machines in hospital sometimes are very magnetic. //Recommended//: Ages 10 up or those who want to enjoy a book.

Five go of to camp
//Author:// Enid Blyton //Genre:// Fiction-Mystery //Plot:// The Famous Five go of to camp with Mr Luffy. When out on a walk the Five find a deserted railway yard. The yard keeper tells them about spook trains that go in and out the bricked up tunnel. The Five think he's mad until one night the boys see the spook train. When George (Georgina) falls down a hole she finds the spook train is real and used to smuggle drugs from here to a nearby town. The others come to find her but get caught by the smugglers. Anne gets away and finds Mr Luffy with some policemen. The Smugglers get caught. No more spook trains.

//Text to self:// If I was the smugglers I would have been scared of the policemen.
//I felt empathy with:// The yard keeper because he was scared of the spook trains. //Languge used:// The //languge// was simply but engaging. The suspence built up then suddenly you knew who had done it and how they'd done it//.// //I learned that:// If you tried hard enough and faced our fears kids can do anything. //Recommended:// Enid Blyton is an amazing writer for children and adults alike.