A. Are there people in your neighborhood who are like any of the character types in the novel?Change the real person's name so his/her identity remains anonymous and describe how heor she is like a particular character.

In my neighborhood the people aren't really the same. I have a lot of children in my nieghbor hood but the adults are kind of the same. I have some nice adults, some mean ones, and some that just keep to themselves. My next- door neighbors have children that are a lot like Jem, Scout, and Dill though. They have two son's and a daughter. They are always doing stuff they aren't suppose to and they always are getting into trouble. Ever since I started reading this book I compared a lot of their adventures to eachother and to me its very easy for me to relate to it.


B. Compare and contrast yourself to either Scout or Jem at their age. Compare and contrast your summer activities, friends, relationships with your dad, siblings, and adults.

When I was Scouts age I was very adventurous and I would always find ways to get into trouble. Over summer every year until middle school I would always hang out with my sister and her friends. It kind of got on her nerves but we got a lot closer by it. I think that over summer my sister and I are more like bestfriends rather then siblings. Thats how it seems Jem and Scout are. In the beginning of the book when Jem and Scout started going to the same school Jem neglected her until they got home or over summer. When I started going to HTM and my sister was going to HTHMA she hardly hung out with me but we would always hang out when we got home. Thats why I can relate to Jem and Scouts sibling relationship.


C. How do you think the story (what you read so far) would have changed if Scout and Jem had a mother present in their lives? Would it change for the better or for the worse? Explain your thoughts.

I think that if Jem and Scouts mother was still in their life the story would be a lot different. They probably wouldn't have Cal which would cause a lot of different events. If their mom was still there Aunt Alexandra wouldn't be a pest about how Scout needs a mother figure. If their mom was there I think that this story wouldn't have as much drama in it which would make it shorter and not as interesting.

Atticus Finch

Journal #3-
Chapters 8 & 9
Perspective: Atticus

Today was the first snow day in Maycomb since 1885. My children went out to play in the snow, even though there wasn't much to play in but they found their ways. They scooped all the snow from the front yard, back yard and even Miss Maudie's yard just to make a snow man and they still had to use dirt to make it complete. "Jem, I ain't ever heard of a nigger snowman," Scout said. Their snowman was filled with dirt, worms and not much snow but it still worked for them. Later, the night was cold, we had every heater on and we were still freezing, the temperature was about 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The whole neighborhood had every heater on just like us, including Miss Maudie. That night, I wake my children and take them outside, Miss Maudie's house was on fire. The neighbors, including myself, help save her furniture. Later, Scout and Jem come back inside and Scout has a blanket over her shoulders. She didn't even realize who put it on her. Jem told us that it was Boo Radley and Scout nearly threw up! Jem tells me all about their game and I have no other advice other then to keep it to themselves.

The next day Scout almost starts a fight with one of her classmates named Cecil Jacobs. While this is happening Cecil says "Scout Finch’s daddy defends niggers.” I was asked to defend a negro named Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a white woman. I feel like it's a case that I can't win but I tell Scout I believe in myself.

During winter my brother Jack comes to visit us for a week. Usually, Scout and Jack get along but not this time. On Christmas day, I take Jem, Scout, and Jack to Finch's Landing. There we find Alexandra (my sister), her husband, and Francis (their son). Scout thinks Francis it the most boring person she's ever met and she has to put up with him and Alexandra who thinks Scout should dress more lady like.

One night, Francis tells Scout that Dill is a runt and calls me a "Nigger Lover". This makes Scout very angry and she cusses Francis out and beats him up. Jack spanks her before even hearing her side of the story and Scout makes him promise not to tell me and Jack keeps his word. Later, Scout here's me telling Jack the Tom Robinson is innocent but has no chance because he is a Negro and he is in front of a jury of white people.

To Kill A Mockingbird

Journal #2-
Chapters 4-7
Perspective: Jem

I look after my little sister Scout like it’s my job; sometimes if even feels like a job. I need to be the big brother in the family which means I’m the tough guy. I never decline a dare no matter how severe the consequences could turn out to be. For example I was the one who made the game where each person takes on a different personality of someone from the Radley family. On the last night Dill was in town we decided to sneak into the Radley’s yard. We almost got caught but we all ran. Unfortunately, I got caught on the fence and I had to take my pants off to get to safety. During the neighborhood meeting Dill had to help me think of an excuse as to why I didn’t have pants on. Later that night, I decided I wanted to go back to the Radley house to get my pants. Scout freaks out but I still go.
Scout and I start walking home after school this year and we find all types of treasures in the Radley Tree knothole. One day we decide to write a thank you letter to the person who keeps putting the presents there for us. When we go to deliver the letter we find that the knothole has been filled with cement. Mr. Radley claims it’s because the tree is dying but I suspect otherwise.

Free Choice Blog #3!

NAME: Tori Elizabeth! DATE: 02-18-10!
BOOK: Friends to Die For!
AUTHOR: Jane Sughrue Giberga PAGES: 107-231(end
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 124

15. Make up a motto that one of the characters seems to live by. How and why does this fit the character?
"Go big or go home." seems to be Crissy's mothers motto. She loves everything done perfectly and if you're not going to do it right the first time then you just shouldn't do it at all. Anne needs her house to be clean and perfect and when the T.V. crew came there was twice as much work as there was after Mark got hit by the car. Now that she came home everything is more tense.

20. I wonder why the author…
I wonder why the author made the whole interview thing. It kinda seems out of place and like its just randomly in the story. It doesn't seem like there is nothing really there with it. Shes just a normal mother that use to work away but now she is a house wife. I just wonder if there is a certain reason for it being there or if its just because it needed more length and detail.

16. Which character would you like (or not like) to be your friend? Why?
I would probably like it if Francessca was my friend. She seems like one of those people who doesn't like being in a lot of drama but some how still ends up in it, like me. We would get along very well cause we have a lot of things in common like she puts her friends and family first then everything else can wait til its time. I would probably be able to get along with how Markie was in the beginning of the book but then after the murder she turned into a wreck and I honestly don't know how I would be able to handle that.

4. What character do you like most in this book and/or what character do you like least? Why?
I really do not like Mark. I know he got hit by a car but still he's hogging all the attention from Anne (the mother). He just kind of makes me upset because I just don't feel like he's that hurt anymore and he's still acting like he's extremely hurt. This book is taking place over a month or two and he'll be sore but I just think that he's a big faker. Maybe that's what the author is trying to make it seem like but it REALLY annoys me and I just don't like Mark.


-tori elizabeth!

Free Choice Reading Blog #1

NAME: Tori Elizabeth
DATE: 02/03/10
BOOK: Friends To Die For
AUTHOR: Jane Sughrue Giberga
PAGES: 1-70
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 70

My book is about a group of people that live in New York and they are extremely rich with big houses. One night they had a party and there was a murder the same night with one of the girls that was at the party. There are many secrets and struggles about this event that are taken out through out this book.

QUESTION 1: Do you think you would read another book by this author? Why or why not?

RESPONSE 1: I really like this book so far and I think that I would like to read another book by Jane Sughrue Giberga because they are really detailed and exciting. I'm not sure what her other books are about but I think that if they are something like Friends to Die For then I would definitely enjoy them. I can barley put this book down and I can't wait til I get to the ending!

QUESTION 2: What in the book upsets you or bothers you? Why?

RESPONSE 2: In this book it annoys me because its really predictable. I always see what is happening next and I like surprises in books. I think that the killer with be Nicky but hopefully there will be a sudden twist and the killer will not be the person everyone thinks it is. Maybe in the end this book will surprise me.

Friends To Die For

The book I chose is Friends To Die For by Jane Sughrue Giberga. I decided to read this book because my sister read it in 8th grade aswell and she said it was a really good book. Now I decided to read it. Hopefully shes right(: