Point of View

I See Things Differently

Book: First To Kill

Nathan McBride- From Nathan's point of view Ernie is a no good man that gets in trouble with the law almost all the time. This effects the story because when Ernie bombed the FBI office he thought it was just to blow something up. When this happened Nathan grew an unimaginable hatred towards him because of what he thought was a bombing for just the enjoyment. This made Nathan want to kill Ernie even more.

 (Support for troubles)"Ernie was just a no good man that gets in trouble for the fun of it,"  

(Support for Bombing thought)"Only the sick mind of Ernie Bridgestone would do this. He probably laughed and enjoyed seeing the burning building."

Ernie Bridgstone- From Ernie's point of view he is a misunderstood man that gets in trouble for stuff he didn't do. This effects the story because he wouldn't be doing all of this if the FBI never blamed him for many things. His anger is now all focused on the people that ruined his life. The bombing at the FBI field office was caused by his thirst for revenge. The reason he tortured and/or killed so many people was because of his thirst for revenge. His whole mind was set on thinking about revenge

(Support for troubles)"The lady I ran into was drunk. She walked into the street behind the cover of 2 cars. I didn't see her!!! She was the drunk one!!! I wasn't the one out of control!!!"

(Support for Bombings)"Payback suckers. Now you can eat my semtex dust."

Creative piece

The Rays of Grand Central Station

It was just another day for the citizens of New York. Nothing seemed different, nothing exciting to be witnessed. But for those arriving and leaving the city from one of the most glorious train stations in the world, there was absolute beauty.

The  mostly clear and sunny day had sparked a light show inside of the train station. Peeking through the windows, rays of lights could be identified flowing onto the floor and almost seemingly through the floor. As people started to walk in they let out long, astonished gasps at gods light. The usual bustling and noisy Grand Central Station was now quiet, its occupants marveling at the sight. Just like Christmas not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Absolute silence.

As the day moves on, clouds pass over the sun, casting shadows that seem to play with the people. Soon enough kids started chasing them around in almost a dance. It seemed as if they were able to communicate movements with the clouds because of the patterns they were moving in. 

When day went to dusk and dusk went to night, many people wanting the trains out  of  New York decided to stay. They were too distracted as the lights went on all day until the sun decided to rest itself. That night news spread like a wild fire, all over the city at the marvelous thing that happened at Grand Central Station. So many different stories from so many different people.

Passing over time,  the years go on and the story begins to thin out. From the thousands and thousands of people it was whisked away, going along with those who were dying with the story. Just when there was only a handful of people and all was almost lost, a picture appeared. It was a picture from that long lost day. It was all people needed to feel what the people there felt. You could see it. You could almost feel the things there. You could almost smell the smells there. You could almost hear the sounds there. You could have almost been in that picture.

Compare Contrast

Two different places,

Two similar people

Compare/Contrast

Otto-

1. Uses gadgets("Now its time to get used to the grappling gun...",

2. trained by villains(HIVE explains itself in its name),

3. helped by normal people("The guards and teachers were at least human"),

4. Used to live in orphanage(Otto seemed to have did his own thing in the orphanage..." ,

5. Parents aborted him(There was a knock at the door and laying there was a baby.."

Both-

1. Protective of friends(He would never let anything happen to his friends.."/"He had to save them from the plant.."),

2. Brave("Risked his life..."/"Saved us all at the cost of hurting himself"),

3. On quest to save people(He had to find Ra or else..."/"Raven was his only chance out. He had no choice but to go find her..",

4. Both lose family members"His dad was encased in his final coffin..."/"He never actually had a family anyways...",

5. Have special guardians"So I guess you're the special guardian he talked about?"/"Raven, watch Malpense carefully and keep him unharmed.."

Carter-

1. Uses special powers"With astonishment Zia looked as Carter summoned a god avatar",

2. trained by heroes"He had been trained by many of the gods that opposed chaos...",

3. helped by gods"Bast was summoned to protect and guide the Cane's...",

4. Used to live with dad (went all around world)"After Carter's mom died, Sadie lived with her grandparents and Carter went with his dad everywhere on his adventures. Julius was the only family Carter had now..",

5. Parents died."His mom blown up opening the portal and now his dad buried alive by Set"

Theme

Otto the Brave

(Authors Note: This writing piece is about theme of the book HIVE. I am writing this to show my understanding of theme)

Even when situations get out of hand will you be the one to step forward? Will you be the one to take the trouble one on one and lead everyone? This is what happened in the book HIVE by Mark Walden when Otto faced two indescribable events. Through lots of courage, bravery, and determination shown by this group of HIVE students, it was very simple to point out the themes of the book.

One thing that stood out to me was when Otto and the group of friends were planning the escape, Otto was the one conducting the setup. From what time to go to how to get out he planned almost every single thing to get off the island. He was determined to get off and took it into his own hands. In the book it said, "As the deadline neared Otto grew even more determined to escape.” This is clearly saying he had the determination to leave.

Another example of determination is when Nigel’s test plant goes crazy. The supersized monster of a plant is on pace to destroy the entire island with all of the students on it. As the staff of HIVE are ready to retreat and leave Otto again steps up and takes the problem into his own hands. The plant is tearing the in ground city apart and Otto is determined to destroy it to save everyone. Through the destruction Otto didn’t stop messing with ways to stop the plant until he found the solution and destroyed it. Otto’s determination again has helped what his goal was to do.

Another book that has the same theme is anything in the Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Kane Chronicles. All of these series have parts where determination comes in. In all the series  the world is about to end and the characters were very determined to not let it happen. Every single one of the characters risked their lives to save innocent civilians on their quests to defeat whatever evil god they were facing. If it was a life death situation I personally would just save myself and run away. The characters in the books had the bravery and determination to go back and save the others.

 Also those characters showed determination to help each other. Most of the time the characters were best friends to each other and no matter the situation they were always determined to help each other. The whole series they were immediately on each other’s defense from whatever was happening. This is similar if not exactly the same as the characters in HIVE felt for each other.

Even though the book had many themes, determination stood out the most of all. From the planning of the escape to the man eating plant the characters showed determination to complete their hard fought tasks to a personal victory. Determination, determination, determination, that's the repeated theme of the book and the most important  time after time. 

            

Prediction

HIVE

The book HIVE by Mark Walden is starting to get to the climax. The book is about a group of kids sent to an island to learn the ways of evil scientists and agents. Some of the kids were forced into going without knowing and they are now giving clues about having them plot an escape.

            Otto and Wing finally have started their “normal lives” in the HIVE complex. Along the way though many hints came up about them trying to escape HIVE island. I think that this is easily the main conflict of the book and that this means the ending will solve the problem having them escape or, getting caught.

            The first clue pointing to escape is when they first arrive at the island. Otto notices that they have an underground submarine base and starts making plans and talking to Wing about them escaping with the subs. In the book Otto says to Wing “…Did you notice the submarine dock. Maybe we could use them to escape…..”. Obviously this is directly saying they trying to escape.

            Another clue is that both Otto and Wing have been looking for faults in the places security. I know this because the book gave me clues by having Otto talk about the security. When they started their HIVE tour Otto and Wing started  asking questions like” Has anyone escaped the island?” and “What parts of the island can the security see?” Throughout the tour they kept asking and asking until the Contessa threatened give them a very bad visit while they were there. Even after that they kept searching for more clues to see how good the island’s security is. In order to escape Otto must know what the security can do and what the faults are.

            Finally in the middle of the book Otto and Wing are starting to make a small group of four people for the attempted escape. I know that they are now getting very serious about doing what they’ve been trying to do. With a group formed they are now getting the supplies and planning the escape. In the book it says “In order to escape the island we must have a group to help each other.” There was also another hint from the story. The main one for this reason. “On the bed was the final list in what they need to escape.” Again this is telling you “We’re trying to escape!”.

            What I’m predicting will happen is similar to the book Rise of Scorpia by Anthony Horrowitz. In the book Alex Rider is trying to escape from his arch nemesis’ compound. There too is a very tight security with barely any faults in it. Just like Otto Alex looked and looked for anything that could help him in his escape. Alex does end up making it out but with the help of someone from the outside. I think the ending of HIVE will end very similar to this way if they get free.

            Summing up all of the evidence the book gives us it is clear to me they will attempt the escape sometime soon. Escaping this island sounds like a suicide mission. Security is tight 24/7 and HIVE mind is everywhere watching your every move. I question if the book will have a happy ending. Will they even make it past part one? Will they escape? Will they even get anywhere after getting through the security? This is the only shot they have and they can’t miss it.            

Prediction of 3:15

I predict that at the end of the book Troy will end up making Mr. Mason a better teacher. I do because when Troy said you're my favorite teacher I think it gave a hint on what was coming up. Because of the fact that it was rare to think Mr. Mason is the best teacher it will impact him. He will become nicer to Troy in my predictions and at the end, Troy will convince Mr. Mason to be a little more lenient on his expectations causing him to start being more nice to the other students.

The real ending was better than mine but it was a lot more confusing. It might have helped if I had read the rest of the book. I was lost at where this was and when it said "only time will tell" that really doesn't give much of an ending.

Character Development

Hello I’m the new Carter

Authors Note:

This piece is about the character analysis in the book series the Kane Chronicles. I wrote this to demonstrate my understanding of character analysis.

In the series Kane Chronicles Carter, the a main character, came a long way from the beginning when he was a clueless traveling 13 year old, to a strong and brave boy that feared nothing that came in his path. Not even Apophis. Through many heart stopping, difficult situations Carter went from having Bast and Amos doing everything, to him leading the pack and taking on the enemy. Carter showed significant amounts of change throughout the whole series.

            Even though some of his changes were very subtle, I could still notice him change. Starting in book one I noticed his attitude and mindset change from the time his dad released the gods at Rosetta Stone to when he defeated Apophis.

Before he knew he was a magician from the strongest family of Egypt, he was a very timid and shy kid. I think this was because Carter and his dad traveled around the world nonstop. If they do that he has to get used to the new people really quick before he’s off to another place. Usually when meeting new people you’ll be shy at first and then when you get to know them you’ll talk more comfortably. After the accident Sadie’s guardians sent them from England to Brooklyn to live with their Uncle Amos. There Carter began to see what he really was and started learning to use his magic. From there on his confidence level went up and up because now he thought he was a powerful magician.

Yes he had changed a lot but don’t think he didn’t change anymore because he did. From the end of book one to the start of book two I noticed he had changed again. From the Red Pyramid he started leading but was still timid. During the Throne of Fire he was confident in what he was directing people to do. He was actually leading with confidence instead of his old self that half-heartedly directed. I could tell that he was getting better at leading because when reading the text it looked like he was firm with his speech and that he actually knew what he was doing. In the first book he had no idea what to do.

Finally Carter’s ultimate change was the way he acted. From the start he was a teenager that wanted to stay the same as he always was. Traveling around the world discovering cool ancient Egyptian stuff and acting in the ways of Egypt. Now that he’s in America everyone is staring at him for dressing in his Egyptian clothes. Now at the end he has changed and has begun to dress in normal peoples clothes (but with no cotton so he can use magic) and has acted normal not talking about the gods and the history of Egypt.

When I think of a similar character I think of Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson series. They are similar in many ways changing from the beginning of the series to the end. Percy was timid in the beginning just like Carter was and wasn’t able to lead anyone. Another thing is they both eventually made progress to become great leaders. Percy lead the defense of Manhattan and Carter lead the defensive of the world against Apophis. Also both of them got a place to call “home”. Carter and Percy moved around a lot. At the end of these series they both settled into a spot and lived there. Finally at the end of both of the series they both became a leader of their home base. This takes large amounts of leadership and courage to be able to gain a position like that.

Carter has come a long way from the beginning. He made major changes that shaped the way his new self would be. From noticing his changes I now know that you can change to and be whatever you want to be. You just have to take risks and attempt your tasks.