Twisters

Wang Lu Tang (Tony)

Author: Mike Potter

Genre: Popular Science

Date Started: 10th March, 2010

Date Finished: 16th March, 2010

The twister is a natural phenomena in America. Rob saw a twisters' power. Rob was in his farmyard in Texas. The twister was passed through the farmyard. The twister struck the house.This book describes how twisters occur.

The theme of the book is to strengthen the knowledge of twisters, and teach us when the twister will come. They have got strange showers, and it teaches us how to better protect ourselves. The book is a good popular science book. The book shows animals have sharper senses than human beings. Many know when the weather is going to change, or when a bad storm or an earthquake is going to happen.

Waterspouts are twisters that happen out at sea. They whisk up water. The tallest waterspouts can be 1.6 kilometres high. When twisters drop the things that they pick up, strange things can happen. A twister in England once caused a shower of frogs to fall to the ground.

We can't change natural phenomena, but we can expect them and prevent damage from them. We will know how some animals can feel bad things, how twisters are formed , and how to prevent disasters.

I feel the book is good because the story is very alarmingly dangerous. And it has some photos. I feel the book a little difficult, but I wish other students read it, because this book has got valuable knowledge.

Amazon Alert

Haruka Nakagami

I read Amazon Alert by Paul Davies. This book is a mystery or an adventure. I started the book on Monday, March15th and finished it on that day.

This story is set in Vila Nova. The characters are three children. Their names are Lucia, Rosanna and Pedro. One day, they found a strange boat in the river and they found a botanist had died. They were afraid about that and they went out from their village to solve the crime. A strange man appeared. The three children were hindered by the strange man because he has a plan to develop the village land so he threatened the villagers. Finally, the children could find the culprit. It was the strange man, but he escaped then.

I think this book has some pictures and short sentences so it’s easy. It is a good thing but I want to read more story next time.

Walkabout

Asuka Miyazaki

I read Walkabout by James Vance Marshall. The book is a story about an Aboriginal boy and two American children. I started the book on Saturday, March 13th & finished it on Sunday, March 14th. Walkabout is set in the Australian desert. The main characters are Mary, Peter, the bush boy and Uncle Keith.

Mary and Peter are American children. They will visit Uncle Keith’s home in Australia, but they have an airplane crash. Only they survive the crash. The desert was a strange world for them. And then they meet the bush boy. They learn about the desert from him. For example they learned how to make a fire. I think the theme is a meeting of different cultures.

After I read this book, I thought they were very lucky that they met the bush boy. Because if they hadn’t met him, they wouldn’t have been able to survive in the desert. I learned it is important to understand about a different culture. Everyone, each has a different world. We’ve got different cultures, customs and lifestyles. But everyone lives in one world. I think if we understand other cultures, we can make a new culture. Also if we understand other cultures, we can widen our horizons. I want to deepen my knowledge, so I’ll read many books, and I’ll learn English hard to I talk with many kinds of people.

I think the best thing about the book is the scene where Mary understood about the bush boy’s culture. The worst thing is the scene where the bush boy died.

This book is good, because it’s a good story. The English level of this book is right. I’d like to recommend other students read this book. I think Walkabout is a book so you can think about a different culture.

Australia and New Zealand

Keita Fukushima

I read book a called Australia and New Zealand written by Christine Lindop. This book is written about Australia and New Zealand's history, famous places, animals, people and life here, so for example this book introduces about Aborigines, red kangaroos, koalas, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Maori, Rotorua, kauri trees, the kiwi and kiwifruit, I was especially surprised to know a adult kangaroo is 2.4 meters tall and can travel at seventy kilometers an hour. I have wanted to travel to Australia from a long time ago, so after finishing reading it, I thought it is a very beautiful place, so I want to travel to see the Great Barrier Reef and kangaroos in Australia.

This book is excellent for me! It was neither easy nor hard for me, maybe just the right level. I want to read more books like this book. I recommend other students read the book.

The White Oryx

Saaya Furukawa

Date Started: 13^th March

Date Finished: 14^th March

Mandy Brown is in the desert with Abdullah who is an oryx ranger, because she took some photos of oryx. And she is writing a book about the animals of Arabia. Suddenly the radio says that there’s a problem in that poachers appeared in Wadi Bidbid. They have a bad influence upon oryx. They find an oryx body under a tree. They look for the baby oryx that was carried off by the poachers. They find the poachers. But the poachers shoot at their car. And the poachers are coming back there. Suddenly there is a very a loud noise and they see a helicopter in front of them. In the end, they can protect the oryx from the poachers, and Mandy can take some very interesting pictures.

This story is good. My heart fluttered with excitement! the story was so exciting! I learned it is very important that we don’t give up. If they had given up on finding the baby oryx, they couldn’t have saved it. So I thought this book’s massage is 'Don’t give up.' The worst thing was that they couldn’t save an oryx. But they could save a baby oryx! It is the best. I recommend this book to other people, because this story is good. I want a lot of people to read this book and learn about the need to protect animals.

Muhammad Ali

Dingwei Lin

This week I read this book . I understand why he became a boxer. It was because of his red and white bike which was stolen by a white American. Ali fought with the white American, but he lost. A police officer taught boxing in a gym, Ali went to the gym to find him. Then Ali followed him to learn how to box. When Ali was eighteen years old, he was in Rome for the Olympic Games. He beat every opponent and he won the Olympic boxing championship. He always danced here and there in the ring. After that Ali fought the world champion, Sonny Liston and beat him in the ring. So Ali was the new champion of the world and he was only twenty-two years old.

Ali is a black American. He didn’t listen to the American government that ordered him to go into the army. He loves peace. He always boxed for peace. He told everybody “The fighting in Vietnam is wrong.”

I think he is right. He loves peace and I love peace too. He learned to box very hard, and maybe I need to be like that. He wasn’t afraid of the American government, because his thinking was peace is important in the world. His selection is right.

This book is just right for me, it wasn’t difficult or easy. It let me understand more things. I think this book is excellent. It has taught me the peace of the world is important to every country and everyone.

Slinky Jane

Manami Neno

I read Slinky Jane. The author is Catherine Cookson. I thought this book is a love story. I started and finished this book on March 14. The main characters are Peter and Leo. Peter works at a garage, and Leo is a mysterious woman.

One morning an old car stopped at Peter’s garage. Leo asked him to fix her car. The story started on this morning.

Peter fell in love with Leo and she fell in love with him too. There were a lot of problems. For example, Peter’s mother didn’t like Leo. But they resolved those problems together and the couple finally got married.

It was hard to read for me because there were many characters in this book. But if you can understand it, I think this book will be interesting. This book’s level is about right.

I don’t recommend this book.

The Three Musketeers

Lei Zhang

This weekend I read a novel named The Three Musketeers.This book's writer is Alexandre Dumas, a famous French writer. That book tells the story of young people who leave home to follow their dreams. I was completely fascinated in the story. Dumas impressed his unique idea upon me. The book has very exciting twists of fate. As readers, we follow the heroes lives with excitement.
The story described 17th Century France politics and its numerous conflicts. The the most important person is a French guy whose name is D' Artagnan. He saved his friends from danger and foils the conspiracy of the Cardinal by using his intelligence. Here I have to mention his three friends - The Three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. They are very good friends, they are upright and courageous to a friend at any cost, as well as gentlemen.
At one point, D'Artagnan and the three musketeers were in conflict but then they joined forces to fight the Cardinal and his guards. As a result, they got the victory and became very good friends.

I enjoyed the author's vivid description of the fighting, and the characterization. He creates four heroes with very different personalities. The book shows how friendship can be so important in your life.

Kings and Queens of Britain

Dingwei Lin

I read Kings and Queens of Britain by Tim Vicary this week. In AD 43 there were a lot kings and queens all over Britain. In the east of England there was a young queen called Boudicca. She could fight with the Roman soldiers. She killed the Roman soldiers, and burned the Roman town of Colchester. I think she is very brave, so I want to learn her bravery. Now her statue is in Hyde Park corner, in the middle of London. She is the first famous queen in Britain. I will remember her.

When I finished this book I knew the famous kings and queens of Britain. This book let me understand that money and power are not important. What is important is spirituality. There are many countries in the world. There are many kings and queens in the world. They have lots of gold and power. However, they will be forgotten by us when their times pass. Only the great people are remembered by us, because they do great things in the world. So we shouldn't be seduced by money or power.

This book is excellent and not difficult. You can learn about British history through it. It is just right for everyone.

Anne of Green Gables

Asuka Miyazaki

I read Anne of Green Gables by L.M.Montgomery. I started the book on Wednesday, March 5th & finished it on Monday, March 8th.

Anne of Green Gables is set in Green Gables. The main characters are Anne Shirley, Matthew Cuthbert, Marilla Cuthbert, Mrs.Lynde, Diana Barry, and Gilbert Phillips.

Matthew and Marilla wanted a boy from the orphanage to help him on the farm. Matthew went to meet the boy at the station. But there was only one person at the station, a little girl. Her name is Anne Shirley. She’s very funny and honest. They sometimes have problems with her, but she makes them very happy. Everyone loves her. I think the theme is love.

I thought Anne is funny and honest, but she’s very kind. She’s a good girl. I learned from the book that it’s important to take good care of the people around me. So I want to look after not only myself but also the people around me. For example, I’ll help my mother more with the housework.

The best thing is the scene where Anne helps Diana’s sister. The worst thing is the scene where Matthew dies.

This book’s good, because it’s a very interesting story. The English level of this book is right. I recommend other students read this book. Anne of Green Gables is a wonderful and famous story. As it is interesting, I think you can finish reading it fast.

Mutiny On The Bounty

Sen (Seth) Dang

I read MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY by TIM VICARY.

This book is a story about growing up. I started the book on Wednesday, March 3rd & finished it on Tuesday, March 9th.

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY is set in 1787 in England & beyond, on a little ship. It is about three men and a boy .

It is a cold day in December 1787. The four people are going to Tahiti. Their boat is very small, but they’re very warm and beautiful. The captain Mr. Bligh is very bad. On 26 October 1788 they arrived in Tahiti. In the next year by March there were a thousand breadfruit trees on the ship.

Because Mr. Bligh was very bad, some people left the ship. At last the young boy Peter was the captain of ship, like Captain Bligh after about twenty years. And he took some more breadfruit trees to Jamaica. After that, he sailed many more ships. He was an important man. He died in 1817.

I think the book is excellent because it gave me a strong impression of sailing and the sea.

I recommend other students read this book.

Coffee Time

Gabriel Gebreisdik

Author： Sheila Duke

Date Started: 17^th March

Date Finished: 17^th March

The book is set in Zita’s house and a cafe. The main characters are Zita and Judy. They meet for a coffee and a chat.

I rate the book as excellent. The book’s level was OK. This book is good because the story is nice.

Surfer

Haruka Nakagami

I read “Surfer!” by Paul Harvey. This book is a story about a teenager. I started the book on March 3rd and finished it on that day.

This story is set in England. The characters are Nick, his parents, Janelle, Mike, and Brian. Nick and Janelle are the main characters. One day, Nick tells his parents about his desire. He would like to go to Australia because he wants to participate in a surf competition. But his parents don’t like his plan because they hope college is the important thing for him now and he can’t get to Australia and live there with only eight hundred pounds. Nick has only eight hundred pounds. However he doesn’t give up. He goes to the beach to practice surfing every day. And he meets Janelle at the beach. She gives some advice to Nick. He tries his hometown’s competition to get a money prize. He did fall in the water but it was an accident caused by Brian (Brian hates Nick) during the contest. But he was winning and he got permission from his parents to go to Australia.

I thought he has a strong will. And I leaned to never give up is very important if you want your dream to be realized. The best thing is this book has some pictures. I understood it easily. But I want to read more story so for that reason I think the book is poor. It was too easy.

Brazil-500 Years: Voyage to Terra Papagalis

Keita Fukushima

The book's title is Brazil - 500 Years: Voyage to Terra Papagalis. This book was written by Francisco Lima. The book is set in Portugal and Terra Papaglis in the 1500s. The main character is Afonso who went looking for new land with some people for his king, and he could find new land! And he wanted to go back to his country and his family though he began to stay in the new land.

This book is too short a story and very boring for me. There was no fun in this story so I think I'll never read this book again. This book was easy for me and it was not suitable.

Icarus

Wang Lu (Tony) Tang

Author: Caroline Laidlaw

Genre: Fairy story

Date Started: 4th March, 2010

Date Finished: 9th March, 2010

This story is set in Greece. Greece is a country with an ancient past. So how old is this story, and is the story true? Nobody knows the answers.

What happens? King Minos put Daedalus and his son in a tower. Then they make the wings from wax and feathers, and got away. But the son forgot about his father's warning not to fly too close to the sun. Icarus felt hot and then the wax began to melt, and he fell down into the sea.

The message of the book is we should listen to our elders. There is an old saying: 'Elders are good advisors.' The lessons from elders or pioneers are very important. We can't ignore them. I need to think over the proposals of my elders.

I feel the book is good because the story has got a good message. The book was 'just right.' It has just a small number of words that I don't know. I hope other students will read it, because what story has a more beautiful moral?

Anna & The Fighter

Manami Neno

I read Anna and the Fighter. The author is Elizabeth Laird. I couldn’t understand this book’s genre. I started and finished reading the book on March 8. The main characters are Anna and Sam. Anna is a little girl. I will explain the story.

Anna went to Naira because her aunt lives there. She went to Naira by train. It was her first time to go alone in a train. She slept in the train. Later, she woke up. It was dark outside. There was a man in the carriage with her then. He had an ugly face and he looked bad and dangerous. Anna noticed that she had already passed Naira. She wanted to cry. Sam said to her “ You can trust me.” But she thought he is bad man because she saw a newspaper on Sam’s seat. There was a photograph of him and above the photograph was a headline: "This man is a dangerous fighter." But it was her mistake. Sam is a pro boxer and he is very kind man. She could get to her aunt’s home finally.

I think this is a very nice story. This book made me happy. I learned from this book 'We must not judge a man by his appearance.' I think this book is excellent and the book’s level was easy for me. I recommend this book.

The Wind in the Willows

Cheuk Hang (Tom) Li

I read a book named The Wind the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

This story features Mole,Rat, Badger and Toad. The individual most like a character is Toad. The author describes Toad to be the same as the others, but in my eyes, Toad is more humanlike. In him there are feelings like venom or corrosion which spread extremely fast through the whole body. Although we know we do something wrong, we often cannot change our own minds and finally cannot stand our own innermost feelings, but Toad finally broke out of his innermost feeling, his shackles, and yet only made a half step. Perhaps you think the intrinsic change is not equal to the external, but if the most basic self-awareness isn't changed, you wouldn't be speaking idly.

Secondly I want to discuss Badger. Although he dislikes the Toad extremely, he never gives up. Maybe you will think Badger's behavior is motivated by good intentions. However consider that if you were Badger you would not have to persist with putdowns continuously. For Toad perhaps, real change is one of a few steps he cannot tread.

The Wrong Man

Manami Neno

I read The Wrong Man by Kris Anderson.

This book is a suspense story. I started this book on Sunday, February 28^th & finished it the same day. The Wrong Man is set in Uluru, Australia. The main characters are Steve Malone and Sally Peter.

I will introduce the story’s content. A letter that foretold a murder arrived at a police station in Australia. So Steve who works for the police went to the hotel near Ululu. He met Sally and he cooperated with her to find the killer.

I think this book is interesting. But this book hasn’t changed my lifestyle. The best thing about the book is that he and she fall in love. There was nothing bad.

The book’s rating is good. The English rating is 'easy for me.' I recommend this book. But I think this book might be too easy for you.

The Hen & the Bull

Lei Zhang

I read a book named The Hen & the Bull. This book has two stories. Both of them are short.
In the hen story, conflict between friends occurs because of a good hen. All of them benefit from quarrels. Little things are quickly magnified.
The bull story is about a farmer and an artist who become friends after a disagreement. The artist likes drawing animals and he is famous for drawing bulls. He wants to use his picture to exchange for a bull with the farmer, but the farmer refuses . Bulls like play games (e.g. running and jumping), and unfortunately, the bull hurts the artist's leg and the farmer has to look after the artist. Finally, the artist and farmer reconcile.
A lot of people benefit from friction. They don't understand that friends are important to us . Family and friends are all we need in our lifetime.

Tomorrow's Girl

Wang Lu (Tony) Tang

Author: John Escott

Genre: Science fiction

Date Started: 25th February, 2010

Date Finished: 2nd March, 2010

When & where is it set?

The story is told about a future girl living in 2099. She comes back to 1999, where she sees a beautiful island. She wants to keep this and change the future.

What happens?

Marta comes back to 1999, and she living in 2099. Catullo Island's environment is bad. When she looked at the nice environment of Catullo Island in 1999, she wanted to say to Bernardo Catullo who is the island' s master, 'Don't buy the island!'

What's the theme?

Environmental protection

What's the message?

Environmental protection is a very important thing.

What did you think of the book?

I think this book has a good pedagogical meaning!

What did you learn through reading this book?

We have just one earth, preserving the environment is obligation for everyone.

Has reading this book changed your attitude in any way?

Environmental protection is very important.

Are you going to change your lifestyle in any way because of reading this book?

Yes, I'll continue biking to the center. It's a way to preserve the environment.

What is the best thing about the book, &what is the worst?

We need to preserve the environment because it'll preserve it for future generations

How would you rate the book? As excellent, good, fair, or poor? Say why!

This book is a good beginning reader. It's got a nice message and romance in the story.

How would you rate the English level of the book? Was it too easy, about right or difficult?

It's simple.

Would you recommend other students read this book?

Yes, it's a good story!

The Ghost of Genny Castle

Wang Lu (Tony) Tang

Author: John Escott

Genre: Horror

Date Started: 25th February, 2010

Date Finished: 2nd March, 2010

When & where is it set?

The story is a ghost story. Claire lives in the country with her aunt. There are stories about a witch and a ghost in the village near her aunt's house. She wants to find out the answer.

Who are the main characters?

Claire, her aunt, Walter Burge and his cat.

What happens?

Most ghostly stories are told about a castle. Claire finds a book that talks about two witches who were imprisoned in the Black Tower and were burned. Now they have become the ghosts of Genny Castle.

What's the theme?

The key is for Claire to find the secret of Genny Castle and then show the message in the novel.

What's the message?

During the 1400-1700 period in European history, many thousands, possibly millions, of women were tortured and burnt to death. It's a mistake!

What did you think of the book?

The plot is simple, & so good for us to read. However there are about 500 different words in the book. To read it was hard for me as I'm poor at vocabulary.

What did you learn through reading this book?

I know we need to use the past tense to speak of the bygone.

Has reading this book changed your attitude in any way?

I must believe in scientific knowledge. Superstition is folly.

Are you going to change your lifestyle in any way because of reading this book?

No. I can't.

What is the best thing about the book, &what is the worst?

I think the people of village, they dodge Walter Burge. It causes Walter Burge to be crazy.

How would you rate the book? As excellent, good, fair, or poor? Say why!

I feel the book just so so because the story is old fashioned.

How would you rate the English level of the book? Was it too easy, about right or difficult?

It's hard for me.

Would you recommend other students read this book?

No,the story at first was good,but the end is just so so.

In Trouble With The Law

Asuka Miyazaki

I read In Trouble With The Law by H Chipper and B Stephenson. This book is a story about the law. I started the book on Saturday February the 26th & finished it on Sunday February the 27th. In Trouble With The Law is set at a checkpoint and in a courtroom. The main characters are Kevin and Beth.

This book’s story is about Kevin. He went drink driving one night, and he was caught by a policeman at a checkpoint. A few weeks later he got a letter with a court summons for driving while over the alcohol limit. He asked Beth (a lawyer) for help.

This book’s theme is about drink driving, and the message is we must always keep the law. After I read this book I thought it is very important to keep the law. We can spend time peacefully everyday, because we keep the law. So all of us always must keep the law. I sometimes cross against the lights, but I’ll wait for the lights to change now.

The best thing about this book is Kevin has good friends and a kind boss, because he might have lost his job if he hadn’t had them.

This book is fair, because it is easy to understand. It has many pictures, so I could easily imagine the scenes.The English level of this book is easy, so I’d like to recommend other students read this book.

Escape

Haruka Nakagami

I read Escape by Phillip Burrows and Mark Foster. This book is an adventure story. I started the book on Wednesday February 24^th and finished it later that day.

It is set in a prison. The main character is a prisoner called Brown. He is innocent but he must be in there for five years so he escapes. It’s the theme of this story.

I don’t know why he escapes from prison. If he is innocent, he should serve his time because if he escapes he actually will be guilty of a crime. This book has not changed my lifestyle but I’ve reconfirmed one thing. It’s we should not commit crimes.

This book’s best things are the comic format and the simple sentences but I want more plot development so it’s poor. The Level is too easy. However, this book is good to review for my class!