Thursday, October 31, 2013

Uglies Plot Twist

Currently, in Uglies, there is a very big plot twist. She finds out from David's mom that when the Society turns someone pretty, they also add a lesion to their brain to make them act stupid and feel "bubbly." 

I think this is important to the book because without it, there would be no sequels. Also, it adds interest to the book. If this event didn't happen, then I probably wouldn't still be reading this book because it would be very boring. 

Uglies Theme

In my book, Uglies, the theme is very present. It is that looks shouldn't define you and everyone is uniquely beautiful in their own way. 

I know this because David, who Tally meets in The Smoke, is not a pretty. He was born in there. When he told Tally she was beautiful, at first she denied it, because she hadn't had the surgery yet. But, since she eventually feels confident in her looks, we can infer that the author wants us to be also.

Uglies Book Summary

I have been reading the book, Uglies. It is by Scott Westerfeld. In the beginning, Tally is living in a society where everyone gets a surgery when they turn sixteen. She is one of the last ones to turn of age. Peris, Tally's best friend, has already had the surgery. He is considered a Pretty. All Pretties do is party. 

During the summer, waiting to turn sixteen, Tally is lonely until she met Shay. Shay leads her on an adventure, and to see where she ends up, and if she gets turned into a pretty, you will have to read Scott Westerfeld's book!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Uglies Connection to Twilight Zone

I can connect the society in Uglies to a clip of Twilight Zone we watched in class last year. In the clip it showed the same kind of ugly verses pretty conflict. The main character was a girl who couldn't have the surgery because it wouldn't work.

They had these unsurgical people in Uglies as well. I know this because Tally was scared she was going to be one of them when she heard, "There's been a problem with your operation." (101).

Also, the main characters both had a conflict of not being able to become pretty. Finally, I would like to make a connection of this video the the previous video I made a blog about. Both have a mood of suspense that is created by the music.

Here is the clip if you would like to make your own connections.

Uglies Movie Trailer Analysis


The second the video starts it sets a mood with the music. The mood is sinister and it makes the viewer prepared for the rest of the trailer. It also gives the viewer and idea of whats to come.

The flash of pictures illustrates the setting. It shows a big city and also says, "In the future..." This is important to the reader because imagery is an important tool to reading. The video also shows something important about the characters. It shows that the people considered ugly in Scott Westerfeld's book are just regular people today.

I think the trailer is good because it shows the conflict, characters, and setting in the book. This is an important thing to the reader because if they don't like one of these traits of the book, chances are they won't like the book in general.

The only thing I don't like about this trailer is the end of the credits. The tidbit at the end is very unprofessional.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

If I Stay Book Review

I have recently been reading If I Stay, and I am going to review the book so far. 

I really like how relatable Mia is. She is very passionate about the cello. Most people have something they ate very into, so they have something in common to Mia. People generally like to read about people they can relate to. 

I also really like the authors flow and syntax. I think the way the other words sentences keeps the reader interested. For example she says, "Up and down, side to side." I really like how the author illustrates the movement through her words. 

I don't like the event in which Adam leaves Mia alone in the ICU when he has only been in their for ten minutes. I think that his character is supportive through his other actions, but here he is not. 

Overall though, I really like Gayle Forman's book! 



If I Stay Synopsis Analysis

I would like to review my books synopsis. Firstly, it has some writing in red and some in navy. I think the text in red is emphasized because it is important. Someone who has picked up this book for the first time ever would see the red first. This text is quotes from different reviews of the story. They are all positive so the reader could assume this is a good book, and buy it. 

Next, at the top of a page it reads, "On a day that started like any other..." in a unique font. This shows it's important and draws the reader in. The sentence also interludes into the actual synopsis. 

In the synopsis it explains Mia's life before the accident. It explains the plot in an interesting way to get someone to buy and read it! It also portrays Mia as very relatable because most people like books in which you can relate to the protagonist. 

Finally, at the bottom of the page, there is an advertisement for the sequel. That will increase sales for the authors next novel. 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

If I Stay Article Analysis

I found an article that I thought was a great addition to read along with the book. It consists of several questions and answers from the author. Click the link to read it!

One question I would like to focus on from the interviewer was, "What inspired you to write this book?" I believe Gayle's answer is very interesting. She answered with another question:

What would you do if something catastrophic had happened to your family and they were all gone, and you yourself were hovering on the brink between life and death and were somehow cognizant of what had happened to your family. If you could choose to go with your family or stay behind, what would you do?

She says that that's how Mia cane about. So we can learn from and about Gayle through Mia because she wrote from her point of view, what she believed. I think that is a good question to ponder, but hopefully you won't be in that situation.

If I Stay Reading Skills

Recently, I have been reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman. It is about a girl who is in a coma from a car accident. Throughout the book her spirit is conscious, she can see herself and others, even though her body is laying on a hospital bed. Mia struggles with the decision of whether to fight to stay on Earth, without her family, or to give in to the fight.

I predict that Mia will choose to live because I think this story will have a happy ending. I also think she will not give in because I think the theme of this book is to not give up even in the direst of circumstances. If she dies, her character will not demonstrate this theme.

The question I have is what's wrong with her brother, Teddy. In the crash she looks for him, but doesn't find him before the ambulance came. Is he alive or dead with her parents? I think this is important and will be revealed in the story because it could change her decision.

My text to world connection is recently there has been a girl in a circumstance similar to this. I wonder if she went through the same out of body experience Mia is.

My text to self connection is that Mia has a very laid back family. This reminds my of my best friends family. They also act very similarly.

My text to text connection is to my last book, My Sister's Keeper. Both books have a character that has a life or death to make. Mia has to decide if she wants to come out of her coma and Kate has to decide whether to do the kidney transplant.

I think this book is very interesting and I think you should read it!