Questions, Questions, Questions

(Ben and I are writing this together after reading Chapters 5 & 6)
Today's reading added to our list of questions.
What is the source of Billy Bismo's power? He clearly is a strong leader. Why do people respect him? How does he intimidate them? Billy has three rules:
- Always beleive Billy.
- Always obey Billy.
- Always speak true to Billy.
It seems like everyone follows the rules. Why?

We were both intrigued by Spaz's family story - at least the little of it we know. We are anxious to hear the details.

I (Dad) confess that I did not connect his name 'Spaz' with his epilepsy, even though he talked about it in the first paragraphs of the book. Ryter suggested that the Epilepsy might actually not be a 'curse' (as Spaz sees it) because it prevents him for using the 'Probes'. Ben agrees with Ryter.

Past, Present, and Future

In Chapters 3 & 4 things do not get clear but we start to learn more about the world that Spaz lives in. We heard about 'proovs' in the first chapters and now we meet one. That encounter raised as many questions as it answered. What questions do you have regarding 'proovs'?

More interesting to me though were the issues of past and future. Rhyter helps Spaz to see that he has a quality most of his 'peers' do not have. What is it? What are the consequences of a society lacking in the ability? (That could be called a 'philisophical question'? We do not have enough information to answer it in the context of the book but it is interesting to think about.)

Rhyter also has Spaz think out his view of the 'future'. Find the text that explains Spaz's view. Do you agree or disagree with his defintion?

Start your reading engines....

Time to get going. Lets read the first couple of chapters and see what is going on. It might be good (teacher highly recommends) that you read the first two chapters with a highlighter in hand or pencil and paper by your side. Character names and traits, new words, invented words (how do you tell the difference?) - make note of them and we will figure out how the blog can help us keep track of them.

We have talked about the difference between Fantasy and Science fiction. Which one is this book? Why?

Predictions for Chapter 3?

Reading the Last Book?

We are about to dive into science fiction. Can there be a character more manipulative than Piper in this book?

Get your copy. We start reading The Last Book in the Universe on monday, February 11th, 2008 (the fourth day of the year of the rat).

Al Capone Does My Shirts - Archive

We have finished reading Al Capone Does My Shirts and are moving on to a new book. Before doing so, I am capturing a few of the sidebars on this page for future reference. There is probably a better way to do this but I do not know what it is.

Characters
• Mathew "Moose" Flanagan, 12, brown eyes, tall
• Natalie Flanagan, 10 (always), older then Moose, green eyes
• Piper, 13, 'a looker', freckles, long dark hair
• Mr. Flanagan, Guard & Electrician, shorter then Moose
• Mrs. Flanagan, ?
• Annie, 12, yellow hair, 'big girl', good baseball player, part of Piper's gang
• Scout McIlvey, 12, small, "hair grows up instead of down", baseball captain
• Theresa Mattaman, 7, black curly hair, missing teeth, pushy

Wardens Rules
1. No Contact with Convicts
2. Do not go into Fenced Areas
3. No visitors without prior request
4. Do not speak to outsiders about what goes on in Alcatraz
5. Always walk through Snitch Box

Links
Virtual Tour (Find Alkatraz)
Alcatraz History (nice Map)
Al Capone Museum
Authors Website

Big Questions
1. How does a person become part of a group?
2. How does a person decide who to trust?
3. What makes a person powerful?

Now on to the "Last Book in the Universe"

Have you seen her?

Bad Timing!

We finished the book just as the vacation started. Now we have to clear some cobwebs as try to finish our work with this book.

Ben was beginning to write a letter to "Librarian's Monthly" (his choice) to suggest that they stock this book . He was to include some information that would be useful to librarians in getting kids to read it. As a refresher: What sort of things might get a Librarian excited about this book or any book?