I Poem

Strength in Meekness

I am strong yet meek

I stand alone in a crowd

I thrive in an environment of solitude

I delight in exquisite moments of stillness

I desire to resonate a melody of consciousness

I am strong yet meek

I hope to create awareness

I long to make a difference during my life

I aspire to greet each day with a smile of pure joy

I am concerned for the world as it sighs its solemn cry

I crave for a change against injustice for my fellow man

I am strong yet meek

I want to be an advocate

I say there is hope for all of humanity

I dream of peace and unity for all mankind

I yearn for an atmosphere of tranquility among the masses

I have a passion for the broken and oppressed

I am strong yet meek

Heather Powell

I appologize for being late. I still have no car and I finally got a ride from my Mom (yes) to her office where there is internet. Now my quote is when Scipio gets Conte as a client. They are in teh confessional talking in the darkness. Prosper thought he could hear a small laugh. "So you really are the Thief Lord," the stranger said quietly. "Well keep your mask on if you don't want to show your face, but I can still see that you're very young." I really think this says alot about people and their identities. I didn't think much of it at first, however after reading more into it I felt like Conte wasn't just making a remark about how young Scipio is, but how he is hiding from the world. It makes me think of how many people think they can hide behind a mask. I just felt like it was talking to me about deception an how vain we can be when we think no one will know who is really behind the mask. It isn't just Scipio who is masked, even Conte is behind the confessionhal where he can not be seen. We all have our identities that we hide from the world. It seems so sad that a boy like Scipio has to hide behind his mask yet Conte still knows it is him by what Scipio says once the curtain is pulled. I really enjoyed breaking apart this one excerpt from the book. It is interesting that from one little scene you can get so much out.

The Thief Lord

I am sorry this is late guys. I had technical difficulties. My Internet went out. I still do not have a connection. Sprint is working on it. I went to a friend's house before work to do this assignment. The passage I chose is on page 141. "Watch out!" she shouted. But Riccio paid her no attention. Just as she steered past him, he stepped right in her way.
There was no chance for her to avoid him. They collided. The stuffed bags landed on the square and the dogs ran yapping after the apples and cabbages rolling over the wet cobbles. A little further down it picks up again with the lady asking him what he was doing, and he starts apologizing. I found this passage hilarious. I thought of all of the times my kids, nieces, and nephews have bumped into me at the worst times and caused me to make a mess. Now I have to wonder if all of those times were real accidents like they appeared at the time. It will remain a mystery for all time because if I ask them they will say of course it was, but is that the truth. It is still very funny to think about it. I can never remember having any intentional accidents when I was a child. I wonder if this will cause anyone else to stop and say hum....

I found this one of the most moving passages of the book. You can feel his pain over his brother. With all of the activity going on around him he still can't feel the beauty or wonder of his situation. It really makes you connect with him as a character. It shows his humanity more than any other part of the book.

Double Entry Diary

"There was always quite a crush on the Riva degli Schiavoni, even on a biting-cold day like this, since this was where some of the city's best hotels were to be found. Hundreds of boats docked at the moorings along the canal and there were constant comings and goings.Prosper heard the wind pushing the boats against the piers; he heard the dull thud as they bumped against the wood. He was aware, somewhere, of people laughing and talking in many languages. But he just stood there, his collar turned up against the chill, and looked up at the windows of the Sandwirth. When Ricco put his hand on his shoulder, Prosper spun around". (P.240 paragraph 1)
When I read this passage I felt I was transported to the busy street in front of one of the most prosperous regions of Venice. I could literally feel the cold crushing against my skin as the wind whistled over the canal. I heard the 'thunk, thunk, thunk,' sound of the boats as they hit the dock as the water moved with the burst of wind. I could put myself in Prospers place-standing utterly alone on the crowded plaza-lost in my own thought. I felt the sudden rush of reality when Ricco touched Prosper-I, just as Prosper had, became desperately aware of my surroundings.
This passage reminded me of how completely we can become lost in our own problems. When we don't know how to resolve a matter sometimes we just stand in complete solitude until we can find hope. When someone interrupts our thought process- when we are so engulfed in our own pity, sorrow, longing, etc., we are startled just like Prosper was. He was at a point that he had lost his everything-or so he thought. Little did he know that he had a wealth of friends that were concerned for him and longing for him to return to them. Prosper had forgotten that there is strength in numbers and that as a unified force he and his friends could accomplish what seemed impossible.

Assignment 2 The Thief Lord

The Book
He seemed not to hear Barbarossa's screams. He just walked, as if deaf, his strides so long that Prosper struggled to keep up with him. Only when they had reached the house did Scipio turn to Prosper. He put the complaining Barbarossa back on his own feet adn said, "Everything has Shrunk, Prop. The whole world is suddenly so small. I feel like I don't fit into it anymore" Page 290


How I think of this.

This part of the book had me thinking a lot about how we as children think of the world. How huge it seems to us. Everything is new and wonderful. Yet as adults we see the cracks and faults that cover the very small world. I look at my own life as a child I use to think that it took over 20 hours to get to the beach because it was just so fast away the world was so huge to me. Now Scipio is seeing the world as small not the huge place of wonder it use to be. I found it Sad that Scipio gave up his childhood he will miss out on so much but he is away and free of his father so he will be happy and he can better care for the younger ones.

Assignment 2

pp 277:

"But Scipio has already slipped off the lion's back and was now climbing on to the sea horse. "What are you waiting for, Prop?" he called out impatiently.
But Prosper didn't move. Even though he could picture himself, tall and grown-up, striding into the Sandwirth and simply pushing Esther and his uncle out of the way, then marching out with Bo by his side, he still couldn't step on to the merry-go-round."

This paragraph made me stop and think for a moment. A few pages before Scipio had been stomping his foot and demanding to be grown-up, breaking toys in the process. I think neither of them come close to grasping what being 'grown-up' means. Mostly to them it means being bigger, stronger, doing whatever they want. All Prosper really wants it to take care of his brother, but gives a moments pause when confronted with the merry-go-round. He takes care of Bo now and Bo loves him as a brother. Would he really want Prosper to be more like a father than a brother? Imagine your older brother who takes care of you, but still has fun with you suddenly becoming your 'father-figure'. While Funke does not clue the reader into more of Prosper's thoughts, I can imagine those would be my thoughts if I were in the same situation.

Assignment 2 - Sarah Akers

Chapter 2 - pg. 19

Text from book:
"Since they had begun to fend for themselves, Prosper had learned how to steal. Only food at first, but then money too. He hated it. He always got scared and his fingers started to tremble every time. Bo, however, thought it was an exciting game. Prosper had forbidden his brother to steal anything and he told him off very harshly every time he caught him. He certainly didn't want to give Esther a chance to say that he had turned his little brother into a thief."

My Reaction: I really identified with Prosper in this passage. As an older sister, I am often guilty of playing "Mom" to my sister Beth. If I do something that might be questionable, but I do it anyway - I definitely make sure that Beth doesn't follow in my footsteps. Also , I think that Prosper is really taking on a more mature, "older brother" stance in this passage. He has led Bo to a place which he thought to be magical and -so far- it has not turned out as he imagined. They are living in an abandoned theater and having to steal to eat. He might feel guilty about because they have ended up in such a compromising position.

The Thief Lord Double Diary Entry Kristy Carter

"Esther Hartlieb arched her eyebrows. "Does it? Well, one thing's for sure, they're very strange names, and that's putting it mildly. My late sister had a fondness for anything peculiar. When she died three months ago, my husband and I applied for custody of Bo since we sadly do not have any children of our own. But we couldn't possibly have taken on his older brother as well. Any reasonable person could see that. But Prosper got very upset, acting like a lunatic, accusing us of stealing his brother-although we would have allowed him to visit Bo once an month." Her pale fave grew even paler." (p. 10)

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I read that and my face just flushed with anger. I can't imagine how a 12 year old boy would feel hearing that his aunt only wanted his younger brother and not him. He had just lost his parents and then he was told he would be separated from his brother as well. I think he had a right to act like a lunatic, although I think the lunatic in this story is Esther Hartlieb! She says that "anyone would understand" her decision not to take them both but I find that just horrifying. I wouldn't think is would be good for Bo to be taken from his brother as well and one visit a month isn't going to cut it in my opinion. It's like poor Prosper didn't even matter. How could you not want to raise both of your deceased sister's children if you have the means to do so? According to the text, the Hartliebs certainly were not hurting for money so they could have easily adopted both of the children. It seems she only wanted a cute 5 year old, like Bo was a toy. Oh well, at least Esther and her weird husband Max got what they deserved at the end of the book when they took Barbarossa home with them.

Assignment.2 Thief Lord double entry

Pg. 113-114 "Before Victor could go on, a door opened behind him. 'Father,' a boy's voice said, 'I think the cat's sick...'
'Scipio!' Dottor Massimo's face turned purple with anger."...... "This was the boy who had so innocently asked Victor at the time, just before he and his friends had tricked him."
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This to me was the 'oh my gosh' of the entire book. I had no idea that this was the life Scipio was hiding from his friends. It was like everything else started to make sense. I had my suspiscions before about where he was going at night and why he wasn't with them all the time, but this was definitely the moment I said 'ah ha!'. To think this whole time he was living in such a palace, and having his friends live there in the old theatre. At first it really made me not like Scipio at all, but then I began to think... this child is tormented by his father who is really a mean guy, and the kid is wanting to help these kids, that I believe he truly feels sorry for. He finds the only place he can really get his hands on, his father's theatre, and gives them a place to live. I didn't like the fact he lied to them about his life and him being the 'Thief Lord'. I thought that was very low of him to give them this false sense of leadership. When I had read that part in the book, I did stop and say man these other kids are going to give him heck! Who wouldn't? He could have been more honest with them and still have helped them. I do think he wished at times he was with them instead of at home because of his father and how he was treated. His father sounds like a scary man! I could only imagine the fear he had of him. This point in the book was the first climax I think, and it really throws the reader for a wild ride.

Assignment 2 The Thief Lord Double Entry

"The children turned around in surprise. Someone was standing in the doorway: A woman in a thick winter coat, holding a hunting rifle under one arm. "I do beg your pardon," Signora Ida Spavento said, pointing the gun at Riccio, who was standing closest to her. "I don't quite recall having invited you."


When I sat down to do this assignment after reading the book this section stood out. This was such a tense moment. At one time or another we have all been caught doing something that we weren't supposed to be doing. It's a terrible thing to think you are getting away with something until right up to the very end only to get 'found out'. Finally after everything the crew of kids had went through, for example finding out about Scipio, they had found the wing. They had completed the job and just had to deliver it. Now the owner of the house had caught them and it was over. They were busted. How scary it must have been for Prosper or Hornet knowing that they and their friends were a bunch of tresspassing theives and then having the house owner turn a gun on them. I would have peed in my pants. However she turned out to be a compasionate and interesting woman who helped them and took them in when they most needed her.

Assignment2 Alex Crooks

Pg. 304 "Don't look at me like that. Yes your little brother ran away from Esther again," Victor said to him. "But not before he misbehaved so thoroughly that your aunt no longer thinks he's an angel. She doesn't want to see him again. Ever. Not him, and definitely not you Those were her words. I'm supposed to find a decent Italian children's home for the two of you, should you ever reappear again. But she won't have anything to do with either of you anymore."
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Here's what struck me throughout this book. Take a look at this paragraph out of context. Is this good news or bad? You're an orphan, your aunt hates you and plans to ship you to an orphanage if you manage to drag yourself off the street. It's horrible. But this book has such a wonderful way of turning the worst in life around and making it the best. This paragraph is said in jubilation! The characters are HAPPY that the aunt hates them and doesn't want them. The author's joyous irony is wonderful.

The Thief Lord - Joy

Chp.33, p.214-215

Riccio crept up to Hornet's mattress. It was the one farthest to the left, right by the wall. "They're not there."

"What do you mean?" Prosper stumbled over to the mattress he shared with Bo. Nothing but crumpled blankets and pillows. No Bo.

---My heart raced and my eyes begun to water when I read this part because I could imagine the emotions that Prosper was feeling. He went out do a business and then coming home to such a devastating sight was heartbreaking. He was Bo's guardian and protector and he felt he had failed Bo. I wished I could have given Prosper a hug. He is truly a wonderful big brother.

The Thief Lord; Double Entry

Quote: pg.157, "Young Master Massimo"

"Ten minutes can be a long time when you're waiting with a beating heart for something you don't understand, something you don't really want to know. Bo didn't seem particularly bothered by the whole thing. He was quite happy to touch the lions' heads by the fountain and to dip his hands into the cold water. But Prosper felt terrible. He felt betrayed. Decieved. What was Scipio doing in this house? Who was he really?

Notes:

This passage was pretty powerful. How true? All of us know how Prosper is feeling here; sweaty palms, pounding heart, flighty stomach, and a feeling of rage. Prosper feels that he has been decieved by Scipio, and he has. Scipio had been protecting Prosper and his friends and led them to believe that he, like them, was also an orphan. When Prosper found out that Scipio was from a wealthy family and, instead of sleeping in a drafty dark theatre, he slept in a warm bed in a luxurious home he was enraged. I can see why Prosper resented him.
After reading only this far, I also resented Scipio. I felt that he was toying with the orphans and this "Thief Lord" role was just a game to him. After further reading I found that Scipio truly cared for them all and sacrificed quite a bit to save them.

The Thief Lord Double Entry Diary

Ch. 45, page 290

Scipio kept looking at the sky and the trees, as if they were new and strange to him through his grown-up eyes. He seemed not to hear Barbarossa's screams. He just walked, as if deaf, his strides so long the Prosper struggled to keep up with him. Only when they had reached the house did Scipio turn to Prosper, He put the complaining Barbarossa back on his own feetand said, "Everything has shrunck, Prop. The world is suddenly so small. I feel like I don't fit into it anymore."
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I feel that then was when Scipio felt like he made the biggest mistake for taken a ride on the merry-go-round, because he knows that he can not change himself back to his youngerself and he's force to go up. Grown-up's wish they were younger and children wish they were older and I feel that if people would read this little section of the book would realize that it does matter what age you are that we all strive to have the respect of others and to be treated with respect. I feel that some child have to grow up fast, just like Scipio did after he took a ride on the merry-go-round, for some reason and that it is a shock and it starts to scare them. I never had to grow up fast but after I graduated high school I felt different and started to think about my future and it scared me because I had to start thinking about what I was going to do now.

The Thief Lord Double Entry Assignment

Page 114, Chapter 17
Victor turned around and looked into a pair of frightened black eyes. "She's really not well," Dottor Massimo's son murmured. He quickly lowered his head, but Victor had already recognized him. His hair was tied back in a tight little ponytail and his eyes didn't look quite as arrogant as they had before, but there could be no doubt: This was the boy who so innocently asked Victor the time, just before he and his friends had tricked him.



This paragraph was one that completely knocked me off of my feet. When I read this part, I could not believe that Dottor Massimo's son was the one and only Scipio, the same kid who was the so called "Thief Lord," and the same kid who was helping other children less fortunate than him by providing them with a place to live and money to survive on. I found it astonishing that this little boy, who lived a very wealthy lifestyle, also had a very lonely family life. After reading this section of the story, I felt a lot of compassion for Scipio because his life lacked love and affection, and that is the kind of life that he ultimately got to lead while he was the "Thief Lord" living with the rest of his friends. To me, this paragraph indicates the kind of boy Scipio truly was.

Double Entry: THIEF LORD

(Chapter 2, page 18) ...he couldn't help looking around as if he expected his aunt to be lurking in the crowd, just waiting for her chance to grab Bo. Hornet noticed the look on Prosper's face. "You're thinking about your aunt again, aren't you?" she whispered, although Bo had wandered out of earshot. "Forget her! She's not looking for you anymore..."


This was emotionally jerking when I read it for a few different reasons.
1) Why could someone be SO AFRAID of their family member snatching them up?--- It was unbelieveable to imagine the fear of Prosper not knowing where his aunt was, or whether or not she really knew where he was.
2) The idea of someone lurking in a crowd is rather CREEPY. They are aware of where YOU are, but you don't know they are watching you. This gave me an uneasy feeling.
3) Hornet tells Prosper to forget about his aunt, that she isn't looking for him anymore. When I FIRST read this, I wondered why he WOULDN'T want a family member to be looking for them. As I read more, I understood more of why they were running away and why Prosper wanted to protect his little brother, Bo.

The Thief Lord...Double Entry...Brianne McDowell

Text: Chapter 2, pg. 15, paragraph 1
"The Hartliebs had been right: Prosper and Bo had indeed managed to get to Venice. They had traveled a long way, squatting in rattling trains, hiding from conductors, and nosy old ladies. They had locked themselves into stinking toilets, slept in dark corners, squeezed tightly together, hungry, tired, and frozen. But they had done it, and they were still together."

Reaction:
This paragraph touched me because it shows the sacrifices Prosper and Bo made together, in order to stay together. I can picture the boys in my mind, holding hands, searching for somewhere to hide - constantly looking over their shoulders, afraid their aunt is sneaking up behind them. Personally, it would be hard to live like a homeless person, especially as a child; I could not have done this at Prosper's age or at the age I am now. This paragraph displays Prosper's strength, and his depth of love for his little brother. I highly doubt many children would choose to sacrifice so much for their younger sibling or siblings.

Double Entry Diary

Page 53, Chapter 6
Riccio shook his head with astonishment. "No. Why? It's great being young. You don't stand out so much and your stomach fills up more quickly. You know what Scipio always says?" He jumped from the bridge onto the street. "Children are like caterpillars and adults are like butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar." "Probaby not," Prosper sighed.
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I thought this paragraph was very "child like." I could definitely see a child saying these things. Here are two boys, adventurous and poor, doing things children shouldn't do. Riccio says he loves being young, and I think most kids would say that. I just laughed when he said being young is when your stomach fills up more, because my stomach fills up pretty quickly-when I eat too fast! I don't think that happens just to kids! The best part of this paragraph is the last sentence. This brought back many memories of being a child...losing my first tooth, getting my first boom-box and Michael Jackson CD (DON'T laugh!), going shopping with my mom's Belk credit card...the list could go on and on! I would love to be a kid again, and I'm sure many of us would. (Especially the shopping part...Oh, how I miss that!) Becoming a butterfly takes alot of responsibility and courage. Only a child would think that when they get older, they will forget everything that they've been through. For an adult, on the other hand, they want to forget some of the memories from childhood and growing up. Whether good or bad, I think we all remember time in our childhood.

The Thief Lord...Double Entry Diary...Brittney Elmore

Book Quotes:

"Prosper looked across the water nervously. He and Bo had never been out here, although the others had told them a lot about the lagoon and its islands. Little specks of land hemmed with reeds. Here were the ruins of long-abandoned villages and fortresses, and the fruit and vegetable fields that supplies the city. Some were home to the monasteries and hospitals where the city's sick used to be brought." (page 208)

"Isola Segreta?" Mosca stared at the distant lights. "That's the island where nobody ever goes." (page 209)

"The island's supposed to be bewitched. Terrible things happen there. It's said nobody who's ever visited the Isola Segreta has lived to tell about it." Ida stated. (page 209)

My Notes:

I can't understand why anyone would take three kids out into an island that is considered to be so dangerous. I understand why Ida Spavento wanted to see if she could see a glimpse of the merry-go-round or a glimpse of the Conte. But, I think she should have went by herself and then let the kids know what she found out, instead of taking them with her and risking their lives. I enjoyed reading this part because it kept my attention the whole time, wondering what was going to be the outcome of them going to the island. Even the kids themselves were nervous of going to the island because of the stories they had heard about people not returning once they went. However, I do believe in the end when the gunshot sounds, Ida realizes she should have never brought three kids to such a dangerous place. This part, in the book, was meaningful to me because it made me think of times when I've been faced with situations I was nervous about, just like the boys were.

Assignment # 2 Thief Lord- Double Entry Diary, Clint Trivette

(P.83-84 chapter 13) This quote starts in the very last paragraph of page 83. "What do I do now? Victor thought. He frowned and folded up his newspaper. I could grab the little one, but I would probably be lynched as a child snatcher before i had the chance to show my detective's badge. No, too many people around. Victor didn't like to admit it to himself, but there was another reason why he didn't want to take Bo. It was ridiculous, but he just couldn't do that to Prosper-to have him find his brother missing when he came out of the Basilica."
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When I first read this passage, I couldn't believe how Victor became so sensitive. Even though Victor is so committed to catching Bo and Prosper, he cannot bare to snatch him, knowing that Prosper would be devastated without his little brother. I can see and feel Victor in this passage, I understand his thought process because if i were in that same situation i couldn't take Bo either. I believe Victor put himself in Prosper's position, thinking to himself how he would feel if he were to lose his brother. Victor clearly demonstrates his ability to care for another human being, and these feelings are so strong that he aborts his mission to capture Bo. I love this paragraph because it is suspenseful and it allows the reader to interact with Victor's inner thoughts.

Thief Lord - Double Entry Diary

All Lost, Chapter 39, Page 248

Prosper is in agony. His brother is gone and he is feeling alone in the world. He remembers how his mother talked about the moon when she told them stories of Venice. She told them that the moon could make dreams come true. He asked the moon what to do but got no answer.

“Prosper knew that... [the moon]...wasn’t going to help him get his brother back.”

“Prosper sat in Ida’s boat and let the tears run down his face. He had believed that this was his city – his and Bo’s. He used to believe that if they came here…they would be safe…”

“He had felt safe as a king in the center of his realm, protected by lions and dragons-and by the water all around them.”

I picked these excerpts because of their emotional charge. I know how profoundly difficult it can be as an adult to face adversity, but to experience such tremendous loss as a child is heartbreaking for me to even consider. Throughout these passages I could feel the extreme depth of Prosper’s pain. After the loss of his mother he devoted himself to caring for his brother. Finding out that Bo was gone robbed him of his purpose in life. He went from feeling like a king to a helpless child, powerless and completely alone. I am sadly reminded of how little control we sometimes have over the circumstances in our lives despite our best efforts, and how despondent that realization can make us.

Jessica Cooke assignment2: Thief Lord

Thief Lord
Chapter 41 / pg.267
Book quotes: "They were all tired, but none of them fell asleep quickly. And even when they did, the bad dreams were already lurking underneath their pillows. Only Bo slept as peacefully as an angel, as if all his worries had come to an end that night."
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My notes: I understand why they were all having a hard time falling asleep because they had all been physically and emotionally drained. Bo had been found, but Prosper was missing now and this is only one of the bad dreams lurking under their pillows. I just love that line because it means so much to the story. All of the many things going on and the worries are literally under their pillows. It is ironic that Bo slept so peacefully because his worries were far from over, Prosper was gone. When Bo would wake up, that is when he would face his bad dreams.

Mandy Randall Assin. 2

The Thief Lord by: Funke, Cornelia
Quotes and Notes:
Book Quotes: p.199-200
“Victor just shook hishead wearily. “Has it still not occurres to you?” ‘The two of them only ran away because you wanted to separate Bo from his brother.’…..’The two of them are very close!’ Victor shouted back.
Mandy notes:
This passage hit home with me because I have a older brother. When we were younger and in a unfamiliar place I would not want to leave his side. Have your older brother around all the time makes you feel protected. I love my brother very much and can see Bo’s side of the story.
Book Quotes: p.223
“God, how I hate that stubborn face! If you only knew how stupid you look’
Mandy Notes:
My parents never talked to me that way. If my parents spoke to me that way I would not know how to act and it would upset me very much. I am very grateful to have loving parents.

Assignment 2 - Amy Canterbury

Text:
"Suddenly Scipio said, "I'm not going back." He sounded choked up. "I will never go back home. That's it. I don't need them. If that merry-go-round really exists, then I'll be on it faster than the Conte, and I'll only get off when I'm at least a good head taller than him and with a beard on my chin. If you don't want to take the deal, then I'll do it alone. I'm going to find that merry-go-round so nobody can treat me like a stupid pet animal ever again." pg. 181

What it means to me?
"I will never go back home" is a powerful statement. Scipio is tired of being treated like a doll. He aspires to be an adult. He helps the kids to make himself feel important. He lacks a sense of usefulness around his father. He feels he can gain reassurance if he became an adult. He would not be seeking approval from his father because he would be an independent figure. Adults are seen as independent figures. Children are seen as dependent figures. He has not realized that adults and children are both independent and dependent at times. Nobody is completely sure of himself or herself whether they are five or a hundred years old. Scipio's independent role occurs when the children seek shelter and money from him. However, Scipio is still childish. He has to create elaborate stories about breaking into houses. He feels the need to play by dressing up and creating stories to relate to the kids. Hence, Scipio is between childhood and adulthood.

Scipio wants to ride the merry-go-round to become older. Gaining older physical features will not fix Scipio's problems. He is a normal teenager. He wants to act like an adult but in a safe manner. Helping the kids is his safe way of pretending to be an adult. He can feel independent. He can also feel dependent. He returns home every night. Helping the kids is one step of becoming an adult instead of gaining height. He already possesses adult characteristics such as compassion. He does not realize he will soon become an adult with responsibilities with or without a beard. He does not realize that becoming an adult is a process. He needs to accept the process so he can be a wise adult in the future. Scipio is on the right track. He is impatient with high aspirations like normal teenagers. Therefore, Scipio does not need facial hair to grow up. He decides to live on his own and become a detective. The personal decision to make a living is more crucial than having body hair. Being an adult is a lifestyle and an attitude. Adulthood is not playing dress up.

I choose the passage because everybody feels like Scipio during their lifetime. Teenagers feel on the edge of childhood and adulthood. Scipio gives readers an amazing perspective about how a teenager feels. The passage was meaningful to me. The passage was very human and emotional. Everybody thinks adulthood is about physical characteristics, however; adulthood is about mental capabilities and emotional judgement.

Double Entry diary

Chapter 29, “Another Visit” 9 or so paragraphs from the end of this chapter

“Snowflakes whirled through the alley. They fell so thickly from the off-white sky that Bo squeezed his eyes shut. Suddenly everything was grey and white-as if someone had erased all the colours of the city while they were in the shop”“They only had eyes for the snow. The cold flakes settled on their faces and their hair. Bo gleefully licked one off his nose. He stretched his arms wide as if he wanted to catch them all. Hornet just looked up at the sky, blinking. It hadn’t snowed in Venice for years. The people they passed looked just as enchanted as the children. Even the shop assistants stepped into the street to look up at the sky.”

As I read this passage I could feel what the children were feeling. The words such as whirled and settled brought the sounds of snow in my mind. Descriptions such as fell thickly,cold, grey and white, the city being erased of all it’s colors brought a vivid picture to me of what the snow looked like. Gleefully, stretched, blinking, enchanted are all descriptions of what the children and every one else in Venice were feeling after seeing the snow.
This passage made me remember the very few times that it snows in North Carolina. It made me remember watching the news and hearing that it is going to snow and waking up and actually seeing the snow. It made me remember my childhood, when I would go out in the new fallen snow and I, like Bo, would squeeze my eyes shut and just let the flakes fall on me. There is something magical about seeing the place where you live covered with snow. It just brings an unexplainable peace, rest and carefree feeling to you. The shop assistants reminded me of people around this area when the first snow comes, everyone just stands and looks at it in amazement. It reminded of how I still feel to this day. I revert back to my childhood when it snows. I stand gleefully in the snow letting it pour down on me, I go sledding, I make snowmen, and I just enjoy the precious gift of snow. This passage brought up so many memories of snow for me. I really enjoyed it.

The Thief Lord - Double Entry Diary

Please respond to The Thief Lord by posting a double entry diary. You will need to copy or summarize a meaningful portion of text. Please include page citations. Next, please write your reaction to the passage you chose. Why did you choose this particular selection? Why was it meaningful to you?

You should post this entry by 8:00 pm on Friday, September 25. Please label your post with two labels, separated by commas: Assignment.2, your name. Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts by 8:00 pm on Sunday, September 27.

Assignment 1 - Joy

Assignment 1 - Joy
My earliest memory of reading was in second grade when we sat in a circle to read our reading book. We would first read the vocabularies, then the story, and last the questions. I can't remember my parents reading to me because they could not read English. I know my older sisters read to me and my younger siblings. We did not read much, only when we brought home books from school.

My favorite book as a child was Goldilock and the Three Bears. I found it funny how Goldilock went through all the family's stuff.

No. I have never read an entire series of books. Although, my sister did invite me to over the summer. I did not like to read as a child. I rather play outside or draw. Reading was a struggle for me and I remember being put in a reading group. Now, I do enjoy reading to by baby boy. He loves books.

I am sure my past teachers did read aloud but I can not think of a book right off. I'm really trying and nothing is coming to mind.

Well, like I said, I don't read much, so I have not encounter a book that has made a difference in my life. If you recommend one, I will read it.

Yes, I do choose to read for pleasure now. I've got to like the book to keep me reading unless it relates to school, then it is a must.
September 4, 2009 1:00 AM

Assignment.1

My earliest memory of reading is hard to remember. From a young age my mom always read to me. I loved going to the library and checking out books. She had novels she would read to me and my sister at bedtime, and she would let us read to her as well.
I'm not sure I can remember a favorite book as a child. I just liked reading, and being read to by my mom. Any kind of fantasy or funny book was probably my favorite back then.
I never really got in to any series of books until recently I have read part of the Twilight series. I really enjoy them, and can't wait to read more. I'm not really sure why but those books really did draw me in.
As a child reading was not hard, I enjoyed it alot. Not until school starts making you read did I start to have problems with not wanting to read for fun anymore. Being made to read just for points or just because really took some of the passion I had for reading. Just recently have I started reading for fun agian.
I can't remember exact teachers that read aloud to me but I know it occured only in elementary school though. I do remember going to the library and the librarian would read stories to our class, that was something I really enjoyed.
I can't think of a book that has changed my life, hopefully one day I can find one that might.
I still read for pleasure, like I said just now getting back into it. But I am enjoying it, and hope to read more, and more.

Snippet-Joy Lor

Just in case this was homework...what a cute poem to encourage the possibility of reading. I think children enjoy poems being read out loud. I do because I can understand them better. Poems are are a great way to express subjects. Emily Dickenson was a weird poet because I had to read her works once in English class. Her poems were sad and dark.

FINALLY.. I can post!

My earliest memory of reading would have to be being read to, and trying to memorize the words. My parents would read a book to be for bedtime almost every night. It was lots of fun to just press my finger against the corner of a spine on a Little Golden book (not even looking to see what it was) but just to read a book at random. No real reason for it. My mom was the best at 'getting into the story'. Her expressions and voice MADE IT for me. I love reading books to young children like my mom read to me. I really don't know of a FAVORITE book, but I loved books by Mercer Mayer and Dr. Seuss. Some others I liked were the ones about Franklin the turtle who could 'count by twos and tie his shoes'. When I find myself needing a few minutes to revert to a simpler time period, I grab one of those favorites and sit down to read it. As far as books that are more commonly knows as novels--- my attention span gets fried, and I can't find it in myself to finish more than a few chapters. The longest book I've ever read for school was Tuesdays with Morrie, and I missed finishing it by about 40 pages. I love to read--- but only things that are simple reads. I HATE TO READ NOVELS. I am not a strong reader, by far!.. and feel intimidated by those people who can pick up a 1,000+ page novel and finish it in 3 days. I remember my teachers reading to me in elementary school. I LOVE TO BE read TO~ but can't pay attention long enough to read a long book for myself. I like to call myself a Victim of Extreme and intense pressure caused by A.R. Testing. One of my favorite books that my teacher read was Charlotte's Web. The book that I read that meant the most to me was Tuesdays with Morrie (but not until after I finished the book and another 6 months or so went by). I found out my step-mom was diagnosed with ALS-- just like what 'Morrie' had. As far as reading for pleasure now, it mainly just consists of fashion/life magazines like Cosmo and Glamour because they have short real life stories and interesting columns. Overall-- I don't like to read.

Assignment 1 Kristy Carter

Hello!

My earliest memory of being read to was my mom and I stretching across her bed in the afternoon with a big stack of Golden Books and her reading to me. She loved to read aloud to me and was always going to yard sales and flea markets, bringing back stacks of books for us to read. She enjoyed reading herself and that carried over to me.

I loved lots of books but my favorites were Disney princess books. Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were favorites. As I got older I loved the Sweet Valley High series (hey, it was the 80's). I think I read them all. In high school I switched to V.C. Andrews novels and Stephen King. I still like Stephen King. My favorite by him is The Talisman. It's over a 1000 pages and I read it twice.

I love to read. I read a book or magazine every day.

I remember some of my teachers reading aloud but for the life of me cannot remember what books they were.

I can't think of any one book that made a difference in my life. I have read some that I thought were very entertaining. I think Bridge to Terebithia made a big impact on me when I first read it in middle school. I didn't expect the ending and it made me think.

I definitely think of reading a pleasure. If I couldn't read, I think I'd die! I'm glad my mom read to me and introduced me to books and reading in such a postive way. I made sure to read to my daughter and provide her with lots of reading materials growing up. She stills loves to read and devours books faster that I do.

I loved reading to my class. I miss it a lot. Nothing like reading a great book to five year olds and seeing how involved they get with the story.

Assignment 1 Clint Trivette

Who read to you? Well, I remember having my Elementary teachers read aloud to the class, but as far as reading at home I can’t really recall anyone reading to me. I know it seems kind of sad to think that no one at home read to me but I have no memories what so ever. Did they read to you often? My Kindergarten teacher read to the class every day at reading time. We would always sit Indian style on the floor in front of her. I enjoyed listening to the stories as a kid, but I always seemed to think about playtime more then anything else.

What was your favorite book as a child? My favorite book as a kid was Curious George.

Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books? I actually did get involved into the Goosebumps series. I tried to collect every single one mainly because I enjoyed the scary plot of the books.

Did you like to read as a child? Well, I can remember reading as a child and it seemed really fun at first, but I soon lost interest in reading fairly quickly. I think the reason I didn’t love to read was because I could not stay focused on what I was reading.

Was reading a joy or a struggle? Reading to me always seemed like a struggle more than a joy. I always felt pressure from my teachers to read which didn't make it much fun.

Did your teachers read aloud regularly? What books did they read? My early grade teachers read aloud to the class, but I really don’t remember much after 4th grade.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life? Not really.

Do you choose to read for pleasure now? Not really, but if I had more time I would consider reading more often.

Assignment 1

What is your earliest memory of reading?
Before I started Kindergarten, I went to a tutor for all subjects. My birthday fell after the cut-off date to begin school, and I cried forever because i couldn't start. So, my mom decided to hire a tutor so that i could feel like i was a student! It was a family friend, a retired school teacher, and she read to me and asked comprehension questions, just as teachers would do in the school.

Who read to you? Did they read to you often?
My grandmother and mom read to me the most. I also went to the library for their reading times every week. I do not remember being read to alot because I was very active as a child and could not sit for a long period of time! I never liked hearing bedtime stories either!!

What was your favorite book as a child?
I loved the Disney stories as a child. Dr.Suess books were great too, especially "Oh, the Places You'll Go." I really loved that one, because I have always loved to travel and go on road trips. I also remember reading "The Big Bad Wolf" alot. I think they were all favorites!

Did you ever discover, love and devour an entire series of books?
When I was younger, I did not have a favorite series of books. In later elementary days, I started reading Nancy Drew books and I loved them. (My mom was a big fan of those when she was younger too!) In college, I started reading the Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell. I love mystery books and anything to do with CSI and the FBI.

Did your teachers read aloud regularly? What books did they read?
My first grade teacher read to us everyday, but i do not remember what she read. Almost every year in elementary school, I remember the teachers reading to the class. In middle school, my 8th grade teacher read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone to the class. it was very relaxing to not have to read it your self. I actually understood books better when they were read to me.

Did you like to read as a child? Was it a struggle or joy?
I honestly did not like to read. My mom and grandfather had the bookworm genes in the family, and I did not get them!! I loved to dance too much to take time to read. If I had to read, I did, but it wasn't because I was anxious to do so. It was more joy, though, no struggle.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life?
In the 6th grade, on the last day of school, my teacher read "Oh, the Places You'll Go" to the entire class. It was very emotional for everyone. The teachers were losing a good group of students and we were off to the middle school. I cried and I think half the class did too!

Do you choose to read for pleasure now?
I do not take time out of my day to read. I wish I would read more than magazines and stuff online, but I work too much to have the time. Now that school has started, I will have more time to read, but I'm sure it'll just be text books and such.

Assignment 1...Brianne McDowell

What is your earliest memory of reading?
My earliest memory of reading is sitting in the living room with my mother reading stories. She would read to my younger brother and I every chance she got. My brother would sit on one side of the couch, she would be in the middle, and I would sit on her other side, and she would read. Dr. Seuss stories were our favorites.

Who read to you? Did they read to you often?
My mom read to me, and she read to me every time she had the chance.

What was your favorite book as a child?
My favorite book was called Actually I Used to Be a Princess, and it was about this little girl who claimed she was a princess who was kidnapped and taken to her current family. Like every little girl, I wanted to be a princess, so this book really appealed to me, plus it was lots of fun to read!

Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books?
I read every single American Girls book that was available at the time. I also fell in love with The Babysitters Club books, and the Harry Potter series.

Did you like to read as a child? Was reading a joy or a struggle?
I loved to read as a child. I still love to read to this day. I was on the Battle of the Books team in elementary school, and I thought that was the greatest thing ever because I was required to read even more books for school.

Did your teachers read aloud regularly? What books did they read?
In the younger elementary grades, my teachers read aloud all the time. They read little adventure stores with animals and such just for fun. I remember correcting what a teacher read one time because she did not read the words exactly like they were written in the book, and she got so upset with me that she made me sit in the back of the group so I could not read the words anymore. I do not remember the teachers reading aloud very much in the upper grades. Sometimes when reading chapter books in class, they would read a paragraph or two before having the students read aloud. I remember reading Tuck Everlasting like that in the fifth grade.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life?
Not in elementary school, but I have read the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven in my adult life, and it really openned my eyes to the fact that everything I say and do can have such a big influence on the other people in my life.

Do you choose to read for pleasure now?
Yes, I do read for pleasure now, however it is hard to read just for fun during the school year because I can always use that time to do homework.

Assignment 1...Brittney Elmore

What is your earliest memory of reading?

My earliest memory of reading was when I started kindergarten. I loved being able to take a book home and read it out loud to one of my parents. I enjoyed it so much that when somebody would come over to visit I wanted to read my book to them. I thought that it was so cool being able to read.

Who read to you? Did they read to you often?

The person that I always remember reading to me was my mom. She started reading to me when I was a small child and didn't stop until I started reading myself. I can remember every night before I went to bed she would have me pick out 3 books for her to read to me.

What was your favorite book as a child?

My favorite book as a child was Goldilock's and the Three Bears. I use to love hearing this story. My favorite part was when it talked about the baby bear.

Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books?

I use to love reading the Amelia Bedilda books as a child. Every time when my class at school would go to the library I would always want to check out one of these books. The reason I liked these books so much was because I thought she was so funny.

Did you like to read as a child? Was reading a joy or a struggle?

When I was a child I use to love to read. I usually would read a book a week. One of my favorite things to do was go to the school or county library and get a new book. So to me reading was a joy.

Did you teachers read aloud regularly? What books did they read?

When I was in elementary school I can remember being read to aloud by the teacher on a regular basis in kindergarten up to third grade. The books that my teachers in kindergarten and first grade were about the three bears, the three pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and etc. The books that my second and third grade teachers tended to read were more series type books.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life?

There was one book that seemed to make a difference in my life and it was the book Love You Forever. This book made a difference to me because in the book the guy and his mom are so close, it reminded me of how close my mom and me are. This book is still a favorite of mine.

Do you choose to read for pleasure now?

Once I got into middle and high school I quit reading for pleasure and only read what I was required to read. But in the past year and a half I have gotten back into reading for pleasure more. Although I mostly read for pleasure during the summer when I have more time.

ASSIGNMENT 1 - Sharon Asbury

What is your earliest memory of reading?
Reading street signs on car trips. Later my mom, my brother and I would walk to the local library. I loved to get craft books and how-to books. My mother was an avid reader and my dad liked to read as well.

Who read to you?
Kindergarten and grade school teachers.

Did they read to you often?
I really enjoyed being read to by teachers. I could really disappear into a story and see it clearly. In school teachers would read a bit of a book everyday and it was like going to visit a friend.

What was your favorite book as a child?
Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books?
My daughter and I discovered the Harry Potter series, loved it and devoured it together. She went on to Lemony Snicket, Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, Mediator, Red Wall, Maximum Ride and on and on and on.

Did you like to read as a child?
Loved it.

Was reading a joy or a struggle?
Pure joy.

Did your teachers read aloud regularly?
Oh yes.

What books did they read?
Mostly chapter books, one chapter a day. I particularly remember a biography of comedian Dick Gregory.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life?
Secret Life of Bees, Women Who Run with the Wolves, The Bible – not necessarily in that order….

Do you choose to read for pleasure now?
I am not able to read much for pleasure during school semesters but during the summer I read as much as I can, sometimes a book every day or two if I’m really hooked.

assignment 1.. Jessica Cooke

What is your earliest memory of reading?
My earliest memory of reading was as a child in 1st or 2nd grade when we read books that our teacher gave us to read. We had to keep a reading log with our parents. We got a new book every night. I enjoyed this until the i had to take AR test on them.

Who read to you?
My mom read to me occasionally and i was read to alot by my early grade teachers.

Did they read to you often?
I was read to very often by my teachers. I love being read to but being read to so much as a child might be the reason that i never read alone unless i had to.

What was your favorite book as a child?
My favorite book as a child was the about the lady thatate all the animals and got really big. I can't remember the name of it.

Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books?
I enjoyed the Goosebump series as a child. I was very interested in the tv series so i began to read the books.

Did you like to read as a child?
I didn't like to read as a child because i never thought that i was very good at reading.

Was reading a joy or a struggle?
Reading was a struggle for me because i started out as a slow reader. Once i became a little better, i began having a hard time focousing on what i was reading.

Did your teachers read aloud regularly?
My teachers read aloud very often.

What books did they read?
My teacher mostly read picture books and occasionally we would read chapter books as a class.

Did a book ever make a difference in your life?
A book has never really made a difference in my life but i have been able to relate to a few.

Do you choose to read for pleasure now?
I wish i had the patience and will to read for pleasure on my own but i just can't concentrate long enough.