NAME: Adam Martineze DATE: Feb. 19, 2010
BOOK: A Long Way Gone
AUTHOR: Ishmael Beah
PAGES: 98-160 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 62

QUESTION 1: What has surprised you in the book? Why?

RESPONSE 1: In this book i was surprised by how many times the main character, Ishmael, and his friends were almost killed. Ishmael was almost killed many times, not by the rebels, but by villages thinking that they were rebels. Every time they were almost killed, the were always saved by the cassettes of hip-hop music that were in Ishmael pants pocket. They would play the music, and Ishmael would tell the chief about how him and his brother and their friends would dance to this American music. I thought that this was funny because the only thing that ever convinced the chief's of villages that they were just kids and not rebels, was this old school hip-hop music that Ishmael listened to and carried around.


QUESTION 2: Which character would you like (or not like) to be your friend? Why?

RESPONSE 2: I would like Ishmael to be my friend because he is really cool and has a lot of courage and motivation that drove him through day and night knowing that at one point he could be killed. I like this characteristic in him because it is a very impressive thing to see someone keep their chin held high even through times of death and fear.

NAME: Adam Martinez
DATE: 2/11/10

BOOK: A Long Way Gone
AUTHOR: Ishmael Beah

PAGES 43-98
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 37

Q 1: How did what you read today make you feel? Why?

A: What I read about today made me really think about the how the kids who are going through this now are feeling. It is a very sad thing that is going on in this part of the world and is hard to imagine this happening to me. The main character, and the group that he is currently with in this part of his story, are 13 like I am now. It is very hard to just imagine walking through war day to day knowing that you could be killed. One of the pages that i read today talked about one of the main characters dying. I couldn't even fathom the thought of watching my friend die right there in front of me, or in this case, wake up and find that your friend is dead. I also read about how all of the group of boys had ended up where they were and what they saw or where they were when the rebels attacked their village, their home, and their family.

Q 2: What in the book upsets you or bothers you? Why?

A: One thing that upsets me is what was going on and still to this day is going on in Sierra Leone. I find it disappointing that there is nothing being done, or nothing to be done to help fight off or get rid of the rebels in Africa. I also thing that it is scary that this really happened and is happening and bothers me in the sense that these people would kill their own kind for money power and to prove themselves. It bothers me that these rebels have gotten so powerful and that there has been not much in his book to try and stop them.

-Adam M.

Independent Reading Book Blog Post #1

NAME: Adam Martinez
DATE: 2/3/10

BOOK: A Long Way Gone
AUTHOR: Ishmael Beah

PAGES 1- 43
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 43


QUESTION 1: What does this book make you wonder about? Why?

RESPONSE 1: This book makes me think about the wars going on in Africa, and about how many kids are struggling through life. What makes me think the most is that this book is true and that this kind of stuff is going on right now in many parts of Africa and the world. It also makes me think about how lucky all of us kids are and makes me think about all of the little things in life that I have and thousands of others don't.


QUESTION 2: What character do you like most in this book and/or what character do you like least? Why?

RESPONSE 2: My favorite character in this book is the main character's older brother, Junior. I like him because he is very optimistic and courageous. I also like him, because in a way he reminds me of me and how my little brother always looks up to me. Junior is always very strong in front of his little brother. Not in the sense of strength, but by never showing fear, defeat, or anger. He is a really good big brother, and his always telling his little brother that everything will be alright and to stay strong. I like that because he really shows how a big brother should be and is always very supportive. I think that he is a very good character, big brother, and role model if you are a big brother yourself.