1st March, 2013
The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid (Before year 2013)
Name: Tio Mi Kin
Class: S4A
School No. : 09202
Title : The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid
Author: Geronimo Stilton
Publication year: 2004
Setting:
It took place at the Cheese Pyramid in Egypt. Geronimo went there to interview a famous archaeologist and find out more about the secret of Cheese Pyramid.
Characters:
Geronimo Stilton– a learned and brainy mouse, editor of The Rodent’s Gazette.
Benjamin Stilton– a sweet and loving nine-year-old mouse, Geronimo’s favourite nephew
William Shortpaws– Geronimo’s grandfather, known as Cheap Mouse Willy, a tough-talking mouse
Summary:
At the beginning of the story, Geronimo was asked by his grandfather, William Shortpaws to go for a trip far away from Mouse Island. Geronimo was glad to receive this offer as it was a dream come true for him. He was off to Egypt to interview a famous archaeologist and do a special report on the pyramids. Among mummies and hieroglyphs, he learned the secret of The Seven Wonders of The Ancient Mouse World and the legend about the Pharaoh’s Curse. Finally, he wrote down his adventure story in Egypt into a book.
Conclusion:
The story ended with a happy note. The whole story was funny and interesting.
Opinion:
I liked the book as it was quite funny and interesting. It was written in simple English and comprehensive.
Posted at 10:19 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House (Before year 2013)
Name: Tio Mi Kin
Class: S4A
School No.: 09202
Title : Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House
Author: Geronimo Stilton
Publication year: 2004
Setting:
It took place in a haunted house. It was truly a fur-raising experience for Geronimo when he was in the haunted house.
Characters:
Geronimo Stilton- a learned and brainy mouse, the editor of The Rodent’s Gazette
Thea Stilton– Geronimo’s sister and special correspondent at The Rodent’s Gazette
Benjamin Stilton– a sweet and loving nine-year-old mouse, Geronimo’s favourite nephew.
Summary:
The story started when Geronimo got lost in a dark, spooky forest. It was raining cats and dogs. Geronimo was looking for a shelter. He came to a castle which was surrounded by a deep moat filled with slimy green water. He took a deep breath and tiptoed inside. He was scared as it was dark and spooky. Later, Thea, Trap and Benjamin came to rescue Geronimo. Finally, the mystery was solved. They discovered that the house was haunted by cats. They found a young cat, Pawkin Cannycat in the haunted house who played those spooky tricks on Geronimo.
Conclusion:
Finally, Thea got a great idea. They turned the haunted house into a tourist spot where visitors can learn about the history of Cannycat family. The whole story was quite funny and interesting.
Opinion:
I liked the story because I can learn a few moral values which I can apply them in our daily life.
Posted at 10:16 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Lost Treasure of The Emerald Eye (Before year 2013)
Name : Tio Mi Kin
Class: S4A
School No. : 09202
Title : Lost Treasure of The Emerald Eye
Author: Geronimo Stilton
Publication year: 2004
Setting :
It took place on an island. Geronimo, Thea, Trap and Benjamin faced a lot of challenges on the island. They wanted to find out The Emerald Eye.
Characters:
Geronimo Stilton- the editor of Rodent’s Gazette, a learned and brainy mouse.
Thea Stilton- Geronimo’s sister, special correspondent at The Rodent’s Gazette.
Trap Stilton- Geronimo’s cousin, an awful joker, the owner of the store Cheap Junk for less.
Summary:
The story started when Thea discovered an old, mysterious map which showed a secret treasure hidden on a faraway island. She asked Geronimo and Trap to join her treasure hunt. They faced lots of challenges to find The Emerald Eye. It was an adventure they’d never forget. Finally, they found The Emerald Eye when they were flying home. It was right in the middle of the island. It was a lake as green as an emerald.
Conclusion:
The story ended with a happy note. The whole story was quite funny. Although they faced many challenges during their treasure hunt, their adventures were full of joy and fun.
Opinion:
I liked this story as it was funny and interesting. I enjoyed reading it very much. It was suitable for students to release their tension
Posted at 10:12 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Deception Point (Before year 2013)
Name: Chng Zhi Wei
Class: K3A
School No.: 09079
Book Title: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Setting:
The story is mainly set in one of NASA’s base in the Arctic Circle, where the main character, Rachel Sexton and the other scientists has done research on a meteorite found in the Milne Ice Shelf. Bits of the story is set in Washington D.C, where Rachel’s father, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, a presidential candidate, tries to win the public’s trust by dishonest means in order to be elected as president.
Summary:
Intelligence Analyst, Rachel Sexton isn’t prepared for what’s coming when she is sent by U.S. president, Zachary Herney, along with four civilian scientist -Michael Tolland, an oceanographer, Corky Marlinson, an astrophysicist, Norah Mangor, a glaciologist and Wailee Ming, a palaeontologist to verify the authenticity of a meteorite found by NASA (National Aeronautics Space Agency) deep within the Milne Ice Shelf in the Arctic Circle. Meanwhile, her scheming father, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, a presidential candidate who is more popular than the president himself, tries to tarnish NASA’s name by exposing NASA’s over-spending to the public. Suddenly, Rachel finds herself caught in a dangerous plot where she is hunted down by hired killers, betrayed by her own father ,who is aggressively determined to bring down the president’s campaign and somehow realises that NASA is actually hiding something .
Characters:
Rachel Sexton
The main protagonist of the story. She works as a ‘gister’ for NRO (National Reconnaissance Office) and she is the daughter of Senator Sedgewick Sexton. She is sent to the Arctic Circle to verify the authenticity of the meteorite found by NASA. Later in the story, she is betrayed by her own father and William Pickering, the director of NRO. She is described as a woman who is in her mid-thirties, often fiery-tempered and thinks scornfully of her irresponsible father.
Michael Tolland
A famous oceanographer and television celebrity-scientist. He is also one of the civilians sent to the Arctic Circle. In the book, Tolland is described as a good-looking and knowledgeable person who then develops a romantic relationship with Rachel. He has a deceased wife, Celia Birch, who inspired him to become an oceanographer.
Corky Marlinson
A world-renowned astrophysicist, who is also called in to authenticate the meteorite found by NASA. Though a brilliant scientist, Marlinson is somewhat eccentric and prefers to joke rather than being serious. He is often teased by fellow scientist, Norah Mangor as still ‘immature’ and has a squeaky voice.
Senator Sedgewick Sexton
Father of Rachel Sexton. An overzealous presidential candidate who is desperately determined to bring the president’s campaign down in order to be elected as president. He is willing to betray and sacrifice his own daughter for personal gains. In the story, it is also known that Senator Sexton conspire with the Space Frontier Foundation in order to bring NASA down.
Majorie Tench
Sarcastic senior advisor to President Zachary Herney. She is described as politically dangerous and is capable of threatening.
Gabrielle Ashe
Senator Sexton’s aide. When she started working for him, she is very anxious to please him and is willing to do extreme favours for him. But later when she realises his true colours, she turns against him and cooperates with Rachel Sexton. They are then managing to stop his evil plan.
Posted at 10:09 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
The Lost Symbol (Before year 2013)
Name: Chng Zhi Wei
Class: K3A
School No. : 09079
Book Title: The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Book Call No.: F BRO
Setting:
The story is set in modern-era Washington D.C, which is not only the capital of the United States, but home to many of the world’s buried secrets. The plot mainly revolves around famous buildings such as United States Capitol, Smithsonian Institution and House of the Temple.
Summary:
Famed Harvard symbologist , Robert Langdon isn’t prepared for what’s in store for him when he was invited to give a lecture in Washington D.C-including finding a severed hand of his mentor’s (Peter Solomon) in the middle of the Capitol Rotunda. An unexpected turn of events has led Langdon to flee from the police. Suddenly finding himself wanted by the CIA and haunted by a fanatical madman (Mal’akh), Langdon has to join forces with a Noetic Scientist, Katherine Solomon, and race against time as they try to rescue Peter from Mal’akh, solve the mystery of the Lost Symbol, and uncover a terrifying truth buried all these years.
Note:
The story mainly relies on Freemasonry (a fraternal organisation) and may contain religious elements.
Characters:
Robert Langdon
The main protagonist of the novel. He is a professor teaching symbology in Harvard University. He has a mentor, Peter Solomon who is a Freemason. Langdon refused to join Freemasonry despite being invited by Peter as he prefers to discuss Freemasonry openly with his students, which Freemasons cannot do so freely.
Mal’akh (a.k.a Dr. Christopher Abaddon, Andros Dareios/ Zachary Solomon)
He is the main antagonist of the story. He is a Mason whose body is covered with tattoos and prefers Dark Arts to good religion. He is revealed at the end of the story to be Zachary Solomon, the estranged son of Peter Solomon, who was believed to be dead long ago as a result of being bludgeoned by an inmate in Soganlik Prison, Turkey. After escaping from prison, he changed his name to Andros Dareios and moved to the Greek Islands, where he led a carefree life. Nonetheless, an excessive use of steroids had led to a change in his appearance, thus causing his family unable to recognise him. When he began to be involved in Black Arts, he changed his name to ‘Mal’akh’ which means ‘angel’ in Hebrew. In the story, he killed a lot of people for personal gains, including his own grandmother, Isabel Solomon (mother to Katherine and Peter Solomon).
Peter Solomon
A Smithsonian Secretary. Father to Zachary Solomon, brother to Katherine Solomon and mentor to Robert Langdon. He is a Freemason and a billionaire philanthropist who believes strongly in Freemasonry. His kidnap by Mal’akh led Langdon and Katherine to find the Mason’s Pyramid and the Lost Word.
Katherine Solomon
A Noetic Scientist. Sister to Peter Solomon and aunt to Zachary Solomon. She is also a close friend of Langdon’s prior to the story. Unexceptionally bright and rational, she helped Langdon to uncover the Lost Word and solve the mystery.
Director Inoue Sato
Much-feared Japanese director of CIA. A fearsome specimen, she is cold, calculating, merciless, possess off-the-chart IQ and chillingly accurate instincts.
Warren Bellamy
Fellow Freemason to Peter Solomon. He is an African American and is the Architect of the Capitol. He manages to help Langdon escape from the Capitol building but was in turn caught and interrogated by Director Inoue Sato in ‘The Jungle’.
Posted at 10:07 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
那些年，我们一起追的女孩 (Before year 2013)
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姓名 : 赵美瑾
班级 : S4A
学号 : 09202
Book Call Num. : –
书名 : 那些年，我们一起追的女孩
著者 : 九把刀
出版年份/ (Edition) : 2011
故事背景设定於彰化县精诚中学。柯景腾、沈佳仪以及其他好朋友都在该学校就读。当中发生了许多趣事。大家都对沈佳仪展开了追求。柯景腾也在该中学留下了好多令人值得回忆的回忆。 |
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柯景腾– 原本是个不爱念书的学生，后来受到沈佳仪的激励之后奋发向上，并在过程中逐渐爱上沈佳仪，后来考进国立交通大学 。 但因為舉辦比賽受傷，與沈佳宜吵架之後放棄追求沈佳宜。但因为在比赛中受伤，与沈佳仪吵架之后放弃追求沈佳仪。 後因地震和沈佳宜再度聯繫，最終考上東海大學研究所，並踏上寫作之路，與沈佳宜的感情昇華成永遠的朋友。后因地震和沈佳仪再度联系，最终考上东海大学研究所，并踏上写作之路，与沈佳仪的感情升华成为永远的好朋友。 沈佳仪– 功课优秀、长相出众。 一次因緣際會之下，因為不喜歡比自己笨的男生，所以決定幫柯騰拉起成績，過程中逐漸愛上柯騰。一次因缘际会之下，因为她不喜欢更比自己笨的男生在一起，所以决定帮柯景腾提升成绩，却在过程中逐渐爱上柯景腾。 许博淳– 男主角柯景腾的挚友，因为停止不了勃起所以绰号叫勃起。 似乎遺傳自他的爸爸，重考大學後出國攻讀MBA學位。似乎遗传自他的爸爸，重考大学后出国攻读MBA学位。 |
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柯景腾读国中时是一个成绩差而且又调皮捣蛋的男生，老师将他“托付”给班里最优秀的女生沈佳仪。只要他不认真学习，沈佳仪就会用圆珠笔戳他的衣服。在沈佳仪的监督和鼓励下，柯景腾的成绩就像芝麻开花节节上长，渐渐地，他也喜欢上了气质优雅的沈佳仪。高中时期，柯景腾有几位好朋友也爱上沈佳仪。大家都展开对沈佳仪的追求。沈佳仪只想好好学习，不想谈恋爱，也不希望别人介入自己的生活。柯景腾得知沈佳仪的性格，于是决定忍耐，暂时当沈佳仪的好朋友，等到最好的时机，再向她告白。高中毕业后，原本快要在一起的柯景腾与沈佳仪，却因为柯景腾举办的自由格斗赛大吵架，遗憾未能成为恋人。
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故事的结局是喜也是悲。喜的是最后大家都得到自己的幸福。悲的是最后男女主角遗憾未能成为恋人，即使曾经爱过对方。
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喜欢。因为当中的故事生动，非常真实，非常好看，适合中学生们阅读。 |
Posted at 10:03 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
步步惊心 (Before year 2013)
姓名 : 赵美瑾
班级 : S4A
学号 : 09202
Book Call Num. : –
书名 : 步步惊心
著者 : 桐华
出版年份/ (Edition) : 2006
故事开始发生在现代。主角误打误撞的穿越时空，来到清朝康熙的时代，并且在古代认识了许多历史人物，还在古代展开了一段刻骨铭心的恋情。
若曦- 倔强、任性，原本是繁华都市的一名白领，不小心穿越了时空的隧道进入清朝著名的“九子夺嫡”时期。她与康熙皇子八阿哥展开了一段地下情，之后因八阿哥不想舍弃王位而分手。四阿哥的出现，让若曦从失恋的悲伤走出来，接受四阿哥。
爱新觉罗•胤禛（四阿哥）- 深沉内敛，深藏不露，喜欢宁静，享受孤独，不轻易相信和接受人，有着帝王的冷酷和现实，对国家和权力的渴望。最后爱上若曦，与若曦相爱，并且展开了一段刻骨铭心的爱情。
爱新觉罗•胤禩（八阿哥）- 清风和月、温润如玉，与若曦相爱，却不想放弃王位，最后与若曦分手。故事的最后，并没得到皇位，反而被软禁，成为“九子争嫡”的输家。
故事的开始讲述现代白领张小文因车祸穿越到清朝康熙年间，成为满族少女马尔泰•若曦，身不由己地卷入“九子夺嫡”的纷争。开始进入古代的她，非常任性，经常与格格、阿哥们玩闹，有着“拼命十三妹”的绰号。之后，她深受八阿哥的喜欢，与八阿哥展开恋情。八阿哥却因为心机太重，想夺取皇位，放弃了和若曦在一起。若曦在失恋的悲伤中，被四阿哥默默追求，不知不觉中爱上了四阿哥。她明知道历史的走向，却无法改变阿哥们的命运。于是，她只能处处为营，步步惊心。
故事没有结局。虽然若曦爱着四阿哥，但她在最后因为某某原因而与深爱她的十四阿哥结婚。若曦因为长期处于紧张、惊心状态，健康大不如前，在古代往生。灵魂再来到现代，让昏迷的张小文清醒了。而若曦还是忘不了在古代的那段恋情，忘不了四阿哥还有其他阿哥们。
我很喜欢。因为故事的情节非常精彩，有穿越、情仇、宫斗、浪漫、残酷的精彩情节，让我看得津津有味。
Posted at 10:02 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
幸福的味道 (Before year 2013)
姓名 : 赵美瑾
班级 : K3A
学号 : 09202
Book Call Num. : F HON
书名 : 幸福的味道
著者 : 邓秀茵
出版年份/ (Edition) : 2009
背景
故事发生在哪? 请详细写出故事中的背景。蔡以伦父亲所开的餐馆。以伦在那里学习烹饪，以应付即将来临的比赛。在那里，还有他的师傅教他烹饪，让他能在比赛中脱颖而出。
人物性格分析
请写出故事中的三个人物及分析这三个人物的性格。
蔡以伦——重情重义，有上进心。父亲是一家餐厅的老板，从小对烹饪有兴趣。在怡雯的鼓励下参加烹饪比赛。在比赛中胜出之后，想要亲手准备一份便当给怡雯。怡雯却因为家人的问题而必须出国，吃不到以伦为她精心准备的便当。以伦因此留下了遗憾，也希望他们的友谊坚固。
怡雯——以伦的好朋友，和蔼可亲，鼓励以伦参加烹饪比赛，甚至答应当以伦的助手。由于比赛当天家里发生了事情，无法出席比赛，只好叫Crystal 代替她。
Crystal——怡雯的好朋友，乐于助人。在以伦比赛时，Crystal代替怡雯，当了以伦比赛的助手。
故事结构
故事有冲突与矛盾吗？请简述整个故事的开头， 情节发展至结尾。
蔡以伦的父亲是一家餐厅的老板，从小对烹饪有兴趣。以伦在怡雯的鼓励下参加了校内主办的烹饪比赛。怡雯本来答应将要成为以伦的比赛助手，但在比赛当天，由于家里发生了事情，无法出席比赛。有责任心的怡雯叫了自己的好友——Crystal当以伦的助手。怡雯希望以伦可以在比赛中胜出。在比赛中胜出之后，以伦亲手准备了一份便当给怡雯。便当里都是怡雯喜欢吃的食物因为怡雯曾经说过以伦所准备的便当就是幸福的味道。怡雯却因为家人的问题而必须出国，来不及吃到以伦为她精心准备的便当。以伦因此留下了遗憾，也希望他们的友谊坚固。
总结
故事最后的结局如何？结局是悲是喜，抑或是。。。。。？
结局是悲。因为以伦来不及将他亲手烹饪的便当送给怡雯，来不及让怡雯尝到他爱心的便当。以伦因此留下了遗憾，也希望他们的友谊坚固。
读后感
你喜欢这本书吗？ 为什么？
不喜欢。我希望最后以伦可以拿着他的便当送给怡雯。但他却错失了那个机会，不能让怡雯尝到他那好吃及富有爱心的便当。
Posted at 9:58 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
鲁宾逊漂流记 (Before year 2013)
姓名 : 赵美瑾
班级 : K3A
学号 : 09202
Book Call Num. : –
书名 : 鲁宾逊漂流记
著者 : 北京理工大学出版社
出版年份/ (Edition) : 2009
背景
故事发生在哪? 请详细写出故事中的背景。
一座孤岛 （鲁宾逊遇海浪之后所住的地方），孤岛上有一片森林，风景优美。
人物性格分析
请写出故事中的三个人物及分析这三个人物的性格。
鲁宾逊——坚强、独立，拥有永不放弃的精神。
星期五——本来是个野人，但自从认识了鲁宾逊之后，再也没有野人的风范，反而成了一位虔诚的基督徒。经过了努力后，学会了英语，与鲁宾逊沟通不成问题了。
鲁宾逊的父亲——让鲁宾逊接受最好的教育，有望子成龙的想法，希望鲁宾逊成为一名出色的律师。但鲁宾逊不想成为律师，只想走天涯。父亲对此事非常不满，完全不了解鲁宾逊的想法，强迫鲁宾逊，最后导致鲁宾逊气着离家出走。
故事结构
故事有冲突与矛盾吗？请简述整个故事的开头， 情节发展至结尾。
鲁宾逊因为父亲的不谅解而离家出走。离家出走后，到处流浪，过着不稳定的生活。1659年，大风浪过了整整12天。正在船上的鲁宾逊被冲到了一座孤岛上。岛上没有任何一个人，只有花草树木和一些动物在森林里。鲁宾逊为了生存下去，开始了在孤岛的生活。他自力更生，自己亲手建了一座小屋，自己打猎捕捉动物来吃，自己学会做衣服，甚至自己做了一艘小船，方便行动。鲁宾逊发现有一群的野人来到了他的岛上。经过了一番打斗之后，鲁宾逊认识了“星期五”。“星期五”为人善良，尽管在野人群中长大，他还是很单纯。鲁宾逊和他做了好朋友，教导他英文。“星期五”在鲁宾逊的影响下，成为了一名虔诚的基督徒。几年之后，鲁宾逊得到了一位船长的帮助，成功的回到英国——鲁宾逊的家乡。鲁宾逊结了婚，和太太有了三名孩子，之后，又继续他的自由生活。
总结
故事最后的结局如何？结局是悲是喜，抑或是。。。。。？
鲁宾逊离开孤岛之后，成功的回到英国——鲁宾逊的家乡。鲁宾逊结了婚，和太太有了三名孩子，之后，又继续在茫茫的大海上航行。
读后感
你喜欢这本书吗？ 为什么？
喜欢。我喜欢鲁宾逊的坚强和独立。他的精神值得我钦佩。尽管生活多么艰苦，鲁宾逊还是一样以正确的心态来接受现实。
Posted at 9:56 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
金牌大侦探- 破解数学之谜 (Before year 2013)
姓名 : 赵美瑾 班级 : K3A
学号 : 09202 Book Call Num. : F HUN
书名 : 金牌大侦探– 破解数学之谜
著者 : 审敬爱
出版年份/ (Edition) : 2008
背景
故事发生在哪? 请详细写出故事中的背景。
侦探的地方是在一个废弃了很久的破仓库。
人物性格分析
请写出故事中的三个人物及分析这三个人物的性格。
松针——一个聪明的孩子，但却被绑架了。
朴警察——为人认真，很有责任心，对每一宗案件都很投入。
侦探——一个很有好奇心的人，协助朴警察调查每件案件。
故事结构
故事有冲突与矛盾吗？请简述整个故事的开头， 情节发展至结尾。
在城市里，发生了一宗儿童绑架案。松针被绑架了！松针的父母非常着急。朴警察和侦探决定要侦破这件绑架案。在调查的过程中，他们发现松针留下了一些胡乱的字迹。侦探也发现字迹中隐藏了许多需以数学来解决的数学题。经过了深沉的思考之后，他们找到了线索，救出了松针。
总结
故事最后的结局如何？结局是悲是喜，抑或是。。。。。？
结局是喜。。侦探和朴警察用了很多的数学程式，解开了非常难得数学题。最后，他们终于救出了松针。
读后感
你喜欢这本书吗？ 为什么？
喜欢。故事中不只有精彩的侦探故事，还可以和故事中的侦探和朴警察一起解开数学题。从中，我也可以尝试做数学练习。
Posted at 9:53 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
The Reality of Selective Education (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
Class : S4A
School Num. : 08160
Book Call Num. :
Book Title : The Reality of Selective Education
Author : Ray Bryant
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 1999
Sypnosis
In this book, Bryant examines the differing styles of discipline and questions whether teachers fully understand the fears and aspirations of their pupils. Drawing from his own experiences, he discusses the growth of hostility towards testing, the problems of selecting pupils from different backgrounds and perhaps controversially he questions the supposed injustice of some children being chosen as an elite group.
Message to the readers
There is actually pros and cons in the application of selective education. For the pros, Selective education produces better results. Studies have shown that children of equal ability at age 11 go on to have different results at 18, depending on whether they were at a selective school or at a school with children of a mix of abilities. Besides, Selective education recognize that children have different needs.
While for the cons, the plan of selective education is flawed in that not all children who are good at English are good at Mathematics, for example. Streaming allows a child to be in a high-ability class for one subject and a remedial class for another, which is not possible in a fully selective school. Yet the main objection is that the system is shockingly and openly elitist. Education is a right, not a privilege. A good education should be available to all, not just the elitist while the majority are left to rot.
Opinion
Despite, the many arguments that justify a mixed-ability school I still think that the argument that students have a right to learn in a school with students on the same intellectual plane as them overrides anything. When we separate the students according to their ability we aren’t discriminatory or denigrating others, by saying that there are an elite few that deserve to have the privilege of a better education. The elite students deserve to be in a school that caters for their abilities, as this would be of immediate benefit to them than repeating information that they’ve alreadt grasped well. The education system would improve if we had selective schools as the teachers would be able to focus on a group of students of the same ability, then having to cater for student’s varying abilities.
Posted at 9:51 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
The Book of Tomorrow (Before year 2013)
Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C
School No : 07044
Book Call No : F AHE
Book Title : The Book of Tomorrow
Author : Cecilia Ahern
Publication Year : 2010
Setting
A glamorous town life is swapped for the country as Tamara’s father passes away and she has meek it out with her mother in their relatives house. Yet it is here that she realises more about herself than she ever thought.
Character
Tamara Goodwin was a spoilt child who always got what she wanted. Why would she give a thought to tomorrow? But suddenly life takes a difficult turn, and she faces the hard decision to swap for a life in the country. Soon, she’s lonely and longs for her old life.
Conflict
A travelling library that arrived in the village brought with it a mysterious leather-bound book locked with a gold-clasp and a padlock. Little did Tamara know that it would take her on a journey of self-discovery, as the words between its pages show her what tomorrow will bring for her, and takes her breath away.
Conclusion
Tamara learns to accept the life that has been given to her and make the most of it. She realises that by making otheres happy, she is happy too.
Opinion
Tomorrow can change what happens today.
Posted at 9:45 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Little Children (Before year 2013)
Name : Amanda Lo
Class : S5C
School No : 07044
Book Call No : F PER
Book Title : Little Children
Author: Tom Perrota
Setting
This story is set in a little suburban town, where nieghbours know each other. Which means conflicts and insecurities are very hard to hide.
Character
A few parents of young children are portrayed inn this novel. Todd, the stay-at-home dad dubbed the Prom King by the mothers at the playground, his wife Kathy, a documentary film maker who just wants to spend more time with her son, Sarah, a lapsed feminist surprised to find that she’s become a typical wife in a traditional marriage, her husband, Richard, who’s more involved in an Internet fantasy life than his own real life etc.
Conflict
All these parents raise their kids as they see fit in the little suburb where nothing ever seems to happen. until one summer, when a convicted child molester moves in. the parents question everything they do, and everyone they know, and realise nothing is what it seems, as two parents begin an affair that none of them could have imagined.
Conclusion
Some marriages are torn, because they were never meant to be together in the first place. they learn that behind those rose-tinted sunglasses, the world is not as rosy as they were taught to see.
Opinion
This story exposes a surprising sight of a familiar world.
Posted at 9:43 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Marley and Me (Before year 2013)
Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C
School No : 07044
Book Call No : F GRO
Book Title : Marley and Me
Author: John Grogan
Publication Year: 2006
Setting
The main setting is in the Grogan household, where a couple, young and deeply in love, decide to add another member in their family- a canine one, that is. what they didn’t ask for is the antics, good or bad, that come with that little bundle of yellow fur.
Character
Marley
Named after a famous singer in the 80-s, Marley the Labrador Retreiver quickly grew into an uncontrollable furball of a dog, that would eventually prove to worm his way into the hearts of everyone who knew him.
John
Marley’s owner, who grew up and grew wiser with Marley by his side. He learns to appreciate Marley just the way he is.
Conflict
Expelled from Obedience school, Marley was uncontrollable. even the tranquilisers prescribed by the vet couldn’t stop him. Yet through the chaos, and hilarity, chewed toys and destroyed garages, he won hearts and remained a steadfast model of devotion to his family, even when the were at their wits end.
Conclusion
Unconditional love, the family realises, comes in many forms, be it a yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley.
Opinion
Dogs prove time and time again, that they are truly are a man’s best friend.
Posted at 9:38 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
The Notebook (Before year 2013)
STORY SUMMARY : WRITE ABOUT A BOOK
Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C
School No : 07044
Book Call No : F SPA
Book Title : The Notebook
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publication Year: 2004
SETTING
This story is set in North Carolina after World War II . Weary soldiers trudge home to families and friends they left for almost 10 years to serve their country. This describes the struggles after the war, where above all, people learn acceptance and tolerance.
Character
Noah Calhoun, 31, is haunted by images of the war after serving as a soldier for almost a decade. and whats worse, the memories of the girl he left all that time ago.
Socialite Allie Nelson, 29, is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the young boy who stole her heart so long ago.
Conflict
Noah comes home to North Carolina and sees the face he never thought he’s see again. Allie is dumb-struck. she thought he was gone forever. she thought they could continue living their lives just the same as after he’d left, but theres no denying that undeniable pull between them. Noah isn’t going to make the same mistake he made last time, he’s not leaving her again. Thus is a love story so endearing and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph and may even have the power to create a miracle.
Conclusion
Years later, Allie is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband, Noah, reads their story from a notebook with well-worn pages. She cries every time she hears it, then asks who is Noah.
Opinion
this is a celebration of how love is timeless and knows no bounds. and if the love is true, it WILL find you in the end.
Posted at 9:28 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
Class : S4A
School Num. : 08160
Book Call Num. :
Book Title : Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Author : Amy Chua
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2011
Sypnosis
All decent parents want to do what’s best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children’s individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. They often follow the rule which is known as “stand behind, don’t push”. But, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother shows Chua’s iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way.
Message to the readers
This book had help to start a debate between Chinese pareting and Western parenting. Amy Chua hammers western parenting, but she could learn from it too. From this Book, readers get to understand what Chinese parents emphasis is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires iron heart on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up.
The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable—even legally actionable—to Westerners. Chinese mothers can say to their daughters, “Hey fatty—lose some weight.” By contrast, Western parents have to get the way around the issue, talking in terms of “health” and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still end up in therapy for eating disorders and negative self-image.
Chinese parents can order their kids to get straight As. Western parents can only ask their kids to try their best. Chinese parents can say, “You’re lazy. All your classmates are getting ahead of you.” By contrast, Western parents have to struggle with their own conflicted feelings about achievement, and try to persuade themselves that they’re not disappointed about how their kids turned out.
Although none of the ways of western parenting or Chinese parenting is 100% perfect. But at least readers get to know about the pro’s and cons of both parenting.
Opinion
I found this a very interesting read and I surely learned a lot by reading this book. Although, I would never choose to have a parent like Amy Chua, but I do think that there are good points in the way she uses. There are a lot of different ways for raising children and even though a lot of people may judge Amy for being too harsh, I think reading about her way was a very valuable lesson for me. It also Makes me love my mum more! I would recommend this book for everyone who would like to learn more about the Chinese culture and maybe even for all parents.
Posted at 9:23 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Rich Dad Poor Dad (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
Class : S4A
School Num. : 08160
Book Call Num. :
Book Title : Rich Dad Poor Dad
Author : Robert Kiyosaki
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2000
Sypnosis
This book descride the story of a person who has two fathers: the first was his biological father – the poor dad – and the other was the father of his childhood best friend, Mike – the rich dad.
Both fathers taught the author how to achieve success but with very different approaches. It became evident to the author which father’s approach made more financial sense. Throughout the book, the author compares both fathers – their principles, ideas and financial practices.
Among some of the book’s topics are:
the value of financial intelligence
that corporations spend first, then pay taxes, while individuals must pay taxes first
that corporations are artificial entities that anyone can use, but the poor usually do not know how.
Characters
Poor Dad
Poor dad believed in the traditional principles of working hard, saving money, and not buying material things that one cannot afford. He believed that having a good job with a solid company is what one should aspire for; hence he expresses disappointment when his son leaves the employ of a large, reputable corporation.
Poor dad looks to education as the passport to success. He was more interested in a good education than the subject of money. The author wrote that his poor dad would always say things like, “I’m not interested in money” or “money doesn’t matter.”
Rich Dad
The author wrote that it was when he was nine years old that he started realizing that his rich dad made much more sense than his poor dad. It was from rich dad that the author learned not to say, “I can’t afford it”, but instead to ask, “how can I afford it?” He explains this principle by relating an incident when he and his best friend Mike went to work for Mike’s father. Rich dad paid them very low wages deliberately so that would stir anger and a sense of injustice in them and eventually for them to realize that in order to get ahead, one must work for himself and not for others.
The author adds that while his poor dad invested time and effort in education, he did not have any knowledge on investing. His rich dad, by contrast, was very skilled in the investment game because that’s all he did. The attitude of his rich dad about money was manifested in the saying “the lack of money is the root of all evil” (his poor dad, on the other hand, believed that the love of money is the root of all evil).
The Son (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
The author takes a common sense approach to the subject of money and emphasizes the need for accounting knowledge so that the reader clearly understands what assets and liabilities are. He makes simple diagrams that show the inflow and outflow of money and how the rich build up the asset column and the poor build up the liability column (expenses). It is obvious that the author places much importance on accounting knowledge – no matter how boring it is – because he says it is “the most important subject in your life.”
Opinion
Hmm, I really admire the author and I do agree that he is a great motivator. This book helps me to reshape the way i think about what i do with my money. The Author too does a great job of helping me understand that rich people are rich because they buy assets that produce income. Poor people are poor because they accumulate liabilities and expenses. In order to become wealthy, one must spend money accumulating income producing assets such as real estate, businesses, stocks and bonds. For anyone who plans to accumulate wealth, this book is a must read.
Posted at 9:19 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
青色的围墙 (Before year 2013)
故事简介
姓名 ：黎沅灵
班级 ：S4E
学号 ：08282
Book Call Num ：F HON 红 C2
书名 ：青色的围墙
著者 ：许友彬 & 许书芹
出版年份/（Edition） ：2009 年
背景故事发生在哪? 请详细写出故事中的背景。
故事发生在许多的地方， 有如在姗姗的补习中心，徐天平写作的地方—星巴克，公寓和公寓外面的守卫亭。还有姗姗， 成英和李察一起去游玩的户外主题乐园（云顶高原），再加上姗姗的学校，电影院以及其他的地方。
人物性格分析请写出故事中的三个人物及分析这三个人物的性格。
1） 徐天平：故事中的男主角。 他是姗姗的爸爸，爱好写作。他是一位作家而且很担心女儿的近况。2） 姗姗：徐天平的女儿，难以接受她爸爸的所作所为，更无法了解爸爸对她的一番苦心。3） 依玲：徐天平的女朋友。她常常帮忙徐天平处理一切大大小小的事务，爱屋之乌；疼爱姗姗。
故事结构故事有冲突与矛盾吗？请简述整个故事的开头， 情节发展至结尾。
故事的开头是讲述一位爸爸（徐天平）。女儿去了补习班后，自己就到星巴克写作， 但没有头绪。这时，有一位小女孩与他的女儿同龄（15岁），她一直要求徐天平帮她出版她所写的小说， 她希望小说里的男主角可以发现她所写的人事物。徐天平阅读过那位小女孩所写的小说后，更加了解自己女儿的心事。他终于解开自己心中的锁，并促进与女儿之间的感情。
总结故事最后的结局如何？结局是悲是喜，抑或是。。。。。？
故事最后的结局是圆满而且充满欢喜。 爸爸（徐天平）的心中终于不再存有芥蒂。他肯用心的去聆听女儿（姗姗）的心事，也懂得用任何的方式与姗姗沟通。他认为女儿比写作更加重要，“家”和“女”相连就是一个“安”所以有了女儿和家庭， 才可以安心地写作。姗姗也更加了解爸爸对她的苦心。
读后感你喜欢这本书吗？ 为什么？
我很喜欢这本书。 此书讲述了女儿与父亲之间都有一堵的隐形墙，但只要父亲愿意放下自己身上的一些任务，就可以跨过那堵隐形墙。我深深体会父爱是多么伟大。父亲的爱是一股难以形容的力量。
Posted at 9:17 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
New Moon (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
Class : S4A
School Num. : 08160
Book Call Num. : F MEY C2
Book Title : New Moon
Author : Stephenie Meyer
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2008
Setting
The small, rainy town where Bella lives is in Forks, Washington. It is the main setting throughout the whole series. While Italy, is where the Volturi live. There, Bella rushes over with Alice to stop Edward from killing himself.
In this book- New Moon, one of the main setting is Jacob’s house- Where Bella is most of the time after Edward leaves. She spends time mostly in Jacob’s garage, watching him work on his car.
Synopsis of Characters
Bella
When Edward leaves her, Bella is destroyed emotionally and spends the next several months in a deep depression after a birthday party for Bella goes horribly wrong. Her life was put in danger. After renewing her childhood friendship with Jacob Black, she begins to feel alive again.
Edward Cullen
Edward decided to leave Forks with his family so they wouldn’t be able to hurt her. After keeping tabs on Bella through his sister Alice’s visions, he learns that she has fallen to her death, but Alice doesn’t realise yet that she can’t see everything, and it’s a race against time to save Edward from the biggest mistake of his life. He returned because he realized he cannot live without her.
Jacob Black
Jacob is also hiding a supernatural secret himself. He’s a member of the Quileute tribe, and as he hits puberty, he discovers he’s inherited the genes that turn him into an enormous, powerful wolf – part of a pack that protects the tribe from vampires. Instantly Edward and Jacob become natural enemies, but with one common aim – to protect Bella.
Conflict
Edward leaves Bella, after Jasper attacks her and tells her that he does not want her anymore. She starts to spend time with Jacob and finds out he’s a werewolf. Bella jumps off a cliff, not suicide, but just for fun. Alice saw that, and comes back to forks to console Charlie as she thinks Bella is dead. Edward calls and Jacob told Edward that Charlie is at “the funeral”.
Conclusion
At the end of New Moon, Bella went off with Alice to save Edward in Italy. The Volturi at first say that Bella can’t leave because she knows too much about vampires but Alice and Edward promise Bella will be changed soon. They go back to Washington. When they get back, Jacob has returned Bella’s motorcycle, and when Charlie sees it, he gets really mad and grounds Bella.
After that the Cullen family vote for whether Bella should become a vampire takes place, and since the majority says yes, Edward loses his temper. He eventually offers to change her if they marry, which she freaks out at, because she remembers how her parents’ young marriage was like.
Opinion
Actually, in my personal opinion, this book is educational in the way that it teaches young women not to be so emotionally dependent on their boyfriends because of the way it can feel like “your world is ending” when you break up. Besides it would be a good topic for a mother to talk to her daughter, after they both read it, about how those kinds of relationships can be so self-destructive.
Posted at 9:11 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
The Host (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
School Num. : 08160
Book Call Num. : F MEY C2
Book Title : The Host
Author : Stephenie Meyer
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2008
SETTING
The idea for The Host originated on a trip from Phoenix to Salt Lake City. Filled with boredom, the author made up stories to entertain herself, and was halfway through outlining the story of The Host in her head before realizing what she had created. She notes that the story grabbed her attention, and that she “could tell there was something compelling in the idea of such a complicated triangle.” Originally meant to be a side project, The Host eventually became a priority.
Characters
Wanderer/Wanda
She is actually a silver blob with antennae but she currently occupies Melanie’s body. Wanda is very kind and sees herself falling in love with Melanie’s loves: her brother Jamie and her romance love Jared. Wanda is kind and very selfless. She receives happiness from making others happy. She never looks to help herself but what she can do to help others.
Jared
Jared is Melanie’s love. He shows great signs of leadership as he is in charge of the raids that go on for food. He is very reluctant to become friends with Wanda/Melanie because he doesn’t feels it’s possible.
Melanie
She has a temper and may be considered volatile compared to docile Wanderer. Melanie is passionately in love with another human, Jared Howe, and shares a strong mother-like bond with her younger brother, Jamie. She grows to care for Wanderer deeply as a sister, as well. Melanie is described as pretty, tall and athletic with long brown hair, hazel eyes and tan skin.
Conflict
The main conflict was that the alien was invading the human’s body. The person who used to control it still had part of her mind; she was a fighter. This conflict was solved when the alien fell in love with someone the human didn’t love, when they used the alien to help and she found she could be useful to the hiding group of people. Besides, they took the alien out of the human’s body and put her in another body.
Conclusion
Wanda has Doc remove her from Melanie’s body, believing that she will die there after, according to their agreement. However, she awakens in a new human body whose original owner was possessed as a baby and therefore has no suppressed human personality, and it is revealed that Jared and Ian forcibly prevented Doc from carrying out the agreement and that most of the humans want her to stay as one of them. This book ends with the rebels discovering another group of humans who also have a soul among them. This discovery suggests that humanity and souls together may still have hope for the future.
Opinion
I don’t know if it’s fair to compare this book to Twilight because they are not even the same genre. However, I think I pick up this book because of my enjoyment of Twilight.It was an interesting story. I think it was an amazing thing to combine the alien and the human in one body so we can get the perspective of both from the same experiences. It was fascinating to see how they could view the same thing so differently. Overall it was a captivating story and it surpassed even my high expectations.
Posted at 9:08 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
Twilight (Before year 2013)
Name : Hoh Tjin Li
Class : S4A
School Num. : 08160
Book Title : Twilight
Author : Stephenie Meyer
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2006
SETTING
The setting to Twilight is Forks, Washington. It was chosen by Stephenie Meyer (the author of the Twilight Series) because it is the rainiest city in the United States and the main character is a vampire.
Forks is about 5 hours away from Seattle, along the Olympic Peninsula. Along with Forks, there is also First Beach in La Push, which is also a place mentioned often. This is an Indian Reservation near Forks home of the Quilette Indians. Jacob Black, a friend to the main character, lives here.
Character
Isabella Swan
Bella is the frictional protagonist of this book. She moves to her father’s home in Forks, Washington, meets the mysterious Cullen family, and falls in love with Edward Cullen. However, she soon discovers that the family is a coven of vampires. Bella expresses a desire to become a vampire herself, against Edward’s wishes.
Edward Cullen
Like all vampires, Edward is described as impossibly handsome, to the point of being almost godlike. In the sunlight, his skin sparkles like millions of diamonds. His eyes change color depending on his mood. They are described as a butterscotch when he is delighted and fed and gradually darken to black, like onyx, as he is angered and when he is thirsty. A member of the Olympic Coven, Edward only drinks animal blood and has the special ability to read minds. He falls in love with Bella soon after she arrives in Forks.
Jacob Black
Jacob Black is Bella’s best friend. He is a Quileute Native American and a werewolf. In Twilight, Jacob plays the minor role of a forgotten childhood friend of Bella’s, and he develops a crush on her. In an attempt to learn more about Cullens, Bella flirts with Jacob, and he tells her tribe legends about “the cold ones”, or vampires.
Conflict
The major conflict in Twilight is that Edward is a danger to Bella’s life. But she continues to love him anyway. And it doesn’t help when other vampire’s smell the Cullens and then smell mortal blood (Bella) close to the Cullens. So when the other Vampire come. Bella has to leave her home and hid out some where. And ends up getting hurt anyway, almost becoming a Vampire herself.
Conclusion
To me, the conclusion was kind of left open for New Moon (the second book of the twilight series).
Although Edward was a vampire, it didn’t matter as Bella wanted to be with him no matter what.
Opinion
The Twilight Saga is a great series to read. It is a fantasy that you will wish is possible. I am truly addicted. ^^ The characters are easy to connect to and there’s just the right amount of love, mystery, and action. I fully recommend the Twilight series!
Posted at 9:04 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2013
My Sister’s Keeper (Before year 2013)
STORY SUMMARY : WRITE ABOUT A BOOK
Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C
School No : 07044
Book Call No : F PIC
Book Title : My Sister’s Keeper
Author : Jodi Picoult
Publication Year/ (Edition) : 2008
SETTING
This story is mainly set around the Fitzgerald household where there are undoubtly tears and laughter in abundance. Just like any normal family would be. the only difference is their daughter, Kate, is dying from a rare form of leukemia, blood cancer. Thus, the story moves from trips to the hospital where Kate recieves treatment after treatment to no avail, to the garage where Kate’s elder brother sets up his room because he cant stand the tension at home, to the girls’ bedroom, where Kate and her little sister, Anna, share stories and secrets… if only they were a normal family, but it is not to be that way…
Character
The main character of the story is Anna Fitzgerald. Kate’s sister knew from the start that she was a ‘planned’ child. a baby conceived with a specific use for her in the future. Anna is genetically identical to her drastically ill sister, Kate. Kate has a rare form of leukemia, and the doctors say the only way to save her is to practically ‘sacrifice’ Anna by extracting stem cells, cord blood, bone marrow, lymphocytes etc. for Kate’s medical treatment. No one likes being used as tool for someone else. Thus, Anna make a firm decision to sue her parents for the rights to her own body.
-Sara Fitzgerald is mother to Jesse, Kate and Anna. She left the legal world to become what she loves most- a mother. But when Kate is diagnosed with APL leukemia, her comfortable world falls apart. Sara knows she will do anything to save her daughter, or any one of her children. Whatever it takes.
-Campbell Alexander is legal counsel to Anna Fitzgerald, helping her sue her parents to the rights of her own body. Never before has he took on a case that touched him so much, and hit so close to home. Although he suffers from frequent strokes since he collapsed a year ago, he is determined to see this case to the end, even if it costs him his peace of mind, he believes no one should be forced to do something they don’t want to, even if in Anna’s case, the reslut is her sister dying.
Conflict
Kate Fitzgerald is diagnosed with a deadly form of leukemia, blood cancer from a very young age. The family was torn apart. Her mother, Sara took on the responsibilty of caring for her, even if it was like driving a dagger through her heart everytime the doctors drew blood from her daughter’s arm. Therefore, when they were offered a chance to try and save Kate, Sara jumped for it, even if it meant creating a new baby specifically genetically identical to Kate. Years passed and Anna started having a change of heart. She did not want to continue donating stem cells, bone marrow and whatever else to her sister anymore. She doesn’t care what happens to Kate anymore, she is suing her parents for medical emancipation, the rights to her own body. The idea in itself shatters the already fragile family. Now Brian, the father, immerses himself in fire-fighting and doesn’t come home, while Kate’s brother, Jesse, creates those fires just to get his parents’ attention. the story encompases a mother’s love, forced to be torn; a child’s struggle with cancer; a family buried under conflict; tough decisions to be made; and in the end, Fate’s cruel hand.
Conclusion
Fate dealt the last blow in the end of this heart-breaking story. The results of Anna’s lawsuit are revealed, and she is granted medical emancipation. Anna chooses not to donate her kidney to Kate even though her sister is nearing Death’s door…. The results are good for Anna, but why is she crying? A few months later, Kate has a healthy kidney, her cancer is cured and she is free to live her life normally.. What happened to Anna? I suppose you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Opinion
I love this book. It is heartbreaking yet mesmerising. Each event is relevant to the next, although you may not realise it the first time, the realisation comes brutal and hard. Most of all, this novel highlights a family’s struggle, that inadvertantly makes them stronger, and teaches us that love conquers all.
Rating
Star : 5
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