Reading Log Week 12

Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 103 - 150

Shuya's, Shogo's, and Mitsuko's morals are so very different. Shuya will fight for anyone he loves, and still can't believe anyone would kill each other. He doesn't want to kill, and is determined not to and to lose as little lives as possible. This is shown when it says, "'Shuya. You're pale. Are you okay?' Noriko asked, but Shuya couldn't respond. A shiver ran through his body, and he began to tremble....'I'm scared...I just killed someone.'" (Takami 142) This shows that Shuya was scared out of his wits, and couldn't believe that classmates would actually murder one another. I believe this is because of his natural personality, and how he had been with each and every classmate from when they were toddlers up to that moment, and he couldn't believe they were killing each other. On the other hand, Shogo believes that people should do what their instinct tells them to do, and if that means kill, then so be it. However, he still has certain ethics in the sense that he will not kill unless he has to, and he would much rather make friends than be suspicious and deadly around everyone. This is shown when he says, "I didn't have any choice. Are you saying I should have let him kill me?" (Takami 145) In this, it displays that he mostly relies on primal instincts and natural survival tactics, and looks at everything from a perspective with no emotion. I believe this is because his ethics are embedded in his personality, and he has had past experiences that make his mindset one where survival is key, and all other things come as an afterthought. As for Mitsuko, she only wants to win. It isn't even a matter of survival, she doesn't care if others die in her hands, as long as she survives and is victorious. This is shown when it says, "Mitsuko quickly turned off her flashlight and stood up. She wiped away the annoying tears (which she could produce any time. It was in fact one of her special talents)." (Takami 118) It displays here that Mitsuko really had no feelings or emotions that blocked her from winning and being the only survivor. She was completely willing to play this game, because her ethics are that of a bully. I think this is because she knows how to take advantage of people, because of her pretty face as well as her bold personality. This simply became more extreme as the "game" began.


Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 150 - 204

It seems that the story has been foreshadowing that Shinji and Shuya will meet up at some point in this story, and that will cause something extreme and large to happen, such as their escape. This foreshadowing may be seen when it says, "Yutaka nodded again. Then he looked down. 'I wonder where Shuya is. We'd be so strong if Shuya and you were together.' ...it was true, Shinji also thought, Shuya Nanahara would be a great partner.'" (Takami 204) This shows that both Shinji and Yutaka thought that being with Shuya was a good idea, because Shinji and Shuya would be a nearly unstoppable pair, and they just might have a chance of escape. I believe that this is foreshadowing their meeting up, because otherwise they wouldn't be mentioning this imaginary reunion so frequently and often. Therefore, I can safely conclude that at some point, most likely soon, Shinji and Shuya will unite and something substantial to the plot will happen because of it.

Reading Log Week 11

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 266-309

Percy has had doubts about whether the gods are even worth saving, on whether or not they have their priorities straight, and on whether they are any better than the Titans. This is shown when it says, "Olympus was on the verge of falling, and I'd seen so many cruel things the gods had done...Then I looked at Hestia. Her red eyes glowed warmly. I remembered the images I'd seen in her hearth - friends and family, everyone I cared about." (Riordan 307) This displays that Percy was debating on whether or not the gods were even worthy of saving, if the Titans were really that bad compared to the gods. I believe that he is even pondering fighting for the gods because Zeus killed an innocent mortal woman, Hades cursed the Oracle to a horrible life, and death, and Hermes turning his back on a son he knew would turn evil. All these things, and more, most likely led up to his contemplation of whether or not the Titans would be so much worse than the gods.

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages read: 309-381

This story finished dramatically, yet peacefully at the same time. Percy finally defeated Kronos, got the girl (Annabeth) and his friend got her true destiny. This destiny is becoming the new host of the Oracle of Dephi. Generally, it all ended happily. For example, it says, "Camp went late that summer. It lasted two more weeks, right up to the start of a new school year, and I have to admit they were the best two weeks of my life." (Riordan 375) This shows that Percy was incredibly happy with the ending of the book. He says that they were the best last weeks of camp of his life, which means he was satisfied with it. The average happy ending.



Reading Log Week 10

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 1-64

I believe that Percy's morals are true and just, but what he has to do because of his nature prevents him from having proper manners and normal priorities. This is shown when it says, "'Demigods,' Rachel muttered as she threw another dart at the canvas. 'And their stupid quests.'" (Riordan 64) This quote shows that Rachel, a normal mortal, has different, more "normal" priorities than Percy, thus showing that she has resent for how different Percy is from her. She resents this because, in my opinion, he is above average in immortal terms, and he is off on quests that she cannot tag along in. She cannot be with him as much as she would like because of the fact that he leads a different type of life. Percy's morals and ethics are all there, and they are all very true, but his demigod nature and lifestyle prevents him from staying with friends like Rachel, who covets being with him more than he cares about stopping a war. Therefore, Percy means well, but does not have normal priorities, thus making him less understanding of others' feelings.


Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 64-130

Currently, Percy is in Hades's dungeon, while Nico, Hades's son, just appeared in his dungeon to try and rescue him. Hades is keeping Percy in his dungeon because he made him angry and irritated when he started snapping at Hades and coming up with snide insults. This is shown when it says, "'You're crazy,' I said. 'Kronos will crush you, right after he finished pulverizing Olympus.' Hades spread his hands. 'Well, you'll get a chance to find out, half-blood. Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons.'" (Riordan 125) This displays that Hades was irritated with Percy, and it is very easy - yet not a good idea - to irritate a god. I believe that Percy annoyed Hades just because that is his personality and nature, though Hades simply saw it as a trangression, especially because he was in his own realm. Percy is generally very outspoken and restless, which causes him to say whatever is on his mind at the time. This is what happened here, and since Percy was a little angry, it did not help his attitude toward the god. Thus, this is what happened here, and now Percy is wallowing away his time, becoming more angry, in the god's dungeon.

Reading Log Week 9

Book: Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages Read: 232 - 269

Did Bianca really die? What will happen to the Ophiotaurus? How with the battle on Mount Othrys end? Who is the subject of the major prophecy about a child of the Big Three? I believe that Bianca did not, in fact, really die because she is a Hunter so she is immortal. This is justified when it says on page 41, "'Once they swear loyalty to me [Artemis], they are indeed immortal...unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath.'". I also believe that the Ophiotaurus will not be sacrificed and that it will become protected by the gods on Mount Olympus. When it says, "'So maybe we can get him back to Long Island Sound,' Grover said, 'Then Chiron could help us get him to Olympus.'" (Riordan 242). I think that the battle currently taking place will end in the rescue of Artemis and Annabeth, but Zoë will most likely die in battle. This is shown when it says, "'My lady!' Zoë rushed forward, but Artemis said, 'Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now.'...Zoë was crying. She ran forward despite Artemis's protests, and tugged at the chains." (Riordan 260) it shows that Zoë was willing to die for Artemis, which foreshadows that she probably will. I also think that Nico is the subject of the prophecy about the child of the Big Three, and he and Bianca will have actually been children of Hades, most likely, as Zeus and Poseidon have already had children. I believe that these things will happen because of the fact that as an author, Rick Riordan would have wanted many twists and turns in the plot, as well as a fairly happy ending. These predictions cover those requirements.


Book: Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages Read: 269 - 306

vertebrae (n): any of the bones or segments composing the spinal column, consisting typically of a cylindrical body and an arch with various processes, and forming a foramen, or opening, through which the spinal cord passes.
Sentence included in: "I felt like the vertebrae in my spine had been welded together by a blowtorch." (270)

caduceus(n): the staff carried by Mercury/Hermes as messenger of the gods.
Sentence included in: "Hermes got a call on his caduceus and walked away." (295)


Critical Thinking Question

Discuss the appropriateness of Equality's new name, "Unconquered." Why did they change their name? What does it represent?

Equality's name, "Unconquered", represents the struggle to become independent from the group and to become an individual in the story. Liberty, or the Golden One, calls him this because she believes he has overcome the government and has also given her a name, thus showing mutual individuality. This shows that "Unconquered" as well as "The Golden One" both show independence and individuality on both parts.

Reading Log Week 8

Book: Percy Jackson: the Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages Read: 304-350

 Ares seems to believe that you should never let your guard down, never play nice, and never, ever, show your weakness. This is shown when it says, "'In your adolescent dreams,' Ares said, but his sunglasses were melting from the heat of his eyes." (320) This shows that the war god was actually outraged and angry, but he still was trying to mask his rage by keeping his face stoic and scoffing at Percy. Ares might do this because he has many enemies and hates cooperation, and showing his anger would show weakness. He believes that a person should always be prepared for war, because he is the war god.

Book: Percy Jackson: the Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages Read: 1-30

Percy is realizing his friend, Tyson, might be something more godlike than he thought, and they are heading toward Camp Half-Blood, where bad things seem to be brewing. Percy has been getting hints from Annabeth that Tyson is more than human. This is shown when it says, "He made a move as if to touch her light blond hair, but Annabeth smacked his hand away, saying, 'Eww, get away from me!'" (25) This shows that Annabeth is more disgusted by Tyson than she would be by a human, and Tyson has a slower and smaller brain capacity than normal, almost like a toddler's. This shows that Tyson could have a different aging process than humans'. Therefore, he's most likely inhuman.

Reading Log Week 7

Book--Roanoke: a Novel of the Lost Colony
Author--Sonia Levitin
Pages read: 133 - 162

I am wondering if William is falling in love Telana, even though she is a savage girl? An example of why I wonder this is when William said, "He [Hugh] nodded toward the center of the ceremonial circle, where Telana stood with two other girls. 'That one's well favored,' he murmured. 'I wouldn't mind...' 'She's Manteo's cousin,' I said quickly, reluctant, somehow, to tell him more." This shows that William did not want to get his friend interested in Telana, because perhaps he wanted Telana for himself. This means hat possibly, he is going to fall in love with Telana in the end, therefore creating conflict.


Book--Roanoke: a Novel of the Lost Colony
Author--Sonia Levitin
Pages read: 162 - 190

Floundering (v): To struggle clumsily.

This word was used in the story to describe William's struggle with what to say or what to do in the colonies with so many new people and so many old faces. This word is important to the story because it summarizes the colony of Roanoke and what it is facing right now and it shows how the savages, or Native Americans, were struggling to have good relationships with the colony of Roanoke and how the English colonies were always struggling.