*Partners--Khalil+and+Ms.+Sarah

Partner Names: Khalil, Sarah Book Title: __Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie__ Author: Jordan Sonnenblick

Your **responsibilities**:

//(Keep in mind that these activities are instead of keeping a Reading Log and writing Reading Responses!)//

__**Day 1**__ **(Before you begin reading)**, each partner must:

1. Post a response in which you make predictions about the book you will read. What can you predict from the book’s title? What does the book’s cover (front and back) tell you about the book? Is the book fiction or nonfiction?

2. Pose 2 questions about the book to your partner. For example, you can ask what they predict to be the setting, plot, or genre. Is the book going to be funny, sad, realistic, or full of imaginary images?

Each __**Monday, Wednesday, and Friday**__, **(while you are reading)**, you must post a wiki response in which you:

1. Share your opinions/reflections about your reading

2. Respond to your partner’s question(s)

3. Pose a new question(s) to your partner

Although every question does not have to address one of the literary elements listed above, you must address them **all** by the time you have finished your book.In other words, at some point during your online discussion, you and your partner **must** ask questions (and provide responses about) **foreshadowing, mood, setting, theme, symbolism,** and **character change**. As with Reading Responses, you can write about these elements in any order you choose. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Khalil: hello, before reading i want to say that although this seems to be a fiction book it looks as if it deals with very deep things.

I think you're correct. I haven't read anything by this author, but I've been wanting to read them. It'll be fun to share our impressions of the books since we are both BIG readers:) LOL So the Lexington library closes at 5p.m. on Friday nights. Who knew? I certainly didn't. I was planning to read while my boys played soccer and baseball. Some thoughts on the title:  Drums - an instrument usually associated with guys. We just got a drum set and my sons seem to like making lots of loud noise on it. Girls - always an interesting topic and Dangerous Pie - what in the world is this a reference to??? I guess we'll have to open the book and find out. I'm hoping we're going to read this book by Sonnenblick and then want to read the rest of his novels.  More later.

I have the book now. How much have you read? In my edition, Sonnenblick thanks a bunch of his teachers for encouraging him to be a writer. Hope you will look back on your school experience and feel that people believed in you and your future. Do you play an instrument? It appears as though the main character Steven is quite a drummer. He even LIKES to practice. I like the early descriptions of feeling vulnerable to the social mores of the middle school. Wanting to be cool, but not pulling it off. The beginning also reminds me of __Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing__ by Judy Blume with its complaints about the annoying younger brother. But I think this is all foreshadowing. I think I remember that cancer plays a role in these books.

Are you there???

So I guess I'll keep talking to myself until you surface. I now know why I have never read this book. My mom also has leukemia and I tend to stay away from things that make me think about it. She has been living with leukemia for almost 13 years so that means the younger brother in the book could do well with his treatment. All the descriptions of driving to and from the hospital and the technical medical vocabulary made me tense reading. What do you think about how Steven's dad seems to have shut down communication with Steven?

Khalil: sorry a __**LOT**__ has kept me from replying. first I for got my book at school then my computer refused to let me go on wikispaces. but i have won i am at the main library with a copy right now as of Thursday, April 21 2011. i am on page 60 now. i do play an instrument, the trumpet. i am here. from what i have read Steven's dad has stopped talking to Steven for one of two reasons. One, it is simply too painful for him to talk about with anyone even his son. Two, he really is trying to protect Steven from the burden. at least that is what i think.on another note you can really tell that Steven is suffering by the way he is acting.

Sarah: So glad you are not in bed with the flu and that you are alive and well in Cambridge, MA! I finished the book so now I will go back over it and ponder some of the things I briefly thought about as I read through at lightening speed (which by the way is not an advantage when it comes to reading) I've been thinking more about the symbolism of the drums in Steven's life. Playing drums can be an escape, an outlet for sadness, time to mediate on life's events as he plays. "I always play well when I start out in a bad mood." (p.60) Have you ever experienced this with your own music? I am not a musician, however, I have found that "place" in my athleticism - running a race better with lots on my mind, for example.

And what about Steven's "bargaining." I do that. I've done that. It's a mental game of if such-and-such happens, then I'll do such-and-such.

I like Annette. I want Steven to realize what a good friend she is to him, but sometimes it takes a while to realize these things at a certain age, well maybe at any age.

Sarah: More thoughts before I head into my crazy weekend. I like the descriptions of the people dropping by the house to express their condolences about Jeffrey's cancer diagnosis. It's so true that uncomfortable emotional situations make people say and do things awkwardly. pages 86-89

What is your impressions of Jeffrey? I think Sonnenblick (the author) has him saying things that don't quite ring true. Jeffrey's comments about hot girls and pestering Steven about whether or not he has kissed a girl, just don't work for me. Thoughts on this?

Khalil: i think that because jeffrey thinks so highly of his brother that he would learn things like that whether from following him around and overhearing or trying to be more like him. personally i like jeffrey the fact that through the pain of his initial treatment he thought enough about his brother to buy him a gift impresses me. This might just be me i think steven is acting just a LITTLE too selfishly. i understand that he is in pain over his brother's illness but he can't seem to think about his mother's side if he is taking it out on her. what do you think? t Khalil: on another note jeffrey got an ear infection and that is what caused the fever right? but was the fever a result of his lack of white blood cells or did not having enough white blood cells only make it worse

Sarah: Hmmm, yes, I agree that it takes Steven a long time to realize that his mom is carrying the heavy load of the illness, shuttling him back and forth to the hospital, etc. The turning point is when he goes to the hospital with him mom and Jeffrey p. 101-102. I think the author was trying to balance the angst of growing up and all the issues that we confront as teenagers in addition to a family in crisis and how the balance is off. Jeffrey's ear infection was worse because his body is susceptible to illness. When my mom was first sick we stayed away from her if we thought we had a cold. Besides thinking Steven is a bit selfish, what do you think of his character? Is he believable? Did Sonnenblick do a good job describing a middle school boy?

Khalil: i think he is a believable character

Sarah: Home again with complications from the diabetes medication. . . Have you finished reading the book? Shall we skim the next two to see how Steven and Jeffrey's lives unfold?

Khalil: i think we should

Sarah: I guess we can just continue our conversation on the same page. Title: Evermore Author: Alyson Noel

So thanks to you I stayed up way past my bedtime to read this book. It certainly does pull you in. As soon as I read that Ever didn't see an aura around the new guy, I knew something was up. He's dead? He's a vampire? He's immortal! Reminds me of Twilight, a bit. I already know I'll want to read the next two. I'm always amazed at how the other students don't suspect anything when these strange students are in their midst.

Khalil: i know he is doing all of these crazy things and no one seems to think it is, other than Ever of course. what page of the book are you on? Also do you think Ever's name is as confusing as i do? Khalil: By the way how are you liking blue moon? Sarah: So I'm a little late with my responses. . .I've already finished Blue Moon and I thought I had the third book, but it turns out its actually the fourth one. However I seem to be loosing steam with the Immortal series. I enjoyed Blue Moon and I liked the twist of the new rogue immortal showing up on the scene. I was fooled by Ava. I thought she was a good soul, but turns out she's greedy and wants to hang out in Summerland and imagine bangles on her wrists. Yes, Ever's name is confusing but I guess the significance is For Ever as in "she's immortal" So what is it about these books that draws people in. It's not like it's amazing writing, in fact sometimes the writing is annoying and the humor is just not funny but I want to keep reading. I think Alyson Noel does a good job making us care about Ever. Her conversations with her ghost sister ring true for me. When she is remembering her past life and missing her family I feel for her. But after a few books, I am ready to move on to something else. I think I should buy the series for the YA collection 'cause I think we'd get some readers, don't you? By the way, check out the new middle school nook that Melisa and I built today.