Eager by Helen Fox

Eager is about Gavin Bell and his teenage sister, Fleur. They are a middle-class family. Their old-fashioned robot, Grumps, can't tell what time it is and is breaking down. To make matters worse, he can not be repaired. One of their dad's friends, a scientist, lets them have his experimental robot, EGR3 or Eager. However, Eager is different from normal robots who are programed. Eager learns from his experiences, as a child would He also ha emotions. When new high-tech robots called BDC4 begin to behave suspiciously human like, Eager, Gavin and Fleur investigate. 

The book made me think about if it would be right to build a robot with feelings. I decided that it would be wrong because then the robots would be able to rebel. Also, people could become emotionally attached to something that was not human but acted like it and I think people need other real people to care.  However it would be helpful to have a robot that could give advice and/or help you mentally. You can count on one thing, though if there ever is a robot with feelings, we would have to treat it with extreme caution.

Ranger's Apprentice

Right now I'm reading the Ranger's Apprentice book #1 Ruins of Gorlan. It is set in an mythical land called Araluen ruled by King Duncan. It tells the story of 15 year old Will. He lives in a medieval-style castle, Redmont. He and his classmates all apply to a trade. It is his deep desire to become a warrior-knight, despite his small stature. However he is chosen by the mysterious Ranger Holt. As a ranger he is required to become an expert archer and knife thrower. He also learns of silent and unseen movement, tracking and concealment. Slowly, Will and Holt become friends and embark on the journey of a life time against many evils.

Characters
Will gets apprenticed by Halt to become a Ranger at the age of 15. He is an orphan ward of the castle lord, and he doesn't remember his parents. He is small, fast and agile. He is the main character in the book. He is smart and very loyal to his friends.

Halt is a member of the Ranger Corps; he is a small man, with black-and-gray hair and a beard. He is grim and famous throughout the kingdom. People are often surprised and disappointed when they find out that he isn' the 7 foot tall hero they always thought of. Halt is a superb archer, and this is demonstrated thoroughly with his use of a massive longbow.

Aliss is a friend of Horace and Will, and is apprenticed to the Diplomatic Service. She is Will's oldest friends and she is intelligent and tall.

Horace is another ward in Castle Redmont along with Will. He eventually becomes a Battle School Apprentice (which is what Will had wanted to be). Horace is a natural warrior, and ever though he used to be Will's rival, but they soon become friends.

Morgarath is the former Baron of Gorlan, who is rebelling against King Duncan. He is an expert swordsman and his allies are monsters. Morgarath currently rules the Mountains of Rain and Night. He is tall, pale, and insane. (protagonist)

Peak by Roland Smith

Peak is a book about a 14 year old boy. His journey to the highest point on earth begins in New York City. Peak would climb to the top of skyscraper in New York City and spray paint a small blue mountain. When he is caught vandalizing a building he is put into juvenile detention. But his story only gets worse, an inexperienced teenager attempts to copy his stunt and dies. It looks life can only get worse Peak, but he is taken into the custody of his father, the rock climber Joshua Wood. They set out for Nepal and Peak is surprised to find out that they will be climbing Mount Everest. However there is a catch, Peak can't legally climb Mount Everest they will have to get him up the mountain a different way. In Nepal he meets Sun-jo and the monk Kopa who he will be climbing with. The face many challenges and Peak knows that if he gets to the summit he will be the youngest to ever to so. But if his friend Sun-jo gets there first Sun-jo will be youngest. But their lives are interconnected in a way no one could expect.

The theme of Peak is perseverance.The theme is perseverance because Peak has to persevere through many difficulties both mental and physical. Such as the lack of oxygen. Peak really shows that you can do anything if you set you mind to it. A seeming simple idea, but no book illustrates it better. By reading the book you will feel like you can go and do anything.

Inkheart summary

I have finished Inkheat and I liked it more that I did when I read it last time. You have to read the book slowly because sometimes it gets complicated. I think one of the reasons that it is complicated is that it was in German originally. So the translation might have changed some meanings. I think people who liked the His Dark Materials trilogy would like Inkheart because they have similar writing styles. They both also have a female protagonist who is a young girl caught up in events and discovering the world isn't quite the way she always thought it was.

Plot

The book is about Meggie Folchart who is a 12-year-old girl. Her life is changed ddramatically when she realizes that her father (Mo) can read characters out of books and make them real. Maggie's dad once read two characters out of a the book, Inkheart, Capericorn and Dustfinger. Capircorn starts his own empire in our world. Dustfiger's only desire is to get back into Inkheart. Meggie, Dustfinger and Maggie's aunt set of for Capercorn's village when they realise that Mo has been kidnapped. Will they be able to rescue him and get Dustfinger back into Inkheart? Read the book to find out.

Into thin air

Today we read an excerpt of the book Into thin air in social studies. It is about the fateful Everest climbing season of 1996. I am going to read it when I finsh Inkheart.

Inkheart #2

Okay, this time I understand it a little more. Right now there still a lot of suspense because I still don't know anything about the antagonist other than his name. I also don't know anything about the book that the main characters dad is carrying around excpect that the antagonist wants it. Maybe a it is the antagoist book?

I also have a few questions about the book. The main question I have now was what is the time period is the book set in. They have modern things like burglar alarms, but it all seem kind of surreal because of the complex storyline. The main characters in the book so far are: 

Maggie's Father (Mo)- A bookbinder, we know he has something that Capricorn wants (more than meets the eye??)

Maggie- Not much known she loves her father and is worried about him.

Dustfinger- we don't know a lot about him besides he can do a lot of things with fire

Maggie's Aunt (Elinor)- She loves books and her entire house is covered in book shelves She worries a lot 

Inkheart

Today I started to (re)read Inkheart. I had seen the commercials  for it, and I realised that I didn't remember what the book was about. Hopeful it will be less confusing this time. ;)