Last Choice Book Report!! :) - Theme

Part 2!

     I read the book Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne.  I chose to do the theme to write about on this book. I chose to do the theme because I thought this book had many different lessons the ready can learn as well as lessons Celeste has learned. I thought Celeste had learned many things/ lessons.

           I thought one theme from this book was that you should never give up.  Celeste was entered in the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge by her aunt and mother.  They wanted her to do this because it was a great opportunity and she was a little shy so they thought this was a great way to make some new friends.  Celeste didn’t want to have anything to do with the modeling challenge.  She eventually learned that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be and definitely wasn’t that bad looking back on it so she decided not to quit.  Celeste had won 2^nd place in the challenge. If she would have given up, she would not have won 2^nd.  This is one example of the “never give up” theme. 

Another example of this is when she decided to loose weight.  As many people know, loosing weight is not that easy. It takes lots of time and patience.  Celeste worked hard at loosing weight because she didn’t want people to keep picking on her for her size.  She never gave up at trying to loose weight so, eventually she did shave off a few pounds from her original weight. 

          Another theme from this book is to treat others the way you wish to be treated.  Celeste wants people to know that people are unique and that you need to accept other’s differences.  Some people can be very mean and rude towards Celeste but she just “kills them with kindness”.  Because she is nice to them, they eventually are nice to her.  It might take them a while to realize that she is showing respect to them, but eventually they do and they treat her differently than they use to; they show her respect.

           Lastly, I think Celeste learned if you aren’t so shy and you open up a little more towards people, you may be treated differently.  When she started talking to more people and wasn’t so shy, people talked to her to and she got to know more people and make new friends.  People got to know the true Celeste.  I think Celeste learned people will like you for who you are so don’t be afraid to show who you really are.

These were three themes that I found from the book Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies.

Quarter 4 Choice Book Report- Celeste

            I read the book Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne.  I really like this book.  The main character is Celeste Harris.  Celeste Harris was a plus sized girl and she never wore make up.  Celeste would always dress into her favorite, comfortable outfit: a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.  She often called this her track outfit but she absolutely hates track and anything to do with running!  By the end of the book, Celeste has more self confidence and feels more beautiful on the inside and out.  She now wears make-up and dresses into clothes other than her "track outfit". 

            I think Celeste Harris has many characteristics that describe her.  One characteristic is that she is determined.  In elementary school, Celeste said she still had her "baby fat".  While many people had lost their "baby fat" when they started middle school, Celeste Harris had not.  Celeste was determined to loose some weight so people at school would stop calling her names.  She first tries this drink she had read about in a magazine.  After that had not worked, she still didn't give up.  She was still determined to loose weight.  She ended up eating healthier and for exercise, she would often walk her friend's dog.  Celeste learned through determination that if you work hard and don't give up, you will achieve your goals.

            Another characteristic that describes Celeste is that she is kind.  Celeste's mother and aunt are both supporting the fact that Celeste joins the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge.  Celeste really doesn't want to do the modeling challenge but if would please her family, she would do it.  She goes to the first round of the challenge and absolutely hated it!  She decides again to go through one more round of the challenge thinking that this round may be better.  Again she hates it and refuses to go to the last round.  She hears many encouraging words from her family including her cousin who was a former model.  Celeste again doesn't want to disappoint her mother and doesn't know how to say "no", so she ends up doing the last round of the challenge.  The encouraging words also helped her make up her mind that she was going to participate in the last section of the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge.  I think this shows that Celeste is kind because she doesn't want let her family down.  She wants them to be happy with her decisions.  Another reason I think Celeste is kind is because she never tries to be mean to anyone.  She never tries to cause any trouble towards anyone. 

            Lastly, I would say Celeste is confident.  In the beginning she wasn't as confident as she was in the end. In the end she began to feel the most confident. I think she felt more confident because she had just received awards from the modeling challenge and that maybe that had boosted her confidence.  Also, in the end more people are nice to her and she feels like she is getting more positive attention.  I believe that is why she feels more confident in the end.  Celeste is proud of who she is and what she has accomplished.

            These are the characteristics that I believe describe Celeste Harris!!

Quater 3 Book Report

       Part 1

             The book I read was called Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti.  The main characters name is Lani.  She goes to a small school in New Jersey. Lani is a junior in the beginning of the book and at the end, she is a senior. The size of her class is around 73 people so everyone knows each other. Lani is a 16 year old who loves nature, seeks comfort and pleasure, connects with the Earth, desires serenity, stubborn, passionate, and nurturing.  Lani has hazel blue eyes. She also has long, strait black hair and a scar on her forehead which is covered by her bangs.  Lani is president of One World (the schools environment club). Her love for the Earth is “genetic”.  Her mother loves the Earth just about as much as Lani. They love gardening (unless it is a scorching hot day) and recycle anything that is recyclable.  Lani would say she is not popular but she isn’t unpopular. She isn’t a jock but she isn’t inept at sports. She isn’t a nerd but she isn’t a slacker either. But she also says she isn’t “average”. Lani isn’t really good at art; she’s only good at making posters.

             One thing I think describes Lani is very Earth friendly. She recycles everything. One day while at school, she saw Erin’s (Lani’s best friend) boyfriend throw recycling in the trash can. Lani doesn’t understand why someone would just throw recycling in the trash can. She goes over to him, tells him what he just did and makes him dig it out of the trash and put it where it belongs. She gardens and plants as well.

            Lani is very determined as well. She never gives up. One example of this would be like when she makes a promise to her best friend, Erin.  Erin tells her to never talk to Jason. She tells her this because she is mad at Lani and feels this is a good way to get back at her. Lani doesn’t talk to him. In the end, Erin feels bad about what she did and agrees to let her talk to him. She was determined not to let her best friend down.  Another example would be when she decides she wants to learn to swim.  Ever since the “accident” she has been afraid of water. She doesn’t mind rain but when it comes to swimming, she is very scared! She doesn’t even like to put her feet in the pool and sit along side the edge.  She decides she wants swimming lessons so when she goes to Hawaii, she will know how to swim. In the end of the book, she isn’t afraid of water anymore and she can swim in oceans and lakes, etc.

            Lani is mad others talk about her in mean ways. She tries not to let that get to her. Lani tries to look for the positives in things. She is always giving her friends advice.  Many people would be upset and angry, but she tries not to show her emotions.

            I think Earth friendly, determined, and always keeps a positive attitude are three things that really describe Lani!

            Part 2- Consider Point of View

I think there are several reasons the author chose this point of view. Something Like Fate by Susan Colasanti was told in the 1^st person point of view.  I think maybe Susan Colasanti chose this point of view because you could really tell the emotions of what was being brought out by Lani.  Also, Lani did a lot of thinking in her head in the book so that makes it easier for the author to write and the reader to read.  I think it was easier to connect to Lani because it was written in the style of first person. I prefer to read books that are in 1^st person. One example of why it would be important to write in first point of view would be when Lani has two big secrets she doesn’t want to tell anyone. When she talks about the secret with the few people that know about it, she just calls it “the accident”. She brings it up a lot in the book but she never really talks about it to anyone, she just thinks about it.  To find out what both secrets are… you will have to read the book!!! Because this book is something that could really happen, it seems like it should be told in this point of view. I don’t however think this book was based on a true story… it’s just something that could happen.

I would recommend this book to almost anyone! Like me, I’m sure many people like novels written in the first person point of view. I feel this is a way that you can deeply connect with the main character.

                                           

                                                                            Susan Colasanti