Prediction For Hoops

During silent reading time, I was reading Hoops. The main character is depressed, and he has no idea why. He started to drink Scotch, and play basketball to treat his depression. He works at Grant which is a hotel, and he always kick it at that place when he gets into an argument with his mother. The main character is Lonnie Jack and his father told him that his days will pile up on him. While Lonnie went to shoot some hoops, he meets a homeless person who threatened him with a knife, but he is drunk. I predict the homeless person will somehow help Lonnie in the future. Also I predict basketball will help a tragedy, or problem he will face during the future.

Second Independent Book Character Decision

I have decided to not read The Wounded Spirit anymore because I didn't enjoy reading it. I chose to read D. Gray Man instead, and it is by Katsura Hoshino because it looks way more interesting than The Wounded Spirit. D. Gray Man main character is Allen Walker who is an exorcist that kills akuma. An akuma is a weapon for the devil which is created by the soul, and despair of a human. The akuma has no control of its actions, and just kill humans in order to evolve. The devil is the Millennium Earl who calls upon people who are mourning their love ones, and turning them to akumas. Allen killed his own friend who turned to an akuma, and this decision made him have the title to be called an exorcist. I agree with his decision to kill his own friend because now after learning what the Millennium Earl did to his friend, he is confident to stop and kill him. Also I like how Allen’s personality with everyone is being friendly because he can gain people’s trust easily, but I don’t like about him is that he is too soft sometimes.

Second Independent Reading Book Connection

My second independent reading book is The Wounded Spirit by Frank Pereti. The book can connect to the Greek mythological god, Zeus. A specific quote from The Wounded Spirit is, "Mr. M, fearsome authority figure with a permanent scowl and a voice that yelled - and only yelled - ordered them to strip down," shows Mr. M is bullying his students with his authoritative power. Zeus is like Mr. M because if he makes a mistakes, he tries to fix it, but it only benefits him and doesn't benefit the other. For example, in the movie Clash of the Titans, Zeus decisions are final where he wanted Perseus to live as a happy child, and Calibos was to be punished. It shows Zeus is abusing his powers for what he wants.

Book Talk Review

I think my book talk overall went pretty good. I only rehearsed it once with Johnnie. I mentioned some of the stuff from my book, and I think I answered every question for the rubric. I think I could have brought a better visual aid for my book talk instead of a candy, but since I kind of did this in the last minute, I couldn't. I just wrote notes on my card, and didn't write a long speech to avoid that long summary. I think what I could of done better is speak more clearer because I was kind of nervous which might lower some points. I hope I can use this experience to help better myself doing a book talk.

Dynamic Main Characters

I think Yuuki is dynamic because in the beginning of the story she has no memories of herself before she was 5 years old. "It's so cold... pure white... snow... why is it so white, what is snow, it's... not suppose to be red, so where is all the red... coming from...?" The quote shows she felt like she was nothing to the world, but when level E vampire attacked her, she was saved by Kaname. After she was saved from Kaname, Yuuki seems to be in love with him, and she has a dream where humans and vampires could coexist with one another. Yuuki later in the book is a determine person and with a lot of heart. Zero who is also another main character of the story is dynamic. Zero parents’ were murdered by pure blood vampires who are the most powerful vampires and few exist. After Zero parents were murdered, he showed pure hatred for them for example the quote, "The reason why they look like humans... are so they can hunt us down more efficiently" The secret Zero had been that he was becoming a vampire because he was bitten by the pure blood. I find that Zero who is becoming a vampire still has hatred for them.

Recommendation of the Book

I would recommend this book for others to read like Johnnie who is a manga freak. He told me he only read manga and watches anime at home which makes this manga perfect for him. I think he likes adventures or mystery genre. The book is filled with secrets, and dark pasts. It has to do with supernatural beings like vampires. My favorite part of the book so far is where the night class students try to bit Yuuki neck from the scent of her cut with blood. I don't think the book has any weaknesses except I wonder how Kaname never ages or why he is only kind to Yuuki when is cold hearted to everyone else.

Main Character's Decision

I do not agree with the main character decision. Yuuki thinks Kaname won't harm any humans after he saved her life when was a young girl. Yuuki thinks people and vampires can coexist with each other, but I disagree because vampires can only come out during the night time. Although I disagree with Yuuki, I would like to agree with Zero that the vampires are planning something. He thinks the vampires took the form of humans not to hide themselves, but to hunt humans more efficiently. After a vampire assassinated Zero parents, who wouldn't feel deep hatred for them. I think monsters shouldn't be trusted at all, but they can be trusted if they prove themselves.