​The Line, by Teri Hall



Sara Morehouse: I've finished the book and loved it! As soon as I got to the end I wished I had the next one, Away, because my curiosity was so peaked. In fact, I think I will go buy it or borrow it from the library! I loved the whole post-modern world and the idea of "the line" was so seemingly accurate. I could see that kind of tehnology being put to use in the future--not that I want to see it--but America does have a lot of pride and won't be taken down so easily.

Something that really interested me from the book were the orchids. They were so beautifullly described and kind of a big yet minor part of the story. Rachel spends so much of her time reading up on them, studying them, and trying to make her own cross species, but in the end the orchids aren't what the story is about. I have a couple questions about the orchids:

What was their importance? I feel as though there is a metaphor here, but I can't quite describe it.

What was the inspiration behind including the orchids? Is it something from the authors personal life?



Hanna Buehrer: You ask such great questions! I too was really enjoying the orchids in the story. It sure doesn't seem like they'll come into play again. I think there's a little bit of a parallel between the orchids and Rachel's life as she knows it... if you've ever tried to care for an orchid, you know that they're really delicate, fragile flowers that require a lot of care. I think they're SO pretty but I've killed a few... you have to take care of them just right.

Looking at the life Vivian has set up for herself and Rachel, it seems kind of fragile, too- she has really carefully constructed these half truths and spun this web to hide things from Rachel, and at any minute it seems like it could all kind of tip over (as it does by the end...). I don't know if this is making any sense. But you know what I mean? If someone recognizes her or the government decides to be interested in her case again, or if Ms. Moore lets her go, or decides to get nosy about her life... it all shatters. It must be hard to maintain such a secret life.



Lauren Muller: Those are interesting thoughts on the significance of the orchids. Although I like what you had to say, I found them symbolizing something different. Indigo and Ms. Moore had technically created their own "cross" of a child, Daniel. I'm not sure if I am thinking too literal, but it's just what came to mind when I thought about the orchids. In the beginning of the creation of the line, Ms. Moore and Indigo fell madly in love. Unfortunately, Ms. Moore was forbidden to see him. Nevertheless, Indigo crossed the line to be with his lover and they created a child together. Perhaps this crossing to the other side symbolizes the delicate process of creating a new "cross" of orchids.



Hanna Buehrer: Interesting point, Lauren! I never drew a connection between the orchid crosses and Indigo and Ms. Moore's child. I'll bet that definitely has some significance! Ever since Teri refused to tell us for sure what the significance was, I'm just so curious!! Great thoughts.



Note: I chose this discussion because I think one of the most important things you can do as a reader is not only read the words of an author, but try to interpret them and figure out meaning and significance. I just loved thinking about what the orchids could mean. I like the idea that the author's writing was deeper than what you see at first glance.







The Boy Who Dared, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti



Sam Stevenson: I just finished the book, and though it was incredibly sad, I really enjoyed it.

The thing that stuck out to me most while reading this were the Germans. Not the Nazis, Gestapo, or the insane political officials of Germany at this time, but the common German people and their lives during world war II. I think everyone remembers and sympathizes with the Jewish people, but we often, well I do at least, forget about all the German people who suffered. Not every German was a Nazi, and a lot of the German people didn't agree with Hitler or his beliefs. There were many German people like Helmuth who suffered in prisons and concentration camps, that are often forgotten.

This story reminded me that a lot of people suffered at this time. World War II and the Holocaust were always incredibly sad topics for me to think about, but after reading this book, it's even more heart breaking. Though I enjoyed the book, it was a little hard to read at times, and left me a little depressed.



Hanna Buehrer: Absolutely what stuck out to me, as well!! It's like you read my mind. :)

I think it's important for us to remember that the Germans were victims, too. Not only those that thought like Helmuth, but ones that were... for lack of a better word, brainwashed into believing that Hitler was the best thing for their country. Of course what was done to the Jews was absolutely not okay, but I learned last quarter in psychology about something called Milgram's experiment, where ordinary people will do bad things under the pressure of an authority figure. I imagine that there were even Nazis who didn't realize what they were getting into... groupthink can be a powerful thing. I don't know... of course this doesn't excuse the behavior of Hitler and the Nazi party, but it's something interesting to think about.



Grace Adams: From the start of the book, I was thinking about what the German people had to go through as well. Even before Hitler came into power. After WWI Germany was left with so many reparations it left the country in shambles and there were still tensions/unresolved issues, and the citizens felt Hitler was their best answer for recovery. So many lessons can be learned from this story.



Megan Boyd: yes!! somebody who has been incorporating Psychology into this... :)

I just mentioned in another forum how even some of the "bad" people might be victims too. All the brainwashed people thinking that it was the correct thing to do. I would say it's more of social facilitation than groupthink (but both), because their beliefs were magnified as they all "unified". Does it excuse the behavior, though? Is everybody strong enough to stand up and say no? Who is to blame, only Hitler? Or is our social nature to blame? sorry for ranting...but very interesting to think about.



Note: I chose this discussion because I believe another important aspect of literature is to gain perspective. I love being forced into the mindset of another person or group of people and learning something about them. It really helps open your eyes to the world, in my opinion. SCB did a wonderful job in her book of giving us a whole different perspective on Nazi Germany, which is so valuable.







Thinking about the video Across the Drafts



Hanna Buehrer: There were three things that really stuck out to me in this video, which I've seen before but still really enjoyed.

The first was when one of the professors was talking about how writing is a very solitary, lonely process. It's just you and your computer, and you have to generate your ideas, discover what you think, and put those ideas together into coherent sentences. I can definitely relate to this, as I love writing and I always have. Even though my husband and friends are often interested in what I'm writing, it can be difficult to explain or summarize. I feel that I'm the only one that understands what I'm trying to get across and how.

The second was the idea that you shouldn't write what you know, but start with something you want to know or have questions about and explore from there. I agree- there is no better way to find out how you feel about something and to discover things than when you're writing about it.

The final thing that really connected with me was the discussion about the student's realization that subsequent drafts are actually an important part of the writing process. I will admit, sometimes I write an essay and I think, "Hmm, good enough." And then I read it, fix any grammatical errors or awkward words, then turn it in. I don't always take the time to revise my ideas and rethink what I'm actually saying. I loved that one of the student's papers completely changed from first to final draft. That has happened to me, and my final paper is one of the best I've ever written. I know in my head that it's worth the time to write multiple drafts, sometimes I just let myself get comfortable with my "first thoughts." It's good to be reminded that first thoughts aren't always the best thoughts.



Christina Pelzer: Once again, you make some very valid points and reminders.  What is really sticking out to me this quarter is just how much of a process writing is.  That when you take the time to put the work into a paper it can really turn out to be quite something.  Especially when you stay open to feedback when it is received.



Sara Morehouse: I also found the solitary aspect of writing to be very relatable. While writing a paper is a process and best accomplished with feedback from minds other than your own, it's definitely something you have to start and finish completely by your self.



Note: I chose this passage because it highlights one of the main things I learned throughout the quarter. Don't start writing about what you know, write about what you want to know more about. This was such a game changer for me this quarter. My whole life I've been taught, "Write what you know." The thing is, real learning comes from writing what you don't know. Susan Campbell Bartoletti touched on this in her speech at the conference, when she talked about finding a gap in history and throwing herself into research to learn more about it and discover the story there. 







​The Magnificent Twelve by Michael Grant



Hanna Buehrer: I have a lot of thoughts about this book.

1. I'm never really a fan of authors giving readers a lot of information that's impossible to understand (i.e Vargran, enlightened puissance, the Dread Foe, the Nafia, Magnifica, the Skirrit, the giant Gudridan, Tong Elves, Bowands, the Weramin...). There is definitely a good thing about being intrigued and reading on to find out the backstory, but at least for me, this is too much intrigue and not enough explanation. I want to know what these things are, what they mean, and at this point, they're all mixed up in my head and it's going to take a lot of explanation to sort it all out.

2. I do like that there's a lot of humor in the lines, things like, "and millenia would pass slowly by before Google would be created to answer questions such as this." Even in the older story, there are little references like this to help young readers connect to the story. I'm enjoying that a lot, it feels like real interaction with the readers.

3. It seems to me that the author wasn't too worried about creating a timeless tale. The reason I say this is because he references a lot of things that will probably be easily date-able in twenty or fifty years. For example, references to Google, toaster strudels, Priceline and Expedia, the "blue screen of death", Wikipedia, Iron Man, and Harry Potter, to name just a few. I don't think this is a bad thing, though, I think it's just another connection point for kids reading the story.

 

Christina Pelzer: I think you have some very valuable and true insights that I agree with.  Especially your 1st point. I keep wanting explanation, and to "know" what some of these ideas are.  I feel a little like I've missed something, like I have jumped into the series in the 2nd book.  I know that isn't the case, but I keep hoping for things to become more clear.



Sam Stevenson: I agree with all your points, but I can really relate to #1.

Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? It’s this TV show about a group of girls who are being “bullied” to the extreme by this anonymous person called “A.” Though the show has been on for about 3 seasons, we still don’t know who the true “A.” is. Though the mystery of it all was interesting at first, after 3 or so seasons it’s all gotten a little annoying, you know?

That’s how I feel about this book! The mystery was good at first but it’s getting a little old. Just explain things already! Ha-ha.



Note: I chose this discussion because I wanted to highlight not just things I loved about the books we read in class, but my criticisms as well. Not that Mag 12 wasn't a great book, but I took more issue with it than the rest of the stories and I certainly felt like I was analyzing it critically the entire time. After hearing Michael Grant speak, I think I understand the book better, he really is trying to connect with a young audience with humor and relevance, and he certainly achieved that.

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