Blog Response #1
Now that you have received your book and have started to read it, please share the reasons why you chose Running Loose, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Stotan! or Chinese Handcuffs. Please give specific reasons as to why this book was in your top 3 choices. Are you happy with your choice so far? Also, please include your initial thoughts on the book, as you have started to read it. Are you finding the book enjoyable? Is the reading interesting? Are you making connections?
**A Reminder. Please remember to include your name within your blog, so I can give you a grade. Please respond not only to this blog topic, but also please write a comment or a response to two of your classmates' responses. You may respond to those students who are reading the same book as you are, or you can try to make connections between your book and the other books that students are reading in this class or my other 4B class. Blog response is worth 20 points, so please answer accordingly. One word responses or inappropriate comments will earn you a zero, so please keep that in mind. Have Fun! Happy Blogging!!
i am happy with my choice of staying fats for sarah bryne because i understand what eric goes through. With being bullied by someone and needing protection. I also understand on how eric tries to be tough and i do that alot. the book has alot of drama in it with that crispy pork rinds newspaper its very funny. the book is very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, Chinese Handcuffs, I also understand what Dillon goes through. His brother committed suicide and really has no one to lean on. He always sends his deceased brother letters hoping one day someone will answer them. He also tries to be tough during these times to help the pain go away.
DeleteI also am reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and I can agree I like the drama portion of it. But what I cannot understand is why would they write it knowing Dale was going to find out?
DeleteIn my book Chinese Handcuffs, I try to understand how the main character is feeling but it's hard to understand because nothing ever goes into detail with this book, and unlike you i dislike my book.
DeleteI also read the book Chinese Handcuffs and I'd have to agree with Eric on this one because the book has so much going on in the start and at some points it does get confusing.
DeleteAbbey im happy to hear that you are satisfied with your book choice! I hope you enoy the rest of the book.
DeleteConnor Krogman
ReplyDeleteI chose the book Chinese Handcuffs because books that include sports scenes are interesting to me. Also, it gets right to the point. I don't like when books push off the action scenes, or they drag the story on for 2-3 chapters. I'm happy with my choice because it's very detailed with very little confusion. It felt as if I was watching Jennifer playing her basketball game, and riding to the hospital with her even though I was just reading it. My initial thoughts on this book are that it's probably going to be a tedious and long book. I don't like reading in general, but this book has caught my attention and I'm starting to like it. I am finding this book enjoyable and I'm only 5 chapters in. The book is definitely an interesting but fun read. The reading is interesting because it includes letters from both brothers and connects it to the story extremely well. I am not making any connections yet as I am only 5 chapters in but so far it seems like a great book.
Your book seems like the complete opposite to the start of Stotan. Very fast paced and little confusing seems like a great way to hook someone to Chinese Handcuffs.
DeleteI haven't made any connections with the characters in Stotan yet either, Stotan also deals with sports and struggles in the that come with sports.
Deletei would agree i felt the same way when i was reading that way to
DeleteChinese Handcuffs and Running Loose have a small connection because in your comment you said that Jennifer plays basketball and in my book Louie plays football. I feel like the same way as you with my book, it is an interesting read but also a fun read and keeps me intrigued and makes me want to keep reading. I think we both have good books that don't make us confused and keeps our attention.
DeleteReading your post, I wish I would have chosen your book. I like fast-paced books and not confusing. Stotan is very slow paced through the first 40 pages. Stotan also is confusing because they cover a lot of back round information. Hopefully my book starts to pick up the pace, otherwise I wish I read your book.
DeleteOne of the reasons I have chosen this book is because it gets to the point right way, for example how in the book it does not get super into details but still gets the point across.
DeleteI came to find out i had the same realisation im my book Staying Fat, I don't like books that drag on and skip good parts and it seems like the pacing in your book is very simular to mine
DeleteI agree with you when it comes to this book i dislike how it skips the action and carries on with unimportant things for 2-3 chapters
DeleteI am reading Stotan! for my choice of book. Stotan! was in my top three books chosen because the summary seemed interesting. I am 80 pages through the book and so far the beginning has been confusing, where Chris Crutcher just throws you into the story without explaining what's going on. Later on in the book the story gets less confusing and you kind of get what's going on. So far the book has been enjoyable and interesting. I am not really connecting with the characters since none of them are like me.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, Chinese Handcuffs, I'm also not making any connections. Just like your book, none of the characters really share the same traits as me so far. Additionally, the first couple pages were also confusing but as a flipped a couple more it got straight to the point.
DeleteIn my book running loose, their is a unquestioning connection between louie and is "parents" since he calls them by their names.
DeleteUnlike with your book, my book, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, I feel as if Chris Crutcher gives the readers some information about what is going on instead of throwing you into the situation without much information. Besides the whole situation with Sarah Byrnes being in the hospitial for an unknown reason at this time in my reading.
DeleteI am also reading stotan and I'm also really enjoying it. I was also very lost in the beginning as the book started but I think it was kind of meant to be that way because I feel like it wants you to be connected with the characters and feel empathy for a lot of them early on to kind of engage you.
DeleteThe book I was chosen to read is Stotan!. One of the reasons this book was in my top 3 over the other books was simply because the summary intrigued me more than the others. I thought a story about a group of high school friends spending a bunch of time together sounded like and enjoyable read and so far I was not wrong. The more i read into Stotan! the more twists and turns pop up, and the more I continue to read on. To be fair though the first 40 pages or so of the book were very slow and confusing, almost enough to make someone stop reading but soon after it picks up very fast. I found the next 60 pages very enjoyable and hard not to keep reading until the book is finished. I would say Stotan is a good book so far.
ReplyDeleteI also chose stotan and totally agree with you. The first 40 pages are long and boring with a lot of back round information. I feel like they needed to right this way because the narrator Walker has a lot to show. He shows how close he is with the characters and the swim team
DeleteSame with running loose, it has very good twists and turns pop ups and it very enjoyable to read.
DeleteYour book and my book Running Loose, is similar because both of our books start off pretty slow with not much happening but once you keep reading, it picks up fast and get interesting.
Deletei feel the same way about my book running loose because in my book louie is highschool student and he has friends that he likes to be with and theres some drama involved with that
DeleteI feel the same way about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. It starts off incredibly slow for the first 40 pages or so and then it picks up. There is a connection though. In "Staying Fat" Eric one of the main characters is also a swimmer.
Deletesounds like a good book with a slow start I am reading Chinese handcuffs and it also had a slow start but is getting to be a rather interesting book about a kid whose brother killed himself and a girl who got sexually assualted and how they come toegther as friends
DeleteRunning Loose was in my top 3 choices because when I read the summary and the back of the book, I found it interesting because I feel like I relate a little bit to Louie, who is the main character. The reason I relate to him a little bit is because he is a senior in high school. I am happy with my choice of the book because I find the time period the book was set in interesting. My initial thoughts of the book are that I am enjoying reading this book because I am able to make connections with Louie and the situations he runs into as a senior in high school.
ReplyDelete-Drew Straka
i felt the same way when i chose running loose i felt alot of connection with not only sports but being a senior in highschool and with the drama and the love story in the book
Deletei also am reading running loose and am enjoying it. there are countless similarities between sports and school.
DeleteI also enjoy reading Running Loose as there are many connections I can make as the plot takes place with sports and senior year.
DeleteI love the book stotan I especially love the main character. walker because I understand. how his life is like doesn't have a good connection with his family like he can't see his brother at he knows about but doesn't see him i went though the same thing
ReplyDeleteChris Crutcher can bind his characters with reality pretty well considering how easily people can relate with his ideas. I find it quite impressive he can draw out feelings and examples such as this.
DeleteI chose Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes because I thought it would be interesting to get to know more about what really happened to Sarah. I also liked the mystery aspect. So far the book is pretty interesting, nothing crazy has happened yet. From what I have read Sarah is the main characters best friend. One day she just goes silent and stops responding to people and basically goes mute, nobody knows why. So far, I am happy with my choice because the book is easy to follow and understand. I also am enjoying the suspense of figuring out what is going on with Sarah and if something bad has happened to her. One connection I made is that it was talked about in the book how Sarah never mentions her father. Her father also didn't get her the help she needed when she burned her face and body, leaving horrible scars for the rest of her life. Maybe her father is abusive?
ReplyDeleteThis book is also like Stotan because one of the characters in the book named Nortie gets abused by his father, but he always talks about his father unlike Sarah.
DeleteIt seems like Sarah is relatable to multiple characters in Stotan. Many of them have family struggles, but Sarah seems to be most identical to Nortie and Lion. Lion does not have a family at all because they died in an accident and Nortie is in an abusive relationship with his parents.
DeleteI think that the book I chose, Chinese Handcuffs, has the similar mystery aspect that your book has. In the book, the author hints and gives small details of what happened to the characters, but never fully gives it away. I like that it leaves me hanging on the edge of my seat, but at the same time I wish he would give a little more information so it is easier to fully know what is going on.
DeleteI am also reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and I believe her father is an abuser. She never directly denies it, and she becomes hostile at the mention of her father. Also, they never refer to him as her "dad." only her "father" and that can say a lot about the type of parent a person is.
DeleteThe reason I choose Stotan was because it sounded the most interesting. The book was in my top 3 because it involved a sport and four boys as the main characters. I figured I could relate the book before I even started the book. I feel like so far, I have chosen the right book and am happy with it. My initial thoughts on the book are very different. I have a lot of questions. The first part of the book starts off with the back round of all the characters and starts showing who they are. The book never completes the full story with everyone, so they leave you wondering. The interesting part of the book is having Walker be the narrator. I feel like he is the best character for this job because he seems to have the best connections with everyone in the story. So far I haven't made any connections with the characters but I feel like as the story goes on I may be able to connect with Nortie.
ReplyDeleteStaying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is kind of the same way. The author does not give you a ton of information on certain things to keep you wondering what is going on. I also feel like the narrator for my book, Eric, is the best fit because he seems to have the best views on the problems at hand.
DeleteThis is such a wonderful blog! My book, running loose is a story about sports too so my book is a great fit me too! I think you would like my book if your into sports!
DeleteI really like the book running loose because it includes sports, drama, and influence. I have read through chapter 9 so far and i rated the book 8.9/10. It has very good descriptions and details of what is happening in the book. this book is very interesting and fun to read i would recommend this to others. Louie the narrator, is really a kind and awesome person and respects others. I can't wait to continue reading this great book.
ReplyDeletestotan is like that because of it has a sport in it to don't know about the drama but there's some influence in there.
DeleteThe book I am reading, "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes," also includes a sport (swimming) and major drama. There is a major mystery around the center of the plot and, like you, I cannot wait to uncover it. I am so excited to figure out what is making Sarah Byrnes a catatonic shell of herself.
DeleteI am reading the book Chinese Handcuffs and it also includes sports and drama. The descriptions and details that Chris Crutcher writes are greats and really help to visualize what is happening.
DeleteI chose Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes Because it sounded interesting. when reading about this book I like that there is something mysterious about it, like how Sarah is in the hospital and what is the secret that Sarah's hiding. I am glad I chose this book because there's a lot of different things going on and a lot of flashbacks before Sarah's accident. Getting farther in the book I have a lot of thoughts of what Sarah's secret might be. While reading I have made a lot of connections with eric and also some with Sarah. This book is a little confusing because you don't know when the flashbacks are happening, but I like that this book makes you think a little bit.
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks in this book do make it confusing because it kind of jumps around in between different topics. But I think it adds a little suspense to what they are leading up to in the book
DeleteI agree with Devyn the flashbacks are very confusing because they never tell you when its coming they just throw it at you
DeleteMadyson Kloser
ReplyDeleteStaying Fat For Sarah Byrnes was one of my top 3 choices because while reading the description, I was hooked into the plot and the title also caught my attention. The title caught my attention because I was curious why somebody would stay fat for another person. Then when I started reading the book, it all maded sense. Eric and Sarah Byrnes are close friends because they have something in common, which is that Eric is fat and Sarah Byrnes is a burn victim. So far I am happy with my decision because the book is relatable for people who have been bullied like Eric and Sarah Byrnes have been. With how far I have read to far, I am enjoying the book so far. I just wish that the author would describe the characters' physical appearcne so then I have an idea of what the characters look like, but it is good to keep my imagination open. I have made a few connections to the book. One specific connection I have made with the book is being bullied. I have not been bullied to the extent of Eric and Sarah Byrnes by any means, but it still is a connection I made from middle school.
Staying Fat for Sarah was on my number 2 spot and reading the post you made about it made me more interested in it. I might check this book out based off the events you are explaining.
DeleteHi Madyson! I love how you described the book with such great detail. It is interesting how a person would want to stay fat for another. Since you gave me more information about the book itself I might read it in the near future!
DeleteI feel the same way with Stotan! because it caught my attention at first on what could possibly be a Stotan Week, but as I read the book, it made sense how Stotan week was important to the book.
DeleteI am also reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and I would have to agree with you about wishing we would get told what they look like. If we had that it would be easier to think about what we have read as we could imagine what is happing more accurately.
Deleteso far i am pleased with the book i chose running loose. there were multiple reasons i chose this book one being that it talks about athletics. in the book louie is very competitive in his small town fighting for a spot on the football team.i also chose this book cause it goes through the struggles and life of a teenager and how we deal with things at this age. this is a really connective point cause i can relate to most all of the things in the book by just being the age i am. im only 65 pages deep into the book but it is a very fun read so far and can relate to it very well.
ReplyDeleteI agree the struggles have been elaborated and expressed in a way that is relatable to senior in high school. I also agree the book is very enjoyable for the first 55 pages!
DeleteI am also reading running loose and am finding the book as a good read.
DeleteI also like this book for the same reasons the athletics part really helps.
DeleteMy book also had a little althletics but unlike yours i find my book to be boring because it is swimming. he doesn't really struggle at all because he is one of the best players on the swim team and i know little to nothing about swimming
DeleteThe reason why I Holly K, have chosen Chinese Handcuffs is because of the kinds of hardships the main characters have to go through and I am interested on how the events will play out. One of the main reasons I have chosen this book is that the events are not cushioned in any way, it is not like the author is dancing around the subject. The author gets right to the point and states the harsh truth if he must. I am very pleased with the choice of my book so far. It is very interesting it is just that it is a little bit confusing when it switches back and forth between two peoples’ views. There is one connection I can make between me and an event that had happened to Jen who is one of the main characters. In the book it explained that she had been the one alone with her grandpa at the time of when he had passed. I was also the only one home when he had passed. My grandpa ended up going to take a nap and not waking back up. Though I am grateful because it was the best way he could pass, in his sleep and at home. Rather than how it happened within the book which it does not say which one but I am guessing either a stroke or a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how the author can create such an easy book to connect to, and it seems as if the majority of events that occurred happened in real time in front of the readers or its audience. This just goes to show how well written, and thought out it ended up to be.
DeleteI am reading Chinese handcuffs as well and I find it interesting that they rely on each other so much and have different problems but they still have come together like they did
DeleteI chose to read Chinese Handcuffs because I like the formatting the author chose. It goes between letters which talk about the present tense, and then regular formatting style which talks about the past. It is really interesting to read how the main character, Dillon, feels in the present by reading his letters, and then reading the past tense and being able to see how his feelings have changed throughout time. So far I am really enjoying the book and I am happy with the choice I made. My initial thoughts on the book are pretty good. I like how each character is a little different because it doesn't feel like I am reading the same thing over and over. I think that most books that teenagers read have the same plot but with different characters. But Chris Crutcher does not write that way, the plot is different than what I normally read and I am enjoying it quite well.
ReplyDeleteI am reading this book as well. I also thought the letters were very interesting. How Dillion was writing in present tense and the rest of the book were memories. The way each character was different made the story exciting. You never knew what little memory was going to pop up. Even though I can really relate to any of these characters, I still find them enjoyable to read about.
DeleteI am reading the book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. While it was not my first pick, I am happy with what I have read so far. I chose to put this book in my top 3 choses as I was curious about how it would turn out based what we had read about the books. I also placed it so high on my list as I wanted to see how he would wright the story since it had talked about a friendship between a fat male swimmer and a girl with severe burns who is in a hospital. I am glad I was given this book as while it can be confusing in places it gives a lot of good detail and background knowledge as well as telling the reader what is currently going on with the characters. Some connections that I have made because of this book is with my group members and how we can relate to the characters in the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree although the book is confusing in some places it is still a good book and a nice read. I am very curious to find out more background on the two main characters as well.
Deletei too am reading this book and agree that is is confusing at times, i think that it is very easy to relate to too because im a senior in high school like the main character.
DeleteHi Abigail! Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was in my top three choices as well. If I had not gotten Stotan I would have wanted that book instead. The way you explained the book makes it sound extremely interesting. I might check this book out sometime in the near future.
DeleteI agree although the book gets a little confusing sometimes, I cant wait to see whats happens thorughout the rest of the book.
DeleteHi Abigail! I am reading stotan and I think our books can be similar in the sense of many characters going through tough situations.
DeleteI chose Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes because it seems interesting. This was in my top three choices because it sounded like a book I was going to be able to follow well and stay interested in. So far I am finding the book enjoyable. It stated off a tad slow however as I got to the second chapter I wanted to know more and more about the story. My initial thoughts were "what happend to Sarah?" I was confused. However after reading further I gained more details to piece together an answer. I can relate to the narrator because he was on the swim team and it was cool to hear about his swim team experience.
ReplyDeleteI also found my book hard to follow at first and as I read my book running loose I was able to piece information together and understand it better.
Deletei also found my book hard to follow at first but i am very interested in the book now, I am also slowly piecing things together, and it is going a lot smoother and i am enjoying the book.
DeleteI found my book hard to follow towards the beginning too. But I think that it's a good thing that yours started off slow because it sounds like it got you thinking more about the story. It shows that you actually care about your book's characters and their storyline and that's great.
DeleteI was finding the book hard to understand at the beginning but the more I read the more I am starting to understand it.
DeleteI am reading the book Staying Fat for sarah Byrnes. I feel like this ended up being a good book for me. I had it as number 1 on my list and i am glad i ended up with it. This book is about a kid named eric who has a friend with a burn across their face. He ends up with a choice between staying fat and becoming skinny. I like this book and am glad that i got it, i am excited to see where the story goes and if sarah will get better.
ReplyDeleteWow that is fantastic. Im happy you enjoy your book and it is a good fit for you. This 100% shows real life problems and how people have tough decisions to make!
DeleteI also hope Sarah gets better. I like how Eric is staying fat for Sarah, i think it is cute but i would like to know more about what happened to Sarah. I am excited to read more to find out more about the background of Sarah and Eric's friendship.
DeleteThis book sounds similar to running loose in a way with the main characters having a conflict in a relationship.
DeleteThe book i am reading is Running Loose. This book caught by attention because of the fact it's a sports book with drama so i figured the book would keep my attention for a little while. So far this book is good and i am happy with my choice. Its a good read if u like sports and actions. It has a decent amount of drama to keep you hooked. I find this book the best fit for me and i am happy with my choice.
ReplyDeleteI think your book sounds very good and would be a good read to anyone who is interested in sports and i may have to check it out some time
DeleteI, Lauren Hess, am reading the book Stotan. Though I am not a fan of sports books this book sounded interesting to me. It was my top pick and I am glad that I got it as the book I am supposed to read. I placed it as number one because out of the other books I knew I would like it the most. So far I like the book, my initial thoughts are that it is a funny, but also sad book. Chris puts humor throughout it here and there with the seatbelt on the toilet, and Nortie smelling food up his noise. For someone who does not like sport books I find this book very enjoyable and I am cruising through it. I have found no connections with any of the characters or the book itself yet, but once I get farther into it I am sure I will find one.
ReplyDeleteI chose the book Chinese Handcuffs, and my book also has some sports in it. One of the characters, Jennifer, plays basketball. I also do not typically read books that involve sports, but in this specific book I actually like it a lot. The author includes bits and pieces of Jennifer playing basketball and it is interesting to read. It is like you can read everything that is going on her brain and it is really interesting to see what goes on inside her brain, rather than the author just writing about the plays she makes or who wins the game.
DeleteI feel the same way because I think that it is not really a sports book as it may seem on the outside because it has balance between the humor and story while developing the characters.
DeleteHi Lauren! When it comes to sport books, I would have to agree with you about not reading them much. With Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, it also includes sports in the way of swimming, and like you with how it is written it is easy to read even if it is not my favorite genre.
DeleteI felt the same about stotan at first but I agree that it's turning out to be less about the sports and more about the characters and them as a group and their friendship as well.
Deletei am reading the book staying fat for sarah byrunes it is kind of goofy how i ended up with this book as i was sick for the pick day and just randomly got placed in this book group, i thing the book is good enough as the narrator keeps a depressing topic lighthearted and jokes around making fun of himself it is confusing at times but nothing to bad it is just okay as of right now but i have hopes that it will pick up in the future
ReplyDeleteStaying Fat for Sarah Byrunes seems like an interesting book I didn't read too much on it, how is the plot and the characters in this book?
Deletei am also reading this book. the plot is about eric who is described as the fattest kid in school and his best friend sarah, who is described as the ugliest kid in school due to having severe burn scars covering her face. sarah ends up in a psych ward because she randomly goes mute one day in government class and no one can get her to say anything. eric can't figure out what happened or how to snap her out of it.
DeleteI am reading the book Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher, this book wasn't my first pick if I remember correctly is was my third pick out of the book. I took little interest in this book because it seemed like it was a romance. My first thoughts of the book is that I was that it seemed like a letter to his older brother that died because the letter continued for almost 10 pages. As of now I am not enjoying this book the plot makes no sense so far and the characters aren't even described their just in the book. So far it isn't interesting and I am making no connections with this book because it is so poorly written.
ReplyDeletei am sorry to hear you are not enjoying your read, I'm sure it will pick up in the futuremaybe try to see if an audio book can help you follow the story line more.
DeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs. Yes, the first letter was a bit hard to get through but once you get to like the third chapter it gets way better! Like Jackson said, getting an audio book would be very helpful. I definitely recommend. Also, I don't have any connections to the book either but maybe there will be some later on in the book.
DeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs and I too think that the plot of this story is a bit confusing at times because of how much it jumps between perspectives of the characters. The farther you get into the book, the more that the story line will make sense.
DeleteI chose the book running loose because it involved a kid in high school that plays football. This book seemed like the easiest one to relate to for that reason. I had this book as number one on my list and am happy that I ended up with it. So far Louie has showed his true feelings towards how his teamates act.
ReplyDeleteI agree Running Loose is very easy to follow and understand as you keep progressing through the book. Louie in my eyes is a very relatable character.
DeleteI actually thought that Running Loose was a bit more of a confusing read towards the beginning, it left you guessing on a lot of stuff, but after the first chapter or two it became a lot more straightforward and easy to read.
DeleteI am reading the book Running Loose. I put it in my top 3 choices because it seemed more appealing than the other books. My initial thoughts of this book was that is does not make sense as I was trying to figure out the setting and the characters. Louie the main character will name drop and start rambling on about some story that is not similar to what he is currently talking about. The book is a bit hard to follow but as I read is gets easier. The book alright it has interesting parts and some slow parts.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is hard at firs but once you start getting into the book past the first few chapter it starts to flow better
DeleteI am reading Running Loose, this book was in my top 3 from reading the back of thee book and feeling like I could relate to Louie more than any of the other books. I have been a football player all 4 years of high school so I can picture the way his football season is explained. I feel i have made the best choice choosing this book over the others because i can picture they way the book flows which helps me understand it better. My initial thoughts are i am really liking the book and i have found myself chuckling on some parts. This book is very enjoyable because of the different emotions expressed and how detailed it can be at sometimes, throughout the first 5 chapters I have loved and been interested to read more.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and so far, have the same experience Running Loose is a great book although I disagree with your 5-chapter statement, I think the first chapter was not that good.
DeleteI believe running loose is like staying fat for sarah byrnes in a sense because eric is an outstanding athlete in his sport. Granted he is the fattest kid in the school in the story. Eric is a swimmer and that connects as both characters are invloved in sports.
DeleteI am reading Running Loose by Chris Crutcher, this book was a part of my top 3 because I enjoyed the plot and timeline where it was occurring, in a small town with little to no kids there. I have played football sense second grade and there is something about football books that I enjoy. I can say I am very happy with my book I love where it is going and it's just getting better, I'm not a big reader either and I can say it's one of my favorites so far. The reading is very interesting, and I am making connections as the book goes deeper. The characters have these small-town accents where i think is awesome. I find this book actually fit for me and really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Running Loose does seem to just be getting better as it goes, and I also like the small-town accents. Unlike you I don't have the football experience growing up, but my family does watch it semi-consistently, and it's fun to read about too.
DeleteRussell Miller
ReplyDeleteI chose to read the book Running Loose by Chris Crutcher because the summary intrigued me. It starts with saying Louie has his life together, and everything is working out for him, but from there things go downhill. It talks about how he makes a stand against his coach, and then 'tragedy strikes' and that makes everything even worse. This said 'tragedy' is what intrigued me, as I wanted to know what happened. So far the book is meeting my standards, 9/10, and I really like it. It started out kind of slow, but only for the first one or two chapters, after that it picked up and a lot more action, or drama, happened. I think it's interesting having the story said from Louie's perspective, because he sees a lot of situations differently than others would, mainly the whole situation with Washington and the football game. If it was narrated from Lednecky's or someone else from the football team's perspective, it probably would have been a lot more negative towards Louie.
Even though I didn't pick Running Loose, I found the mention of tragedy intriguing as well. I don't know what that says about us, but I'm pretty sure every book option has some form of tragedy involved in some way. I'm glad you weren't disapointed with your choice.
DeleteI read Stotan but I see we both have similar books as well as similar view on our books in terms of the plot.
DeleteI chose the book Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher. I included this book in my top three because it sounded very interesting. I heard that the plot was kind of everywhere and I tend to enjoy books like that. This book did not disappoint. Since this book jumps around a lot, it doesn't get boring and something new happens all the time. Although I can't make any connections with the characters yet, I can say that I am very happy with my book so far and I can't wait to see what happens next. Once you get through the first chapter of the book, it will start to pick up. I am not a big reader, so it was kind of hard for me to start but now, I love this book. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.
ReplyDeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs and I can also say that it was definitely hard to start reading considering I am not a big reader as well. I can also agree that after the first couple of chapters, the book becomes a lot easier to read and it becomes easier to pick up on what's going on.
DeleteAlthough I am not reading the same book, both our books have that slow initial pace that eventually becomes faster.
DeleteI read running loose by Chris Crutcher because the summary just got me I like football and some action type books this was definitely the best option I could've picked. some things that made this book more interesting is the football games and the interactions that happened between boomer and Louie. As I keep reading this book it gets more and more interesting Ledecky kicking Louie off the field and the interactions with Becky have also been pretty interesting. for my standards on a book this one meets most of them id say if your into action and like football this is a good book to read.
ReplyDeletei also think the interaction between Louie and boomer are very interesting it sometimes seems like boomer is jealous of Louie, and his friendship with carter. it also kind off seems to me that at the beginning boomer might have been nervous about his competition agenst Louie.
Deletei am reading Running Loose written by Chris Crutcher. This book so far is about a senior in high school named Louie. Him and his best friend carter have been working out all summer long to prepare for this upcoming football season. So far it has followed Louie through his first few weeks of his senior year. I am really enjoying the book so far. am making some connections through boomer he just reminds me of a very cocky football player that thinks he can get away with whatever he wants, and I have defiantly met some people that are like this. I think as the book goes on it gets better and i am enjoying this book.
ReplyDeleteRunning loose is kind of like Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. As Louie and Carter are best friends, in my book Eric and Sarah are best friends. the book is in erics point of view. in staying fat there is a character, Dale, that is pretty identical to Boomer in your book. he is a cocky and mean kid that steals lunch money from other kids.
DeleteI am currently reading Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher. Throughout the five chapters there is a lot to take in from two perspectives of these two different characters, Dillon, and Jennifer. Each of them has their own set of problems which are supposedly pieced back together as the book goes on to explain the actions in the first few chapters. So far, the book seems good, but open ended as things are just happening quickly. Sooner or later, everything would explain itself and make sense.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about it being open ended at this point in the book. It seems to me that the first few chapters are setting up the story more than telling it and that the book hasn't really started to tell the main story. That being said, I would say the book is still well paced and I'm sure it will start to get to the more central parts of the story soon.
DeleteI am reading Chinese Handcuffs and I chose this boook because, as bad as it sounds, the mention of suicide peaked my interest. So far, I am happy with my choice because initially I had a lot I could relate to to some of the characters' feelings. There's a lot going on in the beginning of the book where it felt a little overwhelming to read, but it helped gain my interest. I likke the book, bubt every once in a while I come across some words that I've never seen before and I just sit there and think, what? The main reason that I find this book so interesting is because I've made a lot of connections throughout the book already like how Dillon kept getting compared to his brother or how Jennifer's grandpa had dementia. Thanks to all these connections I've made, I'm more exccited to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a very good book it was one of my top 3 so i enjoy reading about it.
Deletethe events that happen and that are mentioned in the book also peaked my interest
DeleteI am reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. I did not get to choose my book as I wasn't here. My group also did not get anyones first choice because they ran out of copies for running loose. Although i quite enjoy the book so far. Eric calhoun is the fatest kid in school but his mom describes him as big a sturdy. His best friend Sarah Byrnes was severally burned when she was really young. Her abusive father refused to have any sort of reconstruction done to Sarah's face, leaving her with third degree burn scars, making her the ugliest person in school. The two have always been close friends but now Sarah has gone mute and wounds up in the psych ward, refusing to show any signs of communication even with Eric. We dont really know why she stopped talking yet.
ReplyDeleteI would also agree on how we don't know why Sarah doesn't talk. Its making the book confusing
DeleteI am reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes written by Chris Crutcher. This book was actually last on my list of books to read. Turns out the library didn't have any extra copies. This book is about two best friends that consider themselves the "terminal uglies". Sarah Byrnes is a burn victim whose father never let her have reconstructive surgery because he thought that she needs to learn lessons. Eric is a swimmer, an incredibly good swimmer for his size, is Sarah's best friend. My initial thoughts were "why am I reading this" and "why is this book even an option." But turns out the book isn't terrible. As of right now I am finding the book enjoyable as they are attempting to the get the kid that bullies them (Dale) to protect them so they can write about people in their school newspaper. At this point in the book, I've made a few connections.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher because I can understand what Dillon and Jennifer have been going through, with Dillon losing his brother to suicide and drugs and Jennifer having an abusive kind of life. This book wasn't my top pick, but I do like how it is an easy read. The first letter in the book was kind of hard to sit through and read but after about the third chapter the book got better, chapter five was not my favorite chapter after reading what happened to J. Maddy but after that, it kind of calmed down a little bit. The book is definitely an easy read and that is what I like about it personally.
ReplyDeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs and I also think its scary how Dillon And Jen had lots of trauma in there lifetime and have to get over that but work as a team to be better and succeed in life. This book was my top pick but i think i would of liked a different book to be honest. Yes i can also agree that the book gets difficult to read at times but over all a great story line.
DeleteI am reading Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes. It was not any of my top 3 but It is a good book so far. I really like how descriptive Chris Crutcher is and how he describes the scenes well. Eric is the fattest person in the school and Sarah is ugliest. But they get along very well. Eric is an amazing swimmer but still makes time for Sarah and to make sure she is okay. Sarah has been in the Physc hospital because she just stopped talking to people. But Eric and Sarah have had they have had their outgoings with many people, but they always have each other's backs. I like how this book keeps my interest and always has something coming. I feel like sometimes it gets confusing on what time its happening or if its about things in the past.
ReplyDeletethis book is very similar as my main character Louie is alright at football but carter his bestfriend is amazing at football.
DeleteI am reading Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher. I believe this was number 2 on my list out of all of them. Chinese Handcuffs follows the perspective of 2 characters, Dillion and Jennifer. Both of the characters experience problems in their lives and from what I have heard, they help each other through their problems. This book gets pretty confusing at times with all the jumping around between the characters. I do enjoy this book and have made some connections with it.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about choosing this book at one point but wasn't very sure, do you think the book will get better overtime as you read it?.
DeleteI am reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and my book also follows two main characters, Eric and Sarah. They are helping each other through things like they are in your book as well.
DeleteI agree I am also reading Chinese Handcuffs and it is confusing at time because it goes back to flashbacks and than to present tens.
DeleteI am reading stotan by Chris Crutcher. I didn't think i would like the book at first but as you start to read it, I was thinking maybe it isn't the greatest but as you get into it, it definitely gets better as you go on. I enjoy how at the beginning it gives a brief backstory on the four boys in the book and it shows you a little bit about them, but it can be very confusing reading the first couple of chapters. I also enjoy the character walker as the narrator because I think he tells the story in a great way because of his connections with everyone in the group.
ReplyDeleteI agree this book suprised me alot, its not to bad, I also think walker is a good narrator he connects the characters well
DeleteThe book I am reading, "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes," is proving to be a great read so far and I have only read through chapter seven. The book started promising and stayed that way. It never felt boring and always kept me engaged (if a little confused). I am excited to uncover the secret behind Sarah Byrnes and am happy with the major character development and serious themes of the book. I chose the book in the first place for the relatable main character and the mystery aspect of it, and I am finding the character more relatable than I could've imagined. I relate to both Eric and Sarah Byrnes in the sense that they are the "underdogs," but they don't just roll over and take it. They fight back in unique and hilarious ways and handle the repercussions with grace (mostly). The book is a great recommendation for all these reasons, but mostly, it's just one of the funniest books I have read this year.
ReplyDeleteI would agree as I feel it doesn't get boring and keeps me engaged. I also like the characters and how they are going about it.
DeleteThe book that I am reading is, "Stotan!," and so far the book is great. Within the first 60 pages of the book, Walker has been setting up the story and introducing his friends and everyone else in his life. At first when Walker introduced everyone, I learned a lot about the other characters and their lives, but after awhile I thought that it got boring because Walker would kind of ramble on and the story really didn't pick up. But I liked how as the book progressed I saw the friendships of Lion, Walker, Nortie, and Jeff and how they interacted and helped each other with the problems they faced, which made their characters more clearer as people. I also liked how I saw into the characters mind's on how they dealt with their problems. Overall, this book is great and I see how it can progress with the characters.
ReplyDeletethis book is great and i am very excited for the future events
DeleteI am reading the book Chinese handcuffs and it follows the life of Dillon and Jennifer who go through life struggles as young adults and how they get through it. when it started out I was rather confused on what was going on but now I am figuring it out, this book is really starting to get interesting and hooking me in. the talk about Dillon being with his brother when he shot himself is crazy. really excited to keep reading this.
ReplyDeleteI really wasn't expecting his brother to shoot himself in front of Dillion.
DeleteThe book I am reading is Chinese Handcuffs and it was my first pick for books. I am very interested in the events that take place in this book including how Dillon watched his own brother take his life, like shoot himself. Another one was how Preston and Dillion killed a cat named Charlie together. Some of the things in this book take a past tense and then forward to present which can get confusing as times but over all under stand the point of view. Furthermore cant wait for the next chapter to read!
ReplyDeleteI would agree that this book is very interesting and also how it can be confusing sometimes witht the constent switching of the views
DeleteChinese Handcuffs was one of my top three because it drew me in I don't know what drew me to want to read the book maybe cause it had an interesting title and the story sounded like something I could read and in in to. So far the book is interesting and has twist and a decently good plot. A lot is screwed up in this little family with a pedo dad a controlling mother but there is some nice people like the coach. I am confused why it goes back and forth with a boy and a girl and how they connect. I dont connect with the book but it is a good but disturbing read to say the less.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the pedo dad thing is really screwed up and to his own daughter.
DeleteI didn't get to choose what book i wanted to read. i didn't even know that we had a choice of which book to read. As i have started to read the book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, i do not enjoy it. I cannot relate to the book at all and the swimming parts are so boring to get through because they use words for swimming that i am not familiar with. One good part is when they mess with Dale but that's it.
ReplyDeleteWell Jaysen I hope you find a good spot inside your book and for the next book choose one that u fell to have some connection with.
DeleteI didn't get the chance to choose my book. As I have started to read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, I enjoy the book as it gets to the point. I can't really relate to the book, but I find it interesting. It does make me confused sometimes but, in a way, I will be able to figure out.
ReplyDeleteThe book I am reading is Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher. I chose this book because of the many things that caught my attention on the summary such as the mention of suicide (as morbid as it sounds) and the conflict within Dillon between Jen and Stacy. So far I have enjoyed the book mainly because of the pacing and word choice. The book seems fast paced but not too fast paced. It gets right into the death of Dillon's brother with a letter written by Dillon. The way the letter is written and the choice of words used by Dillon make him feel like a real person that you are able to connect with. Overall the book is great and there isn't really much I would change about it.
ReplyDeleteI am Reading the book staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. I never had a chance to choose a book, due to the fact i was absent the day we signed up for our books. The book started very fast, with the first line saying my dad left. I thought this book was going to take my intrest from the start, but the more I read the more i started losing intrest. Im wondering how they will keep this story going due to the fact that nothing major has happened yet.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post I am very thankful that I was not absent, because I do not want to get stuck with a boring book. Since I was at school I got to choose a book that I had interest in. My book is the opposite of you`re book, as my book not boring.
DeleteThe book that I chose was Running Loose. I chose this book because I enjoy readings that involve football and athletics. Although as I started to read this book, i felt more intrigued as the plot twist with the Main Character Louie. I like how the author has infused connections between the characters that lead to a fast read. Also Running Loose being set in the senior year of high school connects with me as I end my senior year.
ReplyDeleteI agree bro, my book as well Stotan! It Has a main plot twist with a character named Nortie.
DeleteI am reading the book Chinese hand cuffs. I find the book easy to understand. and the part that intrigued me was when dillion and a person was at the gun range. there was a little twist in there.
ReplyDeleteThe book I chose is Chinese Handcuffs. I chose this book because the summary caught my attention as it seemed interesting to read. I am enjoying this book so far because of the constant switching of views. One chapter it could be a letter written by Dillon and the next could be from Jennifer's point of view. I think the pacing of the book is good and is very compelling for me
ReplyDeletewhat about this book caught your eye?
DeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs and its a very good and dark book and not meant for everyone. I also agree on the different prospective because sometimes its confusing to me on how they switch so fast in-between.
DeleteI also agree with what you are saying about this book, I also enjoy that they switch the point of view of the characters throughout the story. Although it did get confusing when I first started reading but once I kept reading the more it started to flow better as I read.
DeleteMadison Young
ReplyDeleteI might not have chosen stotan, but I'm still very happy with being given stotan. this book was one of the books I did find very interesting of his. my initial thoughts of the book was that it was about a sports team and probably would be a regular sports book. After starting to read the book I realized it was about a lot more than that and had real life problems. I am enjoying this book and seeing what's happening next before they all graduate. I have made connections with some of the characters.
I chose the book STOTAN! because I have always been interested in sports and by the first couple of pages I was already hooked to the book. This book carries a lot of interesting topics as I started reading more into it. I have been enjoying the book because the author has a unique was of getting the readers hooked to the book where they will want to read more, Chris Crutcher leaves cliff hangers within the piece which keeps the book interesting. I enjoyed how the author kept Stotan week a secret for the first few chapters because it had me wondering what it could be about. This book is somewhat sad because it deals with abuse and substance use, but it is overall a very good book.
ReplyDeleteI agree the author does have a unique way of putting the books together. I would say he always adds life situations in his books to make them stand out.
DeleteAs I read the first chapter I was also hooked on this book. I think the author has a great way of making cliff hangers as well. Right now I am just waiting to see what the poster is going to mean for events later in the book.
DeleteI agree that this author keeps you hooked in the way he tells you about something but does not tell you the hole story behind the hint he gave.
DeleteIn the book I am reading running loose, I found out that I share many things in common with Boomer. Boomer is a character in running loose that is extremely strong and attractive. In the book Boomer is told to hurt a kid in the football game. Booomer does not disappoint as the kid leaves the felid in a stretcher. If I was in boomers place I would have done the same thing as Boomer.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Stotan, It wasn't my first choice but it has been an amazing book so far. It has been about sports and I am a competitive person myself and love sports. I didn't think this book would be as interesting as it is. So far it has shown the characters being hard workers and not giving up on there goals in life. The book also carries into alot of interesting topics as I got going in the book and how they describe the characters lives.
ReplyDeleteyour book is pretty similar to mine just for the reasons its about sports. Also the same, as my characters are hard workers too and push themselves.
DeleteI agree that the characters in this book seem dedicated to their sport. I also love sports. So far i am also liking this book.
DeleteI was also surprised of how engaging this book is from the start. I am not interested in swimming really, but i get the passion for it.
DeleteI am reading running loose, I had previously just picked this because it had read that it is a sports book so I was instantly intrigue. only reason is because I can relate to a book like this. it has been really good so far, it is a page turner. i am seeing connections with some of my friends as being carter. athletic and has a lot of opportunity in the future. the book has been very enjoyable and i am excited to read on.
ReplyDeleteI also relate to my book, stotan, because it is about sports and a friend group. The main character's friend group is a lot like mine in the way that we have a passion for a sport and love spending our tiime with each other doing what we lie to do.
DeleteI choose Chinese handcuffs because while I was reading the back of the book it explains someone's life trauma like suicide and that stood out for me because I wanted to figure out how it would affect the characters life in the book. So far I am happy with the book the book because it reminds me of a movies I have already watched and brings up abuse and how someone copes with it. I like putting myself in others shoes and see their perspective. Yes, so far the book has been interesting, with Jennifer being over protective among her little sister because of her past experience with her family that has influenced why Jennifer has trust issues within her family.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Chinese handcuffs as well and it does explain a lot on about bullying and suicide and the thoughts that went behind this whole thing. I so far also like the book because there's depth to it, its not a very light and fluffy book it has a lot of meaning behind every character in the book. From last time we learned that MJ baby is Preston's and she's been hiding that from Dillon
DeleteI am also reading Chinese Handcuffs. I find the reasoning behind why you wanted to read this book interesting because it is very similar to why I picked the book. I also really enjoy this book because it has a lot of good points where you stop to think about what could be going through their heads as everything that is happening in the story.
DeleteI am reading Stoten! I was given this book because I joined the class late. So far it is pretty interesting. I am wondering what the poster is going to mean. I read the back of the book and saw that it was about a swim team. Initially that did not strike my interest however it is good so far. I appreciate the dedication the atheletes seem to have as i myself am an athelete.
ReplyDeleteI am reading the book Chinese Handcuffs. This book was my second choice, and I am happy that I got it. The reason that this book was high up on one of the books I wanted to read is that it talks about suicide and the life trauma that Dillion goes through. I have always found books that have a lot of trauma and deep thoughts the most interesting because you never know what people are actually going through. So far, I am happy with the book because it pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading to see what is going to happen next.
ReplyDeleteI agree books with abuse and the person trying to survive but also has to try and hide it I always find them so entertaining.
DeleteI am reading Stotan! I like this book it is a little bit of a slower read but it seems like a book that the farther you go in the book the better it gets. I choice this book because I thought out of all the books I could relate to this one the most! I have also always thought professional swimmers were fun to watch because I have never been able to swim fast.
ReplyDeletei chose running loose for the easy connect ability to the book in sports and his struggles to balance it all witch I believe is the hardest part about high school having time for school work and recreation all in the short amount of time a high schooler has.
ReplyDeleteI chose Stotan because I wanted to connect and relate to a book, which I haven't in a while. In the beginning, it was fast paced and confusing but overtime it became easier to read. I found it hard to relate in the beginning but as I got to know the characters, it became more enjoyable to read.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Stotan! I didn't get a choice of books, but I am interested in this book so far because of the way I can relate to the characters. The main character and all of his friends are around my age, and have a passion for a sport. I am not an avid swimmer, but I share a similar passion for snowboarding. I am also interested in the Stotan week and what they will all have to do since I
ReplyDeletehaven't read that far. I am exited to find out how their week and rest of season goes.