Allegiant 2/24/15 *Spoilers*

Prompt: What challenges do the characters face in the book?
Pages Read: 365-426

     The characters in the book have faced a big conflict. After finding out that their city was just a experiment, they also found out that it's on the brink of being abandoned and called a failure. The Bureau don't want to abandon their longest experiment and decide to reset everyone's memories. Leaving Tris and the other Allegiant distressed since they don't want their friends and family to have no memory of each other or their past life.

     A challenge Four faces is trying to tell Zeke that Uriah died. It's hard to do because Four participated in the event that put Uriah in the coma which caused his death. More pressure was added because he had told Zeke he would look after Uriah. Four is having trouble getting over the guilt, which is another challenge.

     Tris and the gang decided that they were going to wipe the Bureau's memories in an attempt to save Chicago. Whilst trying to come up with a plan they find out the backup security is the death serum. No one can resist it, a safe suit might buy you a few minutes but not a lot of time. They decide someone needs to sacrifice themselves in order to obtain the memory-wiping serum. Caleb, Tris' brother, decides he will, and Tris feels weird about the whole situation. She's not sure if she wants Caleb to think the only way to repay his debt was to sacrifice himself. They have some little bonding moments which isn't the best for her when he's about to sacrifice himself.

Global Articles

     This week when we showed our AoW's off there were lots of things about ISIS. Some were duplicates, some showcased other problems ISIS are causing. For example, Diego chose an article about how ISIS is hacking websites and other things. Most, were about Egypt's retaliation towards ISIS though. All mentioned that it was a response to a video released showing the executions of multiple Christian Egyptians. These events are very important because it could cause a possible war and more airstrike, causing civilian casualties. More on the war, Amelia's article mentioned that 63 countries were already dedicated to fight against ISIS, the article also pointed out that ISIS is growing rapidly, with more than 90 countries backing them up. Speaking of possible war/conflict. Russian aircraft have passed by English channels causing tensions to rise between England and Russia. There was also an article picked by Isabelle R. which was about Nigerian conflict. How Bokoharam was getting put under the radar and he's gaining a lot of power.

     Going away from all the possible wars/worldwide conflict, there were some articles that had important messages. For example, Athziry had an article about a girl who was thought to be ugly to many, she tried to ignore them and then she was later asked to be a model. Which gives a positive you can do anything if you set your mind to it message to the world. Maria's article focuses on gender equality in Turkey. Gender equality/woman's rights have been big and they should get their rights which is why it's important. Elenia and Gabe had similar articles addressing whether we were prepared for another epidemic or not. Which is important because they're trying to get us prepared for the next epidemic so we are prepared and not taken by surprise like what happened with Ebola.

   

     

Allegiant 2/16/98

Prompt: List conflicts the characters were faced with

Pages Read: 0-365

     In the beginning of the book there was the trial/hearing for Tris. Before she had been called a traitor for not letting Tori kill Jeanine, their enemy. They realized she wasn't a traitor and let her free. Tobias realizes he doesn't want to be under Evelyn's command anymore so they came up with a plan. Recently there's been conflict regarding leaving the community. There's a group called the Allegiant and they want to leave the city. They decide to get a group and leave the city.

     In the process of leaving the city Tori dies and they meet Amar and Zoe. Amar was Four's old trainer from Dauntless. Four was surprised when he saw him and Amar had to explain that he faked his own death along with some other Divergent at the time. Zoe gave Tris a group photo with her mom in it, which interested Tris and from there they went to the Bureau. At the Bureau they found out that their whole life/home was just an experiment, and they were monitored all teh time. 

     A more recent conflict is that Uriah was put into a coma and they find out that the Divergent are genetically healed. The rest are genetically damaged and that worries Four and the others who aren't Divergent. They find out that the Bureau has made the serum to take over people's brains and they made a deal with Jeanine. They admit that they're going to try and eliminate Abnegation and Tris wants to do something. 

Passion Project Reflection 2/10

     The project was successful but had to be scaled down. Instead of doing it at the Y with random people, we did it with some DLP kids in the Gymnasium. The objective was still the same, meaning that we still kind of showed kids how to play. We also had volunteers and supervisors ready to help. We did have to change plans because only 4 or 5 kids came though. So our plan was put into a smaller scale but was successful overall.

Book Talk

Schooled by Gordan Korman

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

     The book seemed to take place maybe 80s or 90s, it's confirmed that it's after the 1960s. It takes place in a little town. The story focuses on a boy named Capricorn Anderson. He grew in a closed off with little to no electricity and really any modern things. It's called Garland. Rain, Capricorn's grandma, has an accident and she has to send Capricorn to a public school where Cap is initially picked on because he doesn't know anything about the real world. Capricorn has to learn how to adjust to his new surroundings. The mood throughout the book was more of a funny and sometimes sad tone. At the end Capricorn is so used to the modern he wants to get modern stuff and at first Rain disagreed and said that was all baloney. But she eventually decided not to keep Capricorn from learning about the real world and decided to get a condo. I think the message is to try and adjust to new things/try new things without having to be pushed to do it. 

     I really liked this book because of it's characters and plot. Like the main character looks like he came out from the 60s and he's put into a modern world place. Where he's the weirdest and easiest kid to pick on. You want to see what happens next, like does he get popular, does he get liked? I remember the part where he spent a lot of the school's funds because he didn't know how checks worked. Since he was in Garland and no one could contact him. I would recommend this book if you want a decently sized book with lots of drama and some humor. You should go out and get this book because it's really memorable and it has a great plot to it. 

AoW Impressions weak of 2/2

     This week students shared their articles telling a brief description and why it's important to know that information. There were a lot of global warming articles. They were all on different subjects though. Like Stanley's was on how 2014 was the warmest year and the temperatures are slowly rising. The scientists are trying to stop it. Amelia's was about how even though plants and the ocean absorb carbon it doesn't make it carbon-neutral. Steven's article addressed the Sea rise and how the US is in danger because the way the US and the icebergs are positioned the ice should come straight at us.

     There were a lot of other articles too. Like Diego's was about a man who didn't stop being kind and kept on doing something for other people even though he had cancer. Gabe talked about the Yemen water crisis. He explains that they use around 50% of water on quat, popular with the Yemen citizens. Also, that Yemen isn't close to any natural water source making the situation a little bit tougher. Bela's was about South Korean activists dropping notes on North Korea. Making fun of their contained way of living and "showing them the truth". Elenia picked an article showing that domestic/woman violence has decreased and non-violence is spreading. Isabella's is on the UK's new rape laws. Nadrian's is 20 things about travel. One of the 20 things is not to expect paradise/the best things. Athziry chose an article about women in stem fields. She explains that their conditions are bad and the workers are also treated bad.