I am still readingSlumdog Millionaire.I am at the point where he is describing the adventure that led him to winning 200,000 Rupees. Ram begins describing how he has now left his work with a wealthy family. Over time Ram acquired a lot of money from the family and he finally has the courage to go back to Mumbai where Salim (his best friend) is. Now that Ram has acquired all of this money he is eager to brag to someone and he tells it to a boy named, Akshay on the train. During the night the train gets robbed and Akshay tells of the 50,000 rupees Ram has and the robbers steal it. The robber has a gun pulled on them and Ram saves the day by grabbing the pistol from his hand and kills him. Ram memorizes the letters on the gun which are COLT. The next question happens to be “Who invented the revolver?” with the answer choices being: (A) Samuel Colt, (B) Bruce Browning, (C) Dan Wesson, or (D) James Revolver (Swarup 165). Ram chooses the answer choice A and he, of course, answers correctly.  I have evaluated that this story has a very  good message which is, that even though someone is the underdog does not mean they will lose because fate can intervene for anyone.

Tiarra Andrews-Owens- Evaluation

Tiarra Andrews-Owens

In Slumdog Millionaire this week I read about how Ram got to winning 100,000 rupees. Ram begins by describing his life in the Dharavi slum after he escaped his previous home. Ram also explains how he works at a bar and can only afford a “cubby-hole of a house” (Swarup 131).  He begins by telling the story of a drunkard who stopped at the bar. The man begins explaining his horrible life and how he married a woman from Haiti who treated him horribly and led him to kill his own brother. Through this story Ram got the answer to his next question on the show and it was “What is the capital of Haiti?” and that led him to win 100,000 rupees. From evaluating this story so far I have learned that even though a person comes from a slum does not mean they are stupid and that experiences in life can teach you a lot of things.

Tiarra Andrews-Owens-Evaluate

The book that i am currently reading is titled Inkdeath. It is a book written by Cornelia Funke. The book is all centered around a girl Meggie and her father Mo who are trapped into an enchanted book called Inkheart. The book progresses more tragically than magically.

“Women were different, no doubt about it. Men broke so much more quickly. Grief didn’t break women. Instead it wore them down, it hollowed them out very slowly.”

The mighty dustfinger died as a result of sacrificing himself for his apprentice Farid. The rule of the fairy tale land is under the control of the evil Adderhead turning the town into complete chaos and menace. The characters prove to be far beyond the control of their author Fenoglio. Elinor believes that her family is lost behind the covers of the book. So as to try to escape Mo himself signs a dangerous deal with the Death.  I predict that there may be a little hope in which the fate of the story will end a bring about a better ending.

A year ago all the kids were sitting watching TV. All of a sudden Steven smelled something that did not smell right at all. He asked if anyone else smelled it and they all said yes. Belly said it was pot and Conrad agreed with her. It was for his Susannah’s chemotherapy. Steven looked at Belly is shock asking “how [she new] what pot smells like” (Han 55). As the kids were watching TV, Susannah and Belly’s mom came down. They begged for the kids to get them food because they were starving. They were both stumbling all over the house. I think Conrad and Jeremiah are stubborn and scared to talk about their mothers cancer. When Belly and Steven brought it up there was not much conversation going. In the future I think Susannah will loose her cancer and she will live a happy life.

Laura Lee McHugh Predction

At night Belly could never sleep. She tried her hardest but she never could. She finally tried to go swim a couple of laps in the pool to relax her and it worked. That same night after dinner she could not sleep. She slips into her bathing suit and jumps into the pool. After a couple of laps she flip turns under the water and “kicked something solid” (Han 37). It was Conrad having a cigarette while watching Belly swim. Belly wondered if he had been there the whole time and if he new she always swam at night. Conrad put put his cigarette while Belly begged him to quit smoking forever because it is so bad for you. I think there is going to be tension between Jeremiah and Conrad because they both seem to like Belly. It will be interesting to see who will come out on top.

Laura Lee McHugh prediction

After dinner, everyone helped with the dishes and then went off and did their own thing. Belly sat on the couch and listened to Conrad play his guitar. She was scared to ask him about his girlfriend but she did anyway. Conrad told her they broke up and she suddenly got interested in the conversation. Belly pictured her as a pale girl with blonde hair and blue eyes with “perfect cuticles and oval-shaped nails” (Han 34). Susannah said that Conrad was a heart breaker but this time it was not Conrad. His ex-girlfriend claimed that he had changed too much. I understand this better because it makes me this of when I ask my brothers if they have had any girlfriends in college. They usually tell me no and to never ask that question again.

Laura Lee McHugh connection

After unpacking all of her clothes, Belly ran down to the pool to start her summer tan. She got to the pool and the boys were there. All of a sudden Steven yells “BELLY FLOP”. Steven, Jeremiah and Conrad circled Belly until they all had a strong grip of her. They “swung [her] back and forth until they finally let her go flying into the pool (Han 17). She finally came above the water and asked for Conrad’s help out of the pool. He agreed but Belly used all of her strength to pull him in. Steven and Jeremiah left leaving Conrad and Belly in the pool. Belly felt very awkward because of the past summer with him. In the distance she heard Susannah’s voice so hopped out of the pool and ran to greet her. I think there are going to be tensions with Conrad and Belly because of what happened in the past. I do not think Belly is going to let that situation ruin her summer.

Laura Lee McHugh prediction

It was the first night of summer for everyone. Susannah made her “special pot of spicy bouillabaisse” that they have the first night they all come together (Han 22). They all talked about the school year and if anything big happened. Jeremiah showed off his big scar to Belly that he got from football. Conrad suggested to show the whole table instead of just Belly. Steven asked Conrad how football went for him but Jeremiah interrupted saying Conrad had quit. This was very shocking to Belly and Steven because he was very good at it. I think Jeremiah likes Belly because he only showed his scar to her instead of the whole table until Conrad called him out on it.

Laura Lee McHugh prediction

Belly talks about how her heart was broken in that house one summer. Steven and Jeremiah “went on a fishing trip” with some friends so that left Conrad and Belly at home (Han 10). Belly always thought Conrad was super cute so she thought this was her chance that something might happen. She was in her room reading as conrad walked by and asked if she was doing anything tonight. He finally asked her to go to the boardwalk with him. She immediately said yes and got herself ready. When they got to the boardwalk, he treated her to a carmel covered apple. Belly let her arm hang loose just incase Conrad were to grab for it. Conrad led her to a game where there was a pretty blonde working there. She finally realized he did not want to come to the boardwalk with Belly but just to see this girl who worked there. After reading this, I am visualizing the worker as a tall, blonde, tan girl. She is wearing the shortest shorts you can find with a tight tanktop.

Laura Lee McHugh visualization

It’s finally summer and school is out. Belly, Steven and their mom are on the way to their beach house. Waiting for them are Conrad, Jeremiah and Susannah Beck. Belly’s mom and Susannah have been friends “since they were nine” years old (Han 4). Steven was letting his mom take a break from driving and let her sleep in the back. He took his sweet old time driving through the town to soak of all the old memories. They pull up to the house and Conrad and Jeremiah are waiting on the front porch for their car. They boys come running down the stairs to greet them. Conrad and Jeremiah looked at Belly is awe, not even recognizing her. They teased her saying she looked better with her glasses. I think this book is going to be about Belly and her family and family friends having a good adventurous summer together.

Laura Lee McHugh prediction