Letter to an Author

Dear Gary Paulsen,

            Being stranded on an island with no food, no water, and no help. These things have never happened to me, and I hope they never do! But after reading your book Hatchet, I think I would have a little knowledge of what to do. Building a fire, skinning a raw animal, or using all those rocks or bones for tools. I live on a farm and know the basics about hunting and fishing. But when it came to reading, I liked to forget I knew how to read. I used to be one of those kids that would shy away when it came to reading books. My parents always told me it was a good life tool, but I never believed them. That is, until I read your book Hatchet. Not very often will I ever just find a book and be so glued to it.  I read while I was supposed to be sleeping! But now, if I ever see your name on a book or something similar to your books, I’m all in.

           

            While I was reading your book I felt like I was Brian; building the fire, picking berries, or shooting a game bird for food. I am big time into hunting, and I know what it means to survive out there. You have to do, what you have to do. I remember way back when, I would “hunt” my little brothers like they were deer. After they were “shot”, I would drag them around showing all my family. Once I shot my first deer, I changed. I realized the value of life more than I used to.  I read more books related to hunting, but only because I had to. Those other books just never satisfied my survival and hunting desire when it came to my reading drive. But then I found Hatchet. Well, my dad did. He listens to audio books, and he completely recommended it to me. So I asked our school librarian if they had the book. In fact, they had just ordered the book. So I waited and waited, until it finally came. I dove right in, and I never came out. I was diving into pretend lakes, grabbing a hatchet and food. Eating berries from a bush, and throwing them back up. But I never quite was sprayed by the skunk.

            I always loved that no matter how hard things were, Brian would always stay somewhat positive. Talking to imaginary people and animals, and even calling the skunk his “pet.” I too, find myself talking to imaginary things when I’m working by myself. We as people always take food for granted, and I find myself doing this exact thing. But in Brian’s case, he might do anything for food. He was alone with nobody to come make him some hamburgers. He had to learn to live on his own. Even when I’m at home by myself, I feel like I’m Brian. Searching through the woodland cupboards, silent in the bright, cold fridge. I sometimes find myself feeling crabby thinking that I’m starving. But after reading Hatchet, I know I’m not starving. And I hope I’m never starving. Because I’m hungry enough after my sports.

            Now that I have read Hatchet, I no longer complain how nasty dirty something is. I’m glad that my dad recommended Hatchet to me, or I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Nowadays, I’m still thinking how awful it must have been to be ambushed by a lousy skunk!

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                        Matt Wilson

Author letter

                                                                                                   Oscar Lopez

                                                                                                     

Dear Ben Mikaelsen,                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

     I don't know if you are alive or dead, but I'm going to tell you how the book Touching Spirit Bear changed me, and how I felt about it. I have times when I get mad, and when I get mad I get like really mad, but I don't have anger problems.  The thing is that I don't like getting in trouble but I also don’t like when people are telling me what to do, and your book has a lot of things in common with some of my problems.

   Most of the problem; that Cole had related to me. For example I stole something from a store, and they caught me and the cops came home and put me on probation for stealing and fighting. Your book has changed me a lot and it means a lot to me that I wasn't  the only one going through these problems. The only thing that I thought was tough in this book was that he had to go to the island serve his jail time. If I was Cole, I would of quit at that time because that is a tough job to do survive with no equipment. I mean he did have equipment, but he burned it because he was mad.

   Really, I actually thought reading was boring before, then I read your book and it got interesting, and keep on reading until I was finish. The book actually had lot of interest;  I wish I could actually read more book that are this interesting by you because now I think reading has lot of adventure, and interest and really your book has inspired me to read more of your books.

                  Sincerely,

                              Oscar Lopez

Food

Food

I love food

When I eat it I am in a good mood

But when I don’t I can be rude

So I always need my food

Letter to an Author

Dear S.E. Hilton, 

          After reading your book the Outsiders, I have changed the way I look at people. I used to judge people by how they act and what they wear until I read your book. I never stopped to look at myself and to realize that everybody on this earth is the same as me. Not because of what they look like or how they act, and now I feel as if me and everyone are the same. Like the saying goes “Never judge a book by it’s cover” now I know what everyone means.

         There are a lot of people who get made fun of everyday because of something they wear or something the do. I felt this way before when I walked the halls of my old school. I can relate to Ponyboy and the way he gets made fun of and, the way everyone pushes him around. When I started middle school in Florida everyone made fun of me because of what I wore, so I changed the way I dressed just so they leave me alone. Later on I heard of your book and didn’t really pay much attention to it. Walking into seventh period everyday I knew we had to read this book. I only got half way done with it because before the end of the year we moved to Nebraska.

        We got to Nebraska and everyone still looked at me because of the way I dressed and the way I acted. We started school and about a week into school my teacher Mrs. Woodle told us we be reading the book the Outsiders I remembered the book from Florida and was exited to finally finish the book. I read the way the Socs made fun of the greasers and it got me thinking of how everyone treated me in Florida and, I wanted to be myself. I started looking at people differently not for what they wear or how they act. I felt as if me and Ponyboy were a little the same. Ponyboy got made fun of for the way he dressed, and so did I. I started to wear what I wanted and act the way I wanted to act. I felt like Ponyboy at the end when he just didn’t care what people thought of him or the greasers. 

        While reading your book, I also started changing the way I looked at people, and realized that you make more friends just being yourself. I felt the way your book changed me in a good way. I started showing pride of who I was and who I wanted to be just like Ponyboy did, and I didn’t care what people thought of me. When we were done reading your book I was sad that we had to finish reading such a good book about life. I did a lot of thinking and wanted to become friends with people those who really don’t have as many friends and feel alone. This book really changed me because I didn’t care what people thought of me and wanted to be myself and show that i’m not afraid of being who I wanna be.

        Reading your book has changed me because I learned about other people, and how not to judge people by the way they act or way they dress. Being able to read your book has open my eyes so much towards other people. Like the saying goes and what I learned about other  people, “Never judge a book by it’s cover.” 

                                                                                                  Sincerely,

                                                                                             

                                                                                            Selena

Letter to Author

Dear Wilson Rawls, 

When I was in sixth grade, I always dreaded going to reading class. However, this completely changed when I was able to read your book Where the Red Fern Grows.But I also had a teacher that I honestly really didn't like, yet I don't think she really liked me either. My effort in class was lacking because of these things. If I hadn’t read your book, I don’t think that I would be where I am today as a student. I also think that I would probably still be slacking off in my classes. 

It all started in Kindergarten. I never really could just pick up a book and read. My parents and grandparents always used to make me read but I hated it. It was all the same until I got into the 6th grade, but in my 2nd grade year I had a teacher for reading called Mrs. Hanson. At first I didn't like her but I grew to like her, but she was a tough teacher.

I remember her saying “I don't care if you don't like reading it is the only thing you have to know to be successful”. Then I thought who cares I don't need to read a stupid book to succeed. I always had dreams of being successful but I didn't think that I needed to read to be successful. 

Then before you know it came the 6th grade. This is when I had the teacher I didn't like. I really don’t know how I didn't get held back because I really didn't try that hard in any of my classes, but I didn't get held back and for that I am grateful. 

Well we started the year off bad. My reading teacher and I were always at war. We argued about everything we possibly could. I got mad because I always had to read and I hated to read. So I just didn't try and of course I didn't care what so ever. I think at the end of the first 9 weeks I had a 29% in her class. But then one day we got to read a book, and she let the class choose the book. We had a few choices. They were: Were the Red Fern Grows, Holes and the book The Bully. Of corse we chose Where the Red Fern Grows. When my class chose that book I was super excited. I had seen the movie 100 times and I loved it. We lived in a small town so everybody trapped coons. We started reading and I just dove into the book. There was action, emotion, happiness and so on. I thought of my self as Billy in that class. I wanted things like I wanted to read this book, Billy wanted to get the coon dogs. I became sad about my grade in that class Billy was sad about the death of his dogs. I wanted the book to go on I never wanted it to end. 

Your book taught me many things. It taught me that if you want anything you need to take risks to succeed. I found a love for reading. I pictured my self as Billy I always wanted to be a good reader, Billy always wanted to be a good trapper. I never want to give up like I use to. Billy never gave up. Your book taught me that if you want anything you have to try. I wanted to have good grades but I never tried to get the grades. Last of all your book helped me find a love for reading.

Letter to an Author.

Dear, Brian Selznick

Have you ever envisioned a place or time? Ever dazed of an aspiration of things that you long would come true? The book Wonderstruck has made me envision things like this in my life a lot more, just wondering around in the library looking for books I could read just to pass time is the reason I came upon this mystical book. I know that I have been thinking about things, whether it was to become a princess or have super strength. I have always wanted something more in my life. The transparency and exposure of photographic memories, that can describe millions of thoughts and emotions into one picture. As one exciting thing approaches my life at a time I feel the exhilaration building up the eagerness inside of me. 

As everything is described in pictures and words, verbally and imaginary his life and hers this paints a picture in my head and makes me want to read more. I just couldn’t put this book down, I always imagine things and want them to come true but in this book it gives me the strength to picture things as they are not as I want them to be. 

Rose wants things to change in her life because she is not satisfied with things I have these days also. Everyday I could think of something simply that I want to change. It is a lot harder to list things that you don’t want to change in your life then listing things that you want to change. I wouldn’t say that my life is difficult but it sure isn’t the easiest, there are always going to be people out there that have it better off than me. There will also be people out there that have it easy off then I do. So I try to appreciate what I have in my life, although there are always things that I will wish for. 

Some people think that just because a book is mostly pictures, it is not a book. I think differently because anyone can write a whole book using pictures. You just have to be able to pick up on what they are feeling through the images that they make. Reading is a work of art, you have to work on it, it doesn’t always have to deal with words. Everything you see is a piece of work, with its own background and story behind it. 

Yes… still dreaming of having super strength, still dreaming of making an importance in the world but this is reality and for me to make these dreams, words and images all come to life. I have to strive and work for it. Nothing is handed to you, you have to push your self with persistent, as Rose never gave up, neither shall I. x



Sincerely, 



Izzy Grade 8

What Freedom Means to Me

What Freedom Means to Me 

Just so you are free think about it, we are at war, so you can be free. Think of all the soldiers that have given there life for our freedom. We are free because we have soldiers that love America. I want to explain you what freedom means to me and how we are free.

If you think about it, we have privileges that a lot of countries don’t have. We get to go to school. I know you may think that this is a forced thing, but really it will help you out in the long run. We also get the freedom of speech. Think about that. You can pretty much say anything you want. We also get to get married to whoever we want. My social studies teacher told us today that there is a place in South America were you have to be 30 just to get married. Think about that. The reasons we have these is because of your soldiers. 

Have you ever thought of what people do to make sure we are free? We have had thousands of people die just to make the U.S free. Also veterans leave home, and they leave there jobs. They even leave there family. I don’t think that if I ever had a family that i would be able to just pick up and leave. This is something that I think Americans today take for granted.

The last thing I want to talk about is why we are free. We are a free country because we have people that love America, and want to protect it so that we will always be free. Think about that for a minute. Also people die to protect our county. And we act like its not a big deal. People are dying just for us.

Think of all the things that we can do just because we are free. We get to have a say in things. Also we get to choose what we want for ourselves. I also want to recognize the soldiers that are fighting for our freedom and even dying for us. You should never take advantage of our freedom. It is something that can be taken away in a heart beat.

What Freedom Means To Me

         What freedom means to me is fighting for freedom, being with family, and making my own decisions. Freedom means a lot of things to me like being able to go to school and choose my own job and marry who I want. Freedom to me means being able to choose the job that I want for my future. This freedom isn’t free though, and there are many brave Americans that go away from there families to fight for freedom. 

           Freedom comes with a price of hard working Americans going and fighting for our country. My great grandpa was fighting in World War two he told us that freedom isn’t free,and we must work for that freedom. When he fought in World War Two,my grandma told me that he was a hard working man fighting for our country right along with the other hard working Americans. 

           Freedom is being able to choose my own future and not have someone else choose it for me. Like when I grow up I can choose what type of future I want for my life and not have it chosen for me when I grow up. When I choose to marry to someone, they won’t be chosen for me , and I can choose were I want to live and choose how many children I have. All thanks to freedom I have these rights.

         Freedom means to be able to go to school and get an education that I want for my future, and I can choose were I wanna attend school. As Americans I can choose what school I wanna go to and get my education, then later on in life I can choose wether or not I wanna go to college or not. Having these right’s makes me free to do what I want in this future of mine like going to college I can do good and get a good job thanks to freedom. 

            Freedom means fighting for freedom, making our future, and getting an education I want. Having freedom makes us able to do things that we never thought we could do. Having the right’s to make a future for myself and for other Americans. Veterans work so hard for this freedom and we have to be very thankful for that, and that is what freedom means to me.

Patriotic pen

What freedom means to me is about what are veterans have sacrificed. I have chose this one because I think it is important for people to relies what are veterans have been through. It is important to me because I have had vets in my family.

Now I will be telling you what all the veterans have had to go through. I think it is really cool that all vets had to go through training. They would train for a couple of years, and hours of training and conditioning. But during all of this time they were away from their families. It took a lot of work and effort to join the army.

The risk they had to take. It would take a lot for me to leave my family and risk my life to go fight in the army, so all of my respect goes out to the men and women that have. Every day men and women risk there lives for our safety and freedom. So I’m glad for all the people that are risking their life for me.

Why is this important to me? This is so important to me because I have had a lot of my family members in the army, so I think they deserve a lot of respect because it takes a lot of courage to do that. Next time you see a vet or current soldier, thank them.          I hope that this has shown you what are veterans have been through. It would

 take very much to leave your families. A lot of people don’t realize what they have been through. Whenever my uncle got home from Vietnam, he just didn’t want to talk about. All he said was that he lost a lot of friends. I just hope that you will understand and just thank any American soldier.

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Nebraska Football

Nebraska stadium

The stadium filling up with thousands of people. Hoping you came in to watch the other team loose. The sound of people chanting GO BIG RED!! Hoping you get on the big screen. Just so you can brag the next day at school. Letting the balloons go on the first touchdown. Looking at the discuss in the other teams faces when you get a touch down. Holding your foam finger with pride. This is Nebraska Football