book reports
joylyn
Lexie wrote a book report tonight. She was funny, she said "mommy bring
up word so I can write a book report for Ms. May." Ms. May is the
reading specialist where I teach, and a month or so ago she told Lexie
that Lexie could borrow any book in school as long as she occassionally
wrote a book report about a book she had borrowed. When this
conversation took place, I just smiled and didn't say a word. Later I
told Lexie she could borrow any book she wanted, she didn't have to
write a book report unless she wanted to do so. So tonight when she
announced that she wanted to write a book report, I reminded her that
Ms. May didn't have any right to ask for a book report from her, and
that she didn't have to do one. She said, "I know, but I want others to
read this book, and I really liked this book and want to write about
it." OK.... But then she was concerned because the book she wanted to
write about was not one she had borrowed from the school "Will Ms. May
know I didn't borrow this one?" I assured her that there were plenty of
Nancy Drew books in the library and also that if she wanted to write a
book report, she should write it on whatever book she wanted! I also
said something like "doesn't writing a book report for some teacher at a
middle school where you don't even attend defeat the purpose of
unschooling?" Lexie just chuckled and told me to type (she doesn't
write, if you remember, I type everything for her She does however lean
over my shoulder and correct all gramatical and typing errors. She even
helped me spell attak, attat--she says "mom, try attic." lol).
So here it is
Book Report
Nancy Drew
Mystery of Twin Elms Mansion
By Lexie Fowler
10/4/03
This is a mystery book. Mysteries are books where there is a crime to
solve and it is always solved near the end of the book. The main
characters in this book are Nancy Drew, Nancy's father (Mr. Drew),
Nancy's housekeeper (Ellen) and Nancy's friend. The friend's family are
also in the book.
The plot is that there is supposed to be a haunting in the mansion and
Nancy is called to solve it. All these strange events happen. One of
them, not to ruin the mystery, is there is a big scary face outside the
window that only Nancy's friend sees. That is pretty much the plot.
The setting is Twin Elms Mansion and the mansion next door, which is an
exact replica. Nancy's mansion and the servant's cottages for all but
Nancy's mansion are thought to be where a tunnel is. I know this took
place in the past because the girls wore dresses all the time and the
president was different.
The chapter before Nancy's victory and Nancy's Victory is where the
climax is. Her friend is going through the tunnel, which is a listening
post, where someone would listen to the servants' conversations, and the
criminal can use this tunnel to spy on the house, because it goes under
three rooms, ending under the kitchen. And then Nancy finds a passage
out on top, on the attic, and then she finds that there is a passage as
well leading from the mansion next door to the other mansion. But her
father was kidnapped and they find her father and the mystery is solved!
I LOVED this book, I couldn't put it down! I would recommend it to
anyone who likes books with suspense!! If you want a good book or just
to pass time, you should pick up the Nancy Drew Mystery Books!
up word so I can write a book report for Ms. May." Ms. May is the
reading specialist where I teach, and a month or so ago she told Lexie
that Lexie could borrow any book in school as long as she occassionally
wrote a book report about a book she had borrowed. When this
conversation took place, I just smiled and didn't say a word. Later I
told Lexie she could borrow any book she wanted, she didn't have to
write a book report unless she wanted to do so. So tonight when she
announced that she wanted to write a book report, I reminded her that
Ms. May didn't have any right to ask for a book report from her, and
that she didn't have to do one. She said, "I know, but I want others to
read this book, and I really liked this book and want to write about
it." OK.... But then she was concerned because the book she wanted to
write about was not one she had borrowed from the school "Will Ms. May
know I didn't borrow this one?" I assured her that there were plenty of
Nancy Drew books in the library and also that if she wanted to write a
book report, she should write it on whatever book she wanted! I also
said something like "doesn't writing a book report for some teacher at a
middle school where you don't even attend defeat the purpose of
unschooling?" Lexie just chuckled and told me to type (she doesn't
write, if you remember, I type everything for her She does however lean
over my shoulder and correct all gramatical and typing errors. She even
helped me spell attak, attat--she says "mom, try attic." lol).
So here it is
Book Report
Nancy Drew
Mystery of Twin Elms Mansion
By Lexie Fowler
10/4/03
This is a mystery book. Mysteries are books where there is a crime to
solve and it is always solved near the end of the book. The main
characters in this book are Nancy Drew, Nancy's father (Mr. Drew),
Nancy's housekeeper (Ellen) and Nancy's friend. The friend's family are
also in the book.
The plot is that there is supposed to be a haunting in the mansion and
Nancy is called to solve it. All these strange events happen. One of
them, not to ruin the mystery, is there is a big scary face outside the
window that only Nancy's friend sees. That is pretty much the plot.
The setting is Twin Elms Mansion and the mansion next door, which is an
exact replica. Nancy's mansion and the servant's cottages for all but
Nancy's mansion are thought to be where a tunnel is. I know this took
place in the past because the girls wore dresses all the time and the
president was different.
The chapter before Nancy's victory and Nancy's Victory is where the
climax is. Her friend is going through the tunnel, which is a listening
post, where someone would listen to the servants' conversations, and the
criminal can use this tunnel to spy on the house, because it goes under
three rooms, ending under the kitchen. And then Nancy finds a passage
out on top, on the attic, and then she finds that there is a passage as
well leading from the mansion next door to the other mansion. But her
father was kidnapped and they find her father and the mystery is solved!
I LOVED this book, I couldn't put it down! I would recommend it to
anyone who likes books with suspense!! If you want a good book or just
to pass time, you should pick up the Nancy Drew Mystery Books!
[email protected]
That was a fun report to read!
I especiall liked this:
<< I know this took
place in the past because the girls wore dresses all the time and the
president was different. >>
She's in that "picking up clues" mode for sure. <g>
"What is the evidence for your theory that this book is in the past?"
Cool. <g>
Sandra
I especiall liked this:
<< I know this took
place in the past because the girls wore dresses all the time and the
president was different. >>
She's in that "picking up clues" mode for sure. <g>
"What is the evidence for your theory that this book is in the past?"
Cool. <g>
Sandra
Fetteroll
on 10/5/03 2:43 AM, joylyn at joylyn@... wrote:
will read the report and the book. And she might get real feedback on
whether people found it useful or not.
(BTW, the plot looks dead accurate but the title of the book is The Hidden
Staircase and Nancy's housekeeper's name is Hannah. Not that I'm good with
titles -- which doesn't help much when I'm asking if anyone's seen "the book
I'm reading, you know the black one." ;-) But I certainly poured over the
list of 50-some-at-the-time Nancy Drew titles often enough as a kid to
realize I recognized the plot but not the title.)
Joyce
> She said, "I know, but I want others toCool! She should post it at Amazon as a customer review so even more people
> read this book, and I really liked this book and want to write about
> it."
will read the report and the book. And she might get real feedback on
whether people found it useful or not.
(BTW, the plot looks dead accurate but the title of the book is The Hidden
Staircase and Nancy's housekeeper's name is Hannah. Not that I'm good with
titles -- which doesn't help much when I'm asking if anyone's seen "the book
I'm reading, you know the black one." ;-) But I certainly poured over the
list of 50-some-at-the-time Nancy Drew titles often enough as a kid to
realize I recognized the plot but not the title.)
Joyce
joylyn
:-)
Thanks, Sandra
She most definately has great reading skills. I often try to figure out
how I helped her to develop the reading stragegies she has, so I can
help my students at school, who are not readers, to develop them as well.
A few weeks ago I was trying to think of that william carlos williams
poem about the wheelbarrow. I said that aloud as I'm flipping through
my anthology looking for the right poem. She says, aloud, oh you want
this one? And recites it word for word. She had read it in a book,
Love that Dog, a few months before and had loved that poem. So she
memorized it. I had no idea she had it memorized. I needed to make
sure I had an exact copy of the poem so I did look it up and she had it
100-% right.
OK brag over.
I just love the fact she loves to read and drops her books in the tub
and recites poetry. Cause that's exactly what I do.
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
Thanks, Sandra
She most definately has great reading skills. I often try to figure out
how I helped her to develop the reading stragegies she has, so I can
help my students at school, who are not readers, to develop them as well.
A few weeks ago I was trying to think of that william carlos williams
poem about the wheelbarrow. I said that aloud as I'm flipping through
my anthology looking for the right poem. She says, aloud, oh you want
this one? And recites it word for word. She had read it in a book,
Love that Dog, a few months before and had loved that poem. So she
memorized it. I had no idea she had it memorized. I needed to make
sure I had an exact copy of the poem so I did look it up and she had it
100-% right.
OK brag over.
I just love the fact she loves to read and drops her books in the tub
and recites poetry. Cause that's exactly what I do.
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
> That was a fun report to read![Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> I especiall liked this:
>
> << I know this took
>
> place in the past because the girls wore dresses all the time and the
>
> president was different. >>
>
>
> She's in that "picking up clues" mode for sure. <g>
>
> "What is the evidence for your theory that this book is in the past?"
>
> Cool. <g>
>
> Sandra
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
joylyn
Fetteroll wrote:
but the book is in "daddy's car" and she didn't want to wait to check
facts. ;-) She wantedto write her report before going to bed.
btw the book she read is a 1st edition my mom found, dated 1932 or
something close to that. She found like five of these first
editions--wonder how much they'd bring on ebay?
I did ask her not to read that one in the tub but I still found it in
the bathroom. I can't assume she was in the tub, though. She reads on
the toilet too.
joylyn
> on 10/5/03 2:43 AM, joylyn at joylyn@... wrote:That's a good idea, I'll suggest it.
>
> > She said, "I know, but I want others to
> > read this book, and I really liked this book and want to write about
> > it."
>
> Cool! She should post it at Amazon as a customer review so even more
> people
> will read the report and the book. And she might get real feedback on
> whether people found it useful or not.
>I think you are right, I was thinking she might be confussing two books,
>
> (BTW, the plot looks dead accurate but the title of the book is The Hidden
> Staircase and Nancy's housekeeper's name is Hannah. Not that I'm good with
> titles -- which doesn't help much when I'm asking if anyone's seen
> "the book
> I'm reading, you know the black one." ;-) But I certainly poured over the
> list of 50-some-at-the-time Nancy Drew titles often enough as a kid to
> realize I recognized the plot but not the title.)\
but the book is in "daddy's car" and she didn't want to wait to check
facts. ;-) She wantedto write her report before going to bed.
btw the book she read is a 1st edition my mom found, dated 1932 or
something close to that. She found like five of these first
editions--wonder how much they'd bring on ebay?
I did ask her not to read that one in the tub but I still found it in
the bathroom. I can't assume she was in the tub, though. She reads on
the toilet too.
joylyn
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> Joyce
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=244522.3707890.4968055.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1595055/R=0/SIG=124j83ehr/*http://ashnin.com/clk/muryutaitakenattogyo?YH=3707890&yhad=1595055>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
joylyn
This says that book is worth about 1500 bucks! Wow.
Joylyn
Jon and Rue Kream wrote:
Joylyn
Jon and Rue Kream wrote:
> >>the book she read is a 1st edition my mom found, dated 1932 or[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> something close to that. She found like five of these first
> editions--wonder how much they'd bring on ebay?
>
> **Hi Joylyn - You can check out this page to see how much your books might
> be worth: http://collectbooks.about.com/library/weekly/aa040401b.htm
> . I
> have a collection from my mom, too.
>
> Please tell Lexie that she's inspired me to reread The Hidden Staircase.
> That was always my favorite :0). ~Rue
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=259395.3614674.4902533.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1524963/R=0/SIG=12o885gmo/*http://hits.411web.com/cgi-bin/autoredir?camp=556&lineid=3614674&prop=egroupweb&pos=HM>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
[email protected]
Does the cover have a picture of Nancy with a flashlight, or just the
title at the top and the author's name at the bottom in orange letters?
The former might get you maybe $5-$10, the latter maybe close to $100,
depending on what printing, condition, and whether you have the jacket.
The true first edition is the latter. It would also have 3 or 4 full page
illustrations.
Dar
On Sun, 05 Oct 2003 11:13:05 -0700 joylyn <joylyn@...> writes:
42111:HM/A=1524963/R=0/SIG=12o885gmo/*http://hits.411web.com/cgi-bin/auto
redir?camp=556&lineid=3614674&prop=egroupweb&pos=HM>
title at the top and the author's name at the bottom in orange letters?
The former might get you maybe $5-$10, the latter maybe close to $100,
depending on what printing, condition, and whether you have the jacket.
The true first edition is the latter. It would also have 3 or 4 full page
illustrations.
Dar
On Sun, 05 Oct 2003 11:13:05 -0700 joylyn <joylyn@...> writes:
> This says that book is worth about 1500 bucks! Wow.<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=259395.3614674.4902533.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=17055
>
> Joylyn
>
> Jon and Rue Kream wrote:
>
> > >>the book she read is a 1st edition my mom found, dated 1932 or
> > something close to that. She found like five of these first
> > editions--wonder how much they'd bring on ebay?
> >
> > **Hi Joylyn - You can check out this page to see how much your
> books might
> > be worth:
> http://collectbooks.about.com/library/weekly/aa040401b.htm
> > . I
> > have a collection from my mom, too.
> >
> > Please tell Lexie that she's inspired me to reread The Hidden
> Staircase.
> > That was always my favorite :0). ~Rue
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> >
>
42111:HM/A=1524963/R=0/SIG=12o885gmo/*http://hits.411web.com/cgi-bin/auto
redir?camp=556&lineid=3614674&prop=egroupweb&pos=HM>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > [email protected]
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service
> > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
Nancy Wooton
on 10/5/03 12:49 AM, joylyn at joylyn@... wrote:
breeders spend careers selectively breeding for specific traits, knowing
that certain things will be inherited. We forget that DNA works for us, too
;-)
Nancy, whose son, as well as her daughter, now likes riding horses (AND is
good at it) <ggg>
> I just love the fact she loves to read and drops her books in the tubI wonder why it surprises us when our kids turn out like us :-) Animal
> and recites poetry. Cause that's exactly what I do.
>
> Joylyn
breeders spend careers selectively breeding for specific traits, knowing
that certain things will be inherited. We forget that DNA works for us, too
;-)
Nancy, whose son, as well as her daughter, now likes riding horses (AND is
good at it) <ggg>
Krisula Moyer
Dear Joylyn and Lexie;
Sydney and I enjoyed Lexie's book report. I thought Lexie might like to
know that Sydney was interested and the report persuaded her to try a Nancy
Drew mystery as soon as we are done reading our current Harry Potter book.
( we should be done with it tonight).
I dont' know about you, but I always enjoy finding out when someone has
responded to my writing. The internet is so cool;)
love
Krisula
Sydney and I enjoyed Lexie's book report. I thought Lexie might like to
know that Sydney was interested and the report persuaded her to try a Nancy
Drew mystery as soon as we are done reading our current Harry Potter book.
( we should be done with it tonight).
I dont' know about you, but I always enjoy finding out when someone has
responded to my writing. The internet is so cool;)
love
Krisula
joylyn
Dear Krisula and Sydney
Thank you for reading my book report. I made a mistake in the name of
the book, if you want to read the book which I wrote the report on, it's
actually called the Hidden Staircase. I really like it when people read
what I write.
Joylyn
Krisula Moyer wrote:
Thank you for reading my book report. I made a mistake in the name of
the book, if you want to read the book which I wrote the report on, it's
actually called the Hidden Staircase. I really like it when people read
what I write.
Joylyn
Krisula Moyer wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Dear Joylyn and Lexie;
>
> Sydney and I enjoyed Lexie's book report. I thought Lexie might like to
> know that Sydney was interested and the report persuaded her to try a
> Nancy
> Drew mystery as soon as we are done reading our current Harry Potter book.
> ( we should be done with it tonight).
>
> I dont' know about you, but I always enjoy finding out when someone has
> responded to my writing. The internet is so cool;)
>
> love
> Krisula
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=259395.3614674.4902533.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1524963/R=0/SIG=12o885gmo/*http://hits.411web.com/cgi-bin/autoredir?camp=556&lineid=3614674&prop=egroupweb&pos=HM>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Paula Sjogerman
on 10/5/03 5:48 PM, Nancy Wooton at ikonstitcher@... wrote:
She's wanted to be a marine biologist (fleeting) and a literature professor,
but right now actor it is. I can't believe how much I DON"T want her to do
that.
Holding my tongue though, of course,
Paula
> Nancy, whose son, as well as her daughter, now likes riding horses (AND isDoes that mean there's no chance for my non-acting hopes for my daughter?
> good at it) <ggg>
She's wanted to be a marine biologist (fleeting) and a literature professor,
but right now actor it is. I can't believe how much I DON"T want her to do
that.
Holding my tongue though, of course,
Paula
[email protected]
On Tue, 07 Oct 2003 08:36:59 -0500 Paula Sjogerman <sjogy@...>
writes:
biologist.
Dar
writes:
> Does that mean there's no chance for my non-acting hopes for myRain wants to be an actress (on Broadway, if you please) *and* a marine
> daughter?
> She's wanted to be a marine biologist (fleeting) and a literature
> professor,
> but right now actor it is. I can't believe how much I DON"T want her
> to do
> that.
biologist.
Dar
Nancy Wooton
on 10/7/03 6:36 AM, Paula Sjogerman at sjogy@... wrote:
shows. I cured myself with a high school P.E. class in scuba -- I sank like
a rock with a tank on my back. Plus, the harsh reality of the effects of
depth on a person with a heart condition was unavoidable; I can't take high
altitude, either, which doomed my olympic downhill racer career <g>
Alex is already an accomplished cartoonist; I credit heredity there as well,
since he has visual artists on both sides of the family. I'm rather glad
he's interested in riding, since that makes my "I wanna horse!" whine more
altruistic; the *family* needs a horse, hubby, not just me ;-)
Why is it that parents don't want their kids to pursue the same career? My
mom was very artistic in school, and won a scholarship to a prestigious art
school in L.A. (For stupidly dysfunctional family reasons, she wasn't
permitted to accept.) Mom *hated* my sister's passion for both painting and
ballet, and was furious when I changed majors from advertising to graphic
design. Maybe that Albert Brooks movie, "Mother," holds the answer -- the
frustration of a failed or aborted career makes a parent so jealous they
can't support their child in the same career?
Nancy
--
You are never too old to be what you might have been.
-George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), novelist (1819-1880)
> on 10/5/03 5:48 PM, Nancy Wooton at ikonstitcher@... wrote:I went through the marine biologist phase, too, thanks to Jacque Cousteau
>
>> Nancy, whose son, as well as her daughter, now likes riding horses (AND is
>> good at it) <ggg>
>
>
> Does that mean there's no chance for my non-acting hopes for my daughter?
> She's wanted to be a marine biologist (fleeting) and a literature professor,
> but right now actor it is. I can't believe how much I DON"T want her to do
> that.
>
> Holding my tongue though, of course,
> Paula
shows. I cured myself with a high school P.E. class in scuba -- I sank like
a rock with a tank on my back. Plus, the harsh reality of the effects of
depth on a person with a heart condition was unavoidable; I can't take high
altitude, either, which doomed my olympic downhill racer career <g>
Alex is already an accomplished cartoonist; I credit heredity there as well,
since he has visual artists on both sides of the family. I'm rather glad
he's interested in riding, since that makes my "I wanna horse!" whine more
altruistic; the *family* needs a horse, hubby, not just me ;-)
Why is it that parents don't want their kids to pursue the same career? My
mom was very artistic in school, and won a scholarship to a prestigious art
school in L.A. (For stupidly dysfunctional family reasons, she wasn't
permitted to accept.) Mom *hated* my sister's passion for both painting and
ballet, and was furious when I changed majors from advertising to graphic
design. Maybe that Albert Brooks movie, "Mother," holds the answer -- the
frustration of a failed or aborted career makes a parent so jealous they
can't support their child in the same career?
Nancy
--
You are never too old to be what you might have been.
-George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), novelist (1819-1880)
Paula Sjogerman
on 10/7/03 11:38 AM, Nancy Wooton at ikonstitcher@... wrote:
I don't know if parents who are doctors have the same issues, but for me
it's just about how hard a life it is, so full of disappointment. I also
know that anyone who is destined to be an actor will be one no matter what,
so what will be, will be.
paula
> theThanks a lot, Nance, I thought you knew me!
> frustration of a failed or aborted career makes a parent so jealous they
> can't support their child in the same career?
I don't know if parents who are doctors have the same issues, but for me
it's just about how hard a life it is, so full of disappointment. I also
know that anyone who is destined to be an actor will be one no matter what,
so what will be, will be.
paula
Jon and Rue Kream
>>the book she read is a 1st edition my mom found, dated 1932 orsomething close to that. She found like five of these first
editions--wonder how much they'd bring on ebay?
**Hi Joylyn - You can check out this page to see how much your books might
be worth: http://collectbooks.about.com/library/weekly/aa040401b.htm . I
have a collection from my mom, too.
Please tell Lexie that she's inspired me to reread The Hidden Staircase.
That was always my favorite :0). ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]