A Northern Light

Mattie has been discovering new things about the death of Grace Brown. She has now read all the letters. She found out they were love letters sent to Grace. Mattie is learning a lot from this experience. She is trying to help find the murderer of Grace and her lover the night they went on a boat on the lake near the hotel. She has learned to live life for herself and not in the shadow of anyone else. She is determined to find herself and make something out of herself. She realizes that its time for her to live her life and not in her mothers shadow like her father wants her to do.

I thought this book has been still really slow, but it picks up in the middle when the whole point of the novel starts occuring. I think it's really intresting how this is a true story about the murder is fixed into the novel. I also think it gives readers a good outlook of how to take charge and live your own life according how you want to. I also think it has a good meaning and most readers would learn a lot from reading it.


"I keep reading, but there's nothing in the letter about Carl Grahm. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. I put Grace's letter down and shuffle through the bundle until I find what I'm after- a few letters written by Chester. I open the first one"

This quote is significant because this is when Mattie starts reading through Grace Brown's letters that she asked Mattie to burn.

A Northern Light

I recently found out that this novel was based on a true story. Grace Brown really was murdered in the 1900s by a man who wanted her riches. The resort that she works at is near the Adirondack mountains. Mattie has found out about the murder of Grace Brown and she is confused and scared because Grace had given her letters to burn. After reading them Mattie has discovered that the drowning was no accident. She also discovered that Grace had been out on a boat with her 'lover' who also was apparently drowned too. It's a lot for Mattie to take in but she does the right thing and helps find out what happened to them. Mattie is still really focused on trying to get enough money to get to college in the fall in New York. She is also trying to persue her writing career. She has help from Miss Wilcox. She also works at Miss Wilcox's library on weekends to make extra money.

This is a really slow book at the beginning, it made me not want to keep reading. It kind of just drags on and on with no real point. It doesn't really get intresting until she finds out about the murders. I think it is also a hard book to follow because it jumps around a lot even though it is in Mattie's point of view.

Vocab:

Poleaxed: a medieval shafted weapon with blade combining ax, hammer, and apical spike, used for fighting on foot.
Famished: extremely hungry: to be famished after a hike; famished, homeless multitudes.

A Northern Light

In the chapters i've recently read, Mattie had accepted working at the hotel for the summer. She learned and has found out about a couple that disapeared many years ago. She meets a guest at the hotel named Grace Brown. She promised her at that she would burn many letters she gives to Mattie. Before Mattie has gotton a chance to burn the stacks of letters she gets, Grace is found dead in a lake near the hotel. The man that Grace was also with that night was found to be disapeared.

Vocab:
Enameled: any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.

Oarlocks: A device, usually a U-shaped metal hoop on a swivel in the gunwale, used to hold an oar in place and as a fulcrum in rowing.

A Nothern Light

This is an award winning novel. It is based in the 1900's in a small town. Mattie really wants to succeed in life, unlike her father, who works on their families farm. She is a great writer and all her friends and teachers says she should persue a career in writing. Mattie wants to get a job so she can start saving money and save up for college and her future. Her family doesn't really have hope for her at this point, her father doesn't even think a teenage girl should be working outside the house or the farm. She got a job at a nice hotel. She was accpeted into a college in New York, but her father really doesn't want her to leave her family behind with so much work to do everyday. Since her siblings are so young it's hard for her to leave.

"I took a deep breath and ripped the envelope open. There was a single sheet of paper iknside clipped to my battered old composition book. 'Dear Miss Gokey,' it read. 'It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your acceptance to Barnard College...'" (64).


"I looked at my teacher, barely able to breathe, much less speak. It says they want me, I thought. Bernard colelge wants me. Mattie Gokey from the Uncas Road in Eagle bay. It says that the dean herself likes my stories and doesn;t think they are morbid and dispiriting, and that professors, real professors with long black gowns and all sorts of fancy degrees, will teach me." (65)

These quotes are significant to the story because finally Mattie is told that her writing is good and she has potential to make a career out of it. Instead of before how her old teacher told her she wasn't a good writer and she should just quit while shes ahead. This part is really important to the story because Mattie finally has a chance to leave her small town and make something big out of herself.

Outside Reading

I am about half way through my novel, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. It is a pretty easy read so far, no huge words that are hard to understand. It is mainly about a 16 year old teenager named Mattie, she has many brothers and sisters and neighbors that she has to take care of. Her family is at the pit of being poor. Her mother just died and has left her in charge of the family. She has a tough time trying to raise her family and still have a life of her own. Her father is out on the farm all day trying to make his own income, while still expecting someone to clean up, make the food, and make sure everything is alright in the house. It's hard for her to get used to taking on such a big role, she has many dreams she wants to accomplish to but she feels like her family and struggles is getting in the way.

Post B

Eliza was putting the finishing touches on her fashion show and she was excited because Mara, decided to write a story about her for the newspaper column that she writes for. She planned on making an apparence at Sydney Minx's fashion show to see how it is then go to Eliza's on the beach. When she went Sydney's fashion show it was a mess and it was clear they weren't going to be selling alot of clothes next season. She went to Eliza's fashion show which was a huge hit until 10 minutes before the show, someone had cut the lights for the runway. Instead of giving up, her boyfriend who she had been fighting with decided to help her out and used cars' headlights as a light for the models runway. At the end of the show she ended up talking with alot of fashion schools and stores that loved her designs. In the end she was accepted to a Design school for college in the fall. She was excited because now she didn't have to dissapoint her parents. As for Jacqui she planned the party for the Perry's. She had a huge gathering with all the Perry's friends and family. When both the Perry's saw eachother they realized what they were doing was a mistake and decided not to get divorced. Jacqui was releaved because she no longer was out of a job for the summers, plus she was going to attend college. Mara had finally made up with her boyfriend and she decided to make her own desicion and go to Columbia for school in the fall for the great writing program. Ryan her boyfriend was dissapointed but they decided to split for the year until later if they both found eachother again and were still in love.

I thought this book was okay, it was kind of predictable but it wasn't as corny as i thought it would be. It wasn't a very tough book but it was kind of stuff that happen in real life that people go through everyday.

Post A

Vocab-
wriggling: to twist to and fro; writhe; squirm.

unnerving: to deprive of courage, strength, determination, or confidence; upset: Fear unnerved him.

Figurative Lang-
"Yay, i'm excited to work all weekend at the resturant" (277). This is an example of irony because it is opposite of what she meant literally.

"He was as nice as i met him the first day i was there" (225). This is an example of a metaphor because it compares to things that happened.

"I can't believe he is talking to her. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard" (264). This is an example of a metaphor because it compares her voice to nails on a chalkboard.

Quote-
"We need to find a way to keep the Perry's together or i'm out of a job and i'm destine to move back" (255). This quote is significant in the book because it explains how the girls are planning a party for the Perry's to try to get them back together, or else Jacqui will be out of a job for the rest of the summers.

Theme- I think all the girls are learning how to deal with their own problems rather than buy things or people's attention to feel good.

Post B

All of the girls were planning a huge party for the Perry family so they wouldn't split up. Jacqui was mainly worried because she didnt want to be out of a job just incase she does get into NYU and needs a summer job. Since Eliza had been fired from the fashion company working for Sydney Minx, she had decided to get back at Paige, Sydney's assistant and try to make her own business in fashion. She designed a few work clothes and decided since she liked designing so much she might as well go for it. She set up to host a fashion show on the beach to promote her new clothes and hopefully score some points at landing a job on top of it. She got girls to model her clothes and set everything up for a fashion show the same night as Sydney Minx's last fashion show of the season. Jacqui was trying to focus more on the Perry family since if they did get divorced she would be out of a summer job. She planned to have a anniversary party to try to get them back together. She was trying to plan it so that the kids weren't aware the parents were planning on splitting. Mara was working on trying to succeed with her writing career and had decided she going to Columbia for college in the fall would be better for her career than Dartmouth with her boyfriend. She had been so busy on writing all the time that she had forgotton about him and they were always fighting. The girls were still in conflict with what to do about their jobs.

Post A

Vocab-
binder: a person or thing that binds.

beveled: the inclination that one line or surface makes with another when not at right angles.

Figurative Lang-
"the high strung blond-bobbed Martha Stewart dppelganger asked, opening her massive black appointment book." (260) This an example of imagery because it explains in detail what she looks like.

"So, you're thinking tent in the backyard, butlered hors d'oeuveres, five courses, a band, fireworks at the end?" (260) This is also an example of imagery because it goes into detail what the party would be like.

"There were antique floral prints framed on the wall, numerous pastel chenille throws, and mismatched crockery-tasteful country chic." (262) This is an example of imagery because it describes detail for the reader, almost like you could see it in your mind.

Quote-
"Jacqui and Shannon couldnt figure out a way to get Kevin Perry to the Hamptons on the day of the party. After the confrontation at the resturant and the bad feeling it had been engendered, the last place he wanted to be was anywhere near his wife." (265) This is a significant quote because the girls have been trying ways to get the Perry couple back together for the kids sake and their jobs' sakes.

Theme- A theme I think emerging is respecting what you have and not depending on others to give you what you want.

Post B

The summer in the hamptons had been going well for all the best friends. Although Jacqui was sad about not being able to go to NYU, she was preparing to possibly go back to her home town and attend college there where her parents wanted her to. Working for the Perry's and au pairing for the kids was going bad for her. On top of trying to keep the kids from finding out about their parents possible break up, she had to juggle 3 boys who all had feelings for her. The guys lived next door to the Perry's and owned a website company where they made millions. All of the guys had fallen for her, and she secretly liked them all too. As for Eliza, she was having a hard time. Being fired by Sydney Minx made it difficult to find out if she was really interested in fashion. Since then, she had been trying to focus on getting a job. Her boyfriend, who was rich and had his own company, erged her to work and not complain. She had been so used to being handed money instead of working for it. Her and her boyfriend were having trouble getting along based on their differences. As for Mara, she was doing great at her job writing the gossip column. She was really getting interested in writing and was hoping to do well for the newspaper and possibly land more of her writing in more promanent newspapers. Mara's boyfriend was excited for her, but he encouraged her to go to Dartmouth with her like they planned. All of the girls weren't set on what they were going to do about college and their futures.

Post A

Vocab-
quarreled-an angry dispute or altercation

debauchery-excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures;

Figurative lang-
"Eliza took a seat on the suede couch and removed her Clergerie sandals and clasped her hands in antisipation." (231) This is an example of imagery because it gives specific details of the way the shoes looked etc.

"-gold with silve flecks in the heel- a super sexy Rochas with a Lucrite stilleto." (231) This is an example of imagery also, becauase it gives the reader a picture to see when reading because of the details.

"Yeah, i'm fine." she said with a monotone answer, Eliza and Mara knew she wasn't." (244) This is an example of irony because she was sarcastic, and you can tell from reading it that it is the oppisite of what she really meant.

Quote-
"Well, we'll just have to make sure they have no choice but to be there. How hard can it be?" (241) This quote is significant in the novel because it shows how the girls are working hard to fight for something that happens at the end.

Theme-
The theme created at this point in the book is that you should cherish what you have, rather than complain about what you don't have. All of the girls are learning this.

Post B

All 3 girls are spending the summer in the Hamptons, and for the most part having a good time. Eliza, doing good as an intern for Sydney Minx, actually impressed by Sydney. She has learned to enjoy work. She is getting ready for a big fashion show and hopes to make an impression to hopefully be promoted, or just to show everyone shes not just a rich girl who gets everything handed to her. Jacqui had found out awhile back that she wasnt accepted into NYU, but she couldnt tell her friends or family. Her family relied on her to do well in school so she could go to college in the US, instead of back home in brazil. She thought if somehow she put if off, maybe she could find a way to get back into the college, or maybe a better one. On top of that, she was having boyfriend troubles, always fighting. As for Mara, she found out living on the yacht with her boyfriend Ryan was harder then it seemed. He was out all day surfing and expected her to pick up the boat. They both came from a wealthy family, expecting everything to be cleaned without any of their help. It was a reality check when Mara came home from work every night seeing a big mess from the parties Ryan held every night. Mara and her job writing the gossip coloumn was going good, she had finally learned how to write, and her boss was very impressed. She was invited to all the celeb events and had to get their stories throughout the night. Although she loved her job, she didnt spend very much time with her boyfriend, or doing anything else but work.

Post A

vocab-
boisterous: rough and noisy

trenchant: incisive or keen

Figurative Language:

Imagery- "tall, long-limbed, with fine scandinavian features- the high forehead, the silver blond hair and cornflower blue eyes." (155) this is an example of imagery because it describes what she looks like, creating a mental image.

Metaphor- "She was as pretty as she was before, this time maybe even prettier." (167) this is an example of metaphor because they are comparing the character.

Imagery- "Surfers liked to comemorate events by gathering together and paddling out on their boards into the ocean as a group activity." (171) this is an example of imagery becasue it explains the things they do at the ocean.

Quote:
"This night was about Sydney. Sydney Minx. And you know whats going on out there? What people are talking about?""What?" Eliza asked, still confused."You. Thats who. Whos the girl from the helecopter? Whos the model who flew down? Whos the girl in the dress? Whos the girl. Its all about you. I had to teach a couple of reporters from the New York Post how to spell your name!" (129)This quote is very important in the novel. It signifies how Eliza, a designer and intern working for Sydney Minx, was the center of attention at the fashion show launch, not Sydney.

Theme-
I think the theme created during the book is to chase after what you believe in, and not let anything get in the way of that.