At-Home Blog #10: Theme

4/23/2017

Have you ever read a book that has a meaningful message? When you finish the book, you feel as though you just learned something about yourself, other people, and life. We call the message of a story a "theme."

A theme is a central idea to a story, a general statement or truth that can be applied to many different situations. Stories can have more than one theme, and each theme can be stated in different ways. You just have to support your chosen theme with evidence from the text.

For example, in the book "There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom," one of the themes is "believe in yourself." The reason this can be one of the themes is because of how Bradley Chalkers changes. For most of the story, Bradley doesn't believe in himself. He has low self esteem and therefore treats other people and himself badly. When his counsellor, Carla Davis, shows that she believes in Bradley no matter what, and convinces him that he's a great kid, Bradley's self esteem improves. He learns to believe in himself, and by doing that, he starts to work hard at school, be kind to his peers, and finally make real friends.

The theme of a story develops as characters respond to challenges. During the climax of a story, a character usually has to change or make a tough decision. By the end of the story, a character usually thinks or acts differently because of something they learned. This is when the theme becomes clear. By analyzing the challenges, the climax, and the character changes, you can figure out the theme.

This Week's Prompt:

Describe a theme of a book you have finished this year. Support your reasoning with evidence from the text. Remember to explain enough of the story so that people who haven't read it can understand what it is essentially about.

I look forward to reading your ideas about theme!

52 Comments

Nadya

4/24/2017 06:56:24 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
A while ago I read a book called A Snicker of Magic. One of the themes is that what everyone believes or says is not necessarily true. I think that this is one of the themes is that at first when Felicity first comes to Midnight Gulch everyone says that it only used to be magic. But as Felicity continues living here she finds out that not everything that people are saying is true. As the story goes on Felicity continues to find more and more magic in Midnight Gulch. At the end of the story the place becomes really magical and everyone is even happier than before.
Sincerely Nadya

Ms. Kimball

4/30/2017 04:34:42 pm

Dear Nadya,

A Snicker of Magic sounds like an interesting book. The theme that "what everyone believes or says is not necessarily true," is a common one. I've also heard it stated this way: "Don't always believe what you hear."

You wrote, "everyone says that it only used to be magic." What do the townspeople remember about Midnight Gulch? What was it like? Can you also describe how it changes throughout the story and becomes magical again by the end?

I'm also curious to know why people are happier with the magic. How does the magic make their lives better?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Nadya

5/1/2017 05:26:47 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
The townspeople really remember quite a lot but no one wants to say anything about it. A long time ago each family had it's own magic. Some could disappear and others could sing up storms. There were two brothers the brothers Threadbare who could play magical music that made everyone dance. They were very popular not only in Midnight Gulch but in other places too. But once they got in a fight and the loser would be cursed with a wondering heart. But once the brothers separated they could not make their music because the magical music was only made when the brothers were together. As Felicity gets to know the the little town better she starts to find people who have a bit or a lot to tell but Felicity would not have brought the magic back without the help of a special friend. The thing is Felicity is a word catcher. She can catch words into poems and just collect them but she can never share them with a big audience because she is too scared. But Jonah the boy in the wheel chair that is the first friend of Felicity slowly but surely urges her to share her words with a big audience at the duel which is a big talent show at their school. And once Felicity goes up on that stage the magic gets back into Midnight Gulch. I thought that the people were happier with the magic because without it they just seemed very dull.
Sincerely,
Nadya

Katie

4/26/2017 08:45:25 pm

Dear Class,
I recently finished the book, “Wonder.” This book is amazing and it seems to have many themes, but the one that stood out to me the most was to not judge a book by it’s cover. For example, in the beginning of the book, everyone in August’s, the main characters, school, makes fun of him and doesn’t like him because he looks different than everybody else. But near the end of the book, a lot of kids realize that he’s super funny and fun to be around.
Yours Truly,
Katie

Ms. Kimball

4/30/2017 04:37:56 pm

Dear Katie,

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is a very common theme, and a good thing to remember in life. Although I've read Wonder, can you tell me how August's appearance causes people to make fun of him?

Also, how do kids learn more about his real personality? What changes about the kids at school that gives the story a happy ending?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Katie

5/1/2017 04:36:36 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
Thank you for the feedback. For your first question, August’s appearance causes people to make fun of him because he just was born looking different from other people. The book doesn’t give a picture or anything of August’s appearance, though it hints what he looks like. They say that his face is deformed and he had to have many surgeries. But, he’s just a normal kid on the inside. Near the end of the book, the kids in his school finally push past what he looks like to find that he’s funny, and kind.
Yours Truly,
Katie

Caly

4/27/2017 04:25:11 pm

Dear Class,
I am reading the book the “Tiger Rising,” I think one of the themes of this book is “if you love something so much set it free.” The reason this could be considered a theme of the book is the main character finds a tiger in the woods and wants to set it free. However, if the main character sets the tiger free he does not know what is going to happen. Then, he meets a girl with a very upbeat attitude and a very high confidence level and she convinces the main character to set the tiger free. After setting the tiger free the two characters realize that everything on this planet deserves a chance to be free.
Sincerely,
Cały

Ms. Kimball

4/30/2017 04:41:59 pm

Dear Caly,

Interesting thoughts on the theme. I have heard that theme before, "If you love something, set it free." You wrote, "the main character finds a tiger in the woods and wants to set it free." Although I've read Tiger Rising before, what you wrote is confusing. If the tiger is in the woods already, how can the main character set it free? Can you explain the situation more thoroughly?

Also, you said that there is a girl who convinces the main character to set the tiger free. I thought he already wanted to set the tiger free. Why does she need to convince him to do it?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Caly

5/4/2017 04:57:21 pm

Dear Ms.kimball,

I noticed that you were confused by my RRB so I am writing this response to help you understand it more. When I said the tiger is in the woods and the main character wants to set it free, I ment the tiger is in the woods locked up in a cage, because the owner wants to hide it, and the main character wants to release the tiger back into the wild.
The main character wants to set the tiger free however, he is a little bit reluctant about doing so because he does not know is the tiger can survive in the wild. Then, after this happens the girl convinces him to release the tiger so the tiger can have a better life in the wild.
Thank You for taking the time to read my RRB.
Sincerely,
Cały

Thomas H

4/27/2017 04:36:15 pm

Dear class,
I read the book "wonder", and it is SOOOOOO perfect for this RRB. However, I read it in fourth grade. Fortunately, I could never forget it. Katie did the main theme, which is the best, but I will do another theme. I'm doing "there are always two (or more, in this case) sides to a story." For example, there are different parts of the story from different character's points of view. It makes it way easier to understand the story with multiple points of view. Once, the main character, August, was being made fun of because of his deformed face. But a kid defended him. I understood it more, because it reviewed the scene with the defending kid's point of view.
sincerely,
Thomas H

Emma

4/27/2017 09:03:31 pm

Dear Class,
In the book “The One and Only Ivan,” I think that the theme is “ Make your dreams happen.” The reason I think that this is a theme is because Ivan the gorilla, who is one of the main characters, has been dreaming about a big plan to escape to the zoo. The reason Ivan wants escape is because he is imprisoned in this small space, is not treated as well as he should be, and an elephant he cares dearly about is also being mistreated. But how can a gorilla tell humans that he does not want to be here? Well, when Ivan gets given a piece of paper and some paint by Julia, he draws his way out. Ivan has always been interested in art, and could draw. Ivan took long nights working on his art, and although Ivan isn't that good of a drawer, Julia still sees the picture, and recognizes the zoo. Then as a cause of this later, with a little bit of help, Ivan gets his dream. This shows the theme “make your dreams happen” because Ivan makes his own dreams happen by being intrepid enough to take action at drawing all those pictures all throughout the nights. The reason it is intrepid is because what if Julia never saw the zoo? What would happen then?
Sincerely,
Emma

Ms. Kimball

5/2/2017 07:46:13 am

Dear Emma,

Great job explaining your choice of theme with many specific details. Ivan seems like a very persistent gorilla, refusing to give up on his dream of a better life.

Although I have read the book, can you tell me more about Julia? Who is she and what is so special about her that Ivan decides to communicate through artwork to her? Does Julia have big dreams just like Ivan?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Ms. Kimball

4/30/2017 04:46:52 pm

Dear Thomas,

The theme "There are always two sides to a story" is a good one. Can you give a couple of specific examples from the story of an event being described from multiple points of view? What changed about the event when you heard another character's side of the story?

Also, a theme is usually all about a character changing. Did August learn something or change his attitude after listening to someone else's side of the story?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Emma

5/2/2017 08:53:04 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
Sorry if I confused you because I put my blog on the wrong place. So, let me answer the questions that you asked me.
First off, you asked me if I could tell you more about Julia. Well, Julia is a girl who is about 11 or 12 years old and her dad is the janitor to the place where Ivan lives. The reason Julia’s dad is working in the Big Top Mall (which is the place Ivan lives) is because Julia’s mom is ill and her dad has to work long shifts that he brings Julia to.
To answer your second question, Ivan has known Julia almost all his life. Ever since Ivan was little, even when he was in the jungle, he would draw. From mud to water Ivan would paint as much as he could. Then when Julia is curious and see’s that he is watching her every time she comes and draws, she gives Ivan a piece of paper, then Julia recognizes that Ivan can draw. So the answer to the question would be that Ivan knew that he could trust Julia, and that she would actually be able to see what Ivan was drawing.
To answer your last question, I think that Julia’s dream would be that she becomes a famous artist that gets enough money to help her mom get better, and get her dad a new job, so she can live a happy life.
I hope I answered all your questions so that you are clear on all the things you asked me.
Sincerely,
Emma

Thomas H

5/4/2017 04:53:15 pm

Dear Ms Kimball,
Thank you for the feedback. Here is an event that is described by three parts. At a school Halloween party, August, Summer, and Jack are there together. Earlier in the story, August heard something mean that Jack said. Now, at the party, August has been ignoring Jack. On Jack's point of view, he has no Idea why August is ignoring him. So, he goes to the girl who knows him best, Summer. Now, in Summer's point of view, she knows why August is mad. But she tells Jack a clue instead of the full truth. That is an example. Also, August got to know both Jack and Summer when he fully understood their sides of the story.
Sincerely,
Thomas H

Ellie

4/27/2017 05:52:16 pm

Dear Everybody,

Hi! For this RRB I am using the book In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll.
I think the theme is, if you try you'll succeed. In the book, the main character, Alice, is living in a town with a huge wood in it called Darkling Wood. The person who owns it, who happens to be her grandmother, wants to cut it all down. Alice strongly disagrees to this and repeatedly does actions to save it - repeatedly protesting, talking to experts, and so on. Over and over again, it doesn't work. Then, Alice's plan works - her grandmother decides not to cut down the wood! This is why I think the theme is, if you try, you'll succeed.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Ellie

4/28/2017 08:34:00 am

Dear Myself,

When I wrote this RRB, I don't think I was detailed enough. I think that the theme would really be, "If you try a lot, and you try hard, you will succeed." The main character, Alice, didn't just try - she tried hard and a LOT of times. So that's what I think the theme would be instead of just "If you try you'll succeed".

Sincerely,
Ellie

Ms. Kimball

5/1/2017 01:01:08 pm

Dear Ellie,

Thank you for adding more to your response. It seems like Alice is a very determined person.

You wrote, "Over and over again, it doesn't work. Then, Alice's plan works." What actually happens? What specific actions does Alice take to prevent the woods from being cut down? What changes in Alice's approach or in the circumstances that makes the grandmother finally change her mind?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Ellie

5/4/2017 04:11:14 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

Yes, Alice is a very determined person. In the book, Alice begins with making giant protests and arguing with her grandmother, taking a rather hostile approach. Then, when she realizes it isn't working, she switches to gathering a group of people in the woods to keep the trees from being cut down. Soon, when that doesn't work, Alice finally decides to choose a very peaceful approach and negotiate with her grandmother (which works).

Sincerely,
Ellie

Anika

4/27/2017 06:08:59 pm

Dear Class,

I have just finished the book The Running Dream and it is so perfect for this Reading response. This book is about a girl, Jessica, just lost her leg in a car accident. So, now she has returned back to school and has to work through her trauma and pain. I think the theme for this book, though it has many of them, would have to be, "no matter what you'll always have people there to help you through your problems. " I think this because, in the book Jessica has many friends to help her through her trauma. First, she has Fiona her best friend to help her with school and catching up with track. Then she has her friends and the mayors son. For example, in the book Jessica is hungry but afraid to go out because she may be criticized. So Fiona calls Jessica and takes her out to eat because Fiona knows that Jessica needs this because they've been friends for so long. As I read along with the story the theme thickens like in a part Gavin Vance, the mayors son, is now dating Jessica and he encourages her everyday. So this is what I think the theme is.

Sincerely,
Anika

Ms. Kimball

4/30/2017 04:51:45 pm

Dear Anika,

I'll have to read The Running Dream. It sounds like a really poignant story. I like your choice of a theme and the many examples you provided to support it. Usually a theme involves a character changing in some way. At some point in the story, did Jessica feel like she was all alone and had no one to help her through her trauma? Did she learn over time that her friends would be there for her?

Also, how does the Gavin Vance character add to Jessica's development? Does he help her realize something she didn't understand before?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Anika

5/4/2017 10:43:25 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

First, thank you for your feedback. Second, in the story I would say that at first Jessica felt alone but as the story continues I think she starts to realize that she has people helping her even though she doesn't know it. For example, Jessica thinks Kylie, her sister, is upset but then she comes to realize that Kylie is mad at the man who caused the car accident that caused Jessica to lose her leg. Last, I would say that Gavin does help develop Jessica's character because he helps her realized that there is more to her then what meets the eye, he helps her because he gives her self confidence that she can do something. I hope this answers your questions. Thank you for your feedback.

Sincerely,
Anika

Max

4/27/2017 08:03:33 pm

Dear Class,

I am reading "Lair of Dreams" by Libba Bray. I think the theme of the book is to never give up. I think this because in the book a character named "Henry" is searching for his friend and after countless years of searching, Henry finally finds him. This is an example of why the theme is to never give up.

Sincerely,
Max.

Ms. Kimball

5/1/2017 04:22:52 pm

Dear Max,

Please add more specific details to your response.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Max

5/4/2017 05:28:00 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I am sorry for not adding enough details, here is the better version. I am reading "Lair of Dreams" by Libba Bray. In the book there is a character named "Henry" who can walk in people's dreams. During one of Henry's dream walks he sees a suspicious train station that looks way too real for the dream world. Henry decides to go into a train there and when he goes in he is transported to a log cabin that his lover named "Lewis" told him stories about. When Henry goes into the cabin he sees Lewis and asks him where he is outside of the dream because Henry's father forbade them from seeing each other and every single time that Henry tried to contact Lewis, Henry's father destroyed every thing that Henry could use to do that. Also, because Lewis ran away so Henry has been trying to find him for years.

When Lewis tells Henry where he is, Henry wakes up and tells his friend about it. I think that this is an example of how this book's theme is to never give up, because of how Henry has been trying to find Lewis for years and he finally has.

Sincerely,
Max

Kate

4/27/2017 09:00:59 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

Over the break I finished the trilogy The Hunger Games, and I am going to be doing my theme on the first book in the series. This book is called the Hunger Games. I think the theme for this book is that you never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only option. I saw this saying on a t-shirt and thought that it described the theme of the main plot in this book almost perfectly. The book is set in a made up place called Panem. Panem consists of 12 districts and the capitol. The 12 districts live separately, the lower the number of the district the wealthier they are. As result of their rebellion against the capitol years ago, the capitol decided that every year one girl and boy would be “reaped” from each district and then take part in the hunger games. The hunger games was a fight to the death. Here 24 teenagers came in and only one came out alive. One reason this is the theme is because of the main character Katniss, she goes into the hunger games, ready to win for her family although not very confident. She knows winning is unlikely, her district has had only one winner in all 74 games. Then, in the games she finds herself working with allies, sadly killing the other competitors, and she is now a force to be reckoned with in the games. Another reason this is theme is because Katniss co-wins the game! This is because when it was down to the final two tributes Katniss thought to grab poisonous berries to show the capitol that they don't own her. Then, both remaining tributes brought the berries to their lips and the capitol had to crown them both winners, otherwise there wouldn’t be a winner. The kind of strength she has here is the strength to stand up for what’s right. Clearly, one possible theme for the book The Hunger Games is that you don’t know how strong you are until being strong is your only option.

Sincerely, Kate

Ms. Kimball

5/1/2017 01:11:08 pm

Dear Kate,

I like your choice for a theme in the Hunger Games. Great job supporting your thinking with specific evidence, and providing a lot of background information about the story.

Katniss seems to have learned a lot about strength during this apparently horrific experience. You alluded to two different types of strength --physical strength and inner strength. From what you wrote, it sounds like Katniss learned to have a lot of inner strength, but also needed physical strength just to survive. How else does that author show those two different types of strength throughout the story? Do they ever conflict with each other?

I'm inferring that Katniss won the games at the very end using her inner strength. Does she exhibit any physical strength throughout the story that she didn't know she had in order to win the games?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Kate

5/2/2017 06:10:56 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

Thank you! I agree there were two types of strength going on in the story. The author shows the different strengths throughout the story in multiple ways. The biggest being if she is using her physical strength, the scene is usually described as if she constantly notices the pain but still battles through it. On the other hand, when she uses her inner strength her feelings are much more prominent than the action in the scene and it usually sounds as if what she’s making a hard decision but she knows it’s right. Next, you asked if they ever conflicted with each other. To answer that I would say that they don’t usually conflict because her physical strength usually tells her what to do during a fight, or action packed scene. Whereas, her inner strength takes over when she has a tough decision to make. You are right to say that Katniss won the games at the very end by using her inner strength. She did find some outer strength she didn't know she had in order to win these games, because she was never put in a place where she had to battle and kill other people, so definitely didn’t know she had the inner and outer strength for that. Otherwise she was pretty well suited for the hunger and thirst that came with the games because she lived in a place with very little of that already, she also was already a hunter so that helped her a lot in terms of finding food.

Sincerely,
Kate

Jacob

4/27/2017 09:15:20 pm

Dear Class,

I read the book “The Fourth Stall,” one of the themes is don’t be quick to judge. The story is about a character, Matt, who ran a business in a stall! (The bathroom was abandoned) The business worked like this: You would go to Matt and he would solve your problem, and then you would owe him money and a favor. He solves all kinds of problems for all kids no matter what grade. In one of Matt’s cases he thinks a girl is trying to sabotage his business because she's intimidating him. She's a 8th grader and he's a 6th. Matt is intimidated because her size and expressions. Also, he thinks its suspicious when he does some research into her case and believes something she said was false. So Matt infers she's just a mean, sassy older girl fooling with him. So he turns down her case. But, later on, he heard kids saying she's a really nice girl, then he asked someone if she lies and the boy just looked at him funny and said “No”. So, Matt ends up solving her problem and they become really good friends. This shows you shouldn’t be quick to judge people.

Sincerely,
Jacob

Ms. Kimball

5/1/2017 04:27:38 pm

Dear Jacob,

Good choice of a theme. I like how you added many specific details to support your thinking.

You said that Matt hears from other kids that she's actually nice and then finds out that she isn't a liar. Does Matt have any specific interactions with this girl that prove his initial assumptions about her wrong? For example, does she do something nice for him or other people?

Also, what is the girl's problem that Matt decides to help her solve?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Jacob

5/4/2017 08:55:24 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

Thank you. First, Matt doesn’t really put himself out there much. So, he pays other people to fill in some of the blanks for him, and then he puts it all together. But, one of his best friends, a spy like kid, who is addicted to sneaking around. Helps by interviewing the girls close friends and seeing what they had to say about her. And all her friends said positive things and said she had never tricked them. Some of the interviewed kids actually said she had done something nice for her. Like a favor.
The problem that the girl has is that she was dating a boy, but then she dumped him and days later a new teacher comes in to work at the school, which happens to be the boy’s father. So the girl claims this new teacher is giving her detention for no reason! So, Matt helps the girl figure out a way how to stop the detentions.

Sincerely,
Jacob

Wyatt

4/28/2017 08:41:12 am

Dear Ms.K,

I am writing a theme on a book that I read before called The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Ivan is a gorilla and he is telling his life from inside his cage. There is a very old elephant also living at the zoo. Soon a baby elephant comes in and lives with the older elephant. Sadly the old elephant dies. The loss of their friend is a connection that bring them together. One day, the owner sells both of them and they never get to see each other. This shows that Ivan’s life is in constant change. I think the theme of the book is that negative change happens unexpectedly and you have to adapt to it. Over the entire story Ivan is discovering new feelings.

Sincerely,
Wyatt

Ms. Kimball

5/1/2017 04:56:51 pm

Dear Wyatt,

You choice of theme, "negative change happens unexpectedly and you have to adapt to it," is a clever choice. From what you wrote, it sounds like Ivan has had to deal with some negative changes. You said his life is in constant change. Doesn't he live inside of a cage? Usually a cage implies that life doesn't change very much, and it's the same boring thing day after day. Is his life in the cage actually changing constantly?

Also, you said "Ivan is discovering new feelings." What are those feelings? How does he learn to adapt to them?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Wyatt

5/4/2017 04:38:42 pm

Dear Ms. K,
Thank you for your feedback. Ivan's life is changing because the zoo is running out of money. Also, he draws with a little girl and a elephant dies. The new feelings that Ivan is discovering are anger. He adapts to them by moving on with it. When Ivan loses his best friend he makes new ones. This shoes that Ivan moves on with his problems.

Sincerely,
Wyatt

Alex

4/29/2017 11:32:24 am

Dear class,
The book I will reflect on is The Candymakers. The theme could be forget your crummy past. the book is about 4 kids who have to make candy for a competition. Daisy is a spy, Logan is the owner of the candy shops son, Phillip almost killed Logan when they were kids, and Miles always speaks backwards.
When they were about for years old, Phillip dropped his toy truck in to a vat of boiling chocolate, and Logan tried to get it out for him. Logan gets bad burns all over his body and in the chaos forgets about Phillip.
Near the end of the book, the 4 kids come together and make one amazing candy that wins the contest. Daisy doesn't want to be a spy anymore, and Logan and Phillip make up and they all become good friends.
So thats why I think forget your past is the theme of The Candymakers.
from,
Alex

Ms. Kimball

5/2/2017 03:16:29 pm

Dear Alex,

Interesting choice of theme, "Forget your crummy past." Another way of saying it could be, "Don't let your past hold you down."

Based on what you wrote, it sounds like the four kids are sort of misfits who are forced to work together. Is that true? You said, "...the 4 kids come together and make one amazing candy that wins the contest." How do they overcome their differences? Do they learn something or change how they treat each other?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Alex

5/4/2017 07:11:14 pm

Dear Ms. K,
I agree with you on that my choice of wording the theme is a little odd.
I do think that the kids are misfits in some ways, like how Logan lives in a candy factory or Daisy being a spy. I believe that the kids got used to each other and started feeling more comfortable around each other.

Yair

4/30/2017 10:23:28 am

Dear ms kimball,

I recently finished the book The Watson's Go To Birmingham. I think one of the themes in the book is that your family is super important. The reason why I think that is because whenever the watson's get into a big fight they usually just stop, and if they cant resolve the problem someone else in the family helps.

Sincerely,
yair

Ms. Kimball

5/3/2017 11:19:28 am

Dear Yair,

I'm glad you enjoyed The Watsons Go to Birmingham. I agree that the story teaches us how important family is. Can you provide specific examples from the story that support your thinking?

Also, you wrote, "whenever the watson's get into a big fight they usually just stop, and if they cant resolve the problem someone else in the family helps." How does that claim support the theme that "family is super important"?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Owen F

4/30/2017 07:14:15 pm

Dear Class

I am reading a book called Wings Of Fire Escaping Peril book 8. In the book Peril (a skywing) goes back on her decisions so really I think the theme is redemtion in a more simple way coming back on choices. What I mean by this is that Peril is good at the beggining but in the middle Scarlet a former evil queen of skywings sends Perils father after her (is really a rainwing on an enchantment to look like and be like a skywing) and then using a magic scroll turns Peril to not have flaming scales (which is a problem she had from an egg. And since then she wants to be normal) little does Peril know but theres also an enchantment to make her evil. But in the end she kills Scarlet and her father and is good again.

Sincerely Owen F

Ms. Kimball

5/3/2017 11:28:18 am

Dear Owen,

I'm sorry to say that I was very confused by your description of "Escaping Peril." I had to read it about 6 times before I could figure out that the main character is a dragon named Peril and that she is forced to kill her father at the end of the story. That sounds pretty intense! Please try to pretend that you're describing the book to a first grader who doesn't know anything about it, not even what a "skywing" is.

I have some questions for you:
1. Why does Scarlet want to mess with Peril?
2. Is Peril's father really evil? Peril really had to kill her own father?
3. You said the theme was about "redemption." What lesson about redemption is the book trying to get across to you? Write it like a statement of advice. For example, "Don't be afraid to take risks," or "Always remember who your true friends are."

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Owen 5

5/4/2017 04:25:52 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball

I am very sorry you were confused and had to read it so many times so let me awnser your questions. The reason Scarlet messes with Peril is that Peril has flaming scales and is great at fighting so if Scarlet has Peril shes unstoppable. The next awnser is that Peril's faher is really evil and worst of all he works with Scarlet and is loyal to her in every way. Finally what I meant by redemtion is that she goes from evil to good to evil back to good and to also stay at good so she redemes her self to the good dragons.

Sincerely, Owen 5

Caroline

4/30/2017 07:25:41 pm

Dear Class,
The book I have finished is Elsewhere. I think the theme to Elsewhere is that life isnt so bad when you look on the bright side of it, and forgiveness. For example Liz realized that her life wasent so bad in Elsewhere and began to not be sad that she had left the life she always had. Also forgiveness was a big part of the book because Liz learned to forgive the person who hit her by the car.

Sincerely,
Caroline

Ms. Kimball

5/3/2017 11:32:15 am

Dear Caroline,

It looks like you tried to describe two different themes. Just pick one to focus on. How about, "life isn't so bad when you look on the bright side of it." That's a good one.

From what I understand from your previous summary of Elsewhere, Liz is in an afterlife reliving her former life backwards. Right? What are some things that changed about Liz's new life that help her "look on the bright side?" What is the bright side of her life?

Also, do you think this theme applies only to her new circumstance, or can it apply to life in general?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Caroline

5/4/2017 04:22:29 pm

Dear Ms. K,

Yes you are correct Liz does live her life backward. Also the bright side of lizs life is that even though she wants to still be alive she learns to like her life even though her family is not with her, so I guess there really is no bright side it just applys in general.

Sincerely,
Caroline

OwenC

4/30/2017 07:59:58 pm

Dear class,

A while ago I read Big Game. It is the third book in the Fun Jungle series. In the book Teddy Fitzroy is a normal boy who lives with his parents. His parents work at Fun Jungle so he lives in the trailer park, outside the zoo. Teddy's life at Fun Jungle is cracking crimes, and being chased by large Marge. In this book, the rino Ronda is being hunted. So it is up to Teddy to find the poacher. I think the theme is alway expect the unexpected. The poacher is a Fun Jungle employee who protects the rinos. When Athmani was out on the kill. He wore a female wig to luer Teddy away from him. Athmani also was the one who most wanted the rinos to be dehorned. He wanted them dehorned so he can steal the horns. That's why you should always expect the unexpected in Fun Jungle.

sincerely,

OwenC

Ms. Kimball

5/3/2017 11:38:22 am

Dear Owen,

Big Game sounds like a very entertaining mystery! It sounds like Teddy is surprised that the rhino poacher is actually an employee zoo. Since you said that the theme was "expect the unexpected," was Teddy expecting someone else to be the poacher? Were you shocked that this Athmani character was the poacher?

Usually, in mystery book, authors try to make the criminal an unexpected character so that it keeps readers in suspense. Do you think the author did a good job making the story suspenseful? How?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Owen Covell

5/4/2017 05:13:28 pm

Dear Ms.K,

It was shocking that Athmani was the poacher. Although, all the books have a surprising ending and clues that you might be able to track the criminal. The author really made the book suspenseful because something would have them and they would start investigating again. What also makes it hard to track the criminal is the side cases. In this book there is someone breaking into park ice cream shops and stealing the ice cream. It was a surprising book. What did you mean about "employee zoo"?

Sincerely,

OwenC

Willie

5/1/2017 03:20:58 pm

Dear Class,
I am identifying the theme in Wonder. I think the theme of Wonder is that looks don't matter. The reason I think this is because the main character, Augiee, has unusual face defects a lot of the kids at school bullied him but in the end they realized that Augiee is just a normal kid with an unusual face.
Sincerely,
Willie

Ms. Kimball

5/3/2017 12:06:26 pm

Dear Willie,

I really liked your explanation of the theme in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. You had many specific examples to support your thinking. I was hoping you would write about an independent reading book though. Your response on Wonder could use more specific examples like your previous response.

Can you describe some specific experiences Augie has where kids treat him in a way where his looks matter? How does Augie react to these experiences?

Also, how do the kids change their perception of Augie by the end of the story? What changes that makes them think differently about Augie's looks?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Isaiah

5/4/2017 09:10:15 pm

Dear class,

A book I read this year was "Malcom at Midnight". In this book the main character is a rat, but is under sized and not what rats are portrayed as. In the book Malcom, the rat, earns his way to being a heroic mortal rat by figuring outa big problem, that is a big problem with the school pets. what I think the theme of this story is just because you, or you're species, or you're family has a bad reputation doesn't mean you can't change or be different. that is what I think the theme is.

Sincerely Isaiah

yair

5/7/2017 10:22:42 pm

Dear MS Kimball
In the Watsons Go To Birmingham when Byron got stuck to the car mirror he yelled for help. Joey ran into the house and got his parents immediately. I thought about the theme that I chose and that theme was not very good for the assignment

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At-Home Blog #10: Theme

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At-Home Blog #10: Theme

Leave a Reply.

Reading Response BlogForMs. Kimball's Grade 5 At Pine Hill, 2016-2017​

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Automation Setup

Reading Response Blog
For
Ms. Kimball's Grade 5 At Pine Hill, 2016-2017