Blog Week of 1/18/16

     The book that I am currently reading falls under realistic fiction and is called Stray Voltage (1-70) by Eugenie Doyle. This book is about a boy named Ian that lives with his father, his older brother named Ray and his Aunt Julie. Ian and his family live in a rural place in northern Vermont. A winter storm hits and it gets hard for the farms because the storm pulled the power lines and stray voltage gets loose on the farm and accidentally shocks humans and animals. Ian's mom leaves them and it gets hard for the rest of the family to run the farm. Ian is feeling sorrow because his mother abandoned him and he gets really lonely since he isn't that close to his father or brother. He starts to struggle and has no idea what to do, he wants to look for his mom but he does not think she'll want to come back. His life changed negatively ever since his mother decided to go "figure things out". 

     The main character in my book is Ian. Ian is a smart 11 year old boy that enjoys writing poetry.  He is hardworking because he loves to help out in the farm and always does his homework no matter how difficult it is. Ian never gives up. Even though his mom abandoned him, he always has hope that she'll return. 

     Ian's biggest conflict that he had to overcome was the feeling of emptiness when his mom left him. Although she did not leave because of anything he did, but it was because she had to figure some things out, so in her place she sent her twin sister Julie. Ian has been struggling in the last 4 chapters that I have read. He really wants to go and visit her, but is very indecisive on what to do. He's afraid that she won't agree to come back. 

     The mood of this story is fair-minded because at times it can be upsetting but other times it can be pleasant. The reason that I find it upsetting is because of the struggle he goes through without his mom and the way his dad treats him, but I find it amusing because he has a great time with friends and he enjoys school. In the story it also includes the poems he writes and I think that is great because the poems are really good and interesting. 

     I think that the theme is perseverance because he never gives up on his work and he keeps living life to the fullest, even though he is going through a tough time he doesn't let that get in the way. 

     I enjoy this book because it focuses on friends and family and I think that it's relatable and many people can picture themselves as the main character as if it was their own story. What I remember most about this story is that Ian's mom had left him an early Christmas gift, which was a kitten, and at times he really hates the cat and other times he loves it and shows his sensitive side and I find that amusing because he can call it stupid one minute and the next he'll be cuddling with it.  I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a family/friends story because this book is full of it. It talks about family problems and I think that most of these problems are really relatable. 

     

commented on: Sumar's, Amilee's, Evelyn's