Reading Log for November

First Entry:                                                               December 15, 2011

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

 by

Ransom Riggs

 Part 1:

Reflect:  Intrigued by the cover, I decided to read this book. Actually, this book really freaked me out because of the photographs that are really peculiar and it had such a great eerie mood. Those photographs creeps me out.  But despite that, I love reading this book. It has a very unique story. I think this is first book that hooked me on the very first page. It’s just that there’s a humor. The characters in the story are well-developed and seem so realistic. Also, it has an interesting premise. Jacob, the main character, is likable. Even in the most tremendous moments, he reacted exactly as you think a 16-year-old boy would. Riggs has brought together a remarkable collection of (apparently real) photographs that greatly enhance the reading experience and it definitely kept me interested throughout the book.

Connect:  Just like what Abe Portman did, the grandfather of Jacob, telling stories to his grandchild, it reminds me of my grandparents. When I was still a child, my grandfather always tells me stories about his war stories because he was also a soldier just like Abe. I felt the same way with Jacob, growing up idolizing our grandfather because of their braveness.

Question:  If Abe Portman didn’t die, would Jacob’s power be awakened? After his grandfather died, Jacob can see monsters and because of that, his parents, even his one and only friend believed that he is sick and just needs some psychiatrist. What if Jacob’s father has also power? Would he join his son in his conquest? Would he believe in his son and his father? Or he would think that he is just insane? In the story, only Jacob inherited Abe’s power even though he is a grandson. Why not his son? Why Emma didn’t go with Abe? Or rather why didn’t she chase after him, even though she loves him so much? Why did Miss Peregrine let the house and the children live in another world? Why not join the people? They could have helped many ordinary people with their powers.

Predict:  I think that’s why Abe didn’t let Jacob know about his peculiarity is because he is waiting for Jacob to mature into a man before letting him know about it. But because he was killed by the wights, he didn’t have the chance to tell it to him. 

Part 2:

Movie Poster

#15. Pretend this book will be made into movie. Make a movie poster on large paper and put stars who will play the main characters on it. Must be very colorful, and follow other advertisements for movies.

The Writing Machine

The ballpoint pen is a simple machine that facilitates writing. It is an example of a simple technology that satisfies a huge need. But how does the mechanism work? For us to know how does ballpoint pen really works, we must first need to know its components. The ballpoint pen consists of an ink cartridge, a socket and a ball (sphere).

The ballpoint pen operates on simple principles. The ball is evenly adjusted in the socket so that it will not fall out or get into the cartridge.  It rotates freely and rolls out the ink, but this ball is secured firmly by sockets; nevertheless, it permits enough space to transfer without having restriction.  To make the ball rotation possible, sockets are designed very carefully and precisely. Perhaps, it is the critical part of the ballpoint pen. The side of the ball which we can’t see is in contact with a narrow plastic tube filled with ink so it can pick up ink from the ink cartridge. Ink is dispensed from the ink cartridge by the power of gravity, but the ball still secures the ink inside right up until it is rolled out.

So as we write, the ball rotates and in the course of its rotation, it takes ink from the ink cartridge and the ink is put evenly on to the paper.