6. Fever - Literary Luminary - Yoonji

"Farmers had come back into town following the frost, and their prices dropped as quickly as the temperature." (Chapter 26, page 211). This phrase was found in a section of descriptions right afterwards the end of the fever, along with the frost, a sign of healing among the sick in the story. It has been depicting how the livelier aspects before the strike of disease had returned, especially to the reopened markets and supplies. However, this statement is a metaphor, interesting in terms of description. However, the decrease in price in the sentence implies the assumed prices; during the fever, better products and such were hard to access, therefore rare and expensive, and after the fever, the foods were available again.

"The Lord helps those who helps themselves," (Chapter 27, page 223) This was a saying from Joseph, Eliza's brother, implying that he thought that independent survival was mandatory while the sickness still roamed. I believe that he is rather straightforward or sometimes ill-tongued when concerning the devastation from the disease. That may be related to the sickness of his children, intensifying the worry.

"She felt like a frail bird." (Chapter 29, page 234) - I thought this was ironic, for Mattie's mother evidently projected a strong and stubborn persona prior to the event of her getting infected by the epidemic. I was actually slightly confused by the sudden change of character, when she had become significantly weaker and quiet over the fever period.

"Nothing could keep those rapscallions down for long." (Chapter 26, page 213) This implies that Mattie accepted the little children as very energetic and childish, which I thought she had developed a rather mother-type attribute from her personalities; her change was notable near the end, as she took responsibility in her actions much more than she had at the beginning, when, to be honest, she was a brat-like child (unlike the children she later talked about).

"Day was begun." (Epilogue, page 243) -  This was the ending word, symbolism representing the end to the dreadful fever and the tragic times. Anyhow, there was quite an amount of representation in this book, but it had used a dramatic feature by utilizing this type of symbolism.

Discussion Director Gemma #5 or so

Do you think that Matilda changed as a character throughout the book? If yes, in which ways?

-          -(me ) - Definitely. In the beginning, she was a lot like me – very lazy and not willing to get involved with any work unless it was necessary. I believe through the series of tragedies that she had to live through she matured as well as grew as an individual. In the end, she was a very pragmatic character making sensible decisions as well as risking her health and wellbeing in the interest of others. She stopped caring for herself altogether when she was looking after the twins and Nell, thinking over their welfare over hers, skipping her sleep and eating so that they could survive the fever. She went throw a series of big life changes which helped her mature as a character throughout the book.

-          -Yes because she starts liking Nathaniel, and because she becomes more responsible, and she wants to be treated as an adult. She knows what she wants at the end of the book.

-          -Yes, because at first she is a brat and she thinks highly of herself, and later she takes responsibility of a lot of things, and she helps.

-          -Yes, I think she is growing, she starting to develop more complex ideas and she becomes more responsible, especially over others. “She was stupid before”

Do you believe that Matilda and Nathaniel could ever have a future? Why or why not?

-        -  (me) I honestly don't believe that in their current situation, there would be any chance of them marrying, or being even allowed to do so. If Mattie's mother still has any hold over Mattie’s opinions or choices into her future, Mattie and Nathaniel will not be allowed to marry unless Nathaniel finds himself in a much higher position in society. For him to be allowed to marry Mattie, I think that he must definitely work toward getting a better job and becoming a stronger person. Mattie has shown that she can be brave and resilient, and if he is just lazy casually sitting around, then I don't believe Mattie and him make a good couple. I didn’t think that Nathaniel really needed to be introduced into the plot at all, but it was okay.

-         - Yes, because the mom accepted it first, she was shipping it and she asked quite a lot of questions.  I ship them right now. Ship all the way. She always thinks about him and I SHIP IT.

-          - Yes they could because they like each other and they have approval and everything is happy.

-          I guess they could if they still like each other.

Would you risk yourself for the welfare for another if they were unwell?

-         - (me) -  I am not completely sure. I suppose in theory of course I would say that I would sacrifice myself, but in practice I am not sure. It depends on what the situation was. If there was anyone who depended on me, say if I had a family or children to look after, who didn’t have any guardian, I probably wouldn’t risk my life if it would leave them alone. If I was alone like Mattie is, then I definitely would have volunteered to save someone’s life if it meant I disadvantage myself. I definitely believe that Mattie did the right thing at all instances at the end of the book.

-         -  Depends on who it was I was risking myself for. If it was my family maybe, but strangers possibly not.

-          -To be honest, no. I would just go and try and get external help from somewhere.

-          -Well I would risk myself for someone else, but not in cases of illness because nowadays we have  the appropriate technology to solve these illnesses. I would try and save someone’s life, but I wouldn’t risk further injuring someone to try in an attempt to save them when there is a medicine which can do the job better.

After the book, what did you think about it?

-        -(me)-  I think that it was an okay book, nothing spectacular. I believe that the author should have stuck to having a stronger message about strength and bravery and empowerment in the eyes of Mattie instead of mixing up romance and Nathaniel into the plot. I believe that adding Nathaniel to the story makes a childish addition to the plot and makes the end just a bit less interesting. I found the plot itself quite dull and not very fast-paced, but I did think it had a few intriguing plot twists, and I thank the author for that.

-         - I was waiting to find out about Nathaniel and Matilda,  but unfortunately they didn’t reveal about the future of the relationship. I cried a lot and I enjoyed it a lot, especially when the grandfather died. I also didn’t really like the mother as I thought she was quite mean especially when she came back. I hate Mr. Ludington. My favorite part of the book was when Nathaniel and Matilda kissed when the king walked past as it was cute and romantic and amazing and fabulous.

-       -   I didn’t really enjoy the book, and it didn’t really have any deep meaning or understand that I extracted. I think that it was mainly about surviving and happiness and shipping.

-        -  I think it was really boring. It was cool, but it isn’t really the type of book that I like. It was OK, but I would have preferred to read something else.

Who was your favorite character?

-       -(me)-   Eliza by far. I believe she was the most compassionate character. From the beginning she was willing to work hard in the interest of others, and this helping attitude stayed with her throughout the book – from the  beginning where she started as a helping hand in the café, to the end, where she survives throughout the fever, aiding others, and to the end where she becomes co- benefactor of the new coffeehouse. I think she was the only character who was completely decent throughout, as well being deep and pragmatic.

-          -GRANDFATHER! He was just so nice and caring and I wish I could be like him, especially as he is the captain. He almost shot the thieves trying to protect Mattie and he died trying to protect her. He would do anything to protect Mattie. Eliza was cute as well.

-          -The cat because he wasn’t involved in most of the plot and he wasn’t really a main or central character.

-         - In a way, the mother, because she reminds me a lot of my mother – same ways, same behavior, same relationship, so yeh. Her. 

"Fever 1793" By Laurie Halse Anderson - #6 Connector

Fever 1793

Book by Laurie Halse Anderson

251/251 # of pages read

Job: Connector

Hey,
So this is the last blog post about the amazing and exiting book, Fever 1793. It made me shiver and smile in the last few chapters. Nathaniel and Mattie's romance really got into me and I started hoping that they will end up together. Unfortunately, the ending of Nathaniel's and Mattie's relationship was not fully revealed. This time, my job is connector so I have to find an issue/issues that I can relate to or the world can relate to in this book!

Connection #1 - 
The first connection that I have is the main focus of the book, which is the fever. Yellow fever is a really terrible disease that was described very precisely int his book, with details of blood shot eyes and coughing blood which seems very unpleasant. In the summer of 1793, a plague started around Philadelphia which infected and killed many. The yellow fever symptoms like headaches, muscle or joint aches, fever and vomiting.
A connection that I am making for this time period and the book is plagues and epidemics in general. For example, Ebola harmed many people as it spread rapidly this year. Ebola was a huge problem in Western Africa, which has symptoms like coughing blood and headaches.

Connection #2 -
The second connection that I noticed in this book is the way Matilda felt for Nathaniel. She thought about him all the time and prayed that he would be okay. While they were together she really wanted him to hold her or she had imagined him in the future with her. Mattie looked at the painting that Nathaniel made and the flowers all of the time, which meant she was in love.
Connecting this issue to nowadays, many people fall in love. It could happen in societies, school, and work. You could fall in love with anyone who is special to you, and I assume that it is the same process as it was in the story. People cannot stop thinking about the person they are in love with or always imagine their futures together. Some people can pray that the person they love will be healthy and well for the next day at bad times, like in "Fever 1793".


Hope you liked this last blog post!
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't stop reading it, it is probably one of my favorites.
Shelly

5. Fever - Connector - Yoonji

Connection 1 - 

Throughout the whole book, I recalled a moderate summary of a classic book my mom claimed as interesting, which was another book with an epidemic-based theme/conflict affecting the complete setting. Exclusively, the migrations which took place within this book, Fever, resembled the strong element of desperation in the other, Pest (according to my mom), of not being able to escape the plagued town, enabling a great chance of getting infected by the hazardous disease. Anyhow, other than that book in particular matters, there were various other plague-related recounts, especially so for I am currently developing a story revolving around the Late Medieval Age's bubonic plague, for it was one of the language and literature assignments. However, the relations all mainly direct to the plague rather than the other moral themes behind all suggestions. 

Connection 2 - 

I am slightly unsure of whether this is an accurate response to connecting to the state of being sick; anyway, when Mattie is infected by the feared yellow fever, the roaming disease of Philadelphia through the whole course of the story, I assumed that this could most likely be the worst sickness that had racked Mattie in her lifetime, so I brought up the memory of the greatest sickness I underwent; when I had a slight fever. It had happened during my stay at the previous country my family had resided in. I was informed that the body temperature increased to about 40 degrees Celsius, which is 4 degrees above the normal, standard body temperature for humans (36 degrees Celsius). However, as I read the effects of the great fever within the book, the minor fever I had caught was relatively mild, as the yellow fever was quick to kill, especially without the appropriate medical technology of that age (18th century), along with hoaxes (for example, draining blood). 

forth blog

Dear all. In this blog I have summarized chapter 16 to 22.

Mattie wakes two days after she fainted to find out she is in an hospital. She sleeps for several days. She finally becomes mentally alert enough to learn that her grandfather has transported her to Bush Hill Hospital in Philadelphia. She finds herself under the care of Mrs. Flagg, a hospital volunteer. Mattie is alarmed because Bush Hill has a reputation for being a filthy place where people are sent to die. She quickly learns that Bush Hill has been refurbished by a wealthy local citizen. Over the next several days, Mattie recovers from yellow fever while her grandfather occasionally visits and flirts with Mrs. Flagg.
While Mattie continues to convalesce, she heard many stories of the horrors caused by the fever epidemic. All around her, other patients die even as she continues to recover her health and strength. Mattie frets about her mother and often wonders what will become of her once she is discharged from Bush Hill. She becomes well enough to be moved from the hospital to an outlying recovery building. While she recovers her grandfather visits several times each day.
Finally, Mattie is discharged from the hospital. A hospital clerk suggests that the proper place for Mattie is the orphanage, but Mattie insists she be allowed to return to the coffeehouse. Mattie convinces the clerk that she is not an orphaned child, and she is allowed to leave the hospital alone.
After two days, Mattie is discharged. She climbs into a wagon full of orphaned fever survivors. Mattie talks to one of the orphanage workers and tells her that she, Mattie, will be turning fifteen in just three more months. She allows herself to contemplate her future and drifts off into a daydream about becoming a successful and wealthy coffeehouse matron.
As the wagon drives through Philadelphia Mattie's daydreams are interrupted by horrible scenes - dead bodies cast into the road, abandoned shops and homes, and frightened fugitives who flee when the hear the wagon's approach. The wagon continues and takes Mattie and her grandfather to their coffeehouse. They find that their residence has been looted and vandalized. Mattie and her grandfather despair about the future and Mattie finds herself on the verge of tears. Instead of crying, she steels her resolve and begins to clean the coffeehouse and search for food. She finds that the small family garden plot is nearly non-existent. She manages to haul water inside, water what plants remain, and gather some scraps of food that the insects haven't eaten. After her grandfather drifts to sleep, Mattie reacquaints herself with Silas.
In the morning, Mattie boils water and continues to clean the coffeehouse. After cleaning for several hours, she realizes she is in filthy clothing, crusted with the filth of the fever. She bathes herself and then reluctantly dresses herself in her mother's clothing. Mattie spends the rest of the day cleaning the garden. In the evening she falls asleep on the ground floor.
Mattie is awakened from a dream of food by a sound. She realizes that two strange men have climbed into the coffeehouse through an open window. The two men are looking for items of value. Mattie hides in the deep shadows. Mattie's grandfather, upstairs, awakens from the noise and comes down the stairs armed with a musket. Grandfather Cook instructs the men to leave, but instead they advance on him - he discharges the musket but misses his mark. One of the men flees but the other beats Grandfather Cook and begins to strangle him.
Mattie awakens the next day down the street with a cart and calling for dead bodies. Although she is disgusted by the thought of loading her grandfather's body onto such a cart, she realizes that in the heat he will begin to decompose quickly and she has no way of transporting him to the cemetery. She then assists him in pushing the cart through the streets and out to the cemetery where she watches her grandfather's body be interred in a mass grave.
Mattie then wanders through the deserted city, finding a little girl alone.
Mattie learns the young girl's name is Nell. She carries the little girl into the streets. Mattie starts to search for Eliza and finally finds her in a strange section of town.
Mattie tells Eliza about what has happened to her since the epidemic began. Eliza tells Mattie that Mrs. Cook had recovered somewhat and had gone to the Luddington's farm. Mattie learns that while Eliza spends her days helping others, an older woman sits with the twin children. In the evening, Mattie and Eliza relate all of the details of the events that have transpired since they became separated.

Travel Tracer - Gemma Post #5

TRAVEL TRACER

This week I am taking on the role of travel tracer. In the ninety or so pages that we have read this week, the main character of the novel, Mattie, has been extremely nomadic.

Primarily, the novel starts with the protagonist, Mattie, wandering around the countryside with her grandfather. This area of the countryside is very barren, with sparse trees and dying and decaying grass. The eather is extremely hot and the sun is scorching the land. The ground is dry and there is a lack of water. Mattie and her grandfather ended up in this wasteland because Mattie's mother had caught the plague and sent them to a family they know in the country, the Ludington's. Unfortunately, due to the unfit state of the grandfather, they were not allowed to pass into other inhabited places for fear of the plague. This left Mattie and her grandfather struggling to survive in the country in the boiling hot summer weather. Mattie has to look after herself and her grandfather, trying to scavenge food and trying to stay in the shade. It is a difficult task, and through the heat and the lack of food, Mattie catches the fever and grows delirious.

The action suddenly changes scene. Mattie wakes up in ‘Bush Hill’, a hospital for fever victims. Mattie is alive and surviving, in good health. This hospital is infamous for being dangerous and revolting, but Mattie finds that it isn't so. The hospital is extremely clean and french methods of medical health are being employed, ensuring quicker and better relief for victims. There is a main hospital and also a barn which are all cleaned and prepared so that all of the victims can recover - which actually works. This hospital is actually a very nice place, and Mattie stays there for days, finally recovering from the Fever. In the time that Mattie and her grandfather were at the hospital, Mattie’s grandfather seems to have fallen in love. He has spent most of his time with one of the main nurses at the hospital, and when Mattie and her father leave to go back to the city, the two share an emotional goodbye.

After the encounter, the two travel back to the city where they used to live, searching for Mattie's mother and their maid Eliza. Sadly, when they reach their home, they find out that the whole place has been robbed. They're home used to be a very popular coffee shop filled with happy customers. It was an extremely happy place, but when they return to the house, they find it completely ransacked. It is empty, and the only thing that is in the house is shattered glass and broken wood. Where there used to be happiness is emptiness and sadness. Worst of all, there is no food and there is no way of getting any. Mattie and her grandfather are terrified of this prospect and look to find more food. The grandfather is old and weak, so he can’t really help, and he spends much of his time lying down. One night, two robbers come to the house to look for anything else they can scavenge from the house.  Molly can’t really help, and neither can her grandfather, and she knows this. As the thieves ransack the house, stealing her valued possessions, Mattie gets angry. She goes and tries to confront the thieves, which awakens her grandfather. He joins the commotion, but bearing a gun. The thieves attack him, and he dies.

Scared and alone she runs out into the streets. She doesn’t know what she can do, considering she has no family and no home.

Until next time, she is alone and she is stranded in the streets.

Thanks for reading :)

"Fever 1793" By Laurie Halse Anderson #5 Vocabulary Enricher

Fever 1793

Book by Laurie Halse Anderson

178/251 # of pages read

Job: Vocabulary Enricher

Fever 1793 is one of the strangest books I have ever read. The book made me cry and smile at the same time! From the deep part about Mattie's grandfather dying, her feelings for Nathaniel, her Mother's disappearance, and to the terrible thieves.
But anyway, this week my job is vocabulary enricher! I had to find words that are either important or unknown while I was read the book, so here they are! :)

Brambles - Pg.89, paragraph #3

Definition: 

Bramble: a prickly scrambling shrub of the rose family, especially a blackberry.

Sentence of my own: "Do you want to go brambling tomorrow?" Gary asked.

----

Thistles - Pg. 89, paragraph #7

Definition:
Thistle: a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the daisy family, which typically has a prickly stem and leaves and rounded heads of purple flowers.

Sentence of my own: Thistles! They're really beautiful, I should get some for mother.
----
Dew - Pg.89 , paragraph #7

Definition:
Dew: tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night, when atmospheric vapor condenses.

Sentence of my own: This morning, the grass was wet with dew.
----
Preyed - Pg.101 , paragraph #6
(I knew what this word meant, I just thought it was important due to Mattie and Grandfather have no food in one part of the story!)

Definition:
Prey: hunt and kill for food.

Sentence of my own: The wolf preyed the bird, even devouring its' small feathers.
----
Scoundrels - Pg.102 , paragraph #1

Definition:
Scoundrel: a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a rogue.

Sentence of my own: I always knew that Carmen was a scoundrel!
----
Slovenly - Pg.102 , paragraph #4

Definition:
Slovenly: (especially of a person or their appearance) untidy and dirty.

Sentence of my own: "You look slovenly! Go to the shower now!" Amy screamed.
----

Destitute- Pg.106 , paragraph #4

Definition:
Destitute: extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.

Sentence of my own: Most of Narnia's population has destitute children.
----
Jaundiced - Pg.107 , paragraph #3

Definition:
Jaundiced: a medical condition with yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, arising from excess of the pigment bilirubin and typically caused by obstruction of the bile duct, by liver disease, or by excessive breakdown of red blood cells.

Sentence of my own: Annie was completely jaundiced, her skin was bright yellow!
----
Bodice - Pg.122 , paragraph #1

Definition:
Bodice: the part of a woman's dress (excluding the sleeves) which is above the waist.

Sentence of my own: Maria's bodice was soaking wet and muddy, resulting her to change into another dress.
----

Thats it! Hoped you enjoyed my post :)
Shelly

Fever - Discussion Director - Yoonji

Do you think Mattie is a rather overconfident daughter?

She is indeed spoiled on account of her actions shown especially in the first chapter, presenting her mentality and attitude. She seems to hold annoyance toward her mother.

Shelly: Yes, and ignorant to an extent. She is also vain.

Do you think Mattie favors Nathaniel?

She evidently does when noting her thoughts in text, though she seems to conceal these feelings in reality. I assume that this may be because her mother disapproves of him, mainly his status and job (a painter's assistant was a middle or lower-class job, according to the book), for her mother is very feverish with the matter of social status.

Gemma: Of course.

Shelly: Yes, Mattie thinks of him as perfect.

What is her family’s establishment?

The family runs a coffeehouse, which had opened 2 years prior to the death of Mattier's father, which is obviously one of the big prides most of Mattie's family members reside.

Which class are they?

I think they are of middle class currently, former upper. Mattie's mother was an upper class women before she was wed to a carpenter, Mattie's father.

What do you think will happen to the family once the fever is at high point?

I presume that they might move, or at least Mattie would, for the mother seems to be highly concerned about Mattie, and is planning to send her to a safer area.

Shelly: Everyone will die.

Gemma: I think that they will stay, because the mother has already been infected by the fever.

"Fever 1793" By Laurie Halse Anderson

Fever 1793

Book by Laurie Halse Anderson

88/251 # of pages read

Job: Illustrator

Hey,

So today is my first blog post about the amazing book fever. Fever is a great book set in the 1790's in Philadelphia. The main character of the book is called Mattie Cook who lives above her family coffee shop run by her Mother and Grandfather. There is an epidemic called the yellow fever this summer which has killed many people! What will the family do?

As I mentioned above, this time my job this time was illustrating! I drew a picture of one of the scenes which scared me the most. The scene showed above in the picture all started when Mattie's mother got the fever. She was brought upstairs in order to rest and hopefully heal. Mattie was not allowed to see her, but she snuck up to the room in order to check on her mother. Mattie was very worried and let down a few tears as she saw her resting mother. The next second the whole place was a mess! Her mother was coughing blood and throwing the pillows around which is the scene above. Next, Mattie called Eliza, the cook, to help her! But Eliza was gone, so Mattie had to deal with mom by herself.

I decided to draw this because my mother is very dear to my heart and I couldn't go without her even for a day. The fact that Mattie snuck in is brave and I would do the same! I really appreciate what this girl would do for her family. I also could imagine this scene in my head, the way Mattie cries and hopes her mother will stay alive.

Thats it for this time!

Shelly

Vocabulary ericher

Sarah Vazzoler
Fever 1793

#of pages=88
Author=Laurie Halse Anderson

Hi, for this blog i am the vocabulary enricher, here are the words i found:

Coffeehouse= a business that sells coffee and usually other drinks and refreshments

Gambling=The practice or activity of betting money : the practice of risking money in a game or bet

Solemnly=very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression a solemn occasion/moment

Pleurisy= a serious and painful disease of the lungs

Cobblestone= a round stone that is used in paving streets

Mahogany= a strong reddish-brown wood that is used especially for making furniture and that comes from several tropical trees

Harrumphed= : to say (something) in a disapproving or complaining way — used to suggest that the person who is speaking is very serious, pompous, etc.

Shilling= a British coin used before 1971 that was equal to ¹/₂₀ of a British pound

Miasma= a heavy cloud of something unpleasant or unhealthy — usually singular

Almshouse= a building in which poor people were allowed to live for free

Hi, my job was to compare the reality to the book.

Here are some similarities:

1. Molly when it was time to go to bed she starts to ask a lots of questions about others life, although the people would like to sleep. Also I used to do that when I was a child, when my parents would put me to bed I would just start to ask a lot of questions non-stop 
2. In the book Molly brought the youngest of the children  at home, when it was time to go back the little girl started to ask to go to the market and although Molly said no and although there were the parents waiting in the synagogue the kid decided not to listen since going to her friend would have be more fun. like most of the kids today the child decided that her reference was wrong and decided to take the best and more fun way although not the best.
3.  The family in the book wanted Molly to do house work and she refuses to do it because she doesn't understand the purpose of it since she didn't use them. Many kids today's day complain about doing home's work as well.
4. In the Jewish family they had someone who cooked, cleaned and look for the kids and they could afford that because they had enough money. also in many houses today for who can afford it they have someone who does the jobs in the houses.

Literary Circles - Vocabuary Enricher

Gemma Thornley
A Pickpockets Tale
Until next time - READ UNTIL PAGE 88 OF FEVER
job - connector

For my literature circles job this week, I found 13 words through my reading, which were either unfamiliar or words I thought were interesting or challenging and I did not know the exact meaning of. I will share these words and their meanings, as well as write original sentences using these words.

1. PG 148, pg 1 – mewling

I have heard the term meowing before, but I was unaware of the word mewling, even though it sounded quite similar. I thought they may have similar meanings, which is true. 

to mewl means – to cry feebly, or querulously; whimper ((especially relating to babies))

My original sentence – After a loud thud rang through the house, the kitten let out an apprehensive mewl. 

2. PG 150 pg 2 - Paptist

The term Paptist was unfamiliar to me. In the book it was used to represent a religion, and was viewed as a sort of joke among the Jewish family, so I was unsure of the meaning. 

the word Paptist means - a slur pertaining to Roman Catholics

3. PG 157 pg 4 - maltreating

I know the word to mistreat, and the word seemed quite similar, although it does have a different prefix. I wanted to see if there was much difference. The main difference is that maltreat suggests more of a violent treatment of someone, whereas with mistreatment simply means to treat someone in a bad or unfair manner. 

((definition mistreat - to treat (a person or animal) badly or unfairly.))

to mistreat means - treat (a person or animal) cruelly or in a violent manner

My original sentence- The man was called upon by Social Services as they feared he had maltreated his daughter. 

4. PG 149 pg 4 - posset

posset was a word entirely unfamiliar to me

a posset means - a cold dessert made from thickened cream

My original sentence - My mother makes the best posset in the world!

5. PG 159 pg 4 - tankard

the word tankard is one that I have heard before, but never really known the meaning of.

a tankard is - a tall beer jug

\6. PG 167 pg 5 - mortgage

The word mortgage is one I have a heard a lot before, in my own home as well as on the news. 

the word mortgage means - a legal agreement by which a bank, building society, etc. lends money at interest in exchange for taking title of the debtor's property, with the condition that the conveyance of title becomes void upon the payment of the debt.

My original sentence - I took out the mortgage that I would use toward buying our new house.

7.  PG 172 pg 2 - seawant

The word seawant is used throughout the book to represent currency, but I wasn't completely sure what Seawant actually was. 

seawant is - shell beads used as currency

8. PG75 pg 4 - lancet. 

I am unfamiliar with the word lancet. 

a lancet it -  a small broad edge knife with a sharp point

My original sentence - The boy stood rigid with fear as he was threatened by his neighbour who was brandishing a lancet.

9. PG 187 pg 3 - loom

I know the word loom from the noun sense, as an object which helps weaving, but I was unsure of its alternate meaning. 

Loom means - to appear or stand over someone threateningly 

10. PG 189 pg 6 - tumbler

I wasn't entirely sure on the meaning of tumbler, but I am familiar with the website of which has a similar name. 

A tumbler is - a drinking glass with no handles, and straight sides

My original sentence - When we have guests, my mum always makes sure that we use the fancy tumblers. 

11. PG 175 pg 3 - filch

I wasn't totally sure what filch meant in the situation presented, when the protagonist suggesting 'fliching'  an object. 

to filch is -  to steal or pilfer casually

12. PG 191 pg 4 - flank

The word flank was referenced as a part of the body, but I was unsure what this area was. 

The flank is - the part of the body between the rib and hip 

My original sentence - After tripping over the log, my flank was bruised. 

13. PG 201, pg 4 - perceptible 

I am aware of the word perceptible and its meaning, but I thought that it was a more challenging word, so I decided to include it in my list. 

to be perceptible is to - be able to be seen and or noticed 

Thank you for reading :)

"A Pickpocket's Tale" by Karen Schwabach

A Pickpocket's Tale

Book by Karen Schwabach

148/213 # of pages read

Job: Discussion Director

Hi again,

In literature circles we read “A Pickpocket’s Tale” which is a story about a young girl who gets shipped off to America and will be a sold as a slave. Molly lived in a life of crime and can pick a pocket very carefully and well, but did that change? When Molly moves to New York her new family introduces her to the Jewish culture and actually have manners and bath her but she doesn't seem to like it, resulting her to do many unexpected things.

Here are the questions that I have prepared for the discussion:

1. Why was Molly surprised when Mrs. Bell said that it’s fine to have all the Jews running around on a Saturday to find a little girl in a market? And would you break the rules in order to find someone?

(Me) Shelly – I think that this is partially because of her kind heart and also because Rachel is her daughter and she already lost one child before. I would break the rules (tradition) in order to find someone because people can’t really wait, but as Ms. Bell said, god can.

Gemma – I would break the rules, and she did it because someone life is more important and she already lost 3 children already.

Yoon-ji – Because she lost many children already and because breaking the rules is fine when there is an emergency.

Sarah – Because it’s her daughter and because she cares more about her daughter than the religion, I would break the rules.

2. Why did Molly want to run away?

(Me) Shelly – Molly ran away because she felt as if she wasn't accepted in New York and was not used to the lifestyle there, and as she said, she belongs to the Bells and is a slave. I actually think that they treat her very well though, better than she would have been treated back in London.

Gemma – She didn't like life in America and missed being a thief, felt uncomfortable.

Yoon-ji – Because she is very homesick, slightly neophobic (scared of new things)

Sarah – Molly wanted to run away because she was afraid the people would punish her,

3. What was in the warehouse and on the rope coils? And why was Molly confused of what they were?

(Me) Shelly – There were kittens on the rope coils and Molly didn't know what they were because they were really tiny and she has never seen kittens so small.

Gemma – Kittens, confused because they looked really gross and young.

Yoon-ji – Kittens, because they looked like rats and she never saw kittens so young.

Sarah – Kittens, because she never saw pet cats.

4. What happened when Captain Duguay entered the warehouse and why did Mr. Bell and Captain Duguay argue?

(Me) Shelly – Captain Duguay wanted to drown the kittens but was looking at Molly and making her feel uncomfortable, also knowing her from their last talk of her wanting to go back to England. Next he tried to make Molly come with him to go see the ship but Mr. Bell argues with him not to touch or speak the women in his family although she is a servant. Now, Captain Duguay will buy from other merchants because of the argument that changed his thoughts about Mr. Bell.

Gemma – Captain Duguay wanted to drown the little kittens and was making Molly feel strange and they argued because he behaved not very well to the women in Mr. Bell’s family, causing Captain to buy from other merchants.

Yoon-ji – Wanted to drown kittens and was being really creepy to molly, argued because not to touch the women from his family.

Sarah – I think he was going to drown the kittens and also Mr. Bell argued with Captain because he was harassing the women in his family.

5. Why did Molly’s stomach flip when she thought of ham?

(Me) Shelly – Molly’s stomach flipped when she thought of ham because she couldn't eat it as long as she was with the Bells, due to the fact that it isn't Kosher. Because the Bells are Jewish she has to stick to the dietary rules, which is hard for her.

Gemma – Because she has been normalized not to eat ham and was converted to Judaism due to the fact that she lives with a Jewish family.

Yoon-ji – I think that that was because the ham is not kosher and she couldn't eat it.

Sarah – Because living with the Bells, having to follow their eating habits changed her diet and she missed ham/pork.

That’s it for this blog post! We’re reading a different book next time, I will finish the book but this is the last post, hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts about the book!

Shelly :)

A Pickpocket's Tale - Vocabulary Enricher - Yoonji

Hello all, I was assigned the role of the 'vocabulary enricher' this time, so here are a group of eight words I (either) did not know previously, or found interesting to share. 

1. Cobbled -Chapter 1,  page 1, paragraph 1 

Definition - Cobbled is the definition of area to be tiled with stones. 

• Cobble - To gather something from usable elements/parts. 

2. Bailiff - Chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 3

Definition - A bailiff is an officer of a sheriff who proceeds to arrest. 

3. Branded - Chapter 1, page 5, paragraph 1 

Definition - Branded is the past use of "brand", which means; 

• Brand - To brand is to identify something with a branding iron. 

4. Breeches - Chapter 1, page 5, paragraph 2 - 

Definition - Breeches has its actual inherent definition, although it seems to be the plural of "breech". However, breeches are short trousers level with the knees. 

5. Mort - Chapter 1, page 6, paragraph 5 - 

Definition - The proper definition of "mort" is a sound from a horn when the game(s) of a hunt is killed, but I later discovered that the definition of "mort" applied to the book means a woman. 

6. Turnkey - Chapter 2, page 8, paragraph 2 - 

Definition - A turnkey is a jailer; one who manages the keys and doors of the jails (basic synonym: jail officer). 

7. Cull - Chapter 2, page 10, paragraph 4 - 

Definition - To cull means is to decrease the number of certain animals by killing. However, I assume the "cull" utilized in the book implies a man, or a person. 

8. Nib - Chapter 2, page 10, paragraph 4 - 

Definition - A nib is used for "a pen's point" in terms of the normal, proper vocabulary most people use, but this book contains a great number of a type of slang called "flash cant" (which is defined in the book that it is slang intentionally developed by pickpockets and such to avoid recognition of language, especially by constables), and I suppose "nib" in the case of the story means (adj.) of the standards of a gentleman; gentleman; of a relatively higher class, about the level to maintain comfortable life.