Tim McGraw sits down and makes a list of pros and cons.
The 24 sequels to my 7th grade spy novel…
As mentioned in the last post, in 7th grade I wrote a spy novel and called it “8 Ball.” But not only did I write the novel, I planned out another 24 novels that would feature the same characters in further adventures. Because the world must obviously be made aware of the full story, I have provided a summary of the adventures below. If you read this, your day will be well spent.
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In 7th Grade I Wrote a Spy Novel called “8 Ball”
I did. In 6th grade I was introduced to Goldeneye 64, which introduced me to James Bond. I recorded all the 007 films during a TV marathon and became so obsessed I began writing my own spy novel.
It was called 8 Ball. By the end of 7th Grade I had written it, and my plan was to have 25 of them total in a series. This never happened. Neither did the publication of 8 Ball.
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A Problem With Authority
Why do we have a problem with authority?
I get it. I very much do. In my youth I gained a general distrust of authority figures of all types, from clergy to cops, from politicians to privateers, from bureaucrats to bad parents. I didn’t get into scuffles with authorities or break the law. I wasn’t much of a rebel. But I wasn’t a fan of people having too much power. I was not a fan of being told what to do when I have no idea why I am told to do it the way I am told to. I didn’t like unnecessary pressure to conform. I didn’t like to hear “because I said so,” “I’m in charge, that’s why,” or even “by the power invested in me by the state of ________.” But here’s the thing: I still maintained respect.
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Why Teach Novels in High School?
“Do we have to read a book this year?” Any fool who loves literature cringes at the expression from a student who doesn’t want to read.
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Dave Eggers’ The Circle, part 3: PRIVACY=THEFT
SECRETS ARE LIES
SHARING IS CARING
PRIVACY IS THEFT
[Continued from parts 1 and 2]
The circle is about to be complete. Mae is at the center of it all. Everyone at the circle, and everyone across the world, seem to have bought into the idea that transparency of all things is best, that putting everything about yourself out there is best. Now we are on the verge of making everything mandatory. [spoilers ahead]
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Dave Eggers’ The Circle, part 2: SHARING = CARING
[Continued from part 1]
It’s one of the most innocent and compelling mottoes for young children. Sharing Is Caring. Nobody would dispute this. Until you start talking about communism.
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Dave Eggers’ The Circle, part 1: SECRETS ARE LIES
In his novel The Circle Dave Eggers branches out into dystopian fiction. You’d think a writer like Eggers wouldn’t bother with a genre many contemporary literary writers might find too cliche, commercialized, and predictable. “Society looks perfect, but it all goes downhill. Seen it before.” But Eggers doesn’t go for a distant, war-torn future. He takes us back to the roots of modern dystopian masterpieces: 1984 and Brave New World. What we get is a glimpse of the near future that is—I’ll admit—more relevant than one of my favorites, The Hunger Games.
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New Poem—Kansas
Kansas
In
Kansas
Dorothy
Loved Aunt E.M.
A
Cyclone
Took her to
The munchkin land
Bad
Witch died
Ruby shoes
Good witch told her
Go
To the
Wizard through
Yellow brick road
The
Scarecrow
Tin man and
Lion killed witch
Got
Courage
Beating heart
And diploma
Shoes
Remind
Dorothy
There’s no place like
Home…
Being In the Wrong Body Every Day: Gender ID Commentary in Levithan’s YA Novel
David Levithan’s YA novel, Every Day, harkens back to the show Quantum Leap. Remember when Scott Bakula would jump to a new person’s body every week, and have to live out their lives until he solved a problem?
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