My Hero: Mary Pope Osborne

As long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed reading. There was a moment though, when the enjoyment became a love. This was after I was introduced to the Magic Tree House series. I was hooked. I proceeded to buy every one of Jack and Annie's adventures and was at the bookstore the second it opened whenever a new book came out. I wrote my own adventures for the brother and sister team, and I decided that when I grew up my home school curriculum would be based around every single one of those books. Years later, I still love their adventures and am still buying and reading them. The Magic Tree House series inspired me to expand my reading to all types of amazing stories and characters.

I will always remember those stories though, and how I wanted to be with Jack and Annie so bad. Mary Pope Osborne is my hero because she introduced me into a world of amazement and possibility through her books. I don't know of any author who has developed their stories as much as she and her husband have. They are creating research guides for all the books they've written and there are countless learning programs out there, even a broadway musical is going on tour now. Her dedication is my inspiration.

One of my goals in life is to interview her or even just meet her. I've started e-mailing some people to see if it's possible, but things haven't really worked out. I'm just going to keep trying though!

I love you Mary Pope Osborne!

Poem and Elections!

With the elections coming up I thought that I would post my opinion here and include a poem I wrote about abortion. First though, I just want to say that please read this bearing in mind I don't mean to offend anyone by this post and firmly believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and reasons. Ultimately we are all fighting for the same thing...

I am a republican and so naturally go for John McCain, but this year neither of these presidential candidates have impressed me. The reason McCain is ahead in my books though, is because of his fights against abortion.

ABORTION. This subject is very personal to me. I was adopted the day after I was born. I recently asked my mom if she knew my biological mom's opinion on abortion. I learned that she wasn't too keen on it, but was being pressured a lot and if not for her pastor, who came and reeled her in, anything could have happened.

Tick Tock
by Traci

Hurry, the more time it takes
the more guilt I will feel.

Hurry, I don't want it any older!

Hurry, I can't bear to see it,
I would never be able to get through this.

Hurry, I feel like a murderer.

You are one and the same...

Slowdown, it doesn't matter if I'm one day old
or one week in the womb,
you will still be killing me.

Slowdown, I want to live.

Slowdown, if you could just see
how much we need each other.

Mother, you are killing me.
You and only you are my murderer.

Cybils Nominations

Go, go, go, HERE and see all the books that have been nominated for Cybils this year.
Below are some of the books I was thrilled to see on the lists:

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Middle Grade):
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull
Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow ( see review here)
Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire by Derek Landy ( i love this book so much! see review here.)
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge ( I kind of thought this was nominated last year, but maybe I'm mistaken... see review here)

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Young Adult):
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Graphic Novels (Elementary/Middle Grade):
Babymouse #9: Monster Mash ( I actually haven't read this yet, but Babymouse rules!)

Graphic Novels (Young Adult):
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, Illustrated by Nathan Hale
( This book is ALL THE WAY AMAZING)

Middle Grade Novels:
Bringing the Boy Home by N. A. Nelson ( see review here and author interview here)
Eve of the Emperor Penguin by Mary Pope Osborne ( watch for a post later on how this author is my hero..)
The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower by Lisa Graff

Young Adult Novels:
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante ( amazing book. see review here)
Redheaded Princess by Ann Rinaldi

Tablework for Dragonsong

I recently auditioned for the play DRAGONSONG based off the book by Anne McCaffrey. I was given the role of a dragon puppeteer. Basically I am responsibility ( with 3 other kids) for making a massive (40 foot) dragon head come alive on stage. More on that in a later post.

Dragonsong is basically a story set in the land of Pern about a young girl who loves to sing and play music and a boy who wants to be a dragonrider. Unfortunately their town's customs forbid these things and they must find a way to fulfill their wishes and dreams even it involves taking drastic measures. Just a wonderful, cute, little coming of age story.
Anyways, last night we had rehearsal and for three hours we did tablework. When the director said we were doing this, my response was, "say what?". I had no clue what it was. He went on to explain that it is getting to know the setting/environment/heritage, etc of our play. So, we talked about the land of Pern and why it was created and for what reasons. We discussed the significance of each scene and what the characters were feeling and how what they did was important and the certain elements we needed to make sure the audience got when watching this performance. For example, here is the first line in the play. We read it and then came up with the following things.

CAPTAIN: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are about to land on the planet of Pern. Please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened and your anti-gravity force field is turned to the positive position. You will notice the two escape hatches on either side of the cabin, marked with the old-fashioned word "exit". If there is an emergency landing of any kind, please proceed calmly to the exit hatch nearest you and descend to the ground outside the spaceship. We are now ready for maneuvers. Please stand by...

1. these people are leaving earth
2. why? because of a war (we found this out through some books the assistant director brought)
3. what is Pern? a planet of refuge, a dwelling place that eventually turns into a permanent home for harpers (singers), dragon riders, dragons, fire lizards, fisherman, people of all ages, etc.

So there you have it. Tablework. It was very interesting to go through this process because it was just a time to sit down and think about the play and imagine how it would be on stage and to really get into character. In all of the other plays I've been in the director(s) have just jumped right into blocking and rehearsals and leave the characters and research to the actors and actresses at home. So, it was great and I'm looking forward to what my director has in store for us next....

Here are some great links:
The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey
Book Review of Dragonsong by Emily

2008 Emmys

You have to see this performance by Josh Groban at the Emmys!

The lliad

I've always had a very optimistic view on classical books and have never really shrunken away from them. So, when I found out that two of the books in my literature class this year were the Iliad and the Odyssey, I was pretty pumped. I was first exposed to cyclops and Zeus and great battles on this TV show I watched a long time ago called Wishbone. In every episode the dog would go into a book and live out the story as one of the characters; I started a petition when they took the show off television. :)

Anyways, I'm almost done now with the Iliad and it was pretty good. It's definitely not in lack of action. Sometimes the characters get a little confusing, but it's those moments when Homer writes those small paragraphs in the middle of the book that make it all worth it. The ones where the characters realize who they really are or find out their comrade is dead or alive. Those passages are just really good lit and make me smile and shiver.

In Remembrance..

7 years ago today, 4 planes were hijacked. 2 of them flew in to the World Trade Centers, 1 into the Pentagon, and 1 was crash landed into a field when the passenger fought back.

I believe my mom knew somebody who worked in one of the WTCs that was never found.

My prays go out to every person in this world who was affected by this act.

Psalm 119:114
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.