Month of September- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Discussion Director- Jaydee Paid

As to evaluate the product of our reading experiences in the book Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, I discussed some points about the book and let the members of the literary circle contribute and share their thoughts about the questions I have presented.

The questions that were facilitated in our discussion are the following: (1) What was your impression about the coast journey of the peculiar children? Did it appear to be interesting or a good way to start the book? (2) What was your opinion about the hidden truths inside the “Tales of the Peculiar”? (3) Do you think that Jacob and Emma’s feelings towards each other can still continue despite their differences?; and (4) Discuss one of your most favorite happening in the book and explain why do you prefer it?

Here are their responses:

            On question no. 1- The members’ answers as for my conclusion noted that the beginning of the story started the book fine. It was very descriptive which showed us what really happened at the start of the story. Their coast journey was amazing and that it portrayed the triumph of the children where they met a lot of circumstances like the storm, the escape from the wright airships and a lot more.

         On question no. 2- Some members said that the book helped the peculiar children a lot in their journey. At first they were unaware that the content of the tales have resemblances to their loops but as soon as they had knowledge about it, it helped them continue their journey for at first they have no exact knowledge where to start.

          On question no. 3- The group shared their different POVs about the question. Majority believed that Jacob and Emma can push through with their relationship for they have given sacrifices (especially Jacob who have left his present life to stay with Emma) to be with each other. Also, they said that they are not different at all. They are both peculiar, it just so happen that they came from different times but this can’t stop them from loving each other. Some of the members responded that, it is quite unrealistic for their love to push through. It is because Jacob can’t stay with Emma until the end for he has a life left at the present and that no matter what happens Jacob can’t stay with Emma in the peculiar world. But as I have ended the discussion, the group agreed that both the characters have genuine love for each other and that is what matters. 

       On question no. 4- Grace liked the part when the peculiar children went inside the menagerie loop of Miss Wren through the stoned head of Cruthbert as based on one of the story in the Tales of the Peculiar. She explained that this part was one of the most mysterious parts of the book and that she liked reading this part because it has driven her imaginations well.  Ian on the other hand, liked the very beginning of the book where the peculiar children have their journey towards the coast of London. He said that it has an interesting exchange of scenes. Mon preferred the part where the peculiar children found Miss Wren and when they took shelter inside the frozen peculiar headquarters. He said that this part of the book has the most action-filled scenes and that this part started to conclude the mysteries discussed in the former parts of the book. Also, Hazel preferred the part where the peculiar children met performing gypsies and where they were almost caught by the wights. She said that in this part she was enlightened of the history of the peculiars which she had a lot of curiosity about. She also chose this part because it was in this part where she found the story very interesting. Lastly, Beverly liked when the peculiar children were snatched by the wights back at the present. She said that this part was much unexpected and that it was filled with many questions which give her the desire to read the third book of the series.

Vocabulary Enhancer- Hazel Lorraine Solis

1. Craggy- (adjective) steep and rocky, and forming part of a cliff or mountain peak

“The only safe harbor for miles receding quickly behind us, craggy and magical”

2. Rutted- (adjective) referring to a narrow groove

“Our goal, the rutted coast of Mainland Wales”

3. Armada- (noun) a large fleet of ships

“It was arrested by a vision of our little armada from such height.”

4. Brim- (noun) the rim around the edge of a hat

 “Emma, her eyes hidden beneath the brim of a sun hat”

5. Squint- (verb) to glance or look at something sideways

“Emma squinted back toward the island.”

6. Inextricably- (adverb) impossible to get free from

“They were linked inextricably, he and that island.”

7. Increments- (noun) an addition to or increase in the amount or size of something

“Before long the fog caught up to us. By increments we were blinded.”

8. Eddying- (adjective) causing movement (esp. small whirls) in a flowing stream of liquid

“We turned circles in the eddying tide.”

9. Hull- (noun) the body of a ship

“Our twin hulls ground to a halt in the rocky shallows.”

10. Contraptions- (noun) a device or machine, especially one that appears strange

“I couldn’t take my eyes off the strange contraptions in the sky.”

11. Surreal- (adjective) weirdly unfamiliar, distorted, or disturbing

“There was a surreal moment where it was no longer the hollow who was holding Emma…”

12. Scurry- (verb) to move at a hurried pace, usually with small fast steps

“We leapt out of the brush and scurried after it.”

13. Seethe- (verb) be in a state of extreme emotion, especially unexpressed anger

“I shook with fear, seethed with anger.”

14. Prod- (verb) to encourage somebody to take action

“She was right, but I prodded her to speak away.”

15. Guttural- (adjective) characterized by harsh and grating speech sounds made in the throat or toward the back of the mouth

“It’s like some guttural outgassing, the sounds made with something other than a throat or a mouth.”

Connector- Monlouie Sorzano

           

     Mon connected the story to the book-based movie, “The Mortal Instruments” by Cassandra Clare. He said he can connect “Hollow City” by Ransom because they deal with the same points though different in plot and setting. Both books have something to do with facing monstrous demons and demons that live within you. Both books also have groups of young and brave warriors who try to stop them.

Importance of sacrifices has been pressed in both stories. They show us why it is important to give up some things in order to better serve the greater good. In the book Hollow City, it showed us how Jacob bravely let go of his present life just to be with his friends and help them in their undertakings. Same with the book Mortal Instruments, Clary, the main character of the story gave up her normal life to discover the mysteries of her and her family’s life. Monlouie added that they shared the same meaning towards life and towards facing your own demons.

Passage Picker- Beverly Asne

Beverly found some passages that definitely teaches moral lessons:

1. “At the heart of nature’s mystery lies another mystery” – Perplexus Anomalous

        

              This line is stated by Perplexus Anomalous, the great philosopher of the peculiar world. This line as for my interpretation tells us that questions and answers are interrelated. A mystery branches another mystery. It says that the things in this world are connected, for a single thing that arises something could have brought it out. That is why for every action we must evaluate their possible causes and effects. 

2. “From the mouth of our elders comes a fountain of wisdom” – Millard Nullings

            This passage gives us the importance of the past knowledge we get from our ancestors. These wisdoms must be preserved for they are important and they are the timeless source of our knowledge.

3. “The wights had mind that could reason but they use that creative faculty to dismantle the world” – Jacob Portman

            This passage tells us the present reality of the world. We as humans (can be referred as wights) had been given different abilities together with our brilliant minds. But instead of using our abilities to create a safer world to stay, we act the opposite way and try to use our abilities to stand higher than the others. Then, collectively we slowly destroy the world where we stay. Thus our gifts are not used for their rightful purpose but instead we use them to gain only those things that can benefit us without looking back at the others whom we may hurt.

4.  “Don’t say things to me if you don’t mean it” – Jacob Portman

            This line proves us the value of honesty and tactfulness. Before we start saying things towards others we must first evaluate our thoughts and must consider the feelings of others. We must not let out words that we don’t really mean for it may affect our relationship among other people. We must at first be honest and at the same time tactful of what we should say.

5. “Even under ordinary circumstances, I still might find a way to live an extraordinary life” – Jacob Portman

            This passage says that it does not need extraordinary events to make our life extraordinary. If we want to live a meaningful life, it does not mean that we must be under meaningful circumstances. That is because life must not be dictated directly by what we meet but of what we want to be or to have in life. It is you who control your life. Thus if you meet difficult circumstances it must not drive us into giving up but to working hard.

6. “If this world was dying and there was nothing to be done for it, then what was left for me here?” – Jacob Portman

            This line delivers the distinction between pushing through and letting go of things. If we see that there is no more meaning into something, it is practical to say that we must not put efforts into it anymore for we already know what it will be in the end. We must know exactly the results of our action and the things we put our efforts into.

7. “I don’t believe in destiny but the balance of the world. And sometimes forces that we can’t understand intervene to tip the scales away.” – Jacob Portman

            This passage explains to us that in life, we can’t control everything thus we must be prepared to face anything that we may meet along the way. Even though those things may be good to us or not.   

Character Captain: Grace Mascariñas

           Grace listed the main characters found in the story and described their charcteristics strengths and many more:

1. Jacob Portman- he is the main character and the narrator of the story. He has the ability to see and sense hollowgast or the monsters that hunt the peculiar children. He fell in love with Emma and the reason why he chose to leave his life in the present and stay with the peculiar childfen

2. Emma Bloom- she is the girl whom Jacob had fallen in love with. She has the ability to create fire with her hands. She is a strong and determined girl who led the peculiar children in their journey to bring Ms. Peregrine back to her human form.

3. Bronwyn Bruntley- she is an unusually strong girl which opposes her weak mind. She has a kind heart and is willing to sacrifice herself just to protect her friends.

4. Millard Nullings- he is an invisible boy who is the scholar and the brightest of all the peculiar children. He is very witty but sometimes mischievous. He is also the head in the planning of the peculiar children.

5. Horace Somnusson- he is a boy who suffers visions of the future in his dreams. He is sensitive and very vulnerable to harm. He is very concerned of his looks especially his suit.

6. Olive Abroholos Elephanta- she is a girl lighter than air and has the ability to levitate. She has a very strong will and confidence despite her innocent and immature image.

7. Enoch O’Connor- he is a boy who can animate and bring back the dead to life for brief periods of time. He has a very frank and straightforward attitude. He at times becomes jealous of the Jacob and Emma’s relationship.

8. Hugh Apiston- he has the ability to command the many bees that live inside his stomach.

9. Alma Lefay Peregrine- she is the headmistress of loop of the peculiar children. She has the ability to manipulate time and to shape-shift. She is arrested in a bird form because of their encounter with the wights and was caught but retrieved by the peculiar children.

Summarizer- Ian Kith Parcon

Ian rfeported that the Hollow City began with the travel of the peculiar children away from their raided loop towards finding another place to stay for refuge and to aid their headmistress trapped inside the form of a bird after their last dramatic experience with the creatures whom have haunted them.

Then, it was when the children tried to find the solution to bring back their headmistress back to human form. They have met a lot of encounters with the creatures that hunt them. Along the way they had a lot of adventures. One was when they went inside a menagerie loop filled with peculiar animals that had told them that their headmistress who went to London to help some of the peculiar children there, may help them. So as they went, they met the performing gypsies on their way whom at first harassed them but at the end as they had the knowledge that they share the same history, they tried to help them escape from the wights.

Next is when they went inside a loop where they met some peculiar persons and at last found Miss Wren and helped them bring their headmistress back. But as the story concluded, they have learned that the bird which they kept was not their headmistress at all but an enemy who guised himself inside the bird’s form. Afterwhich, they were caught up in confusion and were captivated by the creatures hunting them. But before the story ended, some of the peculiar children managed to escape and now with the mission to save the others and their headmistress as they were sent forward to the present time.

Literary Artist- Monlouie Sorzano

          Mon was again assigned as literary artist since Alex, failed to perform such. Anyways, he recited to us his self-made poem which summarizes his affection and point of view about the book.

A Peculiar Poem

It was as far as time can remember

When the age of peculiarity happened

They and their might of thousands can conquer

The battles that was no match, they were aged.

There was a girl whom her fire has burned

The hollow creatures, they were indeed hurled

Someone has the ability to feel and see

The creatures as dark and free.

For the bird they come into journey

The unfathomable loops of time they agree

The land of London they notice

Was not fascinating as in the stories.

Now that they already know the mysteries

They are to choose whether to fight or leave

They began to see the real image

Their world was worth the battles’ damage.

Poor little things they were young

Of histories mistakes, were forced to grow up

Now that both time has meet

It’s up to courage their fights can keep.

Month of August: The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Discussion Director- Ian Kith Parcon

          The discussion director started by saying that the book we had read revolves on our perception about heaven, death and the people around us. He then enumerated the questions to be discoursed.

The questions are the following: (1) Do you believe that all lives are connected? (2) Do you agree with Albom’s concept about heaven? (3) Considering all his life’s melancholies, did Eddie live a meaningful and worthful life? (4) What were the five people, who Eddie met in heaven, taught/relate to him? (5) If you were Eddie, what kind of “heaven” will you choose to live eternally? (6) On the other hand, what was your reaction when the author chose Philippines as one of the settings in the story?

The group agreed that each member will be given one question to answer. Alex supported his answer on the question #1 by quoting the adage, “No man is an island.” He believed that each one of us do not live by ourselves, the very reason why God gave us family and friends to be with. He believed that one influences the other, in all matters, and through that they learn all notable life lessons to be a better individual.

On question No. 2, Beverly said that no one saw heaven. And so, Albom’s concept about what is heaven could be true or not. But what really counts is that, heaven is a place where agony exists no more. It is a place where we find rest and compassion with the persons we love. Above all, it is the place where we meet the One who created us.

Monlouie manifested that Eddie didn’t die with a wasted life. In fact, all his blues in life marked his outlets of strength and inspiration. At many times, he doubted the “worth” of his existence until he met his Fifth person whom let him realized that his stay in Ruby Pier kept all the children happy and safe, and that’s the reason of his existence.

On question No. 5, Jaydee shared his point of view about the five people Eddie met in heaven. The Blue Man taught that all things happen for a reason, that all lives are connected. Captain explained the value of sacrifice. Each of us came to a point that we must sacrifice for others’ welfare. Ruby showed loyalty and forgiveness. Marguerite, his wife, revealed that life may end but love doesn’t. It never ceases. Lastly, Tala, the young Filipina girl whom he burned to death, explained Eddie’s life purpose.

Lastly, Grace was fascinated when Philippines was mentioned in the book. It was relatable that the setting was during the World War II on the occupation of America and Japan on the country. On the last part of the book, she was really touched when a young girl named Tala played an important role which changed and influenced the character.

Vocabulary Enhancer- Monlouie Sorzano

1. Shingles- (noun) a disease that causes pain and red marks on your skin along the path of a nerve.

“A doctor, last week, told him he had shingles.”

2. Cacophony- (noun) unpleasant loud sounds.

“It mixed in his head now with the cacophony of the crashing waves and children screaming on the rides.”

3. Ballyhoo- (noun) talk or writing that is designed to get people excited or interested in something.

“A barker would ballyhoo the oddity, and it was a barker’s voice that Eddie heard now.”

4. Shrapnel- (noun) small metal pieces that scatter outwards from an exploding bomb, shell, or mine.

“…lest he hit a tree and wound himself with deflected shrapnel.”

5. Tourniquet- (noun) a bandage, strip of cloth, etc. that is tied tightly around an injured arm or leg to stop or slow the bleeding from a wound.

“… as Morton tied a tourniquet above his knee.”

6. Flume- (noun) a ravine or gorge with a stream running through it

“An explosion of smoke engulfed him, swallowing his body in a flume of colors.”

7. Veneer- (noun) a thin layer of wood or other material that is attached to the surface of something in order to make it look better

“And on occassion, as if to feed the weakest embers of a fire, Eddie's father let a wrinkle of pride crack the veneer of his disinterest.

8. Semaphore- (noun) a system used for sending signals by using two flags that are held in your hands

“Unbeknownst to him, he had begun the ritual of semaphore with his father, forsaking words or physical affection.”

9. Stupor- (noun) a condition in which someone is not able to think normally because of being drunk, drugged, tired, etc.

“There was nothing heroic about a drunken stupor by the beach.”

10. Lanky- (adjective) tall and thin with usually an awkward quality

“The bride, young and pretty, was in the center of the group, removing a pin from her butter-colored hair. The groom was lanky.”

Connector- Hazel Lorraine Solis

          

          Hazel connected the story by the film she watched entitled “Heaven is For Real”. Just like Eddie, a young little boy went to heaven while he was in coma. He saw heaven and all the things found in it. In addition, he saw his father’s grandfather and his unborn older sister and talked with them. When he woke up, he started to tell his father about these unbelievable things. If we weigh, they are of total opposite; one is living and one is dead. But what Hazel perceived is that, they both experienced heaven. Each one of us has our own concept of heaven. It could be a world of fantasy, a place where we can praise our God or simply, the feeling where we feel safe and total harmony.

          On the other hand, Charlie St. Cloud has the same experience with Eddie. They are both living a life full of questions. They don’t know the reason of their existence. Eddie was preoccupied with his past while Charlie keeps on asking why his brother died instead of him. Yet at the end, they found the answers to their questions. They learned the value of sacrifice and that all things happen for reason. Eddie realized that his mission was to keep the children is the Ruby Pier safe while Charlie deemed that he was preserved to make a better leap, and that is to change his life.

The book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” is a story featured a story of a man who faced death and went to heaven where he met five people who in one way or another will change his perception about life. It is an inspiring story that reminds us to ask ourselves what have we done while dwelling here on earth. Have we been selfish or we lived a life for others?

Passage Picker- Alexander Grande

          Alex picked few of the lines and quotations that captivated him. Most of these lines were taken from the lessons which Eddie learned from the Five People he met in heaven.

1. “It might seem strange to start a story with an ending. But all endings are also beginning. We just don’t know it at the time” – Narrator

It suggests that some things might end but it bears another beginning for others. Just like Eddie, his death brought him realizations what was his life meant for.

2. “Strangers… are just family you have yet to come to know.” – The Blue Man

Sometimes, we enclose ourselves to other people without knowing that they are the ones who can retrieve and change us. Since friendships starts from “knowing”, we must never enclose ourselves to a person.

3. "I took your leg… to save your life." – Captain

4. “Sacrifice. You made one. I made one. We all make them. But you were angry over yours. You kept thinking about what you lost. You didn't get it. Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.” – Captain

The captain reminds us that we make sacrifices for others to live. Eddie was depressed when lost his leg, yet he never realized that he was luckier than the captain who lost his life.

5. "Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.” – Ruby

Indeed, it’s very hard to forgive someone who hurt you. Yet if we know how to forgive someone, we didn’t only gain that person back but we freed ourselves from bitterness and hatred.

6. "Life has to end, love doesn't." – Marguerite

When you truly love a person, even he/she is far or gone the love you feel will always remain. Marguerite died yet Eddie never stopped loving her. She loves her wife more than he loves himself.

Character Captain- Beverly Asne

1. Eddie- He is a grizzled war veteran who feels trapped in a meaningless life. He died at the age of 83 on an accident on Freddy’s Free Fall at Ruby Pier when he rescued a young little girl.

His Family

2. His Father- rude, abusive and disciplinarian. He always pushes Eddie towards his limits.

3. His Mother- a loving mother who bonds her family.

4. Joe- Eddie’s older brother. At their young age, Eddie always keeps him since he shows           weakness and inferiority.

5. Mickey Shea- a family friend. He works with Eddie’s father at the Ruby Pier.

The Five People

1. The Blue Man or Joseph Corvelzchik- his skin was blue after drinking silver nitrate as             medication. Eddie caused his death- heart attack after avoiding hitting Eddie with his car.

2. Captain- He is the commanding officer of Eddie. At heaven, he revealed to shot Eddie’s           leg to save him. He did after stepping on a land mine during their escape.

3. Ruby- wife of Emile- the owner of Ruby Pier, which was named after her. Her heaven is a         place where all the victims of Ruby Pier can take rest.

4. Marguerite. Eddie’s wife. She died with a brain tumor at the end of 47.

5. Tala- the young Filipina girl whom Eddie unintentionally burned to death.

Summarizer- Grace Mascariñas

          Grace summarized the book by involving how Eddie died and what happened to him in heaven.

          Eddie was an old man who’s working at the Ruby Pier as maintenance officer. Every day, he checks all the rides to secure safety for the costumers which mostly are children. It was his birthday yet nothing seemed to be special. He stopped celebrating it when his wife, Marguerite died. Few minutes a ride malfunctioned because of the dented cable. The riders were rescued yet the cart was detached and dropped. Eddie saw a young girl on the spot where the cart will fell and rescued it. Unfortunately, it caused his death. He woke up on a familiar place yet he feels unusual. It was then when he reached heaven.

          He met the Blue Man, he explained that Eddie will meet Five People in Heaven who will clarify his existence. The Blue Man told Eddie that he was the one who caused his death- when he avoided Eddie on the street while driving on the car. Eddie felt guilty yet the Blue Man told him that all lives are connected.

          The second person was the Captain, his commanding officer when he went to war in Philippines during World War II. They recall their bad experiences during the war until the captain admitted that he was the reason behind his bad leg. He shot it to rescue Eddie. During their escape, the captain died after stepping on a land mine. He emphasized to Eddie the value of sacrifice. If he didn’t shot Eddie’s leg, he might die from the fire and if the Captain, himself didn’t die, everyone will.

          He then met Ruby, the wife of Emile- the owner of Ruby Pier. He told that the history of how the amusement park was built and how did it once ruined others life, including them. But Ruby’s purpose was to convince Eddie to forgive his father. Eddie’s father was very abusive such reason why Eddie hated him until he died. At the end of their conversation, Eddie learned to forgive his father after knowing his heroic deed before dying.

          Then, on a beautiful garden, he saw his wife, Marguerite. They reminisce all their sweet experiences from the time Eddie court Marguerite until they get married. They were a happy couple until Marguerite was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain. She died at the age of 47. On their conversation, she told Eddie that life may end but love never ceases.

          Lastly, Eddie encountered a little girl he never met in his entire life. Hr name was Tala. She then revealed that Eddie burned him to death during the war. Her mother kept her on one of the nipa hut, knowing it was safe. Eddie felt guilty. He was very sorry and was kept asking for forgiveness. Later, Eddie asked her if he saved the little girl from the falling ride. Tala nodded. She said that Eddie was not living a meaningless life at all. As he works everyday, he keeps all children safe and happy.

          Eddie realized his purpose so as he discovered his own heaven. A happy place, just like the Ruby Pier, where he can spend time with his loved ones.

Literary Artist- Jaydee Paid

Eddie shut his eyes in denial. "But I felt her hands," he said. "It's the only thing I remember. I couldn't have pushed her. I felt her hands." Tala smiled and scooped up river water, then placed her small wet fingers in Eddie's adult grip. He knew right away they had been there before.

"Not her hands," she said. "My hands. I bring you to heaven. Keep you safe."

The scene that captured me was when Eddie keeps on asking the five people in heaven if he saved the girl from the accident. The last thing Eddie felt was the girl’s hand. Later, Tala revealed he saved the poor girl. But what was really absorbing is that the hands Eddie felt was not of the young girl, it was Tala’s. 

Month of July: First Love by James Patterson

 Discussion Leader- Beverly Asne

            Beverly, as the Discussion Leader thought us that it was fun reading the book since it makes you experience the journey Robinson and Ali had. She then gave us three questions: (1) When, where and how Robinson and Axi first met? Do you think people are destined to meet? (2) How did you find the idea of Robinson’s separation from his family? What do you think are the reasons why Robinson made his parents agreed? Cite lines. And (3) If only they had not decided for a runaway trip, do you think that Axi and Robinson would find themselves in love?
1. “Decide what you want to order before you turn in line.”  –Robinson

            Hazel answered question no. 1 saying that Rob and Axi met at the hospital on a cancer ward when they both had their medication for cancer. I answered the follow-up question, I told them that I believe that fate makes its way for people to meet but it depends on the person if he will find the way to meet that person.

            On question no. 2, Ian manifested that is merely not a separation but a sacrifice. He doesn't want his parents to witness his suffering and to worry because of his medication considering the costs of his immunotherapy everyday. Beverly, as the discussion leader cited the proofs.

“Please go home. This is not what I want. I don’t want you to see me go through this.”-Robinson to his parents

“...But I wanted to see things, Axi. I want to have a bigger life...I wanted to fall in love.”- Robinson to Axi.

Grace answered the third question by saying, “Love spells time.” She doesn't believe that if Rob and Axi will fall in love each other even if they didn't had their runaway trip.

Vocabulary Enhancer- Ian Kith Parcon

1. sheepish- (adjective) showing or feeling embarrassment especially because you have done something foolish or wrong

            “Now Robinson looked sheepish. “I started it . . .”

2. gooey- (noun)  a wet and sticky substance

 “As if on cue, the waitress delivered a gooey plate of blueberry pie and two forks.”

3. shuddered- (verb) of a person: to shake because or fear; of a thing: to shake violently

 “The motorcycle shuddered and gained even more speed, and the wind was like a giant’s merciless hand trying to push me off the back of the bike.”

4. burrowed- (verb)  to move or press under through, or into something

 “The thundering rumble of the engine had burrowed into my bones.”

5. jittery- (adjective) very nervous

           “You’re jittery all of a sudden,” he said. “We’re safe here, Axi. No one’s going to find   us.”

6. mystified- (verb) to confuse someone completely

 “Naturally, we missed our turn the first time, but when we finally got there, we were a  little mystified.”

7. epistolary- (adjective) of or relating to a letter; suitable to a letter; carried on by letter

 “She wrote me back, and an epistolary friendship— I guess you could call it that—    was born.”

8. ornerier- (adjective) easily annoyed or angered; difficult to deal with or control

           “Matthea laughed. “Axi and I share certain background details, don’t we? But Axi’s much smarter than I was at her age.”

           “She’s ornerier,” Robinson said. “That’s for sure.”

9. macabre- (adjective) involving death or violence in a way that is strange or unpleasant

“Macabre practice, if you ask me. But I like it as a metaphor. You give your country— which, in this case, is your story— your heart.

10. revved- (verb) meaning to cause to run more quickly.

           “Robinson revved the engine and then pulled out of the pit.” 

Connector- Jaydee Paid

            The books reminds me of John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars, where the story revolves on a love, on a very hopeless scenario between two cancer patients. Similar to First Love, Augustus Waters unexpectedly died at the end. Another story I can relate is the movie “My Sister’s Keeper”. It is inferable that Axi would rather die after losing Robinson. Rob was his first and last love.

            The book, First Love is a movie of sacrifice and the feeling of being in love for the first time. Axi had a bitter past and when she had the opportunity to leap on a jet and say goodbye to her hostile world, she shared it to the person whom she loved the most.

Passage Picker- Monlouie Sorzano

        The following are the passages Mon found to be meaningful and carry life’s lesson one can ponder with:

           

        This is a conversation of Robinson which I was astounded. It suggests that every time we make decisions, we must plan things before we decide or make it happen.

2. “What are the instructions for, I don’t know, life?” “Axi, if we have directions, it couldn't be life. It would be an assignment...” – Robinson to Axi.

            

         Another conversation from Axi and Rob, Risk taking is often advantageous. Ironic from the first passage, sometimes we make things happen beyond extremities. No instructions, norms to follow. Risk is fun,  as we say.

3. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself”- Robinson

        Mon told us that we often ask God or the world why unfavorable things happen without knowing that these are the means that creates us. The time you realize who you are is the time when you accept yourself.

 “...for it is the curves that make a racer”- Brad to Robinson

       

        In every race, challenges are present. As we live here on earth, we often get stumbled and hurt with life’s problems. As what Cyrus’s song says, ain’t about how fast bi get there, ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.

Summarizer- Alexander Grande

       Axi, a 16 year-old girl told to his friend, Robinson that she is planning for a journey to escape her life. She wanted to leave the life with her drunkard father, life’s pressure and see what the world has to offer. She’s looking for an adventure. Meanwhile, she fell in love with Rob for a long time yet, she has no idea how to confess him.

      Robinson hardly pondered Axi’s plan yet he realized to accompany her, without any hessitations. During their trip, they do things they do not typically do. They start to break the rules. They trip turned out of control as they find themselves chased by the police. Most of all, as day pass by, they get closer until they fell in love with each other.

       When Rob collapsed, Axi realized that their journey has to end. Axi died with his cancer.

Character Captain- Hazel Lorraine Solis

1. Alexandra Jane Moore- Axi Moore is a "good girl". The story revolved on her as she took  a “rebelliou” journey with his love, Rob.

Axi’s Family:

2. Mom- a beauty queen who had left them after Carole Ann’s death.

3. Dad- a drunkard who turned to the bottle for comfort after their child (Axi’s sister) passed away

4. Carole Ann- little sister of Axi who died young battling for cancer.

5. Robinson- His real name is Oscar James Robinson which was revealed only at the last part of the novel; he is strong, optimistic, adventurous kind of a cancer patient.

Rob’s Family:

6. Louise- Rob’s Mom

7. Joe- Rob’s Dad

8. Jonathan- Rob’s brother; 20 yrs old

9. Lizzie Sewell- Carole Ann’s mate in the cancer ward.

10. Brad Sewell- Lizzie’s brother and have been Axi’s close friend.

11. Matthea North- Axi’s friend; author of The “Winding Road”, a memoir about growing up as daughter of alcoholic father which happened to be Axi’s favourite book for she could relate too much to it.

Literary Artist- Grace Mascariñas

           

          Grace presented a picture that reflects the novel, First Love.

          I love the idea on how Robinson refuses to be with his parents and stay at Portland to undergo his medication at the hospital, left his family just to follow his love-at-first-sight at Klamath Falls and of all the saddest part, on how he made his way to bring her First love to their place, introduced Axi to his parents, and had made everyday special with his remaining days.

          The part of the story I’d like the most was when Robinson and Axi dropped by a place somewhere in North Carolina where they had their sweetest moment and Axi has been surprised to learn that It’s Robinson’s hometown