Sterenberg,+Elizabeth

Blog #1 Hey, this is Elizabeth Sterenberg, I am reading, __She Said Yes__” by Misty Bernall. I chose this book for a couple reasons. First, we were shown a blog on this book and it sounded very interesting. Second, that following Sunday, I went to my High School Sunday School class and there we talked about Columbine in our lesson that day. Not knowing much about it I really wanted to read the book. Seeing the book was in the library there, I checked it out. This book is about a massive shooting at Columbine, High School and a girl that was shot because of her faith. Eighteen year old, Cassie Bernall, was killed April 20, 1999. Her life was tragically ended by two troubled classmates that day. Misty Bernall, writes her story of what happened that day in this novel. She tells of the struggles she goes through after she finds out the news. The day of the shooting was unreal for her. At first when she found out, she thought it was possibly a shoot off in the parking lot or just kids messing around with fireworks. But when she heard the news, she knelt down in prayer and asked God for the safety of all the kids in the school and especially for her children. Finding out that Cassie wasn't found that night, Misty couldn't eat or sleep knowing Cassie wasn't there with her. She still believed that somewhere hiding in a closet sat her child, still wondering if it was safe to go out. She didn't believe the officers she talked to earlier that if they weren't found, they were most likely not still alive. Right now I am not very far in the book. I am at the point where Misty is sharing what she found out about Cassie three years before the shooting and the friends she had been hanging out with during that time. I am enjoying this book a lot so far. I find this story very interesting, how Misty reacts and goes about her reaction and thoughts. I am looking forward to reading more about this and the life Cassie had. Only knowing a little about this story, I find it very interesting and can't wait to finish the book.

Oct. 8, 2011 Blog #2 Hey this is Elizabeth Sterenberg, I just finished the book, "She Said Yes" by Misty Bernall. I really enjoyed the book. Cassie had a very interesting life. She struggled with her religion, friends, and family. It was a very interesting, because it helps me realize all the good things I have. My dad is the only one with a full time job and mom works from home. Which gives me a lot of family bonding. She always knows what's going on in my life and helps me grow in my faith and helps me with my school work. Cassie struggled mainly because she didn't have a family to fall back on. Her mom didn't know about the activities she was going into and the friends she was basing her life around. When her mom quite her job, she focused very hard on getting her daughter back on track. Over the next couple months she got to know Christ and it changed her life forever. The day of the shooting she was asked if she believed in Christ, she said yes and was shot in the head. This book was very entreging and interesting to me. Knowing that not everyones life is a walk in the park. I started a new book, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult and can't wait to start reading it.

Oct. 13, 2011 Blog #3 Hey this is Elizabeth Sterenberg, I am reading, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult. Seeing the movie, I pretty much know about the story, but my mom had read the book and I was interested in reading it as well. My mom had bought the book, so I got it from her. I am not very far at the moment, but I am really likeing it so far! In the begining it talks about why Anna was born. She was born, mainly to keep her sister alive. She was created in a lab, using her sisters bone marrow match, so her sister Kate would have someone to get her needs from when she became ill. Kate was diagnosed with Leukemia at a very young age. Her sister Anna has been in countless of surguries and is only thirteen. She desides to get the rights to her own body, so she wouldn't hhave to go through another surgery, even though she loves her sister. Right now I am at the point were she had just got done talking to Cambell Alexander, her lawyer about sueing her parents. I am looking forward to seeing the difference between the book and the movie and can't wait to read more.

Oct. 22, 2011 Blog #4 Hey, this is Elizabeth Sterenberg, I am reading, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult. I was not able to read this week, because of everything going on with school and sports. I am hoping to read next week and should be able to with the season coming to an end. So far my favorite saying from the book is when Anna finishes talking to Campbell Alexander, writes a note saying Anna 555-3211 <3 and tells him, "If //you// have any questions." This makes me laugh because before she is pretty much mocking Campell by doing this and he realizes that she is not just a normal little girl. I hope to read more this week and honestly can't wait! I have really enjoyed this book so far!

Oct. 30, 2011 Blog #5 Hey, it's Elizabeth Sterenberg, I am still reading, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult. I didn't read as much as I would have liked this week, but I stopped at the part where Anna's parents found out about her sewing them. Thinking about it I probably would have acted the same way if I was her parents. Her mother was in total shock and didn't really know what to say, but her dad was on the relaxed side, like he knew this would happen some day. Me probably reacting the way her mother would have, I probably would have talked to Anna too. Letting her know what she is putting her sister at risk for. Now Kate wouldn't have someone to help her when she gets sick. I hoping to read more this week and hopefully get past this part of the book and more into why she really wanted to sew her parents.

Nov. 5, 2011 Blog #6 Hey, it's Elizabeth Sterenberg, I am still reading, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult. I wasn't able to read this week, due to all the practice for cheerleading. I have state today and will be less busy from now on. Really can't wait to read again, cause I am really enjoy this book!!

Nov. 12, 2011 Blog #7 Hey, it's Elziabeth Sterenberg, I just finished reading, "My Sisters Keeper", by Judy Picoult. I read a lot this week and today. I really enjoyed this book and thought the way it ended was very interesting. One thing that really caught my interest was when Anna talked about the rain. She said that it was a never ending thing. It would rain, then evaporate into the sky and then rain again. Just like her, she would donate to her sister when she was sick, Kate would be okay for a little bit, but would become sick soon after and again Anna would have to donate. In the end, Kate recieves the kidney she needs to servive. Not because her parents had one the case, but because following the trial Anna and Campbell get in a car accident and Anna was sevirely hurt. Campbell gives the right to the kidney to Kate, so she will live. Anna dying from the accident, will always be remebered by her whole family, but expecially by her sister, because she is a peice of her forever.

Nov. 19, 2011 Blog #8 Hey, it's Elizabeth Sterenberg, I just started reading, "The Shack", by William P. Young. I'm about a third of the way through this book. It's very interesting and really requires you to think. Reading this book, I was really shocked. Knowing that the daughter dies and is kidnapped from the back of the book and the beging chapter. I can assume what happens next from where I have stopped reading. However what this dad has gone through today, I would probably want to go hid in a hole and rote. Because it would be a huge struggle for me to keep going. Having to save his son from drowning earlier, then going back to the campsite not able to find his daughter. Learning more and more about the kid napper that took her. I don't know if I could keep going. This book is not based on a true story, but what has happened so far really makes it feel like it is. I am enjoying this book so far and can't wait to finish!!

Dec. 4, 2011 Blog # 9 Final Hey, it's Elizabeth Sterenberg, I just finished reading, "The Shack", by William P. Young. A normal family, goes on a camping trip a couple hours away from where they live. The father and his children enjoy there last day hanging out with their new friends and going cannoeing on the river. The fun suddenly ends when after the oldest son, Jesse, was on the river and his cannoe tipped over and he couldn't get out. After his father saved him they thought their tradgedy was over, but just their luck there was more to come.

Mack took his three children on a camping trip to willamette valley, having to leave his wife home, because she had to work. Over the couple of days they were there. They had met some new friends and they really enjoyed spending time with them. Mack thought he had done really well, going through the trip with out a hitch. The last day came and they started cleaning up, the kids eager to still have one last hora with their new friend, joined the other families at the river for some fun in cannoes. The fun soon ended, when Jesse got stuck under one. Mack saving his son, pulled him out from under, but Jesse having been under there for a while. Was given CPR from his dad. The family decided to return to their camp ground to relax for a little bit, before they left. Not seeing Missy, Mack's youngest daughter, the worry was soon back again. Asking around she was no where in sight. Calling 911, there was soon a lot of cop cars and rangers searching for Missy around the camp ground. Mack, hoping for the best, soon finds out that Missy shoes have been found and sitting on the picnic beanch where she last was. Lay a ladybug with five spots. The search began. It took a while for the officers to begin, but after they suspected a green truck. They had a good lead. They eventually spotted the truck going into a new campsite, not to far from the scene. To late to catch the guy who took Missy, they went into the Shack where the man had been spotted. Inside lay a little red dress, the one Missy had been wearing and some blood. Oviously the man had done this before. He didn't leave a trace at all and the officers had heard of a man that left a ladybug after he stricked. That they called the "Ladybug Killer." Mack was devistated. His little Missy had been taken from him forever. Years later the whole family was still recovering from the pain. Mack found a note in his mailbox saying, "It's been a while. I've missed you. I'll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together. -Papa" Mack wasn't really for sure what to do, but he decided to go to the shack and check it out. When Mack arrived he was slow to go inside. All the memories of the day came back to him. He eventually went inside. There he saw God, also known as Papa. He also talked with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He learned a lot from them. He also got to see Missy and know that she was safe and in a good place.

I think this would be really moving if I was in his shoes. If this would have happened to me, I would have thought the same way about it. Thinking it was my fault, wondering why God wasn't there for her or didn't stop it from happening. Reading this book however, it went from a different perspective. It showed God as a women. Because God knew that Mack had a problem with seeing him as a father. Because of the way his actual father treated him. It also showed Jesus as an every day man and Mack expecially enjoyed talking to him. Mack did have flaws. But that is how he got closer to God. He was afraid and worried constantly about Missy and the rest of his family. But God helped him get through it and in the end he was truely changed. Mack was most deffently a good man. He did have some anger problems and couldn't really get out how he felt, but he still was a good man. The setting was great!! The author really described the shack well. When they found Missy I wanted to cry. Even though they didn't explain what happened to her. The way he wrote, you could deffently imagine what went on. He also uses the text well. When Mack is either talking to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit you could really feel the emotions and it helped the story flow.

I would give this book a 9 out of 10. I would probably read it again. To catch everything they were talking about and the hints that lead up to the end. I would give it a 9 because it was well thought through. Even though this book wasn't real. I would have never guessed. I had to look it up just to be sure. At parts it kind of gets boring which is why I wouldn't give it a 10. However, it still was a great book!!