Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Lightning Thief

By Rick Riordan

When Percy Jackson finds out that his best friend, Grover Underwood has the hip and hind legs of a goat, he has no idea of what is going on. But after he has a fight with a mythological monster, the Minotaur and lost his mom, he drags Grover, who is a satyr, over the property line for Camp Half Blood. He soon wakes up on a porch outside a house, being fed pudding by a girl, who asks him a question which he doesn’t understand but the door opens and she fills his mouth with pudding. When he woke up again, a tall glass containing something that looked like iced apple juice was on the table next to him. When he tried to pick it up, he nearly dropped it and a familiar voice said “Careful” and he saw his friend, Grover leaning on the railing of the porch.

Grover steadied his glass and helped him drink. After he had finished, Grover placed it on the table next to him and takes him to Chiron, the activities director, and Mr. D, the camp director. When they reach where Mr. D is sitting with Chiron, Percy recognizes Chiron, who was his Latin teacher from Yancy Academy, a boarding school for troubled kids in upstate New York. Percy finds out that Mr. D actually is a Greek god, Dionysus, the god of wine. Later they see Annabeth and she explains to Percy that Camp Half-Blood is a camp for half human, half Greek god kids. He stayed in the Hermes cabin for a few nights, as their dad, Hermes, was the god of travelers so they took all the new campers in until they were claimed by their Olympian parent. After playing Capture the Flag, a sign appeared on top of Percy’s head, showing a sea-green trident, the sign of Poseidon .Percy was a son of Poseidon, the god of the ocean. A few days later, Chiron gave Percy a quest, to retrieve Zeus’s lightning bolt from the Underworld in ten days. Annabeth and Grover accompanied Percy in his quest and they face many dangers together. In their quest, they meet Ares, the god of war.

In my opinion, the Nintendo Ds game is hugely surpassed by the book as the game is not very fun as it is too easy. I have completed it about three times and probably not picking up again. In contrast to the book and game, the movie is as great as the book.

I think people around the world who like Greek mythology and fast-paced fantasy should drop Harry Potter and read Percy Jackson.

This book is not too scary but it has a lot of mention of Greek mythology monsters.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Tooth Fairy

Movie Review

This hilarious movie tells the story of a negative thinking ice hockey player named Dereck played by Dawayne Johnson, who one night receives summons commanding him to come to Fairyland. While he is reading it, a pair of wings sprout from his back and he is suddenly sitting in a pink tutu and skirt. But he barely got to wonder why he was in this costume ,when he was suddenly standing in a beautiful hall. He was taken to the head fairy’s room and she sorted out his dress and filled him in on what was happening. The head fairy,Lily, played by Julie Andrews who also starred in the all time favourite, Mary Poppins, said that because he told Tess, the daughter of Carly ,his girlfriend, that there was no such thing as tooth fairies,so he had to serve a term as one himself for a week.

He was told that he was guilty of breaking children’s dreams. Dereck tried to convince her to let him off , but she refused. His case-worker, Tracy,played by Stephan Merchant, is a very tall and thin man.He was a bit mean and jealous of the winged fairies since he didn’t have wings but would like a pair. Tracy took Dereck to the flying school so he could learn how to fly.

Dereck got his first assignment, to exchange a tooth for money and bring the tooth back to the head fairy. It is very funny to watch Dereck do the tooth fairy antics . He soon also makes friends with Randy ,Carly’s son. In the next few days, Dereck gets many more assignments and he succeeds in them all. When his term is finished, Lily is pleased with him as he made the children believe in tooth fairies again and she releases him as a tooth fairy and he finally gets to live a normal life.

I personally think that children should believe in tooth fairies but should stop believing in them when they’re four or five years old. I have a very early memory .It was when one of my teeth came out and that night the tooth fairy didn’t come ,so I had to write a letter ,telling the tooth fairy to come and take my tooth and exchange it for money.

And she did come but I know even though I have lost a tooth today ,she isn’t coming !

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Face to Face with Lions

The most exhilarating experience so far at my monthly Honey Badger Club meetings was being about two and a half meters away from caged lions. Luckily, there was a red line, if we past it , Imelda said, the lions might grab us. There was a very scary moment when we went into one enclosure,divided into two groups and the group that I was in,had to go back past the lions and through an empty cage.It nearly gave me goosebumps!

When we got in the other enclosure,we started hiding food ,like mince meat and herbs that we collected from the herb garden.We filled a black thick tube with mince meat and herbs.We also rubbed herbs on some logs we had gotten from the rhino’s enclosure.

Later,after we had our lunch,we played a game in which we were divided into three groups- reptiles,mammals and birds.We had to find ten cards with one of our group’s animals on it.Unfortunately,my group,mammals,lost but we still got a prize each.

This has been the best experience so far.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Rose and the Magic Mirror

by Rinya SIngh

Once upon a time in a land called Bunnieland , bunnies roamed free and there were no people. Rose was a three year old bunny who lived in MorBunnie, a very modern part of Bunnieland. Her best friends were Skye and Lia. They all lived next door to each other and everyday after they had done their homework, they would go to the park. When any of them went on holiday to places like Bun City and Bunniewood ,the others would probably go along without their parents. If their parents wanted to go too, they could. Skye, whose parents were very rich and lived in a Bunsion normally planned all the trips. Rose’s parents weren’t very rich but they didn’t care.

Rose and her friends loved their teacher ,Mrs Bentlowf. Mrs Bentlowf was funny and nice. Mrs Bentlowf sometimes let them play games in class and on fridays, she told them to secretly bring civies to school and they could wear them. Mrs Bentlowf gave them only maths and reading to do for homework so they didn’t have to spend one hour on homework and not get to play. Rose and her friends took turns to go over to each other’s house each day.

One day, while Rose, Skye and Lia were looking for things in Skye’s huge attic to use for their play , the Bunny Princess ,suddenly Lia shouted, “Hey guys, look what I’ve found!” both Rose and Skye thought that their friend had found some treasure .But instead of a treasure of some sort, Lia was holding up a big but beautiful mirror! Lia hopped over to them and showed them it to them closely .But her little paws weren’t stable, so the mirror wobbled and fell! Surprisingly, the mirror didn’t crack and break ,but it stood upright by itself and suddenly it grew arms ,hands, legs, feet and a sleeping face. The girls watched, awe-struck as the mirror’s eyes opened and it stretched it’s arms and yawned . Then, the mirror person blinked and looked around and when he saw Rose, Skye and Lia staring at him he asked them, “Now, who woke me up?” he asked .

Lia put a shaky paw up and said, “I did.” “Well ,” said Mr. Mirror, for that is his name, “Thank you for waking me up! My name is Mr. Mirror and you are…?” he asked. “My name is Rose .” said Rose. “ And this is Skye and Lia.”

“Well,Rose,Lia and Skye,I don’t suppose you have some grub for me to eat? You don’t know how peckish one gets after sleeping for a thousand years!,said Mr.Mirror.
So Skype ran downstairs and took out nearly half of the contents of the fridge as her parents were out.When she got to the attic,Mr.Mirror grabbed all the food and gobbled it up in two seconds.Now that he was full,he lay down to have a nap but promised to wake up soon.

When he was asleep,the bunnies knew that they would have many adventures with Mr.Mirror and they talked all through the evening planning and dreaming!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Horse and His Boy

by C.S.Lewis


This exciting adventure story is set in the magical land of Narnia, Tashbaan, Calormene, Archenland and Anvard. This book tells the epic tale of Shasta, a talking horse named Bree , Aravis and another talking horse named Hwin. They face many perils along the way and get separated many times too but, in the end, nothing stops them from reaching their goal, to escape from Calormene and getting into Narnia. Shasta and Aravis ,though not friends at first, become friends afterwards .I don’t like the fact that C.S Lewis gives the present happenings first and then the things that happened before as it gets confusing! It is very funny when Shasta plans to steal Bree , but Bree ends up stealing him.

It is amazing when Shasta and Aravis are nearing Anvard ,how they manage to survive with only a little food, water and rest. It is very strange when ,in Tashbaan , King Edmund mistakes Shasta for Prince Corin of Archenland and takes him to where they are staying.They take him to have a nap in his room and while he was asleep,the real Prince Corin had climbed onto the window sill and had woken him up.Shasta asked Corin how he was to climb down onto the street below and Corin told him how.Shasta succeded and escaped.

“A king’s under the law for it’s the law that makes him king” is what King Lune tells Corin and Cor of Archenland in their castle.

The reason I liked this book more than the other books in the series in the Chronicles of Narnia is that it has more adventure than others.It tells much more of the land of Calormene and this series does not revolve around as much as the others around Lucy,Edmund,Susan and Peter.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

My Rabbit - Crystal


I got Crystal, my pet rabbit a week ago and it was a very quick decision as we had not thought about it much before buying .She lived with two other bunnies at the pet shop. The two other bunnies were – a black bunny and a brown bunny. Crystal is a white bunny with pinkish-reddish eyes and she is only 10 weeks old now.

We brought her home in a cardboard box. Her hutch couldn’t fit in the boot of the car so we had to dismantle it and keep it in the back seat. I had to sit on the front seat holding Crystal in the box.

Once home, we first put her hutch outside but didn’t have the heart to leave her there so we put her inside the house. I gave her some hay and fresh carrots but she didn’t eat them. I tried to pick her up but she retreated as she was very scared. After sometime me and my mom decided to take her outside in the garden.Crystal came in my lap and held me very tight. She looked very cute. When I was about to let her down on to the grass,she scrambled back onto me! After another try, she hopped onto the grass but this time, she didn’t want to come back to me!

Crystal now loves eating grass, lettuce, grapes, cabbage, tomato, hay and carrots. One day, while Crystal was grazing, I got my other pet, Tiny the hamster to play with her but I guess they didn’t even notice each other. Crystal sometimes lies on her side on the ground stretching her paws and hind legs out. On the second day, while I was at school, my mom was alone at home and she checked on Crystal and saw that she was completely still with her paws and hind legs stretched out with eyes wide open and my mom thought that Crystal was dead but she later found out that that is how they relax and sleep with their eyes open.I really, really love her and I think she also loves me and tells me by sometimes licking me.

Now every morning before going to school I take her out to graze.She also likes it when we go out again in the evening.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The Figaddy's Snow - House

by Rinya Singh

“It’s snowing! Yay!” said Ben,Bell and their favourite cousin Cassie.

They were looking out of the twin’s bedroom window .Mr.Figaddy had moved the guest room bed into the twin’s bedroom so that Cassie could sleep with her two cousins.Cassie had arrived the week before and had settled down quite well and they all played together every single day.

“I officially declare that today is the first day of winter!” said Mrs.Figaddy at breakfast.

“That sure was a lovely breakfast.Was’nt it ?” Cassie said.

They all had an excellent breakfast consisting of toast and scrambled eggs.After that they put on their mittens,fluffy fur coats ,scarves and pom-pom hats.Then they all tumbled outside and started playing in the snow till Cassie shouted with excitement “ Snowball fight!” and they all started throwing snowballs at eachother until Mrs.Figaddy came out and said,” Well,well,well, you certainly look like you are having fun.”

“Oh yes, we are,Aunt Henerita!” cried Cassie.

“Well, do you remember that every winter when you come over ,we build a most enormous snow-house?”

All the kids chorused ,” Yes we do!”

“Then you may as well remember that we first put steel bars and wooden planks in a house shape and then cover it with snow.” Without waiting for an answer , she continued to say ,” Harry will go to get the planks and bars and when he is back,we can start building it.Cassie,Ben and Bell can stay home with me.Oh! I almost forgot ,I told everyone in the village and they all agreed to help.They too will bring bars and planks from their homes so that we can make a huge snow-house.They have also agreed to use the village field for the snow-house and we should call it a mansion!”
“Wow!!” cried Ben and Bell together.

Mr.Figgady went to fetch the planks and bars.Cassie ,Ben and Bell got busy playing around the house.

“Here comes Uncle Harry!” cried Cassie when she saw him drive down the driveway,staggering under the weight of about 60 steel bars, all big and heavy.

“Oh,do let us help you” they all cried and without waiting for an answer,rushed onto the driveway.When they got to him,Cassie ran to her Uncle and took 20 of the 60 steel bars ,as she was a medium-sized German shepherd ,while the others helped Mr.Figaddy with the steel bars.When they had finished stacking them outside the house,Mrs.Figaddy got all the cellphones from inside the house and she and others sent sms’sto all the village residents .The sms ‘s read : Come to the village field with steel bars and wooden planks at 13:00”.

The time then was 12:40.Everyone received the message and came to the field at 13:00 with the planks and did as they had promised.Cassie ,her cousins and Mr.Beaver ,who were all excellent builders,started to try and assemble the planks and bars in a mansion shape but couldn’t finish that day as they all got very tired by the end of the day and agreed to finish it the next day.So everyone went home.

The next day Mr.Beaver,Cassie ,Bell and Ben all woke up early and though they were still tired with the last day’s hard work,they all trouped sleepily to the field and started again and finished the house by 10:00 ! They had started at 07:00.When the others came from the village ,they were all surprised as it had only been half finished the last day and now it was all done and ready.When they saw Cassie,Ben ,Bell and Mr.Beaver sleeping,they at once understood and carefully without making any noise or waking them up,they moved the four of them back into their beds and left them alone till they woke up at 13:00.

“So,whats for breakfast?,” asked Mr.Beaver.

Mrs.Beaver replied,”It is 13:00 and you will get only tea.” Mrs. Figgady said the same to Cassie,Ben and Bell.

After tea,they all headed towards the field and found Mr.Hare ,who was a friend now,telling Miss Badger that they needed atleast 3 tons of snow to cover the bars and planks.When he saw the dogs walking towards them,he said,” Just the chaps I wanted to see! I Come,I have just the job for you!:

“Whhat?” chorused the Figaddy’s and Cassie together.

“Well,you are good diggers,aren’t you?,” he asked Mr.Hare,rubbing his paws together.

”Well….. “ said Cassie,thinking hard.

“Yes,yesI guess we are…” said Bell, looking very proud.

“Ther,you’ll be perfect for my plan then!,” said Mr.Hare.

“What plan?” asked Mrs.Figaddy curiously.

“Why,you absolutely LOVE digging,don’t you?”

“Why,yes,we do!”

“Then this is my plan .We need about 3 tons of snow for the mansion so… dig,dig,diggaty! I thought you dogs can dig up all the snow we need,” he said.

“Why yes,I suppose we could!,”said Mrs.Figaddy.

“All settled then” said Mr.Hare happily.

“Meet me at 13:00 exact! Okay?,”he said.

Then without waiting for an answer,he hopped off towards his house feeling very pleased.The Figaddys and Cassie didn’t have to wait long till Mr.Figaddy came strolling along.They told him about the plan.

The next day at 13:00 sharp,they all started digging at the spot where Mr.Hare had put the sign saying: ‘Dig here’.By 16:00 o’clock,they were all very tired and decided to go back home.On reaching home they all slumped into kitchen chairs and fell asleep.When they woke up it was 19:30 ,so they all fell asleep again only to wake up the next day.

Next morning all the residents of the village who were good carvers,like Mr. and Mrs. Swish,came to make the roof ,windows and other things out of the snow on the ground that Mr. and Mrs.Figaddy ,the twins and Cassie had dug out the day before.So they all started pilling the snow on the house and began carving.When they had finished,the animals who had been working on carving of the house,went and slept for a day and didn’t even wake up to have some food.
Meanwhile,everyone in the village had gone to look at the mansion and see it from inside.Everyone loved it.

“For two days,”Mr. Figaddy ,the Mayor,announced, “ all the villagers ,including any visitors from other villages,will be allowed to stay at the mansion,day and night.Feasts will also be provided at 09:00 ,12:00 and 20:30.”

Since the snow mansion was big and beautiful,all the villagers accepted the offer.So everyone moved into it the next day and loved the first two hours of their stay at the Snow-hotel,as they all called it and felt as if they wanted to stay their forever.

“It’s a very nice hotel,” everyone said.

At night they slept in sleeping bags on the hotel’s floor.The next morning when they woke up and had a spectacular breakfast consisting of roast beef,ham sandwiches,tea,coffee,porridge,toast and chicken sandwiches.After breakfast ,all the kids went outside to play while the adults and Mr.Hare calculated how much time they had till the hotel melted.They all didn’t want to scare the kids to get them into thinking that it would melt down any moment.So they went to the little backyard outside the hotel since the kids didn’t know about it ,so it was the perfect place to go.

Mr. Hare estimated that the snow would melt by about 12:00 the next day.
That night they all slept at 20:00.The next morning ,change was slowly creeping over Anima.The sun was shining brightly and the birds were chirping again.Cassie woke up with a start.She was feeling water around her.

“Water?”,she thought suddenly. She quickly looked around her and saw that the hotel was MELTING!

“Aunt Henerita! Uncle Harry ! Ben! Bell! Wake up!,” she cried,” the hotel is melting,wake up,” she screamed.

Everyone woke up at the sound of her voice and looked around .All the villagers started running outside to their houses.

Afterwards they all honoured Cassie for saving their lives.