Title: The Darkest Evening of the Year

Author: Dean Koontz

Publication Date: November 2007

Page Count: 354

Type: Fiction

Started On: 12/26/07

Finished On: 1/7/08

My Grade: B



Why did I decide to read this book?
The picture on the cover of this novel was the first thing to catch my attention.
The picture was of a golden retriever. My family has two golden retrievers and they are awesome dogs. The brief description of the story on the novel’s cover revealed that the story was centered around Amy Redwing who was devoted to rescuing abandon and endangered golden retrievers. I think I was attracted to reading this novel especially since my family rescued our first golden retriever from the dog pound two days before Christmas in 1999.


Plot summary:
As the novel begins Amy Redwing just received a call from Janet Brockman. Janet had requested Amy to come to their home in order to rescue their female golden retriever named Nickie. Janet, both of her children, and Nickie were all victims of the abuse of Janet’s alcoholic husband, Carl Brockman. Amy and her boyfriend, Brian McCarthy goes to the Brockman’s home where they find Carl drunk and in a rage. Amy pays Carl $2,000 cash for the dog. Janet and the children are also able to leave the home without harm. Amy questions Janet about where Nickie came from and how she got her name. Carl had brought the dog home, but their autistic daughter named the dog Nickie because she said that Nickie was always the dog’s name. Amy finds an unexplained attraction to this dog. Both of Amy’s golden retrievers, Fred and Ethel, welcomed Nickie into their home without any hesitation.
After Amy got into bed that night, Nickie kept giving Amy her bedroom slippers. This action brought back memories for Amy and filled her mind with voices. Voices were saying, I have to wear my slippers to bed so I won’t be walking barefoot through the woods in my dreams. If it’s just a dream woods, why wouldn’t the ground be soft?
After Brian returns to his apartment that night he sat down planning to draw up plans for Amy’s future rescue shelter. Brian’s evening was full of mystery. He found himself accompanied with strange sounds in the apartment, unexplainable flashes of his birth, and unconsciously drawing pictures of Nickie’s eyes. Several times Brian deliberately laid pencils down only to find them back in his hands. Brian could see something mystical in Nickie’s eyes.
The next day when Amy was took the dogs out for a run she is stalked by one guy while another guy searches her apartment. Photos and documents were found in Amy’s apartment indicating that she has changed her identity. The discovery of the documents makes the reader question Amy’s past and why she changed her identity. Brian does not even know the story of Amy’s past. He only knows that the past is not a topic open for discussion. Throughout the novel several private investigators lose their lives in order to erase any connections back to the one who hired them to investigate Amy.
In about the third chapter of the book Moongirl and Harrow are introduced. This is when the book starts to take one of the many twist. Moongirl and Harrow go to a home, pour gas on the front porch and the back porch and light the house on fire. Two people are trapped in the home unable to escape. Moongirl and Harrow just seem to be cruelly sick. Moongirl thinks the world would be perfect if everyone was dead. Harrow just seems to play along with her.
Throughout the novel the story jumps from Brian and Amy to investigators, to Moongirl and Harrow and to a child much known throughout the story as Piggy. Moongirl and Harrow often talk about burning. They talk about burning her. The reader must question who they are referring to as “her”? One afternoon the two of them make “her” a lunch. They spit in the food. Then they take the meal into a locked room which contains a child. Moongirl constantly calls the child piggy. Moongirl is mentally cruel to the child. If something was important to the child Moongirl would destroy it. The child once became close to one of Moongirl’s previous boyfriends. Just because the previous boyfriend was nice to the child, Moongirl killed the man in front of the child.
While checking his email, Brian receives a strange email message from Pigkeeper. The message is from one of Brian’s old girlfriends, Vanessa. Brian had not heard from Vanessa in a very long time. He was hesitant to reply to Vanessa’s message, but he felt an obligation to reply. Brian replies to Vanessa states that he is at her mercy and he has no power over her, but she has every power over him. He tells her that if one day she would let him have what he want, that would only be because it serves her best to relent, not because he had earned it or deserved it.
Later in the day Brian tells Amy about his drawings of Nickie’s eyes, about his compulsion to keep drawing, the sounds that surrounded him in the apartment, the flashbacks of his birth, and the email from Vanessa.
Not only did Amy have a story from the past but Brian also had a past. When Brian was in college his girlfriend, Vanessa, became pregnant with their baby. Vanessa did not give Brian the opportunity to be a father to the baby. Vanessa left Brian for a wealthy older gentleman who promised her a good life in exchange for a daughter. After the baby was born Vanessa did contact Brian once only to tell him that he had totally ruined her life. The baby was an autistic girl named Hope. After the child was born autistic the gentleman no longer wanted Vanessa or the baby. . Several times Brian tried to locate Vanessa and his daughter but was never able to find them. After ten-years of no contact Vanessa was now contacting Brian to give him their daughter and full custody. Brian had always loved his daughter and had always wanted to be a father to her. At this point in time he would do whatever Vanessa wanted to get his daughter back. When Brian reveals his past to Amy she agrees that they will do whatever they have to do in order for Brian to get his daughter back. Vanessa sets all the rules on where Brian and Amy will travel to in order to get Hope.
Brian and Amy leave Fred and Ethal with a friend and begin their journey to get Hope.
Nickie joins the two of them on the journey. Not really knowing why, Amy also pack ed a pistol into her suitcase for the trip. Vanessa kept in contact with Amy and Brian through their travels. She also had a private investigator trailing them along the way.
As they traveled, Amy knew that it was time for her to reveal her past to Brian.
Amy just could not find the courage to open up to Brian. One the trip they spent one night in a motel. Amy was woken by the ringing of the phone that night. Expecting to find Vanessa on the other end, Amy was surprised when she recognized the voice speaking to her. It was Sister Jacinta. Sister Jacinta was one of Amy’s favorite nuns from the Master Misericordiae.
The Master Misericordiae was an Catholic orphanage where Amy was raised. The nun asked Amy how she was doing and encouraged her to tell Brian the story of her life. Amy knew there was a reason for the call simply because Sister Jacinta had been dead for years.
The next morning Amy requested to do the driving. She knew that if she drove she would not have to look directly at Brian. She would have to keep her eyes on the road. Maybe this would give her the opportunity to tell him everything. As they drove Amy revealed the mystery of her past. Brian quickly learned all the secrets of Amy’s past. At the age of two Amy was abandoned in a church with a name pinned to her shirt. At the age of three, she was adopted by a childless couple, Walter and Darlene Harkinson. She had legally taken their name. A year and a half later, Walter, Darlene and Amy were in a car accident. The car had been hit by a cement truck and Walter and Darlene had perished instantly, but Amy survived unscathed. At four and half, twice traumatized-once by cold rejection, once by loss, Amy returned to the orphanage where she lived until shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Amy might have been emotionally fragile and even psychologically damaged for life if not for the wisdom and kindness of the nuns and the mysterious arrival of a limping golden retriever that instantly bonded with Amy. Because it was so close to Christmas when the dog showed up at the orphanage Amy just knew that he was meant to be an early gift from Saint Nicholas and she named the dog Saint Nicholas and called him Nickie.
When Amy turned sixteen Nickie was diagnosed with a fast-spreading cancer and had to be put to sleep. Amy stayed with Nickie and talked to him as he was being put to sleep. Amy told Nickie that he was the sweetest dog who ever lived, and she loved him every moment, she couldn’t have loved a sister more, or her own child or life. While Amy talked the injection was administered and Nickie went to sleep looking into Amy’s eyes. In telling Brian of her first dog, she discovered an intensity of emotion greater than she had expected. Shaken by the depts. Of that revisited grief, she didn’t feel that she could tell him the rest of her story now.
The next day while driving Amy begins to tell Brian more of her past. She begins by asking him if she had ever told him that she lived in a lighthouse for a few years. Brian was sure that this was something that Amy had never told him. He would have remembered if she had told him about living in a lighthouse. Amy then tells Brian how she came to live in a lighthouse. Her senior year she won a partial scholarship from a major college. Amy had to support herself since this was a partial scholarship and she worked as a waitress for two years. One of Amy’s regular customers, Michael Cogland swept her off her feet. They were engaged two months after they met and were married in four. Amy dropped out of the university and into a life of leisure. Soon Amy was pregnant. Much later Amy learned that Michael was a rich man and his wealth was held in a trust fund. The trust funds were a part of Michael’s grandfather’s will. Michael would only receive the money if by the age of thirty he was married to girl acceptable to his parents and he must father a child by her. Amy gave birth to her daughter at the age of nineteen and for a while all seemed well. Michael wanted to name their daughter Nicole and Amy was pleased with that. By the time Nicole was three Amy was calling her Nickie. After Michale come into his inheritance things changed. Amy remained married solely for the sake of their daughter.
At bedtime Nicole used to tell Amy that she wanted to wear her slippers to bed. Amy could not understand why her daughter wanted to wear her slippers to bed. Nicole told Amy that she had to wear the slippers to bed so she will not be walking barefoot through the woods in her dreams.
While Michael was out of town one night Amy was awoken by an intruder in their bedroom. Before Amy was hit in the face several time she managed to reach into her dresser and retrieve a pistol. The intruder had a knife and was planning to kill Amy. Amy managed to flee from the bedroom and went directly to her daughter’s room only to find that her daughter had been murdered. In rage Amy went after the intruder intending to kill him. Amy fired several times at the intruder before he was able to escape into the dark forest.
Now Nicole’s dreams of the forest finally made since to Amy. Nicole’s dreams were of being lost in the woods. Her father had not only taken her life but her soul, and he would cast it away in the forest, where Nicole would wander forever, barefoot and afraid. After Michael and earned his inheritance he no longer had any use for a family and Michael and he fled the country. Amy’s lawyer was able to convince the court that the government needed to assist Amy in the creation of a new identity and forever seal the records involving her name change.
As Amy concludes telling her past to Brian she and Michael are just arriving at the location where they are to meet Moongirl and Harrow in order to take Hope home with them. As they turn into the entrance the light of a lighthouse can be seen. This book leaves the reader questioning if all the similarities between Amy and Brian, their past relationships and their daughters are really a coincidence or much more. The reader will also question if Moongirl had any clue about the relationship between Harrow and Amy.

3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?
The majority of the setting of this novel takes place in southern California. I honestly did not feel the setting of the novel was extremely important to the story. I feel as though the story could have taken place almost anywhere in the United States and this would not have changed the impact of the story or the reader’s opinion of the novel. The end of the novel takes place beyond the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. Again, I do not feel that the setting at the end of the story had any major impact on the story. The only importance I could find in the final setting of the story is the fact that after arriving in Marin County
Amy has a clear understanding of who was actually behind leading her and Brian to this location.

4. Who are the main characters and what roles do they play in the novel?
The main characters in this novel include Amy Redwing, Brian McCarthy, Moongirl, Piggy, Harrow, and Nickie. Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to rescuing golden retrievers. Brian McCarthy is an architect who is Amy’s boyfriend. Moongirl is known later in the novel as Vanessa and she is Brian’s old girlfriend and Piggy’s mother. Piggy’s real name is Hope. She is Brian’s autistic daughter who he has not seen in ten years. Harrow is Amy’s former husband and the father of their deceased daughter Nicole. Nickie is a special golden retrieve which Amy has rescued from an alcholic abusive owner.

5. What is/are the main conflict(s) in the novel?
I feel that this novel contains several main conflicts. I found the main conflict of this story is good verses evil. Amy Redwing and Brian McCarty are the good while Moongirl and Harrow are the evil. Another conflict in the novel is man verses man. In this novel people are killed for money, envy, and no reason at all. Other conflicts in the novel include man verses dog and vise versa. I also found this novel questioning supernatural events against psychology and science. Several major points made in this novel is the fact that miracles do happen that nobody ever sees and heroes do walk among us unrecognized. Animals can be among the unrecognized heroes in our lives. I do agree with one other major point which is clear in this novel. Death may physically take a loved one from us but those people will always be with us in some way.

6. Describe the climax of the novel?
I found this novel to contain two important points of climax. The novel actually begins at a climax point. When the story opens as Amy receives a call from the wife of an abusive drunk requesting that Amy to rescue Nickie the abused golden retriever from their home. Amy enters the home uninvited, comes face to face with the drunk and puts her own life at risk in order to rescue the golden. The major climax of the story occurs in the final chapter of the novel when Amy and Brian are lead to Miron County in order for Brian to gain custody of his ten-year old autistic daughter named Hope. Amy and Brian have no idea of the true reason why they are contacted to come and get Brian’s daughter. Amy and Brian are both shot and quickly facing death when the mysterious golden retriever Nickie comes to their rescue.

7. What is the significance of the books title? Is the title appropriate, or would I change it to something else?
The Darkest Night of the Year was an ok title for the novel. However, I really did not see how this was the darkest night for Amy, Brian, or Hope. When I think of the word dark I think lonely, unhappy, or gloomy. Amy and Brian both faced many hard times through out their lives. On this particular night as Amy and Brian both quickly faced death they were mysteriously healed by Nickie. This night also ended Hope’s ten-years of abuse from her mother. I fell that the golden retriever Nickie was a true blessing for Amy, Brian, and Hope. I think the title of this book could be changed and should give more focus on Nickie.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why (give specifics)?
This is the most twisted novel that I have ever read. In the first three chapters of the novel you become familiar with Amy Redwing; Amy’s boyfriend, Brian McCarthy; Nickie, the most recent rescued golden retriever; and Amy’s two other goldens, Fred and Ethel. The third chapter of the novel begins speaking of Moongirl. The more I read this chapter the more I wanted to rip the pages of this chapter from the book. I felt as though this chapter did not belong in this novel. Many people become involved in the story throughout the novel. Over and over throughout the novel people are killed just to help eliminate them from any leads to the final climax of the story. If someone would have told me about the story and the way that the chapters switched from person to person and event to event I probably would not have read the novel. After I began reading the book I found each person and each event leading me to question what their purpose was in the novel. I found myself wanting to know what happens next. After reading each chapter I found it very hard to put the book down.

Title: Touching Spirit Bear

Author: Ben Mikaelsen

Publication Date: 2002

Page Count: 241

Type: Fiction

Started On: 12/1/07

Finished On: 12/16/07


My Grade: B



1. Why did I decide to read this book?

I am supposed to write a book synopsis on a book for English. Upon choosing a book I decided to tell my mother the situation I was faced. My mother works at a school and she brought home a few books to choose from. When I saw this book’s cover it looked interesting. The cover consists of a boy with a big bear that seems to be imaginary hovering above him. I read the back of the book and became even more interested.








2. Plot summary:

Cole Matthews is a fifteen year old teenager from Minneapolis. Cole lives at home with his alcoholic and abusive parents. He lives a hard life and has been in trouble many times in the past. After Cole broken into a hardware shop, robbing it, and trashing it he brags about it at school. Peter Driscal ratted to the police about Cole. Then Cole corners Peter outside in the parking lot and beats Peter up. Cole was placed in a detention center while the courts decided what to do with him. Garvey, a youth probation officer visits Cole at the detention center daily. During one visit Garvey asked Cole if he would consider applying for Circle Justice. The Circles Justice is a healing form of justice practiced by the native cultures for thousands of years. In the Circle Justice a healing contract is signed and your obligation is to help make things right. The Circle Justice tries to heal, not punish. Healing requires taking responsibility for your actions. Garvey explained to Cole that if he did not want change this would not work. Cole decided that anything would be better than go to prison and he agreed to apply for Circle Justice. The Circle Justice committee consisted of anyone in the community who wished to make a difference to protect and improving the community. For Cole’s healing process, Garvey suggested that he be placed on a remote island in Alaska. After a number of meetings the committee agreed to place Cole in solitary confinement on the remote island in Alaska for one year. The committee required someone to go through the process with Cole and Garvey agreed to be his sponsor. Within the first two days on the island Cole burned down the cabin and all of his supplies, he tried to escape the island by swimming, and he was attacked by a white spirit bear. During those two days Cole laid helplessly fighting for his life in pain from the attack.


3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?
The majority of the setting of this novel takes place in the wilderness on a remote island in Alaska. The book is very descriptive in detailing the weather, temperatures, wildlife, and surroundings on the island. All of the descriptive details of the setting are very important. The details of the setting makes you feel as though you are on the island with Cole. The novel takes you through every month of the year. The cold weather and the cold waters are so clearly defined that you can clearly imagine the coldness. The setting and the way the setting is described in details is very important in this novel.


4. Who are the main characters and what roles do they play in the novel?
The main characters in this novel include Cole Matthews, Peter Driscal, Garvey and Edwin. Cole Matthews is a fifteen year old teenager from Minneapolis. For years, Cole has been in trouble with the law. Cole comes from a wealthy family which consists of alcoholic and abusive parents. Peter Driscal is a ninth grader who gets seriously injured in a fight with Cole Matthews. Garvey is a youth probation office who took interest in Cole. Garvey was a Tlingit Indian. Edwin was a Tlingit elder who helped arrange Cole’s banishment. Edwin built a shelter for Cole on the island and made all the preparations

5. What is/are the main conflict(s) in the novel?
I feel that this novel contains several main conflicts. The story begins with one of the conflicts as Cole is assaulting Peter in the school parking lot. This is a conflict between Cole and Peter. The next conflict that takes place would be during Cole’s first visit to the island.
As Cole becomes aggressive towards the spirit bear it causes the bear to fight back. Another conflict could be the one with Cole his self. Cole has to find a way to forgive him self.

6. Describe the climax of the novel?
This novel is filled with one climax after another. The climax of this novel takes place during the first two days on the island. When Cole tries to escape from the island unsuccessfully he finds himself face to face with the white spirit bear. Face to face with a spirit bear makes you question what is going to happen to Cole. When Cole becomes aggressive towards the bear the bear attack Cole for it’s own protection. Cole is basically ripped apart from the bear and left alone and helpless on the island struggling for his life. The bear’s attack and Cole’s fight for survival leaves you question if Cole will live or die during the attack. Another major climax takes place when Peter and Cole are on the island together. Filled with anger Peter attacks Cole unexpectedly. Peter want Cole to fight back. At this point you are unable to put the novel down as you question how much Cole will take before he fights back. The time on the island did make positive changes on Cole. Cole pleaded for forgiveness from Peter and refused to fight back.


7. What is the significance of the books title? Is the title appropriate, or would I change it to something else?

The title of the book was good. The significance of the books title is related to when Cole is attacked by the spirit bear. As Cole was being attacked he ripped a handful of white hair from the bear. He placed the hair in his pocket. He knew if he managed to survive that no one would believe that he had seen a spirit bear. As Cole was being transported to the hospital he reached in his pocket and found the hair. Cole knew then it was not important anymore for him to prove anything to anyone. Cole tossed the hair in the waters and showed it to know one. At that point Cole decided that the only thing that matter to his was to just be honest from this point out. In the final chapter of the novel when Cole and Peter are together and Peter sees the spirit bear for the first time. Peter questioned if anyone would believe them. Cole explained to Peter that it doesn’t matter what other people think or believe. Cole says what is important is what you believe. One major factor I found this novel to be expressing to the reader is the fact that you can overcome anything, you can become anything as long as you believe in yourself. I don’t think I would change the title of this book because Cole’s experience from the bear’s attack plays an important part in all the changes that Cole makes in himself.

Journals 12/10-12/14

Have you ever expirenced major appliance failure at your house? What happened?
- I am sure that we have had a major appliance problem that I don't remember. Our appliances have problems sometimes but not major ones in most cases. I am glad nothing major has occured because I would be helping clean it.

Rudolph Died (bulb burned out) name his replacement.
- Rudolph's replacement is a spotlight mounted on the front of the sled. With new technology Santa could have a high tech sled with navagation controls and all that good stuff. This is just an idea. I expect Rudolph to live for ever and I don't expect Santa to go high tech.

Journals 11/26-12/7

11/26 - Any Adventures over break?
I did not have any adventures over the break. The break consisted of me eating, sleeping, playing basketball, hunting, and doing a few things with my friends. I always enjoy Thanksgiving break though because it is the first break that is decent is length that we get.



11/27- Is our society too sensitive? Santa can't say "Ho-Ho-Ho" anymore?
I don't think our society is too sensitive for santa to sat "Ho-Ho-Ho". There are probably a lot of imeture people that disagree but most normal people understand. Santa has been saying that for so many years no I strongly disagree with changing it now.



11/28- Should lit taught in high school be censored?
High school literature should not be censored. The books that have been approved because they are educational should be read exactly how they are written. If high school students can't handle the inappropriate words in the books they should refuse to read them; not complain to the board. If they can't read books without getting offended there is no way they will be able to handle graduating because the world is full of bad language and ignorant people and people need to learn to live with it.




11/29- How early is too early for Christmas decorations?

Putting decorations up before November is deffinatly to early. I can under stand November because people are thinking of Christmas and the decorations are nice to see when it's only a month away. Most people put them up right after Thanksgiving because they have fun decorating but my family is always going some where else and we have no time to decorate. We're usually not decorated for Christmas until two weeks before.

11/30- Christmas tree-topping: star, angel, or other?
My family uses an angel. I disagree with the tree-toppers that have nothing to do with Jesus. He is the real reason behind the celebration so why not put an angel or start up for him.



12/3- Pity the WVU fans, or revel in their misery?
I am glad that WVU lost. I have no pity on them because they always critisis Maryland. They have deffinatly been a tough team the last couple years but everyone needs to realize that they choke in big games. It never fails. Let me be the first to say that WV will not will a national championship in football or basketball for the next 5 years. They need to get a new coach because obviously he doesn't know how to prepare the team for big games. The fans also get the team over confident when they enter a big game.



12/7- Do you prefer a white Christmas...or would you rather experience warm winter weather?
I love the snow during Christmas. I don't think I would like it any other way. The snow adds the excitment of being able to sled or build a snowman before Christmas. It deffinatly makes the weeks before Christmas more exciting.

Journals 11/26-12/7

Book Synopsis: Big Trouble

Title: Big Trouble

Author: Dave Barry

Publication Date: 1999

Page Count: 317

Type: Fiction

Started On: 10/8

Finished On: 11/21

My Grade: B

1. Why did I decide to read this book?

Every time it comes time to start a new book I ask Clark which book he would recommend. This time around he suggested a book different from the past ones. This one was a comedy type book. Even though I haven't seen the movie it is also very popular.

2. Plot summary:

Puggy a hitch hiker from Cleveland comes to Miami. Here he almost gets into a fight at a Jolly Jackal but after helping fight away two nuisance at the bar he is then offered a job there what ends up to be doing no work and drinking a lot of beer. Puggy begins living in a tree where he experiences someone trying to Arthur Herk, a father, and a being tackled by two women. The two guys trying to shot the father are hit men hired by the company that Mr. Herk works for. At the same time Matt and Andrew are entering the house to shoot Monica with a water gun. A lot of events happen rapidly to result in a hole in the wall, a broken television, and one boy being beat up by two women. After Arthur realizes that he has been shot at he asks the men at Jolly Jackal for their help. When he requests help he is told that they could give a bomb to him. Before Mr. Herk could get the bomb it is stolen; but the men who have stolen it think it has something to do with drugs. The stolen bomb is taking to Mr. Herk's own house by two men. The men capture Puggy and Jenny as hostages. They then go to an airport where they flip a switch on the bomb which sets the bomb for detonation.

3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?

The setting of the novel is in Coconut Grove in Miami. There is always something happening in Miami. This is where the Herk's home, the Jolly Jackal Bar and Eliot Arnold Advertising and Public Relations are all located. These are all important to the novel in different ways. As far as the time goes it doesn't specify.

4. Who are the main characters and what roles do they play in the novel?

The main characters is this novel include Matt Arnold, Eliot Arnold, Arthur Herk, Anna Herk, Jenny Herk, Puggy and Nina. There are other characters that you may consider a main character put these are the people I feel make up the most of the novel. Matt Arnold is son of Eliot Arnold. Matt is a high school student who is given an assignment as part of a game in his school. He also has a crush on Jenny Herk who is the one he is assigned to "kill". Eliot is a fairly rich man who owns his own business. He is attracted to Anna Herk and goes out to eat with her on many occasions. Anna Herk is also attracted to Eliot but Anna is currently married to Arthur Herk. She explains that the only reason that she married Arthur is because she needed help taking care of Jenny. Jenny Herk goes to the school with Matt Eliot. She lives with her mother and father and has her home invaded by Matt. After that she begins to like Matt. Puggy is the first character mentioned. He hitch hiked from Cleveland. He then has a job at Jolly Jackal and lives in the Herk's backyard. While he is staying there he begins to like Nina who is a foreign woman that is a maid in the Herk's home. Nina also likes Puggy and makes him food and delivers it to his tree.

5. What is/are the main conflict(s) in the novel?

The main conflict begins by Arthur Herk being in big trouble. He is shot at in his home and has to find a way to get back at the people who shot at him. He then goes to the Jolly Jackal bar to get something to defend himself. He gets a bomb but when leaving has it stolen by two men. The men don't know that this is a bomb they have stolen but they immediately capture Jenny and Puggy as hostages and go to the airport. While in the airport the men set the bomb.

6. Describe the climax of the novel?

The climax is when the men have detonated the bomb. The bomb they have stole from Arthur Herk begins to increase the intensity. Authur had bought the bomb and just as he was leaving it was stolen while he was at gun point. The two men that stole the bomb have Jenny and Puggy hostage and the bomb has been set.

7. What is the significance of the books title? Is the title appropriate, or would I change it to something else?

I love this title because when you think about trouble you think of the many things that occur in this book that get the characters in trouble. This title is appropriate because it is Mr. Herk who is in "big trouble". His trouble begins at work and this leads to two hit men trying to kill him. After this he purchases a bomb to protect himself but it is stolen so this puts him in even more trouble. Finally his daughter is held hostage and she is at an airport sitting with a bomb that has been set. Eliot is in trouble because he likes Anna even though she is married to a total jerk.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why (give specifics)?

The book is one that I enjoyed very much. It was the funniest book I have read. I enjoyed the jokes and some of the situations characters faced. I thought everything was very creative and in most books with this many characters one may not be able to remember them well but because the details Dave Barry adds it makes it very easy to remember every character.

Journals 11/5-11/16

11/5/07- You won the lottery what do you do first?
The first thing I'd do after winning the lottery is go crazy! The next thing I'd do is buy a new car. Then I would but Alicia her own Ariel statue. Finally I would save the rest so I did't lose my car and I could use the rest on other things.

11/6/07- Lottery winner... which of your friends/family get a chunk?
I wouldn't just give anyone money I would probably buy them something they want though. I would buy my parents a few things and my brother something. Like I said I would buy Alicia an Ariel statue like I said. I would be nice and not mean if I had a lot of money.

11/7/07- Lottery winner... will you still go to school/get a job?
I would still stay in school to get an education. I wouldn't want to be stupid all my life. Incase I run out of money I would still like to be able to have a job.

11/8/07- Lotter winner... would you give to charity and which one?
I would probably give to a charity if I won the lottery. If I did give to a charity I would have trouble deciding on one. I would most likely chose a cancer fund. If I had cancer it would mean more than anything to be recieving money for operations and such.

11/9/07- Is it fair to other clubs and organization that the bulk of Keyser High School fundraising goes toward the sports complex?
I don't think the fund distrubution is fair. Sports probably bring in more money than any of the clubs but I think the sports might get a little to much. Football is the worst of all. They get two busses for games (including home games) and a dinner before they play. They get this while the rest of the sports teams only get one bus for just away games and don't receive a dinner. I know the football team has more players than any but once I was riding to a soccer game and had to fit both boys and girls on one bus. That is atleast 40 players and I believe the football game has about 40 players.

11/13/07- Are the current speed limits reasonable or shold they be raised or lowered?
I believe the speed limits are fine as they are. Some people obey them while other don't. Whenever people get killed by being hit by a car in most cases the speed limit won't effect anything.

11/14/07- What is at the top of your Christmas list?
There's nothing I really want for Christmas. Usually I enjoy getting Maryland stuff but that's usual for me. I really just want to have a good Christmas and enjoy the time off more than anything.

11/15/07- Have you been naughty or nice this year?
I have probably been a little naughty but not so much. I try to be nice most of the time but I probably fail at it when I'm mad. I think overall though I have been more nice than naughty.

11/16/07- What is the most essential menu item in Thanksgiving dinner?
- The turkey has probably always been the most essential since the first Thanksgiving. I don't know a family that doesn't have turkey for the holiday. I think stuffing is also importand and usually an apple pie is made for Thanksgiving.