Tween Tuesday: Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 208

Publication date: April 25, 2006

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 5

Synopsis: from Amazon.com

The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coelho introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Review: The Alchemist is a unique and extremely exhilarating tale about the lengths that man will go to to achieve a goal, no matter how far fetched it may seem, and how the path to realization can yield more than just wisdom. I have to say that this extraordinary book is, in fact, my favorite book so far in my life.

My favorite character is the Alchemist, an all-knowing, philosophical individual who believes in the "Soul of the World" and all that speak the "Language of the World." I think that men like the Alchemist have intriguing persona. I can't help but wonder what's going on inside his mind.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." - the Alchemist

I recommend that those with a more mature taste in books and who enjoy the more allegorical type of story to read this novel. I was, and am almost absolutely sure that others who read this book will be, touched by the story within this story of discovery.

In a sentence...

A story of true discovery and life altering realization.

Posted by: Pono 

Tween Tuesday: Eddie Would Go

The Eddie Aikau big wave tournament is supposed to be a go tomorrow at Waimea Bay on Oahu, Wednesday 2/11/16. The contest has not been held since 2009 because in order for it to be an Eddie, the waves need to be 25 feet according to Hawaiʻi standards, so 30 plus feet as they measure it now,   and the waves need to peak during daytime hours, so the moon, the tides, the waves need to align perfectly for at least 8 hours of competition.  Whether the contest happens tomorrow or not, Eddie Aikau's story is a great one to read.

Author: Stuart Holmes Coleman

Publisher: Bess Press

Pages: 227

Publication Date: 2002

Genre: Autobiography/Biography

Rating: 5

Synopsis: From Amazon.com

Eddie Would Go is the only biography of one of Hawaii’s greatest heroes. A shy and humble man by nature, Eddie Aikau became larger than life in the ocean. As a surfer, he rode the biggest waves in the world; as a lifeguard, he saved hundreds of lives from the North Shore’s treacherous waters; and as a proud Hawaiian, he sacrificed his life to save his fellow sailors aboard the voyaging canoe Hokule'a. But more than a biography of a courageous waterman, Stuart Coleman’s Eddie Would Go also tells the story of modern Hawaii and Eddie’s role in the Hawaiian Renaissance during the 1970’s. The book is based on numerous interviews with his family, friends and many of Hawaii’s leading watermen and scholars. Coleman weaves together their memories in an exciting and informative story. By exploring his legendary life and legacy, this book will show why Eddie has become such an enduring icon in Hawaii and the surfing world.

Review: Eddie would go is a very adventurous book that inspires people. This book is about a young man who never gave up on his dream.

The characters are real people who actually lived way back then and lived that old Hawaiian life style. Eddie, the main focus, is a person who is so nice and down to Earth like his loving family.

The most exciting part is the big wave surfing contest. This part gives me an adrenaline rush and makes me get pumped up about surfing. It's so exciting, and it's a page-turner.

So this is a great book for surfers and people who are just starting. This book will really inspire those people and also teach them the history of a great Hawaiian surfer and his legacy.

In a sentence...

Eddie is a man who became larger than life in the ocean and an enduring icon.

Posted by: Aukai

OMG! Why I Appreciate Editors

I have been sorely neglecting this blog. My apologies to the authors waiting for reviews, but I promise, in true middle school fashion (that I learn from my students), I have a FABULOUS excuse!

The zombies came and sucked my brains out and made me editor of a new blog written by my colleague's students. Who knew that 6th graders who have been studying MUGS (mechanics, usage, grammar) all year don't actually know that commas and apostrophes don't go in random places just to make the text look nice? I didn't know that they could tell their classmates that a title needs to be italicized (another thing they learned in MUGS), but that the rules they like to spout onto others actually applies to themselves too?

Either way, this has been a two week foray into having a great idea over coffee with a colleague to actually making it happen with only two weeks of school left. In two weeks, with one hour classes every other day, let's set up a blog, negotiate format with the 106  6th graders, look through their reading logs and choose three random books that they claim they've read, and with now one week left, let's have them post three book reviews each. Also, because it's published on the world wide web, let's make sure that they edit with us at least once.

So I have edited, not always with as much pride or care, 300 plus blog entries. I am proud of those students that stuck with it even if I had to email them three or four times until they finally got to press the big blue "publish" button. Now that it's over. . . let's do it again next year.
I am not an author, but I am awed by all the editors who put so much work and investment into every author and aspiring author. Thank you!

If you have some time this summer (and it's summer for us in Hawaii in 2 days), check out our student blogs - at http://tweenthepages.wordpress.com