Summary "Flush"

Flush is about a boy named Noah who lives in Key West with his mom, dad and sister Abby. He actually only lived with his dad for half of the book because his dad was in jail for sinking a casino boat owned by a man named Dusty Muleman. His dad sunk the boat because Dusty Muleman was dumping his toilet waste into the waters of Thunder Island. Thunder Island is a place were sea turtles lay their eggs. When the babies hatch and get into the water the sewage will kill or harm them. Noah and his sister come up with a plan to bust Dusty Muleman for draining sewage into the water. There operation is called "Royel Flush." Noah and Abby went to a department store and bought 30 cases of fuchsia colored dye. They ask a woman named Shelly to help them. This woman works on the casino boat as a bartender. Noah goes onto the boat and gives Shelly 15 cases of the dye while he also takes 15 cases of the dye. Shelly sneaks him into the ladies bathroom where he dumps the dye into the toilet and flushes it down. The next day Noah calls the Coast Guard and tells them about sightings of fuchsia colored water in the ocean. The Coast Guard finds the waters and trails it back to the casino boat. Dusty Muleman is busted for one of the worst crimes ever done.

Quotes "Flush"

"The other times my dad has gotten in trouble, they wouldnt let me come to the jail because i was too young" i dont really like this quote because it very sad when your dad is in different place (jail) and you can not see him. But i think they dont let Noah in because he too young and they dont want him to learn any mistake from the people who in jail. "It's a pretty small town and news gets around fast, so by now it was no secret that pur faather was inn the slammer for sinking Dustry Muleman's casino boat. Everybody would be talking about it." it is very sad when everyone laugh and talk alot of stuff about your family member especially that you dont to heard anything that make always remember what had happen to your family member. When his father in jail doent mean that he is a bad person and they dont have to talk about it all the time. It is not fair when one of our family member is in a jail and we have to receive alot of things that we dont want to heard (any bad thing that hurt our feeling).

Sound and Video Clip "Flush"

http://www.hark.com/clips/bqcmtzkjlg-big-waves-1 (Sound clip)

(Video clip)

The reason I chose this link is because the waves that relate to the ocean and that is how Noah’s father doing his jobs. Also when the other people teases him when they see him in the sea or ocean. The reason that they teasing him because they put his father in the jail by sinking a casino boat that owned by a man named Dusty Muleman. The reason that his dad sunk the boat because Dusty Muleman was dumping his toilet waste into the waters of Thunder Island (a place where sea turtles lay their eggs and when the babies hatch and get into the water the sewage will kill or harm them). So I chose this video clip because they sinking a boat and it kind of like the idea that Noah's dad did. I think these 2 things (sound and video clip) are related because they both have to deal with water and both of them have the reason that could connect together.

Paraphrase "Flush"

Noah and Abbey’s father is in jail for sinking a casino boat that he claims has been dumping raw sewage into the waters near their home in the Florida keys. He has no proof, the owner of the boat denies it, and everyone in town thinks he’s a crackpot. Their mother is going to divorce him unless he shapes up and gets his anger and impulsive behavior under control. So it’s up to Noah and Abbey to prove that their father was right. But with everyone mad at their father, hired goons guarding the refloated boat, members of local law enforcement paid off by the owner, and the owner’s son beating up on Noah, getting that proof looks well-nigh impossible. That is, until Noah comes up with a plan that involves a tattooed barmaid, a stolen motorboat, and thirty-four bottles of fuschia food coloring.  This book it like brings people to the real world. It make the people who read this book pay more attention to the environmental issues. What I learned from this book is that it just comes to show and yoy can prove to the world something that no one believes in. It's through the hard work that people put and a will to do so that is stronger than just belief.

Characters "Flush"

Noah is one of the main characters. He is the brilliant kid, who comes up with the plan to uncover Dusty Muleman’s secret of polluting waters with human waste. He believes in fighting for something close to his heart, and he protects his sister to the best of his ability. Noah mostly gets along with his dad. He is another determined member of the family, like his father and his grandfather.
Paine (Noah's dad), has an honest and determined character. He also loves being out on water. He tries to correct problems that are ruining our planet or hurting wildlife, even if it takes him farther than his limits. To prove he was right in every situation he's had in protecting wildlife he's been to jail before and has had his captain's license taken away. Paine did crazy things to like, popping the tires of a family, wrapping someone up in a net, and sinking a casino boat. Every time he's caught he turns himself in and he never apologizes for what he' done.
Abbey is Noah's little sister. She has a talent of biting, really hard. One event I could think of that included Abbey and her teethe was when she left scars on a bully’s ear. Abbey is the one that cheers up her mom at hard times. Abbey is clever, a good actress, and she isn't a giry-girly type.
Dusty Muleman is the owner of the Coral Queen, the casino boat. Dusty used to be a fishing guide, like Paine, and then during the summer Dusty used to take tourists into the mountains for book trout. He worked like this until Dusty told the other fishing guides; he had inherited some money from a rich uncle who died in an elephant stampede. Soon after he quit being a fishing guide he partnered up with an Indian tribe of Miccosukee’s, and bought the Coral Queen. (It was the law that only Indian tribes could buy casino boats for gambling.) He was known to show off how rich he was. Dusty was also the one to be suspected of breaking the law.
Grandpa Bobby is Noah's grandpa. He was in South America and then the government decided he was dead because they found a body with Grandpa Bobby's wallet inside. Noah's family received rumors about how he died, like, by dying in a bar fight, or his appendix ruptured.
Charles otherwise known as "Lice." Lice used to work on the Coral Queen until he was fired for stealing Dusty's girlfriend. He is lazy, a deep sleeper, and a smoker. He helps Noah out whenever he can, but at a price.
Shelly is a tough girl. She is a large lady, blonde hair, and a barbed wire tattoo. Shelly is Lice Peeking's girlfriend and Dusty's ex-girlfriend. She was gifted in knowing whether someone was lying or not. Like Abbey, she is a good actress, and she becomes a valuable member in helping Noah.
Donna (Abbey's mom), is really patient and understanding. She was divorced until she met Paine, the same day her divorce was final was the same day she got married. She isn't the kind to break the law either. She is always in control.

Letter to the author

                                 Dear Carl Hiaasen,

Why do put Noah which is the main character from FLUSH in the situation that is not easy to help his father. Even thought that his father arrest for sinking a boat and they family can not do any thing about it. His father dont let the family help about it, Noah wants to get his dad out of jail so he have to catch a casino boat owner, who he thinks dump his sewage into the ocean.  by catching a casino boat owner, who he thinks dump his sewage into the ocean. He have to heard alot of teasing thing from people that his father is in the jail, just because his father in the jail it doesnt mean that he is bad or do something wrong. I will continue read the book and see what will happen.
                                                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                                                     Linh

Opinion on 3rd independent reading book

I don't think i will start to read Journey of the Sparrows by Fran Leeper Buss with the assistance of Daisy Cubias as my third independent book because from the beginning I'm not interest on the topic that the author try to tell. Also i don't have any feeling when i read this book, maybe i don't really like this type of book. I think i need to go to the public library or class library to find a different third independent reading book. I like to read something that very interest in the beginning because that make me want to continues reading not just stop. So i want to find a type of book that relate to our life and how it help us to get better at it.

Reflection

I finish reading Homeless Bird which is my second independent reading book. In my own opinion I think the most interesting is about the main character (Koly). She a window because she forced into a tragic marriage with a terminally ill man. Koly is condemned to a life to her mother-in-law and father-in-law. Koly's father-in-law gets very depressed after both his children leave him and soon he dies. Koly and her mother-in-law move to a different place and she met Raji who takes Koly to a home for widow whare he is fed and given a job. Soon Koly is working for her own money and saving up for a home of her own and when her talent at embroidery is discover, Koly is given a high-paying job embroidering cloth for an expensive sari shop. Everything is going so well for Koly and Raji wants to marry her. But Koly afraid of losing her independence and being forced back into the life she lived with her mother-in-law. However, Koly finally realizes that this time is different; this time it is for love.

Poem/Poetry Webquest Link

1. http://www.rattapallax.com/mountain_mt_everest.htm

2. http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070919205917AAiUqXH

3. http://www.poetry4kids.com/poem-510.html

4. http://www.ctadams.com/steven6.html

5. http://www.voicesnet.org/poemspeaker.aspx?poemid=59274

1. NEVER GIVE UP

2. MOUNT EVEREST

3. ON  TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST

4. MOUNT EVEREST WOMEN

5. EVEREST

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan

I finish reading this book Homeless Bird.  It is about a young Indian girl forced into a tragic marriage with a terminally ill boy, through the experiences of widowhood, discovers the truth about who she is and what love is really means. Koly, the main character which is the young Indian girl who has just reached the age which tradition dictates she is eligible to be married. She will have a difficult life because it is not easy for her to take care of person who has tuberculosis. What I take out of this book is all about tradition and religious beliefs.  I have a great time reading this book and I hope all of people who read this book will enjoy as much as I did.

Koly the main character from HOMELESS BIRD she have to get marry at the young age but she only want to focus in school. But her parent want her to get marry because her family not that rich so she have to get marry to the guy that she don't even know and her family thought that she will have a better life. When she get marry, she know that her husband didn't have a good life (sick). After a while her husband death and her husband family treat her very bad because they blame on Koly that doesn't help they son getting better. She can not go back to her family because once you marry out its not easy for you to come back. So she have to stay at that house and do all the housework. I think its not easy to live the rest of the life at that house, i will continue reading and see what will happen.

Letter to author, main character, another person who should read the book

  I want to write this letter to the main character "Of Mice and Men". I don’t understand why you have to kill Lennie even though he kills the boss son’s wife but he kills her just by accident. Also you could take Lennie to other place that the boss son’s couldn’t find him, you and Lennie save some money so you guys could buy some farm. Why you kill Lennie for?  

 I know that John Steinbeck which is the author want us to think about the ending that why did  George kill Lennie. But I think he should give us an ending. Anyways I really enjoy this book, thanks for writing this book. I hope there are more books like this book.