Mary Seymour

Mary Seymour is quite different than most girls, espicially me. Aside from the fact that she lived about 400 years ago and was the daughter of a queen, there are many contrasts between us. She was orphaned when just a few months old for her mother died of childbirth complications, and her scum-bag father was executed as a traitor just a few months after. My parents are still alive. Then there's the fact that she believes faliing in love is evil. It's no wonder though, her intelligent, admirable mother fell in love with her scum-bag of a father, and that turned out disasterous for her, since it gave her heartache and death. Then her guardian, a duchess is killed because she was in love with the stable master and wasn't paying attention to her horse, who then threw her and killed her. I, on the other hand, believe love is a magical, wonderfull thing. i also don't have magical powers like she does in the book. we are both very different girls, other than for obvious reasons.

Mary, the red queen's daughter

Mary, the orphaned daughter of former Queen Katherine, the last wife of King Henry VIII, and Sir Thomas Seymore (who was brother to the king's third wife, Jane)was a real girl. But Mary seems to dissapear from history after her mother's tragic death shortly after Mary's birth. So the author chose to write about this Mary. In the story Mary is a strong and curious child to begin with, and grows into a beautiful young woman. In the book, she is also studying magic with her guardian, Lady Strange. She wishes to learn as much as she can about her mother and follow in her footsteps. She is quick and clever, and very observant. Already she has decided that love is the enemy, and can turn the most sensible women sensless, as it did to her mother and first guardian. She is a very interesting main character, and it makes me wonder what really did become of Mary Seymore?

Listening at the gate

Kat, the main character, is a girl somewhat like me. She can be stubborn, but also unsure of herself. And she just wants to be loved for who she is. Unlike me though, she has a lover, a loving brother, a sister-in-law, a soon to be neice or nephew, and many loving friends. She has scars and just wants her life to go back the way it was, when she was happy, and nothing else mattered. But now she must be brave, for her lover, for her brother, and for herself. She is also very forgiving, something that i am not. she forgives her father who tried to force her to marry to help himself, and who hit her. I don't think I could ever do that.

Outside Reading Reflection

Listening at the Gate by Betsy James is the third and final book in the Seeker series about a girl named Kat who is on a path to self discovery, and to find where she belongs. Her father’s people shun her because of her father’s shameful marriage to her mother, who was a native and therefore inferior. Her mother’s people, aside from her aunt and cousins, dislike her because of her father. Then she is in love with an outcast from another people who relate themselves to seals. I chose this book because I have read the first two books about Kat and liked them a lot. And as the last book ended in a cliff-hanger, I had to read the last one and find out what happens next.

Thunder from the sea

Thunder from the sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow is a bout a 13-year old orphan named Tom Cambell. When Enoch and Fiona Murray take him in to live with them on an island called Back o' the Moon in Newfoundland, Tom is happy as can be. One day, while fishing druing a storm, Tom rescues a newfoundland dog and names him Thunder. Then Fiona gets pregnant, and an earthquake comes. But the earthquake isn't the least of it, it causes the water to go out of the harbor, then come back in in a rush as a tidal wave. Tom's house is left standing, but alot of their neighbor's houses are swept away. Tom is worried that Fiona and Enoch won't be able to keep him, with a new baby on the way, and money stretched tight. Then something goes wrong with Fiona's baby when it's about to born, and Tom must help get Fiona across the melting harbor to the doctor in a snowstorm. But in the end, everything works out, and Tom is officially adopted by Enoch and Fiona, plus he has a new baby sister!

Homeless Bird

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan is about a young girl in India named Koly. Her family is struglling, and she is married off to a sickly young boy, whose parents had lied about his age and illness. Soon after the marriage, Kloy accompanies her new husband and in-laws on a train journey to the Ganges River, which could supposedly heal the sick. Instead of getting better, Koly's husband gets sicker and dies. She tries to be the best daughter she can be to her her in-laws, but the mother hates her anyway. Then her only friend, her sister-in-law gets married, and she is left all alone in the world. Then her father-in-law dies, and things get even tougher for Koly. One day, her mother-in-law, or sass gets a letter. she says it's from her brother, telling her she can come live with him. But in the holy city of Vrindavan, her mother-in-law manages to abandon her. But soon she finds love, and independent life she had never known.

Decades old murder solved

In 1981, a 6-year old boy was decapitated in Hollywood Florida. The little boy, Adam Walsh, was abducted from a shopping center, then murdered. Adam's abduction lead to the tv show America's Most Wanted, hosted by his father John Walsh. The suspect, Ottis Toole had apparently confessed twice to killing the boy, but then took his confessions back. Toole also confessed to hundreds of other murders, but most were lies. The authorites made sevral mistakes in this investigation, including losing blood stained carpet from Toole's car, and overlooking the fact that a sandal and green shorts similar to what Adam had been wearing had been found in Toole's house. Adam's head was discovered in a canal 120 miles away, but the rest of his body was never found. So this closes more than two decades of unhapiness and torture for Adam's parents. The suspect has been dead for awhile.

It's great that this case was finally solved, though it should've been solved alot earlier. My questions are why on earth would someone abduct a random little boy and decapitate him, and confess to hundreds of murders they didn't do?

Bush dodges shoe

ON a surpirse las t visit to the middle east, Predsident Bush thanks the troops and talks to the iraqui officials. but not everyone is happy he's there, some reporter in the small group that was there, threw both his shoes at Bush so he had to duck to avoid being hit. In the middle east, this is apparently a great insult, to get a shoe thrown at you, but apparently Bush was not insulted and later joked about it. Apprenly the man also cried out as he was throwing the shoes: "this is for the widows and orphans!". Who knows what he meant by that. then he was tackled and dragged away screaming by security.

I think that it is totally hilarious that Bush had to dodge a shoe of all things. apparently he thinks it's funny too. I guess that reporter's aim wasn't very good, or else he's bad at taking poeple by surprise, othersie he would've hit Bush. it seems just so hilarious!!!!!!! and i'm sure you can find an article about it on any newswebsite.

woman swept away during proposal

in Neskowin, Oregon, Scott Napper was about to propose to his girlfriend of 3 years, Leafil Alforque when a 3 foot high wave came and swept her away. Leafil was from the phillipines and had arrived 3 days before this event. As she was only 4'11 and 93 pounds, it was easy for the wave to sweap her away. Napper quickly called for help, and some arrived in minuites, but they were unable to find Alforque.

I think it's incredbly sad and funny at the same time that she was swept away jsut as her boyfriend was about to pop the question. Sad because now they can never marry, and her boyfriend will never see her again. plus her family will never see her again. But yet waht are the chances of getting swept away by a wave just as your boyfriend was goign to ask you to marry him?!!!! i mean it sounds like something from a cartoon or something! this article was on cbsnews.com.

Horses, myth and fascination

In the book Horses Myth and Fascination by Susanne Sgrazzutti it explains mythical horses. The legend goes that a unicorn appeared to a young woman and made her understand without words, that she would “bear a king without a throne.” People later thought it referred Confucius. The horn on a unicorn was often sought for jewelry and for cups that rendered poison useless. But it wasn’t actually the horn of a unicorn, as they do not exist, but the horn of a male narwhale. It was this horn that fueled the beliefs in unicorns for many years. Many goddesses and gods were portrayed with horses, and some ancient Germanic tribes worshiped a pure white horse. Another mythical horse was Sleipnir, who had eight legs and supposedly could glide over land, sea and air. The Germanic people also decided when to launch attacks by their horses’ reactions. In conclusion, the horse has played a great role in history and myths.

Shelter dogs

Dear MS. Kehret,
your book, Shelter Dogs, was so inspiring and heart warming. it made me want to get up and adopt all the dogs, and offer a lifetime of volunteer work at the local humane society. My family adopted a dog almost two years ago from a rescue organization called Homeward Boud at a pet adoption fair at a Petco. He had some troubles and insecurities, but gradually he's overcoming those. I'm so glad that we did adopt him, he's part of our family now.

sincerely,
Elise M.

Animal Heroes in a box

Classifications of animal heroes can vary. but ones i found were, animals saving animals, animals saving people, and the different kind of animal heroes. There are working animals, who are trained to be heroes, like service animals, police animals, etc. Then there are the every day houshold pets. These animal heroes are smart, loving, loyal, and selfless. that's what makes them heroes. Below you'll find a video, and several texts telling stories of some animal heroes.

Conclusion
I found many, many stories of animal heroism. The ones posted are just a few. I found that what we call "dumb animals" are not dumb at all. They are smart, and know exactly what they should do. I also found that, for the msot part, these heroes fell into two categories. Those who were trained, but went beyond their training, and the everyday pets.

animal heroes of 2006

animal heroes artifiacts con't

In 1999 a 5-year-old rottweiler police dog named Caesar leapt into the path of a bullet, when he tried to disarm a man threatening a schoolyard full of children. Caesar later died of his wounds, but not before his partner Constable Randy Goss and other officers captured the man. Caesar was awarded the Ralston Purina Service Dog of the Year award. http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol8/no2/animalheros.html This shows that heroes are selfless, they think of others berfore themselves, and sometimes this costs them their life.
Dog Rescues Abandoned Newborn BabyAugust 24, 2008 – 9:12 pm by R. Gilbert
A 14-year old mother abandoned her newborn baby in a field in a rural area outside La Plata, Argentina on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. It is winter in Argentina and the temperature at night can get below 40° F this time of year. An eight-year old dog named La China found the baby, brought her home and nestled her among her litter of puppies, saving the infant’s life.
Hours later, the dog’s owner heard the baby’s cries. He called the police, and the baby was taken to a local hospital. After the situation was made public, the young mother went to the hospital, and admitted that she abandoned her baby.
The infant has some bruises, but is healthy. This shows that heroes can do some surpirsing things.
Saved by the Lab
While walking Boomer, my five-year-old Lab, on a street near my home, I stumbled into a pothole and broke both my legs. Though I screamed for help, no one was around. Boomer lay right down on the road and stayed there. I knew I needed medical help, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, "Home." My 160-pound Lab dragged me, stopping now and then. Finally we made it to the house. My husband found me and called 911.
I had rescued Boomer from a shelter. I never dreamed he would end up rescuing me. Heroes can be unlikely heroes, but they are heroes just the same.

Sealed!
Gimpy the elephant seal pup, my constant companion at work, was a gentle giant at 150+ pounds -- until the day I slipped and belly-flopped to the deck at the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur, where I was a volunteer. Dazed, I looked up and saw three aggressive seal pups moving in. I reached for my protective board. Then I saw another large mass of seal blubber rushing toward me. It was Gimpy. She became my shield. As the yelping pups got closer, she swiftly forced them away. She saved me from a mauling that day -- there's no doubt about it.
-- Submitted by Hugh Ryono, Fullerton, California
Even wild animals in captivity can become heroes.
An Eye on You
Cashew, my 14-year-old yellow Lab, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is Libby, 7, her seeing-eye cat. Libby steers Cashew away from obstacles and leads her to her food. Every night she sleeps next to her. The only time they're apart is when we take Cashew out for a walk. Without this cat, we know Cashew would be lost and very, very lonely indeed. It's amazing but true: This is one animal who knows what needs to be done and does it day in and day out for her friend.
-- Submitted by Terry Burns, Middleburg, Pennsylvania
Sometimes friendship makes heroes.

A Pawn for a Queen

A Pawn for A Queen by Fiona Buckley is a novel set in Queen Elizabeth I’s time. The story is told form the perspective of Ursula, a thirty-year old woman with a love for mysteries. Ursula is asked by her worried aunt and uncle to go after her cousin, who is going to Scotland to give a list of supporters to the Scottish Queen Mary, Elizabeth's rival. When Usula catches up with her cousin, she finds him brutally murdered, leaving a wife and two young daughters behind. While the authorities aren’t making much progress, Ursala is determined to find her cousin’s murderer.
Ursula is a woman that is very determined and driven. She was born out of wedlock, she was brought up by her mother on her family's charity, her family was cruel, and she was widowed twice. Yet she managed to acheive a high position in life, and did things most women didn't do in that time. She would be a truly remarkable woman if she were real.

The Frog Prince

Water Song by Suzanne Weyn is a retelling of the classic fairytale the frog prince. The time is during WWI and wealthy young English Emma Pennington is stuck in the middle of it in Belgium. One day, while eating lunch with her mother, a bomb strikes the café, and her mother is killed, leaving Emma all alone. Then Emma meets an American soldier serving the English army, sick and injured from poison gas. Before she knows it, she’s in love with him, but in danger of her life, as the Germans took over her estate.
Emma is a lot like me. For instance, she knows that every person’s death is important to someone. It says in the book; “…Every soldier a friend, boyfriend, father, brother or son. Every civilian and soldier killed was someone’s dear one and an irreplaceable loss to that person.” I also believe that. Another example of our similarities is she is fluent is French. Evidence of this is “She swore under her breath in French, a habit she’d picked up in the girls’ dormitory at the Hampshire School.” Although I do not know how to swear in French, I am fluent in it.

Crown Duel

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith is fast action novel about a young countess in medieval times. The king is getting greedy, and taking Countess Meliara’s people to death. Meliara’s dying father make her and her brother, Branaric swear that they will fight the king. So they fight the king with ill-prepared troops, and manage to hold their own for a while. Finally the war ends, the king is dead, and things are returning to normal. But Bran decides to stay at court, while Mel chooses to return home. Nearly a year later, Bran returns home with some guests, including his new fiancée, Nimiar. When they leave, Mel decides to go with them. Soon she is mixed up in the crazy politics and ways of the court. Besides that, she has a secret admirer as well.
Mel is a spunky small young woman with a fiery temper to match her auburn hair. She is determined and clever, especially when it came to keeping that promise she made to her father. Then when she discovers her ignorance in the ways of the court, she is determined to learn. I loved this book and I think any teen will also.

Girl In Blue

Girl in Blue is about a sixteen year-old girl named Sarah Wheelock who lives a farm in Michigan during civil war times. One day she runs away from her cruel father and an arranged marriage, disguises herself as a boy, and joins the union army. She then goes undiscovered for nearly three months. When she is discovered, she decides to become a woman spy in Mr. Pinkie's spy network. Then she goes undercover as a maid to spy on a widow who si suspected of being a southern spy.
Sarah is a strong female lead. She doesn't lose her head when she enlisted, during battle, or when she was discovered as a woman. Neither did she lose her head when a handsome guard brings her flowers. she survives illness, tests of character, and sanity. She is an amazing character based on real women of her time.

Yet Another Cinderella Story

The book I read is called Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley. Isabelle was highborn, but cast-off after her mother’s death shortly after her birth by her crazed, grief stricken father. She was then raised by peasants, and befriended the youngest prince, Prince Julian. Meanwhile, a newly widowed sailor’s wife and her two daughters are forced into poverty. The widow, Matilda, is forced to turn to her wealthy sister and brother-in-law for help. They help her by forcing her to wed Edward, who happened to be Bella’s father. Bella is then forced to return to her father’s home, where is she is unwelcome. The one day, when her stepsister comes home from court talking about the new king’s plan to invade the neighboring kingdom, therefore putting his brother Julian’s life in danger, Bella decides that she will go and warn him of this plan, and hopefully save his life. I loved this book immensely because of its action, romance, interesting characters, and the changes in point of view. I would highly, highly recommend this book to any teen who likes magic, action, and/or romance.