Olivia+Johnson-Alissa+Shull

= = Hey Alissa, I’m really sorry about not writing back to you for such a long time, I totally forgot about it plus we haven’t used the laptops in language arts lately so I didn’t think about it. I just got done reading your letter and I really enjoy every letter from you! I see now you posted the weeks that are more recent on top of all the other letters because I was getting a little mixed up but now I got it! But, It’s all right and I hope it gets better with my back. I did have fun on my band trip. It was very interesting and exciting! I also went to Six Flags this past Friday and I had a blast also! After seeing some of the stuff about going into high school and seeing your 8th graders leave you as a 7th grader really relates to me. I can really relate to you in most things so I’m more than happy that you were my partner for this. I just see where your coming from though about entering high school making new friends and not really hanging with the old 8th grade friends. I thinking I will be back to good friends with those people and I probably will but I will more and likely meet new friends. About summer though, I agree, I want to do some other different things and be more laid back plus read some books! I’ll also look into Meg Cabot but I know what you mean. (Haha) I agree with you mostly about the ending also. As for your girls, yeah I bet Alivia is a great reader now and will be like her grandma when she gets older. I agree, it would help with a mother in law for an English teacher. Well, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night at the Reading Rocks Party so we can talk about everything face to face! Now it will be so much easier!!! Sincerely, Olivia = = = = =Olivia,= Olivia, Wow what a crazy week! Looking back I am glad that I read the book as fast as I did because I am pretty sure I would be doing some late night catching up. haha! To reply to your last 2 messages, things have been good here, other than your normal family craziness we are pretty blessed. I am ready to get summer started so we can change up the routine a little. Listening to you talk about graduation and class trips brings me back to my days. It seems so long ago. Did you have fun on your band trip? I am really sorry to hear about your back. I hope things get better so you can stay active this year. I remember my eighth grade friends moving up and being so sad, and then the excitment of reconnecting in highschool. The funny thing is I really don't remember hanging with them when I got to highschool. I got involved in different activities and met new friends that I connected better with. You know what they say when God closes a door he opens a window. I am glad to hear you are going to read more this summer. Although I do recommend Meg Cabot books you might check into the appropriate age I know some of them are a little risque. If you know what I mean. To answer your question about how I would change the ending, I guess it is the mother in me but I would like to have seen a little more of detail about the resolution between Macy and her mom. Their situation was such a big part of the story I felt she kind of left you hanging. As far as how it ended with Wes and Macy, Again I know this is coming from an older opinion, I thought it was age appropriate. She could have dramatized it a little more, but it kind of left me with an "awe that was sweet" feeling. Don't worry the older you get the better the endings. I love romance also and there are a lot of good ones out there!!! I will defenitely keep this author in mind when the girls get older. Alivia is a wonderful reader so I am sure she will be at that leverl sooner than later. It is also nice to have a literature teacher as a mother in law, if you think her book collection at school is big you should see her bookshelves at home. The girls pick a new book everytime they are there. Well I better take off, have a great weekend and I am looking forward to meeting you next week. Alissa = = =​Hey Olivia,= I haven't forgot about you. I am running to Mattoon to take Amy to Dr. for shots uck.... Anyway I will write you this evening after church. Hope you have a great day!!! Alissa = Week 4 Adult: Alissa Shull = Student: Olivia Johnson Book Title: The Truth about Forever Pages Read: 1-374

Hey Alissa, I’m really glad you enjoyed the book because I was afraid you wouldn’t or if it would be the type of books you like to read. I’m definitely all right with you going ahead and reading it, I know the feeling when your reading a good book and you don’t want to put it down. I also finished the book so we can talk about the entire book now. I don’t need the book back unless you want to give it back to Mrs.Shull. Some really good books by Sarah that I bet you would like would be Someone Like You, Lock and Key, and Along for the ride but my favorite so far is Someone Like You. It has more romance in that book than all her others of what I’ve read. You said you like to read books by Meg Cabot. I would really like to read one of her books because they seem interesting so hopefully I can this summer or sometime soon! But I agree, I can read about anything, I just don’t like anything containing history. (Haha) Sarah Dessen really makes you wonder and predict a lot in her writing or her books. I kind of like it but in another perspective, I don’t because I just want to know what’s going to happen. I’m not patient when it comes to reading books. I definitely agree with you on how you disliked about Macy being very quiet. Macy really didn’t give much out about herself or anything, She really kept to herself but towards the end, she let her feelings out to Wes and also Jason. I agree with you on most of these things though. I liked that you encouraged me to read this summer. I honestly think I might have time this summer because I hurt my back so I’m out of softball, so I could sit down and read more! Also I could widen my vocabulary and reading skills for high school.

I think we can just talk about the whole book now that we’ve both read it all instead of going back to the sections. I think it would be easier. I really enjoy Sarah Dessen books but like I’ve said before, she skips around a lot and it kind of frustrates me. I’ve already asked you some of the questions about if you enjoyed the book or if you liked the book so I don’t have to ask that. I think when your girls get older when they get maybe get in 6th grade, but I’m not for sure, I would encourage them to read Sarah’s books. Mainly though, I would read them in 7th or 8th to understand more of it but it would widen their vocabulary. Macy really didn’t change much until towards the end of the book like I said earlier. Sarah Dessen I think was trying to express not to keep your feelings bundled up inside. Let out your feelings to the one you like most and if they deny, just keep trying and one day you will succeed. You can ask me some questions about the book if you’d like, but I’ve asked you most of them. Anyway, if I had to change the ending of the book, it would be to end it more romantic because Sarah Dessen’s book are getting more and more less romantic and I don’t like it. What if you could change the ending, How would you change it? = = = = = = = = = Week 3 Adult: Alissa Shull  = Student: Olivia Johnson Book Title: The Truth about Forever Pages Read: 1-264

Hey Olivia,
=== Real quick I thought I would let you know how I am posting. After talking to Mrs. Dusablon last night, she suggested we post on top most recent. So I that is why I put Week 3, then Week 2. I also am coloring mine so you can tell them apart. ===

=== Week 3: Hey Olivia, I have to apologize I am a little behind. It has been crazy here. I agree with your summary! The one thing that I wanted to add, It seems to me she is building up to the fight between her and her mother. Also the beach house is getting more and more attention. I think that is a cool way of writing. Still focusing on the love story she also ties in her grieving her father, something to think about. I wander if the Sarah Denson had a passion for art as much as she talks about it and to know. What do you think? I too agree that Macy is the main character. I think it is interesting how she makes her dads character seem alive. I don't think I am similar to Macy, in fact I think I am the complete opposite. I love to talk too much. I had a lot of trouble picturing Macy also. It was really weird; I usually can put a face to the character. Do you think it is because; Macy is not someone that stands out, someone you don't notice in a room? Macy has a lot of good traits. One that sticks with me is her concern for her mom and always wanting to keep the peace. She never argued when her mom asked her to do something. Oh and the fact that she could run was as well as she did was pretty cool! I would be friends with Macy. She seemed like a really sweet girl. Can't wait to hear from you. Hope your having a good week. Your Friend, Alissa ===

=== Week 2: Hey Olivia, That is no problem with the confusion. But I bet things make a little more sense now. Well I enjoyed your letter and your different views. I am glad you chose this book, I really loved it. As Mrs. Shull told you I couldn't put it down. I hope it is ok that I went ahead of the schedule. We can still split up the weeks as you had intended. Do you need the book back to refresh? Just let me know. I read the preview for the next Sarah Dessen book. It is on my list for summer reads. I had never read any of her books before, but after reading this one I can see why you like them. To answer your question about my style, I read about anything. I am not a big fan of autobiography; I like to use more of my imagination. I too am a sucker for romance! I can read just about anything if it has a good love story in it. One author I enjoy and you probably know is Meg Cabot. I loved Queen of Babble. Well on to the discussion. You asked who I thought Macy was going to end up with. That is a great question because I had mixed thoughts. I was pretty for sure from the beginning that Jason and she were not going to work out. When she described Jason and their relationship it tended to be negative. A big clue was when he didn't her much attention at the airport before she left. Then the night she first met Wish Catering and Bert jumped out at her I thought hmmm....maybe that is the one. As the book went on and she started to "Sa-woon"(ha!) over him I knew something was up. But then when they got stranded and he said he had a girlfriend I thought maybe this is just a story about a great friendship. I really enjoyed reading this book! I really liked the way Sarah lead up to the events she didn't just give things away. I did dislike however the quietness about Macy. Even after she started to find herself and at the end when she became closer to her mom, she still kept quiet. I would have liked to have seen her open up sooner in the book. It is really hard to say what I predicted before I read the book. I have this really weird thing I do with books, I don't read the book description on the back. When I read I want to go into it with a blank page. But soon after reading the first couple pages, I did predict that she would not fit in with the "smart" kids. I saw that she felt trapped and as the book went on she would find herself and a relationship with her family. I notice you said on the back page that you love to read it is just hard finding time. I encourage you this summer, to find a friend whom also enjoys reading. That way you can share books and discuss. Mrs. Shull and I enjoy doing that and it makes it so much more fun! Well let me know if you need the book. Looking forward to your response! You’re Friend, Alissa ===

Character
Macy and Wes became good friends and started seeing each other a lot through the Wish Catering Crew. There’s this game they play called the truth. They ask each other random questions about anything and everything and they expect each other to answer. One night Wes took Macy to a party and this guy starting hitting on Macy. Wes protected Macy and told the guy to back off. I think that situation made Macy and Wes closer and they seemed to ask more questions about each other’s lives’ in the truth game. Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is the main character. I also agree that you inferred the dad as a main character because Macy talks about him all the time but I’m going to talk more about Macy since she’s alive and more active in the book. Macy doesn’t really remind me of myself because she’s sixteen, her dad died, and I don’t know what she looks like. I’m not sure of anyone that she reminds me of, but I’m sure if I sat down and thought about it, I could find someone similar to her. I would like to know more of Macy’s personality because in the book, you can kind of infer how she acts but you wonder how she is to other people. I would like to know what kind of a girl she is or how she lives her life? I wonder if she’s nice or snobby? What do you think? I think I would like to be friends with Macy because she seems like a nice girl, looking for someone to move forward with in life. Even though she misses her dad miserably, she seems to live her life at her fullest and I admire her for that.

Partner Chat
I really don’t know what to say about the book since you’ve read it but when you send me a letter back, feel free to tell me what you liked and about the book. I already summarized the section 2 reading so that leaves us with less to say also. So, how have you been lately? I’ve been staying extremely busy this year and definitely right now with trips and graduation coming up. We go to Chicago for our band trip on Thursday. We’re going to see the Blue Man Group and go to the Navy Pier so I’m extremely excited about that. Also, Six Flags is coming up next week and I’m more than pumped for that because I absolutely LOVE roller coasters and I haven’t had a real good time in a while with all my friends. Graduation is coming up soon here May 20th and the dance in on the 19th of May and I’m ready to graduate and head to high school. I’ve been waiting since 7th grade to go to high school because I got so close to my 8th grade now freshmen friends as a 7th grader. I’m ready for it to be summer also! What about you? Do you have any trips planned this summer for your family or any fun exciting trips you’re taking?

Sincerely, Olivia Johnson