Taylor-Sue

=Adult:Sue Janes= =Student:Taylor Smith= =Book Title: Olive's Ocean= =Pages Read: 160-217=

Overall this book had a good ending. After Martha's almost drowning experience, her life changed. She had a different outlook on life. She experienced excitement realizing that she likes Tate and he liked her plus the possibility on spending Christmas vacation at Godbee's. She still didn't know what to do with the tape and how to thank Tate. She treasured her special things from the trip. She also had a special moment with Godbee before leaving. At this time, Godbee reminded her that she was brave. She realizes after trying to deliver the ocean to Olive's mom (that had moved) that Olive was brave too. Her time with Mr. Waverly helped her to appreciate what she had. All she wanted was to be home after this experience. I enjoyed this book because spending time with your family is important. Like Martha, you can identify with some of the experiences she had with her grandma, brother, sister, and conflicts of life. I think teenagers could read this book and identify with Olive because she was considered weird and Martha because she was dealing with mixed feelings toward her family and other relationships. Martha starts out as an ordinary 12 year old who is given responsibility to take care of her sister. As the story continues, she has to deal with various situations and feelings that leads to conflicts with her family, Jimmy and Tate Manning, Olive's death, and her decision to writer. She enjoyed her conversations with grandma but didn't always know what to tell her. At the end of the story, Martha realizes that the world still goes on with or without her. I think the author was trying to express, that all things can be worked out in the end.

Partner Chat

Thanks for picking out this book. I truly enjoyed it. It made me think of the times I spent with my grandma (she is no longer living). She had the tradition of making glazed dougnuts for us on Valentine's Day. I'm fine and hope you ok too. I regret to tell you that I won't be able to meet with you next Tuesday. I am a cancer survivor, as of a year ago in November. The cancer survivor dinner is next Tuesday. I would like to mee with you when it's convenient for you. Maybe, we could go out for pizza or whatever you like (my treat). Thanks for being a great reading partner. Your friend, Sue Janes =​= =Week 4 Adult: = Student: Taylor Smith Book Title:Olive's Ocean Pages Read: 160-217

My first reaction was that Martha turned out to be a really different person than I thought she would be. She was really nice, she cared about Olive and others and it seemed like she kind of regretted not getting to know Olive. The book didn’t not end like I thought it would have but that’s why I liked it because it’s not a usual ending. I did enjoy the book a lot because it gave me a lot of imagery and it felt like I was watching the movie. I also couldn’t put it down. I think that anybody really should read this book especially girls because they can probably most likely relate to the Martha because she had regular girl problems like boys and getting embarrassed and that kind of stuff. I also think that a boy could enjoy this book it just depends what kind of books the boy is in to. Martha changed somewhat in the story, she stopped only caring about herself and once she realized she could have drowned then she started to appreciate life more. I think the life lesson was that you should always treat others the way you want to be treated because you never know what that person is going to do or what could happen to that person. I would like to know it Martha is going to get to go to Godbee’s over her Christmas vacation and I want to know if she is going to every talk to Jimmy again. I also want to know how her and Tate are going to act the next time they see each others, are they still going to like each other or have moved on by then? I would change the ending to where Martha’s parents say that she gets to go to Godbee’s over Christmas break and I would have made it so that her and Tate could call each other and write but he didn’t get her phone number or he address.

Partner Chat Yesterday I finished the book. I was very pleased to have picked that book because it was really good. I hope you liked it too. I would have changed the ending a little because it kind of left me not knowing if Martha was even ever going to see Tate again and that’s what I really want to know. I enjoyed the book because when I read it felt like I as actually there or watching the move because the author gave so much imagery. How have you been? I was really excited to get your letter but Mrs. Shull told me that you have been having some trouble with the wiki so I have not got it yet, but I cant wait to receive it. My week has been good, it went by really fast. The band students went to Chicago yesterday so it was really quiet without them. The smallest class I had all day was science, which we only had three people all together. How has your week been so far and did you like the book? Your Friend Taylor Smith Adult: Sue Janes Student: Taylor Smith Book Title: Olive’s Ocean Pages Read: 78-160

Martha Boyle is a 12 year old girl who is dealing with various situations in her life. For example, Olive’s death, her decision to become a writer, her brother, the Manning brothers, and her conversations with grandma. She thinks she likes Jimmy Manning. He has been filming events during Martha’s visit with grandma. They spend time walking along the beach hand in hand. He wants to film death. Vince, her brother, gets invited to the Manning’s home for lobster and to stay the night. Martha was disappointed because Jimmy had mentioned that he would call her. Vince eventually tells Martha that she was invited too. Jimmy filmed death by filming his mom put the lobster in the pot to cook. Jimmy wanted another illustration of death. They walk to Benton Place, which is scary in the dark. There Martha opens up and shares about Olive’s death and reflects on it. They go to Benton Place again and Jimmy kisses Martha while the film is rolling, It turns out that is was a bet. Martha feels mad and embarrassed and doesn’t know what to do about the tape. She has conversations with her grandma and on one occasion, it was a late early morning one. After talking to grandma, during this late night session, she gets an idea of how to help Olive’s mom remember her. This idea gives her a new outlook on the events that have occurred.

Partner Chat As I’ve continued to read the book, I understand it better. At the beginning, I thought it was confusing with Olive’s death and getting ready for vacation. I am fine and pleased to have you as a reading partner. You aren’t bothering or interrupting me. I enjoyed reading your letter. I think you are like Martha in that you like to spend time with your grandma and your family. Even though, Martha is mad at her family right now she still loves them. I would like to know more about my culture too. I do know that some dress like westerns (like us).

= = = Week 3 Adult: Sue Jane = Student: Taylor Smith Book Title: Olive’s Ocean Pages Read: 78-160
 * I have learned a lot more about the characters in the story. I learned that Martha starts to like a boy. Jimmy Manning, Vince is kind of a jerk, Lucy can be loving but also can be mean, her mother can be nice but they don’t really seem like they get along that much, her father is nice to her and would do anything for her, and her grandmother is really nice one of the nicest people in the book. Martha and her grandma are really close. Godbee reminds me of both of my grandma’s, creative, loving, warm and you can talk about anything with them. They both know how to keep a secret. Martha meets a boy named Jimmy; she starts to like him a lot. They take a few videos of things, he holds her hand, they kiss he tells her it was just a bet and she is sad and maybe even a little mad. Mostly mad because he got the kiss on tape and probably a little mad at her self for letting herself fall for him. **
 * His brother Tate Manning comes to apologize for what his brother did and he doesn’t know what to do. She starts to fall for Tate. She nearly drowns trying to get water to put in a jar to take back to her home state to give to Olive’s mother since Olive never got to see the ocean. She spends as much time with her grandmother as possible because she doesn’t know if it will be the last summer they will ever get together. She starts to care a little more about things after almost drowning; she realizes the importance of life. Her brother see’s the video of her kissing Jimmy, he tries to hold back a laugh she says she hates him and it starts a big fight. Her little sister Lucy and her get along ok and that are about all the special events that happened between those pages. **


 * I am really starting to enjoy the book and I hope you are to. I find it actually very sad how Martha doesn’t know how much longer her grandma is going to live. I can relate to Martha a lot. How have you been? I hope you have been enjoying the book as much as I have because I think it is a really good book and I can’t wait to see how it ends. I am sorry if I am interrupting your busy week I hope you don’t mind and I still thank you very much for doing this with me. **