ashley-lynette

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 Week 4

I enjoyed the ending to //Just Ella//. In true Ella fashion, she survived the dungeon and even managed to escape. She managed to trek Jed’s refugee camp and began treating the sick. Jed proposes, but the happily ever after doesn’t end here. Jed is called back to the castle following the death of his father. When he gets there, he discovers that Prince Charming has married one of the step-sisters. Because she is a bit overweight, “fat” has become the “in” thing. The book ends with Ella managing the refugee camp and Jed writing to her that he has found a way to end the war. This was a good read. I liked how the author took a traditional fairy tale and put a different spin on it. Starting with no fairy godmother, but by hard work and determination, Ella accomplishes her goal. Then, the goal didn’t turn out like she had imagined, so she sets out to accomplish a new one. I also thought the author did a good job of depicting royalty. So many times, we put people in positions of authority or great wealth on pedestals. What Ella realizes is that being a royal isn’t so great after all—they don’t think for themselves, and create their own fashions to cover up weaknesses in others. I do wish she could have tied up a few loose ends—did Ella marry Jed? How did he end the war? I am looking forward to meeting you next Tuesday! Have a good week. Lynnette

= Week 4 Adult: Lynette DuSablon  = Student: ** Ashley Shamhart ** Book Title: //Just Ella// Pages Read: 182

This week I read the end or Ella’s escape act. I love this part because she realized that she didn’t like the prince and she didn’t like the life of a royal person. She told the prince, got tied up and put in the dungeon because of it and almost starved there. Except she had a loyal friend that had her back, Mary came with food and a shovel and helped her not starve to death. Then Ella dug herself out of the dungeon in the gross hole she was supposed to go to the bathroom in. After she did that, she ran to her old house and got clothes, more food, and books to remember her dad also so she could go to Jed’s camp and treat the sick. It took her a really long time to get to the camp, but she finally did and when she got there, Jed asked her if she would marry him. She said that she was really confused about love because she thought she was in love with the prince and she ended up in the dungeon. After a while of Ella treating the sick and wounded, Jed’s father died and he had to go back to the castle. In the end she got a letter from Jed that told her everything that was happening: the prince got married to her fat evil step-sister, every one in the castle was getting fat because it was “in”, and Jed thought he found a way to end the war.

I loved this book because it was full of excitement. The reason that I liked it so much was that at first Ella thought she was going to live happily ever after with Prince Charming, but she didn’t. She pretty much hated him. Then when she didn't expect it, she got her happily ever after. I think that every girl in the school should read //Just Ella.// It is really good and I loved the adventure and the little bit of romance. Ella changes in the story because in the beginning she thinks that if you have someone amazingly beautiful, you will be happy and she wasn’t. She realized that you need someone who is themselves around you. She also realized that she was never going to be proper and elegant. She just wasn’t like that. I think that the theme of the story is never be what they want you to be or what every one else is; just be yourself. When I was done, I wanted these questions to be answered: Will Jed and Ella get married? Will Jed end the war? And when will he ever come back to camp? If I could change the end of the book, I would want to put more in it so I wouldn’t wonder what happened to them, and find out if it is a **happily ever after!**  Sincerely, Ashley Shamhart = Week 3 = =Adult: Lynnette DuSablon =

Student: Ashley Shamhart
Book Title: //Just Ella// Pages Read: 146

=== The main character of //Just Ella// is Ella. She is a take charge kind of girl. She likes to have fun, enjoys the outdoors, and is not afraid of a little hard work. She has had to overcome a great deal of tragedy and difficulty in her young life. I would consider her to be a survivor. She found a way to get to the ball in hopes of meeting someone she could work for to escape the life at her step-mothers. However, when Prince Charming proposed, she expected happily ever after. When it became apparent that it would not be //her// happily ever after, she told the prince she couldn't marry him. ===

=== The trait I admire most in Ella is her ability to stand up for herself. I am guilty of conforming or trying to please everyone but myself much of the time. I could save myself some time and stress by following my own instincts instead of what I think others would like for me to do. I probably would have married the prince and been miserable rather than try to call off the wedding. ===

=== Ella reminds me of my daughter. She is definitely not afraid to tell it like it is. If she doesn't want to do something, she doesn't. On more than one occasion, she has agreed to something, only to do it her own way in the end. This often leads to trouble for her since she is 8; however, it is a trait I hope she can learn to use wisely into adulthood. ===

=== I would have liked to be friends with Ella. I could easily see myself as Mary, sneaking in to visit when no one was looking. Letting Ella know how Lord Reston was doing and other things that were going on around the castle. ===

=== I have several favorite authors. I like Karen Kingsbury, Jodi Picoult, and Nicholas Sparks to name a few. It really depends on what I'm in the mood for. If I am in the mood for some peace and quiet, my favorite hobby is reading. I also enjoy exercising and being outside with my family. We have one dog, Samson. We just got rid of a dog this past week. She was a two-year old puggle. She had way to much energy for a house dog, was having trouble house training, and really preferred to be outside. We don't have a big yard or a fence. We found a family who was eager to take her, who does have a fenced in yard. Hopefully, she will be happier with them. My youngest son is not very happy that we got rid of her. ===

Lynnette DuSablon
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= = = Week 3 Adult: Lynette DeSablon =

Student: Ashley Shamhart
Book Title: //Just Ella// Pages Read: 146

The main character of //Just Ella// is Ella. She is an outgoing and fun spirited girl. She is also very outdoorsy because she had to work with her hands all her life. She becomes a princess and she moves to a castle with no windows and no fresh air. And the only time she did get to go outside is when she went to a tournament when she couldn’t even watch because she might see blood! That makes her annoyed. Another trait she has is that she will do any thing to get what she wants. Like she wasn’t in love with the prince so she told him she wasn’t going to marry him. When she was put in the dungeon she was going to find a way out. She reminds me of myself because she has is very outdoorsy and so am I any time I can go outside I will. She also has a very good cense of humor. And I think I do too. I love making jokes.

The antagonist is Prince Charming. He is a stuck up person who can’t think for him self. He’s just a pretty face with no brain at all. And Ella figured that out she decided she didn’t want to marry him. And he took it the wrong way. And since he can’t think for him self he ties her up and then finds people that can think. And they put Ella in the dungeon. I really hate him because he is has really bad character traits. I would never in my life be his friend because I would have a really hard time not punching him in the face!

Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite hobby? Do you have any pets? I have 4 dogs. Their names are Molly, Babe, Joe, and Bubba.

My confirmation was this Saturday. My sponsor was my godmother, Toni. It was kind of scary because the bishop was really scary and big, but I’m glad I got confirmed! The bishop was late so he didn’t ask many questions, but he did ask me a question. He said I answered it very well. See you later. Sincerely, Ashley Shamhart