TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY Harper Lee (Moral VALUes)

The most important moral value of To Kill a Mockingbird is the book’s exploration of the moral nature of human beings—that is, whether people are essentially good or essentially evil. The novel approaches this question by dramatizing Scout and Jem’s transition from a perspective of childhood innocence, in which they assume that people are good because they have never seen evil, to a more adult perspective, in which they have confronted evil and must incorporate it into their understanding of the world. 

To Kill A Mockingbird, deciding that Harper Lee's values represent the best of humanity: tolerance; kindness; civility; justice; the courage to face down community or family when they are wrong; and the compassion to love them despite their flaws.

Ong Yi Teng

4 CERGAS :) 

The gift by cecelia ahern

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern 

(moral value)

The book that i have read is The Gift by Cecelia Ahern. This book is about Lou who has a wife named Ruby and two children, Lucy and Bud. He frequently neglects them because he was chasing after money. Lou constantly breaking promises to all of them. But then, as Christmas approaches, he meets the mysterious Gabriel and everything changes. 

Gabe is a homeless man whom Lou offered a job at his post room. Gabe taught Lou how precious the value of time is. Lesson that there’s only one choice he should make of where to spend his time; that one day time will run out, and he will be sorry if he squanders the time that has been given to him. Gabe tries to teach Lou that the shaky and ultimately meaningless steps on the ladder of ambition can’t compare to being with the people you love, and who truly love you.

Other than that, Lou also learnt that you should always appreciate the people around you. Lou has been treating Ruby, Lucy and Bud badly. But as time comes, he learnt to appreciate them. He soon realize who is truly important in his life.

Jasmine

Sally Dumble's Trick

          One of the interesting event in this story is when Sally Dumble worked her little trick. It was a funny little trick. When Sally Dumble fell down and broke her arm, she couldn't do a thing and she was most upset. She had next neighbors who soon heard what had happened. One was Dome Slapdash, and the other was Mother Trim. They offered to do Sally's work for her. "she has plenty of money and will pay me well" said Dome Slapdash. Different with Mother Trim, she wanted to help Sally without any payment. Sally finally arranged that Dome Slapdash should come in that day and Mother Trim the next day and so on.

          Dome Slapdash was a very lazy worker. If she could leave anything, she would. She didn't turn the mattress when she made the bed, she didn't dust properly, she didn't sweep the corners but left them full of dust and she wouldn't shake any of the rugs. She just did the jobs as quickly and as carelessly as she could and liked nothing better than to make herself a cup of tea and sit talking whilst she drank it.

          Different with Mother Trim, she loved to turn the mattress and pat it down flat. She couldn't bear to flick around the room with a duster. She liked to go round carefully and dust underneath the clock and behind the pictures and under the vases. She always swept the dust out of the corners and of course she shook every single rug, and would have taken up the big carpet, too, to beat in the yard, if Sally hadn't stopped her.

          Sally watched the two neighbors and said nothing. She laid a little plan, a tricky one as her arm got better. She had made up her mind, to pay her two neighbors for their work but they would have to find the money themselves. " I will leaves the money for you" said Sally to them. The next day, Dame Slapdash came along to the jobs for the last time. After Sally went out, Dame Slapdash looked for the money greedily. She looked all around the house, but she still couldn't find it. She thought that Sally forgotten to put out the money. So, she hurried through the job and did it very badly indeed.

          Sally had not forgotten to put the money, but she had hidden it. She had put the five pounds under the mattress and Dame Slapdash hadn't turned it of course. Another five pounds under the big bowl which should have been moved and dusted every day. Five pounds under the blue rug by the door so that it would be found when the mat was lifted and shaken. The last five pound she had put it in a dark corner, so that it would be found when the corner was swept out. But Dame Slapdash hadn't done any of them. So all the four five pounds were still untouched. The next day, Mother Trim set to work. She did her work like usual, and found all the four five pounds. She was so excited and told Dame Slapdash how generous is Sally and the place the money was hidden. Dame Slapdash stared at Mother Trim and went as red as a tomato. She went home without a word

Aisyah,
4 Cergas

A Mother's Last Lecture

          This story is about a mother who had lung cancer. For years, her family warned her about her smoking, but she just laughed it off. Even the constant coughing couldn't convince her to stop. So when the doctor told her that she had lung cancer, it did not come as a total shock to them. Her sole regret is that she won't see her daughter grow up. Belinda, her daughter been so supportive of her.

          So, she decided to do something for her and her classmates. She wanted to explain the evil of smoking to her daughter's classmates. Almost every day she came to her daughter's school to talk about the evil of smoking to the whole class until one day she did not turn up. the teacher called the house and the husband answered. He informed the teacher that his wife had passed away the night before.

          So, what can i learn from this story is, we should not or even try to smoke. Smoking is not something cool. It responsible for several diseases such as lung cancer like Belinda's mom. Almost every adults that used to smoke revealed that starting to smoke was the most stupid thing they ever did and they even wishing they had never take it up. Like Belinda's mom, she really hope she could turn back time and listened to her parents. Now, Belinda had to continue her life without a mother by her side.


Aisyah,
4 Cergas

         

Step By Wicked Step By Anne Fine

The novel that I have read last month is Step By Wicked Step, written by Anne Fine. The story start on a dark and stormy night. Five children and their teacher on a school trip arrive at an old mansion in a van. There is a blackout and the children have to spend the night in a dark tower room. There they discover  a secret room. In the hidden room, they find an old diary. The diary belonged to Richard Clayton Hardwick, a boy who lived a hundred years ago. The diary contains Richard’s sad story. After his father died, his mother remarried a wicked man who mistreated him. Richard ran away to sea and returned to Harwick Hall to learn that his mother had died broken-hearted. His sister had entered a loveless marriage and died during childbirth. His account ends without revealing his decision to stay or to leave. Richard’s story leads the rest of the children to tell their own stories one by one. At last, they realize what they have in common.

This novel is rich with moral values. One of the moral values that showed in this novel is loyalty and faithfulness. For example, Claudia is loyal to her mother and is careful not to be too friendly with her father’s girlfriend. She does this so as not to let her mother think that she is being betrayed a second time and be hurt again. Claudia is a loyal daughter as she do not want to drop her mother’s heart again.

Besides, this novel also teaches us to be optimistic. As we can study from this novel, the moral value of optimism makes a person to achieve something they wants. Colin is optimistic in finding Jack. He keeps Jack’s tobacco tin and hums his favourite songs while waiting for his return. In the same way, Charlotte is optimistic of her brother’s return. She leaves a letter in his room feeling sure that he will read it one day. True enough, he does.

Furthermore, the lesson learnt is perseverance and determination. Lucy did not like being a stepmother. She had to endure Pixie’s rudeness, her husband’s irresponsible attitude and his ex-wife’s criticism. But she is determined to make the family a happy and harmonious one. The tense relationship between Roy and his stepchildren also caused problems in his marriage to Hope. He was unhappy but he persevered and did not abandon his marriage and his child.

Next, we should be a responsible person. The character in this novel who portray responsibility are Ralph, Robbo and Lucy. They do their part to maintain happiness in their respective stepfamilies. On the other hand, Jack is not a responsible husband. He cannot provide what his family’s needs and this is the most reason why his wife has no choice but to leave him.  

Last but not least, the moral values presented is love and devotion. Richard’s mother and sister portray strong family love. Their love for Richard know no bounds. When Richard leaves home, they spend their family fortune looking for him. His mother dies of heartbreak because failing to find him. To continue the search for Richard after her mother’s death, Charlotte married a rich man she did not love. It is through her selfless love that her brother finally learnt that he should return home.

The conclusion is, Step By Wicked Step contains a lot of moral values. We can learn a lot of things as we read this novel. That’s why I am not regret for spending my time to read this novel and I can ensure that you will like this novel as much as I like it too.
Koo Chong Jing
4 Cergas
7th March 2014

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

Inheritance. Such a wonderful book, full of twists and turns that keeps the reader's heart pounding as every page is flipped, every word read. There are quite a number of interesting events in this book, but it would take an infinity to just describe them all, so for now, I'll just settle for this particular part.

What had once been a mere tip hidden in the first book, Eragon, the Rock of Kuthian plays a role of significant importance in the final book of the cycle, for it is the place where the secrets to defeating the tyrant king Galbatorix are hidden. Secrets that remain hidden for nearly a century were whispered into the ears of werecats, until one of them told Eragon to find it when all seems lost and his power is insufficient. The Dragon's source of power — their Eldunarí, the heart of hearts.

One of the interesting events written in this book is the discovery of the Eldunarí under Mount Erolas in Vroengard, the key to defeating the tyrant king. To discover it, one would have to first find the Rock of Kuthian, known to few, for its name holds a spell which ensure that the name cannot be remembered by anyone else except Eragon and Saphira.

Eragon and Saphira first heard of the name in Teirm after meeting the werecat Solembum. After the rebellion leader's kidnap by an enemy, Eragon was forced to find out the ways to defeat the king, which led to him remembering the Rock of Kuthian. He summoned the werecat once again and was told by an unseen force possessing the werecat the place he sought was hidden on Vroengard, one of the elven cities. The werecat did not have any memory of the conversation.

Next, Eragon told Arya and Glaer of the Rock of Kuthian. However, suspicion is aroused when both claim that the name echoed in the minds, like a long-forgotten memory . . . before promptly forgetting any mention of it before. Eragon deduced that the name held a spell which wipes any memory of it once uttered, save him and Saphira. After much consideration and discussion, Eragon finally manages to convince both elf and dragon that he was telling the truth. 

The trip to Vroengard proved to be a dangerous, but also with its advantages, for Eragon and Saphira discovered that the earth is round and the sky is hollow, unlike what they had previously believed. Even the dragon Glaedr seemed awed by the sight. They arrive on Vroengard, tired and exhausted. While we readers may seem to think that all they had to do was find a stone and discover it's importance, opening the gate was not easy. It required both Eragon's and Saphira's true names. 

The task of finding their true names was long and tedious. While time ticks away, and the days fall swiftly, Eragon and Saphira are no closer to finding their true name. Readers are anxious to know what happens next, for the battle was brewing back in the city and the pair had to quicken their pace, lest they miss the battle and lose victory. Finally, one day, Saphira found her true name. Eragon learned from her and sat still in a secluded area, finding learning his true name after sitting for hours and going through his own memories repeatedly. They unlock the Rock of Kuthian, which led to an area near the base of a volcano and discovered a hoard of Eldunarí and dragon eggs, hidden a century ago from Galbatorix to ensure that their race was not doomed to extinction. With the Eldunarí secured, both Rider and dragon set out to battle the dark king.

The king also had his own hoard of possessed Eldunarí, therefore equaling, if not exceeding, Eragon's own strength. Here, Christopher wrote on how victory was achieved when one of the traitorous riders, Murtagh, double-crosses the king and therefore securing the king's death. Without the Eldunarí, both Eragon and the king would've fallen long ago. Once again, I describe the discovery of the Eldunarí as an interesting event, because without it, the plot would've take a different, darker ending. For example, if Eragon hadn't found the Eldunarí, would he be able to defeat Galbatorix? Would he be able to restore his spiteful father-in-law's sight? Would he be able to heal the rift between races by making them Dragon Rider's as well? Surely not. (Although, given his resourcefulness, I wouldn't even doubt that he may find a way to kill the king without the Eldunarí.)

All the same, I think a little praise is appropriate here. Christopher has done a superb job in writing this book, particularly during that event, making it give out the air of importance that something big is about to happen. Something big. Something grand. Something that is the key to defeating the king who has been ruling for the past century and raging across the land. Brilliant job, Christopher. Simply brilliant.

Ho Jin Jonathan

4 Cergas

7th March 2014 

                                           BAD KITTY GETS A BATH BY NICK BRUEL

 Based on the novel Bad Kitty Gets A Bath by Nick Bruel, this story is about a cat that   hates bath,called Kitty. There are many problems that the owner of the cat have to face to bath the cat. And finally, he did it. There are many moral values that we should follow from this novel.

                                                                             

The first and foremost moral value from this novel is responsible. In this story,the owner of the cat do a lot of things to get  Kitty a bath.He is very responsible because although it is very tiring and problematic, he very cautious in handling the fierce cat.Eventhough,he gets hurt when he tries to convince Kitty,he is very careful.He also love and caring.It is because of the owner really loves his cat very much. Although Kitty makes him tired, he is very determined to get Kitty a bath because he wants Kitty to be very neat and clean always.Moreover, he is very nice to his pet,Kitty. He did not abuse or hurt Kitty. He just only wants Kitty to be a good and a clean cat.

Finally, after a lot of problems, he gets Kitty a super and a neat bath. Although Kitty was very angry and vexed, but finally Kitty losed. But now, Kitty is very happy and proud to be clean and healthy.So overall, we need to take care and handle our pets nicely and careful.

-RACHANA MYLVAGANAM-

-4 CERGAS-