1) Write about what you liked and/or disliked about the graphic novel.

The graphic novel Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain was a fast, easy, but compelling read. I liked that the story was not told by a narrator. The graphics were detailed enough that it didn’t require explanatory captions the dialogue of the characters told the story. The personalities of the main characters, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, still came to life even though it was a simple and short novel.

This graphic novel was very short and that was one of its downsides. By the time you finish the novel, it has drawn you into it to the point that I wanted to keep reading about another adventure.

2) Create a character profile for either a hero or a villain.

Huckleberry Finn is on his own, has no family or home. He is young, poor and he drifts from place to place. Huck does not go to school and has poor grammar and pronunciation of words. He wears worn, ragged clothes and an old hat. He likes fishing and being in nature.

Huckleberry Finn is a down-to-earth boy that is generally good, but likes to stir up trouble quite a bit. Huck really only has one friend and that is Tom Sawyer. Everyone in the town thinks that Huck is a trouble maker and is not to be messed with. Although Huck creates mischief, there are times where he is a hero. He is loyal to his friend and helps Tom when he needs assistance. Huck worries when Tom tells the town about the murder and tells Tom, to stay hidden while he tries to solve things on his own. Huck risks his own safety to keep his friend safe.

3) Comment on three panels you found to be interesting, provocative or noteworthy. Comment on the artistic style (colours, mood, etc), as well as how the panel advances the story.

Panel One:

When Tom and Huck return from their rafting adventure, Tom is greeted by his Aunt with love and care. Tom can’t help but realize that Huck has no one to greet him so he tells his aunt to welcome Huck to make him feel better. This shows their friendship.

The panel shows the emotions in the characters faces. There is lots of colour and details in the drawing.

Panel Two:

When Huck and Tom get the treasure, Huck says he doesn’t want money to buy new clothes and a place to live because he likes his laid-back and simple life.

The panel shows Tom is surprised by how Huck feels. There is lot of detail in the drawings of the character’s faces.

Panel 3:

At the beginning of the novel when Tom gets in trouble for skipping school, he is forced to whitewash a fence. In this panel, Tom is convincing another boy to do his work for him. This shows that Tom may not be book smart, but when it comes to finding the easy way out he is very clever.

The panel shows objects in depth and the boy’s clothing is very detailed and different from what Tom wears. The natural elements like plants and flowers are clearly drawn.

IRB#3 Horoscope

Libra (September 23 - October 22)

Horoscope for October 1, 2009

Today Libra’s course of true love may not run smoothly. A higher authority may be suspicious of how you get your results and could try to stop you in your tracks. Use your great powers of persuasion, but do not wait to act if you do not get everyone’s agreement. Be cautious about those you chose to share your immediate plans and heart’s desires with. Remember, not everyone is anxious for you to always get everything you want. Look for a change in scenery to bring about the freedom and happiness you are seeking with someone special.

NHL 10 Video Game Review

NHL 10 is the latest release of hockey sports simulation by EA Sports. The game is available for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game has been available since September 15^th, 2009. It is made by the same company that made NHL ’09. That game won twelve sports game awards. Although there is not much change from its predecessor, NHL 10 has some new game modes and better playing accommodations.

NHL 10 is still about the simulation of playing hockey in the NHL, the minors, on All Star teams or representing your country. You can create a team or play as a draft-pick on a team. As a draft-pick, you can try to work your way up and earn a spot on the team. If you get tired on playing on your own, you can always join an online league.

The fast-paced, action-packed game keeps you wanting to play over and over again. The crowd noises and broadcasters trick you into believing that you are part of the game. You can pick different skill levels so it is always challenging and fun to try and improve. NHL 10 is an amazing game for groups to play. The many multiplayer game modes keep everybody involved. The game physics and the graphics have improved since the last version. The game goals like unlocking special jerseys to new helmets encourage you to keep going.

One of the things that is not so great about NHL 10 is the hitting. When a player checks another player it doesn’t always have the same force that it would in a real game. Players look like they have been given a small shove instead of a forceful hit. Also, for most people the GM mode is hard to go through a whole season. It is too time-consuming for anyone who is not a hard-core gamer. Overall it is a great game and well-worth playing if you are a hockey fan.

NHL 10 Game Website

IRB#1

A Long Way Gone September 17, 2009

By Colin McIntyre

The book “A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah is a memoir of a boy soldier during the civil war in Sierra Leone. It is a detailed account of what Ishmael went through trying to hide from the rebels and his time as a child soldier under the control of the rebels. Beah gives a first person view of exactly what it’s like to be in a war torn country as boy soldier. His story ends on a positive note because Beah survives and recovers from the violent events he endured.

There are many characters that come into the book for a chapter or two then are killed by the rebels or are lost while running away. However, Ishmael is mentioned throughout the whole book is in every chapter and carries the story with his emotion and thought. He is my favourite character because in the beginning he is a fun-loving, athletic, musical boy that wants nothing more than he has. We soon see that there is much more to his character. He looks after his friends when they are hiding in the bush and tries to make then feel better. By telling stories and singing the music they love he tries to be positive and brave. Once Ishmael is captured he is under the control of the rebels, which leads him to do horrible things. In the end, Ishmael takes responsibility for his actions but accepts that it was not his fault because he had no choice if he was to stay alive. I admire his strength and that he was able to overcome all of the horrible things that he went through. When the grown, free Ishmael talks about looking at the moon, he says “it pleases me to know that part of my childhood is still embedded in me”. This is important because we know that he will always carry some of the happy parts of his childhood.

This is a difficult book to read because of all the disturbing things that happen to Ishmael and the other children. I enjoyed two sections of the books the most. The beginning of the book was likeable because Ishmael, his brother and his friends were so excited about the rap contest. They were looking forward to making the trip to where the competition was being held. It wasn’t until the end of the story that I felt much hope for Ishmael. When we learn that he is able to accept what he has done and why, it brings relief because we know that he has a chance at life.

This is an important book because it gives you perspective of how children around the world suffer because of war. Ishmael’s experiences can tell us all many things about child soldiers. One of the most important things that he taught me about war was “I have come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end.”