Critical Review:The Diamond of Darkhold

“The Diamond of Darkhold,” is written by best-selling author Jeanne DuPrau. All young adults should read this book because it is a great example of determination and friendship.

This is the thrilling fourth book of the Books of Ember. This adventurous story really tests the bond of friendship, with every situation the characters face. It also shows the strong determination of young teens trying to save their city and the people they love. Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow set off to their old city to find something that was left for the people of Ember. This item may be a big help to all the hardships their new city is facing. They are determined to find this particular item and bring it back to help their city. Lina and Doon try to go back to their old city without any help from anyone; they really believe that if they succeed with this mission, things will get much easier in their new town. This shows determination in the hearts of both Lina and Doon because they are tired of seeing their town fall apart and they greatly want to help. Lina and Doon have been friends for a long time, always doing what they can to help out. But, when Doon gets captured, it’s up to Lina to get help. Doon and Lina’s strong friendship really helps her get through her journey back to the City of Sparks.

When Lina and Doom eventually find the item they went looking for, they don’t know exactly know how to use it. They know that the item, which looks extremely like a diamond, must be important. They also know that they can’t give up on this yet. They spend a while studying the diamond and reading what is left of the information book. Together, they believe that they will figure out this problem, because every problem has a solution. Lina and Doon show much determination and lots of courage in this book, but also while dealing with this problem, their friendship becomes even stronger. Throughout every hardship, problem, and success, Lina and Doon’s bond becomes bigger and bigger. Their friendship is a big part of this particular adventure and story. Together, it seems as that Lina and Doon can conquer anything. “The Diamond of Darkhold” is an amazing example of friendship and determination.

Snow White: Bashful’s Story

Once upon a time there lived a fair maiden and seven dwarfs. My name is Bashful (I’m one of the dwarfs), and this is my story. One beautiful day after work, we (us dwarfs), came home to our house completely cleaned, I mean it was totally spotless. We were all really surprised and very confused, just before we had left for work (mining), our house had been a total mess. Doc came up with the conclusion that someone must be in our house and that they must have cleaned it up. We all stated looking around, searching for this mysterious person. Finally we found a beautiful girl sleeping on top of all of our beds. At first we actually thought she was a ghost, or monster, or something. Her name was Snow White, and apparently the Queen was trying to kill her. After she told us that, we just had to let her stay. I didn’t talk a lot to Snow White at first because I’m very shy. That’s why my name is Bashful. I mostly just blushed at her. That night we all ate dinner, and after, we started to play music, sing, and dance. It was very fun; Snow White is a very good dancer and singer. Every day before work, Snow White would kiss us each on our foreheads. I always felt like a big idiot because I would always start blushing. One tragic day, we were all at work, when all of these forest animals came running to our mine. Snow White is very good friends with all of the animals. They told us that the Queen had found out where Snow White was, and was going to try to kill her. We all just started running back towards our cottage; we were so worried and scared for her. When we got back to our house, we found Snow White lying on the floor with an apple in her hand. We spent, what felt like forever, crying for her. Days passed and finally one day a prince came by. I think that he had heard that a fair maiden lied dead by the house of seven dwarfs. He leaned down and kissed her on her lips. All of a sudden Snow White woke up; she had never been dead after all, just in a deep sleep. Snow White left to go live with the prince, which was kind of sad that she had to leave us once again. I was glad though that she was alive. We all lived happily ever after.

Update from Maddie :)

I actually just finished my book, "The Diamond of Darkhold,"it was very good, and if you read the other 3, i would suggest reading it. Doon was able to escape from the Troggs (the people who captured him), and ended up finding the item, the people of Ember were suppose to retrieve. Some people from Sparks ended up going up to Ember to try to rescue Lina and Doon, they found them walking back to Sparks themselves. A little while later the three leaders of Sparks decided to go back to Ember to gather some needed supplies for the end of winter. The item Doon found (what looked like a diamond), actually made electricty from the sun. Doon and Lina found thousands of these diamonds in the mountainside. This book had a terrific ending, and was very enjoyable.

In my writer's journal I finished writing my ancedote about my grandma, which ended up being my non fiction piece. I also wrote a story of a superhero and a news article.

I am getting used to literacy workshop. My favorite thing is still being able to read all class period.

-Maddie <3

My Grandma the Comedian: An Anecdote about my grandma

My Grandma always does funny things, but she isn’t very aware of them. Two of these stories I will share with you. My Grandma is obsessed with Healthy Choice, all of their foods and everything. She loved their ice cream especially. I say loved because they don’t make them anymore. Anyway, she was at the grocery shopping, and she finds out they are discontinuing them, so like any normal person would do (well not really normal), she grabs like 20 gallons of ice cream. Every favor you could think of she had in her cart. Couldn’t you just imagine an 81 year old woman buying 20 gallons of ice cream? I laughed so hard, and I swear that when ever we came over for like a year, she always had ice cream.

Another story I will share, is about my grandma, a gallon of milk, and the library. My grandma and my older sister went to Walgreen’s to get some stuff, and while they were there my grandma bought a gallon of milk. After their little shopping trip to the drug store, my grandma and sister stop at the library to get some movies and books. Now my grandma didn’t know how long they were going to be, and she didn’t want the milk to spoil, so she brings the gallon of milk in with her. You might think, well that’s not that bad but it gets even weirder. My grandma decides to stash the milk behind a DVD shelf. Imagine walking by that shelf and seeing a gallon of milk just sitting there. That would be a very odd sight. So she hides the milk back there, and on the way out, just picks it back up, and walks out the door. I would have loved to have been there for that.

My grandma is not the type of person you would think does funny things, but believe me, she does. Of course she doesn’t do them on purpose, which actually makes them funnier. There are so many more stories where these came from. I mean think of it, a story for every time I see her, because basically they happen all the time. My grandma is like a comedian, but she doesn’t quite know it.


By: Maddie Neff

The Diamond of Darkhold

I finally chose a book to read, "The Diamond of Darkhold." It's the fourth book from the series of Ember. It starts with a flashback of one of the Builders, it turns out he hid something in Ember, that the people of Ember were supposed to find. In Sparks, Lina Mayfleet bought a old book from a roamer for her best friend Doon Harrow. Doon now collects books. They read the cover of the book and find out that it was Directions of use for the people of Ember. They both were very stunned and confused. Doon decides that they have to go back to Ember to find what ever this book has instructions for. Lina and Doon set off on another adventure, and hopefully they will find answers. I'm just at the part were Lina and Doon get into their old city and start exploring. Doon gets captured by mysterious people who claim to control the city now. Meanwhile Lina sets out for Sparks to get help for Doon. So far this book is really good.

In my writer's journal this week, I didn't write a whole lot. My favorite was an story about my grandma and the funny stuff she does. I hope to get more in my journal next week.

I'm really getting used to Literacy Workshop. I like reading in class. I'm one of those people who could just read all the time. Writing in my journal in also fun. I really am getting to like this workshop.

-Maddie

Picking a Book

I haven't yet decided what book I'm am going to read, but I'm going to the library today.