Character Development

As soon as I finished The Sorceress, I drove straight to the book store and purchased the 4th and 5th books in the series.  I just could not wait any longer!  I also figured I could add the books to my classroom library.   Book four, The Necromancer, was another great read and I finished it very quickly.  I think it is such a special gift for an author to be able to create characters that evolve through a series.  As the reader, it is amazing to see characters grow and change and I almost feel like I actually know them.

The twins, Sophie and Josh, started off as normal 15 year olds living average lives in America.  In a matter of days, their whole life changed and took them on a journey around our world and other worlds.  They each had matured and gained some confidence through the series.  They were also both very dependent on each other and used to always having the comfort of knowing that they at least had their twin to support them.  As they continued to face new challenges, their bond was threatened by choices and jealously.  It is interesting to see how each handled their new lives.  Sophie was much more trusting of the Flamels and her natural powers might have made her one of the strongest humans in history.  Josh did not trust the Flamels and a part of him was interested in seeing if Dee was actually the good guy.  Josh's need to feel as powerful as his sister and doubt in the Flamels sent him once again into John Dee's corner.  Sophie is doing everything she can to save her brother and also save the world.

This seems to be the classic "gift and curse" that most super heros are faced with.  Save the world and never have a normal life, or go back to being a normal person and watch the world crumble.  I think that Sophie and Josh are both realizing that they probably never really had a choice in their destiny and that there will never be a normal life for them again.

Going beyond the text and researching some more!

The Sorceress: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel- During this third book in the series, the reader begins to learn a bit more about Pernelle Flamel, who has been held prisoner by Dee since book one.  She is facing lots of hardships and surprisingly is able to overcome everything that tries to destroy her.  As a reader, I am beginning to think that Pernelle is much stronger than I thought and that she will soon be a major influence in the series.   While Pernelle is battling her own problems, Nicholas and the twins are still dealing with Dee and his team of monsters in London.  They escaped Paris and are having a really tough time in London.  Flamel and the twins are helped by other immortals, Palamedes and Shakespeare. ( Google these people!)  Nicholas Flamel must try to get the twins out of London and back to the West Coast of America and the fastest way is through a leygate.  There is one at the historic and ancient site, Stonehenge.  After barely escaping Dee and his monsters, Nicholas and the twins make it to Stonehenge and transport to California, where Pernelle is there to greet them.  She has escaped and is now reunited with Flamel. The warrior, Scathach and Joan of Arc are in Paris and do not know that Pernelle has escaped and decide to go rescue her.  They try a leygate in London, but it has been tampered with and sends them to a prehistoric world filled with beasts like sabertooth tigers!  The twins, Josh and Sophie, are becoming stronger but also seem to be getting pulled apart from their close bond by the events.  Josh still seems a bit jealous of his sister and I'm nervous that he will turn against her.


My favorite location in this book is Stonehenge.  This is a very ancient site used by early humans.  There have been a lot of studies done on and around the site to try to determine the age and uses for it.  Scientists think that the site was created in 2500 BC and initially used as a burial ground.  The actual stones are built in a circular pattern and very large.  It is hard for me to imagine early humans having the tools or strength to build something like this.  Today, the stones are worn and some have fallen due to weather and time, but it is amazing that a majority of the structure still stands.   I would love to visit one day, but the good news is that there have been replicas built all over the world.  We are lucky enough to have one in close to San Antonio in Ingram, Texas.  Check out the link for more information.  Maybe you can take a family road trip there this summer!
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7819

Reading can be done ANYWHERE!

So, I know it can be difficult to fit in some time to just sit and read during the summer.  Summers are filled with outdoor activities and usually you are with friends and family.  It can become a stressful thing just trying to figure out when to fit in one chapter of reading.  I was having this same issue but I started getting creative with my reading.  San Antonio has been on water restrictions for some time now with the little bit of rain we are getting and that means that homeowners can only water their grass by hand.  My yard is pretty big so that can take me up to an hour just to water it.  So instead of just standing there, I have been taking my book outside and reading while I water with the other hand.  It really has worked out great for me.  I am using up that hour and making it very productive.  You can do the same thing at your house!  It doesn't have to be only when you are doing yard work, think of all the other times you can fit in reading.  There are many minutes spent in the car driving places this summer.  If you take a book with you, I bet you'd be getting lots of reading done and it wouldn't even take away from your summer free time.  Try to be creative and pick up a book more often and I am sure you will be surprised by how much you get done. HAPPY SUMME READING!