Monday, February 22, 2010

Book Review: Magyk


Magyk, by Angie Sage, is an action packed fairytale with many characters revolving around a princess, and her past. When she turns ten, it is revealed to Jenna, the adopted daughter of the Heap family, that she is the late queen's princess. Around the time Jenna was taken in by the Heaps, they had had a newborn son, Septimus, who was quickly proclaimed dead by the midwife, and rushed away. Where he really was, no one knew. After finding out that the "queenling" was still alive, Dom Daniel, and evil, power-hungry wizard, eager for the throne, sets out to kill Jenna, so that he can be king. With the help of Marcia Overstrand, the Extraordinary Wizard, (the most important wizard) the Heap family, Jenna, and a strange young boy who they picked up called Boy 412 from the army, escape from their home and have many adventures escaping from Dom Daniel and his evil minions. Silas Heap, the father, finds a way to get half of his family-including Jenna, Marcia, and Boy 412- to his Aunt Zelda's cottage which is a safe place in a marsh. There are many more attempts, made by Dom Daniel, to kill poor Princess Jenna, but all their tries are thwarted. The book closes with Jenna and her family safe, (at least for the moment!) and Boy 412, who has always wanted a family, is revealed as Septimus Heap, their long lost son.


One of the main themes in Magyk, is that you don't have to be related to be a family. Though Jenna is not really related to the Heaps, they treat her like she is their own. Before it is revealed that Boy 412 is Septimus Heap, he is still treated nicely, especially by Marcia Overstrand and Jenna, who made attempts to bring him closer to the family. There were many people who helped the Heaps, as they struggled to keep themselves, and Jenna, safe. Though many weren't blood related, it was almost as if they were family. In these ways, it is clear that you don't have to be related to be a family.

I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy and action. Though there were times when it was a little slow, much of the book was filled with action scenes and magic. Even if you don't like reading about magic or fantasy, the adventure side is very exciting. In conclusion, I would recommend Magyk, by Angie Sage, to people who like action books, and even fantasy and magyk!

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Science System Essay: Letter to the Human Body Corp.


Dear Human Body Corporation:

How would you like to be stuck in a bed for the rest of your life? Well, that's what would happen if you decide to fire the circulatory system. If you fired the circulatory system, the heart would not beat! Without us, the blood wouldn't circulate through the body. To top it all off, you would be sick all the time. It is my firm belief that you should not fire the circulatory system.

For one thing, the heart wouldn't beat at all. This could be fatal, because you wouldn't be able to breathe. If the heart wasn't beating, it couldn't pump blood into the body. My main concern is that you would eventually die! Those are some reasons not to fire the circulatory system.

Without the circulatory system, blood wouldn't circulate through the body, causing all-around trouble. First, carbon dioxide would stay inside the body and pollute it. The circulatory system is responsible for getting oxygen to all the cells, which is important, but would not happen if you fire the circulatory system. Without oxygen, the cells, including brain cells, will die. If you want the blood to continue circulating through the body, forget about firing us!

The circulatory system helps keep the body safe from bacteria and viruses that make you sick, and without it, you would be sick all the time. I hope you like being sick, because there would be no way to fully recover. From being sick all the time, you would become very weak. Because of that, you wouldn't be able to exercise or participate in activities, making the body unhealthy and unhappy. Those are some consequences of being sick all the time.

Please don't fire the circulatory system. We understand the budget cuts, but having less money is not as bad as a heart that doesn't beat. Without this system, blood would not circulate through the body. The worst part is you would be sick all the time! So, stay out of bed and don't fire the circulatory system.

From,
The Circulatory System

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