Students in Mr. Graham's Fall '09 class can click on the comment button below to share thoughts about their “End-of-Childhood” Independent Reading Project books. Make sure you include your first name and last initial, as well as the period you are in Mr. Graham's class.
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29 comments:
# 1
"A Girl's Life Online" is a great book so far. It's impossible to put down. In the beginning of the book, Katie explains herself before the issue with Mark happened. She seemed like a normal girl, but she said she didnt feel like that.
It's really depressing that Katie looked on the internet to find people to talk to since she couldnt really talk to her mother, her sister Abby, or her ex-bestfriend Karen. I would think she would have a great life, and could look up to her teammates since she loved swimming so much.
She obviously made a bad decision by starting to talk to Mark in the first place, and shouldve turned back when she couldve. It really scares me that this story was actually TRUE. It shocks me that people can just go into a chatroom and lie and mess with kids like that...but then again, kids these days should know better.
Entry # 1:
This book is amazing so far. I was surprised finding out that New Canaan had such pressure trapped inside all of the people who lived there. (Especially, considering that this is a true story). I never actually thought that there would be a place like that ever where everybody there is all concerned about how they look and being perfect. The one part about this that shocked me the most was when they made Katie and all of the people taking swimming lessons in YMCA suffer like that, another aspect of their concerns for being perfect. Not only that, but this actually happened to someone in real life! I can't even imagine being in that position. Swimming used to be a saving grace for her, but then, she was beginning to dislike it. I wonder why her sister, Abby, didn't take her laptop with her to school. If she would have, then Katie wouldn't have gone online talking to some stranger online. A horrible decision to do. One very important thing that she shouldn't have done and should have thought about was GIVING AWAY HER PHONE NUMBER TO A STRANGER SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW !!! All her conversations with Mark are interesting and riveting. Overall, this is a really great book, and I can't wait to read more.
So far, the book, A Girl's Life Online is truly amazing. It keeps the reader interested and so into the book.
Katie is a normal thirteen year old girl. All she cares about is having perfect hair, makeup, clothing, etc. She really only has one friend, Karen, that she talks to. She doesn't really have the time to hangout with her though because she is on the a swimming team and she is in choir. On top of that, when her and Karen do hangout, Karen usually brings her boyfriend to tag along and Katie ends up feeling left out and like the third wheel.
Katie doesn't think of her family as a "normal all-american" family. Katie's father walked out on her when he was just a baby. barrely one year old. Her mom got remairried though to a guy named David. Katie and her mom's relatonship isn't so great because they don't communicate. Katie's mom is also a workaholic so Katie barely even sees her. Katie and David's relationship is not so well either because they don't communicate what so ever. The only person Katie is close to in her family is her older sister, Abby.
When Abby came to visit her family from boarding school, she brought along her laptop and that was when Katie started surffing the internet and created and AOL account. One early morning when Katie was getting ready fir a swimming found raiser Kaie looged on AOL since she had time left. A guy named Mark messaged her and they started to share information. When Mark asked her for her phone number, Katie gave him her personal phone line which was pretty dumb of her.
It just amazes me how people can be so trust worthy to give out personal information to some random guy they just met. I think it was really stupid of Katie to do something like that even if she was desperate for someone to talk to.
I'm going to have to agree with natalie on this one i love this book! im practically done with it.
The way Katie describes her life it seem like they live in a perfect world, but of course then comes reality. When the internet comes out katie is very interested it seems its a way to kinda cope with her loneliness. Even thoguh in the beginnning shes not really that lonely.
Also, i wanted to add what was interesting that looks means so much in this town. It also says how everyone is like beyond pretty, i think thats a very interesting fact. especially since Katie wouldnt describe herself as really pretty.
Entry #1
This book is unbelievably good. I have never read anything like it. Autobiographys are usually what interest me but none have compared to this one. "A Girl's Life Online" is not only an "addicting" story to read but it also teaches young people about internet safety. Books with a well written story, a moral AND lesson, is one good book in my eyes. It so far has taken me on a wild adventure and with the author being so young its hard to believe.
Like Katie, I enjoy swimming, though I am not on a team. But swimming isnt really her main priority at the moment. What she had done in Texas really made me think twice about her judgment of character with "Mark/Frank". Though in her mind he was a nice person she should have really listened to Ashley. The part with her swim team meeting really got me upset because though it was her fault, I dont know how Katie handeled all this so well! I deffinately am looking foward to finishing the book, I am very close!
pERIOD 6 ENTRY #1
Im on page 92 and i cant put the book down. I think Katie is making a huge mistake on talking to Mark online. Katie seems to have very low self esteem. I think there are other ways to meet guys other then online. I feel that the ppl in her town describe New Cannon as a utopia. i FEEL BAD THAT sHE LOST HER FRIEND BUT SHE SHOULDNT BE TELLING A STRANGER her personal bussiness. i cant wait to finish the book!!!
he NEEDS TO fic fic fic fic ficc dishh problem pleash mama
Entry #2
I was mad when Katie told Mark that she allowed him to see her at the hotel. The one night when Mark called Katie to his room, I said'' Oh no!'' Before leaving, what Ashley did was the right thing to do telling her not to go, the whole situation she was involved in was wrong, and by blocking the door. Unfortunately it wasn't persuasive enough, and Katie still decided to go. The part when Katie met Mark and when she was in his room was so interesting. The part that disturbed me a little was when they were on the couch and the thing that Mark did to Katie, that she would have never expected to occur happened, and yet she still told him that she loved him! The kissing part was also disturbing. Although, I did sense this coming. Now, her mom finds out and she gets into deep, deep trouble. At first she wouldn't tell anybody what happened, not even to the police, but then she gave in and told. Mark wasn't the person who she told he was, being forty one and his actual name was not Mark but Francis. This whole entire part was like a roller coaster.
Entry #2
This book deffinately took a twist towards the end, Katie feels bad that she can turn Mark into a criminal but thats what he is! There shouldnt be a reason for her to feel bad for Mark or Frank, that really got me upset. I though Katie knew better then to think something like that after what she had just been through. The books detail and story line is what kept me reading and this is just a really good book. The part with the lie-detector test was very hard for me to catch up with what was going on. That part made the story seem like it was going a little bit too fast.
The chapter titled "Guilty" was one of the best because it told us how everything went and its just overall a very..good book!
for above comment...Jessica Kushner period 6!!
This book keeps getting better and better. It keeps the reader hooked on Katie's situation that it is hard to put the book down.
Mark's and Katie's online relationship is only getting stronger and stronger by the day while her and Karen's friendship is starting to fade away. Katie started developing strong feelings and trust towards a guy she thinks she knows over the internet. It's kind of sad to see how a person could trust and have deep connections of a person she never even met let alone know.
On Katie's fourteenth birthday, Mark wanted Katie to fly to California alone just to see him. That for me was kind to much and Katie needed to know that too. Though Katie never really thinks that Mark could end up being a sick guy because she trusts him a lot and he is the only person she feels comfortable telling everything too.
When Katie left on the Italy trip, Mark told her to call her everyday and e-mail him. He gets mad when Katie doesn't at least e-mail him even if she is busy. Mark is becoming obsessed with Katie and Katie really needs to realize the truth about Mark. Katie decided not to have contact with Mark during the trip so she can think either to end the friendship or to keep it going depending on what she feels without Mark's pressure.
Katie realized not only she wants to keep the friendship with Mark going even though it is getting to close and personal, but that she loves him.
When Katie arrived back home she got an email from Mark saying that he is in Florida and he wants to stop by after visiting Florida to Connecticut. Katie replied by saying that it is not a good time for him to visit because she did not what to say to her parents.
I think that Katie should realize by now that Mark is one sick guy. If he confessed to her that he was actually thirty-one instead of twenty-three which was also a lie, she needs to know what else he is lying about. Katie also should not trust him and loose contact with him for her benefit and safety.
# 2
This book absolutely amazed me!!! Every chapter connected to the title, but threw me off quite a bit. The scariest part is when Katie picks up the phone for Mark, and tells him she'll meet him in his room. What was she THINKING?!?!
I would honestly think someone would know when to stop talking to a stranger. Katie doesnt realize it, but Mark is a horrible creepy person. She always assumes and makes herself believe she is the bad person and should be put in jail. But for what? For talking to Mark, but when he was the one who molested her?
I would think at 14, Katie would have more common sense, and know to walk out of the room when his sexual intentions started. It's not as if he was joking around, he actually pushed her into it, and held her down.
i dont exactly how to reply because i have finished the whole book, but i think what katie is doing is wrong in many ways. i mean its common sense if you are talking to someone online and you dont even know them why would you just go to their room and meet them that is kinda suspcious. Katie was stupid to go alone. but then again to her mark was her best friend someone that she could always depend on and talk to so i guess i see how she didnt see what can go wrong..
Entry # 3
This book is getting better as it gets deeper. When Katie returns home, she has a very hard time fitting in school. All those rumors are just making them worse. The part that I felt immensely heart warming was when Katie's friend Karen followed her into the bathroom and tried to comfort her. That was a really good part. Another good part was when Katie took that lie- detector test. After what Mark had done to Katie, I couldn't believe that she still feels an attachment to him.
Entry # 4
All of these parts that I have read are definitely a roller coaster ride. Ashley is leaving to go to a boarder school in England and Katie is in heart break. It was really sad when it said that Ashley was Katie's only friend. Even though Katie lost a friend, she also gained a friend named Penn at St. Paul's. When she even told Penn her secret, she even felt empathy for her asking if she was ok. I think that Katie feels that Penn, is the ultimate friend. The part that was really good was when they were going to court. It was very great to hear that Francis was pleaded guilty.
This book just keeps on getting better and better by the chapter. It is so hard to put the book down. The reader just gets so drowned in the story that you don't remember how many pages your read.
In my opinion, i think that it was really dumb of Katie to go see Mark in his hotel room alone and at night. Even though she thinks she knows him, you really can not know someone you met on the internet even if you talked to the person for years. You never know what a person is hiding or if the person is lying or telling the truth. At the age of fourteen, i think Katie should had been well aware of that and if she wasn't, then she should had listened to her friend, Ashley who warned her about him and tried to stop her from going to see him. I think that Katie should had just stayed in her room that night and just listened to Ashley, a person who she knows in real life and is friends with unlike, "Mark", a person she knows on the internet. Luckily though, Katie's mom came to Mark's hotel room before anything else happened and Katie got to know the truth about Mark.
# 3
This book was great! Some parts I wish turned out differently and were really sad. When Karen decides not to be Katie's friend anymore, I thought that wasnt fair. Katie had serious problems going on with Mark, and I kind of feel like Karen might be acting selfish. Katie wished to help, but Karen didnt give her a chance.
It also seems like it's hard to live in Katie's household. Her reasoning for being on the internet really makes her mom think, on how she barely makes time for her daughter. If I was in the mother's position, I would take Katie out, and have a girls day and talk to her about life, because her mother seems selfish.
Entry #3
Whoa...this book was veryyyyy good and I loved every thing. The letter that was written to Katie was very touching but very fake. I cant believe he did that to seem like a nice guy to the judge!! This book surely had its ups and downs but the rollercoaster books are the best, one chapter something good happens (like Katie meeting Vivian) and then the next somehing sad or bad occurs (the letter). One thing I am happy about is that Katie got to be with her sister Abby for her Mom's birthday. It gave her some alone time with her family.
Entry #4
In the epilogue when she is reading the newspaper article to her peers and teachers, I feel a little better for Katie. Why? Well because for one thing she had one her case, and also because she said that 90% of these incodents are not reported because the victim is scared. This will help Katie cope knowing she is not guilty not a victim and not alone. She can relate but she also should know now that she did the right thing by telling someone and getting help. At 16 Katie shouldnt have gone through the things she did, FBI meetings, polygraph tests and court hearings. One positive thing out of her experience is that she learned. She learned alot and to get a positive something out of a situauion like this is on miracle because Katie could have felt guilty forever.
I feel bad for Katie because she was getting blamed for mostly everything that happened. Yes, she does half part of the fault but not all of it. Though people were blaming her for everything. All her friends dropped her as a friend except for one, Ashley. Ashley's parents think that Katie is a bad influence on their daughter but they decided that if Ashley wants to remain friends with Katie then it's her choice. All the other mothers on the swim team did not want their daughters to be friends with Katie because of the incident that happened in Texas. I felt especially bad for Katie at school because people kept on making rumors about her and gossiping about her. On top of all that, Ashley wasn't going to be able to attend high school with Katie because she was going to a boarding school in England.
# 4
Well the book is finished sadly. It was a fantastic book, and wished it never had to end. But luckily, in reality, it did for Katie. I love reading true stories, because people learn so much from that person. It also explains what COULD happen if you did the same things Katie had done.
It's great how Katie won her case, because if it led to other things, I feel like she wouldve been harassed by Mark's lawyers. I really wonder though..how is Katie's life today? And also, where is Mark now? In jail?
Katie wrote her book very well, and maybe in the future she can also write books for teenage girls, like me. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars because it has a good rising action, conflict, and solution. I havent ever read anything like it.
entry #5
A Girl's Life Online was amazing. i did not want it to end but unfortunately, all books come to an end. The book was really sad even more so because it was based on a true story.
I felt really bad for Katie because throughout the ending, Katie felt guilty and depressed for putting a man in jail. In my opinion, i don't think that she should have felt guilty because he deserved to be in jail. Luckily, in the end Katie did not feel guilty anymore because she knew she was the victim and it was his fault. When Katie read the letter that Frank wrote to her she did not feel guilty or pity towards Frank because she knew that he would had wanted her to feel that way. I was happy that Frank was sent to prison because that was were he belonged.
In the epilogue, Katie was standing in the chapel telling parts of her story to a crowd of six hundred people. I was happy for Katie because she now is confident enough to tell her story and wasn't ashamed. She knew that is was not her fault and she wanted to confront everyone about it. It was really nice to see that Katie is back to being confident and strong.
Entry #5
Wow! This book has definitely been a really great book. At the end, Francis wrote Katie a letter. It was very interesting; although, Katie wasn't just going to give in to it considering what she has been through for all that Francis has caused. I thought Katie did the right thing telling the judge her troubling past and making her moving speech making Francis look even more guilty. So did Katie. It was wonderful to hear that Francis was pleaded guilty. I think that Katie made the whole world change their mind on things making them realize the affects that can really occur if you are not that careful. Hopefully, people in this world can be more careful when dealing with situations that can affect and harm their lives. This book was immensely riveting and interesting. It was pretty surprising to know that this is a true story. Overall, I thought this book was amazing.
# 5
My overall view of the book was that it was fantasic. In the end of the book, Katie doesnt let Francis talk to her, which was very smart. In the beginning of the book, I feel like Katie would have said she'd talk to him, so to me she changed how she took things. She simply said "write me a letter." and was done from there. The letter Francis had wrote was very sincere, but I really wonder what was going through Katie's head. Was she going to forgive him?
I also feel like Katie taught everyone a lesson. The lesson on how you cant always trust someone, and things change overtime like how they did with Karen. Katie seems like a bigger person by the end of the book, and thats the bright side of everything. Francis gets put into jail, and maybe her problems are solved. For now.
I cant believe what happened to Katie and karen i thought karen would pull through and be katies friend. you know be the older person. Even though i also think it was wrong of Katie not to care about Karen when she was going through hard times with her brother, they still should've found a way to work things out. But then again they didnt go into so much detail on their relationship.
When Katie goes to a different school i think it was the best thing to do for a while she was going back to normal until 'Mark' tried to find ways to see if anything was wrong with Katie and well im not exactly sure that is why he was trying to get in contact with her and her family. The book is very good. I wonder if mark is going to plead guilty or act like he's innocent.
Overall, I think "A Girl's Life Online" was a great book. It was a page turner to me. what Katie did was wrong even though legally she didn't really do anything wrong i think that she should've known better. Especially when he said he wanted to meet her in real life and then he also she she shouldn't tell anyone about their relationship. to me that is a RED flag. Kind of suspicious.
Katie matures in many ways, she learns not to trust every one and also i think it was smart of her to spread the word by writing this book. that shows a lot. I believe she has learned her lesson and 'Mark' has learned his. I'm sure he feels very guilty for what he did.
Entry #5
This whole entire book I would give 5 stars and two thumbs up. The book was just filled with excitement even during some bad parts, the details made it good! The books not easy to describe in words because it was just to incredibaly amazing. I deffinately agree with Ruba. I loved this book!!
"A Girl's Life Online" a.k.a "Katie.com" is a pretty good book. The beginning, in my opinion, is a little boring. The first 13 pages are just Katie describing, or rather complaining, about her life. She explains her family, friends, and her community. She seems to be unhappy with her life. I picture Katie as a young pre-teen in an upper-class community where everyone's the same except for her. She's the girl who's slightly overweight and doesn't have perfect skin or hair. I feel bad for Katie because she seems so out of place in her life and unwanted. I do give her credit, however, for not becoming a mute, or taking it out on herself.
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