Reflection Week 4:
I loved the book the Running Dream, it was such an inspiring book, because it made me realize how lucky I am that I haven’t lost any of my limbs. I found that this book had a great story line and it has inspired me to do more in my life for others.Jessica (main character) really showed her strength by how determined she was to get back to running and that if you are that motivated to get something back that you lost then you can achieve anything. I loved everything about the book but my most favourite part would have to be when she ran the 10 mile race with rosa, because I found that part very emotional and that Jessica was such a great friend to Rosa and to Fiona. My main two favourite characters Is Rosa and Jessica. Rosa is one of my favourite characters, she has Cerebral Palsy but she is so kind and full of so much hope. The other is Jessica because she is such an inspirational character who inspires people to do more in there life and try to reach out to others. I would recommend this book to people over the age of 11 who enjoy reading inspirational books about people who go through tough times but manage to persist through them, and I would rate it a 10 out of 10!! 🙂
Vocab Enricher:
Vocab Enricher:
 By Emily Brandimarti
| Word: | Meaning: |
| Halfhearted | without enthusiasm or energy |
| Drawbridge | a bridge that can be lifted up and down |
| Immensely | to a great extent |
| Picturesque | visually attractive or pretty |
| Hydrated | Â keeping up your fluids |
| Fatigued | physically or mentally tired |
| Historic | Famous or important part in history |
| Commercial | A broadcast shown to advertise something |
| Straining | forced to push yourself to make a better effort |
| Palindrome | a word or phrase that reads the same things backwards as forwards |
| Frayed | something that unravels or becomes worn out at the edges. |
| Pleasantries | a polite comment made in conversation |
| Attentive | Paying close attention to something or someone |
| Amputation | Cut off (a limb) typically by surgical operation |
| overflowing | To much of something being used |
| worthiness | Deserving for the effort they have put in |
| preliminary | Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for
something or someone important |
| expectations | A strong belief that something will happen makes that you feel as
though you have to live up to |
| Electrifying | Charge of electricity or adrenaline |
| rhythmic | Having or relating to rhythm (beat) |
Reflection week 3:
The Running Dream:
This week in The Running Dream so much has happended the book just keeps on getting better and better, i have found it so hard to put down. As I keep reading about jessica’s journey to recovery  it really shows just how lucky i am because there are just so many people who have got it far worse than what i do. Jessica starts to realise how good her friends are to her because Rosa has many problems of her own but she really is such a good friend to her and helps her in her Math Class and really gets to know her. One part that really stood out to me in the book was when the track team raises money to help get rosa her running leg, they help by having car washes bake sales and even the Channel 7 news team come to interveiw Jessica about her journey back to being able to run again. My favourite characters are Gavin and Rosa because they never stop supporting her Jessica and they are always there for her when she needs them. I think in the next chapter of the book Gavin will become very close to Jessica and they might just end up going out, i also think that when jessica gets her running leg she will be able to run the Four Hundred again and will ace her next Math test!! I cant wait to see what will happen when i read the next few chapters.
xxEmily Brandimarti
Connector:
Connector: The Running Dream
I can connect to Jessica in some ways but we both live different lives. Jessica lost her leg in a bus accident and lost the one thing she loved Running. I can not relate to that because I haven’t lost the one thing that is most important to me but I have lost loved ones in the past. I can relate to Jessica in a few ways ,because she had to use crutches for a while and I had to use them for about 2 weeks cause I really badly rolled my ankle. Jessica and I can relate to the same feeling when you run in the morning and feel the fresh air brushing against your face and the power when you run as fast as you can and the feeling of you legs burning to the point that your muscles feel like jelly ,but you push yourself to run further and further. Even though jessica and I both share a passion for different sports but she runs for her school track team and I row for my schools rowing teams.
Reflection Week 2:
The Running Dream:Â
This week in The Running Dream i found it really interesting!! Jessica went back to school for the first time scine her accident, when I read this part of the chapter I felt really nervous for her because you could just feel how nervous she was when she entered the school and how I would feel if that happened to me. During all the classes Fiona was just a great friend to Jessica because she helped decrease the amount of work that she would have to catch up on, but by Fiona helping jessica with everything like when she was in hosptial, Fiona came to visit jess and gave her a teddy bear, it shows how a simple act of kindness can change the way a person thinks and feels, this would of  made jessica not feel  lonely and upset anymore. When jessica was setted next to Rosa in her maths class, she found out that rosa had cerebal paulsy and that she had been in a wheelchair for her whole life which is very sad.Rosa’s personalitiy is kind and caring. I love the book The Running Dream because all the characters in the book have such completly different personalities and that you can really feel the emotions of each one. I think that my favourite part of the book is when jessica meets Chloe because is so nice and bubbly when she meets Jessica and I could really imagine  what Chloe would look like and i really look forward to reading the next few chapters in The Running Dream!!
The Running Dream By Wendlin Van Draanen: Reflection
The Running dream is one of the most moving books that i have read so far, i know that i am only just near the start but i am just really enjoying reading the book and im finding it so hard to put it down. My favourite part so far is when Jessica’s best friend Fiona is visiting her in the hospital and Fiona gives jessica the bear lucas, i found this part kind of emotional because it was so cute when fiona ran up to jessica to give her a hug and they both started to cry. I like this book because it really made me think what it would be like with only having one leg to move around and how tough it would be at the start to see everyone looking at your differently and treating you different because you dont look the same as what they do.
Introduction.
Today i was allecated the book ‘The Running Dream’ by Wendelin Van Draanen. I have heard so many great commentes about this book and I just cant wait to start reading it.I hop that it will be as good as what everyone has said it is.
ebrandim 