Reader's Journal #15- Chosen (The Chosen #1) by Denise Grover Swank

#15                                              Readers Journal                                   12/05/11

Dear Mrs. Zrihen,

            This week I started the book Chosen (The Chosen #1) by Denise Grover Swank.

            A passage that stood out to me was the very first one because it made me hooked onto the book instantly:

            “Emma bolted out the door of the rundown diner, pulling her five-year-old son behind her. She broke into a cold sweat that had nothing to do with the humid July heat.”

           

            This is significant to the story because it starts off the book and gives information about the setting and a hint about the conflict.

Before, during, and after reading I used many strategies. Before reading, I noticed that the title of this book, Chosen (The Chosen #1), included a number, and predicted it was part of a series. I also read some reviews and the synopsis to make sure I would enjoy this book. The synopsis sounded interesting and all the reviews were positive. The reviews helped me confirm my prediction that the book was part of a series. While reading, I took notes on my Kindle about any new vocabulary, figurative language, or literary elements. I also predicted what I thought what happened after reading the following passage:

“As soon as Will walked out of earshot, Emma whipped around and glared at Jake. ‘What are you doing? We can’t trust this guy!’

Jake watched her with his vast blue eyes. ‘You have to.’

‘Why? Why do we have to?’

His head leaned against the side window, watching the cars passing by. He sighed, sounding weary and despondent. ‘You need him. Our lives depend on him.’”

After reading this I predicted that Emma, the main character, would trust her five-year-old son, Jake, when he said that their lives depended on Will, and she would let him join the two on their “adventure” running away from “The Bad Men”. After reading I checked back to confirm my prediction. Emma had let Will in on their adventure; therefore, my prediction was correct. I also read all my notes and highlight I took on my Kindle to write my reader’s journal.

The genre of this book is fantasy because it has unrealistic characters and a plot that could never happen in real life. The protagonists are Emma Thompson, Jake Thompson, and, so far, Will Davenport; however, I believe towards the end of the book, Will might become an antagonist because he seems suspicious. Jake is Emma’s five-year-old who can see into the future. Will is a complete stranger to both of them, but Jake claims they need him and that their lives depend on him. These characters are round because they are well described; however, they haven’t went through any type of characterization yet. The antagonists are the “The Bad Men”, as Jake calls them, because they seem to be a threat to Emma and Jake, but it is not clearly stated why. They are round because they are clearly stated. The following passages help describe them:

“The Bad Men, as Jake called them, had found them more quickly. They used to be able to live in a place for months, but this time had only been three weeks. She tried to take comfort in the daylight, even if it was fading. The Bad Men usually came at night, but she sensed their desperation was making them bolder. She drove home as fast as possible without the risk of getting pulled over by the police. She knew from experience they couldn’t be trusted. “

“He didn’t fit the Bad Men’s usual look of jeans and  black shirts…”

“The Bad Men” have not gone through characterization; therefore, they are static. The foil character is Emma’s boss at the beginning of the book. Emma and Jake must leave in a rush and this character helps the scene seem more intense. He is flat and static because he is not described well and doesn’t go through characterization.

Most of the setting isn’t clearly stated in the book. It starts off in a motel in Texas in July in which Emma and Jake live in. “Home was an aged, pay-by-the-week, roach-infested motel.” Then the main characters leave the motel and start driving; there is no exact setting, but it states that they want to go to Austin, Texas. It takes place in modern times. The weather conditions are hot and humid. One social condition is that Jake can see the future and believes Will is needed for he and his mom to survive.

                                   

The plot of this book was very good and it got to the action pretty fast. The exposition was when the author introduced the main characters and the conflict. Then, almost immediately, then book went into the rising action, where Emma and Jake decided that Will can tag along with them. It is also where their mysterious car chase takes place. I am still on the rising action, but will keep reading to answer questions like, Why are Emma and Jake being chased by “The Bad Men” and Who is Will really?

The conflict is man vs. supernatural because the protagonists are against the antagonists and some characters are “supernatural” beings. This type of conflict is external. The tone of this book is mysterious and adventurous and the mood is curious and suspenseful. There is no theme, moral, or motif. The point-of-view is either third-person-omniscient or third-person-limited because the narrator speaks about what he can only see and hear, but knows what two character, Emma and Will, thinks and feels. The author’s purpose is to entertain readers with a mysterious and suspenseful fantasy.

I found the following figurative language while reading:

- “The boy looked like a cherub out of one of those Renaissance paintings…” is a simile comparing Jake’s appearance to the appearance of a cherub.

- “But she willed away the tears that threatened to spill.” This is personification because it gives human-like qualities to thing that do not live; tears cannot literally threaten to spill.

 

- “BOOM! She slammed her foot on the gas pedal.” This is onomatopoeia because it is a sound.

- “’Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.’” This is a cliché because it is an overused expression.

- “Emma felt as though it would take a lifetime to get there.” This is a hyperbole because it exaggerates the about of time it would take to drive.

            (#6) I like the fact that the author doesn’t really tell you who “The Bad Men” are and what they want in the beginning of the story because it makes me interested in reading more.

            (#18) The main character, Jake, reminds me of the main character, Raven, from the show, That’s so Raven because they can both see into the future.

            So far, I like the book. Fantasy isn’t normally my favorite genre but the book isn’t that bad. I would rate it a 7 ½ out of 10 stars because, like I said, fantasy isn’t really my favorite. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy books.

Your Student,

                                                                        Bailey Levy 802