skipping+christmas

=__ROUND 1__ = //Jessi Levine- A Cassidy Greenzeig- B Kate Curley- C Ashley Cassa- D Morgan Kenny- D//

//The main characters that we have meet so far are Nora and Luther Krank. Luther Krank is an accountant that enjoys the holiday times but not the part about spending money. His wife, Nora, likes to do the whole celebration to accommodate everyone. But besides their flaws both Nora and Luther are kind generous people who love their daughter Blair very much. They would change whatever plans they had, just to spend time with Blair. Our group has decided that the one character that we dislike so far is Frohmeyer. He acts like the street president, and all he wants is to win the street competition this year. That's not an issue but he will do what ever it takes to make you feel badly about your decisions just so you can do what HE wants you to do.//
 * __Main Characters (B)__**

//The first week of book club went well. In the beginning, we ate the food that Jessi brought in. Then we started talking about our opinions on the book. So far, we all enjoy it and are excited to see what happens when they actually skip Christmas. Then Morgan and Ashley asked us their questions and we answered them. Next we all talked about the different characters. I think we will have more to talk about at next weeks book club because we will be further into the book//.

**1. Why is Blair going to Peru? Why is Nora so upset?**
//Blair is going to Peru to help teach children how to read. And this will be the first year that she will not be here for Christmas// //it's expensive, not very organized, and the workers aren't pleasant to be around.// //He realized that if they skip Christmas they could save over three thousand dollars.// //She reluctantly agrees. She realizes that money is just handed out at Christmas. And it would be a good idea to save some this year, but still regrets the decision.// //NO. Well, we all have mixed emotions. You can partially skip Christmas but, giving to charities and helping out others shouldn't be forgotten. But going on a cruise would be okay.// //To go to the peace court and help the less fortunate.// //Because they can save so much money if they don't get all the things for Christmas.// //They felt badly for not giving money to the boy scouts and not buying anything.// //He is the "streets mayor". He runs all of the events and makes sure everyone does what they are supposed to.// //Because they are worried that they might lose the street decoration contest.//
 * 2. Why does Luther hate Chips, the store, so much?**
 * 3. Why does Luther want to "skip Christmas"?**
 * 4.Do you think that Nora wishes she didn't agree with it?**
 * 5. Do you think it's a good idea?**
 * 6. Where and why does Blair leave her family for a year?**
 * 7. Why don't the Krank's want to celebrate Christmas?**
 * 8. Why did the Krank's not want those Christmas tree boys to come to their house?**
 * 9. Who is Frohmeyer?**
 * 10. Why are people starting to get upset that they aren’t doing Christmas this year?**

=__ROUND 2__ = //Kate Curley A Ashley Cassa- B Morgan Kenny- C Jessi Levine- D Cassidy Greenzeig- D//

//As the book goes on the language gets easier. If i had to pick a grade level to read this book I'd say i would choose 7th grade because the words are not hard to understand. There is a lot of information in each of the chapters so that there is things to talk about for our discussions.//
 * __Language__** __**(B)**__

__**Summary (C)**__
//This week, we had done the usual. We brought in doughnuts and cookies, though they weren't the same ones, they were just as satisfying. We discussed the book and brought up many new points and talked about our feelings toward the book. Many new things have changed and we all have mixed emotions about the book, and we are all eager to find out what will happen next.//

__**Questions (D)**__
//Because Nora and Luther decided not to put up any decorations, therefore there house was pitch black and ruined the vibe that the street gave of.// //Because he is upset that Blair is leaving for the holidays and won't be home to celebrate.// //He just thought that he didn't really need another calendar, he usually buys one every year.// //Blair loves the honey glazed ham.// //They are going on a cruise. :)// Walt Scheel. After reading the book so far, we feel as if something has to go wrong on Christmas morning. Without a turn in the mood, the story is going to be very predictable. We would be confused about why they would want to skip Christmas but we would understand. No, but i think they were letting out there anger by trying to get revenge. Probably, since the book has been getting boring and repetitive. So we think that something will have to go wrong eventually.
 * 1. Why don't they win the street decorating contest?**
 * 2. Why is Luther so grumpy?**
 * 3. Why won't Luther buy a calendar from the police officers?**
 * 4. What is Blair's favorite Christmas dinner?**
 * 5. What are the Krank's doing instead of celebrating Christmas?**
 * 6. Who is the neighbor that Luther doesn't get along with?**
 * 7. What do you think will happen next?**
 * 8. If this was happening to a family member would you respect their wishes or refuse to understand?**
 * 9. Do you think that it was nice of the Scheel's to let a news reporter take a picture of the Krank's house?**
 * 10. Do you think something will happen to Blair?**

=__ROUND 3__ = //Cassidy Greenzeig- A Morgan Kenny- B Ashley Cassa- C Kate Curley- D Jessi Levine- D // **__Mood and Tone (B)__** //The mood of this novel changes throughout the story. In the beginning, when they are planning the vacation, it was very calm. As the story goes on, it gets more and more hectic with the neighbors and Blair coming home. When Nora and Luther find out Blair is coming home for Christmas Eve the mood of the book changes. It gets frantic and Nora gets nervous because she knows she needs to have a party ready when Blair arrives. The mood is soon to change when Blair does or doesn't come home to a party.//

**__Summary__** __**(C**__) //This week was like every other week. When we first sat all together, we ate the cookies that Cassidy brought in. They went well with the book because they were Christmas cookies. After we ate them we went over the questions and had a discussion about them. Next week we will have more to talk about because we will be further into the book.//

//** __Questions (D)__ ** **1.** **Why didn't** **they win the street competition?** //**// Because Luther and Nora did not put up any decorations so the house was pitch black. //** //**2. Who called The Krank's and had special news?** //Blair, their daughter. //**3. Why did Blair call?**// //She wanted to call her parents to tell them that she had gotten engaged and she is in Miami getting ready to board a flight home just in time for the Christmas party.// //**4. Do Nora and Luther agree about what to do about the party?**// //No. Luther wants to tell Blair the truth about them not doing the party, but Nora doesn't want Blair to ever find out.// //Luther ends up driving in the Christmas traffic that he has spent months trying to avoid. Also he has to wait on lines to buy items for the "party". // **//**6. What is Blair's boyfriend's name?** Enrique **7. Who does Luther give the cruise tickets to?** //He gives them to Walt and Bev Scheel. //Blair's flight is going to land around 6.// ** //**9. What does Enrique do for a living?** //He's a doctor. The police officers Salino and Treen.
 * 5. What does Luther end up doing?
 * 8. How long do Nora and Luther have to put together a party?
 * 10. Who picks up Blair and Enrique from the airport? **

=__ROUND 4__ = //Morgan Kenny- A Kate Curley- B Jessi Levine- C Ashley Cassa- D Cassidy Greenzeig- D//

//There are many themes in the novel __Skipping Christmas__. A very clear theme would be Christmas as well as family. Family is a theme because in the end the Krank's rush to get everything back to normal when they find out Blair will be home for Christmas. They realize that even though this holiday costs more then it was going to, its worth every second of happiness.//
 * __Themes and Images (B)__**

//For the first five minutes we had some donuts. Then we talked about the themes and images in the book. We talked some more about the book and discussed some of the questions that we have put up. So far I think we're all really enjoying the book and we want to watch the movie too. We all talked about what we thought of the book and how we liked it. Cassidy shared her favorite parts because she really likes the book. After that we finished up the discussion and the period was over.//
 * __Summary (C)__**

**__Questions (D)__** // **1.** **Where does Luther think that they should all go to dinner?** // // Luther was planning to make reservations at Angelo's, their favorite Italian place.// //The Krank's neighbor, Mr. Scheel allowed the photographer on his roof to take the perfect picture.// //Luther went into his office, shut his door, and finished up last-minute details.// //Nora has missed the tree at times, the decorations, and the music.// //Luther called the Albrittons. They were old friends from church who lived and hour away.// Once Luther asked, they cracked up and were laughing so hard they could breath. //Nora is stuck traffic on Broad, near the mall, because she couldn't park at the District.// //The Pinkertons, Harts, Malones, Burklands, and the Lairds can't come.// //A Radio Flyer// //Walt Scheel, the neighbor who let the photographer take the picture from their house//. //Vic Frohmeyer explained to the cops and said that if he had a key the Trogdons obviously knew where the tree was, so Luther wasn't stealing anything.//
 * 2. How did the photographer get a picture of the Krank's dark house?**
 * 3. What did Luther do during his company's Christmas party?**
 * 4. What has Nora missed about this Christmas?**
 * 5. Who did Luther call to invite last minute to his party? And what was their response?**
 * 6. While Luther is figuring out stuff at home, where is Nora?**
 * 7. Who else can not make it to the last minute party?**
 * 8. What wagon are Luther and Spike using to move the tree?**
 * 9. Who calls the cops claiming that Luther is stealing from the Trogdon's?**
 * 10. Who told the cops that it was a misunderstanding about the tree and Luther would not steal, so the cops let him go?**

=__ROUND 5__ = //Ashley Cassa- A Jessi Levine- B Cassidy Greenzeig- C Morgan Kenny - D Kate Curley- D//

//Some people in the group liked this book and some people in our group didn't like the book so much. I think it all depends on what type of books you like to read. I wouldn't recommend this to a friend because i didn't like it that much but who knows maybe they will end up enjoying it. I don't think this book should be considered for the school's curriculum because it isn't all that educational and i think there are better books for the school to use.//
 * __Responding to the Text (B)__**

//Today was our last meeting. Ashley brought in delicious pretzel sticks which we ate up pretty fast. Morgan// wasn't here for the final meeting but she put her question on the wiki so there were no problems. We all answered Kate and Morgan's questions and then the group decided to never let me pick the book again. (I guess they don't like Christmas as much as I). Overall we accomplished a lot and at least one person enjoyed the book.
 * __Summary (C)__**

//They didn't want Blair to freak out and be upset. Also they didn't want to not see Blair if she was going to be home.// //No. I think that he didn't figure out that Christmas was than than a holiday till after the party.// //I think that it happened so fast that she was so overwhelmed, that she didn't have time to feel anything.// //I think that they might plan to go away, but they will tell Blair so this mix up doesn't happen again.// //There was no thought other than excitement for the arrival of Blair and Enrique.// //I think that he was a little, but then he realized that he did the right thing.// //I don't think so. They could have just old her the truth and had a dinner with just Blair and Enrique.// //They were surprised because he was white and english. He was born in London and they thought that he would be from Peru.// //I think that she would've been upset, but then she would understand and just be happy to be home.// //NEVER!//
 * __Questions (D)__**
 * 1. Why couldn't Nora and Luther tell Blair about what had happened (cruise and previous plans)?**
 * 2. Do you think that Luther had finally figured out that Christmas was more than just a holiday when he gave his cruise tickets to the neighbors?**
 * 3. How do you think Nora and Luther felt about this particular Christmas?**
 * 4. What do you think the Kranks' will do next Christmas?**
 * 5. What do you think went through all of the neighbors minds when the Kranks' were all of the sudden throwing this Christmas party?**
 * 6. Do you think Luther was still upset after the party that they didn't get to go on a cruise?**
 * 7. Do you think Luther and Nora made the right decision by getting the party together for Blair?**
 * 8. Why were Luther and Nora surprised when they met and saw Enrique?**
 * 9. How do you think Blair would feel if she found out that the party would have never happened if she wasn't going home?**
 * 10. After finishing the book, would you ever consider skipping Christmas?**