beautifullies

Person A- Amanda  Person B- Jena  Person C- Jena  Person D- Lauren

 1. On your group's wiki page, describe the main characters in your text. What makes them interesting? What is their story or background? Why are you drawn to them? Conversely, are there any characters that you just cannot stand? Why not? (A)

 Main characters:

 -Ridley: She is a single mother who had a problem with her boyfriend. He became very abusive to her baby and she couldn't let anything happen to her. Ridley is very interesting because she is willing to kill anyone who trys to ingure her baby. She is also very clever, and always thinks before she acts. She plans out every move she is going to make. Ridley's backround would be how she used to live with her family and they got along really well. Her dad had a very simple name so he named his daughter Ridley to make her seem more unique. He always wanted her to live her life the way she wanted to and now that she is a writer in New York City, she couldn't think life could get any better. Her parents unfortunatley died from smoking so she has no one in her family to turn to for help. Another example of how passionate she is would be how she threw her self in front of a van to save a little kid that she never met in her life.

 -Zach: Once a lover of Ridley now she can't stand to see him. it all started on the dates the used to go one. He never asked her what she wanted to see, and now tat she thinks about it, she should have read the signs that he was a bad person. Zach has a really bad temper. He wants custody of their baby but Ridley had the feeling he would her her so she never let him. But one day he took his anger to far and broke the baby girls arm. Zach is interesting in a errie way. He is willing to break into Ridleys apartment in Manhatten to see the baby. Ever since the night that Ridley met Zach, she tought they were in love. Zach had a different aprroach to their relationship. He wouldn't call her for months at a time.

 Quotes= (person B)  1. “She lay alone in the dark, on the pilled quilt atop her bed.” –Narrator.(talking about Ridley(  2. “She looked at the phone she had left on the bed and thought about calling the police. But she couldn’t face them coming here for nothing again.” –Narrator.(talking about Ridley)  3. “I was a shot fired from a gun, unthinking and with only one path available to me.”- Ridley Jones.

 Questions= (person C)

 1. Why do you think Ridley and her boyfriend Zach broke up?

 I think that Ridley and her boyfriend Zach broke up because all guys are the same and he was just using her then he stopped calling and everything dropped.

 2.How do you think the mother of the child that walked into the street felt when Ridley saved her sons life?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The mother of that child must have felt so happy and grateful that her kid did not die due to Ridley saving him. Ridley saw the white van coming towards him and was so close to hitting the child until she jumped in and grabbed him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. Why do you think Ridley wont leave her apartment even though she can afford a better one?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Ridley won’t leave her apartment because she has spent 10 years there and she is comfortable and used to it. She doesn’t want to leave if she doesn’t have to. Ridley is happy there and all settled in.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person D- Summary of what we talked about:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We discussed a lot about the book today in class. The book is confusing and hard to understand at times but it seems like it is going to be a good story. We all are enjoying this novel so far. We like the main character Ridley and her attitude. Her ex-boyfriend Zach doesn’t seem like to good of a guy. She thought she loved him and that they were going to get married. Well that never happened.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Our group talked about how weird it was that when Ridley left their baby with Zach he broke the baby’s arm! Ridley hysterically cried and rushed her baby to the hospital. We said how we would never leave our baby with someone like that. Ridley should definitely press charges against him, which she was told to. I hope this book gets less confusing but the story continues to go well.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> PAGES 75-150

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person A: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> In our book Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger the language is very easy to read. Some of the words are big but you can understand the meaning of them by the words around them. The content is conversational because when you read it it seems like the main character, Ridley Jones, is having a conversation with you. We think that the book is written at a 10th grade or up level because the words aren’t that hard to understand but there is some adult content.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person B(quotes) : <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1."Better he talks to you than no one. I haven't been able to get near him in years. But why didn't you tell me?" -Ridley's rather pg. 104 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2. "I looked up to see Jake had slid into the booth across the table from me" - Ridley pg. 82 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. "I realized that all the talking we'd done in the last few days, ninety percent of it had been about me." - Ridley pg. 142

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person C (questions) : <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1.What was the name of the boy that Ridley met in the begining of this section? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The name of the boy is Jake. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2.What do you think him and Ridley's relationship will turn out to be like? do you think it will be like how her and Zach's was? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We think that their relationship will be casual but they will definitely have feelings for each other. we don't think that it will get as intense as Ridley and Zack's relationship. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. Who is Ace and why is he not a part of her family anymore? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Ace is Ridley's brother and he is a drug addict.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person D: Today in class we discussed how it's scary how Ridley received a note from her long lost father on her door-step. Her boyfriend Jake tracked the number and got an address. We also were talking about how crazy her life has been the past few months. One night her brother called her and asked to meet her to talk about their issues. Ridley has so many questions to ask him about their father. But he never answers them and leaves her with a warning to stay away from him.This part confused us because we didn't know why he would want her to stay away from him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We also discussed how it's weird how her boyfriend Jake followed her to where her and her brother met. We think that she should stay with him no matter how creepy he seems. He always wants to protect her and keep her safe. Ridley's old boyfriends were always one night stands and never serious with her. Also her crazy x who tried to kill her. We hope they stay together.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person A: Lauren <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person B: Amanda <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person C: Amanda <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person D: Jena <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> pages- 150-225 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person A

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The overriding emotion of this book is confusing stressful and depressed. She is finding out that her parents may not even be her real parents. This makes her confused and sad. She is finding out things about Jake that she never even knew. Ridley is really lonely which is begining to make her very depressed.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person B(quotes):

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1."I was a bad father," he said. "But i didn't kill anyone." (Christian Luna,p152) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2. "He was breathing heavily now, tears still falling from his eyes as if there was no end to them, as if he'd been saving them up all these years" (Ridley,p156) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. "But i was caught in some kind of mental loop, where i kept seeing Christian Luna as his head rolled back, the bullet hole perfect and red on the middle of his forehead. That moment played over and over."(Ridley,p161.) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 4."I was feeling pretty rock bottom, and thinking that a titanium backbone and retractable claws might be of some use after you'd fled the scene of a murder, because that's precisely what we did." (Ridley,p 165) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 5." I can still hear him screaming." (Jake,p205)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person C(questions): <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1. Do you think Christian Luna was telling the truth about Ridley being he daughter Jessie? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Yes we do think that he was telling the truth because he gave such specific details about her.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2. What are some reasons Ridley feels like Jake is suddenly a stranger? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Some reasons that She feels that Jake is suddenly a stranger is because she is finding out things about him that he had never told her. Also when Christian got shot Jake just wanted to run away and he didn't even call the cops.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. Why did Ridley go into the park at night to meet with Christian Luna? Who is he? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Ridley went to the park at night to with him because Christian sent Ridley note with his phone number to her to call. He saw her on the news and knew that she was his daughter, so he wanted to get in touch with her. Christian Luna claims to be Ridley's real father.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person D: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Today in class we talked about how the book started to change emotion. When Ridley met Christian Luna the book started to change directions. Ridley met Christian in the park. He told her he was her father, and when they were in the park Christian got shot in the head. Ridley and Jake went home that night completely confused of what just happened.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We also discussed if Ridley Jones is really Christian Luna’s daughter. And we were wondering if Jake was the one who shot Christian Luna. Then we discussed the things that Ridley found out about Jake, and if we thought it was really true. We agreed that Jake was starting to sound scary and that Ridley should stay away from him. We think that this book is starting to get really good and we cant wait to read more of it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person A- Amanda <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person B- Jena <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person C- Jena <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person D- Lauren <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Pages- 225-300

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person A:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">One theme in this book would be "love". Ridley has a lot of problems with this. Ridley is confused over who she should be with for the rest of her life. Zach was in her life for a long time, but they drifted apart. Now that she has Jake in her life, she feels that she can feel happy again with another person. She feels a sense of protection when she is with Jake. Like all the problems in the world don't exist when she is with him. Another theme would be, "be careful who you trust". Ridley thought she was a normal person in this world. But now everything comes crashing down when she finds out her own parents lied to her. Her name isn’t really Ridley either, it’s Jessie. She was abandoned when she was little. This is why Christian Luna came to find her. He was her dad. She doesn’t know who to turn to because she doesn’t know who she can trust anymore.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person B:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“ I had no frame of reference for this kind of situation, so I was flying blind.” –Ridley (page 230) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“Anyway, life doesn’t work like that. You can’t make trades. Or so I thought.” –Ridley (page 255) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“I hated my voice and hands, mutinous in their shaking, betraying the emotion coursing through me” –Ridley (page 280)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person C: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">1. Why do you think Zack and Esme didn’t tell Ridley what was happening when Ridley went to Zach’s apartment? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">They didn't tell her the trusth about her life because they didn't know if they should. They wanted to keep it a secret for as long as they could. Also, if they told her, it would be putting their own lives in danger. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">2. Do you think that Jake and/or Ridley will get arrested at the end of the book? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yes i do think that they will get arrested. At least one of them. They are both really stubborn and won't stop till they find the answer. But that may take them into an area of risks where they are going to make a mistake. But one mistake will change their life forever. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">3. Do you think that the police, Ridley, or Jake will find out who was trying to kill Ridley?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">I think they are going to try to find out who is trying to kill her, but i think that the person is closer than we think. I think it could be someone who we think is a "good person". This book is full of secrets and twists so i believe that the killer is someone indisguise.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Person D:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Today in class we talked about the theme of the book beautiful lies. We said that one of the main themes is love. With all that goes on between Jake and Zach and Ridley. It revolves around her relationships with each of the boys a lot. Another theme we did is be careful with who you trust. Ridley thought she could trust Jake although it turns out she really can’t.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We also talked about just the novel in general. Some of us are enjoying this novel but some think it’s boring. There are only some parts of this novel that are actually exciting and make you want to read more. The novel overall in my opinion is pretty uninteresting. We talked about how it would be better if it wasn’t so dragged out. It needs to kind of get to the point fast.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person A: Jena <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person B: Lauren <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person C: Lauren <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person D: Amanda

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person A: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The book Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger is a very good book and we would defiantly recommend it to other readers who like mystery books. It was very suspenseful and full of secrets that were revealed slowly through out the book. The author put a lot of detail in this book as well. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> We have read better mystery books in the past, but that doesn’t mean that this book was bad. Lisa Unger wrote a very exciting and suspenseful book. This would be a great book for the school curriculum. But it might be too long and it might take some teenagers too long to read.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person B: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1. "I'm trying to save your life, Ridley." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2. "There are people looking for you...people who are very curious about what you know. I'm trying to figure it out before they do." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. "We are changed by the things we experience."

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Person C: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 1. Why do you think Harriman had Ridley's brother hidden? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> So that he would know that Ridley would come to his office to get him and then he would be able to talk to her. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2. If you were in Ridleys situation with all her problems and confusion would you have stepped in front of that van like she did? Why or why not? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> At first, i would have jump in front of the van because i wouldn't have known what consequences it would have. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 3. How do you think Ridley's life would be different at this time if she didn't have Jake to love and be with her? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Ridley would probably be dead because when ever she was in danger Jake was there to protect her.

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Today in class, we talked about the book as a whole. We talked about the important ideas in this book. For example one of the scariest parts of the book would be how Ridley fainted because she was so overwhelmed with shock that she fell and got a concussion. We also explained to each other how it was good that Ridley’s parents told her all of the dark secrets in her family. Finally all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together and it all makes sense. We also think that Ace, her brother is finally trying to get clean and reconnect his relationship with his family. Ridley’s life in finally going smoothly and under control.======

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Jena also said that’s she might want to read a book by Lisa Unger again. But Lauren and I disagree. We didn’t rally like the book as a whole. Lauren and I thought it was confusing. Jena however thought that it was a good book. Our group was talking about how we would rather read a scarier longer novel, than an ok short novel.======