Fri Oct 30: what we talked about

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark cover

Happy Halloween!

LMC pumpkin wearing a maskLMC skull wearing no mask

We hope you read a scary story while you're chomping on candy tomorrow.

Favorite scary stories

  • Mrs. Stevens: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
    • Summary: A superstitious schoolmaster, in love with a wealthy farmer's daughter, has a terrifying encounter with a headless horseman.
    • Genre: classic
  • Allison: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
    • She especially remembers the scary story about the female driver who is followed home!
  • Hunter: It or The Shining by Stephen King
    • Genre: horror
    • How long is It anyway?
      • Ms. Kennedy guessed 895 pages
      • Sasha and others guessed over
      • Answer: 116 pages!
  • Ms. Tolva: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
    • Summary: For months after her death, the memory of Rebecca de Winter continues to dominate everyone at her former home, Manderley, one of the most famous English country houses.
    • Genre: classic
    • Also recent Netflix movie with Lily James

Favorite (and least favorite candy):

  • Hunter loves gummies and hates caramel.
  • Mrs. Stevens is hard pressed to think of any candy she doesn't like! Oh wait, she doesn't like black licorice.
  • Ms. Kennedy hates Necco wafers because "they taste like chalk."
  • Sasha loves Smarties and hates the butter/peanut butter flavor of Reese's Pieces.
  • Kenzie loves M&Ms, and so does Ms. Tolva!

What we're reading and watching

  • David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of  Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
    • Summary: Argues that the obstacles and disadvantages experienced by the underdog require adaptations that can lead to benefits and success in professional life, and draws upon examples from the world of business, sports, and culture.
    • Genre: non-fiction
  • Midnight Sun by Trisha Cook
    • Summary: Eighteen-year-old Katie who has a rare disease in which she cannot leave her house during the day because even the smallest amount of sunlight can become deadly. She finds her world turned upside down when playing guitar one night she meets Charlie Reed.
    • Genre: relationships
    • Ms. Kennedy says she won't finish this book for a long while because she likes it so much!
  • Torment by Lauren Kate
    • Sequel to Fallen
    • Summary of first book, Fallen:
      • Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her.
      • Genre: supernatural
  • "Knives Out" (2019) reminds Ms. Tolva of Agatha Christie mystery stories
  • "Halloween"

Creativity

  • Sasha shared an art piece she is working on. She has planned out what will be in her art, and she is slowly drawing it in.
  • In a similar vein, Ms. Kennedy shared the outline she has for her NaNoWriMo story (National Novel Writing Month)
    • Young adult story featuring a portal from natural world to a fantasy world
    • Main character is Emerson Rose Doran
    • Her father's favorite poet was Ralph Waldo Emerson
    • Her mother has left the family.
    • Her last name means "exile" or "wanderer" in Irish
  • Book Club members Emily and Jenna have also gotten support and plot ideas for their stories from our creative club!