Wesley's Newsletter
By: Wesley Geng
Interview of Franny Chapman
How would you summarize Uncle Otts' behavior? Franny describes how Uncle Otts is paranoid. Everything he does shows that he is paranoid. How would you prioritize your actions if an air raid siren went off? She says that she would first get the whole family together. Then she would find a place for everyone to duck and cover. She wants to make sure that everyone is safe. What do you think about this war? Franny describes how this war is unnecessary. Nothing would be achieved out of this war. How are Jo Ellen's actions related to your suspicions? Franny says Jo Ellen is acting very secretive. She isn't sharing any information. What judgements could be made about Margie? Franny says Margie is a little selfish and thinks only about herself. Franny says Margie used to be very nice to her but Margie has changed. What judgements could be made about yourself? Franny describes herself as a quiet and unnoticed person. She says not many people talk to her. What does she predict would happen if an air raid siren went off? She predicts that people would be in panic, but educated people like her would duck and cover. What does she predict Jo Ellen is doing when she is away from home? Franny predicts Jo Ellen is trying to escape from the madness going on at home. Franny wishes she could do the same thing. What evidence supports the fact that Uncle Otts is crazy? Franny says he has been to war so he knows the intensity of it. He becomes very paranoid and he wants to build a bomb shelter. Why was sneaking into Jo Ellen's room and risk getting into trouble better than forgetting about the situation? She says she was getting very curious. She wanted to figure out what was going on.
Franny hopes that this war will end soon. She wants to make it out of this war alive and live to a ripe old age like Uncle Otts said.
Countdown Book Review
Deborah Wiles has also written Love, Ruby Lavender; The Aurora County All-Stars; and Each Little Bird that Sings. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia and has taught many writing workshops.
How to Grow Tomatoes
First, you will need to choose a bright spot. They need to get at least 10 hours of sunlight each day. Once you have chosen a spot, you need to dig a hole twice the diameter and depth of the tomato plant. After that, put a handful of fertilizer into the hole. Then bury the tomato plant all the way down to its first leaves. Then, you will need to drive a stake into the ground and tie the stem of the plant onto the stake with plastic ties. Once the plant starts to grow, remove extra side branches by pinching or cutting them. When the tomatoes are ripe and you need to harvest them, you can either cut the branches off or twist the tomatoes so that they will fall off.
Growing tomatoes are sometimes difficult, but they can be used in many ways. They can be used in sandwiches or salads.
Book Review of Locomotion
Jaqueline Woodson is the author of many young adult books. She currently lives in Brooklyn. She has also written Last Summer With Maizon, Miracle Boy's, and From the Notebooks Of Melanin Sun.