Indepent+Novel+Study

media type="file" key="Babylions.m4a" align="center" Name of Book: Earth to Nathan Blue Date:Friday, December 2nd, 2011 Pages covered:

I chose it because I knew the author's writing style, and liked his books, the cover was also flashy and it was a signed copy!
 * Why did you choose this novel?**

The story is told from the point of view of Nathan Blue, who, since the divorce of his parents and moving from his old home, acts out the emotion of being from another planet throughout the story. It begins with him arguing with his brother, who he has nicknamed Twerp,and recieving consequence from 'the mothership', his mom. The arguement is over watching a show on 'the Picture Box'. Nathan wants to watch his father's favorite show, an old sci-fi show, instead of MTV. The main reason for this is probably because he misses his father. So in turn, after he attacks Twerp, he gets 'confined to his pod'. In the second and third chapter, it starts to show more aspects of hs life; such as Humanoid school, and the forest at the back of his house, which is off-limits. At the school, a girl tries desperately to get through to Nathan, who subtlely ignores her. And then, changing the scene once more, it moves to the forest, in which Nathan is not allowed to go into, the boundaries clearly marked by a fence. After scaling the fence, and avoiding the cats and squirrel, which in his mind are spies for the mothership, he ventues in to the forest and meets a boy called Luza, who Nathan calls 'his apprentice', an idea from the TV show he liked; and enter another character, a mysterious man sitting on a cinder block, called 'Doc'.
 * What is going on as the story begins? (this adresses four of the questions.)**

Entry 2: Date: 9th of December

Soon enough, there is the problem of the mothership's 'replacement' for Nathan's Dad, a humanoid boyfriend. And to add to the mix, Nathan gets caught coming back from the forest, and Doc offers Nathan a cool pair of shoes for cheap.
 * What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?**

The descriptions used can be confusing at first, but once you get further into the novel, it starts to get easier to understand. Examples are terms like: Mothership, humanoids, and surveillance animals and such.
 * Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain.**

//The Mothership [ie: Mom] sent Dad away from us a year ago. Nine months later, during the stinking-hot summer, we moved to 134 Ridge, Plutonia, on the Dark Side of the Galaxy. Ever since then the Mothership has been parked here, and says the most boringest things over and over with her verbalizer. She has no imagination. The Mothership’s sockets are Icy Swirl toothpaste blobs and her voice sounds like Gladys, the Scour dishwashing woman. Actually, sometimes the Mothership and the PB [ie: television] are amazingly alike (Can you tell the difference?), except she never gets her message across. Too bad there’s no channel-changer for the Mothership. Once I tried to use it on her, though. Yeah, and guess what happened?//

//She zapped me double with her verbalizer.//

The main theme of this book seems to be that, some people have aspirations and such when traumatic things happen, such as moving away, or divorce. This is shown throughout the book in Nathan's imagination.
 * Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown?**

Entry 3: Date: 15th of December

This novel is aimed at the pre-teen to teen group. The language in the novel can be quite complicated at times and there is mentions of violence and some intense feelings of betrayal and belonging.
 * To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. **

For the most part, yes. The topic and theme of the whole book is realistic, but some things, like buying expensive shoes from a random guy in the middle of the forest for cheap, aren't.
 * Is the novel believable? **

He adds in-depth descriptions, and just enough action.
 * How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? **

Entry 4 Date:January 6th, 2012

The first is Luza, a friend that Nathan makes up to keep him company, in a place where he feels he doesn't belong.
 * Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose? (THIS INCLUDES ALL 'INTRODUCED CHARACTERS AROUND MIDDLE-END) **

The second is Doc, a homeless man usually found sittin gon a cinder block in the middle of the forest. He offers a pair of shoes to Nathan, a pair Nathan had been wanting. He is a very good person, in Nathan's eyes, and seems to be honest.

The third, Sheron, who is the the first real friend he makes in the book, but they only become friends halfway through. After they become friends, Luza starts to mean less to Nathan Blue, and he begins to wake up to reality.

The fourth is 'Imposter' Jacob, the new boyfriend of Nathan's mom. He branches out to Nathan, who eventually starts to warm up to him.

The final 'new' character introduced is Ted, although he is more of a minor character, his postion is very similar to Nathan's, and he helps to cheer Nathan up.

The setting of the story is set in an unknown place, although it does mention Nathan's former home.The setting is overall unimportant, and the novel could possibly be happening anywhere, but it is obvious that Nathan lives in Canada, possibly Toronto.
 * What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? **

//**__ DUE TO LACK OF QUESTIONS, I HAVE ADDED AN EXTRA QUESTION FOR THE LAST ENTRY. __**//

The climax of the novel is probably when Nathan tries to hop a train. Since this is the last new thing to happen, the rest is just summing up the story with the arrival of Nathan's real dad, and Nathan finally waking up to reality.
 * What is the climax of the novel?**

I really feel the message was about the hardships in life, and how to deal with them. Nathan was really stubborn and self-centered at the begining, but he managed to change by the end, into someone honorable, even among the Doctor. It definitely met my expectations. I thought it was just going to be another 'same old' science fiction novel, that was cool because it was signed. Boy, was I wrong. The writing style was face-paced and interesting, the authour never slipping out of Nathan Blue's view, until Nathan did, that is.
 * What message did you get from the novel?**
 * Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations? **

It depends on whether they could sit still long enough to bring themselves to read it. I would reccomend this book to some of my friends for the humor, the style, and the content; but I wouldn't reccomend it to some others, for the lack of action, or violence.
 * Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? **