story+of+a+girl+4

 Story Of A Girl
 * Alexis, Ceili, Hannah **
 * Week One: October 1**

Topic: Characters (Section 1 out of 5 of your text)


 * Assignment:**

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)

The one character that we can not stand is the dad because he still after three years is still disgusted with his daughter for her actions and he treats her with disrespect.
 * Alexis**: Deanna-optimistic in the situation that she is currently in. Her dad caught her doing something with a guy and now her dad is really upset with her decision. We are drawn to her because the story evolves around her.

2. Person B should share and discuss their selected quotations, using Save The Last Word techniques.

“ I didn’t love him. I’m not even sure I liked him.” Deanna - This quote shows that Deanna regretted her decision about having sex with Tommy.
 * Hannah**:

“My dad hasn’t looked me in the eye or talked to me, really talked to me, since.” - This quote represents the relationship between Deanna and her father.

“But my story had the honor of holding the top spot for over two years running.” - This quotes shows the huge impact of Deanna's actions.

“That story had been told in hallways and locker rooms and the back of classrooms..” - This quote proves that if you do something, sooner or later every else will know.

“My hero. My best friend” - This quote shows that even if you make a really bad decision, your true friends will always be there. “Why do guys always have long eyelashes that girls would die for?” - Alexis really liked this quote (So, she made me put it on), because it's very true. 3. Person C should post the meeting summary on the group's wiki page after class. So far in the book, we met a girl names Deanna who was caught with a boy named tommy in the back of his car by her dad. Since then Deanna ha been known as the school slut and her dad is still, three years later, upset with her decision and doesn't really talk to her that much anymore. Besides this, we learn four different rumer's that went around the school about Tommy and Deanna. 4.Person D should share his/her questions with the group, as well as post the questions on the group's wiki page 1.) What do you think ‘the girl’ Deanna writes about in her journal represents? We believe that the girl Deanna writes about represents who she wants to be in the future. 2.) Why do you think Deanna wants to move out so quickly? Deanna wants to move out quickly to get away from her dad, who is still mad at her after 3 years. 3.) What do you think it will take for Deanna’s dad to get over the event that took place 3 years ago? We feel that Deanna will have to talk to her dad about what happened, because after he caught her they stopped speaking which has been going on for years. 4.) Why did Deanna do what she did with Tommy if she did not have feelings for him? Deanna probably did things with Tommy to feel like she fit in, but in the end she actually did the opposite. Rumors started to spread and people looked at her in a different way. 5.) Why does Deanna always try to deny her actual feelings for Jason? She denies her feelings for Jason because her best friend Lee is dating him, she says that she is happy for them but in reality she's jealous over their relationship.
 * Alexis**:
 * Ceili**:
 * Week Two: October 8**

Topic: Language (Section 2 out of 5 of your text)

1. On your group's wiki page, discuss the type of language that your book contains. Is it easy to read? Conversational? "Classic"? Does it use a lot of words you don't understand? What grade level do you think the book is written at, and why? (B) The talk in a modern language. We understand most of the words that they use and how they talk. We think that the grade level in this book is for a high school level because of some of the language they use in this book
 * Assignment:**
 * Alexis**:

2. Person B should share and discuss their selected quotations, using Save The Last Word techniques.
 * Ceili**:

“Excuse me, said dad, for wanting better things for you than…this. When he said ‘this’ he sort of waved his hand around the kitchen, including all of us in what he obviously thought was one giant failure.” Page 49 paragraph 10 -This quote shows that the dad is really disappointed in his family, so he categorizes them as one big failure.

“I followed them out, avoiding mom’s eyes because this was one flaw in my big plan: Mom would be left behind. I could see it all like a movie on a screen: her, alone with dad for the rest of their lives, the house staying exactly the same (down to the last detail), shabby and worn-out, all the stains and holes and leaks showing, green shag carpet forever Maybe she was an innocent bystander, like those people you read about, standing around minding their own business when the stray bullet shoots them exactly through the heart. Or maybe not so innocent. It didn’t matter. In the end, she’d be the one left to walk through that door every day and try to figure out what went wrong” Page 50 paragraph 5 - This shows that Deanna wants her mom to be happy, she feels bad that she is going to be the one that has to deal with Deanna's father daily.

“It was Tommy. My Tommy. Tommy Webber. He still had the same scruffy, dark hair and lean, tall body. Michael looked surprised. You two know each other?” Page 51 paragraph 3 -This shows that tommy is still important to Deanna, she still remembers every detail about him.

“ His voice shot through me. It’s amazing, the things your body will do just when you don’t want them to: heart speeding up, fingers aching. I’d always liked his voice, low and laid-back, the kind of voice that made you listen, a voice that still caused me to teeter when I heard it saying my old nickname.” Page 55 paragraph 3 - This quote represents how Deanna still cares a lot about Tommy, even though she denies ever having feelings for him.

“If Stacy’s mom helped them, they wouldn’t need me. I talked fast, like mom did when she was nervous. She’s not going to help you. Her and Stacy have barely talked since April was born. God, why would you want anything from her anyway? You’ll just owe her for, like, ever. I was practically yelling.” - This quote shows how much Deanna wants her plan to go through, she doesn't want anything to get in the way of it. Deanna wants to be able to help.

3. Person C should post the meeting summary on the group's wiki page after class.

It 2/5, Deanna takes a job at a Pizzeria. Tommy also happens to work there too. Deanna's father still doesn't approve of her and the rest of the family. Deanna must go out of her way to avoid spending time with her judgmental father.
 * Hannah**:

4.Person D should share his/her questions with the group, as well as post the questions on the group's wiki page

-What did Deanna start to do when she was 12? Deanna at the age of 12 started to smoke but she quit 1 summer ago -Whos is a Deannas new job that makes her wanna quit? Tommy is at her new job. -What does Deanna hate about Mondays? Everyone else has work but her dad so they are home alone together. -What did Deanna do on Monday instead of being home with her dad? Deanna went to Jasons to avoid her dad.
 * Alexis:**


 * Week Three: October 15**

Topic: Mood/Tone (section 3 out of 5 of your text)

1. On your group's wiki page, discuss the mood or tone of your book.What is the overriding emotion of this book? What examples back up your claim? (B) 2. Person B should share and discuss their selected quotations, using Save The Last Word techniques. 3. Person C should post the meeting summary on the group's wiki page after class. 4.Person D should share his/her questions with the group, as well as post the questions on the group's wiki page
 * Assignment:**

Why does Michael care so much about Deanna? - He sympathizes for her and the situation she’s currently in.
 * Hannah**:

Why does Lee get so angry with Deanna? - Deanna wasn’t treating Lee like a friend. She was acting out of her jealously for a relationship.

What is happening with Lee and Jason? - Jason wants to have sexual relations with Lee, but Lee isn’t so sure that is something she wants to do.

What is Deanna’s relationship with Stacy like? - They have a close relationship, and both want to help each other out.

What happens when the boys from Deanna’s school walk in to the pizzeria? - Deanna tries to avoid them by going into the back room. But, they continue to remind her and mock her about her past with Tommy.

Today we discussed chapters four, five, six, and seven. One of the questions asked to describe Deanna’s relationship with her brother’s girlfriend Stacy. We said that they were both troubled and they tried to help one another. We also discussed certain situations that happened within these chapters. One of the scenes we talked about was when Deanna was at work and all of Tommy’s friends walked in and bothered her. They started to say things about the relationship she once had with Tommy. Another topic we talked about was her relationship with her boss, Michael. Her and Michael shared certain things that many bosses would not discuss with their employer. Michael sympathizes with Deanna over a many of the events going on in her life. In chapter 6, Michael talked about how he felt about the town. He said it had everything, and he described it in a way that Deanna never did. Deanna hated the town, she wanted to get out; she felt trapped. Also, another event that happened in chapter 6 was when Deanna made her best friend Lee cry. Deanna made her upset out of her jealousy of Lee’s relationship with Jason. She talked about what she would have done to comfort her friend, but ended up just walking away.
 * Ceili GIglio:**

**Alexis:**

“Michael was nice. Sincerely nice; the nicest person I’d met in a long time”

“And he didn’t judge me, at least I don’t think he did”

“Its got everything, the beach, a video store, Safeway, rent I can almost afforded. Its quiet, but I can be in San Francisco in half an hour anytime I want.”

“More tears. She had to take a napkin out of the dispenser and hold it up to her face. I should have gotten up, slid into the booth next to her and put my arms around her, hugging her the way she hugged me every time she saw me. Id say im sorry, that I was just jealous and to forget what I said.”

**Week Four: October 22**

Topic: Themes/Images (section 4 out of 5 of your text)

1. On your group's wiki page, discuss the themes and images that your book contains. What are some of the images that are used? What do they seem to represent? Why do you think the author uses these images to convey his or her meaning? 1.) The theme of this book is growing up and how we need to move past the mistakes that we once made. 2.) Some of the images the author explained to us were Deanna's home and Deanna's social life. 3.) The help represent how unhappy Deanna is with her life. The author explained that her home life was not going well and her social life was starting to fall apart. 4.) The author uses these images because it helps the reader relate more to the story.
 * Assignment:**

2. Person B should share and discuss their selected quotations, using Save The Last Word techniques.

“ ‘I know. But have you been paying attention? Stacy and I have to get our shit together, like, //now//. I mean, look at us! We have the kid and maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing we ever did, but there she is. We live in the apartment of ourextremely f***ed-up parents’ “ (Zarr, 113).** *Darren*
 * Hannah:**

“Work was typical: Tommy acting like an asshat, customers confused by the handwritten menu, the salad bar giving off it’s usual stink” (Zarr, 119).

“At least back then, I belonged to someone. Tommy had chosen me, and whatever it really was, the two of us were //something//, something that we weren’t without each other” (Zarr, 121).

“ ‘Deanna? If I really did all that… I mean, I know I did, but if all that was true about how you felt and everything… and, you know, how I talked about it, I’m sorry’ “(Zarr, 129). *Tommy*

“ I stared at the page. Maybe I should go back to the girl on the waves. At least I had some control over //her// life” (Zarr, 130).

In our meeting we talking about what happend in the book so far. We learned that Deanna kissed Jason and Lee felt betrayed by her friend and her boyfriend. Also we talked about some quotes that were in the story that really standed out to us. For example one quote that hannah stated was "I stared at the page. Maybe I should go back to the girl on the waves. At least I had some control over her life" which was said by Deanna.
 * 3. Person C should post the meeting summary on the group's wiki page after class.**
 * Alexis:**


 * 4.Person D should share his/her questions with the group, as well as post the questions on the group's wiki page**

**Ceili:** 1.) How do you think Lee will react when she finds out about Deanna kissing Jason? We believe that she will feel very betrayed by her, because they were best friends. 2.) Why do you think Deanna allowed Tommy to drive to the parking lot when he was supposed to bring her home? We believe that she wanted to escape all her problems, and she wanted someone to love her. 3.) Do you think Deanna feels bad for what she said about Tommy? Why? We believe she does feel bad, because after she said the mean things to him he started not showing up to work and ignoring her. We noticed she wanted all the attention again. 4.) Why do you think Stacy left without any notice? We believe that she hated her life so much. She hated her job at the grocery store and than coming home to a miserable life. Like, Deanna she just wanted to escape everyone. 5.) Why did Darren not want Deanna to go an help him find Stacy? We believe that Darren did not want Deanna going because Darren felt that this was something he had to do alone. I also believe Darren wanted to end things with Stacy, which would have made Deanna upset.

Week Five: October 29 (LAST MEETING)


 * Topic: Responding to the Text (section 5 out of 5 of your text)**

Assignment:
 * 1. On your group's wiki page, discuss your final reflections on this book. Would you recommend it to peers? Why or why not? Has this topic been discussed more/less effectively in another book or books? Should this book be considered for the school's curriculum? (B)**

We would recommend this book to our peers because it can be easily relatable to many teens that have bad relationships within their family or social life. The main topic in this book would be importance of friendship and respect. In the book Of Mice and Men one of the important themes is friendship.Our group believes nothing is wrong with putting this in a school's curriculum because it focus' on many other things other than what she did with Tommy.


 * 2. Person B should share and discuss their selected quotations, using Save The Last Word techniques.**


 * Ceili**:

“ A commercial came on and I felt Mom’s eyes on me. “Come on here, sweetheart. Snuggle up.” She held her arm out, smiling. I was embarrassed; I hadn’t cuddled with Mom since I was a kid, way before Tommy.” This quote represents how the relationship between Deanna and her mom is improving.

“Okay, my best friend kissed my little sister,” he said. “But it’s different. Me and Tommy were drug buddies. You and Lee and Jason, you’re for real.” This quote represents how Tommy and Darren did not have the kind of relationship that Deanna has with Lee and Jason.

“You can’t afford to move without it,” I said, seeing the last shred of my fantasy blowing away. I knew I had to let it.” This represents how Deanna is finally growing up and moving on with her life.

“ One morning in August, I walked in on my dad in the kitchen. He looked up and then back at the coffeepot. This is how it had been for weeks: us avoiding each other, tiptoeing around the house, peeking around corners to make sure the other wasn’t there.” This represents how things still haven’t changed with her father.

“I remembered what Michael said about why he stayed here. Not me, I thought. I’m getting out. Someday” This quote represents how much Deanna wants to get out of Pacifica and it shows how much she hates it there.
 * 3. Person C should post the meeting summary on the group's wiki page after class.**

In the 5/5 part of Story of a Girl, Lee comes back from her camping trip. She invites Deanna to accompany her and Jason to Taco Bell. Deanna is flipping out. She does not know what she’s going to say to Lee. As it turns out, Jason had previously told Lee and it seems as if she has forgiven her. Deanna sees how easily Lee is able to forgive her and sees that Tommy is truly sorry and finally forgives him. At the end, Stacey, April and Darren decide to move out, at first Deanna is upset, but soon sees that it’s for the best.
 * Hannah:**


 * 4.Person D should share his/her questions with the group, as well as post the questions on the group's wiki page**

Book Club Schedule

 * You should divide your book into 5 equal sections. For example, if your book has 100 pages, you should have five 20 page sections. You should read the appropriate section for each meeting.**

Requirements**:**


 * PERSON A - GROUP LEADER **- This group member will be responsible for both keeping the group on task throughout the meeting as well as responding to the week's topical questions, listed below.**


 * PERSON B - QUOTATION FINDER **- This group member will be responsible for finding 5 important, meaningful quotations from their section of the text. They will also facilitate a discussion regarding these quotations.**


 * PERSON C - KEY QUESTIONER **- This group member will be responsible for providing 5 open-ended questions regarding the week's reading section. These questions, and their responses, will be posted on the group's wiki.**


 * PERSON D - GROUP SUMMARIZER **- This group member will be responsible for posting a thorough, two-paragraph summary of the group's Friday meeting, to be posted on the group wiki no later than the Sunday following the meeting.**

Groups will decide appropriate penalties for group members who fail to uphold their responsibilities.

NOTE: If your book club has three members, the roles B and C should be combined; if your book club has five members, two students should take the role of C (5 questions each).**