Freek+Camp

5/6/11 - MEETING 1

 * Brittany-Person A (leader)**
 * Matt/Matt-Person B (quote finder)**
 * Steve/Aaron-Person C (question finder)**
 * Mallory-Person D (summarizer)**

There are just a few characters that have been introduced so far in the book, none of which we know their names or a lot about them. However, the bus driver was described as a very short man, with a weird face, and he had put on leg extensions in order to reach the gas and break pedals.
 * Brittany- (A)**
 * What makes them interesting? - We believe that each character going to Free Camp has special powers.
 * What is their story or background? - Each kid going to the camp have unique powers that aren’t the same as the other kids.
 * Why are you drawn to them? - They each seem very distinct and have interesting backgrounds.
 * Conversely, are there any characters that you just cannot stand? Not really, there is little knowledge about the characters so far.

“No one suspected there was a camp for kids with paranormal powers in the backwoods of Maine- or that its past would put their lives at risk.” Pg. 1
 * Matt Ciuppa- (B)**

“The 13-and 14 year olds took their seats in the battered pale blue van marked Free Camp #2 which- thanks to someone wielding a red Magic Marker two years earlier- had become FreeK Camp #2.”

“ The bald man in the camouflage fatigues and desert storm cap drove Free Camp #1 for an hour not saying a word, not even when the kids asked, “Are we close?” Pg 4

“The second van had been on the road 20 minutes when the frizzy brunette with the peace symbol under her chin could hold her chin no longer.” Pg 7

“In Free Camp’s dining room a compact, dark skinned man sat cross legged in the lotus position on a long rubber yoga mat, his eyes closed, his palms upturned on his thighs.” Pg 12


 * Aaron & Steve- (C) **
 * 1) What happened to the second bus? – It got hijacked and never made it to the camp.
 * 2) Why do you think all these different kids got the FreeK camp letter? – They have special powers.
 * 3) What do you think is going to happen at the camp? – They are going to get trapped and have to use their powers to get out.
 * 4) What would you think if you were thrown in a room with a bucket in the corner? – We would be a little scared and want to get out of this camp.
 * 5) Why do you think Donnie grabbed a beer after his nightmare? – He was very freaked out and tried to calm himself down.
 * 6) What would you be thinking if you got on a bus and your counselor was four feet tall? – We would laugh and think he is a pushover.
 * 7) Why do you think Jerry was tied up? – It was part of a plan to get rid of the second bus
 * 8) What happened on the bus to show that one of the kids has powers? – A kid bent a bottle opener with his mind.
 * 9) How are the kids going to come together and use their powers to get out? – They are going to learn what their powers are and work as a team to escape.
 * 10) How did the twins (Juan and Juanita) help solve a crime in Connecticut? – They used their powers; remote hearing and remote viewing.

At our first meeting, my group discussed our opinions on the book. Aaron and Steve both feel like the camp councilors are push-overs so it would be cool to do whatever you want. Matt mentioned that the kids are probably at the camp because they have special powers and they are there to solve a problem. Brittany and I were talking about why kids call it freek camp instead of free camp. We think its because people don't except them as different, they see them as freaks. Being at this camp might help them to express their abilities and powers and feel comfortable about themselves.
 * Mallory- (D)**

5/13/11 - MEETING 2

 * Mallory- Person A (leader)**
 * Brittany- Person B (quote finder)**
 * Matt/Matt- Person C (question finder)**
 * Steve/Aaron- Person D (summarizer)**


 * Mallory-(A)** Freek camp is a conversational type read. Almost all of the text in the book so far have been characters talking to one another. It also uses a lot of words that are hard to understand. The book is about paranormal activity and uses scientific vocabulary. This is also why there is a glossary in the back pages of the book. It is to explain terms that readers may not have known otherwise. I believe the grade level for this book is 9th to 10th grade because of the context and vocabulary. Readers need to be comfortable with handling multiple conflicts with the characters though the scenes change every chapter.

Page 68- " 'I'm here,' said a tiny, quivering voice. 'Don't shoot.' Tim stepped around the corner of the building, one hand raised in surrender, the other holding up his beltless pants." ~This passage showed by their voices, just how scared the children were.
 * Brittany-(B)**

Page 72- "Juanita held a finger to her lips to shush him. '7-8-1-4-6. 7-8-1-4-7-6. It's a girl's voice. 7-8-1-4-7-6. Write it down. Hurry. 7-8-1-4-7-6.'" ~ This voice talking, is a hint that will help them through out the book.

Page 88- "They dug through the storage closets and found supplies, then passed around a breakfast they'd always remember: a bottle of water, a large can of baked beans, and a tin of Spam luncheon meat cut into five slices. The feel of food in their stomachs rejuvenated them and made them feel hopeful again. It also helped them regenerate a few brain cells-- which they despretly needed so they could figure out what to do next." ~This passage shows us the harsh conditions the children were in and what they had to go through in order to survive another day.

Page 52- " 'The deadbolt must be more than just a steel bar. Maybe it' got a grip,a handle on it so you cal roll it downward and into a slot.' He and Atlanta sat down. 'Sorry, everybody,' he continued. 'It was worth a try, but it didnt work. What else have we got? Besides being sweaty and famished, the group's hope was waning." ~This passage shows the groups efforts to escape and get free however they were unable to do so.

Page 73- " 'The path and woods are blurring, spinning,' Juan said. 'I'm being spun around, pushed to the ground. It's black, not unconscious black, because i can't see black. More like someone pulled a bag over my head or is choking me.' 'Screaming, crying, begging,' juanita said. 'Let me go, let me go.' A man's voice, 'Thought you could get away, eh? Now her again. '7-8-1-4-7-6. 7-8-1-4-7-6.' " ~This passage shows the struggle between Juanita and 'the man' when she tried to escape.


 * Matt C- (C)**

1) Why do you think the pickup truck stopped in front of the house? 2) Why do the kids think the bus driver took them off course? 3) How do you think the parents of the missing children are feeling? 4) Why do you think there was there a gun under the drivers seat? 5) Do you think the police will find the children?

1. How would you feel if you were in the kids situation?  2. Do you think the Police are doing all they can to find the children? 3. Would you go along with your captor or try to resist? 4. Do you think the children’s problems are making them act differently in this situation then you or me? 5. Why do you think the man kidnapped them?
 * Matt D-(C)**


 * Steve/Aaron-(D)**

5/20/11 - MEETING 3

 * Steve/Aaron****- Person A (leader)**
 * Mallory- Person B (quote finder)**
 * Brittany****- Person C (question finder)**
 * Matt/Matt****- Person D (summarizer)**

The mood is very nervous and scared. Everyone is on the edge. They do not know what is going to happen next. The reading itself is easy, but the content is a little difficult. It switches back and forth between two groups of people. The group that made it safely to the camp and the group that was captured and did not make it to the camp. The book is very detailed. It describes the setting with a lot of detail. It is at a ninth-tenth-grade level. It has a lot of good description and may be confusing for younger kids. Some parts are also a little more mature for kids our age. It is probably not suitable for younger kids.
 * Steve/Aaron****-(A)**


 * Mallory-(B)**


 * Brittany****- (C)**

1.) What do you think the number means, that the voice says? Will it lead to them finding the kids at the end of the book? Why? 2.) Do you think the number is a license plate? why or why not? And if so how might it help them? 3.) Accessing the computer in the library allowed the kids to find info about an accident at a water fall, how do you think this will help them? 4.) What do you think the grudge is between the bus driver and the kids? 5.) What type of problems do you think the kids and bus driver have?


 * Matt C- (D)**
 * This is our third book club meeting. Everyone did the reading. We are working on our assigned work for this weeks meeting. Steve and Aaron is group leader, Mallory is Quote finder, Brittany is question finder, and Matt and I are summarizer. **

For this weeks meeting we discussed why the children were kidnapped. We deicide on that kidnapper had a personal grudge against the parents of one of the children because he has not made and ransoms. We were also considering that he has the same type of problems as the kids and he wants to be near people with the same type of problems.
 * Matt D-**(**D**)

5/27/11 - MEETING 4

 * Matt/Matt****- Person A (leader)**
 * Steve/Aaron- Person B (quote finder)**
 * Mallory****- Person C (question finder)**
 * Brittany****- Person D (summarizer)**

Aaron (B)

“Looks like nobody’s home,” Juan said. “Here’s a family portrait – the three of them.” “Same way I did it at the block house. I am going to levitate.” “The man set a rope-handled shopping bag on the ground and withdrew a uniform. Atlanta nearly gasped out loud.” “He drove her to the nearest store, where the clerk phoned the paramedics and State Police.” “The order went out to arrest Bronson.” __**Matt D Matt C**__ One of the themes we have looked at is mystery because there is a large mystery surrounding the missing children. An image we looked at is the dark, gloomy, and underground room which you would see in a horror game. We think he used these images and themes to convey the idea about the children who were kidnapped are a mystery to the rest of the world. Another theme is terror because the children are terrified of what will happen, also the parents do not know what happened to there children.