Jordan's+Blog


 * By: Jordan Derkachenko**

**-** __**Tuesday November 22, 2011**__**:**

__**Prologue - My Father**__ and __**Second Prologue - My Father's Eyes**__ Just after reading the prologue, I feel sad because of Percival Montmount Jr's fathers death. It is sad to have somebody come to your doorstep and tell you that a loved one has dies. I'm sure that nobody ever wishes for this to happen, and many people who have loved ones fighting for our country, face this fear everyday. This was an interesting and effective way to set the tone of the book. I would like to predict what i feel is going to ahppen in this book. I predict that Percival will go to the Congo and follow in his father's footsteps of an anthropologist and live with a tribe of blue-skinned pygmies. I have a feeling that his father left something behind for his son, and that Percival will do all he can to finish what his father has started.

__**Quotes**__**:** I blinked once... darkness. Twice... light. (Page 3). This quote reminded me a lot of how I felt when my great-grandfather passed away. It was a very sad time for me and I miss him very much. So i can relate to how Percival is feeling at this point in the book.

__**Chapter 1 - The Beginning**__ I did not like how the author started this chapter, discussing evolution and how "people came about." I do not feel that this serves and importance to the novel. People believe different things, (I believe differently) and the beginning of this book does not make me excited to read further. That being said, I do understand how the title relates to this chapter; the "beginning of man-kind" and also the beginning of the book (background information). I find it interesting how Percival refers to highschool cliches as "tribes," and I am curious as to know why. The only thing I can come up with so far, is that it has to do with Percival's father and how he used to live with a tribe. It really seems that Percival is the ultimate loner and that he has just one friend, Elissa.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "I felt like a cut redwood tree." (Page 7). This quote stuck out to me; I really enjoyed the imagery.
 * 2) "I neglected to use my hands, so I smacked into the ground and shock waves coursed through my nervous system." (Page 7). I really liked reading this; it seemed as if I was reading this quote in slow motion and as I read it, I could see Percy falling and the force running through his body slowly as he fell.
 * 3) "I implied he was a mythical ape rectum that shat across the known universe." (Page 10). I found this really funny; This quote reminded me of Sheldon off of the "Big Bang Theory," and how he has such long explanations for almost everything. Considering Percy was calling Justin something as simple as an "asshole," he had a really long way of saying it, thus, reminding me of Sheldon Cooper.
 * 4) "He passed to the next world while his mother held his hand." (Page 12). This quote struck me again with sadness. This quote made me think about families that have had to go through this terrible reality and I hope that I never have to experiance something like this.
 * 5) "The Jesus Freaks." (Page 14), "The Born-Again Tribe." (Page 14), "Punctual as Jesus commanded." (Page 14). I do not like these quotes. I am a Christian and i fell like they are making fun of Chritians. This really upsets me and I no longer feel like reading this book. I have a feeling that this is going to happen quite a few more times throughout this book, and that does not excite me.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Moniker** - A person's name, especially a nickname. "Freak Girl?" "His __moniker__. Don't let it upset you." (Page 9). 2. **Angst** - A feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish. When you step through Groverly's gigantic oak doors, you enter an über-hallway, standing on hardwood that creaks, suggesting that the building will momentarily collapse under the weight of teenagers and heavy __angst__. (Page 13). 3. **Amalgamated** - To mix or merge as in to make a combination; blend. Elissa __amalgamated__ with the crowd, her head bobbing.

__**Wednesday November 23, 2011**__**:**

__**Chapter 2 - The Luck of the Beothuks**__ According to Percival's teachers, Percy has been drifting away from his fellow students, and his behavior is rather odd. I believe this has to do with the death of his father. Percy seems to be taking the death of his father very harshly; the way he acts and relates everything the way a blue-skinned pigmy might see it. The way he refers to the soccer teams modivational speech as a ritual, and also how he refered to the school therapist as a shaman. Another example of how Percy is effected by his father's death is when he started to shed some tears while talking to the principle.Percy obviously has a strong love for his father and misses him very much.

At the end of this chapter, i was struck with a question. "What was the reason for Percy to force a pin through the skin around his left nipple?" This confused me and I do not quite understand the meaning/reason for him doing this. Does it have something to do with an illness that he has? Maybe he wanted to inflict pain upon himself to get his mind off of the pain he is feeling from his father's death? Does it have something to do with the Beothuks rituals? Also, why does he call it a ritual? Does he do this everyday? I hope that the book will explain more about this "ritual" and hopefully clearify my questions.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "First, sir, it was not a fight so much as an insightful interaction. Second, it was my fault. I transgressed the cultural boundaries between tribes, and this provoked him." (Page 18). This quote made me laugh. Percy is treating this incident like he is the one that is in trouble. I've thought about this quote quite a bit, and I am starting to believe that Percy thinks he really is in trouble and that it really is his fault. Percy sees the world as a blue-skinned pygmy, and to them, it would be their fault for crossing into another tribes territory and they would have to pay the price for it. For example... The Iroquois tribe would capture anyone of a different tribe that was in their territory; the Iroquois would brutally torture and eventually kill the prisoner, and this was seen as their fault completely. This is the way that I see Percy's mind.
 * 2) "But in that instant I believed he //would// call my father, somehow communicate through the misty nebular spirals of the Netherworld and get his message to Dad." (Page 19). I feel really bad for Percy. He really misses his father and this is just another way to prove my hypothesis. I can just picture Percy three years ago, happy, and content with his life. Now it just seems that he feels like giving up. This quote made me see that there is still hope for Percy; that he will get out of this emotional stage of his life and go on to live a happier life. In this quote, I see Percy smile for a second with hope of connecting with his father; and then it all being crushed with the reality that his father is gone.
 * 3) "Can't find happiness. Can't control the physical manifestations of grief." (Page 20). This quote made me even more sad then I was before. Percy is about my age, and it hurts me to see another individual as unhappy as Percy is. I know everybody has had those days where they can't find happiness and they just need a day to be grumpy and sad; but with Percy, it seems as if this day is everyday and I really hope he get happier throughout the novel.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Ascendancy** - A position of Dominance or controlling influence. Did Principal Michaels wish to display __ascendancy__ to all? (Page 16). 2. **Patriarchy** - A form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe. I had overlooked the fleet-footed tribe of Sneaks who lurk, awaiting the chance to insinuate themselves with the school __patriarchy__, intending to advance their grades and general status. (Page 18). 3. **Hominid** - Any of the modern or extinct bipedal primates of the family Hominidae. I examined my __hominid__ face in the mirror. (Page 20).

__**Chapter 3 - Home is a Habitat**__ Percy has a very consistent schedule; he arrives home everyday at3:32 p.m.When Percy got home, he was surprised at his peppiness towards his mother’s questions. I was also very surprised by his peppiness considering how his day went (even if he was faking it). In that day he went from getting beat up, to being confronted by the principle, to crying over his father and stabbing himself with a needle. I do not like Percy’s mother. She is a psychic and claims that she can talk to Percy’s dead father. I find that really strange and I do not like this weird woman. She can tell that Percy misses his father, and I do not think that bringing up the fact about talking to Percy’s dead father really helps him with his healing process. I also find that Percy’s mother seems worried about Percy, but at the same time not. I picture her meditating and talking in such a calm voice when what happened at school is more of a serious matter and should be discussed in a sterner manner. The mom is extremely calm and collective. The nickname that Percy’s mother gave Percy does not seem to fit his personality. When I hear the nickname “Perk” (Page 25), I think of a very happy joyous little boy. Percy is really lacking in his people skills. His only friend is Elissa, considering Will and Percy’s father are no longer alive. Percy doesn’t seem to know what a friend really is; he considers the librarian a friend because she was nice to him. This just shows that Percy does not fit in at school or in his community if he feels that anybody who is nice to him is his friend. When Percy was thinking in his room, I got the impression that Percy was okay with being beat up by Justin. He said that he was going to ask Justin to hit him in the gut to hide the bruises; I personally would want everybody to know that I was being abused by somebody so that people would notice and try to get me some help. I can to this conclusion or my other thought was that Percy is afraid of his mother, or the talks that he has with his mother, or he really just hates disappointing his mother because she is his only parent left, and he is possibly afraid of losing her as well. This chapter made me overall, very calm. There was a lot of meditating and I pictured everybody talking in a very calm collective voice and it relaxed me.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * “I, like all humans, am a creature of habit.” (Page 23). I disagree with this statement, because all humans are different, and not everybody is stuck in a rut doing the same thing day in and day out. I do also agree with this statement to an extent; most people have the habit of brushing their teeth everyday. This does not ignore the fact that Percy takes this “habit” to the next level. He came home ever day at exactly 3:32 p.m.
 * 1) “The outside was the …outside.” (Page 23). Ha ha, I found this super funny! This quote is so to the point and obvious; and I loved it!
 * 2) “Evolution gave us tongues – we might as well use them.” (Page 26). First off, evolution did not give us tongues… Percy made a quick shift in mood that startled me and made me feel sad. He seemed so peppy and happy, and in the next sentence he is in this depressed state of mind. I was much happier when he answered his mother in a happy tone, and now I am sad again.
 * 3) “I know you’re friends, but that’s no reason to get into a fight. There are no good reasons.” (Page 27). I disagree with this statement. Sometimes one needs to stand up for oneself and take charge of a situation. One really good example of this is slavery. Slavery was an extremely important thing to fight for.
 * 4) “Nonviolence is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction.” (Page 28). I really enjoyed this quote from Gandhi. I recognized this quote as soon as I read it; I really appreciated this quote.
 * 5) “My jungle vibrated with aggressive tribes.” (Page 29). This quote confused me a bit. I’m not sure what he means by this; my only guess was that he was referring to his feelings.
 * 6) “Hello, Percival Montmount senior? Sorry to disturb your afterlife; it’s about your son.” (Page 30). This is just weird. If she really believes that she can talk to the afterlife then… I don’t even know. This is just very strange and I do not agree with her acting this way in front of Percy. Percy is missing his father very much, and this is no way to help Percy with his healing process.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Eerie** - Uncanny, so as to inspire superstitious fear; weird. 2. **Kaleidoscopic** - Changing form, pattern, colour, etc. The stained glass lends an __eerie__ __kaleidoscopic__ effect to the impressionistic phallic paintings on the wall and twelve phallic statues lining the hardwood floor. (Page 24). 3. **Pontiff** - Any high or chief priest. I caught him peering like a priggish __pontiff__ through the mail slot one morning. (Page 24). 4. **Lotus** - Any aquatic plant from the water lily family, having shieldlike leaves and showy, solitary flowers usually projecting abouve the water. I assumed the __lotus__ position on a nearby pillow. (Page 26). 5. **Unerringly** - Not containing any error or flaw. Blindly, __unerringly__, she found my hands. (Page 29).

**__Thursday November 24, 2011__:**

__**Chapter 4 - Prom Hominid**__ Percy has several taxidermy animals. He seems to have an extreme interest in dead (stuffed) animals such as birds and beetles. Percy talks about his observation book that he has made by observing his environment and writing about it for the past 3 years. This was just around the time that his dad died, and I figure that he started this observation book very soon after his father passed away. It seems that everything that Percy does can be related back to his father. Once his father passed away, it seems that Percy changed into a completely new person. Percy and his mother seem to have quite an open relationship with each other. His mother was talking to Percy about her "intestinal disconfort." (Page 35). I also found it interesting when he was talking about plants and wondering if the feel pain on a cellular level. He said the we strangle plants when we pull them from the ground. If we were going to not eat plants or animals we could not live. Every consumer relys on the producers (plants) and if we are not eating them because we dont want to cause plants pain on a cellular level, we would die. I was quite interested as to why Elissa used the bedroom window to get into Percy’s house instead of the door. I do not see the reasoning behind it. I think Percy has a crush on Elissa, and I am not surprised; they are very much alike. They both refer to stuff as a tribe would. “Beautiful. Her entrance that is.” (Page 38). He is paying much attention to her body. Percy was staring at Elissa enough as to make her ask what he was staring at. He is having feelings that he has never felt for a girl of his age. He is trying to prove all of his observations of Elissa as scientific curiosity. For example: "She had a beautiful spine. This also I note out of scientific curiosity." (Page 44). He seems facinated of every part of Elissa, from her bellybutton to her eyebrow ring to her spine to webbed foot. He payed much attension to detail of her, noticing her "flat abdomen" (Page 39) and her "innie" (page 39) bellybutton. Elissa really likes Percy and was trying really hard to get him to ask her out to graduation. Percy acts very strange and says he must take a girl to graduation because society expects him to, and he only wants to go to graduation to study people. I find this really weird; why doesn't Percy just go to graduation and have a good time with his best friend. I got very sad when I was informed that Willard (the guy who jumped off the school belfry) was one of Percy's best friends. Percy just seems to be having rough luck with deaths from people that he cares about.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "A jarred calf fetus." (Page 32). I found this a little disturbing. That is really gross and an extremely odd thing to have on your shelf.
 * 2) "Hamburgeritis." (Page 38). I found this funny. I can relate to him a little bit. I remember one time going and staying at a person's house that didn't eat meat. I stayed there for a week, and I really wanted a hamburger! On my way home, I stopped at A&W and bought two papa burgers! Yes, Percy has it worse then I did, but I know how he feels on a smaller scale.
 * 3) "Two bugs in the hand are better than one in the bush." (Page 36). This quote can be used in many different situations. You sometimes have to stop and think about what you are doing and think of the situation; you need to ask yourself if it would be worth losing something else important to you. For example: say you have been invited to the party of the year, but you already had plans with your girlfriend/boyfriend, is this party going to be worth the sadness you will put on your girlfriend/boyfriend?
 * 4) "The universe doesn't unfold, it expands," I said. "It isn't a sleeping bag. It is expanding at a greater rate every day, buy don't be too concerned. This won't affect us for millennia." (Page 37). When Percy said this, I again thought of him as Sheldon Cooper from the "Big Bang Theory."
 * 5) "Weird ceremonies, like, say, graduation." (Page 39). I don't consider graduation weird. Graduation is a time of celebration for completing 12 years of school. It is a big deal; to me at least.
 * 6) "She ran both hands through her hair, making her shirt rise to expose her upper abdomen and lower ribcage. Her mammae were medium-sized. I note this only out of scienftific curiosity. (Page 40). This is just another example of how much attension Percy is having for Elissa. He seems unsure with his feelings for her.
 * 7) "Eyes squinting as if at a blinding light." (Page 43). Nice quote! I could really picture this, and I'm sure everyone has had this feeling before, therefore, really being able to picture Elissa's look.
 * 8) "If I was there, then I was his friend. Maybe even his best friend." (Page 44). Percy seems very unsure of what a friend is. He seems unsure if him and Will were friends; the only reason why he thinks that the two of them were friends is because he went to the hospital to see Will when he was dieing.
 * 9) "Kinky boy." (Page 46). **Kinky** //(slang)// - marked by unconventional sexual preferences or behavior. This is really funny because, Percy is so awkward with people, and the only girls that Percy feels comfortable around is his mother and Elissa. I don't think Percy has ever had a sexual encounter and thats why it is funny that Elissa used the word kinky.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Affidavit** - A written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official. Did she need a signed __affidavit__? (Page 41). 2. **Mused** - To think or meditate in silence, as on some subject. We __mused__ separately for a few moments. (Page 45).

__**Chapter 5 - Carnivore**__ Percy is again reminded of his father and he feels like crying. He almost did cry. Percy and his father had a special bonding experiance Percy misses it very much. I can see how this event was special to him because this was something that Percy did with just his father, and that was special to him. Percy really seems to love the past...Maybe this is because he wants the past back when he still had his father. But instead of living in the past, he goes beyond and tries to find the very beginning. Percy is also very facinated on other people's lives and actions, and not enough on his own.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "Today I had to explore my inner carnivore." (Page 49). I would find it super difficult not to eat meat. Don't get me wrong, I love fruit and vegetables, but I would not be "full" very often. I've tried eating just salad for supper, and an hour later I'm hungry again. I can relate to Percy's frustration.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Verboten** - Prohibited; forbidden. Most, except the Taj Mahal, were __verboten__ to Mom. (Page 49).

__**Chapter 6 - Naked and Tied to a Stick**__ This chapter is all about Percy's father. Percy loves his father and loved him all his life. He had a special relationship with this man and he now misses it greatly. One thing that i gathered from this chapter is that Percy remembers his father as an individual that he loved, and looked forward to seeing everyday. Even though Percy wouldn't see his father for months at a time, Percy always knew that his father would come back; and now that his father is dead, the reality of never seeing his father again has come true. Everything that Percy does seems to remind him of his father. (ex.) Eating a hamburger, seeing an airplane. This all reminds Percy of his father, and this upsets Percy very much. The cannibals have very strange rituals...They tie a person to a stake for three days, they get army ants to crawl over their alive food and bite them, and they boil the person alive. All these rituals have special meaning to the cannibals. These rituals are suppose to make the food more tender and to release evil spirits out of their food. I have a great respect for Percy's father for not talking and taking the torture (not begging for freedom). I find it very funny, and very lucky that the total eclipse happened and saved Percy's father.
 * __Monday November 28, 2011__: **

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "Glorious Dad." (Page 55). Percy has so much respect for his father.
 * 2) "Cannibals tend to bash your head and slice and dice you on the spot. Then they boil you. It's similar to our treatment of cattle." (Page 56). I find this disturbing. I do not like to think about people and animals being brutally killed. I am also a little confused by this quote as well. In the novel, Percy's father was not treated this way and it was said to be a ritual. Is this one group of cannibals different fromt eh rest?
 * 3) "Even when you're naked and tied to a stick, there will always be a way out." (Page 58). I found this to quite the moto. It is very interesting and strange, but I can see how it relates to Percy's father and therefore being an original moto that has a special meaning to his life.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Jovial** - Characterized by hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship. They laughed uproariously, patting each other on the back and slapping their own cheeks, which was their __jovial__ habit. 2. **Gawked** - To stare stupidly. The chief pulled backt he torch and __gawked__ up.

__**Chapter 7 - Trapdoor**__ There was a lot of really good stuff in this chapter and I really enjoyed it. It also reminded me of a very good story (see quote #8). When Elissa winked at another boy Percy got really jealous; Percy really likes Elissa. He commented on her healing hands and finally tells her that he is happy that they are going to grad together. Percy seems very immature when it comes to girls. He said that he felt an urge to hug Elissa...Then hug her! She is your friend and your grad date. I hug my girlfriend as well as my other friends, it isn't weird. Considering Percy and I are the same age, I see Percy as a very immature 17 year old. Just walk down the hallway at any highschool and you are guaranteed to see people hugging and even...holding hands :O. I see people showing signs of affection to their boyfriend/girlfriend and their friends everyday. I do see improvement in Percy, I was proud of him for sharing his poin of view in english class. Yes, it was very off topic and it made him look even more weird than usual, but at least he is trying. When Percy ran into Justin in the staircase, I was very nervous for Percy, but i was excited to see what was going to happen. I really enjoyed this part of the book. I was very surprised at Percy when he clenched his fists. This does not seem like Percy at all, this is just another example of his burning passion for Elissa. I really did not like how Percy refered to Darwin as a greater person than Einstein. I do not believe in evolution or Darwin's theory. Also, Einstein was a very smart man that brought much improvement into today's society.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "Anthropological angel." (Page 61). That is a weird pet name, but it does make sense to call Percy that (based on Elissa's point of view).
 * 2) "He-Who-Lives-on-the-Top-Floor." (Page 63). I found this an interesting name to call somebody.
 * 3) "I was trying to figure out why we walk upright." (Page 64). Are you kidding Percy? Like honestly? Have you tried walking on your hands and feet? I personally find it much much more difficult. Percy is such a strange individual that finds the weirdest and most abstract things to ponder.
 * 4) "Thank you for the lesson in tribal interaction." (Page 64). I find this strange, this seems to me like Percy is thanking Justin for beating him up.
 * 5) "I am not a freak. I'm not. I'm just trying to do my job. I didn't intent to disrupt your behavior." (Page 65). I find it strange that Percy finds it his job to study people. This quote also suggests that Percy thinks that this fight was his fault and that Justin has every right to punch Percy.
 * 6) "First-class losers." (Page 65). I found this quite a harsh statement. When I hear the word first-class, I think of the show "Seinfeld" when Jerry got first-class seats on a plane and Elaine didn't. Jerry had such anamazing flight in first-class with a beautiful woman that he didn't know, while Elaine was sitting around a bunch of loud kids and snoring people that would keep falling in her lap. So when I hear the word first-class, I think of it as the best of the best, therefore this was a very harsh statement in my mind stating that Percy and Elissa were the best of the best losers.
 * 7) "Classifying you as an ape would be an insult to apes and all other simians." (Page 65). This is also a harsh statement, but #1 Justin deserves it, he has been a real jerk to Percy, and #2 Justin doesn't seem like the smartest person out there so he probably didn't understand the insult.
 * 8) "Percival," a voice wispered from the other side of the trapdoor. (Page 66). This would be really scary. I have had moments where I think somebody is following me, or in the same place as me, and I hear stuff in the night that don't sound normal sometimes, and these things are a little scary. I remember one time I thought that somebody was in my house the first time I was ever left home alone. My parents had no choice but to leave me home, and it was for a three hour period. Yes, I know it is a very long time to leave your child home alone for the first time. Anyways, I was home for about and hour an a half, everything was perfect, and then my dad's alarm clock went off in his bedroom and the dog was barking at it and wouldn't stop. So I went into his room and I shut the alarm clock off, so I thought. The alarm went off again five minutes later and the dog started barking at it again, and this scraed me because my dog doesn't bark at nothing. He was barking at the person talking on the radio. So I went into my dad's room again and shut off his alarm clock, so I thought, and five minutes later it went off again. This scared me so badly that I grabbed the phone, ran outside in my bare feet short sleeves and shorts, did I mention that It was the end of October? So I ran outside and called 911 because I thought somebody was in my house. Within two minutes there was five police cars, one police van (paddywagon) and one police dog were at my house. after about five minutes of searching my house, one police officer came out with an alarm clock and handed it to me. She said everything was okay and that this was the problem. All the police officers left except one stayed with me until my mom got home. Yes, I knew that it was the alarm clock, but I thought that somebody kept turning the radio back on; and yes, I know it sounds dumb that I thought that a robber would keep turning on the radio while looting my house, but a that time I was scared and I didn't know what was happening. Turns out I kept hitting the snooze button :P. I can see why Percy left that part of the school and didn't go to his meeting, because he was really scared. It is just like me getting out of my house when I was scared.
 * 9) "Surprised to see daylight." (Page 67). I was also surprised to see daylight considering how Percy was describing this place, it just seemed that it was night time and he was in a foreign place.
 * 10) "Gathered like a flock of crows." (Page 67). Good simile!
 * 11) "Lungs filling with tar and nicotine." (Page 67). This is just another reason not to smoke and another reason why I will never even touch a cigarette. Smoking is so gross!

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Invigorated** - Filled with life and energy. "They all looked so __invigorated__." (Page 59). 2. **Simians** - Of or pertaining to an ape or monkey. "Classifying you as an ape would be an insult to apes and all other __simians__. (Page 65).

__**Tuesday November 29, 2011**__**:**

__**Chapter 8 - A Winter**__ Percy is very excited for university. I would have never guessed this considering his experiences in highschool. (Horrific in my mind). I guess I can understand it from Percy's point of view because he loves studying people, and in university he will have thousands of new people to study. I find it very ironic that Elissa was talking to Percy about being careful crossing the streets, and then, moments later, Percy almost gets hit by a car. I have come close to being hit by a car on a few occasions. It is very frightening and time seems to slow down. I walk to school every morning and home again after school, people do not always look for pedestrians and a lot of the time, the do not see me. I always get very annoyed when its winter time and its really cold outside, and I'm at a crosswalk, and cars just keep driving and they don't stop for me. They are in a nice warm car, and I'm standing in below 40 waiting for them. I was surprised at Elissa's anger that she had towards these people that bully Percy, but she really does love Percy and I can see how this love can have that much of an effect on her. I really liked how she calmed herself down so fast and was back to her normal self in no time at all. Elissa talks about how Percy just shuts off sometimes. I see this in a few people that I know, as well as Sheldon Cooper from the "Big Bang Theory." If they are bored with a conversation, or just have a lot on their mind, they shut off whatever is going on in front of them and think of something else. Elissa is a very wealthy person that seeks attention from her parents. She is lacking a mother and father figure, for example, she dressed up her teddy bears to be her parents for supper. I feel really bad for Elisssa, I have friends that are in this same situation, and it is really sad to see. All parents need to make sure that they set apart time for their children on a daily basis. Children need to be loved, and they need to know it as well; all parents have to make this a priority. Percy gets really embarrassed at his scars from the needle that he stabs into him near his nipple. Elissa gets really worried about him, and Percy wants nothing to do with this. Percy feels hurt and is having a hard time dealing with his sadness. __**Quotes**__**:** __**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Vehemence** - The quality of being strongly emotional. Her __vehemence__ was surprising. (Page 70). 2. **Proffered** - To put before a person for acceptance. "Kiss my __proffered__ hand." (Page 72). 3. **Ignoramus** - An extremely ignorant person. "I'm an __ignoramus__!" (Page 73). 4. **Inebriated** - To make drunk; intoxicate. Her parents didn't appreciate the joke or enjoy finding their sole offspring __inebriated__. (Page 74). 5. **Haphazardly** - Characterized by lack of order or planning. My brain was __haphazardly__ erasing experiances, changing them. (Page 79).
 * 1) "It's your duty now. You are my prom date." (Page 73). Elissa really likes Percy and she really wants to spend more time with him. She says that it is Percy's duty to walk her home after school.
 * 2) "My skull tingled where she'd touched it." (Page 73). I understand this feeling that Percy is having during this moment. He really likes her, and he really enjoys it when she touches him. I get a feeling like this anytime that my girlfriend touches me. Whenever we hold hands, my hand get really warm, and I feel the warmth spread through my entire body, and I love it!
 * 3) "Interesting how we choose the deadliest carnivores to render as playthings. A simble of our dominance?" (Page 77). I love this quote! I have never thought of teddy bears this way before. It is a very interesting fact, and I am now curious.
 * 4) "You're actually kind of handsome," Elissa said. (Page 77). Instead of Percy accepting the compliment, he shifted the "blame" to genetics. Percy seems to back up everything he says and does with scientific evidence.
 * 5) "Lazy sperm - they apparently preferred lounging about watching hockey." (Page 77-78). I thought this was a very interesting and weird way to talk about somebody's sperm. He is comparing sperm to couch potatos.
 * 6) "Elissa was one of the few who could make me feel truly happy." (Page 78). I really hope that Percy is just having one of those bad days where nothing is going right and he only feels at that moment that one person can make him happy. I have had this feeling before, but I know in my heart that many people make me happy. I hope that this is the case for Percy.
 * 7) "Everyone. Leaves me." (Page 81). Percy feels betrayed by his father and William because they died and left him. Percy is having a really tough time dealing with the loss of two very important people in his life.

**__Wednesday November 30, 2011__:**

__**Chapter 9 - Trunk**__ Percy is obviously felling depressed from what happened at Elissa's. He is upset with Elissa, but he really wants to forgive her. For example, he played Elissa's telephone message over several times. It seems that every time Percy is feeling upset, he tries to get his mind off of the subject by thinking about evolution. In my mind Percy is trying to figure out a pointless, untrue and flawed hypothesis on how humans became about. I feel that Percy really needs to grow up and start facing his problems instead of ignoring them. Things aren't perfect between Percy and Elissa so Percy goes back to remembering his father. Percy decided to go to the party dressed like his father, instead of the clothes that Elissa had picked out for him. I am very curious as to what is going to happen at this party. Good for Percy for finally getting out of the house and doing something out of his comfort zone. It's nice that he is going to do something that doesn't involve him to think about evolution and his father, even though he is dressed like his father, and he is probably going to observe people the entire evening. I predict another encounter with Justin; I do not seeing this going well...

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Copacetic** - Fine; completely satisfactory. My mind was clear. __Copacetic__. (Page 82). 2. **Ascertain** - To find out definitely. Perhaps if I found the beginning, I could __ascertain__ the end. (Page 83).

__**Chapter 10 - The Deluge**__ I liked the mention of the poker playing dogs. I love pictures like that! :) Michael and Nicole (The Christians) seemed to be convincing/teaching Percy that evolution is not correct. I thought Percy was going to have a realization that he has been wrong. Then Percy went back to his normal self and tried to prove his theory with inaccurate data. Michael and Nicole had an answer for everything Percy had to offer, and Percy studies all the time. What does that have to show? I really like Michael and Nicole; they seem like wonderful people. Percy is very sensitive about the scars on his chest. He seems to be willing to lose a friendship over them; he really doesn't want anybody to know about them. I have come to the conclusion that Percy takes things way to seriously and he really needs to lighten up. Percy regrets the death of Will and figures that he could have stopped him. This is like most suicides, somebody thinks that they could have stopped the person, when in most cases, this is not true. Percy probably couldn't have done anything to save Wills life. It is just human nature to try to find blame for every problem; and in a lot of cases, people blame themselves. Elissa likes Percy, and Percy likes Elissa. I am predicting that the two of them "hook up," even if it seems quite obvious, I am still predicting it. The relationship of the two of them is growing more and more through each chapter. Elissa took Percy away from the party and the two of them went off walking by themselves. This was a really good move on Elissa's part because she wants to progress their relationship, and this is a really good opportunity to do so. When Percy let go of Elissa's hand I laughed because I knew at that moment that they would not hold hands again for the rest of the evening. At the end of the evening, Percy and Elissa experienced their first hug; how cute :P. I found it very strange of Percy to ask his mother what happens after death right after he just finished hugging Elissa, which made him happy enough to make his legs wobbly. You would think that he would still be thinking solely on the evening he spent with Elissa. That's what I did after my first date with my girlfriend. Then again...Percy and I are not very much alike.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "When in Namibia, do as the Namibians do." (Page 86). This is a really good quote! This is the perfect way to fit in anywhere and this quote can be applied to many situations in life.
 * 2) "You see, they were from the Born-Again Tribe. They viewed me as a misguided mammal and were hell-bent on saving my soul." (Page 87). I really disliked this quote! You are talking about Christians and are using the word hell-bent. Disrepectful.
 * 3) "His teeth had been artificially straightened." (Page 87). Braces! So have mine!
 * 4) "Looking... ...as if they belonged." (Page 88). I find this very funny! With this quote, Percy seems to be implying that he belongs, when clearly he doesn't.
 * 5) "Put that in your philosophical pipe and smoke it." (Page 91). Ouch...I feel offended and have lost much respect for Percy! Percy really has a problem with Christians, and that is a sad thing. If he doesn't change his ways, he will never be saved; and that is really sad. :(
 * 6) "They - Michael and Nicole - they have all the answers. They're just so...happy." (Page 92). Very true. I feel this way quite often. When I am sad, I just pray to Jesus and everything starts getting better! :D
 * 7) "I'm sorry. I - I hurt. You. Your feelings, I mean. I didn't intend. To. (Page 93). I'm confused by this quote. He says that his thoughts were too random to express; but it really seems that he is having a hard time apologizing. Maybe this is because he thinks he is rights, but what he wants more than proving his point is having things between him and Elissa go back to the way they were before. My father is a smart man, and he told me that I need to learn this. "The woman is always right." (Brad Derkachenko). He also taught me two words to save my buttocks, "Yes Dear." (Brad Derkachenko). My Father is a smart man! ;)
 * 8) "Where there's a will, there's a way." (Page 94). I have always loved this quote! It gives me hope when times get hard that I can accomplish anyhting as long as I set my mind to it.
 * 9) "Her skin tasted salty." (Page 95). I found this to be an interesting observation. I don't think that has ever went through my mind.
 * 10) "Concentrated on enjoying the warmth of her skin." (Page 95). Well I'm happy that Percy is finally enjoying Elissa and not just being a person in a room. He is actually having a good time.
 * 11) "I collapsed on my bed and dreamed of jungles, tsetse flies and Elissa's warm hand." (Page 97). Called it!!! Less dreaming of his father, and more about Elissa! It is only going to change more as their relationship grows!

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Anthropomorphism** - Representation of attributes to a being or thing not human. __Anthropomorphism__ at its best. (Page 86). 2. **Juxtaposition** - An act or instance of placing close together or side by side. Mr. and Mrs. Woodrick must have a fabulous sense of humor, judging by the __juxtaposition__ of those two works of art. (Page 86-87). 3. **Ethereal** - Extremely delicate; heavenly. His light blue eyes were __ethereal__. (Page 87). 4. **Modicum** - A moderate or small amount. "I experience a __modicum__ of enjoyment." (Page 87).

**__Monday December 5, 2011__:**

__**Chapter 11 - Son of the Ndebele**__ I found it really strange that 15,000 km away Percy said that he was born at the exact same time. Yeah sure, somebody made a doll of him, but that doesn't mean that he was born there. I just found this very weird and I had to read this chapter a few time to understand it. I also find it weird that Kgope knew Percy was born when his father never even talked about the expected child. So Kgope and Percival Sr. had a beer, and next thing you know, Kgope gets up and starts to pack Percival's suitcase without even asking. I can just picture this in my mind. Two men sitting down anjoying a beer and then Kgope abruptly standing up, and then starts packing the suitcase. I can see Percival sitting up, raising one eyebrow and looking very surprised. I'm really happy that Percival went home to see his newborn child. This is a very important time in his life, and he should be there to experience it. Manhood rituals are not a good idea in my mind. The things that some cultures do to their young men is just terrible. Lots of the rituals are extremely painful, and some are life threatening. There is a ritual where they put a young mans hands in gloves full of ants that bite burn like you couldn't believe; I think this is a terrible ritual and it is only hurting the boys. I find it really cool how Percy's nickname "Perk" was given to him. It was because the doll that was made by Kgope was called "Krep" and "Perk" is just "Krep" spelt backwards. I wish I had a cool nickname derived from something like that.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "I increased the population of the room, the city and the world by one." (Page 98). I really like this quote. It is really true and I've never thought of it that way.
 * 2) "Never fear change." (Page 100). This is a really good statement. As long as you have God in your life, you never have to fear change, or anything for that matter.
 * 3) "Luckily, I had already been circumcised." (Page 100). This is something that I am thankful towards my parents for doing for me at birth, where I do not remember it happening. I would hate it if I had to do that like some of the young men in some tribes. They do this without any type of pain killer. Brave men!

__**Vocabulary**__**:** Kgope, an old man of the tribe, burst into my father's __conical__ mud house (there was also some dung mixed in as cement) and announced, "Unto you has a son been born." (Page 98).
 * Conical** - Having the form resembling a cone.

__**Chapter 12 - Dream World**__ Percy is already weird enough and he doesn't need his mother telling him to talk to his death father. If she wants to be weird and pretent to talk to dead people, that is her choice but Percy does not need this. He is having a difficult enough time dealing with his father's death and he doesn't need his mother to put more stress on him. I am disappointed in Percy's mother. I am worried for Percy; he believes that he is not enough like his father, and I believe that he is too much like his father. Percy's father was studying tribes in different countries, Percy needs to stop studying his peers and try to start making friends. Marcia Grady sounds like a really pretty girl, and Will probably didn't have a very good chance with her. Despite that, I am very upset that Percy flat out told Will that he had absolutely no chance with her. I have friends that are not the most attractive or popular people in the world, but they have dated some really pretty girls. Anything is possible and looks are not everything in a relationship, but neither is personality. Marcia Grady remembered Will and said that he was a nice and quiet guy. Will could have very well had a chance with her; but we will never know. I also am very happy that she remembers him because Will obviously played a role in her life; and it doesn't seem like a negative one.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "You've got to learn to stay grounded and dream. Let your spirit soar but remain in your body." (Page 103). This is really good advice for Percy. He really needs to remember that he is alive and in society with people around him. This is real life and it is not fake. Percy acts as if he is dreaming almost all of the time. It is okay to "let your spirit soar" but you have to do that within reason.
 * 2) "Light that had traveled a hundred and fifty million kilometers in eight and a half minutes warmed my skin." (Page 103). I liked this quote. It again reminded my of Sheldon Cooper from the "Big Bang Theory." It is just the way that Percy uses such scientific things to describe his feelings/thoughts, that he is very much like Sheldon.
 * 3) "Of the universe ripping apart." (Page 103). I do not like the idea of the universe ripping apart. I think Percy could have used a better way of describing the sound of the bagpipes.
 * 4) "Never make assumptions. Rely on observation, then make a conclusion." (Page 104-105). This is a really good way to live. I wish people wouldn't make so many assumptions, the world would be a much more peaceful place. It's like the saying, "Assume makes an ass out of you and me." (Get it.. ASS U (you) ME) ASSUME. Haha, I have always loved that quote! This quote is very true though, when people assume things about me, they are sometimes very wrong and the make a fool out of the both of us. I really don't like it when people assume I have never heard what they are talking about just because I ask for more clarification on what they are talking about. Take a song for example, I love music and I have heard thousands of songs and when somebody asks me if I have heard a certain song I sometimes ask "How does it go," and then they say nevermind and walk off. Then I go chasing after them, and turns out I do know the song, I just didn't know what the song was called.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Cacophony** - A harsh disagreeing sound. Just as I caught sight of Groverly High, a wailing __cacophony__ stopped me. (Page 103). 2. **Clad** - A simple past tense and past participle of clothe. I wondered if he'd be __clad__ in full kilt, flame-red hair billowing in the breeze. (Page 104).

__**Chapter 13 - Reading Mammoth Entrails**__ Interesting how the padlock is now opened to the trapdoor. This is a little scary; yes it is probably just the custodian, but it is still a bit creepy. You can really tell that Percy feels really uneasy with being close to the place where Will committed suicide. His shoulders were tight, palms moist, and he was having trouble breathing. When Percy said that Mr. Verplaz's room didn't change since Will's death, I was confused. I do not recall Percy ever going into that room before. I'm not sure if I just missed something, or this is Arthur Slade's way of telling us that Percy has seen Mr. Verplaz before. I find Mr. Verplaz's method of getting Percy to talk very interesting and effective. Mr. Verplaz keeps changing the subject as soon as the conversation starts to head into a direction that he doesn't want. For example, Percy is about to go on a rant on how the teachers are all against him and they are trying to assimilate him, and then out of nowhere, Mr. Verplaz asks Percy what his favorite colour is. Percy takes this question by surprise (considering it is not related to the topic at all), and he answers it. Mr. Verplaz got Percy ranting about something important to Percy, which lead back to his father, thus, suggesting that Percy is who he is all because of his father. I KNEW IT!!! Percy seems quite eager to talk about his father. I think these meetings are really good for Percy, and this will help him cope with the hurt feelings he is having over his father's death. I really hope he continues to see Mr. Verplaz. Percy is very strange and everyone can see it. Even his teachers, and this is why he has to go to these meetings with Mr. Verpalz. Percy has devoted himself to studying people, and researching events from the past. He is very knowledgable and knows what he is talking about based on his sources. He has a very strong passion and belief of evolution and ultimetly his father. I find it very strange that Percy believes that it is his job to observe people and take notes on them. Percy needs to live his own life and needs to start having fun. You get to work for the rest of your life, enjoy being a kid while you still can. Percy takes his "job" way to seriously and I think that it is a great idea for Percy to see a psychiatrist and get the help that he needs. Percy can not behave in a normal manner because he is so mentally distraught over his father's death.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "Don't you have days like that?" I asked. "Where the world feels...unreal?" (Page 108). I have never had any full days like this, but I have experienced times where it feels as if I am in a dream. It is a really weird feeling, and I do not like it at all.
 * 2) "Closet-sized office." (Page 109). This sounds very small to me. I have a closet in my house that can barely fit one person, but I have a friend that has a closet almost as big as my room, so I picture a room about in the middle.
 * 3) "A half-empty jar of lollipops sat precariously close to the edge." (Page 110). I personally always like to think of the jar as half-full. I can see why Percy is feeling as if the jar is half-empty. Even though I like to think of the jar as half-full, it is actually half-empty because the jar is being emptied. If somebody was to take a lollipop out and then decide to put it back, the jar would then be half-full. Considering we do not actually know if this happened or not, the best choice for us is to assume that the jar is indeed, half-empty :P.
 * 4) "Pencils were stuck in the ceiling. When would one fall?" (Page 110). Why is this sentence its own paragraph? Yes, it doesn't really fit into the paragraph above or below, but I feel that this sentence is just shoved in there. I really like the quote, but I don't really like the placement of it. It was a little awkward to read.
 * 5) "A skin bag stuffed with questions." (Page 111). I laughed at this quote. I know a lot of people who I would call them that too. They just seem to always be there and ask questions constantly; questions that are none of their business and there is no point for them to ask.
 * 6) "The school was deserted, but the students' pheromones and discarded skin cells clung to the walls.' (Page 117). I found this really gross, and it got me thinking; this is true at my school too. All the dead skin cells everywhere...YUK! I have also been at my school when it was "deserted." I have been at my school at every hour around the clock at least once. I used to have soccer practices at midnight until 2 a.m. sometimes later. I have had to be at the school at 3 a.m. for football/band trips. There are some days that I spend more time at my school than at home.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Potent** - Powerful; mighty. "Come in," Mr. Verplaz said gently, sounding as if he were waking from a __potent__ dream. (Page 109). 2. **Ascetic** - A person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons. He was a forty-year-old __ascetic__ with tanned skin, a hawk nose and small, round-lensed glasses. (Page 109). 3. **Precariously** - Exposed or involving danger; dangerous. A half-empty jar of lollipops sat __precariously__ close to the edge. (Page 110). 4. **Patriarch** - A person regarded as the father or founder of an order, class, etc. "I was in a fight, so Groverly's __patriarch__ ordered me to attend." (Page 111). 5. **Aloof** - At a distance, escecially in feeling or interest. "What kind of man was he? Warm? __Aloof__?" (Page 115). 6. **Pheromones** - Any chemical substance released by an animal that serves to influence the behavior of other members of the same species. The school was deserted, but the students' __pheromones__ and discarded skin cells clung to the walls. (Page 117). 7. **Omniscient** - having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. After four hours I woke up, my minf precise. Focused. __Omniscient__. (Page 118).

**__Wednesday December 5, 2011__:**

__**Chapter 14 - The Primitive Within**__ I'm curious as to why the rock recieved a name. Percy was talking to the rock like it was a person. Elissa is really lucky that her parents got her a car for her birthday. I don't have a car, and if I want one, I have to pay for it all myself. I also find it strange that she feels guilty about the carbon monoxide produced from the vehicle. This is just a fact of life; it happens. Elissa seems really angry at Percy, and she has a right to be. Percy is not being a very good friend lately and he needs to smarten up. I have no clue why Percy was imagining the human popilation 1/6 the size it is now, and it being controled by coyotes. This is weird... It is quite funny how Percy thinks that the beer at the party was in honor of the two Groverly students killed while driving drunk. It's a highschool party Percy; there will almost always be alcohol, but you don't have to drink it. Percy says that his field journal is his lifes work...I thought he has only worked on it for three years... I can tell that Elissa is starting to get annoyed and upset at Percy because he is taking his "job" was to seriously. Elissa is tired of observing and wants to be observed. This chapter brought me sadness because of all the talk of Will and his death/funeral. This reminded me of a few loved ones that had passed away. Losing somebody is hard, sad and it takes a lot out of a person, but you always have to remember that they will always have a special place in your heart and nobody can ever take their place. Someday in heaven, we will all meet again. HaHa! I found it super funny how Elissa started to peer pressure Percy into drinking beer. She used a really smart strategy by telling him that he will better experience the tribes inner world. Haha, it worked. This chapter is a great example of why underage drinking is not a good idea at all. Percy had never even kissed a girl before, and in no time he is feeling up Elissa's breast. And I'm not going to lie, I laughed so hard at Percy's first sexual experience. Elissa jerked away and started to yell at the poor boy. Drunk, confused and out of his mind; I'm not even sure Percy knew what was going on. I was very surprised that he never got slapped. If I was Elissa, I would have slapped him right across the face. That was a jerk move on Percy's part! Percy may have just ruined his only friendship, and he also just lost his grad date for sure. Elissa doesn't believe in Percy's father's death. I am starting to doubt it myself,a dn I believe Elissa. Now I really don't understand why Percy acts the way he does. Maybe he misses his father and wants to spend more time with him. Maybe Percy is angry at his father for sutting him out of his life. Something is missing here and it doesn't make any sense. I am so confused!!!

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "The highway tribe. A short-lived species." (Page 121). I found this funny, even though I know this quote would make a lot of other people really sad. I found it funny because it is true. Yes, I'm using the saying "It's funny cuz it's true." This quote is very true though, the more a person drives on the highway, the greater chance they have at being killed. This is way more dangerous than staying at home; but don't get me wrong, a lot of bad things can happen in the home as well, they just have a way smaller probability of happening. The truth is, this "highway tribe" has a way great chance at being killed than most of the other people, especially if they are drinking alcohol.
 * 2) "The smoke. It stings." (Page 126). I know this feeling! When you are sitting around the campfire and the smoke gets blown into your face; what a horrible feeling! Your eyes start to water and you feel extreme pain in your eyes. Ahh...Great times at the lake!
 * 3) "The tribes dancing around us in a majestic celebration." (Page 126). I pictured First Nation people dancing around a campfire, and then I pictured a bunch of highschool students doing the same. It sounds like a fun party!
 * 4) "The Necking Tribe." (Page 126). I found this really funny!
 * 5) "I felt dizzy." (Page 128). Haha! He had a little too much to drink for his first time? :P.
 * 6) "From the moment my cells formed, they'd been programmed to find her lips and kiss them." (Page 129). Talk about destiny.
 * 7) "You don't live, do you, Percy. You just record." (Page 130). I agree with Elissa, she is sick and tired of Percy always thinking of that stupid journal.
 * 8) "Your job? It was your job to feel me up?" (Page 130). OUCH! Elissa kind of twisted Percy's words around, but I can see where Elissa is comming from. I would be so pissed if this happened to me (and if I was a girl), that I would have slapped that boy so hard! You would think that something like that would actually bring Percy into the moment and not in his fake world.
 * 9) "You don't live. There's a big difference. I shouldn't have to explain it. I don't want you to touch me for the first time and just think about how you'll write it in your stupid journal. I want you to be here." (Page 130). Elissa is 100% right. I don't even know what to say. I don't know what I would have done in either person's places at this time. This is a very confusing and emotional situation.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Synchronicity** - An apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated. Elissa's black VW bug pulled up and stopped. __Synchronicity__. (Page 120). 2. **Ankh** - A tau cross with a loop at the top, used as a symbol of generation or enduring life. Her chest and back were decorated with a stylized __ankh__. (Page 120). 3. **Effluvia** - A slight or invisible exhalation of vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious. "I decided not to go to attend school," I answered, pressing a button that let my window down a crack; the __effluvia__ of the traffic swept inside. (Page 120). 4. **Mauve** - A pale bluish purple. Her __mauve__ lipstick accentuated the thickness of her lips. (Page 121). 5. **Crustaceans** - Any chiefly aquatic athropod typically having the body covered with a hard shell or crust. Vehicles of all descriptions stretched in front of us like giant manic __crustaceans__, speeding around the edge of the city and into the wilderness. (Page 121). 6. **Revelers** - To take great pleasure or delight. An open view of black water, three giant bonfires along the edge, __revelers__ dancing between them. (Page 122). 7. **Pupae** - An insect in the nonfeeding, usually immobile, transformation stage between the larva and the imago. "We are __pupae__ waiting for the end of the chrysalis." (Page 124). 8. **Meandered** - To proceed by or take a winding or indirect course. "This is kind of amazing," Elissa said as we __meandered__ through the crowd, the tribes dancing around us in a majestic celebration. (Page 126). 9. **Hinterland** - The remote or less developed parts of a country; back country. (Page 126). There were other tribes occupying the __hinterland__, hiding from the light: the Necking Tribe, the Smoker Tribe, the Cool and Detached Tribe. (Page 126).

__**Chapter 15 - Same Tree**__ Poor Percy, he is so drunk and he doesn't understand what is going on with him. He face planted into the ground, got pushed countless times, got yelled at and had clumps of dirt kicked into his face. He also puked on himself and got thrown into the mud. I can just picture Percy getting tossed around and bullied, him strumbling around, dizzy and confused. Percy was so out of it and he kept yelling random things that confused everyone, including me. This is Percy's first time drinking alcohol and he didn't know how much his body could handle, and he also didn't know the total affect of the side effects. I'm also not too sure why he wanted to get to the fire so badly. Was he cold, curious or just so out of it that the fire was the only thing that made sense to him? Not too sure why Percy takes such offence to being call Einstien; he was a really smart man that did so many great things for our society. Delmar Brass was very nice to Percy when he found him. Delmar talked to Percy in an understanding and gentle voice, and also gave him a ride home. This was such a nice thing to do! There needs to be more nice people like this in the world. Percy could have gotten killed out there. I believe that Delmar saved Percy's life.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "I clutched the bottle. Empty. I opened my hand. The bottle floated down, crashed in slo-mo against its brothers." (Page 132). As I read, I just pictured this beer bottle slowly falling toward a pile of beer bottles. I kind of liked the way Percy refered to all the beer bottles as brothers. If you think about it, beer bottles come in a pack together and they stay there for a long time. They may have come from the same production plant, and even if they didn't they might still consider themselves as brothers. I know my best friend and myself call each other brothers. We used to live at each others houses. I would stay at his house for a week, then he would be at my house. As kids grow up, their brothers move out and they dont live together anymore; this is what happened to us. We both grew up and we don't sleep at each others houses, but we still see each other all the time.
 * 2) "Distorted guitars grinding like tectonic plates." (Page 132). I would have never guessed that Percy would use this to discribe something. This just doesn't seem like his personality at all.
 * 3) "My digestive system flowed backward." (Page 133). Very unique way of telling us that he puked. I have never thought of it that way before, and the next time that I am sick and this happens, I am going to think of this. :P.
 * 4) "A vast quality. Quantity." (Page 135). To me it seems as if Percy meant to say "quantity" instead of "quality." I think he made this mistake because he is so drunk and he is having trouble to do even the most simple of things.
 * 5) "We are one, I thought. We are all one." (Page 137). I found this quote strange comming from Percy. He is always talking about how everyone is from different tribes and now he is saying that "We are all one." This just doesn't make any sense comming from Percy.
 * 6) "Keep on keeping on." (Page 137). I love this quote! :).

**__Monday December 12, 2011__:**

__**Chapter 16 - Ndebele Returns**__ Did Percy just shave his head?! This is again proof that Percy over reacts and he needs to calm down. Percy needs to learn how to control his emotions better. Like count to 10... I'm really sad about Percy and Elissa's relationship failing...I really wanted them to work out :( :( :(.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "The first blast of H2O was rust stained, but I didn't hesitate. I drank deeply." (Page 138). Was he really that thirsty? Did he not have a few seconds to wait for clean water? I could not drink rust water. That would be so gorss and i would probably have my digestive system flow backwards.
 * 2) "My brain expanded/contracted/expanded. Painfully." (Page 138). I have had those days, where your head is just throbbing and that is all that you can think about. It sucks!
 * 3) "We hate you Percival." (Page 139). I feel really bad that Percy feels this way, but it really is his own fault. He has done all of this to himself and he needs to make it all better. It's not going to be easy, but it is necessary if he wants to be at peace with himself.

__**Chapter 17 - Reborn**__ Again I say that I do not really like Percy's mother. She doesn't seem to care enough about her son. If my son came home the way Percy did I would be so upset and be so worried about my son. Haha! Percy's first hangover, and he is feeling like garbage! I always find it quite entertaining when i see people with a really bad hangover. I personally don't drink so I have never experienced this feeling before; so I find it very funny to see people like this. Okay, I am so confused!! Does Percy not actually know if his father is dead or alive?!? You would think that something like that would be huge news and you would remember if this happened or not. Percy said that Elissa dared him to shave his head. That's a lie. She never said anything like that. Percy has some serious problems and he is getting mixed up between stories and is combining them into untrue stories. I don't think that Percy's father is dead anymore, I just think that Percy is mixing up two different stories.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "But like a stone dropped in the ocean, that shock sank below the surface." (Page 140). I could really picture this and I liked the way this quote was worked into the reading. I can just picture this little pebble being dropping and sinking down to the bottom of the ocean very slowly.
 * 2) "Your father is comming home tonight." (Page 141). Percy showed no emotion to this...Does he not like his father? He is just comming to the realization that his father isn't dead! Is this not exciting for Percy!?! I'm sure excited! I'm so happy that Percy's father could be at Percy's graduation; this is a big day for Percy! Be happy!!!
 * 3) "Will he float down from heaven, Mom? Rise up from the Netherworld? Reincarnate as a butterfly and flip-flap through the ceremony? Will I wear him as a brooch?" (Page 142). Percy still seems very confused. He does not believe that his father is alive, and he doesn't seem to care anymore. When I read this, I found that Percy was talking to his mom in a very sarcastic tone, and I thought he was being quite rude.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Placidity** - Pleasantly calm or peaceful. When I'd first sat down she'd displayed shock, but like a stone dropped in the ocean, that shock sank below the surface. __Placidity__ ruled. (Page 140). 2. **Masticated** - To chew. I forced a bite. __Masticated__. (Page 140). 3. **Conglomerated** - To bring together into a cohering mass. My thoughts __conglomerated__ slowly. (Page 141). 4. **Genitor** - A parent, especially a father. The __genitor__ - father - would not be there. (Page 141). 5. **Primordial** - Derived or developed; original. A __primordial__ anger soup boiled inside my skull. (Page 142).

__**Chapter 18 - Little Bang**__ Percy talks about the big bang... He talks about all of the things that had to happen perfectly and at the same time for life to begin. All by chance?! This is such a ridiculous way to think that life bagan. Elissa is still pissed at Percy, and it doesn't seem like she is going to forgive him either. I don't blame her. She tried for so long and Percy was just a jerk to her. I'm really disappointed that Percy missed his banquet. I wish Percy would understand that he only gets to graduate once; for one day can't he try to be normal and stop writing in that dumb book? I feel bad that Percy has to get his clothes from Value Village nand the Salvation Army, but it is a known fact that some people can't afford new clothes from the store. I am not entirely sure if it is because of the money or maybe it is just another one of Percy's mothers strange rituals. It also seems that Percy is still confused on whether his father is alive or not. Percy refered to all the students as the "Grad Tribe (Page 146), considering all the highschool students (including Percy) are in this "Grad Tribe," does this mean that they are all from the same tribe? Should they all learn to get along considering that they are all from the same tribe? If this stands true, then why did Percy feel like he crossed over into Justin's territory when they are from the same tribe? I also remember Percy saying, "We are all one" (Page 137). I find both of these quotes confusing and contradicting. I was happy that Percy made Ms. Nystrom feel good by complimenting her. I am also a little ticked off though; he made Ms. Nystrom feel really good but why can't he do that to Elissa?! Why can't he make somebody who he cares for so much feel good by complimenting her?! Elissa really liked Percy and he blew it. I am really happy that Justin was mature and decided to talk to Percy in a nice manner. It was a really good way to end the year between them, and possibly the last time that they meet. I would have to agree with Percy when he said that graduation changes people. A lot of my friends that graduated last year are a lot more grown up then last year. They have a made a big change in one year. They are really busy and are starting their new lives and it is really hard to find time to see them now :(. I also have to agree that a person usually behaves differently in a suit than in jeans and a t-shirt. For example, when I am performing in a band concert or MCing an event, I always act way differently than my everyday life. You have to act more professional and you are also representing not only yourself, but the entire band/school. When Percy was thinking about all of the shining moments in history, he related his grad as one of them. This shows that Percy really is excited and having a great time at his grad, even though there is much other evidence to prove otherwise. ...Percy's father is not dead... I feel cheated and lied to. I'm so confused right now, and I don't even care that Percy fainted; I'm quite mad at him. I have read 153 pages of lies!! All in all, I am not all that surprised; there just seemsed to be something missing throughout the entire book.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "I didn't want my soul sucked into the camera." (Page 144). This is an interesting way to think of your picture being taken. I wouldn't think of it like that at all. I like it when my picture is taken because I love to look back on my wonderful memories of the past.
 * 2) "Dad, again? I thought. Just let it go, Mom." (Pahe 145). Something is missing here. It seems like he is hiding something from everyone, but he isn't fooling his mother. Hmmm... I'm interested.
 * 3) "I am aware of my tardiness," I answered. "It was unavoidable. It won't happen again, I promise." I winked. Her face was blank. "Get it? School's finished so I won't be back, therefore I can't be late." (Page 146). HaHa!!! I found this super funny! I love this type of humor! I do this all the time! You point out the obvious and when everybody just stares at you like you're dumb, you explain the joke to them as if they are dumb! It is the perfect joke and I love it!!! :D.
 * 4) "A birthmark on the left cheek is a sign of intelligence and good luck in Thai culture." (Page 146). I'm not sure whether this is a true fact that Percy knows or whether he is just lieing (he seems to be doing that a lot...). None the less, he made Ms. Nystrom happy and that's what matters. I really don't understand why he can make other people happy but not Elissa, the girl he cares about so much... You would think that he would try extra hard just to make Elissa happy, but he doesn't.
 * 5) "We were packed in the hallway like lab rats in a cage." (Page 147). I do not picture graduation like this, and I sure hope it's nothing like that.
 * 6) "A butterfly struggling to reenter a cacoon." (Page 148). I found this quote very interesting; this is something that I have never heard of before, and I can imagine that it is a near impossible task for a butterfly. I really like this quote, and I think it should be used more often.
 * 7) "The stage was lit like a football stadium." (Page 149). I could picture this so clearly. I really love football and I miss it so much! It really sucks that I am almost done my football career. If I don't make it on a team such as the Hilltops or the Huskies, my tackle football carrer is over and done with forever :(.
 * 8) "Our job would be to carry the human race forward for another generation." (Page 149). I have never thought of having kids like this before. I can see how by having kids you are carrying the human race forward for another generation, but I do not consider it my job. I know a lot of couples that decided to not have children. It was not their job. Percy takes the term "job" too seriously and he needs to just sit back and "take a seat."
 * 9) "A moment of silence for Willard Spokes." (Page 150). This was really nice to give a moment of silence for him, as well as leave him an empty chair with all of the graduates. I do have one question though; did they leave empty chairs for the two Groverly students killed while driving drunk back from chapter 14? Did they also give them a moment of silence?
 * 10) "We expire so we don't compete with our children." (Page 151).
 * 11) Aztec priests cutting open the chests of prisoners of war and wrenching out their beating hearts, holding them to the sky." (Page 152). I found this quote to be very descriptive and quite disturbing. It made me a little sick to my stomach when I read this quote and started to think about it. What a gruesome and disrespectful thing to do.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Visage** - The face, usually reference to shape, features. A few students started a my new __visage__ - a Back-to-Buddha look. (Page 144). 2. **Scrutinized** - To examine in detail with careful or critical attension. I __scrutinized__ my words until my stereoscopic eyes ached. (Page 144). 3. **Effeminate** - (Of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, ect., traditionally considered feminine. I slung it over my arm and joined the crowd, amused that the males would submit to such __effeminate__ dress. (Page 147). 4. **Tresses** - Usually, long locks or curls of hair. Clusters of visibly nervous students chatted hesitantly, straightening each others gowns and fixing their __tresses__ like monkeys hunting for head lice. (Page 147). 5. **Monolith** - An obelisk, column, large statue, etc., formed of a single block of stone. The masses parted for the walking __monolith__, Justin. (Page 147). 6. **Malice** - Desire to inflict injury, harm or suffering on another because of hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness. "Happy graduation, Montmount," he said without a hint of __malice__, clapping me on the shoulder. (Page 147-148). 7. **Bequeathed** - To dispose of; to hand down; pass on. I looked down at the gown and saw the stiches a hominid had designed and __bequeathed__ to mankind. (Page 148). 8. **Coagulated** - To change from a liquid into a thickened mass. The graduates had __coagulated__ into groups. (Page 148). 9. **Morphed** - To be transformed. The line ahead of me __morphed__. (Page 149). 10. **Brandished** - A flourish of waving, as of a weapon. He __brandished__ his diploma as if he'd pulled a sword out of a stone. (Page 150).

__**Wednesday December 14, 2011**__**:**

__**Chapter 19 - Awareness**__ Percy is reminded of Elissa when he is left alone to think with his thoughts. He thought of her ears all the way to her laugh, and this touched Percy deep down inside and he finally started to cry. All this bottled up frustration, anger, sadness and confusion finally all escaped. Percy's father was trying to keep in touch with Percy but he just shut his father out of his life. Yeah Percy was upset, but that's no reason to pretend that your father is dead. Death is a serious matter and it shouldn't be faked or played around with. I'm quite disappointed in Percy. He was acting very childish. I found it really funny when Percy described his show-and-tell experience in grade one. He brought this head and was very detailed in his explaination. Telling his grade one class that they dismembered the person, and severed his neck with cleavers. I found this really funny and I laughed out loud. When Percy was talking about giving his father's eyes back and holding out his hands, stating that he couldn't look through them anymore; I was confused. I feel as if I missed something. Did Percy's father pretend to give Percy his eyes when he was little? If this is true, then Percy is acting really immature for his age. He just graduated from grade 12. This book had a really happy ending and it make me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Percy and his father have talked out their problems and came to a conclusion. They are both happy with each other and no hard feelings are remembered.

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "The sweat would purify me." (Page 155). I know this feeling when I'm in a sauna. I love the feeling you have after you have been in there awhile and you are all sweaty, then you go and have a shower. You feel so good after! Refreshed and ready to go!
 * 2) "The universe was too complex to comprehend." (Page 156). The universe is a very complex thing and nobody can comprehend all of it. Everything is still not know about the universe, therefore, impossible to comprehend. Percy is still confused about his father, and they really need to have a nice long talk about everything.
 * 3) "Where there's a Will, there's a way." (Page 157). I really love this quote! I said that back in chapter 10 when they used this quote of page 94. This time it is a little bit different because they used Will's name this time. This made me really happy, and everytime I hear this quote I will probably smile :). Love it!!! :D.
 * 4) "Returned to sender." (Page 157). I liked this quote; they are talking about will going back up to heaven to see God. God put him on this earth (sender) and now Will gets to meet God! :D. This quote also reminded me of the movie "The Stupids." Mr. Stupid takes his family on a huge adventure trying to find a Mr. Sender when on their mail they get a retern to sender stamp on their mail. They think it has something to do with the people who steal their garbage that they put out on the street every week. Mr. Stupid would always say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Haha, I love this movie!
 * 5) "No longer would we walk the the same hallways, breathe the same air, attend the same classes. Other students would fill Groverly, but I would have no connection with them. (Page 157). This is a sad thought. This is going to be me in a few months, and that makes me really sad. I really enjoy highschool and I love seeing my friends all the time. After highschool it is so hard to stay in touch will everybody that you carry a relationship with during highschool. I know I am struggling a lot to keep my friendships with a few of the graduating class from last year. It is no easy task, and I am not going to give up.
 * 6) "I was marked. His son." (Page 158). I have never thought about being born like this before. I guess in a sense Percy is right and you are marked as your father's son the moment you are born. Half of you is your father, morphed (transformed (I used a word that I put in the vocabulary from the last chapter)) into you; your own person.
 * 7) "What about the trust of a son?" (Page 159). This really stuck out to me! It cut deep! I bet it hurt Percy's father a lot. It probably hit him hard and I'm surprised that he recovered from that so quickly. If I had a son and he just made me realize what a jerk I was, I don't know what I would do. I would be heartbroken.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Quintessential** - Of the pure and essential essence of something. A __quintessential__ stomach heater. (Page 155). 2. **Eon** - An indefinitely long period of time. An __eon__ passed. (Page 157). 3. **Tenure** - The holding of property; the period or term of holding something. He would have __tenure__ and an office with a window and a rusty air conditioner that dripped. (Page 160).

__**Epilogue**__ A deja-vu for Percy; waving to his father goodbye from the airport window. I bet this brought back a lot of memories for Percy, except this time Percy knows that his father is comming back way sooner. I'm really happy that Percy called Elissa! I really want them to work out! She is so nice to Percy, and they both like each other so much! They are perfect for each other!!!!! I find it very nice that Elissa and Will never talked about Percy's father even though they both knew something was missing (just like me). Even though they were probably curious, they kept their mouths shut and respected Percy's feelings. Percy has become a new and seemingly normal person. Instead of focusing on that book all the time, he now takes walks down by the river and is starting to grow his hair back. Percy now only uses his room for sleeping; which is pretty much just like me. I like to be more exciting places other than my room. He seems like the normal teenage boy now, he is reading normal books, not all history and science books. He is also listening to music. This is one of the most normal things to do in the world; almost everybody shares the joy of listening to music. I'm really happy with Percy's transformation. I'm really happy that Percy kept seeing Mr. Verplaz, this is really helping Percy control his emotions better. He seems to be developing a mature relationship with this man. I would have to agree with Percy when he says that jazz music proves that something beautiful can emerge from chaos. I play in a jazz band and I love jazz music! This was a very good way to describe jazz music :D. I am really happy that Elissa is finally going to get that quality time with her parents that she has wanted her entire life. This really makes me happy! I love all of these ahppy ending that are comming along with this book! :'). It is really great that Percy doesn't care so much about his journal now. Over 700 pages!?!? WOW!!! That's a little bit "overkill." Although so much happiness has come out of this book, I am really upset that Percy and Elissa didn't get together in the end. Don't get me wrong, I am super happy that they are still friends. I really hope that they keep that friendship for the rest of their lives; and hopefully someday, something so much more!

__**Quotes**__**:**
 * 1) "Bald but still on my shoulders." (Page 162). This comment made me smile. It's not great, but its still there :P.
 * 2) "My heart felt as if someone were squeezing it." (Page 163). This is a very descriptive way of saying that you are feeling sadness. I don't think people really understand the pain it would cause if somebody was squeezing your heart. I find this statement to be overused and I really dislike it when people talk this way.
 * 3) "What had I learned?" (Page 165). I can't believe that Percy said that he found no clear answer... I feel that Percy has learnt so much that his brain can't comprehend all of the information. I think he is overwhelmed with all the imformation.
 * 4) "But I did know this - the sun produces over two hundred trillion trillion trillion neutrinos every second. These tiny particles pass unhindered through space, and through the planets, including Earth. Some are relic neutrinos, left over from the birth of the universe. Billions of neutrinos shoot through our bodies every second on their way back to outer space. (Page 165). I thought Percy made a huge change of personality, which he did, but once I read this I thought, "Same old Percy." He really loves his science and that will never leave him for the rest if his life.
 * 5) "Sat down on a patch of green grass and felt the sun's rays warm my skin." (Page 166). I used to love doing this! It was so amazing! Just laying in the grass, watching the clouds, having the warm sun's rays hug you. I van't do this anymore because I am really allergic to grass now and it really sucks! Laying in the grass and watching the clouds used to be one of my most favorite things to do.
 * 6) "So much passes through us without our ever noticing." (Page 166). Life happens so fast and it is really hard to comprehend everything that happens. Sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives that we don't notice other things that are going on in our lives. Sometimes we really need to just slow down and process.

__**Vocabulary**__**:** 1. **Neutrinos** - Any of the massless or nearly massless electrically neutral leptons. But I did know this - the sun produces over two hundred trillion trillion trillion __neutrinos__ every second. (Page 165).

= __**Final Thoughts**__**:** = This was an amazing book and it reminded me of a lot of stories; many of which I shared. I felt that the ending of the book was really rushed, and I would have liked to see a more developed ending. The ending just hit me so fast that I really didn't have time to comprehend what just happened, and then the book was completed. I would have really liked to see more development at the end between Percy and his father's relationship. I really liked that the novel took place in Saskatoon; I could really picture the beautiful Saskatchewan River every time that the river was mentioned, and I think this ultimetly helped me understand this book a lot better. I would really like to see a sequel made to this book and I hope that it be based on Percy’s experiences in University as a changed person. Percy can develop his relationship with Elissa as well as other individuals. University has a lot more people to get to know and also most of the people are more mature; and this new book could be taken in a lot of different directions. Percy could make a bunch of friends that party and he could get involved in a bad group and Elissa once again will have to save him. You could also take the direction of Percy dating a bunch of different girls at the same time; I wonder if he ever gets caught?!? Another idea I had for a sequel to this book is to skip University and go straight to Percy’s life as an adult with a child either similar to himself or the complete opposite. Percy’s child will hopefully have a name that is not Percival (it was hard to write about two important characters with the same fist and last name); and he could be in trouble all the time because he is a bully. Percy’s child could be just like Justin, therefore, giving the viewpoint from a bully’s perspective. This book could take us through the life of a bully, getting inside their mind and possibly helping many young people in their school years. The ending of the book “Tribes” had a great ending and a very smooth/easy entrance to another novel. I really hope that Arthur Slade makes a second book based on the outcomes of this one. Arthur Slade can take a thousand different approaches to a new book and I really do hope that he writes another one. I really enjoyed reading and blogging about this book and I really got into this novel in depth. Percy and I were two very opposite people; but throughout the book I could start to relate more to what Percy was thinking. Percy and my personalities are still a lot different, but the gap has been closed a lot. I was having a really hard time getting inside of Percy's head right in the beginning of the novel, but I soon got pretty good at it. I really enjoyed watching Percy learn and grow and also learn about his past experiences. Percy had made some really good relationships and I now think that he has the skills to live in the "real world." Percy learnt a lot in his last year of highschool, and so have I. My highschool carrer is just about over :(. I am definetly going to miss it a lot, but I am very excited to start my own life. Graduating highschool is a big part of ones life and will remember the friendships and experiences they had in highschool for the rest of their lives. I'm really sad for highschool to end, but it is a part of life and a part of growing up. Thank you Arthur Slade! I really enjoyed your book! And I really do hope that you write another book about Percy in his life after highschool! Thanks Again...**Jordan Derkachenko** Home
 * By: Jordan Derkachenko**
 * By: Jordan Derkachenko**
 * By: Jordan Derkachenko**
 * By: Jordan Derkachenko**