English Arts Festival

Discussion Board: Reef of Death

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 09:40:14 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: illustrator  Hello everyone! I signed up for illustrator on the last thread, but I am having technical difficulties. I hope that I can get it to go today. Yesterday all I could get was a blank sheet of paper when I tried to send it. I am still trying. Cross your fingers for me.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 12:00:17 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Discussion leader  I signed up for the discussion leader so here are the questions 1. Do you see a similiarity in the characters of this book to the other three books we have already read? 2. Why do you think this book would appeal to the reluctant YA reader? 3. What was the real purpose for Dr. Ecenbarger boat operation? 4. In reality when Uncle Cliff dies would PC be able to continue on with the search or have been to emotionally upset to continue?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:30:11 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  I think this book was very different than the others. However, as an adult commentary: I think the man has real issues with women. The villian here was also a woman, and he even described her as a praying mantis when we first meet her. I think this book would have lots of appeal to some of my reluctant readers--especially boys--because there is a lot of action and gore and gross stuff. I didn't like it that much, but I do think some of my students would like it a lot more than the other three we've read. I actually think the actual mission of Dr. whats-her-name's boat operation was a bit hazy. There were her psychotic experiments with the animals, mining the various minerals, and the opal mine. In reality, I think these missions would conflict. I'm not sure any one crew could operate the animal experiments and the mining. I also think there is no way the Coast Guard would miss the sounds of drilling, even if they only caught the magnesium mining, or the fact that the "map" of the boat was so inaccurate. I found it downright irritating that the reader was supposed to believe that the Coast Guard was that gullible and stupid. But then again, maybe YA readers wouldn't notice that or be bothered by it. I did think PC took his uncle's death way too well, almost to a disturbing degree. In fact, I think in general life was held way too cheaply in this book. Death did not disturb anyone in the book as much as I thought it should. (The sole exception being how the girl thought about her brother).

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 16:42:55 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  The character of the boy and girl are similiar as to the other three books, meaning the main characters are a boy and girl. Also on page 10 the quote of "I can't tell you anything unless I think of it, you know." sameone that was use in "GAmma Ray". Also Uncle Cliff is like Zindals mother the get rich scheme and the dreamer. Also I think he basis the family as dysfunctional similiar to his. Yes he must not like women. The Dr and the boat were unclear to me also. So was that a cover for the opal and a coincidence?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 09:47:59 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  I would have to agree with you on the boy / girl similiarities. I didn't catch the quote that was similar. I thought the adult females had some similiarities, such as obtaining power.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 15:51:49 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  I didn't realize that until someone point out how some of his mothers characteristics are portrayed in the adult females.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 11:51:57 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  I agree with how well he seemed to take his uncle's death. It almost seems as if he was so used to this happening, but we do not have enough background information to tell. Maybe Zindel just didn't want to dwell on that issue. Who knows?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 16:45:37 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  Good point. From a young reader that question would probably never occur to them.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 09:45:10 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  I think Reef of Death would definatly keep the attention of young readers, especially the males in my classroom. The killings were so descriptive! (2) Dr. Ecenbarger real purpose for operating the boat was to mine the treasure from the reef. But, due to her greed she became a monster and would kill anyone who got in her way from obtaining the riches. The lab operations with the animals (species) was only a cover to hide the truth. (3) In reality I would think PC would be to emotionally upset to continue the search, especially scared at the violent killing that he had witnessed. But, he did want to take a break from his family. So who knows. (4) There seem to be similiarities in the female (adult) figures, they have some major mental issues. Control or power issues perhaps. (1)

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 15:53:13 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion leader  Do you think the control and power issues stems from his family life?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:31:42 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: word master  As I emailed everyone yesterday, I uploaded a list of 20 words into the shared file section. The first one had garbage characters, but I didn't know how to take it off, so its still there. The second try I got a working list--it's the smaller of the two files.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 16:43:29 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: word master  ok thanks

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 11:54:55 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: new job? literary luminary  I am still not having any success getting my illustration to show up so you can see it, so I am going to participate as the literary luminary for literature circle purposes. I will keep trying to work on the illustration part. The teacher helping me assures me that she can do. I just don't know when.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 16:47:02 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: new job? literary luminary  Did you scan the picture and save it on your computer as a gif or jpeg? Then go to student tools and uploaded from there?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 11:58:01 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: people working  I found myself extremely disgusted at the people working around the mine while the one's dropped in the tank were basically being tortured. It makes you wonder if that really existed if people could stand around and watch, but it happens in the world everyday (especially in history when people were hung, etc.)

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 16:24:47 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: people working  It made me wonder what kind of hold she had over them. Like prisoners or people in concentration camps keep working despite what horrors they see as a method of survival. I guess I figured that the workers must be just as afraid as our protagonists. Look at what she did to the guy that let them get away? He was the first one we saw tortured. Did they let her get away with it only because she had them virtually confined there in the ship, far from their homes? How did they get stuck working for her?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 15-Jan-2003 16:49:27 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: people working  She may have select people who were easily manipulated. Or had individuals who were desprite and needed a job. Or the simple possibility they were afraid of her.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 13:58:18 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: people working  Those are interesting questions. I always wonder why people in those situations don't join their forces and rebel. I guess that is why they are there.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 09:52:20 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Re: people working  I found it disgusting too. I was hoping the shaman would feel guilty for what he was doing to his people and change his mind and start helping PC and the gang.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 13:59:29 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: people working  I was also wishing that. I wanted him to change his mind and help them. I guess not....

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 13:52:57 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: the sound  I was amazed to find out that the sound that was attracting the "monster" was generated on purpose. I truly thought that it was just a coincidence. That was an interesting part for me.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 16-Jan-2003 15:55:18 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: the sound  At first I thought the noise/sound was coming from the monster. As if it was making the sound like a warning or something.