Kim’s Comments (group member since Dec 13, 2023)

Kim’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

i noticed when we enter a book that we can only choose scavenger or spell it out. but books of over 300 pages can be used for 8 things. can you mix and match? or one category only?

Strike through makes sense to me too

I agree I think this planning sheet will really help!

Are waiting until we finish our books to put them in the spreadsheet?

Or put them in so we know what each other is planning?

I tried clicking on the spreadsheet but don’t have access. What should I do?

Sorry team, I totally forgot to check in! This will be my first time in this challenge.

Ps I love the restaurant name!!

I’m in!

Hey there! I’m also available for the challenge! Probably 2 books per week (8 for the month) due to work.

Way to go, Silje. Hope your semester isn’t too crazy!

Took some out of the box thinking but I got one for D. Now to try to make these other books I’m reading work haha

It doesn’t seem many of my Cr from last round are going to fit for this last round. I’ll be sure to give special selection once these are finished 😊

Completed my Y book! Hopefully can finish the other before this round is over!

completed a book for A. i've got a Y book for my camping trip in the next few days so i'll post that by thursday at the latest.

I had to google “Morris dancers” and after looking at pictures I’m still not 100% certain I understand.

finished my K book, attempting to finishing another before tomorrow but won't finish both CR. I haven't checked recent scores but it feels like we are doing well!

Finished 2 books, one of which was BOM "Dear Martin."

DQ BOM posts

7/16 Ch 1-6 (message 66) Q1, Q4, Q5, Q6
7/17 Ch 7-14 (message 133) Q8-Q10
7/19 Ch 15-18 (message 160) Q12, Q14
7/20 Ch 19 - end (message 182) Q16, Q17, Q20

Day 4:

16. What do you think about Justyce going to see Martel. Do you support him going or disapprove. I know he later regretted it, but I can't help feeling he went to fit in. Or maybe to become more like "his kind"

I think it makes sense for him to go see Quan since they had grown up together. However, I don’t think it was wise for him to go see Martel. I’m sure it felt justified in a way that he needed to find someone to confide in or relate to.

17. During these chapters there was the scene with the police at Justyce's graduation. Do you think it was wrong of the police officers to approach him in front of all his friends and family. Should they have waited until he was done talking to them to approach? It's definitely a difficult situation cause I can see it being argued from either end.

I feel this was a carefully plotted move. Completely unnecessary but a power move for sure.

20. I thought that Justyce's last letter to Dr. Martin was the most meaningful. He mentions that maybe the issue is that he doesn't know what he was trying to achieve by his "What would Martin do?" project. I found it very resonating when he mentioned Doc asking him "What would Martin be" and he couldn't find an answer. What did you think of the last letter to Martin? How do you think Justyce has changed throughout the book?

I agree that this letter was the most telling about where Jus is at mentally. I feel truly learning about ourself and what we believe in is a lifelong struggle and it feels like something that is talked about more now than in our parents’ adolescences.

Whoops hit submit too fast!

14. I think the media coverage is a lot like what we are seeing in general today: biased. Whether it’s for one side or another, it’s wrong. The news is supposed to report on the happenings not choose sides. The speculation and coming up with back stories to situations doesn’t help anything, only throws more speculation or confusion into the mix.

15. Chapter 18 goes through a lot. We see Jus spending time with Doc to avoid making the call to Trey and the gang and isn't writing to Martin anymore SJ speaking to him again and she apologises. She also calls Jarod about the release of the photo. What are your thoughts on all these and the character development of the teens?

I think Jus is smart for sticking with his support people. He knows the temptation is there but is trying to move past it. SJ is an odd little deck and apologizes but doesn’t really say why which makes me feel like she is less forthright about her feelings than she was during her debate sessions with Jared.

Day 3 DQ

12. In chapter 16 we see Justyce have dinner with Manny's parents to commemorate Garret Tison's indictment. What do you think of Justyce being invited over and what they talk about? Did you have any thoughts about Manny's parents giving Justyce the watch and his reaction to it?

I think it was really sweet of them to ask him over but also super awkward. Like at least his mom should’ve been invited to make it less weird? Also the watch is a nice gesture and Jus can remember Manny whenever he looks at it. Like right now that might be too much but in the end I’m sure he will be happy he has it.

14. What do you think of the coverage of the event by the media? Are they siding with the police officer more than Justyce? Are they reporting the story correctly or making things worse? Do you think the author's portrayal of the media is similar to real life? Will the media ruin his chance at going to Yale?

DQ Day 2; Chapters 7 - 14

8. It sucks that it took being drunk for Justyce to call out Manny but it's finally done! "They're my friends" was the dumbest excuse ever, but at least Manny finally woke up shortly after Blake's party and the fight Justyce and the guys had.
It's hard sometimes to stand up for what's right. It might not be safe, depending on where you are or who you're surrounded by. Do you judge Manny for not being able to stand up for himself and everybody else his 'friends' made fun of sooner? Was there ever anything you needed to work on first in order to be able to stand up for it?
I probably judged Manny a little but like I've said in previous DQ, I feel it's important to recognize they're in high school. I definitely went along with stuff in high school then looked back and had thoughts that I should've handled it differently. I appreciate that Jus called Manny out, but not in the way that he did. Although maybe that large display was what made Manny eventually change his thoughts?

9. It seems like Manny didn't only call Dr. Dray to check on Justyce after the fight, but also his mama and Mela. It confused me a little since he doesn't like Mel and how she treats Jus. And it hasn't even been mentioned again (so far). What did you make of this? Do you think Mela will end up playing a big part in the rest of the book? And did you ever have a teacher who was as involved in his students lives as Doc is?
The on again, off again relationships are the hardest to pinpoint. I'll be curious to see how the Mel piece plays out. As for having Doc as a teacher, it feels he is playing the role of mentor much more and I think it's cool they have someone like that.

10. Manny's dad tried to keep all signs of racism and how he could be mistreated from him for as long as he could whereas Justyce's mama has prepared him ever since he was little. They also grew up in two completely different neighborhoods and surroundings. What are your thoughts on the parents' different ways of bringing up their sons? Do you think there's a right way to go about this?

I don't think there's any right or wrong way to parent, you just try to do what you think is best. There are so many different factors that play into this that there is no way to ever determine which way will be correct (you will never see the other side of the coin).