BounceBy:

Natasha Friend

Sophia de Castro

Reading-RochePeriod 3

May 12,2012

Natasha Friend:BiograpyoNatasha Friend was born to a English professor (her dad) and a poet/actress (her mom). In 1972, in a college town in upstate New York, Natasha was born. She had one sibling (her brother) whom she dearly loved. Natasha had shown an interest in books by going to the library. Friend was interested in “The Mature Readers Only” section. At the age of 10, she received a type writer which she used to write stories. It was only when she was in her late twenties that she could sit down and write a novel. Before she wrote, however, she had been a teacher for five years, but this was not an experience she had liked. Due to this, she decided to stop teaching and write. The year Natasha got engaged she wrote Perfect, and this book won the Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature. Natasha than had a child (Jack). She then wrote the book Lush. Friend than had another child (Ben). Following this, Natasha wrote Bounce. Then she has her third child, Emma. Natasha likes to be a writer and a mom. Natasha Friend likes to wake up in the morning and do what she loves to do which is write.

http://www.natashafriend.com/author_bio.html

SummaryoThe book Bounce is about a 13 year old girl, Evyn, whose life has just begun to be perfect… Until Birdie (her father) tells her he is getting married. Evyn has already experienced her mom passing away and does not want a step-mom, but she wants her dad to be happy. When she moves in with Eleni (her step-mom), she finds out that Eleni has six kids, who are Linus, Thalia, Clio, Cassandra (Cassie), Ajax, and Phoebe. Evyn then has to go to the March School for girls where she only makes friends because they want to know more about her brother, Ajax. Meanwhile her brother, Mackey, is getting a new start at school and even has a lead role in a play! In school, Evyn has a hard time trying to find real friends (even her own best friend betrays her). Just as things are starting to get better, bad things start to happen. First, her dog that she loves passes away. Then she is told at a family meeting that Eleni and her father are having a baby. Evyn just can not handle this and runs away to the train station, hoping to be able to stay at her friend’s house in Maine. Right before the train doors close, Evyn hops out and rests on a nearby bench. Then she hears a familiar voice, Linus, who tells the family he found her and then takes Evyn to his dorm. It is about time for Mackey’s show to start, but will he be able to sing? Does Evyn find true friends? Does her best friend become loyal to her again? Will Evyn truly adjust to her new family situation? What will happen next? Read more to find out.

CharactersoMain Characters1. Evyn Linney: narrator of the novel, 13 years old, female, sister of

Mackey, close to her friend Jules and her dad, attends March School for girls, and she has brown short hair.

2. Birdie Linney: father of Evyn and Mackey, husband of Eleni, male, comforting and caring, has a beard, big glasses, and wears dirty overalls.

3. Eleni Gartos: mother of six kids, wife of Birdie, good cook, female, short and has head full of black curls.

4. Mackey Linney: brother of Evyn, male, teenager, addicted to computer and video games, his face is red and has a lot of pimples.

o Supporting Characters1. Linus Gartos : oldest, twenty, caring, in college, male.2. Thalia Gartos : second oldest, kind of looks like mom, teenager, nice,

female, likes to sew, in college, responsible sibling.3. Clio Gartos : third oldest, teenager, twin of Cassandra, popular,

loves sister, female, loves fashion.4. Cassie Gartos : third oldest, teenager twin of Clio, female, popular,

loves fashion, loves sister.5. Ajax Gartos : second youngest, teenager, plays soccer, athletic,

popular, male.6. Phoebe Gartos : youngest, caring, loving, loves animals, typical

eight year old.

Ploto Introduction

• Meet Evyn Linney, Mackey Linney, and Birdie Linney, Eleni Gartos, Linus Gartos, Thalia Gartos, Clio Gartos, Cassie Gartos, Ajax Gartos, and Phoebe Gartos•Setting: Beginning: In a neighborhood in Maine, Middle and End: In a neighborhood in Boston and in March School for girls.

o Rising Action•Birdie tells Evyn and Mackey that they are moving to Boston•They pack and leave to go to Eleni’s house•They meet Eleni’s kids•Mackey and Evyn learn what school they go to•Birdie and Eleni get married•Mackey tries out for a play and gets the lead•Evyn meets the “it girls” who adopt her•Evyn finds out that she is only hanging out with the “it girls” because they are using her to find out who her brother, Ajax, likes•The March School for girls and the Thorne Fall School for boys have a dance•At the dance Ajax asks a girl to dance that is not one of the “it girls”•The “it girls” get mad at Evyn for saying that Ajax likes Andrea ( the “it girls” leader)•Evyn find a group of girls to hang out with that are actually nice•Birdie and Eleni get home from their honeymoon

Plot Continuedo Climax

•Birdie and Eleni tell the family that they are having a baby•Clam, Evyn’s dog, passes away•Evyn runs away to the train station because it is to much bad news at once

Falling Action•Linus finds Evyn at the train station•Linus takes her to his dorm•Evyn and Jules(her friend) start talking and catching up•Evyn and Eleni go to a Mother-Daughter Tea•Evyn and Eleni go to eat hamburgers•They talk about personal things and form a bond

o Conclusion•Jules comes from Maine to see Mackey’s play•Mackey starts to perform

New Vocabulary1. Cruller-  n. a small sweet cake in the form of a twisted strip fried in

deep fat “Put that back. Do you know how many fat grams are in a cruller?”

p.169

2. Dilemma- n.  an argument presenting two or more equally  conclusive alternatives against an opponent.

“All around me, girls nod. They understand this dilemma.” p. 77

3. Gnarled- v. crabbed in disposition, aspect, or character “She smiles at me, kindly, like a queen might smile at her gnarled,

hunch-backed lady-in-waiting.” p.77

4. Slob- n. a slovenly or boorish person “Get your hair out of your face. Right now. You look like a slob.” p.

169

5. Bruiser- n. a big husky man “This baby is going to be a bruiser.” p. 185

Starring ActorsoEvyn Linney played by: Chloe Mortez

oBirdie Linney played by: Jon Hamm

Starring ActorsoEleni Gartos played by: Angel Coulby

oMackey Linney played by: Daniel Radcliffe

Starring ActorsoLinus Gartos played by: Brody Jenner

oThalia Gartos played by: Alexa Vega

Starring Actors

oClio Gartos played by: Ashley Olsen

oCassy Gartos played by: Mary-Kate Olsen

Starring Actors

oPhoebe Gartos played by: Joey King

oAjax Gartos played by: Taylor Lautner

Soundtrack Tunes“A Year Without Rain” by Selena Gomez

Can you feel me when I think about you?With every breath I take

Every minute, no matter what I doMy world is an empty place

Like I've been wondering the desertFor a thousand days

Don't know if it's a mirageBut I always see your face, baby

I'm missing you so muchCan't help it, I'm in love

A day without you is like a year without rainI need you by my side

Don't know how I'll surviveA day without you is like a year without rain

The stars are burning I hear your voice in my mind

Can't you hear me callingMy heart is yearning

Like the ocean that's running dryCatch me I'm falling

oI choose this song because it has to do with how Evyn misses her mom, best friend, and home.

Rating

I gave Bounce rating of…

4 out of 5 stars

The book was very good in describing the settings and giving you a feel like you are the

main character. Another good quality is that the people and places were very realistic. One

negative thing is that the book Bounce was very depressing at the beginning, but at the end, all of

the main characters problems were solved. Another issue is that the vocabulary terms were

very basic so it was hard to find new terms. However, the book overall was very good.