When the Bough Breaks

2 1/2 hours

pages 110-215

During the first couple of chapters we learn about how Rachels mom has been dating a new person. He has a son who is a little older than Rachel. The way the mom and Mr. Ackerman meet is because Ryan punches his son. Mr. Ackerman and Rachels mom end up getting married and now they are all under one roof. It causes alot of problems and the kids don't really like it.

  Rachel catches ryan pouring beer into his pop can at school. She calls him out on it in the halls and he attacks her. Throws her books down and ties her hoodie to the locker then leaves. Rachel is yelling for help and is banging on the locker and Jason West finds her. He helps her get untied and picks up her book. They walk to class together and Jason tells Rachel that a lot of people know about Ryan's problem. 

A couple of nights later Rachel stays up waiting for Ryan to get home. He finally gets home and he is totally drunk. Rachel tries to help him get to the bathroom and he gets in there throws up all over himself then passes out on the bathroom floor. Meanwhile Dallin, Rachel's step brother, is watching this happen without Rachel knowing. When Rachel realizes he was there she gets really embarrassed and starts trying to get Ryan into his bed. Dallin tells Rachel to leave Ryan there and let him have to deal with his consequence on his own.

I really like that he does this. Finally Ryan is going to have to start taking care of himself. 

When the Bough Breaks

2 1/2 hours
pages 1-109

This book starts out with to best friends, Rachel and Teresa, hanging out on a friday night. It is the middle of their ninth grade year and have been best friends since they were eleven. They were at Teresa's house playing truth or dare, and it was Rachel's turn. Teresa dared her to prank call Jason West, Rachel's secret crush since sixth grade, so she did it! They both had a lot of fun doing that. After that Teresa's sister drove Rachel home and as they pulled up to her house they noticed that police cars and ambulances were parked all around it. When Rachel gets inside she finds out that her dad had been hit by a drunk driver on his way to pick up Rachel and died.
The family is torn. Rachel stays true to her beliefs and tries to hold the family together which doesnt help much. Their mom tries to be strong for the kids but it is so hard for her. Rachel has an older brother that still lives at home and after the dad passed away he gets hooked on alcohol. Everyone knows it but no one ever says anything. There are many times when Rachel will wait up for Ryan to get home and when he is throwing up in the bathroom she will clean up after him. I personally dont agree with what she does for him because he is not learning his lesson. He needs to know that by doing stupid things there are going to be consequences and that you are not always going to be helped with those consequences.

To Kill A Mockingbird

2 1/2 hours

pages 1-111

This story is narrated by a young girl named Jean Louise Finch, but everyone calls her Scout. In the beginning of the book it starts out with Scout talking about how her older brother, Jem, broke his arm. Then she goes on about her family history and how they ended up in Maycomb County. Scout's father Atticus is a succesful lawyer and makes a solid living. Maycomb is a very poor and old town that is going through the Great Depression, but luckily Atticus is still able to provide for his family. Scout and Jem's mother died when they were both young. Jem still has some memories that sometimes make him unhappy but Scout was too young to remember anything. The Finch's have some help from an old black woman named Calpurnia. She cooks for them but also helps raise the children and take care of the house. 

The characters in this story really intrigue me. I can already see some of their personalities growing and changing even though i'm not all the way into the book. I love Scout and her very tom-boyish attitude. I can tell that Jem is going to grow into a very good man and I cant wait to see how mature he becomes.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2 1/2 hours
1-118
This book starts off with the minister of the muggle world working at his desk late at night. He is interrupted by a wizard by the name of Cornelius Fudge. Cornelius explains to the minister that all of the recent mishaps in the muggle world were actually caused by the wizarding world. Cornelius makes frequent visits to the minister and informs him of the return of Lord Voldemort.
Two more characters come into the story named Bellatrix and Narcissa. They are off to go see Professor Snape so he will make the unbreakable vow to protect Draco Malfoy. At this time Harry Potter is off staying at his aunt and uncles house waiting for Professor Dumbledore to come and retrieve him and take him to the Weasley's house.
On the way to the Weasley's they make a pit stop at a retired Professor's residence. Harry and Dumbledore go to try and convince Professor Slughorn to come and return to the faculty at Hogwarts.