Independent+Novel+Study

= __**City of Bones by Cassandra Clare**__ =

**__Journal Entry #1 - Dec. 2, 2011(pg. 1- 98)__**
As I was glancing at the books on the shelves of Shelfari, City of Bones caught my eye. I read the summary of the book and I thought immediately that this book was my type of book. Whenever I am searching for a new book to read, I tend to go towards the supernatural themed books. I find that when reading a book, the book is a lot more interesting when it transport you to a different world entirely, where there are fairies, werewolves, vampires and all those mystical and mythological creatures. As I started reading City of Bones, the first scenario that Clary, the main character, goes through involves demons and Shadowhunters (people with special abilities that hunt demons). I knew then from that point on, that I would definitely enjoy this book.
 * 1. Why did you select this novel?**

In the City Of Bones, the narrator has limited omniscient but the narrator isn't consistent. The narrator mostly follows Clary Fray, the main character and it is Clary's experiences that the story is based on. However there are little paragraphs here and there, that the narrator follows a different character, a character that was involved in the scene before. I believe that the way the perspectives are told is a good way of telling the story. With the narrator switching to a different character after a scene, it helps understand what the other characters think about the situation that just acquired.
 * 5. Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?**

I think that the City of Bones is aimed towards a mid-to-late teens age group. There are several scenes of violence in the book, "Isabelle and Alec were running toward them, Isabelle brandishing a whip in her hand. The blue-haired boy slashed at Jace with claws extended. Jace threw an arm up to protect himself, and the claws raked it, splattering blood. The blue-haired lunged again- and Isabelle's whip came down across his back. He shrieked and fell to the side.", that particular scene might not be suitable for a 9-year old girl. There are several scenes like the one I just quoted, that are not suitable for young kids. Also, throughout the book, you hear a lot about relationships and boyfriends. We all know that kids have "crushes", but having a crush in grade two is different then having a crush when you are fifteen.
 * 13. To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence.**

** 6. What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? **
City of Bones is based in Brooklyn, New York and the hang-outs of teens. I believe the setting is not that important because so far, Clary has jumped around a lot of different places. The places Clary has been, are in all cities so, it wouldn't matter if the book was set in Montreal, Canada.

Clary's first problem would probably be when she first saw Jace, Isabelle and Alec at Pandemonium. She was waiting in line to get into the all ages night club, when she first saw the cute boy with the blue hair. When Clary and Simon, her best friend, finally did get in to the night club, everything was going great (Simon was even enjoying himself!), until she saw the blue haired boy again, being followed by two mysterious looking young men. Clary, being the curious individual she is, decided to follow the boys, with her eyes, and sees them pull out a knife. Clary, is freaking out and tells Simon to tell one of the bouncers that there is someone with a weapon. Simon, believing Clary, goes and tells the bouncer but when they show up to the scene where the blue haired boy was just killed by Jace, they can't see anything. This I believe is where Clary's first problem accured. She can see Jace, Isabelle and Alec, point blank but no one else can and that is where Clary's adventure began.
 * 7. What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? **

Cassendra Clare, really holds the readers interest by including scenrios that the readers can relate too. Through all the choas that Clary is going through, she still deals with relationship issues. I believe that is a key part to reading a book about the supernatural world, the author has to include scenrios or situations that teens can relate too. I also believe Cassendra Clare, holds on the readers interest by leaving a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter, which makes you want to keep reading.
 * 8. How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? **

= =

__Journal Entry #3 - Dec. 15, 2011 (pg. 189- 294)__
After Clary first saw Jace, Isabelle and Alec, she was introduced to the world of Shadowhunters, demons and Downworlders (creatures like werewolves, vampires, etc.). In the section before this one, Clary was brought to a place called the Institute, where Shadowhunters live and train. There she meets the professor, Hodge, who runs the Institute, and while talking to Hodge, she finds out that her mother was a Shadowhunter and that could be a part of why her mother was taken. Also during her talk with Hodge, he realizes that Clary has a magical block in her mind, keeping her from remembering any knowledge of the world of supernatural. With the knowledge of this magical block, Clary visits the Silent Brothers, a group of Shadowhunters that have mastered the art of reading and digging through people's minds. While the Silent Brothers are sifting through her mind, a name pops up to the front of her mind. That name was Magnus Bane. With this name as a lead Jace, Isabelle, Alec, Simon and Clary go on a search to find out what exactly happened to her.
 * 9. What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?**

The way City of Bones is written is very clear. You understand what Cassandra Clare is trying to portray too her readers. She definitely does not jump all over the place with her events. When one thing happens, the event preceding it is somehow related to the previous event. Also the language that Cassandra Clare used was not difficult and you understood what the characters were doing/talking about.
 * 11. Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events?**

In this section, we are introduced to Magnus Bane, the man whose name popped into Clary's mind when the Silent Brothers were searching for answers to the block in her mind. While at Magnus Bane's party (which Isabelle got an invitation to), Clary confronts Magnus about why his name was in her mind. I believe Magnus Bane's purpose is to tell Clary, why this block is in her mind and why it was put there. After Magnus was interrogated by Jace, he confesses that he put the block in her mind because Clary's mother asked him too. All Clary's mother wanted was to shield her daughter from the world of Shadowhunters so, every two years, they would visit Magnus and he would spell her mind so if ever did see a demon or Downworlder she would not remember it.
 * 15. Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose?**

= **__Journal Entry #4 - Jan. 6, 2012 (pg. 295- 385)__** = City Of Bones is directed towards the mid-to-late teens age group so the language in the book is in the middle of difficult and easy. Obviously the level of difficulty of the language is going to vary depending on the person reading the book but, for me the language is in between. There are several hard words here and there but, once I read for a couple of sentences the word is not hard at all, and I wonder to myslef how I could of not understood the word in the first place.
 * 12. Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain. **

I don't believe City of Bones has a main theme or message but I definetely think there is a smaller theme that you have to look harder to find and understand what the book is trying to get across to you. That theme is being that life throws you unexpected curve balls and you can never say never. Ninety nine percent of the time there is going to be a solution, but that solution is not always going to be easy to find and solve, it could be near impossible sometimes. I think this book demonstrates this because in the beginning of the book, Clary's life turns upside down and she can not believe what is happen but, as you read through the book, you see that Clary is slowly understanding and is figuring out a solution to finding her mom and answering all her questions. On top of that problem, there is also a bunch of little chaotic events happening; fighting demons, be attacked by vampires, Clay has to go through all of that while trying to find her mom. Clary is trying desperately to figure out why Valentine, the man who kidnapped her mother (who also happens to be her ex-husband and crazy Shadowhunter bent on hunting all Downworlders), has her mother. Clary's journey on finding her mother is not easy and all the other events going on are turning out to be even harder.
 * 14. Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? **

The answer to this question is not straight forward because, the answer is yes and no. The negative side to my answer is that I don't believe in vampires and werewolves and all those mythological creatures and that is a big part of the book. Clary and her friends encounter so many creatures along the road that is makes the answer to this question have a negative side tom it. Now, the positive side of my answer is going back to the smaller theme I described in the paragraph above. It is true that unexpected things do happen in life and you are not always going to find the easy way out of it. I completely believe in that concept and that is what makes the novel believable.
 * 20. Is the novel believable?**

= __**Journal Entry #5 - Jan. 13, 2012 (pg.389- 485)**__ = **16. What is the climax of the novel?** Finally hearing the whole story of her mother's past, is the lead-up to the climax of City of Bones. Luke, Clary's father figure, sits her down and explains how her mother use to be married to Valentine, the man who has her mother. They had a child together, is name was Jonathan, they lived a happy life together until Valentine got scary and Jocelyn, Clary's mother, grew afraid of him. Luke recites the past has if it were yesterday, to him it probably seems that way though. Once Luke is finished, Clary is determined to get her mother back and Luke agrees. They travel, with Luke's werewolf pack (he was bitten on a night out with Valentine), to where Valentine has been lodging all this time. Here is where the climax of the story is. A huge fight breaks out between the two sides, and Clary finally finds her mother, except something is wrong. Her mother is hooked up to an IV and she is not waking up. Filled with anger, Clary tries to find Valentine but ends up with a huge surprise. Jace has joined Valentine and is calling him "father". Clary being upset with her mother's state and Jace switching sides, lashes out at Valentine but, only makes matters worse. After a prolonged fight between Luke and Valentine, Valentine escapes through a portal, leaving Clary in a mess of confusion.

**21. Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?** I would definitely recommend this novel to a friend for several reasons. One, Cassandra Clare did an excellent job in writing City of Bones. The language is not too complex and is easy to comprehend. Two, the story line is an interesting one, with unexpected twists and bumps along the way. You sometimes wonder "Where did that come from?" or "I can't believe she did that!", having a book make you wonder, is definitely one worth reading. My last reason would be that City of Bones teaches you to never say never, anything can happen at anytime and you are not always going to be prepared for what comes. I believe that is an important lesson to learn in life, you need to know that not everything is going to go your way and sometimes you are going to have to make some tough decisions that you're going to have to live with for the rest of your life.

**22. Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?** City of Bones by Cassandra Clare went above and beyond my expectations. When I first started reading the novel, I was thinking to myself that the story line was going to be good and a nice book for a novel study. I was surprised that the novel had so many twist thrown into the plot, that I couldn't stop reading. I absolutely loved the book and I can not wait to read the next in the series!

= __** Focus Assignment **__ = What would you do, if you just say someone vanish right after they were stabbed by a fair haired boy that you think is rather attractive? What would you do, if you were just attacked by an odd looking creature that was determined to kill you? What would you do if one moment you were standing outside a club in New York and the next you were fighting demons? All those concepts happen to 15-year old Clary`s head in the City Bones by Cassandra Clare. Clary gets thrust into the world of Shadowhunters and demons after she witnesses the death of a demon boy. Her mom suddenly disappears and Clary is now in the middle of world she has no clue about. She is not alone though, with the help of her best friend, Simon, and her new found friends, Jace, Isabelle and Alec, she learns things about herself that she only imagined in her wildest dreams. But before all her questions are answered, she travels to the Institute, a building where Shadowhunters live an train. There she meets Hodge, a thin man with gray-streaked hair, who runs the Institute. With the help of Hodge and her friends, Clary desperately tries to find her mother. Along the way, she learns that she, herself is a Shadowhunter and her mother kept the secret only to protect. Using her new found powers, Clary continues with her mission to find her mother. Simon getting turned into a mouse, kissing Jace, fighting off vampires and werewolves, learning that a mysterious man going by the name Valentine might have her mother and almost getting killed several times are all part of the lead up to the climax of the story, where a big fight goes on between Valentine’s men and Clary’s father figure’s, Luke, werewolf pack. Clary finally gets her mother back, to only find out three things. One, Valentine is her father. Two, Jace is her brother. Three, her mother is not waking up from some kind of magical spell. Although Clary does get her mother back, a new problem comes up. Only time will tell if she solves this new problem.  I personally, really enjoyed this book. I loved the mix of reality and fantasy, I thought it balanced the book out and you could relate to the story more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! media type="custom" key="12153302" = =