In The Lost King, I believe that if I was to create a new character to fit in with the four other main characters, it would a boy.
He comes from a rich background, and he has a haughty and dismissive personality.
His parents have sent him on this camp so that he can mix with children of a different 'standard' to him, and he is not impressed with this turn of events.
When he gets sent on the navigation activity with Kingy, Sully, Bethany and Emily he ignores them, and when he does talk, he complains about how he should not be in the wilderness with these lower class people.
However, throughout the story, much like the other characters, his true feelings come through, most probably because of the amount of cruelty that he has gone through, and it turns out that his parents do not have much time for him, and he feels unwanted and alone. The characters bond, and he becomes a more considerate and less abrasive person by the end of the story.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Illustrations of the 'The Lost King'
The illustrations of The Lost King send a great many messages, and these include the picture on the front cover, which depicts the main character, Peter King, walking through bush with a mountain looming above. The colours on the cover art are simple. A blue background with the mountain in colour, with the details of the bush and Peter in black. There is also a textured branch on the left side of the front cover. The title and name of the author are written in white block letters.
I believe that these simple pictures and colours are just another way of depicting the starkness of the character's situation, and a great way of combating the well known saying-
'Don't judge a book by it's cover.'
The artwork on the inside of the book is a picture of the bush and a picture of something relating to the chapter, at the beginning title of each chapter. The picture of something which relates to the chapter is usually something which the characters yearn to have from the outside world which doesn't seem to exist outside of their current situation, and I believe that this is a message in itself.
The artwork in this book is simple yet effective, and I believe that it is very well chosen and presented.
I believe that these simple pictures and colours are just another way of depicting the starkness of the character's situation, and a great way of combating the well known saying-
'Don't judge a book by it's cover.'
The artwork on the inside of the book is a picture of the bush and a picture of something relating to the chapter, at the beginning title of each chapter. The picture of something which relates to the chapter is usually something which the characters yearn to have from the outside world which doesn't seem to exist outside of their current situation, and I believe that this is a message in itself.
The artwork in this book is simple yet effective, and I believe that it is very well chosen and presented.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Review of 'The Lost King'
The Lost King is a book written by Scot Gardner, and is a story about revelations, suffering, but most importantly, friendship.
This book is about a character named Peter King, who is an offbeat teenager with weird interests and not very good social skills. He is forced to attend a school camp in the Wanoom Peninsula, and discovers a lot about survival, people and himself.
At the beginning of the story, he is quickly selected and put into a group with a girl he has never talked to before, another girl with a much different, more 'girly' life and Jye Sullivan, one of the most deep and interesting characters in the book.
These four characters are sent on navigation activity with a GPS, a map, a compass and a set of instructions. They quickly become disorientated in the deep mass of forest which is near impossible to get out of, and so begins a classic lost story of desperation and hope.
My favourite character in this book was definitely Jye Sullivan, because he has an incredibly interesting and deep history, and also because of incessant sense of humour, which is his wa of hiding this.
However, thorughout the book, he becomes more and more mature, and again establishes an intimate relationship with Bethany, who he had previously been romantically involved with. Throughout the book, he begins to let the other characters know about his painful history, and I believe that this is one of the most prominent and powerful messages of the book.
I liked this book because of the intense character development which the author has written about the characters, and because of the relationships, which build up with the amount of hardship which the group are facing. Another reason for this book being so enjoyable is because it is a classic lost story which is actually quite believable, and I believe that this is one of the author's major focus's.
One of the things which I did not like about this book was how predictable the plot was. Throughout the whole story, you almost knew what was going to come next, and there were not very many unexpected twists which made you want to read more.
I believe that people who enjoy this kind of action genre should read this book, but also, this book has a romantic twist to it. I believe that people from the age of eleven and up should read this book, but this book is appropriate for older students as well, because of the many messages it sends beneath the surface.
I believe that this is a very deep book, and there is a lot to be learnt from it.
This book is about a character named Peter King, who is an offbeat teenager with weird interests and not very good social skills. He is forced to attend a school camp in the Wanoom Peninsula, and discovers a lot about survival, people and himself.
At the beginning of the story, he is quickly selected and put into a group with a girl he has never talked to before, another girl with a much different, more 'girly' life and Jye Sullivan, one of the most deep and interesting characters in the book.
These four characters are sent on navigation activity with a GPS, a map, a compass and a set of instructions. They quickly become disorientated in the deep mass of forest which is near impossible to get out of, and so begins a classic lost story of desperation and hope.
My favourite character in this book was definitely Jye Sullivan, because he has an incredibly interesting and deep history, and also because of incessant sense of humour, which is his wa of hiding this.
However, thorughout the book, he becomes more and more mature, and again establishes an intimate relationship with Bethany, who he had previously been romantically involved with. Throughout the book, he begins to let the other characters know about his painful history, and I believe that this is one of the most prominent and powerful messages of the book.
I liked this book because of the intense character development which the author has written about the characters, and because of the relationships, which build up with the amount of hardship which the group are facing. Another reason for this book being so enjoyable is because it is a classic lost story which is actually quite believable, and I believe that this is one of the author's major focus's.
One of the things which I did not like about this book was how predictable the plot was. Throughout the whole story, you almost knew what was going to come next, and there were not very many unexpected twists which made you want to read more.
I believe that people who enjoy this kind of action genre should read this book, but also, this book has a romantic twist to it. I believe that people from the age of eleven and up should read this book, but this book is appropriate for older students as well, because of the many messages it sends beneath the surface.
I believe that this is a very deep book, and there is a lot to be learnt from it.
Chapter Summary (19)
In this chapter, the group are still on the beach, eating and relaxing. This chapter is all about revelations, and Sully comes out of his shell and becomes a more considerate, caring person. Bethany and Suly also shake the cobwebs off their relationship, and you can see it blossoming between them, slowly, but surely.
Chapter Summary (18)
In this chapter Kingy finds a new source of food for the group, and he begins to feel good in the balmy weather on the beach. They also find a small source of water, and their energy begins to come back to them. This chapter is a very positive one, but you can't help feeling like another bad thing is going to occur.
Chapter Summary (17)
The group make their way to the beach, with no energy left. Two of them are injured, and they need food, and fast.
This chapter is all about the characters imagining the things they want most, and about expressing themselves and telling eachother about their past and their feelings, especially with Sully.
This chapter is all about the characters imagining the things they want most, and about expressing themselves and telling eachother about their past and their feelings, especially with Sully.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chapter Summary (15 & 16)
With the group facing their new danger, they become more and more desperate, and this slows their progress through the bush. By the end of the chapter, their hope is restored, but will they make it?
In Chapter 16, the group are near the end of their ordeal, with a weight on their backs which will not abate. Another helicopter is heard, but the group are once again disappointed. By the end of this chapter, the group are feeling lonely, desperate and useless.
In Chapter 16, the group are near the end of their ordeal, with a weight on their backs which will not abate. Another helicopter is heard, but the group are once again disappointed. By the end of this chapter, the group are feeling lonely, desperate and useless.
Chapter Summary (13 & 14)
Chapter 13 and 14 lead on from the last chapter, where the characters have just gotten through a swamp and seen people on the far side of the cliff beach. The characters have a renewed sense of hope, but they are still woefully hungry but they keep marching on. In this chapter, the light is fading quickly, and Bethany, Kingy and Emily sleep, while Sully marches on, convinced that he will achieve his goal in the night. However, Sully gives up and comes back to the cave.
In Chapter 14, the characters wake up and continue walking. They can feel how close they are, but Emily becomes gravely injured.
Will she survive?
In Chapter 14, the characters wake up and continue walking. They can feel how close they are, but Emily becomes gravely injured.
Will she survive?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Chapter Summary (12)
This chapter is all about the character's, all still trying to get out of the trap which they are ensnared in. It is a reminder of the struggle which the characters are going through. The swamp which they have to wade through in this chapter is another way of saying how much hardship they have gone through, especially for Kingy. In this Chapter, on page 110, Kingy falls into the mud of the swamp and panics.
-I thought I was going to die. I thought we were all going to die.
He is helped by Bethany and Emily, and he eventually calms down. This is one of the most powerful chapters of the book.
-I thought I was going to die. I thought we were all going to die.
He is helped by Bethany and Emily, and he eventually calms down. This is one of the most powerful chapters of the book.
Chapter Summary (11)
This chapter begins with one of many sightings of the helicopter, which is supposedly looking for them. This brings more hope to the group, which is once agin ruined by a massive gorge splitting the ground in front of the characters. By this point, you can see the relationship which is growing between Emily and Kingy.
As they try to skirt around the gorge, Emily panics and Kingy helps, calming her down. This is one of many telltale hints of how Kingy can have the ability to have a realtionship with someone. Bethany and Sully's rather nasty relationship is still there, but by this point you can see that maybe some of it is just acting.
The massive amount of ferns and forest which the characters must get through is yet another personification of the island, which appears to not want to let them out.
This chapter deals again with the idea of no escape.
As they try to skirt around the gorge, Emily panics and Kingy helps, calming her down. This is one of many telltale hints of how Kingy can have the ability to have a realtionship with someone. Bethany and Sully's rather nasty relationship is still there, but by this point you can see that maybe some of it is just acting.
The massive amount of ferns and forest which the characters must get through is yet another personification of the island, which appears to not want to let them out.
This chapter deals again with the idea of no escape.
Chapter Summary (10)
Chapter 10 leads straight on from the last chapter, where the children are still travelling along the cliff next to the coastline. There is a spectacular view from the cliff, and throughout the beginning of this chapter you can feel a sense of rising hope. The characters begin exchanging how much they need their parents in their current situation. This conversation brings a sense of happiness into the air, and you can see the character's relationships with eachother are strengthening by the minute. However, when Sully does something stupid, this brings the tension back to the group, and you can feel this tension fluctuating throughout the whole story.
Chapter Summary (9)
The beginning of Chapter 9 gives a new hope of close civilization to the children, and they find another spark of hope when they find the coastline.
However, this spark is quickly extinguished when they cannot find any way to get where they want to go. This chapter deals with the idea of desperation, to try and find a way to get away from the situation which the characters are trapped in.
The end of the chapter ends on a positive note, but there is still definitely a feeling of despair and sorrow.
However, this spark is quickly extinguished when they cannot find any way to get where they want to go. This chapter deals with the idea of desperation, to try and find a way to get away from the situation which the characters are trapped in.
The end of the chapter ends on a positive note, but there is still definitely a feeling of despair and sorrow.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Chapter Summary (8)
Chapter 8 is about the main characters trying to find their way back home... With little result.
It talks about, not for the first time, the amazing cruelty of the wilderness, especially to people who have absolutely no idea where they are. This chapter also shows the beginning of the hunger which the group are facing.
This is an important chapter, in that it spells just how lost the group are.
It talks about, not for the first time, the amazing cruelty of the wilderness, especially to people who have absolutely no idea where they are. This chapter also shows the beginning of the hunger which the group are facing.
This is an important chapter, in that it spells just how lost the group are.
Chapter Summary (6 & 7)
Chapter 6 is the beginning of their ordeal in the bush without any bearings, and the beginnings of their survival skills which are just showing through. The character's personalities are becoming more and more clear, and it turns out that there may be more to Sully than meets the eye. Chapter 6 also has the character's talking to eachother, and fantasising about the things which seem as if they do not exist outside of such a desolate place.
Chapter 7 talks about the amount of tiredness the children are feeling, and small refuge which they may have found.
These Chapters are two of the major turning pointsin the book, and the themes in them are quite powerful.
Chapter 7 talks about the amount of tiredness the children are feeling, and small refuge which they may have found.
These Chapters are two of the major turning pointsin the book, and the themes in them are quite powerful.
Chapter Summary (5)
Chapter 5 shows the leadership in Kingy which is beginning to show through his metaphorical cloak of invisibility. This chapter also shows Behtany and Sully's intense dislike of eachother, and Sully's incessant and unforgiving pestering, especially to Bethany. Chapter 5 marks the characters as becoming more and more disorientated in their surroundings, and worried about what will happen to them.
Chapter Summary (3 & 4)
Chapter 3 is the main starting point of the actual camp group of four main characters, and outlines the schools arrival to Whalers Cove. It introduces the animosity between Sully and Bethany, and their intense disapproval of being in the same group. Also it maps the small bud of a relationship between Kingy and Emily which could lead onto bigger things. Chapter 4 is the beginning of a classic 'lost' plot and by the end of it you can see an obscure view of the story as it slowly unfolds...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Chapter Summary (2)
Chapter 2 outlines the second most important aspect of Peter King's personality. His judgemental approach to others. As said in Main Character Description, he quotes many interesting things about the way that people act, look and even smell. Chapter 2 is about the long hike to Whalers Cove and the effect which it is on all of the people and their personalities. Many quirky moments occur in Chapter 2 and you get to know the main character and delve further into the mystery of Kingy. The writer talks about the way that Peter does not fit into relationships with people, and his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to sports, cultural and academic endeavours.
Chapter Summary (1)
Chapter 1 the first aspect of Peter King's personality. His sarcasm.
He voices his opinions of everything with a prominent tone of cynicism but also of intelligence.
The first Chapter is an amazing piece of writing because it displays so many elements of the main antagonist's whole being.
-I was angry. No, I was fuming.
-I had vitally important stuff to do. Like sweeping that dessicated fly of my window sill. Oh, and my biannual sock hut down the side of my bed.
These are just two really good starting points which really outline how much he does not want to go camping with his school.
I think that Chapter 1 is a great beginning to the book.
He voices his opinions of everything with a prominent tone of cynicism but also of intelligence.
The first Chapter is an amazing piece of writing because it displays so many elements of the main antagonist's whole being.
-I was angry. No, I was fuming.
-I had vitally important stuff to do. Like sweeping that dessicated fly of my window sill. Oh, and my biannual sock hut down the side of my bed.
These are just two really good starting points which really outline how much he does not want to go camping with his school.
I think that Chapter 1 is a great beginning to the book.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Setting
The Lost King is set on the fictional Wanoom Penisnsula in Australia, and around 'Whalers Cove', where the schools camp is set up.
When the four main characters are sent on a Navigation Activity into the immense and unruly forest of the Wanoom Peninsula, they become disorientated and have no idea where they are. The sheer size of the forest and the desolation the feel when they are captured by it is almost beyond what they can handle.
I believe that Scot Gardner has written about the setting of this book in this approach because he wanted to use the setting as a massive personification, and make it seem as if it is almost holding them inside it and not letting them out. This is shown in Chapter 11, when Peter states
- 'At that moment, I felt cursed. If we'd been prisoners on the run, this would have been the perfect place to hide. The ferns were so thick above us, we would have been safe from gunfire.'
In Chapter 12, he also says-
'The scratching branches, the grasses that tore at my clothes, the march flies- They all took a piece of me. Maybe that was what Pearson meant when he called this place 'hungry country'.
Gardner also uses the surroundings of the characters as a way of reflecting the stae of their emotions.
In Chapter 2, the main theme is the amount of pain and tiredness that everyone is going through but also the hopefulness felt when the 'tempting rumble of the beach' is heard.
The setting plays a major part in the plot, almost as large as the main characters, and is obviously one of the authors most thought out element of the book.
When the four main characters are sent on a Navigation Activity into the immense and unruly forest of the Wanoom Peninsula, they become disorientated and have no idea where they are. The sheer size of the forest and the desolation the feel when they are captured by it is almost beyond what they can handle.
I believe that Scot Gardner has written about the setting of this book in this approach because he wanted to use the setting as a massive personification, and make it seem as if it is almost holding them inside it and not letting them out. This is shown in Chapter 11, when Peter states
- 'At that moment, I felt cursed. If we'd been prisoners on the run, this would have been the perfect place to hide. The ferns were so thick above us, we would have been safe from gunfire.'
In Chapter 12, he also says-
'The scratching branches, the grasses that tore at my clothes, the march flies- They all took a piece of me. Maybe that was what Pearson meant when he called this place 'hungry country'.
Gardner also uses the surroundings of the characters as a way of reflecting the stae of their emotions.
In Chapter 2, the main theme is the amount of pain and tiredness that everyone is going through but also the hopefulness felt when the 'tempting rumble of the beach' is heard.
The setting plays a major part in the plot, almost as large as the main characters, and is obviously one of the authors most thought out element of the book.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Main Character Description
Peter King.
An offbeat teenager.
Peter is unusually tall for someone of his age, but despite of this, he does not draw attention to himself. He, as said in Chapter 1, has a metaphorical 'Cloak of invisibility' which appears to shield him from the one of the most interesting characters in the story, Jye Sullivan.
Peter has a laconic sense of humour, and judges many people in his own unique way. He is extremely obsevational through this, and he appears to take in the seemingly insignificant details of everything.
This is shown through his intense analysing of the different people around him.
-"Kingy," he said, all buddy- buddy.
-'Mrs Kennedy smelled like shampoo, and I walked behind her until she looked at me strangely.'
-Bethany and Rachael walked in a toxic cloud of perfume. I saw Rachael spray herself three times.'
-'I knew she was in pain. We all did. She'd made it painfully clear that the blisters on her feet were extremely painful.'
Peter appears to be slightly under motivated and not at all interested in outdoor endeavours, but when the time comes, he becomes the mature leader of the three other characters, and reduces many of the verbal battles occuring between Jye Sullivan and Bethany.
Peter has a loving kind of personality, and obviously could be friends with many more people than he is. On page 7 of Chapter 2, he states-
"Its not as if I TRY to be a freak, it just turned out that way."
And-
"Add it all up- Badminton, Asterix, Tuba- Tuck it inside a long body as lean as a skinned rabbit and you get a guy who nobdy can take seriously."
He uses references to the popular books of Asterix in several moments of the book, and I believe he does this to compare just how out of this world their situation is, and to bring a sort of frivolous element to the story.
Peter really comes out of his shell and becomes a stronger, more persistent person by the end of the book, and I believe that this is one of the most meaningful 'messages' of the book.
An offbeat teenager.
Peter is unusually tall for someone of his age, but despite of this, he does not draw attention to himself. He, as said in Chapter 1, has a metaphorical 'Cloak of invisibility' which appears to shield him from the one of the most interesting characters in the story, Jye Sullivan.
Peter has a laconic sense of humour, and judges many people in his own unique way. He is extremely obsevational through this, and he appears to take in the seemingly insignificant details of everything.
This is shown through his intense analysing of the different people around him.
-"Kingy," he said, all buddy- buddy.
-'Mrs Kennedy smelled like shampoo, and I walked behind her until she looked at me strangely.'
-Bethany and Rachael walked in a toxic cloud of perfume. I saw Rachael spray herself three times.'
-'I knew she was in pain. We all did. She'd made it painfully clear that the blisters on her feet were extremely painful.'
Peter appears to be slightly under motivated and not at all interested in outdoor endeavours, but when the time comes, he becomes the mature leader of the three other characters, and reduces many of the verbal battles occuring between Jye Sullivan and Bethany.
Peter has a loving kind of personality, and obviously could be friends with many more people than he is. On page 7 of Chapter 2, he states-
"Its not as if I TRY to be a freak, it just turned out that way."
And-
"Add it all up- Badminton, Asterix, Tuba- Tuck it inside a long body as lean as a skinned rabbit and you get a guy who nobdy can take seriously."
He uses references to the popular books of Asterix in several moments of the book, and I believe he does this to compare just how out of this world their situation is, and to bring a sort of frivolous element to the story.
Peter really comes out of his shell and becomes a stronger, more persistent person by the end of the book, and I believe that this is one of the most meaningful 'messages' of the book.
Main Themes and Messages
The Lost King incurs a sense of alienation in the main character Peter King (See Main Character Description) but his relationship grows with the three other main characters throughout the course of the story. It is a classic view of the idea that a number of people, if put through an inordinate amount of hardship together, will grow an amazing relationship which runs deeper than any normal friendship.
Another message that the author sends is that no matter how unappealing someone's personality may seem, there is more to everyone than meets the eye. This is shown through Jye Sullivan, a seemingly irritating and incessant personality. Towards the end of the story, however, Jye or 'Sully' as he is most well known, turns out to have a harder life than he originally lets on, and his rather abrasive personality is his way of dealing with this.
Yet another of the messages which Scot Gardner sends is that there is always hope in whatever amount of pain and cruelty you have been through this is shown when the four main characters stand up to impossible odds and do not let their sense of desolation ruin everything which they once were.
Scot Gardner is an amazing writer in that he can send these messages without having to say them bluntly. It is a very short book but it contains material of a fantastic quality.
Another message that the author sends is that no matter how unappealing someone's personality may seem, there is more to everyone than meets the eye. This is shown through Jye Sullivan, a seemingly irritating and incessant personality. Towards the end of the story, however, Jye or 'Sully' as he is most well known, turns out to have a harder life than he originally lets on, and his rather abrasive personality is his way of dealing with this.
Yet another of the messages which Scot Gardner sends is that there is always hope in whatever amount of pain and cruelty you have been through this is shown when the four main characters stand up to impossible odds and do not let their sense of desolation ruin everything which they once were.
Scot Gardner is an amazing writer in that he can send these messages without having to say them bluntly. It is a very short book but it contains material of a fantastic quality.
Introduction
In our class at school we are reading a number of novels to do a deep study on. I have chosen The Lost King by Scot Gardner.
Favourite Quotes
I was angry. No I was fuming. I'd lost my cool a long time ago and somebody was going to have to pay.
-Page 1
Each time she stumbled and fell, it took her a little longer to get up and start moving again.
-Page 42
Blind. Dark as death.
-Page 54
I thought I was going to die. I thought we were all going to die.
-Page 112
I wiped tears from her face and looked into her eyes. They were alive with pain.
-Page 134
She shrugged. Crazy little thing called love.
-Page 157
-Page 1
Each time she stumbled and fell, it took her a little longer to get up and start moving again.
-Page 42
Blind. Dark as death.
-Page 54
I thought I was going to die. I thought we were all going to die.
-Page 112
I wiped tears from her face and looked into her eyes. They were alive with pain.
-Page 134
She shrugged. Crazy little thing called love.
-Page 157
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