The setting of this novel is set in this little town called Heaven the two main characters Danielle, and her Mother Miranda just moved into. This setting is very important to the novel, because it's where Danielle starts her new life, and finally settles down, so she thinks. This town is going to change the both of their lives. There are many different characters that Danielle meets throughout this novel, and throughout this town. One in particular is this girl named Allison she met down at the beach. Allison is very different from Danielle. She talks and talks, and Danielle's just not used to that at all, mostly because she never really had anyone to talk to besides her Mother. She liked having a friend and Allison thought Danielle was different too, in a good way. Through Allison, Danielle meets James. A guy who so thinks he's cool and swift, and who Danielle thinks is so hot, but never thought in a million years a guy like him would ever go for a girl like her. So Danielle settles in this new town, with these new people with her Mother. I think she dosen't know what she has in store for her yet in Heaven. Torrie P.
Stealing Heaven starts out with the main character, Danielle, remembering back to the first memory she has of stealing from a house. She was young, and she and her mother were at the Lanaheim home which later became a museum. Danielle talks about going back and visiting the home once it was a museum.
The story then switches to Aberwyn, Pennsylvania where Danielle is distracting two dogs while her mother steals from a home.
Then Danielle and her mother drive to their storage facility, and then to a new town called Heaven. They rent a cheap, temporary place to stay there.
The wasy the main characters move around so much shows that they do not really have a home or roots anythere. They are just drifters. Heaven is a town with huge mansions, which shows the kinds of places Danielle and her mother choose to burglarize.
Danielle is described as an 18-year-old, average teenager. She does not particularly like to steal. It does not make her happy, but it is the only thing she knows. Danielle's mother is described to be very pretty, out-going, and smart.
The setting for "Stealing Heaven" is a small beach town called Heaven during the summer months. This setting is particularly important to the story because its upscale side contains large beach houses with freshly manicured lawns and pretentious gates that reveal long driveways. What's more important about these houses are the wealthy families vacationing within them. The main characters, Danielle and her mother, specialize in stealing silver. They spot a cleaning crew polishing plenty of silver outside one of these homes on their first day's visit to Heaven, and decide to stay for while, targeting these pieces of silver for their next robbery. The character of Danielle's mother is directly described as a an attractive woman with "really dark hair that always looks perfect and she has lots of curves (p.16)." She is indirectly described as being a risk-taker, but never careless in her work. It is obvious she cares for Danielle, but has her own selfish motives. Danielle is directly described as being a younger version of her mother, yet not quite as attractive. She's defensive and realistic, but she wishes she could be like a normal kid. When she first interacts with a girl from Heaven she thinks, "this is probably how normal people talk. How maybe people who could be friends talk. Weird. And kind of nice, too. But still weird (p. 41)."
Nicole, You pretty much said it all. I like how you gave specific examples from the book to show support for your answer as well. Your word choice really brings some flare to your descriptions so it doesn't feel like i'm reading a constructed response. I also like how you didn't just give a summary of the book, you got right to answering the questions.
Torrie, I think you might be on to something with your answer about the setting. It does seem like this setting is going to change both of their lives. I think Heaven and the people in Heaven will change Danielle's life more than her mother's but nonetheless her mother's too. Also it might have been good to add a little more detail about Danielle's character and Danielle's mother rather than just the other characters. I mean Danielle and her mother are the main characters. However, I think your response was really good!
Nicole, when I was reading I saw the quote you talked about (the one on page 41) and it was definately interesting. I think it really helped develop Danielle's character because it showed how distanced she was from "normal" life. She had never even had a real conversation with another kid before! Her entire life was just make-believe. But it also showed that she did not necessarily like her life the way that it was, she wanted something more.
Torrie, I agree with the thought that Heaven will change Danielle's life, and her mother's as well. Obviously, the book has to have something exciting happen, and the title is Stealing Heaven, so something major is going to happen in the town before they move on. Allison was a really nice character, and Danielle seems to really like her so I have a feeling that maybe Allison will be a good influence on Danielle. We'll see what happens.
I like how Cristina states how much Danielle and her Mother, Miranda moves around so much. It affects Danielle in a way of not making a life of herself, and figuring herself out because they just move from place to place, never staying in one spot for so long. Danielle dosen't even know who she really is, because her own Mother made her exactly like herself, a thief. Who would want to be born into a life like that if they don't really want to live that type of life? Torrie P.
I agree with Nicole's statement on how she states that Danielle's Mother does love her daughter and only wants whats best for me. Danielle's Mother does her selfish motives for the sake of the both of them, so Danielle can have the best, and only the best. Another statement Nicole had said about Danielle being normal, that's all Danielle ever really wants. To be normal, have friends, a boyfriend and not a life of complete lies. She wants to break away, be free and her own individual person which I hope will happen throughout the novel. Torrie P.
Throughout the novel, Danielle stuggles with herself to find out who she really is. To her Mother, she's Danielle the thief. To Allison and James, and other characters she had met in this new town of Heaven, she's Sydney. To Greg, she's Dani and that is the person she wants to be the most. She dosent't want to hide, just to be normal. Eventually, she will find it in herself to tell her Mother how she really feels and what type of life she wants for herself. I hope if and when she does, she will continue living in the town Heaven, and keep Allison and Greg in her life.
The author has created a tone that makes the reader feel as if they want to keep reading, and very energized about it and wants to know how Danielle really feels about her life, because I know I do. Torrie P.
An internal conflict that Danielle is bothered with right now is she is becoming more and more attached to Heaven and the people she has met so far. She's sort of second-guessing her decision of helping her mother steal the silver from Allison's house. I have a feeling she will know when the time comes to make the right decision. She's a great person and wouldn't want to ruin the good friendships she has made in Heaven. The mood I get from this novel is optimistic. I just have this great feeling every time I start reading that it is going to have a happy ending!
Danielle is struggling internally between what she thinks is right and wrong. Her entire life has been stealing. Her mother never sent her to school, rather she just learned what was necessary for her to be of assistance to her mother. Danielle knows how to do simple math (to calculate the worth of silver) and to read (which is necessary for multiple reasons, such as reading signs and maps). But Danielle knows that stealing is not right. It is breaking the law and taking things that are not hers. She wishes her life was different, and that she could know what it felt like to work for the things she had and really truly own them and know that they are hers forever. The tone is light. It isn't super happy or sad or angry. It just tells a story. The mood changes with Danielle's mood. The reader feels differently depending on what Danielle is doing. The mood when Danielle talks to Allison is usually anxioius because the reader does not want Allison to find out Danielle's secret. Cristina B
Courtney, I agree with you on account of Danielle becoming more and more attached to this little town of Heaven. As much as she can't and isn't allowed to be attached to anything or anyone, she is and she can't help it. Everywhere Danielle goes, she runs into Allison or Greg. She likes having a friend, having feelings for someone, and being normal but she's not.
Cristina, I agree with you on how the tone of the novel shifts with Danielle's mood. However she is, is however the reader might tend to feel as well. She does wish her life was way different. Hiding and lieing is just not what Danielle wants. Dani is who she desperately seeks to be, and when she's with Greg she can be real, who she wants to be but is still keeping that one secret from him. How long can she keep this secret? Will she finally tell her Mother the truth about Greg being a cop when thats who they're running from? Torrie P.
Cristina, I think you hit the nail right on the head wtih the tone word you used. The tone is super mellow and doesn't really change from that either. Also her internal struggle was great, it's so true she really doesn't know what to do! She's so torn between pleasing her mother and pleasing herself.
Torrie, That is so true what you said about Danielle she doesn't really know who she is. By befriending Allison and Greg she sort of sees a little of what she wants to be like. She just doesn't know how to break it to her mother and that's another thing she struggles with, the truth. She's lied her whole life, she knows nothing else and she has to do it to protect her and her mother.
Torrie, I definately hope your predictions is true. But it seems like something big is about to happen. In most of the Gatewway novels I have read, the reason the book is so good is that something unexpected happen. I'm excited to find out what. I have no idea what it will be. Maybe Greg will be the one to find out Danielle's secret?? He is a cop...but I hope they stay together. They are so cute.
Courtney, I agree that the tone is somewhat optimistic, but it also seems rather forboding at moments because the reader knows how Danielle's mother's personality is, and it seems like she would never agree to give up the Hamiltion house...so there is going to be a fight between Danielle and her mom possibly.
I was very much satisfied with the ending on behalf of Danielle's part. Her Mother's on the other hand is very sad to deal with, and I hope Danielle will be able to cope.
I think this book was chosen to be one the recipient's of the Gateway Book Award, because it shows so much character throughtout the novel and whoever's reading it can easily grasp the concept and have fun reading it. It shows amazing qualties a gateway novel should have. Torrie P.
The ending was almost satisfying, it was good but I feel like there could have been more. It was great that Danielle was able to sort of break away and not follow in her mother's footsteps, but also she could have done it earlier. However, for the most part the book was good. I believe this book was chosen for the Gateway Book Award because it's a quick, easy read with a great plot. It's not a boring book and it is very well written.
I have to say, I definately enjoyed the ending. I was nervous it would end in a way that would really displease me. I hate movies and books that don't have a happy ending. When I read or watch movies like that I can not stand it! I feel cheated. :) But this book ended in a positive way. Not too perfect to be realistic, but pleasant.
I would say it was a gateway novel because of the topic. It was such an interesting subject that people know little about. Also, it was a book in which the protagonist would normally be looked apon as an antagonist.
I suppose I was satisfied with the ending strictly because it wasn't entirely happy, but it wasn't entirely unhappy either. I hate when books end with everything being happily resolved, but at the same time you want some sort of closure and contentment. "Stealing Heaven" did an excellent job of doing just that, which is probably part of the reason it was chosen for the Gateway Book Award. Another reason could be that it has a unique story line that is, on some level, relatable to today's teens. Everyone at some point or another feels like they don't belong. Everyone yearns for something more. And everyone eventually has to make sacrifices for the people they love.
Nicole, I agree with basically everything you said. If the book had ended in a different was I don't really think it would have made it to the Gateway Book Award. The book is interesting enough that it is a fun read, but not so enthralling that it is impossible to put down.
The ending is the strong point of the book. The author did a great job ending it in a way that wasn't too positive or too negative. Often, a really good book will end in a way that doesn't satisfy its readers, and there is a sense of letdown at the end of the book. I did not feel cheated out of a good ending with this book
The novel "Stealing Heaven", is really a fun and fantastic book to read. I enjoyed it and know others will enjoy it as much as I did. The author Elizabeth Scott grew up in a small town just like the setting of this novel. She believes you can never own too many books. The year this novel was published was in 2008. Most of the setting occured in a small town called, Heaven in the 21st century. The main plot details occured with the main character Danielle and her Mother moving to this small town with the fortune they made stealing silver. Danielle decides after being caught stealing this silver, and her Mother unfournately gets sick with cancer, she's no longer going to hide. she's going to do what she always wanted to do. They're was a very unique tone to this story while reading. I could really tell Danielle was going through and how she felt and thats why I rated this novel a 9 out of 10. Torrie P.
"Stealing Heaven" a fiction novel by Elizabeth Scott was published in 2008. The author's tone is mostly optimistic. Scott does a pretty good job of keeping the story upbeat and pretty happy. There are some moments when Danielle and her mother would fight and the tone shifted. Danielle was the main character and was sort of a complex one at that. She never really got in any external conflicts they mostly consisted of internal, she had a hard time making her own decisions. Danielle's mother was mostly a good person besides her sleeping-around, using people, thieving ways.
The stealing duo had set their sights on the largest, most expensive looking house in Heaven; however, there were quite a few obstacles to overcome before they could get their ultimate prize: silver. The setting really made the whole book. It was set in modern day on the coast in a little town called Heaven. As a whole this book was an okay book. Maybe too east of a read for my taste, only because the pages were small and there weren't many words on each. Also the words and sentences were very simplistic, not containing much imagery or other literary devices. I would rate this book about a 6 out of 10 for an okay choice to pick up and read.
The setting of this novel is set in this little town called Heaven the two main characters Danielle, and her Mother Miranda just moved into. This setting is very important to the novel, because it's where Danielle starts her new life, and finally settles down, so she thinks. This town is going to change the both of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different characters that Danielle meets throughout this novel, and throughout this town. One in particular is this girl named Allison she met down at the beach. Allison is very different from Danielle. She talks and talks, and Danielle's just not used to that at all, mostly because she never really had anyone to talk to besides her Mother. She liked having a friend and Allison thought Danielle was different too, in a good way. Through Allison, Danielle meets James. A guy who so thinks he's cool and swift, and who Danielle thinks is so hot, but never thought in a million years a guy like him would ever go for a girl like her. So Danielle settles in this new town, with these new people with her Mother. I think she dosen't know what she has in store for her yet in Heaven.
Torrie P.
Stealing Heaven starts out with the main character, Danielle, remembering back to the first memory she has of stealing from a house. She was young, and she and her mother were at the Lanaheim home which later became a museum. Danielle talks about going back and visiting the home once it was a museum.
ReplyDeleteThe story then switches to Aberwyn, Pennsylvania where Danielle is distracting two dogs while her mother steals from a home.
Then Danielle and her mother drive to their storage facility, and then to a new town called Heaven. They rent a cheap, temporary place to stay there.
The wasy the main characters move around so much shows that they do not really have a home or roots anythere. They are just drifters. Heaven is a town with huge mansions, which shows the kinds of places Danielle and her mother choose to burglarize.
Danielle is described as an 18-year-old, average teenager. She does not particularly like to steal. It does not make her happy, but it is the only thing she knows. Danielle's mother is described to be very pretty, out-going, and smart.
Crisitna B
The setting for "Stealing Heaven" is a small beach town called Heaven during the summer months. This setting is particularly important to the story because its upscale side contains large beach houses with freshly manicured lawns and pretentious gates that reveal long driveways. What's more important about these houses are the wealthy families vacationing within them. The main characters, Danielle and her mother, specialize in stealing silver. They spot a cleaning crew polishing plenty of silver outside one of these homes on their first day's visit to Heaven, and decide to stay for while, targeting these pieces of silver for their next robbery. The character of Danielle's mother is directly described as a an attractive woman with "really dark hair that always looks perfect and she has lots of curves (p.16)." She is indirectly described as being a risk-taker, but never careless in her work. It is obvious she cares for Danielle, but has her own selfish motives. Danielle is directly described as being a younger version of her mother, yet not quite as attractive. She's defensive and realistic, but she wishes she could be like a normal kid. When she first interacts with a girl from Heaven she thinks, "this is probably how normal people talk. How maybe people who could be friends talk. Weird. And kind of nice, too. But still weird (p. 41)."
ReplyDeleteNicole C.
Jones
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteYou pretty much said it all. I like how you gave specific examples from the book to show support for your answer as well. Your word choice really brings some flare to your descriptions so it doesn't feel like i'm reading a constructed response. I also like how you didn't just give a summary of the book, you got right to answering the questions.
Torrie,
I think you might be on to something with your answer about the setting. It does seem like this setting is going to change both of their lives. I think Heaven and the people in Heaven will change Danielle's life more than her mother's but nonetheless her mother's too. Also it might have been good to add a little more detail about Danielle's character and Danielle's mother rather than just the other characters. I mean Danielle and her mother are the main characters. However, I think your response was really good!
Courtney G.
Nicole, when I was reading I saw the quote you talked about (the one on page 41) and it was definately interesting. I think it really helped develop Danielle's character because it showed how distanced she was from "normal" life. She had never even had a real conversation with another kid before! Her entire life was just make-believe. But it also showed that she did not necessarily like her life the way that it was, she wanted something more.
ReplyDeleteTorrie, I agree with the thought that Heaven will change Danielle's life, and her mother's as well. Obviously, the book has to have something exciting happen, and the title is Stealing Heaven, so something major is going to happen in the town before they move on. Allison was a really nice character, and Danielle seems to really like her so I have a feeling that maybe Allison will be a good influence on Danielle. We'll see what happens.
Cristina B
I like how Cristina states how much Danielle and her Mother, Miranda moves around so much. It affects Danielle in a way of not making a life of herself, and figuring herself out because they just move from place to place, never staying in one spot for so long.
ReplyDeleteDanielle dosen't even know who she really is, because her own Mother made her exactly like herself, a thief. Who would want to be born into a life like that if they don't really want to live that type of life?
Torrie P.
I agree with Nicole's statement on how she states that Danielle's Mother does love her daughter and only wants whats best for me. Danielle's Mother does her selfish motives for the sake of the both of them, so Danielle can have the best, and only the best.
ReplyDeleteAnother statement Nicole had said about Danielle being normal, that's all Danielle ever really wants. To be normal, have friends, a boyfriend and not a life of complete lies. She wants to break away, be free and her own individual person which I hope will happen throughout the novel.
Torrie P.
Throughout the novel, Danielle stuggles with herself to find out who she really is. To her Mother, she's Danielle the thief. To Allison and James, and other characters she had met in this new town of Heaven, she's Sydney. To Greg, she's Dani and that is the person she wants to be the most. She dosent't want to hide, just to be normal. Eventually, she will find it in herself to tell her Mother how she really feels and what type of life she wants for herself. I hope if and when she does, she will continue living in the town Heaven, and keep Allison and Greg in her life.
ReplyDeleteThe author has created a tone that makes the reader feel as if they want to keep reading, and very energized about it and wants to know how Danielle really feels about her life, because I know I do.
Torrie P.
An internal conflict that Danielle is bothered with right now is she is becoming more and more attached to Heaven and the people she has met so far. She's sort of second-guessing her decision of helping her mother steal the silver from Allison's house. I have a feeling she will know when the time comes to make the right decision. She's a great person and wouldn't want to ruin the good friendships she has made in Heaven. The mood I get from this novel is optimistic. I just have this great feeling every time I start reading that it is going to have a happy ending!
ReplyDeleteCourtney G
Danielle is struggling internally between what she thinks is right and wrong. Her entire life has been stealing. Her mother never sent her to school, rather she just learned what was necessary for her to be of assistance to her mother. Danielle knows how to do simple math (to calculate the worth of silver) and to read (which is necessary for multiple reasons, such as reading signs and maps). But Danielle knows that stealing is not right. It is breaking the law and taking things that are not hers. She wishes her life was different, and that she could know what it felt like to work for the things she had and really truly own them and know that they are hers forever.
ReplyDeleteThe tone is light. It isn't super happy or sad or angry. It just tells a story. The mood changes with Danielle's mood. The reader feels differently depending on what Danielle is doing. The mood when Danielle talks to Allison is usually anxioius because the reader does not want Allison to find out Danielle's secret.
Cristina B
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on account of Danielle becoming more and more attached to this little town of Heaven. As much as she can't and isn't allowed to be attached to anything or anyone, she is and she can't help it. Everywhere Danielle goes, she runs into Allison or Greg. She likes having a friend, having feelings for someone, and being normal but she's not.
Cristina,
I agree with you on how the tone of the novel shifts with Danielle's mood. However she is, is however the reader might tend to feel as well. She does wish her life was way different. Hiding and lieing is just not what Danielle wants. Dani is who she desperately seeks to be, and when she's with Greg she can be real, who she wants to be but is still keeping that one secret from him. How long can she keep this secret? Will she finally tell her Mother the truth about Greg being a cop when thats who they're running from?
Torrie P.
Cristina,
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail right on the head wtih the tone word you used. The tone is super mellow and doesn't really change from that either. Also her internal struggle was great, it's so true she really doesn't know what to do! She's so torn between pleasing her mother and pleasing herself.
Torrie,
That is so true what you said about Danielle she doesn't really know who she is. By befriending Allison and Greg she sort of sees a little of what she wants to be like. She just doesn't know how to break it to her mother and that's another thing she struggles with, the truth. She's lied her whole life, she knows nothing else and she has to do it to protect her and her mother.
Courtney G.
Torrie, I definately hope your predictions is true. But it seems like something big is about to happen. In most of the Gatewway novels I have read, the reason the book is so good is that something unexpected happen. I'm excited to find out what. I have no idea what it will be. Maybe Greg will be the one to find out Danielle's secret?? He is a cop...but I hope they stay together. They are so cute.
ReplyDeleteCourtney, I agree that the tone is somewhat optimistic, but it also seems rather forboding at moments because the reader knows how Danielle's mother's personality is, and it seems like she would never agree to give up the Hamiltion house...so there is going to be a fight between Danielle and her mom possibly.
Cristina B
I was very much satisfied with the ending on behalf of Danielle's part. Her Mother's on the other hand is very sad to deal with, and I hope Danielle will be able to cope.
ReplyDeleteI think this book was chosen to be one the recipient's of the Gateway Book Award, because it shows so much character throughtout the novel and whoever's reading it can easily grasp the concept and have fun reading it. It shows amazing qualties a gateway novel should have.
Torrie P.
The ending was almost satisfying, it was good but I feel like there could have been more. It was great that Danielle was able to sort of break away and not follow in her mother's footsteps, but also she could have done it earlier. However, for the most part the book was good. I believe this book was chosen for the Gateway Book Award because it's a quick, easy read with a great plot. It's not a boring book and it is very well written.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I definately enjoyed the ending. I was nervous it would end in a way that would really displease me. I hate movies and books that don't have a happy ending. When I read or watch movies like that I can not stand it! I feel cheated. :) But this book ended in a positive way. Not too perfect to be realistic, but pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI would say it was a gateway novel because of the topic. It was such an interesting subject that people know little about. Also, it was a book in which the protagonist would normally be looked apon as an antagonist.
I suppose I was satisfied with the ending strictly because it wasn't entirely happy, but it wasn't entirely unhappy either. I hate when books end with everything being happily resolved, but at the same time you want some sort of closure and contentment. "Stealing Heaven" did an excellent job of doing just that, which is probably part of the reason it was chosen for the Gateway Book Award. Another reason could be that it has a unique story line that is, on some level, relatable to today's teens. Everyone at some point or another feels like they don't belong. Everyone yearns for something more. And everyone eventually has to make sacrifices for the people they love.
ReplyDeleteNicole C
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI agree with basically everything you said. If the book had ended in a different was I don't really think it would have made it to the Gateway Book Award. The book is interesting enough that it is a fun read, but not so enthralling that it is impossible to put down.
The ending is the strong point of the book. The author did a great job ending it in a way that wasn't too positive or too negative. Often, a really good book will end in a way that doesn't satisfy its readers, and there is a sense of letdown at the end of the book. I did not feel cheated out of a good ending with this book
-Cristina B
The novel "Stealing Heaven", is really a fun and fantastic book to read. I enjoyed it and know others will enjoy it as much as I did. The author Elizabeth Scott grew up in a small town just like the setting of this novel. She believes you can never own too many books. The year this novel was published was in 2008. Most of the setting occured in a small town called, Heaven in the 21st century. The main plot details occured with the main character Danielle and her Mother moving to this small town with the fortune they made stealing silver. Danielle decides after being caught stealing this silver, and her Mother unfournately gets sick with cancer, she's no longer going to hide. she's going to do what she always wanted to do. They're was a very unique tone to this story while reading. I could really tell Danielle was going through and how she felt and thats why I rated this novel a 9 out of 10.
ReplyDeleteTorrie P.
"Stealing Heaven" a fiction novel by Elizabeth Scott was published in 2008. The author's tone is mostly optimistic. Scott does a pretty good job of keeping the story upbeat and pretty happy. There are some moments when Danielle and her mother would fight and the tone shifted. Danielle was the main character and was sort of a complex one at that. She never really got in any external conflicts they mostly consisted of internal, she had a hard time making her own decisions. Danielle's mother was mostly a good person besides her sleeping-around, using people, thieving ways.
ReplyDeleteThe stealing duo had set their sights on the largest, most expensive looking house in Heaven; however, there were quite a few obstacles to overcome before they could get their ultimate prize: silver. The setting really made the whole book. It was set in modern day on the coast in a little town called Heaven. As a whole this book was an okay book. Maybe too east of a read for my taste, only because the pages were small and there weren't many words on each. Also the words and sentences were very simplistic, not containing much imagery or other literary devices. I would rate this book about a 6 out of 10 for an okay choice to pick up and read.
Courtney G.
i agree also i mean the book has a lot of lessons in it like :
ReplyDelete"I think...I think sometimes that's how it is. Sometimes people have to go before you get stuff. Before you can really get it.”
Things... well, things suck sometimes. And sometimes you can fix it. And sometimes you can't. It's just the way it is.”
“You know who you are you just have to believe it.”
My mother taught me to believe in silver, to believe in things, but I think it's more important to believe in me.”