Comments on: Gifted and Talented http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/ the best friends you'll never have Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:35:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: TwennyTwo http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-10897 TwennyTwo Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:20:26 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-10897 Have to raise my hand and disagree about the ASL. Hear me out. I knew only the 1st grade fingerspelling I learned more than 20 years ago, and I used it to talk to a man at temple who is deaf. What I did do, though, was make him teach me about 20 signs... then I went and taught them to my students, a bunch of preschoolers. Then we watched signing time with Alex and Lea (PBS videos). Now, I can carry on a decent conversation with him. Yes, ASL has different syntax, but if you're used to another language- or even non-standard English- it's not hard to pick up. So... yeah, the ASL is believeable on Jessi's part. The dancing? Gimme a break. But the best part is, I didn't know that when I was reading these. Way back in first and second grade. That was part of the magic. Have to raise my hand and disagree about the ASL. Hear me out.

I knew only the 1st grade fingerspelling I learned more than 20 years ago, and I used it to talk to a man at temple who is deaf. What I did do, though, was make him teach me about 20 signs… then I went and taught them to my students, a bunch of preschoolers. Then we watched signing time with Alex and Lea (PBS videos). Now, I can carry on a decent conversation with him.
Yes, ASL has different syntax, but if you’re used to another language- or even non-standard English- it’s not hard to pick up.

So… yeah, the ASL is believeable on Jessi’s part. The dancing? Gimme a break. But the best part is, I didn’t know that when I was reading these. Way back in first and second grade. That was part of the magic.

]]> By: greer http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8562 greer Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:31:04 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8562 Kristy eventually realized that she was a better coach than athlete. Kristy eventually realized that she was a better coach than athlete.

]]> By: Myu http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8559 Myu Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:46:38 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8559 @Sadako: Agreed. Abby seemed to do a wider range of sports than Kristy and spent more time on them to boot. Abby was the one who jogged home from BSC meetings and even gave up the club to focus on her sports... @Sadako: Agreed. Abby seemed to do a wider range of sports than Kristy and spent more time on them to boot. Abby was the one who jogged home from BSC meetings and even gave up the club to focus on her sports…

]]> By: Sadako http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8539 Sadako Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:01:32 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8539 bbb, I remember that. In fact, she would say stuff like, "Abby's undisciplined, she's a natural athlete but I'm a true sportsman." Stuff like that that made it clear she was insecure about Abby being better than her. I dunno, I just got the impression Abby was better. bbb, I remember that. In fact, she would say stuff like, “Abby’s undisciplined, she’s a natural athlete but I’m a true sportsman.” Stuff like that that made it clear she was insecure about Abby being better than her. I dunno, I just got the impression Abby was better.

]]> By: Laura @ Hungry and Frozen http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8533 Laura @ Hungry and Frozen Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:06:36 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8533 I love the earlier books, the later ones I read for fun but am not necessarily as 'fond' of them. They're still great though. Jessi is way too talented for an eleven year old. Swanhilda is a demanding role. She should only just be starting pointe at 11! I love the earlier books, the later ones I read for fun but am not necessarily as ‘fond’ of them. They’re still great though.

Jessi is way too talented for an eleven year old. Swanhilda is a demanding role. She should only just be starting pointe at 11!

]]> By: bbb http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8531 bbb Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:23:39 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8531 Wasn't Kristy jealous of(or at least in competition with) Abby because Abby was more of a great natural athlete than her? Wasn’t Kristy jealous of(or at least in competition with) Abby because Abby was more of a great natural athlete than her?

]]> By: Myu http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8530 Myu Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:11:13 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8530 @LemurCat: Yes, she is - she joins the SMS softball (/baseball? I've forgotten) team in book 74, "Kristy and the Copycat". She was initially wary of joining at first because it would interfere with her Krushers coaching. Also, do you really have to be on a team to be a great athlete? @LemurCat: Yes, she is - she joins the SMS softball (/baseball? I’ve forgotten) team in book 74, “Kristy and the Copycat”. She was initially wary of joining at first because it would interfere with her Krushers coaching.
Also, do you really have to be on a team to be a great athlete?

]]> By: LemurCat http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8495 LemurCat Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:07:17 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8495 I'll just put this out there ... Kristy's supposed to be some great athlete but yet she's never on any organized team. Someone .... anyone .... please explain that one to me. I’ll just put this out there … Kristy’s supposed to be some great athlete but yet she’s never on any organized team. Someone …. anyone …. please explain that one to me.

]]> By: Rhiannon http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8465 Rhiannon Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:35:24 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8465 @Myu - Its completely possible that's who I'm thinking of, but I could have sworn she was older. Its been years since I read Dance School Phantom though, so I'm probably just making shit up as a go along. @Myu - Its completely possible that’s who I’m thinking of, but I could have sworn she was older. Its been years since I read Dance School Phantom though, so I’m probably just making shit up as a go along.

]]> By: HelenB http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8406 HelenB Sun, 31 May 2009 05:28:02 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/05/28/gifted-and-talented/#comment-8406 I don't think it's really that unbelievable in the context of the books. I mean, almost every single one of Kristy's amazing ideas which are so integral to the plots are <i>maybe</i> things that 13 year-olds could come up with, but could she really have seen them all through? Yeah, I think their talents become increasingly exaggerated, but so do their faults, and I think this happens with any long-running series - characters eventually just become parodies of what they started with. I don’t think it’s really that unbelievable in the context of the books. I mean, almost every single one of Kristy’s amazing ideas which are so integral to the plots are maybe things that 13 year-olds could come up with, but could she really have seen them all through?

Yeah, I think their talents become increasingly exaggerated, but so do their faults, and I think this happens with any long-running series - characters eventually just become parodies of what they started with.

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