Why I chose this book?

I chose this book out of the list of books because I love adventure. When I read that the book is about an adventure trip to Antarctica I wanted to read it. I have read books about Antarctica and about the historic Scott’s expedition and this book relates to both the topics. I also wanted to read this book because I had an adventure trip to Alaska and I wanted to compare my trip to the trip the character had in Antarctica. I also wanted to read this book because I am a boy scout and i wanted to see how Sym (the character) survived in the dangerous cold weathers of Antarctica. Some personal connections I made to the book while reading were, I too would like to visit Antarctica some time in the future. I knew some of the stuff about the Scott’s expedition and Antarctica, similar to the characters in the book. I like this book and I would recommend this book to people who love adventure and also to people who like and know about Antarctica and the Scott’s expedition. I would also recommend this book to people who are shy about interacting with others and are bullied by their friends. This book does provide great examples of how one can discover themselves and become bold and courageous human beings.

'Hooking' section in the book The White Darkness.

One section in the story which is meant to ‘hook’ potential readers is when the group gets stranded. decided to come back from Antarctica. Some of the travelers were getting ill and as they decided to come back from Antarctica, all of a sudden the plane blows up, they have no way to go back. They didn't have anything to call for help as all their satellite telephone ran out of battery. They also lose one of their members as he burns in the plane accident. At this moment as a reader you want to read more and want to know what are they going to do next? You start thinking if uncle Victor is going to continue his work to find the Symme’s hole, if yes then how is he going to travel to the hole and is he going to take everyone with him? As a reader you also start thinking about what those other travelers are going to do to find help. As a reader you want to know if they all survive the cold weather and if yes then how? As a reader you also start wondering what the members of the group are going to do with the things of the dead member who died because of the fire. Can they use it to survive?

The white darkness

Sym is a major character of the story and the story is written from her point of view (first person). She is a shy girl, who has no real friends. The only friend she has is an imaginary friend called Titus. She is always bullied by her friends about her imaginary friend and the fact that she was going to be home schooled. She desires to visit Antarctica. She is in love with Titus. Titus is a minor character. He keeps the plot moving by talking to Sym in her mind. He is the reason why Sym wants to go to Antarctica. Uncle victor is a minor character. He makes the plot move. He is a very knowledgeable man. He likes to help Sym and her mother. Uncle victor also desires to go to Antarctica. The theme that appears in the beginning is - "One should always help someone in need". This theme is shown in the story with the help of uncle Victor as in the story uncle Victor always helps Sym and her mother. The structure of the book- the book has a slow setting. It is not fast and exciting. I just hope that the climax is fast and exciting.

Summer reading

The white darkness is a book written by Geraldine McCaughrean.  The major characters in the story are Sym, Uncle Victor, Titus. Sym is a 14 year old girl. She is a very shy girl, who has an imaginary friend called –Titus. She wants to visit Antarctica because she loves Titus. Titus's real name is Lawrence Oates. He was the captain of Scott's expedition to Antarctica.Uncle victor is very nice to Sym and has helped her and her mother when her father died. He wants to visit Antarctica like Sym. The story starts in England. It takes place in 2002. I know that the story takes place on 2002 because the story starts with a line which says, “I have been in love with Titus Oates for quite a while now- which is ridiculous, he has died for ninety year”. This shows that the story takes place in 2002 as Titus Oates died in 1912. I know that this story takes place in England because they talk about the Waterloo station which is in England. The conflict in the story is person to self. Sym is mad at herself because she is different from her friends and also because she told her friends about her imaginary friend “Titus”.

Question that I have in my mind is: why does she have an imaginary friend and why is it Titus?

My prediction is that Sym and her uncle are both going to visit Antarctica as they both want to visit Antarctica.