Hijacked by J.M Marks

SYNOPSIS

Fourteen-year-old Jason Wright boards a plane flying from Hong Kong to London and ends up in a desperate attempt to foil an Arab-back Japanese terrorist group who have hijacked the plane to a deserted Thai beach. While they are been hijacked, three men has tried to take action but ends up injured. One of them, is dead due to a stab on the chest.

When Jason went to the washroom, he found out there is a hole that leads to luggage area that leads to a way out. He thought he needed to do something since there are other passengers.He decided to escape from the plane secretly and look for a help, but he was found out while he was swimming. One of the terrorist member was searching for him.

Jason was scared and he kept on running.Finally, he found a village, he saw an old man with a blowpipe.That old man than saw him and they both are scared.The old man ran away, while Jason also did the same.The terrorist member kept on looking for Jason, finally Jason ended up shooting him on the chest with the poisonous dart using the blowpipe.The terrorist member died instantly.Soon, after a long run, finally he found the Thai army camp.He informed about the hijacked plane to Colonel Chula. British and Japan government have sent  their representatives regarding this matter.They were Sumimoto and Matsutan from Japanese government and Michael Deane from the British government.

The hijackers demanded for some prisoners that imprisoned in Israel to be freed.Sumimoto, Matsutan, Michael and Jason found out that the hijackers are involved with Palestinian organisation, Al-Fatah.

Finally, the hijackers have been captured while trying to escape from the plane while carrying a hostage.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

hydraulic - moved or operated by the pressure of water or other

                   liquid

tent - a shelter consisting of a sheet of cloth supported by poles and   ropes, use especially for camping

anchor - a piece of heavy metal that is lowered to the bottom of the sea,a lake etc to prevent a ship or boat

              moving

COMMENT

We find this novel is a good novel.We understand every part clearly.It is very specific.From what we have read we find that Jason, eventhough he is 14, has a very mature thinking.He cared about the others, that is why he escaped from the plane to look for a help and he managed to find one.Other than that, he has been given 2 chances to leave and to meet his parents but he insisted to stay because he wants to assist.We find it is a very noble attitude. We also can see that they are giving their fullest commitment to solve the problem. Eventhough this a fiction novel,we still thought this would happen and have happened somewhere in this world, we really appreciate for what we have here in Malaysia. A multiracial and peaceful country that practice 1 Malaysia.We hope that this kind of thing would not happen in Malaysia.We also hope to become like Jason, be more matured-thinking.

MORAL VALUES

1. There are things that come unexpected and we should be ready for it.
2. We should care about the people that we love.
3. Think about the others.
4. Do not make our parents worried about us.
   

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

INTRODUCTION

The Body in the Library is one of the novel written by Agatha Christie.She is the most widely published author of all time. In a career that spanned more than fifty years, Christie wrote eighty novels and short-story collection, nineteen plays.One of it is, The Mousetrap, is the longest-running play in history and five nonfiction books, including her autobiography. In addition she wrote six romantic novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Two of the characters she created, the ingenious Belgian Hercule Poirot and the irrepressible and relentless Miss Jane Marple, became world-famous detectives, immortalized on television by David Suchet and Joan Hickson.

Agatha Christie achieved Britain's highest honor when she was made a Dame of the British Empire.She died in 1976.

SYPNOSIS

In English village of St. Mary Mead, Colonel Banstry and his wife has been woke up by a maid.The maid tells him that there is a dead body in the library.Both of them are dumbfounded.They went to see the dead body.It was an unknown teenager who had been strangled wearing satin evening dress.The police are called and investigation ensues.The investigation is conducted by Colonel Melchett. Mrs. Bantry is afraid that her husband might be the suspicion of the town, therefore she called Miss Marple Jane, a local sleuth who is also her friend.

After further investigation, the victim is known as Ruby Keene, a professional dancer.The focus of the investigation then shift from St. Mary Mead, to Danemouth, and the Majestic Hotel.Ruby should have turn up in the dance exhibition with Raymond Starr, who is also a tennis coach for the hotel, but her cousin Josie had to replace her.She was missing that night.The last person who was seen to be with Ruby is George Bartlett.Bartlett does not have the obvious motive to kill Ruby, in fact he is the victim of the crime.His car was stolen near the courtyard.

There is a rather a group of guests that linked to Ruby Keene.The centre of the group is Conway Jefferson, a rich man who lost his legs in a plane crash.He also lost his wife, a son, and a daughter. He now lives with Mark Gaskell, his daughter's husband and Adelaide Jefferson, the wife of his son, and a grandson, Peter Carmody. All four of them are staying in the hotel.

Conway Jefferson is interested in Ruby as she is very naive. He decided to adopt Ruby as his daughter. He tells his family about this and also going to give Ruby fifty pounds as she reach 25. The family members have been given a large sum before so he decides that there is no need for him to fulfil their request anymore.

The situation had become more complicated as the second murder victim was found in the George Bartlett's car.The body is charred beyond recognition but has been identified as Pamela Reeves, a sixteen years old Girl Guide who had been reported missing.Somehow she was linked with a suspect, Basil Blake whom is also connected with the case.

Finally, all the points have gathered.Two dead bodies, which one of it was badly burnt.There are also a number of suspects involved. They are Colonel Bantry, Josie Turner, Raymond Starr, Basil Blake, George Bartlett, Mark Gaskell, and Adelaide Jefferson.

The true killer are Josie Turner and Mark Gaskell who is secretly married for a year.They switched Pamela Reeves and Ruby Keene's body.So, the unknown teenager that was found in Bantry's library is Pamela and the one who badly burnt is Ruby Keene.The motive is the amount of money that going to be given to Ruby Keene.So, they killed her.

NEW WORDS FOUND IN THE NOVEL

dumbfounded - extremely surprised
candor - thee quality of being honest and telling the truth even when the truth is may be unpleasant and

              embarrassing

benevolent - kind and generous

despot - someone especially a ruler, who uses power in a cruel and unfair way

quiver - a slight trembling

recalcitrant - formal refusing to do what you are told to do even after you have been punished
vanity - too much pride in yourself, so that you always thinking about yourself and your appearance

FAVOURITE QUOTE

"Brainless young ass," said Colonel Melchett. - Colonel Melchett is expressing his thought toward George Bartlett.

COMMENT

From what we have read, we find this novel is very well written. We like investigation and mystery so, we do not find this novel boring. Eventhough we do not understand some part because of the words used in this novel, we still find it rather interesting. Everytime we done reading one page, we feel excited to know what is going to happen next.Miss Marple Jane is our favourite of course seem she is the one who solved the case. Other than that, we find that Miss Marple is smart and rather understands people very well.This novel is quite hard to read, i mean the plot, we cannot even guess who kills the victims until the last page until Miss Marple state the evidence and the fact.So this is a very good novel to read.

THE MORAL VALUES

1. We should not judge the book by its cover same goes on with people.
2. We should be grateful for everything that we have now.
3. Money is not everything.
4. We should care about the people we love.
5. You cannot run from the justice.