Friday, December 21, 2012

Matched Trilogy

Book One
Matched 

  Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
    The Society tells her that it was just a glitch and that she should forget about it and focus on living a happy life with Xander. But Cassia doesn't forget and can't help but feel that the Society isn't as safe as she once thought. She soon finds herself falling in love with Ky, and by doing so she chooses a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Book Two
Crossed 

  Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, who has been sent by the Society to his certain death. She arrives to find that he has escaped, and then she must follow the clues he left behind. The longer she travels the more determined she becomes to spend her life with Ky and the angrier she becomes at the Society. She wants to find the Rising, the rebellion plotting against the Society, and help them destroy it. 

Book Three
Reached 

 Cassia, Ky and Xander are all in the Rising but are stationed in different places, and with the sudden outbreak of the Plague, it's hard to get away and see each other. The Rising and the Society are both trying to find a cure for the Plague, and soon the three of them realize the the Rising is just like the Society, and that both of them are running out of places to look for a cure.


  I liked the whole series, but I think Matched and Reached were better. I love sci-fi and usually don't like romance, but in this series I liked both. The romance between Cassia and Ky isn't like the romances in other books I've read. I liked it because it was more about their friendship and they slowly started having feelings for one another rather than . Cassia isn't flighty, Xander isn't evil, and Ky isn't perfect like the typical characters in love triangles. I highly recommend these books.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Under Wildwood


   Prue and her brother Mac return to their home in Portland, Oregon, after their exciting adventure in the Impassable Wilderness. But as Prue settles back into a routine she finds that her mind remains with her friend Curtis, who stayed in the Wood to train as a bandit. 
   Little does Prue know that she and Curtis will be reunited soon. With the help of her new and odd science teacher, Prue finds herself once again the magical and dangerous I.W., fighting new enemies alongside Curtis.  But this time they must explore a part of the Wood that they never knew existed--for in order to go above, they must first go under.


      While reading a series, I rarely find that the second book is better than the first, but Under Wildwood was, in my opinion, better than Wildwood (which I also really liked). I love how all the different stories, although different, were connected, and as the book progressed they become even more so. The style of writing is clever, descriptive, and interesting. My only complaint would be the cliffhanger ending, which is probably one of the (unfortunately) most effective cliffhangers I've ever read. 

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Dwight has always been the weird kid at McQuarrie Middle School. So when he comes to school one day with a finger puppet that he calls Origami Yoda and says he'll solve all your problems, it's not too strange. What's strange is that the advice that Origami Yoda gives is actually good. Is Origami Yoda really using the Force? Is Dwight secretly a genius? Or is it just by chance that all of Yoda's answers are right?

I read this book with my brothers, and I was really surprised at how much I liked it. There's a lot of boyish humor, but it's actually a really good book and still pretty funny.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Comparing Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Twilight

"What is your favorite book?"

   This seems like such a simple, friendly question. It is a great start to what could be a fabulous, productive discussion....or it could be a start to an ugly conversation that could quickly turn into a cat-fight. (Or, at the very least, raised eyebrows and pursed lips of disapproval.)
   I read the Harry Potter series and Hunger Games Trilogy, and some of the Twilight Saga and the Chronicles of Narnia. All except for Twilight are, in my opinion, well-written and enjoyable, but I can understand how some people can hate them (however, I'm sorry, if you like Twilight I really can't understand you) and why others refuse to read them. 
   So if you want to hear my opinions on these these books and what I learned from them, keep reading.


Harry Potter

   Most of the people I know that dislike this series dislike it because of the witchcraft. Which is a good point, and the witchcraft plays a huge part in the story. But J.K. Rowling is a Christian, and she once said "I believe in God, not in magic.".  So if your main concern was that, you don't have much to worry about.
    Another thing people don't like is the violence. And I do have to agree, there is quite a bit of violence in the books. However the main characters don't like it, rather they are thrown into it. For example, in the sixth book there is a duel between Harry and Draco. Harry tries out a new spell even when he's not fully aware of what it does, and what he finds out is that it causes gashes to appear on his enemy. There is a lot of blood, but Harry, despite the fact that Draco has been terrible to him, feels bad for causing him so much pain. 
   Harry, Hermione, Ron, and many of the other characters in the series are loyal friends who are willing to make sacrifices for one another. In the wizarding world there is racism between the purebloods, half-bloods and Muggle-born wizards, but it is shown negatively. There is some teenage romance but not too much, and it's more about the friendship between the two people and not so much about the kissing. 

   

The Hunger Games

   When I first heard of The Hunger Games, I thought it sounded terrible. Teens killing teens wasn't exactly my idea of a great story. I had no plans to ever read the books. Then my Godmother (who I really look up to and respect her taste in books) recommended it to me. If not for her, I never would've read the books, and would've continued being judgmental and hateful of what I now know as a great series.
   I recently found out that the author, Suzanne Collins, is Roman Catholic. She based the story of The Hunger Games after reading about how people used to watch Christians being tortured for entertainment. She didn't put religion of any kind in her books to show that as we become more obsessed with TV and our looks, we're cutting religion out of our lives. 
   One of my favorite things about this series is Katniss's character. She sacrificed herself for her sister, she's brave, she's kind, and basically, she's not Bella Swan. Most of the teen books that are out now have a boy-crazy main character (like Twilight) and I never can really care about that character because I can't relate to them. 


Twilight

  I actually haven't read all four of the Twilight books. I read the first one and hated it, and I started reading the second but stopped after a few pages because I couldn't stand Bella. But just from reading the first book I know that Bella and Edward's relationship is not at all about their actual friendship. Bella isn't likable at all, and I'm sorry, but I don't think anyone should be so sensitive about sparkling. Others might, you know, have real problems. And I'm sure that they would much rather sparkle than have those problems. 
   

   I've realized too that Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia are usually books that are okay to read, even if Harry Potter and The Hunger Games are terrible. And may I say that I like both these series as well, but Chronicles of Narnia has witchcraft and violence in it too, and the battles are over power. The Lord of the Rings has violence too that is also over power. The arguments to this are "But the authors are Christians, so it's okay.". Well, as I've said above, J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins are both Christians who showed their Christianity in their writing. 
   And one more thing; there's a newer series, the Matched Trilogy, that I read and found enjoyable. So if someone could do me a favor and read those books, make them controversial and ruin them for me, that'd be great. Thanks!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Wildwood

 When Prue McKeel's baby brother Mac is abducted by crows, Prue embarks on a journey to rescue him. Prue and her classmate Curtis head into the Impassable Wilderness--a place where no one has ever gone in and lived to tell the tale. In the Wood, Prue and Curtis are faced with more challenges then they'd hoped, and they begin to wonder if they'll ever get out alive.
    
    Wildwood is full of unexpected turns, exciting twists and fun characters. I highly recommend for anyone who loves a good story!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Breadcrumbs

Hazel and Jack have been best friends since they were six. But they are eleven now, and Jack just isn't the same. He's ignoring Hazel and hanging out with other kids--something Hazel's best friend would never do.
Then Jack gets hurt and soon after disappears. And although they seem to be growing out of their friendship and she knows they'll never have what they once did, Hazel goes after him, and has an adventure of her own along the way.

This book was another wonderful read. I absolutely love Anne Ursu's sense of sarcasm, especially in the first couple chapters. I also enjoyed the book references (Narnia, Harry Potter, A Wrinkle in Time, Lord of the Rings) that are woven in to this magnificent story.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Picture the Dead

 Jennie Lovell lost her parents when she was young, putting her and her brother Toby into the hands of their stingy aunt and uncle. By the time Jennie is sixteen, her brother and her fiance have both died in the Civil War.
  But there is a presence that has been haunting Jennie since Will's death. Is it Will himself? What is her late fiance trying to tell her? The more Jennie tries to find out how he really died, the more she wonders if she actually knew Will at all.


  Intelligently written and hauntingly told with plenty of twists, Picture the Dead is a highly enjoyable read.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Thirteen Reasons Why

     Two weeks after Hannah Baker commits suicide, her classmate, Clay Jensen, finds a box of cassette tapes on his porch. The tapes--seven in all--are recorded by Hannah herself. Hannah's voice tells Clay that there are thirteen reasons she ended her life and that each side of each tape tells one of those reasons. Hannah also says that Clay is one of those reasons--but on what tape does Clay's name appear? To find out, Clay must listen to all the tapes, which means he has to follow Hannah down the path that led to her final decision.
  
  Thirteen Reasons Why is one of those books that you start reading and then can't put down. It has a very strong message about how things that may seem funny and lighthearted at the time can have a huge effect farther down the road. Some things seemed to me pointless to include in the story, but overall this was a really good book that I enjoyed reading.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Because I was tagged....


Maria, at Four Blessings Academy, tagged me for the following meme.
Here's what to do:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and then write 11 things about your life.
3. Answer the questions for you set in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you have tagged them.


Me and my brothers~St. Patrick's Day


11 Things About My Life

1. One of my favorite things to do is read. My favorite book would have to be Shiloh, followed closely by The Naming.
2. Another one of my favorite things to do is write. Most of my stories are inspired by my brothers and my cousins.
3. I love to crochet, and my mom and I have spent many evenings crocheting and chatting.
4. I don't have cable, but thanks to the library, Netflix, and Roku, I am still able to watch TV shows. My favorites are Gilmore Girls, Friends, Downton Abbey, and Parenthood.
5. I have great parents and three awesome brothers.
6. My favorite colors are blue and yellow.
7. I enjoy listening to music, and my favorite band is The Decemberists.
8. I'm homeschooled and I absolutely love it!
9. My dad and I have spent many late nights watching movies.
10. I am a volunteer at my library, which is really fun.
11. I am very lucky to belong to two great homeschool groups!

Maria's Questions for Me

1) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go? I would go to Ireland. I've always wanted to visit there, probably because I'm Irish.
2) Who do you admire most & why? I admire my mom and dad for many, many reasons. 
3) Do you like to dance? Not really, though I do enjoy the Just Dance Wii games.
4) If you could go back in time & change something in your life, what would it be? I don't know. I'm pretty happy with how my life is now.
5) What is your favorite genre of books? My favorite book genre would have to be fantasy.
6) From that genre in the previous question, what one book would you recommend to others? When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
7) Texting...Yay or Nay? I'd say both. Like Facebook, texting can be bad if used in the wrong way, but as long as you're careful and responsible, it can be a great way to keep in touch.
8) What is your favorite spot to visit on the internet? Probably my email. I love emailing with my friends and family!
9) What is your favorite scent? My favorite scent is that of books, probably why I love the library so much.
10) Who is your favorite saint & why? Saint Francis is my favorite saint because we share the same love for animals. Saint Patrick is my second favorite because he's Irish.
11) Tell me about a favorite memory from your childhood.....
when I was younger, I was extremely allergic to red dye. Once I ate an entire jar of maraschino cherries and afterwards told my parents I hated them (which was not something I'd normally say).

My Questions for Those I'm Tagging


1. If you were to write a book about your life, what would the title be?
2. If you were to change your name, what name would you choose?
3. What is your favorite school subject and why?
4. What is your favorite hairstyle?
5. In your dream world, your pet would be a....
6. Is there a character in a book, movie, or TV show that you think is like you? What about this character makes her similar to you?
7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would that be?
8. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
9. What is your favorite hobby?
10. What is the riskiest thing you've ever done?
11. If you could have any superpower, which one would you choose?



I'm going to tag Green, Horses, and CandyTacos, Dolphins, and Friends, and The Magic Violinist! I hope you guys enjoy doing this as much as I did!





Monday, March 26, 2012

The Hunger Games

In the ruins of North America is the nation called Panem, where a shining Capitol rules twelve districts. Every year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 are selected from each district to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.
When Primrose Everdeen is selected for District 12's female tribute in the Games, her older sister Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place. Prim asks Katniss to promise that she'll win, but Katniss doesn't think she can keep that promise. Twenty-four teens go in and one comes out. Will the odds be in Katniss's favor?

  This is one of my favorite books. Though I thought the beginning was a bit slow, the excitement of the middle and the end make up for it. Suzanne Collins created characters that were admirable, interesting, unique, and who had you caring about them by the end of the book.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

The Book Thief

  Liesel Meminger is a nine-year-old girl living outside of Munich, Germany. She stole her first book by her brother's graveside, and with help from her foster father she learns to read. So begins her love for words and books, and she is soon stealing books from Nazi book burnings and the mayor's library. 
  Liesel shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids and with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 


  Told from Death's point of view and set in Nazi Germany, The Book Thief is a remarkable, heartbreaking, and educational novel. It's rare in the same way Lois Lowry's The Giver is; no matter how many times you read it, it will always seem new and exciting. 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Kalahari

    One of my close friends offered to take me with her on her family's vacation. I went to Kalahari with her, her mom, and her sister and we had a ton of fun! 


     Kalahari is a huge resort located in Sandusky, Ohio. We arrived on Monday, January 23rd and left on Thursday, January 26th.  We spent a lot of time at the big indoor water park but we also went miniature golfing, played in the arcade, browsed the gift shops, and spent time in our hotel room talking, reading, and watching TV. Our favorite rides at the park were the Zip Coaster and the Toilet Bowl, and we also enjoyed the wave pool and the hot tub.

  I had a great time, thanks so much for taking me along!