More on Body Image

Hey, guys!

Just finished reading Pretties by Scott Westerfield, which is the sequel to Uglies. Like Uglies, I read Pretties in middle school and didn't really retain much. So I reread it. Good stuff.

Now, let's see if I can write a review of Pretties without giving away the ending to Uglies. Doubtful, but worth a shot.

So, in the beginning of Pretties, Tally is a pretty. Well, it didn't take long to give it away. But I think the title does that for me anyway.

Okay, so Tally's gotten the pretty operation and she's in New Pretty Town, and she's going to a costume party with her new clique called the Crims. Crim is short for criminal and is a clique for pretties who played a lot of tricks as uglies.

So, Tally's at this awesome bash and she feels like she's exactly where she's always wanted to be ever since she was an ugly, when an ugly crashes the party.

And not just any ugly. It's Croy, someone whom Tally had known as an ugly. Someone who had run away to the Smoke as an ugly. And he's brought something for Tally.

Hmmm, would I be giving anything away by telling you guys what Croy brought for Tally? Only a little. But I think it's worth it for the sake of this review.

Basically, when Tally got the pretty operation, she didn't just end up looking pretty: she thinks pretty now, too. What does that mean? Well, when you get right down to it, she's a total ditz because of the operation. But that's no accident or terrible side-effect.

The doctors made her - and every other pretty - like that on purpose. And Croy brought the cure.

After the party, Tally would've totally forgotten about the cure if it weren't for a fellow Crim: Zane. Turns out that he's been fighting being pretty-minded ever since he became a pretty. He doesn't eat much, binges on coffee instead of booze, and hoverboards often.

See, Zane discovered all on his own that fighting pretty-mindedness, also known as "staying bubbly," keeps him from being like everyone else. And when he meets Tally, he helps her find where Croy hid the cure from authorities, and then takes the cure with her.

Now Zane and Tally have been getting bubblier by the day, despite Zane's headaches and Tally's struggle to stay bubbly. And now that they're cured, they know that they can't stay in the city anymore. They have to escape and find the Smoke again.

With the authorities after them (terrifying pretties known as Special Circumstances), Zane and Tally have to plan the biggest trick of all just to find their freedom.

This is an excellent second installment of the series. It isn't as fast-paced as Uglies in some parts, but I'm just nit-picking about that. Still action-packed and still thought-provoking. Recommended for middle school and high school audiences, but when you think about it, YA literature is pretty universal. Am I right?

Hope you enjoyed the review and that you'll think about reading the book. As always, check back for more reviews and writing exercises. Until next time, guys.

Happy reading!!

Name Game

Hey, guys!

Really looking forward to today's writing exercise. I don't know why, but it appeals the creative side of my brain. Anyway, this is a fun one. Trust me.

So, although not a crucial aspect of creative fiction, character names do imply a lot about their character and can be symbolic in some ways.

For example, if you guys recall, I once posted a list of my favorite short stories, one of them being "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The name Goodman Brown implies that the character is average (Goodman being a title similar to Mr. or Sir) since the surname Brown is so common. The fact that his name is the color brown also implies that he has muddy morals.

See what I mean? Okay, good.

So, that's what this writing exercise is: I'm going to give you a list of character names.

But wait! That's not all!

Many works of fiction and series involve a natural aspect. I'm thinking of stories taking place in nature or involving supernatural creatures, such as faeries or nymphs.

So, the names I have compiled are going to be derived from plants, trees, and herbs. And the challenge is that you should choose a plant name and base that character off of the characteristics of the plant.

For example, if I were to pick to name a character Onion, I would base that character's personality on the characteristics I associate with onions. The smell of onions makes me tear up when I chop them. Maybe Onion has an abrasive personality and can be cruel and make people cry without meaning to. Maybe he has a certain smell to him no matter how well or often he bathes.

It's completely up to you. But try to draw on the character of the plant: the smell and the taste; the appearance and color; whether it's edible, medicinal, or poisonous; whether people associate it with strength, healing, flavor, what have you.

Here we go.


1) Lilac

2) Sumac

3) Lily

4) Oak

5) Sage

6) Birch

7) Poppy

8) Basil

9) Ginger

10) Corriander

The possibilities are endless, so have fun.

Happy writing!!

Drums

Hey, guys!

Maybe some of you have been playing a musical instrument since before you could even walk (overachievers), but the only instrument that I've been able to somewhat master is the recorder. And I hate the recorder.

Well, tell you what. Troy from Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going is just as musically inept as I was in high school, and yet he ends up playing the drums. Quite a change, huh? Maybe I should explain what happens in between.

So, Troy is an obese high school student. Sometimes he feels like he should eat less and exercise more, but it's something he's been doing since his mom died. You can't help but feel bad for Troy.

And having a military father with high standards, a snotty little brother who used to idolize the big brother whom he now looks down on, and being constantly picked on by peers about his weight doesn't exactly increase his self-esteem.

And there is poor Troy, waiting at the station and totally committed to leaping in front and ending his life. He is contemplating his gruesome end when a homeless drug addict and former classmate sits next to Troy and totally saves his life.

Now, I don't mean that he rushes towards Troy (in slow motion, no less) and pushes him out of the path of the train in a dramatic and heroic fashion. No. I mean that Curt (the homeless guy) talks him out of it. Does Curt do so in a heartfelt and compassionate manner. No, no, no. That is not how Curt rolls.

Even though Curt could have been less of a douche about it and demanded that Troy buy him lunch afterwards, he still saved Troy's life. And that most definitely counts for something.

So where do they go from there? Well, Troy buys Curt lunch, Curt eats like it's his last meal (because who knows - he's homeless and poor), and Curt convinces Troy to take up an instrument. Because Curt is no ordinary homeless guy; he's a legend at his former high school.

The legend? He's the amazing lead guitarist in Troy's favorite band. And guess what? They need a drummer.

And there you have it. And don't get me wrong, it's not like sitting behind the drum set and holding those drumsticks unlocked something inside of Troy that made him play as though he were born to play the drums. He sucks. He really sucks on his first go, but who doesn't?

So he practices every chance he gets, despite his dad's disapproval and his brother's mockery. And he's almost given up a few times. But eventually, Troy focuses more on his drumming and a little less on eating and feeling sorry for himself.

Awesome book overall. I recommend it for high school students as well as above and beyond the high school crowd. And it's not just for musicians, druggies, homeless people, and those suffering from obesity or low self-esteem. I am none of the above, and I really enjoyed it.

When it comes right down to it, this is a book for people who do fit into those categories and for people who want to see the world from someone else's perspective. This book is perfect for learning tolerance and acceptance of others. Just saying.

Anyway, definitely give the book a try and check back for more reviews and writing exercises. Until next time, guys.

Happy reading!!

Character Profiles

Hey, guys!

Time for a new writing exercise! But let's shake it up a bit.

As all of you writers out there know, other than daydreaming and coming up with a story and then writing it down, developing characters is a super fun aspect of writing a story. And making sure that you have character development down pat is a really important part of making a good character and writing a good story.

Also, clothes make the man or woman. I'm sure you've all heard that at some point as well.

So, to get you guys started with writing a super awesome character, I made an awesome writing exercise.

Below, I have created a list of outfits that anybody may find suitable to their personality. Choose one to create a character (or just a character profile) who might wear that ensemble.

The challenge? Don't go for the obvious. Say, for example, that a character is wearing a plaid skirt. The character does not necessarily have to be a total good girl. For all you know, it could be a Scott wearing a kilt. Or some dude or dudette trying out a different persona for a day for that matter.

And now for the list.


1) A homemade calico dress.

2) Slightly worn jeans and a knit sweater.

3) A band T-shirt (your choice of band), sneakers, and a fedora.

4) A long skirt (your choice of pattern and color) with a camisole top.

5) A muscle top and denim shorts (which may or may not be ripped at the edges).


As always, the possibilities are endless. Avoid overly common characters. But if you're going for a trope, give the character something that sets him or her apart from their crowd.

And, as always, have fun. :)

Happy writing!!

So different from the movie

Hey, guys!

So, I know that for the most part when I say, "The Vow," you guys say "Channing Tatum" or "Rachel McAdams" depending on your preferences. And, yes, the movie is quite fantastic. Admittedly, I wouldn't have wanted to see it if my mom hadn't wanted to. Turns out that the movie made me curious about the book.

The Vow was written by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter with assistance from Dana Wilkerson, Kim and Krickitt being the couple who lived the love story we are all so familiar with by now. Or are we? I mean, come on, we all have to know that Hollywood embellishes just a little bit to cater to what the audience is looking for.

In the movie, it was Paige and Leo. Paige was an artist and Leo was into music. They got married in an art exhibit and then were chased out by security. After the car accident that gave Paige amnesia, Leo has to make his wife fall in love with him all over again, despite her parents' wishes to keep her away from him.

News flash: the book was practically the polar opposite.

Paige wasn't an artist. Her name wasn't even Paige. Krickitt was a customer services operator over the phone. And that was actually how she met Kim: he talked to her on the phone and fell in love with her voice, how happy she sounded and how willing to help she was.

It was a few months before they met in person, and a few years of dating before they got married. They had been married for roughly three months at the time of the car crash.

Another thing the movie overlooked: the recovery process. In the movie, Paige was forgetful but functioning with perfect hair. In reality, Krickitt had to learn how to walk and talk and take care of herself all over again, and it sure didn't happen overnight.

Their marriage after the accident was so much more difficult than the fact that she couldn't remember being in love with him and, in her mind, she was still engaged to her ex-fiancee. Not only were they drowning in hospital bills, but Krickitt was actually very resentful towards the husband she couldn't remember.

But the one thing the movie avoids is what really helped Kim and Krickitt keep their sanity and help them stay together: their faith.

Both Kim and Krickitt were Christian from early on in their lives. And even after her accident, Krickitt still held on to her faith in God, and it's probably what helped her hang on to a life she forgot.

I am by no means a religious person, but I could still appreciate the fact that their love and their faith was what brought them together and it was what kept them together even when they were driving each other nuts.

Hollywood probably thought that the concept of faith would be targeting a very limited audience; they were probably right. But my intention is not to belittle the movie. I actually really enjoyed the movie and (despite the lack of accurate details) there was still the crucial message that was in the book. There was also a universality to the movie speaking to peoples of all denominations.

So, by all means, learn about this awesomely true miracle of a love story and read the book and see the movie if you haven't. I would recommend the book for many audiences (I will not specify age groups, because anybody could find something they enjoy in the book.

Hope you enjoyed the review and that you'll give this story a chance. Check back again for more reviews and writing exercises. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Zombies Everywhere

Hey, guys!

Story time. Once upon a time I went to the movies with my mom and my brother. I forget what we went to see, but I do remember seeing a trailer for the upcoming movie Warm Bodies. I watched the trailer in rapt attention. When it was over, I leaned towards my mom.

"That looks like a good movie," I whispered.

"It looks stupid," she responded.

Then I went home and bought the book by Isaac Marion on my Kindle. The End.

You get the picture: same deal as If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Except with zombies. And I know that a lot of you will be put off by the idea of a zombie romance, but hear me out.

Basically, the world has ended and nobody really remembers how the zombies came around; they just did. So, now the humans are holed up in an old stadium, which they repurposed to keep out the zombies and to make their home. Houses, farms, gardens, public services, the whole shabang.

Meanwhile, the zombies stick around this old airport. It's a metaphor. So, this one zombie, R, is pretty different from the others. For one thing, he feels bad about eating people. But he's a zombie; he can't help it. For another thing, he collects human stuff in his airplane home.

But not everyone shares his appreciation for human life. The Bonies, for example, have no remorse whatsoever. They are zombies that are so old that they are just bones. Cruel, scary, and dangerous, you do not want to mess with these guys.

So, one day, R is hungry. Even though he ate a few days ago, he's starving. So he and his friend, M, go back into the city and see if they can find some human scouts.

And indeed they find some tasty human snacks. But I should explain something first. Zombies don't dream . . . I know, I know it's quite the shocker, right? But get this: eating a human's brain is the best part, because the zombies can see that human's memories. Which is kind of like dreaming when you think about it.

Back to the summary. After snacking on the brains of some poor guy named Perry, R comes face to face with Julie. Yes, Julie, also known as Perry's girlfriend. But don't worry, R's not going to eat her.

Instead, he covers her in blood to hide the smell of her status as a living, breathing human and takes her back to the airport with him. What could possibly go wrong?

In addition to all the zombies and Bonies roaming about, Julie isn't too fond of being held captive by a zombie. But R can't really help it; she just makes him feel so . . . alive. And that's how it all starts.

A totally unorthodox love story, but it was bound to happen. And I know that it sounds pretty cheesy, guys, but it is not the sappy romance like all the others. It is told in such a mature and sophisticated nature that it just works in a way that a zombie-boyfriend story shouldn't.

Plus, it says a whole lot about love and human nature and I definitely think it would be worth your while to read. Just give it a try. I would recommend it for a high school audience or above.

I also recommend the movie. Although the movie is a lot more sarcastic and teen-angsty (plus the ending is totally different), it's funny and sweet and a good movie in its own right.

Hope you guys enjoyed and that you'll read the book. Also, check back for more. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Treasures

Hey, guys!

Time for a new writing exercise. I feel pretty good about this one, too.

So for this exercise, you guys have to create a fictional character based off of their most prized possession. Since I'm so nice, I'm going to provide you guys with a list of potential "treasures" that a character may have. If you don't like any of the ones I suggest, feel free to make up your own.

Be sure to include as much history as you can with the treasure you choose. Does it hold sentimental value in the character's eyes? Does it unlock a secret or a past that the character knows nothing about? Basically, what draws your character to this object?

Also, don't go for the obvious. If the treasure is, say, a ring with a precious gemstone, don't say that the character likes it because it's shiny and pretty. Maybe it's a family heirloom. Maybe it's all that's left of the character's mother after a horrible fire. Maybe the character stole it and it's their only chance at a better life. Get creative with it . . . that is the point of a writing exercise after all.

Have fun with this one, guys!


1) Notebook

2) Dingy stuffed animal

3) Old coin

4) Locket

5) Pair of glasses

6) Old ornate box

7) Pen

8) Charm bracelet

9) Photograph

10) Key


Go nuts.

Happy writing!

Music is Life

Hey, guys!

I know that I got distracted after the first chapter (which I must admit was a little slow-going), but I picked it back up and finished If I Stay by Gayle Forman in a matter of days.

I was motivated to buy this book on my Kindle when I saw the preview for the upcoming film based off of the novel when I went to the theaters to see The Fault in Our Stars. I thought it looked really good, so I bought it. Here's why it looked really good and why it turned out to be a really good book.

Mia has a happy life: her parents are music-lovers and supportive of her passion for playing the cello; she loves her younger brother, Teddy, who absolutely adores his older sister; she has a best friend, Kim, who knows her as well as she knows herself; not to mention, her boyfriend, Adam, is a punk musician who shares her love of music.

Then Mia's life is yanked out from under her in a severe car crash. She is orphaned and in critical condition and a comatose state. And she is watching it all unfold.

While her body is hooked up to IV tubes and in and out of the operating room, Mia is an out-of-body witness to the chaos that unfolds. She is able to see her grandparents even though her body's in the OR. Kim, ever the glue that keeps everybody from falling apart, talks to Mia as though she's still there, unaware that she is.

And Mia can even see Adam, trying desperately to get into the ICU so that he can see her and try to convince her to stay and to live despite the pain that living will bring her (emotional and physical).

Because the one thing that everyone seems to know is that it's Mia's choice to stay and live or leave and die. Staying will mean living without her family but dying will mean leaving everyone else behind, including her career as a cellist.

Will she choose to stay or would it be to much for her to live with? No spoilers, so read the book yourself.

As I said, the first chapter was a little boring, but it served its purpose to introduce the characters. As soon as the first chapter was over and done with, the novel was extremely fast-paced and captivating. As a result, it is a quick and compelling read.

I would definitely recommend this for music lovers: classical, punk, or otherwise. There is a reason that Mia is a cellist or even just a musician in general: it is such a huge part of her life that it becomes significant motivation for her to stay.

And you definitely don't have to play an instrument to understand the message about music. I am by no means a musical person (I just listen to it), but I still get it. You know?

Anyway, definitely for a high school audience and beyond. With high school seniors going off to college or high school juniors trying to decide which colleges to apply to, this book definitely has the element of major life choices which is designed to appeal to that kind of audience.

In addition, the book would appeal to high school audiences because there's the element of falling in love in high school knowing that significant others may be separated when they go to college. You guys have no idea how grateful I am to have met my boyfriend in college instead of high school.

Hope you guys will take a look at the book before you go and see the movie. I can't wait till I can go see the movie! Hope you enjoyed the review and that you'll check back for more reviews and writing exercises. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Writing Prompt

Hey, guys!

Time for another writing prompt! For all writers and aspiring writers, this will be good to get your creative juices going and even could be used to start a story.

So, without further ado:

You have just killed someone's pet. Write the scenario: how did you kill someone's pet? What kind of a pet was it? To whom did it belong?

Or you could always start from the aftermath of the accident . . . if that's what it was. Was it an accident? Well, was it? Answer the question, punk!

So, was it an accident? Did you tell the owner? How did they react? Or did you try to hide it like the scum you are? Sorry, my bad cop was showing. If you did try to hide it, how so? Did you blame it on somebody else?

(Time for some good cop.) It's okay, you can tell me. I'm on you're side. I'm trying to help you.

Okay, I've had my fun. As you can see, there are many directions that you guys could take with this. So, it doesn't have to end up like Pet Sematary at all. It's completely up to you.

Well, while the little gremlins in your noggins are at work, I'll be working on the next review. Until next time, guys.

Happy writing!!

Survival Story

Hey, guys!

Just finished reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, I have to say that I understand it a lot more because (once again) I read it as a kid and didn't retain much.

So, this book is about a place called Island of the Blue Dolphins (huge surprise there) where a native people live and have made their home for many years.

Then one day during the summer, a foreign people come to their island to hunt otter, just as they have the year before. The chief of the Island of the Blue Dolphins is wary of them because of the trouble they caused before. Sure enough, trouble is what they get.

After hunting in the sea by their island, the foreign people refuse to pay enough for what they hunted and a fight breaks out, leaving many of the men of the native people dead.

Soon after, another foreign people come to the island, different from the others. These people are different because they come from the place where the native people's ancestors originated. So, with not much left for them on the island, the native people leave for this strange land that they do not know anything about.

And accidentally leave one of their own behind. Her name is Karana, the youngest daughter of their dead chief, and she is all alone on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Haunted by the memories of the dead members of her tribe, Karana must survive (not much of a challenge for her) on the island which no longer feels as much like home. And though she keeps an eye out for the ship, after a while she loses hope of it ever coming back.

What she misses the most is human companionship, which she tries to compensate for by befriending many of the animals on the island: otter, birds, wild dogs, you get the picture.

This is a short book (my copy is less than 200 pages) and also a quick read. I mean, I read it in two days so you guys be the judge.

I would recommend it for elementary or middle school students, because the language and the sentence structure are very easy to follow and are rather simple (not to say that this takes away from the story at all; it actually enhances it). The one thing I will say is that a young audience may not understand certain references to survival tactics, flora, or fauna (abalones, yucca plants, cormorants, you get the idea).

I also recommend it for people who enjoy survival stories. I mean, it's not like Karana comes close to dying or has to fight off a bear or anything, but it does have that element to it. So, if it sounds like a book you or someone you know would enjoy, check it out for yourself.

Check in again tomorrow for another post. Be sure to like my Facebook page and to follow me on Twitter for the latest updates. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Body Image

Hey, guys!

So, I finished rereading Uglies by Scott Westerfield and I have to say that I'm glad I did. I say that I reread it because I read it for the first time in eighth grade, I believe. I don't think I was paying much attention while I read it the first time. Or maybe it's just been a while . . . yeah, I'm gonna give myself the benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, I remembered the general plot of it but now I'm reading it through the eyes of a book blogger and English major who knows how to spot cool stuff like symbolism and metaphor and all that jazz. And I have to tell you, it makes the book so much better.

Okay, so Tally Youngblood lives in this futuristic society with hoverboards and smart robot stuff and, get this, a pretty operation.

The last probably didn't make any sense at all. Allow me to explain, my eager little readers. For those of you who have not read this book, the pretty operation is an operation that makes you pretty. The doctors basically give you a new body with a perfectly symmetrical face, big beautiful eyes, flawless skin, and all the right proportions.

Got it? Good. So, in this society, everyone gets the operation when they're sixteen (results may vary in different cities). This way everyone is beautiful and happy and nobody's causing trouble.

Except for the uglies. An ugly is a person like Tally Youngblood who is anxiously awaiting his or her sixteenth birthday so that they can finally be pretty. In other words, they're normal people who are considered ugly. They are taught in school to hate their bodies and to believe that the only way they can be an important part of society is to get the operation like everyone else and live happily ever after.

And here we have Tally, a soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old girl who wants to be pretty so that she can be with her best friend again. (Oh, yeah, uglies aren't allowed in New Pretty Town. Harsh, right?)

But things change when she meets Shay, an also soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old-girl who shares the same birthday as Tally. But her views of the world are utterly different. She doesn't believe that she needs the operation to be beautiful. Of course, Tally thinks she's nuts.

So Shay runs away. Into the wild to find a place known as the Smoke, where people never get the operation and live apart from a society they believe to be cruel.

And they're right. After Shay runs away, Tally is approached by the authorities known as Special Circumstances, who give Tally an ultimatum: either she goes after Shay and helps them find the Smoke, or she can never turn pretty. Not getting the operation means that Tally will be an outcast in her own city for life.

Doesn't sound like a very hard decision to us, right? That's because we weren't spoon fed all this garbage about needing an operation to be beautiful since we were born. Or were we? Food for thought.

Anyway, this book comes highly recommended by me (for middle school students, high school students, and far beyond), as it is thought-provoking and action-packed. I can't believe what a good job Scott Westerfield did of stepping totally into his characters' shoes. Any other writer would be tempted to write from Shay's perspective (at least I would have).

But writing from the perspective of someone who grew up in a totally different setting with utterly different belief systems would be a challenge. And to pull it off so well? Hats off to you, Scott Westerfield.

Hope you guys will read Uglies and that you'll come back looking for more blog posts. I shall start reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman and rereading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. Follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page for updates. You guys know the drill.

Happy reading!!

Writing Exercise

Hey, guys!

So once while I was at school, I was in the Academic Center with my boyfriend so that he could check his email on one of the computers. While he was occupied, I stared at the world map on the wall above the computers and I was fascinated by all the awesome names of the countries. I was also surprised by the ones I didn't recognize. So I made a list and I got an idea.

Here's a new writing exercise for all you writers out there. Therefore, this post will be short. I do apologize, but I will have another post ready for all you readers by tomorrow. Scout's honor.

So get out a pen and your writing journal.

Find a big map of the world and take some quiet time to examine it (you can use Google Maps if need be, but a paper map at a library would be preferable). While you do that, make a list of all the countries that appeal to you. It could be a list of countries that you've been to, that you dream of visiting, that you're curious about, that you've never heard of, or even that just have cool names.

Once you've made your list, pick one and do a little research if you've never been there yourself. You don't have to have enough information to write a whole dang paper on the country, but if that floats your boat, go right ahead.

Once you're satisfied, use the country you've picked as the setting of a scene or a story and go nuts. What does it look like? What are the people like? What are their customs? What is the culture like? How is the food? What kinds of conflicts could arise? What would a character who lives there or who is travelling there be doing and why?

Rinse, lather, repeat. Do it with the rest of the countries on your list if that is what you desire. I'm going to try this myself once I have the time and a computer of my own to do such research. But I can already tell how much fun it's going to be. I get a warm, fuzzy feeling just thinking about it.

That's all for today. Check back tomorrow for a new book review.

Happy writing!!

My Favorite Author

Hey, guys!

Calling all feminists! I was going to make that my title, but then it occurred to me what a put-off it could be for some people. Because, let's face it, feminists have a bad rep.

Sure, the extremists take it a little too far, I'll give you that. But we're not all bad. Yes, I am a feminist. And by that, I mean that I believe in the true blue definition of equality. Not that women should be superior to men because men have been superior for centuries; I mean that men and women should be equals.

And although we do not live in a perfect world, I believe that we are getting closer and closer to that goal.

You guys are probably wondering what this has to do with reading or writing. Well, it turns out that it has a lot to do with reading and writing. But I won't get into that. All I'm saying is that Beauty Queens by Libba Bray is a pretty feminist text.

Yes, Libba Bray, one of my favorite authors of all time. But don't let all of this talk about feminism put you off, because this book is actually really hilarious.

Essentially, Beauty Queens is Lord of the Flies with girls. Specifically, with the contestants of Miss Teen Dream Beauty Pageant. Satirical, hysterical, and an all-around liberating and excellent book.

Now, for those of you who did not do your homework and who did not read Lord of the Flies in your high school English class, Beauty Queens is about a bunch of pretty teenage girls crash-landing on a deserted island. And it's going to be tough for the survivors to, well, survive.

But don't you underestimate these Miss Teen Dreamers. They may seem pampered and spoiled and unaccustomed to change on the outside, but they're fierce competitors in the biggest beauty pageant in the entire country. So surviving on a deserted island should be no problem whatsoever.

Despite the stereotypes, these Teen Dreamers are not what everybody believes a Teen Dreamer should be. But sometimes a trip away from commercial society is exactly what a girl needs. No one to tell her how she should look or act or behave or be. Period. A girl can find herself when she's surrounded by others who are in the same boat and feel like they're suffocating under society's unrealistic standards.

Like I said, definitely a feminist text, but in the best possible way. It's witty, sarcastic, and funny. I've laughed out loud while reading this book and found myself sharing certain snippets of dialogue with friends and family who have no idea what goes on in the book. That's how I know a book is good.

When I said "funny" did I also mention random? Well . . . nah, I won't give it away. But trust me, some places make you reread it: half to make sure you read it right, and half to laugh again.

Anyway, in case you haven't already guessed, this book comes highly recommended by me. High school students and beyond. Girls will certainly love it, but guys may also enjoy it for its humor.

And the characters in the book aren't all giggling girly girls. These girls have all kinds of interests: comic books, journalism, DJ-ing, dancing, fashion. And, of course, competing in pageants. The girls are also of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexuality, physical types, and career goals. Odds are that everyone will relate to at least one character.

Hope you guys will check out the book (it's one of my favorites!) and that you'll check back later for more blog posts. Also, please follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page for more updates. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Inspiration for Writers

Hey, guys!

And a special hello to my writer homies . . . I thought I would sound cool by saying homies, but I was wrong. Oh, well.

Anyway, I was thinking of when I was in high school and taking a course in creative writing and how much fun it was. Especially all the writing exercises we did during class. Creative Writing really helped me as a writer and helped me find ways to inspire myself when thinking of a new short story to write.

So, I thought that I would dedicate a blog post to helping writers like me find new ways to inspire their writing. In list form, of course.


1) Observation.

This sounds a little obvious, but I don't think we even realize how much of our writing is the result of what we see and experience. So, a good way to get the creative juices to flow is by going out and observing. People watch. Star-gaze. Take a walk through a garden or a forest trail. Take a load off and look at the clouds and try to find cool shapes. Go bird-watching. The options are endless.

Not only will you find cool stuff to write about, but doing idle activities like looking at clouds and birds and stars is a good way to quiet your mind of all the worries of the mortal world. This is good because it encourages the creative side of your brain to get chatty. You start to daydream and contemplate the wonders of the universe and the principles of human nature. That's where the inspiration comes from.

2) Imagery.

A huge part of writing is painting a picture and describing the scene. A good way to get into the writing mood is by looking at art. Paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures. Again, the list is infinite. If you're at a gallery or a museum, look at it from a character's perspective: what are they thinking of when they see the artwork?

But this doesn't mean you have to pay admission to go to an art museum/gallery. Instead, look through old photo albums, find a picture or two that speaks to you and start writing by describing what's going on in the picture. You could also do this with postcards, pictures from magazines and newspapers, or the pictures on the covers of music albums. Whatever floats your boat.

3) Words.

Again, this sounds obvious. But play with words. By that, I don't mean scramble up letters and invent new words (but if that's your cup of tea, go crazy). If you've ever seen a magnetic poetry kit, play around with that, use it as inspiration for a poem. But then again, I've tried looking for such a magnetic poetry kit, and I've yet to find one that isn't themed. Plus, those cost money.

But you can always have fun without a magnetic poetry kit. Flip through the dictionary, the newspaper, a magazine, anything with words and write down any that catch your eye. This might sound boring, but trust me, if you're a true blue writer, this is just about the most fun you could have. Write down the words you don't know or the words that sound beautiful or awesome. Arrange them into a poem. Try to use as many of those in a scene for a short story. Go nuts.


There is much fun to be had in the way of inspiring yourselves, young grasshoppers. So go out there and start writing! Follow my recommendations or go out and find your own way to inspire yourself: music, art, food, books, whatever gets your fire going.

Hope this helped, guys. I know it helped me just by writing it, because it makes me want to tote my notebook/journal around wherever I go and find inspiration everywhere. Because inspiration is everywhere. So go and find it and make it yours.

Happy writing!!

More John Green

Hey, guys!

Guess what? I have read another book at my brother's recommendation and we disagree about how we feel about the ending. Like that's never happened before.

I asserted that everything in the book had built it up to the ending that was written. My brother admitted, "I am a selfish pig who wanted them to ride off into the sunset." Spoiler alert: they don't.

But anyway, life goes on and he'll get over it. Eventually.

This mystery book that I am speaking of is Paper Towns by John Green. Yes, more John Green. Read the title.

But I promise that although this book is not a ride-off-into-the-sunset happy ending, it is not nearly as tragic as say The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska. If they made a movie out of this book, I seriously doubt that I would cry at the end.

So, let's talk about Q: total worry-wort and not much of a risk-taker. I can relate to him already. Grew up across the street from Margo Roth Spiegelman in what she likes to refer to as - you guessed it - a paper town. Margo is a total enigma who loves getting into trouble. But it's not the poor dear's fault; her parents are jerks.

I should probably explain what a paper town is: fake and tacky. In other words, the people in paper towns go about their silly lives pretending the whole way. The illusion is security, but the truth is that they can crumble at the slightest breath of wind at any moment.

Well, one night after years of secret-admiring on Q's part and silence on both their parts, Margo Roth Spiegelman climbs through Q's bedroom window and invites him on a quest for revenge.

Turns out, her boyfriend's been cheating on her (what a jerk) and her friends are totally fake (high school, am I right?). So what does her eleven stage plan entail? Not gonna give it all away, but it involves embarrassing photos, stinky fish, and spray paint.

The next day, Q finds out that Margo has run away from home. Again. In the past, she ran away from home on spectacular adventures and then eventually returns home after the clues of her location go right over her parents' heads.

But this time is different. This time she doesn't come back. And the clues she leaves are for Q's eyes only. With a little help from his friends - Radar and Ben along with their girlfriends - Q will embark on a frustrating but exciting journey to discover the real Margo Roth Spiegelman, the one who no one has ever seen before.

Like many of John Green books, Paper Towns is a lesson in growing up and defining yourself and I highly recommend it for middle school and high school students and beyond. Plus, it's a quick read; I read it in a matter of days.

Also, it is really really funny. I caught myself smiling or laughing out loud in certain parts. My God, the BP scenes. Keep an eye out for it, guys. You'll know what I'm talking about and you'll laugh right along with me.

Okay, confession time: I started reading If I Stay and I only read the first chapter. I got distracted by another book. But I will get back to it eventually, I promise! So, I am currently rereading Uglies by Scott Westerfield. A review for that will be upcoming.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed, that you will like my Facebook page/follow me on Twitter, and that you will check in again tomorrow. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

How to Be Poor

Hey, guys!

I'm gonna tell you a little story about when I was in high school.

Ahem. Once upon a time, there was a junior in high school named Sarah, who decided to take AP English Composition. Little did she know that the class would be unexciting and that she would get a 3 on the AP exam, which would not help at all at the college she would end up going to. The End.

Well, whatever. At least I got to read The Catcher in the Rye and The Time Traveler's Wife. I actually forgot about that. I may write reviews for those books. Mentally noted.

Anyway, one of the books I had to read for this class was Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. I'm going to say right off the bat that it's not all that exciting, but it is extremely interesting.

I've never read The Help, but I've seen the movie and this book is kind of like a modern version of that.

So, this is a work of nonfiction written by a journalist who often wrote articles about the middle class and poverty for the magazine Harper's. She then kind of unintentionally volunteers herself to go undercover as a middle class worker to see if she can manage to get by on just the minimum wage. And by that, I mean the minimum wage for before 2001.

And thus, she joins the labor force as an unskilled worker. She fudges her resume, leaving out certain otherwise impressive references and details. She then works various jobs (not at the same time) over the course of several months as waitress, hotel maid, home cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart employee.

Not only was it difficult to get by and to pay monthly rent for her various accommodations for the occasion, but she experienced the monotonous, disheartening, and sometimes gross conditions that go with a minimum wage job that does not require any skill.

As I said, it is not action adventure fantasy horror romance, but it is an interesting read that demands the reader's attention. I would definitely recommend this book for people of all ages from high school and beyond. It's an important book academically because it could give people a better view of poverty.

Plus, if any of you parents decide to give this book to your child who is currently in high school, it might just scare them into going to college . . . I'm kidding of course. I'm sure that many of you know that increasing student loan debt could cause poverty just as much as no college education.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the review and that you'll check back for more. Also, it just occurred to me that when I asked you guys to follow me on Twitter, I didn't give you my screen name. Whoops. I guess that sshea777 got a little too excited about her new acquaintances with technology.

Oh, and by the way, my Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/writebooknerd. So now you know. Oh, and uh, please follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page. Greatly appreciated. :)

Until next time.

Happy reading!!

More of Chris Wooding

Hey, guys!

Remember when I did a review for The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding? Well, that was only the second book I've read by Chris Wooding. The very first one I read was none other than Poison.

Poison is about a girl named Poison. How about that, huh? Another name in the title.

Anyway, Poison lives in a marsh with her father, step-mother, and her baby sister, Azalea. Her father is inattentive and her step-mother is a witch . . . no, not literally, she's just mean to Poison. Azalea is really the only person she loves.

One other person whose company she enjoys is that of Fleet, the local story-teller. And boy does Poison love his stories. His spins yarn about the other realms, which are home to creatures both fantastic and dangerous. But that's all they are: stories that are enjoyable to hear. Poison has no reason to believe that the other realms will hold any significance to her odd and lonely life.

Until her sister is kidnapped by a scarecrow sent by the Phaerie Lord. It's nothing out of the ordinary: it happens to many family's with young children. The people of the marshes just accept it as a part of life.

But not Poison. With the help of Bram and Peppercorn (whom she meets along the way), Poison is determined to travel to the Phaerie Realm and get her sister back despite the danger.

The Phaerie Lord, however, is a lot more dangerous that Poison originally believes, since he is in league with the other Realm Lords to overthrow the Hierophant, the lord who determines the fate of everyone, and is thus the most powerful lord of all. The irony? The Hierophant can only be human. How about that?

And the Hierophant is writing a most important story indeed, a story that determines the fate of the Realm Lords. And Poison's fate as well.

Like The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, Poison is a story that is rich with description and it can be a little hard to get into at first. That's how it was for me with The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. My boyfriend also just finished reading Poison, which I lent to him, and he admitted that it was hard to get into.

But he also said that it was really good. He's the type of reader who loves action and adventure books, so if you're like him, I would highly recommend Poison. It's dark and thrilling and it has a remarkable twist at the end that totally changes the point of the book.

I enjoyed it immensely as well, and I think that lovers of adventure stories with a touch of horror will enjoy this book as well.

Hope you guys enjoyed the review and that you'll check back for more. I also hope that you will leave comments with feedback and recommendations for more books. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

One more update

Hey, guys!

Last update today, I promise. But for those of you who do not have a Twitter account, I have just made a Facebook page for my blog, which is where I will be announcing new blog posts from now on, as well as on Twitter.

That being said, you guys are welcome to follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page to get updates about new blog posts and other cool stuff.

Fair warning, my Facebook page is still pretty crude as of right now, but I will make improvements soon.

Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Good news!

Hey, guys!

Guess what guess what guess what!

I finally made a Twitter account! Me! The so not tech savvy nerd girl just made a Twitter account. By herself, I may add.

I also added a little doo-hickey that will let you guys share stuff from my blog on Twitter or Facebook. Nifty, huh?

So you know what that means, guys. Be sure to follow me on Twitter to get more updates about when I post new book reviews and lists and writing exercises.

As a little side note, you'll also be able to see who my favorite artist is on SyFy's show Face Off every week, because I can't help it: I'm obsessed. And killing two birds with one stone.

So, like I said, be sure to follow me on Twitter and get more constant updates about when I publish new blog posts and I will try my best to stay on top of that once school starts as well.

Also, I will work on making a Facebook page for my blog, so be on the look-out for that.

Check back in for tomorrow's review and I will be here reading and trying to think of stuff to help all you writers out there.

Happy reading!!

One of my Favorite Authors as a Kid

Hey, guys!

So, as many of you know, my favorite authors now are Libba Bray, James Dashner, Maggie Stiefvater, and Suzanne Collins. Well, when I was a kid, I plenty of favorites such as Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Cornelia Funke.

And I believe that the first book I read by Cornelia Funke was none other than The Thief Lord.As it always goes with books I read as a child, not a lot of this book was retained by the time I finished it. But don't worry, I reread it in my later years. And the story of Prosper and Bo was quite a story indeed.

Set in the beautiful floating city of Venice, Italy, The Thief Lord is a story of magic that speaks to your childhood in much the same way that Peter Pan does. Come to think of it, it's very similar to Peter Pan. And also kind of the polar opposite of Peter Pan at the same time. Quite a contradiction.

Anyway, Prosper and Bo are brothers and orphans. Bo is about to be adopted by their silly and cruel aunt and uncle who just want an adorable little boy to showcase as their son. And that means that Prosper will never see his little brother again.

So even though Bo can be a total pain, Prosper takes him and runs away. They are then taken in by a band of runaway children who live in an abandoned movie theater and live under the protection of the Thief Lord, who gifts the children with stolen goods that they may sell to a store owner and scammer for their well-being and health.

The Thief Lord is a mysterious and unknown entity and he has a dark secret that even those under his protection are not privy to.

Not to mention that Prosper and Bo's aunt has hired a private detective to find Bo and to bring him back to her. So, with a mysterious Thief Lord, a troublesome PI, and a sketchy conman, trouble is brewing.

It's actually been a while since I've read this book, but I did enjoy it and I do recommend it for middle school audiences and maybe even high school students or young adults who are in touch with their inner child. Like me.

And if you read this as a kid and enjoyed it, then I would recommend Cornelia Funke's other works, such as the Inkheart Trilogy for middle school and high school students, and Reckless for young adults.

If you would like to read reviews for the previous books, I would be happy to oblige. A word of warning, though: I haven't read Inkheart in forever and I don't remember much of what happened in Reckless, which I read while I was a hospital volunteer in high school. It helped pass the time.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the review. I apologize that it's shorter that what I usually write, but I don't remember everything that happens in the book. Alas, a general and vague summary is all I can accomplish for this one. Suffice it to say that even though I don't remember the whole book, I remember enjoying it.

Please comment with feedback and recommendations.

Happy reading!!

For all us Wallflowers

Hey, guys!

So, I'm guessing that a lot of you have already seen the major film The Perks of Being a Wallflower starring Emma Watson and Logan Lerman. Well, I'm going to try to convince you guys to read the book by Stephen Chbosky whether you've seen the amazing movie or not.

My brother read this book before I did, loved it, and then demanded that I read it as well. So, I did.

The story is told in the form of letters from Charlie to the reader. My guess is that writing letters is Charlie's way of dealing with everything that could possibly happen to a high school student. And let me just say something about his voice . . . not his physical voice, his writing voice. It sounds almost childish, but a better word for it would be innocent. And it makes the reader love Charlie right away.

He's just moved up from middle school to his freshman year of high school after one of his friends killed himself. Not good, and Charlie took it pretty bad. So, now that he's a freshman, he doesn't have any friends. Especially since the first friend he makes is his English teacher who gives him extra books to read and essays to write.

That is until he meets Patrick and Sam, who are step-siblings. Patrick: fun-loving, hilarious, and gay. If you are planning on watching the movie, he will be your favorite character. I am not kidding. Sam: complicated, beautiful, and Charlie's love interest. But she is currently unavailable, and Charlie just wants her to be happy.

This book is the story of Charlie trying to survive high school and everything that comes with it: drugs, alcohol, girlfriends, peer pressure. And the pain that everyone deals with as teenagers that comes with relationships. And Charlie sees it all. Because he is a wallflower.

Maybe he notices it all because he wants to be a writer. Maybe he notices it all because he has his demons as well. Maybe he notices it because he can't help it.

I will warn you guys: there is a huge reveal at the end. And I mean HUGE. And it creates a mixed bag of feelings for the reader: happy and sad and angry and everything under the rainbow. Which is by design.

So, I highly recommend the book for high school students and beyond. It's a quick read and an amazingly good one. For those of you who love John Green, this would be a book for you, because even now I keep forgetting that it is not by John Green. Anybody who reads this book will most likely fall in love with Charlie as a character and root for him at every turn.

Also, watch the movie. Seriously, if you haven't seen the movie yet, watch it. I make it one of my missions in life to get my friends to see the movie, and none of them have regretted it.

For example, when the movie came out on DVD, I bought it and wanted to watch it. My brother refused to see it on the grounds that it could not be as good as the book (which, of course, it can't be). But I still wanted to see the movie and I convinced him to watch it with me and our parents as a family.

Suffice it to say that, although a movie can never measure up to a good book, it is still a beautiful movie. My best friend and my boyfriend agree. So, please watch the movie. And read the book. You won't regret it.

Hope you enjoyed and hope you will check back later.

Happy reading!!

A Happy Ending

Hey, guys!

So, as you know, I started reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green at my brother's recommendation. Well, if my calculations are correct, it only took me three days to finish this book. It's really a quick read.

And get this: unlike the other John Green books I've read (Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars) this one - hold on to your hats - has a happy ending.

So, anyway, what's up with the title, right?

Well, that's Colin's fault. He's a child prodigy who can speak eleven languages and reads like there's no tomorrow and is worried that he will never do anything that matters. But see, ever since he was a kid, he's only dated girls named Katherine. Nineteen of them, to be exact. And he's been dumped by all of them. So, when Katherine #19 dumps him, Colin is in pretty bad shape.

That's when his best-but-only friend Hassan - a chubby and hilarious guy who is currently putting off college and enjoys watching Judge Judy in his boxers - deems him in desperate need of a road trip to allow the healing process to begin.

Once they traverse the country from Chicago, IL to Gutshot, TN, they decide to stay and see the resting place of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand whose death caused World War I. And that's where they meet Lindsey Lee Wells, a non-Katherine female dating a different Colin.

Small world, right?

So after getting a good knock on the head and deciding to stay in Gutshot after getting jobs from Lindsey's mother - five hundred bucks a week for conducting interviews with locals about what they love about their town - Colin has a "Eureka" moment.

He's dated nineteen Katherines and has been dumped by every single one. There's gotta be a pattern there. There has to be a reason why he's been dumped by all of them aside from his extreme insecurities. That's when Colin decides to invent a Theorem - which involves a lot of math - that will predict the outcome of any relationship.

With the Theorem and Lindsey's help, it may be the only shot that Colin has for making himself matter. But Colin will soon learn that the future isn't set in stone and neither is he.

This is a quick read and an excellent one. Not only is it hilarious and entertaining (and has a happy ending) it also teaches some pretty good (and kind of obvious) morals without really making it seem repetitive. Well, they sure didn't seem obvious to Colin. For example, the story is not all about Colin. It's like he doesn't realize that there are other characters.

Not to mention there's a pretty unexpected twist . . . well, Colin didn't see it coming, anyway. For a prodigy, he doesn't really have much common sense.

I'm getting off track though. I highly recommend this book for middle school and high school students, and probably even a little beyond that. It's definitely a coming-of-age teenager kind of book. Definitely give it a whirl.

Hope you enjoyed this review and that you'll come back looking for more. Leave comments with feedback and recommendations. Until next time.

Happy reading!!