Uh, wow! What to say...I guess I should start with chilling, challenging and even a bit philosophical. This particular "Wintergirl", Lia, is an anorexic struggling with her feelings about her recently deceased friend Cassie. Cassie seems to haunt her until Lia questions what she holds dearest.
Lia's attempts to hold on and find something worth living for slowly slip away until it's all a jumble of confusing words and comforts. A beautiful, well-spun tale about finding your comforts.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Buzz about The Hunger Games
Everyone I know who has read this book says it's stunning and that the author has a fantastic writing style. I'm beginning to be a bit worried--it's starting to look like hypnotism, or else brainwashing. I'm anxious to read these series to see if I can resist its spell! Wish me luck!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Response to Evermore
Welcome to the land of Evermore. Ever is a troubled teen whose family died in a tragic car accident when her father tried to swerve a deer and crashed into a tree. Ever's miraculous recovery brings her powers she'll never appreciate or admire; the power of telepathy, and seeing people's "auras".
Ever dwells deep in her life of lies until along comes magical and mysterious Damen, who seems to be drawn to Ever, much to her confusion. Pretty soon her life takes a turn for the wacky.
I loved this magical book because it explores the prospect of superhuman abilities-- and this book is not to be judged by its blurb. From the start I thought this was a simple Twilight spin-off, but I was sorely mistaken. So for all out there skeptical and reluctant, hear me now: don't doubt this book Ever again.
Ever dwells deep in her life of lies until along comes magical and mysterious Damen, who seems to be drawn to Ever, much to her confusion. Pretty soon her life takes a turn for the wacky.
I loved this magical book because it explores the prospect of superhuman abilities-- and this book is not to be judged by its blurb. From the start I thought this was a simple Twilight spin-off, but I was sorely mistaken. So for all out there skeptical and reluctant, hear me now: don't doubt this book Ever again.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
List of Favorites
Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall Wendy Mass
A Mango-Shaped Space Wendy Mass
Fairest Gail Carson Levine
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Hatchet Gary Paulsen
Life as We Knew It Susan Pfeffer
The Last Book in the Universe Rodman Philbrick
Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick
Maniac McGee Jerry Spinelli
A Mango-Shaped Space Wendy Mass
Fairest Gail Carson Levine
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Hatchet Gary Paulsen
Life as We Knew It Susan Pfeffer
The Last Book in the Universe Rodman Philbrick
Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick
Maniac McGee Jerry Spinelli
Favorite Authors
Wendy Mass, author of Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall and A Mango-Shaped Space. Wendy Mass' books couldn't be more different; A Mango-Shaped Space is narrated by an adventerous tween whose favorite passtime is exploring and spying with her best friend Jenna, while the backround of narrator Tessa's life in Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall proves somewhat more dismal. Mia finds herself grieving over a loss in her family while Tessa has given up totally and allows her skull to be cracked open by an apparently lethal, speeding, gym-class quality dodgeball. And yet the message in these books are similiar; happiness can be found almost everywhere you look. I highly recommend both of these intriguing and inspirational novels.
Gail Carson Levine has been one of my favorites for a long while as she writes great works of fantasy and realistic fiction, my two favorite genres. From Ella Enchanted to my personal favorite, Fairest, Gail Carson Levine never fails to capture my attention with books about differences, antidiscrimination ,the journey to find your destiny and, in many cases, true love. These books always put me in "The Reading Zone" and include some of my favorite reads.
Gail Carson Levine has been one of my favorites for a long while as she writes great works of fantasy and realistic fiction, my two favorite genres. From Ella Enchanted to my personal favorite, Fairest, Gail Carson Levine never fails to capture my attention with books about differences, antidiscrimination ,the journey to find your destiny and, in many cases, true love. These books always put me in "The Reading Zone" and include some of my favorite reads.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A Mango-Shaped Space
Definitely four and a half stars. A wonderful book about the loneliness of difference and how one person's disability is another one's gift. Thirteen year old Mia has synesthia and has survived thirteen years thinking she might just be crazy. A heart warming and fantastic novel about the journey to find yourself. Mia demonstrates how the human being deals with pressure and loss.
Mia is a care-free soul who typically wouldn't let anything put her down. Her two best companions are her human friend, Jenna, and her gray and white, wheezing kitten, Mango. Mia soon runs into unforseen complications with both, and her life flips upside-down. She's thrust into confusing emotions and plot schemes that kept this book interesting and keep me able to recommend this fantastic book to all readers.
Mia is a care-free soul who typically wouldn't let anything put her down. Her two best companions are her human friend, Jenna, and her gray and white, wheezing kitten, Mango. Mia soon runs into unforseen complications with both, and her life flips upside-down. She's thrust into confusing emotions and plot schemes that kept this book interesting and keep me able to recommend this fantastic book to all readers.
Friday, September 24, 2010
October's Favorite
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Page 167
Loving every page. Beautiful quotes. Fantastic and fantastical, but haunting. Read these:
page 15: The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For one moment we are not failed tests and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better. Then it melts.
page 28: I bit the days off in rows, corn kernels that popped in my mouth and wedged in between my teeth. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again.
page 32: Plastic stars wait on the cold ceiling, watching the light switch, nervous, ready for the dark and their que to glow.
page 50: Clouds hang in the air. Tears roll down the mirrors, walls, and the windows.
Page 167
Loving every page. Beautiful quotes. Fantastic and fantastical, but haunting. Read these:
page 15: The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For one moment we are not failed tests and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better. Then it melts.
page 28: I bit the days off in rows, corn kernels that popped in my mouth and wedged in between my teeth. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Again.
page 32: Plastic stars wait on the cold ceiling, watching the light switch, nervous, ready for the dark and their que to glow.
page 50: Clouds hang in the air. Tears roll down the mirrors, walls, and the windows.
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