Goodness that Starts with B

Birthday Goodness:

E just turned three and we celebrated with my parents and sister with Thomas the Train inspired goodies. It was so much fun! He loved blowing out the candles, eating his cake with a spoon and his ice cream with a fork (simultaneously), opening his presents, and playing with his Thomas balloons and party hat.  Little A had fun with the party hats and balloons too!

Blogging Goodness:

I spent about two hours finally getting around to what I've been wanting to do with the blog since March.  Check out the side bar and the first person to comment with the difference wins one of these virtual cupcakes, in honor of the b-day festitivies.  Don't worry, this kind won't go straight to your thighs. ;)

Bible Study Goodness:

I have officially put my YA manuscript aside for a while.  It needs a lot more revision which I don't have time for right now.  But I can't put my writing completely aside: I'm writing a Bible study on spiritual victory that I'm very excited about.  Whenever I put it aside for too long, I run across someone else in my life that tells me something they're struggling with.  They have no idea I'm writing a Bible study that addresses the very theme they're sharing with me, and it reminds me this is a message that needs to be written.  So, I'm currently working on it once or twice a week and loving every minute of it.

Life is good.  Busy, stressful at times, but oh so very good.

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden

By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Science fiction

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

Summary: "Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding. His parents disobeyed once by having him and are determined not to do anything unlawful again. At first the woods around his family's farm are thick enough to conceal him when he plays and works outdoors, but when the government develops some of that land for housing, his world narrows to just the attic. Gazing through an air vent at new homes, he spies a child's face at a window after the family of four has already left for the day. Is it possible that he is not the only hidden child? Answering this question brings Luke greater danger than he has ever faced before, but also greater possibilities for some kind of life outside of the attic. This is a near future of shortages and deprivation where widespread famines have led to a totalitarian government that controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. When the boy secretly ventures outside the attic and meets the girl in the neighboring house, he learns that expressing divergent opinions openly can lead to tragedy. To what extent is he willing to defy the government in order to have a life worth living?"

Taken from Amazon.com

Ok, so since this is such a quick read (I read this book in a few hours) I'll make it a short review:

The premise is so unsettling (remind you of China anyone?) that I was hooked.  It does have a few plot twists too, to keep you plowing through those pages.

The only real problem I had with this story was the ending. The ending was a little violent and seemed abrupt, but that could be because it's the first book in the Shadow Children series.
Oh, and there wasn't a whole lot of character development.  But maybe there'll be more in the following books.

Overall?  A fun, thought-provoking, quick read.

City of Ember

 City of Ember

By Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Summary: "It is always night in the city of Ember. The only light during the regular twelve hours of "day" comes from floodlamps that cast a yellowish glow over the streets of the city. Beyond are the pitch-black Unknown Regions, which no one has ever explored because an understanding of fire and electricity has been lost, and with it the idea of a Moveable Light. For 250 years they have lived pleasantly, because there has been plenty of everything in the vast storerooms. But now there are more and more empty shelves--and more and more times when the lights flicker and go out, leaving them in terrifying blackness for long minutes. What will happen when the generator finally fails?

Twelve-year-old Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet seem to be the only people who are worried. They have just been assigned their life jobs--Lina as a messenger, which leads her to knowledge of some unsettling secrets, and Doon as a Pipeworker, repairing the plumbing in the tunnels under the city where a river roars through the darkness. But when Lina finds a very old paper with enigmatic "Instructions for Egress," they use the advantages of their jobs to begin to puzzle out the frightening and dangerous way to the city of light of which Lina has dreamed. As they set out on their mission, the haunting setting and breathless action of this stunning first novel will have teens clamoring for a sequel."

Summary taken from Amazon.com

The City of Ember reminds me a lot of The Giver, in the fact that the students are assigned their jobs at the age of 12, and the main characters learn a huge secret about their society through their new line of work.

Doon and Lina were easy to relate to and cheer for, despite the fact that a lot about their city goes unexplained. I'm wondering if DuPrau did this to put us in the main character's shoes, or really just didn't think about the little details. Like why in the world would a society that's been going on for hundreds of years not be able to start a fire. It's so easy even the cavemen were able to do it (sorry, Geico joke thrown in). But lack of explanation aside, DuPrau made a world that I greatly enjoyed, much like Hogwarts or Narnia or Middle Earth, and the map at the beginning of the story contributed to it. I also really enjoyed the fact that Lina and Doon had to solve the 'code' on the ancient paper she finds. After piecing things together, they realize the way out of the city of Ember. This puzzle aspect had me deeper into the text too, as I too was trying to piece things together before the characters did. 

I was totally hooked during the climax, unable to put the book down until the story ended.  And when it did, I was disappointed the journey was over.  The book ends with a slight cliffhanger.  But then I learned there was a sequel, so I set out for the library the very next day to read the next book in the series (The People of Sparks).

Overall, it's just a fun read.

And yes, I saw the movie.  However, the movie doesn't come close to the awesomeness of the book.  The movie left out a lot of stuff and changed other things that I didn't think was necessary.  I've included the youtube trailer of City of Ember to hopefully give you a glimpse of the book's awesomeness...

The Giver

Ok, so this is my favorite dystopian book ever!  I think I compare all other dystopian books to this one.  I'll give you three clues before the big reveal...

Clue 1)  This book is FINALLY being made into a movie!  Yay!  It comes out in 2011.  

Clue 2)  It won a Newbery award.

Clue 3)  This book has been banned and challenge by many schools and yet is in the curriculum of several others.

Didja figure out what book it is?

My favorite dystopianYA novel is...

Drum roll please...

The Giver

By Lois Lowry

Genre: Science fiction

My Rating: 5 stars!

Summary: "In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price."
Taken from the back of the book.


Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I love this book!  (Can you tell?)  I also taught this book to 8th graders and they love it too.  A lot of them read ahead and couldn't keep the secrets and ending to themselves.  And so many discussions come out of this book!


It's wonderful and thought-provoking.  It's one of those books where you wanna just keep reading and reading to see what's gonna happen next.  I mean, jeez louise the community sure controls everything (what job you'll be assigned at the age of 12, who you'll marry, and then you are given your children, where you're given one boy and one girl.)  The members of this community are raised believing everything is absolutely perfect.  


Amazingly good quotes in this book from a very wise teacher and a very bewildered Jonas.  I've read this book at least 4 times and I notice new things and find new favorite quotes every time I read it.




I don't want to give anything away (because there are some awesome twists and secrets revealed as the story unfolds), but the reasons that this book is challenged/banned make me believe that the people who challenge it haven't read it.  Because the book clearly speaks AGAINST the reasons people want the book banned.  


Uh, everybody needs to read the book!  
And if you have read it, reread it.  It's awesome!

Are you excited this book is FINALLY being made into a movie?!?

Unwind

Unwind

by Neil Shusterman

Genre: Science Fiction

My rating:  4 1/2 stars

Plot Summary: "In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them.

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away."

Summary taken from back of book.

Whew!  This was an intense book that I DEVOURED in two days because I just HAD to know what was gonna happen.  

The story itself is fascinating.  It's told in third person, but each chapter focuses on different people. It mostly goes back and forth between the three main characters, but occasionally we get to see the perspective of a police officer, a parent, another unwind, etc. Seeing all the different perspectives allows us to get a better picture of what is going on, as we are taken on a journey in which we learn more and more about what actually happens when someone is unwound.

The characters are all well developed and regardless of whether they were a likeable character or not, as a reader I was pulling for all of them to survive to eighteen. There were several plot twists that kept me glued to the story and the technology mentioned kept the story exciting as well.

This book is intense and a little disturbing, not only because of the plot and plot twists, but also the deep issues that are rooted in this book that get you thinking.  The teens talk about deep things such as what will happen to their souls when they are unwound, if they will exist afterwards, and when life truly begins. This topic relates closely to abortion and the death penalty, sensitive subjects for many people. The book also includes themes that get you thinking about organ donation and harvesting, dealing with unwanted pregnancies, and sacrificing children to be unwound for religious reasons.

Despite the heaviness that some people may find from these embedded themes, the story itself is very interesting.  I would not recommend this for squeamish or younger readers.   The book talks often about body parts being salvaged for others to use, and how these body parts still contain the life of the person they were taken from. There is even a chapter in which a boy is unwound and we get to finally see the process. I found the chapter fascinating, yet chilling, and I'll admit my heart started beating a little faster, but squeamish readers may find it way too intense.

Overall, highly recommended.  Thought provoking, spellbinding, edge of your seat stuff.

Time to Speak Up!

Warning: I Read Banned Books.


In honor of Banned Books Week (yep, this week!) and this shocking article I'm going to speak up and review a book that some think should be banned or censored:

Speak

By Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: Fiction

My Rating: 5 stars!

"Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute..." 

Summary taken from Amazon.com

Oh. My. Goodness.  I absolutely loved this book.  Melinda is such an intriguing character who as the story progresses slowly speaks less and less.  The way Anderson portrays this is stunning.  The imagery is awesome.  And you can't help but feel for poor Melinda as she becomes a social outcast, her family falls apart, and as we slowly see snippets of what went on that made Melinda stop talking.

This book was eye opening, because it helps you realize that every person is carrying their own little secrets that are easy to keep hidden.  This book preaches the importance of speaking up.  

Warning: The remainder of this review includes spoilers.

The article that bothers me states basically that Speak is soft porn.  Um, excuse me?  We find out in the story that Melinda has stopped speaking because she was raped.  Yes, some of the rape is included in the book.  And I guess some people might be sexually excited by rape.  But he is totally misrepresenting the book.  And I'm a little disgusted he would view (or feel others would view) rape as soft porn.

When Melinda finally does speak up at the end, you can't help but cheer for her.  Such a triumphant ending.  :)

Go Melinda!  Don't let that guy who wrote the article make you feel what you went through is porn.  You've grown stronger because of this!  And you've touched my heart. :)

And Laurie Halse Anderson, don't let this guy get you down.  (You can find her blog post about the article here).  You write books that speak truth.  Some people just can't handle it.  


That's why I appreciate Banned Book Week.  We must treasure our right to read.  And we also must speak up!

Thou Shalt Have Another Teen Read Review...

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

"Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction over the course of the 1967-68 school year. Mrs. Baker hates his guts—he's sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? Everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam, but Holling has plenty of his own stuff to deal with. A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a stupid play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself."

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

I absolutely loved this book. It is told from the perspective of the main character, Holling Hoodhood, who tells the story in a hilarious voice that made me laugh out loud several times. It brought me back to my middle school years and I could connect with the main character's ideas and antics. My favorite part is when he's complaining about having to wear bright yellow tights with feathers (on the butt!) for an upcoming play who he hopes (and prays!) none of his classmates will see and which unfortunately makes its way onto the front page of the newspaper.

As a huge Shakespeare fan, I also loved the Shakespearean themes and stories that ran through the book. Mrs. Baker has Holling read Shakespeare with her while his classmates attend religious education, (proof to him, that she further hates his guts). He practices saying the curses, and loves reenacting the sword fights the characters undergo, but throughout the course of the book, realizes that Shakespeare is more than cursing and sword fights and interesting deaths. He finds that each Shakespearean story has a theme that relates to what he is going through. I loved the connections he was able to make, and is a great intro to Shakespeare for teens who may not know the story lines.

Did I mention I loved the voice of the narrator?

Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy

By Kiersten White

Genre: Paranormal romance

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

"Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.
But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal." -Summary taken from Amazon.com

I heard so many people raving about this book I had to check it out for myself, even though I'm not really into paranormal. In fact, I'll admit it, not a Twilight fan. But I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The story line was interesting, Evie's character is butt kickin', sassy and easily lovable, though slightly cynical. (She does remind me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The plot twists (though I suspected some of them) and conflicts kept me turning the pages. The world White created is an intriguing one, so I think it will make an excellent series. And the love interest is such a sweetie!
However, there were a few things in the book that I found slightly annoying. Like how the characters say "bleep" in place of a curse word. And Evie seems to do that a lot. I appreciate how White didn't use curse words at all in a teen book, but I found it bleep annoying. ;)
Oh, and White is really into describing voices for some reason. One voice sounds like "warm liquid", another like "golden liquid", and another like "broken glass." I forgot what the others sound like. After a while I got tired of hearing about how a person's voice sounded with metaphors that personally don't give me any impression of how they sound.
Overall though, I did enjoy the book. Hmm, maybe Kiersten White has converted me and I should check out some other paranormal reads. Apparently this book is being made into a movie and I will be in the seats watching it. :)

Anyone else read it? Or want to? And what do you think about them making it into a movie?

The Lightning Thief

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

by Rick Riordan

book one, The Lightning Thief

Genre: Fantasy

My Rating: 5 stars!

I think I devoured this entire series. It's an incredible journey, a hero's quest for teens that is not only pure entertainment, but also educational. I mean, what a cool way to learn more about Greek mythology!

Percy is such an ordinary, likable guy. An excellent narrator (read: great voice Mr. Riordan!). Percy finds out that he's really not that ordinary, he's half human, half Greek god. You'll pull for him as he tries to save the world from greedy gods and massive monsters, and return Zeuss' stolen lightning bolt before war totally breaks out on Mount Olympus.

Now, I'll admit I love Harry Potter--another fantasy novel where an ordinary kid finds out he's not so ordinary, he's a wizard. But I absolutely adore Percy Jackson. Riordan did such an incredible job of merging Percy's story and mythological stories that I'm in awe of his skill.

I look forward to reading Riordan's new series (The Red Pyramid is the first book) about Egyptian mythology...I don't know much about Egyptian mythology, so it should be interesting.

But the point is, the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series is awesome!

Anyone else read it? Or anyone interested in reading it now? Anyone see the movie and agree the book is WAY better than the movie (as is usually the case)?

325 Books in 3 Months?!

I read this article yesterday. It was about a teen who read 325 novels over the summer. I am totally impressed. A 14 year old read about 315 more books than me! And that got me thinking about my reading habits lately.

I used to read ALL the time. Especially YA books. I guess I always viewed it as part of my job (since I taught middle school English for 3 years before becoming a full-time Mommy). But that article made me realize that I didn't just read those books to be able to recommend books to students. I actually enjoyed reading them for my own entertainment. Plus, since I'm writing YA novels, maybe I should be keeping current on the YA market, right? And so I've made it my new goal to read at least 2 YA books a month. And then write a review about them-recently read or previous loves. So, be on the lookout for my reviews! They'll be coming out every Tuesday. :)

So how many books did you read over the summer? And what are your reading habits like now? Have any reading goals you want to share?