Firegirl is about Tom Bender, a middle schooler who befriends Jessica, the new girl had been burned in a fire accident. This book is for those who enjFiregirl is about Tom Bender, a middle schooler who befriends Jessica, the new girl had been burned in a fire accident. This book is for those who enjoy quick reads that still have a profound impact. It addresses bullying, the power of friendships, and how the smallest gestures can make a big difference (even if you don't realise it). And don't let the cheesy synopsis deter you from reading this!...more
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a collection of short stories ranging from relationships to making a dAnd to think I started this in September...
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a collection of short stories ranging from relationships to making a difference that offer wisdom and inspiration from teenagers past and present. One of my main takeaways from this is the miracles of persistence– when you pursue your dreams and persevere with them, those dreams become more and more attainable. The true stories in this book attest to that.
However, I felt that some of the stories were a bit repetitive (not that they were bad, of course), which lost some of my interest and prompted my short leave away from it. And a word of caution since this book deals with some sensitive topics (e.g. suicide).
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is comforting, heart-wrenching, and inspiring– all at once. You would enjoy this if you're looking for a multitude of perspectives on the ups and downs of life. I would recommend this to teenagers due to content relatability, but adults will find this enjoyable as well. ...more
Thought-provoking and kept me curious until the very end.. I finished this pretty late at night and was left sufficiently spooked! I do think the storThought-provoking and kept me curious until the very end.. I finished this pretty late at night and was left sufficiently spooked! I do think the storytelling was slightly bland, but the book made up for it with mystery. I also love how Christie ended with (view spoiler)[ a letter from the murderer that filled in some of the gaps in our understanding, and she didn't reveal the name until the sign-off– really milking the suspense. (hide spoiler)] 3.5/5...more
Presque Mort is a book I was reading in French class. It's supposed to not be difficult, so this would not be suitable for native speakers! Presque MoPresque Mort is a book I was reading in French class. It's supposed to not be difficult, so this would not be suitable for native speakers! Presque Mort (which means Almost Death, by the way) is about an American girl named Ann Henry who loves French and travels to Brittany, France, as a foreign exchange student. Ann makes friends with a boy named Paul and saves him from choking to death (hence the title) while trying to change the school bully for the better. She leaves France with the understanding that goodbyes hold a lot of weight and with the hope that she sees her friends again, which I think is something we could all relate to (in terms of parting ways and leaving). I'd say the plot was not very well-developed, but I understand this is for teaching/learning French and not a novel. I would recommend this to eager French learners. ...more
Okay, first off– THIS TOOK ME ALMOST TWO MONTHS WHOA
The Diary of a Young Girl is, as most probably already know, Anne Frank's account of her years in Okay, first off– THIS TOOK ME ALMOST TWO MONTHS WHOA
The Diary of a Young Girl is, as most probably already know, Anne Frank's account of her years in hiding in the Secret Annex as a Jew during the Holocaust. She writes of her unstable relationship with her family, feelings of isolation and depression, terror during break-ins, adolescent longing for love, and life with little food, seclusion from the outside world, and longing for the outdoors. Anne also narrates her difficulties with expressing her true self– having a cheery, care-free self she shows everyone else while her true, deeper, more emotional side is hidden away in fear of mocking and disbelief from even the people closest to her. The Annex had some very negative times– of questioning how long they had to live, of members banding together against Anne, everyone expressing frustration of being cooped up... Anne was surrounded by people, yet felt increasingly alone.
This diary is about optimism, hope, staying strong, and finding who you really are as a person. Multiple entries in this book describe mundane things, which to be frank (pun was actually not intended- I just realized) I found tedious at times. However, as you progress in the book, it is really interesting to see how much Anne matures– in her attitude, increased self-awareness, and how she deals with conflict. Her knowledge, wisdom, independence, and maturity was fascinating to watch develop. Those with an interest in the Holocaust and learning about it through the mind of a teenage girl would enjoy this diary....more
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about Christopher, a math genius with autism. As he tries to solve the mystery of the death of hiThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about Christopher, a math genius with autism. As he tries to solve the mystery of the death of his neighbour's dog and uncovers truths about his family, we see Christopher's love of patterns and rules and his way of interacting with others.
In this book, Mark Haddon shows the complexity of relationships and how minds can work very differently. Christopher's appreciation of logic is sure to be relatable for many. I would recommend this for those who enjoy a very straight-forward, refreshing, first-person point of view.
While at times I found it hard to keep up with Christopher's frankness (hence the three stars), Haddon's combining of mystery, family, and the workings of another brain made this book a fun, informative read. ...more
The Shattered Mountain by Rae Carson is a novella (sort-of prequel) to the Fire and Thorns trilogy (so I recommend you read that first). This book is The Shattered Mountain by Rae Carson is a novella (sort-of prequel) to the Fire and Thorns trilogy (so I recommend you read that first). This book is centred around Mara, one of the ladies-in-waiting of the protagonist of the Fire and Thorns trilogy, and how her plans to escape from her abusive father with her boyfriend get interrupted when her village is burned down by animagi (evil magicians of sorts, for those of you who haven't read the Fire and Thorns series). But Mara survives, and she must journey to a refugee camp while taking care of herself and the children who follow her. An idea that really stood out to me when I read this is that hope, determination, and not giving up is crucial– in this book, giving up actually means death. I really admire Mara's bravery and resilience, and I saw a new side of her that didn't seem prominent to me in the Fire and Thorns trilogy. The Shattered Mountain helped me understand the cruelty people must go through, even today, as wars rage on and they feel pain and loss for the deaths of loved ones. Those who enjoy a lot of action, want to know Mara's story more, and can handle slight gore (e.g. tending to horrible wounds) will like this book. ...more
A Wonderland retelling about how the Queen of Hearts came to be, Heartless had intriguing ideas and an enticing beginning. However, I honestly expecteA Wonderland retelling about how the Queen of Hearts came to be, Heartless had intriguing ideas and an enticing beginning. However, I honestly expected a bit more– dark stories usually aren't my cup of tea, but I think Heartless could have used more action (/violence?). The novel moved slowly, and almost the entire plot centered around Cath (whom I found quite unlikable) trying to avoid marriage with the king. At the start her baking dream was fascinating, but later Cath just seemed helpless and did little to help her own case, depending SO much on her love interest and companions. (view spoiler)[ I couldn't quite believe Cath's sudden change in character, and the ending was sort of disappointing because she definitely knew of her fate- there were actual prophecies, goodness (hide spoiler)] I also don't understand how Jest and the King liked Cath so much... Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the other fairy tale elements included, and Jest and Cheshire were really likable characters. In other words, the novel was creative.. but there should've been more beheading....more
