Bullying in YA

Hey Everyone!

Today I wanted to talk about the use of bullying in Young Adult Literature. I feel that this is an extremely important topic because two of the books I have read this semester deal with this. Those books are on the side, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina and Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

Bullying in Yaqui Delgado is more prevalent than in Wonder. In the first of the two mentioned books, it is the entire plot. This girl, Yaqui Delgado, wants to literally kick Piddy's ass. I feel like books today are bringing up topics that we rarely saw ten to fifteen years ago. Seeing books like these today is something I absolutely adore. Though I admit I didn't feel a real connection with Medina's book because I personally haven't had to deal with bullying. The idea that writers like Meg Medina and R.J. Palacio are making people aware of the fact that kids are getting bullied and people aren't doing a whole lot to help them out.

In Wonder bullying was more of a side-effect to the situation as a whole. It's more of "you have a facial deformity, therefore you are expected to be bullied Auggie." This is where I felt the bullying was kind of pushed off as nothing. Auggie isn't made of steel, guys. He let some of the "bullying" incidents just slide and I didn't feel like it was as realistic as Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. This one it was more of, I can make friends despite my deformity. The other one was a girl truly struggling with her life.

The two books are hard to compare because they are so different, but these are also the only books with bullying that I have read. I feel like it still is exceptionally rare to see books like these. Bullying is a big thing in a lot of kids lives. Most people are the bullied or the bully. Most kids, not all. Making people more aware of the problem may help people know what to do.

What do you think of books on bullying? Do you think they are still rare to find? Is it doing more harm than good? Give me your opinions!

Until Next Time,

The Mortal Instruments Back from the Dead?

Hey Everyone!

So I heard some news about one of my favorite book series, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

As you know, the first book was made into a film starring Jamie Campbell Bower and Lily Collins. Well, the film flopped. I watched the film and I thought it was a decent representation. I thought they could have done better, but I loved the casting. Magnus Bane is something else, but I liked the casting otherwise.

Well, good news fellow TMI fans! IT IS BEING MADE INTO A TELEVISION SERIES! 

I am so excited about this! I really hope that they at least keep Jamie. Jamie is one of my favorite actors and he deserves some nice recognition for his acting skills. I feel he is worthy of a role in the new TV Series. I don't know what company or channel this will be through, but as I hear more, I will update you!

Until Next Time

Hello Again!

Instagram: @mandajeanbooks

Hey Everyone!

Wow... its been three months since I posted on this blog! I am extremely sorry! I have been so busy because of school and writing. I will begin taking priorities in this once more. Reading is basically my life!

I better talk about some book things, right? Well, here goes.

I have been slowly reading this year. My reading goal on goodreads is 52 books and currently, I am behind. By 6 books, it's not a lot, but I am still behind.

I haven't gotten a lot of books in the past few months, but here is a list of every book I got from 24 July to today (going from newest to oldest):

1. Asylum by Madeleine Roux
2. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
3. Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick ****
4. Who We Are by One Direction (Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson)
5. Popular: Vintage Wisdom for the Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen 
6. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
7. The Douche Journals by Schmidt (from New Girl)
8. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
9. Lux: Beginnings by Jennifer L. Armentrout
10. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
11. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
12. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
13. If I Stay by Gayle Forman 
14. The Giver Quartet (4 books) by Lois Lowry

**** BOOKSPLOSION BOOK OF THE MONTH: SEE HERE

17 books in total over 3 months. That is about 6 books per month. Some of them were gifts from my brother, too because I had my birthday in August. But in all seriousness, I have been buying more books than I have been reading. This is a bad thing since I decided that I want to take a trip over to the beautiful country of Scotland. So I am going to do something where I am going to read five books and then buy one book.

These are the books I will be buying when I read five books (one book per five):

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
2. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
3. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
4. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
5. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
6. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
7. Winger by Andrew Smith
8. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
9. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
10. Half Bad by Sally Green
11. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
12. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
13. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
14. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 
15. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

So since I am back, I will be trying my best to update this blog as often as I can. I admit, I am not exactly the best person at keeping on top of things, but keeping up on this blog is something I hope to do. So I will do my best!

Until Next Time,

The Rose Master by Valentina Cano

Hey Everyone!

Today we have a review for The Rose Master by Valentina Cano. I was asked to give an honest review from the author and I am going to give my full and honest opinion of this books.

             

The Rose Master is about a maid named Anne who is transferred to Rosewood Manor from her previous position where she had grown up her entire life. When she enters the house, she is met with a string of strange events and learns more about herself than she would ever know.

I give this books four cups of tea due to the whole fact that I felt something was missing. I loved the book, this is a book I read in less than a day and I absolutely adored the story, but I still felt there was some sort of substance missing at the end. I just felt like there was some sort of ending that I wanted was missing. I am going to relate this to Essence by Mandi Lynn almost. The story itself was good, but there needed to be more to the story itself. I do have to say, I loved this story far more than that one.

I think the relationship, as platonic or romantic it could well be, between Augustus and Anne was my favorite part of the story. I felt that Cano could have explored this relationship more than she did. I felt that they simply just resolved the issue that was happening and then just existed as they were before. There was just that sense of satisfaction at the end I was missing. I don't want to go too much into this so I don't give anything away, but I felt that there was something missing with the both of them.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something about mystery, magic, and old and beautiful houses. Seriously, the setting is one of my favorite aspects of this story.

I was supplied with a blurb and here it is:

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:

There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.

As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.

When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.

Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

About the Author
Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in Miami, Florida.

Links:
Goodreads-author
Goodreads- book
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
REUTS
Amazon

The Ever Hanging Reading Slump

edszebra.deviantart.com

Hey Everyone!

Today's topic is reading slumps. Yes, that dreaded phrase I didn't think I would ever have to use. I am in the midst of one, I feel. The school year, I was having a fantastic reading stride, but when summer vacation hit and I could finally write again, the reading stopped. I think it's because I read so much in three months due to my job. I work in a library and when I have nothing to do, I read books.

So this is me telling you that if I am not on here updating reviews or anything, I am most likely writing. I promise. That is what I am going to be worrying about this summer I think, working on my writing. It is after all my goal to become a professional writer. So this is me taking a reading hiatus which I will be picking up after NaNoWriMo. I do have a book review to do this month, so I will have to read that and I will be posting a review. Keep an eye out for that!

Reading slumps suck majorly, why is it that they come when one has the most free time? Can it just disappear? I am like in that constant state of "I want to read this, but I really can't be arsed." So this is me being "can't be arsed" and not reading for a while and clearing it for a while. My slump is on real books mind you. I seem to love reading Wattpad lately, so maybe I'll write some reviews on those because some of them are really good!

Review: Ex Factor/ Unbreakable by Elisa Dane

Hey Everyone!

So today I have a review of the two books of the Diamond Girl series by Elisa Dane.



The Summary of both books by Goodreads:
Ex-FactorNevaeh Evan’s life is uprooted after her father’s death, when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, Livvie. Her plan to lay low at her new high school isn’t working. Her friend’s jerky boyfriend keeps asking her out, the guy she likes treats her like garbage, and the thought of tumbling again makes her want to hurl. 

So when her aunt pushes her into joining the elite X-FACTOR cheer leading squad, Navaeh goes along with it. 

But Nev feels she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Not after what happened the night her father died. 

Bodie Scott knows about grief all too well. Critically injured in an alcohol related accident the year before, Bodie struggles with the fact that he’ll never play football again, and he’s so far behind in credits he can’t see straight. That is, until he meets Nev. Haunted by their bloody pasts and wary of a shared future, Nev and Bodie turn to one another for comfort and support, and realize they’re not so alone after all. And when the party scene at school threatens the life of a loved one, the two stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself

Unbreakable
Perception is everything to sixteen-year-old Olivia Brown. With her freakishly hot boyfriend, volunteer work at the local animal shelter, successful beauty channel on YouTube, and well-earned spot on X Factor Cheer's elite level five Diamond Girl team, Livvie's the girl every other girl wants to be. At least, that's the illusion she's aiming for. 

But Livvie's seemingly perfect life is anything but. Lying about the bruises her boyfriend gives her, and cowering beneath his raging temper becomes a regular way of life until she unwittingly witnesses her drunken neighbor beating his step-son, the town bad boy, Reid Tate.

For Reid, vulnerability is the enemy. Opening up, and letting people in gives them the power to disappoint. Growing up with a co-dependent mother and an abusive alcoholic father, Reid has endured all the disappointment he can stomach. 

But when his pretty, do-good neighbor witnesses his step-dad beat him to within an inch of his life, and not only call the cops, but keeps quiet at school about what she saw, Reid wonders if maybe, just maybe, he's found someone he can finally trust

Review:

I really liked this book! I thought it was really interesting as I'm not normally into that frilly nilly cheerleader type of story, but this was so different. I loved the romance in the book and how it's not like all those typical little love stories. I really appreciated that because I am kind of sick of those stereotypical love stories that are seen all over the internet. You know, the stories which are just overdone.

I loved the fact that the books deal with social issues. The second one in particular talking about abuse. I think that is by far the best aspect of this series. The fact that it deals with real issues instead of made up issues. Most contemporaries don't really have this conflict that I have seen in these books. I normally only see the kinds of stories that deal with just the romance. I like how it goes much more into that. So thank you, Elisa Dane.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a unique read that deals with real issues. You won't regret picking up this book, it's definitely a phenomenal read!

Camp NaNoWriMo July Session 2014

Hello Everyone!

So as you know, I am a person who wants to be a writer. Obviously I did not complete the April session but it was because I was in the middle of school, so I made the decision that I would only do the summer July sessions from now on. I don't think I can afford to do NaNoWriMo during the school year again. School is far too important.

For this NaNo session, I decided to do something a little different, I am going to divulge a little about myself. I write fanfiction. Yes, make fun of me if you will, but it has helped me get experience with criticism and I think it's a great place to gather some sort of foundation to put my feet in. I will be posting my NaNo work on Wattpad as I go. My fanfiction is called The Prince and it features a member of One Direction and I am a huge fan of them. I have already began writing this, but I moved all the previous chapters out of the manuscript area on Scrivener so feel free to check it out. Here is the cover :D

I am super excited to continue writing this story. It is very different from the other stuff I have written on Wattpad. It's a prince story and Harry Styles is that prince. How cool is that? People seem to really enjoy it, a few people even sent me these things:

 

I think everyone is so sweet with these. I  adore the fact that these four people took their valuable time to make me these. I am so grateful for everyone who reads it thus far. I am also very excited to see where the story goes :D Hope everyone will have a wonderful July nano session :D

Anna and the French Kiss Series (Books 1 and 2) by Stephanie Perkins

Hey Everyone!

So today I have a review of the most fantastic contemporary reads I have read this year by far. Now, if you have no idea what these books are all about, then I suggest you stop buying your copies of Game of Thrones and pick these up, pronto!

If any of you know me at all, you will learn that I am not really into the whole contemporary style thing. I love living in worlds that are different than my own. I love living in the dystopian worlds where they have to overcome the government just to survive and make the change. But these books, they make me feel things I never thought a girl like me could feel before...and that is saying something.

The first book, Anna and the French Kiss, is about a girl named Anna who is a film reviewer. She runs a blog (much like me) and writes reviews on movies she sees and critiques them. Her parents have shipped her off to boarding school, get this, in Paris. Who wouldn't want to live in the beautiful city of love and go to school, right? Well, it's there she meets the cocky and all too handsome, and very off limits, English boy, Etienne, or St. Clair as he seems to prefer.

The first book was flawless, I mean, come on guys, Etienne, as small as he may be in height, he makes up for it in charm! This book literally blew me away and when I reached that last page I literally said to myself out loud at work, "This can't be over." I was just in awe of the perfection this story has created. Before I read this book, I had no aspiration to even visit Paris, but after reading this book, will some English boy please come and take me to Paris, stat? Someone fall in love with me? Please.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second novel in this "series." Now, the unique thing about this series is that it doesn't necessarily need to be read in order. However, if you would like to know more about St. Clair and Anna, I would suggest reading the book I just reviewed first because their characters are tied into this one. I would say the series is more of a bunch of companion novels meaning that they themselves could be stand alone novels. When that book is finished, there is no more to their story and I love/loathe it because I want to know more right away, but it was perfect where Perkins ended it.

Now Lola is a girl who was adopted by her biological uncle and his partner. Yes guys, you read right, "partner." Stephanie Perkins blew me away by going into something I am finding still so uncommon in literature today and that is gay parents as the main character's guardians. So I applaud you, Stephanie Perkins, because this was phenomenal. Anywho, Dolores Nolan, Lola, is an eccentric girl who loves creating costumes and has a rockstar boyfriend named Max. When her new/old neighbors move back home, her whole life is kind of turned upside down. Well, more than it was when her birth mother turned up for them to help once again.

I think I loved this book ten times more than the first one. There. I said it. I was just so pulled into the story of Lola and Cricket that I couldn't help but smile at the thought of falling in love with a boy out my window. Sorry, spoiler, they fall in love. I mean, Cricket isn't as perfect as Etienne, but he's Cricket. You know, he's that character in a TV show that you couldn't see yourself falling in love with, but you would date him because he is cute in his own way. You know, that kind of guy?

The feelings I felt in this book were just... indescribable. Lola's life had me sucked in because it was more of problems that I can relate to than Anna. Lola had parents who were far too strict whereas Anna's were more lenient. Lola's dads were probably the highlight of this novel, they were funny and just good parents. They weren't airheads like most novels I read. Her dads tried so hard to not be the stereotypical gay people and sometimes, it showed and they even acknowledged it. I laughed out loud at the end when one of her dads said he was trying so hard not to say fabulous.

I would recommend these two books to anyone who has a heart. Anyone who wants to feel romanced for the night because, my friend, these books are for you. No, this is not Twilight nor some cheesy Nicholas Sparks novel, this is a one of a kind book. These two couples aren't perfect, in fact, they are flawed...like us. Go pick these books up! Now.

August 14, 2014 is when the third book in this companion series is released. It's called Isla and the Happily Ever After. I personally am ecstatic to pick up this book and just love it forever and ever. I may even cry when it's over.

Anna and the French Kiss on Amazon **

Lola and the Boy Next Door on Amazon **

Pre-Order Isla and the Happily Ever After on Amazon

Word to the wise, if you know anything about this series, you will know there has been a cover change after the second book (annoying, I know). However, if you're like me and ordered the pretty new covers and want the third book now and want the covers to be similar in size, I would recommend preordering from bookdeposiotory. I recently purchased a soft cover edition of a 2014 release, though it may be slightly taller than the other books in its series, they are all at least soft cover.

Here is the link to that: BOOKDEPOSITORY 

COVER REVEAL: The Rose Master by Valentina Cano

Hey Everyone!

Here is the cover reveal for Valentina Cano's The Rose Master. I am honestly excited to go and buy this when it is available! I hope everyone thinks this cover is as perfect as it is. I can't wait to hold this book in my hands and enjoy every second of it!

Here's the blurb!

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:

There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.

As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.

When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it. 

Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

Sounds chilling doesn't it??? So excited to read this!

Want to get to know Valentina Cano a little bit? Here's some info!

Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in Miami, Florida.

Some LINKS!
Website
Twitter 
Facebook
Goodreads
REUTS Site

Mila 2.0 Review (Both Books)

Hey Everyone!

I have a review for Mila 2.0 and it's sequel Renegade. I was given a copy for review from HarperCollins via the Fantastic Flying Book Club. So thank you to that! Read to the end to enter the giveaway to be able to win one of two sets of Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza.

BOOK DETAILS

Renegade (MILA 2.0 #2)
by Debra Driza
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 13th 2014

Synopsis:

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Mila 2.0: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10222362-mila-2-0

Origins (Novella): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16118288-origins

BOOK LINKS:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10222365-renegade?ac=1

Amazon Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/oojebo8Amazon Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/o2fwbw8

Barnes & Noble (B&N): http://tinyurl.com/pn8ljtv

iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/pbfv4u8

Bookdepository: http://tinyurl.com/neujdh8

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/okw9jmu

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I'm the author of the MILA 2.0 series and the owner of the messiest purse on the planet, aka: the black hole of doom. I think bow ties are cool and when I grow up, I want to be Veronica Mars.

I rarely check my account at Goodreads, so if you need to get in touch with me, try twitter or Debra at debradriza.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.debradriza.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4581947.Debra_Driza

Blog: http://www.houndrat.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebraDriza

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debra-Driza/206985942667716

I read both book this week and was sort of underwhelmed by the both of them. I was so excited to read the both of them since they sounded pretty fantastic, however, I didn't see it that way. I wasn't able to get into Mila's story in either book since I feel like I've read a thousand and one robot/cyborg type stories. I just wasn't ready for another one, I suppose. I loved the beginning of the series with Hunter and whatnot, but when she was thrown out of the truck, it's just--- I-- there was nothing for me.

The writing was good, yes, but the story and I did not connect in the ways that I wished we could have connected. I wanted to read it because I am a huge fan of Divergent by Veronica Roth, but I was just-- no substance. Are you making sense of this review? I just didn't care for it, it's weird because I always love books. Normally, I love every book I read and looks so good, but this one. I couldn't get into. Maybe it was the fact that it's a bit hectic in my personal life right now with school, but I still was not feeling it. I plan on rereading both books one day, but for now, this review sticks. I did not like it.

On top of it all, I felt like there wasn't much going on. It was like those situations where it goes "Oh they're here... now they're there and a random character joins them." You know those books, don't lie. 

Follow the Blog Tour!

Don't be completely turned off by my review of the series, but these are my feelings. They're well written, but like I said, crazy hectic right now. Go ahead and enter to win the giveaway! May the odds be ever in your favor! 

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Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth is the last book in the Divergent trilogy. This book follows the points of view of both Beatrice "Tris" Prior and Tobias "Four" Eaton as they continue their conquest of getting freedom back.

In this book, we learn more about the back story of Tris's family such as Edith Prior who we learned about briefly at the end of Insurgent. The back story of her life was really interesting to learn about and made me feel that connection I have been wanting, but I quickly felt distanced due to the switching points of view.

I gave this book four cups of tea for a few reasons. One of the reasons was the switching points of view. Though I did enjoy how Roth wrote this, I am still not a fan of the points of view going back and forth. I felt lost at times not knowing who was narrating at times. I just like being in the know and having the consistency of the one character narrating it. The other reason was the ending, I know why Roth ended it like she did, but I grew so close to these characters that I just wish I had the sense of the happy ending.

I also felt like the chapters weren't as quality as the other books. They were sometimes a page long and I somehow didn't enjoy that. I like the simplicity of longer chapters with more depth. I do see that they started off longer and grew shorter as the book went on (was this purposeful?). 

All in all, I did think this was a good ending to a series, it was gut wrenching, but still fantastic nonetheless. I would recommend this book series to anyone who loves an action packed love story that takes place where things are not as they seem. Go check this out!

Camp NaNoWriMo 2014 Week 2

Hey Everyone!

Week two of Camp NaNoWriMo has begun and well, I haven't written a word. I wrote about 44, I think, actually. After I finish writing this post, I will most definitely be writing (I PROMISE). I think it's due to me being so emotionally drained from school being back in full swing. That taste of freedom a few weeks ago was what set me like that. Then, the weather is beginning to warm up again and it makes me want to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.

So let's answer these questions....

How are you feeling at the moment?
Not so good. I am about 3,000 words behind so it is a fair reason to be a little uneasy. I have some catching up to do! Why am I so drained? 

Did your story take any unexpected turns?
Yeah, no.

How is your plot coming?
Click here to see my response from last week....haha.

Favorite character to write thus far?
Jameson. Despite not having written about him yet, I just have had these ideas festering in my head about him and I can't wait to insert him into the novel again. He's like my baby.

Anything you wish you could change?
My writing habits.

Current word count?
I am not even going to put this here because I am so ashamed of it....1695

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is about a boy named Jacob who spends an awful lot of time looking through his grandfather’s peculiar photos. The story really kicks off around the time of his grandfather’s untimely death.  Around this time, he travels to a small island off of Wales where the adventure truly begins.

This book was incredible; it was unlike anything I have ever read before. I love the way Riggs incorporated the photographs into the story because it gave a face and name to all these characters.  There were extremely odd ones, yes, but I loved how they had a back story behind them.

I loved the plot of the story. The idea that there is this mystical island where all the peculiar children of the world live is so fascinating. I often thought to myself while reading the book about what if something like this actually existed. This book made me want to live in this world and experience what Jacob was experiencing.

One thing I applaud of Riggs is the male protagonist. In the past year, I believe this is the first book I have read with a male protagonist. Most of the books I am recommended are all female heavy, but I love this. There isn’t really a romance in this and I adore that because it makes it different. Sure, there was a kiss, but it didn’t make a huge impact on Jacob’s life.

I think this book is well-written and funny. I was laughing out loud while reading this book and I hope whoever picks this book up next. I recommend this to those who love creepy photographs and a good story to go along with them.

Top 10 Tuesday (8 April 2014)

I did something a little different for this. I decided to do a YouTube video on this on my booktube channel, go ahead and check it out. I apologize to The Broke and the Bookish for saying the wrong blog name!

Camp NaNoWriMo Has Arrived!

Hey Everyone!

So as you see, Camp NaNoWriMo is upon us in this beautiful month of April. I am once again participating in hopes of working on my November NaNoWriMo novel.

I am currently working on my second draft and my word count goal is 15,000 words this month which equals 500 words per day.

If you don't know how Camp NaNoWriMo works, it is essentially the same thing as NaNoWriMo except it is on a different website and you can choose how many words you write instead of the standard 50,000. You also get a cabin where you talk to other members of the NaNoWriMo community as you work through the month.

Why did you choose 15,000 words?
The reason I chose the word count I did was for a simple fact. I don't have the time. Semester is beginning to wind down and I don't have the time. I also have harder classes this semester and I wanted to focus more on that than struggling to get almost 2,000 words per day. By writing 500 words a day, it gives me a more achievable goal.

How are you feeling at the moment?
I feel excited. Like I said last time, I am incredibly motivated. I love writing this story and I can't wait to go deeper with these characters which I have grown so close to in the past few months. I also have a stronger grasp on where I am going right now.

Did your story take any unexpected turns?
Not yet, I have a strong idea where I am going this time.

How is your plot coming?
Very well. I am moving it at a steady speed and hopefully it will continue to progress similarly.

Favorite character to write thus far?
Right now, it is Lysandra since she is the only character I have really written to right now. None of the others have been introduced yet, but I'm hoping to get more inside her head because I feel as if it was lacking last time.

Anything you wish you could change?
I keep calling the guards "the younger one" and "the older one." I need to rename them or something!

Current word count?
On track with 1,013

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Review

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is about two sixteen-year-old’s that met on a school bus in August of 1986. Eleanor is a large redheaded girl who comes from a troubled family whereas Park is from a biracial family whose lives appear to be perfect. The pair bond over comic books and music in the most interesting way.

I gave this story four out of five stars on goodreads partially because of the ending, but mostly because of the pace. I loved the story itself, but I felt as if this story was just slow moving. It didn’t keep me want to keep reading it, but I did because I had high hopes for this.

The romance in the story was something that did warm my heart very much. It made me want the same sort of connection that Eleanor and Park had. Their relationship was so cute and juvenile, it was nothing but sweetness. It gives me hope that somewhere out there, there is someone who is like Park. Someone who cares more for their other half and would do anything for them.

I loved the dialogue, both the character’s speaking manner and the narrator. The speaking style was so funny and though Rowell throws in a whole lot of f bombs, the dialogue had me laughing. It was funny dialogue, so I loved reading the interactions between the characters.

This is also one of those books that delivers a message of love in a different sense. Most contemporary romances give off the message that there is this one person is there for the rest of this life you have. This book, it doesn’t. I can’t say why because it would give away what that means, but this book is so much more than that.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a cute romance, some contemporary, and a life with hardships.

Check out this book! It is good!