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:
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The Ever Hanging Reading Slump

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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