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

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!

Top Ten Bookish Resolutions - Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. To find out more about it and its future topics, click here

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Hey Everyone,

So I was going to do something like this, and what perfect timing this Top Ten Tuesday had! I have so many reading related resolutions that I want to do in 2014. 

Read more than 50 books. Last year, I read 37 and that is only because my goal was 30 and I had a slow start to my reading year. Therefore, this year on goodreads, my goal is to hit 50 books.

Read classics. I admit, I am the person to only read classics when I have been told to read them. I have purchased five or six classics and will be reading them.

Blog about book reviews more. I admit, I don't do book reviews as much and am still getting the hang of things in book review world, so I want to better my reviews and get the hang of things.

Read whenever I don't have a lot going on. My problem last year (namely September through December) was that I spent too much time cramming reading in that I forgot to study sometimes. I'm changing that, though. I want to read more on the weekends and study more during the week. Yep, that is what I am doing.

Be more critical of the books I'm reading. I find that I will love a book for what it's worth and appreciate it no matter how bad the writing is. I want to be more harsh and more critical.

Ignore reviews when buying a book. If I see a book that I want, I want to not care what other people have thought and just focus on what books I want. I've done this already, but I want to not look at the ratings and reviews until after I read the book.

Read more debuts and new releases. I was a little behind on the John Green, Cassandra Clare, and the Kiera Cass bandwagon's so I want to get on the new releases that are most anticipated quickly. I am still catching up from 2013!

Happy New Year!
Leave your own Top Ten Tuesdays in the comments below!

Musing Mondays (6 January 2013)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme created by Should be Reading

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

MY MUSING MONDAY:

This is my first one, so I think I'm going to start off with my reading habits since this is something I need to improve. This past year, my reading has been slowly going downhill due to school. When I started University, I found it hard to read, but I found the perfect time to read and that was when I was at work. I work in the library, so it only seemed fitting that I read there.

I could finish a book in two days of working and I loved that about my job. However, when the term ended almost a month ago, my reading began to go down hill. I just didn't have a great reading streak. I have to find time to fit reading into my nonexistent schedule and it's harder than it looks. Sometimes, I want to read, but I just can't be bothered.

If the books I am reading are some of the best books I have ever read, then yes, I will make an effort to read them quickly. 

One of the hardest things for me is finding a place to read. I love sitting in a big chair with music playing. The hardest part at home is finding that kind of space since my siblings are always around and they seem to love making loud noises. I need to get a comfy big chair where I can do all of my reading.

I tried reading before I went to bed, but I ended on a really good part and it kept me up most of the night thinking about it. Reading when I go to bed just doesn't work for me.

Writing Update: December 2013

Hey Everyone!

So... not much writing happened in the land of my NaNo novel. I tried, but I was so drowned in the holidays and finishing some other projects that I simply didn't have time.

One good thing came out of December. I finished another one of my stories I write. I was proud since it took me over a year to write. It's not going to be published, I know this already.

January is going to be me working on edits and reworking the story. I have a lot to change. I've decided to let it sit for a month, that's what Stephen King does, and it's probably a good thing. I just want to make it the best story I can before I begin querying.

For all of you writers out there, how many edits did you go through before submitting?

Wrap-Up: December 2013

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of updates in December. I decided to take a break, but I am back! I will explain more in the life post.

I read 4 books this month. Since I wrote no reviews, I will add my thoughts after each book. Just a short little review.

1. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Honestly this was such a good book that I didn't want to put it down. I loved the writing styles of both authors. Levithan's side as Dash just had me rolling in laughter the whole time. It was a perfect book to get into the Christmas spirit. I want to get a red moleskin notebook now. Can I find my man the same way Lily did??? Haha... jokes, jokes.

Rating: 4 Cups of Tea

 2. How to Love by Katie Cotugno

I read this because it was highly appraised by Melissabooks on YouTube. She hasn't failed me yet and I did love this, but things could have been different. Each chapter was different because it went back and forth between past and present. I honestly am not a fan of that because it left me confused and it's almost like switching points of view - I'm not a fan. I did love the book, though, the story was well written.

Rating: 4 cups of tea

3/4 The Selection and The Elite by Kiera Cass

OH MY WORD! ASDFGHJKL..... these books are amazing. I had read the first book once before, about a week or so after it's release and was in awe of the world Cass created. I had been intending on picking these up, but thankfully, my parents allowed me to get these for Christmas, so I couldn't pass up the chance. This is probably one of my favorite series to date. I just love America and Maxon. Aspen... not a fan, but I respect his intentions. 

I can't wait until May 6th for the release of The One.

Rating: Both were 5 Cups of Tea

The Friday 56 | How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Hey Everyone!

Today I am doing a meme from Freda's Voice and it intrigued me so I thought I would give this a try. Here are the very simple rules:

*Grab any book
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in ereader
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

The book I grabbed is:

Amazon

"In all the years I had known him--and I'd known him, more or less, since I was born--Sawyer had never once asked me to go anywhere."

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases

Hey Everyone!

So this week, I found a new tag (shocking, I know) and thought I would give this one a whirl with a whole lotta research. Yeah! Book search! 2014 books!

This is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish here on blogger and they are wanting to know the books we are most looking forward to in the next year.

1. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

I am so excited for this book, words cannot describe how excited I am! I fell in love with The Mortal Instruments back in October and can't get enough of it. I love the world, I love characters, and I can't wait to see what will happen to end this series.


Release Date: May 27, 2014

2. The One by Kiera Cass

I haven't read the second book yet, but I did order it via my father's credit card for Christmas (don't jude-- he lets me order my own Christmas gifts). I loved The Selection and I am not going to lie... this cover is TO DIE FOR. It is gorgeous.


Release Date: May 6, 2014

3. The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver

I absolutely loved her first debut book which she wrote when was around 14 or 15. I have all of her books thus far, her latest one, Sacrifice, being officially signed. I have a connection to her as she is from my home state so I also feel obligated to buy all of her books :D I'm okay with this, though! It looks amazing!

Release Date: January 28, 2014

4. The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

I have never read anything by this author, but the description on Goodreads sounds amazing! I am excited to get this book!



Release Date: March 11, 2014

5. The Falconer by Elizabeth May

I am not even going to lie when I say I look forward to this book. I think I am excited to read something that takes place in Scotland because I don't think I've read any that do. Plus, the storyline sounds so good! Plus, it sounds like it's vastly different from anything else.


Release Date: May 6, 2014

6. Deception's Princess by Esther Friesner

At first, when I saw the cover, I thought of Disney's Brave, but when I read the description, it was more of a Young Adult version of the Disney movie and I can't wait to read it.



Release Date: April 22, 2014

7. The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

I am not going to lie, I am excited for this book. I have never read any books by this author, but my God, does this book sound amazing. The main character has an autistic sibling, as do I, and so I have a connection in that sense and of course, there is some UK flair in the story with the exchange student.

Release Date: February 6, 2014

8. The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder

I think this book sounds amazing and I have always wanted a best friend who I live near to go around and travel with me in a way that these two do. Plus, who doesn't love the cover? It's so freaking cute!


Release Date: April 10, 2014

9. Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

This book sounds amazing! The whole story sounds cute and would be good for anyone who loves a little contemporary in their lives.



Release Date: June 17, 2014

10. Darksoul by Eveline Hunt

Not going to lie... THIS SOUNDS AMAZING! I am so excited to get my hands on it! Going to buy it as soon as it is released.





Release Date: March 2014 (didn't give a specific date)

I hope you all enjoyed the books on the list for this Top Ten Tuesday tag! Don't forget to leave your feedback on any books you are looking for or if you liked any of these!

Until Next Time,

NaNoWriMo 2013: I WON!

Hey Everyone!

I officially won NaNoWriMo and it was my first one. I have no idea if I will ever do it again, but one thing is for sure: I finished my first full length novel. Of course, there is a lot of things to be edited, but it's to be expected since it is a NaNoWriMo novel.

I have huge hopes for this and I'm sure all of you are equally as excited for your own pieces of writing. This one was a huge step forward in a direction I've wanted to go for a long time, I just didn't have the inspiration to write a whole novel.

I want to thank everyone on twitter who I followed and followed me back. The people who also spent countless hours doing word sprints with me. I thank you all because without you guys, I wouldn't have finished this book ever.

My outline for the next year looks like this:
December/January: Draft 2
February-April: Draft 3
May/June: Draft 4
July/August: Draft 5
September: Final touches
October: Begin Querying

That is my timeline, I'll update you guys as the months go by, but I hope you all update me as well on your own writing project. Oh, and I made a mock cover for my book (which I have renamed to Strong).

Until Next Time,

Wrap-Up: November 2013

Hey Everyone!

So today I am presenting you with  my very first Wrap-Up post! I wanted to do this since I see people on YouTube all the time, but I unfortunately don't do the whole BookTube thing. It's awkward considering I live in a dorm room with a roommate!

So if you have anything you want to say about any of the books below, feel free to comment on them!

 

Thoughts On: Where We Are by One Direction

Hey Everyone!

Since today is the release of Midnight Memories, One Direction's third studio album, I thought I would do a review of their book that came out back at the end of August. I held off for today!

The book was penned by Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson, all of the X Factor made band put together by Simon Cowell in 2010. This is their second book next to Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction.

The book is separated into five different chapters all penned by each of the boys. They were clearly written by the boys since each of them seem to have a very different speaking style and reflect on their own thoughts. I know this seems weird and biased as I am a fan, but you could see their personalities in the writing.

From what I can tell, the best writers of the group are Zayn and Harry due to the fact that they seem to be the best developed and from the last book, I could tell this as well. Liam most likely had plenty of editing to his as his spelling is absolutely atrocious on Twitter!

This is a book for any fan! You really get to know the boys in this book and I think it's so interesting to see what it's like to be the five of them. They have achieved so much in the past three, almost four, years that it might seem hard to comprehend how much success they have had. I normally don't read band books, but I couldn't help but pick this book up as I love the boys and am so proud of how far they have come.

Many people seem to misjudge them because of what they appear to be to the public eye, but there is so much to each of them. Everything they do, they do for their fans. They are so gracious for every one of their fans. Heck, they even did an eight hour live stream on YouTube for the fans. I see them lasting a long time.

Their new album is filled with a lot of eighties types of beats. It's a good album, definitely their best yet. I'll post a song at the bottom for you to listen to. One of my favorites which is only available on the deluxe edition of Midnight Memories.

Click here to go to the amazon page for Midnight Memories

Click here for the Where We Are Book

Click Here to Preorder This Is Us their Movie