High School Graduate DIY Survival Kit {diy, craft, gift}

In college I learned I could get by on $30 a month for groceries.  In college I learned I could work more, study more, and have more fun with friends than I thought possible.  In college I learned that I should think before acting b/c the consequences can be painful and long lasting.  In college I learned that even the hardest classes still only last 4 months and you just have to hang on.  

College, and those early working years as an elementary school teacher, provided a lot of lessons learned.  I loved those years of learning more about myself and what I was capable of.  I truly hope the high school kids I interact with at school or at church can make fewer mistakes than I did and learn who they are and what they are capable of. 

When I was 17 I had a teacher at church that gave me this small Survival Kit.  It was similar to the kit shown above.  I don't remember all the items and lessons those items taught, but I remember looking back at the survival kit for many years after I received it.  

I teach junior and seniors in high school at church.  Many of the kids are graduating this week, and moving onto bigger and better things.  I gave them my version of a High School Graduate Survival Kit.  I also gave a little info or story to go with why that lesson is important to surviving the storms of life.  

When I scoured Pinterest I found some okay ideas for Survival Kits, but nothing I felt was really good to go like I was hoping.  Therefore, I made what I consider to be the best survival kit for high school graduates moving onto the next phase.  This kit has some candy and all of the items are easy to find and not expensive.  This kit has some fun reminders as well as deep and meaningful lessons.  I'm telling you, this kit has it all and it is good to go.    

You can print off the bag label/descriptions here; it is a document you can edit if there is something you want to remove, add, or edit.  

In regards to the Survival Kit, I placed all of the items in a sandwich bag, and handed a bag to each of the kids as we had a great lesson.

May this Survival Kit be helpful, and may it make your life a little easier b/c it is already done.  

Happy Do It Yourself Survival Kit Making and Teenage Influencing!

March Book Three gets 5 Stars {non-fiction, graphic novel, printz award}

This book has it all.  One President of the United States dies, another gives powerful speeches and help make big changes in the country.  With it being Black History Month as well as President's Day I felt this book was an absolute must to share with you today!   

Police arrests, murders, determination, perseverance, equal rights, voting, the Freedom March, and so many more shocking events occurred during the civil rights movement.  I absolutely loved March Book Three, and I completely understand why it won the Printz Award, Coretta Scott King Award, and 4 other major awards.

March Book Three by John Lewis is well deserving of these awards, and honestly one of the best books I've read.  This book, is the third and final book in the March series telling the complete civil rights movement from John Lewis' experience.  

I give March Book Three 5 out of 5 Stars.  The pictures are fantastic, the story line is great, the pace is quick, the words are powerful, and the events are inspiring.  I learned so much while reading not only this book, but the entire series.  It is a must read for sure, and I am so glad I have it in my personal library.

At the very beginning it took me a second to remember what SNCC stood for b/c book three didn't overlap with the second book.  There is so much I really liked about this book.  I loved that the writing had the perfect balance of facts to teach and dialogue to keep the story going.  

I really enjoyed John Lewis' view on JFK's death and the fear he had with Johnson becoming the President.  I think his feelings are relatable to how many feel any time a new President begins his presidency. I was shocked of the events as well as the aftermath from the Freedom Summer, and I was inspired by Fannie Lou Hamer's speech as well as President Johnson's speech.  I was in awe of the fight, dedication, and perseverance Lewis and many other's had to complete their march from Selma to Montgomery.  I was shocked the FBI was wiretapping the Freedom Democratic Party and MLK.   To be honest, I learned so much reading this book and series.  

I absolutely think every one high school aged and up should read this book and series.  It is powerful and inspiring.  I loved that Lewis connected the first and last book with the reason for writing these books.  Lewis is brilliant, funny, and I'm so glad he wrote this book.     

In regards to the series as a whole, I would have to give the entire March series 5 stars.  It's all well done, connects so well to one another, very informative as well as entertaining. and all around great.  I personally love that Lewis wanted to make this a graphic novel.  I think it reaches a wider audience and the pictures provide the reader with a valuable and necessary connection to the story and the events.  

My reviews of March Book One and March Book Two can be found at the links provided.  You definitely need to read this non-fiction series in order, and you most definitely need to give this series a read.  It's fantastic!   

Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"In the final installment in the trilogy, Congressman Lewis concludes his firsthand account of the civil rights era. Simultaneously epic and intimate, this dynamic work spotlights pivotal moments (the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL; the Freedom Summer murders; the 1964 Democratic National Convention; and the Selma to Montgomery marches) through the lens of one who was there from the beginning. Lewis's willingness to speak from the heart about moments of doubt and anguish imbues the book with emotional depth. Complex material is tackled but never oversimplified—many pages are positively crammed with text—and, as in previous volumes, discussion of tensions among the various factions of the movement adds nuance and should spark conversation among readers. Through images of steely-eyed police, motion lines, and the use of stark black backgrounds for particularly painful moments, Powell underscores Lewis's statement that he and his cohorts "were in the middle of a war." These vivid black-and-white visuals soar, conveying expressions of hope, scorn, and devastation and making storied figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Fannie Lou Hamer feel three-dimensional and familiar. VERDICT This essential addition to graphic novel shelves, history curricula, and memoir collections will resonate with teens and adults alike."

This series is superb, and though I wouldn't have anticipated it winning the Printz Award (the best book for young adults) this year, I am so glad it did.  It is well deserving.  

Have you read the March trilogy yet?  What did you think? 

Happy Powerful Inspiring and Such a Valuable Historical Graphic Novel Reading! 



I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.

March Book Two gets 4.5 Stars {Graphic Novel} {Autobriography/Memoir}

I was lucky enough to get March Book Two by John Lewis from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  I really loved March Book One, and I even gave it a rare 5 Star Review.  The third book in the trilogy, March Book Three, just came out in August of this year.  I can't wait to read that one.

I have learned more about the Civil Rights movement from this graphic novel series than I recall learning from my high school history classes.  Now, to be fair to my hs teachers, they probably taught a ton about the Civil Rights, but history class was never a favorite of mine. 

March Book Two gets 4.5 out of 5 Stars in my review.  It's a great book, a fast read, perfect for history lovers and reluctant readers.  I loved the information, perspective, and the feel of the book.  March Book Two definitely had a darker tone with more angst than March Book One, but the Civil Rights was heating up more, and there was more conflict throughout the book.

I found myself saying, "Wow!" several times throughout this book. I was shocked by the history and how people treated black people.  I was amazed by the bravery and the sacrifice of those who stayed non-violent throughout the movement.  I have new appreciation for how relentless the Freedom Riders were.

I loved this quote on page 108, "The fare was paid in blood, but the Freedom Rides stirred the national consciousness and awoke the hearts and minds of a generation."  This book, and the history shared was inspiring, and it makes me want to be willing to make the change.  

I have a few details that I felt could've been improved upon.  The illustrations were great, but I was confused the first little bit with the speech bubbles that were written so small and not clear.  I eventually learned that those bubbles were for you to know that the person was talking, but you don't need to know what they were saying.  That is the first time I remember seeing that occur in a graphic novel.  Since that concept is not done often I was confused and frustrated trying to read those bubbles.  Personally, I don't think those speech bubbles added anything to the story.  I would've removed them if I were the editor.

The only other aspect of the book that I felt was less than stellar is the amount that was covered.  This book felt far more intimate and less character development compared to the first book. This second book seemed to include a lot of history and information and less characterization.  

High school History and English teachers should seriously consider including this series in their classroom studies.  Boys and girls alike as well as readers and those that don't like to read will enjoy and learn from this book series.  Book two has more violence than the first book, but it is all in context with the history.  

March Book Two is an all around great book and series.  You should most definitely go check this series out.

Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal:

"Up-In this second volume, representative Lewis continues describing his experiences with the civil rights movement. As in the first book, Lewis attends Barack Obama's inauguration, flashing back to his life as a young man taking part in the fight that would make it possible for America to eventually elect its first black president. Lewis lays out his involvement with sit-ins and the freedom rides, as well as becoming chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and speaking at the March on Washington in 1963, where he urged the crowd to "complete the revolution." Graphic in every sense of the word, this memoir puts a human face on a struggle that many students will primarily know from textbooks. Lewis makes it clear that the movement was far from a uniform entity, with disagreements cropping up, some small, such as differing opinions about the wording in speeches, others more serious, including whether to respond to resistance passively or with violence. Visually stunning, the black-and-white illustrations convey the emotions of this turbulent time, from Lewis's fear and pain while in prison to Governor George Wallace's sneering indifference during his "Segregation forever" speech. Powell's use of light and dark is masterly, and the contrast between the joy of Obama's inauguration and the obstacles faced back in the 1960s is effective. This insider's view of the civil rights movement should be required reading for young and old; not to be missed."
    

Have you read this series yet?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Are you a history nerd?  If you like history you most definitely need to go check this book out. 


Happy Autobiographical/Memoir Graphic Novel Reading! 


I received this book for Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 

Three Dark Crowns gets 4 Stars {YA Lit} {Fantasy} {Series}

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake showed up on my doorstep in September's OwlCrate box. The box was fun from open to close, you can click on the link above for my full review and thoughts. 

My feelings on the book were a little different than the subscription box, and for that reason I give Three Dark Crowns 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I liked the book, I really did.  It was fun, and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.  However, the beginning was not as fun.  Actually, to be honest it was 100+ pages before the pace picked up.  I actually broke my personal rule to quit after 100 pages if it hasn't grabbed me yet.  Though, I did hear from a friend on Instagram that the story got really good so I kept persevering.  I felt the fact that I had to push myself past the slow beginning was enough of a reason to have a less than amazing book rating.  

There was one other aspect of the book that left a sour taste in my mouth.  Mirabella, one of the queens in the story, came across quite kind not wanting to hurt others, but then one moment later she was a full on seducer not being kind or sweet at all but slutty.  Even though Mirabella knew the man she was seducing was involved with someone else she just couldn't "help" herself.  Not cool.  Basically, I felt the writing was a little off to have Mirabella switch back and forth from kind to slutty so quickly without any character development or internal struggle. 

I will say that Three Dark Crowns most definitely does pick up the pace and becomes a fun, unique, and surprising read.  I did thoroughly enjoy it, but I don't want to re-read those first 100 pages.  After the book picked up, I found myself on more then one occasion saying, "Ewww" or "Wow!" or "Really?!"  There were several aspects that surprised me.  

I didn't expect some of the abrupt punishments given by the priestesses.  I didn't always anticipate Pietyr's actions with Katherine, but I am sure, or hope, that I will be more enlightened with the second book.  I was surprised, but maybe should've seen it coming, with where the story took Jules, Joseph, and Arsinoe. I don't want to spoil anything for you.  Just know the action in the story and the surprising storyline made for an exciting read that I would recommend to high school aged kids and up.  

As far as content is concerned there is language throughout the book, but it isn't excessive.  There is no drugs or real violence of any kind, but the story does imply sex a couple of times with no details given.  It's not a dirty book by any means, but Three Dark Crowns isn't squeaky clean either.  

This is a Young Adult (YA) book that can still be enjoyed by adults; it doesn't feel too teeny bopper-ish.  I do think boys could enjoy this story, but it is definitely written with the girl reader in mind.  However, I should probably say readers who loved Throne of Glass, Red Queen, or other fantasy action thrillers with strong female lead characters will most likely enjoy this book.  However, to be fair, I wasn't a huge Red Queen fan, but I still enjoyed Three Dark Crowns. 

Amazon has the following book description: 

"Fans of acclaimed author Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will devour her latest novel, a dark and inventive fantasy about three sisters who must fight to the death to become queen. 

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown." 

Are you a fantasy action/thriller kind of reader?  Are you going to check this one out? 

If you don't love fantasy, what is your genre of choice? Contemporary fiction here.  

Happy YA Fantasy Reading!



Don't read any farther if you don't want to read any spoilers.  Just close your eyes and scroll down to the comments.  However, if you have read it... please comment with your thoughts.

* 
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*****SPOILERS BELOW*****

For those that have read it...

Did the slow beginning kill you too, or am I just too antsy? 

Did Mirabella's actions with Joseph make you upset?  I was a much bigger Jules and Joseph fan, but that is probably I see myself as more of a Jules rather than a Mirabella.  

Those priestesses are brutal.  Chopping off Elizabeth's hand b/c they thought she had a "hand" in Mirabella running away.  Ewwww is all I could say when I read that.  

I was not a fan of Mirabella constantly throwing herself at Joseph, and Joseph being so weak. Stupid boys sometimes. 

Um, Pietyr throwing Katherine off into the abyss after saying he loves her.  What was that?  Then, how did Katherine show up to Natalia's door later?  I am so intrigued with what all happened and Pietry's reasoning.  Do you think he had a reason for that?  I don't take him for being dumb, but that seemed so foolish.

I feel I should've seen Arsinoe's gift being mis-labeled.  However, Drake did a good job not leading you that way, and therefore really surprising you with that ending.  Though, I feel Kat's gift is probably mislabeled too.  What do you think Katherine is? 

Okay, enough questions.  I'm just trying to have a virtual book club with y'all.  Please join in the fun and conversation. 

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Spoiler Free Zone again!

Going for a Sea Bath gets 4 Stars {picture book} {concept] {math}

If you love marine life, math concept books, and picture books with a good father-daughter relationship then this book may be a good fit for you.  

Going for a Sea Bath by Andree Poulin is a sea animal bath time book with a counting concept theme.  The family relationship portrayed is fun and good as well.  The illustrations are superb; I love the entire look, colors, style, etc.   

I give this fun picture book 4 out of 5 Stars in my book review.   As stated above, the illustrations and story idea is cute.  I love the math counting, and I love that the math counting terms were bold.  I feel the variety of adjectives for great (such as terrific, magnificent, marvelous, etc.) is superb, and would make this book perfect for a 6 writing traits Word Choice lesson.  This book could also be used for a writing prompt or writing Ideas lesson.   

There were only a couple things in Going for a Sea Bath that made it lose a star.  I felt the layout was a little random when it came to the bold words.  I loved that the math counting concepts were bold; however, I was not a fan of the other random words and sentences that were bold.  I also felt the writing was just okay.  This book had potential to be really great if it was edited a bit more.  I think a little more editing the story would've felt tighter and mroe powerful.   

All in all, I felt this kidlit picture book is fun and cute.  I think preschoolers through 1st grade, 2nd grade tops, would enjoy this read and enjoy it as a read aloud.  This book is definitely worth a check-out, and if you love sea animals it may be worth a purchase.  

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"Leanne does not have the standard tub toys. She bathes with real turtles, eels, clown fish, and sea horses. Her dad delivers them to her footed bathtub after she complains about her boring bath-time. Each time he runs to the beach behind their house, he returns with a successive number of animals. The tub becomes too full when 10 octopuses are dropped in, so the dad and the daughter have a sea bath outside in the ocean. The humor in this story is reminiscent of Robert Munsch's writing. It's over-the-top but heartfelt, and the bright cartoon art is a hoot. Seeing all of the creatures of different sizes, textures, and colors in the tub is anything but boring. VERDICT A fun addition for those looking for new bathtime or numbers books."


Happy Marine Life, Bath time, Counting, and Fun picture book reading!


I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Rose Society gets 4 Stars (Young Elites #2} {YA} {Series}

The Rose Society by Marie Lu is the second book in the Young Elites series.  This series is full of action and has a slight love/romance to it just like the Legend series. 

I give The Rose Society 4 out of 5 Stars.  It's a good book and an entertaining series, but I do not like it as much as Lu's last series.  The character development of Adelina, the main character, is well written; it really is quite impressive that Lu is able to have an anti-hero as the main character and some people actually like her.

I know some people actually like Adelina.  She's powerful and ambitious, but to me she is a little annoying.  I don't like how hung up on power and revenge she is to the point of treating, even her sister whom she loves, so poorly.  As a redeeming quality, Adelina is finally realizing that even though she may be getting the revenge and power she thinks she wants she is at least realizing that being alone with her accomplishments isn't all that great.  

I do like this book, but there is too much darkness in it for me. The story is dark and full of action and violence, but besides the action/violence it is a clean story.  

This Young Adult/Teen read is a great story for boys and girls alike in ninth grade or above.  However, younger students/readers that don't mind the action and darkness will be fine reading this series.  

This book lost a star in my book review b/c there were aspects in the story I didn't love. I didn't love how dark the story was, and I didn't love how cruel, and somewhat evil, Adelina, the main character, was.  The love story, well love stories, was okay.  I liked one of them, and the other one just made me mad.    

All in all, I am glad I read the book.  However, I have learned that I do have a darkness limit, and to be honest I'm not sure I can handle the third book.  Though, I'm sure I'll read it b/c I'm a sucker for a series.  

Amazon had the following book review to give you a little more detail into the storyline.  

"Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, so she destroyed them all." Lu's epic series takes a dark, gritty turn with her latest offering. Adelina, known as the White Wolf, has fled Kenettra with Violetta, her sister, in order to recruit other malfettos (superpowered humans) for revenge upon the Inquisition—the faction that killed her love Enzo and countless other malfettos. Turned out and betrayed by her former comrades, the Daggers, Adelina is determined to form her own army, especially once she stumbles upon the near-mythical malfetto named Magiano. As the leader of the Inquisition, Teren, continues to search for Adelina so he can destroy her, she turns toward a more somber facet of her energy. Her path explodes into a dizzying array of power, murder, and revenge, leaving Adelina to question her true nature. When a malfetto queen conspires to raise Enzo from the dead, Adelina must face, once and for all, her feelings and her desires for power. What sets this novel apart is Adelina's slow spiral into bleak, joyless corruption; Lu doesn't wrap up the narrative with a shiny bow. Teens will be fascinated to watch the main character descend into villainy and revel in it. VERDICT Fans of Sarah Maas's Throne of Glass (Bloomsbury, 2012) and Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes (Penguin, 2015) will enjoy the author's latest."

How are you with Dark stories?

Happy Dark Fantasy and Action YA Reading!  

What are you reading?

The Wrath & The Dawn gets 4.5 Stars

Happy February!  Some people think of this month as the month of Love, and other's think it's the last month for at least a few months with a paid holiday.  Other's think of Black History Month, and some thing Leap Year, Superbowl, or Groundhog's Day.    

I mostly think of love b/c I was a school teacher and librarian and the whole Valentine's thing is a big deal for kids.  However, we have a lot of lessons for Black History Month, and I always had a library display for both Valentine's Day and Black History.  However, since I think of Love first, today I am going to share a book I LOVED. 

The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is an absolutely fantastic book.  Ahdieh, a fellow University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate (Go Heels!), is a new author and this is the first book in her saga/series of Shahrzad and Khalid, a retelling/twist of the Arabian Nights..

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.  I really wanted to give this book 5 stories, b/c the storyline is creative and unpredictable, and the book really was a page turner.  I loved everything about the story, and I'll definitely be reading the second book.  

My only qualm with this book, and the reason it lost a 1/2 a star, was b/c of a few writing instances.  There were times that I found the story confusing b/c of how the action was written, and I had to go back and re-read it to clarify.  I also felt the excerpt for the second book in the series, The Rose & The Dagger, was interesting, but it didn't grab you, the reader, as much as I would've hoped, or as much as this book grabbed you.  I do think the problems I had with this book was b/c Ahdieh is a new author; I do think she has great potential as a writer and her writing will only improve.  

The Wrath and The Dawn is a great book.  It is a clean read with no language and only implied sex.  There was really only a little detail of a hug and a kiss.  There is some violence though; I mean the story is based on a king that killed his brides.  In regards to the violence there isn't any gruesome details.  All in all, I would say this book is a clean read.   

I think this book and series would be great for 8th graders and up.  A younger reader that is mature would be fine with the novel, but the difficult names and the depth of the characters and story may be hard for a younger reader.

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"A reimagined tale based on One Thousand and One Nights and The Arabian Nights. In this version, the brave Shahrzad volunteers to marry the Caliph of Khorasan after her best friend is chosen as one of his virgin brides and is summarily murdered the next morning. She uses her storytelling skills, along with well-placed cliff-hangers, to keep herself alive while trying to discover a way to exact revenge on the Caliph. However, the longer she stays in the palace, the more she realizes there's more going on than just a murderous prince. While her feelings for the Caliph grow and change, the first love she left behind is busy plotting to overthrow the entire palace. When the various plotlines come together in a final conflict, the story is brought to a satisfying, if unexpected, ending. A quick moving plot and sassy, believable dialogue make this a compelling and enjoyable mystery, with just the right amount of romance and magic. The main characters are well drawn and surprisingly likable, while secondary characters also develop in endearing ways. The rich, Middle Eastern cultural context adds to the author's adept worldbuilding. Intimacy is dealt with in a straightforward way, without graphic details, and a subtle message of strength is portrayed through the brave independence of the protagonist. VERDICT This well-written mystery will be a surefire hit with teens."


Have you read this fantastic teen read?  What did you think? 

Happy Fabulous Not Your Typical Fairy Tale Retelling Young Adult Reading!

The Young Elites gets 4 Stars {YA Fantasy} {Series}

I recently finished The Young Elites by Marie Lu; she also wrote the Legend series that I reviewed here.  I really like the Legend  series, and think it is a fantastic dystopian trilogy.  I liked The Young Elites, but I still think Legend,  a completely different type of story, is better.  

I give The Young Elites 4 out of 5 Stars. This YA (Young Adult) book aka teen read is in the fantasy genre b/c there is magic involved.  However, it isn't high fantasy, like Lord of the Rings or The Three Kings kind of fantasy books.  This book has magic, or more so the power of the Gods given to a select number of individuals that were infected with a disease.  I personally found it to be an interesting concept.   

I personally think this book is best for boys and girls alike in the 9th grade and up.  This book is a clean read, with no swearing or bad language that I can recall and only a handful of instances involved kissing, but it is a dark story and there is definitely violence with quite a bit of fighting and even killing.  Adelina, the main character, is quite conflicted but also quite dark.  She thrives and flourishes off the fear of others.  I think the darkness of the book and the complexity of the storyline makes it more well suited for the older audience.

Overall, the story was really good, but the ending was fantastic.  The ending was very well written, however, the middle of the story dragged slightly, was choppy, and overall I was a little unsure what was going on.  Even the major battle with Teren, a major point in the story, was confusing.  I realize battles are difficult to write b/c there is usually so much going on; both the Hunger Games, Mockingjay especially was hard for this reason, and Divergent series all had battle scenes that were confusing for the exact same reasons.

I do think Lu did a great job keeping the story unpredictable with an interesting storyline; I also think her character development was well done.  Though, Adelina was a complex and confused girl.  Her complexity of emotions, dark but also wanting to be honest and pure, was confusing.  Adelina was well written, but at times her character confusion was confusing to me as the reader.  I realize that Adelina is a teenage girl with a lot of confusion on love and who she is, but I feel that confusion could've been written in a way to not confuse the reader to the same extent of Adelina's confusion.  Overall I did grow to mostly understand Adelina; I may not have agreed with her choices, but I did want her to succeed and figure herself, emotions, and powers out.  

I did state it before, but I want to say again that the ending of The Young Elites was fantastic.  The ending of Young Elites may be the best ending I've read in awhile.  It definitely sets the story up for the sequel, Rose Society, and leaves the reader wanting to read more.  However, it isn't a cliff hanger which I hate when authors do that b/c I think it portrays poor writing and laziness. 

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"A rollicking series opener from the author of the "Legend" series (Putnam). Imagine surviving a plague of fever, only to be marked as an abomination by your countrymen. Most survivors of the sickness that vanquished thousands in this alternative medieval world possess a strange and unique marking, whether it be a facial coloring, oddly tinged hair, or, in Adelina's case, a missing eye. Called malfettos, some are endowed with magical gifts that enable them to control wind, fire, earth, and even humans. All Adelina has ever wanted is to feel accepted and loved, but she's ignored by her father, and her sister doesn't have the power to save her. When the teen escapes an unwanted proposal, she unwittingly becomes a member of the Dagger Society, an Elite group of malfettos bent on using their supernatural abilities to escape the Inquisition's genocide and place their leader, Enzo, on the throne of Kenettra. Adelina struggles with an increasing distrust of Enzo, her fellow Elites, and herself, all while learning how to control her powers of illusion and disillusion. Lu seamlessly melds an unforgettable and intoxicating historical fantasy narrative with a strong female protagonist that grapples with an issue experienced by all young adults—acceptance of one's self. Well written, fast paced without being confusing, and enjoyable enough for teens, reluctant readers, and even adults. Brimming with engaging battles—physical and emotional—and meticulous backdrops, Lu's new series will be a surefire hit with old and new fans alike."

Are you a Lu fan?  

Happy Action Packed Fantasy Reading! 






*******SPOILER ALERT*******






I will say that I did not see Enzo's death coming at all.  It completely surprised me, and actually made me a little sad for him.  

I also did not anticipate Raphael kicking her out of the Daggers.  He seemed far more compassionate to me at the beginning that his bluntness and action at the end surprised me.  I understand why he did it, but it still made me sad.  I personally think the reason for kicking her out, b/c she's more powerful than she knows and her powers and abilities are overwhelming and terrifying to others.  i feel he would rather have, or should have her stay in the group to keep her on their side rather than fighting against her.  

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  


Click here for the review of Book 2 of the Young Elites Series: The Rose Society 

I am the Messenger gets 4 Stars

You may have heard of Markus Zusak and you may have already read a book written by this author.  The Book Thief, a book and book based movie, won a Printz Honor.  The Printz Award, is given to the best books for teens.  The Book Thief is a fantastic book.

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak is also another fantastic book.  This book gets 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I thought the message of the book about finding yourself and becoming the amazing person you can become, b/c we all can be, is a great message, especially for teens to read and believe.  I thought the concept of the story was unique and interesting.  

Zusak is a great author with original works.  I also think Zusak did a fantastic job with realistic character development and growth with Ed, the main character/narrator, specifically.  His subtle growth made the story that much more relatable.   

I will say that there is quite a bit of language in the beginning of the novel, but it actually lessens as the story progresses.  The book also has alcohol throughout, and rape is mentioned, but not described in detail.  

I did think the beginning of the book was powerful and well written; it captivates you as the reader.  However, there were parts of the middle of the story that were confusing and a little boring at times.  It just doesn't grab you the entire book.  Though, the book is still fantastic.    

I did find this quote below to be powerful; it is near the end of the book when Ed finds out why he had to deliver all of the messages. 

"I did it because you are the epitome of ordinariness, Ed." He looks at me seriously, "And if a guy like you can stand up and do what you did for all those people, well, maybe everyone can.  Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of."  (page 353)

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal, one of my favorite book review journals: 

"Nineteen-year-old cabbie Ed Kennedy has little in life to be proud of: his dad died of alcoholism, and he and his mom have few prospects for success. He has little to do except share a run-down apartment with his faithful yet smelly dog, drive his taxi, and play cards and drink with his amiable yet similarly washed-up friends. Then, after he stops a bank robbery, Ed begins receiving anonymous messages marked in code on playing cards in the mail, and almost immediately his life begins to swerve off its beaten-down path. Usually the messages instruct him to be at a certain address at a certain time. So with nothing to lose, Ed embarks on a series of missions as random as a toss of dice: sometimes daredevil, sometimes heartwarmingly safe. He rescues a woman from nightly rape by her husband. He brings a congregation to an abandoned parish. The ease with which he achieves results vacillates between facile and dangerous, and Ed's search for meaning drives him to complete every task. But the true driving force behind the novel itself is readers' knowledge that behind every turn looms the unknown presence - either good or evil - of the person or persons sending the messages. Zusak's characters, styling, and conversations are believably unpretentious, well conceived, and appropriately raw. Together, these key elements fuse into an enigmatically dark, almost film-noir atmosphere where unknowingly lost Ed Kennedy stumbles onto a mystery - or series of mysteries - that could very well make or break his life."

I am the Messenger is a great book for anyone 9th grade and up.  High school students, college students, and adults, could all really get something out of this well written novel.  

For any high school students looking to find a good book for an essay assignment, you could really draw a lot of depth and discussion topics from this novel.  

Happy realistic fiction reading! 

Champion (#3 in Legend Series) gets 4.5 Stars {Dystopian}

Champion by Marie Lu is the third book in the Legend series, a fast paced, quick read dystopian novel with action, adventure, and romance. 

Legend, Prodigy, and Champion all get 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book reviews.  With all of them scoring so high in my book reviews you can rest assure that these books are great reads for boys, girls, middle school, high school, and adults.  All of these books are strong on their own; they each are great stories that together make a great series.  

Near the beginning of the book, on page 62, Day said his "Mom used to say that having three boys was kind of like having a pet tornado that talked back." This made me laugh; I can only imagine this to be true.  How many Moms with 3 boys have felt like this?

{Warning: Mild Spoilers Below}

Usually, I feel the ending of a series is poorly written, rushed, or cheesy.  However, the ending of Champion was great.  Lu did a great job ending the book b/c it all seemed realistic and plausible.  I like the maturity June showed by letting Day go, but yet the reader still has the hope for the possibility of the two down the road b/c June is letting Day take the steps.  I like that Aden and June dated a while and truly gave it a shot since you as a reader saw that build-up during the last two books.  The entire ending is happy enough, but not cheesy.  All in all, the ending is great!  

The reason Champion lost half a star is b/c of the rushed battle.  The entire series, especially this book, leads up to the battle with the colonies.  When the battle actually began I feel Lu wasn't quite sure how to write it.  It all seemed rushed, a bit chaotic, and then all of a sudden the battle was over.  June was in the midst of the battle fighting people and then all of a sudden there was nothing; I almost felt like Lu forgot the battle was going on b/c she wanted the story and characters to develop and build.  Basically, I felt the writing of the culminating battle was anti-climatic and not the author's best writing.  it was a bit disappointing to say the least. 


All in all, Champion is a great final book in the Legend series.  Have you read the series yet? 

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"Factions will fight, traitors will be tried and convicted, and secrets revealed before star-crossed lovers Day and June's powerful story ends in the final book in the trilogy. Day and his brother, Eden, are in San Francisco for medical treatment after Eden was subjected to virus experiments by the Colonies. June is in Denver acting as one of the Princeps-Elect. After months apart without any communication, June asks Day to return with Eden so that the Republic can use the virus Eden is carrying to find a cure for the plague that has invaded the Colonies. The Colonies believe that the Republic has a cure, and issue an ultimatum that unless the Republic reveals it, the Colonies will attack. Then they renege on their promise to hold off and attack without warning. The Republic's Elector desperately needs allies but no one wants to help. Day is also trying not to let June know that he's dying. The Colonies' Chancellor knows that the people will follow Day, and if Day can get the citizens to accept the Colonies' rule, the Chancellor promises to save them and Day's loved ones. Can they find a cure for the virus in time? Can Day and his old Patriot friends defeat the Chancellor and his soldiers? June and Day's future together is equally uncertain. They love each other but their painful pasts and June's involvement in Day's family's deaths will always be between them. Lu's unexpected ending adds an extra poignancy to their complicated relationship. Fans who loved Legend (2011) and Prodigy (2013, both Putnam) won't want to miss this one."  

If you liked Hunger Games or Divergent you will like this Legend series.  I personally think the Legend series is the strongest in writing, in regards to all three books being strong novels with good storylines that hold their own, of the three trilogy series mentioned.  

Which series is your favorite? 

Happy dystopian action/adventure reading!