Catching Fire!

I know it might be a little late, but make sure to go and see "Catching Fire" as soon as you can!

I saw a collector's edition People magazine at Michael's, but didn't snatch it up in time.  I then made my mom drop me off at Kroger while she was getting gas so that I could purchase this:

Isn't it beautiful?!?  (Yes, I know that it's an Us. They didn't have any People's left.)  It better be beautiful.  I paid $12.95 for that thing.  I've been really careful with it because I'm afraid that I'm going to rip a page or something...

The Alchemyst Series

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...school has been keeping me busy!  We have been reading The Scarlet Letter in English and have to do entries for every two pages.  Ughhhhh.

Anyways, I have been reading the Alchemyst Series for the past few weeks, and I am pretty intrigued.  It has a lot of the elements that I enjoy, even though it is not dystopian fiction. :-)

The reason that I am not doing the three books that I have read so far in separate reviews is because each book is just a continuation of the last one.  It happens over a span of less than a week (which is really hard for me to remember when I am reading), so the author could really just put them all in a big, 1000 page book if he wanted to.  But, the good thing is that he tried his best to make a distinction between each of the books.  Each one focuses on a certain character and takes place in a certain location.  For example, the one that I just finished reading is called The Sorceress.  In the book, this is referring to Perenelle Flamel, Nicholas' wife.  The book primarily focuses on her and the things she is facing over this 6-day period.  Also, in this book, they are running around London, trying to escape the Dark Elders and their many followers.

Here is my official review of the Alchemyst Series 1-3:

The Alchemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress by Michael Scott

The last few hours are a blur to Josh and Sophie Newman.  First, they were working their jobs across the street from one another, and now they are on the run with Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, who claim to be over 400 years old. They witnessed this pair using what looked like magic to battle another one of their kind, and when Josh jumped in to help Nicholas, he changed both his and his twins sister's life forever.  The Flamels believe Josh and Sophie to be the twins of legend, and so they go on a journey to awaken their powers and learn the four elemental magics.  Will the twins be the ones to save the world, or the ones to release those who long to destroy it?

Age Group: 10+
Concerns: none
Rating: 8

Saxophone Day!

Today is Saxophone Day, which I know is everyone's favorite holiday.

I mean, duh.

Here is a pretty awesome saxophone:

Yeah.

It's Out! Sound the Trumpets!

Ender's Game premieres today!  Go and see it!  I am seeing it tonight at 7:00, and I am quite excited.

Enjoy! :)

Asa Butterfield as Andrew "Ender" Wiggin

Asa Bopp Farr Butterfield was born on April 1, 1997, in Islington, London.  He has starred in many movies as a young boy, starting with The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas when he was only 10 years old.  During this time, he also appeared in an episode of Merlin, as the main character's younger self.  But, Butterfield became widely known for his performance in Hugo as the title character, Hugo Cabret.  In 2011, he won the award Best Youth in Film at the Las Vegas Film Critics Society.  Now he is starring in Ender's Game as the main character, Ender Wiggin, which is bound to be a stunning performance.

Of course, I had to do Asa, because it is all about him today!  I have been following a lot of fan sites on Facebook and watching every video and interview that pops up, and I have to say, I haven't been this excited for a movie before.  This morning, my mom informed me of a not-so-positive review that said that it was the standard sci-fi film, just like all the rest.  But, what gave me hope was that he said that all of the fans of the book will enjoy it, because they won't really care about the comparisons to other films.  Whew! Got me a little scared there!  Honestly, I am going to have to be ready for some disappointment.  There is no way that they stayed strictly to the book.  There's just no way.  I just hope that they included some of the more deep elements regarding Ender, Valentine, Peter, and their personalities and relationships with each other.  That's what's really going to make this one stand out from the rest of the sci-fi genre.

IT'S OUT!  GO SEE IT!

Harrison Ford as Colonel Hyrum Graff

Harrison Ford was born on July 13, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois.  Ford first took an interest in acting in only his senior year of high school, and calls himself a "late bloomer".  Although Ford has been in many other films, he will always be known for his performances in both Star Wars and the Indiana Jones film series.  Ford received the top spot in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" in 1997, and it looks like he is not going anywhere.

Harrison Ford's character in Ender's Game is Colonel Hyrum Graff, who is basically the the recruiter for the Battle School.  In this story, Ender and Colonel Graff have their ups and downs, and they never become "close".  However, at one point, Colonel Graff is the only friend Ender has within the confines of the Battle School and they must work together to reach their main goal: train Ender to save humankind.  When I read the book, I imagined Colonel Graff as a younger man that was a little less hardened and a little more unpredictable.  But, as always, I am interested to see how he takes this one on.  Ford does have that sci-fi, deep, announcer-like voice.  Go out and see him tomorrow!!

1 More Day!

Hailee Steinfeld as Petra Arkanian...and a Little Something Extra

Hailee Steinfeld was born on December 11, 1996, in Tarzana, Los Angeles.  She started off at the age of eight with small roles in various films.  But, Hailee's performance in True Grit as Mattie Ross was the role that got her lots of attention and fame.  Bevause of this stunning performance, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.  Hailee also portrayed Juliet in the 2013 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.  She was cast for this role when she was only 14, so the script had to be cut down a bit to cater to her young age.  The most recent character that she is slated to play is Petra Arkanian, the close friend of main character, Ender, in Ender's Game.

In the book, Petra is said to be a very tomboyish character that is hardly indistinguishable among the leagues of boys attending the Battle School.  I am curious to see how she takes this on, because she seems like a very feminine young woman.  I am also looking forward to seeing the bond of friendship between her and Ender.  There is really no question on how her acting skills will measure up, so I can't wait to see her performance in this movie!

Today is also National Candy Corn Day, so I picked this picture especially for this occasion.  Doesn't she kind of look like a candy corn?  A pretty one, at least?

2 More Days!

Sir Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham

Sir Ben Kingsley, born Krishna Pandit Bhanji, was born on December 31, 1943 in North Yorkshire, England.  He was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on his 58th birthday.  Kingsley has starred in a host of films portraying characters like Mohandas Gandhi and the villain, The Mandarin, in Iron Man 3 (my favorite movie).  

Ben Kingsley is playing Mazer Rackham in Ender's Game, and I must say, he is not who I pictured in the role.  But, I think that he will do a great job.  This character very different from the other one that I have seen him as, The Mandarin.  He will have to be demanding and proud, but still have enough of a soft side to guide Ender on his path to greatness.  I think it's really interesting what they did to his bald head in this movie.  It's like a giant tattoo or something- very futuristic, but unlike anything that I would imagine a celebrated commander to have on his head.  However much his head decoration puzzles me (hehe), I am excited to see him tackle this role.

3 More Days!

Abigail Breslin as Valentine Wiggin

Abigail Kathleen Breslin was born on April 14, 1996 in New York City.  She started her acting career when she was three years old in a Toys 'R Us commercial.  Abigail has gone on to star in Little Miss Sunshine, Nim's Island, and My Sister's Keeper.  Even from a young age, the adults that she worked with on set couldn't believe her level of purpose during filming. Abigail has also voiced a role in Rango and was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role Young Actress.

Her next big film about to hit the big screen is Ender's Game, in which she plays Valentine Wiggin, the gentle sister of the main character, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin.  Valentine acts mostly as the one thing preventing Ender from completely letting go of his past when he moves on to the Battle School.  She had always been his favorite sibling (compared to Peter, that's not surprising) and they had always cared deeply for each other.  But while Ender is away, Valentine becomes closer to Peter in a way that she never thought possible.

I am curious to see how Abigail Breslin tackles this role.  She has to be sweet and gentle, but firm enough to steer Peter in the other direction when he goes on one of his rants.  I hope she won't go too far in the passive direction, because Valentine is a strong person who has to make some hard decisions.  But, she can't go too far in the other direction either.  She was rejected by the Battle School for being too compassionate. However, there is more to her than what meets the eye.

Make sure to go out and see Abigail Breslin as Valentine Wiggin on November 1!

4 More Days!

The Dictionary Definition of a Dilemma

dilemma- a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, esp. equally undesirable ones

Whew, does America have a hard choice to make.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

America Singer is a Five.  Not a Two, not even a Three, but a Five.  So when she receives an application for the Selection in the mail, everyone in her family is ecstatic.  Except for America.  She has no desire to live in the palace, be the future Queen of Illéa, or marry the stiff prince, Maxon Schreave.  America wants to be with Aspen, who is a caste below her.  When he encourages her to enter the Selection, she does, not knowing that her life will change forever because of it.  In the end she must choose between the new life that she is imagining and the life she has always wanted.

The first thing about this book that caught my attention was the cover.  I mean, how gorgeous is that dress?  Then I decided to get the free sample, because it sounded extremely interesting.  I read the sample and had to show it to my friend, who promptly bought the book on her tablet.  The whole time she was reading it, she couldn't stop gushing about how great it was, so I finally snatched it up as well.  It was a great cross between the vintage beauty of monarchy and the blunt futuristic notion of the castes.  This is definitely what I would call a girly-girl book, but its not all sunshine and rainbows.  America has to deal with friendship problems and relationship problems, all while trying to make sure that her family is cared for in the financial arena.  This is a great book that all teenage girls will love!

Age Group: 13+

Concerns: none

Rating: 9.5

Reminder

I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow starts Ender's Game Countdown Week!

Make sure to come and check out the talented actors and actresses that will make this movie great!

Change of Plans

When I checked out The Alchemyst, by Michael Scott, my original intent was to read through the entire series without breaks.  But, the change of plans happens to be my fault (indirectly).  About a month ago, I showed my friend a sample of this book called The Selection, by Kiera Cass, that I was thinking about reading.  Since she is also a book fanatic, she gobbled it up and decided to start reading it as soon as she finished the Divergent series (another series I got her hooked on).  She finished reading it almost 3 days ago, and ever since then, she has been BEGGING me to read this book.  Last night, I gave in an bought it on my NOOK for $5.  It had been an interesting sample, so I was definitely up to it.

Long story short, it is really good so far, and you should be looking for an official review pretty soon.

I guess The Alchemyst and the series that follows will have to wait! :)

A Nod to the British

I really love the British.

They have great fashion sense, great personalities, and AMAZING accents.  So, when I came across this word, I had to use it in the first....

TREMENDOUS TERM THURSDAY!!!!

This was inspired by Dictionary Day, which, I believe, can spread its magic more than once every year! Every Thursday I will choose a really cool (or thought provoking) word, define it, give some background info, and so on and so forth.  The template is as follows:


scrump (v.) [SKRUMP] — British: to steal fruit from an orchard or garden

Did you know that when they say "fruit", they are most likely referring to apples?  So, if you stole some peaches from an orchard in Byron, you would not be scrumping.  But, if you picked an apple off of your neighbor's apple tree, then you would be guilty of this first-class felony.  Shame.

Ok. Scrump doesn't quite count as a word.  It's really a "dialect variant" from the word "scrimp", which means: to be economical or sparing in the use of.  It's like saying that chillax is a real word in our language.  We know what it means, but if someone hadn't lived in our country for very long heard it used in a conversation, they wouldn't have the slightest idea what we were saying. 

Don't scrump, ladies and gentlemen!

Dictionary Day is Most Definitely Today

Guess what today is?

It's Dictionary Day!  

Two hundred and fifty-five years ago today, Noah Webster was born in what is now Hartford, Connecticut.  After the Revolutionary War, he was among the Patriots that believed that American children should learn out of American-made books, not those supplied by Britain.  He released his first textbook in 1783.  Later in life, he focused on bridging the gap between English words and phrases and things that Americans said.   His first dictionary, published in 1806, was called A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, and included around 37,000 words.  At the age of 80, he published another dictionary, titled American Dictionary of the English Language, which took him 22 years to complete and included over 65,000 words.  

Here is an awe-inspiring word that you can use to impress your friends:

lethologica (lee-tho-LO-gi-ca) — 1. the inability to remember the right word. 2. a psychological disorder that inhibits an individual's ability to articulate thoughts by temporarily forgetting key words, phrases, or names in conversation

That word is pretty genius. 

Use it well.

Just Go Along with It.

So, I was super pumped about Dictionary Day.  I was going to do this amazing post with a mind-blowing definition and you all were going to be using this word to impress your friends and I was going to do the same.  It would help us all extend our vocabularies and be better, more intelligent human beings.

Dictionary Day was yesterday.  Sigh.

I am going to pretend that today is October 16, Dictionary Day.
I am going to put up a really cool post after I am done with this one that includes all of the cool things mentioned above.
And you are going to go along with it.

If you think this is really lame, I apologize. You are lame.

Ender's Game Countdown Week

To celebrate the release of Ender's Game, there will be a special Ender's Game countdown on the week of October 28.  Each day, I will feature an actor/actress playing a main role and give you some background on their career and their character in the film.

Who will be in the spotlight first?  

Who will be last?

What Kind of Holiday Is That?

I bet that none of you know what holiday it is.  (And if you do, you are either really weird or you have too much free time.)

It is Be Bald and Be Free Day.  I mean, what the heck?  What were they even referring to when they thought this up?  The fact that bald people are free from having to buy shampoo?  Or combs?

Really.

So, in honor of Be Bald and Be Free Day, here is a little insight into my brain:

Yeah, I just thought of a bald guy and Free Willy.

Do they celebrate both things (being bald and being free) on this day?

Ugh.  So confusing.

Sigh.

Do you remember how I said that The Maze Runner was premiering on February 14, 2014?  Well, it looks like they have pushed the release date back significantly.  I am positive that it is coming out sometime in September of 2014, but IMDB has changed the release date on their website to September 19, 2014.

I'm not sure just how credible IMDB is, so I apologize if this is the wrong date.  If I get any other hints of a more "official" release date, I will make sure to let you guys know.

Sigh. I was really looking forward to this one.  Now we'll just have to wait a little longer...

(This change will be reflected in The Maze Runner's official pre-premiere review from back in September.)

Answers? Or More Questions?

Said to be the "last Maze Runner book forever", The Kill Order provides us with answers...and (in my opinion) with more questions.

The Kill Order by James Dashner

Before Thomas was born or WICKED was even an idea, the world was at peace with each other and with nature.  Until the sun flares struck.  Mark and Trina were living in New York City, a hub of people and technology alike.  But all of that changed.  Forever. A switch was flipped, and things were never going back to what they were before.  They finally got to a settlement in the Appalachian Mountains with their friends and tried to get their new life to seem normal, but that didn't last for very long.  Since they were some of the few that survived the sun flares, who was to say that they couldn't survive anything?  But they didn't know what was coming next.

When I read this book, I was ready to get all the background information on the sun flares, the origin of the Flare, the formation of WICKED, and some details on where all of the immune came from.  Two out of those four were satisfied.  I really liked how Dashner chose to reveal the way that the Flare was released and how he described the sun flares.  In all of the other Maze Runner books, I didn't exactly get a good mental picture of the sun flares.  I mean, ball of fire falling from the sky was pretty much as far as I got.  But, this gave me an idea of what he was going for.  When it came to the third question, there was one character that ended up being immune, but they don't give us any details as to how she passed down this trait, or how others discovered that they were the same way.  It was kind of cliff-hanger-like in this aspect of the book.  Also, during the book, I was looking for characters that could be part of the future WICKED organization.  There was no closure on that either.  

However, the biggest disconnect I had was the epilogue. Yay! Thomas and his mom! Ok, how does that tie in with the rest of the story?  It is something that we kinda knew already.  Thomas mentioned seeing his mother in his dreams in The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, so you had to assume that he was taken away from her by WICKED at some point. There weren't any clues as to who this woman might be except the "Two Years Later" at the top of the page.  When I saw that, I ruled out all of the important characters in the book.  So, where is the bridge between those two parts?  As soon as I got home today, I did some research on Goodreads, in a thread about the ending of this book.  There were so many out-of-this-world explanations.  I actually saw one that said, "The Barnes and Noble copy had an extra chapter at the end, which told you more of what happened in the end."  Not that I don't believe them, but that seems like a pretty stupid thing to do.  

Besides all of that, I really did enjoy the book.  It was written beautifully and the plot was extremely engaging.

If you have any answers at to the end of this book, they will be greatly appreciated!  But please make sure to notify readers if there are spoilers in your comment!

Age Group: 13+
Concerns: Minor Violence
Rating: 9

Resolution

Finishing out the series, The Death Cure brings what we all have been waiting for: resolution.  Or does it?

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas thought he would be done with WICKED when he got out of the Maze.  When that didn't happen, he thought that at least he would be out of their control after making it across the Scorch.  Boy, was he wrong.  Right now, Thomas is sitting in a completely white room, and has been for over three weeks.  His time in solitary confinement has led to a lot of contemplation over WICKED and their motives.  Once released from the white room, he and the other Gladers receive some devastating news.  Some of them are immune to the Flare, and some are not.  Thomas is starting to rapidly regain his memory, but not in the way WICKED would like.  All of the things that is he is discovering don't exactly support the statement "WICKED is good".  Throughout the course of his journey, Thomas has to make a lot of hard choices regarding his friends and his survival.  Will WICKED find the Cure?  And where will they draw the line when it comes to saving the human race?

Wow. Truthfully, I am very impressed with the ending of this series.  It had to be hard to come to a conclusion with all that is going on in the plot.  Its really interesting how the author keeps the story moving, with the different conflicts and locations that all seem to intertwine.  But, as you delve deeper into the story, you start to realize that common detail that lurks in the shadows of the plot.  By the end of the book, I wasn't all that surprised with how it ended, but not in a bad, predicable-sort-of way.  It was what I would call inevitable.  Does the story really end there?  I guess you will have to be the judge of that.

I hope you enjoy the last installment in the Maze Runner series!

Age Group: 12+
Concerns: none
Rating: 9.5

Is WICKED All That Good?

Here is the official review for The Scorch Trials, as promised!

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

So Thomas and a good number of the Gladers have made it out of the Maze alive.  But, they aren't prepared for what they are about to face in the real world.  The Earth is in shambles thanks to the sun flares and a quickly-spreading, fatal disease called the Flare.  The Gladers are taken to a dormitory where they believe that they are all safe.  The next morning, they wake to a surprise beyond anything that they could imagine, and discover that Teresa is missing.  An official from WICKED gives them a proposition: they must cross the Scorch, a barren wasteland, and reach the safe haven in two weeks.  Little do the Gladers know, the heat of the Scorch will be the least of their problems.

As you already know, I had to read the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, for summer reading.  I really enjoyed it, so I grabbed the next one as soon as I could.  I am so glad that I did!  Truthfully, this one wasn't my favorite in the series, but it wasn't terrible.  Also, it's not like you can just skip it altogether, because the plot and character development in this book is vital to the understanding of the next one (which is AMAZING).  

A new group is introduced in this book- Group B.  It turns out that WICKED put another group in a Maze identical to the one that Thomas and the Gladers went through.  However, the genders were flip-flopped.  Instead of it being all boys and then one girls, it was all girls and one boy.  There is also a few new characters that you get to meet in this one (aside from Group B).  Pay attention to what they do, because I can already tell you that you will be referencing it when you read the next one, The Death Cure.

Age Group: 12+
Concerns: none
Rating: 8

Catching Up

Ok, so I was doing to do a review on The Death Cure, which is the last book in the Maze Runner series.  But, I just realized that you guys haven't even seen an official review for The Scorch Trials, which is the second one!  To get you guys back on track, I have decided to re-educate myself on The Scorch Trials and put up an official review tomorrow.  Then I will go about putting up one for The Death Cure.

Good that.
(Those of you that have read The Maze Runner or any of the other books in the series know what I mean when I say this.)

Smile!

Guess what today is?

If you said October 4th, then you are correct, but...

ITS ALSO WORLD SMILE DAY!! :-)

To honor this important day, I am going to put some book covers up that represent this quite well:

This one was just a duh.  I mean, right?  It is called Smile and has a SMILE on it.  No brainer!

When I saw this, I burst out laughing.  My dog, Brody, really does smile when he is upside down.

Truthfully, I think this is a legit question.  Do dolphins really smile?  Hmmm...

Happy World Smile Day! :-)

The Enemy's Gate Is Down

I am going to try to condense my excitement into one, spoiler-free review.

Wish me luck.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Premiering November 1, 2013

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a Third, which means that he was not supposed to be born. He was created to be a perfect combination of his gentle sister, Valentine, and his wildly sadistic brother, Peter.  At a very young age, Ender enters the Battle School, where children are trained to be the future soldiers and commanders of the International Fleet. The IF has been fighting a race of aliens called the Buggers for as long as anyone can remember, and something big is about to happen.  They need a new commander.  At the Battle School, Ender faces isolation, bullies, and uneven odds.  In the end, he is even more confused about who he is than he was before he entered the Battle School.  Is he more like Peter, or Valentine?

So, as you know, I am totally obsessed with this movie release.  I really enjoyed all of the details in the book and I am excited to see them come to life in the movie.  But, I already know from the interviews that they had to change Ender's age.  This is expected, though, because Ender starts off at age 6 and is 13 when the book ends. A kid's appearance can change a lot in between those ages!  Although, the downside is that with the age change comes with the altering of the plot a little.  What made Ender so vulnerable at the Battle School was that he was younger than all the other children and extremely younger than the older kids that he proceeded to pass in rank.

All that they are showing in the trailers are the last five or six chapters, but I am hoping and praying that they are going to include all of the backstories that make him, along with the book as a whole, so interesting.  I know the whole sci-fi, blowing up aliens (and planets alike) thing is big now, however, with the details about Ender's childhood, this movie could blow all the others out of the water.

I conquer.  Enjoy!

Age Group: 13+
Concerns: Mild Language and Violence
Rating: 10

It Is Finished.

I have finally finished Ender's Game!  It was probably one of the most interesting books that I have ever read.  Orson Scott Card should really be commended for this one.  It makes me ten times happier that the movie is coming out in only 35 days or so and the roles have been cast as close to perfect as possible.

I am definitely going to try and snag the next book, Speaker for the Dead.

Be on the lookout for an official review tomorrow!

Don't Judge Me

This is pertaining to the release of Ender's Game.

Oh yeah, and I was totally fangirling during the whole thing.  Especially the part when he talks about Harrison Ford.  Oh yes.

Watch it  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQTuvE5mVDo

Update

I just wanted to run it by you that I just updated the Approved List page. I added two more categories and some more books.

Check it out!

Making Conversation

Today is September 15th, right?  So, we are about half-way through the month.  Good.

I just started Ender's Game last night, and I was very impressed with it.  I am a novice when it comes to Orson Scott Card, as I haven't read any of his books before, but I like his writing style.  I can definitely tell the difference between his voice and the voices of the authors of the other books I've been reading lately (Catching Fire, The Maze Runner, Divergent, etc).  It interesting to experience the writing styles of different authors and discover which one you like the best.  If you look for it, you'll see it.

I wonder what we are going to do when I've finished the list of books for this month...we still have one left to go...

Eh.  I'll just figure something out.

Divergently Amazing

After reading this book again, I realized just how great it is.  I can't wait to see the movie!

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Premiering March 21, 2014

Beatrice is very nervous.  She is about to take her Aptitude Test, which will determine which faction she is best suited for. Candor values honesty, Erudite values intelligence, Amity values peace, Dauntless values courage, and Abnegation, Beatrice's home faction, values selflessness.  But, something about her results is terrifying.  She has a new label: Divergent, which means she can't be put into one category alone.  And in Beatrice's society, being Divergent can cost you your life. This book follows her on her journey to her new faction, Dauntless, where she will encounter danger, love, and rivalry.

This book starts one of my favorite series of all time.  I, like most of the other Divergent fans, am desperately awaiting the release of the third installment in the series, Allegiant. Divergent is another amazing dystopian novel that is a definite must-read!


Oh, and of course, as soon as I finished it, I ran to my school's library and checked out the next one, Insurgent.  I already blew through that one too...

Kicking It Off with Katniss

No, this was not my first time reading Catching Fire.  First, I do not live under a rock, and second, every good teenage book expert has to have read the Hunger Games trilogy.

Anyways, here is my official re-read review.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Premiering November 22, 2013

If you are young or old, you have probably at least heard of the Hunger Games.  Suzanne Collins decided to take it another step farther with the sequel to this breakthrough novel by writing Catching Fire.

After the whole berry stunt that she and Peeta played in the arena, Katniss knows that she will not get off to easy with the Capitol.  All she has to do is make it through the Victory Tour, using her passionate love for Peeta as an excuse for her actions, then she can try to lay low and protect her family.  This is the year of the 75th Hunger Games, which means the third Quarter Quell.  For each Quarter Quell, the gamemakers have thrown a cruel twist into the Games, and nobody knows what they are going to create this year. When the announcement is made, Panem starts down a path that will change the way they live- forever.  This book is filled with many twists and turns that make it near to impossible to put down.  But why would you want to put it down anyways?

It Has Begun

I have officially started re-reading Catching Fire.  I stayed up until midnight last night and finished Part 1.  When I saw the page that marked the beginning of Part 2, I thought that that was enough for one night (especially since I had to go to church in the morning).

Dun dun dun dahhh!

You should expect a review by the end of the week.

Assuming I don't have a lot of homework.

Pre-Pre-Premiere Preview Post

I just wanted to give you a preview of what was to come this month, so here goes:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Premiering February 14, 2014

I had to read this one for Summer Reading this year, and unlike my other had-to-read selection, it wasn't torturous- it was the complete opposite. 

Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past or how he got there- all he knows is his name.  When the elevator goes up, he is greeted by a large group of boys that have the same story he has.  It turns out that a boy has been delivered to them on the same day every month from the beginning. But, the next day, the Gladers get an unexpected surprise. The Box brings an unconscious girl with an ominous note implying that everything is about to change.  This book is a great dystopian read (you know how I like those) and I highly recommend it. I have already blown through the second book, and the story progression almost reminds me of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire (which I am also re-reading). The first book ends with the feeling of hope, then in the next one, they realize that the struggle is not quite over yet.

Note

Just a little note- I was thinking about the title of this special month that is coming up and I have come to the conclusion that it is stupid.

It is now officially called:
PRE-PREMIERE SEPTEMBER

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Official Announcement! Sound The Trumpets!

Next month is to be...

BOOKS BEING TURNED INTO MOVIES SEPTEMBER!

Ok, fine, I will try to condense the title.  But you get the idea.

PRE-PREMIERE SEPTEMBER. There you go.

During the span of this month, I will read (or re-read) as many of the following books (as they are being turned into movies very soon):

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card- November 1, 2013
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- November 15, 2013
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- November 22, 2013
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner- February 14, 2014
• Divergent by Veronica Roth- March 21, 2014

As always, I will keep you updated!
Feel free to read these with me, and let me know how you feel about them!

Is It Too Late to Apologize?

*sigh*  I am super super duper sorry. With a cherry on top and everything.

Ever since August 8, I have been in my new home, trying to get adjusted.  Not to mention, I really haven't had consistent computer availability...so, now, after my first day of my second week of school, I am officially back!  I will try my best to do some book reviews here and there, but until I am a little more comfortable, that's going to be the deal.

So, to sum it all up, I am REALLY sorry and everything and I will do my best to give this blog some more attention.  I really like doing this, you guys.

Coincidentally, I already know what I'm going to write about to tomorrow...

Home Free and Loving It!

I have FINALLY finished The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  *applause*

Once I got past the super-old-book smell (and the first 120 pages) it really wasn't half bad.  Still, I was glad to be able to move on to my next required book, The Maze Runner.

I have already read about 100 or more pages today, so you could say that it is pretty good.  As you already know, I am a sucker for some dystopian fiction, and this book has 'DYSTOPIAN GREATNESS' written all over it.  It's being made into a movie, has its own Facebook page (which I am following), and the characters live a life that I would have nightmares about.

Be on the lookout for the final review of this promising novel!

Are You a Gifted Child (or Teen) Looking for Special Opportunities?

Well, you don't have to go to 777 Maiden Avenue, or even set foot in Stonetown Harbor, for that matter. You have come to the right place!  One of the right places, to be correct.  You see, I give the information, then you go on to the next location to find what you are looking for.

No, its not gold.

Not a diamond in sight.

Not even a ruby slipper!

But, its definitely what I would call a treasure.  Follow these instructions closely (for there are many treasures where you are going, some more valuable than others), and I'm sure you will make it there:

1. Ask your parent/guardian where the closest book store or library is.
2. Run, walk, bike, Pogo-stick, swim, (or, you know, drive) there.
3. Go in through the back window to evade detection.
4. Make sure you find the right section.  This is a non-Non-Fiction mission.
5. Walk quietly (as to not be heard by Mr. Curtain) down the cavernous isles until you find the letters STE.
6. You are looking for a volume with an unusually long title.  One with the word 'mysterious' in it.
7. Escape without being caught.
8. Bring it back to your place of residence and read it.

Trust me. You will love it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society- 10

Confessions

1.  I am sorry about the recent neglect of this blog.  Between my birthday party, my actual birthday, and getting my permit, I have been quite busy lately.

2.  I have some really awesome friends that I will miss dearly.  They are the best, and if you disagree with that, you can talk to me.

3.  This is probably one of the coolest inventions for visually challenged people.

4.  This is another one of those desperately random posts.  I apologize.  Kind of.

A Completely Random Post That's Not So Random

Yes, the title of this post is pretty odd, but I didn't really know what else to call it.  I just gotta tell it like it is.

This whole blog thing is fun, but sometimes I just want to talk about things I am excited about and want to vent to the internet about.  You won't get too much detail (I don't want to bore you), but enough to hopefully keep you interested or even make you chuckle.

For instance...MY BIRTHDAY IS IN 5 DAYS!  No biggie.  I am being extremely mature about the fact that I am also getting my permit by trying not to scream in excitement every 5 minutes.  That is called self-control, people.  I have been getting cards from relatives in the mail for the past few days, and its really tempting to just ignore the "DON'T OPEN UNTIL JULY 22, 2013" on my Grandma's card and rip it open right this second.  Again, self-control.

Now to go read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".  Now that I have finished my Harry Potter marathon, I don't have any more excuses to throw at it.  Wish me luck.

The Little Mouse with a Big Heart

When people want New York Style pizza, they go to New York. When they want a Philly Cheese Steak, they go to Philadelphia.  And when they want soup, they go to the Kingdom of Dor.

Their soup supplies the happiness for the whole kingdom.  So, when the Queen dies on their beloved day celebrating soup, the entire kingdom basically dies.  The sun doesn't come out anymore, none of the crops are growing, and the two royals left are in a state of despair.

Little did they know, a mouse being born in the depths of the castle would change things for the better.  Despereaux is an unusual mouse.  Instead of running away, he investigates.  Swords don't scare him, he wants to brandish one.  In the mouse society, all of this is frowned upon.  Once Despereaux's behavior spreads to the leaders, they decided to banish him to the dungeon- rat territory.  Despereaux encounters everything from cats to beautiful princesses on his quest to bring back soup.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo- 10

The Gallagher Girls

Cammie Morgan is just a regular girl with regular abilities going to a regular school.

Ok, maybe that's a lie.  But, that's what spies do, isn't it?

Cammie is actually a student at the all-girl spy school, The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women.  Her normal day consists of breaking CIA codes, speaking in 14 different languages, and going on covert missions.  So when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl, she can't decide what to do.  She could hack his computer, break into his house, or tail him for a week straight, but just talking to him is something that definitely doesn't come to mind.

Oh yeah, and her Mom is the Headmistress, so sneaking out is completely out of the question.

Or is it?

I'd Tell You I love You, But I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter- 9

The Many Faces of Dystopian Fiction

Let me first start out by saying that dystopian fiction is probably the coolest and most interesting genre EVER and my objective is to make you agree by the end of this post.

Eh hem.  Well, if you are to appreciate this AMAZING genre, then you must understand what it is.  In dystopian fiction, the character(s) live in a world that is striving to become a utopia: a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities.  There is usually a person or group of people in power that put rules in place to help the society reach the desired utopia.  By doing this, it ultimately restricts the people's freedom, making it the opposite of a utopia- a dystopia.  But what makes these more than just stories is the fact that everyone has a different dystopia and utopia.  For example, I love books (what a shock!), so my dystopia would be a world without books or where possessing a book could be fatal.  Because of this, the book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, was very jarring.  On the other hand, for someone who could care less about books, this novel would grab their attention in the very least. Dystopian fiction can connect to you quite personally, because it deals with your deepest desires and fears.

So, does that make sense?  Have I won you over?


Dystopian Must-Reads:

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
"Uglies", "Pretties", and "Specials" by Scott Westerfeld
"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
"Matched", "Crossed", and "Reached" by Ally Condie
"Divergent", *"Insurgent", and *"Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
*"Delirium, *"Pandemonium", and *"Requiem" by Lauren Oliver

*I haven't read this one yet, but it is at the top of my To Read list :)

The "Fairest" of Them All

No, I'm not talking about Snow White.  I know you have heard of "Ella Enchanted", seen the movie, and maybe even read the book.  But, I could argue that one of Gail Carson Levine's other novels, "Fairest", has what it takes to rival this well-known story.  Aza has a beautiful singing voice that is second-to-none, but this is overlooked because she does not possess the other treasure quality in her land-beauty.  After hiding in the shadows of her parent's inn for most of her life, becoming the new queen's lady-in-waiting is definitely a big change for her.  On her journey, she encounters a prince, a magic mirror, and many obstacles that get in her way.  Definitely a have-to read! Gail Carson Levine is known for her stories of royals, beauty, and love, and did not disappoint with this book.

"Fairest" by Gail Carson Levine- 9

I'm Exempt

Ok, well I am going on a little trip for today and most of tomorrow, and since I won't be anywhere near a computer, I think that I am allowed these two days without posting.  I will be back Thursday with a brand new review!

The New Heroes of Olympus

Everybody has at least heard of Percy Jackson.  The first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, was turned into a movie, and The Sea of Monsters is slated to come out August 7th of this year.  But, instead of leaving the demigods to rest with The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan decided to take it one step further.  He wrote the Heroes of Olympus series.  My first impression of this book was: Who in the world is Jason??  As I read further, I was intrigued.  Why couldn't he remember any of his past life?  What was his story?  Overall, I was completely impressed with the many layers that he created with each person's story and how they were all intertwined.  I am currently searching for the next two books in the series, The Son of Neptune and The Mark of Athena.  The other day, I almost fell out of my chair when I discovered that he has also released book number four- The House of Hades.  I highly recommend this series and anything else written by Rick Riordan, for that matter.

"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan- 10

Executive Decision

So, as you've probably figured out, I've made an executive decision.  You know that plan saying that I was going to post about books within a genre in the span of a week?  Well, lets scratch that.  I want to put the best content out there, and that won't be possible if the book I'm speaking on is something I read a year ago.  I will post about the books I am reading currently and, since I am not a superhuman reader, the books that I remember the most or have read in the recent past.

For example, I'm thinking that tomorrow's post might involve some demigods and a metal dragon, but its just a hunch.

Sunshine and Dark Wizards

Good news- the sun has returned to Middle Georgia!  There are many clouds in the sky, but still- sun!!  Its nice to be able to go into a store without having to take a quick shower on the way, isn't it?  I might have spoke too soon, though...

Now, lets get down to business.  I think it is quite appropriate to be talking about Harry Potter for my first official review post.  Through elementary school and most of middle school, I had always known this series as just some big, scary books that I would never be able to read.  Until my Dad brought the first one home.  Since then, I have blown through books 1-7 and seen each of the movies at least three times.  This summer, I have made it one of my (many) missions to read all of the books again, as the movies make you forget some of the more interesting details that J.K. Rowling has added to this already magnificent world.  For all of you who think you are a "Harry Potter expert" because you have watched all of the movies time and time again, I challenge you to read the books.  I am on the sixth book right now, and can say that even though it is my second time reading all of them, I am enjoying them as much, if not more than I did the first time.  The fun comes from discovering things that I didn't remember before.  Of course I remembered Peeves the Poltergeist, but was pleasantly surprised when I read the first chapter of the Half-Blood Prince with Fudge, Scrimgeour, and the Muggle Prime Minister.  It is the details that help your mind delve deeper into this (literally, magical) world that she created.

Coincidentally...Second Post

First of all, I would like to say Happy 4th of July!  Whether you do some sort of family get together/party on this holiday, or just have a nice quiet dinner, I hope its a great one!  Where I live, it has been pretty rainy for the last few weeks, and there were no exceptions today, so my family and I went to the movies.  Not a tradition yet, but it was really fun.  Of course, the rest of the population was there as well, but, I couldn't blame them.  Despicable Me 2 was hilariously funny.

Anyways, I've been thinking about how I am going to get this blog to work- or at least get my message out.  I really want to post about a different book each day, staying in the same genre in the span of a week.  I deserve weekends off, but you might see the occasional life story pop up on the weekend.  This arrangement will probably work, as I have read (and enjoyed) over 200 books, and have a pretty crazy life that is about to get a little crazier.  Not to mention books that I am bound to encounter within my crazy life.  I promise that the reviews, recommendations, ramblings, etc are coming soon!

First Post

Well, here I go!  This is my first post for this new blog, and I am excited for what is to come!  Soon, it will be chocked full of ratings and recommendations for the new and old of today's literature.

I realized just how many books I have when I recently completed my inventory list of books.  Every year, my family and I go to Texas, and while we are there, my dad and I (the book hounds in the family) hit almost every Half-Price Book Store that we can get to without having to drive too far.  After we come home from our vacation, I update my bookshelf "inventory" as I call it.  This year, my collection has reached more than 200 books! A pic is yet to come :)  It consists of anything from books I read in the 3rd Grade that I remember after all these years, to New York Times Bestsellers that most people haven't heard of yet.  I hope my bookshelf grows to twice its current size in the coming years and that I will find many worthy stories to occupy its shelves.