Interview With Polly Shulman!

Hi Readers!
I've got another amazing post for you guys today! Author Polly Shulman was nice enough to answer some questions. I recently read her book "The Grimm Legacy," and it was incredible. I strongly recommend anything she has written. Her books are everything you could want in a Young Adult novel, and I'm so happy she shared some of her wisdom with me:

1) What was your favorite book when you were in high school? Why?
I had a lot of favorite books in high school. Here are a few:
-Pride and Prejudice, the first Jane Austen novel I read. It kept me up all night, my heart pounding. Boy, was I tired in school the next day.
-Villette, by Charlotte Bronte, about a young woman in mid-19th century England who goes to Belgium to teach English at a girls' school and gets her heart broken, twice. I loved this book even more than Jane Eyre. The narrator has a great wry, steely, passionate voice. It's a bit grim, but great for when your heart is broken.
-The Earthsea books, by Ursula K. LeGuin, a fantasy series that draws inspiration from Eastern philosophy and the geography of the North American Pacific coast. Wise, deep, and gripping.

2) How do you write? Do you have any rituals or favorite places to write?
 I lounge on the sofa with my laptop in my lap. I'm the queen of bad posture. I'm not that fussy about my surroundings when I write--all I need is someplace comfortable to sit, with no music or interesting conversation going on nearby in a language I understand. (You're welcome to have as fascinating a conversation as you like in Hausa or Finnish or Navajo.)

4) If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say? 
Don't be intimidated by big, ambitious projects. Just break them down into a zillion little, modest projects.

Many thanks to Polly Shulman for these great answers! If you want to learn more about her and her books, visit http://www.pollyshulman.com/. You should all read her books; they are some of my favorites!
Happy Reading!
-Alice

Review: Between Shades of Gray

Hey Readers!

Based on the title, you might be wondering if I am in fact recommending a sequel to the infamous Fifty Shades of Gray. Don't be fooled: Between Shades of Gray is actually a compelling historical fiction novel by Ruta Sepetys that depicts the perilous journey of a Lithuanian family to Siberia. Lina, the 15-year-old protagonist, is a writer and an artist. When the Soviets take her away from her father, she is forced to use her creativity in new ways to keep her mother and brother safe. I liked the Anastasia-esque flavor of the book, from the romantic descriptions of European wealth to endless train rides through ice. Definitely consider this book if you would like to see history through new eyes.
Happy Reading!

~Dorothy

Interview with Jennifer E. Smith!

Hello Readers!
I have an incredible post for you guys today! I contacted Jennifer E. Smith, author of "The Statistical
Probability of Love at First Sight," (among other amazing books) and she was willing to answer some of my questions! I recommend any book by her, and her newest, "This is What Happy Looks Like," is definitely on my summer reading list. Below is an interview I conducted with her via email. Enjoy!

1) What was your favorite book when you were in high school? Why?

I really loved To Kill a Mockingbird, and I still do -- it's a book that only ever seems to get better with each reading.

2) Where do you get ideas for your books? Are you ever inspired by real life experience or your favorite authors?

Most of my books are sparked by something that happened to me in real life, and then they go spinning off into fiction from there.  For example, with my newest one, This Is What Happy Looks Like, the idea came about because I have a very common name, so email intended for me often go astray.  Of course, I don't usually get responses from famous movie stars!

3) How do you write? Do you have any rituals or favorite places to write?

I'm lucky enough to have a big window in my apartment that looks out over a beautiful park.  So I tend to write there, which is usually great, though it can sometimes be tough to be productive on a gorgeous day when everyone else seems to be outside -- it's a good test of willpower!

4) Do you have any advice for high school writers? 

Read a lot and read widely.  The very best way to understand how to write a book is by reading a whole lot of great ones.

Many thanks to Jennifer for making this interview possible! If you want to learn more about her books, visit http://www.jenniferesmith.com/. I am so excited we get to have it on our blog!

Happy Reading,

Alice

Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Hi Guys!

Over last summer, I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow. The book is about Guernsey Island, located in the English Channel between Normandy and South England. Guernsey Island is the only part of British soil that was ever occupied by the Nazis and Hitler during WWII. The book tells a historical fiction story of the islanders, and how they managed to endure five years of German occupation. I absolutely adored this book because how realistic it was. By the end of it,  I felt like I knew the characters and I wanted to run over to Guernsey to meet them in person. The stories about their experiences were very touching, not just because they were hard, but because the people of Guernsey were so courageous. Horrible things happened to them, but I wasn't really traumatized reading them. I was, instead, uplifted at their endurance. The title is a little strange but if you can get past that I highly recommend this book!

Keep Reading!

Sara C.

Review: Gimme a Call

Hey Readers!

As you can probably tell, we're trying to post more often (again)! I haven't finished any books since my last review, but I've started three: "Let It Snow" by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, "The Book Theif" by Markus Zusak, and "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. So far, "The Book Theif" is one of the best books I've ever read, and I'm not even halfway through! In any case, I've decided to review a book that I read a few years ago, but never reviewed. At first it seems to only skim the surface of literary goodness, as it's sort of written for young teen girls. But I was so intrigued by the ideas it presented. It's basically about high-school girl who realizes that she has spent all of her time with a not-so-great boyfriend, and lost many friends and opportunities along the way. When she drops her phone in a fountain, it breaks and is only able to call one number: her freshman self. This is the perfect opportunity for her to change her life, but will she take it? I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it's presented as a very juvenile book about high school (the fact that the main character's name is "Devi" doesn't help). On the other hand, the situation is presented so realistically, and who hasn't wondered what it would be like to talk to your younger self? This book brings up so many questions. What would you do? What would you say? I still find myself thinking about the book's premise years later.
Happy Reading!
-Alice

Review: Great Expectations

Hey Readers!

If you have heard of this book, your expectations are probably high––it is well-known as one of Dickens' literary masterpieces, alongside A Tale of Two Cities. In case you are curious about the "classic," here is the general gist: It begins in early-19th century England, and a young boy, Pip, is raised by his older sister and her husband Joe the blacksmith. After childhood adventures (and horrors), such as meeting a convict in a graveyard, Pip experiences a twist of fate that lands him in high society. He regularly visits the old, wealthy (but mysterious) Miss Havisham, and there he falls in love with her assistant, the young Estella. As he comes of age, we see how his expectations of himself change, and as readers, we see our own expectations confirmed and reversed.

~Dorothy G.

Review: Room

Hi Everyone!
Happy Spring! Over March vacation I read a book called "ROOM" by Emma Donoghue. It is a national best seller and is, not surprisingly, a brilliant book. The book is written from the perspective of a five year old boy. At the beginning of the story, the boy, Jack, is trapped with his mother in a small room. Jack doesn't know anything but that room, but his mother knows the world outside of it. She was imprisoned in the room after being kidnapped, so she has seen "outside." But Jack was born and lived for five years inside the small space. I know this book sounds a little creepy so far, but I promise you it is worth it. It is a story of the bond of mother and son and a mind blowing impartial narrative of our world. Jack brings into question societal norms and the complexity of normal life. Why is it that girls have long hair? Why is it that you have to behave differently "in public"? His young and very naive perspective encourages the reader to also gain perspective. This is a book worthy of your time and can be read in one sitting. I would say that due to some not-so-pleasant themes, this book is appropriate for 15 year olds. Don't let that discourage you though. I highly highly recommend it!

Best,

Sara C.

Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

Hey Readers! Surprise! Another review! I just remembered that I read this book over winter break. It's really skinny, and easy to read in small bits. If you have a LOT of work and are looking for something lighter, this is for you! You might recognize Mindy Kaling as Kelly from The Office, or from her new show, The Mindy Project (i highly recommend both shows). But did you know she wrote for both those shows, and has been a guest writer for SNL? She is hilarious, and her book is basically a funnily narrated autobiography, filled with awesome stories and interesting ideas. It has a lot of great life lessons, as well as like 50 laugh-out-loud moments per page. So if you're super busy, just carry this book around for some light reading.
<3
Alice

Review: Divergent & Insurgent

Hey Everyone! We are SO sorry for not updating lately, but high school is a lot busier than I thought! We hope you'll keep reading, because we plan to post more :). I've read a lot of books this past fall, but one book that really stands out is Divergent by Veronica Roth, and the sequel, Insurgent. If you like the Hunger Games, this is a must read! Basically, it's about a distopian world sometime in the future where the government is split up into five "factions" based on what they think the most important quality of government is.

The factions are Dauntless (who believe in bravery), the Candor (honesty), Amity (kindness), Abnegation (selflessness), and Erudite (knowledge). When each person reaches a certain age (around 14 or 15), they can choose to transfer into a different faction than the one they were born in based on their beliefs. Our heroine, Tris (short for beatrice), was born in Abnegation, but transfered to Dauntless. This was a huge leap, and the initiation was full of hurdles. The first book is about her initiation into Dauntless, including overcoming simulated "fear landscapes," finding love, making enemies, and figuring out that she might not fit in to just one faction. The next book starts out slow, but it is completely worth reading! I recommend these books so much, and don't worry, there IS a third one coming out!
Happy Reading!
Alice

P.S. If you want to read along with me, I'm currently reading The Casual Vacancy (Rowling), Wicked (Maguire), and Let it Snow (Green, Myracle, Johnson). I'll review one of them next!

Review: The Sweet Far Thing

Hi Everyone!!

So... I know I haven't posted anything lately, and I apologize for not!! I can't believe it is already 2013. Another year gone by, and I unfortunately can't say that I have been doing much reading lately. High school has been quite busy. Other than what we have been assigned in school, I have not been reading for fun on a normal basis.  However, I have been trying to read The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray, when I have time. Though it is long, I so far would highly recommend it. I am really enjoying it, and I would recommend it for anyone who loves romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. The third book in the trilogy of A Great and Terrible Beauty, the romance between Kartik and Gemma is continued, though Kartik is not in a portion of the book. Gemma still has the magic of the realms, and Gemma and Felicity are preparing to make their debuts in London's society, while Ann is struggling to think of a way to avoid having to become a governess to her awful cousins. Dealing with the scandals of the upper class of London during the reign of Queen Victoria and the troubles of the realms at the same time, Gemma Doyle is faced with many challenges that make for an exciting book. The Sweet Far Thing is so far very enjoyable, and I will let you all know when I finish it!! :)

Until next time,
~Anne Shirley~

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Hi Everyone!

I know I reviewed Matched really recently, but this is a PRESSING MATTER. All I have to say is read this book now! You should probably be at least 13 or 14, because it tackles issues like cancer. But I cannot stress this enough: this is NOT a "cancer" book meant to touch the hearts of all in a sad and melancholy way. This is a book about a normal girl who is witty, hilarious, and in touch with the reality of her situation. The girl's name is Hazel, and when she meets someone with a similar plight as her, the handsome Augustus Waters, everything changes for her. Hazel has to find a way to let people into her life without hurting them inevitably in the end. John Green is one of my favorite authors EVER, and this could be his best book yet. This isn't the sort of book I would usually read, but anyone can enjoy it. John Green gets in touch with real, human thoughts and feelings better than any author I have ever seen. Sure, this book is filled with tragedy and humor juxtaposed in a way that I have never seen before, but I also couldn't put it down. I HIGHLY recommend any book by John Green, especially this one. 

-Alice

P.S. I pre-ordered mine, and it's signed! The whole first printing of this book is PERSONALLY signed by John Green himself, so if you go to a book store soon, and find a copy with the yellow "Signed Copy," sticker on the cover, you'll get one like mine! See below for an actual picture of the inside page of my book :)

Review: A Voice in the Wind

Hi everyone! I haven't posted yet, because I have been incredibly busy, but I'm starting now! :)

So, I read this book called A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers for school over the summer. It was incredible. No words can describe how much I loved this book. It follows the story of a girl named Hadassah. If you are religious, she is the daughter of the dead young man Jesus saw and brought back to life for the mourning mother in the Bible. She is a Christian in Jerusalem in Roman times; the time where discovered Christians are fed to the lions in the arenas. Romans attack and destroy Jerusalem, trying to rid the place of Jews. They end up killing her mother, father, brother and sister. Her story really begins when she is sold on the slave market and bought by the Valerians as a slave for the 14 year old girl named Julia.

Another character we follow is Marcus Valerian, the son of Decimus and Phoebe Valerian who bought Hadassah. Marcus is unhappy with life. He has more than enough money to support a family and himself for a lifetime. He is always pleasing himself with wine and women. He does not have a wife or children. However, life only sates Marcus' thirst, never quenches it. Then he meets Haddassah, and everything changes for him.

We also follow the life of Atretes. He is a leader of a German tribe in these same times. He leads vicious battles against Roman forces in his area. The worst crime a German could ever commit is show cowardice, or any kind of fear. It is considered disgraceful for any soldier to be killed on his back. Atretes is captured by the Roman men and forced to take part in the games. He is forced to become a gladiator and fight to the death in the arena against other gladiators. All he wants is freedom.

All these characters are connected through this incredible story with a girl named Julia; Marcus' sister, Haddassah's master, and, at one point, Atretes' girl. I won't say any more about her, because you need to read the book. Actually, it's bookS. There is a sequel, An Echo in the Darkness, and a book after that, As Sure as the Dawn. If you read the first book, I don't care what you think or are feeling: you MUST read the second book at least. :) I will write a review for the second book, but you need to read it first, because it will otherwise give away the first book.

Happy Reading!
Jo March

Review: Matched

Hello Everyone!

So I've been reading "Matched" by Ally Condie for a while, and I just finished it last weekend. When I first started to read it, it sucked me in right away. The beginning of the book is captivating, and brings you into the world of Cassia, a teenage girl growing up in a futuristic society that seems perfect...or is it? The government -and everyone- has secrets. Cassia is very accepting at first, and when seeing the world through her eyes, you almost accept it as normal when you read. But as she begins to find out more and more, and you begin to become horrified with the society, she slowly begins to break out of her conformist persona and into her rebellious personality. And, of course there's the matter of her choice between Xander, her (attractive) best friend whom she's been "matched" with by the authorities, or Ky, an (attractive) flash on the screen who might just be meant for her. This is for fans of the Hunger Games, and it's a very good read. But that doesn't mean I am without complaints. For one thing, the society wasn't shocking enough for me. After reading this you may point at me in dismay at how inhuman I am for NOT being shocked, but let's get this straight. They do some crazy things in that society, but I've seen it ALL before. If you're going to write a dystopian novel, you need the shock factor. There is a sequel, "Crossed," but I'm not sure if i'll read it. It's one of those war-torn sequels, where everything is going to fall apart, such as Mockingjay. If there was a book in between (a Catching Fire-esque situation) I would read it, but they jump into the battle to early. This has been a very conflicting review.

-Alice

Review: The Agency: Traitor in the Tunnel and Rivals in the City

Hi Everyone!!

So, I'm not really sure if I ever talked about the third book, The Traitor in the Tunnel, in the Agency series by Y.S. Lee. I read it over the summer, and was just flipping through it again. It was one of the best books I've ever read- not surprising, of course, being a part of the Agency series. In it, Mary Quinn (the main character) goes undercover as a maid in Buckingham Palace after the Agency is notified of a series of petty thefts. Meanwhile, at the same time, James Easton, her longstanding lover and friend, is working underground in the sewers for the Queen. As well, she thinks she has found her long lost father in the Tower of London.

Overall, this was an amazing book... Once again Y.S. Lee has providing an exceptionally riveting mystery!

I would highly recommend it!

~Anne Shirley


P.S. I was on Y.S. Lee's blog and I came across the news for the fourth and final Agency book... The working title is Rivals in the City.

I can't wait for it to come out! Here is Y.S. Lee's blog address for more information:

http://yslee.com/2011/06/the-agency-4/

(or rather the address that explains the 4th book... Her normal address is http://yslee.com)

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Hey Everyone!!
I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in so long...
I've been really busy with the new school year!!
Anyway, I found this book called "A Great and Terrible Beauty." Jo March recommended it to me, as did my sister, who just read it.
They both said it was amazing, and I'm about to start reading it!
I'll keep you posted!

~Anne Shirley

Review: Hunger Games Trailer

Hi Readers!
If anyone remembers - our Library Club read the hunger games series last year. We are so excited that the movie is coming out soon and I watched the trailer for the first time a month ago. It seems as though they may have gotten the casting right afterall! At the beginning I wanted to switch Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson so their hair color matched with  my image of Peeta and Gale...but after they dyed their hair in the trailer i knew they were perfect for the parts! Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) still seems to be a little too old and intimidating, but Lawrence does a good job of playing her. Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket is absolutely perfect! so are the two girls that play Rue and Prim. Overall, I think the casting was done really well and so was the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY&noredirect=1
what do you think?
- Sara C.

Review: The Odyssey

Hey Readers!

I haven't had much time to read lately, so I'm taking a queue from Sara and reviewing a book I read in school. In english class, we just finished reading "The Odyssey," by Homer, the Greek epic story. I was really looking forward to reading it, because it's such a big challenge, and it looks interesting. It was a little slow at first, and some parts were hard to understand, but overall it was a great book. You'd think it would be boring, but it reminds me of a literary soap opera. Tell me what you think if you read it! I recommend it, but I wouldn't read it unless you really want to give yourself a challenge or if it's for school. I also have a favor to ask you guys: My school is having a read-a-thon, and we get to vote for what book we want! The only requirement is it has to be a classic book (Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc.). Any suggestions? Whichever one wins at our school I'll be reviewing on this blog. Also, as an insight to what might be coming, I'm in the middle of reading "Matched," and "Looking for Alaska," and they're both amazing. So far I really recommend both of them. I miss you, other bloggers!
-Alice

Review: A Tale of Two Cities

Hi Everyone!
Well I guess we've all been a little to busy in high school to focus much on the blog, but we still have time to post! In english we've been reading A Tale of Two Citites by Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities is a marvelous book focusing on London and Paris during the french revolution. It follows the story of Doctor Manette, his daughter Lucie and her husband Charles. Manette had been a prisoner of the Bastille in france for 18 years and did not know of the existence of his daughter until she was fully grown. Lucie, his daughter, is married to Charles who, in turn, has had his fair share of imprisonment. The family struggles to kep an upbeat outlook during the revolution while they navigate the bloody streets of Paris. No one is quite sure who is innocent and no one can comprehend the terrible threat of a mob of confused badly treated people. I had to read this book for english, and we were told to read one or two chapters a night. I ended up not being able to put it down it was so good! Highly reccomend it! and my fellow bloggers out there - miss you guys!

- Sara C.

Review: Boy's Life

Hey Everyone!!
I am SOOOOOOO sorry that I haven't posted in so long!!!
I feel so terrible about it!!!!
But school has started, and that's why I haven't had any time... 
Anyway, I have been able to read a bit, though the book that I am going to talk about now is one that we are reading for school. The book is called "Boy's Life," and it is by Robert McCammon.
It is a good book about a boy who is growing up in a small town in Alabama in 1964. The boy's life becomes harder when he and his father witness a car plunge into a lake, and his father goes to save then man, but finds him brutally beaten and chained to the wheel. As the father slowly becomes wrapped up in his terrible thoughts of the murder, the boy, named Cory, struggles through all of the events that are happening as he grows up, such as his friendships, school, summer, fairs, his incredible ability to write, and also the superstitions that surround his hometown. 


It is a great book for anyone who really likes superstitious things, but also is interested for mystery stories and a bit of adventure and stories where the main character is growing up throughout the book. 

Look into it!! 


See you all later!!


And this time, I promise not to stay away for so long.... :D


~Anne Shirley

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Sorry for advertising, i know it's not fun, but I know that i'm at least about to finish some books, so expect some reviews soon! If you like us on facebook, you'll get told whenever a new review comes out, along with information you might only find there! (gasp). So if you want to, like our page here:

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Thanks for reading! And again, sorry for the advertising, but expect more reviews soon!